Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters (I do own Sebastian Corax)
I Want to Know You
Chapter 5
Monday
Hermione sat in her office it was early and the sun was streaming in she had to start packing and setting up her office for the new person who would be replacing her. Plus she had to set up a new office at Malfoy Industries and pack her flat to move.
Strix tapped on the window in Hermione's office and her face lit up as she crossed the floor to let him in "Strix" she squealed as the grey owl perched on her stand with his usual red envelope
Hermione opened the letter performed her truth spell and began to read
My Beautiful Angel,
~ I can't wait to be on my knees ~
I'm glad you like the lioness. That week does sound crazy and it sounds like it took its toll on you. I hope you're eating properly and resting. I sorry to say that I can believe Ron would be physically aggressive with you…or anyone for that matter. Good thing Draco was there. Speaking of Draco what a fantastic job offer. It seems like the perfect opportunity to learn about a very big part of the wizarding world. I'm glad you accepted his offer I think you'll be a great asset to Malfoy Industries.
I say again that I hope my letters were not the catalyst for all this pain you're experiencing. I wrote the letters to try and spare some of this drama. Now on to your questions; yes I am a female and I hope that doesn't stop you from writing or wanting to meet me. I do have a job but anymore detail about that and you could easily find out who I was. I live just outside of London. My favorite color is blue and my favorite food is Italian.
Congratulations on your new place and I hope the move goes smoothly. I'm glad all these sudden changes are making you excited rather then scared. Change scares most people.
I'm pleased that my date sounds perfect to you. Alice in Wonderland sounds intriguing. If you wouldn't be opposed to a kiss, what else wouldn't you be opposed to? Say, hypothetically, during this kiss I should touch your face or perhaps graze my hand across your shirt just lightly skimming your breasts. Would you be opposed to that? You might be opposed to it if you could see the smile I have on my face thinking about it.
I'm truly am sorry to hear that you broke up with Ron but you said it was coming for a while so I'm glad it wasn't because of my letters. I am very anxious to meet you but I think we should wait a little bit only because you're moving, staring new classes and a new job…I don't want to take your focus. I want you to do your best and not have me as a distraction
Besides there are 3 more lines to my poem…
Love
Poe
Hermione read the letter over twice before the warm tingling feeling subsided, only one other person had given her this intensely warm feeling, but that was so long ago. What was it about the words that made her feel that way? She couldn't figure it out. Was it the fact that this was the first letter that was signed 'love'? Could this girl really love her? and why didn't this revelation scare her? Going over to her desk she started to write her response.
My Darling Poe,
To ease your mind Ginny is a Healer and takes proper care of me and I'm doing well. I'm very excited to start work next week and my new classes.
As always to ease your mind the letters had nothing to do with Ron and his behavior he's an adult and should act like one.
The fact that you are a female doesn't deter me from wanting to meet you, I'm glad you have a job and you seem to live fairly close by I also like Italian food. We'll be moving to the new place this week Draco is sending people over to help us. Everything is in boxes right now but hopefully by the weekend we'll be in and settled.
So this 'hypothetical' kiss and the grazing of my breasts would, hypothetically, start to turn me on. So of course I would hypothetically return the favor by kissing you back and possibly caress your butt. Hypothetically of course. Although I really wish I could see the smile on your face.
Well I'm very anxious to meet you as well but I agree that we should wait until my life settles into a normal routine again. So there are only 3 lines left to my poem, does that mean I'll see you on 3 weeks?…I hope so. I'm also intrigued by the fact that your last letter was signed 'love' and I thought it would make me nervous but it doesn't it actually made me feel very secure. Now I just hope I can live up to your expectations of me.
Yours Always
Hermione
She placed the letter in an envelope sealed with another lip print and set Strix off with it. She looked around the room for a box to place her things in.
Tuesday
The Packing was done and Draco's men showed up right on time to move them into the new mansion. The way the new place was laid out each of them practically had their own apartment; each suite contained a bedroom, a sitting room/office and a very large bathroom.
Hermione was supervising the move and it was going rather smoothly. Ginny told her about Ron's surprise visit and Hermione thanked her for sending him off. She had no desire to speak to him when he was drunk. She did send Ron an owl and told him she would talk to him at the Burrow on Sunday providing he wasn't drunk. Ron owled her back and agreed saying he was looking forward to seeing her.
Wednesday
Was spent with Ginny and Sebastian unpacking and reorganizing their new place. Hermione had received her class schedule and her first week's itinerary for Malfoy Industries. Monday was going to be a very busy day and she wanted everything in the house done and put away so she could focus on her duties. By Thursday evening everything was unpacked and put away.
