Chapter 2 – France
Hermione Granger looked at the Celebrity News headline. She still couldn't believe she was marrying Viktor. They met again when Hermione was in Bulgaria, finishing up with an assignment. They had fallen out of touch because of their busy careers. They started seeing each other again, and the he popped the big question.
She and Viktor had met again when Hermione was in Bulgaria, finishing up with an assignment. They had fallen out of touch because of their busy careers. They started seeing each other again, and the he popped the big question.
She walked across her luxurious first class apartment and sat down on the divan. She waved her wand to conjure up a pot of steaming jasmine tea, her favorite, and a platter of small cakes. As she drank, she thought of how lovely France was. When heard that she was being moved to France for an important assignment, she was thrilled and relieved. Before that, she had spent a miserable year deep in the Tanzanian forests trying to retrieve a lost treasure.
She bit into a dainty lemon petit four covered with luscious Belgian chocolate, savoring its exquisite taste. As she turned to take another, she was distracted by a sharp tapping noise in her drawing room. Reaching it, she found out that it was Viktor's eagle owl, with a scroll of parchment tied to its leg. She relieved the owl of its package and it soared out into the sky immediately. Hermione unfurled the scroll and read,
Dearest Hermione,
I am flying now from Switzerland to France. Dress up, I'm taking you out tonight. Meet you soon,
Love,
Viktor
She smiled and inserted the letter inside a desk drawer. As she closed it, a folded slip of paper caught her eye. She unfolded it and gazed at it sadly. It was a picture of herself and her two friends spending a summer in her friend Ron's house. Her memories came back sharply and unexpectedly. For the past six years she had been trying and trying to forget him. But now, the pain she had been trying so hard to block out broke out like a dam inside her. Oh Ron, she thought. I miss you terribly. She touched his face. If only….Hermione sighed sadly. She had sent both Harry and Ron invitations but she had felt a pang of sadness when she had sent Ron his. They had been going out since their sixth year but Ron had been so hesitant. She had left him six years ago in front of the Three Broomsticks. Heartbroken, she left London and flew to Tanzania. Wiping away a tear, she shrugged it off. She turned to a picture of Viktor in her desk. A small voice inside her head voiced out her doubts. Who do you think is really right for you? You accepted Viktor's proposal awfully fast.
I did, didn't I? I'm still confused myself.
Do you still love Ron? The little voice inside her head asked.
I don't know! Sometimes I still think it's sixth year again and we're in the rose garden behind the school walking together! Hermione thought furiously. She paced the length of the room. Pushing the thoughts aside, she forced herself to remain calm. Viktor cares for you. He loves you. Think about that. Hermione slammed her palm against the desk angrily. No more thoughts of Ron! Forget him! He's history! She scolded herself. She slipped back the picture inside her desk and vowed to never look at it again.