A/N - thanks for your reviews - not too many thinking 'that just wouldn't happen'! And for those who asked, I did find true love (eventually) and are now very happily married (not with the bloke I chased, however). Also, a warning, there is Harry/Ginny in this chapter and Hermione/other character. Sorry. If you've read my stuff before - there is always angst before the lovely fluff. Don't worry, this will end the way you all want it!
Chapter 4
It was with determination and a new sense of purpose that Harry Apparated to The Burrow just before lunch. He was tired, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle - he had felt worse at various times over the years.
The Burrow no longer had the run-down appearance as the original, but there was still no mistaking it was magical. Thankfully, Ron was the first person he saw as he strode into the garden, his friend sitting on a deck chair reading a magazine or something. Taking a deep breath and putting a smile on his face, Harry continued on.
"Hey, Ron," he greeted when he was close enough
"Harry!" Ron cried, getting up immediately and making his way to Harry, both standing awkwardly as they tried to work out what to do. They settled on a manly whack on the back as they shook hands, "I knew Hermione would get you out! Mate, it's good to see you!"
"Yeah," Harry shrugged, "sorry for not returning your owls."
"Nah, it's me that should apologise," Ron said sheepishly, "what happened on your birthday was bang out of order. I can be such a daft git sometimes. Sorry about that, Harry."
"Don't worry about it," Harry muttered, walking over to where Ron had been sitting, "whatcha doing?"
"Er, reading up on running a small business," Ron answered shyly, picking up a book from the piles around his chair as he sat back down, "I've been working with George and seeing how he does things, but I have a few ideas so I thought I'd check to see if I'm on the right track or not."
"That's brilliant," Harry nodded, grabbing another old chair and sitting down next to Ron, "what's this?" He held up the magazine that Ron had been reading when he arrived and saw it was about Quidditch, the page it was open at advertising the first Quidditch match of the season - a Chuddly Cannon's home game.
"Oh nothing," Ron shrugged, "they're starting the tournament, trying to get things back to normal, you know? Anyway, the Cannon's are playing…"
"I've never been to a league game," Harry mused out loud, glancing at Ron, "we should go."
"Really?" Ron grinned, "because no-one else could go and I really didn't want to go on my own. That would be brilliant!"
"Cool," Harry smiled back, before sobering slightly, "is Ginny around?" he asked.
"She's with Luna," Ron replied carefully, "she probably won't be back until dinner. She's really mad with you, Harry."
"I guessed as much," Harry sighed, then added, "Hermione told me about you and her. I'm sorry it didn't work out like you wanted."
"It wasn't that unexpected, to tell you the truth," Ron admitted, blushing slightly, "it's better off this way, us being just friends. Besides, with her going off to the Muggle school, I'd never see her anyway."
"True," Harry nodded, suddenly finding his hands extremely interesting. He wondered if Ron could tell that there was something different, that he could read 'I slept with Hermione' flashing all over his face and then kill him.
"Do you wanna borrow a broom and go flying?" Ron asked and Harry let out a sigh of relief - obviously this friend wasn't quite as good as reading Harry as his other friend.
"Actually," Harry started, looking back at Ron with a grin, "I was wondering if you wanna come with me to Diagon Alley and maybe Hogsmeade and help me buy a new one."
Ron accepted in a heart beat and the two of them spent the rest of the day discussing, looking at then buying a new broom. Harry was enjoying himself, as he was determined to do, and it wasn't until they arrived back at The Burrow that he remembered that he now had to face Ginny.
She was sitting where Ron had been, in the garden drinking a drink and reading something. The sun was making her hair burn, its soft, sleek waves like lava flows over her shoulders. She heard their arrival and Harry could see that she was torn between running to him in an enthusiastic greeting or being angry with him.
Being angry won out.
"So, you've decided to grace us with your presence, have you?" she asked him sarcastically.
"Hey Gin," he said as a reply, nervously standing a safe distance away, his hands deep in his pockets.
