Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful world of Harry Potter… Enjoy.
Four hundred seventy-two days following the funeral.
Hermione walks out of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and runs into a hard body on High Street of Hogsmeade. "Oh excuse-" She looks at the person she ran into. "Oliver?" Her hand goes to her chest as her heart stutters.
Oliver Wood stands in her path as though he was looking for her. The purse in his lips says he's been looking for a while.
"Mia," He says with a nod. He offers his arm. Hermione takes it and allows him to guide her away from the shop. "You are a hard witch to find." His Scottish brogue rings prominent, as though he's been in Scotland for a while even though he should be midseason in Quidditch.
"Not that hard to find," Hermione mutters to him. She smiles and looks forward.
"Your sarcasm and wit won't save you from this conversation Lass," Oliver snaps.
Hermione lets out the breath she had been holding. With a firm shake to focus her mind, she points to a side street. "Then there's no need for a public display."
She points her home out as they get closer. As they approach, Draco materializes out of thin air. With a soft sigh, she walks ahead of Oliver. Draco turns as her boots click on the hardwood of her porch. She watches as his eyes drift behind her to Oliver.
"I don't want to reschedule…." Hermione says.
"You'll catch me next week," Draco replies. "I think this is something you need to do. For yourself."
Hermione nods. Draco turns away from her. Tilting his head towards Oliver, "Wood," he acknowledges and disappears down her street.
"Come on in," Hermione says as she enters her home. "I'll make some tea."
She walks into her kitchen and prepares the kettle. Pulling down her tea set, she readies the service. Feeling eyes on her, she turns to Oliver in the doorway to the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable in the living room. This will be ready in a moment."
Hermione watches him disappear back into her living room. Watching her hands tremble, she shakes them out and pours the water into her teapot. Levitating the service ahead of her, she knicks the bottle of whiskey from her pantry. Just in case.
Oliver is sitting on her couch when she reappears. Settling the tea service on her table, she proceeds to pour Oliver's tea and adds a lump of sugar to the hot liquid.
Hermione makes her own and settles back into the couch without looking at Oliver. Shew waits with baited breath for the potion to combust.
Hermione listens as Oliver sighs. She watches the teacup as he puts it back on the table and takes her free hand. Her eyes fly to his face.
"I want to apologize," Oliver tells her.
"But… What do you have to apologize for?" Hermione stutters.
"I didn't know how to be there for you," He replies eventually. "I could see you shut down right in front of me and I… I just didn't know what to do. I let you crumble."
Hermione places her cup down and turns to Oliver. "You didn't. I lost Blair. I lost our child…"
Oliver shakes his head and pulls her into his arms. "You didn't lose her. She was never meant to be ours."
Tears gather in her eyes and she tucks her face into his familiar warmth. "I know…"
"It hurt," Oliver replies. "To lose you. But, I can see you're happy, though. I know you never could've gotten back to this if we had stayed together."
Hermione smiles sadly. "I do love you, Ollie."
"I know. And I love you, too. I'm happy in your happiness." Oliver tightens his arms around her. He places a kiss to her curls.
"Are you though? Happy?" Hermione asks as she pulls away from him to look into his eyes.
"I am. I'm getting married in a month," Oliver replies. "Marie is wonderful. She knows all about you. And Blair."
"Thank you Ollie," Hermione replies. They smile shyly at each other.
"I should go, now that I've wrecked your plans with Malfoy?" Oliver asks, unsure of that fact.
Hermione laughs. "It's okay. We have lunch every week." She walks Oliver to her front door. With a smile, she places a kiss to his cheek and waves goodbye as he walks off her porch.
With love,
Kaleigh