DISCLAIMER:

I DO NOT OWN THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER/JK ROWLING. I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF THIS OR ANY OTHER STORY I HAVE WRITTEN. I SIMPLY PLAY WITH THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter 2: The Letter

Hermione sat at her desk staring at the blank parchment. She hadn't been in the dating scene for an eternity. What was she supposed to say? How did she even start this letter? Was she sure this is what she wanted? So many questions loomed over her as she stared daggers into the parchment.

Platinum Eyes she wrote at the top of the paper, followed by, nothing. She was drawing a blank, nada, zilch, this was infuriating! Hermione Granger, war heroine, Head of the Department, is officially incapable of forming a sentence; one simple sentence, not just a complete sentence, but any sentence!

She threw the pen down on the desk and stomped off to the kitchen in frustration. Tea may help, she doubts it, but it might! As she brewed her tea and sat down for a cup, Hermione noticed how late it had become, she must have sat at that desk for hours.

She decided to put the letter off for tomorrow night. She cleaned her dishes and headed for the shower, glaring at the nearly blank parchment as she passed by heading to the bathroom.

…

The next several days went by in a blur; Hermione was overwhelmed with work, running the department kept her so busy it was hard at times to remember to breath. By the end of the week, Hermione had forgotten about the letter she was attempting to write.

As she was wrapping her work week up, Hermione noticed a minor oversight. She had forgotten to send Kingsley, the Minister of Magic, her memo about a day of leave the following week. She rushed to the atrium in the hopes of catching him on his way out of the office for the day.

As she ran through, she wasn't exactly paying attention to anything other than looking for Kingsley. She was running as fast as her legs would take her when she spotted him! Finally! She ran quickly to him and caught his arm just before he was about to floo home for the day.

"Kingsley, I'm so sorry to bother you, but I forgot to send you this today, and I won't be here Monday morning; just wanted you to have it so you wouldn't be surprised when I'm not here." Hermione gasped it all out; it had been quite some time since she had run that fast.

"Oh, thank you Hermione, I appreciate you bringing it to me. Have a good weekend!" He turned and flooed out of the office.

Hermione caught her breath while watching the floo flame's flash. She turned and began to walk towards her office, in her distracted state of mind Hermione walked straight into the back of a rather tall man and they both tumbled to the floor in a mess of hair and limbs. As they came to a halt, Hermione could feel her face flush. Her crotch was in some man's face as well as his in hers, how embarrassing! How does one even end up in this position?

As the shock wore off Hermione attempted to get up but felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her and pick her up bridal style before putting her feet on the ground.

"Ms. Granger, are you alright? That was quite a nasty fall."

Hermione was still wrapped in the man's arms; she had to admit it felt rather nice. She looked up and froze. Lucius Malfoy had helped her up off the ground and had the most concerned expression on his face. She looked at him and back to the man picking himself up off the ground. He mumbled a quick apology and took off in the direction he was originally headed, clearly embarrassed.

Her attention was drawn back to Lucius as he spoke again.

"Ms. Grainger, are you ok?"

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, thank you…. for.…um...helping me to my feet." She stumbled over her words, still lost as his empty eyes stared at her with concern.

"Are you sure? Do you need assistance flooing or back to wherever it was you were going in such a rush?" Lucius carefully treaded with his words.

"No, I am quite alright. Thank you again for your help. I do appreciate you removing me from…uh…that position…" Hermione's face flushed with embarrassment, she pulled herself away from Lucius and began to walk away as she muttered out something about him having a good evening.

Hermione could not deny she felt a flutter in her stomach while in his arms. She was also consumed with disgust. Stuttering, fumbling with her words, like some stupid schoolgirl. This was a man she hated, how dare she feel, "that", way towards him, it had to be the "position" he found her in that caused the stir in her belly and in her mind.

He still looked horrid, but his arms were another story. So muscular and lean…wait…what? STOP IT HERMIONE! Don't you dare find him attractive! What is wrong with you? He looked so sad though, and lonely. Wait! Quit it, stop it now!

