Submitted for The Houses Competition Forum - Round 7
House: Ravenclaw
Subject: Ancient Runes
Category: Themed [Reconnecting] Reconnecting with something/someone.
Prompt: 8. [Word] Indecisive
Extra prompt: [Sound] Raindrops on the glass
Word count: 1,213
Warnings: AU Muggle
Maybe someday
The sound of raindrops on the window of the little cafe startled Hermione from her book. She had been sitting there for almost two hours now, and she hadn't even realised it was going to rain.
Hermione was spending some time in Paris during her sabbatical year, and she loved to go to Le Petit Café to read and spend some time alone. A glimpse of red hair out of the corner of her eyes caught her attention and reminded her of the sweet girl she had met at the beginning of the trip.
Although Hermione and seven-year-old Cassie had promised to meet for croissants and hot chocolate, it had never happened. Hermione couldn't even fault Fred—Cassie's dad—since they had exchanged contact information, but Hermione hadn't done anything about it. No matter how at ease she had felt with them both, and even the fact that Cassie had asked if Hermione wanted to be her new mum, Hermione still didn't think it would happen.
"You want something else, mademoiselle?" a waiter asked Hermione.
"No, thank you. I should be leaving soon, so if you could bring me the bill, please," Hermione replied, starting to gather her things. "Thanks, François."
The waiter smiled at her and left her to her thoughts. Hermione looked out of the window and sighed, realising that she had forgotten her umbrella. Her musings were interrupted when a bright yellow umbrella entered her line of vision, and under it were two people with bright red hair sticking everywhere. Hermione was stunned to see Fred and Cassie, the same father-daughter duo she had been thinking of a few moments ago.
Hermione was indecisive. She didn't know if she should go and talk to Fred and Cassie or if she should stay right where she was. Before she could make up her mind, Cassie was already running over and banging on the cafe's window, catching her attention.
"Mione! Hi! Look, Daddy, it's Mione!" Cassie exclaimed, waving her hand and smiling at Hermione. "C'mon, Daddy!"
Before Hermione could even blink, Cassie dragged Fred to the entrance of the cafe, and in a few seconds, the little redhead was standing in front of her.
"It's so nice to see you again!" Cassie yelled before she threw her arms around Hermione, who was as still as a statue. "Does this mean we can have croissants and hot chocolate now?"
Fred stood next to them with a bashful smile. "Hello, Hermione. It's good to see you. How have you been?"
Blinking slowly, Hermione hugged Cassie back. "Hi, it's good to see you too. I didn't expect to see either of you here. Not that you can't be here, I just never imagined you would still be in Paris, since it's been a while that we came here and—"
She stopped herself, realising she was babbling and blushing a deep red. Standing up and backing away from Cassie's hug, Hermione decided to look at Cassie instead of Fred. She was the safer option because the little girl didn't make butterflies appear in her tummy.
"Daddy said he would send a message to you to see if we could have croissants and hot chocolate before we go back to London, but he never sent you a message." Cassie shot her father an irritated glare, and Fred blushed and looked away. "Would you have come, Mione?"
Hermione didn't know what to say, but luckily for her, the waiter arrived with her bill. Cassie was gazing at her with big blue eyes, and Hermione's heart melted at the sight.
"Cassie, Hermione is leaving. We should let her go," Fred said softly, putting a hand on Cassie's shoulder and bringing her closer to him. "It was nice to see you again, Hermione."
Fred took Cassie's hand and started to walk away, but Hermione didn't want to let them leave like that. She hurried towards them and grabbing Fred's elbow.
"Wait!" Hermione almost yelled before stopping herself just in time. "I would really like to sit and talk with you, but I just got my bill. Can we meet again tomorrow? If that's alright with you…"
Cassie spoke before Fred could say something, "We would be delighted to meet again tomorrow, wouldn't we, Daddy?"
Hermione smiled seeing Fred nod dumbly, not being able to deny his daughter anything. She knew Cassie had Fred wrapped around her little finger; it was adorable to see.
"Great! I'll send you a text to confirm, and we can meet here by ten tomorrow? Is that alright?" Hermione spoke fast, afraid she was going to lose her courage.
"It's a date," Fred replied, smiling at her and walking towards the door, but not before turning and looking straight into Hermione's eyes. "I can't wait."
Leaving Hermione almost a puddle of goo on the floor, Fred left with Cassie, their yellow umbrella the only thing Hermione could see over the sudden pouring rain.
"Are you ready to order, mademoiselle?" François asked for the tenth time that morning, but Hermione just shook her head. "I'll be back then."
Hermione was fidgeting with the silverware, trying to disguise her nerves. It was true that Fred said they were going to meet her there, but he could have changed his mind. Anything could have happened, and she didn't know if she was ready to call it quits just yet.
"Breathe, you idiot, you're early, you haven't any reason to be this nervous." Hermione was giving herself a pep talk, trying not to freak herself out beforehand. "Stop acting like a lunatic."
"Do you often talk to yourself?" a voice came from behind her, and Hermione almost jumped out of her skin. "I would never have imagined."
"Only when I'm trying to make sense of my thoughts," Hermione said, turning to see Fred and Cassie looking at her with a smile on their faces. "Ready for some croissants and hot chocolate?"
"Yes, please!" Cassie almost yelled, hugging Hermione before sitting next to her. "Doesn't my Daddy look handsome today, Mione?"
Hermione choked on air, not meeting Fred's eyes; she could only imagine how red her face must look right now.
"Cassandra! I thought we already talked about not saying things like that," Fred said, but he was blushing like her. "Sorry, Hermione."
"Don't worry, Fred, I don't mind," Hermione mumbled, biting her lip and grabbing the menu, trying to defuse the embarrassment she was feeling. "When are you two going back to London?"
"Probably at the end of the week. My brother wants to spend some time with Cassie since he's moved here." Fred picked up another menu and started browsing, making Hermione look back at hers.
Hermione could feel Cassie's eyes on her, but she didn't know what to do with it. It was nice to have met Fred and Cassie again, but she didn't know what it meant for them.
"Ready to order?" Fred asked, looking into Hermione's eyes, and something shifted inside her.
"Ready when you are." Hermione smiled at him and tried not to blush too much.
Hermione decided to relax, seeing Fred and Cassie talking between them, and go with the flow. She didn't know what would happen between Fred and her, but at the moment, she wouldn't think about it. She would just enjoy the company.