A/N: Can you believe it? I have the first chapter up already! I was so excited to start this new fic that I just kept on typing and before I knew it, I had the first chapter all written!
Anyway, just a few things: this fic is a bit AU. I'll be following the events after HBP for a bit, but eventually, this fic will take a course on its own, so if you're going to flame me about the characters being OOC and what not, save your breath. It's AU. Although it's only slight, it's still AU.
Second: Although I may seem like I'm turning this fic into a Seamus/Hermione pairing, fear not my fellow Harry/Hermione readers! This IS a Harry/Hermione fic, and therefore, H/Hr will end up together one way or another. They just need to sort stuff out for themselves.
Lastly: I'm still looking for a beta-reader. So if you're interested, e-mail me or send me a message. Either way, I'll respond back to you as soon as possible.
Now sit back, relax and enjoy!
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Dance with Me
Chapter 1
Hermione Granger sighed and gazed out at the window in her room for the umpteenth time since she picked up her book. She was currently attempting to read a novel, but she couldn't concentrate on it, no matter how hard she tried.
She looked back at the book in disdain. For someone who loves books, she found it annoying that she couldn't even concentrate on a silly little novel. Hermione closed the book, deciding to go back on it later, and instead focused on what was causing her lack of concentration.
Is it because of the summer days? She thought, then crossed it out almost immediately. At 17, Hermione felt that she needed to explore her options as a muggle, and found herself a job as a waitress in a local restaurant. She found the restaurant accidentally, when she woke up one day to find a wonderful sunny day and couldn't pass the opportunity to use it to her advantage. She had been walking aimlessly, when suddenly the air was filled with delicious food being cooked that Hermione couldn't resist and subconsciously followed the smell, eventually leading her to a restaurant called Open House.
Upon entering the restaurant, Hermione immediately fell in love it. The friendly atmosphere, along with the scent of mouth-watering delicacies that the place had to offer was enough for her to become a regular customer. It didn't take long for the manager, Nancy, to offer her a waitress job.
"It's only for the summer love. But if you'd like, you can keep the job for as long as you like," she had said. Hermione's eyes lit up.
"I'd love to work for you Nancy," was her reply. And that was the start of her summer.
Is it because there's nothing to do? She thought, and crossed the thought as well. Working as a waitress, although part-time, made her plans for the summer quite full. When she wasn't working at the Open House, she was in her parents' dental office, being a secretary/assistant. The little free time she had, she would spend it by reading a book.
It's because you're not spending your summer with Harry and Ron, her inner voice taunted. Hermione closed her eyes shut and willed her inner voice to go away.
Hermione stood up, feeling the world crumble at her thoughts. She needed to get out. Looking herself at the mirror to see if she was decent, she grabbed her keys, placed them in her purse, wrote a quick note to her parents telling that she was out for a walk, grabbed Crookshanks, and decided to go for a walk with him.
Feeling the soft breeze on her face, Hermione instantly felt herself relax. But she still couldn't get the thoughts out of her mind. To her horror, she found her eyes welling up with tears. Hermione stared at the sky, pinching the bridge of her nose and willing her tears to go away.
Take a deep breath Hermione and stop thinking about it, she thought. She hastily wiped away the stray tear that managed to fall down her cheek.
Still, she couldn't help but miss her best friends.
I wonder if they miss me, She thought. Hermione found herself unwillingly replaying the moment in her mind when she had her last encounter with Ginny Weasley.
Flashback
"Hermione wait," a voice called out to her. Hermione turned to find Ginny running towards her. After telling her parents to go ahead, she waited for the youngest Weasley to catch up to her.
"What's wrong Ginny?" she asked when Ginny caught up to her. Hermione thought the girl seemed nervous, but she can also feel a bit of hostility from her. She wondered for a bit if that hostility was directed at her.
"I need a favor," she said. Hermione said nothing, urging Ginny to say what she wanted to say. She watched Ginny shuffle her feet, avoiding her gaze, and Hermione inwardly rolled her eyes. Although she was a patient person, she really wanted to get home. She was tired, cranky, and she needed to get away from Ron as soon as possible.
