A New Theory


Summary: Hermione has a new theory that each and every person has a good and bad side. What if her least favorite person put her theory to the test? Hermione conveniently works in the psychological department in St.Mungos, so she presents her idea to her boss. She thinks that Hermione should do an experiment on someone with it. She asks her who she already knows that has a bad side. Of course, she replies Malfoy. Her boss believes that he will be the perfect subject, since Hermione already knows his bad side all she will have to find is his good side. Hermione almost chokes on hearing this, but she almost dies when her boss says that she should date him she says that if everything goes right it might just take one date, but Hermione doesn't think that she can take even one date!


Chapter One:

Hermione felt the chilly evening air make her cheeks flush as she headed toward the Three Broomsticks. She tried to walk faster to get inside, until she felt the warmth of school memories flood over her and she remembered why her and Harry and Ron had picked this as their weekly meeting place. She slowed her walk and let her feelings take over her. She laughed as she pictured her and Harry and Ron running around Hogsmeade laughing and eating their delicious candy from Honey Dukes. She felt almost as much at home as she used to feel at Hogwarts. Memories and Hogsmeade always made her slow down and "stop and smell the roses". She loved that it did that to her. She didn't need to go to a spa to relax, she could just come here.

As she stepped into the Three Broomsticks, she tried to push away her memories and thoughts so she could try to remember some of the things that she had wanted to mention to Ron and Harry. She didn't see them yet (whew! I've got time to think!), so she snagged a little booth in a corner. Harry, Ron, and Hermione met at the Three Broomsticks once a week to catch up with each other etc. They had to resort to scheduling time for each other because they all had jobs and significant others (except Hermione) which took up most of their time. Besides, it was nice because they always knew that they would see each other and they came to appreciate each other more.

One problem with their meeting in public was that since Harry had defeated Voldemort, he had even more trouble avoiding being recognized. The solution they had come up with was that Ron would meet Harry at his house and then Harry would perform a physical appearance charm on himself. Ron had to meet Harry at his house otherwise neither Ron nor Hermione would know who Harry was. This usually worked, except for one occasion where Harry accidentally turned himself into a girl and Ron didn't tell him because he was choking because he had been drinking water at the time. Harry and Ron went to the bar and Harry had sat there for at least 20 minutes as a girl before Hermione let him know in a whisper that he was a girl. Needless to say, he changed back to a boy, but every Christmas and his girlfriend's birthday when he didn't know what to get his girlfriend, Ginny Weasley, Ron and Hermione would say "Just use your woman's intuition!"


After a few minutes of waiting, Ron and what was assumed to be Harry entered the pub and sat at the booth Hermione had saved for them. This week, Harry had long blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He was tall and muscular and reminded Hermione of a surfer.

"Hey 'Mione! How are you? You haven't been waiting long have you?" asked Harry.

"Hey guys! I just got here a few minutes ago and I'm doing fine. How are you guys?" replied Hermione.

"Eh I'm fine. Mr. Surfer dude over here on the other hand is doing great! He loves the attention he's gettin' from the ladies!" teased Ron, a smile threatening to show through his fake anger.

Harry played along and said "Hey! Just because I'm a buff surfer dude doesn't mean you have to get all jealous!"

"Alright you two, that's enough! Now let's get to chatting!" Hermione said happily.

"Alright then, how's your job going?" asked Ron.

"Oh yeah, I have something to tell you guys! I have a new theory! I don't know if I want to share it with everyone at work though. I'm the youngest person on the staff and the least experienced!"

"Hermione, I have two things to say. Number one: Congratulations on your new theory. Number two: your job is to come up with theories, test them, write reports about them, write books about them, and become rich and famous. Why are you so excited about this theory?" asked Harry.

"Well Harry, for your information, my job is not what you think it is. My job is to help people (Ron coughs "Cough- mental people-cough") and one thing that helps us help people is theories which can help explain things so that we know what techniques to use to help certain people. I'm excited about this theory because this one actually makes sense to me. I'm just worried that my boss, Gina, won't think that it will be useful. Well, do you guys think that I should tell Gina about it?" asked Hermione.

"Well Hermione, you still haven't told us this theory of yours so we can't help you yet." said Ron.

"Oh…oops. Ok well just to let you know it's not really fancy. Actually it's just kind of a philosophy…anyway, I'll tell you if you promise not to make fun of me. Ok well it's just that I think that each and every person has a good and bad side." said Hermione.

"Hermione that makes utter and complete sense! I mean think about it, there is no such thing as a bad person, just a person who chooses to show their bad side. Take Ron for instance, we love our dear Ronnikens, but we don't like when he gets all…mad. Or you Hermione, we love you and your brilliance, but sometimes you can get bossy and be a bookworm. I, of course, am the exception since I am perfect in every way, all the time!" Harry said, beaming. That is, until Ron punched him in the arm…

"Uh thanks Harry. Ron, what do you think?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, I agree with Harry…except for the part where he is perfect. Anyway, you should definitely tell Gina. What are you gonna lose? Anyway, we're twenty, you should have some confidence by now! Plus it could really help someone! Someone might think that they are a terrible person, and you'd just have to tell them your theory! You could help so many depressed people! At our next meeting I expect to be informed of your success!" said Ron.

"I agree! Ron and I want to hear the results next time we meet! I'll buy us all a big fancy celebration dinner!" said Harry.

Hermione felt much better, thanks to her friends! That's one piece of stress lifted off her shoulders. She felt like now she could have fun and relax.

"So, Harry, how's your job going?" asked Hermione.

