Chapter 24 – New Years


HG


"You two." Hermione pointed at the twins as she stopped in front of them, they were sitting in the great hall. "You better behave this break. Don't do anything crazy or stupid."

"We're going to miss you too." The twins got up and engulfed her in a hug.

"We'll bring the map with us if we go out." Fred winked.

"That's not what I meant." Hermione huffed. "Oh and leave your brothers alone." Hermione glanced at Ron and Harry at the other end of the table and Percy. She knew the twins had a plan to prank everyone that stayed in the castle over break. Before the twins could utter a single word, she added. "I better get going before the carriages leave. I'll see you in two weeks." She waved as she pulled her trunk with her. The twins waved and shouted goodbye after her as she walked out the great hall.

All the girls and Lee were waiting outside, grey clouds filled with snow slowly drifted over them, huddled together.

"Thank God, you're here. I'm freezing." Angelina exclaimed as she rubbed her hands together.

"Did you tell them to be good?" Lee grinned as a carriage stopped in front of them and he opened the door for the girls to enter.

"Yes, I'll doubt they will listen though." Hermione chuckled. Katie had slid in next to her and whispered.

"After what they saw what you did to those girls, they might."

Hermione pursed her lips, trying to restrain a smile as she looked at the others. "Are we sitting together in the train or...?" Hermione's eyes wandered to Alicia, Angelina and Lee.

"I'm going to sit with Lena." Lee's blush pierced through his dark skin.

"Yeah, I'm meeting up with Gavin too." Alicia's voice full of excitement.

"Oscar asked me to sit with him, but don't know how long I'll stay with him, might come over to you two."

The wheel of the carriage drove through a gap in the ground, making them jostle inside the carriage. After they all sat back up straight and recovered from the slight shock, they started talking about their holiday plans. Hermione was going with her parents to the French Alpes for two weeks, to ski. Everyone except Angelina, who knew what that was, started to ask questions on the muggle sport and they both explained what you had to do.

Once Katie and Hermione found an empty compartment, the others dispersed on the train, all three going to their boyfriend/girlfriend. Together she and Katie had pushed their trunks on the top of the rack. They both took a seat next to the window facing each other. Katie had pulled out a sweater from her bag and propped it against the window, so she could take a nap. The previous night, they spend playing games until past midnight. While Katie made herself comfortable, Hermione took her book on Becoming an Animagus and continued her research. The train started in a jolt and the movements of the train made Katie fall asleep fast, her slight snoring filling the small compartment.


HG


The closer they got to England, the snow started to turn in to wet snow, before turning fully into rain drops. It was at that moment the door of the compartment slid open. Hermione looked up from her book, expecting to see Angelina. But no, two Hufflepuffs boys were standing in front of her, holding all kinds of treats in their arms.

"Diggs, Matt. What are you two doing here?"

"Not really the welcoming I hoped for." Cedric teased.

"No, no come in." Hermione gestured them in, placing her book on the table. "I thought you would be sitting with Oaklee."

"Well, that would be quite awkward." Matt chuckled softly as he carefully sat down next to Katie, trying not to wake her. Hermione lifted an eyebrow as she looked confused between the boys.

"I broke up with her."

"Huh, when?" Hermione shook her head trying to place it. "You were sitting together at the dinner table yesterday."

"This morning, before we left Hogwarts."

"You broke up with her right before break?"

"Thank Merlin he did! First of all, I don't want to sit between two lovey-dovey couples. And second, the way she reacted, pfew." He whistled low. "She needs time to calm down."

"That bad?" Hermione looked up to Cedric.

"Yeah, the way she reacted and the things she said, I'm glad I broke up with her now."

"I'm sorry." She gave him a half-hearted smile, putting her hand on his arm, before she looked to Matt. "Two couples? Is that why you and Cedric escaped? Gavin and Alicia?" Hermione chuckled, making Katie stir in her sleep.

"Yeah." The boys started to laugh, waking up Katie. "Sorry." They mumbled as she pushed herself up.

"No, it's fine." She said behind a yawn. "I've overheard everything since you two walked in. Why did you break up with her?" Katie inquired. Hermione had a feeling why, after she overheard the conversation between him and the twins. Matt's eyes flickered between Cedric and Hermione, so quickly it was unnoticed except from Cedric.

"She didn't like my friends." Cedric answered as he leaned against the back of the couch. "Said some mean things and was way too clingy." He shuddered.

"She always tried to keep Cedric away from us." Matt added. "She even got a first year to let her in our common room when she couldn't find him."

"No!" Hermione and Katie gasped.

"Yeah." Cedric laughed. "It was the third time I studied with you in the tower. When I came back, she was waiting for me."

"Creepy." Katie muttered before her eyes fell on the candy boxes. "Are those acid pops?"

"Here." Matt grinned, tossing her one. She said a quick thanks before she popped the sucker in her mouth.

"I've got you some sugar quills." Cedric said to Hermione, placing a box of them in her lap.

"You didn't have too but thank you. They are my favourite."

