A/N: Thank you to all of you who have made it this far, and especially to my reviewers, your opinions mean a lot and I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far.

I hope the next chapter will live up to your expectations, and so enjoy...

xBx

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the plot...

~ Chapter 3: Rebuilding a Friendship Can Be Difficult… ~

Harry left Hermione's café blinded by anger, automatically treading the path down the main (and only) street, toward the bay. He paid no attention to his surroundings as he made his way onto the tiny beach, and began pacing back and forth across the sand. It wasn't until a particularly loud rumble of thunder recalled him to the present that he noticed the shower he had walked into was now a torrential downpour, with a discontented sigh he turned and made his way back up the hill toward his lodgings.

After all this time, ten long years of searching for Hermione, he had finally found her, just as he was almost starting to give up hope of ever seeing her again. But their first conversation hadn't gone how he had imagined. He had pictured it thousands of times: Smiles, a warm embrace, and maybe some laughter as they caught up on what had happened in each other's absence, and starting to reminisce about old times. He hadn't expected so many tears; a few he expected, but not ones of anger, bitterness and grief. But the more thought about it, the more he realised how unreal his expectations had become; he realised now, that with every year that had passed, the prospect of an uncomplicated reunion had drifted further away. Mentally, he kicked himself for not coming here sooner, when he had first thought of this place a few years ago, but at the time it seemed so unlikely: he thought she would want to be somewhere unconnected with her parents, unconnected with her. It took him a couple of years (along with a growing sense of desperation) to acknowledge that perhaps a place from here early childhood, uncoloured by magical memories, but tinged with happy Muggle memories, might be the perfect place for her to slip into the Muggle world, with some ease and comfort.

Harry wondered if things would have been different if he had followed his whim four years ago: if he had turned up in her cosy coffee shop all those years ago would he have received a warmer welcome? Would she have fully settled into her new life? 'perhaps not', he thought, perhaps she would have welcomed him with open arms, been thankful Harry had turned up, and would have followed him back to the Wizarding world without hesitation...

Harry gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head to clear the ridiculous thoughts. 'Yeah,' he thought 'cause everything in my life works out that easy'. Who was he kidding? She was always going to have reacted this way, whether he had turned up now, or two month after she had left. All he had wanted was to talk to her, to tell her how much he had missed her, how much he wanted her back, needed her back.

If Harry was honest with himself, he had considered Hermione as more than just a friend for a long time - he had just always been too dense to realise it. And it had taken her disappearing from his life completely for him to realise just what he was missing.

She had always been there, right from the very beginning, since his first train ride to Hogwarts Hermione had been a strong and constant presence in his life. Hermione, Ron and himself - the Golden Trio, he couldn't imagine his life not including them, and then Ron started to develop feelings for Hermione, he saw it clear as day, perhaps that was when he subconsciously decided to bury the true extent of his feelings. Hermione's feelings were less easy to determine, and then there was Ginny. Hermione and Ginny became as close as sisters, Ginny became an add-on to the trio, and everyone seemed to expect Harry and Ginny to end up together, Ron and Hermione to find romance: Harry and Hermione were practically adopted into the Weasley family, but these couplings would cement that, almost fate like, and who were they to deny fate? - it was almost like it was their destinies. Almost.

But then the final battle came, and everything changed. Hermione lost the man she loved, she was heartbroken, and every time Harry saw her cry he died a little more inside. And then she left. It was then he realised he loved her, truly loved her more than life itself. When he realised she had gone it broke his heart. His and Ginny's relationship hadn't lasted long after that, both had been changed by the war, and no matter how hard they tried they couldn't keep it together. Harry had spent, from there on in, all his time free time, when he wasn't needed by the Ministry, searching for Hermione's whereabouts.

Harry's musings on the past ended abruptly as a deafening crack, accompanied by a bolt of lightening, erupted up above, and he hurried his pace to reach his lodgings before the full wrath of the storm bore down upon him.

After sitting for a good two hours almost, Hermione lifted her head from her arms; the thunder, now loud enough to shake the windows, brought her somewhat back to the present. Her sobs had subsided some time before, yet the tears still slid down her face. She lifted herself out of the chair and started to clean down the shop, doing the necessary preparations for the morrow, almost working on auto-pilot to get done what needed to be done, before retiring early to bed, too emotionally exhausted for anything else but sleep.

