CHAPTER FOUR
Hermione went back at the house at three in the afternoon. Her time at the cemetery had been sorrowful. She can't believe that even in four years, she still can't get over it. With that, she picked a book at her late grandmother's library and proceeded to the veranda. The veranda had been her favourite place just like her daughter. She picked Anna Karenina from the bookshelf and sat at the chair after placing the coffee on the table. She loved the scene. She was there sitting in the veranda while reading a book and sipping coffee as she feel the countryside's summer breeze.
Ten minutes later, her phone inside the living room rang. Hermione sat aside the book and went inside the living room.
"This is Hermione Granger-Weasley speaking."
"Mione, it's me, Ron." She was frozen on the spot.
"Oh, Ron. How are you and Charlie there?"
"Just okay. Charlie's dragons are kind of a nuisance. Hard to tame," Ron said chuckling in the other line. Hermione just smiled. "Anyway, have you arrived at the Bellington yet?"
"Yes, I just arrived here before sunrise."
"Oh, good. I guess I'll be seeing you at July 1st with the kids."
"Okay, I love you."
Ron from the other line sounded like he was hesitating to answer or just go and end up the call without replying. Hermione felt so disappointed. She just smiled bitterly when she had heard Ron replied. "...Yeah... Me too." And he hang up first.
Hermione questioned herself. He can't say those words to her anymore. That offended her a lot. He's being like this to her because of the wish he failed to achieve. It's not her fault why her baby died. It's not her fault that she won't be able to have another child and have the family he wanted. Their marriage was failing. And she can't tell if Ron still had plans to stay married.
A car came wandering outside the yard. It stopped in front of her mailbox and proceeded driving inside. Hermione put down her phone and stood up to approach the car's owner.
"I-uhh... Good afternoon, ma'am or sir. My deepest apologies for disturbing your afternoon," A man said while he goes out of the car. Hermione fixed her clothes and tied her hair in a bun. Though she felt a bit strange since the voice sounded familiar.
"I just wanted to ask something and I- Granger?"
Hermione looked directly at once. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Draco asked raising his eyebrows.
"I don't know. That's why I am asking you. Are you lost? This isn't the Wizarding World, Malfoy." Hermione replied with confusion.
Draco instantly frowned. "Oh please, Granger. Now look who's prejudiced. I am aware that I am not in the Wizarding World. Can't a wizard have time to travel and explore alone in the Muggle World?"
"Not if you are a pureblood supremacist-"
"-In the past. I know Granger. Thank you for the dramatic reminder," Draco said rolling his eyes. Hermione smirked. "And what are you doing here at New South Wales?"
"Vacation. Away from my paper works. Visiting my parents grave."
"And here I thought Hermione Granger dislikes getting away from paper works. Very charming." he said smirking. Hermione just scoffed. Draco turned his head to look around the house. The quietness of the place could tell that she's alone.
"I see no Weasel in sight."
"In Romania."
"Well, since you are here Granger-" Hermione stopped him at the moment.
"Weasley."
"Weasley," he said with a sneer. "I think I'm kind of lost."
"Lost? What particular place are you searching for?"
"I'm looking for the Bellington Valley from here. I've been wandering here for hours so I think I am lost. Blasted Blaise for not giving me a proper map."
"Bellington Valley is quite of a distance from here. It'll probably take half an hour to travel in there."
"I don't mind. So would you take me to Bellington Valley? Promise I'll play nice." Draco said the last statement playfully, pulling the infamous smirk on his face.
"Oh please. Playing nice isn't on your dictionary, Malfoy."
"You still didn't change, did you? Still loving books and having coffee alone. A little stroll once in a while wouldn't hurt, would it?"
"Oh fine. Only because I don't have anything to do."
Draco grinned in triumph. "Noted. So shall we go?" Hermione nodded and proceeded to his car.
"Out, then turn right."
On their way, Hermione pointed the directions as Draco drives the car. She would only talk whenever she points a turn, then she'll go back in silence after that. It s not like they're friends at all. They didn't had a proper conversation back then. If they look back, they would only recall those times where they fight and no good conversation would ever be remembered.
"This place sure is nice," Draco said breaking the silence. "Seems heavenly to me."
"Is that so?" She asked the blonde and Draco nodded. "Well, I agree. This has been my mother's hometown before she married Dad and moved to London."
"So your mom is an Australian?"
"No. My mother's stepmother is. My biological grandmother died when my mother was young. Fortunately, my grandfather met my step-grandmother, Emily and got married. They never had any children but she treated my mother like she was her own. Then my mother lived here until before she married Dad."
"I see."
"So what makes you travel here at the Muggle World, Malfoy?"
"I've been travelling for years with my son but since Scorpius is currently at Hogwarts, I travel alone."
"Aren't you married? Why is Astoria not accompanying you right now?"
"We got divorced after two years of marriage. Did you know?" Hermione widened her eyes on shock. Astoria Malfoy, though a Slytherin, still a Hufflepuff in kindness. Astoria and Hermione were great friends during the times they have a meeting in the book club. She is a wonderful woman with such beauty. They have the same values in blood purity. Most of the time, they have the same opinions, and that made them friends. However, Astoria suddenly disappeared and she didn't show up at the book club once again, making her wonder what happened.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I never knew. I didn't mean to talk about it. She was a good friend."
"Never mind that. It's not like it's a secret to the whole Wizarding World. And you? Why is Weasley on Romania and not here with you?"
"Dragon business with Charlie. I had gone here first - turn right - so I could take a stroll all by myself."
Five minutes later, they arrived at the place. Hermione smiled inwardly. This was the place where she and her family always spend the day having picnic. Still beautiful as ever.
