So, We Meet Again

Chapter One - Tall Dark Stranger

Hermione stalked through the park, her eyes gleaming with anger, tears streaking her pale face. It was winter, and her cold was worse than ever, and adding to that, she had to finish a report for the ministry by morning. She checked her watch, it was seven at night. She had decided to take a stroll through the frozen park to give her ideas on what to write about. The icicles, frost, skating couples, misty breath, and haunted, deadened trees weren't helping her train of thought in the least.

She scolded herself inwardly at not wearing proper shoes, but remembered she wouldn't have known the snow would be so... melted. Hermione had been much of a hermit since her new job, as she couldn't get out near as often as she wanted. She worked in the "International Magical Co-operation," unit. She was, of course, 'the boss' of everyone.

Then, unexpectedly, Hermione ran into something quite solid. She fell down, the snow hard and cold beneath her. Hermione had had enough of it, just about to take a huge spaz on the person she had run into, she felt herself being pulled up. Hermione was shocked; people around here were nice all right (a few blocks from the Leaky Cauldron), but they didn't show you due respect unless they needed to.

Some of them, however, would recognise her for who she was and clumsily apologise for anything disrupting, but Hermione really didn't mind, unless she was having a bad day. Like today.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry," said the man, helping her to her feet.

"Oh... t-that's all right," squeaked Hermione. The man was now brushing her off.

"No really, how about we get a drink?" asked the man.

"O-Okay," said Hermione, ashamed of her stuttering.

A few minutes later Hermione found herself being steered into a pub entrance. They sat at a table and waited, this was Hermione's chance to take a close look at the stranger; He had deep, green eyes, sophisticatedly cut brown hair and a muscular build. His nose was rather large and ended in an elegant bow, his mouth was curved in a smile, to reveal squared, white teeth.

"James Willbrook," said the man.

"Hermione Granger," said Hermione, shaking the hand he had offered.

"So, Hermione Granger, where do you work?" asked James.

"Oh...Er...I'm a- a teacher!" said Hermione, not knowing if he was a Muggle.

"You're a witch right?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Oh!" said Hermione, slightly thrown. "Yes, I'm a witch, I work at the Ministry, I work in the International Magical Co-operation unit."

"Really?" said the man, raising an eyebrow. "I work in the Magical Sports unit, and I've never seen you before..."

They continued on like this for about an hour. When the waitress came and asked if they'd like drinks. Hermione ordered a margarita and James took a martini. Hermione was just draining her drink, her hand on the cusp of the elegant glass, when she choked.

"Hermione?" asked the man, his eyes widening in fear.

"I'm - I'm fine," gasped Hermione clutching her chest.

"What is it?" he asked, looking at her and finishing his own drink.

"I - I have a report due to the Ministry tomorrow!" Hermione squeaked, looking for a clock.

"It's nine, we've been here almost two hours! But, wait," he said, holding her gently by the arm as she made to leave hastily, "I'd like to see you again Hermione, can I owl you tomorrow?"

"Oh- uh- yeah, sure," said Hermione.

"Goodbye Miss Granger," he said, revealing his dazzling smile, making Hermione's knees go weak as she exited the somewhat smoky pub.

*

As promised, James Willbrook sent a beautiful barn owl in the morning for Hermione, who was still asleep. Upon waking up she looked at her clock and nearly died in bed. It was seven, she needed to be at the Ministry in half an hour. After a clumsy breakfast rea-ding James' owl and scribbling a reply she hurried out the door. Pausing only to give a UNICEF man a donation at her door. Hermione's back ached and her legs were only half supporting her she was so tired. Four hours of sleep!

For all those interested, James' owl read:

Hermione,

Meet me in the Leaky Cauldron for Lunch at one o'clock.

-James

Hermione's hastily scribbled reply went along the lines of:

James,

All right, see you at Lunch. Can't wait.

Hermione

Hermione arrived at work at quarter to (we're talking about Hermione here, she Apparated halfway down the hallway upon remembering she could). Hermione loved her work. Her desk was decorated with several pictures of family and friends. Harry, Ron and Draco posed in a picture off to the left. She sighed happily, maybe she would see one of them soon?

When Draco became part of a plot to save Hogwarts, Harry, Ron and him had a truce. They'd all been friends ever since. There were a few bumps and dents in Draco's character from then on, but he was happy, or looked it at least. Hermione and Harry had coaxed Ron in to liking him a little. Ron was still edgy with him, but Draco didn't mind. He understood that Ron and his families had hated one another from the start of forever.

