A/N: And I apologize again for a late update (Not so late enough though). My beta was on a holiday so I thought it was time to let her rest. Anyway, here is the new chapter! Fiction Recipe, thank you for being an amazing beta and friend. Love you! ^^
And to all my followers and reviewers welcome aboard and mucho gracias!
She sat in her study, swiftly stirring the spoon in her afternoon tea, as the radio played in the background. Slowly bringing the cup to her mouth, she sipped her tea as the latest news boomed into the silence.
'Reporters say that Sir Potter has the names of the suspects-'
Her eyes widened when he was mentioned. Yet, she kept sipping her beverage as if nothing happened.
'There are four suspects, he says, while his companion Detective Ronald Weasley added that they will be taken under custody latest by tomorrow for interrogation-'
"Ma'am," a soft voice from the door broke her reverie. "Mister Walsh is here to see you."
"Let him in Marie." She replied, keeping her tea cup on the centre table as a handsome man of twenty eight, made an appearance with a huge smile. Her face brightened at the sight of him, as he placed a kiss on her cheek and occupied the empty seat in front of her.
"How are you doing Hermione?" The man asked.
Hermione's brown eyes twinkled with sadness as she questioned "Is it about father's death or about our divorce?"
"Our divorce, of course." Jeremy replied.
The brunette sighed, and put on a small smile. "I'm okay," She said. "It wasn't working Jer. I did want us to work you know-"
"It's okay." Jeremy assured her. "Loveless marriage is not healthy. Moreover, we barely got time for each other."
Hermione simply smiled at him. "You know that wasn't the reason we separated." She said softly.
"I know." He said, grabbing her hand. "It's very hard to obey your martial duties when you have your heart for someone else. It's difficult." Jeremy added, giving her hand a squeeze.
Hermione sniffled slightly, and withdrew her eyes from his as Jeremy continued to speak. "And I couldn't see you regret spending your life with me. I swear if father-"
"Please, what had to be done is done." Hermione cut him off, giving his palm a squeeze. "Father's death was unfortunate. It was all of a sudden!"
"I can't agree more." The younger Walsh gave the brunette a small smile. "I've heard they know of the suspects."
"You've heard it right." She sighed and looked away. "They will be arrested by tomorrow."
The pair sat in silence when the radio tuned into one of Hermione's favorite French songs, bringing back old memories into her head. Before the war struck like a lightning, she danced with him under the gazebo in the moonlight while he sang. It was the very same night she gave her virtue to the man she loved. The very same night they confessed their love for each other. All those beautiful vintage memories of her past brought a huge smile on her face.
"He must be a wonderful singer." Jeremy's voice broke her train of memories.
"He was." Hermione replied. "I know it may sound corny but, he sang the very same song while we danced before he professed his love for me."
"He's not a good dancer though," she continued with a small chuckle, "Kept stomping on my feet every second. But I loved him for his imperfection. Not all people can be wonderful dancers."
"Like me." Jeremy cut in cheekily.
"You Jeremy Walsh, are a perfect gentleman." Hermione chuckled. "And really different from the man of my past. Things are different now between the two of us."
"Although you wish that it would've been the very same as it was ten years ago."
Those words made Hermione's chocolate eyes with Jeremy's green ones. The very same eyes she fell for ten years ago. Jeremy in every manner, reminded her of him; her first lover. Her Harry.
True, she had decided to forget him for good. However, she failed every attempt of hers. After their tragic parting, Hermione decided to drop everything she had planned for her and Harry's future, which was her becoming a writer and him studying criminology and getting married by twenty two. Instead, she auditioned for theatre and landed up into young Alice's role Within a few years, her acting ability, which Hermione was herself unaware of, impressed many big budget directors. And that's how Hermione Granger became an A-list actress within a decade, and she thanked Harry for it.
In the first year of her acting career, which happened just six years ago, Hermione had heard of the exciting news of Detective Harry James Potter earning a 'Sir'' title. She was no more than proud of this man whom she loved. However, Hermione knew that she had let him go for good. Harry looked happier without her, and Elena, her surrogate baby sister had forgotten about her. She thought it was better to leave the past inside a trembling volcano.
It was then when she met Jeremy. Of course she knew who he was. This man used to attend every movie premiere of hers and eventually the two ended up having some pleasant conversations. One fine day, Hermione found herself getting attracted to Jeremy, maybe because he reminded her very much of Harry. The feeling was two sided; Jeremy was falling for her as well. After a year and a half of their secret affair, the pair married in secrecy. The reason: Hermione didn't want her acting career to crumble because of this newfound relationship of hers reaching every reporter's ears.
