Chapter 1 - Idyll?
Friday, August 12, 2005."Can it be any better, Hermione?" Ron asked with a wide grin on his face.
"I think not," she replied easily. She had everything. The relationship with her fiancé was stable; she had finished her education and attained a position in the Ministry, in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and she did not have to fear for her life or lives of her friends and relatives, as Voldemort had been gone for seven years.
"Why do you ask?" she raised an eyebrow.
"I just cannot believe that we are going to see Quidditch championship in France after two days! The games have to be superb!" He told excitedly, but Hermione frowned in disappointment. She had hoped that he had something more mature on mind.
"Grow up, Ron!" she snapped.
"Don't fuss! I realise that the Quidditch Championship is not as exciting as the World Cup, because it is of a smaller scale, but we will attend the World Cup next year. I know that it's a torture to wait four years for it," Ron spoke not noticing that Hermione was getting tenser and was not paying attention to the details.
"I do not care about the difference between them!" Hermione yelled and sent a hat with the English National Quidditch team, which Ron had left on the floor, flying across the room.
"What's the matter?" Ron had wide eyes. "Aren't you excited?"
"About as much as Harry would be to have potions with Snape again," she replied angrily. "And, speaking of Merlin, here Harry is," Hermione told noticing Harry Potter stepping out of green flames which erupted from the fireplace. He shook ashes off his robes and entered their cosy living room. He had changed since Hogwarts' times. Harry wore his hair longer on the forehead so they covered his scar and had replaced his glasses with contact lenses. He looked different and that was his aim, because he was annoyed by all the stares on the streets when people recognized him as the Boy Who Lived. That day he looked deflated.
"What's up, Harry? You are worrying me," she said concerned.
"I doubt that I'll be able to go to Quidditch," he told them regretfully and sighed.
"What!" Ron called out and Hermione had a questioning glare on her face.
"I had an argument with Ginny," he answered, "and I know that she will never miss a chance to go to Quidditch and meet her friends from the Holyhead Harpies, so it means that I should better stay away until she calms down."
"You had an argument again?" Ron asked and smile faded from his face.
"Yes. I just asked if she would like to go out tonight and celebrate her birthday properly. I think that the celebration yesterday did not go so well. She spent half of the time changing James's diapers and worrying about food and whether guests felt comfortable, not enjoying her twenty-fourth birthday. So I thought that we could ask someone to look after James and go somewhere alone. We haven't done it for such a long time, but she interpreted it as if I do not love James at all. She started yelling that he is only five months old and she doesn't want to lave him to someone else. I don't get it. It is not a problem to leave him with Molly for the time when we are in France. Now she asked me to leave the house, because she does not want her child to live with an unloving father," he said with a pained expression on his face.
"But, Harry, she is a mother. It is natural that she does not want to leave her child when it is not necessary," Hermione said and twisted her smooth dark blond lock around a finger.
"Well, I get it, but I think that it is not a good reason to throw me out of the house," Harry said angrily, then he blinked and eyed Hermione. "Have you done something to your hair?" he asked.
"Nothing special, just changed the colour and folded it in large smooth locks," she started calmly, but ended with a sudden rise of tone. "What a stupid question!"
"Sorry," Harry mocked. "You look great," he faked a smile.
"Thanks," she frowned.
"Can I stay with you 'til you go to France?" Harry changed the subject seeing that Hermione was not in the mood. Another argument was not something that he needed. "You know that I do not want to go to the Grimmauld Place."
"You are always welcome," Hermione answered. "I'll go and make a bed for you and actually I'll go to sleep after that. I feel very tired," Hermione yawned.
"Good night, 'Mione!" Harry said and Ron nodded showing that he had wanted to say the same.
Harry looked at Ron anxiously and said what was on his mind. "Do you think Ginny will leave me now?"
"Don't exaggerate! It's a trifle. She'll calm down soon. I don't doubt that," Ron replied without much thinking, always being too optimistic.
"I'm afraid, Ron. I'm scared that I'll lose James. I love him so much!" Harry picked up the hat Hermione had sent flying across the room and stretched it having nowhere else to put his hands. "I remember there was something you wanted to tell me," Harry was trying to get away from his own problems.
Ron rose from a chair and went to see if Hermione could overhear them. When he was certain that she would not hear anything he sat closer to Harry and said what troubled him.
"Last week I was doing some shopping in the Diagon Alley when I bumped into Lavender. We both had some time for a chat so I invited her to tea shop nearby. She agreed."
"Not so nice of you. What if Hermione found out?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Well, she is my old acquaintance. I hadn't seen her for seven years. I didn't think that it would do any harm to talk with her," Ron justified himself; however, blushed till halftone of his hair. "So we talked and she kept asking me to thank Hermione for blasting Fenrir Greyback away from her during the Battle of Hogwarts. However, I can't tell that to Hermione. I believe that she won't take it right."
"It's hard to say," Harry commented.
"Lavender confessed that all her relationships do not work out. She just divorced after only a year of marriage. And she still likes me." Ron cast down his eyes.
"And do you like her, Ron?" Harry asked and looked into Ron's eyes.
