Chapter 1: Workout Buddy

Hermione Granger wasn't a witch particularly concerned with fashion: muggle or otherwise. She had always preferred practicality when choosing her clothes and robes. Her work at the Ministry of Magic required her to dress formally. She had to wear floor-length dark navy blue robes. Technically, she could wear what she wanted underneath. As she was a practical woman, she would typically wear either a simple shift dress or a button-down dress shirt with slacks. Still, her muggle clothes were decades ahead in fashion to the Wizarding World. Often, ever her more modest muggle clothes were too revealing for magical folk so she would avoid taking off her uniform robe in front of most of them. Her hair was often up in a ponytail or simple bun. Puberty had done wonders for her locks. Her mane was still thick, but it was no longer frizzy. Instead, it reached her mid-back in luscious, soft, bouncy, loose chocolate curls with golden highlights. Her skin was back to its usual softness, clearness, and healthy glow. Since the war ended, she had begun the long way to recovery, both physical and mental.

During the war, Hermione had lost a lot of weight. Meals were scarce, and she usually gave more food to the boys. But once they won, all the celebrations and the meals at the Burrow, tea with McGonagall once a week, as well as Sunday brunch at her parents', had helped her fill out and now her figure had returned to her natural beautifully curvy and athletic. After the war, she had gone to find her parents once the month of funerals and tributes was over. Now that she had been back for a year, she had decided she wasn't exercising enough. While on the hunt, she kept fit because she was literally on the run permanently. Working at a desk was an entirely different thing. She had complained about this to Harry and Ron during their weekly lunch. They couldn't relate because the former was an Auror and was always active and the latter was a playing Quidditch professionally. Ron was dismissive and hurtful, as usual. He told her, "the curvier, the better… if anything, you should gain a few."

Hermione and Ron had grown apart since he left during the hunt. She had forgiven him for leaving, but she could never trust him fully again after that. Forcing her to choose between him and Harry had been a low blow even for him. As if there was a choice. They still saw and talked to each other because Harry kept them seeing each other. They didn't bicker as much when they saw each other, but this was mainly because Hermione didn't care anymore. Whenever he was rude or dense, she would tune him out. Even his petty jabs at her went unnoticed. Lately, though, Harry was not having it. Every single time Ron decided to be a git, Harry would call him on it and make him apologize. Hermione kept waving it off. Ron hated to apologize, and as this started to become common, their lunches as a trio started spacing out. Harry and Hermione would have lunch together once a week, but Ron rarely joined them. Probably, Harry and Ron would hang out without her. When she told Harry about wanting to get in shape, he looked at her with wide eyes. He seemed surprised that she would want to exercise willingly. However, he was too busy to train with her since he was away on missions every two weeks.

Hermione had always been certain of her feelings for Harry. She knew he had no feelings for her. Well, that was not accurate. He was grateful and loved her… as a sister. After the war, he had been in a couple of relationships. The first one didn't last long. The second one did last almost a year. Hermione had cried endless nights during that year. Seeing them together was breaking her heart. She had gone on a few dates, which were both first and last dates. She couldn't even pretend to be interested in or attracted to anyone else. Through the years, Harry and Hermione had developed such a close-knit relationship that everyone thought at one point or another that they were romantically involved. When they were on the Hunt, Harry seemed to be closer to her: more open, more vulnerable, more into her. The closeness was driving her mad back then. That night they danced, it took all her self control not to have her way with him. She could feel his warmth through her thick jumper, and he was staring at her lips. But she had walked away. She was terrified of his rejection. Perhaps it was a good thing that he couldn't train with her. It was difficult enough to fight her attraction and her feelings seeing him once a week or once every two weeks.

A few days later, Hermione had almost given up on finding a workout buddy. She was looking into hiring a muggle personal trainer. However, one day, while Harry and Hermione were having lunch, things changed. They had just ordered drinks at their favorite muggle diner and were waiting for their fish and chips order. Harry had been staring at her for a while. As she was about to ask him if she had something on her face, he spoke.

"Mione?"

"What is it?" she said a bit more forcefully than she intended. Harry made her so nervous lately. He backed away. "Sorry, I just… do I have something on my face? You've been staring…"

"No, your face is as perfect as always," he said with a dazed look.

"Now I know hunger is messing with your brain…" she whispered. Harry frowned when she said that. She went on: "Then why are you staring?"

He wanted to tell her she was breathtaking; that he was captivated by the way the sun rays coming from the window highlighted the golden flecks in her molten chocolate eyes. The tiny freckles across her nose made him want to nuzzle the tip of it. Her skin was impeccable. He always wondered how her skin was so clear. Even in their teenage years, she rarely broke out. It looked impossibly soft. He yearned to touch it. Could it be as silky as it looked? And her tempting full lips… She had decided to go with a sheer cherry tone lipstick today. Her lips looked so juicy and plump, and her teeth were perfectly white. He couldn't stop looking at her. Harry had recently come to terms with his feelings for Hermione after a painful breakup with his then-girlfriend, which made things crystal clear for him. Should he risk it? A voice that sounded remarkably like Sirius' in his head said: "What's the worst that can happen?" Only one way to find out.

"Do you still want someone to help you train?" he asked, immediately regretting it. He couldn't help the flashing picture that came up in his mind. His mind conjured a Hermione who was wearing tight workout clothes, sweating, flushed, and breathing hard. Damn. When he saw the way she smiled at his question, and how her entire face lit up. He couldn't bring himself to regret it anymore.

