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A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful feedback for Across the Street! You guys are so awesome!


Thanks to LaDy SiN and Sophia for the beta.


Enjoy!


***


They're all staring at me. They pass by my office and try to discreetly look inside, trying to see what I'm doing. They think I don't see them. I roll my eyes as yet another passerby gazes into my office. "Hello, Mr. Bruma," I say and he blushes before hurrying on his way.


I try to concentrate on the paperwork in front of me, but the words are still blurry. I sigh and look up at the ceiling, I'm distracted and I know that it's not a good thing. I've been this way all week, well, more like two weeks. Possibly three. Probably three. I'm in denial, I know exactly how long it's been. It has been twenty-three days, four hours, and twenty-seven minutes since I've been able to concentrate worth a damn. And it's been that long since Xander left, too.


Xander. Xander Harris. I refuse to allow myself to look at his photograph yet again. I know its not moved. It is still sitting right where it has for two weeks now, directly in front of me on my desk. The only Muggle photograph on my desk, the only one I ever look at anymore. The one of my one-eyed American carpenter. I sigh once again and stare up at the ceiling, trying to will my thoughts away from Xander and on to the new case file that has come across my desk. It is simply not working.


"Oi! Malfoy was right, mate! Look at her!"


Bloody hell. Ron. Ron is here.


"Don't be so hasty, Ron. She's just looking at the ceiling. Maybe she's just thinking. You know how she likes to do that."


Sod it all! Harry's here, too.


I look up and glare at them. They're standing in my office doorway grinning at me. "Go away." I say.


"Now is that any way to greet us? After all we've been through... I'm hurt."


Harry says as he walks in and plops himself into one of my chairs.


I roll my eyes and look expectantly at Ron. "What?" he asks.


"Have anything to add?" I ask in return.


He just smiles and sits down beside Harry. "Missed you too, Hermione."


I know I'm smiling now. I can't help it, I never can around them. They're my boys and always will be. "What do you two want? I'm working here."


Harry lifts an eyebrow and stares at me. "What?" I ask.


"You're not. Working, that is. It's a well known fact around the Ministry."


"Pardon me?" I manage, though I suddenly know exactly where this is leading.


"They say you're distracted. That something has finally done the impossible." Harry says.


"Yes," Ron chimes in. "They say that the 'Great Hermione Granger' has something besides work on her mind for once."


Oh, bloody hell and sod it all again! I do not want to have this conversation with the two of them! I've not prepared myself for it!


"So, Hermione ... what gives?" Harry asks, his face tooled into that innocent expression he's perfected.


"Nothing. I have no idea what you're speaking of, actually. I assure you that I am fine, no distractions at all."


"Really?" Ron asks.


I nod. "Of course."


Harry's grinning now. Why on earth is he grinning at me like that? "Nothing has your knickers in a twist, then?" he asks.


Oh, of all the rotten things! "Harry Potter! You'd best leave my knickers out of this conversation if you know what's good for you!"


They're laughing, both of them. What the hell is going on? "Oh, do shut up! I've got work to do and you two are well, you're becoming quite the distraction."


Ron's grinning at me now. "We're a distraction? Us?"


"Yes, you!" I want them gone. They're up to something. I know them well enough to know that.


"Fine then," Harry says. "We'll go. Meet us for lunch. That pizza place down on Kaysen?"


I find myself nodding. "In an hour?" I ask.


"Sure," Ron says and they get up to leave.


The fact that they're still grinning scares me. Why I agreed to meet them is beyond me, this will most likely turn out badly. They're going to tease me mercilessly, I just know it. I shake myself out of my thoughts, determined to get some work done. I pick up the new case file and purposefully refuse to look up for an entire hour. As I walk down to meet the boys, I realize that I'm quite proud of myself. I actually managed to get something of use done.


I see them and wave. Harry grins and pulls me into a tight hug as soon as he gets close enough. I realize then that it's been entirely too long since I've seen him. I wrap my arms around him and squeeze him back. "It's been too long," I say. "You never come to London anymore."


He nods and releases me. "I know. Business keeps me busy."


I understand that and just nod in reply. I hug Ron quickly and the three of us begin to walk down the street. I walk between them, as always, holding both of their hands. Conversation flows freely between us and I soon find us seated in a small eatery around the corner from the Ministry.


Harry and Ron are talking about their latest adventures as Aurors, but I'm only half listening. My eyes have caught on an advertisement for the Valentine's Day special the restaurant is running, and all my thoughts are suddenly centered on Xander.


"I'm beginning to see what Malfoy was talking about." I hear Ron say, his voice jerking me out of my thoughts. "She just goes off."


"Quite," Harry says now. "Seems we've decided to intervene just in time."


I roll my eyes. Draco Malfoy will rue the day he decided to involve himself in my personal life. "What are you two going on about now?" I ask, somehow managing to sound innocent.


Harry grins. "Word is, Herm," he says. "That you're quite distracted."


"Yes," I say. "We already covered that back at my office."


"No, you denied it back at your office. Are you admitting it now?" Ron asks.


