Chapter Two – Cross Path
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Picking the key, Hermione went out for a walk, trying to distract herself from melancholy. She strolled along the street. It was already late autumn. A gust of wind blew off the last leaves on the branches. She was considering whether she should contact the trio and Ginny or not. Three years ago, she left without telling anyone. Three years after, she came back without any notice. It had been a long time since the last time she saw their best friends. She indeed missed them, especially now when she was surrounded by a noisy crowd. Currently, she was desperate for their news. Absent-mindedly, she let her legs led her to a waterside, a much quieter area.
Standing beside the water, Hermione was in a trance. All of a sudden, she felt her leg was collided with something. Bending her head, she saw a lovely girl. She didn't know who the child was.
"I am sorry to accidentally bump into you. Daddy said a good girl should be polite." The little girl sincerely looked at Hermione's eyes and apologized.
"It's okay. I don't get hurt." Hermione squatted down and answered with a smile. Then, she found the girl had cute dimples on her cheeks and whitish blonde hair. Blinking her eyes several times, she couldn't help but touch the girl's hair. That hair color seemed kind of familiar…. Yes, that man had the same hair color. As realizing that fact, she lost her focus a few seconds again.
"Hey, are you okay?" The little girl pulled her sleeve to get her attention.
"Oh…, yes, I am fine. Why are you alone here? Where's your daddy you just mentioned?" Hermione asked.
Before the little girl could answer, Hermione heard a calling. "Flora! Flora!"
"Ah, it's my daddy," the little girl delightedly yelled. "Daddy, I am here!"
Hermione turned to the direction where the voice came from. "Oh… Draco…." It was him, Draco Malfoy.
That man stopped just a few steps away. No one winked eyes or said single word. Hermione felt the sound of the wind and her breath just froze. She looked into his eyes. The blue hue seemed still. She couldn't see through whether there were complicated emotions hidden beneath.
Not knowing how long the time had been past, she felt her stretch her right hand and said softly, "It is a long time. Draco…."
He didn't reply a word, but also stretched his left hand forward to hold hers.
Her gaze fell on his left hand while they were shaking each others' hands. She didn't miss it. There was a silver glitter on his left ring finger.
"Daddy, should we go home now? Mum promised me she would make an apple pie." Flora swung her daddy's arm.
"Alright, sweet-heart. Let's go home." Draco raised her girl. "Hermione… hope you're doing well." Before she could answer, he already turned around.
"Hope you're doing well too, Draco, my dear stranger…." Behind his back, Hermione's whisper was blurred by the wind.
A/N:
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