Disclaimer: JK owns the characters and, well, everything but the plot, that's mine.

Author's Notes: From thereview of Tania25, I have added background of Hermione's relationships with both Ron and Viktor Krum. Thanks so much for the advice! Also, as a result of HermyGWeasley's review, I havequite lengthened thesize of the first few chapters.


Chapter Two
Lovebirds, can I take your order?

"Can I get you two anything else this evening?" The couple shook their heads gently, not turning their gaze from the eyes of their lover. The waitress watched in disgust wanting very badly to roll her eyes but pasted on her job face and placed the check on the table. "I'll take this when you're ready," she smiled though she knew the two wouldn't have noticed if she was standing on her head. "You two have a nice night." She knew better than to expect a response and walked hastily back to the bar to place another order.

"Newlyweds again?" asked the bartender with a teasing smirk gracing his well-chiseled face.

She sighed and slumped onto a bar stool. "My third lovesick couple this week! I think the hostess seats them at my tables just to spite me, damn her!" She sighed again regaining her composure. "Sorry," she offered to the bartender. "It's just the act of being in love, the goggling eyes and the goofy grins. Why do people think that being in love gives you warrant to look like a fool?"

"We're not bitter now are we?" he chuckled through his facetious words. "Besides, aren't fools the one who fall in love?" he looked kindly over at the young couple Hermione had just left. "It's kind of sweet though, don't you think?" She followed his gaze and wrinkled her nose in response. "Come on Hermione! Haven't you ever been in love?"

"No," she laughed softly, "I'm no fool." He walked away to take another order, leaving her with her thoughts. Had she ever been in love? She didn't think so, not that she'd really ever given love much of a chance. She and Viktor Krum had a sort of 'love affair' in her fourth and even a bit into her fifth year, but she didn't love him. She didn't even know if she had fancied him at all or if she just enjoyed the attention of having someone fancy her. He was still playing Quidditch professionally and she received an occasional letter from him. Then there was Ron.

Hermione smiled to herself as she remembered the splendor of their young love. Wait, did she just think love? She did love Ron, she still did, but she was never really in love with Ron. At least, not the love that lasted forever. They had finally become a couple over the Christmas holidays. Harry had been faced with Voldemort just before the holidays were to start. It was another un-won battle; it seemed neither could defeat the other. He was not hurt too severely but still had to spend most of the holiday in the infirmary leaving Ron and Hermione more than ample time to be alone and figure out just what was going on between the two of them. A small chuckle escaped her lips. That was probably the closest she'd ever come to being in love. She hadn't dated much since she and Ron broke up, almost three years ago. She felt as though something died in her when Harry died and the war was finally over. She didn't date because she didn't fancy falling in love. Love made no sense to her. She couldn't learn it from a book, but even if she could, she didn't think she would fully understand its meaning. She had experienced so much in her lifetime. What made love so great?

She was pulled out of her reverie by Bradley's handsome face smiling flirtatiously down upon her. She gave a slight smile, almost blushed as she returned the gaze of his beautiful blue eyes.

"Drinks?" he asked.

Drinks? A confused expression graced Hermione's features, wait, was he asking her out? What should she say, I mean he was devilishly handsome and even if maybe it didn't last and end up being a truly worthy relationship she couldn't really do for some…male companionship. She smiled, "Well…I…" became her vague response.

"Your drink order, Granger?" He had asked her this three times before she had actually returned from her thoughts and heard him.

"Oh," she frowned slightly. Of course he wasn't asking her out. "A cosmopolitan and none of that Aristocratic Vodka, my customers hate that stuff, a white wine spritzer and a white Russian," she rattled off. He made the drinks quickly, but accurately.

"Ladies social?" he placed the drinks on small, white napkins and set them on a tray.

"I guess," she chuckled softly picking up the tray. "At least it's not another set of lovebirds."

"If you ever let yourself fall in love Hermione, maybe you won't be such a cynic on the topic." He walked away with a sweet smile etched across his charming face.