Bloody hell! Why won't they drop this? "No." I state.


They're laughing, damn them. And listen to me! Not even twenty minutes in their presence and I'm swearing again. They are rotten influences on me. And they're still laughing. "What?" I ask.


"Xander Harris." Ron says suddenly.


I know I'm blushing now. Wonderful. That's going to help me deny this, now isn't it? "What about him?"


"You're in love." Harry says.


"What?" I squeak. I wasn't expecting this. Teasing, yes. But this? Talk of love? I wasn't aware that they even knew what that word meant in the romantic sense.


Ron is grinning, yet again. "You are, aren't you? That's what has you so distracted? That Muggle came in and stole your heart away from us."


"I ... what are you two getting at?"


Harry reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. "Just admit it, Hermione. Admit that you're in love with him and that you're so in love that you can't concentrate on anything but him. Just admit it."


I'm not sure what to feel as he says that. Should I be angry that they're involving themselves in this part of my life? Worried? Thrilled that they seem to care? I'm staring at them and Ron takes pity on me.


"Hermione, do you love him?" he asks softly.


I find myself nodding, knowing that I can't deny it. "Yes," I say.


And now they're grinning again. I watch them exchange a 'look'. One of those that can only be described as 'I told you so.' Brilliant. I think I just walked into a trap. That's what it feels like at any rate.


Our pizza comes and we eat, the conversation thankfully returning to easier topics. I relax and find myself enjoying their company, as always. Our meal is over much quicker than I would like and Harry's suddenly calling for the check.


Ron gazes at me, his eyes intense. "Herm?" he asks.


"Yes?"


"You're sure you love him?"


Here we go again. Didn't we already cover this? Yes. I clearly remember admitting just a little bit ago that I do love Xander. Why, then are they bringing it up again as though we've not talked about it? I must be glaring because Harry's holding his hands up as a peace offering. I tilt my head to the side and wait.


"We simply want to be sure, Hermione, that's all." Harry says.


"Sure of what? What do you want me to say?" I ask.


Harry tilts his head to the side, imitating my stance, and blinks at me. "How about the truth?" He asks.


Truth? They want truth? Fine. I've already told them but I'll tell them again, if that's what they want.


"All right then," I say. "I am distracted. I met him and we had a wonderful week together. We spend an hour each night on the telephone and I can't think of anything other than him the majority of my day. I've fallen for him, hard. Do I love him? Yes, I believe I do. There. Are the two of you happy now that I've admitted it?"


They're both grinning like mad. Harry reaches into his jacket and pulls out an envelope. "We've cleared it with everyone. You're free, work can wait," he says cryptically as he slides the envelope across the table to me.


"What?" I ask, automatically picking up the small package he's passed me.


They're standing now, both Harry and Ron. "You don't even have to go back to the office today. They're not expecting you," Ron says.


"What?" I ask again.


Harry leans over and kisses my cheek. Ron squeezes my shoulder. "Have fun," Ron says.


"Be safe," Harry adds.


Neither of them say anything else. They simply turn and leave me staring after them. I know I look like an idiot. I think my mouth is even hanging open. Wonderful. They're gone before I shake myself out of my stupor and pick up the envelope, finally remembering it's in my hand. Still confused, I open it and stare at the contents. They've given me a plane ticket. Round trip to Cleveland! "Bloody hell," I say as I read the note the boys enclosed.


Hermione,


Happy Valentine's Day. We thought this would be the perfect gift for you this year. Hope you like it.


Tell this Xander bloke hello for us. Have a wonderful trip, and owl us when you return.


Love always,


Harry and Ron


Oh, right. You're welcome.


"Thank you," I whisper as I rush from the restaurant.


I've got to go pack, and quickly. My flight leaves in four hours.


..The End...


Music for thought:


Cleveland By Jewel


Went walking underneath the shadows


Where dark and sweet secrets lay


When night tonight falls gently down


Hearts helplessly fall to the ground


Underneath a velvet sky


Only words can lie


I wanna tell you everything


I wanna make your toes curl


You be my only boy


And I'll be your only girl


There's not much I can say


You're in Cleveland today


You're in Cleveland today


Stewardesses like Cosmo magazine


Vogue makes me nervous I feel so plain


I could the world fearlessly


If you would face it here with me


Just our four hands and four eyes


Traffic cops would compromise


I wanna tell you everything


I wanna make your toes curl


You be my only boy


And I'll be your only girl


There's not much I can say


You're in Cleveland today


You're in Cleveland today


[bridge]


Daffodils and roulette wheels and rusty automobiles


Somewhere our things share the same window sill


Somewhere our hearts exist independent of time


Somewhere we are whole


One body


One body and one mind


From the air things look so ridiculous


Our fears so small, our fights so vain


I wanna pilot a plane with you


So all our problems look small, too


It's only an inch from me to you


Depending on what map you use


I wanna tell you everything


I wanna make your toes curl


You be my only boy


And I'll be your only girl


There's not much I can say


Cuz you're in Cleveland today


Oh, you're in Cleveland today


You're in Cleveland today