Blind Date
Chapter 1: After the War
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything to DO with Harry Potter. Don't sue me!
Hermione Granger flipped her unruly brown hair over her shoulder and glared at her friends, Jessica and Ellen.
After the great war between Harry Potter and Voldemort, in which Hermione lost all of her friends, she took to living in the "Muggle World." She sorely missed using magic, but as it was less than a year after the war, she couldn't bear going back to the place where she lost all of her hope and friends.
In the muggle world, Hermione lived prosperously as a doctor. No one knew she secretly used a charm or two on the patients to help them along, nor did it matter. She was saving lives, and she was very careful to keep it quiet.
Hermione had formed a close friendship with two other doctors from the hospital where she worked. Jessica's salary was the smallest out of the three of them, because she had a slightly smaller job. She didn't work as many hours, which she was glad of. Jessica was a bit of a tease. She often had multiple boyfriends at once, enjoying having all of them wait her hand and foot. Jessica claimed that Hermione was too shy, and needed to be more open with men.
Ellen was just the opposite. She was reserved and quiet, even with her own boyfriend of four years. They were thinking of marriage, and Ellen was truly happy. She was ready to commit to a life with her man, Pete.
Hermione hadn't had a boyfriend since Ron died in the war. She spent most of her time working, trying to drown out the thoughts of the war and the way she had failed to save the lives of those most important to her.
But Ellen and Jessica both agreed that Hermione needed to get out more, so they had set her up with a blind date. This was why Hermione was glaring at them at this moment.
"I don't need to go out, I'm fine with things right now. I want to focus on my work right now," she protested. The biggest reason Hermione didn't want to go out, though she didn't want to admit it, even to herself, was that she was afraid of getting hurt again. She had been so heartbroken when Ron had died she had sworn she would never love anyone again. She felt guilty just thinking about going on dates.
"Hermione, I know you are afraid. It must be horrible to have your boyfriend die in a car crash like that, with you having to save him… and failing. But you are a WONDERFUL doctor, and I don't think it was your fault. You can't always save the life every single time. You have to go out SOMETIME, Hermit," Jessica declared, looking at her in a pleading way.
Hermione sighed, knowing that she couldn't back out after a speech like that.
"Fine… but only ONE date. And you have to make sure he's a nice guy. Okay?"
"YES!" Jessica squealed happily. "Don't worry. I will find you the PERFECT date."