A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series or agree with her comments. This story is a product of my pure imagination. I do not profit from this and will not pay any commissions for artwork related to this story.
To love, love, yeah
To love, love, yeah
To love, yeah
I needed to lose you to love me, yeah.
To love, love, yeah
To love, love, yeah
To love, yeah
I needed to lose you to love me.
You promised the world, and I fell for it.
I put you first, and you adored it.
Set fires to my forest.
And you let it burn
~ Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez
~*~ 14th January 2000 ~*~
The soft light coming from the hanging lamps glowed as Hermione flipped the wooden sign of the bookstore from OPEN to CLOSED and locked the door. Rosella was already asleep upstairs, with a monitoring charm on her, and the quiet calm that the bookstore brought her at night was a strange comfort.
Mr. O'Brien came out of the storage room with a tray of tea. "Though we could have a cuppa before we call it."
Hermione leaned against the counter, holding the cup between her hands to warm them. "Thank you. It's been a good day."
Mr. O'Brien looked at her over his cup. "Yer doin' a good job with this place."
Hermione blinked at him, "Sorry?"
He chuckled, "Every time I come in here, you've changed somethin' for the better. The place looks better, and you've sold books, even I forgot we had. Yeh made this store better than it's been in decades."
Hermione blushed. "It's easy to care about something like this."
Mr. O'Brien nodded, then let out a breath. "And that's it. I'll be ninety-five in March. My knees are goin', and I get winded on those stairs. As much as I love this place, I think it's time ter let it go."
Hermione nearly dropped her teacup. "You're selling the store?"
Mr. O'Brien nodded, "Been considerin' it for a while. But seeing the life you brought back to it… Now I think it's the right time."
She stared at him, "But you've been here so long."
"Have been for a long time. I even lived above it. Met my wife 'cause of it. I've watched generations wander in need of somethin' that will change their lives. I'd rather it be run by someone who can love it better," Mr. O'Brien stated.
Hermione frowned. "I don't know what to say."
"I'm not puttin' the official notice up until next week. I wanted yeh to hear it from me. I'll put it in the window tomorrow," Mr. O'Brien stated. "Whoever gets it. I will tell them to keep yeh on and let yeh stay."
Hermione nodded and watched as he shuffled back to the back room.
~*~ 16th January 2000 ~*~
Hermione was sitting at the Weasley dinner table, Rosella in her highchair as she tried to keep sweet potatoes off them both.
Fred slid into the chair beside her. "So, I saw something interesting on my way past Leabhar Books yesterday."
Hermione looked up. "Oh? What did you see?"
"The For Sale sign in the window," Fred said, fixing up his jacket potato, "You know anything about that?"
Hermione stiffened, "Mr. O'Brien told me on Friday. He's ready to retire and said that he'll consider offers as they come in. He plans to ask the new owners to keep me on, and let me stay in the flat, but…" she took a breath, "No guarantees."
Fred and George exchanged a glance.
"It's a reinvestment," George said, taking a bite of his roll.
"Agreed," Fred said, nodding, "It's basically paying his shares back."
"Truth," George added.
Everyone fell quiet at the table, looking at them, confused.
"What are you two on about now?" Ron asked.
Fred ignored him, looking at George, "How much do you think the place would go for?"
"Probably what we've saved back in the business account," George said as he turned to Hermione, "Do you think he'd accept an offer from us?"
Hermione blinked. "Um… maybe? He said he wants to sell it to someone who will preserve its integrity."
Ron leaned forward. "Enough, I'm part of the store too. Are you thinking about buying it and expanding W3s?"
Fred smirked, "Oh, Ronnie-boy. Not us."
George smiled, looking at Hermione. "We're thinking about buying it for you."
Hermione choked on her water. "What?!"
"You've changed that place already," Fred told her, "You've reorganized the whole place, even put that children's section in. It's practically your shop already. Don't you want to run it properly?"
"With what money?" Hermione asked.
George glanced at Fred and sighed, "He didn't want us to tell anyone, but when Harry won the Triwizard Tournament, he gave us the winnings."
Ron gasped as he stood up, his chair falling to the floor behind him. "I knew you didn't buy me those dress robes just because! Harry told you to!"
"Shut up, Ron!" The twins said together, waving him off.
George turned back to Hermione. "We put him as a thirty percent owner of W3s. Fred and I split the rest. With the profits we've made since then, we've been very careful, and we've put Harry's portion into a separate account. Depending on what Mr. O'Brien wants for the shop, we could probably cover it."
Hermione couldn't form words as she stared at them in disbelief. "But… that's Harry's money."
Fred shrugged. "It's not like he's using it right now. Besides, you could treat it as a loan if that makes you feel better. Tomorrow, we'll take you to meet our goblin investor. Bill set us up with him."
George grinned. "And did you know that O'Brien's wife owns the Muggle bookshop just behind Leabhar Books?"
"No, how do you know that?" Hermione asked him.
