A/N: I know this is a new story once again although I haven't finished my other stories. This story is more like my practice ground for something I'm preparing for. So, I guess this will be updated more frequently than the rest. I apologize now if I could not answer to your requests to update my other stories but hopefully next month I'll be able to finish them all.

I do hope that you enjoy this one!

This story is AU.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters.


You and I

I


"So Hermione, what's new with you?" Jean Granger asked her daughter as they prepare dinner for their relatives who are coming over later for their monthly dinner.

"What do you mean? I always call you every time I got the chance and I tell you everything that's been going on in my everyday life." The young woman with shoulder length wavy brown hair and ivory skin tone answered without looking at her mother.

"You do but most of the time you always talk about your roommate." Jean replied.

Hermione sighed and turned to face her mother. "Where are you going with this conversation, Mom?"

Jean did not face her daughter right away but after some internal debate, she puts down the knife she's holding and faced Hermione. "Don't take this the wrong way, Hermione, but ever since the day you met Fleur. I never heard you speak about your love life. I mean, you never mention any boyfriends or someone you might be interested in and it gets worse when you moved in with her, because every time I tried to introduce you with someone you might like you always refused. What's going on, Hermione?" she asked concerned. "Besides you're already in a marrying age."

Hermione looked at her mother neutrally, because this topic is not new to her. "I'm only twenty seven, Mom." She answered with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, it's not that I'm not interested with anyone. I'm just taking my time besides I'm not ready yet to settle down."

"That's what you said the last time too."

"Because you keep asking the same question every time I come over." Hermione said exasperated.

"I'm just concern, Darling. I mean you're my only child and your father and I are not getting any younger. We want to see our grandchildren too." Jean insisted.

"Whatever, Mom. I'm done with this topic. I'm going to talk to Dad, can you handle everything here?" When her mother nodded, Hermione left the kitchen to find her father.

"Hermione, what brought you here?" Brad Granger asked upon seeing his daughter standing in the barn's door.

"Hi Dad, are you busy?" Hermione asked hesitantly as she entered the barn and saw her father fiddling with some tools.

"Of course not, come here." Brad said gesturing to his daughter to sit down on the single chair available in the barn. "What's wrong?" he asked after seeing the dejected look on his daughter's face. "Was it your mother again?" It's not a secret to him that his wife keeps on pestering their only child about marriage and although he's not entirely against with the idea of Hermione getting married, to him if his daughter is not ready to settle down then it's okay. He's not going to force her to marry someone just to satisfy her parents' wishes after all Hermione is his only daughter, his special angel and he's not ready to let her go just yet. "If it's your mom pestering you to get married, don't worry about it."

Hermione smiled gratefully at her father. "I'm glad you're on my side, Dad."

"I'm always on your side, pumpkin."

Hermione looked down on the ground and debated to herself for awhile before looking up at her Father again who is now hammering a nail on a piece of wood. Brad Granger was a respectable retired military man and most people thought that he is a strict father and husband, but those are just speculations based on his history because to Hermione and Jean they had never seen that side of him. All they saw is a man who is calm, supportive and loving and whatever the circumstances might be he always deals with it logically. And it's one of the good things that Hermione admire the most about her father.

"Dad."

"Yes, pumpkin?" Brad asked without averting his eyes from what he is doing.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You already did." Brad teased.

"It's not that!" Hermione huffed.

Brad laughed and stopped his hammering and turned around to face his daughter. "I know. So, what's it about?"

"What's your view about same sex marriage?" Hermione asked as she eyed her father critically to gauge his reaction.

Brad smiled at his daughter and sighed. "You know that I'm not a judgemental person, Hermione. Being in military I've seen so many horrifying things going on around me and being gay isn't one of them. In fact some of my subordinates were gay and they have their own husbands and wives back home. So, I think its okay for gay couples to get married," he explained and asked. "What's the foundation of a strong marriage, pumpkin?"

"Trust and love." Hermione answered confidently because that was what her parents' told her when she asked them the same question when she was a child.

"There you go; I hope I satisfied your curiosity with my answer."

"You did." Hermione answered and stood up from her seat. "I'm going back inside the house to help mom prepare the table," she said and did not wait for her father to speak.

