Chapter 11: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Hermione's Apartment Battersea, London.
Wednesday 27th November 2013, 5:30pm
My day at work was surprisingly uneventful. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, a death? Mass panic? Kingsley demanding, I Hermione Granger 'Brightest witch of her Age' do something to mix the mess. But nope, nothing- just another boring Wednesday at the office. Regular office things, water cooler gossip and people fighting over the stationary cupboard. I'm torn between leaving the tablet where it is and risk it or rush into Kingsley's office in the morning and demand he remove it from the Museum, however I know that it would cause controversy especially from the muggle side and we certainly can't tell them why we are taking it. Because oops some imbecile mixed the two tablets up and gave you the deadly soul sucking one! Yes, they would trust us again. I snort. I wouldn't, then I could see the slippery slope that we would slide down.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
So many choices and nothing is an easy solution. Hardly anyone knows about the tablet at the ministry, but as soon as this blows up in our faces, I can imagine the scandal. Kingsley would be disgraced and most likely so would I. Not even Harry's stellar reputation could save me from that.
I need a plan. Come on Hermione, you were always good at planning. I need to think. I walk into my study; the smell of the books always helps me think. I see Crookshanks playing on the floor with his mouse toy and every time he hits it, the bell on the end of it jingles.
He knocks it flying and gets caught on the bottom edge of my desk. I reach down to pick it up and notice a corner of a piece of paper sticking out from underneath. I toss Crooks his toy and bend back down to pick up the piece of paper. I immediately notice the emblem for The Dorchester hotel. I stare at it momentarily, I hadn't thought about this bit of paper from Christian, since that night in the taxi. I had forgotten I had it. It sends my mind spinning, Christian the burglar…Christian…the…burglar. I look back down at the dry-cleaning slip and start tapping it on the edge of index finger. He could help me steal it…? I ask myself. It's no more outlandish than what we did at Hogwarts. This way the heat is directed off the ministry and off the tablet. It will be risky involving Christian, that is if he is still in the country and if he accepts this job. Otherwise I could just obliviate him. I don't want to do it but, desperate times call for desperate measures.
I look at the clock on the wall and see that it is nearly six o'clock. I promised Ginny that I would meet up with her for a drink tonight. I quickly change into some blue skinny jeans, black knee high boots, a checker-ed button up long sleeved shirt and my own black wool pea coat and purple coloured scarf and matching beanie. I make sure Crooks has everything he needs before I walk out the front door, grabbing my handbag on the way. I make my way around the back of the building where not many people go to apparate to Diagon Alley.
The Alley is still buzzing with activity even though it is only a Wednesday night. I walk into The Leaky Cauldron and look around to see any sign of Ginny, but I don't see the bright red hair among the other patrons. I find an unoccupied booth at the back of the pub, to stake my claim. I decide to wait until Ginny is here to order a drink. Not that I have to wait long, before she makes an appearance.
"Hermione!", I wave at her as she calls out my name. She wordlessly points to the bar and makes a drinking motion with her hand. I nod my head, she knows what drink to get me.
A short time later she comes over with a mojito for herself and a gin and soda for me.
"How are you Ginny? What did you want to talk to me about?" I hope I didn't sound too rude, but getting straight to the point, but I didn't want to be out too late either.
"I just wanted to see how you are, you were pretty upset on Monday and you left right after Ron appeared. I am sorry about that, I scolded Harry -don't worry he is sorry. He would like to apologise but doesn't want to be on the receiving end of your temper. But that is not why I am here. I'm here as your friend not the wife to your best friend. So, tell me, how are you doing?", I looked at Ginny and thought she was sincere, not that I had any reason to doubt her. God, what am I thinking? I was the one who lied to them, they should doubt me.
"I'm fine, just a usual boring week trying to sort out paperwork which I know everyone else in my team hate doing, so I help file and the rest of the departments", she looked at me gobsmacked.
"You organise and file everyone's paperwork?", I laughed out loud.
"No Ginny, just the twits who cannot figure out which bloody filing cabinet they are supposed to put their own paperwork in!", I throw my hands up in exasperation and I notice the front door opening from my peripheral vision and automatically look over.
The Burrow, Harry's POV
I exit the floo straight into the living room of the Weasley's home. This place was a second home for me during Hogwarts and I still get that lingering sense that I am home every time I enter. I don't think that it will every go away.
Ginny is having a girl's night with Hermione tonight at the Leaky Cauldron, I think she trying to mend fences and see what is really up with Hermione. She has been particularly withdrawn lately. We haven't had lunch together in a while, I worry she is pulling away after the break up with Ron.
Anyway, I am here because I am bored at home and maybe Ron will want to go flying or something in the yard. I could use the distraction.
"Harry!", I turn to see Mrs Weasley barrelling at me, to draw me into a tight hug.