Hermione, forgetting Ron's dislike for Draco, looked through the window. She could see people running along the streets with their heads over their arms. It had started to snow again. Turning around Hermione felt herself smile. It was almost Christmas. Christmas meant going to see Harry and Ron in their flat. Going to see Draco. Going to see Ginny at the Burrow. Seeing everyone again.

This would be Hermione's fourth Christmas with the Weasleys. And they were always glad to have her. Ever since she left Hogwarts Hermione had ventured to the village where Ron used to live for presents, Christmas dinner, and fun. She always stayed a week after Christmas until she was completely over a slight hangover. Hermione Granger, the only person in the world sensitive to alcohol. Or the only person out of the people she knew.

She looked up as the door creaked open.

"Hello Hermione!" said Hermione's secretary Judy with a smile.

"Hullo Judy," said Hermione.

"Boy you look a mess," said Judy, "want some coffee?"

"That'd be great," said Hermione, stifling a yawn.

Judy departed for several minutes, coming back with a large coffee mug.

"You know what Herm-own-ninny?" asked Judy with a guilty grin. The whole office called her Herm-own-ninny in honour of Viktor Krum, her past boyfriend.

"What?" asked Hermione.

"I think you're trying to do waay too much," said Judy, attempting to peer into Hermione's eyes, which were half closed out of tiredness.

"I am not!" said Hermione indignantly. But at that she slumped onto her desk and settled into a peaceful sleep. Luckily the minister didn't come to check in that day.

*

About three hours after she collapsed on her desk Hermione woke up. She stared around for a moment, utterly confused. Then she remembered... work. Ugh. Then she remembered something else, James Willbrook. Hurriedly checking her watch Hermione realised she had about twenty minutes to make herself beautiful before she left for James' Lunch meeting. Telling Judy not to let anyone in, Hermione turned around and conjured a mirror. Ugh. She looked horrible. Best let the work begin...

Fifteen minutes later Hermione was dressed in a solicitor-like suit, complete with a skirt and tie. Her lips were tinted pink (magically of course) and she had a rosy coloured shadow on her eyes. She had placed her hair in a bun on the back of her head before she left.

In the hall outside her office Hermione Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron. When she appeared several people glanced up, though none of them looked surprised to see her pop out of the air. A witch smoking a pipe smiled at her as she passed to a corner booth, where she sat and waited for James to arrive.

She didn't have to wait long, almost as soon as she sat down James strolled through the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron and looked around for her. She called out,

"James!"

He looked around, smiled, and made his way to the table.

"Sorry, trouble at work..." he said, shaking his head and showing his incredible smile.

"Oh no, that's okay, I only just got here a minute ago," said Hermione.

"Okay then, what do you want to eat?"

"Really you don't have to-"

"Hermione-"

"Seriously-"

"I'm paying," said James shortly, with another grin.

Hermione sighed in defeat.

Two hours later James and Hermione were talking about solving the worlds' problems and arranging another date.

A few weeks later they met up again and made the following arrangement:

"I know a nice place up the street from here," said James, motioning toward Diagon Alley.

"Really?" asked Hermione, eyes alight with interest. "What's it called?"

"The Magic Hat," said James, smiling at her.

"All right, when shall we meet?" asked Hermione.

"Around seven, I'll come pick you up, your flat is...?"

"Down the street, floor seven unit twenty-one at White Oaks," said Hermione.

"Right, I'll see you tonight then," he got up, winked, and Disapparated.

*

Hermione had no idea how long it took her to get ready that night for her date with James. All she knew was that she looked stunning, that she could admit to herself.

A peasant-sleeved red dress, with a long strip missing down the back (purposely) and her hair in a rather 'messy' bun, with blue jewels positioned along the top of her head. She was wearing blood red lipstick to match her dress, and a shimmering red shadow on her eyes. Her cheeks were tinted again (magically) a light crimson.

Placing her contacts in her eyes Hermione made her way to sit down and check her make-up again, when the doorbell ring. Taking a deep breath she crossed the living-room to the door, and looked through the keyhole. James was standing there, with a wonderful suit on and his hands behind his back. With one hand he knocked on the door again and Hermione opened it.

"Hello," said Hermione nervously.

"You...look...stunning," said James, looking flabbergasted

"Thanks," said Hermione, smiling.

"Shall we go then?" asked James, still looking at Hermione.

"But of course," said Hermione, and they set off. Halfway down the hall they Disapparated.

