Welcome to my new story! It is set four years after the war; obviously Remus and Tonks survived but they have no children. Hermione is engaged to Ron. This is a story about good and bad relationships, and realising who you're meant to be with. I've rated this story as M due to later chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything in the world of the story; that honour belongs to JK Rowling.

Enjoy!

Hermione Granger wandered up Diagon Alley, the busy, cobble-stoned thoroughfare that was bustling with shoppers and street vendors. She had just had her lunch break with her best friend, Ginny Weasley in a cosy little place called Jenny's Café, where they often met to chat together before going back to work. Today, Ginny had a few errands to run and had left early, so Hermione quietly finished her salmon sandwich and pot of tea before leaving.

She passed a bright, eye-catching shop (where Ginny worked). It had a coral pink façade and magenta window frames, door and sign, which said: Weasley's Pink Magic. During the four years of peace that they had had since the end of the Second Wizarding War, Fred and George had expanded their business a great deal and Ginny had given them the idea to branch out into pink magic. As it was their sister's idea, they allowed her to decorate and design the shop, invent the products (including items that improved the user's health, beauty, love and sex life, as well as their overall happiness) and even run that part of their business.

Hermione continued on up the street, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Diagon Alley. Small groups of women chatted and laughed together, some eyeing the dress robes in the window of Madam Malkin's. A young wizard could be heard calling people to buy today's copy of The Daily Prophet, which he sold from a stand on the right side of the street. The delicious scent of pumpkin pasties was coming from a stall nearby. A group of boys not yet old enough to attend Hogwarts were outside Quality Quidditch supplies, excitedly exclaiming their admiration of the new Nimbus broomstick that had just been released.

She eventually reached a shop called The Book Garden. It was where she worked, a shop she co-owned and ran with Remus Lupin, her business partner of the past four years. It was a far more serious and introverted establishment than those related to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Hermione loved it though. Its outside was painted a calm, pale blue colour and the sign was in ornate silver letters above the windows which displayed Hermione's hand-picked books of the week.

Hermione let herself into the shop and shut the door. She turned over the sign so that it showed 'open' and went to hang up her coat. She assumed Remus must still be having his lunch break upstairs in the flat that accompanied the shop so she settled herself behind the counter until he returned.

Hermione was so happy in her job. She loved working with Remus and was pleased about having her best friend only a minute's walk away. After the war, Hermione had received countless offers of employment, from the Ministry of Magic, Saint Mungo's, Gringotts, the Daily Prophet and even from the Potions and Transfiguration Society. She was famous, as were many of the people who had been involved in the battle of Hogwarts, mainly members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army. They had been honoured with Orders of Merlin and the Ministry of Magic had given them each several thousand galleons in gratitude. Remus had suggested that they use their money to start a business together and she had accepted, refusing all other opportunities she was given.

Many people told her she was wasting her intellect and her talents but she was happy and that's all she wanted. Working quietly in The Book Garden had allowed Hermione and Remus to stay out of the spotlight, which they both appreciated. They didn't just sell books in their shop but also hosted events. Writers visited to do book-signings, poetry readings and storytelling sessions for children. They also ran a book club on Wednesday afternoons. Hermione's work life was content and she was glad of it.

Remus came through the door that led to the upstairs flat and smiled as soon as he saw her. His grey eyes were warm, always reflecting his calm, friendly personality. Although his light brown hair was streaked with grey and he usually appeared pale and weary, he hadn't aged much since the end of the war. He was still the same man, tall and thin, but strong as well.

'Did you enjoy your lunch break?' He asked her.

'Yes, I did, thank you. Ginny and I went to Jenny's Café. How was yours?' She smiled back at him.

'Oh, it was just fine,' he said. 'Quiet.' They both knew that that was how he liked it- most of the time.

'Do you want to carry on serving while I finish arranging the new stock?' she asked.

'Yes, but wait a second.' He went back upstairs and a minute later he was back, laden with so many boxes that Hermione couldn't see his face. 'Where do you want them?'

'Put them in the Muggle fiction section,' she said, walking over to the empty shelves where she was going to put the new books.

She watched him as he carried the boxes over to her. The muscles in his arms, shoulders and back shifted underneath his blue shirt. She was and always had been impressed by the strength he had. It was useful in the shop for lifting the heavy books that need moving around and, of course, it was pleasant to look at, even if she wouldn't admit it.

Remus deposited the boxes carefully on the floor and straightened up. She realised she was staring at him and she turned away.

'Thanks,' she said, blushing.

He smiled at her again but didn't say anything. He moved to stand behind the counter, ready to serve any customers who walked in. Hermione used magic to tear open the tape that was holding a box shut. It contained copies of the latest Muggle crime-thriller that had rapidly become a bestseller. She took out a handful of copies and arranged them neatly on the shelf.

