Wardrobes
A standalone prequel to Unities, a new series that needs this for some sense in later parts.
I miss him. Meaning that even though I last saw him yesterday, I'm worried about him. My new baby sister Caryn on my lap, I'm thinking of him. Wondering what he's doing. Right now, at this moment.
I never told anyone about Caryn. There just never was the time, and I never bothered to mention that my mother was pregnant. Caryn is only two weeks old – sweet and tiny, with a handful of bushy hair.
And after the tournament, almost no words were shared between us. Meaning us three. The whole school was full of gloom and mourning – nothing that brought a cheerful thought in our heads. Although I'm so glad to be out of Hogwarts for summer break, it would be nice to see his face again. I do miss him. Oh so much.
My old friend Kayleen is stopping by today. She called me last night, gossiping about our old school friends, as well as new additions from over the years. She was even offering to set me up with Cole, a boy we both had obsessed over when we were nine. "I don't know why you ever left for school, Hermi," she told me, "you'd be having a blast at the local school now."
I look at the clock. It's three seventeen. I head downstairs with Caryn, and give her to my mum. The thing about my mum is that she never could believe she was my mother, and now she is getting over the shock of being the mother of two. I go outside, and sit on the porch steps for Kayleen to walk down the street. "Oh, Hermione!" she exclaimed when she saw me waiting, "it's so great to see you! Let's go over to the café and talk some. About our lives since we saw each other last." I laugh. Kayleen has been my best friend for years, and I've always enjoyed her company.
We talk about our schools, friends, and the guys at the school. Kayleen refuses to let me not accompany Cole on a rendezvous, a date. "C'mon, Herm, it'll be good for you." I tell her that I have my heart set elsewhere. "Suit yourself," she shrugged, "it's your life after all." We make plans to go shopping in town the next day.
When I get home, I find my mother holding a tiny owl. "This showed up with a letter for you, Hermione. I found it in Caryn's room."
"It's Pigwidgeon," I tell her. "He belongs to my friend Ron."
"Oh," she says, and starts to fix dinner. We always eat late, because of my parents' busy work schedules.
I go to my room and read the letter. "Just checking to make sure you got home safely," I read, "Love, Ron." He had never sent me such a casual note. Could this be considered a love token?
I neatly write, "I'm doing well, thank you," on the reverse side, and send it back with Pigwidgeon.
Looking at my closet, I begin to think that I really do need a new wardrobe.