Disclaimer: If I owned this I'd be in a castle in Scotland...and I'm not :-
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Ron Weasley sat in the café, sipping his tea, thinking about what he was doing in Typic Alley in New York City. He had traveled over 3,000 miles to find a woman he hadn't seen for seven years. A woman he had loved with all his heart, his best friend; Hermione Granger.
He knew where she was, where she lived, and where she worked. He had spent years looking for her. When he received an owl from a correspondent saying they had found her, he had grabbed a portkey and came right over without thinking.
Now he was afraid. She had walked out of their flat and out of his life saying that it was no use trying to make a relationship work without Harry. They fought too much. It wasn't meant to be.
He wanted to find her, but he was scared about what she might say. Would she tell him that she left for a reason? Would she say it was no use coming because she never wanted to see his face again? Would she be married and laugh at how pathetic he was for coming to find him after all these years?
Ron tightened his cloak around himself and looked longingly out the window. He saw a bushy-haired witch about his age stroll past. She looked like Hermione. Now you're hallucinating, Weasley, he though. He looked back to see the same woman coming through the door of the café. He rubbed his eyes as the woman walked up to the counter and said, "I'll have an orange tea, and one of those big, chocolate cookies."
He chuckled. She had a British accent. He knew his mind was getting the better of him. The woman tucked the cookie into her purse, took a sip of tea and turned around.
Ron snapped his head down so she wouldn't see him staring. When he glanced up, the woman was looking at him strangely. No, it couldn't be. Ron squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, the woman was slowly approaching him.
They made eye contact, she smiled and asked, "R...Ron, is that you?"
A huge grin spread across Ron's face as he replied, "Hermione?" Before he could think, he was enveloped in a hug, surrounded by a mass of bushy brown hair.
She pulled back and gasped, "I can't believe I'm seeing you."
"Me neither!" Ron was practically shaking with excitement.
Hermione felt the same way. "So, what are you doing here?"
"Well...I...I had some time off of work, so I thought I'd take a vacation, you know, see the sights," Ron lied.
"Oh, that's great! Do you want to go to lunch or something?" She squealed like a little schoolgirl.
Ron nodded vigorously.
"I know a cute little place around the corned. C'mon, we'll eat there." Hermione told him, leading him out the door. They walked around the corner, their shoulders brushing occasionally, sending a familiar chill up Ron's spine.
When they arrived at the tiny sidewalk café, a charming French man quickly greeted Hermione.
"Ah, Ms. Granger!" He said, amiably. "How are you zis fine afternoon?"
"I'm just wonderful, Jean-Claude. May we have a table for two?"
"Of course, right zis way. May I inquire, where is you uzzer half?"
Hermione cleared her throat and changed the subject. "May we hear the specials," she said forcefully, taking a seat across from Ron.
This irked Ron. As Jean-Claude recited the day's specials he thought silently, So, she is married. I feel like such an imbecile.
Hermione must have noticed the look on his face because she quickly asked, "Are you all right?"
He smiled falsely and said, "I'm perfectly fine. So, who is this other half of yours? Are you married?"
"No, I'm not married," she laughed. "He's just this guy. What about you, any significant others?"
"There have been some girls. Nothing serious."
"Well, what else have you been up to? What are you doing now?"
"I'm a healer, just like we planned." He sighed, remembering when they were a "we," planning their future.
"Me too. I mean, it wasn't easy, but I made it."
"Wasn't easy? For you?" Hermione's remark threw Ron off guard. He had made it through Healer training, struggling only for the first year, and cruising through the rest. How could what was simple for him be difficult for the most amazing witch in the world?
"I...I had other complications in my life. You know, I was in a country I had only visited once before. I had no job and no money." She explained herself quickly, placing her hand on the table.
Ron set his hand gingerly atop hers and said softly, "You don't have to justify yourself to me."
They gazed into each other's eyes, sharing a moment much like they had when they were 17 years old. Unfortunately, the connection was broken when Jean- Claude appeared, asking their orders. Hermione scanned her menu quickly and ordered a salad. Ron ordered the same, trusting Hermione's judgment.
"So," Hermione started the conversation after Jean-Claude had stepped away, "how's your sister?"
"Oh, Ginny. She's great." Ron replied, nodding.
"So she...moved on?" Hermione asked with difficulty,
"It was hard for her. When Harry died, she was as devastated as we were, if not more. After you left, and she finished Hogwarts, she moved into my flat. Every other weekend we'd go out on dates and we'd both arrive back at the flat around ten, and we'd just sit in front of the fire, thinking, wishing. Then one night, I came back, and I waited for her. She didn't come home till after midnight, but she came in dancing. She told me she had found him. He was the one. The one who would help her move on from Harry." Ron sighed deeply, "Now they're married and expecting their first child."
"That's wonderful, Ron. Send her my congratulations."
"Yeah, I'm really happy for her." That was a lie and Ron knew it. He wasn't happy for her. He was insanely jealous of his sister. It wasn't fair that she could move on and be content with her life when he was still pining over the woman who had walked out on him so many years before. Tell her, Ron! A tiny voice chimed in his head. Tell her you still love her!
