August 14th 2007
Hermione was sitting in her office at Number 10, working through a pile of paperwork ready for Kingsley to fly out to America the next day, when her phone buzzed in her handbag, going unnoticed as it was programmed to vibrate only. She finished up the paperwork and collected it together before heading out of her office and down the hall to Kingsley's. Knocking on his door, she heard in call out for her to enter and pushed it open, peeking her head in to check it was a good time. Finding the office empty except for the PM, she stepped in and closed the door behind her.
"The paperwork for your visit, Kingsley." She smiled, handing it over his desk and taking a seat in the chair facing him. "I've just received confirmation from the Presidents Secretary, you will be staying in the guest suite in the White House."
"Very good," he nodded, smiling, "Thank you for your hard work, Hermione. What are your plans while I am overseas?"
"Hopefully, filing for divorce." She said and he gasped.
She had been progressively more open over the last few days since her first meeting with Remus. She wanted people to know, if only so she had people around her who would understand if she was having a stressful or hard day. She expected a few emotional days to come, after all they had been together for over a decade, it was a very long time to spend with someone and years of love before that as best friends couldn't be erased by a tough marriage. She hoped that they would be able to rebuild a friendship once their marriage ended, but she knew that would take a long time.
"I see," Kingsley said, "Are you ok?"
"I'm upset of course, that my marriage is over," she admitted, "But we haven't been a true married couple for a long time so this has been a long time coming."
"If you need any support, you know my door is open to you." Kingsley reminded her and she nodded.
"Of course," she agreed, "Now, I will be available if needed, on my mobile number, but I was hoping to use these two weeks away from the office?"
"Of course, Hermione," he smiled kindly, "Take all the time you need."
She thanked him and left his office, returning to her own and pulling her lunch from her bag, hoping for a few minutes peace to eat it. As she took a bite, savouring the flavour of the chicken and bacon pasta, she pulled out her phone and groaned as she noticed a text message notification on her lock screen. She unlocked the BlackBerry and flicked to her messages and frowned at the unrecognised number that came up. Her frown soon turned into a smile and butterflies in her stomach when she saw who the message was from.
Hey Hermione, it's Remus. I was hoping you would be free to come by my house this evening? I have something to discuss with you. Let me know.
She grinned at the thought of spending some time with him, then shook her head at the ridiculousness of such thoughts. She must be losing her mind, her being attracted to him did not change the fact that she was currently paying him to help her divorce her husband and she definitely shouldn't be excited at being invited to her home. She reminded herself that he worked from home, that was his office and this would be a professional meeting. Sighing, she entered her reply.
Of course. I should make it there by 5pm.
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The rest of the day at work had been quiet and Kingsley had entered her office at 2pm, telling her that she wouldn't be needed and she may as well go home early and begin her break. She had thanked him and wished him luck on his visit to the US, reminding him that she could still be contacted if needed before packing up her belongings and exiting to her car. She decided to head to Remus' early on the off chance that he would be in but when she arrived, thankfully having remembered the way, the driveway was devoid of what she assumed to be his range rover. She flicked off the engine but left the radio on, turning up the volume when a song came on that she particularly liked and pulled out her phone. Sending a text to Remus to say that she was here and apologising for being early, she contented herself with singing along to the songs on the radio.
Halfway through the third song, the range rover pulled in beside her car and she pulled the keys out of the ignition before grabbing her handbag and stepping out of the car. He got out of his and smiled at her, gesturing for him to follow her into the house as he unlocked the front door. She stepped in and wiped her feet as remus removed his shoes and put them into the cupboard by the door.
"I hope I didn't disturb your afternoon." She told him and he shook his head.
"I was at the skate park with Teddy," he smiled, "Honestly I'm glad of the excuse to escape."
"You skate?" She chuckled and he snorted.
"Lord no!" He exclaimed, walking into the kitchen and gesturing for her to follow, "Teddy is obsessed with his skateboard right now. I left him with his friend and his parents, they will drop him back when he gets bored."
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to drag you away from your son." She told him as she watched him making a cup of tea.
"No it's fine, the skate park give me a headache, anyway, and I doubt he'll notice I'm gone," he grinned, handing her the cup, "Let's go through to the living room, it's much more comfortable in there."
She nodded and followed him into the hallway and then into the burgundy living room. He sat down on the sofa and she decided that it would be best to sit away from him on one of the armchairs, and she came to be perched stiffly on the edge as they sipped their tea for a few moments. She watched as he put his cup on the coffee table and leaned his elbows on his knees, turning towards her.
"I've spoken to Sirius." He said and she groaned.
Sirius, it appeared, had been an awful choice as someone to help find her a new apartment. He had shown her the adverts for a few different ones so far and they were all either wildly out of her preferred price range or else cheaper but in horrific, undesirable areas of London. It seemed to Hermione that he was incapable of finding anything between the two and she was planning to use at least part of the next two weeks to find somewhere herself. Remus, apparently, agreed with her opinion of his house hunting skills as he laughed.
"He tells me that nothing he has found is to your liking?" He asked with his brow raised and she rolled her eyes.
"Its not that I don't like them, he just seems to go for the best or the worst." She told him, spreading her hands to show the two ends of the scale before closing the distant slightly in the middle, "I was aiming more for here."
"I know, Hermione," he chuckled, "In hindsight, Sirius may not have been the best choice to help. But I may have a solution to your problem."
"Oh?" Hermione asked, intrigued, and Remus nodded.
"You see that house across the road?" He asked, gesturing to the window and pointing across to what appeared to be the shabbiest house in the street, "It was my mothers. She died just over a year ago and it has been sitting empty since. If you would like to rent it from me, I would be more than willing to accept."
Hermione gasped and got up from her chair, moving to stand in front of the window and looking across the street to the house. It was smaller than Remus', probably only two bedrooms and had obviously been built in the thirties, judging by the archway around the porch. There was a double story bay window and the front garden appeared wildly overgrown but she could see that it would be lovely with a little care and attention. Turning back to Remus, she frowned.
"Remus, I couldn't possibly-"
"Nonsense," he said, coming to stand next to her and holding some keys up in front of her, "I would expect a small rent, on the condition that you agree to refresh and care for the house."
"Decorating and such?" She asked, looking at the keys and then back at his face when he nodded, "Could I see inside?"
