Chapter Three
"Hermione," Harry said. He had followed her into the lobby at intermission. He didn't know what was going on in his head, but he knew that he couldn't let her go. He didn't wasn't to risk not seeing her for another five years, or maybe even longer.
Hermione turned, hearing Harry's voice. "Yes?" she said.
Harry had a sudden urge to tell Hermione he loved her, which he ignored. Instead he said, "I was just thinking, we really should spend more time together. We had such a good friendship, and I don't want to lose that."
Hermione was suddenly compelled to throw her arms around Harry and yell, "I couldn't agree more!" Instead, she calmly said, "Actually, I was thinking the same thing."
Harry smiled that sweet smile Hermione had always loved. "I wish I knew where Ron lives, I'd like to have us all together again."
Hermione nodded. "You're going out with Padma Patil aren't you?" she asked, trying to sound less depressed at this thought than she felt.
Harry nodded.
"Does Parvati still talk to Lavender Brown?" Hermione continued.
"I think so."
"Maybe you could ask Padma to ask Parvati where Lavender and Ron are living," Hermione suggested.
"That's a good idea," Harry said. It would be nice to see Ron again.
Hermione gave Harry her address so he could send an owl when he wanted to get together.
Hermione went home happy. She was disappointed to see that Harry had a girlfriend, especially a girlfriend like Padma Patil, but she was glad to hear that Harry still wanted to keep in touch.
* * *
Harry reluctantly went to dinner with Padma, who talked about herself, her friends, her job at Gringotts, and her family the entire time. She ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, as usual, and expected Harry to pay. Harry was used to this behavior, but still tired of it. He seriously considered breaking up with Padma on the spot, but decided not to. He wondered if he was falling back in love with Hermione. No, he was sure he wasn't, that would be too strange.
"So anyway, that Hufflepuff girl, Hannah Abbot, I think her name was, came into Gringotts the other day and-what's wrong?"
Harry started out of his daze. "Nothing," he said.
"Good," said Padma," so anyway, that Abbot girl comes into Gringotts and starts talking about God knows what, and talking about herself and her job like we're old friends from school or something. Isn't that funny? As if I ever would have talked to her at school! Anyway, you should have seen what she was wearing. She still dresses horribly, even worse than that friend of yours we saw tonight. Hermione Granger, talk about frumpy!"
Harry pretended he didn't hear this. Couldn't Padma at least have a little respect for his friends?
Padma looked at her expensive gold watch and gasped. "Ooh Harry, I have to go, I'm going to a muggle dance club with Parvati and some friends. It should be loads of fun! Want to come?"
"No, I'm tired, I think I'll just go home," Harry said.
Padma was relieved that Harry wasn't coming. She could dance (and hopefully do a little more) with whomever she pleased if Harry wasn't there.
"Good night, Harry," She said giving him a quick, cold kiss on the cheek.
"Wait, one thing before you disapperate, Padma," Harry said.
"What is it?" Padma said, sounding slightly impatient.
"Could you by any chance ask Parvati where Lavender and Ron are living? I'd really like to talk to Ron."
Padma looked disapprovingly at Harry. She had never liked Ron. Especially since the Yule Ball their fourth year. "I'll see what I can do," she said before disapperating to the flat she shared with her sister, to get ready to go clubbing.
* * *
Three days later, Hermione received an owl from Harry asking her to meet him at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday at five. Hermione couldn't wait, she was dying to see her two best friends. Especially Harry.
That Saturday, she decided to walk to the Three Broomsticks. Apparating would be faster, but she lived nearby and it was a very nice day.
She walked into the pub promptly at five. Harry and Ron hadn't arrived yet, so she sat at a table toward the back to wait. She took out a book to read while she waited.
"Hermione Granger, you haven't changed a bit. You have your nose stuck in a book, just like you always did," came a familiar teasing tone.
Hermione looked up to find Ron. He looked exactly as he had in their seventh year.
