Author's Note: I think it's time for Lizzy to visit Charlotte ;)


August 14, 2003

Ginny,

I just received your last letter and, Merlin, your life does sound exciting. You must tell me what your next game is in England—I wouldn't want to miss it. I'll round Ron and Katie to come as well since I know Ron has been a little down and out since Harry left town.

A lot of people have been leaving actually. You remember last month when you thought my life was exciting? Well, I must tell you it has calmed down considerably since your departure.

I know I shouldn't be offended or upset since we were seeing each other only casually, but Theo's abrupt departure and pathetic excuse for a goodbye has left me feeling thoroughly blue. I keep trying to understand what it is I did wrong and why he doesn't seem to care, but nothing is turning up, I'm afraid. At least he sort of said goodbye though, which is more than I can say for one person.

Since I last wrote you, Pansy suddenly took off to Italy without so much as a word to Harry. Even though he tried to assure me that it was okay, I was quite upset on his behalf. They seemed to be going so strong—he was so happy—and then she just up and leaves without a goodbye. We had to hear of it from Malfoy, of all people. When Harry hadn't heard anything from Pansy for a couple of days, he finally stooped to owling Malfoy to figure out what happened and the git, in a short, curt reply, stated that she'd taken up a job offer in Milan working for a Daily Prophet subsidiary covering the latest fashion. Something she'd always wanted to do, he'd said. He also very rudely hinted that it was fortunate she knew someone there—an old boyfriend of sorts—and she wouldn't be in the foreign country alone.

Harry was heartbroken, poor thing. It makes me so angry to think of what Pansy did to him—and the casual way in which Malfoy stated it, as if Harry hadn't been head over heels in love with Pansy. He doesn't show it, but I can always tell. He resolved to try and win her back, however, by swindling his boss into allowing him to be re-stationed in Rome for a few months. I must confess I miss him terribly, but he's doing what he has to do and I can't get in the way of that.

Ron's been fine. He's been busy blustering over the soon-to-arrive baby and getting everything ready. You should see Katie; she's very cute when she waddles. She's nearly nine-months along now and very much showing. They make an absolutely wonderful couple and I couldn't be happier for them. I will of course give them the bib you included in your parcel. Ron will undoubtedly be upset that it isn't for The Chudley Cannons, but you know how he is.

And thanks so much for the chocolates! I had completely forgotten to ask for them in my last letter so imagine my surprise when they were in the mail this morning. I've already eaten half the box but no matter. I don't know what they put in them but I swear to Merlin they are the best I'd ever tasted. Bless Spain.

I must run since my lunch break is ending soon. Keep safe.

Love,

Hermione

P.S. I won't be writing for another couple of weeks at least. Millie's invited me to stay with her for a few days next week and I cannot wait!

o-o-o

"Whew."

Hermione stopped in front of the large assuming house and dropped the bags that she'd been carrying at her feet, finally relieved of the extra weight. She grabbed the large knocker and knocked three times on the oversized steel door, almost feeling the vibration from the bangs. It appeared he liked everything bigger, better, and louder. She cracked a smile wondering how Millie was taking it all.

Speaking of her raven-haired Slytherin friend, the door opened wide and she was engulfed in a great, big hug.

"Millie!"

"What is it going to take to stop you from calling me that, Granger?" Millicent asked as she almost cracked her friend in two.

"Miss Granger!" she heard someone shout and almost—almost—groaned miserably. It was his wife she was hugging, after all.

Millie released her and she turned towards the tall blond. "Mr. McLaggen," she said amiably, sticking out her right hand.

He shook it politely before turning towards Millicent. "My dear, would you escort our guest to her room?"

Millicent nodded before placing a welcoming arm around Hermione's shoulders. "Come on, Granger. You'll love your room, I'm sure of it."

Millie hit the nail on the head with that statement. Hermione gasped the second she entered the room and walked in slowly, taking in her surroundings. The room was beautiful, to be sure. It was impeccably decorated and furnished, leaving Hermione suitably impressed. The double bed in the corner looked comfy as she eyed the tan silk sheets and the fluffy blue blanket. The sun was shining on it softly, coming in from the large window opposite the bed. Everything was in dark wood and soft lines and she loved it.

