Hi Guys

Lots of changes in this one, Hermione finally grows up and talks to Jake.

Hope you enjoy it

Sirius xoxo

CHAPTER 10

Hermione strolled into work and she put her bag down and turned on the radio, a habit she had started when Harry left. She then went over and opened up the heavy blinds to let the sun come streaming in and she turned around to her desk and almost died of shock. There sitting on her table was Harry. Her heart stopped then restarted with a thump and her hand immediately flew to her chest to stop it from flying out of her chest.

"Oh dear Merlin, are you trying to kill me Harry?" Harry couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face.

"No Miss Granger, not at all, good PA's are hard to come by." Hermione regained her composure and walked over to her desk. Harry didn't move of the edge and she had to walk around him.

"I saw my brother last night," Hermione tried not to look at him but if he saw how her hands were trembling, he would know he got a reaction.

"I believe congratulations are in order." Hermione would not make eye contact with him at all. The silence was deafening and luckily for Hermione her phone rang. She mumbled a thank you and Harry nodded, stood up and walked into his office. Hermione worked on Harry's meetings and wrote out notes all morning, when around 10am, Lily walked in.

"OH Merlin, Hermione Granger, how could you not tell me the news?" Lily walked around and hugged her. Hermione stood and hugged her back.

"Sorry Lily, it's all been really sudden actually." Lily looked at her face and knew she was not happy and it was hard for her to see her youngest son so happy and know it wasn't the right thing.

"Hermione, do you want to talk about it?" Hermione looked at Lily and was surprised she even thought anything was wrong, she thought she was doing a good job at hiding things.

"Talk about what Lily? Everything is fine." Hermione's voice was a little high pitched and she sat back down at her desk and Lily brushed the hair of her face, like a mother would do to her daughter.

"Hermione, I can see you're not ..."

"Hello mother," Lily turned around at the sound of her son.

"Oh Harry, my darling you're back, and just in time too, my ball is in two weeks. You did remember didn't you?" Harry walked over to give her a hug and told her yes, that's why he was back earlier than planned. Hermione shuddered at this bit of news for two reasons, 1, she knew he would take his new girlfriend and 2, he wasn't back to see her, he wasn't back for her at all. Then of course she realised what she was thinking and scolded herself for doing that too Jake.

"Oh Harry, how was Jen?" Lily looked at him expecting an answer but Harry told her he would talk to her later.

"Hermione, do you think Jake will be back next Saturday?"

"I am not sure Lily, but from what he said yesterday, they have a huge fortnight on."

"Oh, I might owl him later to check if he is coming. You will be there Hermione won't you?"

"Umm I will see what happens with Jake, Lily, is that Ok?"

"No problem, Harry will escort you if Jake can't, I really want you there." Lily walked out of the office leaving two people stunned in her wake.

**********

The week progressed along quietly for Hermione. Jake had owled her and had obviously already spoken to his mum as he told her there was no way he could make it back for the ball. GREAT, now she had a week to think of how to let Lily down. She went to visit her mum on the weekend and then went shopping with Ginny on Sunday.

Ginny was sitting with Hermione in her lounge room eating her dinner.

"Wow, what a day Mione, we sure did some serious shopping." Ginny was digging into her Indian food. Hermione tried to sound enthusiastic, "Yeah it was good, I needed more work clothes...NOT" Ginny laughed, she knew how much Hermione hated shopping. Hermione jumped up and got a bottle of wine so they could watch the movie they hired.

There was an uncomfortable silence and it was driving Ginny insane.

"Hermione, you know I love you don't you?" Hermione looked at her knowing where she was going with this.

"Yeah, why?"

"Please just hear me out, ok?" Ginny paused obviously getting her thoughts in order, "You need to break up with Jake."

"Oh Merlin, Ginny please, everything is fine..."

