Deepest, darkest Wales. A perfect retreat. Shrouded by hills, a small Muggle village with a disproportionately large university dominating it would be the perfect bolthole for her to hide and recover. No doubt the university library would have a healing effect on her, balm to her hurt heart. It was ironic how easy it had been. Only the previous day had she gone to Châteaux and Shacks, looked through their brochures, decided on a little house in Lampeter and immediately owled the Welsh Magical Assembly in response to a job advert in the Daily Prophet. She remembered with a grimace her shock at how, that same day she had owled in response to the advert – she had got the job. But she couldn't help but feel guilty. She was Hermione Granger, member of the Golden Trio, Harry Potter's best friend and girlfriend. Hailed by Dumbledore as the 'smartest witch in the year' and she was Muggleborn. Even her birth situation made her fashionable in wizarding politics, the media swept up in an equal opportunities for Muggleborns campaign. But she knew why it had been so easy. Connections. Despite Voldemort's defeat, the subsequent imprisonment of the Death Eaters and the political shift away from the favouring of pureblood families and their unfair influence and connections, that was how she had got her job. She was connected to The Boy Who Lived.
Lying on her brand new sofa in her brand new home, she rubbed her tummy reminiscently. Too easy. It had all been too easy. Getting a house, a job, a new life. True, her job was nothing special, but then it wouldn't do for her to go for a high profile job. High profile would make her easily traceable, especially for someone as celebrated as Harry. No, her new job as PA to the deputy manager of Welsh Witches' Shelter, a small, new branch of the parent institution the Welsh Magical Assembly would allow her to be independent and pay for the house she had just bought, whilst being suitably 'behind-the-scenes' for her to remain hidden.
Hermione yawned and flicked her wand sleepily, watching with satisfaction as the few remaining boxes comprising her worldly belongings flew lazily off to new homes. So much for my intentions to quit the wizarding world! Hermione thought to herself with a smile, thinking about how quick and thoughtless she had been. No Muggle qualifications beyond the Eleven Plus and seven years of being accustomed to a wand and how easy it made jobs like unpacking made it impossible for her to return to the life she led as a child.
She pulled a piece of parchment towards her and scrawled a quick note to Ginny, calling for Aithne, her new owl. Snowy owl, just like Hedwig… she thought of Harry's owl before she could stop herself as she fastened the note to Aithne's claw. She had barely flown off when Crookshanks stalked off across the room with a hiss. Hermione sighed. "Well I could hardly send you to deliver a letter, could I?" She demanded.
"Ooh look!" Ginny Weasley pointed to a small white owl winging its way towards her.
"Very nice," Harry muttered, setting his goblet of pumpkin juice down with a bang.
"Watch it! Someone got out of bed the wrong side this morning didn't they?" Ginny exclaimed, pulling a face.
Harry muttered something incomprehensible and only gave a slight smile of acknowledgement when Ron handed him the last piece of toast – a real act of sympathy on Ron's part.
"Well I don't recognise the owl," Ron started, as the owl hopped lightly in front of his sister's plate.
"Hmm," Ginny replied vaguely, only half listening as she tried with difficulty to untie the note from the owl's leg.
"Well, who's it from?" Ron's curiosity peaked.
"If you'd let me just undo it then I can tell you!"
"Oh give it here-" Ron swiped at the note, pulling it free.
"Give me that!" Ginny lunged over the table, knocking over her pumpkin juice.
"Ooh it's Hermione's writing!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry's black head shot up and he snatched the parchment from Ron, who was too busy trying to keep it from his sister's grasp. Feverishly Harry opened it, eager to read the contents – then tossed it aside to Ginny and walked off in a huff.
"Thank you." Ginny called after him petulantly and read her letter slowly and silently, much to Ron's disappointment.
Dear Ginny,
Just a quickie. Have moved in today and I'm happy. Don't try and find me. I know Harry will read this so I'm not writing my address. Anyway, I'm pooped – moving is such hard work, so I'm getting off to sleep now.
Love, Hermione xxx
"Well?" Ron demanded.
"Well what?"
Ron rolled his eyes in response.
"She's settled. That's it. Now if you excuse me Ronald, I need to be off to Potions." She smiled and left.
"Why does nobody tell me anything anymore?" Ron moaned to himself.