DISCLAIMER: The characters of this story belong to JK Rowling and WB tm.

CLARIFICATION: I feel obliged to let you know that English is not my mother tongue. So feel free to point out any line you think is confusing or makes no sense. Actually, I would appreciate it. And if you'd like to be my beta reader, I would appreciate it.

A GUY AND A GIRL CAN BE JUST FRIENDS

Chapter One

"Time apart"

By: TlalGalaxia

Harry James Potter arrived five minutes in advance to his appointment in that quiet and small restaurant in Picadilly Circus in London. He had loved the idea of meeting in that restaurant because secretly he enjoyed the anonymity that the muggle world gave him. As much as he loved the wizardly world, sometimes it was a little tiring having people always waving at him, greeting at him or even taking pictures of him with or without his permission. Of course that being the one surviving Lord Voldemort twice was something to be marveled at. After all, no one else had been able to survive such deed and walk among the rest of the mortals like he did. But if at the beginning of his life, he had been considered a celebrity; nowadays the name of Harry Potter was the synonym of a living legend. However, that night, surrounded by nothing but muggles, he was able to forget at least for a while that he was so famous and the reasons why.

Not long after him, his friend arrived. She was carrying a bottle of red wine that she put on the table before leaning close to him and kissing him on the cheek. After that she took the seat in from of him.

-You arrived early,- she observed with a grin,- something so unlike you…

-I've been here not more than a minute; I assume we almost met in the entrance. Besides, I didn't want you to complain about my unpunctuality for the rest of the dinner.

Hermione Granger continued grinning as she took the menu in front of her, thinking sometimes Harry was too honest for her and his own sake. It was not the fanciest restaurant but it was good and quiet enough for the purpose of the meeting. Harry could not help but to notice how changed his friend was after the last time they had met.

-You look stunning,- he said not taking back his impulse to say what he was thinking.

Hermione's grin suddenly became a giggle.

-If I didn't know you as well as I know you, I'd believe that you're hitting on me.

Harry urged himself not to blush. There was something about Hermione that he had never noticed before. It wasn't the fact that her hair was down after years of been worn up in a tight bun; it wasn't even her evening blue silk dress and the black velvet heels. Hermione was forty years old now, almost a year older than him, and the sparkles in her eyes took ten years away from her appearance.

-I see you're taking it great,- he added without really believing what he was seeing,- or is it denial what I see?

Hermione smiled putting her menu down and reaching her hands to take Harry's.

-I'm great, thank you for asking… are we here discuss that?

-No…

Harry let go of her hands taking his own menu. Hermione noticed he was nervous by the way he held the menu. She thought to herself how funny it was to know somebody so much without even being related.

-What is it?- she demanded feeling uneasy for ignoring the reason why they had met so suddenly.

-Let's order, shall we?- he answered quickly calling the waiter with a gesture

She nodded trying not to look anxious. After all, Harry was the person she would do anything for. What could he ask her that she couldn't do? She looked at him as the waiter approached; Hermione had to admit that he had aged graciously. Harry had just turned forty but he was fit like a twenty-year-old. His hair was as messy as always with very few gray hairs visible and he was wearing a pair of black glasses with square shaped frames that really suited his face. Even the dim gray muggle suit made him look like one of those business men who went somewhere for a drink after work.

When the waiter had taken their orders, the awkward silence began.

-So…- said Hermione not meaning to push the conversation again,- how's Ginny?

Harry cleared his throat before replying.

-I've been thinking a lot about what you told me last time we met.

Hermione couldn't help blushing.

-I was drunk.

-And I was sober.

Hermione started playing the napkin between her fingers. She had hoped Harry would never talk about that incident ever in their lives.

It all had started a few years before. When Hermione and Ron's children started attending Hogwarts, things at home had become harsh. It was no mystery that they used to argue a lot even before getting married. Their differences had always been clear because they had really different ways of thinking. And when both children started spending more time at Hogwarts than at home, Ron and Hermione had had plenty of time to retake old arguments and Harry had witnessed it all from afar. Sometimes he had to listen to Ron at work telling him how wrong Hermione was and when he was home he had to listen to Ginny telling him Hermione's version and finally Hermione would call him on the weekend to retell him what Ginny had already told him. But Harry had never complained. To him, it had been like going back to Hogwarts times and a realization that their friends would never change. But he had been mistaken.