Friday night Sebastian had a date so Ginny and Hermione were alone for the first time in a month. Hermione decided it would be a good chance for her and Ginny to have some girl time and Ginny was all for it (anything to have Hermione to herself for a little while). They sat on the couch under the quilt Mrs. Weasley had made them
"Well this brings back memories" Hermione said as she sipped her cocoa
"Our midnight chats in the common room?" Ginny grinned
"You remember?" Hermione asked surprised
"How could I not? We had great talks" Ginny defended
"Well I'm glad you think so cuz I want to talk to you again" Hermione's tone went serious
"Is something wrong?" Ginny asked cautiously
"No not at all …just some 'girl talk' to catch up. Things have been so crazy the past few weeks I feel like I haven't seen you in a month"
"Well if its girl talk …may I assume the position?" Ginny asked with a sly grin. Hermione rolled her eyes playfully with a big smile as she slid to the far end of the couch. Ginny stretched out to her full length placing her head in Hermione's lap. Instinctively Hermione began stroking Ginny's hair
"So what's on your mind?" Ginny asked
"Oh nothing specific, it's just that Harry found out that my letter writer is a woman"
Ginny cringes, this was the last topic she wanted to be discussing with Hermione
"Really? Well that's…unexpected. Are you planning on meeting her soon?" Ginny tried to sound casual
"Well she and I agreed to wait until after the move, until I have had time to settle into my new job and she told me there were 3 more lines to my poem. So there is no pressure."
"So you seem happy, how do you feel about all that?" Ginny asked
"Well I think every thing happens for a reason and I see no harm with all this change, I really have grown quite fond of her. I look forward to the letters every week. She just sounds so…different from everyone else I just hope she hasn't put me too high on a pedestal that I can't live up to her idea of me. The letters are almost hypnotic"
"I read the letters and I don't think she'll be disappointed, you really are an incredible person" Ginny smiled then thought to herself 'whoops said too much'
"Thanks Gin" Hermione leans down and kisses Ginny's forehead. Ginny closes her eyes trying to savor the feel of Hermione's soft lips and her sweet scent.
"As long as you're happy that's what matters…so working for Draco huh? Never thought I'd see that and Merlin this house is too cool." Ginny tries to steer the conversation away from the letters and hopes that when all is revealed Hermione won't be too mad at her.
"I KNOW Draco was way too generous, he's not really a bad guy, the war really changed him, he's still an arrogant bastard sometimes but it's not as evil…if that makes sense. Speaking of the house, why don't we test out the Jacuzzi?
Ginny's eyes lit up as she leap of the couch
"Sounds great"
Sunday
Everyone is at the Burrow and the kitchen is buzzing with people and noise. Last Christmas for a gift all the Weasley kids, their spouses plus Harry and Hermione pooled their money to remodel the kitchen and dinning room for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Molly and Arthur Weasley went on a short weekend getaway before the hustle of the holidays started so when they were gone everyone came over. Plans had already been drawn and re-drawn until finally they all agreed on a design. The new space was more then enough to accommodate the entire Weasley clan including spouses and children. The best thing was when it was only Molly and Arthur the room compacted itself but when it was needed the cozy 10 x 10 dining room stretched out to an impressive 60 x 40 grand dinning hall. Molly and Arthur were very please and thankful that along with the dining room they had also replaced all the kitchen appliances.
The Weasley kids were just about to start playing Quidditch
"Well there's only nine of us playing…someone will have to sit out" said Ron
"What if I join you" Draco's drawl preceded him as the group looked into the sun to see two figures coming over the pitch. Ginny smiled Draco was here and he brought Hermione. Ginny's heart leapt as they approached the group. Hermione looked at Ron and smiled. Ron came up to her, the group braced for the yelling
"May we talk later?" Ron whispered
"Of course" Hermione smiled and sat next to Luna on the bench
"Ok then lets do it this way….Ron and Draco can be captains and we'll choose schoolyard style" said Charlie
"You choose first it's your pitch" Draco said to Ron
"I'll take Harry" Ron smiled
As the late morning turned into early afternoon the teams ended up as Ron, Bill, Charlie, Fred and Harry against Draco, Ginny, Sebastian, George and Percy. Oddly enough Percy was a very good Keeper and the game was tied as Draco and Harry fought for the snitch. With a dangerous take on the Wronski Feint Harry emerged with the snitch ending the game 180 to 150.
They all went in to get cleaned up. After eating and chatting about the game the large group broke off into smaller ones. Hermione was talking to Draco about the classes she had found, the twins were talking to Percy and Charlie about the new location they opened up and some new products. Sebastian, Ginny and Bill were discussing Quidditch and Luna was helping Molly clean up. Ron came down and spotted Hermione.
