Chapter Ten: Parker Gale

Parker watched intently as Hermione Granger caught her bottom lip between her teeth and worried it until it was tender. She was deeply engrossed in the document she was reading, almost to the point of being oblivious to the world around her. He doubted very much she was even aware he was standing in her office doorway watching her, which of course suited him just fine. This moment of unawareness allowed him a chance to observe her without her walls up. One of the things he had learned long ago, while still attending Hogwarts as a matter of fact, you could learn a great deal about a person if you were lucky enough to catch them unawares. It allowed you to see how they behaved when they thought no one was watching them. And nine times out of ten you saw a very different person then the rest of the world was allowed to see.

Sighing heavily, Hermione set down the document and made a few notes on a stack of yellow, bound parchment he recognized as coming from the Muggle world. He loved the way many of the Muggle-born witches and wizards incorporated tools and customs from their Muggle upbringing into their everyday life. It was that type of duality and innovation that the somewhat backwards Wizarding world, he believed, could benefit from.

Finished with her notes, Hermione set aside the pad of legal paper before spinning about in her chair to rise to her feet. "Parker!" She jumped slightly, hand going to her chest when she spotted him. "What are you doing here?"

"I've come to ask you if you're free for dinner this evening?"

"Sorry," she sighed, beginning to undo the clasps that held her robes together. "I have plans." She shrugged off the heavy garment and stuffed it in her shoulder bag. Parker smiled affectionately at the fetching image she made in her dove grey, pinstriped business suit. The vertical lines worked together to elongate her legs and emphasize the curves at her bust and waist.

"Do you have a business dinner?"

"No." She pulled a pin out of her hair and let the mass of curls fall around her shoulders, using her fingers to loosen the strands and ease the pain from her scalp. She took up her shoulder bag and several stacks of paper. "I'm flat hunting tonight and I need to pick up a present for Bryony."

"Ron's new niece?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Ron's new niece." She pushed her hair back off her face. "It's driving me mad. I've been racking my brains to try and think of a suitable gift. But honestly, what do you get for the little girl who already has everything?"

"Perhaps I could be of some assistance."

Hermione glanced over at him skeptically, "What do you know about babies?"

"Absolutely nothing." He admitted jovially. "But," he held up a finger, "I do know where a few flats are available. Have you tried Diagon Ally?"

Hermione blinked with surprise. "I hadn't even thought to look there."

"I can think of at least three empty flats that I've seen in the past week and I know Stewart Hawthorn is currently building a new complex that should be open within the next month. I think there are still a few vacancies with him."

Hermione's eyes glowed with sudden excitement. "What a splendid idea. How thrilling would it be to live so intimately with the magical community? To have everything one could possibly need directly outside their front door? The convenience of it all would be quite ideal."

"Does that mean you would like me to escort you?"

"Well…" she sounded hesitant.

"Ms Granger, please consider this an offer, made from one friend to another, to help. Nothing more."

"Well," she said after a moment's thought, "If I can have your word that it will remain strictly 'nothing more', then I would be delighted."

Parker smiled fetchingly, "Excellent. I'm ready to leave when you are."

"Just a…" She scrambled for a piece of parchment and her quill. She scribbled out a quick not and charmed it to fold into an airplane before it rose into the air and smoothly glided out her door. "There," She tossed the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "How do you suggest we get there?'

"Floo."

"Then we best hurry or there's going to be a que."

Parker stepped to the side allowing Hermione to pass through the door first. The two walked in silence for several minutes, neither one venturing to so much as look at the other. "There's something I don't understand." Hermione said, glancing up at him as the lift grates slid closed. "Why are you helping me? I haven't exactly been… the most friendly with you."

"Because," he turned to face her, "I haven't given up all hope on you yet. I've seen what kind of person you can be and I want her, that girl, for my friend. And if friendship is all that I can have, then so be it. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I didn't help a lady in distress?" The lift grate slid open and the pair stepped off.

"The normal kind."

"Then thank Merlin my mother raised me not to be normal. And how do you know what normal is anyway? You're best friends with Harry Potter, he's about as abnormal as they come."

"Well if you exclude Harry…"

"And those Weasley men you spend time with. They're not normal either."

Hermione's mouth gaped several times. "Alright, alright." She held her hands up in surrender. "I have a proficiency at attracting odd men." She roughly pushed her hair back off her face. "No wonder I'm still single."

"I've told you…"

"You'd be more than willing to rectify that?" Hermione asked with an eye roll.

