~ Chapter Ten ~

I awoke the next morning in my own bedroom in my little cottage. I was proud of it as it had all the convenience of the muggle world and all the charm of the wizard world with electricity, gas and candles. It had a tile roof and stone walls and it was all mine. The lounge, kitchen and study downstairs and the two bedrooms and bathroom upstairs were quaint and decorated in an "Old English" way with warm woods and creams.

I looked over at my alarm clock and notice it was eight in the morning. Sighing, I got out of bed, showered and dressed before I headed downstairs to make breakfast.

I poured a bowl of milk for Crookshanks and made myself some pancakes. As I ate my breakfast I read over the latest "Daily Prophet". My attention was caught by a series of photos featuring a witch in a revealing set of robes hiding her face from the camera and trying to walk out of the picture in one, spraying champagne from her nose and mouth in another and her back storming off towards the main doors in the last one, the back of a man's head partially obscured by a large bunch of flowers.

"Astoria Greengrasses Shame! By Rita Skeeter"

At last night's social event of the year the Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes Masquerade Ball, Astoria Greengrass (pictured here in a daring ice blue Twilfitt and Tattings number) sprayed champagne all over herself before calling another guest a "Mud-Blood". Things went from bad to worse for Miss Greengrass as she left soon after the dinner, alone. One might wonder how this public performance will affect her standing as the spokes model for Sleekeazys Hair Potions as well as her position on the "Magic for Muggles" Charity?

I never thought I'd be happy to read a Rita Skeeter article in my life. This means that there will be a drop in popularity with "Twilfitt and Tattings" which means more of an interest in Madam Malkins and therefore my mum. I thought to myself as I put the paper down on the table.

I smiled at the thought of my parents. Ever since I had tracked them down just over 3 years ago in Australia and restored their memories of me, they had taken a far more active interest in the Wizarding World. Not only that but the time spent in Australia had changed the tastes of my mother. She fell in love with the casual and elegant fashion elements in Australia and had seen how limited the dress robe options were for witches and had decided to in her own words "Muggle things up a bit." She had quit the dental practice and spent her time designing dress robes based on muggle fashions as well as everyday robes made more attractive yet still practical. I plans for dinner with them tonight.

I spent the rest of the morning reading over some reports for the office and magically tidying up before apparating to London to have lunch with Ginny at the "Leaky Cauldron."

"Ginny!" I cried almost upsetting my tea as I leapt up from our regular table and hugged her. She was wearing fitted black robes and her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. "I've got news for you."

"So do I. But you first."

"If I tell you mine, you might forget yours. You go first." I insisted.

"Ok. The Holyhead Harpies have an opening for a chaser and they're holding open trials."

"Merlins Beard! That's fantastic! Are you thinking of trying out?"

"Well... " She hesitated, playing with the salt and pepper shakers. "I would love to, but I'm not sure I'm good enough and it would mean I'd have to leave George behind by himself to run the store..." she blurted out in a rush.

"Give it a try, Gin. This is something you've always wanted to do, right?"

"But I'm not sure if it is the right thing to do." She frowned, looking torn and worried.

"Imagine in twenty years time and you look back on this opportunity. Would you always wonder if you could have done it, what could have been? I'd hate for you to miss this once in a life time chance." I urged.

"I'll think about it." She answered. "But what about your news 'Mione?"

"Well... Where do I begin? Ron took me out to lunch yesterday and I thought he was going to say "I love you" or ask me to move in with him."

"And did he?"

"No, instead he broke up with me and hooked up with Lavender Brown." I confessed.

"You're joking! Wait til I see him, I'll hex him into oblivion if Harry or Mum don't do it first!"

"Harry's already given him a piece of his mind, but that's not what I wanted to tell you. I met a really charming, funny and smart wizard last night and I was wondering if you could help me figure out who it was?" I asked eagerly.

"Did you get their name?"

"No, but they wore a wolf mask. Maybe if we look in the registration book from last night...?"

"Of course! You're so smart Hermione. Accio Registration Book!" She cried, pointing her wand a little way down the street to the store and about thirty seconds later the book flew from Diagon Alley to our table.

"Okay, should be easy, just look under each name until we come to a wolf description."

We flicked over page after page until I came across the entry for wolf.

"And my mystery wizard is none other than ... Harry Potter? That's not right! He was a stag not a wolf!" I cried in dismay.

"Let me look at the book." Ginny scanned through the pages. "Wait, Pansy Parkinson wasn't the phoenix, I was. Oh no!"

"What?"

"George must have used the mix-up joke book instead of the regular note book! The mix-up book switches all the entry's around making it impossible to figure out what's what and who is who!"

"So there is no way I can figure it out?"

"Well the only thing we can do is go through the book and try to match the ones we know. I'll start on it straight away. I'm so sorry Hermione." Ginny apologized. "I'll let you know how it goes."

"It's ok. It adds to the mystery I guess." hiding my frustration and disappointment before changing the subject. "And speaking of mysteries, who was that tall wizard you were talking to last night? And did Harry dance with you?"

"I'm not sure who it was. I thought it could have been Michael Corner or Cormac McLaggen. And yes Harry and I did dance together." Ginny admitted

"Just dance?"

"And he kissed my cheek when he left." Ginny said flushing with pleasure. "Do you think he still likes me?"

"Without a doubt." I assured her, patting her hand.

"But he is so busy now a days and there are always beautiful witches throwing themselves at him." Ginny fretted.

"Harry isn't the kind of guy to do that sort of thing, Gin. And he is kind of shy when it comes to girls. He just needs to get his life settled again. I dare say once Auror training finishes he will be more than willing to go out with you again." I reassured her. "Anyway, I had best be heading off. I have some fabric shopping to do for mum."

"Are you sure you're ok Hermione? I mean with everything that's been happening lately..."

"I'm fine. In fact Ron being such a jerk has made things easier. It's made me determined to move on."

"That's the spirit. Say hi to your parents for me."

"I will. Say hi to everyone for me and give Teddy a hug for me."

"Ok. Catch you same time next week?"

"Of course. And hopefully by then you'll know who my mystery wizard is."

Waving goodbye to Ginny, I turned into Diagon Alley and spent the rest of the day busily buying various silks, velvets, brocades, cottons, satins, beads, sequins and embroidery threads.