Life Begins at 40
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J.K. Rowling. This story is a work of imagination and is directed solely at readers of this website. No infringement of any rights is intended and no criticism of J.K. Rowling or her work should be considered to be stated or implied.
Author's note: Thanks to the people who have taken the time to post a review. For a first time author it is great to get comments and encouragement. Hermione finally makes her entrance in this part.
Part 3. Two conversations with Hermione.
The next morning found Harry sitting idly at the desk in his office at the Ministry. He was trying desperately to concentrate on his work but couldn't help mulling over the events of the previous evening. Suddenly, the phone on his desk rang, jolting him from his thoughts. He had insisted on having a phone in his office, since he was one of the few magical folk who knew how to use one and it enabled him to easily keep in touch with the Muggle world. Hermione also used it occasionally, as she also had a phone to allow her to contact her parents by the conventional means that they preferred.
"Harry?" It was Hermione, sounding agitated.
"Oh, hello Hermione," Harry began hesitantly. "How are you?"
"You know damn well how I am. What did Ron tell you?" she demanded.
Harry thought desperately of ways to avoid revealing the full nature of his conversation with Ron. "Well… he said that you two were splitting up, but… that it was perfectly amicable and you both just wanted something different. He said that you would still be friends."
"Is that all?" Hermione continued relentlessly, her tone still harsh.
"Yes, what else is there?" Harry tried to sound convincing.
"Nothing. Nothing at all." There was a pause and when Hermione continued to speak, she sounded notably calmer. "The thing is Harry; I need to talk to you about this."
"OK Hermione. I think that Ginny is going over to the Burrow this weekend…" Harry began.
"It's urgent Harry! I need to see you before the weekend. What are you doing this lunch time?"
"Well, I suppose I could slip out, but it would have to be quick. I'm up to my eyes in it, I really am."
"OK, meet me at that café in Regents Street at half past twelve. And Harry, please don't be late."
She hung up before Harry could answer, leaving him looking at the clock and realising that he probably wasn't going to get much further with his work that morning.
***
Harry apparated into a quiet side street at exactly 12.30 and walked straight to the café. He found that Hermione was already sitting at a table staring blankly out of the window and absentmindedly moving the menu and condiments back and forth in front of her; a sure sign that she was worried about something. The café was small and popular, with only a few tables and Harry was relieved to see that Hermione had managed to grab one of the tables next to the window, which only seated two people. She looked up and smiled unconvincingly as Harry approached.
"Hello. Thanks for coming at such short notice." She spoke distractedly and reached again for the menu.
"No problem. Have you ordered yet?"
"Oh, I think I'lll just have a cup of coffee." Hermione still seemed to be concentrating on something more important than their current conversation.
"Come on, Hermione, have some lunch." Harry smiled reassuringly. "Don't they do great baguettes here? What do you fancy, tuna and sweet corn or Chinese chicken?"
Hermione grinned. "Go on then, you've persuaded me. I'll have the tuna…and a small latte."
Harry placed the order at the counter, exchanged pleasantries with the cashier and handed over payment. He smiled across at Hermione as he waited for their drinks to be prepared, but found that she was again looking through the window at the street outside. She started nervously as Harry placed her latte in front of her, none too carefully, and then collapsed into the seat opposite.
"There's your latte," Harry said more loudly than was really necessary, to make sure that he had her attention. "They'll bring the baguettes over when they're ready. So what's this all about? What's so urgent that it couldn't wait until the weekend?"
Hermione looked away, slowly stirring her coffee. "Oh, I just needed to talk to you. I was worried about what you might be thinking after your conversation with Ron."
"Well, what should I be thinking? Isn't there any chance of you and Ron patching things up?"
Hermione shrugged and picked up her cup, holding it half way to her mouth but making no attempt to drink. Eventually, she put it down again, untouched. "No. No chance, we can't go on like we were. It just wasn't working."
"But you used to be so happy." Harry expressed the thought that had been bothering him since last night.
"No Harry! You wanted us to be happy," Hermione responded with unexpected vehemence, "so that's what you projected, but you know we've always argued. Oh, for the first few years it was OK. It was like Ron was making a special effort. But he couldn't keep it up and then it became worse than ever and we really started to hurt each other. I should have known that he couldn't really change that much. He'll always have the emotional range of a teaspoon." She smiled sadly, remembering when she had first used those words. "I suppose that I just hoped that I was seeing something different in him. But at the end of the day, you just have to accept people for what they are and not try to mould them in to someone…I mean something…that you want them to be. Anyway, by the time I realised it, we had the children and I suppose we thought that we ought to try and make a go of things for their sake. Well, now that the children are old enough to handle it, we've both decided it just isn't worthwhile any more. Ron was right. There's no real animosity; we made the decision together."
The waitress brought their baguettes and withdrew back behind the counter. Harry sat glumly looking at the baguette in front of him and sipping his coffee. "Is there anyone else?" he eventually asked, tentatively.
"No," Hermione answered defensively, looking up at him. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps it would make all of this a bit easier to understand."
Hermione lifted up the top of her baguette and appeared to study the filling intently as she prepared to broach the real reason behind their lunch time meeting. "Harry…" she began quietly "...this doesn't need to make any difference to us, does it? I mean…we can still be friends can't we?"
Harry took a bite from his baguette and chewed thoughtfully. Eventually, he swallowed with an effort and cleared his throat. "I don't see why it should. I mean, it isn't as if you and Ron are flinging things at each other or having a massive custody battle over the kids."
"Yes, but you know Harry…" Hermione was speaking quickly now, anxious to get her point across "…what about Ginny. You know how protective she is of her family and how she is about us; well about you and any woman really. My relationship with Ginny has gone steadily down hill since you and she became an item back in sixth year. And now she isn't going to want to see me anymore and she certainly won't be happy with you and I meeting up alone."
"Oh, don't worry about Ginny," Harry reassured. "She'll come round. Look Hermione, you and Ron have been my best friends since I was eleven years old. I am not going to take sides in this and I'm certainly not going to let it spoil our friendship."
Hermione looked relieved and picked up her baguette, smiling; but even as Harry spoke the words, he couldn't help wondering if he was really telling the truth.