Fred grinned. "After the war, we looked into everyone. Just in case."
George's voice dropped, "What I think is this: You create a connecting room, charmed to be Muggle-proof, like the Leaky Cauldron is, and make the shop half-magical and half Muggle. A bridge between both worlds."
Hermione stared at them, "I don't know what to say."
Molly stepped into the room, her eyes narrowed, "You took Harry's money? The poor boy barely ate, and you took his winnings?!"
George looked at her, "Mum! He didn't want it!"
"He begged us to take it. We argued with him, and he said he'd throw it away otherwise!" Fred told her.
"And it's paid off! W3 is successful. We currently employ six people, besides ourselves. We donate, and we're investing." George told Molly.
Fred grinned, "And now maybe, if she wants it… We will invest in Hermione."
Hermione looked at Rosella, who was playing with some smashed carrots. She looked at them. "We talk to Mr. O'Brien first."
Fred held up his glass, "To bookstores and brilliant witches!"
~*~ 18th January 2000 ~*~
Checking her face in the mirror one last time, she grabbed her daily tonic that Harry had given her the recipe for. Hermione sipped it carefully, the bitterness fading on her tongue. Between the Muggle medicine and the tonic, Hermione had been slowly feeling more like herself. Being out of the Burrow also helped. She had regained a sense of purpose.
Smoothing her hands over her trousers, she adjusted her blouse and pulled on her new blazer. Her hair was behaving for once, not a wild mess of curls. Looking at her reflection, she took one last breath, "You can do this."
Leaving the bathroom, she grabbed her bag and went downstairs, where she found Fred and George talking with Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien.
Mrs. O'Brien looked up and smiled. "Oh, Hermione, you look so beautiful."
Hermione tried to hide her blush. "Thank you." She turned to the twins. "Are we ready?"
George nodded, glancing toward Mr. O'Brien. "Two hundred and fifty thousand galleons for both properties, storefronts, and inventory is still your asking price, correct?"
Mr. O'Brien nodded, "Yes, sir. It's worth every knut."
"Right then," George said as he put his arm around Hermione. "Let's go."
The walk to Gringotts felt longer than usual, her stomach deep within her abdomen as they walked through the snow-covered cobblestones.
When they finally reached the marble bank, several goblins looked up from behind their desks. One even paused upon seeing her, and Hermione's heart dropped alongside her stomach.
Holding onto George's arm, she whispered. "This could be bad. They probably don't forgive me for the dragon."
Fred waved a hand and approached the head goblin. "We wish to speak with our advisor."
The goblin looked up, his eyes sweeping over Fred, then George, then landing on her as she let George go, and trying to feel more confident.
"Ah, Miss Granger," he said, "You have finally returned. We've been awaiting you."
Hermione felt her breath catch. "I'm sorry about the dragon. I don't have much, but I'm happy to pay for damages."
The goblin held up his hand, silencing her. "Miss Granger, that debt was settled long ago by Lord Potter. You are not here for atonement. You are here for business. Your account manager will join us in the meeting."
"My account manager?" Hermione asked, confused.
A guard appeared to lead the three of them through the large carved doors that opened with a faint hiss. Inside was a hallway where they were led past offices, stopping at the one marked Kraglin. The guard knocked, and it opened.
Inside, the twins bowed to the goblin sitting in his high-backed chair, and Hermione bowed too.
"Have a seat," Kraglin stated, motioning to the chairs in front of his desk. "I have notified your financial manager that you are here, Misters Weasley." He turned his eyes to Hermione as she sat. "Miss Granger. I am Kraglin, the manager of your vaults. I believe it's time you were made aware of the full contents."
Hermione stared at him. "Vaults? I only have one, the one that I transferred my Muggle money into and my Order of Merlin payment. I didn't know there was anything else."
Kraglin turned, taking out a golden ledger. "Lord Potter, as head of the Ancient and Noble Houses of Black and Potter, received full inheritance of the Lestrange and Black estates upon the death of Madam Lestrange. He transferred control of the Lestrange vaults, along with certain assets of the Black vault, to you."
Hermione's jaw dropped. "Why… why would he?"
Kraglin tented his hands in front of his face. "His instructions were very specific. He felt that the wealth associated with that family should be redirected to you for the horrors you were subjected to in the war. Madam Lestrange and her brother-in-law were the last Lestranges. You were given 75% and another party was given the rest." He stared at her, "You are now the custodian of several trust vaults, artifacts, and business shares."
Hermione looked at George and Fred in disbelief.
Kraglin opened the ledger, "Your personal vault has just over one hundred thousand galleons accrued from your Order of Merlin, personal funds, as well as a Ministry reward for your part in the defeat of Tom Riddle."
Hermione's jaw dropped as Fred burst out laughing. "Hermione, you don't need us! You can buy the shop yourself and still have enough to get a second location."
