Chapter One

HG/OC

Authors Note: this story is a work of fiction. I am, however, basing the story on my own life, my own relationships and experiences. This story will not be based in a magical setting, the female role will be played by Hermione and the male role will be played by an original character, who I will be naming Cj, his character is based on my real life significant other.

Hermione was sitting at her kitchen table, scrolling through her Facebook feed, everything was shouting at her just how single she was. Everyone was showing off their boyfriend or girlfriend and all these other exciting memories. Life was beginning to become lonely for her. She had recently longed to find someone who she would feel compatible with, someone who would make her feel special, loved, and would want to help raise her daughter. She was feeling like it was a hopeless cause.

Hermione then saw an advertisement for Facebook Dating. Curious, she clicked on it, and with a little bit of hope, she signed up for a profile, maybe just maybe someone would message her. She uploaded some photos of herself, and one or two with her daughter. She did not want to post more than just a couple with her in them. She added a few sentences to her profile and made a catching headline to hopefully catch the attention of a possible gentleman.

Hermione looked up when she heard the front door of her cottage open, her mom and daughter walked through the front door laughing. They apparently had a wonderful time out and about. Her daughter was 6 going on 7 in the new year. She was a spirited little girl with an attitude to match.

"Hello Mommy," her daughter said.

Hermione smiled, "Hello Sweetheart."

Her mom moved to pull out a chair at the table and glanced at the laptop in front of her daughter.

"What is this you're working on." She asked.

Glancing at her daughter, she said "I'll tell you later."

Her mother nodded her head and smiled, then they both looked at her daughter, Abby. They were hoping that she would enjoy their day, they were planning to take her to the zoo and possibly out for ice cream.

They got their belongings together and loaded up the car, Hermione grabbed a bag of snacks and drinks for them because the zoo is about an hour or so drive away.

"Mommy what kind of animals will be at the zoo?" Abby asked, coloring on her iPad.

"Oh, various types of animals sweetie, lions, monkeys, sea animals, birds, maybe some elephants." Hermione answered her daughter looking in the mirror at her and smiling.

Hermione was driving when she got a notification on her watch, someone had liked her dating profile, glancing at her mother, she grabbed her phone and opened Facebook when they got to a red light. She opened the app, and went to the notification section, there were no messages yet but there was a nice-looking gentleman who had liked her profile, she opened his profile to read about him. She glanced up and noticed the light had changed to green, putting her phone down she continued to drive.

Her mother looked at her and was curious about what was going on, but she let herself not say anything and waited for Hermione to come to her and let her know what was going on. She was hoping that whatever was going on it wouldn't hurt her daughter in the end.

Hermione pulled into the parking lot of the zoo, and parked. She then grabbed her phone and put it in her purse, and smiling at Abby in the mirror, she said "Are we ready?"

Abby put down her iPad and put it in the storage under her seat and nodded to her mother. She then grabbed her bag and opened her car door and climbed out and waited for her mother and Grandma to join her. Grandma Susy opened her door and got out of the car and waited with Abby and smiled.

Hermione soon joined them and together they walked towards the entrance to the zoo where they would pay for admission into the park.

"Oh, Mommy I am so excited to see all the animals today! I hope that they will all be out and on display, so we don't miss any of them!" Abby said excitedly as they got to the admission booth.

Hermione nodded, "I hope so too dear."

They paid for admission and walked through the gate and right away they spotted some flamingos. They were in a white fenced area. Abby walked up to the fence and looked at them and tried to reach in and pet one, but it walked away from her outreached hand.

Grandma Susy walked up alongside her and took out her phone to take a picture of them, and then asked Abby if she wanted to get her picture taken with them in the background. Abby said yes and smiled at the camera.

They walked around and tried to find a map of the zoo so that they could plan their visit in a more organized manor, but they couldn't find a stand, so Hermione walked back to the main entrance while her mother and Abby waited.

"Hello, I was looking for a map of the zoo?" She said to the lady behind the window.

"Oh! Sorry they haven't updated the directories on the grounds, but we have paper ones that I can grab you." The girl replied.

Hermione nodded, "Thank you that would be wonderful."

The girl handed her a map and pointed out the eateries on the grounds that were listed. Hermione thanked the girl and walked back towards her mother and daughter.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and so she pulled it out and noticed she had another notification from the Facebook dating app. Giddy she opened it and noticed it was a message notification. She clicked on it and read it, it was a sweet message of the guy introducing himself and asking common like questions. Hermione clicked on his photo to view his profile, and right away liked what she saw, so she sent a response back, then closed the phone and put it back in her pocket. She continued her walk towards her mother and daughter with a happy go lucky attitude.

Her mother noticed her walking towards them and waved her over. Her and Abby were looking at the birds. They were quite pretty. They were so colorful, and Abby wanted Hermione to be able to look at them as well. She didn't want her mother to miss out on anything!

Hermione made it to them, and she too was in aw at the birds, there were so many different types and all different colors. It was an amazing sight to see. She was so glad that they made the choice to come to the zoo.

"Oh, Mommy look at that one!" Abby said pointing to a toucan that was in the branch above them.

"Oh, that one is quite gorgeous indeed" Grandma Susy said. Hermione agreed, "That is a beautiful bird"

They decided to go to the sea exhibit across the way from the birds. They were excited for this one as well. They walked around and looked at all the sharks and sea animals, they were walking up to the penguins when Abby noticed a baby penguin.

"Oh, Mommy, Grandma look. It's a baby." Abby said and cooed at it.

"Aww what a precious little thing" Grandma Susy said.

Grandma Susy's stomach grumbled, and with that they decided to break for snack. They looked at the map and found a snack shack close by and decided to walk towards it.

End Chapter