Inevitable, Chapter One
By Corynth
If you had requested that they look back on their old school days, and asked them what they remembered most, they would have talked about each other. If you had asked what they remembered most fondly, yes, it would have been each other. Even if you had asked them what they remembered least fondly, they would have, after they got over the really awful stuff, started speaking of each other.
The Dream Team. Long since come, long since past. But years later, they were still in each other's hearts.
Hermione Granger was a witch who had long ago left behind her opportunity for a wonderful life. She lived in a dingy muggle apartment and had forgotten how to use much of her magic. "And all for a man," she would mutter to herself, as she swept up nasty little rich children's messes in a blue uniform with a white apron. But then she would smile, because she would remember the man she gave it all up for.
Ron Weasley was rich, a prosperous member of the ministry of magic. He had no real friends, but he was happy. Or at least he had convinced himself that he was. When he lay in bed at night, and she wasn't there beside him, he thought, well at least I have my safe at Gringotts. And when he went out to eat for every meal because he couldn't cook, he didn't want servants, and she wasn't there to do it for him, he thought, well at least I have my safe at Gringotts. And when he wandered the empty halls of his mansion, devoid of laughing children and her smiling face, he thought, well at least I have my safe at Gringotts. When he picked up a book, though, he thought, well at least I have... But he didn't have anything. He didn't have her.
Ginny Weasley had disappeared from the face of the earth long ago, exiling herself to Northern Ireland, where she worked as a waitress in a little pub. She let them forget about her. She let them believe she was dead.
Harry Potter was more alone than any of them. He was more lost than Ginny, richer than Ron, and had a job worse than Hermione's. He was an international Quidditch star. Adored by millions, Harry Potter had never been so lonely. He was just a symbol, something false. He didn't really exist. His reality had faded when he didn't become an auror. Now he was just a smiling face on a poster.
It was inevitable that they all meet up again someday.
Ginny was washing the counter.
Harry was taking a look at the country before his match against Ireland.
Ron, sick of England, had moved, and decided finally that he didn't want to be completely alone; he was hiring a maid.
Hermione was meeting someone at a little pub for a job interview.
They were coming together again.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, obviously.