Chapter 7
Hermione and Chloe went together to the mall, hands linked, similar smiles on their faces. Each of them so different from the other yet so similar.
One of them lonely all her life with no friend or family to keep her company. The other one with many friends and a happy life. Yet, both of them finding friends in each other.
This was a beginning of friendship that will last an eternity.
…
after shopping together for more than a few hours. Hermione was exhausted. Her day has been eventful, from her shift at the diner in the morning to her shopping trip. She was so tired that she could sleep for weeks.
"come on, we are not finished yet. Let's visit a couple of other shops." Chloe told her enthusiastically trying to drag her to another shop.
"no no no, Chloe no please this enough. I only came here to buy a phone and now I have clothes more than my wardrobe can hold. Electronics that I won't need or use. I am tired, I am hungry. So, please Chloe please let's just stop for today."
Hermione begged her. She had no idea that Chloe was a shopping maniac. She wanted to enter every shop in the mall. She wanted to buy everything. She never got tired. She never got bored. She was like a walking shopping machine.
"oh fine. You are no fun Hermione."
"oh yeah, I am definitely no fun because I refuse to enter the hundredth shop with her mighty shopping queen Chloe her highness."
"sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Hermione." Chloe told her smiling in a singing voice
Hermione was coming out of her shell. Chloe noticed it but she refused to tell Hermione so she won't stop her progress. Chloe meant to push Hermione so that Hermione could refuse. She wanted her to know that is going to be her friend no matter what.
"well, forgive me but I am hungry. My stomach is screaming at me. FEED ME, FEED ME HERMIONE, FEED ME." Hermione told her laughing slightly.
"well come on then, let's have dinner together, it's on me this time and before you object next time is definitely on you."
So Hermione could do nothing but nod at her over enthusiastic friend.
…
Hermione and Chloe had dinner together. They talked, they laughed, they had fun. After dinner each of them went her separate way to her home.
Chloe thinking that she have to widen Hermione's horizons and that she needs to introduce her to more people.
Hermione feeling happy because she was sure that she finally made a true friend.
…
the next couple of weeks went the same for Hermione. Working at the diner was fun. She was having fun with Chloe. Mr. Reynolds was a fun and easy boss. She made acquaintance with a couple of regular customers.
Raphael, Chloe's boyfriend came to the diner a couple of times. Chloe introduced them the first time and at the end of that night Hermione left knowing that now she has a new friend.
…
the next months went the same for Hermione. Chloe introduced her to most of her friends and they became her own friends too. Life went by good for her.
Even though, they were all older than her. None of them acted that way or looked down at her or anything. She didn't know if Chloe told them her story or some snippets of it but none of them asked her about her family or why is she living on her own and for that she was grateful.
…
Sooner than she thought, it was her seventeenth birthday. She has been living on her own for a year now. She hasn't seen Minnie also in a year.
The day that is supposed to be a happy day for her turned miserable. She missed Minnie. She remembered the cake that Minnie made her the last year. She remembered her wish and how it came true.
She went to the diner feeling sad instead of happy. She walked the distance their thinking about her life for the past year. She won't exchange it for anything. But still, she wished her little elf was their with her.
Hermione wondered what happened to the two boys. Her heart soared at the memory of them. They didn't even know of her existence and her she is mourning their memory.
When she opened the diner door, Chloe and Mr. Reynolds both welcomed her with big smiles and happy birthday Hermione.
She smiled at the both of the brightly, thanking them. She kept her miserable thoughts at bay for now. She is with the peple that loves her with no reason now. People that protects her and take care of her.
"look Hermione" Chloe started talking excitingly.
"we have to go out tonight. I can call all the girls and have a girls night out or we can make it a movie night. Whatever you like. Oh, we are going to have so much fun." Chloe kept rambling and rambling about all the things they could do.
Mr. Reynolds looked at Hermione and smiled his fatherly smile.
"I brought you a small gift Hermione. I hope that you like it." he handed her a small wrapped present.
Hermione took it from her and opened the present slowly. This is her first present ever. When she removed the wrapping she found a small box inside, she opened it and found a small charm bracelet with a charm in the shape of a closed window and another the shape of a swing.
