-1"Frequencies"

A twenty-four year old Harry Potter sat in an open-air café waiting for his best friend, Hermione Granger. It had become common practice to head to that particular café, near bustling muggle traffic. It was a place Hermione was fond of, and one Harry himself had grown attached to. The coffee wasn't quite as good as advertised on the café's window, but it was what went on in the café, with friends, that made the café so special. It was really the only time he could really talk with Ron Weasely or Hermione in the busy workweek. All three were usually caught up in busy schedules and the only time they ever got to wind down were their little get-together's in the muggle cafe in the heart of London.

Harry looked down at his watch; Hermione was running twenty minutes late. Harry had gotten used to her unpunctuality. Harry was sure it had reluctantly become a recurring issue, ever since her promotion in the Magical Law department. It also didn't help that she also had very important extra curricular events going on, such as her House-Elves equality movement and her novel publishing's.

Ron was another one who was known for his tardiness, though that's a little easier to get used to since he was never one for promptness even in Hogwarts. Ron was a very skilled auror in the Magical Law Enforcement office in the Ministry. He had taken the position Harry had left three years ago. Apart from that, he also worked part time in the Hogsmeade branch of his brother's Weasely Wizard Wheezes. He was also engaged to his girlfriend of four years, Luna Lovegood, who apart from taking over after her father in "The Quibbler", was also a freelance writer and researcher of the "New Creatures and Why you Should Love Them" feature in "The Daily Prophet". Ron was not going to meet Hermione and Harry there today because Xenophilius had invited him and his parents to eat dinner with Luna and him.

Harry was about to order another tea, when he caught sight of Hermione getting off a red Double Decker bus across the street. He watched as she hurriedly crossed the street and sped towards Harry.

"I'm so sorry," she said breathlessly, sitting down in the chair Harry pulled out for her.

"It's all right" Harry responded sitting back in his own chair.

"It was--"

"Wellings?" Harry interrupted.

Susan Wellings was Hermione's assistant, she was a very sweet girl, according to Hermione, but she had the habit of misplacing important papers, thus complicating things for Hermione.

"Krum actually" Hermione replied.

"Oh" Harry said simply. "Another row?'

"Yeah" said Hermione. "And here I thought that no one would be able to beat Ron in that department"

"What was it now?" asked Harry curiously.

"Same thing as always" Hermione answered. "He's still angry about my refusal to move with him to Bulgaria"

"I thought you said you two had spoken about that"

"We did. And I thought I had gotten through to him" said Hermione. "But I guess not."

"Well, how about dinner's on me?" asked Harry smiling at Hermione.

"That sounds good," said Hermione smiling back.

Harry and Hermione ordered there food and waited out by talking, catching up as they always did.

"You know I still can't believe you broke up with Sarah," said Hermione sipping her iced tea.

Harry cocked his eyebrow curiously.

"Why not?"

"Well out of the girls you've been with, I actually thought she had potential." explained Hermione. "You both looked so cheery together."

"That was the problem. The girl had a very limited range of emotion." said Harry. "She was always happy."

"Oh" Hermione said.

"She was immature and clingy. I couldn't stand it anymore".

"Looks really can be deceiving," Hermione said.

"What I find hard to believe is that Ron is engaged." said Harry.

Hermione nodded fervently.

"That really was a shocker."

"But I'm happy, Luna really brings out the best in him." said Harry. "Not that you didn't when you were with him"

"I know we brought the best in each other when we were together, but that was outweighed by the worse," said Hermione jokingly.

"Let it be known it didn't come from my mouth" Harry said laughing.

The waiter came by with their orders and both digged in enthusiastically.

"Well" said Hermione looking down at her watch. "Today's your lucky day Harry. I'm completely free for tonight."

"Lucky me" said Harry mockingly.

"So what do you want to do?" Hermione asked.

"How about we walk off what we just ate, at the park?" Harry suggested.

"All right" said Hermione.

The two walked out of the café, their arms linked together. Dusk had already fallen. Streetlights, car lights, and neon signs came alive as the city prepared for the nightlife. Turning a corner towards the park, Harry took in the scene. The scene was filled with cars taking their turns running and waiting to go to their respective places. It was going to be a chilly night, just as the day had been. It was September and Harry couldn't appreciate the effect it had on the city, enough.

