Disclaimer: Mr. and Mrs. Granger and Hermione and the accountant belong to J.K. Rowling. This story is based upon the Harry Potter series. No money is being made from this story, and no infringement is intended. This story was intended for fanfiction.net only.

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT HERMIONE

Part 3

"Thanks so much for coming at last minute, Lilah," Mrs. Granger said. "When we heard my grandmother was getting out of the hospital early and needed someone to look after her for a week, we delegated our appointments to the other dentists at work, but then we realized we needed someone to look after Hermione!"

Lilah Johnson smiled. "I'm glad I could help."

"Grandma's number's on the refrigerator along with a few other things I thought you might like to know. There are plenty of groceries, so you shouldn't have to shop for anything." Mrs. Granger lowered her voice. "And do make sure Hermione brushes her teeth after every meal. We don't want her to get cavities."

"All right."

"I guess we're ready, then, dear," said Mrs. Granger to her husband. "Hermione! We're leaving!"

Eleven-year-old Hermione Granger appeared at the top of the stairs with a fat book in hand. "See you next week, Mum!"

Mrs. Granger waved good-bye to her daughter and followed Mr. Granger out the door. "Goodbye, Hermione!"

After they had left, Hermione came down the stairs to greet Lilah. "Hi, Lilah! Let me help you with your bag. Mum made up the guestroom for you."

The guestroom was decorated in forest green and cranberry. The walls were papered with green-striped paper, and the bed was adorned with a myriad of cranberry pillows. Hermione set Lilah's valise down by the bed.

"You know," Hermione said softly, "this might be the last time I see you for a while."

"You're heading off to St. Brigitte's soon, aren't you?"

"I leave in thirteen days, on August sixth."

"Are you excited?"

"No and yes," Hermione said with a laugh. "I'll miss Mum and Dad a bit, but I'm anxious to be back in school, learning again. I've read through all my textbooks...I just hope I'm prepared enough."

"I'm sure you are," Lilah said.

"That's what everyone says." Hermione folded a page over in her book and placed it on the dresser.

"Everyone's right! Have you had breakfast yet?"

Hermione shook her head.

"How about I make some Belgian waffles?"

As Lilah poured the batter into the waffle maker, she mused how lucky Hermione was to have her whole life ahead of her. At twenty-two, Lilah felt as though the best of life had passed her by.

She had been working as a secretary for the Veza Corporation, but she had been laid off indefinitely. Her boyfriend of three years, Ralph Sloan, still showed no interest in marriage to her.

Sometimes, she thought, I think I don't belong in this world. I wish that I could live in another world. The magical world...

Lilah had not forgotten the day almost six years ago when she had gone to Rouck's Pharmacy to pick up some pictures of Hermione. She had long known Hermione was different than other children, and finally Lilah had proof of Hermione's special abilities.

Or so she had thought. At Rouck's, a mysterious clerk had explained that the pictures had been confiscated. He informed Lilah that Hermione had magical abilities that were best kept secret until Hermione was older. She would be sent to a special school to learn how to become a witch.

"For now, watch over her," he told Lilah.

And Lilah had. She never mentioned anything more to the Grangers about Hermione's abnormal behavior. One time she had even invented a reason why all of Hermione's pictures had fallen off the wall when Hermione had had a nightmare.

Still, Lilah wondered when the school would be contacting Hermione. Maybe not until she finishes secondary school. They should have sent something by now if they wanted her to come next year.

Bzing! The waffle was done. Lilah popped it out of the waffle maker and onto a plate. She drizzled syrup over it and set it by Hermione's place at the table.

"Hermione! Your waffle's ready!"

Hermione strolled into the kitchen, leafing through a stack of mail.

"Anything interesting?"

"Huh? No, just some bills." Hermione put the letters in a basket by the telephone, then sat down at the table. She reached for her knife, but took her spoon by accident. She shook her head, picked up the knife, and began to eat.

The rest of the morning passed slowly. Lilah and Hermione watched several game shows on television. After Money Mania, Hermione announced she had a few math problems that needed doing.

"Math problems?" Lilah asked.

"I'm working ahead a bit. They told me I could."

"Don't work too hard!"

As Hermione bounded up the stairs to her room, Lilah thought she heard Hermione mutter, "As though that were possible!"

She is such an overachiever. I was nothing like her when I was in school, Lilah recalled.

"Do you want a new career in plumbing?" asked a smiling woman on the television. "How about auto-mechanics? At Greenhills College, we--"

Lilah pressed the power button on the remote and watched with satisfaction as the woman disappeared. Plumbing and auto-mechanics? Is that all there is left for people like me? I should have gone to college when I had the chance. She sighed. Well, maybe I'll call Ralph. He wouldn't mind if I talked to him for a few minutes at work.

"Sloan Accounting Agency, this is Ralph. How may I help you?"

"Hi, Ralph! It's me, Lilah."

"Oh, Lilah." Ralph sounded slightly disappointed. "How are you, sweetheart?"

He might have been expecting someone important to call, Lilah reasoned. "A little down. Veza hasn't told me yet if they want me back. Is there still an opening for a secretary at your office?"

There was a pause. "Uh, the position's still available."

"Would you hire me? You're the boss!"

"Lilah, I'm sorry I have to tell it to you like this, but I can't. I, there's, someone else."

"How can the position be available if someone else has it?"

"It-it's not quite like that, Lilah. There's another, ahem, person in my life. That kind of someone else."

Someone else? Someone else! We've been together three years, and now there's someone else? "What do you mean, Ralph?"

"I met her last weekend, and somehow I know we're meant to be. You know?"

Lilah did not, but she said, "I know."

"I knew you'd understand. I'd better let you go, sweetheart. It was nice knowing you."

Lilah slammed the receiver down, not bothering to say goodbye. Sweetheart! He's still calling me sweetheart! What was he thinking, breaking us up like that? On the phone! While he was at work! Her eyes filled with tears, and she ran for the guestroom. It was nice knowing you, too, Ralph!

Twenty Kleenexes later, Lilah was even more miserable. She reached for her purse and pulled out her wallet. Flipping through the pictures in it, she came to the one she wanted.

Ralph. His red, wavy hair was slicked back, and he was winking. On the back it read: To one swell girl. Love you, Ralph. XOXOXO.

She turned the picture over and prepared to rip it in half.

"Lilah!" Hermione's voice stopped her. "What's wrong?"

Lilah looked over her shoulder. "Oh, Hermione, Ralph--" she began to cry again.

"Broke up with you?" Hermione guessed. Lilah nodded. "I'm sorry. Do you want me to leave? I came to get the book I left in here back, I thought you were still downstairs..."

"No, you're fine." Lilah dabbed her eyes. "Look at him!" She held the picture up. "Doesn't he look like a sleazy used-auto dealer?"

Hermione could see the resemblance. "He does."

Lilah began to giggle. "You'd never know he was an accountant!" She stood up and tossed the picture into the wastebasket. "Enough of him, Hermione. What would you like for lunch?"

That evening, Hermione retired early, saying she wanted to get back in the practice of waking up early. Lilah did some laundry, and then went to bed herself.

In the middle of the night, she was awakened by the creak of the staircase.

Is that Hermione? Or...an intruder?

Cautiously, Lilah slipped out of bed. She opened the door to her room a crack. The hall was dark.

The footsteps were coming closer now. In a second or two, Lilah would know if she should call the police.

Part 4 coming soon. Meanwhile, please review, and let me know what you think!