"I thought that you might like it. the closed window is for your old life and the swing is for your first day out. You can add all the other charms that you want to it after that."
She looked at him smiling brightly. Then she threw herself at him giving him a bone crushing hug. That man that has no relations to her, yet he took her as his own daughter. He took care of her, helped her rise at her own feet. She was so grateful to him.
"thank you uncle Jacob. I love it." she told him smiling brightly. After the first couple of weeks he told her when she isn't working, he would be honored if she called him uncle instead of mr. Reynolds and she used the title as much as she could.
"I am glad that you liked it honey. Now hop hop customers are waiting to be served."
He tried to look at her and Chloe with a stern look but they both knew that he liked to mess with them. So they both giggled and gave him a salute
"sir, yes sir. Right away sir."
…
after finishing their shifts. Chloe told Hermione that she decided what they are going to do. They are going to have dinner together. Then they are going to call the rest of their friends and have a movie night.
Hermione found the idea very agreeable. So she went along happily.
…
entering the small restaurant that they are supposed to have dinner in. Hermione found all her friends their and they screamed surprise the moment she opened the door.
There was a banner that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE and a huge chocolate birthday cake.
She was given hugs and presents from everyone. They sang her happy birthday and she blew the candle making a small wish. She didn't know if it could ever come true but she hoped.
So, they spent the night dancing and laughing and having fun. By the end of the night she was so tired and exhausted. Yet at the same time she was so happy and energetic.
She agreed with Chloe and two more of her girlfriends that they are going to have a sleep over together at her flat.
…
opening the door to her flat she felt that something was wrong. Her friends were behind her chating. Then she heard a sound coming from the bedroom her friends didn't seem to notice.
"what's wrong Hermione." Chloe asked her sensing that something was wrong with her.
"nothing. Come on in guys. Have a seat I'll be right back."
She didn't want them to notice. She had a feeling who is making that noises. She went to her bedroom and opened the door gently and her she is, her sweet Minnie. Standing there in the flesh.
Hermione entered and closed the door and then Minnie noticed her also. Minnie large eyes welled with tears.
"my young miss is back. Minnie missed young miss so much."
She told her this two sentences then she flung herself at her hugging her tight, hugging her as if she is her only life line, hugging her with all her might as if she is never going to let go.
But Hermione knew better. Hermione knew that she is going to leave her again. She could feel it in her bones but she couldn't be mad at her. So, she hugged her back. She hugged her back and cried on her shoulder. she Cried because she missed her so so much, she cried because she thought that she won't see her evere again. She cried for her lost days with her sweet elf.
"Ooooh Minnie, you have no idea how much I missed you with me everyday." Hermione told her shakily.
Minnie let go of the hug and she held Hermione's face in her hands.
"Minnie have idea. Minnie miss young miss as much." She told her while looking in her eyes.
"then why did you leave me Minnie? Why didn't you stay with me? "
"Minnie must obey mistress. Mistress not want Minnie with young miss. Minnie must leave." Minnie told her looking at the floor sadly.
"so you are leaving me again."
"Minnie must do what she told." Minnie told her the she continued. "mistress not know Minnie is here. But Minnie must see how young miss is. Minnie must tell young miss happy birthday."
"so you came to tell me happy birthday and then leave." Hermione said with no emotion in her voice.
"yes young miss. Minnie is sorry. Minnie love young miss with her heart."
"I know you do Minnie. I know you do and I love you too with all my heart."
So Minnie gave Hermione one last hug. She put a small present in her hand and she left.
Hermione opened the present slowly. It was a picture frame. A picture taken from far away. A picture of two little boys chasing each other. One with white blond hair and the other with brown hair. She hugged the picture close to herself and kept sitting there for a while.
There was a knock at her door.
"Hermione, everything ok in there." Asked her Chloe from the other side.
"yeah, everything is more than fine."
It was indeed more than fine. Half of her wish just came to true and with this picture she felt that she is very close to the other half coming true.
To see her boys again and meet them.
