Chapter 3

Hermione Granger liked solitude. It suited her, especially of late. She could work in her little cubicle of an office in Cairo and hide from everyone. More importantly, she could hide from the past. Or try to, anyway.

If only the Weasleys would give up, Hermione thought. Ron was the worst. She got an owl from him once a week. She had become quite adept at ignoring them. She felt bad, not even dignifying his letters with a response, but she had her reasons. Ron was part of her past. The past that broke her heart, her soul, her strength. Ginny was an old friend, nothing more. Besides, Hermione was sure Ginny had other friends.

Not likely, Hermione finally admitted to herself. I mean, look at me. I certainly don't have any. Besides, Luna is dead, so I'm all Ginny has. Especially since Harry…

Harry she had talked to a couple of times. He had pressed her once or twice to talk to Ron, but backed off at her stout refusal. He didn't understand. She had loved Ron. She had loved him dearly. She couldn't bear to have that love corrupted by the hate and destruction of Lord Voldemort. It would tear her apart, effectively destroying her remaining sanity.

Hermione had found this post in Cairo soon after Voldemort's final downfall. She had needed to escape the publicity, the rejoicing masses, Ron. She had needed to escape it all. It was more than she could bear. So she sat at a desk and translated ancient runes and hieroglyphics all day. It paid pretty well; she was the only one desperate enough to take the job.

At first everyone in the office had tried to include her in everything. They invited her to parties, lunch, and girls' night outs. After a year of flat refusals on Hermione's part, they had finally gotten the message. She needed to be left alone. She didn't want to be bothered.

It was a rather bleak existence. She liked it, though. She always knew what to expect. Hermione sighed, looking down at her manuscript. She had become a worker bee, loyally doing her work and hiding from the hard parts of life.

She tried to make excuses for herself. Her parents had died. It was probably her fault too, come to think of it. That was hard on her. She had also almost died in the quest to defeat Voldemort. If not for Ron…

And that was something else. She couldn't date anyone else. No one else was her Ron. Ron, who she had loved since her first year at Hogwarts, before she even really knew what love was. That one night with Ron had ruined her for any other man. No one could possibly touch her that way. No one could possibly care for her that way. No one could possibly love her that way.

Her reverie was interrupted when her boss walked in. "Ms. Granger, may I have a word?"

"Oh, yes, of course, Mr. Sadat," she said quickly, shoving aside the parchment she had been neglecting. "Do sit down."

Mr. Sadat was a middle-aged Egyptian wizard with a grizzled appearance. Hermione knew he'd been very close to Bill Weasley, always trying to lure him away from Gringott's. He hadn't taken his favorite protégée's death lightly. No, protégée was a bad word. Friend was probably closer. He sat down in the hard wooden chair Hermione had gestured to. She didn't need a better chair. After all, Mr. Sadat was her only visitor.

"Ms. Granger, I know you said you don't want to go back to Europe, but I need you to do something for me in Paris."

"I refuse to go to France, Mr. Sadat. You're going to have to send someone else."

"Hermione…"

"No. I work here for a reason. Europe has too many bad memories. France is almost as bad as England. I will not give up my post here."

"I just need you to go for a few days. I can keep your going a secret. No one will ever know. I just need you to borrow a few things from the Louvre for me. A quick assignment. I'll have my contact waiting for you."

"A few days?" Hermione asked. Maybe a few days wouldn't be so bad. "What do you need from the Louvre?"

"I thought that would spark your interest," Mr. Sadat grinned. He handed Hermione a manila envelope full of the information she would need. "In there is your apparition point information, your hotel reservations, and your contact's name."

"I just need to take care of some things first," Hermione stated, peering into the envelope.

"Of course, of course." He got up and turned to leave. "Oh, and Hermione," he said, almost as an afterthought. "Thank you."

A/N Ah, another chapter quickly written. I'm not sure how long this will last. To all my reviewers, many thanks! I warn you, however, that the next chapter will be a cliffhanger. I plan to pick up from there ASAP though.

Jwoods471: I promise the story will pick up next chapter! I don't particularly like depressing stories either.

RH4: I'm glad you have found this addicting. I know how you feel. Fan fiction has corrupted my soul.

Oh, and just to make this clear, this isn't my first story EVER. I do write. I mean, I am an English major. I've just never attempted a fan fiction before. I hope it reads decently.

Keep reviewing!