Chap. 4- Starting Over

Disclaimer- I DON'T OWN ANYTHING! oh how i wish i did!

Scared of her own door bell, she started to walk towards the front door.

"That was quick." She mentioned to herself.

The door opened and revealed a very handsome man, Ethan James. The man who she thought resembles Harry Potter. She sees him smile but couldn't return it since she just broken up with her boyfriend about 30 minutes ago.

Seeing as she didn't look to happy, Ethan asked, "Oh, I'm sorry. Is this not a good time?"

Snapping out of her own thoughts she remembers what he was here for. "NO! I mean no it's alright. Come in please." Hermione try to convince him.

"Are you sure? Here is your bag" He handed her a black mini bag, and continue, "I can just leave you know, all I wanted was to return that to you."

Frowning slightly, Hermione said, "Oh, well if that's all then, I guess you can leave." However not wanting his new stranger to, she insisted in offering, "Unless you want to stay for some tea or coffee, accompany by me."

"Um, I guess a cup of coffee would be fine." Ethan said as Hermione led him into the house.

"Great, coffee it is." Hermione said smiling while she walked into the kitchen.

Walking into the living room, Ethan observed how organized everything was. Heading towards some picture placed on top of the fire place, he noticed it was all pictures of Hermione and… Ron. All but one. There was one picture that had three people posing. However, it seems as if someone smudged a person who was standing between Hermione and Ron. He slowly traced his fingers across the photo…

"Coffee's ready!" Hermione yelled as she appeared from the kitchen.

"Thanks. You're Ron's girlfriend?" Ethan asked, curious.

"Yes, well use to be by the way." Hermione replied, looking rather normal about the whole situation.

"Use to? I'm sorry to hear." He apologized.

"It's ok. It happened before you rang me actually. Things should have ended a long time ago anyways." Hermione said as she walked over to where Ethan stood.

"You don't have to tell me about your personal things. You barely know me. I wouldn't want to be nosey." Ethan told her.

"What? No, it's quite alright. I want to, really. For some odd reason I feel like I've known you for a long time. I can see us being friends. Well that's if you want to befriend this insufferable know-it-all" she finished giggling as she remember those days when she was called that by Professor Snape at Hogwarts.

"Of course I would like to." He said with a smile and held up his coffee cup, "here, this is to a new found friendship." And they both took a sip.

Talking a seat on the sofa Ethan asked, "So is it ok if I ask what happen?"

"Sure." She answered. "Things aren't the same anymore I guess. I think I agreed to be his girlfriend because I needed someone and he was the only person I had." She stopped to take a sip of hr coffee. "I guess one day I realized that he wasn't the one. Plus he wants to take us to the next level." At that moment Ethan choked and spatter out his coffee.

"Sorry to ask but the next level?" he asked while trying to clean himself up.

Hermione giggled at his reaction to her statements, stood up and walked over to help him clean up the mess.

"No, I meant he wanted to get married, and I felt bad for him so I said yes. My mistake because I wasn't ready, well not with him at least." She continued as she patted his coat dry.

"I am sorry to hear that." Ethan replied "but you're a beautiful women and I'm sure you'll find the perfect man." He said smiling at her.

Hermione shocked by his compliment started to blush. "Oh, thanks, but…It's hard to move on when your heart doesn't want to." She started to say.

"And I would guess your heart is waiting for Harry?" Ethan said as he sees her eyes widen in shock.

Taken aback by the mention of Harry's name, Hermione replied, "Uh, yes but-bu how did you know?"

"You called me Harry tonight at the auction remember? So I guess that was him you're waiting for." He answered.

"Oh, I'm sorry again about that but you do look a lot like him."

"It's alright. I get that a lot." Ethan told her as he smiled at her in which he got one in return.

"Ok enough about me. Let's talk about you if you don 't mine?" she said "How come you decide to come to London this time?" She asked causally as she took the seat next to him.

"I truly don't know to be honest with you." He said, "Something told me that I should go home I guess." He finished with a sigh.

"You're from here? What cause you to leave in the first place other then business?" Hermione asked looking very interested.

Feeling slightly uneasy at the question being asked, he slowly replied with a simple word.

"Reality"

"Reality?" she asked quizzically.

"I couldn't face the fact that things happen and they happen for a reason, and you have to learn to move on from that experience and dwell on the past."

Looking down at her hand she said, "I never thought of things in that perspective before. To me everything always has a logical answer. I guess I shouldn't dwell on what should have happen and concentrate on what might happen."

Seeing hints of tears forming at the corner of her eyes, he softly spoke, "It's ok Hermione, and you never know, there might be better things out there waiting for you."

Slowly lifting her head so that she made eye contact with him, she saw something so familiar about them but couldn't distinguish what it was.

"I know, but there are things that are so hard to let go of." She said letting her tears spill freely now.

He couldn't help but felt guilty for causing her to cry, so he boldly surrounded her with his strong arms and pulled her close to him. Surprisingly she didn't pull away but instead she settles comfortablely in his arm, resting her head on his chest.

Not realizing what he was doing, he gently strokes her hair, making sure she was alright. They stayed like that in silent for a couple minute until he heard her say something, "Thanks" and that was the last word shared between the both of them.

2 Hours later…

Waking with a startled, he felt something heavy yet warm laying a top him. He slowly opens his eyes to see what it was and was welcome with a pile of chestnut curls. He smiled to himself and remembers where he was. It was Hermione, sleeping peacefully. Looking around in search for a clock, he found that it was three in the morning. Knowing he should get going before Hermione wakes up and see this site a bit awkward. Some times wand less magic comes in handy. He levitated her and slip out from underneath her before slowly setting her back down. Quietly getting up to put away the coffee cups, he then made his way for the front door. As he turned the door knob he heard Hermione mumble something in her sleep.

"Harry! Harry please, don't leave me! Please. I-," she yelled out as if talking to the real person. "I love you" she finished before it was silent again.

Taking a step out of the door he turned back and whisper, "I love you too Hermione, that's why this time, it'll be different." He finished and walked out closing the door behind him.

Note: the last line about this time was from an episode from SMALLVILLE! i loved it so yeah...

HarryHermioneshipperduh: Thanks for you're wonderful compliment and i sorta wrote this one faster just for you! sorry for the long wait!