Significant Other

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

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...

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!