Hermione Granger was in an extremely good mood. Signing her name with a flourish of the quill, she lad it down and grinned.
'Someone looks happy!', Gemma, her assistant said, as she took the letter from her desk and popped it into an envelope. 'How did the date go?'
'Oh dreadfully,' Hermione replied, the cheerfulness in her voice juxtaposing the sentence. 'He was an investment banker, and god he loved his job. I didn't have the heart to tell him I could do his job with my eyes closed'.
'Hermione, you can't just end dates because they're not as clever as you. You're limiting your men by far too much!'. As much as she loved her boss, who was more of a friend than a superior, Gemma was used to her two-date-a-week, he-was-an-idiot habit. Hermione cackled at her response though, her laugh raising a smile to Gemma's face. It was so mismatched, for a slender, fashionable and well presented business woman, to have such a loud and odd laugh.
'Oh that wasn't all. I then received a lecture on how awful his last girlfriend was because she got a promotion that meant she earned more than him. Which wasn't necessarily an issue, but his mother said it was, and then he thought about proposing but his mother told him not to, because his mother believed she was a gold digger, and besides, his mother said she had a wonky nose and that wouldn't be appropriate if they were to have children, and now he's broken up he realises his mother was right… ' She listed, ticking each point off on her fingers.
'Alright alright, I get it,' Gemma held her hands up in a surrender. 'He wasn't a good match for you. Cant believe he didn't even get to a second date.'
'Did I not mention he stank of fish? He'd been overseeing an investment in a wizarding Fish and Chips and didn't think he needed to shower'. Hermione rolled her eyes. 'He was a wizard. One spell would have made the evening far nicer on my poor nose'.
Both women looked at each other, and then burst into giggles.
'So if you didn't get lucky, why on earth are you in such a good mood?' Gemma asked, regaining her composure. Hermione smirked.
'Because before my god-awful dinner, I lunched with the owner of the Holly Group'. She paused, to allow the information to settle in.
'The wine guys?' She queried.
'The wine guys', Hermione agreed, with a telling smile.
'You got the contract? Are you kidding me?!' Gemma exclaimed. Hermione had talked recently about making a stamp on Wizarding Britiain, but was unusually quiet about her plans. This was a whopper though, what a way to make an impact.
'Would I kid? I got it at a steal as well. Minor investment for a massive share. Something about my impressive contacts, and the fact he didn't like the representative at Malfoy Incorporated. The fact I've stolen it from under his nose just makes it all the sweeter.' She rubbed her hands together gleefully. 'And that's just the first. I've got another six meetings with a mix of British companies, ones my French clients have recommended me to. I've purchased some space in London, and will have a flat bought within the week to make the commute easier'.
Gemma took a second to take it all in. Hermione had spent years avoiding anything to do with the world she grew up in. It could only be ambition that was driving this move, as the big challenges of France were nearly all won, there was little else to do. As Hermione despised trading in languages she didn't know- she liked to oversee everything, and was uncomfortable with the idea that information might be lost in translation- the ventures into wider Europe interested her little. She needed a new challenge before she got bored again, and it appeared this was it.
'Does this mean I can work in a London office now?', Gemma asked, suddenly realising what this meant for her.
'Of course! If you'd wanted to stay here, I'm more than happy for you to continue, because I'll have to get someone in to oversee the day-to-day, but seeing as you live there already I didn't think you'd mind coming with me. A familiar face would be nice!' Hermione replied, her grin now mimicking that of a Cheshire cat.
It was always fascinating the expanses of Hermione's intellect. No alternative was left unconsidered, it was rare anyone could bring ideas she hadn't already thought of.
'Oh thank goodness! No, I'd love to be back in London. Not that I don't love Paris', she backtracked quickly. 'But the portkeys are a pain. If I miss one I have to wait two hours, and there's only so much you can do in that time.'
'See? This move is best for both of us'.
'Is it though?' Gemma retorted before she thought. She watched a flicker of some emotion run through Hermione's face, before she covered it quickly.
'Yes.' She said simply. She wouldn't trade working with Gemma for anything, they'd become friends from the first day, where Gemma had been so scared Hermione might not like the biscuits that she'd been swearing at herself. Hermione had been so surprised to hear language from such a petite little woman over something so trivial, that she burst out laughing and took her out to lunch to calm her down. A friendship had formed.
