Chapter Three
Hermione's day seemed to drag by for some reason. When it was finally one she took her lunch and walked out of the store. Once outside the door she began rummaging in her bag. Nearly a block away she pulled out her cigarettes and lit one. With contentness she took a long drag and placed the pack back in.
She turned a corner at the end of the street and began walking down it. Looking left to right every once in a while she finally spotted what she was looking for. She crossed the street and entered the pub. Everyone was chatting quietly. Walking up to her usual table she sat down an pulled up her menu. She was just examining the appatizers when her phone bagan to ring. Still looking at the menu she pulle dit out of her bag and flipped it open.
"Hello." She said in a vioce slightly wondering.
"Hermione?" Said the person on the other end.
"Yes may I ask who is calling?"Hermione said now with fear in her voice though barely reconisable.
"Your Father missy. I was just calling to tell you that your stay in Paris will be shorter this summer you will be returning home in two weeks time rather than two months."Her Father stated with a brisk business manor.
"Oh. Might I ask why my stay is being cut short?"Hermione asked with more worry than ever in her mind.
"Oh it's just that you have so much work to be done and I don't want you to miss any of your holiday work."Her Father said with mock caring.
"Oh I see. So when will my ticket be arriving?"Hermione asked with even more fear. He brought up school...He brought up school...Oh shit he brought up school.
"Probably sometime next week you know how the post is."Her Father answered with slight laughter in his voice.
"I see well I must go I need to get back to work. Goodbye."Hermione said and snapped the phone shut without waitig for a reply.
"Can I take your order?"A boy of around seventeen asked her.
"Yes I will have an iced tea I'm not to hungry thanks."Hermione replied and pulled out her book.
"Ok."Said the boy and walked away.
Hermione sat for nearly an hour just reading and ordering iced teas. When she noticed the time she left a ten dollar bill and hurridly walked out. Once on the street she lit a cigarette and bagan her walk back to work. She was just looking down at her black flip-flops when she spotted a coin on the side of the street the bent over to pick it up. Oh my...is that a sickle...shit what kind of wizard would just leave that in a muggle town? She quickly slid it into her purse and kept walking.
Once at work she lifted her left foot and put out her cigarette. Bracing herslef again she walked through the door. She walked with her head down and ran into a lady. Looking at the shoes she recgonised the woman.
"Goodafternoon Grandmother."Said Hermione as airly as she could manage.
"Afternoon Hermione I have three more boxes of books I need put up today then I need you to work register."Hermione's Grandmother stated briskly and then turned around and walked back into her office.
Hermione let out a breath she didn't realise she had been holding and walked into the back room to find the boxes her Grandmother was talking about. Once she located them she picked one up and walked back into the store placeing the books on their shelves.
Once done with all three Hermione looked at her watch. It was already three. Only two more hours. Only two. Hermione continued telling herself this untill the two hours became one and she had checked out nearly thirty coustomers. Only one hour. Only one. Now repeating this she continued to check out customer after customer until five. At five she closed her register and told her Grandmother that she would see her tomarrow. She walked into the back room and picked her bag up off of one of the chairs then pulled off her smock and walked out the door head held high. Wow, I got through that ok. Good day today eh'? Well only two more weeks then I get to go home...shit...why did I say that...anywhere is better than that place. Even here. God...Why does my life have to be so shitty? Comeon get a grip don't think of him more than required. Wow look at him he is a totall hottie. Hermione saw the boy from a distance. He was walking toward her and she toward him. Once he was only a few feet away Hermione let out a gasp.
Damn! He is sooooo much hotter than I thought. Wait is he crying? Aww he is, how cute.
"Are you ok?"The words slipped out of Hermione's mouth before she could even think.
"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine." The boy said hurridly wiping his eyes on the back of his hand.
"Are you sure? You don't look fine."Hermione wispered.
"Why do you care?"The boy said and turned away and began walking down the street again.
What an ass! I was just being nice and he goes and just shoves me away. Well why did you expect him to let you help he doesn't know you. You would have done the same. Yeah but I have a reason for being distant. I'll bet his girlfriend just dumped him or somthing. Forget it just continue making your merry little way home. Fuck that I'm not going home. As this last thought surfaced Hermione stopped in front of the movie theater and walked in.
