Chapter One – My Wonderful Life
Putting the book back on the correct shelf she smiled. She absolutely loved what she had done with her life after she finished school.
Hermione Granger had always planned to work in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement in the Ministry of Magic, and indeed she had done that. But after a couple of years it became boring and nothing but hard work. She agreed that she would follow her little fantasy she had always had: Opening a Book Shop.
She still had her job at the Ministry but only working there on Mondays and Thursdays and the rest of the time she was in her book shop in the centre of Diagon Alley.
When she opened it was a very small shop with little over two-hundred books, but now three years later her little shop became the best known magical book store in England. Witches and Wizards came from all over the country and even over sea's just to come visit the shop and buy their favourite book.
Hermione loved sharing the knowledge that books provide with others so she sold the books and worked as a library as well. She even gave some of the older well used books to charity and children's books to St Mungos children's ward.
This was a busy time of year for her: the end of August. All the school children were coming into the shop to but their school books and Hermione never got tired of seeing the younger faces look at the hundreds upon hundreds off aisles with the thousands of books in awe.
She was immensely proud of her shop it was cosy yet classy. She had modern shining metal book shelves instead of the rotting wooden ones that resided in Hogwarts. The ceiling was made of glass which looked out at the clear blue sky. She had made sure to keep the homely factor by adding soft comfy armchairs and couches in every nook and cranny and most of the time every seat was taken.
Yes Hermione loved how her life had turned out and she wouldn't change it for the world.
"Excuse me?" A little girl asked pulling Hermione back from her day dream. "How much is this story? It doesn't say anywhere." The girl was adorable with big blue puppy dog eyes and long brown hair as most all ladies say she 'looked good enough to eat'.
"That's one galleon sweety." Hermione said taking the book and looking over the title which read. 'One Hundred Muggle Short Stories' Hermione smiled at this. It was good to know that some wizarding children took an interest in the muggle world.
The girl smiled and ran over to a man looking at a Quidditch book a few paces away. Hermione couldn't hear the conversation but she saw the girl hand the book to her father and watched as he read the cover scowled and shoved the book back on the closest shelf carelessly.
Hermione didn't like that man. He was obviously a pureblood. The man began to walk out of the shop with the now sad little girl trailing behind him. Hermione quickly skipped over to the shelf and grabbed the book slipping it into the girls back and whispering in her ear. "On the house. Enjoy" and watched pleased with herself at the girls face lit up once more.
She turned and walked back to the register where Sally was sat serving some twins and handing back to them some school books. Sally was slightly younger that Hermione. She was very tall and very slim with long blonde hair and shiny blue eyes, she had the potential to attract any man she wanted, but she chose to spend her days selling books. She was a lovely person who you could instantly get along with, she was dating Neville Longbottom which shocked a lot of people and she told them all and I quote 'He is just a very sweet man'.
"The kids just keep pouring in. This rate we won't have any books left by the end of the day." She said with a smile.
"Well we will just have to get some more." Hermione said back we the same happy smile she had been wearing all day but the smile soon fell when she saw the little girl who she gave the book to getting dragged around very quickly by her father.
"What's wrong with you? You were all smiles a second ago." Sally said looking out the window to see what Hermione was looking at but seeing nothing.
"It's just those people who still think there better than everybody else. They are still prejudice to muggles and muggle-borns even thought Voldemort's gone." Hermione said angrily still staring out the window turning back just in time to see Sally cringe because of his name. "I wish they would just learn to accept the fact that things have changed now. I mean he had been gone for five bloody years now! He isn't coming back so why still follow his beliefs?" she snapped waiting for an answer from Sally who just opened her mouth a few times just to close it again.
"Because those people are moronic baboons." Said a voice behind Hermione and she turned to see Harry supporting a two year old little boy on his hip.
"Harry" Hermione squealed hugging her friend and taking the boy from his arms. "It's so good to see you both. How have you been? Has James been behaving?" Hermione asked all in one breathe looking back from Harry to his son in her arms.
"Slow down 'Mione." Harry smiled. "It's good to see you too. We have been just fine and Ginny sends her regards. And yes James has been behaving… most of the time." He finished with a wink at his son.
