Disclaimer: Everythings belongs to J.K. Rowling. Not to me… I had told the reason before…
The next morning, Hermione got up very early. She had butterflies dancing in her stomach. And she had a silly grin on her face. She stretched her arms up above her head and yawned, wondering why she felt so good this morning. Then she remembered. 'I will see Ron… I will see Ron today…' She was singing childishly on the way of her bathroom. She took a long shower. After that, 'I need a good breakfast' she told herself and headed to the kitchen. She poured herself a cup tea. She sat on the table next to the small window and started sipping her tea while watching outside.
She decided to visit Ginny before meeting with boys. The time wasn't passing somehow. She went directly her room and opened her closet. She wore her tight blue jean and a tight white shirt. She put on a lovely necklace (which Harry and Ron bought for her last birthday.) She did some make up. And finally she took her leather jacket for fear that it rains. It was about one o'clock when she was totally ready.
Ginny was a healer. Actually nobody was expecting her to chose this job for her career. Everybody was surprised. Except Hermione. She always claimed that Ginny had more capacity than she showed. As a result she was right, Ginny had brillant N.E.W.T.s in her last year. She was working at St. Mungo's in London.
As she arrived at St. Mungo's, Hermione went directly her room and knocked the door.
'Come in!' Ginny called out behind the door.
'Hermione! What a surprise!' Ginny astonished as she saw Hermione and immediately pulled her a genial hug.
'Hello Ginny, I hope I'm not interrupting something. I just wanted to make a surprise!" Hermione explained briefly.
'Of course not! Very surprise indeed! Come on, have a seat." Ginny indicated a seat next to her table.
"It has been a month since I last saw you! How did you know I would be here today!" Ginny seemed astonished.
"You had said to me you would have a shift for this weekend. When you didn't show up with a brillant idea, I decided to drop by!" Hermione answered her smiling sincerely.
"Yeah. Sorry I forget you're the wise one! How are you doing?" she asked sympathetically. Hermione realised for once that Ginny was a truly beautiful woman. She had long lovely hair (contrary to Hermione) which is bright red and she was tall enough. And she was an example for how quidditch allowed a well-shaped body. Her freckles were evidence for her innocent beauty and they made her cute just like his brother.
They chatted merrily for about one hour. Hermione intented to mention about Ron and Harry but she didn't need to wait that long.
"Is there something bothering you, Hermione?" Ginny asked sensitively.
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know." Ginny shrugged. "You seem a bit distracted."
After a couple of silence, Ginny spilt it out.
"Hey, do you know Harry and Ron returned yesterday." she said abruptly.
"Yes exactly. Harry owled me yesterday night and they invited me for lunch today in Diagon Alley!" Hermione answered a little too cheerfully.
"Did they? They must have missed you!" Ginny winked at her. Hermione blushed slightly. Ginny always knew Hermione loved her brother but they had never talked about it. She didn't dare to bring it up.
"My mother also arranged a dinner tonight for them. She invited the whole family. You have to see her. Everytime they return from a mission, she acts like they have won a battle or something." Ginny told her chuckling slightly.
"Come on, Ginny!" You're the baby of the family. Are we jeaolous some?" Hermione chuckled as Ginny rolled her eyes dramatically.They erupted into laughter when Ginny acted confused for a while. And then Hermione stood up determinedly. She checked her watch. It was two-o'clock.
"Anyway Ginny, I had better get going. They must have arrived. See you later!" Hermione hugged her before she headed to the door.
"Okay, Hermione. See you, then. And good luck!" Ginny said emphasizing the last word but Hermione couldn't hear what she exactly told her before exiting the room.
They were going to meet at the 'teaspoon.' They didn't need to write a place or the time of the date. It was always same. At the same place, at the same time… It was their regular place to meet. And Hermione loved that place. First, it was small but comfortable, second, it was quiet and it always reminded her a muggle café. And the last one, she loved her name.
Before Hermione entered the café, she took a deep breath and counted to the ten. The butterflies in her stomach had turned back and they were dancing madly again. But Hermione tried to remain impassive. As she stepped inside, she saw Harry and Ron sitting on a table at the end of the room in the distance. Her heart did a summersault. She planted a cordial smile while aproaching the couple, but she didn't help feeling nervous as a matter of fact. When they finally noticed her, they stopped talking and looked at her.
"Hello, guys!" she said.
"Hermione!" Harry took her a hug immediately.
"Hi!" Ron said giving her a lopsided smile. Hermoine instantly had a strong yearning
to throw herself in his arms. But she didn't of course. She regarded them suspiciously looking for wounds on their body but they seemed as healthly as they had been before. She let out a sigh of relief.
"How are you doing Hermione?" Harry asked her as she taking her place across Ron. "You look great!" He added. They knew she was mad at them. It didn't work.
"Thank you Mr. Potter. That was a good try." She shot a very resented face in their direction. They exchanged a we-were-expecting-this look.
"Who do you want to start first?" Hermione asked them bossly as she ordered her meal and giving Ron a side glance.Their gaze met. He smiled at her and she smiled back. 'I've missed that smile' she murmured to herself as Harry started to tell the whole story. Hermione tried to concentrate what Harry was telling her.
