Chapter 9
Taking one last glance at the house where she had lived for the past eleven years Hermione secured her rucksack and started walking. Her train to Paris would leave in an hour so she decided to get breakfast first. Her parents were currently on a plane to Australia, having no memory of ever having a child as she has used a powerful obliviate on both of them. The thought of them was too painful so her focus drifted to the forthcoming months. After Minerva`s second rejection Hermione had taken the decision to take the previously offered scholarship and had thoroughly enjoyed the look of trepidation on her Professor`s face as she announced it. Her own face was expressionless; she was neither happy nor sad.
Beaumarchais was a regular collage situated in the middle of Paris and consisted of two parts: one for muggles and one for wizardkind. Naturally, the muggle "side" of the school had no idea that they shared the premises with wizards and witches since they were under a strong concealment charm. The school had a good reputation and the photos Hermione had seen in the brochure displayed people smiling and laughing, with beautiful nature in the background, the lighting adjusted to fit the ideal of a perfect school with perfect surroundings. The photos had made her slightly anxious as it reminded her of the fact that she was probably expected to make friends. She thought of Ron and Harry as she entered a café next to the station and a scene started playing in her mind.
She had taken them for a walk around the school grounds and as they stopped by the lake she had inhaled deeply before she started talking.
"Guys, I have some news, some very important news that will change everything"
And then she had told them about the offer and that she had accepted. Although, rather than waiting until the fall Hermione had asked to be transferred immediately which meant she would spend the spring and autumn in Paris. They took it quite well. Harry offered congratulations with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. She could see his worry over not having her with them to search for the horcruxes and her chest stung from guilt. However, Hermione was secretly planning to join them after the semester but since she wasn't sure if it would be possible yet she kept it to herself. Ron smiled at her and said he was proud of her. Their gestures made her heart fill with warmth and for a moment she wondered if she had taken the right decision. But her hesitation faded quickly as she had noticed a familiar figure in the corner of her eye, looking her way.
"A big latte please" Hermione told the man behind the counter whose gaze lingered on her a bit too long for her comfort so she pretended to read the menu.
"Anything else Miss" he asked with a big smile plastered on his face which made Hermione want to turn and leave.
"Just the coffee thanks" She said dryly and gave him the 2 pounds that had been in her pocket since last year.
She took a seat by the window and checked the time. 45 minutes left. Her cell phone felt awkward in her hand. She had just received it last year and had not had much opportunity to use it yet. The new technology was overwhelming and Hermione felt like she was still living in the past, she wasn't quite up to date in the muggle world and she didn't know why but it bothered her. Chucking it into her rucksack she decided to postpone her update and moments after the annoying waiter brought her the coffee and to her surprise a chocolate croissant placed neatly on a napkin.
"On the house" His teeth had not been regularly attended Hermione noticed as she thanked him reluctantly and offered a half smile. She looked down at the pastry and contemplated whether to eat it or not as if it was the biggest decision of her life. In the end her stomach chose for her and she quickly ate it, ignoring the man`s smiles sent her way.
When the train finally emerged Hermione couldn`t have been more relieved. She boarded the train as soon as the doors opened and found her seat after a few minutes of searching. It was a bit odd that she was going there by muggle transportation but apparently that`s how it worked. She checked her pockets; ticket, keys, wallet and her wand, it was all there. Her acceptance letter was in her handbag. Suddenly she felt nervous, what if they had forgotten about her and no one would be greeting her at the platform? She quickly dismissed the thought as it was highly unlikely and started to read the book that Ron had given her just a few days ago.
It didn't take long before Minerva drifted into her mind and she felt a knot in her stomach, a knot that just wouldn't untie itself no matter how hard she tried. Minerva had apologized more than once and then making sure that Hermione understood that "nothing could come of this, as I am sure you understand" Her voice had been filled with sincere regret and sadness and Hermione had turned and left the office without a word. The day after she announced that she would be leaving and the face of Minerva at that moment was imprinted in her mind since then. Fragile. She would describe the woman as fragile. Not normally but at that moment she was. Hermione wondered whether Minerva was actually in love with her or if it was just a passing fancy. Was she in love with Minerva? No. Yes. Sighing loudly Hermione closed the book. Would she be able to forget or would this haunt her for the rest of the year, for the rest of her life? The logical answer would be yes, of course she would get over it. But how?
4,5 months later
Hermione unfolded the letter and read it for the tenth time. It was from Ron and held an invitation to his brother`s wedding with Fleur Delacour. But it wasn`t the actual invitation that made her read it over and over again, it was the last line where he had added: "Oh and Professor McG is coming" as if that would make her decision clear. She wondered if perhaps he knew, if Harry had told him. If he did it was sort of endearing that he cared enough to let her know. She felt a small bit of gratitude towards her redheaded friend but her anxiety that had been dormant for the past months started to wake, creeping into every vein in her body. Of course she couldn't miss the wedding, which meant she had to see Minerva; it was inevitable.
Minerva held the letter in her trembling hands. A wedding invitation. It was probably the last thing she wanted to attend right now, because the war was closing in upon them and because of Albus` tragic death, but mainly because she knew Miss Granger would be there.
Sitting down in her armchair she placed the parchment softly on her overloaded desk. The same memory kept repeating itself in her head, when Hermione had stepped into her office with a most determined look on her face that was bordering to hostile, announcing she would take the scholarship after all. Minerva wondered if a heart could break a hundred times because it broke every time she thought of that day. Her feelings for the young girl hadn't diminished since her absence, on the contrary, she kept thinking about her student day and night, the brunette finding her way into her dreams, sometimes vivid, sometimes very abstract. She could wake up at night remembering nothing but her scent, or the color of her eyes. Minerva glanced down at the letter again. Perhaps this was her chance. Hermione was an adult and basically no longer her student anymore. She felt a lump in her throat and she stood up hastily, taking a decision.
Guys I`m sorry for the super duper late update, I was abroad for a long time and had no inspiration whatsoever to continue writing this but now I`m finishing it, there wont be many more chapters so please bear with me. Im sorry once again.
Lisachan