"That's fantastic. How was Spain?" Hermione asked slightly embarrassed by the fact that she seemed so eager to know.
"It was… hot." Harry said pulling up his shirt to reveal a very pink stomach. Hermione pulled a face that implied 'Must be painful' but he just shrugged it off. "When do you finish up here? Ginny is meeting me for lunch soon and then she wanted to invite you over tonight."
"Ermmm I finish in three hours but I am rather busy to night I have some paper work to do for the Ministry for tomorrow but I can go to lunch now if you like?" Hermione said beaming at her long time friend.
"Shame you can't come tonight but yeah lunch would be great." Harry said taking his son back and linking arms with Hermione and walking into the busy streets.
Malfoy Industries
Draco sat at his desk with his head in his hands rubbing his temples. He had just been told by his advisors that he had no choice but to expand the company. Which basically spend shit loads of money on a new building which will take months to build and then another few weeks to get fully staffed.
"Aren't you people my advisors supposed to you know advice me of stuff like this before it happens?" Draco said angrily slamming a fist down on his desk. "This is going to mess everything up after it just started to settle down." He hisses at the frightened little man sat directly across from him.
"We're sorry Mr. Malfoy, sir. We had looked over the income we were receiving and everything seemed alright but we are losing money drastically and we have agreed that the best option is to open up another company which will double your profits." Said a man pointing to a chart on the wall which had a line descending over the years. "We would have enlightened you sooner but as I said it happened very quickly and we didn't want to worry you over what we though was just a mistake."
"Does it look like a mistake to you now" Draco said through gritted teeth also pointing to the chart. "If you know what good for you at this particular moment in time, get out." No body moved. "Do I have to spell it out for you? GET OUT NOW!" he screamed but pointed to his main advisor Mr. Richards. "You stay"
"Yes sir?" he said hesitantly.
"If we are losing money quickly we don't have time to design and make a new building so we will just have to buy one which is already there. What do you suggest?" Draco said trying to stay calm and not scream his head off.
"Well… I-It would have to be a large building not as big as this one as this is the main office. It should be in a well known place to attract more business." He said in a small voice.
"So where would you suggest?" Draco repeated cracking his knuckles menacingly and making Mr. Richards cringe.
Mr. Richards waved his wand and in front of him and Draco a map appeared on the desk. "Well Diagon Alley has thousands of people there everyday; it would be a very promising spot. But the only place large enough would be Gringotts which we obviously can't have.2 he said with a sigh. "Wait this place, it must be new. It is a decent size and in a good spot right in the centre of the Alley. That would be perfect." He said the smugness evident in his voice.
"OK what is it?" Draco asked looking at the map for himself.
"Granger's Book Store. That's the book store that was mentioned in the profit. Just been redone and is now classed as the best book shop in Britain. It may cost a fair amount to get this building sir."
"Did you say Granger's?" Draco asked and Richards nodded. "Oh I think I will be able to persuade her to part with her little shop… we go way back" Draco said with a sly grin on his face.
This seemed to worry Mr. Richards as he just gave a shy smile back before being dismissed from the office.
At Lunch
Harry and Hermione walked into the crowded café for lunch. James clinging onto his fathers hand as to not get lost in a crowd. Harry scanned the small café in search of his wife and then he smiled as his eyes came to rest on the pretty red head in the corner.
The three walked over to her and she looked up and beamed. She stood up, and hugged both her husband and he friend.
"Got her out of the book shop I see?" she asked Harry who smiled and winked back at her. "Good we have so much to catch up on. I haven't seen you in… umm let's see four months! That really is too long." She said firmly then laughing with her friend.
"I know. I'm sorry. I have just been so busy setting up the shop and then when I had time you were off to Spain for the month." Hermione sighed heavily. "But your back now and the shop is fine so we have all the time in the world… well I have 45 minuets for lunch but that's enough." Hermione said looking at her watch.
