Hermione wandered around the park near her house. Correction, her old house. She and her parents would soon be on their way to England to meet up with the Potters and then go to their new house. Hermione couldn't stand it. She just couldn't stand it. She'd lived here for as long as she could remember and now her dad just up and decides to move them to a whole other country, forget that Hermione herself had picked up her father's British accent rather than her mother's French, and after he decides to move, he just foists her off onto some old friend of his from school and hopes that she can make the best of it. The nerve! She had the inclination to go and give him a piece of her mind, finally. Yes, that's just what she'd do, she'd march up there and say,
"So when do we leave?"
What?! When do we leave? Did she honestly just ask that? Hermione watched her father for signs that she had told him he was an obnoxious prat and there was no way she was moving to England. But no, he just answered her question with a mild,
"In about a half an hour."
A half-hour huh? Well then Hermione had a thing or two to say about that,
"Ok."
Bloody! Of all the stupid, sodding things she could have said and she says "Ok"! Just like that she bloody well agreed to move and give up her life. She saw her mum signaling to her from the doorway and went over to her.
"Are you ready to go sweetheart?"
NO!
"Yes, I've made sure I have everything."
Change your mind mother change your mind.
"Good, your Papa will be glad to hear it."
She dropped a kiss on Hermione's head and went about the final packing. Hermione was surprised she didn't burn her lips for all the scalding things that were going on in her head. Oh well, she would simply have to resign herself to this there was nothing else to be done. She went outside and stared at the house and very softly began to sing,
"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
This early morn
The taxi's waitin'
He's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go
Finally the van was all packed and the car was loaded. Hermione's parents motioned for her to get in and then they'd be on their way, to a new country, a new home, a new life all together. Hermione watched as the house she'd grown up in got smaller and smaller and then disappeared all together.
Harry stood with his parents in the airport waiting for the Grangers' plane to arrive. Harry was very nervous, he had asked his mum to tell him about Hermione and all he got was she was quiet, liked to read and was exceptionally intelligent. And all Harry could wonder after that was, what if she didn't like him? What if he didn't like her? What if she didn't like his frog? He continued to worry as his parents moved forward towards a couple coming off the plane. He stopped and studied the man and woman in front of him. Mr. Granger was of average height and build with a jovial grin and sparkling brown eyes. Thinning blonde hair topped it all off. Harry then turned his attention to Mrs. Granger. She was as tall as her husband with long brown hair and a kind face. She was beautiful actually, with what his mother would call fine bone structure. She smiled down at a figure that was rather hunched against her leg.
"Hermione, come out and meet the Potters."
Harry goggled at the French accent that seemed to waft across her speech. Movement diverted his attention, however. A girl about his age came forward, timidly almost like a very skittish cat. Her bushy brown hair masked her face from him but he did catch a glimpse of what looked to be an overbite. Oh dear, the bullies at school would have a heyday with her. Poor thing, he'd just have to watch out for was all. Harry started at his feeling the need to protect this girl he hadn't even really met, just seen. Probably because he could understand what it was like to be teased. He walked over to the girl and held out his hand.
"Hi, I'm Harry."
She took his hand and met his eyes.
"Hermione, pleased to meet you."
Harry wasn't expecting her to sound so British, he'd been expecting a thick Parisian accent. He shook her hand slightly, noting how small it was compared to his own. In fact, she was a good two inches shorter than he was. He knew that shouldn't make him happy, but at least now he wasn't the shortest one in class. Harry looked up at his mum and dad who were deep in conversation with the Grangers and motioned for Hermione to come sit next to him.
"I have a question for you."
He said looking into cinnamon brown eyes that hinted at secrets he could only dream of. Fringed with thick, dark lashes they mesmerized Harry so much so that he missed what Hermione said to him.
"Come again?"
He asked bewildered. Hermione blushed as she spoke again,
"I was just asking why you were staring at me like that. I know I'm new and everything but -"
Harry cut her off gently.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Your eyes just looked really interesting."
She shook her head at him.
"They're just brown Harry. Nothing like my mum's eyes, hers are turquoise almost."
Harry could hear the wistful tone in her voice. He wanted to make her feel better but didn't know how. Then he remembered what he was going to ask her to begin with.
"Do you like frogs?"
Hermione jumped, a bit startled by the abruptness of the question.
"Frogs?"
She repeated as Harry nodded.
"Yeah, I've got one and she's really cool. I just wondered if you liked frogs or if you were one of those girls who's afraid of stuff like that."
Hermione giggled a little.
"I've never really been around frogs, but I should think I'm not afraid of them. I've read enough about them after all to know that for the most part they aren't dangerous."
Harry began to get excited.
"You've read about them? Really?"
Hermione nodded and pulled the bag next to her up into her lap. She opened and pulled out a rather large book that looked like something a grownup would read. She put the bag back on the floor and put the book in her lap and opened to a certain page. She turned it towards him and pointed at the picture of the frog there.
"That one is my favorite. The African bullfrog."
Harry read about it.
"So much for being harmless. This says the bullfrog can inflict a serious bite."
Hermione took the book back.
"Only when threatened."
She said mildly. She looked up at Harry and smiled. And Harry, much to his own confusion, couldn't have refused her one in return.
Across the terminal the parents stood watching their children.
"Well it looks as though the ice has been broken."
James said sounding relieved.
"Hermione's not usually this shy. Then again this is the first time she's ever had to move."
Gerald said watching his little girl. He smiled as he saw her talking animatedly with Harry about, what else, books. Or at least something she had read.
"Your son seems to be good at that sort of thing James."
James looked at his old friend.
"What sort of thing?"
Gerald motioned at the youngsters.
"Bringing people out of their shell and letting them feel like they're special."
Lily moved in next to James and took his hand.
"Well Hermione may be shy, but she seems to be pretty special herself."
All the parents stood watching the two as they continued to discuss whatever it was that had them so fascinated.
"All right children, it's time to go. Hermione get your things together."
Sophia called across the terminal to them. Harry and Hermione looked at one another and smiled.
"Well Harry, it's been good to meet you so far. I'm looking forward to meeting your frog. What did you say her name was?"
Harry stood up along with Hermione and picked her bag off the floor.
"Her name is Chocolate and we're not through just yet."
Hermione moved to grab her bag but he kept a grip on it.
"But Harry, we're going to our new house tonight."
Harry began walking towards their parents and Hermione hurried to catch up.
"Well that may be, but dollars to doughnuts my mother has invited you all over for dinner at our house to "Welcome you into the neighborhood" as she would say."
And sure enough when the children reached their parents Gerald clapped Harry gently on the back and said,
"Well Harry, looks like you won't be rid of us all as soon as you thought. Your mum here has graciously invited us over for dinner."
Harry looked over at Hermione and smiled quite smugly. She just stuck her tongue out at him and grinned. This introduction had been far more enjoyable than either of them had thought it would be. And they both had a feeling they had found a good friend within the other.
TBC….