Vacation

{one-shot}

A/N

(aka Disclaimer)

So: I had the idea. I executed the idea. And then I read the idea the next day and realized it's a bit wild, kinda raunchy, and a bit off-character. I wanted it out of my system. I wanted to publish it regardless of what I thought of it, though because maybe someone will enjoy it!

Hermione hung up the line and felt the breath collapse from her lungs. She sagged into the closest chair, closing her eyes and sending out a silent prayer if not only for the fact that she'd just completely lied to her parents.

Their relationship had been rocky for a long time, ever since she'd restored their memories, Hermione and her parents hadn't quite possessed the same familiarity as before. They found it hard to place trust in her, and for the last few years she'd been repairing that. Attempting to do so, anyways. Hermione called at the same time every week, never asking for anything but the spare time to visit, and always at the same time. She promised them that she was healthy and happy, and that her friends and job were taking care of her needs. They never talked about the war, the one time when she gave them back their memories was enough.

Her father often asked if she still liked her job, and her mother always made sure she was brushing her teeth. The conversations were dry and tedious, but Hermione stuck to the routine like a lichen on a rock. She hated that she was the cause of the discomfort, that what was once a friendly and comforting pair of people to her were now cold and just out of reach.

Hermione pushed her hands through her hair and gritted her teeth, not caring that it was a bad habit that would have made her dad glare at her until she stopped. The idea only made her angrier, though why she was angry had almost nothing to do with her parents. Sort of.

Glancing at the telephone with a healthy dose of disdain, Hermione thought about the giant lie she'd given out like presents on Christmas.

"Do you have a boy, Hermione? A respectable... wizard, we suppose? Your father mightn't care to know, but... well we're hoping that you do because we hate to think you're alone. And the trip to our summer home in Australia would be so lonely for you in a few weeks because, we're... well, we won't be there when you're scheduled to arrive."

Hermione remembered almost hanging up the phone right at that moment, because why in Merlin's name were her parents not going to be there when she arrived in twenty-three days? She wasn't counting, but she loved being with them there, and she'd put off almost all of her vacation time for this trip.

"How long won't you be there?" She'd wondered, attempting to keep the astonishment from her voice.

"Only a week. We couldn't find a replacement dentist for the practice for that long, we're so sorry, honey. That's why we're hoping you have a man you would like to accompany you?"

Hermione remembered her mouth gaping until her mother checked to see if she was there.

"Yes," she'd said hesitantly... and of course her mother thought she'd meant yes to the original question, not if she was still at the other end of the receiver.

"Oh! Wonderful, well, who is he? Would you tell us about him?"

Hermione remembered being very confused, she still was thinking about why she hadn't just corrected her mother and told her that she would just come for the week alone.

"He's..." Hermione stopped there, wondering who she could rope into going with her platonically. She could just make up a lie later about why she was single again, but the only person she could think of was Harry, and they knew well and good that he was with Ginny.