After three years of arguments only interrupted when their children got home, Ron and Hermione had decided that enough was enough. They had been trying to make it work for the children's sake but even they had realized how worn away their parents' relationship was and it was no surprise to them when their parents had decided to take a break from each other. This time Harry had heard Hermione's version since he had assumed that Ron would rely on his family and to Harry, Hermione was as much a family as the Weasleys were.

"I feel empty inside" she had said to Harry soaking in tears while he tried to comfort her with a hug sitting on the couch of the living room of the Weasley Granger house. The smell of wine on her was notorious "What am I supposed to do now? Have I wasted half of my life married to a man that will never change?"

Harry had no answer to her questions. He couldn't allow himself to make answers in his head since Ron was his friend too. Somehow he had always known that Ron and Hermione were opposite like water and fire but he had always trusted that their love would be enough to overcome those differences. It had been as shocking for him as it had been to Hermione when things hadn't worked out.

"Do you really feel that way?" Harry had asked "Because to me it doesn't look like you've been wasting time. Rose has become the smartest girl of her generation and Hugo… well, hugo is a really nice kid"

Hermione had smiled in spite of herself. Of course she didn't regret her children. They were the best thing of having married Ron and they had been the ones that had made that marriage work for so many years.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to say that I regretted my children… that's not what I meant. It's just that… well; I don't know what to do from now on"

Harry had helped her lay her head on the back of the couch. The Weasley Granger House, had been bought by Ron and Hermione after they had got married and were they had lived most of the time as a family with their children. Letting go of her and just occupying the place next to her, Harry fixed himself to face the wall in front of them and leaned forward supporting himself the hands on his knees. Hermione was leaning back looking at the ceiling lost in her thoughts and probably forgetting that her friend was there.

"You just do what you do best" said Harry finally. He wasn't good with words. He knew that if things were the other way around, Hermione would have prepared a speech worth a standing ovation but all he could do was to spit cliché phrases he had heard before or probably watched in a movie.

"And what's that?" Hermione had answered with both arms crossed over her face covering her eyes from the light of the lamp on the ceiling.

"You're brilliant, Hermione. And a great lawyer and…" Harry had always thought of Hermione as a self-confident person. Somebody who always knew what to say and what to do; someone he could always rely on but rarely as a person he could give advice to. "Hermione, you're a great person. You just need to overcome this"

"That's what I don't know how to do. How do I overcome it? Have you ever wondered, Harry?"

"What?"

"What would you do If you had to start a life different from what you had always known? Probably that's another reason why Ron and I had never given up on each other. It was just more comfortable to stay together than trying to figure that out"

Harry had not answered that question. Why would he? His relationship with Ginny had never been as stormy as theirs.

"You're not answering" She had insisted.

"Ginny and I have never had a disagreement bigger than what color to paint the house"

"Right" Hermione's bitterness was evident so Harry had to reply.

"What?"

"Well, Ginny would never do or say anything that could upset you"

"What do you mean?" Harry had turned her face to look at hers but she was in the same position he had left her. With her head on the back of the couch and covering her face with both crossed arms. Hermione didn't move an inch when she spoke.

"I mean what I said. Ginny avoids arguments with you all the time"

"That's not true. Ginny is high-tempered. She always says what's on her mind and…"

"Of course she is. Ginny is high-tempered and speaks what's on her mind and has strong opinions… with everyone but you"

Harry felt offended by her friend's words. He had gone there to console her and she had decided to attack him with idiotic arguments like those ones.

"You're drunk"

Hermione felt that offended by Harry's conclusion so she decided to clarify her point. She uncovered her face and approached Harry grabbing him by the shoulders.