The downside to this was Gemma knew all too well the reasons for Hermione leaving London, and the reason for secrecy in France. She knew this wasn't an easy decision.
On the other hand though, she knew Hermione was brave as anything, and was always going to return at some point to face her demons. With the pretence of business, she had the perfect excuse to do so.
'Anyway, I was hoping you could get those letters sent off for me', Hermione returned to work mode and gestured to a stack of parchment to her left. 'and rearrange any of my meetings on Thursday and next Tuesday. I have some things to get sorted'.
'No problem. Drinks tonight?'
'Of course!' She responded.
Several hours later, Hermione ordered a cocktail at a small and quirky bar, and twirled the stem of the cherry between her fingers. It was habit on days like these to meet her three best friends for a few drinks, mostly so they could catch up without work getting in the way. She'd found this little haunt year's prior, when she first came to Paris with only her war reward money, and an idea for a business. She'd gotten drunk, spilled her tale to the woman working at the bar, and had to be ordered a taxi home, remembering very little of the night.
When she returned with Ginny a few weeks later, after a weekend of showing her everything Paris had to offer, she found the same woman working at the bar. After a giggle about her antics, the woman had asked how her business was doing. Hermione had no recollection of suggesting anything.
Sure enough, the woman repeated back a business plan, formed by Hermione after several cocktails. Despite the fact that drunkenness usually impairs judgement, rather than improves it, the business plan was solid, and Hermione was struck by the belief her subconscious had told her to get on with it.
After returning there now whenever Ginny visited, they formed an odd friendship with the woman who worked there, who turned out to be called Sophie. Sophie had a little girl called Estelle, who was only four, and worked to support her. She had a wicked sense of humour, and began to join the girls after her shift. As the business grew, Hermione had invested in the little bar, and it wasn't long before Sophie earned the title of manager. Once Gemma had joined them, and was equally accepted, a combination of the four was there most nights, and were known and loved by most of the staff.
Surprisingly though, Hermione was the first there. Often bustling in from late dinners or deals, the workaholic wasn't used to sitting alone at the bar. She knew Gemma would be in soon, but it was rare she was without another person, and or without something to do.
'Another drink, Hermione?' The person working at the bar asked. He was a new lad, just turned twenty and on a gap year. Like Hermione, when he spoke French, it was as if he was a local, but around her, he reassumed his Yorkshire accent, which sounded out of place amongst foreign voices. Hermione looked at her drink, shocked. She hadn't realised she'd even been sipping it, let along finished it, so deep was she in her thoughts.
'Yes please, Derek. Maybe make it a single this time'. She replied, with a smile.
'Miss Granger! What a surprise to see you here.' A male voice exclaimed behind her and she turned to see the culprit.
A tall well built man greeted her, with an unkempt stubble and harsh features. A minor dread rolled over Hermione, as she reached out her hand to shake his.
'Jonathon, lovely to see you again'. Her over politeness offered a hint that this was not the case, but it failed to be noticed.
'I can hardly say the same.' He retorted. Yep, definitely missed the tone. 'Your excuses last time were pitiful. You've only let yourself down'.
Hermione failed to mask a snort. She attempted to morph it into a cough or sneeze or something excusable, but gave up quickly. Jonathon glowered at her.
'I'm sorry Jonathon, I believe I was honest with you at our last meeting, and I can only apologise you are unhappy with the outcome'. Politeness was often colder than harsh words, and was a tool Hermione kept in her arsenal.
'Do you really think you could do better?' He sneered. This was the reason she had rejected his request for a second date in the first place. Arrogant, selfish, and big headed, he was hardly someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Unfortunately, he had begun their interactions with such charisma and confidence, she had been intrigued enough to accept his offer of dinner. Before even the wine was brought, she knew she'd made the wrong decision.
'Yes Jonathon'. She replied simply. She had learnt from various encounters- including those with Ron – that the men she tended to date often required simple sentences to communicate the important bits of the conversation. Justification just invited argument.
'You're a fool. A-'
'I think it's time for you to leave now.' Derek interrupted. This was hardly a pub brawl, but outsiders didn't have a right to upset regulars. Or owners. Hermione was both.