Kraglin set a piece of parchment in front of her. "As of this morning, your primary vault contains approximately four hundred and eighty thousand galleons and change. That is, without the Lestrange vaults' contents artifact value. Without your approval, we have not been able to review them properly and accurately inventory them. Madam Lestrange never allowed us to be within. Do we have your permission to enter the vault and start inventorying the contents?"
"Umm… yeah," Hermione nodded.
"Now, I am not the financial manager of the Weasley accounts, but between your personal accounts and what we know was part of the Lestrange accounts before they closed access, the Lestrange vaults alone would pay the figures you are looking for," Kraglin stated, staring at her, "Shall I draw up the purchase documents?"
Hermione stared at the document in front of her, then slowly drew a breath. "Yes, let's do it."
George looked at her as Kraglin stood walking out of his office. "We can still be capital investors for you. Give you twenty percent of the capital. That would put 200,000 galleons even in your investment." He looked at Fred. "What do you think?"
Fred nodded, "I agree, it's a worthy assessment."
Kraglin came back into his office with another goblin, whom Fred and George nodded to. "Miss Granger, this is Blaine, the Weasley family financial manager. Misters Weasley wished for him to bring your accounts on, and he has accepted."
Hermione bowed her head. "Thank you, Blaine."
Blaine grinned. "It is my pleasure, Miss Granger. I am glad that the Lestrange vault can finally be used properly."
~*~ 1st February 2000 ~*~
The bell above the door rang as a customer stepped into the shop. Hermione set her broom aside and greeted them, but both she and the customer couldn't ignore the swooshing and banging of a tiny broom. Rosella was standing in the corner of the entry, dragging her small broom across the floor, occasionally banging it against the floor.
"You are doing such a good job, sweet girl," Hermione told her.
Rosella grinned, continuing.
An older witch smiled as she walked over to the register with her book. "She is adorable."
"Thank you," Hermione said as she rang up her purchase and marked it on the inventory.
"I still can't believe you're closing this place," the woman said as Hermione bagged her book and handed it to her.
"Not forever. Just for a bit of renovation. I hope that when it reopens, it will be something truly special," Hermione stated.
As she handed the woman her sickles in change. A small thump, followed by a yelp, then tears made Hermione's head snap in Rosella's direction. Rosella must have tried to pull herself up, but toppled not one, but three books onto herself.
"Rose!" Hermione gasped, moving around the counter.
Before she could get around it, a familiar face swooped in. Luna had been behind another shelf and crouched beside Rosella. "Oh, sweetheart, these books are heavy, aren't they?" Luna cooed as Rosella's bottom lip popped out. "It didn't mean to fall on you."
The customer nodded to her as she left, and Hermione walked over to Luna. "Thank you, Luna." Hermione took Rosella into her arms and kissed her red forehead. "This place has been busier today now that I started the sale. Rosella has been trying to help, but we are still learning that not all books are her little ones."
"Glad that I was here to save a little princess," Luna said, brushing off her trousers. "I'm glad I can talk to you. Daddy sent me here for an exclusive for the Quibbler. He wants to do a piece on the store closing and your plans."
Hermione looked at her, surprised. "It's always good to see you. I just wasn't expecting reporter attention."
Luna smiled her dreamy smile. "I'm not a reporter. I am a teller of interesting news that helps my daddy, but here I'm just a friend who wants to help."
Hermione shifted Rosella to her hip, walking over to the counter and setting her down as she looked at Luna. "You will have to interview me solo. Mr. O'Brien took Mrs. O'Brien back to Ireland the day after we signed the papers. Her manager is managing the Bookworm, her shop, and I am here by myself."
Luna nodded as she pulled a small notebook and quill out of her bag, and Hermione put a cooling charm on the small red mark on Rosella's head. "So, what made you decide to purchase Leabhar Books?"
Hermione looked around at the well-loved shelves and the old beams in the ceiling. It showed evidence of generations growing up within its walls and memories. "Mr. O'Brien told me that he was selling, and George Weasley suggested that I take it over. I thought he was crazy, but the war was hard on me. When I had Rosella, she came early, and I went for over a year with undiagnosed postpartum depression. I needed a purpose, something to believe in again. Something that wasn't about the war or survival or even going back to a normal that didn't exist anymore." Hermione looked around the store. "Growing up, my parents brought me to the library every Saturday morning. It was a place for stories, for knowledge. When I came to Hogwarts, the library was the same. Books were my sanctuary. Now I want to help others find that too."
Hermione watched Luna finish writing.
"What are your plans for this place?" Luna asked.
"Mrs. O'Brien operated a Muggle bookstore just beyond the walls of Diagon Alley, connected by the back wall of this store. I purchased both stores. I hope to make this into a bookstore where the magical world can enjoy both worlds, a café for people to enjoy while they read books they've purchased or want to." Hermione smiled as she looked around, "I hope I can make it into that safe space for people."
