Chapter Thirteen:
(Harry)
Years had gone by, and I was living my life as I had always wanted to, except for the fact that I was missing my two best friends dearly. Ron sent an owl occasionally to check up on me, and tell me how his family was doing. Once there was an invitation from the Weasleys' inviting me to come to Ginny and Nevilles' long overdue wedding. I of course declined but sent the happy couple my best wishes.
I had made it through the Auror training program and was now a fully qualified Auror, rounding up the last remnants of Death Eaters and sending them to Azkaban. Here I worked with the best, Remus Lupin, former Hogwarts professor and long time friend of my mother and fathers, Nymphadora Tonks, a skilled auror and metamorphmagus, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who in the time of the second war gave the ministry false wareabouts of my godfather Sirius Black. These three are among the bravest people I have ever worked with. I feel lucky to be here among them.
Im plagued with nightmares occasionally. Nightmares that took me back to my time at Hogwarts. The destruction of Voldemort, and the destruction of myself. Hermiones face frequently visited these horrific memories, as she was a large part of it. I would wake up in a cold sweat reaching out for her most nights. Mentally slapping myself I would lay back down and try in vain to fall back to sleep. It was nights like those that my work suffered the next day.
" Up late again, eh Harry?" I heard Remus remark at the dark circles under my eyes as I walked into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and checked my wand. I gave him a knowing smile and continued on towards my office. I opened the door to see a familiar face and head of red hair staring back at me.
"Ron!" I exclaimed giving the young man a hug.
I hadnt seen him in a few months and it was rather good to lay eyes on him once again. I guess I should explain things. Ron and I sent owls to one another for about two years before we finally decided to stop being such arseholes and meet in Diagon Alley for a drink. Once we were together it was nearly like old times, only no Hermione. I would ask about her, but he would always respond with the same answer.
"Shes doing fine" And then go on with whatever he was saying before hand.
We both sat down and began talking animatedly.
"Well I just figured it had been awhile since we got together and there is no harm in surprising you, plus I need to check in on Dad. Mum has gone mental on account that Dad is rarely ever home." Ron stated his reason for being here.
The sight of him made me want to ask about Hermione, but I didn't dare. I knew I would just get the brush off as usual, so I ignored my urge and we continued talking about random things, like quidditch of Luna and the kids. Ron and Luna had wed right after she graduated from Hogwarts a year later, they have two children so far.
A few minutes later, we were interupted by Tonks clumsily barging through the door, and making quite a bit of racket in the process. I smiled at the woman, she very seriously had two left feet. She looked a bit embarrased about havin interupted us, but she cleared her throat and let me know it was urgent.
" We got a lead on one of the head Death Eaters in London. Kingsley wanted us out there right away."
I nodded my head to her, letting her know I would be out there in a minute. She apologized to Ron and mumbled a goodbye then shut the door. He and I exchanged a glance then burst into hysterical laughter. Tonks had always been quite funny, even when she didn't mean to be.
"Well Ron, sorry to cut this short but duty calls." I said as I stood up.
"Heard that one before, back when you were with Mindy."
He expertly dodged the pad of paper I chucked at his head and continued laughing.
"Oh sod off Weasley." I said as I escorted him out the door. I walked with him down to his fathers off, which was down the hall from mine. When we were at the door, Ron suddenly stopped and looked at me.
"Listen I wanted to tell you while I was here that…Hermione…shes getting married Harry."
At that moment in time, I wanted to die. I remember wishing that Voldemort would come back to life and kill me with the Avada Kedavra curse. My face must have shown that because Ron became flustered.
"Im sorry I had to be the one to tell you, but since you lot aren't talking anymore, I figured I may as well spill the beans about it."
I wished he would just stop talking.
But he didn't. " How bout we meet at the Leaky Cauldron next week for drinks?"
I remember nodding, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what he had said. We then said our good byes. He entered his fathers office and walked dazed down the hall to my superiors office.
Upon entering I was briefed on the 'mission' and given my orders. I then met up with Tonks and Remus, as we apparated to our meeting place.
(Hermione)
"Oh mum I couldn't believe it when he asked me either." I said over the phone excitement evident in my voice. " He was so romantic about it, also. Apparently Ginny was in on it, I never even expected it."
I had been living in Muggle London for about a year when I met Michael Neilly. He was a muggle who attended the university with me. We had quickly become study partners, and we had so much in common. After a few months of dancing around each other he had finally asked me out on a date. We did the whole dinner and movie thing which went splendid, after we made it a routine to go out once a week. This carried on for two years. After we both graduated we decided to see each other exclusively. He became my first muggle boyfriend. After a year of beautiful dates and plenty of snogging, he popped the question that I was only to thrilled to oblige.
Which leads me up to the conversation I had with my mum over the telly. She was ecstatic that her baby was finally getting married, as was I. But there was a part of me, the most inner part, that had not forgotten that young boy from so long ago.
I thought of him infrequently of course, I had been in love with him how could I not think of him every once in awhile? I would dream of him. Dream of being happy with him, married with children. At one point that is where I saw it heading. But of course it had to be proven that it was just the inner workings of an adolescent girl. I would never be happy with Harry, could never be happy with him. I hadnt seen him in so long, as surprising as it was for me to even fathom. I wanted to see him again, before I was happily married to Michael.
I decided to take a surprise visit to the Burrow, to see my extended family. I walked over to the fireplace and grabbed some Floo Powder. After tossing it into the fireplace I stepped in and shouted "The Burrow" and suddenly I was stepping out of the fireplace covered in soot at the Burrow.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny came bustling in laughing about something and then they noticed me.
"Hermione, how great to see you!" Mrs. Weasley said enveloping me in a hug. "You will be staying for tea, wont you dear?" She asked her motherly instincts taking over as usual.
I smiled and shook my head. "No I am meeting Michael for dinner tonight, Im sorry perhaps another night."
Mrs. Weasley smiled knowingly and walked away talking to herself about young love. I walked over to Ginny and hugged her warmly. It had been far too long since I had seen them. Ginny and I talked about the new arrival to her family "Im not showing yet, but give it a few months", how her mother wasn't handling Mr. Weasleys recent promotion, and how Ron and Luna wanted to have another baby.
At the mention of him I began to wonder where the little git was. I stood up planning to go look for him.
"Where are you going 'Mione?" Ginny asked at my sudden departure from the table.
"Oh Im going to find that idiot of a friend." I laughed and walked out into the living room. I wanted a heads up on where in the house he was, so I headed straight for Mrs. Weasleys enchanted clock, that showed the wereabouts of every member of her family.
I stopped short when I read what it said by Rons name.
Out with Harry
That was the last thing I remember seeing before totally blacking out.