AN: Howdy! Just so you know, this is a first time collaboration between two neighbors, Addison and I. We hope everyone will enjoy it, constructive criticism is always welcomed…but if it's not taken then it's because we're right. Have fun, and please review.
Amanda
Chapter 1: The Café
It was common knowledge that one did not go into a café on a Saturday morning expecting opportunities for deep thought. The air was bustling, as it always was this time of day, with the sounds of polite conversation and stirring spoons.
For one man, only the sound of the small bell over the doorway pulled him from his thoughts. Each bell would ring disappointment, though; the one he was expecting had not yet arrived.
She's never this late, Harry said to himself as he nervously stirred his coffee for the hundredth time. His hair was tousled like it always was due to his hands running through it, and he was wearing a dark green sweater and a pair of old comfy jeans. Staring at his watch, he found it ironic that she would be late the one day they had nothing to talk about but them.
We've been so busy lately we've hardly had any time to just talk. The last few months had been filled with new jobs and meetings, and now, they had nothing to keep them from spending a perfect Saturday together. Most of his time had been occupied by the Order; and Hermione being herself, was devoted to her work at the Ministry. It's been five years since we started the new Order… Together, Harry and Ron had continued the Order of the Phoenix to prevent any wannabe Voldemorts from taking power, and therefore keeping the peace they fought so hard to achieve. They would find criminals who've put bounties on other criminals heads, collect the bounty and then go for the ones who put it out in the first place. Then they would set both up to be caught by the Ministry. …and Hermione was vital to their success, even if some didn't want to admit it.
Harry's thoughts were once again interrupted by the jingling of the bell over the door as a man in a dark trench coat walked into the café.
As she walked down the busy city road, all Hermione could think about was the news she had to break to Harry. She had been looking forward to their meeting today; it would have been a nice, relaxing morning in the café.
She had received a letter late last night, and since then she hadn't been able to sleep. It was going to be another weekend that she had to bring her work home from the Ministry.
She had been working extremely hard to get the job she coveted, and now she was so close she could taste it. However this new information left her with doubt in her mind about her chances for advancement. The Ministry was finally starting to move towards reform, and the thought of being part of it was exciting. She was so adamant about changing the way things were, that she almost forgot about life outside of the Ministry walls, except of course, her and Harry's morning visits to the café.
And that was exactly where she was headed. Hermione fumbled with her papers as she felt a stare in the back of her head. Just as she turned, the only sight she caught was the tail of a dark trench coat flipping around the corner.
She walked to the alley where she had set a portkey to take her to the café, and as she touched the coin on the ground, she felt the familiar tug at the pit of her stomach. Once she was back on solid ground, she thanked God her trip was finished. She never liked traveling by portkey, and Harry knew it.
As the bell over the door rang once more, Harry turned and instantly smiled once he saw Hermione walk through. He was amazed at Hermione's ability to look cool and composed even after her wild trip. She wore her hair up, as she almost always did nowadays. Her blouse was a pale blue color, and Harry couldn't help but notice how well her legs were complimented by the black pencil skirt she wore. Not only was she able to maintain composure, the fact that she traveled by portkey in heels scared him. He laughed to himself when he remembered she had to travel that way every time she came to meet him. "Have a nice ride? I know how much you love portkeys."
"You're such an ass." Hermione glared at him as he smirked. "The things I do you for, Mr. Potter. And I don't believe I appreciate that cocky little smirk of yours." She took her seat across from Harry, and upon seeing the casual look on his face, hesitated before she answered his question.
"So, how did the Ministry fare this week?" It was the same question every Saturday, and it was always one of the first asked. Harry wanted to hear news of the Order's most recent success, and he wanted to move on to more important and personal subjects. Unfortunately it would not be success he heard from her lips.
She hated to ruin what could have been such a perfect Saturday. "They got away." She said simply.
"Oh, great…oh. Oh. Wait – What?"
Damn, well I've waited this long, I imagine I can wait another week or two, Harry thought as Hermione repeated what she had just said, "They got away."
"What do you mean they got away? How?" Harry's mind was running a million miles a minute, and at the same time he was drawing a blank.
Hermione sat there and explained how the criminals Harry had set up to be at the garage down the block were missing when she went to apprehend them. "Try explaining all the evidence we got and not being able to make an arrest!" Hermione said loudly as she started to lose her composure at the thought of her job slipping away.
Harry hated to see her like this, and he wished for time to make things better but he knew that finding their man was more important, and what's more, figuring out how he was going to explain this all to the rest of the Order.
"Monday morning sure is going to be interesting" Hermione said in an undertone. She looked into his eyes and noticed how well his eyes were complimented by his sweater.
"Tell me about it."
