Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series, the characters, plots and such. J.K. Rowling owns it all.
Author's Note: Here's the eighth chapter, everyone! It's the shortest one yet but very good. Please review and tell me what you think! Thanks.
-poostix
Chapter 8 – This Night
Hermione finally arrived back in New York the next day at delayed 8:00 the next evening. It was however, raining and she needed a ride.
"Taxi!!" she waved, as one just pulled up.
"Where to, lady?" the taxi driver asked. With that Hermione asked him to take her to her apartment, as she rummaged through her purse. While looking for her wallet, she felt an envelope at the bottom of her bag. She picked it up and read the gold letters on it that said, "Miss Hermione Granger". She observed it, turning it on its back. There was a gold seal, but indicated no information of whom it was from.
Curious, she just placed it into her purse, and decided to get back to it later. Finally the taxi came to a stop; she paid the driver and got out with her suitcase and all. As she entered, she checked if she got any mail, but all she got was her Daily Prophet. She had subscribed to it ever since she had graduated in her last year at Hogwarts.
She just shuddered at the thought of her past—the past of her and Ron and Harry, the so-called "three inseparable friends". With the thought of them within her head, a tear trickled down her soft cheek, but instead of breaking down as she did on her flight back, she just wiped them away and scurried towards the elevator. 'I can't be so sensitive,' she thought as she waited for the lift. 'This is absolutely ridiculous. She, Hermione Granger… continuing to cry over a boy! Stupid Potter. Draco is right; I don't need Harry to complete me…' she paused for a while, revising what she had just thought… Could she be thinking about doubting Harry this fast after she had longed to see him for so many months?
"Miss, Miss?" the bellhop said, "Are you going up or down?" It seemed that Hermione forgot that she had just pushed the elevator button just moments ago. She shook her head and mustered up a smile, apologetically.
"Oh, sorry… Er—fifth floor please…" she replied as she got in.
* * * * * *
Later that evening she settled down for a light supper made up of fried rice and red wine. The upper followed with a shower, brushing of her teeth as well as getting into sleepwear. Hermione however, did these tasks as she always did, but just a bit slower than usual. She was still thinking about what Draco and Ron said. 'Was Draco really telling me what he meant? Did he really mean what he said?' Hermione was filled with mixed emotions; some that led to confusion, tears as well as anger. But as she settled down in her queen-sized bed with fresh new flannel sheets, she rummaged through her purse for hand lotion, but instead found the envelope she had found, while she was in the taxi. The envelope was still in good condition, with the cold print upon it stating her full name as "Miss Hermione Granger".
Hermione paused, staring at the envelope, and then quickly ripped it open, the way a child did with his presents on Christmas morning. But inside was none other than an invitation, as she opened the card it said:
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Wedding Bells could be heard on this Joyous Day…
Please join us on Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Cho Chang's Wedding…
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Hermione stared at the date of the wedding that was written in perfectly neat and elegant cursive, as she ran her fingers down the lettering of Harry's name. She sighed and threw the card into her trash bin by her nightstand but missed. Instead of staring at her very awful shot, her eyes wandered towards her television set, she grabbed her remote control and turned it on, browsing through channels. She finally hit a station that was viewing a Broadway Show. Hermione felt a jolt. Why, she had totally forgotten about the get-together that Draco and Ron had offered! However, she did turn it down like a stubborn child. Her eyes wandered to her clock. It was only 9:00pm and plenty of time to spare.
She quickly ran to her closet and rummaged through her clothes. She needed something attractive—something formal, but also sweet. Hermione finally pulled out a black dress, with thin straps, and a flowing skirt that reached to the bottom of her shins. She quickly laid down the dress on her bed and rushed to her purse. There, inside was the airplane ticket Ron had given her, and she turned it on its backside and found some writing, which said:
If you care to join us, you can call me at my cell number.
I really hope to see you then. Meet Draco and me between
45th and 46th street the day you get back.
Ron
After the small note were both Draco and Ron's mobile numbers. Hermione stared at the numerals as she beamed, for this was finally the night where she pulled herself together; this was the night that she would forget about her past.
This was the night she would finally forget her love… Harry.