A/N: Sneezy Mouse is back again with a new story. Very quickly too, as I just finished DSP a few days ago. After the success of my previous story, "Deep in the Subconscious of a Prankster," (yes, that was a shameless plug), I decided to try out another. Also, if these people seem OoC, I don't care. They are older and grown up so… bahaha!
I don't own Harry Potter or anything related to Harry Potter, so don't sue unless you want my half-eaten cookie… wait. Nope, I just finished that.
I don't own "Unbroken" either which belongs to Tim McGraw or his recording company or whatever.
Unbroken
by Sneezy Mouse
* I *
"How I ever lived and breathed before you loved me, I don't recall…"
Tim McGraw, "Unbroken"
Hermione Granger, twenty-five years old, successful writer for the Daily Prophet, and witch extraordinaire, was happy. She was just about to go lunch with her friend, Ginny Weasley (whom she hadn't seen in nearly a month), she had just gotten the chance to report on a huge story for the Prophet and her payment for her new flat had been approved. Today was a good day.
"Hermione!"
She quickly turned her head and saw said Ginny Weasley sitting at a small table in an outdoor café with a huge blue margarita. It was late October and the sun was shining bright overhead.
"Hey, Ginny," Hermione said, smiling and sitting down across from her good friend. "A little early for an alcoholic beverage, don't you think?"
Ginny looked down at her margarita, then at Hermione. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had one of these? All throughout Berlin I was looking for these. It's the alcohol I drink and I think I deserve it. Do you want one?"
"No," Hermione said. "It's only one thirty in the afternoon."
Ginny shrugged and took a sip.
"How was Berlin?" Hermione asked.
Ginny had spent the last month in Germany with her boyfriend, the one and only Harry Potter, for an "Unmentionables" conference… no, not like knickers or anything, but for the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic; he and Ginny were both Unmentionables – very secretive.
"Well, aside from the actual meetings – which were dreadfully boring, I might add – it was amazing," Ginny said, smiling back.
"I'd ask what exactly was so boring, but since it's so secretive – " Hermione smirked, " – I won't. We probably shouldn't even be talking about it. So, what did you do besides the conference?"
"Oh, well," Ginny said, thinking, "we did a lot of sightseeing… Nothing spectacularly exciting, but it was very beautiful there. We took pictures, but they haven't been developed yet. Actually, Harry has them packed away in his suitcase, so they probably never will be."
Hermione and Ginny laughed. Harry was quite forgetful.
"How about you?" Ginny asked. "Have any torrid, passionate affairs while I was away?"
Hermione snorted.
"Unless you count the blind date Lisa arranged for me, no," she said.
"And?" Ginny pressed.
"And," Hermione said, "I know I say that looks don't matter as long as they're nice and all, but a bald, pock faced hunchback with a horrid personality is a bit much for me."
"And Lisa thought this was a good match for you?" Ginny asked, shocked.
"Actually," Hermione said, "she had never seen him either. It's a quite confusing story, actually, but the point is, the date lasted less than thirty minutes before I got tired of his snarky comments about me before I left."
Ginny shook her head sympathetically.
"I know you don't like hearing it, Hermione, but – "
"Don't even say anything about it, Ginny," Hermione interrupted.
"But if you just smoothed it a bit more… or maybe wore a bit more make-up or something," Ginny said. Hermione gave her a death glare and she desisted.
Although Hermione acted annoyed, she was really quite amused by all the attention her hair received. She had a very pretty face, and clear skin; she wasn't skinny by model standards, but she looked quite nice in a bathing suit, she had to admit. The only thing that really seemed to vex her friends was her hair.
Now, it wasn't as bushy as it had been in Hogwart's days. After she had graduated, she realized that, unfortunately, looks got you farther than smarts, so Hermione invested in some very expensive, very permanent, Smoothing Serums. She didn't use the entire bottle as it suggested, but just enough that her hair was frizzy, but in a fun way… if that's possible.
"I already changed my hair," Hermione said. "I'm not doing it again. I like it the way it is, thank you."
Ginny gave a frustrated sigh. Ginny wasn't a superficial person herself, but when someone as pretty as Hermione, in Ginny's opinion, let her hair get in the way of her pretty face, it was some sort of crime against nature, or something.
"Fine," Ginny gave in. "I give up. Keep your hair a tangled rat's nest."
"At least my hair doesn't give the illusion that my brain is on fire," Hermione shot back.
Hermione and Ginny glared at each other for a moment before busting out laughing. This repartee was very common between the two friends.
"So," Ginny said. "No other dates besides that?"