"What?" he beamed at her." Have you heard me say that before?"

"Once or twice."

"And yet you still don't believe me?"

"Oh, I believe very much you want to take me to dinner, I'm just not completely convinced as to your motive."

"What makes you think I have an ulterior motive?"

A smile flashed quickly across her lips. "I never said ulterior. But since you brought the subject up, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you're calculating. I just haven't been able to figure out what your angle is yet. You have me half convinced you were a Slytherin while in school."

"Sorry." He laughed. "Ravenclaw. But now you have me convinced that you're different than any other girl I've ever known."

"And why is that?"

"Because you are the first one to ever last this long against my insatiable charm."

"Your insatiable charm?" Hermione chocked on a laugh as she stepped up to an open floo port and tossed in a pinch of powder. "Someone thinks very highly of himself." She stepped inside the hearth and called out her destination. Moment s later Hermione stepped out of the fireplace and into the Leaky Cauldron where Parker soon joined her. He stumbled forward when his toe caught on the grate, causing him to nearly collide with her before he managed to catch himself.

"Sorry about that." He muttered, his face coloring swiftly. "I don't know how that happened."

"Would you look at that?" Hermione smiled at the heat radiating off his cheeks. "There's a real person under that exterior."

Face still glowing, Parker straightened his robes and brushed away the soot that had gathered in transport.

"Here," Hermione stepped forward, pulling out her wand. "Allow me."

"Thank you." He smiled sheepishly as the last of the soot disappeared from his robes. "Do you need a hand?"

"No need." She turned her wand on herself and was soon looking like her normal, clean, put together self. "There." She tucked her wand away. "Shall we?"

Parker nodded. "Where first?"

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Parker's lips twitched in thought. "I know of a place near the owlrey."

"Are you sure it's all right if we stop without ringing ahead?"

"Of course. I know the owner. He won't mind."

"All right then." She nodded. "Lead on."

Together Hermione and Parker made their way to the back of the pub where the door leading to the deserted ally was located. Parker found the proper brick and they were soon stepping through the portal into the magical marketplace beyond. Parker took hold of her hand, ignoring the look of surprise Hermione sent in his direction, towing her along behind him. "This way."

Holding tight to her hand so as not to lose her in the after work crowd, Parker plowed ahead until they were standing in front of a building Hermione had never noticed, situated beside the Owl Emporium. "What do you think?" He asked, indicating the tall, shabby looking building with a nod of the head. Parker glanced over at her and burst into laughter at the undisguised distaste on her face. "You don't like it?"

Hermione looked from the crumbling brick to the cracked sidewalk and the uneven steps leading to the front door. "Is it even worth going inside?"

"Trust me," he pulled lightly on her hand, urging her up the steps behind him. "It's a glamour Devin keeps on the outside to protect his tenants." He cast the proper countercharm on the door and it eased open. "His theory is that crooks tend to overlook the shabby buildings compared to the ones that look well taken care of. But," he led Hermione over the threshold, "he does a wonderful job on the inside."

Hermione's mouth dropped open at the first glimpse of the complex's interior. The small foyer they were standing in was airy, bright and immaculately clean. The floors were a warm honey colored wood, the walls painted a clean shade of off white with the same honey wood crowning the walls and running board. The steps leading up to the next story had intricately carved spindles in the banister and a simple, elegant light fixture hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room with its gentle light.

"Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful." She admitted.

"Just wait until you see the unit." Parker began to climb and Hermione followed after him.

They reached the first landing and Parker nodded at a door with a bright, shiny, silver plaque bearing the number fourteen beside it. "That's my flat."

Hermione came to a sudden stop. "Pardon?"

"I said that's my flat."

"Parker," Hermione shook her head. "I don't think this is such a good idea."

"What do you mean?"

"Parker,"

"You're worried about having me as a neighbor."

"Well yes. I am. Come on Parker," she nudged him when he stuck his lip out in a pout. "Even you have to admit that you haven't exactly been forth coming with me. How do I really know I can trust you?"

"Ron does."

"That doesn't help you case much. Remember, I don't exactly trust him either."

"Well, it should. Besides," he hurried on when Hermione made to interrupt, "the Ministry trusts me. They trust both of us. And if it makes you feel any better, the Ministry has us screened every year to asses our competency and mental stability. I've had a clean bill of health every year."

"This could still be your year."

"I had my testing two weeks ago."

Hermione twitched her lips grudgingly. "I would still fell more comfortable somewhere else."

