A Sequel To Born the Day You Kissed Me

The Pleasures of Sunlight

"Is that it?"

Hermione was standing in front of her bedroom window, letting the sun shine freely across her face. Her hands were clutching at the window sill as she rested her forehead against the warm glass.

"Hermione?"

She inhaled deeply as she turned around at the sound of Roger's voice, "Yes, I believe so."

"I'm ready when you are."

"Thanks, I'd like a few more minutes."

"Okay," Roger said as he left her to her own company.

Hermione Granger's bottom lip trembled slightly as she willed tears not to spill from her eyes. She slowly walked out of her bedroom and into the hallway, and it was unnerving. It was cold and dim. The furniture was gone. The walls were bare, and it smelled like cleaning detergent and fresh paint. This wasn't her house…her house was warm and inviting with laughter and the smell of pastries drifting from the kitchen throughout every room.

At least…that was what it once was. Her parents had died—no, her parents had been murdered…in this very house. That was why she had spent the past week working with Roger and his employees to empty the house, clean it, and put it on the market for buyers.

Seeing as the property was extensive, bids were skyrocketing beyond her wildest dreams. Hermione was so thankful that Roger had stepped up to help her; she would have had no idea where to begin. She now had a handsome amount of money at her disposal to invest in an apartment of her own, or college if she wished. Seeing as her world was on edge, she thought it a wise decision to hold off on any major decisions where money was concerned.

Hermione spun in a slow circle around her living room, imagining herself as a young girl. She had never known a home besides this one…and Hogwarts of course. She had already cried too many tears at the thought of losing both homes within a few weeks. Not to mention, losing the love of her life. Draco Malfoy...

His name always froze her mind. No matter what she was doing, if his name appeared in her head, all thought process was halted so that her brain could conjure up a picture of his face.

"Ready?" Roger broke her reverie as he stepped through the front door.

"Yes, I'm ready," she replied as she gave one last spin in the room, and then followed him out of the door. She watched Roger lock her house for the last time, and solemnly followed him to his car.

Roger and his fiancée had graciously offered their home to Hermione for the summer, and since she didn't want to buy her own place…and because she didn't want to go live with the Weasley's as Harry was, she had accepted. She had nothing against the Weasley's…she just needed her space at the moment.

After Draco's father stole his memory…or after "The Incident" as everyone was now calling it, Harry, Ron, and Ginny hadn't left her side. She was grateful, but she knew that she needed to sort out her own emotions and settle the legal issues of the Muggle world surrounding her parents' death.

Half an hour passed and Hermione's eyes were closed as she leaned her head against the warm car window. She reveled in the feel of the sun falling across her face, and the gentle vibrations from the road she was traveling on. Roger was humming quietly to the radio.

Her mind was quite content in this moment…it wasn't racing with questions, or mourning at one of her many losses…it was simply enjoying the simple pleasure of sunlight.

"We're here Hermione," Roger said as his hands turned the steering wheel to gently guide them through gargantuan brass gates.

She looked down the circular drive and let her head fall backwards as her eyes scanned to the top of the mansion. "Oh my God," she said in awe.

"Tell me about it. I'm still trying to get used to how vast this place is. My fiancée inherited it from her great aunt…it was built in the 18th century. She is extremely proud of it."

Hermione's mouth was gaping opened as they drove closer and she stared up at the lavish Victorian style house.

When he finally pulled to a stop, Hermione slowly opened the door as she heard Roger pop the trunk of his car.

"I'm glad you've decided to stay with us Hermione," Roger said as he swung his keys on his finger a few times before shoving them into his pocket, "even if it is only for the summer."

"I'm just thankful that you are still willing to have me," she smiled as she stepped out onto the gravel.

"It's our pleasure," Roger said. "I'll go get Derek to help with your things."

Hermione's head snapped towards him as for a moment her brain automatically thought he had said Draco. "D-Derek?"

"My soon-to-be step-son, he's a little older than you are. He just finished his first year at uni," Roger said over his shoulder as he trotted up an enormous staircase and swung opened grand redwood double doors.

A step-son? He'd never mentioned that his bride-to-be had a son.

She heard Roger calling him…and her face fell as the boys name caused her mind to unconsciously wander to Draco...

She looked back up as she heard footsteps—two pairs now—coming her way. However, the sight of Derek caused her mouth to fall opened.