Despite Derek's small frame, Jonathon seemed to decide this was a good exeunt for an argument he did not seem to be winning. With a harsh look, and a string of curse words under his breath, he left.
'Sorry about that Hermione,' Derek said. 'He's been here for a few hours, so he's probably had a bit too much to drink. He tried to hit on the lady over there, but she rejected him. He's probably a bit sore after that.'
'It's not a problem Derek, he's more of a time waster than a worry'. She smiled, reassuring him her night was still intact.
'Miss Granger! What a surprise to see you here.' A female voice this time, mimicked Jonathan's opening line. Hermione spun around, expecting Gemma but seeing Ginny. She squealed, before leaping to her feet and enveloping her in a massive hug. It'd been a few months since she'd seen Ginny, who had been off on tour with her Quidditch team.
'I can't believe you're here!' Hermione exclaimed, nodding at Derek for a drink for her friend. 'How was the tour?'
'Oh dull as anything' she replied lightly. 'Harry was off on assignment so I couldn't even talk to him. It was cold too, not like the tour we did of Spain last year. Way prefer beach time to epic views'.
'Nice to see ancient architecture bores you', Hermione replied, grinning.
'I cant believe you still have the crazy men after you,' Ginny said, ignoring Hermione's comment. 'I feel like you're always fighting them off. Anyway, more interestingly, how're things with you then?' she asked, sparing a smile for Gemma as she joined them mid-conversation. She'd seen Gemma earlier that day, which was half the reason Gemma had asked Hermione for drinks on this evening specifically.
'Good! Very good. I'm moving to London in a week or so. Been on a property hunt, and I think I've found one'.
'Woah!' Exclaimed Ginny. 'That's a change of scene to the extreme. What's prompted that?'
Hermione shrugged. 'Bored. There's only so much you can do before you need something new, and so now I'm back off to England where the tea is better and it rains too much'.
'Tea is definitely better in England'. Ginny agreed. 'Even if you take the teabags with you, I think it's the water'.
'So where have you found?' Gemma asked.
'I'm torn between two. There's a gorgeous flat in central Wizarding London, that would be perfect for work. And everything. And I want it.'
'You sound really torn.' Ginny noted, with a grin.
'Well, that's true. I want this one. The second is a consolation prize.' Hermione took a dramatic sip of her drink, as if she were downing her worries in it.
'So what's the problem?' said Gemma.
'Well, the flat is in a complex of luxury apartments, designed for the kind of business people who spend lots of time in lots of places and the location is perfect'. Hermione paused to take another sip of her drink, meeting the anticipant eyes of her friends.
'Well, the neighbours.'
'Go on, damnit woman you should have gone into story telling!' Ginny exclaimed. Hermione grinned.
'Fine. I bugged the cleaner of the complex to give me the gossip, and it turns out it's a bit of a crazy place. Three 'hot bachelors', four 'super bitches', an inventor who forgets he can't experiment on his house, and a 'smoking hot piece of ass'.
'I'm not seeing a problem.' Gemma said in a monotone, before cracking a smile. Hermione was hardly a prude though.
'It's hardly relaxing! Home is my sanctuary. I don't want to be dealing with all sorts of rubbish'.
'Hermione, you're worrying too much'. Ginny told her sternly. 'You made that out to be something awful, it's your dream apartment, so take it. Are you going to that charity thing you wanted to in London? Did you get a dress?'
'Nah, too much hassle. I donated what my dress would have cost instead.'
'And a whole new school opened' muttered Gemma, knowing the kinds of dress her friend tended to buy. They cost more than most made in a year.
'Anyway. If I'm gong to agree to this apartment, I'll need to head to London. Can I crash at yours, Gin?' Hermione asked. It was a pretty unusual request, but it made sense. Gemma was obsessed with saving, and despite her substantial salary lived in a tiny one-bed starter flat in central London, above a shop. She hadn't the space for guests. Ginny on the other hand, had moved into Harry's oversized house. He'd wanted somewhere to settle down in that would be suitable for generations, and the massive house in rural Yorkshire with enough land for five quidditch pitches suited him down to the ground.
'Oh. Yes of course!' Ginny replied. Hermione back in England. Crazy.
With a small smile, Hermione was thinking the exact same thing.