~*~ 12th February 2000 ~*~
Hermione flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED, hearing the wooden sign tap against the glass. Pulling the blind down, she sighed and turned to look at Rosella, smiling. Rosella was curled up in her playpen, sound asleep with her doll that Harry had sent her. She had tried her hardest to stay up, eagerly greeting every customer with happy babbles as they gave her attention. She relished the attention with a gummy grin.
Luna's article had called her the 'Bookshop Baby', which had gained her more attention than Hermione had ever imagined. Customers had come into the store just to see her. One little girl had even brought Rosella a stuffed Kneazle as a gift. But once the last customers had left, Rosella had crashed inside her play pen, curling up with her doll with a yawn.
Walking over to the counter, Hermione opened the till and carefully started counting the money. After recording it in the ledger, she put it into the Gringotts-issued velvet bag.
Hermione called out, "Gringotts elf!"
An elf appeared in front of her with a soft pop, dressed in a small waistcoat. "Hello, Miss Granger. Do you have a deposit for today?"
Hermione took the slip he handed her and wrote the amount on it. "Thank you, Griffin."
He took it and read the slip, weighing it in his hands. He bowed, "Good day, Miss. Granger," the elf said, then popped away.
Hermione took in the silence of the store and the alley beyond. Checking the ledger, she saw a spare bit of parchment tucked beneath a book and realized she hadn't written to Harry in a while. Pulling it free, she grabbed a quill and started a letter.
Harry,
Thank you for the herbal potion suggestion. Between that and the medication from the doctor, I'm starting to feel like myself again. Some days are still hard, but I'm getting there.
Something unexpected happened recently. George helped me find a new purpose. There is a small bookstore near his shop in Diagon Alley, and I've started dreaming. I was able to get the Muggle shop just behind it. I'd like to knock down the wall and turn it into one space with a spell separating the two, Muggle and magical. A little bookshop, half magical, half Muggle. And if things go well, maybe even add a little café. And even partner with the pet shop next door. That is Luna's idea.
Imagine it. You walk in, find a book, cozy up on a couch with a warm drink, and you're flipping through the pages of a book as a cat curls up on your lap… and maybe that cat is looking for a home.
I know it might be a bit of a pipe dream, but honestly, it's the first time in a while I've felt excited about something. It's given me direction again. The best part is that I can bring Rose to work with me. She loves it here. All the stories, the animals, the people. It feels like something good is finally happening for me.
I hope you're well wherever you are tonight. Thank you for writing and caring.
Love,
Hermione.
Hermione blew on the ink to make sure it was dry before folding it. Setting it on the counter, she would send it in the morning.
Walking over to her playpen, she bent down and lifted Rosella gently from her playpen. She stirred, but remained asleep as Hermione flicked her wand, turning the lights off.
~*~ 1st March 2000 ~*~
"Where's my wand?" Hermione muttered for the third time. "I know I had it this morning when we got here!"
Ron leaned against the door frame of the Burrow, watching her tear apart the sitting room. "Are you sure you didn't leave it at the shop?"
"No, I had it when we got here and took the soot off our clothes!" Hermione said, pulling the cushions off the sofa.
Rosella sat on the floor, pretending to feed her stuffed dragon a bottle as she shushed her baby doll, who must have been crying in her imagination. She babbled cheerfully to it, unbothered by Hermione's growing anxiety.
Ron pushed himself off the doorframe. "Could Rosella have-"
Hermione stopped as she turned to the stroller. Crossing over to it, she lifted the doll, and there beside it was her wand. "Oh, Rosella!" Hermione groaned.
Rosella looked at her and giggled.
"You don't take Mummy's wand," Hermione scolded as Rosella clapped her hands, making Hermione smile.
Ron laughed. "Well, at least she didn't set the place on fire. First time Ginny got Mum's wand, she nearly did."
"Molly! We are leaving!" Hermione yelled.
"Did you find it?" Molly asked, coming down the stairs.
"Rosella hid it. We have to go before we miss the show," Hermione told Ron as she slipped on her coat.
Ron took her hand, and she apparated them to the alleyway nearest to the movie theater that she remembered. Walking side-by-side, Hermione and Ron walked down the sidewalk to the theatre. Hermione purchased their tickets, then led Ron to the concessions.
"What do you want?" Hermione asked him.
Ron examined the snack options. "Popcorn. Is there anything like cauldron corn?"
"Similar, just with a lot of butter," Hermione said as she stepped up and ordered a bucket of popcorn and two fizzy drinks.
Walking back to their theatre, Hermione picked seats toward the back so that if she had to take Ron out quickly for being a distraction, she could do so easily.
Ron took a handful of corn and shoved it in his mouth. "This is good. Want some?"
"I'm good, but thank you," Hermione stated, taking a sip of her drink.
"So, how's the sale going?" Ron asked.
Hermione grimaced, "Not as well as I'd hoped. The Muggle side is doing better than the magical," she whispered as people entered the theatre. "Most of the inventory is clear from storage, but only twenty percent of the in-store stock is gone. He was holding onto some great text. I am storing some of them for the new store. The others went onto the floor. If it continues this way, I may need to extend the sale through the end of the month. Maybe even into April."
