Ever since the Second Wizarding War ended, Ron, who had accepted Kingsley's invitation to become an Auror alongside Harry, felt that there had been little happiness in his life.
Being an Auror was never as glamorous as it appeared. The dangerous, demanding work had nearly left Ron unable to catch his breath. It made him miss the days when the three of them had been at school, but Ron also knew full well that their relationship would most likely never return to what it had been.
The moment Hermione decided to stay behind and repeat the year, it became inevitable that the three of them would gradually drift apart.
If only I'd convinced Hermione to become an Auror back then! Ron had entertained that thought more than once.
But there was no medicine for regret in this world! They all knew it was not that they had failed to persuade Hermione; Hermione simply had no intention of becoming an Auror. She had chosen to pursue her own future.
Ron knew he should be happy for Hermione's choice, but every time he thought about it, he felt miserable.
Maybe he had missed his last chance.
The ridiculous thing was that Ron had once thought that after becoming a respected Auror, Hermione would be willing to pay him a little more attention. But that was not the case at all.
Since the end of the Second Wizarding War, Hermione had not given him another glance, as though he were merely a familiar passerby.
It made Ron miserable.
Sometimes, he even wanted to quit his job as an Auror and find himself something easier and freer, but the high salary of an Auror made him temporarily abandon the thought.
That was right!
Ron did not want to lose that high salary! He hated