The next few days we're ones of somewhat normality for Hermione – well, 'Jennifer's normality' at the very least. Harry seemed to have got the message the other night, and (as of yet) had not returned to further provoke her. The next few days also happened to be some of the busiest yet, the storm of the other night had blown itself out, before dawn and had been replaced by clear blue skies: the brightening weather seemed to have everyone out, leaving Hermione rushed off her feet with no time for conversations or reflections, and before the week was out 'Jennifer' was back to her normal self, almost as if Harry's appearance had never happened.

Nearly a week after their confrontation, Hermione had started looking out for Harry wherever she went, if she was honest with herself, she had expected him back long before now, and was slightly disappointed when he didn't show, yet she couldn't seem to reason why this bothered her so much.

What she didn't know was that Harry had been there every single day. Stood outside, under his invisibility cloak, watching her, waiting for some opportunity to occur so he could catch her on her own - he was weary of approaching her in a crowd, a public brawl was something he desperately wished to avoid. At last an opportunity arose, one evening, just before closing. Only one customer remained, who was deep in conversation with Hermione, Harry recognised her as the women who was there the first night he arrived.

"Business starting to calm down in the evenings now, Jenny?" asked Betsy,

"A little, but the rest of day is as busy as ever" sighed Hermione, "not that I'm complaining, extra income is always welcomed"

As the only other customer left, Betsy thought it now safe to broach the subject she had wanted to pursue for a week. "I haven't seen you friend back since the other day, the tall gentleman, black hair, glasses, and vivid green eyes " Hermione tried not to let the discomfort she felt about such a topic show on her face. "Oh, he was just an acquaintance really, was only passing by"

"Mmm hmm" Betsy was clearly unconvinced, and could fully tell that Hermione was clearly trying to avoid the answer. When Hermione turned her back to organise some glasses behind the bar, Betsy continued, "I was under the impression you two were very close at one point, certainly more than mere 'acquaintances'… Hermione"

Hermione dropped the glass she was holding, gasped, and spun round all in quick succession when Betsy had said her actual name.

"What?.." Hermione's breathing became rapid as panic began to fill her. Betsy began to laugh,

"Dear, it's ok, I heard him call you that, and I haven't told anyone. I can understand the need to start again. And for the record, I always knew you weren't Jennifer" Hermione's shock increased even more, panicked slightly that this woman may know more about her past life than she was letting on "You look nothing like a Jennifer" Betsy claimed seriously, "A Lauren, maybe, but not a Jennifer" she added as an afterthought, before laughing at the look on Hermione's face.

Betsy tried to get more information, which Hermione was reluctant to give; though she was somewhat relieved to discover that Betsy had no idea who she actually was, no idea about her magical life she had left behind.

"But usually, one has nothing, or no one to leave behind when they begin again" Betsy gave one last attempt at discovering anything,

"I didn't, that's why I left and started again"

"The tall, dark haired gentleman seems to think differently" the two were so wrapped up in their conversation to notice Harry enter and seat himself in a corner, out of direct eye-line.

"Harry has his own life, he doesn't need me," Harry started at hearing his own name, "he never did really, I don't know why he is here, he was probably just passing, and accidentally ran into me" - Harry's hear gave a jolt, did she really believe that?

"hmm," muttered Betsy, clearly not convinced, before sighing and continuing "Well dear, I shall leave you once again to your cleaning and return home, I dare say I will see you tomorrow" with that she left, noticing Harry she gave him an encouraging smile as she passed through the door.

Only then did Hermione notice her last customer, "We're closing," she stated simply.

"Hermione please, I just want to apologise, and talk. About anything I don't care, just please, let me stay for a while" he pleaded, adding in his desperation "I've waited too long, I'm not leaving without some sort of conversation"

Hermione sighed, too exhausted to argue, "fine," she conceded, and turned to start cleaning, moments passed in silence as Hermione began loading the dishwasher with the last of the dirty pots,

"Do you want any help? Might as well make myself useful" Harry asked after a while,

"You can clean the tables if you like" she said, pulling out a cloth and disinfectant spray from under the counter, "Without magic" Hermione added, slightly annoyed, when she noticed Harry had pulled out his wand,

"Hermione" he whined, "you may have given up magic but I haven't"

"I don't care" she replied with a hint of a smile, "You're in a muggle village, in a muggle store, so we do things the muggle way"

"Fine", he conceded, putting his wand away, not wanting to anger here and ruin the moment; he took the cleaning materials Hermione handed him, "It would be so much quicker with magic" he mumbled, but not quiet enough to escape Hermione's sharp ears,

"There are twelve tables, it will take you less than five minutes, get over it" she snapped, but Harry could hear the smile in her voice, and for a moment it felt like old times.

