Oh my, Welcome to Chapter 5! Bon Appetit!
p.s. i told you i was on a roll. Although, i might get writers block for the next chaper....we shall soon find out!
Hermione walked leisurely through the familiar garden. She hadn't been here in years and yet she remembered every tree and bush with vividness. She smiled, following the worn path and allowed her hand to reach out and graze a passing shrub as she made her way to a favored clearing. After walking through the densely populated garden for twenty minutes or so Hermione finally found her spot. A little clearing,surrounded by gorgeous trees, the ground covered in lush thick green grass, a pond about half the size of a football field and sunlight she doubt any human eyes had ever witnessed; mostly filtered by the leaves of the surrounding trees. Hermione had almost forgotten how magical this place was. Little Cornish pixies danced and played in the air around Hermione almost enjoying the atmosphere as much as she. She gave a contented sigh and sat down near the shore of the pond and admired the crystal clear water in which she could see the aquatic life intermingling.
Hermione scooted closer to the pond, removed her shoes and socks, then, dipped her feet gingerly in the water wading them in the shallow, feeling the plants and sand tickle her souls ever so slightly. Hermione smiled, she couldn't remember being so happy. she closed her eyes ejoying the sound of birds chirping in the distance.
"May i join you?" someone suddenly said after a while.
Hermione turned around. She wasn't expecting this. She thought for sure that she was alone. Even then, she could have sworn it would be someone else if anyone dared show up. Hermione gave a curt nod. The person behind her walked towards her and she noticed that they were barefoot.
"Did you follow me?" Hermione asked softly, looking back into the water. for some odd reason she felt completely at ease, peaceful. 'Must be the water' she thought absently.
"Everyone knows about this place Hermione." they said placing their feet into the pond as well, swishing them back and forth in an alternating motion.
Hermione frowned as she picked at some grass. "I was under the impression that only a few people know of this place."
The person shook their head. "No, a lot of people KNOW about it, but some just choose not to come...i on the other hand choose to come on quite a regular basis."
Hermione started to feel uncomfortable and baffled by the small talk. she looked at the figure wondering......"why are you here?"
"Ah, good question. I was wondering the same thing." it said fiddling their fingers.
Hermione, still in her peaceful and unnatural state of mind, didn't push the subject further. She just accepted the answer. she looked at the fiddling figure, she never really recalled them to be so anxious, except maybe once. Hermione didn't care though and laid back on the grass enjoying the sun and trying to decipher what each cloud in the sky closely resembled; a rabbit, a screw driver, flames, and a person yawning maybe.....or screaming? she couldn't decide. She turned back to the person, so many thoughts wandering through her mind.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked not exactly sure how to proceed. the person shrugged and laid back in the grass next to her. She's never in her life dreamed of being so close before. Did it matter? she didn't think so. She didn't feel as if this person was posing any type of threat, so, she looked and smiled slightly at their familiarly alien eyes. They smiled back.
"Enjoy the afternoon I'm assuming." the figure responded after a moment placing their hands behind their head, then, began staring wondrously at the sky. The person continued " i never thought it would be like this...being here, with you."
Hermione nodded in complete agreement - "It's not half bad though" she added " Although, I thought you of all people would be acting a different way towards me."
The person sat up a laughed, lightly shaking their head "Now, that's the pot calling the kettle black."
Hermione blushed slightly and mumbled an apology. They held up their hands "No apology needed, under normal circumstances i probably would be treating you differently. But this place....does things to you. I think here you become the person you most desire to be and you acquire all you desire from life."
Hermione thought a moment on all of this. She couldn't bring herself to wrap her head around the fact that this was who she wanted to be and this was the person that maybe she wanted to be with...but then maybe this person wanted change in their life and subconsciously wanted to be with her? Hermione's stomach started to do flips. Hermione nodded and returned her attention to the sky.' this is so awkward' she thought trying to decipher images from the clouds again. As if reading her mind the person leaned in close to her.
"I know this isn't what your used to... but you did look like you could use some company." they said looking at her.
Hermione nodded absently still gazing at the sky. She didn't quite understand the reason behind their meeting and didn't care... She had someone. A friend, maybe? It didn't matter. What did matter was that she wasn't alone and aside from all those things - she felt happy, comfortable even to be in this persons presence. She looked oddly at the person.