"Ron!" Hermione said smiling, "it's so great to see you again!" and it was. Seeing Ron's face reminded her of the fun times the trio had shared during their school days.
Harry showed up just as Ron sat down across from Hermione.
"Hi," he said grinning broadly as he took a seat at their table.
The three ordered drinks (butterbeers to honor the old days) and began to catch up on each other's lives.
"So Ron, Padma says that you and Lavender are getting married," Harry said.
Ron smiled, saying, "Yeah, this November."
Ron and Lavender started dating in their sixth year, and had moved into a flat together after they graduated.
"Congratulations," Hermione said, happy for her friend. She hoped Harry didn't have the same announcement to make about himself and Padma.
"November's not too far off," Harry said.
"I know, there's a lot to do before then," Ron said, taking a drink of his butterbeer, which had just arrived. "So what's new in your life, Hermione?" he asked, putting his glass down.
"Not much. I'm very busy with work at the moment."
"You haven't changed at all," Harry teased.
"What about you Harry?" Ron asked, "How are things with you and Padma?"
Harry shrugged, "They're okay. Not too serious right now," he said. He wouldn't dare tell them that he suspected Padma of using him.
Hermione was glad things weren't too serious between Harry and Padma. She wondered why she was suddenly so obsessed with Harry and his personal life. Things between them were over, and she just needed to accept that.
* * *
The following Monday, Hermione came home from work in much better spirits than usual; she was still happy that she had gotten to talk with Harry and Ron.
When she arrived home, there was mail on the windowsill waiting to be opened. She absently sifted through bills and junk mail, but then something caught her eye. It was a small formal-looking white envelope. She carefully tore it open and pulled out a very delicate fancy piece of parchment. She smiled as she read the elegant script. She was invited to Ron's wedding.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I've been putting these up pretty fast, but the next chapter may take a little while, sorry.
And I'd just like to give my sincerest thanks to everyone who has reviewed this fic so far. And keep them coming!
"Hermione," Harry said. He had followed her into the lobby at intermission. He didn't know what was going on in his head, but he knew that he couldn't let her go. He didn't wasn't to risk not seeing her for another five years, or maybe even longer.
Hermione turned, hearing Harry's voice. "Yes?" she said.
Harry had a sudden urge to tell Hermione he loved her, which he ignored. Instead he said, "I was just thinking, we really should spend more time together. We had such a good friendship, and I don't want to lose that."
Hermione was suddenly compelled to throw her arms around Harry and yell, "I couldn't agree more!" Instead, she calmly said, "Actually, I was thinking the same thing."
Harry smiled that sweet smile Hermione had always loved. "I wish I knew where Ron lives, I'd like to have us all together again."
Hermione nodded. "You're going out with Padma Patil aren't you?" she asked, trying to sound less depressed at this thought than she felt.
Harry nodded.
"Does Parvati still talk to Lavender Brown?" Hermione continued.
"I think so."
"Maybe you could ask Padma to ask Parvati where Lavender and Ron are living," Hermione suggested.
"That's a good idea," Harry said. It would be nice to see Ron again.
Hermione gave Harry her address so he could send an owl when he wanted to get together.
Hermione went home happy. She was disappointed to see that Harry had a girlfriend, especially a girlfriend like Padma Patil, but she was glad to hear that Harry still wanted to keep in touch.
* * *
Harry reluctantly went to dinner with Padma, who talked about herself, her friends, her job at Gringotts, and her family the entire time. She ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, as usual, and expected Harry to pay. Harry was used to this behavior, but still tired of it. He seriously considered breaking up with Padma on the spot, but decided not to. He wondered if he was falling back in love with Hermione. No, he was sure he wasn't, that would be too strange.
"So anyway, that Hufflepuff girl, Hannah Abbot, I think her name was, came into Gringotts the other day and-what's wrong?"
Harry started out of his daze. "Nothing," he said.