"Is that it?" she bit back, "a 'hey Gin' - is that all I get?"
"I…I'm sorry I didn't reply to your owls," he stammered, "I had some stuff I had to work through…"
"Did you not stop and think that I could've helped you?" she fired at him, "did you not think that me, being your girlfriend, should be the one you turn to? Instead, we have to send Hermione bloody Granger to make you come out and speak to us!"
"That's out of order, Ginny," Ron cut in, standing slightly in front of Harry.
"Oh, I know!" she cried exasperatedly, turning from Harry and Ron in frustration, "I know! It's just that," she turned back to Harry, "how can I help if you won't let me?"
"I'm trying Ginny, I really am," Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair, "which is why I'm here. I…I wanted to see if you'd want to go out for the day tomorrow, to the beach or something."
"Beach?"
"Yeah," he carried on, determined, "we could go to Brighton, or…or maybe somewhere in Cornwall. Just the two of us. What do you think?"
"That would be lovely, Harry!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly, all previous discontent forgotten as she rushed to him and engulfed him in a hug, "I'd really like that."
Harry closed his eyes as he felt her in his arms, her flowery smell that once meant so much now tickling his nose with annoyance. He found himself comparing Ginny's touch to Hermione, desperately getting rid of the thought as soon as it entered his mind. He was moving on, forgetting last night ever happened. He was supposed to be giving Ginny a chance.
"Excellent," he managed to say eventually, his mouth inches from her ear, "I'll be 'round about ten then."
"Perfect," she grinned, hugging him tighter, "I can't wait!"
"Ginny, dear," Harry looked over the top of Ginny's head to see Mrs Weasley come from the house, Ginny swivelled around in his embrace to look at her mother, "can you help me with dinner please? Oh, Harry! Oh my, this is a surprise! I didn't know you were here!"
"Hello, Mrs Weasley," he smiled embarrassedly, unwrapping himself from Ginny.
"Well, look at you!" Mrs Weasley continued with a grin, "of course, you have to stay for dinner!"
"Oh no, that's fine," he said hastily, "Kreacher will cook me…"
"Pish posh, your house elf will understand," Mrs Weasley interrupted, "come along Ginny, let's get everything ready - we now have a guest!"
"Harry's not a guest, mum," Ginny grinned at him happily, "he's practically one of the family!"
"Of course he is," Mrs Weasley agreed, taking Ginny's hand and pulling her from Harry, still smiling, "but we haven't seen him for so long!"
Ginny let herself be dragged away with good humour and as Harry watched, he let out the breath he didn't realise he was holding. Beside him, Ron shuffled into his view, looking slightly nervous.
"She's not right for you, Harry," Ron suddenly told him, glancing over his shoulder to make sure they weren't overheard, before ushering a slightly stunned Harry further from the house.
"What?" Harry managed to splutter.
"Look," Ron began seriously, "I don't know what's going on in your head - probably Hermione's the only one that does and she's not saying much at the minute - but I'm guessing things have changed. They've changed for everyone…"
"Ron…" Harry tried to cut in but Ron waved him off and just carried on.
"…but Ginny's carrying on like a spoilt little cow," he scowled, "just like before and mum and dad are so wrapped up with every thing else, they're letting it go. She stumps around the house, having a go at you about you not letting her help you. But when she's talking to friends and stuff, it's like she killed You-Know-Who herself!"
"Surely she's not that bad…"
"Not all the time, I suppose," Ron conceded with a shrug, "but I know one thing, she doesn't understand you, mate. She sees you as some sort of, I don't know, god or something. I don't reckon she'll ever get over that."
"You think I should break up with your sister?" Harry tried to confirm, slightly confused.
"I'm just telling you how I see it," Ron answered with another shrug, "she's not right for you and I think you should cut your losses."