Ron looked over at her, "But the Muggle side is doing better?"
Hermione nodded. "Much better. I'll probably close it first and start renovations there before tackling the magical side."
The lights dimmed, and Ron startled. Hermione smiled, "It means the movie is starting. I figured this would be the most interesting. It's somewhat intended for children. They did a Fantasia years ago, and this is the updated movie."
Within the first five minutes, Ron was captivated by the images on the screen, which matched the music. Hermione watched him watch a whale swimming across the screen, and he looked at her. "Are those real?"
"No, just animation. Drawings that are turned into a movie, but based on real whales. But whales don't fly." Hermione whispered.
After the movie finished, Hermione led Ron outside the Electric and started walking down the street.
"Where are we going?" Ron asked, taking her hand.
Hermione looked down at it, then back up to them, "Ron, this isn't a date."
"I know that, but can't two friends just hold hands?" Ron asked.
"No, I don't think that's appropriate," Hermione said, placing her hand into the crook of his elbow as they walked down Portobello Road, "We are going to the road market. Street foods and vintage goods. I thought you might find it interesting."
Once at the Road Market, they started walking through the setup booths when they heard a familiar voice. "Hermione?"
They turned to see Parvati Patil behind them, fingers interlaced with a familiar face.
"Parvati! It's been ages," Hermione said, surprised. "How are you?"
"Well," Parvati smiled, looking at the man that Hermione now recognized as Roger Davies. "Roger and I finally got out of our flat, and thought we'd visit the market. They have the best naan in the area."
Roger nodded at them. "Nice to see you both."
Parvati looked at Hermione. "Listen, I meant to owl you when you started up the bookshop. A group of us girls, Susan, Hannah, Padma, and I, started this monthly girls' tea. First Saturday of every month. We catch up, trade gossip, and just relax with each other. You should come."
Hermione looked at her, surprised, "Oh, I-"
"No excuses!" Parvati told her with a smile as she looked at Ron, "You can watch the baby for her, right? She needs a break, I'm sure."
"I'll think about it and let you know," Hermione told her.
"Brilliant. See you then," Padma said, wandering off.
Ron looked at her and nudged her, "Look at you talking to people."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It was Parvati. She was my roommate for six years. You talk like I was talking to the Queen or something."
~*~ 5th April 2000 ~*~
Looking out the window of her flat, the sky outside was as dull and gray as she felt. An ache was deep within her chest as she sat on the edge of her bed, legs curled under her. Clutching onto Harry's old jumper for comfort. Rosella had just woken up from her morning nap, her little voice calling for her from the next room. But Hermione didn't move right away. Her body felt heavy. It was her parents' anniversary today. It commemorated almost another year without them. Another day that she couldn't call her Mum for advice, another day that she couldn't visit or even send a card.
Wiping her eyes as the fireplace lit up, Ron stepped through and froze when he heard Rosella and saw her. "Everything alright?"
Hermione shook her head. "I just need a day to myself. Can you take Rosella for the day?"
"Of course," Ron said as he left her bedroom and walked down to Rosella's room. When he returned with Rosella and her doll, he bent down and kissed her head, "If you need me, you know where to find me."
Hermione wiped her tears, "Have fun with Uncle Ron. I know it's stupid to miss them so much. They don't even remember their wedding anniversary."
Ron cupped her cheek, "You're human, Hermione Granger. Who would've thought?"
Hermione kissed Rosella's cheek, and after one last hug, she was left in silence after Ron whisked Rosella away.
Curling up under her comforter, still wearing Harry's jumper. She sat wallowing for a few hours before the floo lit up. Hermione sat up, confused as Fred's head floated within the flames.
"Can I come through?"
Hermione ran her hand through her hair. "I don't really feel like visitors right now, Fred."
"I've got something for you."
Hermione laid back on her bed, huffing. "Fine, come through."
Fred stepped carefully through the flames, carrying something in his arms.
Hermione sat up, staring at him. "Why do you have a television?"
Fred grinned as he gently set it down, "After you took Ron to the movie, he wouldn't shut up about it. So… we turned into Dad. I started researching how they work. Ron got bored fast, but I stuck with it."
Hermione stared at him. "You researched electricity?"
"Well, I might have gotten accidentally obsessed. I spoke with Muggle electricians and even found a magical one. Turns out he uses a stabilizing charm so that electricity and magic can work together, not against each other. So, I improved upon it." Fred told her.
Hermione stood slowly. "You mean… this television will work? Here? In Diagon Alley?"
Fred nodded. "Should. I have been testing it for a week. Are there any Muggle outlets here?"
Hermione walked over to the far wall. "Only the one. Mrs. O'Brien is a Muggleborn. It runs through from her shop's second floor."