"There's the problem, mate," Ron acknowledged. "I can't get her out of my mind. There is a lack of passion between me and Hermione. We have slipped into routine and there's nothing new in our relationship. Feelings were very different with Lavender. I wanted her terribly when we parted. I wouldn't say that I like her, but I'm afraid that I'm not in love with Hermione anymore. She is a habit for me. After seeing Lavender Hermione keeps getting on my nerves all the time. I don't understand what I feel for her."
"Are you thinking about leaving Hermione?" Harry asked.
"No!" Ron exclaimed. "We've been together for so long, my family loves her and is used to her. They will never forgive me if I leave her. We share one flat. It's too complicated to separate now."
"Are you living for yourself or your family?" Harry wanted to know.
"What they think is important to me," Ron said. "I'm not sure what I feel. I think that Hermione is perfect and we should not separate I just don't want to acknowledge that after so many years the relationship has become so tiresome," Ron explained.
"I'm ashamed to say that, but I understand you, mate. I have felt likewise, but I'm happy now that I married Ginny and have James. Take your time and make the right decision." Harry said.
Saturday, August 13, 2005.Ginny stepped out of the fireplace just like Harry had done the evening before. She did not concern herself with shaking off ashes. Actually it looked that she had not concerned herself with anything that morning. Her hair was messy and it looked like she had slipped into the first pieces of clothing that she found in her wardrobe. Ginny immediately went to the table at which Harry, Ron and Hermione sat who had been eating breakfast before she entered, but now looked askew at Ginny, because of her uncharacteristic appearance.
"Charlie has been injured by a dragon," she said without introduction. Three others gasped.
"How bad is it?" Hermione asked although she was afraid to hear the answer.
"We are not sure. His friend sent an owl saying that his family should come for a visit."
"But we are going to France," Ron interrupted.
"No, we are going to Romania and a Portkey is leaving in two hours. Ron, you should get your things," Ginny said to her brother and tapped her foot.
"We want to go, too!" Harry and Hermione said simultaneously.
"No," Ginny said, "it is said clearly that only family is allowed. You two should go to the Quidditch games as it was planned. We will join you if we can."
"But we can't enjoy ourselves knowing that Charlie is hurt!" Hermione protested.
"You have no choice," Ginny said. "Besides Harry and I should spend some time apart, and I trust that you will look after him, Hermione."
"Do I really have to go?" Ron asked shyly.
"Ronald Weasley! Your brother is injured in Romania. He wants his family to visit him! What kind of a brother are you? A game for you is more important to you than your family? I'm ashamed to have such a brother!" Ginny shouted in Molly Weasley's manner. Ron blushed and cast down his eyes in shame.
"Well, of course, I'll go, I just asked," he mumbled and looked down.
"Don't forget to greet my friends from the Holyhead Harpies," Ginny said sadly as she stepped into the fireplace and Flooed to the Burrow.
Sunday, August 14, 2005.On Sunday evening Harry and Hermione had reached a Muggle hotel in the North Coast of France. It was a small town located next to the ocean which was begun by fishermen. They both had large and cosy rooms with double beds. From the fourth floor, which was where their rooms were, they saw just above the low houses, where a spectacular view of the coastline and ocean opened.
Hermione cast a drying charm on her and Harry's clothes which were soaked wet, because they had Portkeyed a distance from the hotel and it was raining heavily.
"The weather is awful. I hope that it will improve tomorrow. It would be a pity if it spoiled the game," Harry grumbled. "It would be much better if we stayed in a wizard hotel. We could have Portkeyed right there," Harry kept grousing.
"Then you had to book a place earlier, not wait until there won't be any rooms left in hotels for wizards and even Muggle ones which are closer to the place where the event is going to happen. I don't mind a Muggle hotel. It is cosy and people won't recognise you here. I know that you don't want additional attention. However, I hate that we will have to Portkey to the arena each day," Hermione retorted. "Don't blame me. I didn't even want to come here."
"So why did you come?" Harry shot an angry glance at her.
"You know that I agreed because Ron wanted it so much," she answered and cast a spell on her suitcase. It unpacked itself and closes put themselves in wardrobe.
"The bed looks so tempting," Harry confessed. "I think that I'm going to get a good night's rest. I don't want to go anywhere in such weather."
"You can do so. I'll read a book for awhile," Hermione said.
"God, Hermione! You're on vacation. Can't you rest from reading books?" Harry asked.
"I enjoy reading books!" she answered and looked at Harry disapprovingly.
Monday, August 15, 2005.On Monday, at eight fifteen, Harry knocked on Hermione's door. She did not open the door, so he knocked again. After the third knock, Hermione said, "Just a minute," in a faint voice.
Harry was getting frustrated. They had to get going if they wanted to find their places in arena on time, otherwise it was going to be hard when the masses would be crowding through there. However, Harry was used to girls always being late. That is why he was standing at her door ten minutes earlier than was really needed. She was not coming out, so Harry tapped his foot nervously. The next morning he would come half an hour earlier.
Finally, when Harry was running out of patience, Hermione opened the door.
