What Shattered Dreams Can Lead To

Chapter One: Goodbye Ron!

Hermione had the perfect life. Just after the Final Battle, her long time crush Ron Weasley, asked her to marry him. She obviously said yes. They had a wonderful marriage, for the first year. Then, it started to get ugly. He would go drinking, telling her it was to help him cope with the war and because she drove him to it. Every night he would come home drunk, but she shrugged it off, he'd stop eventually, right?

Wrong. Soon, he started to swear at her when he got home. But, she blamed herself and the alcohol. It wasn't him, it was the alcohol, which she caused him to do. Then, he began yelling at her and cursing at her when he was sober. It was just a rough patch, she would tell herself. It'd die down and they would be happy again.

Again, wrong. Then, he began bringing home girls. She would shrug it off, saying he didn't know better because he was intoxicated. Soon after, maybe 4 years into their marriage, he began hitting her when he was drunk. Still, she blamed the alcohol. He isn't doing it intentionally. Hermione would just cover the bruise and smile it off. She didn't tell anyone either. But, one day, he went way to far.

They were at the kitchen table, eating breakfast, when he stood up abruptly. "Hermione, what is that?"

"What is what?"

He pointed to the floor where a pair of green boxer shorts were lying. "Boxer shorts."

"Whose?"

"Yours."

"No, I don't own green and you know that. Have you been cheating on me?"

"No Ron, they really are yours." By now, she too was standing and her anger was shining through.

"NO THEY'RE NOT!" He bellowed.

"Yes they are."

He smacked her across the face, causing her to start to cry. "You've been cheating on me! How could you? Am I not good enough? Do you think I'm not manly enough or something?"

"Ron, they're yours."

He hit her again. "Fine, don't admit it, but I know the truth. I'm leaving. You have no right to cheat on me, so you don't deserve a husband like me."

"What?" That really set her off. "You drink every day, you verbally AND physically abuse me, you cheat on me, you lie, and you call me a liar? Merlin Ron, you're not leaving me, I'm leaving YOU!" She stormed up the stairs and started throwing everything in her suitcase.

"You're leaving ME!? No, you're not." He pulled her back by her hair, causing her to call out. "You are going to be the one being left and looked down upon by society."

"Ron, I'm leaving." She waved her wand, shrinking her suitcase, and elbowed him in the gut. She apparated away before he could hurt her again. She landed in her parent's unused home. They decided to stay in Australia after she gave them all their memories back. They decided they liked it better. She searched frantically for something. Finally, she found it. Her family address book. She looked up the one person she knew she could alway turn to. Her Uncle Charlie in America.

When she was little, she always visited her mother's brother, Charlie Swan. He was her favorite uncle and they had become very close. When she found out she was a witch, she told him first and he supported her in every decision. They kept in touch throughout her Hogwarts years and she helped him when his wife left him. Now, she needed him and knew he would help her.

"Hello?"

"Uncle Charlie!"

"Hermione?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"How are you dear?"

"I need your help."

"What's wrong?"

"Ron, he...he's been horrible. He drinks, and hits me..."

"WHAT!?"

"Listen, and he cheats. And today we got in this fight because he thought I was cheating on HIM and I left him."

"Good for you."

"Do you think I could stay with you for a while. I need to get away from here and I knew I could trust you. I won't be a bother. I'll pay rent and eve-"

He cut her off, "You come on over, right now, and stay for as long as you like."

"Thank you Uncle Charlie."

"You're welcome dear. Besides, Bella just told me she's going to come and stay too, maybe you can make it a little more fun for her."

"Sure, thanks again. I'll pop over in about 2 minutes."

"Anytime, see you then."

"Bye."

"Bye." She hung up and smiled. Good, she could finally get away. She ran upstairs and grabbed the rest of her things from her old bedroom, things she just left at home, and looked around once more.

With that, she turned on the spot and arrived at her Uncle's house in Forks, Washington. Hermione smiled and ran to the door. Her uncle opened it and quickly wrapped her into a bear hug.

"Mione, dear, are you okay?"

"I'm great now, thanks."

"Good, but I don't care what you say, I'm taking you to a doctor. You've been hit by an abusive husband and I can't let that slide. If he comes anywhere near you again, I'll call in a few favors and have him thrown in jail, or killed." She smiled despite herself.

"I could too and have him thrown in Azkaban, if he comes anywhere near me again. I'll call the ministry tomorrow and get our divorce finalized."

"Okay, but now, doctors."

"No, I'm fine."

"Hermione, now."

"Fine." She turned on her heel and walked to the police cruiser. They took the short drive to Forks Hospital and went to the waiting room. When she heard her name be called by the nurse, she had no idea how much her life was about to change.