Hermione had to admit that once she entered the McLaggens' home she couldn't escape the feeling of coldness as she saw the harsh lines and chromatic interior, but her room was entirely different and she knew Millie had a hand in that.

"So," she said as she spun towards Millicent, "what's on the agenda?"

"Are you hungry yet? We can have lunch in the city and explore. I really think you'll love Seattle."

"Please! And can we have lunch in Chinatown? I'm on a mission to hit all of them," Hermione stated excitedly with a smile. She had of course been to London's many times and it had inspired her to go to as many as she could. She'd ticked off San Francisco's the year before when she went on a trip with Harry and was excited to see how Seattle's would compare.

Millie grinned before rolling her eyes and walking out of the room. "Of course, Granger. We can leave in a few minutes. Let me just tell Cormac where we're going."

o-o-o

"Oh, my god," Hermione moaned as she took a bite of the deep-fried prawns that had just been laid out in front of her.

Millie threw her head back and laughed at what Hermione knew to be a gluttonous expression on her face but she really couldn't care. What was in this breading?!

"Good, right?" Millie asked, her eyes sparkling.

Hermione nodded. "Best deep-fried prawns I've ever had," she said as she took another bite.

They were currently sitting at a sturdy wooden table under a dingy lamp in the corner of a restaurant that Millie had insisted they have lunch at. At first glance, Hermione had to admit that it didn't really look like much; just your regular hole-in-the-wall. What she'd come to find with hole-in-the-walls, however, was that it was usually where the best food was found, and this was no exception. Millie had just been telling her that the place, Tai Tung it had said on the menu, had been there for years, established sometime during the 1930s.

After making the move the month prior, Millicent and Cormac had poked around the city, trying out various restaurants and visiting different shops, when a recommendation from one of Cormac's colleagues had lead them to Tai Tung. They'd decided to give it a shot, and after, just didn't bother trying any others in the area—they had found their spot for Chinese food and had no need to look elsewhere.

"So," Millicent started as she piled chicken fried rice onto her plate, "how's home?"

Hermione gave an abridged version, sticking to the facts of everyone's health and welfare and not really wanting to go into her feelings as of late. She and Millie had reconciled just the week before, after all, and she didn't want to bring her down or make her feel guilty in any way. "Home's good. Everyone's in good health and all that. Katie's close—she's due next month and I'm so excited to see little Corin. I hope he has red hair like Ron."

"And Ginny's in Spain?"

"Yeah, she left for the tournament about a month ago. She told me she's having the time of her life. Oh! I forgot. I brought some of those chocolates she always gets—managed to save a few for you."

"How big of you."

"Oh, hush! You know how hard that was for me," Hermione said, laughing.

"Pansy wrote me a couple of days ago, said she'd relocated to Italy."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah. Devastated Harry, too. He went after her, of course; going to be stationed in Rome for a month at least."

"How's Ron taking that?"

"Well, he wasn't thrilled but he has Katie and their new baby to expect—he has his hands full."

There was a pause as Hermione spooned some beef with broccoli onto her plate. There was absolutely no way she was going to be able to eat all of this, but at the first bite she just couldn't convince herself to stop. Besides, she was on holiday.

"And you?"

"I'm fine. Work has picked up a little since you left but nothing I can't handle. Keeps me busy."

Millicent shook her head. "No, I mean how are you taking everything?"

"Taking everything what?" Hermione sincerely hoped the conversation wasn't turning in the direction she'd tried to steer it away from. Feeling sorry for herself was one thing—letting another in on it, and Millie especially, wasn't something she wanted to do.

Millicent gave her a knowing look.

"Oh, all right. I've been okay. It's been sad seeing everyone leave, of course," she said, pausing as she looked up at her friend, "but it was bound to happen eventually."

Confusion clouded Millicent's features. "Everyone was bound to leave you eventually?"

"No. Well, yeah. I mean, we're growing up, right? We're growing older and making our way through our careers and our lives…things change. I was never under the delusion that everyone was going to magically stay in one spot forever. People move on." Hermione gave a sad smile to her plate. Harry would have been proud of her.

"Doesn't make it easy, though."

Hermione shook her head. "No, it doesn't. I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring you down. We just made up after that stupid fight when I was being so stubborn—I didn't want to put any more pressure on you."

