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To Love Again	By : Bluebonnet77 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 1624 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it; they all belong to JK Rowling. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-To Love Again
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Author’s Note: This is my first journey into fan fiction. I’ve had this story rolling around in my head for a couple of years. I hope you enjoy!

PROLOUGE

September, 19th 2007

On a normal workday morning, Harry and Ron would be chatting amiably if they happened to meet at the Leaky Caldron on their way to another shift in the Ministry of Magic’s Auror Department. Even though they worked in the same department, they were assigned to entirely different divisions. Really, the only time they actually saw one another at work was at the occasional department-wide meetings. So, they enjoyed the occasional run-ins to stay connected and catch up without the presence of other family members.

Harry is the Assistant Division Head of the Auror Department's Internal Affairs Division. Internal Affairs aurors investigate other aurors who are suspected of either blatantly violating Ministry law or are violating the department code of ethics. Harry’s primary case at the moment is investigating the suspected graft of Auror Kelapry “Kelpie” Dawlish, the son of former auror John Dawlish.

Kelpie was the lead investigator into a suspected ring of illegal transfigurers. The group was illegally transfiguring rocks and pebbles into currency, primarily galleons. The illegal galleons would remain transfigured long enough for them to be laundered through legitimate businesses. The group gained “legitimate” tangible wealth while the innocent, but now duped, business proprietors were left with a satchel of rocks and mounting profit losses.

Kelpie appeared to be having some success at rounding up the group of transfigurers and their counterfeit galleons, but, to date had not come close to identifying the leaders and the brains behind the operation. He had thus far captured nine low level operators in the span of six months, and had confiscated hardly significant amounts of counterfeit currency. Auror Department Head, Gawain Robards, was increasingly frustrated with Dawlish’s lack of progression on the case. Every one of those captured barely had the IQ to string together a sentence let alone orchestrate a complex counterfeiting ring, leading to Minister Robards’ suspicions to question the activities of Dawlish. An internal investigation was immediately launched which was now keeping Harry extremely busy

Unbeknownst to Harry and Robards, Dawlish had identified the leader of the ring at the very beginning of the investigation, Valentino Costanza. Instead of immediately arresting Costanza, Kelpie allowed himself to be lured by promises of riches and power in the Costanza organization in exchange for protection from the interference of the Ministry. Together, they hatched a mutually beneficial plan. Costanza would identify to Kelpie lower level minions in his gang that had displeased him in some way; he also provided Kelpie with a significant amount of transfigured galleons. Kelpie would turn in the offender with half of the galleons keeping the other half and immediately laundering it for his own gain. It had been a rather profitable venture for about six months. Kelpie continued to insist that he would get to the leader eventually.

Ron is a newly assigned junior investigator in the Homicide Division, recently transferred from the Vice Division. Tracking down and capturing heinous individuals that would lower themselves to take a life without a justified cause filled him with a profound sense of accomplishment. He was really contributing to the wizarding world in a significant way, especially when it was certain that another life had been saved. Recently, his team had captured Morley Zagway just as he was about to cast the avada curse on an unsuspecting muggle. This job surely was leaps and bounds better than the Vice Division.

He knew that the job in Vice needed to be done, but it had not brought him any real job satisfaction. The missions were varied and some downright comical such as flushing two-Knut hookers out of Knockturn Alley. They would beg and plead to not be arrested, often offering their services in exchange for freedom. As if Ron would ever take one of them up on that offer, he was never even tempted by the same offer coming from the elegant and beautiful 150 galleon a night “escort” witches his team had busted last year. He didn’t relish the thought of his wife hexing his bits off if she so much as suspected that type of behavior from him. But, honestly, it was a waste of time; they would all be free of the Ministry holding cells and on their backs again the next day.

The only missions that gave him the remotest sense of accomplishment were rounding up the illegal potions dealers that inhabited every corner in Knockturn Alley that wasn’t occupied by hookers. The despicable parasites preyed on young witches and wizards hoping to create customers for life. Unfortunately the life span of a potions addict was sadly short. Ron felt that, if his actions arresting the vile sub humans prevented even one youngster from falling victim to the dealers and addiction, it was a job well done.

Harry married Ginny after Auror training and her first successful season with the Holyhead Harpies. Ginny has since transitioned into the role of senior Quidditch editor for the Daily Prophet. They have two beautiful sons and are expecting a little girl to be named Lily Luna. Their oldest, James Sirius, is three years old and is already exhibiting a penchant for mischief in the tradition of their uncles Fred and George. Albus Severus has just turned two and was quieter and more introspective than James.

Ron married, of all witches, Luna Lovegood. To outsiders it may seem like an odd match, but truth be told they complimented each other well. Contrary to popular opinion and Ron’s outward projection of an aversion to academic pursuits, he was smart and admired an intelligent witch. Luna’s gentle astuteness melded with his brash personality and fiery temper better than Hermione’s bossiness and demanding intellect. Her calm and even demeanor helped temper his emotional highs and lows. For Luna, Ron provided the needed outspokenness to help Luna stand up for herself. They also have an overly active three year old son named for his grandfather and father, Xeno Bilius Weasley. Needless to say their busy, and often hectic, family lives leave little time for frequent socializing.