"One for Pirates of the Carribean." Hermione said and payed the amount the girl said and walked into the dark theater. She reached into her bag and turned off her phone. A fullproof excuess. I can hear it now...Hermione why was your fucking phone off? I was at the movies...hahahaha it is so perfect. With this last thought the lights turned off and the movie bagan. Nearly two and a half hours later the lights came back on and Hermione rose and turned on her cell phone. She had seven missed calls. Her mother called for six and her Grandmother once. Wow not very subtle are they? Lets see what happened. As this thought surfaced Hermione dialed her mother and waited for her to answer.
"Where the fuck are you?"Screamed her mothers voice.
"The movies why?"Hermione stated calmly.
"The fucking movies! Are you serious? Get your ass home right now."As her mother finnished screaming this Hermione shut her phone and turned it off again.
She walked out of the theater and bagan to make her way h\ome. Once she was a block away she dicided now was a good time to enjoy a cigarette. She opened her bag and pulled out her pack and something silver fell out. What the hell? Oh the sickle I'll deal with you later. She slipped the sickle back into her bag and lit her cigarette. Se sat on her steps smoking when she heard the sound of a breaking plate. Oh shit shes really pissed. Hermione thought and took another hit of her cigarette. Well lets stay out here and let her cool off for a minute or two. Once Hermione had finnished her cigarette she walked up the stairs as loudly as she could so her mother would know that she was back,she opened the door and walked in.
"What the hell is your problem? Yout turn your phone off so I can't get a hold of you then your fucking father calls and says you are to come home in two fucking weeks? My god child what the hell is going on?"Her mother screamed.
"I don't fucking know! He called me up earlier and he says you are gonna come home in two weeks so I asked him why and brought up school mother school! So honestly I think he was severly disorented! So don't go blaming me for his fucking rude behaviour I can't hold his hand while I'm here now can I? I can't tell him what a bad man he is being can I? No Mother I can't so just stop trying to blame me for every little fucking thing that happens to you!" Hermione finnished off her little speach by slaming her bedroom door in her Mother's stunned face.
She strode across the room and turned on her music blaring it to drown out the sound of yelling comming from her Mother's bedroom. Great she called Grandmother what the hell else could go wrong? Tap Tap Hermione looked accross her room at her window and saw a large barn owl hovering right outside. Running across the room she opened the window and the bird flew in and dropped a letter on her deak then flew back out. Oh shit! Not school now...please be from someone else. Be from Harry or Ginny or even Ron but please not from school. She stode over to her desk and picked up the letter one look told her all was doomed. No it's from school. Maybe it will be telling you that Hogwarts closed thanks to Voldamort or something. No don't think that. Hermione opened te letter and pulled out the first sheet of parchment.
Miss Hermione Granger,
I am pleased to be the one to inform you that you have been made head girl. I will ask that you do not take this matter lightly. You will be responsible for making sure that out older students such as yourself set a good example for the younger ones. I must ask you to proceed to the first compartment of the train labled Heads. There you will meet the head boy and you will then recieve further instruction. You ticket to the train is inclosed as always and I am so pleased to be able to be the first to offer you congrationlations. I do hope to see you in good spirits on the morning of September the third. I look foward to seeing youa d the head boy set excelent examples of interhouse relations. You school supply list is enclosed so have an excelent summer.
Professor M. McGonogal
Head Mistriss
Shit shit shit shit...no she's just joking...shit...Mom is gonna hate this...and Dad...well pleae be kidding. Jump out and shout it April Fools! I'm ready...please...shit...
Hermione put the letter pack on her desk and sat on her bed. As she ran her finders through her hair she began to think just how absolutly right McGonnogal was about being happy to be back at school. She felt a hot streak fall down her chin closly followed by several more. She leaned over and pulled a knife out of the top drawer of her vanity closley followed by a dirty cloth. At least it would look dirsty to anyone else who saw it. She pulled up the sleve of the shirt she was wearing and picked the knife up off her lap. She pulled the blade across her skin and then everything melted away. She began to be lifted up light as air. The sobbing stopped and the music changed to a very fast song. She watched the blood flow out of wrist and then stood up and began to dance. She was ok now. She would be alright. Just as long as her Father never found out about her beig Head Girl. No never. Everything would be alright. She swayed for a moment then looked down at the floor. There was a large red puddle on the wood. Getting bigger by the second. Hermione gasped and grabbed the rag off her bed she pushed as hard as she could on her wrist but the blood just soaked through.
Hermione swayed very strongly and her bed seemed to come up to meet her. She kept pushing on the rag untill she didn't have any energy left to push with. Then she was gone.