Hermione stopped outside her office door, clearing her head before going in to finish up her day. She would not think about Lucius Malfoy again, positively or negatively.

….

Hermione groaned as she woke up on Sunday morning. She had spent her weekend working at home in bed with a cold. Normally she would work in and out of the office, but this weekend, she didn't feel like moving. She did manage however to get all of her work done and was now making her way to the bathroom, to sadly, take her first shower since Friday.

Hermione finished her scorching hot shower, an hour later, and walked back towards her kitchen for a bit of tea. As she walked by her desk, she noticed her letter, or rather the two words at the top of the parchment, Platinum Eyes. How could she have forgotten about that infuriating letter! She made her way to the kitchen and fixed her tea.

After tea, Hermione decided that she would simply write a quick hello. Nothing overly worded or fancy, just a simple hello to put the ball in his court. If she never heard anything back, oh well, there won't be any heartbreak.

Sitting at her desk she stared at the parchment, and stared some more, and then stared some more, what would be considered simple?

Platinum Eyes,

I have to say your ad intrigued me, I have never even considered responding to a personal ad, until I read yours, and your life sounds so much like my own. I have to say I am curious. I don't have much time for a personal life outside of work; however, I am more than capable of being a pen pal for now. If you are interested, please write me back.

Amber Eyes

Hermione read over her letter a dozen or more times. She did six rewrites because she wasn't satisfied with her penmanship. She can say she doesn't care if the letter comes back, but obviously, she cares a great deal. If it's not a verbal admission then it doesn't exist, right?

She folded the parchment as delicately as she could, pulled out a wax and seal, and then sent her letter off with Thoth. She watched out her window as he flew off, wondering how long it would take to reach his destination.

Her imagination was beginning to run wild. Not so much as to who she was writing, but what they would be writing about, and if they would be compatible. She imagined that only time would tell, but she hoped it wouldn't take long for a reply.

…

Monday came and Hermione headed off to, Grimmauld Place to take Ginny and the newest Potter to their first doctor's appointment. As baby Mia's god mother, she wanted to show Harry she would always be there for the kids and Ginny if the need were to ever arise. So, volunteering for the first visit had been a wonderful first step towards that goal.

She may be an incredibly busy woman, but she is never busy enough to take a break for her family. Hermione knocked on the door, several times, before Ginny flung it open with quiet a frustrated look spreading across her face.

"Hermione! Thank the Lord you have made it here early!"

Ginny herded her through the door and rushed her down the hallway. They made a brisk turn towards the library and Ginny promptly opened the door to a screaming baby Mia. Ginny picked her up and handed her to Hermione.

"Please calm her down so I can get ready really fast. I promise I won't be but ten minutes."

"Of course, take all the time you need Gin. We don't have to leave for another hour."

Ginny gave Hermione a big smile of appreciation, turned and walked out the door. Hermione turned her attention back to the little one in her arms. She immediately began to sing and gently sway with baby Mia. After five minutes she was asleep, and Hermione was beaming with pride. She felt like a natural.

She sat with Mia in the rocker and rocked her while she slept. As ten minutes turned into forty-five minutes Hermione began to worry that Ginny had went somewhere and crashed. Hermione put Mia in her crib and spelled it to rock. She made her way quietly out of the study and up the stairs to Ginny.

She knocked on the bathroom door and slowly opened it to find Ginny asleep in the tub. She laughed to herself thinking poor Gin must be wore out.

"Ginny, wake up, it's time to go." Hermione didn't shout; however, she didn't whisper either.

Ginny awoke startled, she had not meant to fall asleep, but she was definitely exhausted. Hermione left the bathroom to return to baby Mia. Within just a few short minutes Ginny emerged looking refreshed and ready to leave.

"I'm glad you came and woke me up. Who knows how long I would have laid there sleeping?" Ginny laughed at her own antics, Harry being out of town was certainly taking its toll on her beauty rest.

"It's quite alright. You know when Harry is out of town you should recruit your mother's assistance. I'm sure she would be thrilled to help you."

"Yes, well when a plethora of Weasley grandchildren are born on the same day, the grandmother is stretched rather thin when it comes to assisting all of her children." Ginny clearly sounded agitated.