"I know." He smiled as she already grabbed one from the box.

The rest of the train ride they didn't see Alicia or Lee. Angelina came to the compartment half an hour after the Hufflepuffs joined them. It was rather quiet without the roughhousing of the twins, but now they could have a real conversation without the two redheads jumping in like crazy.

Once on the platform, she said goodbye to everyone once she found Alicia and Lee and made them promise to sit together at the train ride back for at least an hour before she disappeared with her parents through the wall.

Once home she switched her clothes from her trunk to a black suitcase and headed back down the stairs. Her parents were already fully packet and ready to go by the time she came downstairs. Ten minutes later they were all seated in a cab that drove them to the airport.

Her dad was talking to the cabdriver about the bad traffic when they drove onto the highway.

"Arthur wants an update once we land." Her mother whispered next to her as they sat in the backseat. "Your father took him to the airport a few weeks back, but he really wants to fly in one." A chuckle escaped.

"I think small steps are advised with Mr. Weasley." Hermione grinned. "The others were asking me all sorts of questions about airplanes and skiing. Only Ange knew something about it."

"Are you going to miss your friends?"

"A bit, but I'll see them in just a few weeks. I haven't seen you two for months." She sighed as she leaned against her mum. The touch, the scent, she was home. "I missed you."

"We missed you too, sweetheart." Her mum said lovingly as she rested her cheek on top of her head.


HG


A couple of hours later, they arrived at their hotel. A large wooden lodge at the bottom of a hill. Hermione was unpacking her things in the adjoined room next to her parents. A large window with a view of a snowy mountain took her breath away. She was leaning against the window frame as she enjoyed the view. It wasn't until her mum called out for her; that she tore her gaze away from the magnificent view. As this was a muggle hotel, Hermione took out her book, The Color Purple. They agreed to take it easy the first day and went to explore the hotel. It has a youth café, an indoor swimming pool with sauna, two large restaurants and more. After dinner, Hermione went up to her room to relax and read. Her parents encouraged her to go to the café, but she chose to spend her first night in peace and quiet since she doesn't have that at Hogwarts most of the time. She pushed the cosy armchair to the window and flopped down, covering herself with a thick plaid before she opened her book.

The next few days was a mixture of skiing, reading and hot chocolate. She didn't go to the class with kids her age since she's been skiing since she was five years old. She just came from down the slope, and after she took of her skies, she hopped on the barstool of the outdoor bar and ordered a hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows.

"You're quite the skier." A girl about her age with a blond pixie cut spoke as she turned on her barstool, to look at her.

"Thanks." Hermione smiled shyly.

"I'm Gretchen, these are my brothers Sam and Louis." She gestured to two boys behind her, both with a darker shade of blonde and curls almost hanging over their eyes.

"I-I'm Hermione."

"Are you coming to the New Year's Eve party tonight?" The boy named Sam asked.

"Not sure yet."

"You should come." The girl said excited. "We've been to the café every night, it's fun. They have a pool table, darts, a jukebox. And there is going to be Karaoke."

"I don't do karaoke." Hermione shook her head. "But maybe I'll come." She glanced at her watch. "I got to get going, my parents are waiting for me."

"We'll see you tonight then." Gretchen called after her.


HG


That evening Hermione was snuggled in her armchair after dinner, another book on her lap when her dad walked in and perched himself on the edge of her seat.

"Hi, sweetheart." He smiled down at her. She placed the book on her lap and craned her neck to look up to her dad, matching his smile. "Shouldn't you get ready?"

"Get ready?" A little frown appeared.

"Yeah, for the New Year's Eve party."

"I don't know..."

"You know you don't have to, but I think you'll have fun. You're not the same girl that you were two years ago." He kissed the top of her head before he stood up. "Think about it. We'll be Grand Café."

"Alright." She said absently, looking at the view in front of her. She heard the door close a minute later and she placed her book on the side table next to her. Another ten minutes passed before she jumped up from the armchair and began changing.

It was nearly nine when she arrived in the crowded café, her eyes flickered across the room. Kids no older then 15 where blaring through the microphone in the middle of the café on a little elevated platform. Two pool tables were in the right corner of the room. And the bar was filled with kids, who were getting served virgin drinks. She walked to the end of the bar and leaned against the counter waiting for one of the bartenders to spot her.

"What can I get you?" A young bartender asked with a heavy French accent, he looked like he wasn't even 15 yet. With fierce green eyes and a slick back quiff, that reminded her a little of the actor, Johnny Depp.

"Uhm." Hermione looked down at the drink menu unsure.

"Can I make a suggestion?" He said leaning closer to be heard above the noise. Hermione nodded as she put the menu back down. "I make a mean Snowball."

"A snowball?" Hermione asked, her eyes searching the menu again. "Alright." She smiled up at the boy. The bartender gave her a flirty wink before he went to the other side of the bar to make her drink. She hopped on the barstool and let her eyes wonder around the room. Kids were dancing, laughing, singing in groups going from two to eight people, making her miss her friends as she sat alone in the café. Her thoughts were interrupted when the bartender came back with her drink.

