One Fine Day
Chapter 4: Meals and Empty Faces
Hermione got out of the shower and told Marli-Jane to go in there. They would be going down to dinner where they would meet the others in an hour.
Hermione sat down at the vanity and did a quick drying spell to her hair. Then opting to style it manually, she gathered the tools she had and set to straigtening her hair. When she was done, she used her wand to add a little curl at the bottom and give it more volume than it originally had straight. Hermione pulled her hairback and twisted it up into a gigantic clip. She added some hairspray that had a slight content of glitter and set it back down.
Hermione did her makeup and walked over to the dresser to pick out what clothes she would be wearing. She settled on a pair of normal shaded jeans with little buttons and glitter she'd sewn on herself, a brown tanktop, a light pink blazer with one large pink button, and some brown sandals that matched her shirt. She decided she liked that and started to take off her robe when the door swung open. She turned around to see two smiling faces.
"Hermione!" the two said together and ran over to hug her. She figured it must be Parvati and Lavender.
"Hey girls! How have you been?"
"Oh, here and there. We heard you were here so we decided to stop by on our way to dinner. We're going a little early to show our husbands and children around. Are you married? It said two." At that moment, the bathroom door opened and Marli-Jane stepped out in a terry cloth robe her mom brought for her.
"No, girls. I never did get married. But this is my daughter, Marli-Jane." Hermione walked over to Marli-Jane and placed an arm around her. "Mars, this is Lavender and Parvati. They were roommates of mine when I was in school."
"Hi. I'm Marli-Jane. Nice to meetcha." Lavender and Parvati moved closer, shook her hand and then left. "Mom?"
"Yes, angel?"
"They're like, too hyper for their own good. It's like their energy is set on 10 all the time." Hermione laughed.
"Yes, sweetie. It does seem that way. It always has."
Hermione and Marli-Jane finished getting ready then walked out of their room, to see Neville Longbottom, a woman Hermione didn't know, and two boys about ages four and six.
"Neville? Hi! How are you?"
"Hermione! It's great to see you. Harry said you were coming. I'm good. This is my wife, Melanie, she's from France and our boys Frank and Matthew. Frank is six and Matthew is four. Is this your daughter?"
"Yes, this is Marli-Jane and she is ten. She will be going to Hogwarts next year, not this year, but the next."
"Oh, really? That's cool. Well, let's head on down to dinner." Hermione agreed and the six of them headed out of the portrait and down the stairs and into the Great Hall for the meal.
Halfway through the meal, Harry stood up and joined Dumbledore at the head table. Dumbledore got the attention of the former students and began to talk at the podium with Harry standing next to him.
"Everyone! Welcome back to Hogwarts. It's great to see familiar faces, and some new ones at that!" Everyone chuckled and Dumbledore continued. "For those of you who haven't heard, on Graduation, I announced my retirement. I've been planning this since January, and I've been training the new Headmaster. So, I would like to present to you for the first time, the new Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry Potter. You all remember him, right?" Everyone laughed and clapped and cheered.
"Okay, well, I don't want to keep you waiting, so... enjoy the dessert! The treacle tart is my favorite!" Harry stayed up at the Head table discussing something with Dumbledore before coming back to the table.
"So, Harry. Congratulationson getting Headmaster." Marli-Jane looked up and shook his hand.
"Why thanks Marli-Jane. I'll be looking forward to when you come next year." Harry and Marli talked about different things while Hermione caught up with other school friends. Finally, after talking to many people, she returned to her seat.
"Harry?"
"Yeah, Hermione?"
"Could I talk to you... In private? It concerns um..."
"Oh! Yeah. Mandy, excuse me. I'll be right back." Harry and Hermione walked to the far corner of the Great Hall where no one was and they began their conversation.
"Harry, I've talked to so many people. I never once saw Marli's father's eyes. I wanted to know, did everyone say they were coming?"
"Yeah. Everyone is coming, except for Millicent Bulstrode, but I doubt she's the father."
"Hah. No I don't think she is. So, could you help me? I would like to reunite with him early, so I can gain a fuller understanding as to whether I want Marli to stay with him for a year."
"You never cease do you?"
"Pardon?"
"Talking like that. Using big words. Well, more meaningful sentences. Gosh Hermione, you need to talk simpler."
"I usually do talk simpler, but that was the only way I could think to get my meaning across."
"Oh, ha. So, what do you want me to do to help?"
"Well, I don't know. Are we having any kind of mixer thing?"
"Well, yeah. Tomorrow after breakfeast."
"Okay. Thanks. Harry, do you have any idea who it might be?"
"No, Hermione. I'm sorry. I really don't know."
"Okay, thanks anyway."
Harry and Hermione returned to their seats and as they were talking, Hermione looked around the hall trying to see if she could make eye contact with anyone.
I wonder if he's just not here yet. Yeah, maybe he is getting here tonight. What if he's like one of those people that doesn't want kids and just acts as if Marli doesn't exist. I don't know if I could handle that. I mean, I remember that feeling when I looked into his eyes. There was something big there. Something more than lust. It was special. I mean, I want to have the same thing Harry has with Mandy. Then another thought struck Hermione. Oh no! What if he's married? What if he's moved on and has kids? Will his wife accept it? I don't know what I would do if he was married and wants nothing to do with me or Marli. I don't even care as much about him wanting anything to do with me as with Marli-Jane. She needs a father. And plus, when I saw what I think was him in the Leaky Cauldron, he didn't look as if he had a wife. He looked kinda run down. Okay, calm down Hermione you need to stop-
"Hermione!" Hermione snapped out of her trance and tried to find who it was that was talking to her. Hermione saw everyone looking at her. But it was Harry who was wiping his hand in front of her face.
"Okay, Harry. I'm back. Do you need something?"
"No, you just looked like you were getting really distressed thinking about something. What were you-?" Hermione glared at Harry. "Oh. okay." Harry looked down at his plate and became suddenly interested in his ice cream.
"Well, what were you talking about?" Hermione looked up and saw Ron sitting there, who'd been quiet the whole night, looking at them with a questioning look on his face.
"It's nothing Ron." Hermione answered. "You'll find out in time."
"Well, why can't I know now? Harry knows."
"Ron! Harry knows because of a present situation I'm in and I needed help. I went to him, because he was the first to find me. He figured out some stuff, and now, he's helping me." Hermione stood up and excused herself and Marli-Jane to go to bed.