"Oh, is she with one of the others this week?"

"Yes." Ginny said abruptly ready for a change in conversation. "So, anything new going on with you? Or are you still working twenty-four seven?"

"That's not fair Gin. You know my love is my work. I can't help it I never wanted a family."

"You did at one-point Hermione."

"That doesn't count Gin!"

Ginny gave her a sad smile, it did count, Ron destroyed Hermione. Not intentionally of course but devastated her all the same. Hermione hasn't been the same since.

"Look Hermione, I know Ron hurt you, but honestly, that was a very long time ago. You need someone in your life besides the Ministry of Magic!"

"Ginny, I don't want to talk about this. Let's just go to the doctor's office."

Ginny shook her head, gave a shoulder shrug and gathers baby Mia's travel bag. Hermione and Ginny went to the floo and arrived at the Dr's office a few minutes early. Ginny, however, was not ready to give up on their previous conversation. She promised Harry that she would help Hermione come out of her "old cat lady" persona. Ginny made sure they found a seat in the back of the office. They were going to have a long wait.

"Hermione, listen, I know you don't want to talk about this, but, Harry and I are worried about you. Honestly, why are you incapable of moving on?"

"You're not going to drop this are you?"

"What do you think?"

"No, I suppose you're not, look Gin, I'm happy, I won't lie, and I do get…. lonely…from time to time. I am over Ron. I don't want you to think I'm not, but the scars remain. He was my best friend Gin. I trusted him with my life, literally! We had plans Gin, and then I walk in on him and Lavender, in my bed, in my house, which I paid for with my money, not to mention the fact that it was five days after I found out my parents were murdered by Death Eaters. How could I possibly trust anyone ever again Gin? Honestly answer that, as if Ron wasn't your brother."

Ginny looked mortified, she didn't know how to answer her, she honestly couldn't do it. After long deliberation she finally concluded.

"Hermione, I would find someone who deserved you; Ron never deserved you in his life as anything more than a friend."

"I suppose, I just don't know how I could ever open up to anyone. I am trying though, even if you don't believe me, I have a pen pal now!"

Ginny's eyes were huge! A pen pal! Leave it to Hermione, of all things, a pen pal! That doesn't even count as a relationship!

"You're joking?"

"No. His pen name is Platinum Eyes."

"So, let me guess the pen name you chose is sex queen!" Ginny burst out in laughter.

"I'm not talking to you! Sex queen, I would have to be sexually active Ginny in order to be a Sex Queen!" Hermione crossed her arms and huffed up her shoulders. Sex Queen, really, Ginny had lost her mind. Hermione immediately went back to the last time she had sex. It had been the same morning she had caught Ron with Lavender. She thought it was so romantic that morning, but clearly it didn't mean the same to Ron.

Perhaps she should start opening herself up to more opportunities. She lost her virginity to Ron and hadn't had sex in over a decade. Sounds pathetic when you think about it…what was she waiting for?

"Hermione, how do you know who you are talking to?"

"I don't. He still hasn't responded to my initial letter."

"Wait, where did you find this pen pal?"

"Umm…well…actually….it was in the personal ads of the Daily Prophet."

Ginny let out the loudest, most obnoxious laugh Hermione had ever heard. She literally thought Ginny would fall in the floor or at the very least, urinate all over the chair she was currently occupying.

"You…have…got….to be…. kidding me!" Ginny could barely speak through her laughter.

"No Ginny, I'm not, I'd appreciate a little more support here, it's not like I have time to go to singles clubs or anything!"

"Hermione honestly, you could be chatting it up with literally anyone. You understand that? Anyone!" Ginny managed to string that all out in between suppressed bouts of laughter! It's not that she wasn't concerned for Hermione, but she had used personal ads!

"Yes, I understand that! Lord, I haven't even received a reply yet! Go away, the doctor is calling Mia. I will be here waiting."

Hermione shooed Ginny away. How dare she laugh at her, as if she wasn't ready to try something new, or at least accept a minor change to her mundane routine!