A/N: Hey. It's the first fic I've posted and I hope you like it. I own nothing. Well nothing that belongs to J.K. Rowling which is just about everything you will read here, and my blanky that I wrap up in when I write.
"Goodbye" she said as he prepared to leave.
"I'll see you later" he replied and with a sudden turn he was gone.
They often met in the coffee shop in Diagon Alley on Saturday afternoon because the ministry was never very busy on Saturdays so neither had to work and they would sit their and talk over a cup of coffee. They had been friends ever since their first year at Hogwarts. She had developed a little crush on him in second year when he vomited slugs for Malfoy's teasing her. He was so sweet when he got all protective and defensive. She had known that she was absolutely in love with him since their third year when he volunteered to help her with Hagrid and Buckbeak. He could be so nice sometimes. She wanted to be more than just his best friend, and sometimes she would imagine that he did too because of how he felt about Viktor taking her to the Yule Ball or that one time in sixth year when he had said "I love you," but she knew he only said that because she had finally helped him with his homework. Stupid girly fantasies. She had even tried to make him jealous by going out with Cormac McClaggen around Christmas their sixth year, but it did not work. He loved her the same way Harry loved her, as a friend or brother.
Ron could never be in love with a perfect, know-it-all who hates quidditch and anything to do with it and who reads way too much. I'm just too plain for him anyways. He's always with pretty girls. It was for these reasons that Hermione knew Ron would never want to be with her. I'm going to end up an old lady with only Crookshanks for company.
She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her watch only to see that she was going to be late. Very unHermioneish. Her mum would not be very happy with her tardiness seeing as they were having company over for dinner. Her least favorite aunt, like it was hard to choose between the two of them, was coming over for dinner. Hermione could hardly stand her Aunt Sylvia and her cousins Janice and Steve were almost as bad as their mother. Hermione hated having to be polite and pretend that she actually cared about anything her Aunt Sylvia said.
She apparated into her old room at her parents' house. It was just as it had always been. Everything was in the proper place. Her books were arranged neatly on the shelves, and her old desk was clear except for the desk lamp. She walked down stairs to see her mum waiting for her. "Hermione Jane Granger," her mum had never been able to sound mad and this time was no exception, "you were supposed to be here nearly half an hour ago. You could have called or something if you were going to be late."
"Sorry mum, I got a little sidetracked. I was having coffee with Ron and I almost forgot the time" Hermione replied remorsefully. Yeah then I had to start daydreaming about him when he had left. But she wouldn't tell her mother that part.
Mrs. Granger smiled at her daughter. "Well, come help me, they'll be here soon enough." Mrs. Granger led the way into the kitchen and immediately started her daughter working. "So," her mum began, "How has everything been sweetie?" Hermione smiled at her mum's pet name for her. She had always thought it was amusing that a dentist would call someone sweetie when they were constantly saying sweets were bad for you.
Hermione sighed. "Oh it's been okay. Work is good. We're working Centaur Rights since the house elves staged a revolt against being free and paid. I guess Ron was right, but don't tell him that." She was cut short by her mum asking how Ron was.
"I always liked him. He seemed so nice those times I met him" she continued.
"Ron's good. He works at the ministry too. He's the sports director. He's still with that Elsie woman. She doesn't seem to like me much, but I don't care for her either. As long as Ron's happy, I don't care who he's with." Her mum was looking at her like she was about to ask a question but didn't say anything and turned around to begin cooking again. "What?"
"What do you mean, 'what'?" Mrs. Granger asked.
Hermione looked at her mum accusingly. "You looked like you were going to say something, so say it."
Mrs. Granger turned to face Hermione. "I was just going to ask if you were just a little jealous. It's obvious you still have feelings for Ron even if you won't admit it to me. You hardly go out with other guys and when you do go out it's with someone you know you'll probably never see again. Is Ron really worth waiting around for?" she asked as she ran her hand through her daughter's thick hair.
Hermione looked up at her mother. She's got a point. "I know. It's just hard finding someone that can make me feel as good about myself as Ron does."
"You'll find the right man." Mrs. Granger looked at the clock. "I'm sorry to change the subject, but do you mind straitening the living room up a bit? You know how Sylvia is. Ugh. I know too well. If Ron and Harry think I'm bad about tidiness they should meet my Aunt Sylvia.
DING DONG. The doorbell rang and Mrs. Granger called from the kitchen"Hermione, sweetie, would you please get that?"
Hermione went to the door and opened it. Her Aunt Sylvia and her older cousins Janice And Steve stood there waiting to be let in. "Hello," Hermione said as politely as possible, "Won't you come in?"
Much to her distaste they did. I was hoping they'd turn around and leave. Well dad's sister has the right to visit him so I can't be too mad. At least he likes her, somewhat anyways. She laughed in her head. This evening is going to be so much fun. She followed them to the living room. "Dinner will be ready in a moment." Just then she turned around to see her dad.
He had just come home from the office. "Sorry I'm late. How have you been Sylvia? It's been a while." Hermione didn't stay to listen to her aunt's reply. Instead she went into the kitchen to finish helping her mother.
Soon they were all seated in the dining room. Sylvia, Janice, Steve, how are you all?" Mrs. Granger asked sweetly. "It's so lovely to see you again."
Aunt Sylvia chimed in. "Oh we're dong well. I was just telling Rion about Janice's engagement to Phillip McDougal."
