Move, Countermove

Hermione moved quickly to the café and found Luna Lovegood waiting at an outside table for her. She had come to enjoy her lunches and teas with the girl she had known at Hogwarts. She never thought she’d admit it, but Luna’s eccentricities and quirky behavior were a refreshing pace from the stuffed shirts she normally dealt with.

“Hello Luna, I’m sorry I’m late.” She said having a seat and taking the tea Luna already had waiting for her.

“It’s alright, I’ve had plenty to go over so it wasn’t as if I was just sitting here.” As editor of The Quibbler, Luna had turned the magazine into quite a success and was forever seen with parchments in hand and a quill behind her ear. Her wand however still found it’s place in her hair.

“So, how did it go?” Luna asked. Hermione had been dreading that question since yesterday.

“It’s over.” She said with a shrug and sipped her tea.

“What was wrong with this one?” Luna asked leaning forward.

“What do you mean by that Luna?” She asked setting down her tea.

“Hermione, in the past six years, every man you have dated has had something wrong with him. Either he has no ambition, or he has too much and not enough time for you. Either his not interested or trying to smoother you. Either he’s too short, too tall, too hair, smells, come on Hermione what’s the deal with this Michael. I thought you liked him.”

“I did. Or I thought I did. He kissed me and there was nothing. It was cold and almost sterile. No warmth of any kind.” Hermione told him.

“I think you have unresolved issues.” Luna told her.

“Unresolved issues?” Hermione asked with a smile.

“Yes, I think you have this ideal image of the perfect man in your head and if any man you date doesn’t live up to that image is not good enough.” Luna explained as if it was the simplest thing in the world. But then again Luna had a habit of making everything seem that way.

“Maybe, but I’m not about to settle.” Hermione told her, pushing the now empty tea cup away.

“Hasn’t there been anyone who came close to being the right one?” Luna asked.

Hermione fell silent and stared at the reflection of light on her spoon. She refused to think about it. She refused to think about him. “No there hasn’t been.” She said quietly. Luna just looked at her without saying a word.


Hermione sat in her favorite armchair in front of her fire. Her hair was still damp from her bath and her favorite silk pajamas cooled her skin. She had done well for herself, managing to forge a reputable career in law. She had an office at the Ministry of Magic and it was her job to prosecute the dark wizards that were brought in by aurors. She felt good putting murderers and rapists away and was good at her job, making sure she had to evidence to put away only guilty men.

She had worked hard to make her name a known one in the legal world and she was well respected. It made her life somewhat complete, but her conversation Luna played on her mind. She thought about Draco and the game they played in their last year of Hogwarts, and had to smile.

Luna mentioned a high standard and the one thing she found herself doing was comparing men sexually to her experience with Draco. When it came to the physical, one thing Hermione needed was compatibility. She refused to struggle to fix things, not when it came to sex. There had to be some connection when it came to that.

A few men had come close but one thing of another made it difficult. Was Luna right? Was she living her life by putting every man in Draco’s place? She closed her eyes and let her head fall back. She hated to think she was so affected by that final year that now no man could compare. Her eyes drifted open and landed on the mantle over the fire. She stood up and ran a finger along the King chess piece that was placed there. Maybe she was placing him a mantle like she did his chess piece, but she had no idea how to resolve these issues.

She waited that first year, thinking he might find a way, but then decided to put the past in the past. It was proving harder then she thought it would be. Draco had slipped into her thoughts over the years many times. She wondered what had happened to him, but had avoided outright looking for him. She heard his name mentioned in business dealing right along his fathers but she never made an effort to find out anything more. He was most likely married by now. It had been six years.

She took the chess piece off the mantle and moved it to the stand beside her bed. She went to bed with a heavy heart. She had to force herself to deal with this on her own. There was no other way.


Hermione went about getting breakfast ready in a slower manner then usual. Moving the chess piece to her bedside was a bad idea. She saw it the moment she woke up, and it depressed her. It was back on her mantle in no time.

As she cleaned up her house and prepared to leave for her weekend errands an owl appeared at her window. She opened the door and let the creature in, watching it fly away the moment it had been relieved of its packages.

Hermione looked down at the letter and small tube. She opened up the parchment but all it said was, ‘Tonight. 8 o’clock. Giovanni’s.” Hermione’s eyes widened. Giovanni’s was a very expensive and high quality Italian restaurant. Who could this be from?

She opened the tube and shook the contents into her bag. Her heart jumped into her throat. It was a queen! The same queen that matched the king on her mantle! The same queen she had given Draco six years ago! Hermione gave in and did something she never had before. She crumpled to her floor in a dead faint.

A/N: I had the sequel thought of as I wrote the last chapter, when all the wonderful reviews came in I finalized it. It’s been written and when I finished detailing a chapter I will post it. Thanks to everyone for the great reviews on “Care to Play?” You are all so wonderful and I loved them all.