My Last Name
Chapter 2
Hermione stood at the very edge of the path, waiting for the giant red bus to drive by before she skipped across the busy, traffic-filled road. She delicately floated through the crowds of people swarming the streets of Cambridge, trying her upmost not to spill the scolding hot coffee she had just bought from a local pastry shop, and also keeping a firm grip on two or three heavy books she had clamped to the right side of her body. She blew the small opening a few times before taking a quick sip of her morning beverage.
The morning air was clean, crisp and fresh. The hustle and bustle of the people walking around gave that oh so familiar feeling of the 8:00am commute to work. She waited patiently as an elderly gentleman walked slowly across the doorway of which she needed to enter, before silently slipping past him and walking through the old arc of stone.
Cambridge university was already full of life. Students were everywhere you looked, as was the odd lecturer and the old caretaker, Marcus, wandered through the halls like nothing bothered him in the world.
"Morning Miss Granger" sang a young student happily.
"Morning Meredith!" Hermione replied with a warm smile. She weaved her way through the crowds of students before finally reaching a large dark stained oak door with "Hermione Granger" engraved into a gold plaque, nailed on it head height. She carefully placed her coffee on the stack of books she held before turning the bronze handle and pushing the door open.
She finally had chance to breathe now.
She gently shut the door behind her and placed her coffee on her desk, along with the heavy books. She smiled at the picture of her, Harry and Ron in a small frame on her desk, before that dark, nauseating, choking feeling started to bubble in her throat. She walked away and sat down in a chair by the book case and held her face in her hands. She took deep breaths, not wanting to have another panic attack, not this morning, not now, not again.
A sharp knock at the door made her jump as she stood up and brushed down her dark grey skirt.
"Come in" she stated firmly. A shy looking man walked in, wearing a pair of heavily rimmed specs, with a blazer and a smart tie.
"Oh hello Derek, please come sit down" Hermione walked over to her desk and beckoned in the quiet student. She moved some paperwork off his chair, before sitting in her own. He shuffled across her large office and sheepishly sat down.
"Now what's the problem?" She asked again, with her warm smile. She had gotten that off to a fine art now. Pretending that nothing bothered her. Pretending like she wasn't constantly fly aching inside.
"I wanted to erm, ask you about the Shakespeare project" he mumbled playing with his thumbs.
"I was wondering if I could change Othello to The Taming of the Shrew?" He sounded terrified. She wasn't in the mood for one of her students to be like this with her.
"Derek can I ask you something?" She leaned back in her chair whilst looking again at the photo frame on her desk.
He nodded sheepishly.
"Why do you always act as if I'm going to lash out and bite your head off?" He looked at her, the horror struck into his eyes and body. She looked at him and gave half a smile.
"Of course you can change the play, I prefer The Taming of the Shrew anyway" she smiled. He eased off. He mustered up all of his courage he had and smiled back. He thanked her and was on his way.
She chuckled quietly to herself; was she really that scary?
The day dragged, more students came in asking to change their projects last minute, and more deadlines were pushed back. She spent half of the evening rummaging in the library, for a book she had been searching for for a while now. Time went past, and no such luck, so she decided to call it a day and head on home.
Her flat was situated in the quiet area of Cambridge, it was a quaint building, with a beautiful garden and aged iron gates. She walked up the dimly lit stairs, and entered her home. And again, she was alone. She was unhappy. She never let anyone in. And she hated it.
Her colleagues at the University had dropped plenty of hints, and made plenty of plans, but she had never felt up to it. She had never felt strong enough to pretend like everything was okay in that situation, because in her mind it wasn't. She could handle a room full of students, but not a room full of people waiting to be her friend. But the thought of her letting someone in terrified her. She had no friends, no family, all she had was her small cat, Snowflake.
She sighed and walked to her bedroom where an Owl perched on her windowsill. Her eyes lit up at the sight and she ran over to detach the small piece of parchment off its legs.
Dearest Hermione
I heard the brilliant news about your new placement as head of English at Cambridge, what an achievement! And at such a young age!
I really do hope you are able to make Ronald's 21st birthday next week, I know he would love it of you came. He misses you, we all do.
Stay strong,
All my love,
Molly Weasley.
Hermione sat staring at the note in her hand whilst her heart sank. She had forgotten about Ron's birthday, she wasn't able to make it last year due to examinations, and the spurt of panic attacks she had been getting.
But it had gotten better, and she did feel stronger. Maybe seeing a friendly face would help.