"There it is. The Bellington Valley."
"Stunning. I've never seen like it. I've seen other places and all but not as peaceful as this place." Draco said admiring his surroundings. He walked to the back seat and grab the satchel, bringing out a muggle camera he carried all the way.
"You have a muggle camera with you?" Hermione asked, his eyes widened in amusement.
"What's wrong having it?"
She narrowed her eyes and sent a smirk. "Are you really Draco Malfoy? Last time I checked, you are still that pompous git who hates muggle technology." Draco just rolled his eyes in reply. "Is that mockery I sense, Granger?"
"Oh well. I suppose I'm just here to stand all day and watch the birds fly around while you take shots in your camera?"
"You can watch me if you want, Granger." Draco said stopping his footsteps towards the car and smirked her way. Hermione raised an eyebrow and smirked back as she crossed her arms. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself, Malfoy."
As Draco busied himself cleaning his camera, Hermione walked for a while and settled herself near a tree.
A mariposa butterfly settled on Hermione's shoulder. She was sitting on the grass and watched the butterfly flocked its wings. It was a beautiful white mariposa with black and brown circles around it. She wanted to touch the butterfly but afraid that it will flew away if she does. So she remained still while looking around the place. Her mother was right. Bellington is a peaceful sanctuary like heaven.
"It's really beautiful here, Granger. No kidding," Draco said admiring the place. Hermione sighed and nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, it is. It never changed even back when my mother was still alive."
The two of them silently sat on the grass for a while, filling their thoughts with the peaceful sight of the place. As Hermione looked at the sky, she thought of her mother. Just like her, Jane Granger was a nature lover. She loved Bellington with all her heart. Hermione just wondered, wherever she was now, she's surely happy with her father.
A smile left Hermione's lips as the butterfly flocked her wings and flew off. For a moment, she felt like her mother was there with her. Hermione looked at the sky once more, reminiscing of the memories she had with her family without knowing a certain blonde haired man was looking her way, watching her silently.
The view right in front of him was a good sight in the eyes; a beautiful and admirable woman beside him. As he watched her with such admiration, he concluded that Hermione Granger-Weasley was an epitome of a beauty. And he was a huge idiot for not noticing it until now. He want to capture the image out of her but afraid that Granger would hex him to oblivion and let him get lost in this town. He can't take his eyes off her. Such a shame Weasley married her first. This is another reason why Draco envied Ronald Weasley. Weasley may never had the noble life that he had, but Draco had envied him for many things: Weasley being raised in a loving household, for having such a good and eternal friendship with Potter, and him marrying the brightest and most courageous woman of their time.
When was the last time he smiled like this? Right. Back when Scorpius still had a mother. From the time he and Astoria are happy with a complete family. Back before she left him with another man. That was thirteen years ago.
And now, he was smiling and grinning the way he did before with another woman as the reason. Here she was, alone with him watching the sky while he was watching her with a smile. What a way to mend his broken heart.
Draco hated to look away but he needed to. It would be awkward as hell if he was caught staring at her, so he diverted his attention to something else. He picked the muggle camera beside him and adjusted it. As the camera lens opens, Draco focused himself on capturing the place, trying to forget anything related to Hermione.
The place was peaceful. The warm breeze of summer surrounding them brought a refreshing and relaxing feeling to him. The flowers are even swayed by the wind, like dancing in a graceful manner. Blaise was right. Bellington was a beautiful paradise.
Draco frowned at his first photo. The sky was clear and blue. Beautiful and bright like the best photos a photographer produces when taking a shot. However to him, it looked dull. It lacks something that he can't figure out. The flowers were dancing with the wind and the green grass made it more enchanting. The view was perfect. The way he captured the photo was perfect. He wondered what went missing, until that concluded in an answer when he looked her way. And he won't make another chance pass.
Hermione was walking around the place while the blonde busied himself taking pictures. It did made sense why Jane Granger didn't want to leave Bellington. This place was heaven. Although she didn't understand why her mother keep on calling this place 'The Land of Miracles'. To her, having Rose and Hugo was the best miracle for her. She honestly thought that living here in Bellington would help her have time for her and Ron to save their marriage but no such luck ever happened. Funny, she thought back then but it's way much clearer now.
Hermione was occupied in her own world to even notice the blonde setting the camera on her. Draco focused the camera directly at the beautiful witch who conquered his attention and readied himself to capture such moment. But seconds before the camera flashes, Draco was frozen in his feet soon as the brunette diverted her eyes to the camera. She caught him. Will she get mad? Will she hex his head off? Leave him to go wander and lost? Even so, he had captured the best photo he ever had captured all of his life. Her eyes looking straightly at the camera but behind those camera, she was looking at the eye of her captor. Her eyes sparkling - though her face showed a little drop of emotion, she's still beautiful as ever. Her lips slightly open. She didn't smiled, but she looked like she was about to talk to him when he captured the image. At that point, he knew what was missing.
An inspiration to hold on to.
The view surrounding her were in full colour, making it even more brighter and lively. Her presence in the photograph made everything perfect.
"Did you just took a photo of me, Malfoy?" Hermione said suspiciously. Draco just shrugged and narrowed his eyes at the witch.
"Don't flatter yourself, Granger. It's the view behind you I'm capturing."
"I told you. It's Weasley, Malfoy."
"Gran-ger." Draco insisted with a sneer. Hermione just rolled her eyes in annoyance, not noticing an small drop of jealousy in his tone as she continued her stroll. Draco Malfoy is still as arrogant as ever. Didn't changed even a little.
Now that Hermione was finally away, Draco felt relieved. He opened the camera in his hand and the monitor displayed him the brunette's image. Who would have thought that Hermione Granger would be so captivating?