"It's ok. Being an auror is harder than I thought! But it's also kind of boring too since Voldemort and his death eaters are gone. The aurors kind of act like police now. It's mostly just a desk job now, but the paper work is so frustrating! We have to make five copies of everything and send it to three people, plus we file it, plus we have a copy for our personal files!" ranted Harry.

"Harry, next time use the multiplying charm. Just don't forget that you don't have to be an auror if it's not what you want. I can understand that you would get bored being an auror now because it's not like you thought it would be. You still have time to do something else you know." said Hermione.

"Yeah mate, if you're bored get out! Don't get stuck doing something you don't want to do!" said Ron.

"Well Ron, how is your job working out for you?" asked Hermione.

"The job is fine, but one of the co-workers is not so good. Malfoy is tormenting me to no end! He teaches charms and he thinks that only idiots teach care of magical creatures. He plays pranks on me and he makes remarks about my family, and practically everything about me, in front of the students! At least I hear that he's getting a job somewhere else! I'm sorry Hermione, but I hear that he's getting a job in St.Mungos, maybe even your department!" said Ron.

"Oh of course! I'm sure that he missed torturing me so much, he decided to come work with me so we could be closer together!" Hermione said with sarcasm and annoyance.

"Sorry guys, it's just that I hate how Malfoy always wins! He gets everything he wants and he gets away with anything! I never really got Malfoy though. I know he picked on Harry because he was jealous, I know he picked on Ron because of previous family judgments, and I know he picked on me because I'm a muggleborn, but there were other muggleborns in the school, why did he just pick on me?" asked Hermione.

Harry and Ron looked at each other. They knew why Malfoy only picked on her, but she would never believe them.

"Hermione, everyone knows that he was just jealous of us being the 'Golden Trio', as everyone called us, because he didn't have any real friends or friendships like ours. It's not like he singled you out, it's just that you were part of the 'Trio' and you were way smarter than him." said Harry.

"I suppose you're right. I just have this weird feeling that it's something else, but I can't put my finger on it. Oh well. We should probably get going you guys. It's getting pretty late and Ginny and Rachel will start to wonder where you guys are pretty soon!" Hermione said in a sing song voice. Ginny was Harry's girlfriend and Rachel was Ron's girlfriend. Rachel was Madam Rosemerta's granddaughter. He had actually met her in the Three Broomsticks after having a weekly meeting with Harry and Hermione.

"Yep, we can't keep 'em waiting too much longer, can we Ron?" said Harry.

"Nope, them womans, what would they do without us?" replied Ron, playing along.

"Alright, alright, enough of your machoness! You guys are so immature sometimes!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Sometimes?" Ron asked.

"Let me re-phrase that, all of the time!" Hermione said while laughing.

They left the Three Broomsticks and said their good byes and Hermione wished that they could meet more often. Laughing and talking was much more fun than working or reading. She had found that out as she got older. Plus she had the laziest people in the world as best friends and sometimes they influenced her a little.


She apparated to her flat in a small town near London and suddenly felt exhausted. She decided that she needed a warm bath and some rest. She thought that she was probably just too stressed. She used her wand and magical keypad entry system and walked into her warm and cozy flat. She had to have at least those security measures since she was one of Harry Potter's best friends. She never knew what kind of maniacs might come after her and she didn't want to know!

She listened to the messages on her message machine as she ran the water for her bath. One of her messages was from her mom; Mrs. Granger wanted to know if Hermione wanted any of the holiday cookies that she had baked. She had another message from her boss reminding her that Monday was a holiday and that Hermione was not aloud to come to work. Her boss left another message that said that they were going to have a huge staff holiday party at St.Mungos. It would be a formal party, so Hermione would have to wear dress robes and she would be required to bring a date. She had another message that was from Ron…wait a minute! She had to bring a date! What kind of requirement was that! She hoped that Rachel or Ginny would let her borrow Harry or Ron for the night…anyway the message from Ron was a reminder to tell Gina about her theory, like she would forget! Her last message was also from Gina. It said that she wouldn't have to bring a date; the board of the managers of the departments had decided that to add fun they would assign partners, like blind dates. That did not sound fun to Hermione, but at least she wouldn't have to bring Ron or Harry and feel embarrassed that she couldn't get a real date. But then again, what if Malfoy did decide to work at St.Mungos? They might be partnered together! That would be scary! Well, if they did get partnered together it might not be so bad, he might have matured. Not very likely! She could just torture him herself. That would be fun! Harry and Ron would love a meeting when she told them something like that!

Her messages and torturing Malfoy daydreams over and her bath ready, she slipped into the tub ready to relax and let her purple lavender scented bubble bath take over her. She closed her eyes in order to relax more, but was shaken out of her peace and quiet by her doorbell ringing.

Grumbling, she emerged from her warm and welcoming tub of bubbles and put on her robe to go yell at the poor unfortunate soul who had rang her doorbell. She looked through the peep-hole in the door, but she couldn't see what her peace-intruder looked like. She opened the door enough to look normal, but not enough to let in an unwelcome guest.

An unfamiliar masculine voice said "Hello Hermione, may I come in?" Hermione tried to say no, that she was busy and could they come back tomorrow, but they stepped forward expectantly.

"Actually, now is not the best time." she said through her teeth.

"I just want a quick chat. Then you can return to your shower or bath…is that lavender?" asked her visitor as he pushed the door open. Until then she could not see who it was, but when they pushed the door open, the light from the house flowed over their pale face. She could not believe that this almost polite, but still arrogant and expectant person at her door was who she was looking at.

"M…MaMa..."


AN: uh oh! Who's at the door? Duh duh duhhhh! Like it? Don't like it? I don't exactly care, cause I like it anyway, but reviews are nice! Read and review! Chapter two coming soon!

Sam