Together, they pushed her bookcase aside. Fred plugged in the set and turned a dial. For a brief second, there was nothing but static. Then a picture. Clear, sharp, and just perfect.
Hermione grabbed Fred's arm. "This is huge! You should sell these in the shop!"
Fred looked at her, surprised. "Really? You think people would buy one?"
"Yes!" Hermione laughed, "There are so many half-bloods or even muggle-borns that would love this."
Dropping to her knees, she began flipping through the channels. Music videos, cartoons, then…
"Stargate!" She gasped.
Fred stared at it. "That any good?"
"It was one of my dad's favourite shows," She whispered.
"Well then, enjoy," Fred said, stepping back through the floo.
Hermione stared at the television, feeling lighter than she had felt all day. For the first time in years, she felt at home.
~*~ 21st April 2000 ~*~
Hermione stood just inside the door to the Bookworm, the CLOSED sign flipped for the last time. Pulling the shades down for the windows, she glanced around the space. The shelves were mostly empty. What remained would be put into boxes and relocated to other stores or stored.
Behind the counter, Maggie, the older woman who had been managing the Bookworm, was entering the last of the register slips. Hermione walked over to her, "Maggie, I just want to say thank you again. I couldn't have handled the shop without you."
Maggie looked at her over her glasses. "I'm glad I could help."
"When the store reopens, I'd love to hire you back, if you are interested," Hermione stated.
The older woman pulled her cardigan closer and smiled, "That's very kind of you, but I think this was the nudge I needed to retire finally. My garden is calling to me, and I have a knitting group that I keep neglecting. I've been here for nearly 25 years."
Hermione smiled, "You've earned it then."
Maggie looked around and smiled, "Take care of this old place."
Hermione locked the door behind her, and the quiet settled in. Taking the sign she had made, she put it inside the window: UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. RENOVATIONS IN PROGRESS. STAY TUNED FOR MORE!
The next few days, she spent more time on the Muggle side than the magical side as the assistant manager ran it for a few days. Boxing up the remaining inventory, tearing down the old shelves, and visualizing her vision of where everything might go. Her hands were dry and cracking from the years of dust and the dryness of the pages, and her back ached. As she collapsed into bed every night after putting Rosella to bed, she quickly fell asleep.
~*~ 24th April 2000 ~*~
Hermione had woken up early on Easter Monday after leaving Rosella at the Burrow. She was staring at the wall that would become the Narnia-inspired portal between the two stores when the floo lit up and Charlie came into the store.
"You are here early," Hermione said, "I thought you'd be back in Romania by now."
"Thought I'd stick around for a bit," Charlie said, rolling up his sleeves to show his muscles, "I thought I'd lend some pure muscle." He told her, flexing his biceps.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Charlie, large muscles don't do it for me."
"Fun killer," Charlie said, looking at the wall, "Is this where you want to do the portal thing?"
"Yep, just trying to figure out how at this point," Hermione told him.
Charlie looked around the cleared-out room. "There is no loo here, is there?"
Hermione shook her head, "No. Why?"
"Hear me out," He said, walking over to the wall, "You wanted a small hallway to buffer between the two stores, right?"
Hermione nodded.
"On either side of the hallway are the restrooms. Just one toilet for each store. Hallway here in between as your portal," Charlie told her.
Over the next few hours, they worked side by side, taking measurements and marking where their ideas might go. Charlie even created the support beams and put up the temporary walls to help her visualize the hallway 'portal' and bathrooms. Just before dinner, Bill surprised them both by coming out of the floo.
"I thought you were coming tomorrow," Charlie stated.
Bill walked over to them, taking off his cloak, "Fleur went home by herself. Thought I'd stop over to see if I can do the spells for your wall."
"Perfect, this is what we came up with," Charlie said as he and Hermione walked Bill through the plans.
Bill stepped back from the doorway as the runes he had carved glowed as they locked into place. "This will keep Muggles from noticing the doorway. To them, it's just an employee-only door. On the magical side, it will say that they are entering a Muggle area and to behave properly, or authorities will be called."
Ron entered the room with Rosella on his hip. "Are you three still at this?"
"There is a lot to plan, Ron," Hermione told him.
Ron set Rosella down in her playpen, which Bill had created for her, that moved with Hermione when she would set it to do so. It was charmed so that she could not be removed or leave it herself.
Hermione set out her plans and started showing them to the three Weasleys when Ron nearly had his trousers pulled down by Rosella as she tried to climb him.
They all looked at her, surprised. "Rosella Lily Potter, how did you get out of there?" Hermione wondered.
Bill's jaw dropped. "That shouldn't be possible."
Charlie laughed, pointing to all her books piled up with a pillow on top. "She made her own stairs."
Hermione groaned. "She is the granddaughter of a Marauder. I'm doomed."
"No!" Rosella declared with her little finger.
Hermione frowned, "Did she just tell me no?"
Bill laughed. "You're in for it now."