The food arrived shortly and they made small talk for a while. They laughed about old memories, and spoke somberly about Harry. They discussed the field of healing and the differences between American and British wizardry. Ron caught Hermione up on what their old Hogwarts friends were doing. After the bill came, and they argued for a few minutes over who would pay and ended up splitting it, they sat in silence for a moment.
"Hermione," Ron began, his voice quavering, "what...what happened between us?"
Hermione looked sternly at the man across from her. He squirmed uncomfortably under her gaze. She reminded him of his mother when he had done something wrong. "You know as well as I do what happened." She said. "We fought too much. Without Harry to mediate, we just couldn't do it. It wasn't a positive environment for any of us."
"But you left! We didn't even try!" Ron raised his voice.
"Keep it down, Ron." Hermione whispered forcefully. She placed her hand on her forehead as if she had a headache. "Why do you have to bring this up now? It's been 7 years! We only knew each other for that long!" She glanced at her watch. "Damn! I have to go, Ron." She said quietly.
"Well, can I see you again?" Ron pleaded.
"No, Ron," Hermione looking straight into his eyes. "I had a lovely afternoon. I really missed you. Maybe our paths will cross again some day." She tried to smile as tears formed in her eyes. She extended her hand for Ron to shake but he just stood before her.
"Why not?!" Ron was nearly crying himself.
"I have to go," Hermione reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek, then stood and turned to walk away. Ron leapt from his seat and grabbed her arm.
"I didn't come three thousand miles just to see you for an hour!"
"You what? You came to find me?" Hermione fumed.
"Yes!" Ron gasped, "I searched for you and now that I've found you I'm not letting you go!"
Hermione fought his grasp. "Yes you are! Get off of me!" She freed herself and ran out of the café.
Ron glanced around at all of the people staring at them but ran after Hermione hastily. "Don't leave me again, Hermione!" He screamed across the crowd of people in the alley. He moved as quickly as possible and cast a quick leg-locking curse on her. As she countered it, he caught up to her and took hold of her arm again.
"Where do you have to go that's so important?!" He demanded. She worked to get away as Ron continued yelling, "Where, Hermione, Where? Where?! WHERE?!!!!!"
She couldn't take it any longer. Her head was pounding and Ron's vice-like grip on her arm was killing her. She mustered up all of her strength, pulled away, and screamed, "I have to pick up Harry! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A/N: So, there it is! Chapter 1! I hope everyone liked it and I NEED A BETA! Tell me if you know one. Chapter 2 should be up in about a week or so. Now review, please.
Ron Weasley sat in the café, sipping his tea, thinking about what he was doing in Typic Alley in New York City. He had traveled over 3,000 miles to find a woman he hadn't seen for seven years. A woman he had loved with all his heart, his best friend; Hermione Granger.
He knew where she was, where she lived, and where she worked. He had spent years looking for her. When he received an owl from a correspondent saying they had found her, he had grabbed a portkey and came right over without thinking.
Now he was afraid. She had walked out of their flat and out of his life saying that it was no use trying to make a relationship work without Harry. They fought too much. It wasn't meant to be.
He wanted to find her, but he was scared about what she might say. Would she tell him that she left for a reason? Would she say it was no use coming because she never wanted to see his face again? Would she be married and laugh at how pathetic he was for coming to find him after all these years?
Ron tightened his cloak around himself and looked longingly out the window. He saw a bushy-haired witch about his age stroll past. She looked like Hermione. Now you're hallucinating, Weasley, he though. He looked back to see the same woman coming through the door of the café. He rubbed his eyes as the woman walked up to the counter and said, "I'll have an orange tea, and one of those big, chocolate cookies."
He chuckled. She had a British accent. He knew his mind was getting the better of him. The woman tucked the cookie into her purse, took a sip of tea and turned around.
Ron snapped his head down so she wouldn't see him staring. When he glanced up, the woman was looking at him strangely. No, it couldn't be. Ron squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, the woman was slowly approaching him.
They made eye contact, she smiled and asked, "R...Ron, is that you?"
A huge grin spread across Ron's face as he replied, "Hermione?" Before he could think, he was enveloped in a hug, surrounded by a mass of bushy brown hair.
She pulled back and gasped, "I can't believe I'm seeing you."
"Me neither!" Ron was practically shaking with excitement.
Hermione felt the same way. "So, what are you doing here?"
"Well...I...I had some time off of work, so I thought I'd take a vacation, you know, see the sights," Ron lied.
"Oh, that's great! Do you want to go to lunch or something?" She squealed like a little schoolgirl.
Ron nodded vigorously.
"I know a cute little place around the corned. C'mon, we'll eat there." Hermione told him, leading him out the door. They walked around the corner, their shoulders brushing occasionally, sending a familiar chill up Ron's spine.
When they arrived at the tiny sidewalk café, a charming French man quickly greeted Hermione.
"Ah, Ms. Granger!" He said, amiably. "How are you zis fine afternoon?"
"I'm just wonderful, Jean-Claude. May we have a table for two?"
