By Chance to Intention

Chapter 1: Chance Encounters

"It's such a happiness when good people get together." 
― Jane Austen, Emma

Friday, Dec. 3rd, 2010

She sighed in relief, she felt more relaxed than she had in weeks as she meandered up the aisle of books in the small muggle library of Cokeworth. It was apparently a newer addition to the town, having overheard a few people discussing it while she was at the grocer's. Having just moved here with her son Henry in November, she was just getting the chance to peruse it on the quiet December afternoon.

Grabbing a book at random and flipping it over, Hermione read the summary quickly before shaking her head slightly and putting it back into its place on the shelf. Turning around, she scanned the opposite side of the row, when a title suddenly caught her eye. It was a book she had not read since she was quite young. I'm not even sure I own this book, which is shocking in itself.

Her thoughts were suddenly reminiscent of her seemingly distant childhood. She had always felt beyond her years, but it was not until she had hit 30 last year that the years seemed to catch up with her. She had not changed much, her hair still mostly untameable, but she often resorted to pulling it back at the nape of her neck or into a plait. There was the slightest impression of smile lines on her face. The only other distinct change was her use of a pair of square reading glasses. Although she knew it was something easily remedied with her magic, she truly enjoyed wearing them.

She paused when reaching for the memorable text, having heard the rustle of pages being turned nearby. Shaking her head, she knew there was no reason to feel as though she was being watched, and her thoughts soothed her. No one from the wizarding world would possibly come here to find me. Besides Harry or Ginny maybe. Grabbing the text, she opened it and began to read it, walking back up the row without looking up.

Finding her way to a cushioned chair nearby, she looked around for her ten-year-old son. Spotting him discussing something at length with a young girl around his age, she sat down where she would have a good view of them. As she became consumed with her book, she almost didn't notice the pair walking up to her once she was three chapters in.

Marking her place, she sat up, looking at her son's smart grin and curly head of dark hair. He hardly resembled his father, aside from being on the taller side for a nine-year-old and a spatter of freckles on his face.

"Mum, this is my new friend Katherine. I wanted to invite her over for dinner to show her my other books at home. Is it okay if she asks her dad?"

Hermione admired her son's friendliness, "It's wonderful to meet you, Katherine. I'd be delighted to have you over for dinner. If your father needs to speak with me first, just let me know."

The girl smiled, shook Hermione's hand, and nodded before walking away with Henry. Hermione returned to her book, considering the encounter. He's never invited any friends over before... I wonder why this one is different. He wants to show her his books. That must be it, she's a bibliophile like us. Marvelling in her thoughts, she had hardly gone back to reading before she heard the young Katherine's voice somewhere behind her.

"She's right over here daddy, the pretty lady in the green jumper!"

Pretty lady, how sweet of the girl. As her son came into view from the corner of her eye, she marked her place again and turned, halfway standing, to introduce herself to the girl's father.

Everything around them seemed to go still, except the two kids who were fidgeting nearby.

Hermione finally felt able to draw herself up to her full height when the man standing across from her said, "Miss Granger?" in a bemused voice, but seemed slightly tense.