Significant Other by Kaori Lily Marie

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 4
Published: 04/01/2003
Last Updated: 04/01/2003
Status: Completed

H/Hr AU. In what seemed to be a perfect but changed world, would these two, Harry and Hermione,
find each other and fall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all changed and
nothing would be the same? Maybe.




1. Changes
----------

**Title:** Significant Other (1/3)

**Author name:** Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

**Author e-mail:** kaori@suite101.com

**Category:** Astronomy Tower

**Keywords:** H/Hr, Fluff, AU

**Rating:** PG

**Spoilers:** It’s good to be familiar with all the books but there aren’t really any
spoilers

**Summary:** H/Hr AU. In what seemed to be a perfect world, would these two, Harry and
Hermione, find each other and fall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all
changed and nothing would be the same? Maybe.

**Disclaimer:** This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK
Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and
Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark
infringement is intended.

**Author’s Notes:** This was first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to
them. Sorry it took long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world is
very complicated sometimes. Heh… now only if I could finish the other ficlet!

**--Significant Other--**

By Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

Dedicated to the HMS Pumpkin Pie, SS Thorn and Buck, and my friend Clara who made the plot bunny
to this story.

Part One: Changes

It was all changed.

When the infamous Harry Potter had defeated the evil of Lord Voldemort an unexpected thing
happened. The world started over.

Tom Marvolo Riddle was never born. He died along with his mother when she was trying to give
birth.

Events never happened, such as the death of Lily and James Potter or Cedric Diggory. There was
no dark side. There were dark wizards but no sides. Yes, there was still hatred -- nothing could
change that -- but there was peace for the most part. Harry Potter was never famous, he was a
normal person at last. Sirius Black was never convicted, Colin Creevy never had a taken any
pictures with him, and he never lived with the Dursleys. Though Harry was not that happy, he
wasn't relieved. He couldn't remember his old life, so how could he know that he
should've been feeling liberated?

Many bad things were exchanged with good outcomes.

But there experiences that were not so beneficial. Harry Potter did meet Ron Weasley in Hogwarts
but they never met Hermione Granger. She had gone to another school. An all girls witchcraft
school. Also Severus Snape had never changed sides but he still hated Harry - some things just
won't change. Yet Harry had no problem with this.

Yes, he had expectations while he attended Hogwarts. Not ones of fame and the burden of
defeating the most terrible dark wizard of their time but ones of academic advancement and humorous
pranks. A lot was undeniably different.

He had already graduated and working part-time at the Daily Prophet until he found a more
permanent occupation. Finding a career was no easier than it ever was. He and Ron were roommates in
a pent house in London. It was right near Diagon Alley so it wasn't far from work. The Daily
Prophet had an office in there so it was more than just a little convenient.

It was somewhat easy; he didn't really need a prosperous career - his parents had inherited
money and he owned half of that. He never suspected it was once all his. He just worked as a
journalist reporting any exciting news. His articles were often on the front page.

There were some inconveniences to the job too. He had clashed into Rita Skeeter many times. The
woman seemed to loathe him. Well, it didn't matter. No one at the Daily Prophet liked her
anyway. There was also Colin Creevy, who was nice enough, just too engrossed into worshipping
celebrities. He was only lucky to receive the occupation of photographer (and Colin was the one who
took the pictures corresponding to Harry's articles).

It was a new life... yet some things were better left alone... but somehow some things that were
truly meant to be would find themselves piecing together.

***

"...and The Chudley Cannons will be using Firebolts against the Sweetwater All-Stars in the
next world cup," Harry recited as he finished typing down his article on his typewriter. He
shook his head in still mild disbelief.

Ron, sitting on one of the kitchen tables, was grinning widely. "See?" he teased,
"I told you they're the best!"

"Well, they still have to beat the Sweetwater All-Stars," Harry reasoned,
frowning.

"Yeah, yeah... but the Sweetwater All-Stars have got to be thick... I mean it...
Sweetwater? What a wimpy name." Ron was just being himself.