"NO it's not, it's anything but fine. Listen Hermione I think Jake is great, he is funny, good looking and sweet BUT he is not the one for you. If I had to pick someone for you, I would pick someone like Jake, BUT and I mean a big but, YOU DON'T LOVE HIM." Hermione put her head back on the lounge and closed her eyes, she decided to let Ginny get it out of her system and then hopefully she would leave it alone.

"You are being so unfair to him." Hermione's eyes shot open and she gasped, "What, unfair to who?"

"Unfair to Jake, who do you think? For heaven's sake Hermione, you're leading him along with no intention what so ever of being with him. That is so unfair." Hermione looked at her friend and decided she had no idea what she was talking about and since she didn't want to start an argument, she let it go.

The night progressed on and truth be told, Hermione could not remember what happened in the movie as her mind was elsewhere. In all honesty Ginny was right, it wasn't fair to Jake, she had been with him for over a week and still her feelings had not changed. Shouldn't she at least be missing him or wanting to be with him. Nothing. That's what she felt and it was horrible because Jake certainly didn't deserve it. She stood up and kissed Ginny on the cheek, "What was that for?" "Because I love you Miss Weasley. Don't wait up, I don't know how late I will be." Hermione ran into her room and found her heavy cloak, she would need it where she was going.

Ginny smiled and felt quite proud of herself, not for herself but because she knew she was doing the right thing.

*********************

Hermione walked into the hotel where the team was staying and asked the clerk what room Jake Potter was staying in. She asked for him to be called down to the desk and Jake came trotting into the foyer and was shocked to see Hermione standing there and then he thought she was bringing bad news.

"Oh Merlin what's happened? Is someone hurt, is mum and dad OK, is Harry OK?"

"Jake stop, no one's hurt, everyone's fine." Jake breathed a sigh of relief. He walked forward to give her a kiss and she turned her face so he kissed her cheek.

"So Mione, what brings you to this side of the world." Jake knew, he knew the minute he saw her but the thought of something happening to his family overruled the impending doom of his relationship.

"Is there anywhere we can talk in private?" Hermione was extremely nervous and Jake knew it.

"Come on, my room is free." Against her better judgement, she followed him up to his room.

Hermione sat down on the lounge chair and Jake sat in the lounge opposite her.

"OK Mione as I said earlier, what brings you here?" Jake knew what she wanted but he didn't want to make it easy for her. He also didn't want to jump to conclusions.

"Jake, you are such a wonderful person, but I find myself in a place I don't want to be in."

"What place is that?"

"Jake I am sorry, but I can't keep going out with you, it's not fair to you. I care about you, I care a lot but I don't love you, and you deserve to be with someone who loves you."
"Hermione it doesn't matter, I love you enough for both of us." Hermione didn't say anything, she wanted to give him time to process what he had just said. The realisation dawned on his face and he looked at Hermione with such sadness in his eyes.

"Jake I am sorry."

"No Hermione, I am sorry, I knew how you felt but I was selfish to think that I could love you enough for both of us. How stupid is that?" Hermione got off her chair and sat in front of him, she took his hands in hers and told him they would always be friends.

They talked for a couple of hours and there were a few more tears, but relief was felt by both. Jake admitted that at first, he enjoyed the way he annoyed his brother but then he did develop feelings for her but he admitted that over the last few days he realised it was more like a sister-brother relationship. It was getting late and Hermione decided she had better get going. She stood and hugged him tightly.

"You going to be OK?" Hermione nodded and wiped away the tears, "How about you?" Jake hugged her again, "Oh you know me, I will get through somehow" Hermione laughed at the fake dramatic act Jake was putting on.

"OK well I better get some rest, I have to be ready for our big game tomorrow and if we win this one, we are off to France and I can finally catch up with my little cousin Jennifer." Hermione was bending down picking up her bag and cloak when the name rung a bell.
"Jennifer, do you mean Jen?" Jake looked at her and nodded wondering why she was asking.

"Jen is your cousin and she lives in Paris?"