"Okay." He nodded. "I guess I can understand that. Now let's see." He put his hand to his chin and stroked back and forth underneath his lip with his forefinger. "I also know of a place over a dress shop."

Hermione smiled with gratitude at his understanding. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it, Ms Granger." He placed his hand on the small of her back and directed her back around and down the stairs to the front door. When they reached the street they turned right and continued on down the cobbled road.

"Parker," Hermione asked, as they stepped aside to let a bedraggled woman with three small children pass. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." He led her back onto the street.

"Why do you still call me Ms Granger?"

"Sorry?"

"I've never heard you call me by my name. You always call me Ms Granger. Why is that?"

He shrugged a shoulder, "You haven't given me permission."

"I haven't?" she asked, taken aback.

"No." he smiled down at her. "You haven't." He stopped momentarily to look at a fine pair of gobstones in a store window. "Does this mean I now have that permission?"

Hermione meandered forward, hands clasped behind her back, a jaunty gape to her step. "I suppose it does."

Parker reached for her hand and clasped it in his. "It's a pleasure to meet you – Hermione ."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't be a pratt."

"I'll try my best. Well, shall we go in?"

"We're here?"

"We're here." He pulled open a door to the side of the building and waited for Hermione to step inside. "It's a two bedroom, single bath," he started to explain as he followed her up the stairs, "kitchen, dining room, lounge."

"I can't afford a two bedroom."

"Hermione," he ushered her forward when she paused. "You work for the International Law Office for the Ministry of Magic. I might not know your exact salary but I do have a rough estimate. You can afford a place like this."

"Not if I want to put money away toward the purchase of a house."

Parker shook his head and sighed with exaggeration. "Sometimes you're more of a Ravenclaw then I am. You're being too practical, Hermione. Loosen up a little. If you like a place, rent it."

"There's nothing wrong with being practical." She said haughtily. "Impractical people end up like Ron Weasley."

"You think Ron's impractical."

"Of course. He always has been."

His eyes narrowed on her. "Do you ever talk to Harry and Ginny?"

"Of course I do. Why?"

"Because Ron is one of the most practical people I have ever met. In the five years that I have known him I have never seen him make a single rash decision. He thinks over every move he makes, considering all possible outcomes. It's what makes him a good leader. I have never once questioned my safety while under his leadership."

"But…but that doesn't sound like Ron. That sounds like Harry."

"People change Hermione. Why is it so hard for you to believe Ron has?"

Hermione turned her head away, her eyes falling closed. "I suppose for the same reason he refuses to speak with me."

"Look, why don't we go inside, have a look around so you can tell me what you do and do not like about it, that way I'll have a better idea of what you're looking for."

Trying to capture the playful banter of before, Hermione said, "You just want to feel like you've accomplished something today."

"Well," he said with a straight face, nodding his head slightly, "I am beginning to feel a little discouraged. You couldn't throw me a bone, could you?"

Hermione played at deep concentration. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt just to look."

"So?" He asked after she had had enough time to look through all the rooms. "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." She admitted. "It's quirky and charming. Just the personality I'm looking for. But it's far too big. I don't need a kitchen with that much space and I don't need a second bedroom."

"I thought maybe you could use the second bedroom as your study."

Hermione glanced over in surprise. "How did you know I would want a study?"

"I seem to recall you wondering the halls of Hogwarts, hunched over under the weight of all those books you use to carry with you. I assumed that was a trait that carried over into your personal life, not just your academic. I supposed you might want a place in your home to store all your treasures."

"I would." She agreed, "But I don't need an entire bedroom for that. This place is simply too large. This was made for a family, not for a single person."

"Something a little more intimate than?"

"Yes. Exactly."

"You'll have to give me a few days on this one. Everything I'm familiar with is at least this size."

"That's all right." She assured him. "I'm not really in a hurry. Harry and Ginny have offered me the use of their home for as long as I wish. I'm just starting to feel like I've over stayed my welcome. Especially now with the new baby at home."

"That's understandable." He held open the front door. "You're a very independent woman. I'm sure it grates on you to depend on them like that."

"Yes well, thank you. For taking the time to help me that is. It was very kind of you."

"There's no need to thank me. It was entirely my pleasure."

"Just the same." She turned to face him. "Well, as long as I'm here I might as well do that baby shopping I was talking about. And while I'm at it I think I'll stop by Flourish and Blotts. There's a new book by Robin Pennyroyal that I've been meaning to read."

"Let me escort you."

