It was a typical hot summer day in Montreal, Canada. Hermione had stopped in the downtown coffee shop quickly as she had just finished unpacking from a family vacation with her mum and dad and was in desperate need of a jolt of something good to drink. Having graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hermione had recently begun studying at one of the many scarce and not well known universities for witches and wizards to continue their studies. Of course this was for the few who did not become an auroa right after their years at Hogwarts, or joined the ministry.
Hermione had decided that she wanted to further her studies so she decided to purse a degree in journalism and wizardry literature. She had also taken to the area of wizardry law so as her extra classes of interest, she had decided to pursue some wizardry law courses. Having completed her first two years, she was facing three more, as she decided to add the wizardry law classes, which delayed her progression in university. It was summer of course so she was on holiday. She only had about six weeks left of her summer holiday before the semester started up again and she would have to be off to Istanbul, Turkey. To amuse her craving for adventure and in pursuing the interest of journalism, Hermione had decided to attend Wizard Higher Education, Istanbul located in Turkey. Far away from Montreal, Canada, where she now called home with her parents, Hermione loved the difference in culture. Hermione's parents had ended up moving after her father lost his employment. And on a whim the pair decided to relocate to Montreal in the hopes that their daughter would attend the wizardry university locally located in Montreal. No such luck as Hermione was eager to gain some space and independence.
Currently however, Hermione Granger was standing in line at the local coffee shop. Her favorite in fact that was located at the center of the downtown area. As she stood in the very long line she noticed that the cashier was obviously new. Still in training he seemed to struggle with the tasks of running the computer cash register while simultaneously accurately communicating the incoming orders to the baristas.
"Clearly I should be prepared for my order to be disastrously incorrect." She heard a voice mumble to her right. Hermione turned and gave the woman standing next to her a slight chuckle.
"So it would seem". Hermione agreed quietly in response.
"You would think they would help the poor guy". The woman said apologetically, "Or maybe he is too far past help." She added a bit agitated.
Hermione smiled, "Maybe we should cut our losses".
"Grace". The woman introduced herself holding out her hand.
"Hermione." Hermione responded meeting her own had with Grace's as they politely shook.
"Next!" Came the uncertain voice of the struggling cashier.
Hermione gave her order and stepped aside after giving her payment. Waiting for her drink she noticed as the woman, Grace gave her own order to the cashier and reached around in her pocket, there was something sticking out of her pack pocket. Hermione, being the observant witch that she was, she recognized this immediately the handle end of a wand.
A wand! Hermione thought to herself, Grace must be affiliated with Montreal Outreach University here in town. It was not unusual to run into fellow wizards and witches here in town, yet it was still a little less ordinary than it was overseas.
As Grace approached the designated order pickup counter of the coffee shop Hermione just watched the woman. Her years at Hogwarts had helped Hermione come out of her shy shell so not resisting the urge, Hermione asked,
"So are you affiliated with Montreal Outreach?"
Grace paused a moment before replying. She gave Hermione a slight smirk and said, "Yes. In fact, I happen to be the headmistress of the University".
"oh". Hermione said feeling a little embarrassed that she did not know the gravitas of the person she was conversing with.
"Oh it's okay." Grace said with a wave of her hand. "I'm not all that important!" She smiled.
"White cinnamon hot chocolate". Came a voice from behind the counter. Hermione wen to grab her made to order drink and turned to bid the woman she met goodbye with a smile.
"Hermione.." Grace said tentatively. Hermione turned back towards Grace.
"That sounds familiar." Grace pondered. Hermione had wondered how long it would be until Grace put two and two together to realize who Hermione was. Yes, it had been a few years, but still she was often recognized, even over seas, as part of the golden trio. Hermione tried not to make eye contact and began to fidget slightly and gave the woman a moment. Then it dawned on her, "the smartest witch of our time, isn't that what the Post had called you?" Grace inquired. Hermione's cheeks reddened with embarrassment. She still had not gotten used to it even if there was truth to it.
"Would you like to sit and chat a little?" Grace asked Hermione. Hermione had found over the years since Hogwarts that people wanted to know what had happened exactly. How the three of them went about saving the Wizarding World. But Grace seemed different. There was something about her that sparked some sort of an interest in Hermione. Never had she been so intrigued by someone she just briefly met.
"Okay". Hermione decided. And they went to the far corner of the coffee shop and claimed a small table for two.
"So tell me," Grace began, "What is one young Hermione Granger doing here? Surely I would know if part of the golden trio was attending my university".
"Yes, well my parents moved here about 2 years ago and I am just home on holiday. I am attending higher education in Istanbul, Turkey. I go back in about six months." Hermione answered. "And before you even ask," Hermione began, "I am studying journalism and wizardry law".
