Smirks, Books and, Dirty Looks

I'm so happy to have you...

It had been a week since the dinner party. Hermione was sitting at home, she was going through her picture albums. How long had it been since these memories where created? She looked at pictures from first year, it was hard to believe it had been so long since she was that small. Memories of her receiving her acceptance letter from Hogwarts flooded her mind. Her parents were over joyed to see how happy she was. Her parents. Hermione tried not to think to hard about them, it only made her heart ache more as time went by. Had it been only 4 years since she last knew anything about them? Deep in thought she did hear anyone come through the bedroom door. 

"Mione?" Ron had entered the room. "What are you doing here love?" He sounded rushed. "It's Thursday Ronald, I never have work on Thursday." She sounded annoyed and that startled him. "Well you don't have to be so bloody rude about it now do you?" She sighed, "I'm sorry, I just—never mind." Hermione continued to look through the book. Ron stood by the door looking around and then focused on her. "What are you looking at?" He walked over to her on the bed and sat next to her. "Nothing, just pictures." she shifted away from him slightly. "Hermione why wont you look at me?" She willed herself to not look, "What do you want me to do? I'm busy, and besides why aren't you at work?"

The question threw him off. "I—I—Hm. I don't have work today, I haven't been feeling up to working." At this she shot him a look. "I'm sorry? You haven't been feeling up to work?" Ron looked down, and sighed, "I'm always bloody working, why don't you go to work in my place and see how, much it takes out of me." She looked at him furry starting to build inside her chest, "I do work Ronald, and if you haven't noticed, I work very hard. So hard in fact that I'm loosing my hair in the shower due to stress. While you sit around and wait for something to come around, I actually help people!" She could see she hit a nerve and immediately wanted to take it all back not matter how truthful it was. 

"You call that work? What sitting there and listening to people cry and bitch at you about something that can't ever change? Do you understand that you have all this, " he shoved his arms in the air as to include the whole world, "Thanks to me? You should be grateful. You should be honored that I let you work." Hermione lost it, without thinking she lifted her hand and felt it come across his face. Hard. Silence, deafening silence filled the entire room. Without blinking he stared at her. Hermione's pulse was racing, all the possible scenarios running through her head. Ron stood up and towered over her, "You know, if you weren't my wife, I would have killed you by now." He walked off leaving that hanging in the air. 

Hermione let out a breathe she didn't realize she was holding in, whispering, "Sometimes, I wish you would." Her daughter walked into the room moments later. "Mommy? Where is daddy going?" Hermione looked at her daughter and started to cry. "I don't know baby, I don't know." Sabrina walked over to her mother and stood in front of her concern filled her little face, "Why are you crying mama? Are you hurt?" Hiding her face away she shook her head, "No, mama is just feeling so happy that I have you here with me."Sabrina looked like she didn't believe her mother, but didn't question it further. 

"I love you mommy." Hermione's heart broke further. "I—I—" Sabrina hugged her mother, "I know." Hermione held her daughter close to herself almost wanting to combine her fragile little body to hers. She smelled like old books, a familiar smell, this soothed her. "Why don't we clean ourselves up and go to Flourish and Blotts?" Sabrina loved that place almost as much as her mother. She nodded and ran to get ready, leaving Hermione alone once again. This time the witch didn't cry. She looked at her mirror and frowned at her appearance. "I will not let you break me." She wiped her face and reapplied mascara. She magicked herself a new outfit and went to find her daughter. 

"Fay?" The little elf appeared, "Yes Mistress?" Sabrina jumped away and hid behind her mother. Both elf and witch chuckled, "I'm going to Diagon Alley. Do you need anything?" The elf hesitated, "Can Mistress bring back Fays candy? Please?" Hermione smiled and nodded. "I'll buy you some on our way back. Please let Ronald know we will be back later and to not wait up." The elf nodded and vanished. Sabrina and Hermione headed out of the house. "Stay close to mommy and clear your thoughts." With that Hermione apperated to the alley near Flourish and Blotts. "Remember to not stray to far inside and to always make sure I'm near. Have fun my love." 

They both entered the store and Sabrina walked to the little witches section and grabbed a picture book, sat herself on the pillow and began to trace lines with her fingers inside the book page. That was a beautiful sight, she was the best thing that ever happened to her. "Mommy is going to be over here okay?" She nodded and continued to flip through the book no doubt making stories up in her head. "Now, where was that book?" Hermione brought her wand out and swished it.

She frowned, usually this is how she found the book she was reading before. "Marianell, where are you?" She whispered. She swished her wand again and the book came flying towards her. "Blimey! Back again are we?" Ms. Mod came from behind the shelf. "Ms. Mod! You frightened me!" The witch exclaimed. "That's something I hear everyday, try something else next time dear. Still reading that old book love?" Hermione nodded, "It seems to be my favorite these days." Ms. Mod just hummed and went on her way. 

"Now, where was I?"