Old Friends
Hermione fidgeted with her skirt for the thousandth time, her heart racing in her chest as she sat in the car beside her boyfriend, Ron Weasley.
"Mione, stop it! Everything is going to be fine. You're worrying for nothing." His voice was reassuring, but she was still itching with nerves as her hands tightened on the steering wheel.
"Ron, I haven't seen these girls for years!" Hermione fretted, her knuckles turning white as her hands clutched even tighter. They had decided that driving was probably the safest way to arrive at her reunion. The 'girls' were her three primary school friends, whom she had not seen since she left for Hogwarts. The eldest, Kiara, had called her to find out what she was 'doing' with her life, and within a few minutes, Hermione found herself and Ron invited to lunch with Kiara and the other two – Amy and Sam.
They arrived at the small shop, where the other girls were waiting, and found a parking space within a few minutes. After a couple of very deep breaths, Hermione and Ron entered the store. Even though they had all grown, and changed significantly, Hermione instantly recognised her school buddies. They had also spotted her and waved her over enthusiastically.
Everyone, except Sam, had brought their boyfriends. Or in Kiara's case; "Fiance! I'm – we're (sorry, babe), getting married next June!"
"Oh my god!" Same almost screamed, her hands waving through the air. Kiara's fiance, James, was a handsome man – but Hermione could glean nothing from him as he had not spoken a word since they arrived. Amy was smiling widely as she listened to the proposal story; which of course made Sam cry. Next to Amy sat her boyfriend, Eddie. Or at least, that is what Hermione heard when he quickly introduced himself. Ever since they had arrived, though, he had given them a strange look and seemed to be eyeing them warily. Something about him seemed familiar, but Hermione pushed it aside and listened to Sam recap her life for them.
Soon it was Hermiones' turn and she blushed as everyone looked at her.
"So, where'd you end up disappearing to, H?" Amy asked, shortening her name to its first letter as she used to do in school.
"Ah," Hermione considered her answer, and finally decided to stick to her pre-decided answer. "I went to a boarding school in Scotland. Actually, that's where I met Ron," she finished, nodding to her left where he sat.
"Woah really?" Amy said, her eyes widening. She turned to Eddie with a small smile. "Didn't you go to a Scottish boarding school too? Wouldn't it be surreal if you guys went to the same one?!" She laughed and almost immediately forgot the 'coincidence', moving on to interrogating the two other men on the table. But Hermione caught the look Eddie got in his eyes, and suddenly knew where she knew him from. He was a Ravenclaw in the year above them at Hogwarts. Eddie Carmichael was a wizard. Her eyes widened and he seemed to understand.
'No!' He mouthed, shaking his head slightly as James muttered his profession (Bartender; 'studying to be a lawyer' was added by Kiara). Eddie took a deep breath and looked to Amy, then back at Hermione. 'No.' Eddie hadn't told Amy what he was.
The rest of lunch went smoothly. Ron learned to stop talking when they mentioned muggle things he wasn't familiar with, claiming he lived a very sheltered childhood, which went down well with the girls. They were walking out of the restaurant when Hermione felt a hand on her arm.
"You're not going to tell her, are you?" It was Eddie.
"Not if you haven't," Hermione said, soft enough that no one else heard. "I wouldn't do that. But why haven't you?"
"I don't think we're – I don't need to explain it to you. Just, please!" He looked desperately at her and she nodded.
"I won't."
"Thank you," he breathed, running off the Amy – her voice stilling hanging in the air with his name.
The drive home was a lot less stressful. They drove quietly until:
"Merlin! That guy was in the year above us!" Ron looked to Hermione with eyes wide.
"You only just figured that out?" She asked softly, a small chuckling coming from her. She placed a hand softly on his leg and sighed. She couldn't blame him, it took her longer than it should have – Eddie was always in the Library.
A/N: Words – 748
Choc Frog – (Silver) Edessa Sakndenberg
IYD - 'All Bark & No Bite'
Getting Around - Hermione/Ron