Hope Floats

Hermione woke that morning ready to face the day. Having a job gave her another reason to get up in the morning. She got dressed in the meticulous way she used to, she put effort into looking a little better each morning, she tried to smile a little bit wider. After she was through getting dressed she stopped by her daughter's room.

"Is that my little bug?!" Hermione said as she stuck her head in the door way to her daughter's room.

"Yep! Hi mummy!" Diana said as she scampered off to where her mother was.

"Aw, good morning luv," Hermione said as she hugged her daughter tightly.

"Do you need help with that braid?" Hermione said when she released her daughter.

"Yeah, thanks mummy," Diana said as she handed her mother a hair tie.

"Alright, turn around luv," Hermione said as she turned her daughter shoulders counter-clockwise.

"So, are you excited about school today?" Hermione asked as she put the elastic tie in.

"Yes! Today we get to go on a field trip to Hogwarts!" Diana said excitedly.

"Oh that's today!?" Hermione said in shock. She had forgotten.

"Yep!" Diana said happily.

"Well, have a fabulous time, hun," Hermione said as she kissed her daughter on the cheek.

"Mummy's gotta go to work now," she added.

"Buh bye mummy!" Diana said as she scampered downstairs to grab her lunch and sweater.

Hermione sighed, her daughter would be going to Hogwarts in a few months time. She considered for a moment, how lonely she'd be once her only solace was gone from her presence.

She shook off her depressing feelings and got ready to face the day. She picked up her handbag by the door and was about to step out when Ginny called out to her.

"Let's have lunch!!!"

"You and me? Sure, I'll be back around one!" she replied.

"No, not here! Down at the quidditch field, at noon," Ginny amended.

Hermione looked at her watch.

"Sure, I've gotta go!" She said as she rushed out of the door.

Hermione walked briskly down the streets of Hogsmead to the publishing office. She stopped by 'The three broomsticks' to say hello and pick up a mug of tea.

She was sipping her tea at the entrance to the lift that would take her to Luna's office. She looked up when the doors opened only to be shocked into immobility. The most gorgeous man she'd ever seen inhabited that elevator. She shook her head, as if to rid it of inappropriate thoughts, and stepped into the lift.

She kept her eyes mostly down, or directed at the buttons on the wall, but occasionally she'd peek at his reflection in the surface of the elevator door. On one of these occasions he caught her and stared at her for all he was worth.

*~

He was amused at her avoidance of him. Surely she'd have recognized him by now. He thought it cute how she sought to avoid his gaze. He purposely looked right back at her.

He decided to have a little fun with this, she truly didn't recognize him! He looked at her through the reflective doors and smirked cutely at her. He was rewarded for his efforts when she blushed prettily for him.

His little game was interrupted when she tilted her head and looked at him through her eyelashes. It was his turn to have his knees turn to Jello.

*~

She looked up at him and was stricken by how familiar his face was. She smiled shyly at him and he returned it with a slight tinge of pink to his cheeks.

"I - ...I know you," She said as she grabbed his face in her hands and peered into his eyes.

He rested his hands on her waist as she looked at him. He dared not to speak, lest he ruin their game!

Suddenly she wrapped both arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.

"I caught you Harry Potter," she whispered mischievously in his ear.

"I'm surprised it took you so long," he said as the doors slid open and a very amused Luna Lovegood looked in on them.

She cleared her throat and the both of them released each other and looked properly ashamed. Despite the clearing of her throat, Luna didn't seem to be upset at all. As a matter of fact, she seemed rather amused.

"So Hermione, I see you've met my benefactor," Luna began, "Mr. Evans,"

Hermione snorted and glanced knowingly at Harry.

"Evans?!" Hermione mouthed at him as she shook her head disbelievingly.

"What was the snort for? That is, if you don't mind my asking," Luna inquired.

"Oh I've known Mr. Evans since I was a child, you see. So saying that I've 'met' him is grossly underestimating the acquaintance," Hermione knew after she said it that it came out rather snobbish, but she had to cover for Harry, who obviously had something to hide.

"Oh," Luna said as she shifted in her seat uncomfortably.

Mr. Evans was her ONLY superior in this business. Simply because, it was his money that went into it.

"Yes, First order of business Luna," Harry began," Is to make sure that this woman is an equal partner in this business. She gets her own office, MY office. She is to have the best job available, is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," Luna said respectfully, albeit coldly.

Harry then turned to address Hermione.

"You, Miss Granger, will be assigned to my office on the top floor. You will be assigned our most important prospects. You will be our chief executive agent," he told her as he fished in his coat pocket for the key to his office.

Hermione stood there with her mouth agape. There was NO way Harry owned this place, there was NO way he was doing all this for her. This was unbelievable!

She took the key he offered her in her shaking hands and walked stiffly to the lift, her eyes as wide as saucers. She was about to enter the lift when she snapped out of her reverie and walked over to where Harry was to kiss him on the cheek. He kept his back turned as she walked into the elevator and up to his office. He put his hand on the cheek she kissed and tried to contain the stupid smile that fought to adorn his face.

