Foolish Hearts

Four

Hermione's Pov...

It all begins with an argument. And it is always stupid in nature with Ron: where is my alcohol? Why did you throw out my drugs? When is dinner? Why are you home late from work? Are you whoring yourself on the side? 

The last argument centered around the lack of alcohol in the flat. In truth, I finally got Harry Potter to comb the place and we threw out the alcohol together. Harry was supposed to arrive after both of our shifts at work to stage an intervention with me, George, and Ginny. The rest of the Weasley clan either didn't care, or sided with Mrs. Weasley. Well, that archaic marriage dynamic might have flown in the dark ages, but it wasn't going to fly in the twenty first freaking century.

A big part of me didn't want to rock the boat, but the part of me that was strong, and would never let this treatment stand for anyone else, won out, and I let Harry arrange the meeting. 

Four years of abuse, and a marriage made in hell. I felt like I was such a failure. Was it my fault? I did keep taking birth control pills, until Ron found my pills in the medicine cabinet one day, and demanded to know what they were for.

I suffered a major rape that day...from both ends for that. No, I was expected to be my husband's personal baby incubator, and have a big family just like his mum; and also gain forty pounds because my body wouldn't bounce back as easily from each baby. No, thank you! 

The last thing I wanted to do was anger Ron: he was crabby and sullen on his best days, but could be an enraged bull if he lapsed just slightly in his steady diet of alcohol and drugs. This last fight, I put up a fight, and that was why he lost control and decided to strike my face. 

But after work, I travelled to Spinners End, the home of Professor Severus Snape. I knew that muggles couldn't see the home, but I could. It was a melancholic old home that was once grand and fancy. I knew that the manor was purchased with the last of Snape's mother's money, and it had been by all accounts grand. 

But with the loss of his father's job, the family fortune quickly spiralled down to nothing. Tobias Snape took his problems out on his family, and from Snape's memories, I knew that he had been abused. I couldn't have imagined what my former potions Professor had gone through. Now I can, and it made my heart go out to him even more. It was no small wonder why he seemed so closed off and cold towards everyone. 

I had come here many, many times wondering if Snape had survived his injuries from Nagini. It was wishful thinking on my part, but I came again and again, nonetheless. I was about to leave for home when suddenly, I felt lightheaded, and I vaguely saw a light come on in the house, and then I knew no more...