Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters (I do own Sebastian Corax)
I Want to Know You
Chapter 4
Monday
Hermione came back from an early meeting with her boss. She had given him her two weeks notice and although he was not happy about it he agreed that the opportunity was too good to pass up and if she was ever unhappy the Ministry would always find a place for her. When she went to dinner with Ginny and Sebastian she explained all the details of Draco's offer and they were like two kids at Christmas. In fact Ginny told her she could never quit her job.
When she reached her office she saw Strix with his usual red envelope
"Hello Strix, sorry I'm late" she took the envelope sat down at her desk opened it and cast the truth spell. With its familiar glow indicating all was true she read it with a new eagerness
Good Morning Angel
~ I can't wait to taste your kiss ~
I'm sad to admit this poem is not a sonnet but with you as my muse I'm inspired to write volumes.
I was not in your year at Hogwarts, and I'm flattered that you have the famous Harry Potter analyzing my letters. I have known Ron to be abusive and I'm glad he wasn't cruel to you and as usual your keen intellect has served you well, I don't dislike Ron we have a history that dictates my actions out of respect. You mentioned moving in with your friend Ginny, does that mean you would no longer be with Ron? If that's true I hope things work out for the best and my letters were not the catalyst.
I have often wondered what a date with you would be like and I envisioned something along the lines of a picnic lunch near a lake perhaps. Maybe apparate to America and visit some of their libraries or museums then back home and end the day by a warm fire listening to you read me your favorite book (what is your favorite book?). I may be bold and ask you for a kiss because your lip print at the end of your last letter made me smile. I hope if we ever do meet you are not disappointed.
As a special treat, if you cast a duplication charm on this letter you will have the copy to keep and something interesting will happen to the original.
Yours
Poe
Hermione's curiosity was piqued she drew her wand and muttered the duplication spell. As normal the letter duplicated itself beside the original. The original began to fold in on itself like origami, Hermione watched quietly as the parchment transformed into a paper lioness. When Hermione went to pick it up the figure leapt across the desktop out of her reach the lioness took a sitting pose and began to change again only this time it remained a lioness but no longer paper. It became crystal, red crystal like a ruby. Hermione waited a moment staring to see if the transformation was complete. Once she was satisfied she picked it up and examined it before placing it on her desk next to her wand. A large smile spread across her face as she picked up her quill. She no longer cared if this was a woman, she wanted to know her.
Dearest Poe,
Very clever bit of magic making the parchment turn into a crystal lioness, thank you. All is settling down after a crazy weekend. The week went by with no issues until Friday night, I won't bore you with too much detail but Ron took me out on the town. We got dressed up, went to Draco Malfoy's restaurant The Wand and had a very nice dinner, I thought Ron was going to propose, the setting was very romantic…instead he asked me to join him and another couple in a foursome. I was shocked and a little bit hurt, I'm not a prude but that was the wrong time. Then he got mad at me and grabbed me so Draco stepped in and sent Ron off. Then Draco said he wanted to speak to me about working for him, he explained his offer and told me the timing was bad with the whole Ron incident just moments before so I could go home and think about it.
When I got home Ron wasn't there. I wrote him a note breaking up with him, told him to contact me if he wanted to talk. I owled Ginny and accepted her offer to move in. Saturday morning I was packed and ready to go to Ginny's when Harry popped in. Harry told me that he was almost 100% sure the person writing me was a woman. So since you know I use the truth spell on your letters I'm asking you; are you male or female? And while I'm asking questions how about…do you have a job? Do you live in London? What's your favorite color? Favorite food?
I went to Draco's Saturday night and accepted his offer and a new house as a company perk, so Gin, Sebastian and I will be moving soon. It's like my entire life has changed in a matter of days. I'll be starting a new job, moving to a new place, not being with Ron after so long and now writing to you. I'm very excited.
You must know me quite well because that date sounds perfect. My favorite book is Alice in Wonderland, and I'd be happy to read it to you and I wouldn't be opposed to a kiss. I'm glad my lip print made you smile. I doubt that I could be disappointed with you. Since I'm no longer with Ron I am free to meet you now.
Always
Hermione
Hermione read over the letter before folding it into the envelope and giving it to Strix. After Strix was out of sight she looked around her office and sighed at all the things that had to be done before she left it two weeks. So in true Hermione fashion she sat at her desk and made a list.
Wednesday
Ron came home to a half empty flat, his eyes red and bloodshot. After the fiasco at dinner Friday night he went to Oliver's flat to crash before practice on Saturday. Oliver convinced him to stay and let Hermione cool off for a while. Ron tried to focus on what was missing but it was difficult every thing was so clean…and empty. He poured himself some orange juice and sat at the kitchen table staring at the note with his name on it. After taking a shower he sat on the sofa with his note and opened it.
Dearest Ron,
As you could probably guess I've moved out. This has nothing to do with your behavior Friday night although it certainly was a factor. This also has nothing to do with my mystery writer. You and I are not meant to be romantically involved. That is not to say I don't love you, I will always love you but more like a brother, like I love Harry. You need someone a bit more your speed…we have nothing in common and to pretend to be interested in each others lives is not worth it for either of us.