"wizardry law?!" Grace exclaimed. "Well that is a surprise. I wouldn't have taken you for a lawyering type. But of course I don't actually really know you do I, just the stories of others." Hermione just watched Grace as she mused more to herself rather directed toward Hermione.
"Well, I do enjoy the business side of things and I think that the subject of law, knowing wizards rights and the appropriate actions of the ministry is very important". Hermione answered, " besides, among the stories, I suppose it is no secret that I like rules". Hermione added.
"That was a joke!" Grace pointed out." Very well Mrs. Granger. Tell me more about yourself". Grace pressed.
"What do you want to know?" Hermione asked with a sly smile.
"Everything". Grace said simply.
There was a spark in Grace's eye that Hermione couldn't put her finger on that was just captivating.
"Well, I've told you of my parents, I've told you about school, you know about my friends." Hermione replied, "There really isn't much else to me".
"I doubt that". Grace stated.
A moment of silence passed as Grace finished her beverage, Hermione still swirling a skinny black straw through the liquid in her own beverage cup.
"Well, what about you?" Hermione inquired hesitantly, glancing her eyes up at Grace anticipating her response, which was met with a light chuckle from the woman sitting across from Hermione.
"What?" Hermione asked.
'oh nothing" Grace said, "it's just that if you think there is not much to your life, you don't have a clue as to how mundane min actually is".
"Come on now, you're the head mistress of a wizardry university, how boring can that be?". Hermione replied.
"Well, yes my job is interesting. It's a lot of work, a lot of travel and chaotic at times but it keeps me busy." Grace said. "No, it brings me a lot of joy." She added in reflection.
"I have a family. Two daughters, and husband". Grace revealed without any further prompting. "You are in university, then you must be close to my youngest daughter's age." Grace assumed.
"Ah, yes, I will be going into my third year." Hermione responded.
"Then you are the same age. Nineteen?" Grace questioned.
"I am actually twenty." Hermione corrected. Grace nodded.
"both of my daughters are muggle-born, the one daughter is attending university university in the states. The other is living with her boyfriend, also in the states." Grace continued.
Hermione nodded encouraging the woman to continue on about herself.
"Lets see, what else," Grace pondered, "My husband is living in Philadelphia, also in the states. He is a professor of history there".
"So you don't live together then?" Hermione questioned.
"Most of the time, but he comes home for weekends through the months. We vacation a lot internationally, together". Grace answered.
"huh." Hermione responded with somewhat of a grunt of understanding. "At least it works for you all". She added.
"Yes, well, its been quite a while in this fashion." Grace stated, "but what are you going to do other than make things work, you know?"
Hermione nodded in agreement which was met with a bit of silence.
"People always say, well don't you trust him?" Grace went on, "And I want to say, well of course I do, but you know, what about me? He's only one half of us".
Hermione just sat silently and allowed the woman to continue.
"We just have a long distance relationship, its not any different than if he were away in the service, you know?" Grace still continued.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know why I am going on about this with you, we only just met and it's not like you would care to know a stranger's relationship explanation." Grace stated with a bit of a smirk.
"Ah, that's okay". Hermione said," I am a good listener."
"Besides, What's to trust, he's gay anyway". Grace mumbled and then immediately looked up to Hermione as if in shock of what she had just allowed to breach the silent air between them.
Hermione averted her eyes from Grace's wide eyed stare.
"I can't believe I-"Grace just started.
"Don't worry, I won't say anything." Hermione reassured.
Grace stuffed the trash from her snack and napkin inside her now empty beverage cup.
"it's true though." Grace finally said "He's got a boyfriend and everything."
"I don't know what to say, sorry-" Hermione began to say but before she could completely get the words out, Grace waved her hand as if to say don't bother.
"Well what about you? The brightest witch can't be single." Grace inquired.
Hermione just smirked a little. "Well, actually, yes. I am". She replied.
"Oh?" Grace responded, "What of the other member of the golden trio… Ronald was it?" Grace pressed.
Hermione gave a small chuckle, "Yes, Ron and I did not last too long really." Hermione said.
"Boys, well, quite childish he was."
"hmm." Grace nodded in agreement.
"Oh!" Grace exclaimed as she caught a glance of her watch circling her wrist. "I have to go, we have been sitting here chatting away!"
Hermione glanced at her own watch and realized the pair of them had been chatting for nearly two hours.
"honestly, I am always running late for something it seems!" Grace stated.
"You're a very busy woman". Hermione responded.
"yes well." Grace began as she stood. Looking down back to Hermione she said, "This was a nice break. I needed a bit of a pick me up."
Hermione smiled.
"Thank you for the conversation" Grace said.
"It was nice to meet you." Hermione said as she stood and reached out her hand.
"And you, Hermione." Grace met Hermione's handshake with her own.
And with that Hermione watched as Grace left the coffee shop. Just like that, the last two hours had flown by. Hermione turned back and glanced at the table they had just occupied, where a friendship might have just been born.