He was about as tall as Harry, at least from a distance he was. His hair was dark brown and she couldn't help but compare it to Draco's…it was the same texture as Draco's. Smooth and flowing, unlike Harry's hair that was course and haphazard. And his eyes…they were like Ron's—

"Hello, Hermione is it?" Derek said when he reached her.

Hermione was staring at him openly, her head cocked barely to the side.

"Uhhh," Derek laughed a bit, "I'm Derek," he said as he held his hand out for her to grasp.

"Oh," she said as she shook it firmly. "Yes, pleasure to meet you."

"I've heard a lot about you. I'm sorry to hear about you parents."

Hermione dropped her head at his remark, her eyes glancing to the ground.

"I'm sorry, have I upset you?"

Hermione lifted her eyes to his, "No, no it's alright,"

"Well, I did meet your dad once, but you'll have to tell me all about your mum," Derek said as he began to lift her suitcases out of the trunk.

She peered at him through the corner of her eye and couldn't help but notice his nicely toned arm muscles as they worked to lift her things. He gave her a quick smile as he passed her and began up the steps after Roger.

Hermione threw her bag onto her back as she began to climb the stairs, her attention being drawn to the remarkable detail in the landscaping of this mansion.

"Oh, Hello!" a woman called as she appeared suddenly at the top of the stairs Hermione was currently climbing. She had bright blonde hair, ridiculously tall heels, an alarmingly tight pink shirt, a long flowing green skirt and a pink and green polka-dotted scarf wrapped around her neck.

"Oh my God," Hermione muttered to herself as the woman put her hands on her hips and waited for her to reach the top. "You've got to be kidding me," Hermione thought to herself as she reached the woman.

"I've heard so much about you! I just know we are going to get along so well this summer! It'll be like I have my very own daughter!"

Hermione smiled shyly as the woman looked her up and down. "Thank you for having me on such short notice, madam."

"Thank you dear, but call me Chloe, I insist!" she said loudly as she motioned for Hermione to proceed through the double doors.

"Good gracious," Hermione gasped upon entering. There were two curving staircases that led to an enormous foyer on a second level. She felt as if she had just stepped into an old 18th century film. "This is—"

"Brilliant, isn't it?" Derek said, coming up to stand beside her. "We've just moved in, I haven't gotten used to its enormity yet, but I'll do my best to give you a tour."

"Yes, I'd like that very much."

"Now Derek, lets not overwhelm our guest. Why don't we show her to her room?" Roger said as he shut the double doors which created a low echo throughout the entrance.

Hermione nodded as she, Derek, and Roger picked her things up once more and began to climb the stairs.

"Your room is just to the right up here," Roger explained. "Derek's room is downstairs, and Chloe and I are on the third floor."

"You have a third floor?"

"Yes, but it is only one room."

"They like their privacy," Derek joked from beside her.

Hermione laughed a bit and admired the statues that were displayed at the top of the stairs.

When they reached her room, it was much simpler than the rest of the house. It was decorated in blue and white, and had a simple bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. There wasn't even a chair behind the desk, and it looked as if no one had ever stepped foot in there.

"This room is not quite finished. We would put you in another room but the paint is still drying and we wouldn't want you getting ill from the fumes."

"This is perfectly fine, thank you so much," she said again. They set all of her things down and then left her to get settled.

"I'll be downstairs whenever you're ready for that tour," Derek said to her before he closed the door.

"She seems nice," Derek said to his father as they headed down the stairs.

"She is a very well mannered young lady," Roger agreed.

"Very pretty too."

"Now Derek—"

"Relax Roger," Derek laughed. "Honestly, one innocent comment and you think I'm out to woo the poor girl. I can tell she has been through hell, I don't need to add anymore complications to her life."

"Good," Roger said curtly.

Hermione sat down on the bed and stared around her. She felt rather trapped in this room…it had no appeal like the rest of the house did. She had a feeling she wouldn't be spending too much time in here. The only thing that she liked was that it had a floor to ceiling window with long white curtains hanging from each side.

She began to unpack her things, and filled up her closet rather quickly along with her desk which now had a tower of books next to it. She spent the next half hour sitting on the ground by the window, gazing out over their property…it was breathtaking.

Suddenly, she heard music…a piano if her ears didn't deceive her. Intrigued, she stood to investigate. She opened her door and found the sound twice as loud in the hallway…it was coming from downstairs. She walked quietly down the staircase, and tried to follow the sound. There was no sign of Roger, Derek, or Chloe, and being a new guest, she couldn't help but feel like a trespasser in the empty halls.