"Don't underestimate people Ron," Harry said pointedly, getting up from his chair
and sorting his pages.

"Eh.. Americans," Ron said.

Harry shook his head in half amusement and half discountenance. "Well, I've got to go
submit this," Harry laughed. He took his papers and bag. "See you later!" he waved
as he exited.

"Yeah, later!" Ron said nonchalantly as he continued to watch the television which
Harry bought.

Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron with simple but friendly hellos. He was still a popular fellow
nevertheless - fame wasn't really needed. He was kind of in a hurry so he rushed into the back
and got out his wand. Diagon was quite busy and filled with many children since it was soon to be
September first. He smiled as he remembered his own little shopping spree. It wasn't as special
as it was in his other life but special nonetheless.

He entered a busy office where people were mostly running around. Harry clutched his report
tightly, trying not to lose it in the crowded office.

Yet it was hopeless as someone else had run crashing into him. Papers flew and chaos seemed to
have erupted. Two voices intertwined as they gasped, "Oh no!"

Harry looked horrified as the final paper reached the floor and the woman who ran into him was
revealed.

Bight green eyes met honey brown. The woman blinked at him then gasped. Her hands clasped her
mouth and she apologized, "Oh! I'm so, so, so sorry!"

Harry got up and sighed, "It's all right... here," he helped her up and keep
telling her, "It's okay... really! No, it's okay..."

"Are you sure?" she asked, uncertain.

"Yeah, it's all right," Harry nodded and started picking up his own papers.
"Harry Potter by the way."

The woman followed suit and answered, "Hermione Granger. Oh! You're Harry Potter! I
like your news articles... though you need to work on your grammar a little."

Harry frowned, "Er.. right. Do I know you? Maybe from Hogwarts?"

Hermione shook her head. "You can't have. I didn't go to Hogwarts."

"Oh," Harry's eyebrows furrowed. This woman was familiar but why? "Are you
new here?"

"Yes, an intern you could say," she shrugged, apparently, having collected all her
pages. "I'll see you again?"

"Er... okay," Harry breathed. He picked up his last paper. "Well, I'll you
around.." he quickly walked off, a bit embarrassed.

"Harry, where have you been? You're going to miss your deadline on that!" Colin
said when Harry entered his office.

"Yeah, yeah.. I just had a small accident," Harry grumbled. He set his report on his
desk and sat down.

"Oh, have you seen the new intern?" Colin eagerly asked.

"Oh yeah. Hermione Granger?"

Colin nodded, "Yeah. People who knew her in school say she looks really different. I think
she's pretty. She's nice too but kind of a know-it-all..."

"Er... yeah. I'm going to turn in my article now... see you Colin."

"Uh-huh.."

"Oh, Miss Granger, you're submitting your article too?" Harry asked when he saw
her in their manager's office.

"Yep," Hermione sighed. "I hope it's good enough..."

"I'm sure it is.."

End Part One...

END OF CHAPTER



2. Fate
-------

**Title:** Significant Other (2/3)

**Author name:** Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

**Author e-mail:** kaori@suite101.com

**Category:** Astronomy Tower

**Keywords:** H/Hr, Fluff, AU

**Rating:** PG

**Spoilers:** It’s good to be familiar with all the books but there aren’t really any
spoilers

**Summary:** H/Hr AU. In what seemed to be a perfect world, would these two, Harry and
Hermione, find each other and fall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all
changed and nothing would be the same? Maybe.

**Disclaimer:** This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK
Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and
Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark
infringement is intended.

**Author’s Notes:** This was first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to
them. Sorry it took long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world is
very complicated sometimes. Heh… now only if I could finish the other ficlet!

**--Significant Other--**

By Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

Dedicated to follower_of_voldemort and to Mimi S. Wood, who's recently a new HP fan.

Part Two: Fate

Some things don't change.

More than half of her life was completely changed. She still had the same ten years of her life
then... she didn't get a Hogwarts letter. She had received another letter first. For Madam
Michelle's Witchcraft Academy. Hermione accepted, not knowing she'd get another letter
later. She had to turn down Hogwarts, though she wanted to go after she'd gotten the letter.
She couldn't though. It was just too late. She did not meet Harry Potter.

