Wait? She's alive? She still writes? She hasn't forgotten about this story? No way…

Yes way…

"Hermione, I admit it. This evening was not 'just because.'" Victor said looking down at his now clean plate. Of course it wasn't 'just because,' nothing ever was with Victor. There was always a reason and some type of ulterior motive with him. Hermione looked down at her untouched fettuccini and resisted the urge to pull her hand away from his. Instead, she returned her gaze to meet his and anxiously awaited the next words that would come out his mouth.

She should have seen it coming. The beginning of the evening was too perfect… Ginny had helped her pick out a beautiful black dress, very simple yet very elegant at the same time. Her hair was pulled back into a twist except for two little curls that fell on each side of her face, which was made up to perfection. A limo had come to pick her up at Ginny's and Hermione's heart nearly stopped when it pulled up to the Theater. Victor had bought tickets to see the new play Hermione had read about in the paper, Trials and Triumphs. The play was just as great as she had thought it would be and Victor had even brought her a dozen red roses. "As lovely as they are, they pale in comparison to you." He had said with a wink when he gave them to her in front of the Theater, Hermione had smiled and felt wonderful knowing that someone in this world thought she was beautiful. She should have seen it coming.

"Hermione…? Dear, did you hear a word I just said?" Victor asked rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. Hermione jerked up and met his gaze and shot him a confused and embarrassed look. Victor understood that she had completely missed what he said and he straightened himself out a little before continuing. "As I was saying, I met with Marshall the other day, you remember him…" she didn't. "And he was telling me about this fantastic idea of his… You know how I always said if the company would just branch out to our competition we would be able to double our profits…" she had no idea what he was even talking about, but she nodded anyways just so he would get to the point. "Well Marshall decided to take action! He wants to schedule a meeting with Glen & Co. and come up with a plan to eliminate Jisadic from the playing field!" Hermione so desperately wanted to tell him to get it over with and say it already, but she held back. "And he wants me to go with him, you know as support, so it doesn't turn into a 1 on 298 sort of thing." Victor finished. Hermione took a minute to find her voice. She wanted to ask if he accepted the offer, but she knew that if he had declined she wouldn't have this new dress on and be sitting in this restaurant right now.

"When do you leave?" she asked looking back down at her plate and slowly sliding her hand out from his. Victor sighed and reached over for his wine glass and took a swig before answering.

"I fly to Tokyo in two days." Hermione snapped her neck up looking at him. The look on her face was full of shock and anger. TOKYO? TWO DAYS? He had to be joking… why would he tell her now? Why would he leave her now? Of all the times, it was now that she needed him and his stability! But he was taking it with him to another country. To another continent! Hermione wanted to, for that split second, ask why he had to leave her and beg him not to leave when she felt this vulnerable. For a split second she wanted to throw herself over the table and tell him everything… about lunch the other day with Draco and how he had caused her such pain and humiliation just by being there that day. She wanted so badly for that split second to ask him to take away the ache and stay with her and tell her that she meant the world to him. But she didn't…

Because for that split second, Victor had to excuse himself and take a call.

Hermione walked into her dark flat and ran her hands along the walls trying to find the switch. She looked around the vacant empty room for a few minutes trying to convince herself that she would be able to do this. Trying to convince herself that she would not be as empty and alone as her flat was. She took a deep breath and set her keys and clutch down on the small table by the door. She walked into the kitchen and set her bouquet of roses down on the counter and walked over to her answering machine and hit play to hear her three new messages.

BEEEP! "Hey Mione, it's Harry, I was just calling to see how you are….me and Ron are worried… we haven't heard from you in a couple days and just want to check in. Call me back when you get the chance." Hermione straightened herself and walked over to the cabinets in search of a vase for her flowers from Victor.

BEEEP! "Hello? Hermione, it's your mother, just calling to make sure that you're coming to your cousin Fonda's wedding next week. It would mean a lot to her and you can bring Victor along and introduce him around to the family." Hermione scrunched up her face as she pulled down a clear vase and filled it up with tap water. She was not looking forward to attending a wedding or anything that would display a happy couple anytime soon. Maybe it wouldn't be so dreadful if Victor were able to go, but he would be across the globe by then. She reached over and shoved the roses into the vase.

BEEP! "Hey Hermione, it's Ginny! Call me! I'm dying to hear about your night with Victor! I want details! AH! Haha, call me!"

BEEEP! BEEP!

Hermione was not going to call Ginny…. at least not tonight… maybe in the morning when she woke up.

She walked into her bathroom and looked at her reflection. Everything about her appearance right now portrayed a perfectly content young woman. She had no lines of worry on her face, her eyes were bright and vibrant and clear clean, and not one ounce of her face would giveaway anything that she felt inside... and that was exactly as she wanted it. She did not want to get upset tonight. She did not want to cry tonight. She only wanted to take a hot shower and go to sleep. She walked over to the shower and turned on the faucets and let steam fill the room up as she slid off her bracelet and stepped out of her heels and dress. She pulled her hair down releasing her thick curls and stepped into the shower. The hot water pounded on her back and she closed her eyes trying to shut the rest of the world out.

At that moment, her telephone began to ring, and Hermione was so lost in her own thoughts and the warmth of the water spilling on her body that she didn't hear it at all. The phone continued to ring, and she continued to be ignorant.

"Hello, you reached Hermione Granger. I am currently unable to get to the phone but please leave your name, and your number and I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you and have a nice day."

BEEEEEP!

Draco clicked the phone off and sat it down on the table and just stared at it. Maybe it was best that Hermione didn't answer….maybe that was a sign that he should not be trying to get a hold of her. Besides what would he say if she had answered?

"It all happens for a reason…" he muttered to himself still staring at the phone in front of him.

haha don't hate me?