"Hello?" she called quietly, but the music just grew louder. She walked under the staircases to find a long hall, at the end of which, was a ray of light from a door that was ajar. She made her way down the hall and when she peered in, she saw Derek sitting on a stool playing the piano enthusiastically. She even recognized what he was playing…it was a classic Mozart piece, and he was playing it from memory.

"Quite impressive, isn't he?"

Hermione jumped when she heard Chloe's voice from beside her.

"Yes, he is," Hermione said as she took a step away from the woman who was no less than a foot from her face.

"Derek, you have an audience," Chloe said in a sing-song voice before she walked away.

Derek turned around and caught Hermione's eye through the door. No longer unnoticed, Hermione stepped into the room. It was as magnificent as the rest of the house, and she was perplexed to find that there was not one, not two, but three pianos.

"I'm a teacher," Derek explained as he saw her glancing between the instruments. "Two are pianos, and that one is a harpsichord," he said, pointing to an antique looking piano.

He stood and walked closer to her, "My students come here, and it is easier to have two pianos sometimes. I cannot stand the sound of the harpsichord, but my mother insists on storing it in the music room." Derek stopped beside her and smiled.

"You play very well."

"Thank you, I've been playing since I was five."

Hermione smiled politely.

"Ready for your tour?"

"Yes I am," Hermione said as she allowed him to take her arm and lead her out of the room.

"So, Hermione," Derek said, "do you like it here so far?"

"That's an unnecessary question, how could I not like it?"

"Some people become overwhelmed when they first live in such grandeur places."

"No, for the past seven years I've been living in a castle—"

"A castle?"

Hermione looked up at him. "Umm," she stuttered, "I mean," she laughed nervously. She had been here less than an hour and had already made a slip about the wizarding world. Wonderful. "My private school was very big…it was practically a castle."

"Oh yes, the famous private school. What was it called again?"

"Hogwarts."

Derek smiled, "Never heard of it."

"Where do you go to school?" she asked him, trying to move the subject away from her.

"I go to The University of Aberdeen in Scotland."

"Oh, so you're just here for the summer?"

"Yes, I live there during the school year," he said. "Now, this is the main entrance, as you're probably well aware of, and down that hall are the kitchen and the dining hall."

For the next half hour, Derek gave Hermione a brief tour of the house. They even had a small library, which excited Hermione for it was the perfect place to relax and read.

"Now, I've saved the best for last," Derek said as he opened a large sliding door.

Hermione gasped as she followed him out into a huge green house. She felt like she'd just stepped into a jungle, for plants hung from the ceiling and there were flowers as far as the eye could see.

"My mother is in the decorating business; flowers are her specialty," Derek said as they walked down a small dirt path.

"Yes, I can see that," Hermione said with a smile on her face. The green house ended so that they were now out in the back yard, and now huge willow trees created a ceiling above their heads.

Derek went and sat down on one of the protruding roots and motioned for Hermione to sit next to him. "Peaceful out here, wouldn't you agree?"

"Absolutely," Hermione sighed as she sat down next to him. She wanted to run into her room, grab a good book, and read under this tree for the rest of the day.

Derek picked up a small twig and began to draw in the dirt. Then he began to sign his name over and over again.

Hermione watched him, and suddenly began to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"Your last name is Flowee?"

"Yea, why is that funny?"

"Because that would make your mother's name Chloe Flowee," Hermione said with a laugh.

Derek laughed, "Yes, for a while it did I guess."

"For a while?"

"My parents divorced when I was very young, she goes by her maiden name, Chloe Sinclair. I kept my fathers name," he explained.

"Oh I see."

Derek smiled, "Supper is probably ready by now," he said as he stood up and offered her a hand.

"Thank you so much for showing me around, I have so many things I want to do tomorrow," she said as they walked back into the green house.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll be teaching for most of the day tomorrow."

"Oh yes, on the piano."

They lapsed into silence as they walked back through the sliding doors.

"Well, I will see you at dinner Hermione," Derek said before he departed.

"Okay, bye," Hermione said as she watched him walk away. He seemed so nice, as did Chloe. Hermione was very happy that she had decided to accept Roger's invitation. This entire mansion was the perfect place for her to relax and take some alone time. And now she already had a friend here. As far as she could tell, this summer was going to be all right.