The Truth Hurts

(At the coffee shop)

Ayden and Hermione were talking as if they were old friends. (Well...technically, they were...but she doesn't know that...it's supposed to be a secret...Shhh!) "So...you're friends with the great Harry Potter," Ayden said, trying to steer the conversation towards her.

Hermione stirred her coffee. "Yes, I am. Please tell me you're not one of those guys who date me just to get to Harry."

Ayden choked on his coffee and reached for a napkin. "What do you mean?!"

Hermione sighed. "The last person I was serious with tried to use me, I think."

Ayden was furious. "What kind of git would do that?!"

Hermione stared at her coffee. "The rich, snobby, white bouncing ferret kind," she said

Ayden paled in response to her answer...and the very familiar nickname. 'Oh god...she thinks I tried to use her, to get to Potter.' He cleared his throat. "Umm...I wasn't planning on using you, if that's what you're worried about."

Hermione gave him a small smile and reached for his hand. "That's a relief to know." She turned his hand over and gasped. "Where...where did you get this scar?" she asked, pointing to a scar along his lifeline.

Ayden looked down. 'Just perfect! That's the scar Crookshanks gave me in Seventh Year.' He tried to think of a lie. "Umm...well...I was...umm...it's a little stupid...but I was opening a shipment and someone dropped a box. It scared me and I ended up dropping my knife. When I went to pick it up, I ended up slicing my hand."

Hermione winced, but seemed to accept the story and proceeded to find out more about him. "So...where did you go to school? I noticed that you have a slight accent."

Ayden told her. "Well...that's what happens when you were schooled in America. It was great. It was in a small town called Weare and we had less than 500 students."

Hermione gave him a puzzled look. "It was in where?"

Ayden laughed. "Exactly!"

Hermione realized that she was being made fun of. "Hey!" she exclaimed and went to smack his arm, but he caught her wrist.

Ayden smiled. "Nice try...but there will be no abuse in this relationship."

Hermione was a bit taken-aback. "Relationship...?"

Ayden nodded. He had fallen in love with her, all over again. "You seem like the kind of girl my mother wanted me to be with; Kind, loving, smart, very cute."

Hermione blushed. "Well...okay. I'll give you a chance. But if you hurt me, I'll have...," she paused, mentally counting people. "I'll have 13 people after your ass...not including spouses, children, etc."

Ayden gave a nervous laugh. "All right. I'll remember never to make you mad." 'Great,' he thought. 'Just what I need...Potter after me.'

"It's funny...we just met, but I feel like I've known you all my life."

Ayden gave her hand a squeeze. "I know what you mean."

Hermione smiled and looked down, missing the worry in his eyes. And she missed the quick flash of silver-blue that disappeared, faster than it had appeared.