Any Random Tuesday

Any Random Tuesday
*Ignores Deathly Hallows Epilogue

Chapter One

“How are you,” Harry asked as Hermione sank down into the chair across from him, placing her bulging backpack on the floor.
“Tired,” she replied grabbing a menu and flipped it open. Her chocolate brown eyes skimmed over the choices. “I’m starving.”
“Well I am glad you could fit me into your schedule. It has been awhile.”
“I know. I’m sorry Harry. I just never have time between the tutoring, university classes, my internship and working at the muggle café.”
“I really don’t know how you manage it all,” he responded. Ever since graduating from Hogwarts, two years ago Ginny, Ron and Harry had seen very little of Hermione. During the final battle she had realized what her true calling was and determined to become a medicinal potions specialist Hermione had entered a Wizarding University in Portsmouth England. Now in her second of three years she had an internship as well as classes and a waiting job in London. The last time that Harry had seen Hermione was his wedding to Ginny the summer before.
Since the wedding Harry had only received one owl from Hermione, the one inviting him for this lunch. Concerned that Hermione was burying herself in work and nothing more Harry cleared his schedule to make the appointment.
“I think I am going to have fish and chips,” Hermione announced, “Where is that waiter? I only have an hour.”
“Where do you have to rush off to?”
“I’m tutoring a group of first year students.”
“Hermione, do you ever take a break?” Harry asked. She looked well. Her hair was up in a ponytail with loose strands falling around her face, her skin was a flawless ivory, no sign of circles under her eyes, and her dress was immaculate. It was, however, possible that she could be using glamour.
“Harry, I’ll take a break at the holidays. Don’t worry about me. I am almost where I have wanted to be for so long.” Harry sighed to himself, but let the subject drop like the dead weight it was.
For the rest of the lunch they chit chatted about this and that. They talked about who they had heard from, what other members of their class were up to and how the Chudley Cannons had done in their last game. Hermione never mentioned what she was working on, the classes she was taking, or what books she had read lately.
“You know, Ginny would love to see you,” Harry mentioned as they left the small restaurant.
“Yeah, that would be great,” she responded flatly, “I’ll have to send her an owl when I was time.” With that she waved goodbye before walking into the crowded street.


Draco awoke with a start to find the bed beside him empty. He flicked on the light covering his eyes briefly before looking up to see Hermione pulling on her pantyhose.
“Where are you going?” he asked, “its past midnight.”
“I need to study for a class tomorrow,” she answered zippering her skirt and sitting down on the edge of the bed as she grabbed a boot.
Draco pounced on her pulling her back as he kissed the back of her neck. “Don’t go, “he whispered in her ear.
“Draco,” She grumbled shrugging him off.
“Can’t you study in the morning?”
“No, I can’t,” she got up and grabbed her bag, “Goodbye Draco.” With those final words she apparated away. Draco stared into the space left behind. He had been sleeping with Hermione for over a year and never once had she pulled away or resisted his advances.
It had started off as a casual affair. A non-committed means of relief for two very busy people. They had met at a university party. Neither had been aware that they attended the same institution and were even in the same field until that chance encounter at the punch bowl. He had walked up cup in hand unaware that the person in front of him was Hermione Granger, when she turned around she was so off guard that she spilled her cup all over his shirt.
After apologizing a million times for ruining Draco’s shirt Hermione had spent much of the night drinking with him. By the end of the night they were both plastered enough to do it in the janitor’s closet without reservations. It had been so good that they both kept coming back for more.
Draco had even thought it was turning into a romance when she had started spending the night two months ago. Maybe he had been wrong, maybe it was nothing to her and she had found someone else. After all he was the son of Lucius Malfoy and she a member of the golden trio.
“It was probably just stress,” he told himself, “I’ll owl her in the morning.”


It had been over two years since Hermione had rejected Ron’s proposal and gone off to university, but he still awoke every morning feeling depressed. She was supposed to be the one. His Hermione, his soul mate. He had tried to talk to her several times over the year and the few special occasions she came to, but she always found some way to get away from him.
Ron had dated several other girls over the years, but it had never gone very far, maybe a date or two. No one could compare to her. No one was as smart, as funny, as pretty, or even obnoxious in the way she was. What frustrated him most was that he didn’t know why she had rejected him. He wouldn’t have minded her taking her classes at a university; he just wanted to be with her.
This particular Wednesday morning Ron couldn’t seem to get the dream images of her out of his head. The night before he had dreamed that they were married and living together in a small cottage, it had been a very nice dream. That was the horrible thing about dreams, they were only dreams and you still had to wake up to the reality. And unfortunately Ron’s reality was one where he was not married to Hermione and living with her in a cottage.
Instead Ron lived by himself in a London flat. It was a classic bachelor’s pad, with clothing strewn all around, dishes in the kitchen sink, grime on the stove, and posters of the Chudley Cannons on every wall. Ron sighed to himself as he pulled himself out of bed and into the bathroom. It was another day. Another god damn bloody day.
In the shower as he rinsed the shampoo from his her images of Hermione filled his head. “God, I miss her” he thought to himself, “Maybe I should send her an owl.” This was something he had thought of many times before, but never went through with usually something distracted him before he ever got a chance, but today was different. The thought never left him as he got dressed, ate breakfast, and brushed his teeth. So before heading off to work he jotted down a quick note:
Hermione,
I know things have been weird between us for awhile now, but I miss you and I want that to change. I would appreciate it if you would meet me for lunch sometime. Anytime that works for you is fine with me.

Ron
As he attached the note to his tawny brown owl Ron wondered if she would even bother to respond. He grabbed his quidditch bag from the floor before apparating off to work at the Chudley Cannons pitch.