~*~ 13th May 2000 ~*~
The smell of paint thinner filled the air as Hermione knelt on the floor of the Muggle side of the shop in a tank top and overalls, and her hair was tied back into a messy bun. She had torn up most of the old tile and linoleum from the floors. The wood beneath it seemed to be mostly undamaged. With each pass of the floor stripper, her shoulders ached more, but she was finally seeing progress.
Rosella was babbling in her playpen with a bubblehead charm over the top of it as it followed her around as she made progress. She had her toys and was happily playing with them for the first few hours, but it was obvious that she was getting bored.
A soft toy flew, falling beside Hermione. "Almost done, sweetheart," Hermione told her, blowing a piece of hair out of her face as she dipped the brush in the floor stripper and worked it across the exposed wood.
Standing up, Hermione looked around at the progress. Stepping back, she didn't see the ball that Rosella had thrown until it was too late, and her foot came down on it. Hermione slipped on the ball, then the paint stripper made her feet slide out from under her, causing her head to slam into the hardwood. For a moment, everything went white, then dark.
When she came to, Rosella was crying, and she had fallen into the roller tray, the smell of the paint stripper overwhelming.
Hermione blinked, her vision blurry and her head throbbing. Tasting copper on her tongue, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her wand. Her hand shaky, she whispered, "Expecto Patronum" and saw a blurry, misshapen Patronus come out of her wand. Pushing herself up, she groaned, feeling her hair sticking to the floor, and gasped as hair was wrenched from her head.
Ron ran inside the store minutes later, skidding to a stop as he found her lying on the floor, trying to push herself up. Ron fell to his knees in front of her, "What the hell happened?"
"Rose threw a toy." Hermione said, looking at him unfocused, "Slipped, hit my head." She closed her eyes, "Sick to my stomach. I think I am going to be sick."
"Bloody hell," Ron said, "George, come to the Muggle side of Hermione's shop now!"
Hermione opened her eyes, and the whole room seemed to spin as George appeared in front of her with a pop.
"Take Rose, I need to take Hermione to St. Mungo's," Ron said as he scooped Hermione up, and she vomited.
A concussion and laceration to her head were the diagnoses. With time and potions, both would be easily fixed. What could not be as easily fixed would be her hair. It didn't seem like Hermione had been out long, but between the paint stripper and primer, a huge chunk of her hair was missing. What remained was dark, clumped, and damaged on the back of her head.
Hermione shakily touched it.
"You'll more than likely need to cut the paint-damaged portions of your hair. I'm sorry, but the hair is damaged against your head. We cannot remove the substance unless it removes the follicles," Emergency Healer stated.
Hermione swallowed hard. "It's just hair," she said, trying to convince herself.
"Have a good day."
Swallowing hard, Hermione stared at her reflection in the small mirror they had given her. Splotches of white primer clung to her curls, and her hair appeared hard and glossy in spots where the paint stripper was on her strands. In an attempt to run her fingers through it, pieces broke off in her fingertips.
"Come on, let's get you to the house. Stay at the Burrow for just the night. I want to make sure you are okay," Ron told her.
Hermione slowly set the mirror on the table and nodded.
Standing in the Burrow's bathroom, Hermione stared at her reflection after her shower. The front of her hair was safe. Gently running a comb through it, her curls were healthy until around her ears. Hermione watched, horrified, as she gently combed toward the back of her head, and the hair behind her ears that hadn't broken in the shower was now falling to the bathroom floor in uneven chunks. Biting her lip, tears fell from her eyes as the comb snagged on a primer spot, and the teeth broke.
Grasping the counter in front of her, as sobs racked her body. She couldn't look at her reflection.
A light knock on the door was initially ignored. Then came a second as the door opened.
"Hermione?" Fleur asked, "I can help."
"It's awful, Fleur," Hermione gasped.
"Shhh," The older woman assured, shutting the door behind her. "I can help."
Hermione closed her eyes and tuned her out as the other girl worked. The snipping of the shears told her that she was doing it the mundane way at least.
"Here at the nape of your neck will be short, but I will keep the rest as long as I can to keep it even," Fleur told her.
"Just do what you need to," Hermione told her.
"What do you think?"
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and wanted to cry. Standing in the mirror, naked, was another woman with Fleur. It did not seem like her own reflection. Her hair, once long, bushy, and curly, was now long in front, only to her jawline. At her ears, it now stopped at her earlobes. Gently touching the back, it was short, barely to the nape of her neck.
Tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you. For doing what you could."
Fleur stared at her through her reflection, "Sleek Eaze has a shampoo. It helps relax flyaways. I will bring you some until your hair grows out."
Hermione swallowed, "Thank you."
Together they walked down the stairs, and Ron saw her. Standing up, he smiled. "You look brilliant."
"Thank you, I'll be glad when it grows back in," Hermione told him.
Rosella toddled over to her and stared at her. Ron swept her up. "You shouldn't be bending over just yet."
Hermione smiled. "She isn't even 10kgs, Ron. I don't think it would be much of a worry.
