Hermione sat by their coffee table, the Daily Prophet on her lap. It was raining out, and again Ron was working late. She took a sip of her chocolate, which was now cold, and her heart began to race again.

"He's not cheating," she said aloud to herself, her voice echoing across the small living room. Her hands were shaking, and she put the cup down and grabbed her hands, trying to keep them steady. "If he was, I'd know. He'd never do that to me."

She got up from her chair, the conversation from earlier replaying in her head.

"Hermione, I don't want to upset you, but last night, after I left the office, I saw Lavender go into Ron's study," said Amanda Botts, one of Ron's coworkers from the Ministry of Magic.

Hermione smiled, trying to hide the fact that she was getting nervous. Ron never mentioned this.

"Maybe she was just visiting, I suppose," she said nervously, holding the basket full of food she had brought for Ron's lunch.

Amanda shook her head. "Sweetie, she's been coming down every night for the past three weeks. I don't understand why Ron would be staying late at the office either. As a friend, I want you to rethink this engagement. Or at least find out what's up."

Hermione felt the blood drain from her face. Ron couldn't do this to her. He wouldn't do this to her.

"Could you give him this, I-I made it this morning, it's our anniversary today." She said softly, wanting to leave the office and go back home. She needed to think.

Amanda took the basket, and leaned closer to her. "I'll leave the office unlocked tonight. If he stays later, come by, I'll be gone by then, but honey, you have to know the truth."

"I'll see you around, Amanda. Thanks," said Hermione and walked off, her heels echoing behind her.

It was still raining as Hermione stood outside their apartment building. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and closed her eyes. Instantly she was now in front of one of the entrances to the Ministry of Magic. She took her wand out of her coat, tapped the edge of the door twice, and the phone booth changed from a bright red color to a light blue color. She stepped in and was transported below the city, where the Ministry of Magic was located.

It was empty. She looked at her watch, 10:49pm. She tapped her heels with her wand, whispered an enchantment, and her heels changed into flat shoes. She didn't want anyone to know she was there.

He's not cheating on me, she thought as she made her way to the Offices of Dark Magic. He loves me; he proposed to me, there is no way he 's cheating on me.

She felt her eyes begin to water and she tilted her head back, trying to keep her tears in place. As she got closer to his study, she could see that his lights were on, but it was silent. She let out a sigh of relief, and smiled. How could she have ever doubted him?

As she approached the door, she stopped, and heard Lavender's voice.

"Why do you have to marry her?" she asked

"I don't know, I-I'm not ready to marry her. I thought I was- seeing Ginny marry Neville and Harry engaged to Luna- well, I thought I was ready too." Said Ron.

Hermione felt her tears fall, and she looked down at her engagement ring, a small bright diamond on her finger. Engraved in it where the words "I will always love you"

"Then call it off! You have been sleeping with me for the past three weeks! Obviously I mean something to you!" snapped Lavender. "I want YOU Ron. All of you. Not just at night."

Hermione took the ring off and placed it on the floor. She couldn't help but break down, and as she did she heard shuffling from inside the study and she ran, hearing Ron call her name. Her tears were making it really hard to see, but she eventually made it to the phone booth, and as she closed the door she saw Ron looking back at her, holding the ring in his hand. His face was upset, and she looked away from him, her chest feeling like it was on fire. Next thing she knew she was back on the street, the rain still pouring. She stepped out, not caring if the rain hit her. She wanted to hide, wanted to leave. She never wanted to see Ron again.