"I need you to stay away from Harry," Ginny blurted out. Hermione looked at the younger girl in shock.
"I'm sorry?" she asked stupidly, not quite sure she was hearing right. Ginny took a deep breath and matched her gaze with Hermione's.
"I need you to stay away from Harry," she repeated. Hermione glared at Ginny. How dare she say that? After everything Harry has gone through for all of sixth year, Ginny could only think of herself and being with Harry. Didn't he already make it clear to her that she needed to stay away
"Don't be ridiculous Ginny," she replied, picking up her bag and walking away from the girl. Before she could turn and walk, however, Ginny caught her arm.
"Look Hermione. I need some time to sort things out with Harry. With you being there, you will just be interfering with Harry and his decisions. I need him to decide for himself if he really wants to be with me or not, and not because you decided for him," she said. Hermione looked at Ginny in disbelief.
"Ginny, can you not think about yourself for once? Harry can't be with you. He already has a lot on his plate without you trying to force yourself into his life," she hissed. Ginny glared back at her.
"I just want to know where I stand in his life, okay Hermione? I don't need you, or anybody else for that matter, telling me that Harry doesn't need me," she said. Shaking herself out of her anger, Ginny looked at Hermione once again, her eyes pleading.
"Please Hermione. I just want you to stay away from the Burrow until after I've sorted things out with Harry. After that, I'll owl you. You can floo in anytime after and then you'll be able to work things out with Ron," she pleaded. At the mention of Ron, Hermione glared at Ginny, but hearing the desperation in Ginny's voice, she couldn't help but feel her anger ebb away.
"All right Ginny. I'll stay away from the Burrow and…Harry," she choked, blinking away her tears. For a minute, she found herself wondering why she couldn't get away from Ron, but the thought of staying away from Harry is bringing her on the brink of tears?
Upon hearing Hermione's words, Ginny's face broke into a beautiful smile and hugged Hermione.
"Thank you Hermione. I promise you won't regret this," she said before letting go and hurrying after her family, waving at Hermione. Once the red-head girl left, Hermione dropped all pretenses and let her tears fall.
End of Flashback
That was after they got off the train at King's Cross. It is now nearing the end of June, and although she knew that Harry was in the Burrow and has been staying there for quite a while now, she still hasn't heard a word from Ginny.
Although Hermione missed her best friends terribly, she found that time to herself also had its perks. She would not have been able to find a part-time job as a waitress to occupy her time and be able to bond with her parents.
She also had enough time to realize her true feelings for Harry.
Hermione shook her head and continued to walk, stroking Crookshanks fur and smiled when she felt her familiar purr with content.
After the run-in with Ginny, Hermione, the over-analyzing-know-it-all, dissected her conflicting feelings towards her raven-haired best friend. Everyone in her year thought that she fancied Ron, and Hermione ironically went along with their thoughts, but as she thought about it closely, the thought of being away from Ron should've bothered her more than the thought of being away from Harry.
After a few weeks of analyzing, Logical Hermione gave up and Emotional Hermione took over, screaming in her head that she was in love with Harry, not Ron. Coming to that conclusion, Hermione's heart broke even more because Ginny told her to stay away from Harry.
If I were more aware of my feelings for Harry, I wouldn't have agreed to it, she thought, sighing. Nevertheless, she kept her word and stayed away from Harry, even going as far as sending back all the letters that Harry sent her. She also ignored Ron's letters at first, but when she found the courage to read one of his letters, she saw that Ron's thoughts occupied a certain dirty-blonde haired witch, Luna Lovegood. She decided then that she would write to Ron about her summer, deliberately staying away from the topic of visiting the Burrow and made sure to write as short as possible. After that, Ron's letter's kept coming, and she kept reading them, but she seldom wrote back.
Hermione had been aimlessly walking once more, and was not aware of where she was going until she walked right into someone. Breaking out of her thoughts, Hermione gasped and stepped back. She bit her lip in pain when Crookshanks hissed at her and dug his claws into her arms.
