Hermione's Choice

Author’s Note: I know there isn’t much H&H in this Chapter, but I promise it is coming! Please be patient with me :)

Chapter 4- Operation Sun & Moon

The early summer winds swept quietly through the early morning Hogsmeade air. It had been 319 hours, 40 minutes, and 27 seconds since the last day Harry had seen Hermione. Not that he was counting or anything.

Harry entered the Three Broomsticks to find it almost empty except for a few stragglers seated at the bar, chatting with the owner, Madam Rosmerta, who happened to be dating Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black.

"Harry!" Her bright smile greeted him as she looked up from her conversation with the patrons and motioned him over to the bar. "What brings you here so early?"

"Hello, Rosmerta." He grinned back, seating himself on a stool. "I'm meeting Ron in a bit..."

"Oh," She replied, her cheerful expression fading to one of concern. "Everything all right with you two, and your umm, *situation*?"

Harry let out a hearty laugh. "I take it Sirius has told you?"

"Once or twice." She winked.

"Since we are on the subject, how are things with you and *Padfoot* going?"

"Harry Potter! Is that really any of your business?"

"Rosmerta, you are talking to The Boy Who Lived, remember? My entire life has been everybody else's business. It's only fair that I get to hear some gossip, too." He teased as he removed his cloak. "Besides, considering the fact that my love life is in dire straits, it would be nice to hear that those closest to me are happy."

"Is that a nice way to be nosey?" She smirked at him.

"You see it as being nosey, I see it as living vicariously."

She giggled at his comments. "You sure are a smooth talker, Harry. Reminds me a lot of your Father."

Harry grinned widely, it always made him happy to hear people compare him to either of his parents. "Really?"

"Really." She nodded, "And if you must know, things between Sirius and I couldn't be better. I just hope things work out for you. You've really got your Godfather worried about you, Harry."

"I'll be fine." He answered assuringly, "The next few years without will be tough, but I have Auror training, Remus, Sirius, You, Hagrid, and all to get me through it, and Ron…"

"And speak of the Devil!" Rosmerta beamed as the youngest Weasley soon walked through the front door.

"Hello Rosmerta, Harry."

"Hello, Ron." Rosmerta replied, as did Harry. "What can I get you boys to drink?"

"A Butterbeer, please."

"Same for me, thanks."

"Coming right up!" Rosmerta smiled as she headed off for the drinks and the two young men sat down at a nearby table.

"So how are you, Ron?" Harry asked, "I got your owl saying you had some news to tell me in person, so what's up."

"Well," He said, the smile on his face glowing even more, "I've had an offer from a Quidditch team as a backup Keeper. The Bigonville Bombers. It's not the Chudley Canons, but it's a start!"

"That's great!"

Harry beamed, extremely happy for his best friend's accomplishment. During the summer between fourth and fifth year, Ron had a huge growth spurt. He'd always been tall, but when he returned to Hogwart's that September he was a towering Six foot four inches, and had developed a very burly build, not to mention quite a talent for playing Quidditch. He replaced Oliver Wood as Gryffindor's Keeper, and even tied his record with 133 consecutive saves. He probably would have done even better had Draco Malfoy not sent a rogue Bludger at his head, rendering him unconscious for first two games of seventh year. He did recover in time for them to beat Slytherin for the school's Quidditch Cup.

Ron hadn't only grown physically in his last three years at Hogwarts, but emotionally as well. He'd worked on his jealousy issues, and started paying more attention to schoolwork. He even managed to work on his fear of spiders. He overcame a lot of his flaws and still managed to maintain the humor and loyalty that made him such a fantastic friend. These changes were in large part do to Hermione. She had a remarkable way of pulling them back in when they were about to go too far. Her instincts and intelligence helped enlighten the two young men on so many levels. The more he thought about all of the wonderful things she'd done for he and Ron over the last seven years, the more he began to miss her. She was their rock, and without her there, they didn't seem as infallible as they had at Hogwarts.

"Harry?" Ron called out, waving his hands in front of the young wizard's entranced face. "Are you listening to me, mate?"

"Sorry," Harry said, shaking his head as he came back from his thoughts of Hermione. "What were you saying?"

"I said thanks. It's going to be rough without seeing you and the rest of the gang, but I figure if I can survive without Hermione, I can make it on my own for awhile."

