Secretly

"We can never know truth, but some stories are better than others."

--Aaron Shepard

Hermione was rearranging her desk when they walked in. She had finished for the day and just had a few things to put away before she collected her cloak and flooed home. She knew Hannah had been meeting her new man for drinks after work when she left fifteen minutes earlier. Hannah must have forgotten something. She froze when she heard them laughing in the corridor. That laugh. She turned as they walked through the door, catching her first glimpse of Hannah's new man. He wasn't new to Hermione.

"Hello, trouble," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Hello, Mimi."

Their eyes met as he replied. He held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity but could only have been a few seconds. It was strange seeing him after all this time. He was as tall and broad-shouldered as she remembered. His hair was just the same, but he had fine lines around his eyes and mouth from laughter. And lines on his forehead from sadder things.

"You know each other?" Hannah asked.

"You could say that," he said with a wry smile.

"Of course you do, we did go to school together! Sorry, it didn't occur to me that you would, because I didn't know you at school, George. I'm so scatter-brained sometimes!"

"That's ok, Han. We'd better go." He turned to look at Hermione. "I'm sure I'll see you again soon."

Hermione nodded.

"Have a good night."

~~~~~~~

He met Hannah outside a bar in Muggle London. She had suggested the place, and he had agreed, as he didn't often go to Muggle bars. It would be an interesting experience. And, she was great fun to be with as well. They had been to school together, though they hadn't known each other then. She had been in Hufflepuff and he in Gryffindor house. She had been a few years below him as well, he wasn't sure how many. Two or three years he guessed. Four at a push.

When she arrived, she looked a little flustered. Her hair was windswept, but pretty. It was nice meeting after work. They had both worn Muggle clothing under their robes. It had felt like a naughty secret all day. It was quite fun really. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hard day at work?"

"Sorry, George, I left a couple of things at the office. Do you mind coming with me to get them? It's not far." She grinned apologetically.

George offered her his arm.

"Lead on, my lady."

Hannah giggled, took his arm and led him to her place of work. She was right; it wasn't far. It was a nice little office block. As they went up to the first floor, George looked around, genuinely interested in where his date spent her days. He was very surprised when a familiar voice greeted him as they entered the office.

"Hello, trouble"

"Hello, Mimi."

She looked different. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun. A few silver hairs streaked the familiar brown of their teenage years. Her eyes were older than the rest of her. She was still beautiful, in her own careless, fragile way. Something deep inside him twisted at the sight of her after all these years. It wasn't really so long since they'd seen each other. But it was a lifetime ago.

Hannah interrupted his thoughts, chattering away in an attempt to disguise her confusion. He thought it was sweet that she was embarrassed about not expecting her colleague to know him. He interrupted quickly and said they'd better go. Then he turned and looked at her.

"I'm sure I'll see you soon."

He kept his tone light so as not to confuse Hannah, but his eyes were heavy with unspoken words. Hermione nodded. George understood and left with his date. His thoughts betrayed him. They kept returning to her throughout the evening. Mimi.

~~~~~~~

Hermione sighed at sat down at her desk to collect her thoughts. She rested her head in her hands and massaged her temples. She got up and went back to putting her things in her bag. Something silvery caught her eye and she turned quickly. A ghostly fish had swum through the door and was doing a complicated dance in the middle of the office. She smiled despite herself. A remnant of their Order days. She put on her cloak, picked up her bag and flooed home.