The two passed the massive iron gates that always remained open, and made their way into the park. They walked through the park's winding path, talking and remembering past times. They didn't stop until they reached the pebbled bridged that linked one part of the park to the other, across a wide lake. They both leaned over, side by side, looking down at their reflection sin the water.

"I'm curious about something," said Hermione after five minutes of silence between them.

"What?" asked Harry looking at her.

Hermione was still looking down into the water when she answered Harry.

"Did you ever doubt the possibility of all three of us remaining as close as we were, in the future?"

"We are close" Harry replied.

"I know, and I'm happy we are. But did you ever think it might've all changed after we left Hogwarts?" Hermione asked pensively.

"Well, if we would've led a normal life in Hogwarts, and had been the typical friends everyone was, I'd probably say yes" Harry said looking down at Hermione's and his reflection. "But we had a very risky time, throughout those seven years, and both of you stuck with me throughout the whole ordeal, so I never really thought anything would change after Hogwarts".

Harry glanced at Hermione and saw her smiling.

"I however, always kick myself when I think of all the times I haven't been there for you." said Harry.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, turning to face him.

"I've been selfish with you guys. You personally have helped me more than I've ever helped you."

"Oh Harry" Hermione sighed. "It's incomparable, you always had so many things going on back then, more important things on your mind"

"Maybe, but I feel like I'm in debt to you guys." Harry said.

"Well you shouldn't. Ron and I stuck with you because we love you and we wanted you to make it through all of that. Live a normal life. Have everything you were denied of during those seventeen years." said Hermione.

"Do you remember the rough patch we went through, right after the war?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Oh yes" Hermione replied, looking ahead of the bridge to a distant couple who were standing by the shoreline of the lake.

"When you thought I wouldn't need you anymore because all you had helped me through was over?"

"Yes" replied Hermione.

"Hasn't all of that been proven false?" asked Harry.

Hermione smiled.

"Yes"

"Unfortunately, you are stuck being friends with Ron and I, because we can't function without you." Harry said chuckling.

"No you can't. You're both lost causes," Hermione said jokingly.

"We don't know what we'd do with out you," Harry said honestly.

"Let's hope you'll never have to find out," Hermione said smiling.

Their friendly banter was disrupted by Hermione's mobile.

"Sorry" Hermione apologized as she stepped away from Harry.

"Hello" Hermione answered.

"Hermo-ninny, where are you?" Viktor replied.

Harry laughed, apparently, despite Hermione's best efforts in teaching him, Viktor had not learned to speak in a muggle phone. Everything he was saying could be heard from Harry's standpoint.

"I'm in the park" Hermione replied patiently.

"Vith who? Vy in the night? You're supposed to be home!" Viktor yelled.

"Whoa, first of all lower the tone of voice, second quit with the third degree because I'm sick of it. I'm a grown woman and I don't need to interrogated this way" Hermione retorted angrily.

"You're vith Potter again aren't you?" Viktor asked heatedly.

"That's it. Viktor I want you out of my flat right now. I'm done with you," said Hermione.

Harry heard Viktor ranting off in Bulgarian and saw Hermione end the call and throw it into the canal.

"I know that it isn't healthy to the environment, but I could care less at the moment about that," said Hermione when she saw Harry's shocked reaction.

"I'm sorry" Harry replied.

Hermione sagged tiredly onto the floor.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked as he joined her, leaning back on the pebble railing of the bridge.

Hermione nodded, her eyes covered by her hand.

Harry withdrew an arm and wrapped it around Hermione.

"Honestly I am okay. I'm so glad that's over and done with," Hermione said drawing a heavy sigh.

"He was a git. You deserve better," said Harry earnestly.

"Yeah" said Hermione, facing Harry. "Well, my mood has been dampened for the rest of the evening"

"Understandably" said Harry agreeably.

"Do you mind if I stay at Grimmauld place just for tonight?" Hermione asked. "I really don't feel like facing what's waiting for me at my flat."

"Of course" Harry replied. "And after work I'll go with you to make sure he doesn't cause any problems"

"Thank you Harry" said Hermione.

"No problem" Harry answered.

Harry got up and turned to give Hermione a hand.

Together they walked out of the park and into a dark alleyway to dissaparate.