"Harry… Really?!" she said excitedly. Harry nodded. Then, he saw a blur of curls. In a second, she had managed to go around the booth, sit on his lap, and give him one of her famous hugs. With his train of thoughts, he couldn't help but feeling every curve against him. Fuck, she smells heavenly, he thought. "Thank you!" she squealed into his ear.

"Ahem…Two orders of fish and chips," said the waitress with a frown. She had been ogling Harry since they came into the diner. Hermione turned but didn't let go of Harry.

"Yes, both here, thank you"

Harry wondered if it was his imagination or Hermione's tone was cold when she addressed the waitress. He thought it weird because she was always very respectful and kind to servers. When she turned, friction made him focus on her curves. He had to bite the inside of his cheek and think of Aunt Marge to calm down. Still, he was scared she felt his reaction for a short while.

Hermione was angry at the waitress for flirting so openly with Harry with her on his arm, or well, on his lap. Was that…? It couldn't be. Could it? Could he be…? The waitress threw a hateful glance at Hermione and smiled, seductively at Harry. The nerve! thought Hermione. She returned to her side of the booth. She sighed.

"Is something wrong? I thought you were happy to train with me?" Harry asked, grabbing a large potato wedge and eating it.

"No… I am very happy, honey. It's just… that waitress got on my nerves," she said, taking a bite of the fish.

"I noticed you don't like her… I don't know why. She seemed friendly to me," he said, taking a sip of his iced tea. Had Hermione just called him honey?! He thought. Hermione snorted.

"Obviously!" she hissed.

"Is that a bad thing now?" he asked puzzled.

"She has been shamelessly flirting with you since we got here!" Hermione snapped.

"She has? I didn't notice…"

"My God! You are too much…" Hermione said, focusing on eating her food. After a while, he decided to ask her… even if it meant disappointment:

"Why are you upset she flirted with me?"

"Am I invisible, Harry?" she asked back, her eyes turning sad.

"I don't follow…" he replied, taking a slow sip of his drink.

"Come on! It's like I'm not even here! She's flirting with you as if you were here alone!... W-What if you were with someone you actually l-liked?!" she added the last bit, blushing; she was trying to save face. It wouldn't do for him to suspect she was jealous. And she was very jealous.

"What do you mean someone I" he did air quotes here "actually liked?"

"I mean… in like a date or something" she said, looking away. He chose to risk it with his answer.

"I am with the woman I like the most in this world," he said, holding her hand. "Maybe that's why I didn't even notice she was flirting with me."

Her heart started pounding. No, stop that right now. Harry sees you as a sister, she thought.

"Oh, come on. You don't need to say that… I am not one of your girlfriends, Potter. You are stuck with me for life."

"There's no one I'd rather be stuck with for life than you, Mione," he said, without missing a beat, squeezing her hand and caressing the back of it with his thumb. He didn't mean to say that out loud, but her smile was worth it. She squeezed back. They ended their meal in silence and went to the cash register. Harry insisted on paying. She wanted to argue, and the flirty waitress was the one collecting their money.

"Honey, no. This is the second time you want to get the check this month…" she said pouting opening her wallet. The waitress had caressed his hand as he gave her the money. He frowned at the waitress. Then, he turned to Hermione, pulled her in by the waist, and kissed her forehead.

"Baby girl, allow me to spoil you. I enjoy it…" he said, hugging her to his chest. She couldn't help but giggle. He had called her baby girl. She wanted to squeal.

"Fine," she admitted with a smile.

Harry kept his eyes on his best friend and said to the waitress: "Keep the change."

As they walked out, Harry surprised Hermione by keeping his hold of her waist and pulling her close. Her arm went around his waist, as well. They usually walked, with her holding his left arm. Today, he needed to feel her close. Both couldn't help but notice how right it felt to walk holding each other. "That should show that waitress," Harry said with a smirk. After a couple of blocks, Hermione needed to voice her concerns.

"Harry?" she asked, looking down. He stopped and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Please don't go all beast mode, Auror boot camp on me. I am really out of shape and you… well, you are not."

"Mione, I would never push you further than you can go… I know you don't want to be an Auror, which by the way is a great loss for the DMLE, you know."

She stared hard. He winced, throwing his hands up in defeat.

"Okay, okay, I know the DMLE is not for you… I will push you, but just a bit. Without challenge, there is no change."

"You are a believer in the no pain, no gain, right?"

"I am," he said, smiling devilishly.

"Bloody hell… I'm going to be so sore!" she said groaning. Harry laughed. He almost volunteered to massage her soreness away.

Hermione was very grateful for Harry's help, but also scared. He was in incredible shape. Could she even keep up? She decided that she needed some workout clothes. She convinced herself that she wasn't buying them to look good for Harry, but deep down, she knew she was. It was bad enough that he would see her sweaty and gross. She didn't want to be dressed shabbily as well. She went to muggle London. Wizards didn't believe in working out, so they had no workout clothes at all. They did have swimsuits that seemed to be out of a 1950s catalog.

She got fitted leggings in different colors and lengths. Additionally, she got a few sports bras, tank tops, t-shirts, a couple of sweatshirts, and hoodies. Her trainers needed an update as well. She still had the ones from the war. They were stained and worn out. The laces were torn in parts. She got two pairs and sports' socks. She decided to remove all tags as soon as she got home. She didn't want him to think she had gotten everything to look good for him. She did a couple of spells to make the clothes look a little less new. Her watch read 9 p.m. She had to go to bed. They would start training tomorrow.