"Well yes, I am drunk. But what does that have to do with what I just said? Do you need me to illustrate my point? Well I might just do it: how about the time your first child was born and she let you chose both names? Or what about your second child? She agreed to name him Albus Severus, as horrid as that name sounds… and then the girl came and she was named Lily even before she was born…"

Suddenly, Hermione stopped talking. Not because she had nothing else to say but because she was nauseous and had to run to the toilet if she didn't want to puke on Harry. But that maneuver was easier thought than done; especially when Hermione was so drunk that she could barely get on her feet. Finally, Harry had to help her get there and held her hair while she emptied her stomach holding the toilet like her life depended on it.

Harry had never blamed her for saying those things. Nor had he dared to bring the subject again in any of their following conversations. Anything else to add to that conversation had remained unspoken.

-I suppose I eventually had to apologize for that,- added Hermione without looking at him in the eyes.

-You don't need to,- interrupted Harry,- how did that book you gave me said? "Love means never having to say you're sorry."?

Hermione's eyes were wide open.

-Did you read it?

-No, I looked for the film and I watched it.

Hermione couldn't hide her smile.

-Of course, I should have known that. The book actually says "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry" I used to love that book, you know?

-used to?

-Now I believe it's the dumbest thing ever written. I agree with John Lennon instead: "Love means having to say you're sorry every fifteen times". When you say you're sorry, you show that you care and that's the least you can do for someone you love.

Hermione's eyes were filled with passion as she spoke while her hands moved around to emphasize what she was saying.

-I can tell Greece was a great experience for you. I'm glad to see you more vivid than last time I saw you. How was it?

-Warm and sunny,- Hermione's smile lighted her face even more.

Then Harry realized. Of course she was different! She had a golden tan on her skin and a blush on her cheeks. Her hair was wavier and she smelled like a tropical cocktail. Something like coconut and pineapple.

-Seems like someone had a lot of fun lately.

-I missed it, Harry. I had been so much time away from the muggle world that I had forgotten how much I missed it. Don't you ever?

Harry took a deep breath and nodded trying to fake a smile.

-You must think I went crazy,- added Hermione like realizing the expression on his friend's face was nothing but bewilderment.

-No, not at all.

Harry looked apologetically as he spoke so Hermione nodded approvingly.

Before the conversation continued, the waiter arrived with they started eating. Then Harry continued.

-So you mean to say that you would still be married to Ron if he had apologized every fifteen minutes?

Hermione stopped eating while she thought about her answer. It didn't take long before she shook her head from side to side.

-If you put it that way… I suppose I have to say no. if you need to apologize every fifteen minutes, there's obviously something wrong with that relationship. I mean… of course you should apologize when necessary but if you're always doing something that needs an apology; then you're just sabotaging the relationship too. And it doesn't matter how many times you say you're sorry.

Harry didn't answer again. He just continued eating and Hermione did the same but soon became anxious.

-You said we weren't here to talk this and that's all we have been talking about. Are you telling me now the reason why I'm here?

Harry was not surprised about Hermione's reaction. He knew he couldn't make her wait for a long time. So he decided it was time to say it straight.

-I need you to help me get a life in the muggle world.

Hermione started coughing almost chocking with her food. Harry helped her by hitting her back a few times until she lifted an arm in sign that she was ok. Then she drank some of the red wine Harry had served her before finally answering.

-Why would you want a life in the muggle world? I mean… you work in the Ministry of Magic. I am sure you can get any alibi you need with them.

-I can't ask them that. If I do, I need to keep in touch and I don't want to.

-Is it the paparazzi? Are they back again?

Harry's History with the paparazzi went back several years. Even when Hermione had done everything in her hands to stop Rita Skeeter from writing anything about Harry or his friends after the defeat of of Lord Voldemort, new journalists always tried to get an exclusive interviews with him and pictures with or without his permission. Marrying Ginny Weasley had not made it any better due to her celebrity status as a quidditch player. And when his first baby boy was born, things had got really nasty with the tabloids. That's when Hermione used her skills as a lawyer to promote a law that forbid journalists from interfering with the private life of any wizard or witch without a signed permission and then she promoted another law that punished publications that were not allowed either.

-Of course not,- Harry muttered,- the laws that you made are still active. It has nothing to do with that… well, partially.

-Stop beating around the bushes, Harry and tell me what's this all about.

