Hilltop Cottage

A/N: Another short chapter, but necessary.

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Hermione walked into her new apartment with a smile on her face and a bounce to her step. She had fallen in love with the place, because it was so completely different to Hilltop Cottage. Light and modern, the main living area and kitchen was open plan, with a huge picture window giving an amazing view over Central Park. Best of all, the Floo was connected to all of the buildings she needed access to, so she could zip around the city quicker than if she used the subway.

Hermione stood in the kitchen and waited while the microwave nuked a plate of ‘Chinese Prawns with Angel Hair Noodles,’ grabbed a glass of wine and then carried everything over to the low level couch. A pile of post sat on the arm, and as she ate with one hand, she opened her mail with the other. The first letter was from Harry, telling her the gossip from the Ministry. Hermione smiled but felt so detached that he could have been talking about another planet. The second was from her estate agent, telling her that although he had a tenant for the property and her rent was being paid on a regular basis, there had been no sign of life around the house for a while, as it seemed the tenant was away. Did she want him to call by and check on the house? Hermione made a mental note to write back to him in the morning, because tonight she was going out on the town with Alicia.

Finishing her meal and gulping down the wine quickly, Hermione put her dishes in the sink (another job for tomorrow) and dashed to have a quick shower. The bathroom was en suite to the large bedroom, with such a powerful shower that she felt buffeted by the steaming water jets. Invigorated, she wrapped her fluffy white robe around her and opened the walk-in wardrobe, pulling out a navy dress and silver shoes. Drying herself quickly, she spritzed herself with perfume and used her wand to dry her hair before styling it artfully at the nape of her neck. If there was one thing Hermione had learned to do since moving to New York, it was take care of her appearance, and as she looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting the neckline of the dress slightly, she almost didn’t recognise the girl who had left New Mills just over a month before.

As she walked to the Floo, she immediately regretted drinking her wine so quickly. She could feel the effects of the alcohol already, but she shrugged it off. It had been ages since she’d been dancing, and she couldn’t wait. Flooing directly to Alicia’s brownstone house, she walked through into the large kitchen to find her friend.

She felt at home in Alicia’s house, because she had lived here for three weeks while they searched for her own place. They had spent hours in the cosy lounge, sipping wine and talking about their lives and their work, and Hermione had found a better friend in Alicia than she had ever had before. She had even told her all about Severus, and Alicia had been enthralled. She had obviously known of the war, and to hear that two of the heroes had been an item was fascinating to her. She had been a shoulder for Hermione to cry on, she hadn’t judged her or said she had wasted her time with him; she had just listened and supported her. Hermione found her acceptance refreshing, and through it, she had felt her feelings of loss start to lessen.

Alicia worked at the local wizarding hospital, a section of Bellevue that was cleverly hidden from the Muggles. Hermione had visited her research department, where Alicia was working on using Charms alongside other therapies. It was fascinating work, and they had ended up having a discussion about the use of Potions in Muggle healthcare, another area that Alicia had been keen to explore at some point.

Feeling a rush of warmth, she watched as Alicia clipped on her earrings at the dining table.

‘Hi sweetie, you look gorgeous,’ Alicia said lightly as she stood and grabbed her clutch bag.

‘Wow, so do you,’ Hermione gasped. She stared in awe at Alicia’s figure, clad in a cream, silky sheath, her gold coloured stiletto shoes making her taller than she already was. Her blonde hair was pinned in a high ponytail on top of her head, and her makeup was flawless.

‘I hope we manage to engage some intelligent men tonight. I can’t bear talking to dweebs who forget we have brains!’ Alicia said, laughing loudly.

Hermione laughed, but pulled her mouth into a rueful grimace that Alicia noticed immediately.

‘I’m sorry. I’m only teasing. I know you’re not interested in men, but honey, its fun,’ Alicia giggled, and pulled Hermione to her and hugged her gently.

‘I know,’ said Hermione softly. ‘I wonder if I will ever be able to meet another man and not compare him to Severus.’

‘If that’s the case, even the dweebs will win,’ Alicia said sarcastically.

‘Stop that,’ Hermione said firmly, but then laughed. ‘You didn’t even meet Severus. He really was incredible, you know.’

‘Sure. But he’s also the man who broke you’re heart, and I will never let you forget that. Now, let’s go find someone cute to flirt with.’ Alicia winked playfully at Hermione, who couldn’t help being swept away by her friend’s good mood and enthusiasm as she followed her to the Floo.


***

An hour later and Hermione was having the most fun she’d had in ages. The club was full of gyrating bodies, the music was pounding, and she was more than a little bit tipsy. As she danced, a blond haired and very handsome wizard shimmied over to her and bumped against her playfully, and she giggled, meeting his startling blue eyes as he grinned back. They danced for two more songs, until he guided her from the dance floor by her elbow towards the bar.

‘I’m Oliver,’ he said, holding his hand out formally. Hermione laughed at the contrast and shook his hand firmly.

‘Hermione,’ she replied, a little loudly.

‘I’ll get the drinks,’ he said, turning to the bar.

He didn’t ask her what she wanted and she felt a little put out for a moment, until he handed her a Manhattan. It was what she had been drinking, and she raised her eyebrow slightly as she eyed him over the rim of her glass.

Oliver chuckled warmly. ‘You got me,’ he said. ‘I was watching you.’ He shrugged, a little embarrassed, but relaxed as Hermione laughed.

They stood watching the crowd for a moment, and Hermione waved at Alicia on the dance floor. She waved back, grinning, and then proceeded to bump and grind with the shorter, dark haired man beside her.

‘You know Alicia?’ Oliver said in her ear.

‘Yes. She’s why I’m here, actually. We’re friends.’ Hermione smiled up at him.

‘What did you say your name was again?’ Oliver frowned slightly.

‘Hermione… Granger,’ she said.

‘Not Dr. Granger?’ Oliver said incredulously. ‘I assumed you’d be older.’

‘Really?’ Hermione’s eyes danced with amusement at Oliver’s embarrassment as he realised what he’d said.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I work in Alicia’s department, you see. The award, well, we all worked hard for it.’ Oliver looked away from Hermione and stared out at the crowd, but his thoughts were obviously elsewhere.

Sensing a change in atmosphere, Hermione took her leave and went to the loo. As she walked into the cubicle she felt suddenly dizzy and closed her eyes. She could feel the cocktails rushing through her, and was shocked to find that she was thoroughly pissed. Her stomach started to roil and she started to feel flushed. In haste, she turned around and threw up, then rested her head against the wall. Gods, she felt awful. Heaving, she bent over and vomited again, knowing that she couldn’t make it through the rest of the night in this state. She left the cubicle and splashed cold water onto her face before finding Alicia and making her apologies.

It was with relief that she collapsed on her bed in the apartment, and she allowed the cool bed linen to sooth her as the room continued to spin. Feeling wretched, she willed herself to sleep.

Hermione spent the next two days recovering from her night out, and was thankful she had made no plan plans for her weekend. She had no hangover potion, and resolved to order some as soon as she felt able to move without the need to vomit. She realised that it was most likely food poisoning from the prawns, and decided to avoid them in the future.

When she went to the Proctor Prewitt library on the Monday morning, she felt relieved for the calm atmosphere. The main archives were housed in a light and airy building so far removed from the dark, dusty library at Hogwarts that you would have thought it was a bookshop. She was still aching and exhausted, but at least the queasiness had gone. To be able to sit and just read for the whole day was exactly what she needed.

Pulling a pile of books towards her, she lifted the top one and smiled to herself contentedly.