Even being best mates first and now brothers-in-law, the only guaranteed social time Harry and Ron had together was the weekly mandatory Sunday brunch at the Burrow. The only acceptable reasons to miss the weekly gathering without facing the wrath of one Molly Weasley were death, critical illness, or actively birthing her next grandchild. In these cases, the brunches were most likely cancelled as the large extended family gathered around the deceased, sick, or laboring family member.

One Sunday, early in Ron and Luna’s marriage, Ron was feeling particularly romantic and decided to spend the day at home sweetly seducing his wife and ditch that day’s brunch. After noticing the couple’s absence, the family was convinced that the newlyweds were in mortal peril, despite the infamous Weasley family clock indicating they were at home and not in danger. The entire clan stormed to the house, pitching through the floo in rapid succession and stumbling over the amorous couple in quite the compromising position on the rug in front of the fireplace. Needless to say, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Weasley never missed another brunch except for when Xeno was born of a Sunday.

On every usual Sunday, the pattern rarely changed, only bending to inclement weather. Before eating, a raucous game of pick-up quidditch would ensue; if one didn’t play, they sat outside watching and cheering. Next, exercise enhanced appetites came to Molly’s bountiful brunch table. After eating, sated and lethargic adults would gather in the spacious lounge, while the next generation was sent to the back toy room to play quietly or nap. Talk in the lounge would often turn to wistful reminiscence on their varied halcyon days spent at Hogwarts. They all fondly remembered languid hours spent in the squishy armchairs playing games, reading, or just chatting and lazy autumn and spring days sitting under the blue skies surrounding the lake.

This Wednesday morning’s encounter between Harry and Ron outside of the Leaky Cauldron was different. Today’s encounter was planned and an annual tradition. Every September 19^th they would meet for morning coffee and after work or at the end of a weekend day they would met again in the Leaky Cauldron to raise a glass in honor of their best friend. The day was rounded out with a dinner at the Burrow with the entire extended Weasley family. At each of these meetings large and small, talk was full of quiet and melancholy memories of happier times with their friend Hermione Granger. Each year they honored her birthday of September 19^th, today was Hermione’s 28^th birthday and neither Harry nor Ron had seen her for nearly nine years.

Unlike those other normal mornings that they meet there is no convivial talk and laughter. Today they are silent, walking with heads down and lost in their own thoughts. The simple act of ordering their coffee finally broke their silence.

"Two coffees please,” Harry whispered, forcing the server to lean in to correctly hear the order.

Ron quickly piped in before the server left, “oi, and a couple of scones too”. Harry looked at him surprised by the fact that he could possibly be hungry on a day like this. Ron looked slightly abashed and retorted, “what? I can be sad and hungry at the same time.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed both arms and ankles and added softly, “besides, Hermione would understand.”

Harry sighed, “yes.” After a moments pause he added, “She would be especially proud that you have finally learned to not talk with food in your mouth.” He gently teased. That elicited a small tender smile on Ron’s face.

“Yeah, she would at that.” He leaned closer to Harry, elbows on the table, “I wish I had a galleon for every time she said, ‘Ronald, that’s disgusting and nobody can understand what you say when you do that’, he mimicked her high pitched swotty tone.” They both laughed and quieted as the server brought their order.

Harry watched Ron inhale the scones, “when I feel like this, my gut is in such a knot I don’t think I could put food in my stomach if I wanted.”

“No worries, ‘sOK mate.” Ron said reaching over to pat Harry’s shoulder.

Ordinarily, the highly observant aurors would have noticed the lone figure seated in the booth nearest the exit to Diagon Alley. He was slouched down in the bench; his face all but obscured by the thick hooded sweatshirt he wore despite the unusually warm September weather. They were too absorbed in the sadness of the day to notice the stranger’s constant staring. The stranger continued to watch their quiet conversation as they finished the coffees and scones and prepared to leave for work.

As soon as Harry and Ron passed through to Diagon Alley, the stranger leapt to his feet and chased after them. They were no more than a few steps down the alley when the stranger grabbed Harry by the shoulder and spun him around. Harry may not have been paying his usual attention to his surroundings, and the stranger accosting him was a surprise; but by the time the spin was complete, Harry’s wand was out and pressed under the chin of the assailant. Ron had also reacted quickly and was behind the stranger, wand to his temple and a strong arm around his neck.

“Harry – stop,” the stranger wheezed, barely able to force the words from his mouth past the pressure Ron’s arm was exerting on his windpipe.

Without backing down, Harry demanded, “who are you!” Simultaneously, Ron, keeping the arm around his neck, pulled off the hood with his wand hand and revealed the identity of the culprit.

Several things happened at once. Harry hissed, “Zabini,” Ron released his neck, and both roughly pushed Blaise into a darkened side alley so as not to be seen.

Blaise leaned against the wall gasping to regain his breath, “gods you two, did you have to be so rough?”

“What are you dong here?” Harry asked quietly but with authority in his tone. “You haven’t been seen around here in nine years.”

“Yeah, Zabini, What gives?” Ron demanded more loudly than Harry. They both maintained their defensive posture waiting for his answer.

Blaise looked each one of them in the eye before saying the one thing that locked their faces into expressions of complete surprise. “It’s about Hermione!”

Author’s Note: That’s it – the beginning! Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated.
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To Love Again