With a slick move he placed a coaster on the counter before putting her drink on it. "You should sing." He nudged his head to the karaoke set. Hermione looked at him wide-eyed and shook her head with a chuckle.

"No, I don't sing."

"Can't be as bad as them." He laughed as two girls screeched through the microphone.

"I won't be so sure." She grinned as she sipped her drink. "Oh, wow! This is good."

"Told you, my specialty." He looked over his shoulder when he heard someone call him to order a drink. He smiled at her and headed to attend to the other costumers. Old habits die hard, she vaguely thought to herself as she took out her book. She leaned against the backrest of the barstool and propped the book up on the counter. The noise of the music, the singing or blaring and laughter all faded as she was once again consumed in her book.

She only looked up from her book when a finger tapped the back of it. The bartender who had served her as taken the seat next to her, giving her a crooked grin. "Do you always bring a book to a party?"

"Uhm, yes." She blushed and looked down at her now closed book. But the boy didn't tease and leaned over the counter to retrieve his own book, tapping his finger on the tittle The Bonfire of the Vanities. "I haven't read that one." She smiled wide as she looked over at the book. "I'm Hermione."

"Gabriel." He shook her hand before he dragged her from the barstool.

"What are you doing?" She shrieked as he pulled her through the crowds.

"WE are going singing!" He shouted over his shoulder. Hermione was too lost for words as she followed Gabriel through the crowds. He stopped when they reached the platform and pulled her up without Hermione protesting. The tittle and name popped up on the screen and Hermione grew nervous as the microphone was being placed at her height. Gabriel started to sing the first lines as the music started to play.

"We're talking away
I don't know what
I'm to say I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you"

He turned to look at her, nudging her to sing with him. But she waited until the chorus came up before she let out a trembling breath and started to sing with him.

"Take on me (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two"

Both voices seriously out of tune at the last word, making them both laugh. Hermione felt more relaxed as the song progressed and sang loudly through the microphone. After the song they both took a seat in a quiet booth in the corner of the café.

"So, something is bugging me all night." Hermione said as he came back with two snowballs.

"Yeah?" He asked as he handed her the drink.

"How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"And you're working as a bartender?"

"My dad owns the hotel and I like to work for my allowance." He shrugged. "Need money to buy more books." He grinned as his fingers tapped on his book. "And I'm saving up for a bass. How long are you staying?"

"Leaving tomorrow actually."

"Oh." He said a bit gloom.

"I've been here for almost two weeks, but it's the first time I came to the café. Mostly been skiing and reading."

"I'm more of a snowboarder. Probably missed each other because of that." Hermione was just about to answer when the crowd started to count down.

"10 - 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 –5" Gabriel locked his eyes with Hermione. "4 - 3 –" He leaned closer, and Hermione didn't pull back. "2 - 1 – Happy New Year!" The crowds chanted and Gabriel kissed the corner of her mouth. It was sweet moment, and it made her stomach flutter. When he pulled back the were both blushing fiercely.

"Happy New Year, Gabriel." Hermione smiled shyly.

"Happy New Year, Hermione." They both looked at each other with a goofy grin before Gabriel picked up his book. "Want to read with me?"

"Yeah, sure." She leaned back as he opened the book and they read together.


HG


The sun was already high when she woke up. Her stomach grumbled and she knew in an instant she had missed breakfast. She heard feet shuffling in the room next door, so she clambered out of bed. With one swift movement she put on her fluffy bathrobe as she stepped towards the door that separated the two rooms.

"Morning, sunshine." Her dad said brightly.

"Morning." She said looking around and saw them packing.

"How much time do we have?"

"We've got time. Don't worry, sweetie." Her mum kissed her cheek. "Did you go to the party?"

"I did." She tried to supress her blush. "I was fun."

"Why don't you tell us all about it at breakfast. Pack up your things and we'll head down."

She nodded and turned on her heel back to her room to pack up. Her parents wanted to know about her night, but there was one thing she won't be telling them.


HG


Her parents were putting their bags in the cab with the driver when Gabriel walked up next to her.

"Hi." They said in unison, both a little nervous and shy. Gabriel was toying with a piece of paper in his hand.

"I - uhm." He mumbled and handed her the piece of paper. "If you want, we can write to each other."

"Oh." She looked at the piece of paper with the address on it. "I would love too." She took a pen out of her bag and scribbled her address on the side of the paper and ripped it off, giving one piece back to him. She saw her parents look at them curiously. "I have to go, or we'll miss our plane."

"Yeah, yeah." He stumbled over his words. He saw her parents' step into the cab and quickly placed a chaste kiss on her cheek, leaving them blushing once again. "I'll write to you soon. Au revoir, Hermione."

"Au revoir, Gabriel." She smiled as the boy headed back inside. Hermione turned and was relieved her parents weren't watching her. She walked closer to the cab and hopped in next to her mum, ready to go back home, ready to go back to Hogwarts and her friends. Excited to tell Katie about everything that happened.