Brad watched his daughter leave the barn and had a suspicion that something is going on with Hermione, because not even once did his daughter asked him such question before but he's not going to meddle with her affair and would wait for her to talk to him. If what his instinct was telling him was right then he will support his daughter because knowing Jean, the woman will be stubborn just like their child and he is sure that his wife will react negatively at first. He only hopes that Jean would understand and accept whatever decision Hermione might make in the future.

-0-0-0-

"Harry!" Hermione shouted excitedly when her cousin entered her parents' home and run to him and embraced him.

"Wow. You really missed me that much eh?" Harry said laughing as he returned his cousin's hug.

"How could I not? I haven't seen you for one month. How's your honeymoon with the new Mrs. Potter?" Hermione asked as she let go of her cousin but her smile immediately faded upon seeing the man standing behind Harry's wife and it did not go unnoticed by Harry and his wife Ginny.

"He's on vacation and wants to come along." Harry explained quickly. "I'm sorry, Mione. But I can't really say no to Ginny," he added in a whisper.

"It's alright as long that he keeps his distance." Hermione whispered back and smiled at Ginny. "Welcome back, Ginny," she said and hug the younger woman briefly before she turned a forced smile towards Ginny's older brother. "How are you, Ronald?"

"Hello Hermione." Ronald Weasley greeted back awkwardly. "I hope I'm not intruding," he said but Hermione did not say anything and turned around.

Ronald Weasley was Hermione's ex-boyfriend when she was in her final year in high school but she broke up with him after graduation because she can no longer take his insensitive attitude and jealousy whenever she is interacting with other people. Especially with Harry, Ronald was jealous of her relationship with her own cousin and it's the last straw when he accused her of having an affair with Harry. How dense was that? They are related by blood for goodness sake. So years had passed since the last time they saw each other and once again their path had crossed. Ronald was now a fully grown man who still had the typical Weasley family traits: fiery red hair and a freckled complexion. Blue eyes, a long nose, and is very tall and lanky, with big hands and big feet. Hermione only hopes that not only his appearance matured but also his attitude.

"So, that young man with red hair, is that Ronald?" Jean asked subtly as she stood next to her daughter whom she found hiding in the corner.

"Stop it, Mom."

"But Hermione..."

"Enough!" Hermione grumbled and left her mother. She went outside and stood at the front porch of her parents' home, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I want to be alone, Mom." She said without looking behind her when she heard the front door opened, assuming that it was her mother.

"I'm sorry if my presence bothers you that much, Hermione." Ronald's voice made Hermione turned around quickly and glared at the man.

"What makes you think that your presence is bothering me?" Hermione huffed crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

"I..."

Hermione sighed and relax her stance. "Look, Ronald. You being here doesn't bother me. Go back inside and leave me alone."

Ronald opened his mouth to say something but closed it immediately as if changing his mind and stared at Hermione. His ex-girlfriend grew up into a beautiful woman, she has no longer had the untamed curly hair but rather it was now more tamed and wavy. Her brown eyes are now fiercer just the way he remembers, even her freckles were gone. "Look Hermione, I asked Ginny to bring me along because I want to see and talk to you."

"About what?"

"All this years that we've been separated I still have fee..."

"Ronald, stop. I don't want to hear it." Hermione raised her hands to stop the man from speaking. "We're done years ago and I'm already committed with someone else."

"But your mom said..."

"My mother doesn't know everything that's been going on in my life. I'm committed and I love that person very much and I hope this is the last time that you're bringing our past in a conversation." Hermione said and went back inside the house to confront her mother. "Mom! What is wrong with you?" she hissed when she stopped in front of her mother. "You talk to Ronald about me?"

"Darling..."

"No! You've done enough, I'm leaving." Hermione said without giving her mother the chance to explain.

"What's going on here?" Brad asked, he approached his wife and daughter immediately when he saw the frustrated look on Hermione's face.

"I'm sorry, Dad, but I'm leaving." Hermione said and turned around to leave her parents' home.

"Hermione..." Ginny tried to talk to her but she raised her hand to stop the woman.

"Not now, Ginny." Hermione said and left without turning back.

