The Lure

Okay seriously, tell me who you are! I had the worst sleep last night, plagued by the trying to figure out your identity. Hermione again only had minutes to wait before there was a response.

Hello Hermione. I wish you weren't so focused on my identity. If you knew…

If I knew then what? I wouldn't talk to you? Do you think me a very shallow person?

No. I don't think you are a superficial person. But there are certain things in the world that everyone is prejudiced against.

And what is it that you think I am prejudiced against?

It's not you specifically, it's everyone on the whole, I hardly leave my house anymore, and when I do it's to jeers, and disrespect.

Disrespect? An injury you sustained that brings disrespect? I don't understand.

I know, and I'm sorry. Can we talk about something, anything else?

So tell me about yourself then. You seem to know an alarming amount about me. What is it that you do all day?

Well I have a job. I'm lucky enough that I can do most of my work from home that takes up most of my time. But I have a couple of hobbies. I love potion making, and I try often to come up with my own potions, mostly to no avail. I read, a lot, and I think about you. And that's my day.

Potion making and reading, that's interesting. I don't suppose you can tell me more about your job?

I'm afraid not. Tell me about what interests you.

Well before you sent this parcel to me I was on the verge of a breakthrough with a bit of defensive magic I've been working on. I like cooking and my job, and I also read a fair bit. But my main focus for the last twenty four hours has been you, and finding out who you are.

I'm flattered. What do you like to read?

Everything. Anything. Recently I've been reading a compendium of works on the early stages of Wizarding law. I find it fascinating. And you, what are you reading? What do you like to read?

I have a wide range of interests, but folklore is a big draw for me. I don't really know why but I've always loved it. I'm reading a biography on Merlin at the moment. He had a more exciting life than I realized.

I know! I've read a couple different biographies that had to do with him. Hermione and her Mystery guy talked about the crazy life of Merlin for about forty minutes. There was a bit of a lull in the writing and V asked something Hermione was not prepared for.

What happened between you and Ron? I mean you guys seemed made for each other. I was pretty happy when you broke up. But I think I was the only one.

Well that's nice of you. Hermione laughed. But it was just that I had imagined myself in love Ron for ages. When we finally did get together it just never seemed…right. For either of us, so we tried for a while and then one night just talked about what we were feeling. We are still friends and it's not too awkward so, that's good I guess.

I could pretend to be sorry, but I'm not. I guess it's good that you guys are still friends though, it would be pretty awkward as pretty much all of your friends are mutual.

Yeah, that was something that we talked about. And I still get invited to his parents' house at the holidays, I usually decline and go to see my parents, but I sometimes miss the way it was. But life goes on I suppose.

It does. I take it then that the rest of his family is rather fond of you.

I suppose they are. What about you. What was your last relationship like?

I've never really been in a serious or lasting relationship. And I've recently lost someone pretty important to me. So getting close to people is even harder than it used to be.

I'm sorry to hear that. Was it the war?

I can't really talk about it. It hurts too much.

I get it. It seems everyone has lost someone important in the last couple of years. And not many people can talk about it. I wish I knew who you were. Hermione knew that even having a clue as to when V's important person died wouldn't make him any easier to identify. There had been massive loss in the war, and afterwards as well. Hermione's eyes were feeling tired so she said goodnight to V for the time being. Well V I am going to have to cut this conversation short. It's time to sleep. I had a more enjoyable chat with you this evening. I still wish you would tell me who you are instead of this charade. I hope you'll tell me soon.

Goodnight Hermione, I'll tell you when I can. I hope you don't lose interest before I'm ready.

I don't think it's likely that I'll lose interest any time soon. With that Hermione stood, shut the book, and headed off to get ready for bed. She settled into sleep a little easier.

But when she awoke in the morning her first thought was of V. She decided that the more she talked to V the sooner he would feel comfortable telling her who he was. So she got up and got a bowl of cereal and the notebook, and settled into a chair in her living room.

Good morning V. She waited almost twenty minutes before a reply came. She had some music playing in the background and another book on law open, so it didn't feel too long.

Good morning. You woke up earlier than I did clearly. I am not much of a morning person.

I am I love the morning. Hermione spent the better part of her Sunday chatting back and forth with V. They had quite a bit in common, and Hermione felt herself really enjoying the time she spent chatting with this guy. He was funny and intelligent. She was worried about who he was though. Why was it so important for him to hide his identity from her? She stopped asking him to tell her though, as it always got her nowhere. There was a knock at the door that Hermione wasn't expecting. It looks like I've got unexpected company. I'll write to you later if I can. She shut the book and stuck it on her bookcase before rising and answering the door. When she opened it she was a little surprised to see the red head on the other side of the door.

AN: I myself am intrigued by who this mystery man is. I am kind of between two choices in my head. I think this length of chapter will be standard as it is mostly dialogue between Hermione and V. Anyway guys please please review and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading! :)