"Holy Cricket, I hadn't thought of that." Harry sighed, realizing that he was going to be losing not one, but two best friends. "What am I gonna do without both of you?"

"You'll be fine, Harry." Ron assured him, sipping the Butterbeer that Madam Rosmerta had brought to the table while Harry was daydreaming. "You've always done well when facing a challenge. I have no doubt that you will be nothing less than a great Auror, just as Hermione will master teaching Arithmancy. It's *me* that I worry about."

"Why would you say that? You're a great wizard and a bloody good Keeper, too. You're going to do just fine."

"Maybe." He shrugged, not as certain as his best friend. "It won't be easy trying to find who Ron Weasley is out of the shadow of his brothers, and Harry Potter."

"Don't say that!" Harry insisted, his voice rising slightly. "You've done well for yourself, Ron. You were a Quidditch success, you scored a 10 on your O.W.L.S., you even passed Potions with a higher percentage than I did! You weren't hidden in my shadow, you were beside me as my equal."

"First of all, I scored *one* point higher than you in potions. Secondly, thanks for having the confidence in me that I lack." He grinned, watching as his best friend calmed down.

"You're welcome." Harry said as he held up his Butterbeer, "Here's to Aurors, Arithmancy, Quidditch Keepers, and the trio's success!"

"I'll drink to that!" Ron laughed, as he gulped some Butterbeer and then turned to look at the clock above the bar. "Bloody hell, look at the time! My train to Bigonville leaves in an hour!"

"Well, you better get going then." Harry said sadly as he got up from his seat. "You take care of yourself, Weasley. And don't get too bloodied up out there."

"I could say the same for you, Potter. Being an Auror isn't safe job, so I want you to promise me one thing?" Ron asked in a serious tone.

"I know, I know, I'll be careful." Harry answered rolling his eyes. He'd made this promise seven times already.

"Actually, I was going to tell you to ask Moody how to do that Ferret trick. It'd be nice to see Draco as one again, not to mention the devil incarnate Lucius and his wife who looks like someone hit her with a Medusa hex, but I want you to be careful, too." He teased, as he pulled on his cloak and sighed. "I guess this is so long then."

"Good luck, Ron, and keep in touch." Harry said sadly, as he embraced his dear friend.

"Owls work both ways you know." He reminded as he broke from their hug. "I wanna hear all about the no good Death Eaters you send to Azkaban."

"Only, after you break the goal blocking record."

"Deal. Well, I better go to the burrow and say farewell to Mum, Dad, and the gang. See you soon!"

And with a pop, he was gone. For the second time in a fortnight, Harry felt a sense of emptiness overcome him. Not only had he had to let go of Hermione, but now Ron was gone, too. Things were going to be much lonelier as a solo act.

1. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"There he is now, Auror Extraordinaire!" Sirius Black mused, as he and Remus Lupin entered The Three Broomsticks and caught sight of a moping Harry.

"What are you two doing here?" Harry asked, surprised to see the both of them.

"Do you *really* have to ask that?" Remus laughed, nudging Sirius as he pointed to Rosmerta, who was very delighted to see who had just entered the bar.

"Ah, silly me." He grinned, winking at Lupin as Sirius flirted shamelessly with Rosmerta from across the room, "Here to uh, *admire* the scenery, are we?"

"And what a sight it is," Sirius smirked, slowly turning his head back to the table. "But actually, we came to cheer you up. This came for you this morning."

Harry smiled widely as Sirius handed him a letter with Hermione's handwriting on the envelope. He tore into it ferociously, desperate to read her words. After all, it was all he had to hold him over for the next five years

My dearest Harry,

I received word from Ron yesterday that he will be leaving to join a Professional Quidditch team. While I am happy that he is living his dreams, I realize that this has to be difficult for you. You've been through so much lately and I know that you have Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and Auror training to keep you going, but I can't help but worry. Please remember that even though I can't be there in body right now, I am forever in your heart as you are in mine.

I hope to hear from you soon and that you will tell me I am just being paranoid as usual. You are a strong and courageous person, it's foolish to believe you can't survive on your own, but you know me, always the one to worry.

Take care, and please keep in touch.

Love Always,
Hermione

P.S. Send my best to Sirius and Remus.