"Hermione Granger! That is not enough. Aren't you coming over tonight after work?" Ginny asked and Hermione shook her head and told her she had to do some work for tomorrow. "Come on 'Mione it will be great. We the twins, Ron and he is bringing his new girlfriend. She is really sweet from what he has told me. She is bringing her brother with her too." Ginny said winking at Hermione and elbowing her in the side lightly. "He is twenty-four, only a year older and quite dashing from what I've heard"
Hermione just shook her head and laughed. "Every time we have a get together you have to go and set me up with someone. I'm too busy to have a boyfriend right now!" she said mock glaring at the other woman.
"That's what you said last time. Please I hate seeing you all alone when all of us have some one. Do it for me… and Harry" she said elbowing Harry in the arm sharply, he quickly looked up from the menu and under the stare of his wife smiled and nodded to Hermione not having a clue to what he was agreeing to. Ginny looked back to Hermione and raised her eyebrow expectantly.
Hermione pretended to be thinking about it until she grinned and said "No" wiping the smile off Ginny's face. "I really don't need a blind date right now." Said Hermione gently. "Maybe next month" she added seeing the determined look on her friends face.
Ginny looked down at her son. She bent down and whispered something in his ear and he smiled instantly and nodded to his mother.
He looked to Hermione. "If you won't do it for Mummy an Daddy ven will you do it for me." He smiled sweetly at Hermione "It would make me happy to see you happy herm… herm…io…ne." he said not being able to pronounce her name properly yet, he put on a fake pout face and just kept looking at Hermione.
She shook her head and sighed. "Alright" she said flinging her arms in the air. "You evil person" she said turning her fake glare on Ginny. "You know I cant resist it when he pouts."
Ginny just shrugged and grinned. They all sat talking about everything and nothing and waved to Hermione as she went back to work.
"Remember 6:00pm. Don't be late!" Ginny shouted and Hermione just waved her hand over her head dismissing the warning. Her, Hermione Granger being late for something. Preposterous!
Book Store
Hermione returned to the bookstore as soon as she had finished lunch with Harry and Ginny. Sally was showing a group of first years where to get there new books from and Darren, Sally's brother was working the till.
She went about her business and writing several different book titles on a piece of parchment before tapping it with her wand, which made the writing disappear only for the words "Thank you for your order" to appear instead. She used the company 'Profession Printing' which printed everything in the world that used ink. She trusted this company whole heartedly as a friend of hers worked there and it was excellent service. 'Be there in 60 seconds or your money back!'
She stood still by the desk in her office and 47 seconds later six boxes appeared in front of her. She took out twenty galleons and laid them on the parchment and tapped them. They disappeared and a message was left saying "Thank you for your service"
She unboxed all the books and levitated them down stairs to start putting them on the shelves. Before she knew it, it was quarter to five. She had completely forgotten and that meant she had to close the shop very quickly.
She went over every shelf and said a cleaning charm and watched as an invisible cloth slipped over every surface leaving them shining. She did this to every shelf and surface until the whole shop was perfect. She would feel horrible if she didn't do this every day, she just couldn't leave the shop with one spec of dust in sight. Yes she was a neat freak but every one who knew who she was knew this already.
"Bit late today aren't we?" Said Darren as he was bagging up that day's profit.
"A little. Time just got away from me. Where's Sally?" Hermione asked as she went into a room near the entrance and pulled out her and Darren's coat. Tossing his to him.
"Don't you remember? She asked you this morning if she could head off early because she was meeting Neville." Darren asked putting the coat over his shoulders.
"Oh yes that's right. I am not with it today." Hermione sighed.
"Somebody's nervous about something." Darren acknowledged opening the door for Hermione and then stepping out into the street himself.
"Oh Ginny finally got me to agree to one of her blind dates tonight. Its not that I'm nervous I just don't want to date anyone right now."
"Ah ha" Darren said not believing her in the slightest. "Well I will see you on Friday then." He said waving over his shoulder as he headed towards his flat at the other end of Diagon Alley.
Hermione waved back and sighed. Now she had to go home and get ready for her date. How fun.
She apparated back to her modern apartment in London. She kicked her shoes off and flopped back on her sofa. The apartment was fairly large, with all the work tops made from black marble. And the whole house decorated in Black, white and reds. Except her bedroom which she decorated to her own tastes. Lilac walls and pale cream fluffy carpet. Her double bed had just plain white sheets with lilac lace embroidery. She had muggle still pictures of her, Harry and Ron on graduation day and pictures of other friends and family members.