"Nope," Hermione said hopelessly. "I'm still as single as ever.'
Ginny frowned. She knew of the perfect person for Hermione, but she dared not say who until now.
"I know someone that would be very good for you," Ginny said mischievously.
"If you mean that boy you work with, no way," Hermione said. "He looks just like Harry."
"Is that a bad thing?" Ginny asked.
Hermione sighed.
"Okay, fine," Ginny said. "I think that you and Fred should go out sometime."
Hermione looked at her friend incredulously.
"Fred? As in, Fred Weasley? As in your brother who once stole my Prefect badge, turned me into a chicken – FOR A WEEK! – and gave me Percy's voice – FOR A MONTH! – and – "
"I get it, I get it," Ginny caved.
"Why Fred?" Hermione asked, still shocked. "He's like an older brother to me. Does he know about this?"
"Well," Ginny said sheepishly. "Not technically…"
"Does he even have feelings for me in that kind of way?"
"Not that I'm aware of, but – "
"Oh yes then, Ginny," Hermione interrupted. "Please, set me up on a date with someone whom I have no romantic interest in, and who has no romantic interest in me. Smashing date I think."
"Your sarcasm is noted," Ginny said.
"God," Hermione said. "Fred Weasley… I haven't seen him in ages."
"Really?" Ginny asked, kind of shocked.
"No, actually," Hermione explained. "It's been a good year and a half since I've seen him. He's always away on business now that his and George's joke shop is going international. Is he good?"
"Yes. He's stressed, which is different."
Hermione laughed.
"But other than that, he's good," Ginny ended. "He and George have a big deal coming up with some wizard town in Argentina. They're trying to get the South American Market."
"Qué bueno."
Ginny laughed.
"Okay, so Fred is out. How about David Kilburn?"
"Who?" Hermione asked.
"A guy from the ministry. Not in my department," Ginny added hastily. She knew Hermione hated secrets and the Department of Mysteries was as secretive as you could get.
"What department?" Hermione asked.
"I want to say…" Ginny thought for a moment. "The Department of Magical Creature Preservation? I think that's the word. Anyways, he goes around and makes petitions and stuff to make sure magical creatures such as unicorns and dragons don't go extinct. It's a new department."
"I like animals," Hermione said.
"Good," Ginny said, excited. "He's really nice and really good looking, too. He's tall, got medium brown hair that's kind of shaggy and then these really blue eyes that are just… so incredibly sexy."
"Ginny!" Hermione said.
"What?" Ginny asked. "Hell, if I didn't have Harry I'd – "
"Please do not finish that sentence."
"Fine," Ginny pouted. "But I would."
Hermione sighed.
"What do you think?" Ginny asked. "Would you like to give him a shot? He's a really great guy."
"When?"
"This Saturday," Ginny said. "Harry and I have two extra tickets for the Halloween Festival in Hogsmeade and – "
"You planned this, didn't you?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
Ginny smiled mischievously.
"Maybe," she said. "Well? Would you like to go?"
Hermione weighed her options. She could either stay home this Saturday and write her story… or re-write it since she was already finished. Or, she could go have some fun with her friends and a potential boyfriend. Also, if this David fellow was completely unfortunate, she could always lose him in the crowd… or say she had to go home and work on her Daily Prophet article.
"Well…" Hermione paused for suspense. She knew it was killing Ginny. "I suppose I could make an appearance."
Ginny squealed in delight.
"This is fantastic. You'll love him! He's a great guy," Ginny said. "He's such a laugh. Now," Ginny added. "About that hair."
Hermione sighed and took a drink of her water.
Maybe I should've gotten that margarita after all, she thought as Ginny rambled on.
* * * * *
"Ginny, I look like an idiot."
"You look fine," Ginny replied as Hermione was surveying herself in the mirror.
"I look like a hooker!" Hermione replied, trying to pull down the shirt.
"Hey!" Ginny said. "I wear that shirt."
Hermione sighed and took off the shirt – a midriff baring maroon tank top – and put on her white button down.
"Hermione," Ginny whined. "Can't you please compromise with me? If you won't do your hair nicely, at least dress nicely. I want David's eyes to pop and his jaw to drop when he sees you. He's quite excited about this."
"Are you implying that I have to wear provocative clothing in order to get a guy's attention?"
"No."
"Then shut up."
"Fine," Ginny said. "I will."
They stayed silent, glaring at each other for a second before bursting out in laughter.
"All right," Hermione conceded. "How about this?"
Hermione unbuttoned the top and bottom two buttons of her shirt and tied the bottom together.
