A/N: its here. And the stranger is........................................
Chapter Six - An old friend
"Joshua?"
The stranger nodded.
"I can't believe it - Joshua Travis!"
"Neither can I Herms - it's been ages!"
Both Hermione and Joshua grinned and hugged each other. Hermione couldn't believe this was the Joshua who had been her best friend until she was eleven. Amazing how people changed from short freckly troublesome morons to well...
Hermione smiled to herself as countless memories came flooding back in her mind.
"Yeah, last time I saw you, you still had that annoying lisp," she teased.
"Please don't remind me Herm - took me ages in front of the mirror to get rid of that."
Hermione laughed - "Wish I was there,"
" So, where have you been hiding all these years?" she asked.
" Bit rich coming from you."
" I have an exceptable excuse...boarding school."
" You're kidding me? me too!"
" Yeah?"
"Yeah"
"What's its name?" Hermione asked, curious.
" Never mind - you've probably never heard of it - how about yours?"
" Why bother? You probably don't even know it exists..being the thick-headed pig that you are."
Hermione ducked as a playful blow came her way.
" Honestly Herms - its really great to see you again after.. what is it 4 or 5 years?"
" 6, Josh- 6!" Hermione looked down at Joshua's clothes, "And by the look of things you haven't matured a tad!"
Joshua grinned and glanced down to his Star-Wars sweatshirt and raised his hands in defence.
"Hey - it was the first thing that came into my hand."
"Excuses, excuses," Hermione replied.
"You little - "
Joshua dived for Hermione's neck. but slipped on the dropped and forgotten newspaper, almost breaking his own (neck). Hermione bent down next to him.
"You OK?" she asked in a worried voice.
"Yeah, I'm right...no harm done." Joshua mumbled, sitting up.
"Damn."
Hermione was about to crouch down next to Joshua when he said;
"I can't believe it Herms - you've finally grown taller - i thought you'd stay a midget forever"
Thanks," Hermione said, finally sitting down and chucking a stone at Joshua, "and for your information I'm 5"7 now."
"Pitiful - I'm 6 Ft."
"My, aren't we Mr. I'm-so-sure-of-Myself today"
"Run's in the family."
The twosome laughed at nothing in particular. Suddenly, Joshua fell silent.
"Damn!" he said, scambling up to his feet, "I've got to finish the rounds."
"YOU are the PAPER BOY? Joshua Travis doing a job usually belonging to someone HALF his age?"
"Voluntarily," Joshua added.
"I'm sorry I have to clean my ears - I though you said 'voluntarily'"
"Yeah, you heard right."
" I may sound crazy but..WHY?"
" Calm down Herms..my neighbour, Jason, usually does it but he's sick today, you know down with the flu and I owe him a ouple of favors...you don't know how many broken windows I "blamed" him for."
" You ever heard 'Love your neighbour' Josh?"
" Shut up smart-alec."
"Whatever."
"I'd better go...tell you what - why don't you come over for dinner tonight? You know how mum is, always making enough food for a small army. Mum and Dad'l both be really thrilled to see you again."
"Yeah, Ok - I'll ask mum - but I'm pretty sure she'll say yes."
"Let's say around 5.30? We can play tennis before or something...I'll pick you up," Joshua added proudly.
"Since when can you drive?"
"Since yesterday."
"I should probably take my test."
"Absolutely, so see you at 5.30 then?"
" 5.30," Hermione repeated, smiling as Joshua rode to the next street.
Hermione picked up the forgotten mail and walked back into the house. She dropped everything on the hall table and took a bite of her muffin. She was halfway through it when her mother finally came down.
"Good Morning Darling - you're up early," Mrs. Jane Granger yawned.
"Morning mum," Hermione smiled and pecked her mum on the cheek, " hey mum - you'll never guess who I just met."
"Who, sweetie?" Jane said, buttering herself a piece of toast.
"Joshua Travis!"
Jane put down her knife thoughtfully, " Joshua - isn't he that boy you used to hang arounf in elementary school?"
"Mum he was my best friend until I went to Hogwarts remember?"
"Ah yes, he always got you into detention him."
"And because of that I was so into not breaking rules when I started Hogwarts!"
Jane picked up her knife and resumed her task, "Well that's wonderful honey! Meeting old friends."
"Mum, can I go over to their house for dinner?"
"Of course sweetie! Myriam Travis...a wonderful woman she is - very kind. Just take a cake or something with you."
That was Jane Granger's policy. "Never go to anyone's place empty-handed"
Hermione smiled, grabbed a piece of toast and bounded up the stairs, to her room. She glanced at her bedside clock- 6.00. Sitting on her bed and munching on toast, she had completely forgotten the problem that had woken her up, trembling and shaking.
" Buckbeak," she announced when she had finished her toast, "It's been the best morning...ever."
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A/N: OK...strange twist huh? No one expected this at all. That was a pretty boring chapter, you know old mated catching up.
Important: Please review..i seriously reckon no one reads this. I'll really appreciate if I get some ideas. I have the next chapter planned but after that...i dunno
plz review..