*

The Magic Hat was a nice place. The carpeted floors were the same colour as Hermione's dress. James' face settled in a smile as he walked towards the desk, requesting seats. Hermione examined the stained-glass windows and wood panels on the walls. Soon, they were sitting in a booth, with seats of the same material in the carpet.

"So, how're you doing?" asked James.

"Fine..." said Hermione, looking at him.

The rest of the dinner went along nicely, and when they Apparated in her hallway Hermione turned around to look at James. When he kissed her.

Hermione's knees went weak, while tiny pinpricks of light spun behind her closed eyes. She poured her soul into the kiss, hoping to tell him how much she wanted him, needed him.

When they pulled apart his breath was ragged.

"You don't mind I kissed you?" he asked.

"Of course not," Hermione whispered.

And then she invited him in.

*

Hermione woke up with James next to her. He was sleeping with a smile plastered on his handsome face. As usual. James always smiled. Hermione reached over and stroked his hair, when she got a shot of adrenaline. His eyes snapped open and he looked at her, saying

"Hey,"

Hermione smiled.

"Hey."

"What shall we do today?" It was a weekend.

"Let's go to Diagon Alley, I need to do some shopping," said James lazily.

"All right," replied Hermione, these words would've also been lazy, had she not been yawning.

*

Exactly twenty minutes later they were ready to go. Hermione kissed James before apparating in the Leaky Cauldron. Several children looked up at her, one even pointed and said,

"Mum! Mum! Look, it's Hermione Granger! Harry Potter's friend! Look Mum!"

"Okay Darling," said the mother. "Don't point, it's rude..."

After ordering lunch and getting seats Hermione and James sat at a booth and discussed several problems at the Ministry, hair-care products, how Muggles were slightly aware of magic, how James had gone to Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts. Hermione found this surprising, mainly because James seemed like such a nice man. Minutes into their discussion a little boy came over.

"Excuse me ma'am?" he asked.

"Yes?" said Hermione.

"Are you Hermione Granger?"

"Er...Yes..."

"Oh really? Wow! Cool! You know Harry Potter?"

Hermione smiled.

"Yup."

The child's eyes gleamed with fervent admiration, before he scampered away.

"You're quite famous around here, huh?" asked James, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh quiet," said Hermione, swatting him playfully.

*

James went off to look at racing brooms and Hermione proceeded to another shop, called "Finest Witches Wear,". Hermione stepped inside and gasped.

The store was magically expanded, an in the shape of a circle. A banister ran along the upper floor, it was chestnut wood. The carpets were a softer dark blue, they ran throughout the store. Clothes' racks stretched along the entire store, and the cashiers sat in pretty blue uniforms behind the desk.

Hermione approached the first rack with caution. She cautiously looked at the price tag, gasped, then looked at the next. The store...was...cheap! No frills stores had more expensive clothes than this place. Hermione stopped being astonished and decided to go on a spree in the store, she had just got paid.

Hermione stalked lazily through the store, looking at the odd thing, and throwing it in her invisible cart. Her clothes were floating by themselves in front of her. When she departed about an hour later she had velvet and mauve dress robes, a few Muggle items that the store was selling, a new pair of gloves and a matching hat, all of which were forest green, and a set of new work-robes, which were black with silver lining. Hermione thought she'd done well for herself, considering she almost never splurged.

She met James outside a café and they went inside to have coffee. When they were seated outside Hermione sipped her latté and stared at James. He was smiling at the sky, his coffee clutched between his palms.

Hermione was one of the first people in the world to notice the way James' features curved to meet one another at the perfect degree on his tanned face. His nose was curved slightly at the end, and his eyes were a deep blue. His forehead was medium sized and slightly lobed. His dark brown hair gave the last effect, in the perfect business-like style. At the moment he was wearing a work shirt under his robes, with boring black Muggle pants. But for Hermione they weren't boring, they merely added to his perfect appearance as a loving man, husband, and maybe someday father.

James looked down, the sun casting shadows on his young face. He smiled, then, seeing her stare, his brow furrowed,

"What's the matter?" he asked with a tone of concern.

"Nothing!" said Hermione quickly.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," said Hermione, then, seeing the look on his face, she added, "really,"

"Okay," said James, looking at his watch. "Gods Herm, we've been here nearly four hours, come on, let's go..."

"Where?" asked Hermione.

"My place, I'll make us dinner...and then-"

"We'll-"

"Yeah," they finished in unison.

*

James lived in the most comfortable house in the world. When you walked in there was a grand hall, with a marble staircase that led to the upper floors. The kitchen door branched off to the left, the dining room a little ways down the hall from there. The living room (she supposed) was on her right, and the study door was directly across from the dining room. The bathroom was further still down the hallway.