"Well… Our head told us that they discovered two old death eaters in Glasgow Scotland, who were telling people facade stories about Voldemort. And some ignorant wizards were almost about to believe them when we arrived there. We couldn't figure out what they were exactly setting up. But we arrested them and brought in London. But the unfortunate side of this event, the moment we brought them in London, they passsed away. So that was a long boring wasted mission." He grimaced and went back to eating.
Hermione frowned at them. "And you definitely didn't bother to owl me or inform me!"
"Hermione we…" Harry looked at Ron for help.
Hermione turned Ron too, expecting for him to speak. He looked abnormally silent today and Hermione had a bad feeling. 'is there a problem?' 'the problem is me, he didn't miss me and he doesn't want to talk to me anymore' she thought privately herself. Her mood instantly darkened.
"We weren't allowed to owl anyone Hermione." Ron cut in. "I would myself prefer to owl you or talk to you rather than to catch two crazy old git, indeed. But Kingsley commanded us to leave urgently. We couldn't find time to let somebody know. We weren't expecting it would take that time." He smiled. Hermione melted. That was a good sufficient explanation.
"What about you? How is your work?" he asked with curiosity, looking directly in her eyes. Hermione allowed him to change the subject.
"If truth be told, there is nothing out of the ordinary. Muggles are extremely normal nowadays. So I have no heroic story to tell you!" she answered mischievously looking up at his face. The rest of the meal, they ate peacefully, talking about what had happened in their lives since the last time they had met.
"Who do you think I encountered?" Hermione stated cheerfuly, fixing her hair behing her ear. Boys glared at her curiously.
"Victor Krum?"
"Ha ha very funny Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Oliver Wood!"
"Oh, really?" Harry asked in disbelief. "What has he been doing? I heard he was playing for Chudley Cannons."
"Yes he is. He asked how you have you been doing, Harry. When I said you have been an auror he was really surprised. He also said he would like to meet us someday and he promised me to owl me!"
"You shouldn't give your adress everyone you encountered. It might be…" Ron said abruptly narrowing his eyes.
"What? What did you say Ron?" Hermione put down her knife and fork and stared at him. "He was trying to be polite." She cast a disapproving look at him.
"Says who?" Ron said crossly and sat back in his chair.
"Says me." She said stubbornly, feeling her face flushing. Ron just stared at her. Harry didn't even bother to get in the way.
If she didn't know any better, she would think he was jealous. But it was just an old habit to break. She knew that by experience. Twelve years experience besides.
All of a sudden, looking down at his watch, Ron stood up. "Anyway guys, I will see you at dinner. I have to go now." He said but in the halfway he turned on his heel and looked at her. "Sorry, Hermione I've forgotten to tell you but mum invited you, too. 'If we don't call she will never visit us by herself' she added for your information." he said mocking his mother.
Hermione blushed slightly. That was right. She always avoided to visit Burrow. She didn't know the real reason. She had missed Mrs. Weasley. She hesitated for a while but then nodded in agreement. But the thing is now where is he going?" What was wrong with him? But before she could say anything, he left.
"So, he is dating someone, I take it?" she predicted, as Ron disappeared from the sight.
"Most likely" Harry said briefly.
"And he has chosen today for a rendevous?" Hermione asked him with an offended voice staring down her food. She had come to see Ron, but he preferred to see another girl. That was just great. Harry shrugged.
"And now, you two not only avoiding me but also keeping secrets, hah? And that's saying something! Where was I during all this?" she stated in disbelief, her temper rasing.
Hermione felt nausea but she did her best to keep a straight face. Who said life was fair?
Where was the nearest bridge? Damn, No. Three hundred kilometer far away.
A crucio curse? Too painful.
"Hermione!"
Poison? Yes.
"Hermione!" Harry said again loudly.
"Yes?" she said gathering her senses back.
"Diana, I was saying. She is really cute, I think. We met her last month. She has started working in our department. Ron asked my opinion and I said him to give it a try. I said that would be reasonable because she is an angel for him. He is really serious this time." Hary tried to explain her indifferently.
Privately, Hermione wondered if that were true. "who cares if he was serious" said the inner voice inside her. "you care." Said the same voice.
"That's good then!" she commented reluctantly. She mentally kicked herself for bringing up that topic. They looked each other meaningly but Hermione didn't give him the chance to continue.
"By the way, speaking of the dinner, I visited Ginny today!" She said in a cheerful tone. She needed to change the subject without more ado. It was her turn.
"Oh, really?" "How is she doing?" Harry asked, his face lightened considerably.
"She is doing very well." Hermione smirked knowingly.
"I think, I terribly need your help, Hermione!" Harry said her pleadingly.
"Oh, that's right. You've been always miserable when it comes to the women. It's our Ginny, for Merlin's sake Harry." Hermione said, patting him sarcastically on the back.
"Gee, thanks Hermione. Just what I needed to hear to make me feel better!" he said mockingly. "I haven't seen her almost for a year. If you would come to the dinner, I would be… um.. less nervous!" he said sheepishly.
Hermione burst into laughter. "Oh, shut up!" he said but he couldn't help with laughter too. "What are you, Harry? Ten?" she chuckled. Harry blushed slightly.
"Ok, I'll come. But I'm not promising to anything." Hermione warned him still smiling.
"Deal!"
"You're going to me owe me, Harry Potter!" she said sarcastically as they headed to the door.
"Oh, yes, I know." Harry said rolling his eyes behind her.