"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, trying to calm Crookshanks. She heard the person chuckle.
"It's all right Hermione. But fancy bumping into you," the voice replied. Hermione looked up to find Seamus Finnegan's smiling face. Her own face broke into a smile.
"Seamus! It's good to see you!" she exclaimed, wrapping the sandy-haired boy into a one-armed hug, making sure that Crookshanks wasn't in the way. Once they pulled away, Hermione looked at him, not believing her luck to have her slam into a familiar face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked. Seamus laughed.
"I live just down the block over there," he replied, pointing to a pretty house on the far corner. He looked back at her.
"If I'd known you lived near this place, I would've invited you over," he said. Hermione smiled and looked around to where she ended up.
I should really stop being so deep in my thoughts while I'm walking.
"I actually live about five blocks from here," she replied. Seamus nodded his understanding.
"Would you like to come to my place? Have some tea?" he asked. Hermione smiled.
"I'd like that Seamus," she said.
--
"So how'd you end up in my neighborhood anyway?" Seamus asked, pouring out the tea for Hermione. They both settled down on the patio in Seamus' garden, both finding that drinking tea inside would not be as fun as drinking outside. She thanked him and added two cubes of sugar into her tea, blowing out the steam.
"It's one of my aimless walking," she replied. "I tend to walk and let my feet lead the way while I break into my thoughts."
"May I ask what those thoughts are or are they none of my concern?" Seamus asked cautiously. Hermione smiled at him. Although they were not the best of friends like he was with Harry and Ron, she never once felt uncomfortable around Seamus. It also helps that they share a common interest: being friends with Harry and Ron.
"No worries Seamus," she said. "My thoughts mostly revolved around the events that happened on our sixth year."
"You mean you and Ron?" he asked, grinning. Hermione immediately frowned.
"There is no me and Ron," she snapped, sipping on her tea. Hermione saw Seamus look apologetic.
"I-I'm sorry Hermione. I just thought- " Hermione cut him off.
"It's fine Seamus. I thought there was a 'me and Ron' too, but I guess you can say I woke up," she said. Hermione watched as Seamus smiled at her knowingly.
"Well, I always thought you and Ron would make a horrible couple," he said, sipping on his own tea. Hermione laughed.
"You know, I needed to hear that during school. Where were you?" she asked. Seamus chuckled.
"I was in Gryffindor, laughing my arse off at Won-Won," he replied, causing Hermione to laugh harder.
"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Seamus asked once the laughter died down.
"Sure Seamus," Hermione replied.
"Why aren't you spending your time at the Burrow?" he asked. Hermione bit her lip. She should've seen this coming.
"It's a long story," was all she said. Seamus leaned back on his chair, making himself comfortable.
"We've got nothing but time dah'ling," he said with a mock American accent. Hermione laughed again. She was amazed to find herself having a great time talking to Seamus and wondered why she never bothered to spend some time to talk to him.
Might as well tell him everything.
As Hermione related her story to Seamus, she couldn't help but notice that he supported everything she said. She, like everyone else who thought that her and Ron were meant to be together, thought that Seamus approved of Ginny and Harry being together.
"Ginny has become quite the scarlet woman this year," Seamus said once Hermione finished her story. She couldn't help but laugh at the way he said it.
Once again, I thought wrong.
"But I'm surprised you actually listened to her Hermione," Seamus continued. Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You don't strike me as the girl to listen to someone who orders you around, much less Ginny Weasley," he explained. Hermione looked down at her tea.
"Although I'm not happy I agreed with the situation myself, I thought Ginny needed this time for her to realize that Harry doesn't need her," she said. Hermione shook her head, then smiled at Seamus.
"So Seamus, what have you been up to this summer?" she asked, hoping against hope that Seamus would take the hint. Fortunately for her, Seamus did.
"I've been running a dance studio," he said. Once again, Hermione was surprised.
"You dance?" she asked. Seamus nodded.
"My grandfather died during winter, and in his will, he left the dance studio he owned to me. I guess he knew how much I loved the place and thought I could run it for him," he said.
