Hermione took a deep breath as she stepped out of the airport. She had gone the muggle way, doing her best to leave no trace of her trip, changing her features with glamours and used confounded documents to get on the plane. It had been a long trip, and was definitely worth it to arrive in Oamaru. She felt like a weight had dropped off her chest once the plane hit the ground.
'First a hotel room, then a flat and a job. Maybe at a bookstore, or apothecary.' Getting into an idle cab she had them take her to a hotel, the closest one to the airport that wasn't run down. After checking in she looked around the room, it was a small one, just a bed room and bathroom but perfect for what she needed. Deciding to take a shower before bed, she grabbed her pajamas for afterwards, almost reveling in the hot water. After changing she charmed her hair dry and finished getting ready to sleep. Almost as soon as she laid down she was fast asleep.
The next morning after she woke up and got dressed, she asked the concierge if he knew of any libraries around she could use the Internet. Over the years she had fallen behind muggle technology but the last few years had helped her catch up. After getting the directions she set out, needing to find a flat first, then the wizarding district so she could see if any job openings were around. After finding the library she hopped on the public computer and quickly found a few small flats that were cheap, and quickly set up a time to view them the next day. Afterwards she went wandering around, following the pull of her magic, and after a wandless notice me not charm, she used point me to find the entrance to the Wizarding district. After charming her features slightly she headed in, slipping in with a group of wizards and witches who were entering the area.
After getting in she looked around at the shops and stalls, completely in awe of magic, it was like a huge market, with stall owners calling out to the passerby's, trying to entice them over to look at their wares. She looked around the area, glancing over the storefronts and stalls, looking for something to pique her interest, and found a bookstore tucked away from the main area. She walked in and breathed in the smell of old books, ink, and magic, feeling like she was home. A cough startled her, and she looked up, surprised to see someone with how quiet it was.
"How can I help ya miss?" An older man asked, his voice deep and rough, like he drank firewhiskey like it was water.
"I was wondering if you were looking for help? I just moved to the area and I'm looking for work." The man smiled at her, and nodded, "I am looking for help, obviously," he guestured to himself. "I'm getting on in years and I'm not able to handle the store like I used to. Tell me about yourself and I can see what I can do for you."
Hermione looked around nervously. "Is there anyone in the store? And if not could you lock it down for a bit?" The older man looked confused but nodded and with a flick of his wand and a few muttered words, slammed a half dozen wards down. She felt the magic wash over her and looked at him curiously. "Old man my arse." She muttered, causing the man to laugh, startling her.
"I may be old but I have a bit of fight still in me. This store is my world, these books are older than us combined, to protect it I have to have the best defenses possible." Nodding at his comment, while blushing at the fact he had heard his comment she looked up. Waving her wand and canceling her glamours she looked at him cautiously. "Im Hermione Granger and I just moved from London, I needed an escape, and this was the best opportunity I was going to find to get out. I'd rather people not know who I am, hence the glamour. I'd use it if I worked here, and go by Hera. Books are my life, and I'd love to work surrounded by old ones, especially if I was allowed to read them." She took a deep breath, having said everything in almost one, trying to get everything out before she freezed up. She looked down as the man made a humming noise, and when she finally pulled her eyes back to him, he smiled and nodded at her.
"Well you can have the job Miss Herm- Hera, to help with your story would you like to take my wife's maiden name? We can say you're my niece who's come to help me out. There's an unused flat above the store you can have too if you'd like." She looked at him in shock, surprised he was offering the job never mind helping her hide her identity. "Oh yes I would love that. Thank you so much I won't let you down!" She smiled brightly at him, thankful her first stop left her with a job and a home. "Go and pack your stuff up and come back tomorrow, you can move in and start the day after okay?" She nodded, and reapplied the glamours and left the store after thanking him again, and apologizing and getting his name. "The names Zachariah Delour, and my wife's last name is Roes. See you tomorrow Hera Roes." She smiled again and waved as she left, hurrying back to the hotel to notify them she was leaving tomorrow, and to grab what she had left at the hotel. She flopped onto her bed, 'Things might be loooking up for once.'
—
Harry paced around his home office, pissed of at Charlie. He was probably the only one who knew about their "relationship" and had gotten Hermione's owl stating she had ended it, and she was leaving England, a few hours ago. As he paced around wondering what he would do, he heard Ginny shouting for him. After he ran down the stairs he saw Ginny with a very drunk Charlie collapsed on the couch.
"What the fuck?! It's 3 in the afternoon and you're pissed!" Ginny shouted at Charlie, "Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be in Romania?" Charlie snorted, then clutched his head. "I fucked up, I lost my Dragoness." Harry stood there observing from the doorway. "Dragoness? What do you mean lost you're Dragoness?" Ginny asked, looking confused. Charlie looked at her, looking heartbroken. "I lost Hermione," He whispered, "I fucked up and I lost her. The best thing that's ever happened to me."
Harry stalked into the room at that, looking disgustedly at Charlie and handed him a Sober Up potion. After he downed it Harry looked at him. "You say she's the best thing that's happened to you yet you kept pushing her off to tell the family, didn't want your precious secret spilled, just wanted your illicit hotel rendezvous and secret shags at family gatherings! This is your fault, it's your fault she left! You should be heartbroken." Harry stopped, he had raised his hand like he was going to hit Charlie and stepped away. Ginny looked between the two of them and then focused on Harry. "You knew they were together? Why didn't you tell me." Sighing he looked at her. "Me and Mione don't keep any secrets from each other Ginny, but we keep each other's secrets. You knew that, you know that. It wasn't my secret to tell." Ginny pinched her brow and huffed. Turning she focused on Charlie. "Why did you keep it a secret? You know mom would of loved to have Hermione as part of the family, she would of loved the fact you finally found someone! Why hide it? If you knew Hermione in even the smallest way, you would of known she would get tired of being your dirty little secret. She's probably been done for so long cutting it off and ditching everyone would be the only way to escape. I can't even stand to look at you. Either go home to Romania or go to the Burrow." Charlie started to sob, and looked at Ginny desperately. "Please, I have another week left, let me stay here, I won't even be noticeable, I just can't face either option right now." Ginny looked at Harry pleadingly, she needed him to make the decision of course, because she couldn't turn her brother away. "You can stay in the Guest Shack behind the house. It'll be warded for alcohol and won't let you in if you're drunk. This isn't a drink yourself dead week. Get yourself together and go." Charlie nodded and got up, shuffling to the back foot as Harry followed.