Harry turned from Ron and thought hard. He already guessed that Ginny had a 'hero' complex about him, but hoped that would disappear over time. And he liked Ginny, he really did. But Ron is basically saying that he didn't see the relationship working, with the same sort of surety that Harry hadn't seen Ron and Hermione having anything significant. That partnership ended - should he end whatever he had with Ginny as well?
Yet, he had promised Hermione that he'd give Ginny a chance and Hermione seemed to think that he and Ginny would work out. Somehow, he valued her judgment about matters of the heart over Ron's. Still, Ron's concern was, well, a concern.
"She waited for me," he finally said, quietly, turning back to Ron, "I owe it to her to at least give us a go, right?"
"S'pose," Ron agreed reluctantly, "just don't let her walk all over you. She can be right bossy when she got a mind - and used to getting her own way."
Later that night, as he lay in bed (trying not to think that the last time he had been there, it was with Hermione) he thought hard. The end of the war and duelling Voldemort seemed a lifetime ago - waking up to a dream where he was married with children and seemingly happy. The dream replayed in his mind once more - James, Lily and Albus, his children, Hermione not speaking to him, he not wanting Teddy to live with them because it would mean his son's shared a room, he and Ginny married, but not touching once, Ron and Hermione married yet Ron still treating her like he always did, the old prejudices about the houses even after they had grown into adults…
Was he really happy in that dream? Sure, he had everything that he wanted - except love. Thinking hard, he realised that in his dream, he and Ginny didn't even hold hands. He had hugged his children but not his wife. She had comforted him with words, but not by a touch. A touch that he now realised that he wanted.
Which brought his thoughts back to Hermione. Her touch, her softness - her love for him. And how Ginny's touch didn't make him feel the same.
Growling in frustration, Harry rolled over onto his stomach as the two girls in his life tormented his brain.
Hermione was going to university. He wouldn't see her for months and maybe not even hear from her as he knew she would easily get consumed by her studies. She was his best friend, the one person in the world that knew him, really knew him and understood him so well. She was the only person in the world who has told him they love him.
And they had slept together.
Yet she expected him to forget how she felt about him as well as forget how she felt with him. And he should! Because she was just a friend to him, someone he cared for deeply (even loved, in a way) but wasn't attracted to.
Not like Ginny.
He let out a sigh. He had thought about Ginny so often while on the Horcrux hunt, dreaming about her and what it would be like to be with her once everything was over that now he had the chance, it didn't seem real. Or maybe the reality didn't match up to the dreams he had of her. She had always been the light at the end of the tunnel, the thought that got him through the misery that had been the previous year. And he hadn't given her a chance, not really. In their sixth year, it had only been weeks before Dumbledore died and he had broken things off with her. Then he had been gone and only dreaming about her until it was over and everything had changed.
He wasn't a boy any longer - he had been through too much, seen too much to see life as the eighteen year old he was. And although Ginny had also been through horrors over the last year, it wasn't the same. She wanted to forget. He couldn't.
Now, she was going to Hogwarts to complete her last year and he was going to train as the Auror she wanted him to be. This was what he wanted. This was what he had dreamt of.
Wasn't it?
"Yes," he told the night, "I'm supposed to be with Ginny."
Which meant that he would forget about Hermione and the mistake that happened between them and make things work with Ginny.
Even though Ron didn't think Ginny was right for him.
And Hermione loved him.
Plus he had slept with Hermione.
"It was a mistake," he said out loud, trying to convince himself, already knowing that he didn't really believe it, no matter how many times he told himself. Although in all the years he had known Hermione, he had never once thought of her as anything else than a friend. Even if Ron hadn't fancied her forever, Harry had never really been attracted to Hermione. He admired her, sure, respected her - even loved her - but never even thought of what it would be like to be with her.
Which is why he didn't understand why he was feeling what he was now.
Sighing, he closed his eyes and tried once more to sleep.
The following two weeks were…strange. He spent most of them with Ginny as Ron went back to the shop and Hermione was with her parents. Harry found himself enjoying the time he spent with Ginny, that she was indeed fun.
