A/N:

Okay, so this was written while at a Weyes Blood concert (specifically written during the Vagabon opening act). Their music is delightful! Go check both of them out (Vagabon and Weyes Blood)

Summary: Muggle!AU; Hermione sits down at the local library and struggles to teach herself how to knit. Molly Weasley comes by at the right time to help out

Words: 409

Prompts:

Ministry of Magic Discord Group: Who Dunnit?

Suspect: hermione

Crime Scene: library

Weapon: Knitting needles

"Knit One, Purl Two"

Knit one, purl one. Knit one, purl one. Knit one, purl two…wait, why purl two here?

The click clack of her knitting needles in the community room of the library seemed to echo in the quietness of the day. Hermione had a book of knitting patterns open on her knee, a set of blue knitting needles in hand with a ball of acrylic yarn. Her grams had bought her the yarn, knowing that Hermione had been interested in learning, but grams had passed before they could get together.

So now, Hermione sat, struggling, trying to hold back tears as she struggled to make something as simple as a hat.

Ten minutes later saw no more progress than before, and a visibly upset Hermione dropped the knitting needles and her multiple times frogged project into her lap, hiding her face in her hands to try to calm down. If grams could do this, why couldn't she?! Books have never failed her yet, but this book was full of charts as well as confusing written patterns. None of it made sense!

"Are you okay, dear?" a soft voice asked, making Hermione jump. She looked up to find a kind-faced red headed woman looking at her. Hermione wiped tears from her cheeks, giving herself another moment to compose herself before replying.

"Just finding this pattern particularly hard," she muttered.

"Would you like some help? What pattern are you trying to do?" The other woman asked.

Hermione launched into a long winding and frankly wholly unnecessary explanation as to what she was doing, her experience level, and the feeling of failure and grief that encompassed her because she lost an opportunity to learn with her grandmother. The redheaded woman-whose name she found out was Molly Weasley-merely smiled kindly at her.

"Well, to begin with, using those needles to make a hat will be very difficult. Circular needles will make your life that much easier. Now, let's see if we can find a simple scarf pattern. That will get you used to the stitches you will use in other projects…"

And later on, when Hermione went home to get ready for the night shift for work, a nearly half finished scarf sat in her bag, and with it the satisfaction of finally getting over a hurdle. Molly had given her number to Hermione, and told her to call with any questions she may have.

"You're not alone dear. I would love to help out."