Yet she still graduated the top of her class. She had a perfect record, since Harry and Ron
never had put her into trouble. She did feel a longing for friends. She was lonely. She had no
friends in that school. In the way Harry's life changed for the better, hers was the antonym.
Only she couldn't know how her life was worse.

Though things that were meant to be will happen. Mostly. It would just figure that Hermione
would run into Harry Potter in her new career. Coincidence? Perhaps... or maybe fate?

***

Hermione Granger sighed as her stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten breakfast yet. She held
her report tightly. It was her first day of the job and she was quite nervous if her work was good
enough or not. She touched her stomach with her other hand. She felt so starved. 'I knew I
should've just taken something' she scolded herself.

The first day! She didn't think she could be anymore nervous. She was much calmer at her
graduation than now. Then she had to actually recite her speech but now all she had to do was hand
the report to the editor. Hermione didn't get it. Why did everything have to be so complicated?
Most girls she knew from school knew her as the busy-haired know-it-all that didn't need to ask
questions. That wasn't true though. She did ask questions. Deep questions. She didn't ask
it to anyone aloud.

She sat on a bench inside the Daily Prophet office. This was odd for her but she found that,
during that past decade of this life, that things are not normal. Of course, that all depends on
one's definition of normal. Okay, ordinary suited it more. Yes, things weren't
ordinary.

She glanced at her passage and groaned in frustration. A mistake! Oh this wasn't fair! It
was the third time she had to correct something. She got up fast. Her head swirled because it was
just a tad to fast. She shook her head to stop the dizziness.

Rushing to go out again, she realized that the office was extremely crowded. The only she'd
get there in time was if she ran. So she did.

She saw blurs of color passing by but she was careful not to bump into anyone or anything. That
was until she did. Her hold on the pages loosened and the papers flew off. The force of the
collision caused her to fall to the floor and so did the person she bumped into. Hermione gasped
realizing that her hours of organizing were ruined. "Oh no!" She gasped. To her surprised
the other said it at the same time.

She sat there waiting till the last of the papers flew down to the mess of papers.
Hermione's eyes stared at it as it fell and when it reached the ground her eyes met two bright
green ones. Her knees felt weak. Those eyes. She knew those eyes. But where?

Then a realization dawned on her! Her papers! And probably the man's too for there were more
pages on the ground than she had. Oh no! How could she be so clumsy?

"Oh! I'm so, so, so sorry!" Hermione looked terrified. Messing up so much on the
first day! What else could go wrong?

The man got up by himself and uncomfortably held out a hand to her. "It's all
right," he said. Hermione took his hand and he helped her bring herself up. Hermione still
kept apologizing though. "It's okay... really it is!"

"Are you sure? I mean like-"

"No, it's okay."

"Are you sure?" Hermione asked again.

He nodded carefully. "Yeah, it's all right." His voice was kind and sincere and
Hermione felt like she could trust him right away. He bent down and started gathering his own
papers. "Harry Potter by the way," He told her. Hermione suppose he was saying his
name.

"Hermione Granger," Hermione responded. 'Wait, Harry Potter?' "Oh!
You're Harry Potter? I like your news articles! Though you do need to work on your grammar a
little." She was still like that. Always wanting to correct people. Was it her fault that she
could notice mistakes?

Harry frowned, a little disappointed with her statement. He seemed more uncomfortable than ever.
"Er... right. Do I know you? Maybe from Hogwarts?"

Hermione shook her head. She wished! Only if... "You can't have. I didn't go to
Hogwarts." Oh but how she wished she did! It was the best wizarding school she knew... oh why
did she have to apply for Madam Michelle's Witchcraft Academy? Why didn't she wait for
Hogwarts? Regrets often flooded her and she braved through it still. She gathered up the remaining
pages on the ground.

