Chapter Twenty Four: Two Years Later
Author's Note: This is a continuation of a previous story entitled "Flower In New York" by another author called RaspberrySparrow. It takes place two years after the original story. I don't take credit for the original story, I'm just continuing it. It was a story that I felt had more potential and I wanted to take it to new places. This is what you would call the second story of this series. I suppose you can call it a "Sequel". The first story is not required reading but I will recommend it. The author introduces the characters and their relationships. My continuation takes place two years after "Flower In New York" ends. This was necessary for me to continue the storyline and for me to exercise some creative freedom. I hope that you enjoy the Twenty Fourth chapter of this story. I will continue publishing until I feel the story is over. So tune in and I will publish chapters as often as I can. I'd appreciate any constructive criticism. Until we meet again, this is "Flower In New York: The Two Years Later Saga".
It's five in the morning, and the sky had this darkness that would eventually come to an end. The street lights had the color of orange, due to the dirt that collected over the years on it. The lights shinned a bus stop on an otherwise pitch black street.
The bus stop itself consisted of just a bench with a schedule on a poll. The schedule is for the REM TRACK, a rather inexpensive bus line that provides decent service to wizards. This particular REM TRACK bus stop was for the number 168 going to City That Never Sleep. In other words, it was New York City.
A young and beautiful woman approaches the bus stop, with a purse. The purse is enough for this woman as it's enchanted. The purse has the ability to carry an entire wardrobe, furniture set, and bed inside it. The woman who was able to do this was none other than Hermione Granger.
Sitting on the bench, she pulls out a ticket out of her purse. Hermione looks at her ticket to make sure that she had the right time. Bus 168 is not due to arrive for another ten minutes. She didn't have to kill a lot of time. She began to think about how it would be to come back. She left for two years, and she didn't remember why she left. She's nervous about the prospect of coming back, but she will not back out of it now.
Looking to her left and right, there was nothing but pitch black darkness. She doesn't even know which way the bus was coming, considering she can't see the street at all. The bus could come from any direction. She looks down at her ticket one last time, and then looks up to see a man standing right in front of her. She is startled by his sudden appearance.
The man wore a black robe with green at the end of the sleeves. The robe itself was open to reveal a green Christmas sweater and black dress pants. He wore boots. His skin had a pinkish completion. He had chubby cheeks, a decent looking nose, and green eyes. He had a neutral look in his piercing green eyes.
"Listen to me" said the man in his deep husky voice. "You are not safe. You will be in grave danger if you go back to New York".
Annoyed, Hermione said "What the bloody hell! Really? I just can't have a moments peace. It's bad enough that I have to go back to New York. I don't even know where I've been or how I ended so far away from New York. I don't even know how I got this bus ticket or anything. It's like waking up from a dream. My husband and children must be worried. All that is stressing me out and then you come here giving out cryptic messages is just the cherry on top. Just tell me what's going on, that's all I want."
The man retained his neutral look, and said "My name is Merrick, and I will tell you that the danger is coming for you. She will be looking for you. When she does find you, your daughter's fate awaits you back in New York"
Hermione began to feel concerned for he had mentioned one of her daughters. She stood up from the bench and faced Merrick. "Who's after my daughter and I?! Who is she?! Who is this insane woman? I want to know!"
"I can't tell you or else she'll kill me" said Merrick with a smile at the end of the sentence.
Hermione pulls her wand out of her purse, and points at Merrick's neck. Merrick looked at the wand, and continued smiling.
"I'll kill you myself, if you don't tell me anything" she said, while tightening up her grip on her wand.
Merrick stares her in the eye, and says "Goodbye Ms. Granger. She'll be seeing you very soon." Merrick disappears out of thin air and Hermione sees that her wand is no longer in a threatening manner to anyone. She was pointing it at the air.
Bright headlights came from the left, and Hermione noticed them right away. She put away her wand in her purse She took a deep breath, and then smiled. She is now relaxed. The REMTRACK 168 bus finally arrived and stopped in front of her. It opened its doors and Hermione looked up to see the bus driver smiling. She smiled back. She climbed the bus stairs, and gave her ticket to the driver.