"Hello Mrs Weasley", she pats me on the shoulder, pulling back from the hug.
"Oh, Harry you feel a bit thin dear has Ginny not been feeding you enough. I have some leftovers, I could make you up a plate if you want?", she says as she starts pulling me into the kitchen, before I could even speak. But I didn't bother with dinner tonight, so I'm not going to pass up an opportunity for free food.
"Ah, sure I would love some. Do you know if Ron is here?"
"Excellent! Yes Ron is here, upstairs in his room. He has been there all afternoon, doing merlin knows what. Wanted his best clothes put out and ironed", I smiled as she laid down the plate piled with food, more than I could ever eat in one sitting. He words caused me to feel apprehensive about what it is Ron is doing. His best clothes? It made me think of the offhanded comment he made about winning Hermione back on Monday night. Well I thought it was an offhanded comment, I thought as I bit into a drumstick. I hope to all that is holy he doesn't do something utterly stupid. Unfortunately, this is Ron and he often makes a fool of himself. I love my friend, but he isn't the best at reading situations.
"You sit there and eat Harry and I'll go up and see what Ron is doing", Molly shuffles off to Ron's room.
Ten minutes later I can hear the stairs creak under the weight of the people descending. Ron enters the kitchen first and I nearly spit out my food at what he is wearing. I start to choke, and Molly pats me on the back.
"Harry chew and swallow, don't eat so fast dear", she mildly chastises me. I almost laugh. Sometimes I will never understand wizard clothing or their interpretation of muggle fashion.
I thump my chest a couple of times, before speaking.
"Ron what are you doing?"
"Harry I'm going to win Hermione back. She will see my actions are sincere and agree to try again. Do you know if she is home tonight?", I blink rapidly, while trying to decide what the hell to do. This was worse than I thought!
"Ahhh….no Ginny and her are at the Leaky Cauldron having a drink. A girl's night." I tact on the so he gets the hint that it is a girl's only night. But Ron being Ron, completely misses the hint. He is more of a bull entering a china shop. As subtle as a jackhammer.
"Oh, great we can go have a drink too. Come on let's go- you can finish the plate of food when we get back", I sigh actually wanting to finish the food.
"Ron, I have a feeling this is not going to go the way you want", I try telling him, giving him a chance to back out.
"Don't be pessimist Harry", he says clapping me on the back.
This is going to be such a bad idea.
Back at The Leaky Cauldron
"Oh, for fuck's sake", I groan upon seeing Ron enter the Leaky Cauldron. Instantly Ginny looks to where my attention now rests. It is not often I swear, so she knows I am serious.
"What in Merlin's hairy beard are they doing here?", Ginny half shrieks.
Why? Why? why? I haven't seen him since dinner at Ginny's on Monday...truth be told Christian the burglar's face keeps popping up in my mind, now that I have been thinking about him a bit more. Those bright blue eyes that begets a sensual shiver down my spine. Remembering how well dressed he was obvious designer clothing, and his sexy black rimmed glasses. I love a man in glasses. Well put together, the style of someone who actually looks in a mirror before they step out the door. I never used to care, but Ginny snapped after listening to me whine one day about how I was never going to be taken seriously at the Ministry. She told me I needed to look the part as well as talk it. They were never going to take me seriously on a professional level If I still dressed like a naïve school girl. I felt silly afterwards, so Ginny shops for my work and going out clothes and I shop for my practical outfits. Nothing was too overtly sexy, just flirty and I must admit I quite liked that. I never really had the opportunity to be 'girlish' except at the Yule ball in fourth year. Which was promptly ruined by Ron making me cry. Looking at him now after months away and really only seeing him a couple of times since, there is no warm feeling pooling in my stomach. Just a friendly feeling. He is a contrast to Christian the burglar, Ron doesn't enjoy reading or discussing academic pursuits. He dresses horrendously for example tonight, mustard coloured corduroy pants, black dress shoes, a well-worn baby blue button down with red stripes, a burgundy velvet vest over the top and a mission brown tie, it looked almost comical. It never really seemed to bother me before, but now….I felt slightly embarrassed. I love Ron as a friend and would like to keep his friendship, but I realise in this moment I could never go back to being in a relationship with him. The thought makes me feel sick.
It will kill me to let him down, but I don't want to lead him on and get the idea that there is still hope for us in the future. He is like Harry to me a brother and nothing more. The spark of hope in his eyes stabs me in the chest. I sigh, but it will be worse in the long run if I let this slide or try to brush it off.
"Oh, Ginny what the hell is he doing? What am I going to do?", I looked back over at Ginny, she was barely containing her laughter at what Ron was wearing.
"Mione you're going to have to somehow let him down easy. Try not to hurt his feelings too badly please.", I frown at Ginny, while I don't want to hurt Ron, I have told him multiple times that I don't wish for anything to happen. Why is it that my feelings always get pushed aside like they aren't as important?
