Chapter 1
Three years later.
Hermione coughed as the dust raised up as she slammed the old book closed.
It was five o'clock. Home time.
Her employer did not like it when she stayed longer than he deemed necessary. Packing her stuff, she cleaned her work space.
Calling a quick good bye to her employer, she left.
Walking out of the old building and into London- she turned right like every day towards her friend's pub, Barton's Place. It was a 15 minute walk to Barton's. Like every day. From there it would later take her a 10 minute walk to her shared flat.
She had successfully been living in the muggle world for the last three years. She only worked for a recluse wizard and that was really it. All other connections where severed long ago. She wanted to keep it that way too.
Entering the pub, she smiled at the memorial regulars. Mostly men avoiding their wives.
Walking up to the bar, she hosted herself onto the long bar stool and waited for the bartender to walk over.
"Hey Baby girl" the bartender called, walking over to her and across the bar leaned over to kiss her check. Like always.
"Hey, Spence" Hermione greeted her best friend/ flat mate.
"How was work?" he asked "As exciting as always?"
"Why would I want it any other way?" She replied
Spencer Barton took over his father's pub after his tragic death two years ago. He of course was a muggle, but was the only one that knew about her being a wizard- they were childhood friends.
"So do you think it will be a slow night?" Hermione asked
"Hard to say- on one hand it is a Friday but on the other there is that new night club opening down the road"
"I wouldn't be too worried if I where you" Hermione told her friend "Your pub is a great hit"
Spencer had been a surprisingly good business man. He took the pub that his father had almost ran into the ground and transformed it into a thriving event pub. Young people who didn't like nightclubs went for the quiet night in the pub. There was different kinds of music events. Pub quizzes. Band nights with local talent. He remained her of two other extremely surprisingly good business men. Her chest tightened at the thought of two of the people she left behind.
"Yea, yea- Whatever" Spence said "Want food?"
Hermione nodded "Please"
"It's Friday, I'll get Mark to make you a burger- no arguments" he told her
"Thank you sweetie" she replied
Spencer blew her a kiss before he left.
Hermione smiled and reached into her bag grabbing her mobile. Her employer preferred it turned off during working hours. He, like most wizards, is technology challenged.
Living in the muggle world forced her to become reacquainted with their ways.
Connecting to the internet she checked her emails, which was mostly spam. She sighed bored as she watched her friend work. Taking out her book, she open at the page she left off at and continued reading the light romance novel she started at lunch.
"Granger?" a voice called out, sounding surprised
Hermione head flew up and turned in her seat.
The man standing in front her, Fred Wesley. Looking just as she remembered him… Three piece suit, handsome well-built body, Wesley hair but instead of his usual cocky smile it was just a look of extreme shook.
Well maybe it wasn't like always.