James led her into the living room, and seated her in a red, winged sofa, with clawed feet. He set a stool in front of her, and pointed his wand at the fire. 'Incendio," he muttered, and flames burst from the grate. Making Hermione feel warm and relaxed.

"Wait here, I'll get someone to make dinner," he told Hermione, smiling.

"Thanks," said Hermione, closing her eyes.

James took this opportunity to move in and kiss her. Hermione felt a hot flush in her face, but after weeks and weeks of seeing James, this wasn't so bad anymore.

*

After dinner James and Hermione endured a mini-snogfest, which was very refreshing on Hermione's part. When suddenly, the doorbell rang. Hermione got off James, and shoved him playfully to make him get it. He complied, though he needed lots of teasing and coyness to get him off the couch. After a final smile, and a drink, James left the room.

An angry yell echoed across the house.

"YOU!" James was yelling.

"ME!" a drawling... very familiar voice shouted.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" yelled James. Hermione had the distinct impression he was a tad bit drunk.

"I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN BEING HERE! JUST GIVE ME THE PAPERS!" yelled that familiar voice. Hermione (just then) noticed that James yells were drunken and wavered. Uck.

"FINE! THEY'RE IN THERE!" James yelled, wavering again.

The door burst open. And in walked Draco Malfoy.

*

Draco burst through the door to find a very familiar looking girl sitting on James couch. Her lipstick smeared.

"Who's that?" sneered Draco.

"Hermione, Granger..." said James, still drunk.

"Hermione Granger?!" said Draco with glee. "How are you Herm?"

"Draco!" said Hermione, running over to give him a hug.

"Watch the hair," said Draco, then, catching the look on Hermione's face he added, "I was joking God..."

"I know. What're you doing on this side of the road Draco?"

"Looking for papers... this idiot...uh...I mean..."

"Guy." said Hermione.

"Owes me money...lots of money..."

"James?!" said Hermione, looking over Draco's shoulder, where James was standing, a placid look on his face. When he dropped to the floor in a dead, drunken faint.

"He's been drinking for a while now..." said Draco, eyeing him on the ground with interest.

"I see," said Hermione. Last time he sees me... she thought vaguely.

"Shall we go?" asked Draco, holding out an arm.

"Yes... I think we shall," said Hermione, smiling up at him.

*

She's gorgeous. Was Draco's first thought as they left James house. Why didn't I realise that before we left school? Why didn't I keep in touch with her... she's too gorgeous for her own good-

"Have you heard from Harry?" asked Draco, interrupting his thoughts.

"Actually yes, I got an owl from him last month, he's marrying Ginny Weasley," said Hermione.

"He is?" asked Draco, sounding thoroughly astonished.

"Yes...you didn't know?" asked Hermione.

"Well...er...no, I haven't heard from him for a while..." Draco muttered.

"Oh," said Hermione.

They walked a while longer. An icicle dropped past Draco's ear, but he ignored it. He was still looking at Hermione.

"What?" asked Hermione, glancing at him.

"Nothing," said Draco, recovering himself.

"Where should we go?" asked Hermione.

"How about the library?" asked Draco innocently.

Hermione swatted him playfully.

"I've changed you know," said Hermione meaningfully, looking up at him. Draco put on a mock-shocked face and asked,

"You mean...you don't like books anymore? Someone call the police! Granger's stopped reading!"

"Ha ha, hilarious Draco, hilarious," said Hermione loftily.

"Yes I know, the old Malfoy humour never wears out," said Draco, grinning.

"I see," was Hermione's reply.

"So Hermione...What will you do when you get old and wrinkly like the rest of us?" asked Draco. "Well, except me," he added with a smirk.

"Are you saying I'll get old and wrinkly?" asked Hermione, rolling her eyes.

"Not exactly," said Draco.

"Draco Malfoy you are the most conceited person on the planet,"

"Well that's just silly," said Draco, "have you met everyone on the planet?"

Hermione smiled.

"Maybe."

Draco smirked.

*

Hermione and Draco seated themselves at a table about half an hour later in the Leaky Cauldron. For the past few minutes they'd been talking about everything and anything. When Draco stood up, Hermione looked up, not wanting him to leave so soon, when he said,

"Come on, I need to show you something..."

Hermione looked puzzled.

"Come on Herm, just come," said Draco, giving her a dazzling grin.

"Oh all right," said Hermione, standing up.

"Apparate at my manor," said Draco, and he disappeared.

*