"It's still me," Hermione said. "But I've got that tinge of sexiness you think I need."
Ginny smiled. The doorbell rang.
"It's Harry!" she squealed.
Honestly, Hermione thought. They way she acts when Harry enters the room, you'd think she was still a little eleven year old with a crush instead of a woman that's been in a relationship for two years.
Hermione walked out the room, self conscious of her stomach showing, to say hello.
"Wow, Hermione," Harry said. "You look… different."
"Was there a compliment hidden in there somewhere?"
"Sorry, yes."
Hermione smiled. "So where's this David fellow?"
"He's meeting us at Hogsmeade," Ginny said excitedly. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Yippee, Hermione thought sarcastically. Hermione was excited, don't get her attitude wrong, she just hated being set up with guys.
"Hermione," Harry said. "Hurry up."
"Yes," Hermione said. "Because it takes forever to Apparate."
Harry gave her a look.
Hermione gave him one back.
Ginny sighed, sick of Hermione's sarcasm. She knew Hermione hated being set up, but she also hated being single. Hermione could pretend all she wanted, but she really would've liked a boyfriend.
"Are we leaving?" Ginny asked. "Because I'd like to be at the Halloween Festival when it is still Halloween."
Harry and Hermione nodded and in the blink of an eye, the trio had gone.
"I'll never get over hw wonderful it looks around this time," Hermione said wistfully, examining Hogsmeade.
It was almost identical to the Great Hall when they had attended Hogwarts. Flying Jack-o-Lanterns illuminated the town and there were dancing scarecrows (Ginny didn't like these much and kept her face buried in Harry's shoulder when they passed them). Little witches and wizards were roaming around, finding Honeydukes sweets in hidden locations. It was, as there was no other word in Hermione's vocabulary to describe it, magical.
"I know," Ginny said. "Now lets find David!"
Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her towards the road leading to the Shrieking Shack. As soon as they got there, Hermione saw him, waving at Ginny.
Hermione had to admit, he was very handsome. David had, as Ginny stated before, shaggy brown hair that fell playfully into his eyes. His eyes, though, were amazing. Ginny had mentioned that they were blue, but she didn't say they were so blue Hermione could see them ten feet away. They resembled, in Hermione's mind, little pools of water from the Caribbean.
Now if only he were to have a personality to match, Hermione hoped.
"Hello," David said, smiling at Hermione. "I'm David Kilburn."
"Hermione Granger," she said, extending her hand, which David took. But instead of shaking it, he brought it up and kissed her hand.
"Pleasure," David said, smiling again. Hermione felt a fluttering feeling in her stomach and a wobbly feeling in her knees. Harry, however, felt a gagging feeling.
"Stop it," Ginny hissed at him as he made a face.
"So," David said jovially. "What are we doing tonight?"
"Actually," Ginny said, frantically. "We have a thing to do."
"What thing?" Harry asked. Ginny looked at him pointedly.
"The thing," Ginny repeated.
"Look," David said, interrupting. "If this is a ploy to get me and Hermione to spend alone time together to get to know each other, then say it."
Ginny blushed.
"All right then," she said. "Hermione, owl me later."
Hermione nodded. Ginny and Harry walked away into the crowd.
"So," Hermione said. "Ginny tells me you work with animals?"
"Yes. I maintain and rehabilitate the populations of magical creatures."
"Do you enjoy it?" Hermione asked. What a brilliant question, she told herself derisively.
David laughed and said, "Quite. But you, you're a reporter for the Prophet. Should I be wary of what I say around you?"
It was Hermione's turn to laugh.
"I'm not that kind of reporter," she replied. "I do mostly entertainment reporting. Like this festival… only not."
"What?" David asked, amused.
"Well," Hermione said. "I do entertainment, but I'm not reporting on this festival. It was a stupid thing to say. Forget it."
"I find it impossible you could say something stupid."
Hermione blushed and David put his arm around her.
"You know what would make this night even better?" David asked after they had walked for about twenty minutes. They had been in a few shops and had danced to the live music already.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"If I could kiss you," David said casually.
Hermione blushed very deeply and before she could respond, David had placed his lips on hers.
A/N: Do not fret. This IS a Fred/Hermione fic, so there will be Fred and Hermione relationship stuff. If you want a good idea on how this fic will progress, go to Lyrics.com and find Tim McGraw. Look up the lyrics for "Unbroken." The story will follow accordingly. Hope you've enjoyed it so far. Preview of chapter two: "If I walked around at all it was in bits and pieces, of a jagged heart…"