"Of course, right zis way. May I inquire, where is you uzzer half?"
Hermione cleared her throat and changed the subject. "May we hear the specials," she said forcefully, taking a seat across from Ron.
This irked Ron. As Jean-Claude recited the day's specials he thought silently, So, she is married. I feel like such an imbecile.
Hermione must have noticed the look on his face because she quickly asked, "Are you all right?"
He smiled falsely and said, "I'm perfectly fine. So, who is this other half of yours? Are you married?"
"No, I'm not married," she laughed. "He's just this guy. What about you, any significant others?"
"There have been some girls. Nothing serious."
"Well, what else have you been up to? What are you doing now?"
"I'm a healer, just like we planned." He sighed, remembering when they were a "we," planning their future.
"Me too. I mean, it wasn't easy, but I made it."
"Wasn't easy? For you?" Hermione's remark threw Ron off guard. He had made it through Healer training, struggling only for the first year, and cruising through the rest. How could what was simple for him be difficult for the most amazing witch in the world?
"I...I had other complications in my life. You know, I was in a country I had only visited once before. I had no job and no money." She explained herself quickly, placing her hand on the table.
Ron set his hand gingerly atop hers and said softly, "You don't have to justify yourself to me."
They gazed into each other's eyes, sharing a moment much like they had when they were 17 years old. Unfortunately, the connection was broken when Jean- Claude appeared, asking their orders. Hermione scanned her menu quickly and ordered a salad. Ron ordered the same, trusting Hermione's judgment.
"So," Hermione started the conversation after Jean-Claude had stepped away, "how's your sister?"
"Oh, Ginny. She's great." Ron replied, nodding.
"So she...moved on?" Hermione asked with difficulty,
"It was hard for her. When Harry died, she was as devastated as we were, if not more. After you left, and she finished Hogwarts, she moved into my flat. Every other weekend we'd go out on dates and we'd both arrive back at the flat around ten, and we'd just sit in front of the fire, thinking, wishing. Then one night, I came back, and I waited for her. She didn't come home till after midnight, but she came in dancing. She told me she had found him. He was the one. The one who would help her move on from Harry." Ron sighed deeply, "Now they're married and expecting their first child."
"That's wonderful, Ron. Send her my congratulations."
"Yeah, I'm really happy for her." That was a lie and Ron knew it. He wasn't happy for her. He was insanely jealous of his sister. It wasn't fair that she could move on and be content with her life when he was still pining over the woman who had walked out on him so many years before. Tell her, Ron! A tiny voice chimed in his head. Tell her you still love her!
The food arrived shortly and they made small talk for a while. They laughed about old memories, and spoke somberly about Harry. They discussed the field of healing and the differences between American and British wizardry. Ron caught Hermione up on what their old Hogwarts friends were doing. After the bill came, and they argued for a few minutes over who would pay and ended up splitting it, they sat in silence for a moment.
"Hermione," Ron began, his voice quavering, "what...what happened between us?"
Hermione looked sternly at the man across from her. He squirmed uncomfortably under her gaze. She reminded him of his mother when he had done something wrong. "You know as well as I do what happened." She said. "We fought too much. Without Harry to mediate, we just couldn't do it. It wasn't a positive environment for any of us."
"But you left! We didn't even try!" Ron raised his voice.
"Keep it down, Ron." Hermione whispered forcefully. She placed her hand on her forehead as if she had a headache. "Why do you have to bring this up now? It's been 7 years! We only knew each other for that long!" She glanced at her watch. "Damn! I have to go, Ron." She said quietly.
"Well, can I see you again?" Ron pleaded.
"No, Ron," Hermione looking straight into his eyes. "I had a lovely afternoon. I really missed you. Maybe our paths will cross again some day." She tried to smile as tears formed in her eyes. She extended her hand for Ron to shake but he just stood before her.
"Why not?!" Ron was nearly crying himself.
"I have to go," Hermione reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek, then stood and turned to walk away. Ron leapt from his seat and grabbed her arm.
"I didn't come three thousand miles just to see you for an hour!"
"You what? You came to find me?" Hermione fumed.
"Yes!" Ron gasped, "I searched for you and now that I've found you I'm not letting you go!"
Hermione fought his grasp. "Yes you are! Get off of me!" She freed herself and ran out of the café.
Ron glanced around at all of the people staring at them but ran after Hermione hastily. "Don't leave me again, Hermione!" He screamed across the crowd of people in the alley. He moved as quickly as possible and cast a quick leg-locking curse on her. As she countered it, he caught up to her and took hold of her arm again.
"Where do you have to go that's so important?!" He demanded. She worked to get away as Ron continued yelling, "Where, Hermione, Where? Where?! WHERE?!!!!!"
She couldn't take it any longer. Her head was pounding and Ron's vice-like grip on her arm was killing her. She mustered up all of her strength, pulled away, and screamed, "I have to pick up Harry! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A/N: So, there it is! Chapter 1! I hope everyone liked it and I NEED A BETA! Tell me if you know one. Chapter 2 should be up in about a week or so. Now review, please.