DISCLAIMER:
I DO NOT OWN THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER/JK ROWLING. I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF THIS OR ANY OTHER STORY I HAVE WRITTEN. I SIMPLY PLAY WITH THE CHARACTERS.
Chapter 5:
She went to bed anxious, excited, and restless. Her worry was overwhelming. She desired to have a home to share with someone but was afraid of not being compatible with him in person. Her friends at times made her feel as if she were not enough to keep someone happy because of her brainy hobbies, need for knowledge and desires to be successful.
She lay in bed staring out the window longing for a shoulder to lay on. She rearranged her pillows to hold and nuzzled into them as deep as she could to feel the comfort of something laying against her body. Cold as it was it eventually retained her body heat and she drifted off with wonders of someone, who was filled with desire for her intelligent mind.
….
She awoke with a scream and immediately searched for her wand. It was on the nightstand, as it always was every morning when she awoke. While she went to bed excited, subconsciously she must have been worried about this new threat coming to Britain. Her dreams were filled with a looping replay of Malfoy Manor. Over and over she played it out as if the never-ending nightmare that was her reality once upon a time will never be suppressed into the long-forgotten vaults of her mind.
She could still hear Bellatrix, her dream resonating in her mind bringing back suppressed memories. "I'm going to ask you again! Where did you get this sword? Where?" Bellatrix's voice echo's over and over in her mind as she begins to rock back and forth on her bed, knees pulled into her chest. "Where? Where? Where?" The menacing tone calm and even before the shouting began was becoming more and more terrifying.
She's rocking trying to shake off the dream, but it doesn't help. She must pull herself back out of this nightmare. She screams PLEASE out into her bedroom; it resonates off the walls and sounds hollow. "You are lying you FILTHY MUDBLOOD! Tell the truth!" She could feel the Crucio even now as her body gave an involuntary tremble. Your body never forgets pain especially pain that was at the hands of such an evil woman.
She lay there for quite some time, trembling, afraid of the morning shadows splaying across her bedroom floor, her pillow tear stained and damp. She couldn't let this take a grip on her, she closed her eyes, only to see Dobby's staring back at her, she let out another small whimper. So many years has passed yet here she is still laying on her bed, in the fetal position. Waking from her slumber only to sit and rock back and forth in desperation for nightmares to end. She needed to get a grip!
She finally felt her feet hit the cold floor. It gave her a jolt of awareness. She was ok, that was over a decade ago, this new threat was not Voldemort. It could be worse, but it wasn't bringing Bellatrix back. She was ok, at least, for now.
She floated to the bathroom, put herself together the best she could and made it to the kitchen for some hot tea. She would be late for work today. She threw her Patronus out the kitchen window to Ginny with hopes the children she would be able to come over. She needed her friend this morning and she hoped she would come through for her, just this once.
She sat at the kitchen table and stared blankly at her tea. She watched the spirals of steam rise from the cup with empty eyes. The cream she poured into the cup makes violent swirls as it blends with the tea. She's lost into the abyss of creamy darkness.
A loud crack pulls her from her demise that she is sinking into with that hot cup of tea. She looks over to see a distraught Ginny standing in her living room looking at her with confusion. She peers back down at her tea and tears begin to stream down her cheeks as Ginny crosses the room and pulls her into a warm embrace.
She feels instantly better having her friend be there for her, she don't know how she was able to get away, but she's never been more grateful to have a friend capable of dropping everything to come and hold her even for just a moment.
Several minutes pass as she holds onto Ginny. She is no longer crying and feels like she can explain without hesitating and confusing her with broken sentence. She pulls away and just looks at Ginny for a moment before speaking. The walk over and sit together on opposite ends of the couch, getting comfortable so they can have a much need therapy session.
"How did you manage to get here so quickly?"
Ginny just looks at her and shrugs, "The kids are asleep and for some reason Harry is still home. I'm guessing he has a hard day at work and doesn't want to go in yet." She pauses for a moment before continuing. "You sounded terrified and you scared me."
"And I interrupted your peaceful morning. I'm sorry Ginny. I just had the worst nightmare, and gosh, Ginny it was just awful when I woke up. It was as if, I was reliving it, all over again. I just needed someone and I'm sorry."
"Are you ok now?"
"Yes, I can still feel it though, like it happened yesterday." She gave a small shutter with a cold chill running up her spine.
Ginny looked at her, attempting to assess her mental faculties and awareness. She started to look around and glanced over at the kitchen. She got up and poured herself a cup of tea before making her way back to the couch.
"Well I might as well enjoy a few moments with you before I go back to a circus of children. What was the dream about? Malfoy Manor as usual? You should really let me just obliviate you then you would never have to worry about it again." She said this very matter of factly.
"Yes, it was Bellatrix, again, and no Ginny I would rather keep my memories intact thank you."
"Well you could start dating again, and then you would have a sexy man in your bed to, you know, rock it out of your system."
Hermione gave her a reproachful look of shock. She sat in silence before she remembered her admirer and his letter last night wanting to meet in person. Might as well attempt a normal conversation to quell the pain.
"So, I have something else I need your opinion on."
"Oh? Do tell! I hope it's a one-night stand so I can have juicy details." Followed by a Cheshire grin and wagging eyebrows.
"Really Ginny, do you even know me? You are incorrigible."