Millicent, thankfully, decided to be gracious and dropped it. "Well, I'm glad you're here. We've got five days, Granger, to get you thoroughly Seattle-fied and I for one cannot wait."

Hermione grinned. "Well, what's next on the agenda?"

"The market, of course."

"Excellent," she said as she took another bite. "God, this is amazing!"

o-o-o

Hermione sighed, not wanting to close her eyes at the spectacular view but failing as the feeling took her away. It was a calm night so it wasn't too windy all the way up at the top. And it thankfully wasn't raining, so she wasn't soaked to the bone as she normally would have been.

They—she, Millie, and Cormac who had tagged along—had poked around the shop below, making her want to buy everything in the store as souvenirs for everyone at home before Millie had dragged her to the elevator, promising her she'd be able to shop later. As Hermione stood at the top of the Space Needle, letting the wind blow through her already unruly curly hair, she was glad she wasn't weighed down with twenty shopping bags.

On one side, the city seemed to sparkle beneath her. She looked closely and could see the rises and dips of the roads in the distance and marveled at the layout of the land. She'd had the same thought in San Francisco with Harry but hadn't had the chance to see it from a bird's eye view as she did now.

They'd taken what they'd been given and made it their own.

On another side was the view of the water. Puget Sound, Hermione thought it was. Or maybe it was Lake Union. She would ask Millie later. Cormac had tried to point out a few landmarks earlier like Safeco and the Seahawks Stadium, all of which she'd filed away to research later, but really all she cared about was the magic of the view.

It was a beautiful city she'd come to discover in her short time, and she dreaded having to leave in three days. After lunch yesterday, she and Millie had perused the Pike Place Market for nearly three hours. She'd managed to nab homemade soaps and lotions for Mrs. Weasley and Fleur, a package of Fran's salted caramels for Ginny, a box of truffles each for Ron and Harry (milk chocolate for Ron and dark for Harry), an old 8mm movie camera for Mr. Weasley, and a bag of handmade wooden alphabet blocks for Corin. She was still unsure of what to get for George and Angelina but perhaps she'd find it down at the shop below.

Hermione shook her head. Now was not the time to worry about souvenirs. She was positive she'd get something for everybody. This trip was for her though; the freedom of getting away for a couple of days and not having to worry about anything or anybody back home. For just a few days she wouldn't have to worry about Harry and Pansy, or work, or Theo, or Malfoy, or her own pathetically lonesome thoughts… just the view and the wind and the smell of the air in this beautiful seaport town.

"Hermione."

Hermione turned to see Millicent and Cormac walking together, hands linked. She hated to admit that their marriage seemed to be doing well so far. Cormac was attentive and Millie was always kind and courteous towards him. Though they seemed to clash every now and then, it was always resolved quickly and efficiently. And when Cormac would turn indulgent and become a bit of a prat, Millie always knew how to calm him down; she knew how to—and Hermione hated using this word in respect to the relationships between significant others—handle him.

Hermione was glad they had found each other as that would have been their downfall—she and Cormac's—since she herself did not have the patience that Millie embodied on a daily basis.

"Hey," Millicent said, finally reaching Hermione. "We were thinking about walking around below, maybe go on some rides. What do you think? Oh, and the fountain. You have to see the fountain."

"That sounds great," Hermione said with enthusiasm. "When can I poke around the shop below? I wanted to get a few Space Needle things."

"If we can find an empty alley or something to shrink the bags then we can do that right now. What do you think, hon?" Millicent asked, addressing Cormac to her left as they began walking towards the elevator that would take them down. "Think we can chance it?"

Cormac shrugged agreeably. "I don't see why not. As long as there's nobody around it shouldn't be a problem."

"Have you decided what to get George and Angelina yet?" Millicent asked.

"I don't know," Hermione replied as they walked into the elevator. "Are there any good joke shops here?"

"Good question. I don't recall hearing about—oh! Yes, there is," Millicent said excitedly. "And I've been wanting to check it out, too. I believe it's called Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. Tomorrow, yeah?"

Hermione nodded enthusiastically.

"It's by the water front, too, so we can see that tomorrow. Are you coming, hon?"