"Oh," Harry said. More disappointment. Why on earth was he giving her that odd look
like she was lying? She wasn't! She never set foot upon that wizarding school! "Are you
new here?" Hermione was thankful that he didn't interrogate her. She relaxed and remembers
that Harry wasn't in charge of the place and couldn't fire her. "An intern you could
say," she told him. "I'll see you again?" 'Huh?' she thought, 'Where
did THAT come from?' she barely knew the man for longer than two minutes!

"Er okay," he said. He noticed one last page on the floor. It wasn't
Hermione's so he picked it up. "Well, I'll see you around then." He walked off.
What was with him?

Hermione blushed when she reached her home in Muggle London. She lived in a flat all to herself,
proving that she was quite alone. She quickly wand, which she left accidentally, and fixed her
mistakes once and for all. She kept forgetting her wand lately. She didn't know why. She
wasn't usually so clumsy or forgetful... what was happening to her? It was like her life was
split in two. Oh how weird!

It wasn't fair. It wasn't her fault this was all happening. The world, no matter how
different, was still cruel.

'Evil! Evil world!' Hermione scorned before running back to Diagon Alley.

As she entered the office panting heavily, Hermione glanced at her wrist-watch. Almost her
deadline. Oh great! She rushed to the Editor's office, apologizing to people she ran into and
saying 'excuse me's repeatedly. She entered the Editor's office shaky and nervous.

"Relax miss Granger," The Editor said at his desk. "Your article?"

"Oh yeah!" Hermione handed him the papers. "Sorry if there's mistakes... I
was sort of rushing."

"That's all right Miss Granger. Your spelling seems perfect enough."

"Oh," Hermione blushed.

The door opened and in came Harry Potter. Hermione's heart seemed to flutter. Oh no... this
couldn't be happening to her, could it? She couldn't be! She wasn't... in love. Was
she?

He seemed to notice her immediately. "Oh Miss Granger, you're submitting your article
too?"

"Yep," Hermione said. "I hope it's good enough."

Harry gave her a grin that made her want to melt. "I'm sure it is..."

Hermione nodded appreciatively.

As it was meant to be... the two met. The only thing that was missing was...

End Part Two...



3. Soul Mates
-------------

**Title:** Significant Other (3/3)

**Author name:** Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

**Author e-mail:** kaori@suite101.com

**Category:** Astronomy Tower

**Keywords:** H/Hr, Fluff, AU

**Rating:** PG

**Spoilers:** It’s good to be familiar with all the books but there aren’t really any
spoilers

**Summary:** H/Hr AU. In what seemed to be a perfect world, would these two, Harry and
Hermione, find each other and fall in love? Like the way it was meant to be? Or was it really all
changed and nothing would be the same? Maybe.

**Disclaimer:** This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK
Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and
Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark
infringement is intended.

**Author’s Notes:** This was first posted in HMS Pumpkin Pie, and as usual, dedicated to
them. Sorry it took long for only a three part story. I was so busy in RL. ::sighs:: the world is
very complicated sometimes. Heh… now only if I could finish the other ficlet!

**--Significant Other--**

By Kaori Lily Marie Otome XIV

Dedicated to my English teacher, who will retire after this school year. We (my 8th grade class)
love you and we thank you very much!

Part Three: Soul Mates

..the only thing missing was.. love.

What was meant to be will be meant to be.

Ron rolled his eyes as Harry left. Harry needed to get a life. He was always cooped up at their
flat. What Harry really needed was a girl. It was just too bad Harry could just bump into anybody
and immediately fall in love. No, Harry was just too picky.

Sighing, Ron turned off the television. His program had just ended, and he didn't like the
show coming on. Soap operas, oi.

Okay. So now [I]he[/I] was alone and bored... that couldn't be too good. So, what to do?

"Hmm..." not necessarily for the first time, Ron went to check out Harry's
bookshelf. Ron didn't know why the guy had insisted on buying Muggle books as well as wizard
ones. Of course, that may have from Harry's mother... but then again, who knew? Other Harry and
God, of course.

He pulled out a fairly thick book. One titled: The Princess Bride.