"Hardy har har, of course I do, your one-night stand would most likely consist of wine and a new text-book, which I hardly have any desire to discuss academics." She could barely say this without laughing. Hermione knew her life had gotten to the point of living vicariously through other women and the Daily Profit. Her sex life had become drab and boring, filled with quickies and snoring.
She glared at Ginny, always poking fun at her desire to learn. She rolled her eyes at her and mentally debated telling her about Platinum Eyes' request to meet her in person.
"Well, since you were so nice to me this morning coming to my rescue, I will ignore that scathing remark. My pen pal thinks I'm fascinating just so you know. And, he, well simply put, he wants to meet me."
"Holy Shit. Are you serious?"
"Yes, and I told him I was a Muggleborn. I'm certain he is a reformed Pureblood. Which is why I think you should go with me to meet him."
"Holy SHIT! YES, I WILL GO!"
She winced at the screechy shout Ginny produced to close to her face. She didn't realize how excited Ginny would become at the prospect of scoping out her new, well, new something, she didn't know what he was to her just yet.
"I just didn't know if it was a good idea. We have only been conversing for a whole what 7 or 8 letters now. What if he is someone horrid, married, or God forbid covered in warts or something wretched! I feel so vain thinking that but honestly, I'm excited and not excited all at the same time. I suppose you could say I'm extremely anxious at the unknown factor."
"Hermione, you have to listen to me, this is the single most exciting thing that has happened to you in a decade. Don't tell him what you look like, have him come in a certain outfit or have him wear a red hat, or anything that will make him stand out. Then we creep up and see who he is, if he is of no interest we simply walk away together, laughing and then go have a girl's night."
"So, you're saying I should write him a letter and tell him I want to meet him? You don't think its too risky or dumb? That isn't a bad idea though, I could have him wear a red hat and red shirt with black slacks. That is an amazing idea!"
"Right, I know my ideas are always underestimated with Harry. I'm glad you can appreciate them, in addition to the clothing, meet somewhere public, really crowded, like a muggle place, Piccadilly Circus or the Tower of London."
"Excellent Ginny! I will write him this evening and tell him. Can you let me know this afternoon when you could go with me? I'm sure Harry is going to be upset I'm taking you away again."
"Hermione, Harry can just deal with it, I'm over being the subservient housewife. Plan it for tomorrow afternoon around 3. Harry can come home and watch the kids on his lunch break. That should give us enough time to stalk him and know if you want to meet him or not. IF, you do want to stay I can just apparate home, if you don't, we can go out on the town and leave Harry hanging high and dry!"
Ginny laughed entirely to hard at the thought of leaving Harry unsuspectingly alone with his children. As if he would die at the mercy of babies, toddlers, and the like.
There was another scathing comment about Harry. She was beginning to wonder if there was trouble in paradise. "So, tell me, how are things going? You and Harry still in marital bliss?"
"Oh, please Hermione, Harry is just, ugh, I don't know what to say, preoccupied. Not to mention Lav Lav kicked Won Won out and he has been hiding out in our spare room. They are talking at least, and I hope to Merlin he will be out of my house soon. If not, I'm sending him to Mum's. He is so whiney and annoying I can barely handle a small conversation with him after dealing with Mia all night."
"Yikes, Ginny, I don't know how you handle everything that you have to deal with on the daily. I mean I guess it is just your normal, but wow, its impressive."
"I'm overly stressed all the time Hermione; I'm beginning to understand why Mum was always washing the dishes or knitting."
"You know if you ever need help with the kids you are more than welcome to ask me for help."
"I know, its just a pride thing I suppose. I'm not having anymore children though, Harry wants one more, but I'm done. Besides bathroom quickies aren't the most romantic place to get me in the mood for more children. I'm lucky I can go to the loo alone as it is with the kids following me everywhere I go and Harry."
"Well at least you aren't in a constant state of loneliness."
"To true Hermione, to true. However, it can be lonely at times, even if I'm surrounded by everyone."
Hermione didn't quite understand how that felt. She's never been lonely surrounded by people.
"So, tell me why Won Won and Lav Lav are fighting."
"Well, apparently Won Won has a side piece and his wittle Wav Wav found out. Since the baby was born, Lavender has been a bit preoccupied and of course my selfish brother found a way to be jealous, of his own child. They will get back together, but you know it will take a little time. All the while he's raking my nerves with his constant whining about why he was so stupid and she will never forgive him, yada, yada, yada. Cry me a river. Let's just say I lost the empathy card for him a long time ago."
"I feel no pity for either of them."
She didn't feel any pity for them, Ron was still a sore spot, but karma will eventually catch up with him, hopefully. She was so glad that Ginny was able to give her this time this morning. She so needed it; she will repay her kindness with free babysitting. She must figure out when.
"I guess I need to get ready for work Gin. I'm sorry. I really appreciate you coming to my rescue this morning and I would love to make this a regular thing and on a better note next time."
"Oh, my Hermione, yes I would love to do this once a week. And next time lets plan it. Don't forget to send your letter to lover boy about tomorrow afternoon. I will tell Harry as soon as I get home, that he's got the kids. I'm so excited!"
The two friends embrace and say goodbye. Hermione glances at the clock, it is already after nine, boy was Kinglsey going to chew her a new one.