She looked at her watch. 5:20pm. She had to get ready.
She dragged herself to the bathroom and turned the taps on running her bath. She undressed and let the warm water cover her. She instantly felt relaxed and refreshed, ready for anything. She soaked for a good few minuets and then grabbed her shampoo. After she had rinsed the soap from her body she hopped out the bath the water disappearing with a flick of her wrist. She picked up her wand and used a drying charm and put on a dressing robe.
She looked at her reflection and smiled. She wasn't the same bushy haired bookworm that she was at Hogwarts. She no longer had teeth too large for her mouth; her hair had tamed and now lay in soft curls falling to just below her shoulders. She had actually managed to grow breast as well, not huge and not small just right for her body. She was quite pleased with the way she turned out but she still didn't think other people would be.
That's why she didn't want to date. She though that any man she met up with would just see her as her seventeen year old self. She knew this was absolute rubbish and told herself that constantly but she never truly believed it. But tonight she was going to forget about it completely by meeting with a man. 'I hope what Ginny said was true. I am going to kill her if he is a bastard!'
With that though in mind she didn't want to get all dressed up and look to eager. She put on some skinny faded black jeans which showed off her curves well. She picked out a Deep blue V neck shirt which had black sequins around the V collar. Altogether she looked casual but also sexy, that was how she liked it. As if the outfit spoke for her. 'I may look good but I am NOT a slut so don't try anything.' Yep she was ready.
She quickly put on some mascara, blucher and clear lip-gloss as her lips already had a lovely pink tinge to them. She looked at the alarm clock on her bedside table it read. 6:04pm.
'Crap! Already late.' And with that she apparated outside of the Potters house. It was a wizarding village so no one would give a shit if someone just appeared out of no where.
She went to knock on the door but stopped. 'What if he doesn't like me' she though. She was going to knock when the door swung open with Ginny on the other side beaming at her.
"I thought you weren't going to come. But I'm so glad you did. He is just great!" Ginny gushed and kissed Hermione on the cheek as she stood beside her inside the warm house.
"Of course I was going to come I'm only five minuets late Ginny." Hermione smiled and waited for Ginny to lead her into the front room which she did quickly.
She walked through the door to see Harry talking to Fred and George, Ron talking to a blonde girl who Hermione assumed was his new girlfriend and next to the blonde girl was a man with dirty blonde hair like his sisters. Hermione looked at him and knew he was her date. 'He is dashing' she thought to herself. Every head turned when she walked through the door. Everyone smiled including the man. 'Even his smile is attractive' she thought again.
"Hermione meet Maree Shalton and Ryan Shalton. Maree and Ryan meet Hermione Granger. She is the girl I was telling you about Ryan." Ginny said smiling at Hermione who just took her head and laughed quietly at her friend's confidence.
"Yes I remember. Nice to meet you Hermione." He said and held out his hand which Hermione took. But instead of shaking it her brought her hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her skin. Hermione just smiled shyly and took at seat next to him on the couch.
Ginny clapped like a school girl at the interaction and hurriedly went into the kitchen and brought out a tray full of snacks and a bottle of fire whiskey.
Everyone in the room got on well laughing and chatting with each other and it got even friendlier after a glass of the alcohol. Three hours later Hermione was feeling tipsy but still sober enough to know she had to get home as she had work the next day. She bid everyone goodbye but as she was about to apparate she was stopped.
She turned to see Ryan holding her wrist. "Can I see you again some time. Maybe this Friday?" he asked with a hopeful smile.
"Sure. Get my number off Ginny or come visit the book shop and arrange something." Hermione said happily pleased by the fact that a nice guy was actually interested in her.
He beamed at her and let her go. When Hermione arrived back at her apartment she jumped up and down a couple of times then took a deep breathe to calm herself down. 'For Merlin's sake your acting like a little girl with a crush. Grow up Woman!' she told herself but that wasn't enough to take the smile of her face.
She got changed into her Night wear and crawled under the covers. She looked around the darkness of her room. 'I love my wonderful life' was her last thought before she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Oh how her wonderful life was going to change the following day.