A/N Thank you to my beta Severus' Malfoy Maiden and to Shannaon, Jess and you girls. Thank you to everyone that reveiwed and favorited my stroy it makes my day.
Dislaimer: I don't own anything other then the plot/
Chapter Three: The Arrival - Part One
Hermione's POV
Taking some parchment and a quill, she went outside. Looking around the small indoor garden, she placed her writing implements on the seat at the back.
Hermione took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scents of the garden, and tried to find the words to put on paper to tell her friends what she had got herself into. Deciding just to write what ever came to mind, she found it nearly impossible to call to her new owl, Ophelia. Managing the courage, she sent her off, and the weight lifted from Hermione's shoulders with the knowledge that they would soon know. Lying back on the seat, she watched the sun begin its decent. The sky was a watercolour portrait of warm fire-burnt oranges and cobalt blues as the sun hit different types of clouds on its journey into the sea.
The sky had just turned dark when she finally got up from her place and made her way inside. As she reached the edge of the kitchen door, a familiar hoot brought her out of her reverie. She looked around for the source and discovered an inconspicuous Ministry owl sitting on the window ledge. It looked tired and a bit hungry. She quickly untied the letter from its legs and grabbed an owl treat from the window sill, a bowl of water for him to drink and gave him a small pat on the head for his service.
Hermione stayed while he drank, stroking his back. With a hoot of thanks, he abruptly flew off and left her standing with the letter, slightly confused. She'd expected the owl linger, most did. She was in a mood to talk to something that didn't talk back. Hermione opened the letter and read the contents:
Miss Granger,
I would like to inform your parents that as they have agreed to the arrangement and the security measures, their property will be properly secured tomorrow for the upcoming transportation of the new inhabitants whom will be arriving on the 8th of May, which is in two days from tomorrow. Please be ready at 8 am sharp for the arrival of our employees.
Yours,
August Pipplebody
Minister of Magic – Australia
Sitting down at the table, Hermione's mum placed her dinner in front of her. Instead of eating, the small pensive witch pushed the food around the plate with her fork.
"Hermione, what is the matter?" Rachel asked.
"I got a letter of Minister Pipplebody tonight and he is sending a group of wizards tomorrow to secure the property and the new 'workers' will be here on the 8th."
Hermione's shoulders dropped with defeat. Why did she say yes? Why did she agree to house several people that hated her and that she hated equally? Because you're a sucker for people in need, that's just you.
Excusing herself from the table, Hermione walked straight into her bathroom to take a long bath, with the scents of vanilla and lavender. The aroma relaxed her. She closed her eyes and thought about what it would be like to have the former Slytherins in her parents' home. Would it be like school or have they changed?
A certain blond found his way into her thoughts, with his smug expression and his most annoying smirk. Flinging her eyes open, she quickly berated herself for letting him make his way into her head once more.
Gahhhhhh! Damn you, Malfoy!
At that moment, Hermione promised herself that she wouldn't let him revert back to his old ways. She wasn't going to stand for it! He would play by her rules. Rising out of the water, she grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her body.
Evening ablutions complete, she cast a silencing spell and locking charm before she climbed into bed for sleep.
~Two days later~
It was an ordinary day, except for the fact that today could be the worst day of them all. Going through the morning ritual, Hermione left to go to the stables to say good morning to her father and say hello to the stallion she got as a gift last year; a beautiful purebred Arab named Shadow. He was pure black and felt very silky like the way water caresses against a shore in the middle of the night.
Walking in, she noticed her father wasn't there. Going to the end stall, Hermione greeted Shadow, her familiar, and his black orbs lit up when he saw that it was her. "Hey buddy, did you miss me?" she asked him, laughing when he nudged her to get a pat.
"I'll take that as a yes. Did you want to go for a ride this morning? I could use your help to calm my nerves. What do you say?" He nudged her again with his nose. Forgoing the usual, she decided to ride him bare back. She told herself that wasn't like anyone would actually see her, so why not? Using the outside fence to give her a boost up, she climbed on and they set off.
Reaching the edge of the little woodland area her father created, she couldn't help the smile that adorned her face as she took in the growth. Edging Shadow forward, she progressed to the small creek and instead of following it down to the lake, Hermione manoeuvred Shadow to go the other way, so that they could find the source of the water. After about thirty minutes, the witch and her familiar reached a meadow where it bordered on a larger creek. The meadow was so beautiful, almost dreamlike for the amount of magical flora inhabiting the space and fauna. It doesn't look like anyone had been there for a very long time, if not ever. That thought alone made it all the more special.
Hermione dismounted and watched shadow drink from the stream. She noticed the different types of flowers and plants; all that had found a home in the unlikely climate: Daisies, Lavender, Moly, Belladonna, Aconite and most strangely the fire seed bush, the Alihotsy (or the Hyena Tree). Nearly all these plants had native origins elsewhere, yet here they were, living in Australia. It amazed her still what magic could accomplish.
Lost in thought, she felt Shadow drawing her out. She glanced at her watch and realized she was late. Jumping up, she used the rock to help her mount Shadow, urging him into a canter almost immediately.
Racing back, the wind whipped through her hair, and soon they reached the edge of the small woodland where she could see a group of people, among them was her father, and a blond wizard she recognized immediately.