He bought her an expensive necklace for her birthday and she loved it, also loving the flowers that came along with the gift. It was exactly what a boyfriend should buy his girlfriend, according to Ron's guide book on girls. Harry had glanced at it (after fishing it out of the bottom of his trunk) to try and work out what to get her. He had had no idea.
He was trying, he really was. He even let himself be paraded down Diagon Alley once, but only once, preferring to stick to Muggle places. He listened to her gossip about some of her classmates with feigned interest. He kissed her fondly and enjoyed the feel of her with him.
But something was missing.
A highlight of the two weeks was going the to the Quidditch match with Ron. It felt so normal, just two blokes going out to watch a game, and they both went disguised so they weren't disturbed. It had been a good night - and the Canons won.
He only heard from Hermione once, an owl describing her trip and how much fun she was having. It was as if the developments between them never happened, the only sign to Harry that something was different was she didn't sign her owl off 'love Hermione' as she always used to.
Ironic.
One Saturday he, Ron and Ginny visited Teddy at Mrs Tonk's place. It was really hard for Harry, but he felt like he had to do it - it was the first time he had seen them since Remus and Tonk's funeral. Afterwards, Ginny had tried to make him feel better but ended up making him angry.
Hermione would've known what to do.
Harry apologised to Ginny the following day and life carried on.
The night before Hogwarts was to start and Harry was to start his training, Ginny had offered herself to him. She had accepted his reasons that he wasn't ready when he turned her down but he felt guilty just the same. He had been ready - but not for Ginny.
To say he was uncomfortable when he joined Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ron and Ginny at Kings Cross was an understatement. Everyone was looking at him like he had two heads or something, and Ginny was hanging onto him and beaming like he was a prize. Ron stuck to his side, scowling at anybody who dared approach Harry for any thing. Harry appreciated Ron's efforts while his annoyance at Ginny's lack of thought was simmering within him. When she kissed him goodbye in such a way that both embarrassed him and had him gasping for air, he felt relief when she finally left and was securely on the train.
Watching it pull away from the platform, Harry sighed deeply. It was strange not to be on the Express, it was strange not to have Hermione standing with him and Ron on this platform and it was strange to think that his last memory of standing there was in his dream where his children were making the magical trip to Hogwarts.
"Care for a drink, Harry?" Ron asked, breaking into his thoughts. Realising Mr and Mrs Weasley were watching him curiously while many others were staring at him in awe, Harry was brought back to the present with a thud. He wanted to get out of there desperately.
"Yeah," he told Ron under his breath, "to the Owlery?"
Ron just nodded knowingly, said his goodbyes to his parents, as did Harry, and then with a crack, left Kings Cross, Harry close behind.
Harry leaned back into the booth of the Owlery, a small pub that had quickly became a favourite for the two friends. He was spending more and more time in the Muggle world as whenever he went anywhere magical, he was harassed by well meaning fans.
Harry hated it.
He had introduced Ron into the pleasures of a nice lager and after finding the country pub near Bath, they spent a few quiet evenings there, catching up.
"There you go, mate," Ron said as he handed Harry a pint, "cheers."
"Cheers," Harry echoed as they both took a sip of the frothy, cold drink.
"So," Ron began after a moments silence, "how was it?"
"How was what?" Harry asked, confused.
"Your two weeks with Ginny," Ron clarified, glancing at Harry slightly nervously, "how was it? You've given her her chance, was it worth it?"
"We had fun," Harry answered absently, wiping away some of the condensation off the side of his glass, not looking at Ron, "it was like it was back in our sixth year…"
"But?" Ron cut in - Harry looked up at him.
"There's no buts, Ron," Harry frowned.
"Of course there's a but," Ron stated calmly, "I know I'm not as perceptive as Hermione, but even I could see that you aren't as enamoured with Ginny as she is with you. The way she paraded you down Platform Nine and Three-Quarters today was disgusting. It was like she was telling everyone that you belong to her, back off."