Harry's heart sank as he read her words. She knew him so well, even in her state of denial. Yes, he'd been on his own before, but having her and Ron by his side for the last seven years had made him selfish. He needed them desperately, especially Hermione.

"She sends her best." Harry sighed, putting the letter away and gulping his Butterbeer.

"It'll be all right, Lad." Remus said reassuringly, as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Remus' right, Harry." Sirius agreed, once again watching intently as Rosmerta waited on customers across the room. "You aren't the first wizard stuck in a love triangle, ya know."

"You sound like an expert." Harry answered in a snarky tone. "What do you know about it?"

"Plenty." Sirius replied, "Do you know the name of the first girl I had a crush on at Hogwarts?"

"No." He shook his head, not interested in hearing anything right now.

"Lily."

Harry's jaw dropped as he gazed at Sirius, not believing what he'd just heard.

"You mean my Mum?"

"Yep, I was smitten with her for about a month, and then..."

"And then what?" Harry asked impatiently.

"And then Farah, Wendy, Lauren, Michelle. Sirius lusted after girls like they were Bertie Bott's jelly beans. One of *every* flavor, and I mean *every* flavor!" Remus interrupted with a grin.

"They didn't call me Padfoot for nothing. I got around!" Sirius teased. "In all seriousness, Harry. It never would have worked for your Mum and me because she was meant to be with your Father. I knew that from the beginning, I just wish it was as easy for you as it had been for us back then."

"Thanks, Sirius. I just hope I can get through it."

"Hey if Remus can, you can, too." He assured him, as he motioned for Rosmerta.

"What do you mean if Remus can?" Harry asked, intrigued by the comment.

"Nothing!" Remus replied quickly. "He is talking nonsense."

"Oh, am I?" Sirius laughed, "Rosmerta my love, aside from Lily and James, who was the next biggest couple when we were at Hogwarts?"

"Remus and Athena, of course." She smiled, as she sat on Sirius' lap.

"Athena?" Harry repeated, dying to know more about Remus' mystery girl.

"You know Sirius, you weren't only a ladies man, but you were the biggest pain in the ass ever!" Remus answered, a bit perturbed with all this prying into his past. "I'm glad to see you've become a one woman man, but you really should try to work on the second thing. Anyway, I guess there is no denying it now, yes I had a girlfriend at Hogwarts and her name was Athena Helios. We dated from the beginning of sixth year until graduation. I haven't seen her since. Is that enough for all of you?"

"Hardly," Harry responded quickly. "What happened to her?"

"What do you think?" Remus sulked, "I was a werewolf. When the truth came out, she was hurt and I decided it she would be better off without me. She left to teach in Ireland and I haven't seen her since."

"Why am I suddenly getting deja vu?" Harry replied, only half kidding.

"Hey Remus, I thought that potion Snape had come up with last year had cured you of being a werewolf?" Rosmerta asked curiously.

"So then, Moony," Sirius grinned, "Why haven't you gone after your Sun?"

"His sun?" Harry questioned.

"Her name meant sun, and his meant moon." Sirius explained. "You should have seen the love letters. They were sappier than a forest full of Maple Trees..."

"I am so glad that the losing the great love of my life entertains you so." Remus shot back unamused. "With friends like you, Sirius, who needs enemies?"

Sirius and Rosmerta couldn't help but laugh, but Harry's mind was too busy spinning with ideas to find it funny.

"So why didn't you go after her, Remus?"

"What's the point? He shrugged. "It was a long time ago, Harry. She's probably married with children by now."

"But how do you know for sure?" Harry persisted.

"I don't, I just..."

"He has a feeling. The Sun and the Moon share a deep connection, you know..." Sirius quipped, as Rosmerta buried her head in his neck to suppress her giggles.

"You are an insufferable git, you know that, don't you?" Remus said, shaking his head hopelessly at the joking Sirius.

"Well, I hate to run, but I have to make a quick stop at the library." Harry said as he got up from his chair and put on his cloak.

"You really are going through Hermione withdrawal. The library? Going to get misty eyed over all those wizarding books she made you read over the years?" Sirius teased.

But Harry paid him no attention. If he couldn't work things out for Hermione, he could at least try to help Lupin. He said a quick goodbye and then set out on his mission: Operation Sun & Moon.