"No," Cormac replied, smiling at Millicent. "I have a couple of meetings tomorrow. If they end early though I may be able to catch up, so take your mobile?"

"Of course. I do hope it doesn't rain."

o-o-o

As it turned out, it did.

"Come on, come on, come on!" Millicent shouted back at Hermione. They were running on the docks between shops, both with their jackets over their heads since neither had an umbrella, and the bottoms of their trousers were getting soaked by the splashes of the puddles they had to jump through.

Hermione had never seen it rain so suddenly before. One minute she and Millie were standing on the dock staring out at the water eating their ice cream and the next they were practically soaked as they bolted towards shelter from the sudden onslaught of the rain. They hadn't let it ruin their day though, instead choosing to spend their time indoors and poke around the shops, waiting until it let up a bit. Hermione knew she probably should have bought an umbrella three shops ago but she just couldn't bring herself to care. She was having too much fun.

"Oh, god." Hermione sighed as she leant against the exterior of the building they'd just taken cover in, the ceiling's overhang managing to block most of the rain. Over the sound of the water hitting the pavement, she heard a ringing come from Millie's pocket.

"Hello? Oh, hi. Yeah, we just got there now, actually. Got caught in the rain. Yeah, sure. How long will you be? Absolutely, hon, that's fine. Okay. Bye." Millicent shut the phone and stuck it back in her pocket. She turned and opened the door to the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. "Cormac's coming, he said he'll be here in a few minutes. Come on."

They both walked inside and stopped short, their heads moving slowly from one side to the next as their eyes took in the plethora of everything on display. Hermione slowly grinned. This was definitely the place to get George's gift. "Wow."

"Uh-huh. Hey, look," Millicent said with a laugh as she pointed towards a sign. "You can get a ghost tour."

Hermione laughed. "I'm good on ghosts for a while, thanks. The Bloody Baron still gives me the creeps."

Millicent threw her a wry grin as she ventured further into the store. "He's not so bad, actually. A little rough around the edges, sure, but always a gentleman towards me."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You were in Slytherin. Of course he'd be amicable towards you."

"Is this some of your displaced hostility towards my house, Granger?"

Hermione spun around. That last question was not spoken by her friend, but by an equally familiar voice nonetheless. She came face to face with a very sturdy chest covered in light blue fabric and she trailed her eyes up the silver tie, stopping at equally silver eyes. She saw the shocking white-blond hair at her periphery, but if the voice hadn't given him away already, the eyes certainly would have. "Malfoy!"

Malfoy stared down at the surprised brunette and released a brief, amused smile. "Granger," he said with a slight tip of his head.

She looked up to see that the ends of his soft hair were wet and sticking to his forehead and she had the strangest urge to sweep them to the side, away from his eyes, with the tips of her fingers. She curled them into a fist at her side and stood still, keeping her gaze locked on his. "What are you doing here?" she asked, confused.

"I'm on business; came to check up on one of our affiliates."

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy here popped in quite unexpectedly to make sure we're running things right. But not an unpleasant surprise by any means! I'm glad to see that our funders are so invested—makes things run smoother."

"Indeed," Malfoy said quietly, never once taking his eyes from hers.

Just like their last two encounters, Hermione could feel her heart rate quicken and her breathing become labored once more, and she again wondered what it was about this man that brought out such a reaction in her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Millie grab McLaggen's hand and drag him away. Briefly she heard her mutter, "Come on, dear. Let's poke around, shall we?" to which he was very agreeable. Together they left the tall, assuming blond with the sharp grey eyes and the petite, curly-haired brunette standing alone, the two never taking their eyes off one another. Neither noticed Millicent's amused smirk as she turned the corner.

"And what occasion have you to visit the Emerald City, Granger?"

"Visiting a dear friend… who just so happens to be the wife of your business associate, I see."

"So it would appear. They're a good couple."

For once, Hermione agreed with him. "They are," she said as she finally turned away from his bright grey eyes and meandered down the nearest aisle, her senses feeling him follow her—at a respectable distance, of course. Hermione shook her head. He was a Malfoy after all. Manners matter, she heard in her mother's voice in her head.

"How long are you here for, if I may ask?"

"Just two more days. I leave Wednesday night."

