Nearly five years had passed since Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, their second home for seven years. London, England was now coming upon spring as winter was edging to a close. The hills were turning a lush green again and flowers were blooming in the gardens of most homes. Sunshine had been sparse over the cold winter months and it had finally returned with a vengeance, warming everything underneath it. Fresh blossoms could be smelled from great distances. In the wizarding village of Hogsmeade, store-keepers bustled about, preparing themselves to open their shops within moments.
Just at the edge of Hogsmeade, Hermione Granger was stepping off the station platform and heading up the cobblestone path toward the shops. She hadn't changed drastically since her days in Hogwarts. Her hair was considerably longer as she hadn't cut it much since leaving school. As for anything else that had changed, her skin tone seemed a shade darker as she had spent more time outdoors.
Her body was still small and petite and she carried herself more confidently now, being a young woman nearing her twenty-second birthday. As she continued to walk down the path toward the shops, she took in the sweet smells of the blossoms and soaked up the warm sunshine as she slipped her robe off, revealing a black short-sleeve top, Above the knee-length grey skirt, and black clogs. Her mind wandered elsewhere and she realized she had passed the shop she intended on entering: The Three Broomsticks.
Hermione casually turned back around, making a face as if this didn't surprise her. She walked through the doors and was surprised to see it so crowded, just minutes after its early-morning opening. Madame Rosmerta spotted her coming through the doors and slid out from behind her counter. Hermione had a seat at one of the tables in the corner and draped her dark blue robe over the chair next to her. Madame Rosmerta walked over to see Hermione thinking hard about something. She cleared her throat and Hermione looked up at her and smiled.
"What can I get you, dear? The usual?" She asked. Hermione grinned and nodded her head.
"Yes, thanks." Hermione answered cheerfully. Madame Rosmerta smiled and stalked off behind the counter. She came back and put Hermione's hot cup of cocoa on the table in front of her. Hermione was yet again staring off into space. She cleared her throat again.
"Oh, thanks Rosmerta, you're the best!" Hermione replied in a happy tone.
"Is everything alright? You seem a bit distracted today."
"I'm fine but thanks for being concerned."
Madame Rosmerta nodded and walked off to another table on the other side of the room. Over the years since leaving school, Hermione was a frequent customer at The Three Broomsticks and had come to know Madame Rosmerta rather well. Some would say she lived in the shop, but she merely stopped in a few times a week to have her usual cup of cocoa.
Hermoine sat quite content and sipped on her cocoa as she stared blankly at the bustling environment around her. It was nine-thirty in the morning of April the thirteenth, a Friday. Hermione reached the end of her drink and quickly went to the counter to pay. She grabbed her robe and pushed her way through the mass of people that had gathered in the shop. She stretched out her arm to push the door open, but someone else was on the other side as she did this. The door swung open and Hermione crashed into the stranger. Her robe dropped to the floor and she bent over to pick it up.
"I'm so sorry! I'm so clumsy som---" Hermione looked at the stranger that had bumped into her as she stood back up. An all too familiar face stared back at her and the matching voice echoed in her head. The voice of someone very close to her.
"Hermione!"
She grinned and threw her arms around Ron. He seemed taken aback at her sudden movement, but hastily hugged her back. Hermione pulled away and seemed slightly embarassed.
"Are you alright?" Ron asked. "Honestly, you've been acting strange the last couple of months. It's like you're in a totally different place, and hugging everyone all the time, even me!" He joked.
Hermione's face flushed and she put a hand to her forehead in frustration.
"Yes Ron...sorry. Really, I'm fine. Just stressed I guess." She replied. Ron gave her a funny look.
"Well since I ran into you, some of us are getting together tonight at my house. Would you like to come, or are you really busy lately with work and all? Or maybe you're going to go off on that kick again since it's the thirteenth and a Friday?" He suggested. Hermione smiled and ignored Ron's sarcasm.
"Actually that sounds like a good idea. I really need a break. What time does everything start?"
Ron thought about it for a minute.
"Just head on over after you get off work. Oh, have you heard anything from Harry?" Ron asked. Hermione relaxed her face.
"No. Haven't heard anything for quite some time now. You?" She asked him. Ron did the same thing and lost any cheerful expression in his face.
"Haven't heard from him since November, around the time you got your last letter. I hope he's alright. Mum's having the biggest fit about it."
"Well then! I'll see you tonight. Do you want me to bring anything?" Hermione asked.
"A blanket." Ron stated. Hermione gave him a funny look. "We're going to spend some time outside and it might get a bit cool tonight. It's funny, you know. I just wish Harry would owl us and let us know what's going on with him. Maybe then we wouldn't feel so edgy all the time. Well, I'll see you tonight. Bye
Hermione!" Ron made his way through the shop and Hermoine walked out, thinking of a million things at once.
She continued to walk down the cobblestone path at a steady pace. Not too fast but not too slow either. The day was incredibly beautiful, not a cloud in the sky. Hermione looked up and down the path then crossed to the other side when it was clear of any carriages or masses of people hurrying along. Her shoes made a light tapping sound each time she stepped and she quickened her pace, realizing she was going to be late for work and so many customers would be so miffed at her.
She pulled some keys out of her pocket and picked the one that opened the door she was about to enter. As she stopped in front to open it, she suddenly felt like a million eyes were on her. She turned around to see a small crowd gathered around her. Hermione smiled at them all and quickly opened the door to let everyone inside. She hung her robe up and the lights came on. Very quickly she made her way to the counter, to begin her work day at the newest addition to the Hogsmeade village: Granger's Inkwell, a bookshop.