-1 "Hermione!" Harry's beaming face greeted Hermione as she disembarked from the train at platform 9 ¾. Hermione managed to smile back.
"It's good to see you again Harry." She kissed his cheek and he took her suitcase. "How's Ginny?"
"Blooming, as ever." Harry grinned. "She wants another baby. Heaven knows why we already have three. She complains about them enough." Harry smiled, so did Hermione. She knew that, despite how he acted, Harry would be perfectly happy to have ten children. They passed through the barrier into Kings Cross and wandered through London towards Covent Garden. They came to a restaurant, Harry was obviously well known and they got a table straight away. After they ordered Harry started the conversation.
"So, are you looking forward to it?"
"I don't really know, I suppose I'm still getting used to the idea. It's a big change after Hogwarts. I have been there for a huge chunk of my life."
"Tell me about it." Harry smiled. "It's been your home for a long time. Oh, I almost forgot. I have some news."
"You mean apart from your lovely wife planning to extend the family?" Hermione teased. Harry laughed.
"Yes, apart from that. Guess who's going out with Padma Patil."
"Who?"
"Ron."
"No!"
"Oh yeah. Don't know how he did it but he managed to get one of the best looking girls in our year. Not that I'm complaining, I have got the beautiful Ginny Weasley." he winked at Hermione, who laughed. "What about you though Hermione? I'm married and Ron's got a girl, how's your love life? Got some secret fiancé tucked away that we don't know about?" He grinned. Hermione's smile shook slightly but Harry didn't notice. Not quite a fiancé, but a man she loved more than existence. A man she'd had to leave behind. She changed the subject, and their food arrived.
"So, you've told me who to avoid at the ministry, what next?"
"Well, there's the minister's secretary, Amanda Peasblossom, she is the greatest gossip in the world so don't let anything slip, but she's fantastic for a girly chat, I know, I have to avoid her like the plague. I get enough of that at home. You should come over more often Hermione and rescue me." Hermione laughed again, she'd missed Harry. The strangest thing about being a teacher at Hogwarts was being the only one there from her year. When she'd been there as a student, she, Harry and Ron had been known as the golden trio, when they'd left it was strange being back there without them. That and the fact her former teachers became her colleagues. Calling Professor McGonagall, Minerva and Dumbledore, Albus and Severus…There she went again, and she never thought of him as Professor Snape now. She shook herself mentally, and focused back on what Harry was saying, she was meant to be forgetting. Even as she told herself that, a small voice sounded at the back of her head 'Who are you trying to kid? You'll never forget him, never.'