"I'm so sorry about your grandfather Seamus," Hermione said worriedly. Seamus shook his head and smiled at her.
"No worries Hermione; keeping the dance studio alive feels like he's alive as well, because he was a dancer like me," he replied. They sat in silence for a few moments, but Hermione couldn't contain the curiosity bubbling up inside her.
"So what do you do?" she finally asked.
"I teach Ballroom and Latin dances," he replied. Hermione couldn't help but find herself intrigued.
"I've always wanted to learn how to dance," she replied dreamily. Sensing the old know-it-all Hermione resurfacing, Seamus couldn't help but smile.
"Would you like me to teach you?" he asked. At this, Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Would you?" she asked. Then, finding her manners, she quickly added, "I mean, if it's not a bother." Seamus laughed.
"I'd love to teach you how to dance Hermione," he said. He'd never seen Hermione so excited in his life. He watched as she squealed and leapt towards him, making him fall back on his chair. They tumbled down on the grass, but for Seamus' sake, Hermione let go of him and helped him up.
"Sorry about that," she said, blushing furiously. "It's just that with Bill and Fleur's wedding coming up, I wanted to take a chance and be one of those people that never left the dance floor. Unfortunately for me, I don't dance that often." Once Seamus dusted himself off with dirt, he grinned back at her.
"It's all right Hermione. I'll teach you everything you know. How about starting tomorrow?" he asked. Hermione bit her lip.
"I can't Seamus. I'm working that day," she said. Seamus raised an eyebrow.
"Where do you work?" he asked.
"You know the local muggle restaurant called Open House?" he nodded. "That's where I work as a part-time waitress." Seamus gave her a look of surprise.
"Once again, you don't strike me as the type to work as a waitress," he said. Hermione couldn't help but smile. She found that there are so many things she didn't know about Seamus Finnegan, but she vowed that she would get to know him this summer, just how he's about to get to know her.
"Let me guess. You thought I would be working as a part-time librarian, am I right?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well yeah," Seamus replied sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. Hermione laughed.
"Well Mr. Finnegan, you'd be surprised at how well you really know me," she said. Seamus laughed as well.
"I'm already surprised as it is Hermione. But no worries; the same goes to you," he replied.
--
After spending a few more hours at Seamus' house (where she met Mrs. Finnegan, a lovely middle-aged woman with a thick Irish accent, and somehow ending up eating dinner with the Finnegan family), Hermione found herself in Seamus' company as she walked home.
"Do you think I could visit you at Open House tomorrow while you work?" Seamus asked. Hermione smiled at him.
"I'd like that Seamus," she replied. Seamus shoved his hands in his pockets as they walked along.
"What time are you off your work tomorrow anyway?" he asked. Hermione absently stroked Crookshanks.
"Well, I'll be working at 10 in the morning, so I should be off at around 5 in the afternoon," she said. Seamus turned to her.
"You know, we can start your dancing lessons right after your work," he said. Hermione's eyes brightened.
"Really?" she asked, barely containing her excitement. Seamus chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Of course! In fact, owl me a copy of your work schedule. If you get off work in the afternoon, I'm sure we can squeeze your dancing lessons along," he said. Hermione grinned.
"Well I'm getting a new work schedule tomorrow, so as soon as I get it, I will immediately make you a copy," she said. Seamus grinned.
"But you're okay with starting your dancing lessons as soon as possible, right?" he asked. Hermione nodded enthusiastically, causing Seamus to chuckle again. Before Hermione knew it, they were standing at the front of her house. She turned to Seamus, smiling happily at him.
"Thank you for a lovely day today," she said. Seamus smiled back.
"It's nice to see you Hermione. And you heard my mum; don't be a stranger and come over anytime," he said. Hermione gave him a hug.
"I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time together," she said before bidding him farewell and walking towards her house.
I guess my first summer without Harry and Ron for a bit won't be so bad after all, she thought, smiling to herself.
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A/N: Okay guys, you know what to do! Review Review Review! It's nice to feel my hard work is appreciated once in awhile.