Harry and Ron approach the booth Ginny and I are sitting in and Ron is holding a bouquet of flowers which are chrysanthemums and I hate chrysanthemums. I like gerberas, sunflowers and tulips. Chrysanthemums are usually what they put out at funerals. I rub my forehead this is not what I wish to be doing right now. I need to think of how I'm going to track down Christian. I look at Harry pleading for this to be some misunderstanding. He gives a look that says, 'I tried, but no use'. Why did he have to do it here in front of all these people in such a public setting? Has he no sense of shame?
"Ron what are you doing here?", I ask as he thrusts the hideous flowers in my face. I cough at their proximity and gently push them away.
"Hermione, I am here because I still think we have a chance and I want to show you that I sincerely care about our relationship", he looked so hopeful. But that only made me angry, I have tried, and I have tried again. I was royally pissed off. Ginny must have noticed the subtle changes in my facial expressions and thus kicked me in the shin underneath the table. Ned the bartender came rushing over before I had the answer, saying there was a phone call for me and that I can take it in Tom's office. I was so relived by this random phone call for giving me the perfect way to avoid this train wreck of a conversation.
"Thanks Ned", I said as I started to slide out of the booth. I turned back to my three friends, "I'll be back in a minute".
I entered Tom's office around the back of the bar and picked up the receiver of the candy red coloured phone.
"Hello?"
"Hermione Granger"
"Yes, speaking. How can I help you?"
"I just thought you looked rather put out by that situation involving the Weasley boy, that I thought I would give you a reprieve to compose yourself", his voice was rather attractive sounding, but oddly familiar. I couldn't place it.
"I..um..thanks for that. Yes, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or yell, however I was leaning towards the latter.", the chuckle caught me off guard, it was dark but velvety.
"I can imagine, when he doesn't seem to want to let go or know that you hate chrysanthemums", I looked at the receiver slightly concerned that this person knew I hated that flower. Was I being stalked?
"No Miss Granger don't worry I am not stalking you as you are thinking. I think anyone who noticed your expression when you looked at the bouquet with distaste would know you didn't like them. Everyone except Weasley, he is as oblivious as they come. Anyway, Miss Granger, have a lovely evening and hope everything works out" and he instantly hangs up. I sat there for a while staring at the phone, it was a surreal experience. Now what to do about Ron? I'm just going to have to brush him off. I feel bad, but I don't want to have this conversation right here. This mystery phone caller proved that we need to be more careful. There are eyes everywhere.
I exited the office deep in thought and squeezed my way over to our booth. Disappointed that Ron was still here. He couldn't make this easy, now could he?
"I'm leaving. I'll talk to you about this later Ron, I don't want to be having this conversation here out in the open. I would rather do it in private. Now, Ginny sorry to do this to you again. Harry you're already forgiven. Goodnight", I reached over and grabbed my handbag and the stupid flowers.
As I walked out into the night, I didn't notice the tall man with dark curly hair smirking in the shadows.
The Next Day, Thursday 28th November 2013
Outside The Dorchester Hotel
I caught taxi to the hotel from the dry cleaning stub, I just hope that he was still here. It felt like my stomach was filled to the brim with butterflies, however I was not backing down now. This was my plan and I was going to stick with it.
I remembered that Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Richard where fans of the Dorchester and often stayed her for long periods of time. I could see why, it was certainly the epitome of posh and opulence.
I pushed through the front doors and entered the lobby, I seriously felt under dressed even in a long black pencil skirt that ended just below my knees, with a lace band that detailed the bottom of the skirt, a long sleeve white collared shirt, a plain black wool sweater, with a long caramel wool coloured coat. Complemented with black heels, that had red soles for a bit of sass.
I pulled the stub out of my handbag and walked over the the reception desk. I wasn't sure due to privacy laws whether they could tell me if he was still here.
"Good Morning Madam, how can I help you today?", I looked down at the gentleman's name tag, Mathew.
"Morning Mathew, I had a gentleman help me the other night and I wanted to leave him a message if he was still here. He was in room 508, would you be able to pass this on for him?" I slid across the reception desk a plain white envelope with the name 'Christian' written on it.
"Give me one second madam", he clicked on the keyboard looking for something as i looked around the lobby.
"Yes, it seems the gentleman in 508 is still booked here at the hotel. I will leave this here at the desk for next time he comes to collect his mail."
"Thank you Mathew, have a nice day", I smiled and then left. My plan was set in motion. I plan to meet him here for brunch on Sunday, it gives him two days to organise things in case he is busy. He just needs to turn up.
A/N: I was on a roll so here it is another update! Starting to get into the meat of the story now. Next chapter Hermione and Tom meet again. It has taken a little while, but the subplots had to be set up as well.