That morning as Hermione was busy brushing her teeth she thought about Dani. Her new friend.
She didn't say that they were going to hang out today. Or gave a specific time and place.
Now, in Hermione's doubt riddled mind, she wasn't sure if Dani was even real or really meant to hang out with her.
She worried on her lower lip as she descended the stairs to the kitchen.
Her dad was busy reading the morning paper and her mum was taking care of the toast.
Her mum saw her enter first.
"Morning sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah. I did" she answered somewhat vaguely.
Then she noticed their clothes. It was their professional clothes. The ones they wear to work.
"Are you guys going in to work?"
"Yes dear. Unfortunately we can't stay closed for the whole holiday. It's a busy time"
Sighing she sat down on one of the chairs.
"I know dad" she smiled at him.
Her mum came over with a plate of toast and sat it down next to the bacon and eggs.
"What are you going to do today?" Mum asks daughter.
'I was going to go to the park but maybe I shouldn't' Hermione thought to herself.
"Oh I don't know. I was maybe thinking of staying in and just reading." She replied instead.
"Really? It's such a beautiful day outside"
"I just want to take it easy. Relax as much as I can"
Her parents looked at each other but didn't say anything.
"Okay then honey. I will come by for lunch or we could go eat lunch somewhere? Isn't that a better idea?" Her mum asks hopefully.
Hermione seemed to think it over but decided not to take up the offer.
"It's okay mum. I'll be fine. You and dad go back to work and save some teeth" she smiled.
That made her parents laugh.
After more conversation and laughter it was time for her parents to go.
When Hermione made sure they were gone, she locked the front door, made sure everything was cleaned, washed and packed away then went to get a book to read.
Settling herself comfortably on her favourite armchair near a window, she opened the book and proceeded to read.
Her mind however was nowhere near her book. It kept going to her favourite tree in the park which in turn led to Dani.
She wondered if Dani was hiding somewhere with a bunch of other kids waiting for Hermione to show up looking for her. Then they'd jump out and start laughing at her. Dani would be in the center laughing the hardest and Hermione would cry because she believed Dani was honest about being friends and because she was humiliated.
No. That's the reason she doesn't want to go to the park. She doesn't feel like being embarrassed.
But then that annoying voice in her head started up.
(What if she was for real. What if she meant it when she said you should hang out?. Maybe she's different than the rest. You do get them still you know. You can't judge her based on others)
"I know. I know" Hermione suddenly said out loud.
Maybe she was quick to judge Dani. Maybe Dani was being honest?
Looking at the clock on the wall she saw it was already just past eleven. Was it already that late?!
What if she wasn't there anymore? What if she saw Hermione not pitching up and decided that it wasn't worth it.
She thought she might give it a try at least. So picking up her book (just in case Dani wasn't there), and putting on her shoes she left her home.
As she neared the park her heart rate picked up.
So far she didn't see any leaning figure against the tree. Turning her head from left to right to see if she could spot her someplace else, she felt oddly disappointed when there was no sign of Dani. At all.
When she reached her tree, she decided it was futile to keep searching...and hoping... Dani got tired of waiting and left.
She could feel her shoulders slump as she sat down.
'I can't always be right' Hermione thought to herself as she once again opened her book.
"Do you have some weird super power or are you just a mad genius?" A voice suddenly sounded from above which had Hermione literally jumping out of her skin.
She whipped her head up to see a laughing Dani sitting on a thick branch up in the tree. She was laughing so hard she had trouble staying upright.
Hermione got over her initial shock and returned that shock into a death glare. Aimed only at one target.
Dani.
Dani had calmed down somewhat and saw the glare. Smiling brightly she jumped down and landed next to Hermione.
"Are you mad?!" Hermione whispered fiercely.
"Nope. But you might be..." Dani's voice was full of laughter.
"I'm not mad. What are you even talking about?"
Dani tsk tsk and shook her head.
"You're book. Your reading it up side down" she stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.
"I most certainly am not" Hermione replied defensively. "No one reads a book up side down..." she peeks down quickly to make sure she was right.
She could feel her face heat up in embarrassment.
"...apparently I do" she muttered.
Dani laughed out loud.
"Shut up" Hermione giggled
After the laughing died down Hermione spoke first.
"I uh I'm sor..."
"Hermione." Dani interrupted. "Don't apologise. I probably understand more than you think"
"But you..."
"No buts okay?"
Hermione opened her mouth to object further.
"Na ah. Not another word or syllable. Nothing. Nope. Zip it"
Hermione snapped her mouth shut and nodded her head just like a little school girl.
"Good!"
And with that Dani plunked herself down on the ground.
Hermione was still standing with her mouth shut tight.
"You can sit down if you want? Or do you suddenly have a problem with the ground?"
"You are the weirdest person I've ever met" Hermione replied as she sat down.
"On that I'll agree with you. NO ONE is weirder than me" Dani chuckled.
They're day isn't over yet. I just had to post it as two chapters because it would get too long for one chapter.
How is everyone finding the story so far?