Huh... very sappy-like title, but Ron was intrigued. He walked to the couch and just started to
read.

Harry opened the door, with a relieving sigh. He was glad the work day was finally over. As he
opened the door he found Ron on the couch. Just reading. That was definitely new.

Harry coughed to get his friend's attention.

Ron slowly lowered the book from his face. "Oh hi Harry...er, who's that?" she
pointed to the woman standing next to his best friend.

"Hermione Granger," the woman held her hand out.

Ron nodded. "Nice to meet you," he turned to Harry suspiciously. "How come you
never told me about her?"

"I just met her today."

Ron started to cough. "W-what? Are you serious?!"

Hermione rolled her eyes while Harry answered. "Of course not. Sirius is."

Ron groaned, "Oh c'mon! Not the pun... anyway.. how did you two meet?"

Hermione giggled nervously. "Er... that was my fault... I actually bumped into him at
work." She looked away, embarrassed.

"No way!"

"What's no way?" Harry inquired. What Ron blurted out was just random.

"I was just thinking and... oh never mind! Harry I can't believe you're dating a
girl just the day you met her!" Ron exclaimed.

"We're not dating!" Harry and Hermione said hotly, their faces flushed.

"We were assigned unto an assignment together," Hermione informed.

Ron didn't believe them though. "Oh is that all? Sure you guys are assigned
to--?"

"RON!" Harry scolded, his face a shade between pink and red.

Hermione turned to Harry, speaking rather stiffly. "Well, Harry, I'll see you tomorrow
then?"

"Yeah, sure."

Hermione left abruptly. She just couldn't work with that Ron in the room. But then... well,
she was glad Ron was there... it stopped her from just throwing herself at Harry. She sighed as she
left the building. Harry had just done something to her. He made her fall in love with him.

Harry wasn't any happier when Hermione left. In fact, he was boiling mad.

"You just had to drive my colleague away, didn't you?! She'll--"

"What? Screw around with you?" Ron laughed. He needed a good laugh, and it was a
perfect situation to tease endlessly.

"RON! Augh! Someone get the newspaper!"

"Why?"

"To hit you upside the head!"

"Then no."

Harry sighed, frustrated and flopped down on another chair. He crossed his arms, clearly
vexed.

"Hey, I'm sorry, okay?" Ron said after a long awkward silence. "I didn't
mean to... I was just so bored."

"That's all right," Harry finally said.

"Why did you bring her here anyway?"

"To work on the article."

"Suurue."

"Shut up."

Silence.

"... can I talk now?"

"No."

"Well, I just want to say, when you marry her and have kids, that I told you so, so
don't complain."

"Fine."

"Good."

***

"You didn't have to name her after us," James Potter told his son.

Harry grinned at his father. "I know that but I wanted to." James sighed and shook his
head.

"Well, let's just hope he's not another carbon copy of us."

Harry nodded grimly. Yes. He had enough of people mistaking him and his father. It was
irritating.

A howling scream made the two men cringe.

"Reminds me of your mother's labor," James mumbled under his breath. Lily promptly
smacked his arm. "Ow! I didn't mean it Lils..."

"Sure you don't," Lily Potter rolled her eyes at her husband. He could be so
immature sometimes.

"I'm just glad I'm not there..." Harry grimaced.

"You should be," Lily told him. "James was me. Through every painstaking
minute." Harry started to feel guilty.

James winced at the memory. "Indeed. Every single painful moment...Lily you hurt my hand so
bad that day... my hand's still sore." Guilt gone. "Ow! Lils!"

Harry laughed at his parents. They were fun people -- even if they were older now. It was like
as if they were teenagers again sometimes. Better count Sirius and Remus in on that too.

"Dad! Dad! Granpapa! Grammum! Uncle Ronnie! Uncle Remie! Uncle Thiri!" Three year old
Lily Elizabeth Potter jumped up and down as she bounced out of the delivery room. Ron, Remus, and
Sirius (who were waiting with them) all groaned simultaneously. Lily E. couldn't speak clearly
yet but she could say the hated nicknames. "'Ummy was threaming so 'adly!" She
giggled happily. "James Harry wook just wike you 'oo!" She jumped into her
grandmother's arms and pointed at her father and grandfather.