"Yeeessss , whhhyyyy?" He dragged it our for emphasis, "So you're telling me, Harry went to see his cousin Jen in Paris?"

"Yeah Hermione, she is our youngest cousin and for some strange reason she was the only one of the Potters born without normal magical powers, so we have all taken her under our wing. She has some weird things happening, sometimes she has outbursts of power and then it's gone, she's really unstable, she's only 8 years old and she is as sweet as pie. You will probably meet her at the Ball Mum's hosting." Hermione was very surprised and also annoyed that she let herself jump to conclusions. Anyway she knew now. She said her final goodbye to Jake and promised to go out with him for dinner when he came back home.

The next morning Hermione woke up with a shock, she glanced at her clock and saw that she had slept in. she was already half an hour late for work.

"Oh Man" Hermione dived out of bed and flew into her shower. She very quickly put on clothes and make up and apparated straight into work. She was extremely flustered and quickly sat down to answer the phone that had 4 lines waiting. Harry's door flew open and he looked at Hermione's desk and waited until she finished on the call.

"You're late."

"I am sorry Harry, I was with …I went to bed late, it won't happen again." Harry stomped into his office and Hermione hardly saw him again that day.

The following few days were pretty much the same, it seemed Harry had as much to do for the ball as Lily did. Phone calls were coming in left, right and centre and when Hermione finally found five minutes of peace and quiet, she went to make a cup of tea and a coffee for Harry.

"Harry, would you like a coffee?" Harry looked up from the pile of papers in front of him and smiled. A coffee was just what he needed right now. The little gesture made her feel warm inside.

"Hermione will Jake be escorting you to the ball, I need to organise the seating arrangements?"

"Umm no Harry, he won't be." Hermione kept sipping her tea not making eye contact with him.

"Would you like to go with me?" Hermione couldn't help but look at him this time, it was very hard not to.

"Yes that would be nice, thank you Harry, I was planning on going alone, but since I haven't been to a ball like this ,I think I would rather go with my boss." Oh Merlin did I just say BOSS, am I totally incoherent around him.

"Yes I agree, oh well back to work Hermione and if I don't get a chance to mention it, I will pick you up at 6 as we are coming here first then we are all leaving to the ball together."

"Thanks Harry, I will be ready at 6."

The rest of the day flew by, as did Thursday and Friday. Hermione owled Ginny through the week to go shopping on Saturday morning for a gown but was completely shocked when someone knocked on her door at 8am on Saturday and it wasn't Ginny. A lady she recognised as Madame Maulkin, was standing in her doorway with reams of material floating behind her.

"Miss Granger?" Her voice was stern.

"Yes, what can I do for you?"

"I have been called to design a gown for you to wear to the ball this evening, so please get a move on Miss Granger I have a lot to do."

"Sorry but who called you for this?"

"The order was from..." She ruffled through some papers, "Mr Potter, Miss Granger so do I need to stand in your doorway all day?" Madame Maulkin was a very impatient woman and Hermione decided not to push her luck. After an hour of pinning and pricking and pulling and tucking, Hermione's door beckoned her again. Ginny had arrived and actually turned out to be extremely helpful and Hermione's dress was designed by 11am. Madame Maulkin was very pleased that she would have the dress ready for her early. They spent the next fifteen minutes deciding on colours and accessories. Madame Maulkin took her materials and told Hermione the dress would be back at 5.30 and she needed to be showered and have her hair and make up done by that time. Madame Maulkin liked Ginny so she decided to let her help with Hermione's dress.

Hermione and Ginny started around 4 o'clock and by 5.30pm she was ready to slip into her dress.

Ginny stood with her mouth open and the only thing she could mumble was beautiful.

So Guys what did you think?

I had to let Jake and Hermione down easy, so hope that was OK, but good news is now its time for Harry and Hermione, the way it was meant to be...

As always, review if you like!!!

Sirius xoxo