Warning for swearing.


Alice knows she's doomed the moment her soulmate walks into the coffee shop.

She's got coffee-colored hair, pinned back in a businesslike bun. She's wearing a crisp pantsuit that reminds Alice of that American politician — what was her name? Hillary? She certainly exudes the confidence of a politician until her eyes lock onto Alice's.

And her eyes change color.

Alice watches, her hands slack on the counter, as the girl's eyes turn brown and feels as her own turn blue. It's a sort of funny sensation, like tingling but not quite.

And the first thing she feels is relief.

See, having two different colored eyes is normal, but most people didn't have such drastically different eye colors as Alice did. Most people had varying shades of green, or blue, or brown — not one starkly blue, and the other a deep brown.

Alice had been called a freak and an abomination all her life, so she is fittingly thrilled when her soulmate walks in through the door.

It helps that she's pretty too — but Alice isn't shallow.

The girl makes a beeline straight for Alice, and shit shit SHIT she isn't ready and —

— dammit, there's no one waiting in line. The one time —

"Hello."

Alice's eyes snap to the girl in the pantsuit and bless her heart, she's nervous too. Front teeth gnawing at her lower lips, Her chocolate brown eyes, wide and apprehensive.

"I'm Hermione," she says when Alice doesn't speak. "I—I think we're soulmates?"

Alice nods, her knuckles white from grasping the counter edge so hard. "Y-Yeah," she murmurs.

Please, can this be any more awkward?

"I think we are," she tries again. "Maybe — maybe we can meet up sometime? Not like a date," she hastens to add, "but just to get to know each other better. Bond. Y'know, what soulmates do."

Blimey, just kill me now.

But Hermione smiles and Alice's knees go weak with — what? Relief again? Or perhaps it's her body telling her to melt into a puddle.

"When do you get off of work?"

"At five," Alice says.

"Perfect." Hermione beams. "I'll drop by here after my case — and we can get something other than coffee if that's alright with you. I'd imagine you're sick of coffee. I know this cute little place that sells —"

As Hermione rambles, Alice regains her composure and smiles, nodding along.

Hermione...she wouldn't be a bad person to spend her life with.


413 words

Auction - 28-1: Hermione/Alice

Pinata - Hard: Coffee Shop!AU