Big Deal

Three Years Later

Flourish & Blotts was having a big event. Gilderoy Lockhart was making a comeback, and today he was coming to the bookshop to promote his new book and sign autographs. His book told all about how he had overcome amnesia, and fought his way back to his old self. The place was crowded, mostly with women and girls who fancied Lockhart.

There was another, much less publicized event happening at the shop that day. Hogwarts, a History had come out with a new volume. This was the reason Hermione Granger was there.

All the females applauded and sighed as Lockhart, still conceited, launched his speech. Almost immediately, Hermione was hit with a flashback.

"Why," demanded Ron, seizing her timetable, "have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?"

Hermione smiled to herself, then was hit with a pang. Seemed she was always hit with a pang at the thought of Ron.

A vaguely familiar voice cut through Hermione's thoughts. "Hermione Granger?"

Hermione turned, and saw her old classmates Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Lavender hugged Hermione, catching her off-guard. "It's so good to see you!"

"Uh...yeah." Hermione extracted herself from Lavender's embrace. "How have you been?"

Lavender grinned at Parvati, who was still her best friend after all these years. "Great! Really fantastic."

"Hermione, you must come and sit with us at the Leaky Cauldron so we can catch up," Parvati smiled warmly.

"Oh, no, I couldn't," Hermione protested.

"Come on, 'Mione, please? We have so much to talk about!" Lavender pleaded.

"Well...all right." Hermione relented, suppressing a grimace at the nickname. "But, please, call me Hermione. I don't really care for nicknames," she continued as nicely as she could. She didn't want to insult the girls, they were being so friendly toward her -- much more than they ever were during the seven years they roomed together. Only certain people were allowed to call her 'Mione. Harry being one, and Ginny, and...Ron, of course. Hermione was hit with another pang. Will it ever stop? It's been three years! she thought to herself. She allowed herself another minute thinking about Ron before she shoved it out of her mind. Ron had been the one that had started the nickname, the others just kind of picked it up. She loved it when Ron called her 'Mione -- it was almost like a caress, the way he said it.

Hermione snapped back to reality and pushed the thought of Ron away. She smiled at the girls. "Let me just pay for this, and then we can go."

* * * * *

A little while later, the three girls were sitting around a small table, sipping butterbeer and talking.

"So what have you been up to?" Parvati asked Hermione.

"Well, since right after Hogwarts, I've been attending university. I'm studying Arithmancy, and I graduate next month," Hermione told the girls earnestly. "I've also taken a few courses at the local Muggle university, in journalism." She paused to take a sip from her glass, and Lavender interrupted.

"I should have known. You'll never change." She smiled teasingly. "You were always carrying fifty books around, always studying."

"I didn't just study." Hermione shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Tell us the good stuff! Any men in your life?" Lavender asked, leaning in closer.

"No, not right now," Hermione admitted. Go away! she silently told the image of Ron that appeared in her mind. "A few dates here and there, but nothing serious. How about you?"

"Well, I'm engaged," Parvati said proudly, flashing an ostentatious diamond ring. "To a Quidditch player. His name is Edward Falkland, and he's the Keeper for the Chudley Cannons," she stated proudly.

"That's great, congratulations." Hermione smiled warmly. "How about you, Lavender? Are you still dating Seamus?"

"Seamus?" Lavender repeated, looking slightly uneasy. "No, we broke up a couple years ago."

"That's too bad. You two were so sweet together."

"Don't feel too bad for me, Hermione. I found someone ten times better that Seamus. We've been dating for almost eight months now." Lavender's grin reached across her entire face. "It's getting pretty serious, too. I am so in love with him!" she squealed.

"Well, who is he, what's his name?" Hermione smiled back. Lavender's happiness was contagious.

"You should have seen him when I told him who Parvati's fiancé is. He's a Cannons fanatic, plus he used to be Keeper for the House team at school."

Hermione's smile faded. She was getting a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Lavender, what did you say his name was?"

"Oh, you know him. It's Ron Weasley," Lavender replied airily. She continued talking, but Hermione no longer heard her, her thoughts swimming around in a jumble in her mind.

Ron. She's dating Ron. Well, good. I'm glad he found someone. I'm happy for them.
No, I'm not, she answered her own inner voice. How can I be?
You broke up with him, she reminded herself.
I don't care! she insisted stubbornly. I still...dear god, I still love him.

"They're so cute together," Parvati was saying. "You should see them.

Hermione tried her best to keep her emotions hidden, forcing a smile. "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you," she said flatly.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he proposed soon," Lavender confided.

Hermione stood up in a hurry, gathering her belongings. "Excuse me," she mumbled.

"Oh, you're not leaving so soon!" Parvati exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, I--"

Lavender cut her off, standing as well. "It's all right, I have to be going also." She grinned dreamily. "Candlelight dinner with Ron tonight."

Big deal! Hermione huffed silently.

"It's been so terrific catching up with old friends, Hermione. We must get together again real soon."

Hermione forced a smile and nodded. "Good luck to you both." She took out her wand and Apparated home to her flat.