Harry sighed leaving the fork on the plate as a signal that he had finished. He removed the napkin from his lap and he put it on the table. Then he served a little more wine in his glass and Hermione's and he leaned forward, speaking in a whisper that only Hermione could listen.

-Ginny and I are falling apart.

-What? No, Harry… is this because of what I said? I told you I didn't mean it…

-Let me finish, Hermione. You wanted me to tell you the truth, so just let me finish and don't interrupt me,- Hermione nodded automatically, her eyes wide open and her lips open a little like suppressing a comment that was eager to come out.- it doesn't matter how much you apologize. What you said that night was true. What you said that night… remained in my thoughts for days. Then I started wondering, what if you were right? What if it was true? And then I remembered that usually you're right so I tried to prove you wrong.

Harry looked at Hermione's confused face when he said this and then smiled feeling not too proud of himself.

-I wanted you to be wrong,- he continued,- because Ginny is a nice person…

-She is!

-Yes, she is… but that didn't make it right for me. So you can say I sabotaged our relationship a little trying to pick up a fight. And then it happened that you were right. Ginny didn't react, not once… she always let me get things my way. Even my ridiculous requests she would agree…

-Did you tell her about this? Did you tell her how you felt?

Harry nodded bitterly.

-She said she did it because she loved me. She said she loved me too much to spoil our relationship with trivialities. She admitted she did it on purpose…

-Harry, there's nothing wrong with that.

-Of course there is! Can't you see it? Ginny must be dying inside! Every minute of her life with me she's trying to be someone she's not. She agrees and nods and she does as I please… she's something like a domestic elf.

-I'm sorry, Harry but I think you're overreacting. I think it would be enough if Ginny practiced being more assertive with you. It's not like you're incompatible. Unlike Ron and I; you two have a lot of things in common, a lot more than any other person you might find around.

Hermione was not surprised when Harry remained silent once again. She was getting used to giving him time to think what he was going to say. Personally, she thought that was an improvement on his personality since she had always considered that he had always been a little too impulsive.

-We're giving each other space,- he said finally,- I'm not sure if I want it to be over… I mean, I don't want it to be over but that's why I wanted to see you. I've been living in Grimmauld place for two days and I really miss her. I wanted to see if you…

-… had been able to overcome my sadness?- she complemented like reading his mind.

-I don't want you to feel offended by that…

-No offence taken,- she clarified urgently,- but I don't think your case is anything like mine. Ron and I hadn't been able to stand each other for a long time when we broke up. Being apart was something necessary. Of course it was harmful but we also needed it badly. Ginny and you on the other hand… well, you two were not hurting each other and I don't see the reason why you have to make her suffer like that only for… trying to be nice.

Harry nodded immediately.

-I see your point and that's why we're giving each other space. I want her to be the person she really is instead of the person she thinks I want. And I want to discover how much of her was real and how much wasn't.

-You can do that together.

-I can do that together… but she won't.

-So you're doing it for her, - Hermione gave Harry that look he was so familiar with, that look that meant "you're unbelievable", - is there any other reason why you're doing this? Something you're not telling me?

Hermione shook her head as the waiter came and asked if he could remove the dishes. Hermione nodded to the waiter and looked back at Harry as he walked away.

-Are you helping me or not?

Hermione sighed crossing her arms on her chest.

-Do I have a choice?

Harry grinned, reached her hand over the table and then he kissed it. Hermione tried and failed not to smile too.

-Thank you,- said Harry.

The waiter returned soon after and the bill was soon paid by Hermione.

-This is on me; we need to get you muggle money before you buy me dinner.

Harry felt embarrassed but just for a second. He would pay her back as soon as everything was in order. He was confident to be back in the muggle world very soon with Hermione's help.

When they left the restaurant, Hermione took a taxi and Harry got in a phone booth before disappearing inside it to an ally close to Grimmauld Place. He had the feeling he could not fool his friend for a long time. He thought that long enough was ok for him.

It's been a long time since I don't write in English and I hope that you have enjoyed this new fict. Thank you for reading and I hope to read one of your comments.

TLAL