Pastel Skies

Chapter 1

Acknowledgements

Carl Corry, Thank You from the bottom of my heart for your tremendous support, the intricacies of British vs American English, brilliant ideas and of course proof reading. Please feel a fierce hug. I am proud to have you as a friend.

Brian E Millar, you are a gem for giving Angus an authentic Scottish voice. Truly, thank you!

Marc Jones, thank you for helping me with pint sizes and how much Draco would be able to drink. Party on Hufflepuff!

Jessica Bock, thank you for reading my smut and pointing out where I went wrong. Thank you for encouraging me to publish and introducing me to new platforms. I truly appreciate your help!

To my daughters. May you find the partner that will put you on a pedestal and lay you on a bed of roses. Always walk with Love.

1

"...what if we were able to connect the schools? All of them." Hermione mused, as she stepped over to the large windows of the teachers' lounge at Hogwarts, moving her wand in a downward motion to pull down the blinds to help against the glare of the bright sunlight streaming in. A brilliant sunshine like this was rare enough and she enjoyed it immensely when it occurred. Then she'd often sit by the lake after classes had finished for the day, stretching her face into its warmth, letting her curls fall loose down her back. She so loved the soft breeze weave through her hair and caress her skin.

Right now, however, the sunlight distracted her, weakening the image of her presentation, she had projected against the smooth wall of the lounge.

The room darkened considerably and the image of drawn lines between the different schools of witchcraft and wizardry across the globe intensified once more.

Hermione was presenting her breakthrough idea of connecting all schools, in order to build up a better curriculum for the International Studies Department.

Her fellow teachers of all the other 11 wizarding schools worldwide were growing more interested and impressed by the minute, asking questions and brainstorming along with her to make this project a success for everyone.

Hermione had been very pleased to welcome a special liaison and friend of the Japanese wizarding school Mahoutokoro. While they didn't see each other often, the elderly teacher had grown very dear to Hermione's heart and vice versa and they had actively kept up their correspondence over the years.

The meeting took up most of the afternoon and had allowed for the students to be off early that day. Now everyone was filing out, chatting wildly, heading towards the Great Hall for a quick cup of tea before the Feast that evening.

Hermione stopped by her office to drop off her materials, fished out the finely woven, thin scarf she adored so much from her chest of drawers. It still held the faint scent of her perfume, citrussy, fresh and a tiny bit spicy like summer and sunshine. She didn't like the usual fragrances, women wore, heavy, sweet, powdery, overly flowery. Her scents were Eau de Vacances and Ginger Essence.

Light in colours of blushed pale pink and pastel hues, Hermione's scarf was a favourite go-to piece that matched almost any clothes she owned. She loved scarves and gloves; hats not so much, as it tended to give her "hat-hair", which was an ordeal to fix, given her full head of curls.

She hung up her robe, snatched up the long bat-sleeved cardigan off the back of her chair, waved her wand up and down her female figure to reveal the casual Hermione, dressed in Jeans, a white T-Shirt, and comfy Vans. She donned the cardigan, closed the door on her office, locked it non-verbally and took the worn steps down the long winding staircase and out the grand double-doors. From here she could already see the distant lake, smell the fresh and sunbathed Scottish spring air of early May.