"There's no need for that. I've already taken up too much of your time as it is."

"Hermione, let me put this a different way for you. I'm offering to carry your bags all evening. Are you really willing to turn that offer down?"

"Well, when you put it that way."

Parker smiled smugly. "I knew that would work. It does every time."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she turned on her heal and walked briskly away, not bothering to wait for Parker to catch her up. "I really hope I don't regret this."

Lip caught between her teeth, head tilted to the side so that she could better read the spines of the books lining the many shelves, Hermione let her fingers graze lightly across the heavy, leather bound volumes.

"Found anything you like?"

"No." She glanced at Parker briefly before returning to her task. "But it's nice to be able to look again." She pulled a book off the shelf, flipped it open to scan a few pages before sliding it back into its place.

"Besides Pennyroyal, is there anything else you're searching for?"

"Not particularly." She looked up to find Parker's gaze. He was walking along with her on the other side of the shelving unit, keeping pace with her slow progress. "I almost never come here with a specific book in mind. I have to let the right text come to me." Her fingers stopped on an interesting title and she pulled it free of the books around it. She flipped open the cover and read the first two pages before closing it and tucking it in the crook of her arm alongside the Pennyroyal book. "You don't have to wait for me if you don't want to. I could be here a while and I'm sure this is quite tedious for you."

"It's all right." He smiled reassuringly, leaning against the bookcase, crossing his arms over the top and bracing his chin on top of them. "You're fascinating to watch."

Blushing like mad Hermione pushed her hair back off her face before continuing her journey down the aisle. She could feel his eyes following her every step.

"How many books do you have?"

Hermione looked down at the two hardbacks in her arms, before arching her brows at him.

"I mean in your collection. How many total books do you own?"

Hermione stopped a moment in thought. "You know, I never counted before. I can say with quite honesty that I have a ser few."

"I'll bet you have enough to fill your own personal library."

"I will as soon as I have my own home to put them in. Right now they're all stored away in boxes. I'm just aching to get them out. Every time I walk past that stack of boxes I swear I can hear the voices of all my friends screaming at me to let them out. Oh my god," she pressed a hand to her brow in embarrassment. "I can't believe I just said that out loud."

Parker laughed heartily. "Don't worry. It's something I've always suspected about you. You know," he laughed, "I bet you drove Ron barmy at school."

Hermione glanced up at him again. "Why do you say that?"

"As long as I've known him, he's never opened a book unless he couldn't find a way out of it. I reckon that got on your nerves as well."

"Sometimes."She replaced a book she had been looking at. "He and Harry always expected me to have the right answer all the time."

"I'm sure that got very exhausting."

"No." she shook her head, smiling fondly. "Not really. Most of the time it was really quite nice. I liked having people depend on me like that."

"Really. I always hated it when people asked if they could copy my answers. I would have thought you'd be the same way."

"That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the big things. The things that kept us alive all those years." Hermione shook her head with disbelief. "You know, looking back I realize how foolish we were as children. If I found out my child did half the things Harry, Ron and I did while we were at school I would kill him myself. And you know, the strange thing is that at the time I knew we were being reckless but I never really realized how much so."

"Would you change any of it?"

Hermione remained silent for a time as she contemplated his question. "No. I wouldn't change anything. Except…"

"Except what?'

"I don't know." Hermione shrugged. "I suppose everything that happened between Ron and me after the final battle."

"What did happen between you two?"

"Parker," she shook her head. "As much as we've shared with each other today, I'm not really comfortable discussing the more personal aspects of Ron and my relationship with you." She came to the end of the aisle and waited until Parker was once again standing in front of her. "I've hardly known you long enough to be bearing my soul."

"I'm not asking you to bare your soul. I'm just asking you to open up to me a little. One friend to another."

"Is that what we are?"

"I hope so."

Hermione nodded as she continued down the avenue of books. "Alright. As you undoubtedly know, Ron and I have always been very good at arguing with each other. You know, I don't think we made it through a single term without having a monstrous row. But somehow it never seemed to matter. We could be so angry with each other that it seemed like we could never be friends again and yet we always made up in the end. He was one of my best friends, one of the most important people in my life. Like I said, if I could take it all back…if there were some way…I just…I hate how things ended between us."

"You could change it."

"I am trying. In case you haven't noticed, Ron isn't exactly eager to speak with me. I've tried speaking with him, I really have but he gets so angry every time I do."

"Perhaps I can help."

"That's very sweet, but I don't think you can do anything to help with this."

