I Don't Own Anything

Hermione did not hate New Years Eve, it was quite the opposite. When she was a girl, it was one of the only nights her parents went out on the town and let loose. That meant that she got to spend the evening in pajamas, playing games, and eating forbidden sweets with her grandparents all night.

Her grandmother and her would make homemade pizzas with special toppings, like potato crisps and once, to their disgust, even apples. Her grandfather would teach her new card games and introduce her to old American Disney shows like The Mickey Mouse Club and Zorro. She felt warmed the whole evening, away from books and her parents, she ran out the year with no pressures.

When it was close to midnight the three of them would bundle coats over pajamas and stick their feet into untied boots to go outside. Hermione's grandfather would count down the time on his pocket watch and at midnight they would welcome the night sky into a new year with shouts of happiness and wish the stars a "Happy New Year".

Eventually, she grew into a preteen and when she seemingly would be too old for these traditions, they still stuck to them, being the only time she spent with her grandparents while home from Hogwarts. She loved the feeling of silly evenings and breaking rules people set for her. But even more, she loved the feeling of one story ending and another story beginning.

But this New Years Eve was not the same.

Tonight she ended an eight year relationship.

And that is right where Hermione found herself on December 31st. Five minutes until midnight, her relationship she forged with her childhood best friend, the life she built for herself after the war, the red headed babies she always pictured in her arms, disappeared.

A mutual decision. A year long fight ending in soft words whispered across a room from each other. Hermione and Ron were breaking-up.

Hermione sat on one of the many guest beds in Grimmauld Place absentmindedly playing with the beads of her dress. A party filled with her friends, old classmates, and coworkers pulsed floors below her. She laughed at herself and how foolish she was. She chose the black beaded number just for Ron. Weeks ago, she had delusions that tonight… and the dress... would change them back into who they were earlier in their relationship. She spent too much money on it at a boutique in muggle London and too much time getting her make-up just right tonight. Buying the dress was just another layer of how wrong she was about their situations. She had not seen herself in the mirror, but was sure her make-up was ruined.

The 27 year-old witch knew that her relationship was not healthy. She knew that they loved each other, but were not in love any more. They both had no fight these days, letting things that would once cause passionate and fun rows they simply let burn out. What once would lead into passionate exchanges and love making, they hardly gave notice too. She could not remember the last time they had sex. She could not remember the last time they had enough energy to get angry with each other. For months now without knowing why, she had been waking-up and laying in the bed they shared together. With Ron asleep beside her, she would cry. He was a good man, but she felt stuck. He was good to her, but was he good for her?

"Mione' did you hear what I said?" Ron's voice finally broke through her thoughts. She grimaced at the sudden harshness in his tone.

"No," She whispered. "I am sorry, Ron. I did not hear what you said."

He let out an exhausted sigh and ran his long fingers through his short red hair. This was exactly why they were not working out anymore. She forgot to listen to him and he forgot to really care. They loved each other. They really did. They just could not love each other through apathy.

"I said, I am going to stay at the shop for a little while. I'll come grab some stuff from the flat tomorrow and we can talk more?"

Without looking up, she just nodded her head. She felt him cross the room towards her.

"Look at me."

She shook her head.

"Mione-" he whispered, as he tugged her chin up so their eyes met. Barely opening his mouth he said. '…I do not want to lose my best friend. You are my family. I hope with time we can be okay again."

"Thanks Ron," Hermione replied honestly. "I hope we can be okay, too."

With her reply he gave her a sad smile and turned on his heels to leave. When the door opened the sound of the party goers traveled in. They were just beginning to countdown to midnight.

"FIVE! FOUR! THR-" The door clicked closed and muted the end of the count along with everyone's celebration.

Hermione closed her eyes and welcomed the new year. Now she just wanted to be under the night sky and tell the stars of a new year. She stood quickly walking to the door and yanking it open. To avoid anyone she took the back staircase, mainly used by house elves back when The House of Black had dozens of them and not just Kreacher lurking around. Running down the dark steps she stumbled a little and paused to pull off her high heels. Taking the last few floors at full speed, she was not even thinking as she hit the door to the garden, pushed it open, and crashed right into Draco Malfoy.