"Excuse me Malfoy; can I have a word with Hermione?" Ron asked quietly
"Sure thing. Hermione we can finish this later" Draco walked off to chat with Ginny
Ron and Hermione walked through the garden silently until they came to the stone bench they both sat and Ron turned to Hermione.
"I'm sorry…I acted like such a git the night we went to dinner…that's not how I wanted the evening to go."
"I should hope not" Hermione interjected
"I don't want to loose you Hermione I want to fix things. Don't you love me anymore?"
"Ron I explained it all in my letter, I will always love you…just not as a boyfriend, we're too different, and we're not compatible." Hermione's tone was gentle "But you'll never loose me, after all we've been through together we'll be friends for life and nothing will get between that friendship."
"What will I do without you?" Ron asked
"Ron I'm not dying, I'm here for you…but if we continue dating we'll end up hating each other and they'll be no way to salvage our friendship and I don't want to walk away for good, how about you?"
"I guess your right." Ron conceded
From a distance Draco and Ginny watched the exchange between Ron and Hermione
"See Ginny …you were worried this would be bad" Draco mused
Hermione slaps Ron hard in the face, Ron returns the slap as Ginny and Draco run to the garden as they run Ginny shoot a side glace to Draco
"You were saying?" Ginny chided
Once they got to the couple Ron was standing over Hermione with his hands balled into fists. Draco leaps at Ron with a spectacular mid air tackle and the rest of the family reached the garden. The twins pulled Draco and Ron apart. Luna and Ginny gently collected Hermione from the ground. They lead her toward the house hearing Ron scream 'I'm sorry'.
Harry was in Ron's face in a flash
"What the hell man?"
"I didn't realize…."
"What that you HIT Hermione?"
"It was all so fast" Ron said
"You know what Ron as an Auror I should report this but I'm gonna let Hermione decide. Harry stormed off to the house with Draco and the twins in his wake.
Inside Luna was questioning Hermione about what had provoked Ron.
"It happened so quickly, one minute we had just agreed to be friends…Ron said 'friends with benefits' he wanted to sleep with me, he came at me so I slapped him and he punched me and I fell off the bench and…then I don't remember"
"You fell off the bench and hit your head on it" Ginny explained as she removed the ice pack from the back of Hermione's head "see?" Ginny produced a towel full of ice and covered in blood. Hermione fainted, Ginny caught her and Mrs. Weasley told her to get her up to Ginny's old room. Harry came in just in time to see Hermione's limp body being levitated upstairs
"Is she alright?" he asked in general
"She's hit her head, Ginny showed her the blood and she fainted…so Ginny moved her" Luna told Harry, Draco and the twins
"Where's Ron?" asked Molly
"We secured him to a tree" Fred said
"He'll be fine for a bit mum don't look so horrified" George smiled
The group had dwindled down to harry and Luna who were talking to Molly over tea. Everyone else headed home.
Meanwhile, upstairs in Ginny's old room. In Ginny's old bed lay Hermione with Ginny holding the ice pack still on her head. Ginny performed some spells and the gash healed. Ginny brushed the hair from Hermione's face and all the red head could think about was kissing her. Forcing that thought from her mind she gently called to Hermione trying to get her to wake up, course there was a spell for this but it was very abrupt and Ginny didn't want to scare Hermione anymore then she has been.
"Mione?"Ginny whispered with a soft shake to her shoulder "Mione wake up."
Her eyes fluttered open and looked around until they fell on Ginny and her wide smile, Hermione's heart did a little flip and felt that old warm feeling from her school days. She thought it strange and wondered why now of all times but dismissed it as disorientation.
Ginny filled her in on what happened and proceeded to get up off the bed when she felt a hand grasp her hand. She looked down at Hermione's big caramel eyes with confusion.
"Stay here with me for a bit, let me just rest." Hermione asked
"I was gonna let you rest that's why I was going"
"Lay here with me…please, I miss spending summers here and lying next to you…I could never get used to sleeping alone when we got back to school." Hermione looked down at the sheets.
"Let me go and tell them you're ok"
"Tell Harry I don't want to press charges against Ron" Hermione instructed and Ginny was out the door and back before Hermione even noticed.
Ginny changed and slid into her bed next to Hermione who slid into her with her back toward the redhead. Hermione reached under the covers until she found Ginny's hand and draped it over her own waist. Ginny caught on and pulled Hermione to her chest in a protective manner. Hermione held the hand that Ginny had around her waist. Before Ginny drifted off the sleep she thought she heard Hermione mumble something about feeling safe and that made her smile.