Hi all. seems like ages since I put up a chapter! Soz about that, don't worry theres still loads to come just hant had a chance to beta it.
Here's another Chapter, They meet! ... Enjoy (and Review!)
Hermione got her stuff together and proceeded outside to the terrace to enjoy her breakfast bagel and late, she was determined to get some work done today! She had spent some time thoroughly looking through the book and was now happy she had not missed any little wonders. She had placed the book on the table outside with her hoping the owner would show up today. Hermione felt her phone vibrating in her bag and bent down to retrieve it, that's funny, I don't usually get disturbed while I'm away working.
"Hello," she answered in an overly cheery voice.
"Hermione, its john, how's the new book coming along?"
"Oh hi john," Hermione replied. Whatever he wants, it can't be good! She thought to herself.
"Yeh just settling in here, got some good stuff coming to me." God I hope he can't tell I'm lying, she thought, if this was face to face I'd be busted, my face gives everything away!
"Good, good. Look I'm sorry to do this, I know you like your peace when you're working but I need to see you in the office." oh god what have I done? She thought in a panic.
"Don't panic! It's just a one on one chat about progression and company stuff. Any day this week, just pop in, I'll make myself free."
"Ok john, will do."
"Great, great. See you soon doll," he finished and the line clicked off.
Great, just what I need, more distractions! she thought whilst Slipping her phone back in her bag.
Something red out of the corner of her eye got her attention, she turned to see a young woman standing there, she had the reddest hair, it was stunning! She was staring right at her.
"Hello," Hermione greeted with a pleasant smile.
"Um, hi." Said Ginny removing her shades, suddenly nervous. There was a pause and then Hermione introduced herself.
"My names Hermione."
"Oh" finding her voice again, "my names Ginny," she said.
"Hello Ginny, can I help you with something?" Hermione asked still smiling at the girl.
"Actually yes, well I hope so," replied Ginny.
This piqued Hermione's interest! Who was this girl and what did she want?
Reaching into her back pocket, Ginny pulled out the note and handed it to Hermione.
"Did you write this?" she asked.
Hermione took the note to see it, "Yes I did." She answered.
Reaching under a piece of paper Hermione withdrew the book and handed it to Ginny.
"This is yours then!" it wasn't a question.
"My pad!" Ginny almost squealed in delight.
"Thank you. I was sure it would be lost!"
Seeing the younger woman so happy brought an even bigger smile to Hermione's face.
"Please, join me?" Hermione asked.
Taken aback by the offer, Ginny fingered her book not wanting to look too eager.
"Sure why not. Thanks," she said after a second.
Ginny didn't get to hang out in company much these days. Since she left Hogwarts, it was pretty much just her and her mother, with every one going their own ways, life just sort of swooping along and taking her friends with it and leaving her behind. She knew, that was her choice, she's the one who didn't rush to get a job, just happy to slow down for a while and chill out over the summer, but that summer turned to winter and now back to summer again. She shouldn't be surprised really that she had no friends to hang out with. She loved her mother dearly, but it would be nice to hang with someone her own age, well Hermione looked to be only a year or so older than herself.
Pulling up a chair Ginny sat down.
"Would you like a drink?" Hermione asked. "ice tea, latte, coffee?"
Ginny just looked at her, what the hell is latte? she thought. Ice tea! What!
"A coffee would be great thanks," Ginny said, sticking with a name she at least recognized.
Hermione nipped inside to put the peculator on leaving Ginny just sat there waiting; Ginny was starting to wonder if this was a bad idea! She had never spent any time with someone who was not aware of the wizarding world. This could get difficult, she thought, I really need to watch what I say. Looking about, she saw there were many bits of paper strewn around, leaning forward for a closer look, she realized that actually they were in some sort of order.
"Here's your coffee," Hermione said putting the mug down, making Ginny jump back in her chair.
"So, what you up to then?" Ginny asked, gesturing to all the paper in front of them that she clearly just got busted looking at.
"Oh, I'm just working," she replied matter- of- factly.
"Really? I thought you would be here on holiday," said Ginny. "I know this is a holiday cottage is all."
"Yeh, well I like to work where it's quiet. I'm a writer you see," Hermione said.
"Well you came to the rite place," Ginny said looking around.
"It goes dead after about 10am as you can see," Ginny smiled.
"What do you write, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Not at all," said Hermione. "I write children's books. I make facts fun!" she said. She blushed a bit after that, realizing she must have sounded like a rite dork!
"I mean I write more educational type books," she smiled feebly.
"Wow that's great! I wish some of the books I learnt from were more fun to read, muggle studies was a total bore!" Replied Ginny.
She bit out the last word, knowing it was too late and that Hermione had clearly heard her and was going to pull her up on it. Oh no, what am i going to say, stupid, stupid, think Ginny, think. She mentally chastised herself.