"Good," said Padma," so anyway, that Abbot girl comes into Gringotts and starts talking about God knows what, and talking about herself and her job like we're old friends from school or something. Isn't that funny? As if I ever would have talked to her at school! Anyway, you should have seen what she was wearing. She still dresses horribly, even worse than that friend of yours we saw tonight. Hermione Granger, talk about frumpy!"
Harry pretended he didn't hear this. Couldn't Padma at least have a little respect for his friends?
Padma looked at her expensive gold watch and gasped. "Ooh Harry, I have to go, I'm going to a muggle dance club with Parvati and some friends. It should be loads of fun! Want to come?"
"No, I'm tired, I think I'll just go home," Harry said.
Padma was relieved that Harry wasn't coming. She could dance (and hopefully do a little more) with whomever she pleased if Harry wasn't there.
"Good night, Harry," She said giving him a quick, cold kiss on the cheek.
"Wait, one thing before you disapperate, Padma," Harry said.
"What is it?" Padma said, sounding slightly impatient.
"Could you by any chance ask Parvati where Lavender and Ron are living? I'd really like to talk to Ron."
Padma looked disapprovingly at Harry. She had never liked Ron. Especially since the Yule Ball their fourth year. "I'll see what I can do," she said before disapperating to the flat she shared with her sister, to get ready to go clubbing.
* * *
Three days later, Hermione received an owl from Harry asking her to meet him at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday at five. Hermione couldn't wait, she was dying to see her two best friends. Especially Harry.
That Saturday, she decided to walk to the Three Broomsticks. Apparating would be faster, but she lived nearby and it was a very nice day.
She walked into the pub promptly at five. Harry and Ron hadn't arrived yet, so she sat at a table toward the back to wait. She took out a book to read while she waited.
"Hermione Granger, you haven't changed a bit. You have your nose stuck in a book, just like you always did," came a familiar teasing tone.
Hermione looked up to find Ron. He looked exactly as he had in their seventh year.
"Ron!" Hermione said smiling, "it's so great to see you again!" and it was. Seeing Ron's face reminded her of the fun times the trio had shared during their school days.
Harry showed up just as Ron sat down across from Hermione.
"Hi," he said grinning broadly as he took a seat at their table.
The three ordered drinks (butterbeers to honor the old days) and began to catch up on each other's lives.
"So Ron, Padma says that you and Lavender are getting married," Harry said.
Ron smiled, saying, "Yeah, this November."
Ron and Lavender started dating in their sixth year, and had moved into a flat together after they graduated.
"Congratulations," Hermione said, happy for her friend. She hoped Harry didn't have the same announcement to make about himself and Padma.
"November's not too far off," Harry said.
"I know, there's a lot to do before then," Ron said, taking a drink of his butterbeer, which had just arrived. "So what's new in your life, Hermione?" he asked, putting his glass down.
"Not much. I'm very busy with work at the moment."
"You haven't changed at all," Harry teased.
"What about you Harry?" Ron asked, "How are things with you and Padma?"
Harry shrugged, "They're okay. Not too serious right now," he said. He wouldn't dare tell them that he suspected Padma of using him.
Hermione was glad things weren't too serious between Harry and Padma. She wondered why she was suddenly so obsessed with Harry and his personal life. Things between them were over, and she just needed to accept that.
* * *
The following Monday, Hermione came home from work in much better spirits than usual; she was still happy that she had gotten to talk with Harry and Ron.
When she arrived home, there was mail on the windowsill waiting to be opened. She absently sifted through bills and junk mail, but then something caught her eye. It was a small formal-looking white envelope. She carefully tore it open and pulled out a very delicate fancy piece of parchment. She smiled as she read the elegant script. She was invited to Ron's wedding.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I've been putting these up pretty fast, but the next chapter may take a little while, sorry.
And I'd just like to give my sincerest thanks to everyone who has reviewed this fic so far. And keep them coming!