"With all due respect, sir," Luna began, "Why did she get the job I've wanted for TEN years?!"

"What are you trying to insinuate, Luna?" Harry said with all goofiness lost on his countenance.

"That it would be imprudent of you to give the highest paying, most important job in a company, to a woman who has never worked in this business before?" she asked bitterly.

"First of all, this is my business and I will appoint who I chose for any position I wish to fill. Secondly, she works with agents all the time, she's an author. She knows how things work. And lastly, I don't know if you're aware, but Miss Granger was at the TOP of our graduating class. I am certain she can handle this job," Harry said with a bit of malice dripping in his voice.

Now, as to the business I originally came here for....

*~*~*`*~*`*~

Just when Hermione was leaving for lunch she bumped into, you guessed it, Harry.

"Oh, hello there, Mr. Evans," she intoned jovially.

He simply smiled in return.

"What's with the pseudonym?" she asked after the walked a few moments in silence.

"It's hard enough living my life, and finding the right girl.... When my name is Harry Potter. I am independently wealthy. I invest in a myriad of small companies under a false name, and I pop in from time to time to make sure that things are running smoothly," he told her.

"Handsome, famous, AND rich? I think my heart might not be able to take such a fabulous combination," Hermione said playfully.

"I didn't think mine could either when I saw you walking into that lift," Harry said shyly.

She blushed deeply at his words and stared straight at the ground.

A few moments of silence passed in which neither of them said anything.

"Harry, what did you mean by that?" Hermione asked in a voice hardly above a whisper.

"Simply that you, are the most gorgeous woman I have ever known," He said in the same tone.

"How long Harry?" She asked.

"Since we were kids," He replied shyly.

"You were the first boy I ever kissed. I got with Ron shortly after that. He was soooo jealous of the fact that you got to kiss me during that kissing game in the common room,"

Despite the fact that she was angry, she couldn't help but smile. Harry had loved her since they were kids.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked with a more angry tone in her voice. She had loved him once. She felt for him so deeply and only quit those feelings when she felt there was no hope left for them to ever be reciprocated.

"I was scared," he told her.

"Scared of what?" she asked.

"Of what every teenage boy is scared of, 'Mione," he started, "Scared of rejection, of hurting you, of me feeling more deeply for you than you'd ever feel for me,"

"I may have talked slow, but I wasn't stupid. You are the only person I've ever loved, and coming from someone who's never loved or been loved, that could be a dangerous thing," he added.

"You shouldn't have been scared, it was just me," she said moments later.

"JUST you? You were everything to me," he said the latter part in a whisper.

"Am I still ?" she asked moments later.

It took a moment for him to recover from the shock that he had once he realized that she heard his last statement.

"Maybe...." he answered coyly.

"Have lunch with me," he asked quickly.

"What? I can't, I promised to have lunch with Ginny up by the quidditch pitch," she said absently.

"What? She - But she told me she wanted to have lunch with ME at the quidditch pitch...." he said when realization dawned on him.

"Oh, I think that Miss Weasley is trying to trick us," Harry said moments later.

"She just may be, but I do believe I have a way of having it backfire on her," Hermione shared mischievously.

"Do tell!" Harry said excitedly.

"Let's do and say we didn't," she said.

"Huh?"

"We can go have lunch at the pitch, but she'll think we've cancelled on her," she said wickedly.

"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*`*~*

"Hello Ginny luv," Hermione said as she hung her coat up by the door.

"Hello, wasn't I supposed to meet you at the pitch?" she asked.

"I'm sorry Gin, I have to cancel, I have a business lunch with a client today," she said as she picked up a different coat.

"Later hun!" Hermione said as she ran off out the door.

A bit later Hermione met up with Harry a couple of blocks down. They were at the post office and Harry was currently picking an owl to send to Ginny with his message.

Hermione giggled gleefully.

"I feel kind of guilty for doing this to Ginny," Hermione admitted a few minutes later.

"Well, she was trying to trick us into falling for each other," Harry reasoned.

"She has good intentions," Hermione said.

"I know, but still...It doesn't make it any less annoying," Harry replied.

"You're right, it drives me nuts," she admitted.

"Although, I must admit, I wouldn't have been opposed to this plan working out," Harry said as he slipped his hand into hers.

She was starting to feel uneasy. This wasn't supposed to be a date! This was just lunch with Harry, my best friend! Shit, I'm still married, I can't do this!

Despite her contradicting thoughts, she couldn't bring herself to pull her hand out of his. She couldn't bear to crush him that way.

After walking for a while they ended up near the carriages. They got in and spent the ride reminiscing about old times. When the carriage rolled to a stop, He got out first and held out a hand to help her get out.

"Why thank you, kind sir," she joked.

"Anything for a beautiful lady," he said with a smirk on his lips. He kissed her hand and then held her to him after she had gotten down.

