Lesson
It still felt weird to visit Gringotts, even after all this time. But whenever Hermione had the need to enter that building, she kept watching over her shoulder, as if expecting a dragon, or a mob of angry goblins, or even Harry and Ron come running towards her.
Even so, she was certain that the goblins were looking at her a little askance, treating her a bit too harsh, and generally keeping a grudge for what they had done. Harry and Ron had assured her that it was all in her mind, but Hermione had learned to trust her mind. In any case, it was an awkward and unpleasant task, and she tried to get over with it as fast as possible.
On this particular day she was standing by the counter, drumming her fingers against it nervously, and looking around the place as was her habit. Doing so, her eyes landed on a witch to her left, who was in the process of rummaging through her large bag. The goblin attending to her was eyeing his customer disdainfully, even though she had not broken into Gringotts and stolen valuable items from it. So maybe Harry and Ron were right.
"I swear I have it somewhere here," the witch said, plunging her hand in the depths of her purse, which once again reminded Hermione of the little beaded bag she had carried on her adventure.
"Give me a sec," the witch said, and took a handful of objects out of her bag, laying them on the counter for all the world to see. The goblin was not amused. Hermione was about to look away in politeness, when an item caught her eye. It was small, rectangular, flat and shiny; Hermione recognised it instantly, even more so because her cousins had been very surprised of her not being in possession of such an object, when she'd been to visit them last month. The goblin gave it a disinterested glance.
Then her own goblin returned and demanded Hermione's full attention, and for the moment she forgot about the other witch. When her business was completed, and Hermione turned to leave, the other witch had also departed, but the strange object still lay on the counter. Looking towards the doors, she could see the woman exiting, and acting upon her instincts, Hermione grabbed the thing and hurried towards its owner. The goblin gave her a look of disproof that she did not see, then returned to his work.
Hermione didn't catch up with the witch until they were well in the throng of people in Diagon Alley. There she forced her way through, and touching the woman lightly on her arm, spoke, "Excuse me, you left your iPhone behind."
The woman turned to stare at her, then at the iPhone, and Hermione was about to regret being so nice and helpful, when she spoke at last, "Thanks."
She took the iPhone, looked at it for another moment, then smiled, "Funny gadget, is it not? But everyone in Muggle London has one, so it has to be worth something."
"My Muggle cousins were appalled that I didn't have one," Hermione said, feeling companionship to anyone who knew what things were in rage in Muggle London.
"I wish I had some Muggle cousins," the witch sighed, "They could show me what to do with this thing."
"Oh, I know a little bit of it," Hermione said modestly. "They forced me to learn it."
Her cousins really had insisted upon it, though Hermione didn't need much convincing. It was a lot simpler than Quidditch, and slightly more fascinating.
"Oh!" the witch exclaimed, brightening up, "Can you show me a thing or two, do you think?"
"Well," Hermione said – she had several more errands to run, and she had barely enough free time these days, and Ron and the kids were waiting for her, and she had to get them all ready for the visit to the Potters in the evening.
But – how often did it happen that someone asked her to teach them about Muggle things? There was her father-in-law, of course, but Arthur Weasley was a little too excitable, and Mrs Weasley still didn't quite approve of it.
"Sure," Hermione said. "Let's find a quieter spot for this."
"There's a nifty Muggle café not far from here. I think we'll fit right in," the witch smiled, holding up her iPhone.
"I suppose I've been rude for not introducing myself," the woman said, once they were cosily seated behind steaming mugs and delicious-smelling pastry in the aforementioned café in Muggle London.
"Hi, I'm Daphne Greengrass."
"I'm Hermione Weasley."
"Oh, I know," Daphne smiled. "You are the most famous Muggle-born of our generation."
"I'm sure that's not true," Hermione said, blushing.
"I'm sure it is," Daphne said, smirking. "Now, before we let that grow into an argument, perhaps you can teach me something about this gadget."
Hermione proceeded with the lesson, and to her somewhat surprise, she was not interrupted once for being too bossy, or boring, or giving too detailed account of the topic. It may have been because she knew – sadly – more of Quidditch than she knew about iPhones.
"It's very rarely that I meet someone interested in Muggle objects," Hermione said.
"You'd certainly not expect me to be one, if you knew the story of my life," Daphne laughed. "But I think it's stupid of us not to try to learn more about the Muggles. Just because they don't know about Magic, doesn't mean we know about everything that they do. I think we both have our strengths and weaknesses and things we are great at. I mean, take the wand away from a wizard, and he's worse than a Muggle."
"Not all wizards," Hermione said. "But I do see your point."
"It nice to talk to someone about it, without being blamed for losing my mind. Take my brother-in-law for example. You know him. Draco Malfoy."
"Oh. Yes," Hermione said, paused for a second, then inquired not just out of politeness. "How is he doing?"
"Draco? He's well. Same as ever. Well, not exactly the same," Daphne said, and frowned. Hermione nodded in silent understanding – nothing was exactly the same as it had been before the war. In places change was subtle, in others glaringly obvious, but it was everywhere.
"I wish you'd been a Slytherin," Daphne presently spoke, and that was certainly something no one had ever said to Hermione before.
"I don't!"
"No, I guess you wouldn't have been comfortable there. Just like I would have felt out of place in Gryffindor. Funny how we more often than not end up being what we're supposed to be, and not what we think we want to be."
"It all depends on how much you want it and how much you are willing to sacrifice to get there."
"You're right," Daphne said, leaning back in her chair. "Of course. I never wanted it enough. I was content being what I was destined to be. Up to a certain point in time, that is.
"Not all Slytherins are bad," she insisted. "But good and bad is just a different point of view. But I wanted to tell you that – not all of us hate Muggles and Muggle-borns."
"I... I don't think I ever thought that. But I am glad to hear it."
"I'm glad I met with you today," Daphne smiled. "Not just because of the intelligence I got regarding my Eye-Pony."
"iPhone," Hermione corrected automatically, then added. "It was nice meeting you. But now I really need to go."
They left the café and walked together back to Diagon Alley, in semi-comfortable silence.
"Perhaps we'll see again," Daphne said. "Gringotts, or some place else."
Hermione recognised common courtesy for what it was. This had been just a chance meeting, interesting and educating to both parties involved. But it was not the beginning of a bosom friendship, that much was clear. But not because Daphne was sister-in-law to Malfoy and Hermione Harry Potter's best friend. But because they had both their own lives to lead, and they did not want it enough to be anything else to each other than what they were.
"Those goblins, heh," Daphne said at parting. "They seem to have a personal grudge against you."
"I thought it was just me," Hermione replied, with a short laugh.
"And I thought that it was just me."
Or maybe it was. Enough.
"Owl me," Hermione said, surprising even herself. "Anytime you wish."
"Or maybe I'll just text you," Daphne replied, flashing her iPhone once more before disappearing into the crowd.
Note: Another challenge by silverlovedragoness, "Hermione happens to meet Daphne in Gringotts".