The Book Garden stocked mainly books about magic, like Flourish and Blotts. They had sections for every magical subject, from charms to transfiguration and even the more obscure, such as alchemy. But what set Hermione and Remus's shop apart from the others was that it also stocked Muggle literature as well, particularly bestsellers and new releases in fiction and non-fiction.

'Did you manage to speak to Ron last night?' Remus asked her as she worked.

'No, I didn't, I'll try to remember to do it tonight,' she replied.

He had asked her to request some tickets from Ron to the Chudley Cannons' next match, which was on Saturday. Tonks loved Quidditch and it was her birthday so Remus wanted to take her to see her team play.

Remus nodded. 'Thanks. You'll be at the match, won't you?'

'Yes, of course,' Hermione said rather half-heartedly. 'Sitting with the wives and girlfriends, but I'll see if I can sit with you and Tonks instead.' She seemed slightly more enthusiastic.

Remus gave a little laugh. 'You really don't like Quidditch, do you?'

'No,' Hermione said firmly. 'But Ron does and he's in a premier team, so I have to go to all the matches to support him.'

'I'm not really a big fan of it either,' he admitted.

They had to stop chatting as a customer approached the counter with an armful of books. Remus served her, ringing up the total with the till and putting the books in a bag. He thanked the woman and cheerfully reminded her to visit again and she left.

'Oh, don't forget that big order from Hogwarts, Remus,' said Hermione as she finished with one box and opened another.

Instead of having students buy books themselves, the school itself ordered them in and then the parents were billed at the start of each term for the books that their children would need for their lessons. It ensured that each student had all they required for school and allowed book suppliers to deal with orders efficiently. Usually, students in fifth year and below used the same textbooks throughout the year for each of their subjects and it was

only the NEWT students who were expected to buy new textbooks each term, depending on the teaching plans of their professors.

He nodded and reached under the counter for the parchment with the list of books that Hogwarts needed for the summer term. He browsed the list for a moment and then began wandering around the shop, taking books from shelves and placing them neatly on a trolley.

He visited all the sections for magical books and then wheeled the trolley over to the Muggle literature section, where Hermione was still shelving books.

'Oh, it seems like they're starting to study Muggle literature,' Remus said, as he showed her the list. 'Look, the sixth years need Dracula, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and The Complete Sherlock Holmes.'

Hermione nodded and peered at the parchment. 'They must be doing a module on Victorian literature,' she said, and pointed out Tennyson's Complete Poetry and The Woman in White, which were also written on the list.

Remus scanned the shelves, looking for the books and when he found them he placed them on the trolley with the others. He reached up to take the volume of Tennyson's poetry from the shelf, which was a thick eight-hundred page book, when it slipped out of his fingers and struck Hermione's forehead as it fell. She gasped in pain and felt her eyes fill with tears. Remus looked stricken as he dropped the parchment he had been holding and turned to her.

'I'm so sorry, Hermione,' he said immediately, sounding guilty. 'Let me see.'

She stepped closer to him and he gently tilted her head upwards so he could see the red mark on the right side of her forehead. He rubbed it with his thumb and then he held the back of her neck with one hand. Slowly he leant down and placed a soft kiss to her skin. She gazed up at him and found that he was gazing down at her, his grey eyes warm.

'What are you doing?' she whispered.

'Checking to see if you're okay,' he whispered back.

There was a pause and Remus absent-mindedly began stroking the back of her neck with his thumb as they continued to look into each other's eyes. Hermione's breathing had become shallow.

'I'm fine,' she said at last.

Then the moment seemed to be over. They looked away from each other. Remus cleared his throat and stepped back while Hermione bent to pick up the book and parchment, which were on the floor. She handed them to him and he looked slightly sheepish.

'I'm sorry I attacked you with a big book of poetry,' he said, trying to keep his tone light-hearted.

'There are worse things to be attacked with,' she said.

He laughed awkwardly and placed the book on the trolley. 'Well, I'd better get these parcelled up.' They exchanged another glance and then he began to wheel the trolley to the stock room.

She watched him go and when he was finally in the stock room, she sighed deeply, not realising the breath she had been holding. She felt the tension leave her back and shoulders but she couldn't slow down her racing heart.

What did you think? This story is two thirds written so never fear that I'm not going to finish it. As I write the rest of the story I'm going to edit each earlier chapter and then upload them on a weekly basis (probably on a Sunday).

Also for readers of my other story, I Wish I Was The Moon:

I am currently reviewing it. I have planned the rest of the story right up to the end and will continue writing it shortly.