Jean tried to follow her daughter but Brad's hand on her arm stop her. "You've done enough damage for today, Jean. Let her cool her head first before you try talking to her again," he said sighing and glance at Harry who was looking their way apologetically.

-0-0-0-

Fleur Delacour is a stunningly beautiful woman, with golden hair, large blue eyes, and a light, airy figure. She's happy and content with her life right now because she's still in a relationship with Hermione Granger her girlfriend of eight years and they are still so much in love with each other but just like with other couples they also had their fights and problems. Their fights sometimes started with jealousy but most of the time it was about her girlfriend's fear and refusal of telling her parents about them that she's not just her roommate and friend but rather her girlfriend and lover. Fleur's family knew about her preferences and they accepted her for what she is. They also supported her relationship with Hermione and demanded to meet her girlfriend. In fact they really like the woman and whenever they get the chance they keeps on pestering Fleur with the question if she already ask Hermione's hand in marriage. For Fleur it was love at first and she firmly believes that Hermione is the 'It' of her life and no one else, so if the woman is not ready to reveal their true relationship with her parents then she would wait for her even if it takes forever as long that she can still call the woman hers.

"Imagine me and you, I do. I think about you day and night, it's only right, to think about the girl you love and hold her tight, so happy together." Fleur was quite happily singing to herself when she entered the apartment she's sharing with Hermione and did not notice the woman sat on the living room as she went straight to the kitchen to put away the groceries she was carrying and quickly turned around surprised when she heard Hermione's voice calling out her name. "Oh, I didn't notice you there."

Hermione smiled shaking her head at Fleur. "Obviously because you're so focused with what you're singing."

"Well, it's a good song if you ask me and I think it will be my favourite song for the rest of my life."

"Where did you hear it?" Hermione asked curiously as she sat down on one of the chairs surrounding the breakfast counter and watch her girlfriend put away the groceries.

"Oh, I was in the produce isle when I heard this man singing to himself while browsing the fruit stand and I kind of like the lyrics."

"Did you get the whole version of the song?"

"No, but I'll ask Gabby tomorrow if she know the title of the song." Fleur said and abruptly stop upon realizing something and turn around to face her girlfriend. "What are you doing home so early? Aren't you supposed to be at your parents' monthly dinner?" she said and Hermione scowled at her. "Oh, that's a very bad sign if you're frowning like that. What happened?" she asked concerned.

"My mom happened." Hermione sighed.

"Did she ask you again about your love life?" Fleur teased and receive a scowl. "So, what did you tell her?" she asked but this time more considerate considering it's an unstable topic between them.

"Nothing, I told her nothing." Hermione said exasperatedly. "There's something else that happened today," she added. Fleur did not say anything and waited for her to continue. "My ex showed up at my parents' house," and this time she got a reaction from her girlfriend.

"Your ex?" Fleur asked frowning and Hermione nodded. "According to what you've told me before you only had one relationship before me."

"That's right."

"Ronald."

"Yes, Ronald Weasley. Unfortunately he came along with Harry and Ginny."

"Did he do something to you?"

Hermione shook her head and smiled. "No, we just talk and he tried to get back with me."

"He what?!" Fleur shriek outrage which made Hermione laugh.

"Relax, Fleur. I set him straight; I told him that I'm already committed and that I'm in love with that person."

"But you did not tell him who this person is?" Fleur asked and when Hermione did not reply she sighed and turned around.

Hermione looked at her girlfriend's back silently. Fleur is a great woman and if she wants to replace Hermione she can do it with just the flick of her finger and they had been together for eight years and Fleur had been really patient with her and she knew that it was hurting the woman every time she introduce her to her family as her roommate and friend. Maybe it's time to overcome her fear and let her parents' know that Fleur Delacour is not just her roommate and friend. Fleur's family and their friends knew already about their true relationship except for her family of course. Eight years being together is proof enough that they are 'It' for each other, with conviction Hermione straightened up in her seat and called out her lover's name.

"Fleur?" No response. "Fleur, look at me," she said firmly.

Fleur sighed. "I don't want to fight with you, Hermione," she said as she turned around.

"Let's get married." Hermione said without preamble and Fleur stared at her shock.

To be continued...