Silence. She looked over and he seemed to be engrossed with a keychain. Upon further inspection she saw he was holding a small rubber raccoon by his thumb and forefinger and periodically squishing it around its middle, causing a strange brown goop to appear out of the raccoon's backside every time he applied pressure. With a raised eyebrow and an amused smile he peered over at her underneath his fringe and she had to quickly turn away to stop herself from laughing outright. She failed, giggles escaping her, and heard his deep chuckles behind her.

"You?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm afraid I leave even earlier than you. Wednesday morning is my last meeting here and I'm due back in London by dinner."

She hmm'd before turning the corner and stopping short at the sight of a gypsy staring at her. It was a dummy who was encased in glass, and Hermione was strongly reminded of one just like it that she'd seen in the movie Big her parents used to watch on the telly as a child. She was just as creeped out now as she had been then. Upon further inspection it appeared her name was Estrella and she was eager to tell Hermione a prophecy.

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw a large pale hand with long fingers holding a silver coin stretch around her and put it in the slot. Malfoy pushed the button and Estrella came to life, causing Hermione to gasp and take a step back, her back hitting Malfoy's chest. She was about to take a step forward, suddenly feeling as encased as Estrella, when she felt Malfoy's hand grab her hip and force her to take a step back with him, giving Hermione more room to step away from the eerie Estrella. As wary as Hermione was of Malfoy, she stayed put, more comfortable being near him than the dark-haired and painted dummy before her.

She took a deep, calming breath and watched Estrella shift awkwardly, her movements jerky and unnatural, and hoped her fortune wouldn't be told orally. She dreaded the thought of that thing talking. Thankfully, after a long minute, Estrella did no such thing and finally shut down, a card popping out below.

Hermione knew it was ridiculous, but she was truly hesitant to step forward. She had loved the movie Big as much as her parents, always looking forward to the piano scene every time she watched it, but the dummy had given her nightmares as a child. And some fears were just that, childish. In the middle of silently scolding herself for being so silly—she'd battled Death Eaters for Merlin's sake!—she felt Malfoy's hand on her elbow gently lead her away from Estrella as he went and grabbed the card himself, standing before her, creating a nice barrier between herself and the dummy.

Hermione's anxiety began to ebb away and the dummies of her nightmares slinked back into the darkness of her forgotten memories once more. He was a pompous prat, but she had to appreciate Malfoy's intuitiveness. Clearly he'd noticed her reluctance to go near the dummy and sought to ease her wariness.

"Estrella's Prophesies," he said in low voice, reading from the card. "Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil. If you follow this golden rule, life will be so much pleasanter for you. Avoid common gossip and the company of those who do. You have a very strong character. You are a very loveable person and have a very forgiving nature. You have had some trouble, but time will temper it. I see a long life and a healthy one in store for you. Although you are fond of good food and drink you know how to take it in moderation.

"Beware of a dark haired one who is jealous of your success in life and will try to make trouble for you. Drop another Coin in slot and I will tell you more. Your Luck Numbers, Granger, are three-ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, ninety-six, and ninety-five." He smirked and handed the card over to her.

She took it and quickly read quietly what he'd just aloud, pausing on the mention of a dark haired one. She tried to think of every dark haired person currently in her life, immediately bypassing Harry and Millie, as any trouble they'd ever make for her would never be out of jealousy or malicious intent, and could only name a few: Theo, Pansy, and her boss, Bletchley. She tossed Bletchley out since he had no reason to be jealous of her or cause her harm; she worked under him, after all. Hermione couldn't think of a reason as to why Pansy would be jealous of her, other than her long-term friendship with Harry, and tossed her out as well. After all it was Pansy that dropped Harry, not the other way around. That only left Theo. She couldn't think of any reason why he would purposefully cause her trouble, but his name and the warning swirled around in her mind before she tossed him out as well, realizing she was paying far too much attention to the prophesy from a novelty item.

Hermione looked up to see Malfoy watching her intently and blushed. She shrugged and put the card in her beaded bag before once again turning away, knowing he'd follow her. "Since when do you carry Muggle money around, Malfoy?" she asked, happy to get some space between him. His nearness did things to her insides that she'd rather not think about. She would much rather have a clear mind in which she could focus on his true attributes of blood prejudice and arrogance than how much she'd like to run her fingers through his hair and how good he smelled.

