A/N: Thanks for the reviews again! It was brought to my attention that I tend to use some American words. Whoops! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend or confuse anybody, I'll try to be more careful. Thanks for putting up with me though. I'll try to do my research. Keep reviewing, I LOVE it! - Ty Riles.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. do not belong to me, but the wonderful J.K. Rowling.
SPECIAL NOTE!!!!!: Part of the idea for this chapter was given to me by a reviewer, Sassy. Thanks!
Something Blue
Chapter Three
The Rosalind Cafe
Hermione pushed into her loft Friday afternoon, grocery bags stacked up to her nose. Crookshanks twisted around her feet, causing Hermione to trip and fall to the floor. She propped herself on her knees and scratched behind her cat's ears. Crookshanks purred happily.
After collecting the scattered produce and snack foods from her floor, Hermione checked her messages and sorted through her mail. Harry Potter's voice once again found itself on her machine. This time, the message asked Hermione to meet him at Rosalind Cafe at 5 P.M.
Hermione glanced at her range clock; it was a few minuets past four. She had a few more things to do for work, including a conference call, before she could leave. She dialed Harry's home number, and got his machine. Hermione left a quick message, asking Harry to meet her at 6 o' clock instead.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jackie Rennin slipped off her heels as soon as she came home Friday evening. An empty driveway told her Harry wasn't home yet, as she had pulled in. This struck her odd, it was half past five, and he was usually home before that. She was about to pick up the phone and call him, when she noticed some messages on the machine. She hit the correct button and listened closely, hoping to hear from her fiance.
Harry had indeed left a message, saying he was going straight from work to a cafe to meet a friend. Jackie shrugged and was just about to switch off the machine when she heard another message, the last one, was from her wedding planner.
"Hey Harry its Hermione. I won't be able to meet you at five because I still have some things to do for work, but I see you at the Rosalind Cafe at six? Bye, see you soon."
Jackie frowned. What was going on with these two? She wondered. This would be the third time they've seen each other in one week. Yes, she understood that they were friends at that...school (Jackie was a Muggle, though her sister, Jenny, was a witch, so she knew about Hogwarts). The whole situation made Jackie very uncomfortable. She erased the last message. And picked up the phone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry Potter's cell phone rang from his pocket. It was Jackie on the other line.
"Oh hi dear." Harry said. He sat up on the Rosalind Cafe's little couch. It was nearly quarter to six and there was still no sign of Hermione.
"Hello darling," Jackie said happily. "I got your message."
"Good."
"Hermione Granger left a message too."
"Yeah?" Harry asked, sound a bit too interested for Jackie's taste. "What'd she say?"
"She couldn't make your little get-together."
"Oh."
"Why don't you come home darling?" Jackie asked.
"Coming."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was ten past six when Hermione rushed into the Rosalind Cafe. She quickly pushed her long, brown hair out of her eyes and looked around for Harry. He was nowhere to be seen. She decided that her watch may be fast and took a seat to wait for him.
It was 7:30 when Hermione would finally admit to herself that she had been stood up. Harry wasn't coming. She grabbed her coat and purse and was about to stand up when she heard a voice beside her.
"This seat taken?"
Hermione looked up. A man, about her age was standing near the couch. He had short dreadlocks, falling into his deep brown eyes. He looked so familiar that Hermione had to stare at him for a few moments before it registered.
"Dean? Dean Thomas!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry Potter weaved through traffic. He pulled into the Lilac Club, a ritzy, member-only restaurant. Inside, a man took Harry's Jacket and Jackie's fur wrap. Harry laughed as he thought about what Hermione would say if she knew Jackie was wearing real animal fur. She wouldn't be too happy about it.
"What's so funny?" Jackie asked, as they were seated.
Harry shrugged, "Nothing." He looked over his menu, "What do you want dear, pick anything you want." They both order the pasta special and a bottle of wine. Harry poured two glasses and handed one to his fiance. The both lifted up their glasses and clinked them together.
"To us."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hermione, how are you?" Dean Thomas asked, sitting beside her. He set down his mug on the table in front of them.
"Dean Thomas. I haven't seen you since school!"
"I know! So what have you been up too?"
"Well, I own my own business now. Wedding planning. I love it." She answered, taking a sip of tea.
Dean smiled, "You know I always thought you'd be a teacher."
They talked for a while. Dean explained that he was working for the Ministry of Magic. He lived in London also, not too far from Hermione.
"So what finds you here?" He asked.
"I was supposed to meet Harry here at six, but he never showed."
"Harry Potter?" Dean said, frowning. "That doesn't seem like him. Well if you are not doing anything now, there's going to be a show down at the Theater. My sister gave me two tickets if you want to go."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After dinner, Harry and Jackie headed down to the local Theater for a show. They took V.I.P. seats in a floor box near the stage. Harry looked over the program while Jackie touched up her makeup.
"Oh hey look, there's Hermione Granger." Jackie said casually, powdering her nose.
Harry looked up quickly, dropping the program to the floor. True enough, there was Hermione, taking seats in the third row, with a familiar man behind her. Harry recognized him as former classmate, Dean Thomas. Harry bit his lip, had Hermione cancelled on him his afternoon to go out with Dean?
A/N: It's all about the answering machine. Read and review. Ty R.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. do not belong to me, but the wonderful J.K. Rowling.
