The Moonlight Glares

Liza Lew

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters. I own my own characters and the plot only.

Chapter 23

Hermione's eyes opened slowly. She felt groggy. She blinked for a few moments before registering the light flooding the room. There were birds chirping outside. Wait… it was daylight? Hermione shot up like a bolt and felt several blankets fall down revealing the same clothes she had been wearing . . . last night at the quidditch game.

Hermione squinted as she tried remembering the rest of the night. They had won, she was sure… Draco had, to the distain of a few schoolmates, led the team to a smashing victory. Then.. oh. That was why she'd woken up in her clothes from last night. They'd gone back to her house to celebrate. She was pretty sure the butter beer had been stronger than usual when she had her third glass. Come to think of, how many glasses had she had?

A dark image flashed briefly in her mind of the party, and then it was gone, replaced by a splitting headache. Hermione groaned and leaned back. This was going to be a long morning. After very slowly getting dressed and splashing some water on her face, she made her way to Ginny's room to find it completely empty. All of Ginny's things had been moved out! Then it dawned on her . . . it was Tuesday. Harry, Ron and Ginny were going back to the Burrow at nine o'clock.

Hermione raced downstairs to the kitchen and stopped short as she saw Draco sitting alone at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. Her eyes darted to the clock above his head.

"They left two and a half hours ago. They didn't want to wake you," Draco said, not even pausing to look up at her.

Hermione groaned and sat down at the table next to him, "I'm hungry."

Draco pushed his bowl towards her, "Here, I'm done. Besides, I have to finish packing my bag."

"What?" said Hermione, her gaze following Draco as he got up, "You're leaving too?"

"Yep," said Draco, "Mum came home last night, so Phe and I are flooing back after lunch." Hermione made a face and sulkily took a bite of the cereal as Draco walked out of the room.

The weeks, it seemed, started to take on a pattern after that. Most days Hermione would get up and dressed with Mel's help, and she and Elizabeth would attend more informal social gatherings, such as tea parties and luncheons until three or four that afternoon.

Then they would return home, and go to whichever party they had been invited too that evening. Draco would pick Hermione up just before the party so they could arrive as top couple, and Hermione would see Harry and Ginny many events during the week. It got to be a quiet, repeating style of life.

The one thing of note during this time was a day about a week after the quidditch game when, for some odd reason, nothing was scheduled. Elizabeth, at breakfast that morning announced she was taking Hermione and Anna shopping.

"Girls," Elizabeth said, looking up from The Daily Prophet, "Don't get your formal clothes on today. Wear your muggle street clothes."

"Why mum?" Anna said.

Elizabeth held up two envelopes, "We're going shopping."

Anna, seeing the Hogwarts crest on them, lunged over the table and grabbed them. Elizabeth drew them back.

"Calm down, Anna," Elizabeth handed one to her daughter who was sprawled out on the kitchen table, and calmly handed Hermione hers.

"We're going to Diagon Alley, then?" Hermione said, grinning.

"Well, the Flourish and Blotts' is so small there, I thought we'd go to Licorpãnte Street instead and hit a few clothing shops between finding school supplies."

Hermione felt a vague smile cover her lips as she remembered the last time she had been at the gigantic book store. Maybe she could find that room of muggle books again. . .

"Earth to Hermione," Anna was two inches from Hermione's face, "Are you going to open your Hogwarts letter?"

Hermione nodded, and ripped open the letter. Surprise, she was prefect again. Nothing new. Anna, however, took Hermione's letter and scrutinized every part of it.

"Alright, well," said Hermione, "While Anna is dissecting my letter, I'm going to get some jeans on."

Licorpãnte Street was absolutely packed that afternoon. Hermione couldn't believe how many rich wizards roamed the streets looking for various objects. For that matter, she couldn't believe how many various objects there were.

The girls began their trip at Miss Pui's, a muggle-clothes shop for juniors. Immediately a fretting woman came up to the three and rushed them to the back room where she brought outfit after outfit for them to try.

Hermione stepped out in a jean mini with black leggings and a cute ruffled pink top as Anna came out in a stripped grey and white sweater and a dark blue knee-length skirt. Hermione then modeled a white and black lacy skirt with a black and green lace tube top when Anna showed off a pair of faded jean shorts with layered tanks in various pinks. They tried on more and more clothes as the sales lady brought piles back to the room. Needless to say, it was several hours by the time they got to Flourish and Blotts.

Laden with packages, the three girls entered the huge Flourish and Blotts. Anna went directly to a big fluffy chair and Hermione sat down the packages next to her. Elizabeth went up to the information desk.

Meanwhile, Hermione wandered upstairs to the Transfiguration room and trailed her hand along the spines of the books until she came up to the small doorway that was very familiar. She was about to enter the dusty room of muggle books when she heard a squeal behind her.

"Hermione!" a high-pitched voiced yelled before she was attacked in a hug. Hermione stumbled backwards and found it was none other than Chels, who was beaming from ear to ear.

"Are you shopping for books too?!" asked Chels, "Let's look together!" Chels grabbed Hermione's hand and literally dragged her off into the rest of the store.

An hour later a tired Hermione was dragged by Chels to one last stop, a tea shop. Here was where Elizabeth was sitting next to what seemed to be an older version of herself. Chels crashed down and Hermione sat next to her.

The older version of Elizabeth cracked a smile and set her tea down, "Oh you must be dear Hermione my daughter keeps telling me about. Haven't you, Chels Arina?"

Chels nodded and turned her attention to the menu. Hermione smile gently and nodded her head to the woman, "Yes, I'm Hermione Granger."

"It is so nice to meet you, dear, finally. You'd think an aunt would meet her niece before almost seventeen years have passed."

"Then you are. . ."

"Your mother's sister, Serena Copalia. Please call me Serena."

Hermione smiled,

"Now, Elizabeth here tells me you've a very interesting choice ahead of you."

"Oh? Which are you referring to?"

"Why whether or not you are going to move back in with your muggle family at the end of this month. It seems like a horrible choice to have to make."

"Oh," Hermione saddened upon being reminded, "Well, yes."

"But it seems you've made quite a nice little place for yourself here," Serena continued, "What with dating the Malfoy heir, and even convincing the board to let Harry Potter join society! I can't wait for the splendor of your coming out party."

"Thank you, I'm sure Chels' will be just as spectacular."

The conversation continued on for long after that, but not much of it was worth noting, much more interesting was Hermione's discussion with herself that evening.

As she sat on her bed, brushing her hair, Hermione realized she didn't have a lot of time left. She would have to make her decision soon, and then tell everyone. She finished brushing her hair and set the brush down before walking to her desk. She took out a roll of parchment and a quill. On one side, she wrote Muggle London, the other, Wizarding London.

She started listing people, places, and opportunities under each side. Before long she'd made a very elaborate list. She scanned it. An image came to mind as she got to the bottom – and then she realized it. She had made her decision a long time ago.

I'm Back.