"Hermione!" Harry gasped when he saw that she was still in her nightgown. "Why are you not dressed?" Only then he noticed that she was unusually pale, in fact, she was looking almost green.
"I'm feeling terrible," she sighed. "I just vomited."
"Oh my!" Harry said. "Do you know why?"
"I guess that it is because of the long-distance travelling by Portkey. I usually feel bad after that. I am also very worried about Charlie, and I often get a stomach ache when I'm nervous."
"So what are we going to do?" he asked.
"Just go without me," she said.
"No!" He cried out. "I'm not leaving you alone here."
"It's not a problem, Harry. I didn't want to go anyway, so it's not such a big loss for me. I'll better lay down for awhile, and then when I'll get better, I'll take a walk around the town. Just sell my ticket to someone along with Ron's and Ginny's," Hermione said and urged Harry to go.
***
After some time Hermione felt well, and wondered what had happened to her that morning. She thought that the Portkey had been at fault. Hermione got nervous when she realised that she would have to Portkey some more times to the games. Luckily, they were not going to a game the next day, because UK was not playing.
Later in the day the weather had also improved, and the sun emerged from the clouds quite often. It was a perfect time to have a walk. After strolling around the city for some time, she caught a smell of fish which guided her right to the fish market where, after careful examination, she found the best oysters. Hermione went to the beach where she ate the oysters and was lucky to catch some rays of the sun. Later, she felt a sudden urge to drink hot chocolate, so she went back into the city to look for a place where she could get some, but to her dismay, she was not able to find one, as the town was seafood oriented. Hermione's stubbornness did not allow her to go back to the hotel before she was completely sure that she could not get the hot chocolate. The more time she spent looking for it, the more she wanted to have a cup.
During the search, Hermione wondered too far into the town. She was out of the centre, and getting cold in the chilly evening air. She wanted to go back to the hotel, but she had lost direction. The town was not big. Hermione looked for someone to ask direction, and unluckily there were not many people in the streets. She approached a middle-age woman and asked for the hotel, but she only muttered something in French quite angrily. She approached another man, but he did not speak English either. Hermione sighed, she had studied some French before Hogwarts, but she could not remember anything. It was wrong that Hogwarts did not offer language classes. Those would have proved to be very useful now. She would not have to wander alone through an unfamiliar, cold and empty town.
Hermione noticed a young man and woman on the opposite side of the street. She thought that they were more likely to know English and crossed the street at a rapid pace.
"Excuse me!" Hermione drew their attention. The couple stopped and looked at her suspiciously. She spent a moment looking at them, too. They both had curly black hair and dark eyes, yet a rather pale skin. The woman was dressed in black, but the guy was wearing more joyful colours. They looked like a very nice couple. "Do you speak English?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, we do," the woman answered for both of them.
"I am lost," Hermione stated. "Do you know where Hotel 'Coquillage' is?"
The woman looked at the guy. She obviously did not know. "I think that I know," he finally spoke in a soft voice, "but I'm not sure. We should better look for it together." He smiled with a charming smile, and Hermione could not say that she was not glad to have such a companion.
"Are you going in the same direction?" Hermione asked.
"No, actually we're not, but we were taking a walk anyway," he said and looked at the woman as if waiting for approval. She just nodded, and they started walking back from where they had come.
"Are you sure that it won't be a burden?" Hermione wanted to clarify.
"He said that it won't be, so calm down," the woman snapped, and made Hermione uncomfortable.
"By the way, I'm Alexander," he introduced himself to ease the tension the woman had created.
"I'm 'Mione," Hermione said, knowing that it was hard for foreigners to pronounce her name.
"Samantha," the woman stated.
They walked in silence for awhile, so Hermione asked the first thing that shot in her head.
"Are you local?"
"We are," Alexander answered.
"I was just wondering, because you have such perfect English," Hermione said.
"Our parents are English," he said.
"You both have English parents? How did that occur?" Hermione could not suppress her curiosity.
They both started laughing. "We are twins," Samantha said.
"Oh!" Hermione uttered and felt rather embarrassed. Samantha somehow managed to make her feel stupid.
Alexander suddenly stopped, and Hermione saw that they were already at her hotel.
"Thank you for guiding me here! It would have taken me a lot of time to find it myself. This is a tricky town. It looks so small, but it is so easy to get lost," Hermione said, smiled and stepped a step away, showing that she was ready to go inside. Alexander hesitated to say goodbye.
"'Mione, we are planning to sail on our yacht tomorrow. Would you be interested in coming with us?" Samantha offered and forced a smile on her face. She looked at her brother with a look that meant 'watch and learn' making sure that Hermione would not notice it.
"I would like to come very much, but my friend will be here tomorrow. He's currently at a football game," Hermione lied quickly.
"Well, then take him with you," Alexander offered and Samantha noticed disappointment in his voice.
"Until tomorrow then. We will meet you here at twelve. Goodbye!" Samantha said and disappeared into the dark.
"Bye!" Hermione called out.
"Goodbye, 'Mione. Have a nice evening!" Alexander wished and watched her going inside.