Hermione sat bolt up right. She glanced at the clock and it read six thirty. She stood up and walked through the flatt to the bathroom and pulled the hand towel off the hanger. She started the wrm water and when it was hot began to soak the towel. Once the towel was soaked she carried it to her bedroom where she bent down and rubbed at the spot on the floor. She pulled the towel back after nearly five minutes of vigorus scrubbing and saw that it made very little difference. She thought very hard for a minute. Yes it's better than her She crossed the room and reached in her bag. She pulled out her wand and muttered two very expertly chosen words.
"Occulous Repario" As these words were said Hermione watched the floor go back to normal. A few minutes later Hermione heard it. Tap Tap There it is. Just go and get it. Hermione stood and crossed the room. As she opened the window a small black owl came through. She tried to ignore the pounding in her ears and opened the letter.
Miss Granger,
We have recieved information that the charm 'Occulous Rapario' has been used at your current place of ressidence in a muggle inhabited area. I must tell you that this is only your first offence to the International Code of Secrecy. Thus being the next time you perform illigal magic you will be expelled form the wizarding school you attend.
Good Day,
Mafilda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Hermione sighed and dropped the letter on her desk along with her Hogwarts letter. She stood up and crossed the room opeing the curtains so she could look down into the street. Paris was just as beautiful as it was everymorning. The street lined with groggy people drinking coffee and the sky a light pink. Showing just enough of the sun to tease you. It all seemed so perfect. Then a thought struck Hermione. In two weeks...no less now I will never have to see Paris from this angle ever again. Never. Oh my god. I just can't believe it. I seriously can't. So soon and I will be able to escape. No more wondering how many new scars I am going to have by the end of summer. No more wondering how much Mom is going to yell for the two months I'm here...no more. With that thought carying her she walked up to the desk and picked up both the letters, she opened a drawer and shoved them roughly into it.
Listening to the intense silence around her she decided that there was only one thing to do. Get ready for work like she does everyday. Hermione walked across the flatt not bothering to try to be quiet. Once she reached her bathroom she turned on the shower and left the light on as she walked back to her room. she touched the button to turn on her straightener and walked directly across the hall. She pulled out a black fluffy towel and walked to the bathroom to have her shower. Once she finished she blowdried her hair and didn't close the door to do it. Once it was dry she flicked the light off and walked back into her room. She looked into the mirror and had one thought. Lets make ourself look sexy today. I feel good so lets look good. As Hermione pulled the straightener through her hair she just smiled and thought of what she would do when she left here to stay away from her dad for the summer. Her best idea so far was this, Get a boyfriend. Perfect. He gets you away every night or so and he understands you. Keeps you away from Dad. Hermione smiled as she pulled her straightner through one last time.
She grabbed her mascara and carefully pulled the brush through her eyelashes. Once done she began to line her eyes expertly. Then she began on clothes. She pulled on a black mini skirt with ruffles on it along with a black halter top. Lets see Grandma's face today. As she thought this she pulled out her eyeshadow bag. She pulled out a silver powder and very carefully brushed it on. Once she looked back in the mirror she decided to do something else with her hair today. She pulled a hair tie out of her bag and flipped her head over. When she flipped back up she had an elegant halfpony and she looked very attractive. There we go. With that one last thought she walke out of her room turned off the light and closed the door behind her. She walked halfway down the hallway before realising her life was on the floor in her room. She turned heel and ran back down. She opened her door and dropped to the floor and picked up her bag. She grabbed her eyeliner off her vanity and walked out this tim not looking back. She didn't stop and write a note, she didn't stop and make coffee, she didn't stop to talk to her neighbor. She left.
Once in the caffe' she ordered her coffee and looked at her watch. Still forty-five minutes till work. She took out a cigarette and lit it. Fuck quitting. I'm just fine the way I am. I'm fine with my demonic self. So distant and cold. Let people think what they want. I'm hot and you can't stop me. Ring Ring Shit. Why am I freaking out? I am Hermione Jane no last name. I will not grovel to anyone anymore. She picked up her phone and flipped it open.
"Hello?"Hermione said in a kind of bored way. She silently thanked her voice for not giving her away.
"Hermione? Wow I can't believe your awake at this time."Replied the voice.
"Yes. May I ask who is calling?"Hermione asked to the person on the other side.
"Your Father."Stated the vioce with no meaness but it still sent a shiver down Hermione's spine.
"Yes Father well I must go unfortunatly I am going to be late for work if I don't hurry. Goodbye."She said simply and hug up. She turned her phone off and put it back in her bag.