"I know," Harry agreed quietly, hating the way his resentment towards his girlfriend had taken hold within him.
"So, you're going to keep it going with her?" Ron asked, "even though spending two weeks with her hasn't made you fall passionately in love with her or some such nonsense. And she really has no idea otherwise she wouldn't have behaved like she did today."
"Yeah, I will," Harry sighed, "not that it matters. Tomorrow I start training and she's at Hogwarts. We'll hardly see each other…"
"But she wants you to write every day," Ron interjected with a snort, "remember?"
"Well, she knows that's not going to happen," Harry grumped, "look, just give it a rest, will you? Ginny and I are doing okay - she makes me smile and that's all I want right now, alright?"
"Okay, okay," Ron surrendered quickly, taking a swig of his beer before broaching a new subject. Harry waited in a grumpy silence, his eyes never leaving the drink in his hands.
Things with Ginny had been fine - he hadn't lied to Ron - but they hadn't been what he was expecting. And today had just made him angry.
"So," Ron ventured finally, "have you heard from Hermione lately?"
This wasn't a subject that would improve Harry's mood at all.
"Once," he ground out, "last week. An owl telling me she was having a fantastic time."
"Oh," Ron nodded absently, "I've only heard from her once as well. Sounds like she's had a brilliant time."
"Yeah."
Pause.
"I can't believe you start Auror training tomorrow."
"I know."
"Everything's changing."
"I know."
They looked at each other then, a passing between them as they both realised that they wouldn't see each other for the next three months and that one part of the trio had fractured away already.
"This is weird," Ron muttered with a wry smile, "knowing I won't be seeing your ugly mug any more. I mean, even last year when we weren't at Hogwarts, we were still…together, you know?"
Harry chuckled as Ron blushed when he realised what his comment could imply. His laughter died quickly though, knowing that what Ron said was true. The trio was no longer.
The following day when he took his portkey to the location of where he would be spending the next year, he felt a sense of loss. He was alone without either Ron or Hermione for the first time since he joined the wizarding world. Looking around at the small group of new trainees, he was pleased to see at least one familiar face - Neville Longbottom was taking this next journey with him.
Harry learnt very early on that he wasn't going to have time to think about what he was missing or anything, really, that didn't relate to being an Auror. Every waking hour was devoted to his training or studying for his training. Ron, Hermione and Ginny became passing thoughts, only remembered when he got a letter from those on the outside.
Before he knew it, Christmas arrived and the trainee's were allowed their first break. Given two weeks which covered both Christmas and New Years, Harry made his way to Diagon Alley and Ron on his first day off.
The shop was full with the heavily disguised Harry impressed with the amount of business the shop seemed to have. He spotted Ron talking to a customer and with a grin, made his way over to his friend.
"Excuse me," Harry started, smiling as Ron didn't recognise him, "do you stock love potions?" Harry asked, "its just that a friend of mine put some into some chocolates once and it really did the trick. The guy she wanted went absolutely bonkers about her."
Ron stared at him for a moment then grinned as he saw something of Harry in his disguise.
"Have a special stock," Ron told him, guiding him to the back of the busy store, "this way sir."
As soon as the door of the stock room closed, Ron turned to Harry, who was now back to looking like himself, grinning from ear to ear.
"Bloody hell, it's good to see you, mate!" Ron gushed, pulling Harry into a brief hug, "blimey, look at you! You look…"
"They work us out quite a bit," Harry explained, realising he had got bigger since seeing Ron last, "hey, do you think you could skive off for some lunch? I know you're pretty busy…"
"Give me a minute," Ron interrupted, before dashing out into the busy shop. Harry hadn't had a chance to look too much around the store room before Ron was back, coat in hand.
"To the Owlery then?" the redhead asked, putting on his coat.
