Seemingly Simple
Ch.2
Overture of Disaster
A/N: I know some of you have pictures of Winter rolling through your minds, but believe you me, this fic is about to take a wicked turn…Thanks for all your concerns and comments, and as always, happy readings!
Such a visit would have to wait, however. Hermione put on her favorite robe and headed back for her cozy spot on the couch. As she glanced down at her work (or lack there of) she realized she really needed to focus. She picked up her quill hesitantly and finished her sentence about animagi.
She wanted dearly to move on, but indeed her mind continued to wander. Trying desperately to get back into her work, she picked up a book she had written after interviewing several Animangus witches and wizards about six years ago. As she flipped through the index of names in the back: Ebony, Mark; Eccleston, Athena; Emerson, Joel, she stopped. pg. 157
Joel Emerson had been quite an…interesting…person to interview. He had quite the frazzled, white, bush of hair that reminded Hermione of a wiry cotton ball shocked by electricity. His robes were just about every color you could imagine, and Hermione could have sworn he was wearing women's cologne. Never the less, they went on with their interview, where Hermione learned that his Animagus form was an Orangutan. 'How fitting.' She remembered being her first thought.
As she tried to continue, the cat decided to make yet another appearance. This time it pounced upon the book and refused to move. "Aren't you just the queerest cat," I said to it as if it would respond. Deciding that no work would be done, I tossed the book aside and whispered, "Are you hungry?" The cat rubbed itself lovingly into my palm and I scratched it gently under its chin. "I'll take that as a yes." I don't know why I have taken to the cat so, but something about it just makes me smile.
We make our way into the kitchen and I sit out some warm milk on the counter nearest the sink. The cat curls up its tail and laps at the milk, purring all the while…
Several months later, the summer rain has stopped, but I have kept the cat. We have become quite close, and I often find myself spilling my deepest feelings for Minerva to it. It doesn't seem to mind, and I can sometimes swear that the cat smiles when we have such talks.
As my mind wanders to Minerva, I am sharply reminded that September the first is drawing deathly close. I received a letter from Albus not too long ago stating that Mrs. Irma Pince had a tragic accident while arranging some books in the library in early August. He apologized sincerely for such a lat notice, but he was in a bind. As a friend, there was no thinking to it. And besides, maybe the library would offer a peaceful place to get some work done…
My decision, I tell myself over and over, had absolutely nothing to do with my recent obsession with Minerva McGonagall and my need to see her…
What a sad lie.
Never the less, I am telling myself that I am doing an old friend a huge favor and that is the end of it. I am taking my new friend with me. It just seems odd to leave such a companion at home. Crookshanks hasn't seen me in nine years, as I left him to Minerva when I left. I couldn't take him from Hogwarts, the place he had come to know as home. But in truth, I really couldn't stand the thought of Minerva without something to remember me by… 'Oh come off it, Hermione! This is getting far too far out of hand!'
I just can't get that woman out of my head. Sighing in frustration, I head to my bedroom to pack for my stay. After all, it is August the 28, and I leave in less than a week. As I start throwing things from my wardrobe and drawer into my trunk, I hear a soft meow and I turn to see the cat, sitting with the most risqué lingerie knickers I own in its mouth!
"Now what use would I have for these things!?" I scream as I yank the panties from the cat. The cat tilts its head as if to say, 'Isn't it obvious?' And as I glance back down to the garment in my hand, I shrug my shoulders and throw them into my trunk.
In my mind an overture of disaster starts to reel as I realize I am about to make the biggest mistake of my life.