"I can talk to him."

"And what exactly would you say?"

"That you're a kind, wonderful person that I am very quickly learning to adore."

Hermione blushed prettily. "You're being too kind."

Parker reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "And you're being too modest."

Coughing uncomfortably, she stepped back out of his reach and placed her hand on the stack of books she held. "I think I have enough for today."

She wound her way through the book stacks to the counter where the clerk handled her purchase. Parker slowly moved toward the entrance and stopped with his back braced against a bare patch of wall. He turned his head and focused his attention on Hermione and the clerk. They were speaking with each other as if they were old friends, which, he realized with a start, they probably were.

After several minutes of conversing, Hermione accepted her sac full of books and rejoined Parker at the door. "Sorry about that." She apologized. "It's been a while since I've seen Rod. His oldest boy just had his own first child, a son, and he and his wife have decided to name the baby after Rod. He was so excited I just couldn't ruin his mood by telling him I was in a hurry."

"Are you in a hurry?"

"No. But I felt guilty for leaving you alone for so long."

"You seem to know him well."

"We've been on first name bases since I was eleven years old. He's a very dear man."

They stepped out of the shop and into the darkening avenue. "Can I escort you home?"

Hermione smiled playfully as she held up the heavy bag. "Only if you carry my books as well."

He accepted the sac from her hand. "With pleasure."

Hermione clasped her hands behind her back. "Have you ever been to Harry and Ginny's house?"

"No." Parker shifted the bags in his hands. "I'm afraid I haven't had the privilege. Usually I see them at Ron's."

"Then appiration is out of the question. I guess we'll just have to Floo there as well." Having made up her mind, Hermione turned with authority and briskly walked down the street toward the Leaky Cauldron. Parker watched her retreating back a moment, a satisfied smirk on his lips before hurrying forward to catch her up.

They entered the small pub together and were both immediately recognized by the innkeeper, Tom. They both waved happily and called out in greeting but continued on their way toward the fire without stopping to talk.

Hermione sprinkled some powder into the orange blaze. "Number Twelve Grimmalud Place." She told him before stepping into the fire and calling out her destination.

Feeling her body thrust into the warm, familiar tumble through space, Hermione tucked in her arms and closed her eyes, fighting against the nausea that always accompanied a journey through the Floo Network. When she felt her body jerk to a stop, she flung her arms out to brace her hands against the walls of the fireplace and stop herself from tumbling forward. The moment she gained her barring she exited the hearth so as not to be squashed when Parker arrived behind her.

"Harry! Ginny!" She called into the quiet house as the fire flared behind her. "I'm back."

Parker stepped up beside her. "Where would you like me to put these?" He held up her shopping.

Hermione glanced about. "Errr…I guess next to the wall there." She pointed to space of open wall between the fireplace and a side table. "I'll take care of them later."

The moment Parker set her bags down she took his hand and pulled him along behind her. "Come on. I want you to meet Bryony. She's the most beautiful child, I swear."

"I'm sure she doesn't hold a candle to you."

Hermione dropped his hand as she turned to face him, her hands fisting and planting on her hips. "I thought we were going to keep this strictly 'nothing more'."

"We are." He resumed walking forward, guiding her with his hand once again at the small of her back. "Can't one friend compliment another friend without her thinking he's trying to get into her knickers?"

Hermione froze a moment in shock before picking up her step and looking back over her shoulder as she outpaced him, a playful smile on her lips as she pulled open the doors to the dining room. "Parker Gale, you're going to have to do quite a bit better than that in order to get into my knockers."

The clatter of a fork falling on to a plate had Hermione whirling about. Her eyes widened with horror when she spotted Ron sitting at the table with Harry and Ginny.

Hello Everyone. Well here it is, the next chapter, sooner then I thought it would be, no doubt later then you wanted. Sorry about that. On the bright side, this absolutely horrible term is drawing to an end and hopefully I'll be able to get some real work done starting in about a week. Can't make promises, but let's hope. I was just so excited to have finished a great portion of the work I had left and that I wanted to get this out there for you. Hopefully it wasn't too terribly dreadful to read. I am sorry for the mistakes that I am sure I missed, my only excuse I am going off of about two hours of sleep from the past two nights. I really need to go to bed. Anyway, as always, thank you so very much for those of you who took the time to review. These past two weeks have been…horrific and having the reviews waiting for me in my inbox was just wonderful. And thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to read this story, I sincerely hope it's been worth it. Have a wonderful weekend, Noterwomann