Hermione woke up at about 10am after a particularly odd dream. It involved the Hogwarts Express, several owls, including Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, all carrying numerous heavy loads. The dream ended with Hermione being swept off her feet by Eric and he and Hermione flew through the sky on a broomstick.
She got up, dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast. Her parents were nowhere to be seen, but since they had not mentioned anything about going out the night before, she figured they must be outside.
She wandered outside to the back yard after a bowl of cornflakes to discover both her parents potting around in the garden.
Hermione cleared her throat as she approached her mother.
'Oh Hermione, you're up!' pronounced Mrs. Granger with a shock.
'Yeah, hey Mum, I'm just gonna go for a walk okay.'
'Ok, just be back for lunch.' Her mother called to her only daughter's retreating back.
'K' Hermione called over her shoulder.
Hermione made her way down the suburban street where she had spent most of her life. She was walking aimlessly, deep in thought, that she didn't notice where her feet were carrying her. She was surprised when she came across the park where her and her old friends used to hang out. Without thinking, she made her way towards the swings. She was so immersed in her memories of her friends and the fun they used to have, she didn't notice three people sitting on the bench next to the playground.
There was a boy. He had light brown hair and was of medium build. He was talking and laughing with a blonde girl who was holding his hand. On the blonde's other side, was another girl whose dirty blonde hair was half hidden beneath a periwinkle blue bucket hat.
The girl with the hat looked very disgruntled. She wasn't talking or laughing with the other two, but she kept glancing at her watch as though waiting for something.
She was looking around the park, bored out of her wits, when her gaze fell upon a girl of the same age with bushy brown hair, who was swinging slowly on the swings.
'Daf, you okay?' asked the blonde to her troubled friend. Getting no response, she turned her head to the direction her friend was looking and her mouth fell open when she saw the bushy-haired girl on the swings. She squinted her eyes to get a better look and hushed her boyfriend when he began to speak.
'Blimey, is that? …No, it can't be' the blonde asked, half recognizing her peer.
'Who?' asked her boyfriend staring at her, bewildered.
'Hermione.' The two girls chorused.
'What?' the boy quickly followed the girl's gaze and saw the girl on the swing. There was no mistaking that bushy hair.
'Hermione.' The boy called out before he could stop himself.
Hermione, shocked by the sudden call of her name, turned her head to the direction of the voice so fast she was surprised it didn't snap. When she saw the three people, she gasped, recognizing them immediately. They were three of her old friends. Daphne, Isabel and Jeffrey.
She slowly made her way over to the bench where they were sitting and stood in front of them. They all stood to be face to face. Isabel was the tallest of the girls and stood a head above Daphne, who was quite short. Jeffrey was tall, several inches taller than the girls. He had short hair and brown eyes. Isabel was fairly thin and a small art of her height was comprised of high-heeled sandals. Daphne was short and a little bit plump. Her blue eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses, but the rest of her face still appeared shocked to see Hermione.
'Oh my God, I haven't seen you guys in so long!' Hermione proclaimed as she hugged each of them in turn. When she stood back Isabel asked her,
'Are you here to meet Eric with us then?' hermione jumped at the mention of Eric's name and replied.
'No, I don't think so.'
'Oh well he sent us all letters telling us he was coming to visit and to meet him here' Isabel explained. Jeffrey was still overcoming the shock of seeing Hermione and Daphne was giving her old friend subtle evil looks, which Hermione didn't notice as she was listening to Isabel who was being perfectly friendly. Isabel was just asking Hermione how she was when a shout echoed across the park.
'Hey guys!'
It was Eric.