"I always carry whatever currency is appropriate for the situation. We happen to be in the Muggle world in America, thus dollars and the correct coins are called for. Surprised, Granger?" he asked as he inspected a small mummified woman from afar, the plaque indicating she was called Sylvia.

"Not about you being prepared, no."

"Just about me having any knowledge of anything Muggle, let alone standing where I am, amongst them." He turned to look at her and she gave up the pretense of trying to find the price of a dangling rubber shrunken head sporting a Beatle's haircut.

"Precisely. I think you forget that I know you, Malfoy. This ruse you're trying to keep up is not working, especially not on me."

"You're labeling me under the misapprehension of my past, Hermione, and I would appreciate it if you could wait until you got to know me better."

"Why should I?" she asked with venom in her tone and a glare to match. "So, you can drop me like you have so many others? Or perhaps you need another goon to follow you around mindlessly. Feeling your pride drop a few points, Malfoy? Maybe you'd like the feeling of a Mudblood simpering after you?"

"Do not utter that distasteful word!" he said, fire entering his eyes at last.

She stepped back with wide eyes, surprised. If she hadn't been confused before, she was now. "What?"

"I said I never want to hear that word out of you again, Granger. Do you hear me?"

"Who are you to tell me what I can and canno—"

"So," came a booming voice from her left, cutting her off effectively. "Who's up for some dinner? I was thinking seafood."

o-o-o

Hermione crawled into bed at last, exhausted. Up until the rain had started to pour down on them at the waterfront, she and Millie had already had a long day. Her adrenaline had kicked in, then wavered, as they had run through the rain between shops, then kicked in once more with Malfoy's sudden presence and their subsequent argument. Millie had been able to stop them before it had turned into a full-blown fight with wands drawn, but unfortunately that had not suppressed their tempers. Dinner was excruciating…the walk along the water even worse.

Malfoy had bought her a large red umbrella, but out of sheer spite and pride she had refused to use it on the forty-five minute stroll and she could feel a cold coming on. The stupid thing was currently resting against the wall by the door and she glared at it, as if it was the sole reason for her sniffles. Though it had only been a drizzle that she'd walked through, it had done its job.

She felt horrible. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. She knew the argument at the quirky shop had been her fault, but had been unable to stop herself in the moment. The feelings he'd been inspiring in her were too strong, too quick, and she'd lashed out—rather unfairly too. So, he carried around Muggle money; it wasn't that big of a deal. The only way she could justify it in her mind, however, was that once again he was confusing her and she did not like it. Could he not just stay on his side of the spectrum?

The worse part by far, however, was when the git had suggested to Cormac and Millie that they all rejoin again for breakfast the next morning. So, not only did she no longer have the luxury of trying to sleep off her illness, she now had to get up extra early to make herself extra presentable and not let on how miserable she truly was. And she'd have to spend more time with Malfoy. Groaning, Hermione pulled the pillow over her head and promptly passed out.

After what felt like mere seconds, she awoke and pulled the pillow off, the lack of air suffocating and found the room basked in a light blue glow from the sun shining through the navy blue curtains. With her hair plastered to her sweaty face, she groggily reached for her wand and gave it a feeble swish. Though it had done its job, her lack of enthusiasm caused the time to appear only briefly in a very light green that she could barely see before the numbers were released into thin, light green clouds of smoke. Nevertheless, she had caught the time and if her brain was still working right, her alarm would go off in…

buzz…buzz…buzz

Yep, she thought, as she flung her wand onto the other side of the bed and wearily sat up. Apparently she had slept soundly for a full seven hours, though she didn't feel it. She dragged herself to the bathroom, hoping that a shower would wash the sleep and cold off of her and delighted in the hot water pouring down over her, indulging in its liquid embrace for a full five minutes longer than absolutely necessary.

By the time she exited the room to find Millie and beg for a Pepper-Up Potion, she felt only marginally better. Perhaps she'd have a cup of coffee instead of her usual tea with breakfast this morning. Any help she could get, she'd take.

o-o-o

"You are a stubborn bint, you know that?" Millicent asked, pouring a measured amount into a glass vial and handing it to Hermione.

