As time went on, Harry grew to feel comfortable with his apartment. It was just big enough for him, his own private little space. It wasn't so bad living alone; he actually rather enjoyed it. He was often at Order Headquarters in the day time, which led him to choose a job in the Muggle world that would allow him to work nights. After giving it some thought, Harry started working part-time as a bartender. Ron came over on the weekends sometimes and they would go off and entertain themselves at the local pubs. Ron, having never consumed drinks at a Muggle pub before, was quite a sight the first time that Harry had to take him back to his place after a rather fun night out. It was a good thing that Harry wasn't living at the Burrow anymore. He suspected that Mrs. Weasley's opinion of him would have changed drastically if she knew about his occupation and the condition that her son was in upon arriving home with him. Not that all they did when they got together was to engage in carousing, far from it. It was always nice just to be able to talk to each other over a nice meal and share what was going on in one another's lives.
"Harry, how are things going with Cassandra?" Ron asked as he bit into his sandwich.
"She broke up with me last week," Harry answered rather nonchalantly.
Ron's eyes got as big as saucers.
"What do you mean she broke up with you? She…she adored you and she was…oh bloody hell, Harry, she was gorgeous!"
"Well, then you can go out with her if you want to. She complained a lot, always saying that I neglected her. Guess she decided to find someone else who wouldn't mind being like a pet. It did get annoying after a while really."
"But Harry, there's been Mariana, and Jackie, and Diana…" he started counting on his fingers, "It looks like you'd find one that was suitable after a while."
Harry had yet to be in a relationship that lasted more than four months.
"Well, Mariana wanted to move in, and it just didn't feel right. When I said no she freaked and ended the relationship. Jackie…she was nice, but not much upstairs if you know what I mean…"
"Yeah, yeah I get the point. Harry, tell me the truth. You're still not over Hermione are you?" Ron asked.
"No, Ron, I don't think I am. She's one of a kind, and no one I've dated feels right to me."
This pretty much summed up the first two years of Harry's life after he'd finished school and left the Burrow.
After dating for two years, Hermione and Bret finally decided to move in together. They took a trip to celebrate the occasion. One sunny afternoon while they were out and about, Bret spotted a small place that advertised a fortune teller's services.
"What do you say, Hermione? Let's go, just for fun," he said playfully.
Hermione sighed, "You know how I feel about Seers."
"I know, I know, but what harm could it do? I, for one, would like to know if anyone in that business knows what they're talking about."
He smiled and she gave in.
"Oh alright, but you know that this woman is probably just a fake, don't you?"
"Maybe so, but it would still be interesting just to see what she says," he told her and put an arm around her shoulders.
As they entered the place, Hermione looked around curiously. It didn't look like Trelawney's old classroom at all. No hangings over any lamps or heavy perfume, not even a crystal ball. It was…a coffee shop? No, at first glance it appeared to be with the little tables set all around, but they soon noticed a room apart. A short and slender young woman emerged from it accompanied by an older woman.
"Are you Madame Ruby?" Bret asked the old lady.
"Oh no," she replied with a laugh. "That would be her," she said, gesturing to the lady beside her.
Both Bret and Hermione were surprised. They'd expected someone older, someone more decked out in terms of their clothing. The young lady, who was blue-eyed and had waist-length silver blond hair, simply smiled at them.
"I'll see you later then, Marie. Take care," she said sweetly and saw the old woman to the door.
"What can I help you with?" she said, fixing her large, blue eyes on Hermione.
Bret looked a bit baffled, as he was the one who'd spoken and not his girlfriend, yet Ruby had chosen to address Hermione. Neither of them really knew what to make of this young woman with her casual, normal attitude and simple attire.
"Well, we saw your sign and decided to come by and have our fortunes read," Hermione said, clearly feeling a little uncomfortable.
Ruby smiled. "Came to see if I'm for real, huh?"
Hermione and Bret looked at each other blankly. Hermione was a little embarrassed.
"It's ok. Happens all the time," Ruby said lightly. "Come with me and we'll see what I can tell you."
