Disclaimer: This all belongs to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the story line.

Sorry all for this late late update.I've been trying to get this posted up earlier but I really got stuck at this point because I was trying to connect the plot together.If it's a little short,I'm really sorry.Enjoy!

Decisions

She was having a terrible day. Firstly, her partner had decided to retire. His reasoning was that he had spent too many years doing what he loved but felt that he needed to spend time with his family. She respected his decision to retire but hated the fact that her mentor, and friend, was leaving. In her opinion, no one could replace him.

Secondly, she was running late for her appointment with Ron and Luna and everyone knew what Ron was like concerning food. It didn't help that her boss had decided to ask her to pass a message to the people involved in bringing in the artifacts that needed translating and at the same time, return certain tomes that they had been using. Didn't the Ministry have other ways of passing messages other than by mouth? Complaining silently to herself about the shortcomings of the Ministry, she failed to see the exit of a person from her destination.

The next thing she knew, she had hit a wall and had fallen down with the tomes scattering across the floor. Shaking her head, she quickly started picking up the tomes before realizing that she was face to face with a guy.

She quickly stood up and noticed the glazed look in his eyes before uttering out

"Sorry about that. I'm just rushing to return these tomes to this office and look for someone at the same time."

He stammered out a reply but she wasn't paying attention. His eyes. His eyes had captured her attention. His eyes reminded her of Harry's. It was so captivating. He had the brightest emerald-coloured eyes she had ever since, so similar to Harry's. She just couldn't look away.

Slightly realising that he had asked if she was alright, she nodded in reply." I'm looking for a James Evans. My boss says he wants to speak us tomorrow morning at 8.30a.m in his office."

When she found out that he was James Evans and had offered to return the tomes, she smiled in thanks and turned around and left, her mind filled with thoughts of Harry.

No, I have to stop. It's been 5 years. It's time to move on.

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The next morning at 8.35 a.m. saw Harry and Hermione walking out of their boss' office. He had wanted Harry to replace Hermione's partner who had retired. As if making him work with Hermione wasn't torture enough already for Harry, their boss wanted them to get acquainted with each other before beginning their work.

After a few tense first moments between them, with Harry feeling afraid of not being good enough to be translating the more important and critical runes while Hermione was still insistent that this James Evans will never be able to replace her partner, they finally managed to get along rather well.

Now, a week after being introduced to each other, they were very comfortable around each other. They got on rather well and Hermione found herself liking her new partner more and more.

"James, could you pass me that –"Hermione turned around to ask her partner but found that he had already the list of translations in his hands, outstretched towards her. "Thanks."

Harry nodded his head and went back to his work. Barely a few minutes later, his voice rang out in confusion. "Hermione, does this wiggly line across –"

"Yes. The wiggly line across the circle means exactly what it means."

"Oh…I knew that."

To be honest, Hermione was a little taken aback by how quickly the both of them had gotten used to the way the other thought, something that she prided herself in sharing with Harry. It's amazing how easy I feel around James now. And this chemistry between us…wow.

Surprising herself, she heard herself asking, "James, would you like to get a cup of tea with me?"

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James had thoroughly enjoyed his time with Hermione outside of work. He had been taken aback by her invitation but found himself agreeing albeit a little nervously. He had internal cursed himself for his habit of running his hand through his hair when nervous but somewhat relaxed a little when Hermione didn't mention anything about it.

Now, they went out on a regular basis after work, usually to get a cup of tea or even coffee and tended to head back to her place to either have dinner, which he offered to cook sometimes or ordering out, or to merely laze around the television. He wouldn't say that they were a couple per se but definitely spending so much time with her these days made him more than just her partner at work.

He wondered how he had lived his 5 years away from Hermione. Even as James Evans, she had captured his heart all over again with her actions. You might say that his judgment is biased on the grounds that he was already in love with her but he fell in love with the little things she did like her biting her lips when she came across a difficult rune to translate or when she twirls a lock of hair while she was searching through tomes.

Meanwhile

Hermione had thoroughly enjoyed her time with James outside of work. She still didn't know what made her ask him out earlier that week but she was now very happy with the way things turned out. They regularly went out for a cup of tea or coffee, although she didn't really like it. She had noticed early on that he was nervous when they first went out for a drink. The funny thing she noticed was how he ran his hand through his hair when he was nervous but didn't mention anything because she didn't want him to feel even more nervous.

They had even spent some evenings at her house, watching the television or just laying around listening to the wireless. She realized that she liked quiet moments that they spent together but was curious that he had never offered to use his place once. Even though she didn't mind spending time at her house, she was very curious as to why he hadn't brought her over to his place.

James Evans was and easy guy to fall for. He was devastatingly handsome. He had eyes as green as Harry's, which was a plus point. They had the level of chemistry and understanding that she really liked. It reminded her of Harry. While she would reluctantly admit that part of her attraction was due to the fact that he had so much in common with Harry, there were things about James that attracted her. He was smart, charming, funny and really seemed to care about her.

A small part of her knew that even if James were to try and get close to her, he wouldn't have much to do to win her heart. Oh Granger, you have got it bad.