"To the Owlery," Harry smiled, looking forward to seeing his favourite pub after all this time.
Minutes later they were sipping their beers at a table in the busy country pub, Harry telling Ron all about the training with Ron listening intently. It felt good to be able to talk to his friend about everything he'd experienced - Neville had been his only confidant and although he and his old housemate had become good friends, he wasn't Ron.
Drinking their third beer, the conversation turned to Ron and the business. It seems his presence in the stores improved sales to the point where they were looking at expanding to Hogsmeade in the new year, Ron managing the new shop with George staying at the old.
Eventually the conversation turned to Ginny where Harry admitted he hadn't had time to reply to many of Ginny's letters and Ron saying that his sister wasn't too impressed. Hermione, according to Ron, understood. Harry found himself feeling slightly jealous as Ron explained that he and Hermione met often to catch up. The two had organised for the trio to meet together Christmas Eve to exchange presents as Hermione wanted to spend Christmas with her family and since her boyfriend wasn't leaving for his own family until the day before Christmas Eve, she wanted to spend the extra few days with him.
Harry's heart stopped beating.
"Boyfriend?" he repeated stupidly, "Hermione has a boyfriend?"
"Yeah," Ron nodded, "didn't you know? Dan something, in heaps of her classes. Seems to be a nice enough bloke…"
"You've met him?"
"Yeah," Ron shrugged, "a couple of times. You will too - we're going to join them for New Years. He lives in London and we kinda thought that since you live in London too, we'll go to a party there. Never really been to a New Years Eve party, except family ones. This time, we can drink…"
"I don't want to go…"
"'Course you do," Ron interrupted, taking a sip of beer, "everyone's going. A reunion of sorts. Everyone thought that experiencing a Muggle New Years would be fun so you have to be there."
"Everyone's been organising my life without me, then," Harry growled, finishing his beer with a swig.
"Pretty much," Ron accepted without remorse, "it's our first Christmas since…well, since the end of the war. We wanted to have some fun."
Harry didn't say anything, his mind stuck on the knowledge that Hermione had a boyfriend. He tried to remember her letters and any mention of a 'Dan', but couldn't. He had to see her, find out how she could move onto someone else after…after what, he wasn't sure. It sounded stupid in his head when he answered his own question.
How could she move on after me?
He needed to see her.
"I have to go," he said abruptly to Ron, "I'll see you Christmas Eve, yeah?"
"Sure Harry," Ron smiled, "good to see you, mate."
Harry just nodded and quickly left the bar, missing Ron's self-satisfied smile as he did so.
Taking a deep breath, Harry knocked on the door of the Granger home. After a few moments, the door opened.
"Harry?" Mrs Granger welcomed, "my, this is a surprise!"
"Hello Mrs Granger," Harry said shyly, "um…welcome back."
"Why, thank you," she smiled, "I must say, Australia was wonderful and all, but it's good to be home."
Harry nodded nervously before asking, "is…is Hermione here?"
"No, she's out with Daniel," Mrs Granger answered - Harry's face fell.
"Oh," he sighed, thinking hard about what he should do next. He knew it was pretty wishful thinking that Hermione was going to be home, but he hadn't thought much beyond that.
"They normally go to a small coffee shop on Chancery Lane, near the campus library," Mrs Granger added softly - Harry looked up at her, "you could try and find her there."
Harry gave Hermione's mother a thankful grin, seeing some sort of amusement in her eyes. With a word of thanks, he headed off to the township, determined to find first the campus of Hermione's university and then the coffee house her mother mentioned.
Making his way through the hoards of Christmas shoppers, he found a street directory and worked out how to get to the campus, where he quickly found the coffee house. A quick inspection inside told him Hermione wasn't there, so he went back out into the street. He decided the next best place would be the library, knowing that really, she could be anywhere.
With a glance at the campus directory, he found the library and started to make his way there.
"Harry?"
