Dear Stranger

Chapter One

September 2001

Hermione jammed her key into the old lock on the wooden backdoor of her shop and forcefully barreled her way into the back room. She huffed slightly as she moved a box full of the latest book shipment out of the way. She pulled off her mustard yellow scarf and set it on the old mahogany counter as she made her way to the windows. As soon as she had yanked on the old tether, the wooden blinds had flung themselves to the top of the window and the bright morning light had cascaded into the room. It really was a beautiful sight; a bookshop in the fall.

Another barreling down of the door in the back signalled the arrival of Hannah Abbot, on time as always. Hannah had been with Hermione at the shop since the beginning and was a fantastic worker, but now she was really just doing what she had to in order to raise the money necessary to buy The Three Broomsticks from Madam Rosmerta. Hannah wanted to own her own business and be her own boss. She also wanted to be closer to Neville, her fiance, who worked as the Herbology Professor at Hogwarts and she was very close to achieving her goal. Madam Rosmerta was ready to retire and although she had been made many offers on the place, she wanted it to go to Hannah and was willing to wait for her to raise the money.

"Morning 'Mione!" She hollered from the back room as she put away her coat.

"Morning Hannah!" Hermione answered as she started shelving a handful of books that had been tucked away behind the counter and Hannah entered the room, "How was your evening?"

Hannah sighed, "Not awful but certainly not splendid, I swear I'm going to kill my landlord if he raises the rent again before I can pay off Rosmerta. The wanker went off gambling last weekend and thought raising the rent would be a perfectly rational way to restore what he lost. I was enraged-" "And rightfully so" Hermione interjected, "thanks, but anyways I made my way down to his office and was fully prepared to hex his bits off until I realized how unproductive that would be."

"I think you made the right call, he would have just charged you extra for his bits had you gone through with it." She said with a chuckle, "Besides your not far from paying her, right?"

"No not at all, I've only got about 16 galleons left"

"Oh your next few paychecks ought to cover that!"

"I'm well aware. What are you guys going to do without me?"

"Well I'm sure Colin and I will find someone to cover the work, but I don't think it will be that much more difficult having two people reshelve books and work the cashier rather than three. Don't worry about us, we'll get along just fine." Hermione gave Hannah a comforting look as the poor girl's face was drenched in guilt.

"I know, I know," She said as she finally cracked a smile, "Where is Colin anyways?"

"Have you ever known him to be on time?"

"No, but I am surprised someone like you isn't more annoyed with his perpetual tardiness."

"I lightened up after the War, you all know that." Hermione began as she made her way to the back room to collect another box full of books, Hannah in tow, "I don't want to waste my time being angry over little things, I'd rather not burden myself with unnecessary stress. It takes its toll after a while."

Hannah seemed a bit squelched in silence at her response. "I admire you for that, Hermione, I really do."

The back door lurched open once more and Colin Creevey made his way into the shop. He looked rather off kilter, as he always did in the morning, and ruggedly handsome as the girls had deemed him. Hermione and Hannah had spent quite a lot of time devoted to the subject of Colin and his shockingly good looks, and after hours of debate they had settled on the conclusion that Colin was surprisingly, devastatingly handsome; much to his own oblivion. Colin was a very carefree and rather naive guy with an insatiable love for learning, much like Hermione's, and a proclivity for very dry, witty, one-liners. He had sandy blonde hair, a chiseled jaw, a lean build, and bright eyes. He dressed in oxfords and jumpers and wore tortoise shell glasses which often sat atop his head. He made almost every girl that walked in the shop swoon.