The office was busy as any normal Monday morning would be. Papers were piling up on Hermione's desk in the 'Crime Investigation' section. She let out a huge sigh as a stack of papers about three inches thick landed right in front of her computer.
" God I hate Mondays," said Hermione massaging her forehead with the heel of her hands.
" So do I, but doesn't everybody," someone interrupted Hermione's apathetical episode. She looked up to see a very familiar face; it was Harry Potter.
" Oh, hey Harry," Hermione stared up at Harrys lightly toned muscles, and thought back to what had happened the night before. Ok, so they'd had a little fling. After all, they had both entered the same profession after Hogwarts; they were Aurors. Hermione worked in an investigation department, and Harry tackled the more hands on stuff.
" So, are you doing anything tonight?" Harry asked trying to act casual. Hermione looked down at her pile of work and then back up at Harry.
" I think I'm going to have to work late tonight. I'm sorry," she said. Harry looked slightly disappointed, but improvised.
" Well, do you want to go get lunch?"
" Sure. Let me finish up with this, I'll be ready in about a half an hour, okay?" she replied. She quickly finished with her work and headed out into the busy streets of muggle London with Harry. As they entered the small Italian resturaunt, the smell of garlic and marinara sauce became overpowering. The waiter seated them and Harry felt inclined to start the conversation.
" So," he attempted pathetically.
" So," Hermione mocked him while thumbing through the slightly drenched menu. Harry tapped his fingers on the greasy table and gave one last attempt to start a conversation.
" Works been stressful lately hasn't it?"
" Yea, I can definitely say that," said Hermione while popping a couple of aspirin. They both sat in silence until the waiter came back. They ordered their food, and then Hermione was tempted to talk first.
" Have you heard anything from Ron lately?" asked Hermione. She had barely heard anything from the third member of their trio since leaving Hogwarts. Harry looked up and briefly shook his head. Hermione couldn't help but sense that Harry didn't really care about Ron, so she decided to question him.
" Have you written him at all? I've tried, but all my responses seem to be the same. ' Hope you're doing well, Hermione. Talk to you soon.'" Hermione mocked Ron's letter. Harry looked up with the same vacant expression as he had before.
" I haven't been in touch with him," he said bluntly, and quickly changed the subject " But I did hear that Seamus Finnigan was accepted onto a local quidditch team,"
" That's really great," Hermione said apathetically. Harry saw her disappointed expression and tried to cheer her up.
" Aw, it's ok Hermione. I'm sure Ron's fine,"
" Yea, he probably is. I'm just worried," she said. So they ate their lunch and shortly after headed back to work. The afternoon seemed endless to Hermione, and she finally escaped her work at five o' clock. She started towards the metro station and stopped at a bagel shop on the way. As she came out, she spotted a single beggar sitting on the steps of a vacant house. He was dressed in a grungy t-shirt and old baggy jeans with holes in the knees. His hair was long in front of his face and he kept sweeping it out of his eyes. His eyes, something seemed so familiar about them. She approached him to donate money and see why he seemed so familiar.
" Hello," she greeted him. She handed him five pounds and started to examine him.
" Hello, Hermione," the man said. Hermione jumped back, and realization suddenly dawned on her. There was no mistaking that voice, the one that had criticized her time and again. It was Draco Malfoy.