He heard his name and turned to see the object of his search heading his way - with a man holding her hand. A bubble of anger rose within him as he plastered a smile on his face and approached her.
"Hey Hermione," he greeted, hands dug deep in his pockets as he glanced at her companion - pale, dark hair and a poor excuse for facial hair shadowing his boyish face. Harry really couldn't see what she could see in the bloke.
"What are you doing here?" she beamed, leaving him to give Harry a hug, somewhat briefly, "I thought I wouldn't see you until Christmas Eve!"
"We broke for holiday yesterday," Harry explained, liking how he looked a bit uncomfortable, "I've just been to Ron's and thought I'd come and see you too. Your mum said you might be here."
"We're way too predictable," Hermione chuckled, then stopped mid thought, her eyes widening as she turned from him to grab his hand and brought him forward, "oh, my - I'm so sorry, Dan," she gushed, pulling him closer, "er, Harry - this is Dan Carter. Dan, this is Harry Potter."
"Hello, Harry," Dan smiled, holding out his hand, which Harry shook reluctantly, "it's great to meet you. I've heard lots about you."
"That's strange," Harry replied, "because I've heard bugger all about you."
He glared at Dan and noticed, in passing, that he had rather big, blue eyes. Dan glared back with Hermione ignored at their side - for a moment.
"Dan," she said, her voice conveying a hint of annoyance, "are you able to give Harry and me a minute? To catch up?"
"Sure," Dan agreed, giving Harry a final glare before looking at Hermione, "though we told Sarah we'd be at her place at three so we haven't got too much time to spare…"
"Oh, yes, that's right," she smiled and rolled her eyes at her forgetfulness, "we shouldn't be too long."
"Right," he nodded before kissing her briefly, "I'll grab a coffee then. Nice to meet you Harry."
Harry just grunted and continued to glare at Dan while he walked away.
"You didn't need to be so rude," Hermione snipped, finally getting Harry's attention.
"Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend?" he asked briskly.
"Because it only happened a couple of weeks ago," she spat back at him, "besides, I never heard from you, I didn't even know if you were getting my owls."
"Ron said you understood why I couldn't write…"
"Oh, I understood, Harry," she told him, hands on hips as she scowled at him, "I knew that you didn't have the time to write long wordy letters. But a simple, 'hello, I'm doing fine' would've been nice."
Harry took a deep breath and let his shoulders sag, knowing she was right. He had been busy, but he had also chosen to shut himself off.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"Yes, well," she carried on in a slightly softer tone, "that's all by the by. So, how are you?"
They stood there in the cold and talked a bit about things of little consequence, all the while Harry thinking about the fact she had a boyfriend. When the conversation dried up, he waited for a moment, took a deep sigh and then spoke.
"What's he like," he ventured, once more his hands dug deeply in his pockets, "this bloke of yours?"
"He's lovely," she answered, blushing slightly, "he treats me really well."
"Oh."
"He knows all about you," she continued, looking at him tentatively, "knows you were the reason I said no to him for so long."
"Why did you finally say yes?"
"Because it was time to move on," she admitted softly, dropping her gaze to the ground, "I knew I would be seeing you over Christmas and I…"
She paused, wrapping her arms around herself, quickly wiping away a tear that had fallen down her cheek.
"Hermione…" Harry started, stepping closer to her as if to comfort her - she stepped back from him.
"No, Harry," she told him firmly, "please. Look, I have to go. We're meeting friends for drinks before everyone heads off home. I'll see you Christmas Eve, yeah?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded, frowning at how quickly she regained her composure, "sure."
With that, she turned on her heel and began to walk away, turning once and waving goodbye. Harry returned the wave and watched her go, a feeling of loss engulfing him.
A/N 2 - yeah, I know that 'Dan' is unimaginative and he is based on Mr Radcliffe (Dan Carter is actually an All Black (NZ rugby player) and is also rather cute) but in my head Dan is Harry and Emma is Hermione and they look so darn cute together. I hope you forgive me!