"what about you?" she asked" Are you lonely as well?"
the persons face went blank as they thought about the question. they took a deep breath "Not right now, I'm not." after a moment the person smiled genuinely at Hermione and her heart melted. she missed people smiling at her like that - so sincerely. she smiled back dittoing the smile. In this moment she felt complete and she never wanted it to end. Hermione propped herself up on her elbows and looked down at the grass. She softly voiced her opinion. "I don't want this to end" and felt tears start to fall from her eyes landing in little droplets on random blades of grass. The person lifted her chin with their hand and smiled again, this time bigger and brighter than before."Then next time don't kick me out of your store, no matter what time it is."
Hermione woke to the sun shinning on her face and looked at the clock on her night stand. 7:30. Hermione stretched out all her limbs and quickly contracted them relishing the jello like feeling. Once up, Hermione showered quickly, dressed and threw her hair up in an extremely unattractively messy bun. She didn't care, she wasn't trying to impress. Hermione maneuvered her way downstairs and towards the front door of the shop. She pulled out her wand and mumbled a few words, removing the lock charms that were placed on the store the previous night. She walked to the cashier's desk and spotted her mug from the previous day, Pointed and flicked her wand at it muttering "Pulita. Acqua. Addolcita Tè verde" Something felt different today as she happily took a sip of her tea and giving a content sigh. She didn't know exactly why, but, she felt positive about this change. So, she didn't bother to question her suddenly positive mood. Until the door opened. Then, everything came flooding back . Hermione mentally slapped herself. Hard. How could she forget that damn dream? That beautifully flawed fairy tale! She didn't understand why the door opening had triggered that memory to come crashing in on her. It wasn't even him walking through the door! Hermione found herself wringing her hands together and breathing a little too quickly for her own liking and so she concentrated on deep, calming breaths. the woman who had entered came up to the counter looking a little worried.
Hermione looked back at the woman worriedly "Is there something i can help you with?"
The woman was small and looked about middle aged. slightly plump from what seemed to be baby weight accumulated over the years. The woman nodded "I'm looking for a cold Medicine. Please could you help?"
Hermione nodded quickly and moved from behind the desk,leading the woman towards the cold remedy section a few isles away. Hermione stopped in front of the designated shelf and started pointing to the bottles on top "These Blue ones are good for a full fledged cold or flu and will take care of any and all symptoms within twenty four hours." she the pointed to the middle shelf "This green potion takes care of the beginning symptoms and stops the flu/cold before it takes any real full effect like slight soreness behind the eyes, itchy throat, server congestion. Then, the bottom Orange ones or for allergy's and sinus symptoms. If you need any more help ill up at the front." The woman thanked Hermione and began examining the bottles a little more closely.
Walking up towards to front desk Hermione noticed a new customer waiting at the front desk.
"May i help you?" Hermione asked approaching the desk.
The person turned around. It was him. All Hermione could manage to do was stop abruptly where she was and stare at him, moving anything it seemed would break her.
"Good morning Ms. Granger." said Severus Snape.
Hermione open and closed her mouth a few times before regaining what was left of her composure. Surely he was not literally in her dream....was he? Hermione coughed and cleared her throat. "Good Morning Professor. Is there anything you will be needing help with today?" she shyly asked while making her way to the other side of the counter. Severus Snape lifted up a large book and wagged it at her a few times before he promptly dropped it from a foot above the counter top making a resounding 'POP'. The noise was loud and made Hermione jump quite animatedly and even startling the poor woman at the cold remedy section. He smirked. 'No' Hermione thought decidedly,shaking her head a little, he wasn't there in the dream, it was someone else. He hadn't changed at all. Hermione glared at the man for a moment and then sighed not even looking down at the book, she didn't care about the book as much as she did about getting that damn man out of her shop. "Fifty Galleons, sir." Snape raised an eye brow and then began to dig into his pocket never looking away from her eyes. Immediately he retrieved a hand of coins and threw them haphazardly on the counter. He repeated the action once more, retrieved his book and began to retreat to the door. Hermione glared at him as he walked away mumbling something about how "some people never change." And before he opened the door he turned back and looked her in the eyes "Now, that's the pot calling the kettle black." He said it a little more loudly than what was necessary. i guess to make sure Hermione heard his comment.
Hermione stood rooted to her spot dumbfounded and wide eyed. Had he really managed to find a way into her dreams? It scared Hermione. She had to find out everything he knew...if he knew anything......no matter the cost.
well I surely hope you enjoyed. please review, because, if I don't get enough reviews: #1) i will stop writing the story....eventually. #2) The Boogie man will come and get all who don't review.......he know's where you sleep at night. And, we don't want that now, do we?