"Sorry what was that, Muggle? I'm not familiar with that one!" asked Hermione.
"Oh, it's totally boring! It's the study of uhh… environmental influences on sediment." Where the hell did that come from, god I hope she buys it!
"I was schooled up in Scotland! Perhaps they call it something different down here!" Ginny quickly interjected. Taking a long sip of her coffee hoping Hermione would drop it.
"Mmm nice coffee," she interjected genuinely. It was much nicer than anything she got at home.
"Thanks." Hermione said taking a sip of her own.
"So, I take it you live nearby then?" asked Hermione.
"Yeh, just over the field there."
"Do you work?" Hermione asked.
"Uh, no, not at the present. Sort of looking. Well to be honest, I don't know what I want to do! Everyone seemed to leave school and get jobs straight away but I just haven't found what I'm looking for yet!" Ginny replied. She didn't know why, but it felt good to talk about it to someone.
"I've been out of school for over a year now! Is that bad?!"
"Well, I believe you should do something you enjoy and believe in, something that makes you happy!" said Hermione in a kind tone.
"I was lucky enough to land an apprentice position right out of school. I got top of the class across the board." oh god I'm doing it again, dork alert! No wonder I don't have any friends she thought!
"I mean, I was lucky I suppose, I always wanted to be a writer, I love books." shut up woman, just stop talking now! Hermione took a gulp of her coffee, hoping to dispel the atmosphere she felt she had created.
"That's great." said Ginny with a faraway look in her eye.
Hermione knew that look, steeling herself for a possible confrontation and loss of a potential friend, she leant forward a bit, and in a small voice, she said, "I'm sorry Ginny."
Ginny, snapping out of her reserve looked at the woman sitting across from her, her new, potential friend; she furrowed her brow, "You're sorry?" She questioned.
"Yeh... Ilookedinyourbookandyourpicturesaregreat!"
"I mean, when I found it, I was only looking for a name at the front" she defended, "and I kinda noticed the drawings, and then I sorta looked at them...all!"
"They're very good, I mean, better than that, there, there, I've never seen such beauty!"
She blushed at her last words. She looked away, fearing the worst, listening for the scrape of a chair and retreating footstep, when that didn't come, she looked up at the red haired woman, the woman, she realized, she desperately wanted to become friends with. Ginny was looking at her, Hermione could not read her face, but if she hadn't bolted yet, let's dive the whole way in!
"I want to offer you a job," Hermione said taking on a professional tone, sitting up straighter in her chair.
Ginny, struck dumb by Hermione's initial outburst, couldn't even process this second bit of information. She took a sip of coffee, hoping to give her brain a chance to catch up. This woman, had looked in her pad! Seen pictures she's let no one else see! Seen pictures of predominantly wizard things! Perhaps if I seem affronted about her looking in my pad she won't ask about the pictures, yes, she clearly realizes she shouldn't have looked in my pad, she started with an apology, yes, I'm going with stroppy that she looked in my pad. Putting down her mug she looked at Hermione then picked her mug back up and took another long sip. Did she just offer me a job! She just offered me a job! What sort of job? I don't think she said.
"What sort of job?" She asked, almost forgetting to swallow her coffee first!
Hermione smiled at the young woman, clearly seeing, that was a lot to take in all at once. Hoping to deflect the fact she looked in her book by offering the job seemed to have worked.
"I need an illustrator for my books."
Ginny just looked at her.
"The company has one but he's rubbish," she continued.
"I would commission you personally, then show my boss and hope he sees what I do, and make you part of the team!"
Still Ginny stared. Good god I've broken her! Hermione thought.
Ginny knew she was staring but she couldn't help it, what the hell was Hermione talking about! She has offered me a job, ok but what the hell is an illustrator?! Commission? I can't say yes without knowing what the hell this job entails, I'll look like a total twat! What did she mean, what she sees in me? I am sooo confused! Ok, ok play it cool, just be aloof, politely say you'll think about it. say it now dam it! she's looking like she's regretting asking you because you have been staring without speaking for five bloody minutes!
"Umm," stammered Ginny standing up abruptly.
oh god she doesn't want it, it's too much, I've been too pushy, she leaving! Thought Hermione.
"Thanks. that's some offer! I'll have to think about it. Is that the time! gosh better be heading back, I'll see ya, thanks for the coffee." Ginny said turning to leave.
In a blind panic Hermione reached out and grabbed the young woman by the shoulder, she felt a spark of electricity course through her, flinching back as Ginny turned to face her.
"Sorry static shock" she explained. Reaching In her pocket, she withdrew a business card and thrust it at Ginny, who took it and retreated away.
"Call me." Hermione shouted after the girl, watching a flash of red disappear around the corner and out of sight! I really need to work on my people skills! Hermione mentally chastised herself.
Ooooh was that a cliffy?! Follow the story for instant notification of the next chapter post!
Thanks for reading