Ruby placed a hand on Hermione's back and with the other motioned her to the small room she'd just come out of. Bret made to follow them. Ruby turned around.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you. I only do readings in private. It's rather personal, and sometimes things come up that people don't want anybody else to hear. If you like, you can have a seat and Karrie will be with you shortly if you'd care to have something to drink," she told him politely.
Bret didn't say anything, but nodded. Hermione could tell that this struck him as strange.
The next room was lit by several candles placed all around the room in wall-mounted holders, but it was a bit darker than where they were before. No crystal ball, though, nothing really was in there except a small round table and two chairs facing each other.
"Please, have a seat," Ruby said with a smile.
Hermione still felt very strange. This woman couldn't be much older than her, looking to be in her early twenties. No one would have ever looked at her and thought she was a Seer. Or perhaps, Hermione thought, not all of them were like Sybill Trelawney. Ruby's nature was totally different. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Ok, I need you to be calm and give me your hands."
Hermione put her hands face up on the table in front of them, expecting to have her palms examined. She was a bit surprised when Ruby simply took them, held them in her own, and then looked into her eyes. Hermione suddenly felt shivers, not because anything seemed unpleasant - she didn't really know why it was happening. She tried to relax as she looked back at Ruby's kind blue eyes probing her brown ones.
"Before I begin with the future, let's start with the present and past. Maybe you'll feel more comfortable that way." Ruby then closed her eyes and began to speak, not in a strange voice, but very much calm and concentrated.
"Let's see…you're very smart and also extremely loyal. Your boyfriend's name starts with a B. There are other people in your life…close friends whose names begin with an H and an R; they're both men. And there's another friend of yours - a girl; her name begins with a G."
There was no way for her to have known all of this. She was out of town and they'd barely spoken. Hermione hadn't shown her anything with any names or initials on it either, but somehow she just wasn't quite convinced.
"Can you tell me anything else? Something a bit more…"
"Personal?" Ruby finished for her.
"Well…yes," Hermione said timidly. She might not be totally satisfied yet that the girl had any special ability, but she certainly didn't want to offend her either. There was something about the first impression she'd made that Hermione liked.
"You had a friend when you were about five years old, a girl named Becky who lived across the street from you. You did everything together. One day she told you that she was moving away, and the two of you decided that she couldn't go. You snuck food from the kitchen and decided to hide in the basement and live there forever because the adults just wouldn't understand that you shouldn't have to live far away from each other. Your parents looked for the both of you. After a long time of listening to them calling, you both came out of hiding and pretended to have just come in from playing outside. She did move away, and you never saw each other again."
Hermione felt the color drain from her face and could only sit there speechless with her mouth open. This was impossible. She'd never told anyone about that. There was no way that Ruby could have known…unless she was genuine.
"Let's explore your future then, shall we?" asked Ruby gently, eyes still closed.
"Yes, please," came the soft reply.
"I must tell you that I might not be able to explain everything in the future in as much detail as the past. The past is over and done with and very clear. The future comes to me a bit differently. However, I will do the very best that I can for you…Hermione…"
A few minutes later, they both emerged from the room. Hermione's eyes were wet, and Ruby was holding onto her as though she were trying to support her. Bret, who'd been sitting down sipping a cup of coffee, raised his eyebrows and got up quickly to go to his girlfriend, wondering what on earth this woman could have told her that had shaken her so badly.
"Do you want to go next?" Hermione asked him.
"Umm…no, let's just get you out of here," he answered.
"Remember what I told you," Ruby whispered with that penetrating look that Hermione had already come to esteem. "It will be alright - to everything there is a season."
Hermione smiled and hugged her, and as she did so, felt as if she were saying good bye to an old friend.
"How much do I owe you?" Hermione asked, sniffing and wiping her eyes on the back of her hand.
"Oh, whatever you want to give me," she replied kindly.
Hermione without thinking pulled a galleon out of her pocket and handed it to her.
"Thank you. This is beautiful. I've had a few other clients in the past pay me with these; fascinating they are," Ruby said with a grateful smile as she held it up and inspected it.
Hermione was quite surprised. She hadn't even considered the possibility - Ruby was a Muggle.
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