-

As she walked to her flat after work, she couldn't seem to get Bradley's words out of her head.

"A few of us are going to get drinks at that new bar down the street," Bradley smile twinkled. "Care to join us?"

"Who's going?" Hermione asked while filing away the night's paperwork.

He walked up behind her. "Well I am and isn't that all that matters?"

She turned to face him and discovered him smiling shamelessly about a foot from her. She smiled back, slightly blushing. "You should come up with some new pick-up lines Bradley, that one's getting quite redundant."

He frowned, "So that means I won't be picking you up then?" She shook her head. "I'll make it worth your while," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. She just laughed.

"I'll keep that in mind. Maybe some other time?"

"As always Miss Hermione, keeping me waiting." He turned from her and put on a jacket. "You know, you really should get a life," he smiled, "You're quite boring. Maybe you'll be feeling a bit more adventurous another evening."

She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Goodnight Bradley," she called as she headed out the door.

"Thank you, I will," he called as he headed in the opposite direction. "Be careful," he added for good measure.

She shook her head. If he only knew how adventurous she had been, all the things she'd gone through and the person she was in the wizarding world. She'd gotten used to being a nobody in the Muggle world, it suited her alright. She laughed to herself. How did she go from Hogwarts Head Girl at the top of her class to helping Harry defeat the darkest wizard the world has ever known to waiting tables in a mediocre Muggle restaurant? It paid quite well, actually. Better than most of the jobs she'd drifted through since leaving her position as an auror.

After Harry died and the war ended, life didn't seem to hold as much joy for her anymore. She missed him terribly, he knew her better than anyone, probably even better than Ron. Everything reminded her of him. She also almost missed the war. As crazy as that seems, her life held purpose and she had a goal that she was fighting for. She had no goal now; she just wandered aimlessly searching for some sort of purpose in her life. She could be employed in many other positions in the wizarding world that were much more beneficial to the world, but she just wanted to be away from it all. Away from the war, the pain that it had caused and the memories that were left behind.

Ron did his best to love and comfort her after Harry's death. She was so selfish. She didn't even consider what Ron must be feeling when she tore the heart from his chest. She just couldn't take it anymore, any of it; she had to get away from everything. She knew that would be impossible to do and still be with Ron. She loved Ron, she really did. And now, in the empty solitude of the street she could admit to herself that she had very much been in love with Ron, a part of her still was. The two kept in constant contact. They hadn't for a while, both heartbroken from losing Harry and then one another. They didn't have any contact with one another for six months, when Ginny gave birth to Lily Charlene Potter (named for Harry's mother and Ginny's brother, Charlie).

She was a beautiful child, a true mix of her parents. She had soft, creamy fair skin with a full head of flaming ginger hair atop her head and an exact replica of Harry's piercing emerald eyes. She stole Hermione's heart the first time she held her in her arms, though looking down into her eyes aroused the painful memories of her late best friend. She felt a great surge of sorrow rush through her as she remembered her other best friend who was still very much alive and very much in need of her. She went to him with the excuse of them being Lily's godparents. She didn't beg him to take her back, nor did he. They just talked and realized how much they really needed each other right now. They were now in constant contact, sending two or three owls a week and meeting at least once a month for tea or drinks or dinner, just so they could see one another.

Their relationship was never rekindled but their friendship was stronger than it had ever been. He was truly her best friend, he knew her better than anyone, even better than Ginny who was her closest girlfriend. She rarely saw Ginny and Lily anymore; she hadn't been to The Burrow in years. She and Ginny sent owls often and Lily spent one day a month with Hermione while her Mom slept or shopped or just hung out in Hermione's flat and relaxed. She sends her cards and gifts all the time and she and Ginny have a monthly 'date'. Ginny's living at The Burrow; she was too lonely and nervous about raising Lily all alone. She missed the Weasleys, Ginny and Ron were the only ones she'd seen in years.

She sighed as she reached the building her flat was located in and, down-trodden, started up the stairs.


Author's Notes:I like this re-write of the chapter much better, I hope you do too!