After three years of their married life, Gregory Walsh wanted a grandchild and Hermione wasn't ready for motherhood. Also, Jeremy found himself being distant from his wife when the topic of children was discussed. He knew Hermione had a career and wasn't ready for having children; she was just twenty five after all. However one day, he had a talk with her and was surprised to hear that she was ready for it.
"Jer, if I didn't stop you that night," Hermione started. "Do you think that we-"
"Maybe." Jeremy shrugged with a smile. "But you had to Minnie. Having a baby with a man when you're in love with another, it's not right."
Hermione sighed when her ex husband brought her into a hug. Giving a kiss on her head, he said "I'm not sorry to set you free. I did it because I love you. And I can't see you suffering in pain."
"I love you too Jer." Hermione murmured into his ear. "I just wish that I could love you-"
"More than you love Harry." Jeremy finished for her with a smile. "Now don't apologize for something you haven't done."
Hermione chuckled and placed a kiss on his cheek as she withdrew from his embrace. "Okay, I won't." She said. "But, I'll make you my best chocolate cake if possible."
Jeremy laughed and gave her cheek a kiss. "Alright." He said. "But it needs to have loads and loads of-"
"Chocolate ganache. Got it." Hermione smiled at him.
The two kept smiling at each other when the doorbell rang. Jeremy left her warming embrace and looked oddly at the study door. "Who can it be at noon?" He wondered.
"I have no idea." Hermione shrugged when her maid walked in. "Marie, who is it?" She asked.
"It's Mister Weasley ma'am." The maid answered. "He is asking for you."
Ron and his wife Luna were the only two people from Hermione's past, with whom she kept a secret contact. She wanted to keep in touch with Harry through their friends and not directly with him. It was nice having a tea time chat with Luna and gush about her one year old daughter. However, Hermione did feel guilty for keeping hers and Jeremy's marriage a secret from her best friends as well.
"Bring him to the study Marie." Hermione said and her maid, on the cue, brought Ron into the study. He nodded at Jeremy and then at Hermione.
"Good afternoon both of you." Ron said monotonously, "It's very odd to find you two together in the same room." He added, eyeing suspiciously at Jeremy.
"Oh nothing Ron," Jeremy started. "Hermione and I are good friends as you know. I wanted to talk about father's death with someone, so I decided to seek for Hermione's company."
"Let's hope it wasn't anything more than that." Ron said acidly, earning an odd look from Hermione.
"Anyway, what brings you here?" Hermione asked him slowly, when two policemen made an appearance.
"Officers, why are you here?" Jeremy asked them politely and then looked at Ron. "What is the meaning of this?"
Ron merely cleared his throat and said "Hermione Granger and Jeremy Walsh, you both are under arrest for the murder of the Prime Minister, Gregory Walsh."
Hermione sat like a statue outside the interrogation room in the police station, waiting for Jeremy to be left after his death hour. She, along with three other suspects, was blamed guilty of murdering her father-in-law. Sheila, Gregory's mistress whom she had found in his room nearly two months ago sat next to her, with a sneer on the face. The hotel waiter whose name was Aaron, she assumed, gave explanations to Ron in the room opposite to the sitting area. She took a huge breath when the room opened and out came Jeremy with a serious look on his face. Hermione questioned him with her eyes to which he shook his head.
"Hermione Granger!" A familiar gruff voice called out her name when she shakily got on her feet and gave Jeremy a pleading look.
"Just tell the truth okay." He murmured into her ear, to which Hermione nodded and entered a small room, which appeared like a metal coffin to her. Without meeting her interrogator's eyes, Hermione closed the door.
She turned around to meet a familiar face, the very same pair of emerald eyes.
Those eyes which always looked lovingly at her had fire in them.
That lovely face she loved to touch looked like a fiery lion.
And those lips ... The very same lips she missed feeling on her very own, were now in a straight line.
"Please take a seat, Miss Granger. Or should I say, Mrs. Walsh?"
Those words left his beautiful mouth like a dragon's spit fire
All Hermione knew was that this talk of hers with Sir Harry James Potter was going to be a long one.
A/N: I hope this cliffhanger was good enough. What do you think happens next? What kind of conversation do our lovers have? If you know me well you can answer.
Oh, and on the last note, I have posted a short summary of a HarryxHermione roleplay I am planning. Those interested can have a look at the summary I posted on tumblr and can send me a PM on this site or a Message on tumblr. Thanks! ^^