Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Two

Anticipation

"Hey mate, what's up?" Harry asked standing aside to let his friend in, his voice was listless as it always was nowadays, though it was the slightly more cheerful tone that he used while talking to his best mate. There was also a tone of surprise, seeing as Ron usually didn't stop by his house this late, or unexpectedly.

Ron wasn't sure how he found himself outside of Grimmauld Place … all he knew was that after he left the coffee shop, he had started walking through the London streets and when he looked up, there he was … and since he was there, he thought that he might as well see his friend.

"Not much," Ron said, causing Harry to raise his eyebrows at his cheerful tone.

"What happened?" Harry asked with a hint of intrigue.

"I just met a girl … nothing much," Ron shrugged it off as he tried not to get his hopes up too much. As he had been walking, he went over the night in his head, and he couldn't help but notice how standoffish Hermione had seemed to be at times.

"Oh?" Harry said his amusement was clear. Ron had never talked to him about girls before, even though he knew his friend had relationships now and then, it just wasn't something that they talked about. "What's her name?"

"Hermione," Ron said, his face seemed to brighten, and his grin became almost giddy.

"Nothing much, huh?" Harry couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped him at his friend's expression.

"Did you just chuckle?" Ron asked astounded, momentarily distracted by the laughter coming from his normally stoic friend.

"I suppose I did," Harry said, "I just haven't seen you this happy in a long time … maybe ever …"

"Oh crap," Ron groaned, his shoulder slumping as he realized how taken he already was by Hermione, am I already lost.

"That's more like it," Harry chuckled again.

"Well, I'm glad I could amuse you," Ron grumbled bitterly.

"Aren't you though," Harry asked, and Ron had to admit that that was true.

O

"Hello Crookshanks," Hermione said with a smile as her cat rubbed his head against her legs. She leaned down and scratched him behind his ears and was treated with his loud purr. "You must be hungry," she added as she remembered that she hadn't fed him before she went to work. As she went through her routine of preparing his dinner, she couldn't help but tell him her news, "I've met someone today."

"Meow," Crookshanks replied, narrowing his eyes disapprovingly.

"I know … I'll be careful," Hermione sighed, she could almost hear his warning in his cry. It was funny how much he seemed to understand her when she talked to him. What was even more interesting, was how she was able to understand what he meant with his reactions to her. Like now, she knew her cat was trying to remind her of her last disastrous relationship, so she added, "you're too hard on me, Crooks."

He rubbed his head against her again, his purr becoming louder.

"I love you too," was her automatic response to that act.

She couldn't help but to be grateful that she had him in her life, thinking back to the day she found him nearly two years ago. To this day she didn't know why she had walked into the pub when she saw the cloaked couple enter it that afternoon. Perhaps it was because there was something different about the couple, or that the pub had seemed so unnoticeable before they had walked by, but she found she was curious about the place now. It didn't really matter why she went in … she had, and when Crookshanks had ran to her, and rubbed his head against her legs (just like he had greeted her today), she had instantly fell in love with him.

When Crookshanks's owner (or more like the owner of the pet shop that he came from) showed up, it only took a few moments for the owner to offer her the cat. She had always loved animals (cats in particular), however, her mum didn't so she never had a pet growing up. Then she was staying in the dorms, and they didn't allow animals, and when she moved into her own flat the idea of having a pet didn't even occur to her. Now she couldn't imagine her life without Crookshanks in it.

O

She had gotten up earlier than she wanted to, especially seeing as she had stayed up late that night thinking (and trying hard not to think) of Ron. However, she knew that she wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon, so she reluctantly got out of bed to start her day. After eating her breakfast, she had planned to work on the paper she was assigned the other day in hopes that she could finish it before she had to go to work. However, a few hours later she had barely written anything, her mind kept on drifting to Ron without her permission and she found that he was rather distracting. She kept picturing his smile … his blue eyes …

Well, this is no good, she thought knowing that she had to do something about this. So, she made a deal with herself, she would allow herself to get distracted for an hour then the rest of the time she would concentrate on her work. The compromise worked well for her, and she was able to finish her paper before she grabbed something to eat. In the end, she was quite pleased with her paper as she proofread it while she ate, she had managed to write concisely to the point this time without having to edit out material that she thought was interesting.

After she finished lunch, however, she started to feel anxious as she realized that soon she would be seeing Ron again, and she had to figure out what she was going to wear. She had to rush to the coffee shop, having taken way too long to pick out her outfit (trying on more than one and finally settling for the first one she tried). She was rather annoyed with herself for the whole process, hating that she was this worked up about seeing a guy, especially one that she had barely seen for more than a few hours. But mostly she was terrified, she had never felt this way about anyone before.