Hermione's mum gasped at the news. "Congratulations Janice. That is so wonderful." She said with fake but very believable excitement.
Aunt Sylvia and Janice both shot smug looks over at Hermione as Mrs. Granger continued with her inquiries about the lucky young man and when the wedding was to take place. Janice looked like she almost pitied Hermione. Hermione knew what her cousin was thinking. Oh poor Hermione, will she ever find someone? Probably not, but then again who'd want her? She's not very pretty and all she thinks about is work. She needs some help.
I can't stand Janice. Mum is too nice sometimes. The conversation was all about how great Phillip was. Oh this is so boring. How long is this going to last? Her aunt kept going on about how nice Phillip is. I feel like I could fall off the face of the earth right now and I would not care one bit. Oh what is she on about now. She kept mentioning that he works for some law office and how nice his family was but Hermione wasn't really paying much attention. We know he's soooo amazing. How did Janice manage someone so supposedly great? He's probably not much to be proud of. Aunt Sylvia just adores the attention, and Janice hasn't said one word. Oh well, at least I won't have to meet him anytime soon. I've had about enough of this. "Oh, Aunt Sylvia, are you sure you're not going after him for yourself? Such an amazing, available woman as you could manage someone so intriguing. You seem so taken with him and Janice hasn't said one word. He must think he hit the jackpot with you all."
Before Hermione could say anything else Mrs. Granger gasped at her daughter's words. "Hermione Jane Granger, that was very rude. Where are your manners?"
"If you'll please excuse me, I think I'm through." Hermione went upstairs to her room, but she didn't dare leave. Her mother would want to talk to her about her actions at dinner.
Sure enough Mrs. Granger was up there as soon as Aunt Sylvia had gone. She knocked on Hermione's door but didn't wait for answer and let herself into the room. She watched her daughter as she lay on the bed stroking Crookshanks and reading an old school textbook. Hermione didn't look up at her mum because she knew she would see a look of disappointment that she knew she wouldn't be able to handle.
Mrs. Granger sat down beside her on the bed. "Hermione Jane," she said softly but with a hint of frustration in her voice, "What was that all about? You were very rude. Your father and I just spent the last half hour apologizing to your Aunt Sylvia and your cousin Janice for the way you spouted off like that. What were you thinking?"
Hermione was not used to her parents being upset with her, especially not her mum. She and her mum had always been so close whereas her sister was more of a daddy's girl. Her sister was lucky that she was still so young. She still had six years left of school, and she was quite popular for a first former. She was good at school, but she didn't thrive on doing work and following rules. Kaitlyn was the kind of girl that boys would flock to: pretty, smart, interesting. She would have no problems when she was older. Sometimes I wish I could switch places with her, especially now.
Hermione looked up at her mother. She could not stand it when her mother was upset with her. Her mother's words were stern but gentle as she was always well composed unlike Hermione. "Hermione Jane Granger, would you care to explain what that was all about?" She stroked Hermione's hair as she continued. "Is something wrong?" she always understood Hermione even when Hermione would not answer her. "What is it?"
Hermione looked at her mother incredulously. "Oh mum, how were you able to sit there and let Aunt Sylvia go on and on about Janice's engagement? How could you tolerate all the gloating? How did it make you feel knowing I would probably end up an old cat lady who scares away kids with my horrid ugliness? Aunt Sylvia would just rub it in your face. She doesn't think you are good enough for dad, and she doesn't like me very much either." She took a breath and before her mum could answer she started again. "She was being a ..." Hermione was about to say a few choice words but the look on her mums face told her now was not the time: it never was "a…a something not very nice." That was all she could think to say with out being reprimanded by her mother for bad language. She sat silently waiting for her mum to finally answer.
"Hermione there are plenty of men out there who would love to know you and be with you. He probably won't just magically appear. I know in the past you have been hurt, but you've just got to put yourself out there. Stop waiting for Ron to come around because, and I'm sorry to say, it may never happen. Then the right man will come along and sweep you off your feet. You'll see." Mrs. Granger said wisely.
Hermione sighed. "I know. But I don't want anyone but Ron. We waited so long to finally be together then the war broke out, and afterwards I was knocked out in St. Mungo's while he was being pursued by beautiful women because he was a hero for helping Harry. Now it feels like we'll never have our chance again, and I hate it. Well I don't hate it, but it irritates me that I just can't seem to get over him. He has a girlfriend that he's been with for over two years, but he's just very hard to get over. And all the other guys that I have been out with in the past either had no appeal-intellectual or physical- or was a prat or could not stand to be around me."
Charlotte Granger just smiled softly at her daughter. "So you'll wait. I did. Your father took his sweet time asking me out. Finally we got married and had you right off. I didn't want to give him any reason to back out at any time." Hermione did not look pleased. "The point is you might have to wait a while, but when he comes, whomever he may be, it will be worth the wait."
"Promise?" Hermione said sarcastically.
"Don't be such a ninny, Hermione. It'll happen." Mrs. Granger said sounding very motherly.
"Mum, I've got to go. I've got a ton of work to do before I go to bed."
"Well, that is part of the problem, sweetie. If you weren't so intent on working all the time, even when your not at work, you might have someone right now." She said half teasingly.
"I suppose you're right."
Hermione's mum smiled that matronly smile and said "I love you sweetie."