-1For disclaimer: See previous chapters…

Five Years Later…And an Invitation

Harry sat in his office at Hogwarts pondering just what could have happened to Hermione. It had been five years and time was running out. He had a little over three years to find her and hope that what they had for that one night could finally be returned for a lifetime. Just like clockwork, his world was going to change forever.

"Harry!" Neville said as he walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"I'm in here." He replied. Neville hurriedly walked towards Harry's office.

"How's it going? Any word from a certain someone yet?" Neville asked, knowing it would be the same response as always.

"No, nothing yet. Damn…" Harry said while slamming his fists down on the desk. "Why can't I bloody find her? She doesn't understand. I wish that I could have told her before she decided to leave, but then I wouldn't have wanted her to stay because of that." Turning his back on Neville, facing the window.

"Harry, you still have time. We will find her. I have a guest that wants to see you. She's waiting outside the door." Neville said worriedly. He thought Harry might explode. "But first, I want to invite you to a lavish meal at my house tonight. Say you'll come, Please?" He said sounding nervous.

"No funny business right? Just a lavish meal and some tea, okay. But then I have to get back to grading parchment and planning my new lessons. I was thinking somewhere along the lines of wandless magic. Sound good to you?" Harry said absent mindedly.

"Sure Harry. Meet me at seven. You know the drill, dress robes only." He said with a smirk.

"Yeah." Was all he could say while rolling his eyes.

"Well, let me go get your visitor. I'll be right back." He said rushing out the door.

A few minutes later he returned with the one person Harry didn't want to see right now. Ginny.

"Honey, how have you been. We haven't seen each other in what…" Ginny said pondering for a moment. "One week." She smiled as she bent down to give him a kiss. She noticed that he didn't seem all there.

"I didn't expect to see you here for another few weeks. I thought you were out promoting Neville's new book Herbs and their Extraordinary Powers." He said gloomily.

"I took a few days off when Neville asked me if we would like to join him for a lavish feast as he would say. Simply putting it dinner…" She said snobbishly. "We are going right? Besides I was just wondering if maybe you would want to go to lunch with me down at Hogsmeade?" She said while bending down to kiss him again.

"Sure. I've only got thirty minutes. Then I have to come back and work on my lesson plan." He said reluctantly.

"Are you feeling okay, Baby?" She asked questioningly.

"Yeah, just have a lot on my mind right now." He said while trying to cover up the picture of Hermione. "I've got to interview some new people for the quid ditch team tomorrow afternoon and I'm just worried. That's all." He said trying to convince her.

"Okay then Neville, we will see you at 7:00 then. We're just going to grab a bite to eat then I'm going to go home to get ready." Ginny replied as she wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. Harry just rolled his eyes. He hated when she was like this, too clingly. Too Ginny. Not Hermione. If only she was here.

Lunch with Ginny seemed to drag as she talked and talked. Harry absent mindedly gave her a nod and "Mmm Hmm" when he felt it was the right timing. He had gotten bored over the last year with her. Every time he turned around he was always compairing her to Hermione. He felt a sudden pain in his left shin. Ginny had just kicked him.

"Harry James Potter, haven't you been listening to a word I say?" She asked coldly.

"I'm sorry Gin. I just have a ton on my mind right now. Look, my lunch is up. I really must get going." He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I'll meet you at home. Go on and get ready without me. I'll change as soon as I get back." He said.

"Sure. Are you sure that there is nothing else that you would like to talk about?" She asked questioningly.

"No, I really must get going." He said as he walked out the door.

Strange…He's been acting like this for the past few months. There is something really bothering him and I need to find out what it is. It can't be Hermione, Hell he hasn't heard from her in five years. I have. Last I knew she had a family and loved it where she lived. She said that she was never coming back. I really wish that I knew what was bothering Harry. I'll try and find out tonight.

With that, Ginny apperated back to their flat and started to get ready for tonight.

Back at Hogwarts…

Harry sat behind his desk and took out the picture of Hermione. He stared at it with a look of worry on his face. He needed desperately to find her. He's searched every where for her and has had no luck at all. He knew his life was going down the drain. Ginny was expecting him to propose sometime in the near future. He turned ever so slightly and opened his lower desk drawer. Gently as though not to disturb the velvet boxes contents he lifted it gently. Opening it slowly, he found the one thing that Ginny has never known about and will never know about. His mothers engagement ring. He was saving it for Hermione. He gently caressed the emerald that sat on top. Taking it from it's protection, he held it in his hands. It was stunning. He picked it up and examined it carefully. The emerald on top was brilliantly shining in the evening dusk. A smaller emerald sat just below in the gallery of the ring. It was place there, that way there was a gem facing the heart and one facing the heavens. He always loved that ring and some day it would be on her finger. At least he hoped it would. Breaking him from his own silence the bell tower rang 6:00. He had to leave. Quickly locking the ring back in its resting place, he ran out the door and down the grounds. Once outside the gates, he apperated to his flat.

A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay. I've been deployed half way around the world and so has my husband. Time was of the essence for me. So much to do, and so little time. I thought that you might want an early Christmas present. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I know this story is going slow, but the holidays have been killing me. I'll update more often now. I've got ten chapters written out already. So look for more updates.

Megan