Chapter Two

Hermione finally looked away from the window, the rain was still beating down and she wondered, not for the first time, if winter in New Zealand was such a good idea. Sure it looked all green and pretty, but the wind swept straight up from Antarctica, over the Southern Alps and straight under the crack beneath her door. It was cold!

'That's it, I'm not taking my broom. I'm driving, I don't care that I'm a witch.' Contrary to popular belief Hermione was quite capable of riding a broom, she had chosen to hide this talent when it became obvious that being able to fly would mean endless games of Quiddich in the summer with Ron and Harry. It was a talent that had helped her get to the most inaccessible parts of this sometimes-treacherous landscape and nothing could beat the feeling of the wind in her hair on a spring day in the sun. But not today. It was the perfect day for staying in bed. And failing that, for some air-conditioned comfort.

As she drove away from her house she waved at Mr Ward who was taking a stroll with at least five of his grandchildren. She knew he would be glad she was getting out of the house. His wife and him worried about her all alone up there. She appreciated his concern, after all, they were her contact with the outside world, and she had already admitted to being lonely.

Stopping off at the small town, Hermione bought herself a bag of crisps and a newspaper. She felt a small pang of regret as she realised she had no idea what was happening in the wizarding world. As she skimmed the headlines she made a mental list of what was happening in the muggle one. War, war, fighting, murder, cat up tree, Hollywood stars too fat, too thin, too rich. In disgust she threw the paper on the passenger seat, along with her empty crisp bag, 'so much for a healthy breakfast,' smiling somewhat, she turned on the radio and drove away.

Three hours later she drove into Taupo, as always, the town made her gasp in awe. Even on a cloudy day the lake was beautiful and you could see snow capped mountains just beyond it. A small town in the spring and autumn, in winter it swelled with skiers and in summer with families holidaying in the sun. It was a view guaranteed to chase way the winter blues and Hermione parked her car so she could enjoy it for a few minutes.

'Right' she thought to herself, 'how on earth am I supposed to find him here.' She realised her plan had a few holes in it. After all, get in car and drive was not a plan worthy of 'the smartest witch of her age.' One day she was going to thump Remis Lupin for saying that, lightly of course as he and his wife were old friends.

She decided to start off at the local library and entered with a deep breath, 'must keep mind on task and not succumb to temptation.' Hermione was known to procrastinate at times, well, quite often actually. The boys had never really noticed that the books she so often held were fiction. Not even literature really, just popular fiction. She was especially fond of chic-lit, had nothing against a good book she could read in a couple of hours and didn't have to think too much about. The Taupo library seemed to have and abundance. She squared her shoulders and moved to the information desk.

"I'm looking for a man," she informed the young man in front of her, smirking a bit as she realised what she had said.

He grinned knowingly and replied, "that's just too easy, I'm not going there!"

"I wouldn't" Hermione agreed. She willed the blush back from her cheeks. What was it about Dumbledore that made her feel like a teenager again? Blushing twice in one day hadn't happened to her in years.

"Anyway, he probably comes in here. A tall man, very British, has very dark eyes, a big nose, scowls a lot. Probably has half of the females around here thinking he's Heathcliff and wondering if they can reform him. Is this ringing any bells?"

"Nope, none at all. I think you should talk to one of the other staff here. I don't take much notice unless the customer is tall, blonde and Swedish, if you know what I mean."

"Hey, thanks anyway." She smiled as she walked away.

One of the other librarians was more helpful, "I think I know who you mean dear, he's a very unusual man."

Hermione's mouth quirked into a smile, "that he is! So do you have any clue as to where I can find him?" She loved small town New Zealand, everyone knew everyone else! She then remembered that was one of the reasons she didn't live in Britain anymore, oh why was life so confusing sometimes? Plus she was searching for a man who showed no indication that he wanted to be found.

"I can't really tell you where he lives" she replied, "but I think he's playing at the Spanish Café tonight, you should go there, he's really good! So are you his daughter or something?"

"Or something," Hermione mused, she smiled and said, "an old friend, but I had no idea he was musical, in fact I can't quite imagine that, maybe we are talking about a different guy. Though if there's another tall man, very British, with very dark eyes, who has half of the females around here thinking he's Heathcliff and wondering if they can reform him, and who is musical, I'd better go to the café anyway. Sounds like a far more interesting person than the one I'm looking for!"

The librarian chuckled and nodded, "he's pretty bad tempered though, would probably eat you for breakfast. Good luck!"

"Thanks for your help" and she walked outside. The clouds had parted finally and the sun glittered on the lake. Herminone considered her options. 'First a hotel, then some lunch, then a walk. Then I'll find the Spanish Café.' She wondered for a moment why there was a Spanish café in Taupo, then shrugged and walked off, humming a tune in her head.

Alone in her hotel room she considered the man she had come to find. He had once had two masters and now he was free, was there any wonder that he didn't want to be found? She turned away from the window and put on her shoes. 'I'm doing this for Albus, he looks so tired.'

Hermione walked down the stairs of the hotel and onto the street, bumping into a small girl who was holding a guitar case and nearly knocking her over. "Oh, I'm so sorry" she apologised, checking to make sure the child was alright.

The girl smiled up at her and remarked "I'm fine, sometimes I fall over too. My dad says it's cause I'm daydreaming."

Just then a voice from Hermione's past said, "well, you usually are daydreaming Jane." The girl grinned at her dad, but Hermione whipped around. "Professor?"

The man's face drained of all colour as he recognised her in an instant. He reached out to his daughter and pulled her towards him. His eyes darted around as if to check for other people, finding none he glared at Hermione. "What the hell are you doing here?" he spat out at her.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but his daughter was already doing so, "Daddy, do you know this lady? Why are you so angry? Daddy?"

TBC

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