I Found a Reason For Me
Chapter Two
"Excuse me?" The red head asked, confused. How could this woman know his name? Hermione blushed. Had she called this man Ron when he wasn't? "Sorry, you reminded me of an old friend." Hermione told him, hopping he would dismiss the discussion. He smiled. "No need to worry about that." He replied, looking straight into Hermione's eyes. "So," he started, "this friends of yours, is he cute?" Hermione smiled. This man in front of her reminded her so much of Ron. "Yes, he was very cute."
The man at the table frowned. "Was?" he asked. For a moment Hermione said nothing, but after a few moments she nodded. "I haven't seen him for six years." Hermione told the stranger. He nodded. "Sorry." Hermione put down the whole bottle of Champaign on the table. Hermione noticed he was alone. "Are you expecting anyone?" Hermione asked. Obviously it was none of her business, but she didn't want to waste glasses if no one would be drinking from them, after all, Hermione gets stuck doing the dishes.
"I was." He paused looking down at the table. "I was going to take her to Paris for our fifth month anniversary. Of course, that's when she decides to tell me she had been cheating on me with someone he works with." The stranger threw the glasses off the table, having them smash as they hit the wall. Hermione went over to the bar and came back with a bucket. She picked up the glass and threw it into the bucket. "I'm sorry." the stranger told her. Hermione shrugged.
"Are you here for a girl because there are plenty of women behind the bar that are available for that." Hermione offered. The stranger stared at Hermione. "And what about you?" he asked. Hermione frowned and stared at him. "I-I can't. Not tonight. I have things to do." Hermione said, about to walk of when the stranger grabbed her arm. "What is I was willing to give you ten galleons?" he asked. Hermione froze. She rarely ever received even one galleon. The most she gets is three sickles.
Hermione was about to say yes when her mind traveled to the back room. Lexie. She couldn't leave her. "I'm sorry, it's really generous of you and normally I would do it, but my kid-" Hermione was cut off by him. "Your kid?" he asked, obviously shocked. She nodded. "Your kid could come too." he told her. Hermione was about to object when he stopped her. "Listen I have a Pent House a few blocks from here at the Official Liverpool Hotel. Your kid can have its own room, it'll just be a night." he told her. Hermione shook her head. "I'm sorry I can't." she told him.
"How much do I need to pay you?" he asked, not letting her go anywhere. Hermione chuckled. "You wouldn't be able to afford it." she told him, a fake smile on her face. He stepped closer to her, their bodies just inches apart. "Oh, really? Try me."
"Fifty galleons." Hermione told him. "Done." He said, even before Hermione gave him the price. "Get your stuff." Hermione turned to leave, when she looked back at the redhead. "What's your name?" she asked him. "Ron Weasley." Hermione froze. She was paralyzed, unable to move a muscle. "You're Ron Weasley? He nodded. "Do I know you?"
Hermione pulled him into a crushing hug. She had been right. "Ron, it's me, Hermione Granger!" She said, happily, as she continued to crush Ron. She let go, and Ron looked at her in disbelief. He looked her up and down and Hermione blushed deeply at the look he gave her, realizing what she was wearing. "You're not Hermione." Ron finally told her. Hermione smiled. "Ron, it's me!" she said hugging him again. Ron wasn't sure what to do. Was this the innocent little bookworm he had known as a kid? Certainly not! But still… Ron waited a few minutes. He didn't believe it was Hermione until her honey eyes looked up to him, crying. Ron pulled Hermione tighter to him and returned the hug. This was his Hermione. Hermione pulled back. She was smiling and crying at the same time.
"What are you doing here and wearing that?" Ron pointed to her attire. Hermione's smile vanished. Neither talked for minutes. "Go get your stuff, you and I have a lot to catch up on." he told her. He smiled assuring her. Hermione left to collect her things she would need for the night. After a few minutes of waiting Hermione came emerging from a room in the back, carrying a small suitcase in one hand and a small child. Ron had completely forgotten she had a kid, even though he just found out seconds ago. Hermione walked over to Ron. She put the child in her arms down. "Lexie, this is Ron. Ron this is my daughter." Ron nearly choked. "Daughter?" he asked, in disbelief. Hermione nodded. "That's right, my daughter."
Ron looked down at the sleepy child. He got down on one knee. "Hey, Lexie. How are you?" Ron asked, softly. Lexie didn't reply, but grabbed on to Hermione's sweat pants. Ron noticed Lexie's brown hair, her curls, like her mother's, wild, though, Ron supposed, only because she had been sleeping.
"I'll be right back I have to tell my boss we are leaving for the night. Can you keep and eye on her for a minute?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded. Hermione went over to the door behind the bar and disappeared behind it. "Mummy!" Lexie cried out. Ron kneeled again, and faced Lexie to him. "It's alright, Lexie. Mummy just went in to tell her boss that you two are going out." Ron told her. When Ron reached his hand out to hold hers, Lexie clutch the small bear she held in her other hand tighter, but she didn't pull away from Ron as he held her small hand in his big one. Lexie looked scared and Ron was worried. "Hey, Lexie, can you keep a secret?" Ron whispered to her. She nodded. "I'm going to surprise mummy and take us out to get something to eat, do you think she'll like that?" Ron asked. Lexie nodded again. "Would you like that?" he asked the small child. Once again, she nodded. "Don't tell mummy." Ron told her, and winked. "Don til mummy." Lexie said, winking at Ron. Ron laughed at this.
A few moments later Hermione appeared and Lexie let go of Ron's hand and spread her arms out to her mother. Hermione picked her up and went for the small suitcase, but Ron grabbed it before her. "I got it." he told her. Hermione followed Ron out of the club.
Ron walked over to a car outside the cub and placed the suitcase in the trunk of it. "You drive a car Ron?" Hermione asked. "Um, yeah." Ron told her. "A few years ago the muggle population had grown more suspicious of certain wizards. It was ordered by the Minister of Magic that every wizard or witch knew how to travel by and form of muggle transportation. Were allowed to apparate and floo and all that, but the Ministry is really strict on how far they let you go with that. She doesn't need a booster seat or anything, does she?" Ron asked, politely.
Hermione shook her head. "It would be smarter if I had one, because of her small size, but I'm sure we'll be fine." She told him. Ron opened the passenger side door to Hermione and Hermione and Lexie sat on the seat. Hermione had tried to get Lexie into a back seat, but she refused to leave her mother. Ron went to the other side, started the engine, checked seatbelts, and drove off.
"So Ron what have you been up to?" Hermione asked, holding her daughter close. Ron squinted at the road for moment and then decided to make a left. "Well, I am Head of the Department of Mysteries. I used to just work there as an auror, but when they let go of the last head of the department, I was the one with most experience." he informed Hermione.
"Are you just here for your girlfriend or have they assigned you a mission?" Hermione asked, smiling. Ron sighed. "I was sent here to check someone out. The Ministry received many complaints from several of the man's neighbors. He was rumored to have illegal and dark magic, potion and other objects. Which he did. But it just so happens that Chrissie, my ex-girlfriend, lives here. I stayed a few extra days to see her. Now, I know, it was just a waste of time." Ron said, glancing at Hermione.
"I'm glad she cheated on you." Hermione told him. "Oh yeah? And why is that?" Ron asked. "If she didn't I might never have seen you…"
A/N: YOU WILL FIND WHY HERMIONE DOES WHAT SHE DOES IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. I would have put that in here, but that is an important scene and deserves its own chapter. Please review and write down all you comments (good or bad)BTW: Remember Lexie has a problem, and they way she talks is the way its written.