When she walked into the shop, she couldn't stop herself from looking around and was disappointed that she didn't see Ron, but she supposed that it wasn't likely that he would get there early. However, when he still hadn't shown up two hours later, she couldn't help but feel angry. Every time someone would come into the shop, she would look up hopefully, only to be disappointed that it was someone else. When Ron finally got there a little after six, she was downright furious, but she knew that she couldn't let him see how much this had upset her. So, she put on her most cheerful smile and went out to greet him.

O

"Hello," Hermione said sweetly with a smile.

"Hi," Ron looked up when he heard Hermione's greeting, and he couldn't help but become breathless again as he returned her smile.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked still smiling; however, he felt a little wary as her eyes didn't match her smile.

"If I could get you to sit down with me, that would be nice," he tried to joke.

"Sorry, but as you can see it's crowded in here," she forced herself to laugh back.

"Then I'll take a coffee and whatever sandwich you think I'd like," he ordered.

"I don't know you that well," she pointed out and there was no mistaking the annoyance in her voice.

"I have faith you'll pick something I'll like," he smiled as he tried to rescue the situation.

"I'll be right back," she said as she turned to leave without a smile.

As he watched her leave, he sighed knowing that things had not started off very well. I should have come sooner, he thought bitterly.

O

In the back Hermione was fuming as she made a sandwich for Ron, muttering 'I'd like' as she threw the ingredients for a corn beef sandwich on the counter. I don't want to make him a damn sandwich at all! The nerve of him, coming here two hours late, and then he wants me to make him a bloody sandwich … and he wouldn't even tell me what kind!

Come on, be rational, you never told him (and he never said) he'd be here at four, she argued with herself trying to be sensible, but it did little to alleviate her feelings. You also told him to order something more than coffee last night.

It had taken her several minutes to finish arguing with herself and to regain her composure, but she finally walked back to his table, handing him the sandwich as she poured his coffee. "Here you go."

"Have a seat," he said solemnly as she realized that the shop had empty considerably while she was in the back … how long was I gone for?

"All right then," she agreed, wanting (and not wanting) to talk to him.

"So, what is this?" he asked, looking at the sandwich warily.

"Corned beef," she answered, looking at him closely to see how he would react.

"Sounds good," he smiled, but his mouth twitched slightly.

"It's your least favorite, isn't it?" she actually found herself smiling, knowing that she was right.

"What gave me away?" he sighed, but he was smiling at her sheepishly.

"I'm not sure, I could just tell."

"So, I guess you're not that good at guessing," he commented, though his tone sounded hopeful.

"I don't know about that," she replied with her eyes narrowing and added to herself, I didn't really want to give you something you'd like.

"So, you are angry with me," he sighed, before he decided he might as well eat the sandwich, after all she had made it for him.

"You don't have to eat that … I can make you another one," she offered, surprised (and annoyed) that he had noticed that she was upset.

"This is pretty good," he said actually enjoying the taste of it, though he paused before he could take another bite, feeling that he had to say something first. "Sorry I was late."

"It's all right," she shrugged nonchalantly.

"I can see that," he said sarcastically but he was starting to feel a sense of dread; I hope I didn't mess this up too badly.

"Do you have a reason?" she asked.

"Not one you're going to like," he chuckled, though it was more nervous than amused.

"Let's hear it then," she said curiously.

"I didn't want to seem too eager … I didn't want to appear desperate," he confessed, unable to look at her as he admitted this bit of information.

"I don't think you were supposed to tell me that part then," she said coldly, a flash of anger rising in her.

"No, I don't think I was," he agreed and then looked into her eyes again as he reached for her hand and was happy that she didn't move it away from him (not realizing that his eyes had mesmerized her). "I just think it's more important to admit the truth, then try to come up with a lie."

"Next time," she said, noticing that even her anger of a second ago was already diminishing as she continued to look into his eyes, seeing his honesty in not only the truth of his words, but also how much he regretted his actions. She realized that he was just as nervous about this meeting as she was, and maybe he was also just as unsure of himself as she was feeling. She smiled, somehow happy that he felt the same way she did, "remember it's better to look desperate than to keep a girl waiting."

"I won't forget," his smile widened as his eyes sparkled with his obvious relief that she seemed to have forgiven him.

"You better," she said, "I won't give you another chance."

"Then I'll try really hard not to forget," he agreed again then took another bite of his sandwich.

