Hermione was lying in bed, in her apartment, watching the rain. She wondered about Ginny. And whether or not Hermione would get to see a mini Potter/Weasley running around. A tiny part of her was jealous. She wanted to be pregnant and married, becoming clucky and settling down. But instead she was living in an apartment in the inner city, on her own and working full time. She hated it.
Whilst watching the droplets fall her mind wandered. What would the baby Ginny look like? Would she ever find someone? Was there such thing as true love? Does Ron ever think of me? Will I ever see Ron again? Is Ron married? Where does he work?
Suddenly Hermione felt her head crammed with thoughts.
'Ugghhh… what I need is to clear my head. I need to get out!'
She stood up and padded out into her kitchen. She was wearing a small tank top and a pair of boxer shorts, (which she had made herself). The tank top was revealing a fair bit of flat pale stomach and it sported a rather low neckline. Despite the cold, she wore it all happily (she had an electric blanket) She flicked on the light in her kitchen. The dark kitchen immediately brightened and she fumbled for a glass out of a cupboard before turning the tap on. The water filled the glass, and she began to gulp it. She fished it, setting the glass down. Sleep wasn't going to come easy tonight. She grabbed the throw rug off her couch and wrapped it around her shoulders, before sitting down with her back against the glass window. She felt cold and she had a suspicion that it wasn't related to the weather.
Ron was sitting at his table with a glass of fire-whisky in his hands. It probably wasn't the best late-night drink but it was good for erasing memories. Tonight, when he had a happy married couple in his house, when he was alone in his icy bed, was when he missed Hermione the most.
He had thought of sending an owl on a wild (A/N: Excuse the pun..) goose chase after Hermione Granger. But what if he got the wrong answer. What if she didn't reply? What if she did reply? And if she did, what would he say when she said she was married? How would he react? Would he ever be able to face her after what he had done?
His entire chest ached now, whenever he thought of her. She must have grown up a little. He wondered whether she had changed much. He missed her happy smile and her light laugh. He missed the appley scent of her shampoo and her fruity perfume. It was everything that made up Hermione that he missed. Whenever he saw a young women with large, frizzy hair or deep, large brown eyes he would spin around with his hopes high, only to be disappointed later.
Ron shrugged and slurped at the alcohol. He felt the warmth wash over him. His shoulders slumped and he grew tired. Ahhh… good stuff alcohol. His head drooped and before he passed out, the last thing he saw was the silhouette of a woman across the park.
'Ron! Ronald! RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!' screeched a fiery red head from the door of the hallway.
Ron snorted in his sleep before jerking his head up. 'Wassamatter? Iwasntuplastnightdrinking? Askhermionesheknowseverfign!'
'Ron! Get a grip man! You are 22! Get yourself a life! Speaking of which, as I have a life I would like to go somewhere today! Somewhere… out of your apartment.'
'Uh….' Ron mumbled sleepily, 'We could go around the corner for breakfast. And then I could show you the park.'
'Ron. I told you that you needed to get a grip. It shows here it is raining.' Ginny laughed, 'But, Coffee and a conventional breakfast from a coffee shop and a walk in the park for us to get soaked! I'm in!'
Ron smiled and got up, 'Let me have a shower first.'
Half an hour later, the three of them were in the foyer of the apartment block on their way to the coffee shop. The three walked together talking and laughing, with Ginny already planning on what she wanted to eat. Harry and Ron were chucking off at her. She ignored their comments, wondering if their bacon was good.
In the coffee house, they slid into a booth still laughing. They ordered. Ginny was in for eggs, a bagel with cream cheese, bacon, and a Chai latte. Harry was in for pretty much the same thing, eggs, bacon, toast with marmalade, and a coffee and Ron was in for everything, he was having eggs, bacon, hash browns, coffee, pancakes whatever else he could eat.
As they waited for their food to arrive they watched the people come in. There was a young woman who entered. Ron recognized her instantly, she was the same girl he had run into the day before in the park. She was out in the rain again, this time in search for breakfast.
Ginny's eyes widened when she saw the girl. She saw her and smiled. There was no other ineratcion but something told Ron they knew each other.
'Do you know her?' he asked her.
'Umm… she is… a friend of mine from work. She is a curse-breaker too… umm… she is an international one.'
'Oh… right…. Why don't you go and see her.'
'I will…. But hang on… you smiled at her when you saw her. Do you know her?'
'No… well… yes… techinically. I think she lives in one of the opposite apartment buildings, because I saw her in the park yesterday. She and I were the only ones in the park. We just smiled and stuff… I don't know anything more though.'
'Oh… okay. I think I'll go talk to her.'
'Bye.'
Ginny stood up and walked her way around to the young girls booth. The two of them hugged and spoke in low hushed voices. There was a bit of indication towards the table and the girl waved vaguely at Harry.
A few minutes later, Ginny was back. 'Harry! You'll never believe…'
Hermione sat at her booth with a frown on her face. She couldn't see the other man's face, but she knew it was Ron. That had to be him. She didn't want it to be him. Hermione was tempted t leave the restuaraunt without ordering and to find a new apartment, somewhere far, far across town. Instead she turned her head away from that table and picked up a menu. The last thing she wanted was for Ron to recognize her.