Rosella stared at her for a moment, then smiled. "Pretty Mumma."
Hermione kissed her cheek, "Thank you, sweet girl."
"How's the head?" Ron asked, adjusting Rosella on his hip.
"Still there," Hermione said, rubbing her forehead, "Just a slight headache."
/\/ <3 /\/ 17th May 2000 /\/ <3 /\/
"Potter!"
Harry paused as he went to unlock the door to his quarters. "Yes, sir?"
"Great job with the save on that woman today," One of his colleagues stated, walking by him.
"Thanks," Harry said, nodding at him, "Have a good night."
"We leave first thing in the morning," He reminded, going into his room.
Entering his room, Harry locked the door behind him. He sighed as he walked over to his desk and sat down to gather his papers. Seeing Hermione's last letter next to the photo of her and Ron, Harry picked it up, smiling, thinking of the store that she was trying to open. Taking out his last spare piece of parchment, he began to write.
Hermione,
I'm up in Siberia now. I was studying for a while at Koldovstoretz Wizarding School. You were right back at the World Cup. There are so many schools, and none of them are like Hogwarts. Most of the students at the school were Muggle-borns, or kids of parents who did not want them in the dark arts at Durmstrang. It nearly feels like a Muggle school with Magical practices. Maths and Sciences are part of their curriculum, while using magic as it unfolds around them.
I went up North, where it was so cold that my hair froze, to work with a small group of shamans. They don't use formal spells. It's rituals and rhythm. They use mushrooms, pumpkin seeds, watermelon, garlic, and turnips to create tonics, pastes, and in many other ways. Some of it makes our potions class look like a joke.
The healers taught me new practices of Ayurveda and Unani, blending magical and natural remedies. I've learned about acupuncture using needles, and how to identify meridian points on the body. It's delicate work, and at first, my hands seemed much too large and my body too clumsy, but it's oddly calming with the rituals.
Harry looked out the window at the setting sun.
The Northern Lights here are amazing. I wish you could experience it, Hermione. They shimmer and dance across the horizon like floating ribbons of enchanted colours as if something from above is blowing through the cold air. At one point, I looked beside myself, the first time seeing them, wishing that you were there too.
I cannot wait to see your bookshop when it opens. I can just imagine it, you in the middle of all the chaos, turning an old relic into something beautiful. You are building more than a shop. You are building a new starting point for yourself and Rose.
Talking about your mini-you (I imagine her that way), I hope she is well. I'm sure she is running the Burrow like the tiny Princess she is. I hope Ron
Harry closed his eyes, exhaling.
I hope Ron is taking care of you. You deserve someone who knows how special you are, how hard you work, and how much you love with all your heart.
Hermione, I miss you. I know you are with Ron, but it creeps up on me at times, just like frost on the windows. I miss talking to you, learning with you. I miss your voice when you are teaching me something, and the way your brows furrow when you are focused.
Harry bit his lip, looking out the window.
Take care of yourself. I mean it. Don't overdo it. And give Rose a hug for me.
Harry.
Tying the letter up with a gold string, Harry looked at the eagle owl at his window. "Take this to Hermione Granger."
The owl hooted, then took flight into the darkness, colours already starting to flirt with the horizon.
~*~ 31th May 2000 ~*~
The old bell above the shop door jingled for the last time as the final customer stepped out with a large bag of books. Hermione watched them go, then locked the door, turning the sign to CLOSED for the last time.
Turning around, her back against the glass, she looked at the mostly empty store. It was done. Everything that wasn't being saved for the reopening had been marked down to 75% off. The shelves were mostly bare, now showing signs of their age. Dust danced in the sun coming through the windows.
Hermione breathed out. The store was quiet. Much quieter than it had been before. Ron had picked Rosella up earlier so that Hermione could focus on the steady stream of customers throughout the day. Now she wasn't sure what to do with the silence.
These walls held more than the paper stories. It contained the stories of the lives that, for decades, people came and went within these walls, along with their children who grew up within them.
"This is mine now," she whispered into the empty room.
The anxiety was there, but she knew that she could do it.
Preview of Chapter 24- This Time Around
"Is it normal to have a sex dream?" Hermione's eyes snapped open as she covered her mouth, realizing she had spoken out loud.
Five heads turned in her direction as Hermione blushed. "I mean, obviously it's biologically normal, but…"
"Oh, we are not skipping that," Parvati grinned, "Who was it?"
Padma looked at her, "Ron, of course, right?"
Hermione bit her lip. "No… but we're not together anymore."
Luna's teacup clattered onto her saucer. "You're not? I thought you haven't been wearing your ring because of the renovations."
Hermione shook her head. "No, we decided it's better just to be friends and coparent. It's been better, calmer even."
Parvati leaned forward. "So, if it wasn't Ron… is Hermione having her sexual awakening at last?"
"Parvati!" Hermione hissed, but she couldn't help the laugh that bubbled from her lips.