"You really don't have to eat that," she repeated, laughing this time. "I'll be happy to make you another one."

"It's all right 'ermione," he said still chewing.

"Disgusting," she made a face at him before shaking her head.

"Sorry," Ron sighed, his ears red with his embarrassment. "I never really learned good table manners." He then quickly tried to move the conversation along, "anyways, this sandwich really is good; you might have cured my corned beef aversion."

"Laying it on a little thick, don't you think?" Hermione commented smiling, "but I'm happy I could help."

They only had a few more minutes to talk before the shop became busy and Hermione had to get back to work. That was how the rest of the evening was spent, they would talk whenever there was a lull, and the rest of the time Ron would watch her as she worked. They both enjoyed themselves, and when it was closing time Hermione allowed Ron to stay as she finished cleaning up.

"Well, that was fun," Ron said as they finally made it out of the shop, and she was closing and locking the doors.

"Fun?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "I don't know about that, I had to work hard all day."

"Well, I just sat on my arse watching a beautiful girl … so, to me, it was fun," he laughed and then they smiled at each other for a while. He sighed as he reached out a hand to brush a piece of her hair out of her eyes, something he wanted to do all day (two days really). "When can I see you again?"

"I don't work until next Friday," she forced the words out, her breath had caught in her throat at his action … at the look he was giving her … and she was trying to regain her composure.

He groaned and looked at her pleadingly. "Can't I see you before that?"

"No, I don't think so," she said, finally able to control herself and she smiled at him with a bit of amusement.

"This is payback for showing up late, isn't it?" he sighed.

"Maybe," she smirked; it was true that was part of the reason (and most definitely the reason why she was smirking right now), but there was still a part of her that was afraid about how much he affected her.

"Can I convince you to change your mind," he pleaded.

"I don't think so, not this time," she answered, knowing that he probably could convince her easily enough, but not wanting him to. "My shift is at four … on Friday."

"I'll make sure to be there on time," he stated firmly and then they bid each other goodnight.

O

For the second night in a row, Ron had shown up at Harry's house unexpectedly, however, this time his best mate was clearly upset about something. What was even more apparent was that Ron was angry with him, though Harry had no idea why.

"… And it's all your fault I can't see her until Friday!" Ron finished throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

"My fault?" Harry questioned in confusion.

"Yes, after talking to you I realized how eager I was to see her … like a stupid puppy or some crap like that," Ron glared at him.

"Er … what?" Harry said still confused, realizing that he hadn't followed the conversation at all. "I think you should start over, mate."

"I showed up a few hours late … or at least later than I led her to believe I would show up," Ron explained.

"I didn't tell you to do that," Harry said trying to hide his laugh. "Don't you know you can't keep a girl waiting … and for two hours!" He couldn't control his laughter anymore as he shook his head.

"Argh!" Ron growled, glaring at him. "That's what she said."

"You told her that, did you?" Harry said with his mouth pushed together in an attempt to hide his amusement (it didn't work). "That must have been … interesting."

"It was sort of amusing," Ron smiled. "And the rest of the time was bloody brilliant being with her … but she said she won't see me until next Friday … payback for me being late … it's going to be a long week."

"Tough luck, mate," Harry said patting his back.

O

Ron was right about it being a long week, he spent every spare moment he had thinking about the mysterious girl that captivated him to no ends. It didn't help that his work hadn't picked up any in the last few days and he had nothing to do there. He was, however, able to get Friday off easy enough (it was one benefit of being so famous) he wasn't going to chance being late again.

Hermione didn't have it any easier than Ron did, constantly thinking about him, she was just glad that she didn't really have any papers due (that is ones that she hadn't already completed), she was in no mind to work. She was still unnerved about how much he could affect her, but it also became clear to her that she was going to have to give this a real chance because it was already too late. That's why she got to work almost an hour before she was supposed to and was surprised and pleased to see that he was already there. "Aren't you a bit early," she smiled.

"I didn't want to be late this time," Ron smiled back. "I've been here all day, I'm glad you came early too."

"So am I," she said, and they spent the rest of that hour talking about anything and nothing. When the hour was up, she went to work and they talked like they had the last two times he came, the only difference was that this time she agreed to go out with him when he had asked at the end of the night.

A/N: If you had read by original fic, you might notice that this chapter (now chapters) is very similar to that one. I did try to add in more details, as well as buttoning up the dialogue a bit, but I didn't want to change much about Ron and Hermione's initial meeting(s). However, the next chapter is something I really wanted to edit, and one of the major reasons I had decided to re-write this story. So, hopefully I'll be able to get that chapter the way I want it.