She wondered how far he lived from her, because God forbid if he found her apartment! A small part of her wanted to go over to their table and talk to Ron and to say she wanted him back. But… what would she say if he was married? What if he just didn't have his other half with him? What if there were miniature Lavender's running around! She didn't think she could handle that. Suddenly Harry shifted around in his seat to look at Hermione. With his eyes he indiacted Ron and then her. It was a gesture of 'come over here! Talk to him! Join us!'
Hermione smiled sadly and shook her head. 'No thanks Harry. I…will go home now… I'm not sure if I can talk to him.' She mouthed over the menu. Harry nodded looking slightly disappointed.
Hermione wandered up to the counter and ordered her food to go. A few minutes later, a bagel with cream cheese and coffee in hand, she left the store.
Hermione walked down the path in the leaf strewn park. She didn't really want to go home. She would prefer to be out, to clear her head. Finding a friendly park bench by the lake, she sat down and began eating her breakfast.
Ron, Ginny and Harry were making their way across the park. Ginny really wanted for Hermione to still be in the park. She wanted to thump Ron until he recognized her. The rain drizzled on, making them all wet and cold. Harry put his arm around Ginny's shoulders and she snuggled into his neck.
'I love you too Gin.' He smiled, kissing the top of her head.
Flashback
'I love you 'Mione' Ron said, nuzzling the girl in his arms.
'I love you too Ron.' She said, smiling into his neck.
He kissed her head and they continued walking in the rain. She looked up.
'You know what I think is romantic?' she said suddenly.
'What?' Ron asked, wondering if he could get some brownie points.
'To be kissed in the rain.' She replied, her eyes misting over.
'You're easily pleased,' he laughed.
For some reason, he never did kiss her. Ron wondered about Hermione and whether or not the man she was with now had kissed her in the rain. He should have and he knew it. He would give anything to kiss her now. He would give anything to be able to touch her. Heck! He would give anything to even see her face now. 'Ron! Earth to Ron!' Ginny said waving a pale hand in front of his face. 'Wha-?' he said shaking his head vaguely. 'I said… that I needed to pee! Where is the toilets?' she asked growing impatient. 'Woops!' he laughed and then directed her to the public toilets. Harry and Ron were left alone. Suddenly out of nowhere Harry asked, 'Do you miss her Ron?' Ron thought it over before saying, 'Miss who?' 'Ron. You know who I mean! You know who 'she' is! Do you miss her?' he cried impatiently. Ron was silent for a minute before nodding and saying. 'Yes Harry. I do. I miss her more than you can imagine.' 'Did you ever see her again?'Ron shook his head, 'I haven't seen her since. I don't know where she lives. She moved. I don't know if she's dating or married. I don't even know what she looks like.' He said with his shoulders slumped
'Do you love her?' he asked frowning. 'Harry. Mate. I still love her. I never stopped loving her. I miss her and I would give anything to have her back.' Suddenly everything began to pour out. He told Harry how stupid he felt. Even if he couldn't have her back, he wished she wouldn't avoid him or she would at least speak to him. He told him that he thought he was an idiot for stuffing it up in the first place. Everything that had built up, since he was 18 was coming out at this moment. Finally, half an hour later, Ron stopped, a sudden thought struck him. 'Where's Ginny?' he asked realizing she was taking a long time to pee. 'Oh! She told me she would go see her friend. She lives just on the other side of the park.' 'Oh… okay. Are we going to go back to my apartment.' 'Yeah. I want a glass of something to drink.' 'Plenty of strong stuff in my house!' 'Hey…'Mione… Do you miss him?' Ginny was asking, in between mouthfuls of the donut she was devouring on her walk back to Hermione's apartment. 'Who's him. I need a name Gin.' Hermione was given a look for that. It clearly said, 'Don't you mess with me Hermione. You're not stupid.' She recoiled before Ginny said, 'Mione. I think you know exactly who I mean. Now. Do you miss him?' '… Ginny… I don't know. Some days I want to punch him. Others I want to never see him again… and there are some days when I miss him so much that I can't bear to face the rest of the world.' Hermione felt a sob rise in her throat. Within seconds there was a thin arm around her shoulders. 'Mione…ssshhhh… it's okay! You'll be fine! I…' 'Gin… I think I need to sleep okay? I'll call you a cab and then I'll go to bed. I didn't get much sleep last night.' Ginny looked a little disappointed but she nodded, 'I'll talk to you later. See ya Mione.' Once Ginny had left, Hermione collapsed in her kitchen in her favourite spot. Her back was up against the glass again and she hadher head in her hands. She began to sob. Her heart felt like it was being torn in five different directions. Her head was throbbing and she was confused about her own feelings. She wanted Ron. She wanted Ron to come and comfort her. She also wanted to never have to see Ron again. Her chest heaved as she cried. She had never felt so alone.