She took in his scent. He still smelled as good as he did when they were in the elevator together. She backed away from him before she became intoxicated with him.

"Come on, off to our picnic lunch," He said as he grasped her hand firmly in his and led her hurriedly to the entrance of the castle.

"Wait here," He said as he left her in the foyer.

He rushed off to the kitchens to have Dobby set up a picnic in a basket. Dobby scrapped and bowed and adored as he usually did, and Harry thanked him kindly - as he usually did. He dropped a galleon in Dobby's hand and rushed out before the house elf could refuse his gift.

"Ready to go?" Harry asked as he held up the picnic basket.

"Yes," she said with a smile.

He grinned back at her and took her hand with the hand he hadn't had occupied with the basket.

He walked her over to the tree they used to sit under while they were in school.

"I thought we were going to the quidditch pitch?" she asked him teasingly.

"Well, I think this is just a more...quaint spot," he replied nervously.

Hermione sat down next to him and felt the nerves creep up inside her. 'I'm still married, I'm still married, I'm still married,' she chanted internally.'

They ate and talked some more about their past, both of them cleverly avoiding mention of Ron. After a period of extended silence, Hermione raised her eyes from the giant squid, to Harry's sparkling ones.

"Did you -...Were you listening when Ron dumped me on the wireless?" Hermione asked meekly.

"Yes," he said somberly.

"Which was your favorite part? When I sounded used and betrayed? Or maybe when I sounded hurt and dejected? My favorite part when I sounded pathetic and depressed," Hermione said angrily.

He put his arm around her and whispered, "I just liked the part where you appeared to be available,"

she couldn't help laughing slightly. She looked at him through the corner of her eye when she felt him getting closer to her.

He planted a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth, then moved to her cheek, he then followed the trail to her jaw, where he descended to her neck.

She felt the power of his kiss surging through every part of her body. She had an excitement coursing through her that she hadn't experienced since her wedding night. She had a raw, sexual desire for Harry and it scared her. The guilt then started to usurp her emotions and she succumbed to it.

"I can't kiss you, Harry," she whispered.

"Who said anything about kissing?" he said, and she snorted.

Hermione lifted herself from his embrace and walked over to the edge of the lake.

He followed her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"I can't do this Harry, I'm still married," she said.

"I respect that, but may I at least hold you?" he whispered in her ear.

She answered his request by tilting her head to the side so that he could put his chin on her shoulder. He held her there for a while and they swayed together in silence until the sun started to set and the day started to blend into the night. She pulled away from him reluctantly with the excuse of having to get back before Ginny worries.

"Okay," he said as he bent down to kiss her cheek.

He held her hand in his as he walked her back to Ginny's house.

**~**~**~**~**~**~**!

Hermione opened the door to see Ginny Weasley scampering about trying to put on her earrings and high heels all at once.

"Oooh, and were are YOU going?" Hermione asked interestedly.

"You mean where are WE going?" Ginny began, "WE are going to the shrieking shack to have some fun,"

"WE? Since when did I volunteer to go?" Hermione asked indignantly.

"Since Harry said he'd be there," she replied.

"Ah, GINNY! Why'd you do that! I told you that I wasn't ready for a new relationship!" Hermione squealed.

"Don't bullshit me, Granger. I'm not stupid. I saw you two holding hands up the road. I am my mother's daughter, I see and HEAR everything," Ginny said with a devillish smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'll go, but not because Harry's gonna be there, but because I ditched you for lunch today," Hermione said knowingly.

Ginny simply grinned in return.

Hermione sighed and retreated to her room to put on her little black dress. EVERY woman had one. It was a standard. This particular black dress was a halter top with a plunging neckline, form fitting, with the hem cut at an angle to make it appear ripped. It looked solid black but it shimmered in different lightings. It defined the word audacious.

She put on some strappy high heels and applied some shimmery make up. She pulled her hair up into an elegant twist. Hermione gave herself one last glance in the mirror and then headed downstairs to meet up with Ginny.

"Oooh, Mummy, you look beautiful!" Diana said to her mother.

"Aww thank you luv. Are you ready to go to uncle Charlie's house?" Hermione said to her daughter.

"Yes!" Di said excitedly. She was going to go see her cousin Katie, so all was well in the world.

Hermione grinned and led her daughter to the fireplace.

"Off you go, little bug, " Hermione said as she gave her daughter some floo powder. She secured the backpack on her little back and reminded her daughter to pronounce well.

"Uncle Charlie's place!" she screamed after she dumped the powder in the fire.

She gave her mother one last smile before she stepped in and was transported to Charlie's house.

"Alright Ginny, the bug is gone! Where are you!?" Hermione screamed up the stairs.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Don't get your knickers in a twist," Ginny said as she stepped down the staircase looking radiant in a stunning midnight blue dress.

"Oh well look who's looking brilliant," Hermione said to her friend.

"Back at you, luv," Ginny said with a grin.