The two worked in silence for a while, when Harry had finished with tables he unloaded the dishwasher putting everything back in its place, then looked over Hermione's book collection while she finished mopping the floor. Finally, after what felt like hours though it was only one, Harry was first to speak, he just couldn't stand the silence any longer.

"I've missed you like you wouldn't believe" he spoke barely above a whisper,

Hermione sighed, "Harry-"

"I'm not trying to get you to come back," he insisted, "honestly. I've watched you working this week," he admitted, "I was trying to find you on your own so we could talk, and I've seen how happy you are doing this. I don't want to take you away from it all. I just want to know why. Why you left us. Why you left me" he finished dejectedly, and sat down at the nearest table.

Hermione sat down opposite him with a sigh, "Harry, I had nothing left. And I couldn't stay behind, with the constant memories of what I'd lost and why. I wasn't strong enough for that, I don't think I'll ever be strong enough to cope with that, alone." Hermione's voice cracked a little as she spoke, tears threatening to escape once again. Harry noticed this, which caused him to do the same, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke next, "you have me, you always had me" he looked Hermione straight in the eye, Hermione returning his earnest gaze. "Not really, you have Ginny." She said with a sad smile, "You're hers, she was always going to be the first on your list, I would have just been the third wheel"

"Ginny and me split up. A long time ago" Harry stated bluntly, "She's married now. And pregnant with her second kid" he added

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be. We drifted apart, more like family than lovers. We're still on close terms." Silence followed, "She wasn't the love of my life" he added, quietly, almost too quiet to hear, more to himself, but Hermione heard it all the same: she didn't know what to say, and was slightly distracted with thinking who it was that Harry was truly in love with, and if he was with her now, she sneaked a peak at his left hand…no wedding band…though that didn't mean anything, she knew plenty of married men who never wore one. While Hermione was musing on the identity of his beloved, Harry was deliberating over whether to tell her the real reason he and Ginny broke up. Finally Harry spoke, and ever the coward, pushed his feelings to side,

"I still don't understand why you left completely. Why you changed your name, created an entire new life"

Hermione thought for a second about how best to explain her reasoning, which would probably seem illogical to others, and then sighed, deciding to answer a question with a question, "Don't you ever wonder what it would be like to be a muggle again? What it would be like if the Wizarding world was unknown to us? Complete ignorance of it, no war, and no Voldemort…No hurt. That was all I was thinking, that's what I wanted, to go back to a life that was uncomplicated by magic, a simple Muggle way of life." She paused, watching Harry to see if he understood her point of view, he nodded, as if he knew where she was coming from, and she continued "Harry I've built a life for myself here, a new life that I love, where no one I get close to gets hurt, no one gets murdered by evil-"

"But what about what you left behind?" Harry interrupted, his emotions getting the better of him once again, "Who you left behind? Hermione there are a lot of people who love you, and miss you. Who worry about you and think about you every single day. Please come home to us," he begged, adding quietly " come home to me-"

"This is home now" the tears were now flowing freely despite Hermione's best efforts "Harry, I'm not leaving. I can't leave, it's my life now, you have to understand that, please"

Harry sat silent a few moments; he didn't want to let Hermione go again, didn't want to lose her, but if he pushed her too much he would simply repeat the scene from the other night. Or worse, take off again, new place, new start, new life, and he'd be right back where he was ten years ago. He sighed, and nodded in defeat,

"Well, will you at least let me stick around; hang out like we used to? Please Hermione, now I've found you I don't want to leave you"

Hermione could see the earnest in his eyes, and knew he wasn't going to leave anytime soon, no matter what she said.

Hermione nodded, then asked "Where are you staying?" Harry gave a little grin, he was slowly winning, he could hear the resignation in her voice, "at the top of the hill, The Victoria" he answered,

"Look, if your planning on staying thinking you can convince me to go back with you-"

"No" he interrupted, holding up his hands in surrender, "you've made yourself clear, you don't want to leave. But I want to stay. I've missed you"

She looked at him earnestly, a look that seemed to last a lifetime to Harry, unsure whether she was going to shout or not, then her expression softened, "If you're planning on staying a while you're going to spend a fortune at the Vic'" Harry shrugged, Hermione rolled her eyes, "I have a spare room, with a perfectly good, comfy bed, it's yours if you want it" with that Hermione stood, turned and headed for the stairs behind the counter, when she reached the bottom stairs she turned back to Harry, "coming?"

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I'm editing the next one at the moment, so I shall hopefully have it up in a few hours time,

Please review, I'm enjoying the feedback greatly :) thank you for reading

xBx