"I know. And thank you," Hermione replied gratefully, downing the bright purple potion in one go. Instantly she felt its effects as her head cleared and the aches in her body eased. She sighed. "Oh, Merlin, that feels better."

Millicent rolled her eyes. "Give me that," she said as she grabbed the vial back and poured another measured amount into it before stoppering it and tapping it with her wand, turning the vial plastic and therefore more durable. "Here. Stick this in your bag for later."

"Bless you."

"You know if you had just used the umbrella—"

"I wouldn't give him the satisfaction!"

"That's your problem. Your pride."

"My pride?" Hermione exclaimed, following Millie down the hallway towards the door to the den where she knew Cormac would be waiting, next to the fireplace.

"Yes. Your pride. You don't have to hate him you know. Especially," Millicent emphasised, holding up a finger to stop Hermione's protests, "if it is merely on principle."

"It's more than that!"

Millicent stopped a few yards away from the door to the den and reached out a hand to turn Hermione towards her. "Like what?"

"Like his arrogance," Hermione said incredulously. Why was she being forced to defend herself against one of her best friends? "And his pride. And blood prejudice. And unfailing pretentiousness and self-importance. He feels like he can own the world just because he can pay off a few people that are as immoral as him."

"What are you basing this on?" Millicent asked calmly.

"What am I—what do you mean what am I basing this on?" Hermione exclaimed. "I'm basing this on him! On my knowledge of him of the past twelve years! On his past!"

"Exactly. His past."

"What? So? He's… ugh! He is vile!"

"That's what you said about Cormac."

"And a bully."

"Which is what you once said about me."

"And has a menacing, icy exterior that nobody can touch," Hermione stated with loathing before muttering, "or would even want to."

"And if I recall, you thought that about Pansy only a couple of years ago before I managed to convince you otherwise… though with the turn of events recently, I might have to agree with you on that one. I still don't understand what happened there with her and Harry."

Hermione deflated. "What is your point, Millie?"

"My point, Hermione, is the same as it was three months ago. You need to stop judging people based on their past and give them a chance. He was an enormous git at Hogwarts, yes, but so was I and so was my husband. People change. You know that."

"I know. I…" She sighed. "Okay. You're right. I'll give him a chance. A small sliver of a chance. All right?"

"That's the spirit," Millicent said before wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulders and steering her over towards Cormac who had been waiting patiently by the fireplace the entire time.

"So, you never got the full story from Pansy?" Hermione asked, grabbing a handful of Floo powder.

"No, she was oddly reluctant to discuss it—which I will admit was a pleasant change from the far too detailed account that she'd given freely beforehand of her relationship with Harry. Did you know he swears like a sailor just when he's about to—"

"Millie!" Hermione exclaimed, trying her best to clamp her hands around her ears. It was unsuccessful since her right hand was in a fist holding the sparkly green powder and her left busy clutching her bag. She could still hear Cormac's roaring laughter as he stepped into the fireplace before his chuckles zoomed away with the rest of him towards their destination.

Millicent grinned wickedly as she stepped in after her husband vanished, she too disappearing in a swirl of green flames.

Hermione rolled her eyes, doing her best to try and not remember that particular piece of information. "Mariner Alley," she shouted, following the couple to the only wizarding community in the city where they were to meet the great blond git to whom she was meant to give this newfound chance to. An interesting breakfast waited, for sure.


Author's Note:

I chose Seattle because I know it fairly well, having been there many, many, many times over the years. I think it would have been hard to try and convey the feeling of a city—with details of shops and the ambiance—if I'd never personally traveled there or explored extensively. Plus, I absolutely love Seattle. It's got its own vibe, to be sure. All of Hermione's experiences in the city are based on my own.

Tai Tung is a real Chinese restaurant in Seattle's Chinatown/International District. It's one of the oldest in the city and truly has the best deep-fried prawns I'd ever had in my life.

Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe is a real place and the card Hermione receives is the one I did a few years back—quoted word for word. Since it has been a few years since I've been there, making my memory a little rough around the edges, many of the items the characters come across are either from doing a little research online or pictures from the shop's website. The rubber raccoon that Draco squishes is based off of a keychain at all the tourist shops in my town—though it's usually of a bear or something. It usually gets a laugh.

Thanks so much for reading and please review!