Harry and James groaned. James muttered, "Not again."

"Is that so?" Lily asked Lily E. rhetorically. "Well, then more misery to your
grandpa."

"Don't call me that Lils, it makes me sound old."

"You can't make me and you are old."

Lily E. started to laugh again. Harry sighed. "Well, Lily-girl... I'll see you
later." He smiled at his daughter and ruffled her hair. Lily E. smiled back. Harry loved his
daughter as much as his parents, his wife, and his new baby boy. James Harry Potter.

Harry winced as he entered the delivery room. He smiled as warmly as he could at his wife. He
sat next to her. She wasn't really paying attention to him. Just staring at her beloved,
sleeping, new born son.

The baby's hair was still wispy but they were dark and simply unruly. Unruly black hair
--Truly a heredity to Potter men. Hm.

James Harry stirred and started to wake. His eyes opened slowly, revealing big, honey brown
eyes.

"Oh.. he's so beautiful... like his daddy.." Harry's wife turned to her
husband, staring at his bright green eyes.

"I know that 'Mione," Harry said and playfully kissed her cheek. "I love you
so much," he whispered into her ear.

Hermione giggled. "Yes... well... let's call Lily in here."

"No need!" Lily E. shouted. She was being carried in by Lily.

"She wanted to come back," Lily explained, putting down Lily E. on the bed. James
followed inside the room after Lily. He peered at his grandson.

"Uh-huh... getting a sort of sense of deja vu here." Lily slapped his arm
playfully.

Hermione looked at the door. Outside you could see Ron, Sirius, Remus, and some others trying to
peer through the small window in the door. She shook her head disapprovingly. "Honestly!
Can't you guys wait?" she mouthed.

Ron, outside, shrugged.

Harry said, "You know what... he's saying 'I told you so' again! Oy!"

Hermione told me, "Maybe he just knows that I was your significant other before we
did."

"Maybe.. maybe not."

"Hey!" Lily E. said, getting everyone's attention. The room was silenced. Lily E.
twirled her thick brown hair with a finger as she talked and her green eyes danced with creativity.
"What if 'hat in 'nother li'e 'hat grammum and granpapa wat killed, and
I'm tho torry grammum and granpapa for taying it, by wike thome dark wizard and 'hen daddy
wived and 'hen he had to wive wit his 'ad uncle and aun'ie and coutin, 'hen
'ind out he's a wizard when he get an Hogwar's letter 'hen meet Uncle Ronnie and
mummy in the twain? 'Hen every year of Hogwar's he had to 'ight 'hat dark wizard?
And he and mummy were des'ined 'hen 'oo! And when daddy defee the dark wizard guy, the
world tart all over and the bad 'tuff is gone?"

The room was silent until it was broken by Hermione's nervous laugh. "Oh Lily, where do
you get these things? You have such a wild imagination. Plus dear, that was a run on
sentence." Chatter started once more.

"Sorry, but you know... it could happen!" James Harry started to giggle happily.

"Yes my little Lily," Harry told his daughter. "Perhaps it could but we'll
never know."

"But it could happen, couldn't it?"

"Yes it could."

"I told you so!"

"Oy vay, Lily E."

Lily E. only giggled.

The End...

~-~-~-~-~-~

Translations:

- Thiri – Siri

- Mummy was screaming so badly

- James Harry looks just like you two!

- What if that in another life that grammum and granpapa was killed, and I'm so sorry
grammum and granpapa for saying it, by like some dark wizard and then daddy lived and then he had
to live with his bad uncle and auntie and cousin, then find out he's a wizard when he gets an
Hogwarts letter then meet Uncle Ronnie and mummy in the train? Then every year of Hogwarts he had
to fight that dark wizard? And he and mummy were destined then too! And when daddy defeat the dark
wizard guy, the world starts all over and the bad stuff is gone.

Sorry if anyone was confused!



