It had been almost two years since they had seen each other. So much had happened. Hermione Granger's mind raced as she walked towards the Three Broomsticks, her old haunt. She felt out of place, like she was stepping back in time. Except she was nineteen now, had a job with the Foreign Relations department of the Ministry, and in poor contact with her old Hogwarts friends. She was all grown up, went to real restaurants with her boy friend, a young and prodigious ambassador from the Bosnian Ministry of Magic. So why was she so terrified to go to the Three Broomsticks with Ron Weasley?
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous right now," Ron said in a low, soft voice.
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, though she had no idea what to say, when the waiter appeared at the table. He was a tall, dark, and handsome warlock, with a large scar under his eye. Hermione felt herself blush, as she eyed this attractive man, right in front of her heart-breaking ex-boyfriend. Ron did not even seem to notice.
In fact, Ron seemed to notice very little that evening. He talked incessantly about his life in the past few months. He talked about his and Harry's meaningless adventures working with an amateur Quidditch team. With all their potential, Hermione could not believe they had jobs that required so little intellect. In true Hermione fashion, of course, she had no trouble telling Ron her opinions on this.
"Oh, Hermione, you haven't changed a bit!" Ron said, throwing a chip at her. "You are still obsessed with approval from your superiors. After all Harry's been through, don't you think he deserves a low-pressure job?"
"Well, what's your excuse, then, Ronald?" Hermione responded with a sly smirk.
"Me? I'm a slacker. You know that, 'Mione."
At the sound of her old nickname, Hermione's face dropped, suddenly remembering everything she had been through because of this foolish redhead across the table from her. Though she had recovered from this heartbreak long ago, she had never been able to really forgive him. When she had last had dinner with Harry, he had mentioned Ron, and Hermione had decided it was finally time to grow up and bury the hatchet. Though seeing him was easier than she had though it would be, the tension was still incredibly high.
Seeing the change in Hermione's facial expressions, Ron's whole demeanor suddenly changed. It was like he finally was seeing Hermione in front of him. Like he finally remembered what had happened between them. Like he finally realized why she had been so quiet through all his stories about the Quidditch team.
Taking her hands in his on the table, Ron looked very intently into Hermione's eyes. "Look, I know this isn't something you exactly want to talk about, but I just want you to know how sorry I am about the way I treated you. Believe me, I got my just deserts. Padma found someone else, also named Ron, at her new job, and left me for him. They're getting married in two months. So, yea, I know what an ass I was about that whole thing in our 6th year, and I know I can never really make it up to you, but I am very sorry."
Hermione just smiled and took her hands out of his. She looked down at her lap, and fiddled with her ring. "I….I don't know what to say, Ron."
"You don't have to say anything," he whispered. "I'd be lying if I said I think about you everyday, but in all honesty, there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about all the fun we had together, 'Mione. I'm really glad you're here with me now."
Hermione was once again saved from her atypical speechlessness by the handsome waiter, bringing the bill. Ron paid, and walked Hermione out. They hugged, and Ron lingered for a moment, looking into her eyes.
With a sweet smile, Hermione turned to leave and said simply, "Thanks for dinner, Ron."