I don't mean to hurt you. This decision was not easy for me but I know you would never make it so I have to. I know this is going to make you angry but I don't want to date you anymore, I still want to be friends but if you choose not to continue our friendship I'll understand. That will hurt me but I'll understand. If you want to talk I'll be staying at Ginny's, feel free to contact me. I'm always here for you
Love always
Hermione
Ron was furious. He started by flipping the coffee table over. Hermione left him. He pulled a picture of the two of them off the mantle before downing a bottle of fire whiskey
He was barely able to Floo but Ron managed to get to Ginny's where he was greeted by Sebastian
"Out of me way mate I need to see Hermione" Ron slurred and swayed on his feet
"ye betta 'ave a seat mate an calm down" Sebastian instructed
"SHE DUMPED ME" Ron yelled in his face as Ginny came running into the living room in a fury
"Ron as my brother I love you but …."
"Hermione said we could talk…it's in the letter" Ron shoves a crumpled parchment into Ginny's hand
"Yes Ron…you can talk, but not like this…not drunk" Ginny eased him to the sofa
"She dumped me Ginny, just like that…probably for that stupid letter writer" Ron mumbled and gin and Sebastian exchanged looks." He gave her a bloody owl; I could have given her an owl. Ron continues to mumble and Sebastian pulls gin aside
"Now wat luv?" he asked
"Wait for him to pass out and take him home. I'm gonna be late for my shift at St Mungo's" Ginny apparated out
"Damn" Sebastian said looking at Ron's sleeping form
At St. Mungo's Ginny was on the last hour of her six hour shift and was filling out some paperwork in her office when there was a knock.
"Come in" Ginny said without looking up. She felt the visitor enter and sit at the chair opposite her desk. She looked up with a confused expression. "Malfoy, what brings you here? Are you feeling ok?" she asked putting aside her paperwork. Draco waves his hand
"I'm fine" Draco replies
"Tea? Coffee? "Ginny offered
"Nothing thank you. I'm here because of Hermione."
"Oh…is something wrong?" she asked cautiously
"Well as you know she'll be working for me in a couple of weeks and I just want to protect my investment. I want to make sure she can focus. A lot of things have hit her very quickly over the past few weeks; the issues with weasel at my restaurant, getting stood up for Neville's wedding, my job offer and this mysterious letter writer." Draco's cold grey eyes locked with Ginny's blue ones
"Well you know Hermione…she's handled more then this she'll be fine." Ginny assured him
"Yes I know but never so many things directly tied to her emotions and we both know that emotions are never her strong suit."
"What can I do to help you?" Ginny pressed
"You can assure me that this new 'pen pal' is genuine and not looking to mess with her head" Draco flashes his smirk
"What does that have to do with me?" Ginny asked firmly
Draco looked around to assure they were alone he leaned himself across Ginny's desk and whispered "You can hide the paper and ink….but not the owl."
"Damn it, I knew I should have gone with a local breed, I just wanted something unique" Ginny confesses then looks at Draco seriously "Draco I assure you I have loved Hermione since I was twelve and if she will consent to be with me my intention is to hold on to her and make her happy for as long as I can. Please don't tell her…."
"I have no intention of telling her, she told me the letters have touched her. This was after Harry told her he was sure it was a woman writing them. I must say you treat her better then your brother, the git nearly struck her…but you know all that"
"Yes she told us that the night she moved in. She said she was 'touched' that's great. Oh and thanks for the mansion, Hermione took us by. We are very excited to move in next week" Ginny smiled
"I need Hermione to be comfortable and accessible, but I don't want to monopolize all of her time" He explained
"I'll give her all the time and support she needs and I'll understand when she has to work late until she learns the ropes. She's very excited and has been looking into management classes at night so she can be with you during the day. She's nervous and doesn't like to fail."
"That's why I hired her, I know she won't fail…she never does" Draco smiled "I also figured that if she was serious about being with you it would be best if you and I got along better then this indifference we have, since we would be the main people in her life." Draco shifted in his chair
"Draco I think I understand you a lot better since the war. My family is not so bad except for Ron, I don't know what happened to him but mom is still waiting for you to come to a Weasley family dinner…any Sunday we are there…" Ginny said brightly
"Maybe in light of my new employee I will come by" Draco conceded
"How did you trace the owl?" Ginny asked in a relaxed manner
"When Hermione came to see me on Saturday, after she accepted my offer and we ironed out a few details she showed me the letters and explained how everything in this little melodrama was playing out. I saw the description of the owl and what she had named it. I figured it wasn't local so I went to Eyelops Emporium and asked if anyone had purchased that breed. As he looked for the order form he described your hair and I knew instantly." He smiled
"Well thanks for not blowing my cover. I'll keep her happy at home if you keep her happy at work?" Ginny extended her hand
"Deal" he took her hand and she pulled him into a hug he wasn't expecting "Thanks Ginny. Maybe I'll see you on Sunday." Draco left her office with a pop.
When Ginny got home from her shift Hermione wasn't there so she took the opportunity to explain her visit from Draco to Sebastian as they sat down for a bite to eat.
"Tis gettin a wee complicated lass"
"I know but it won't be too much longer"
"I hope ye know what yur doin" he stabbed a potato off her plate and ate it
"I think I convinced Draco to come to dinner at the Burrow on Sunday" she jabs a piece of beef off his plate
"Oh to be sure that will be interesting to see"
"You have no faith in me after all these years….it saddens me" Ginny joked
"Too many things can go wrong, it's not you" he assured her "I've seen ye pull off some pretty incredible stunts….but this is huge. Did ya eva stop to tink tat Mione might be a wee bit upset when she finds out ya been deceiving her all this time?"
"I'm hopping she won't be" Ginny smiles and Sebastian rolls his eyes