Collide... D/Hr, H/G

Title - Collide
Author - Deidre
Rating - R, for later chapters
Ship - mainly Draco/Hermione
Summary - Hermione Granger is settling in her quaint little life. Her daughter is soon to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and her fiance, Ron, is finally about to receive the position of a lifetime. Everything around her seems happy, then why does seeing an old enemy throw life off-course.

Introduction

Hatzbelle's Coffee Shop, Diagon Alley: Noon

There could have been a hurricane in Diagon Alley today, but one Hermione Granger would have never noticed. See, she was engrossed in the novel before her, and only looked up to grasp her large cappuccino, take a gulp, and then set it back down so she could return to her book. She has read John Steinbeck's East of Eden before, but felt an urge this morning to take a glimpse back to a part of her Old World. The muggle world used to be all she knew except for that glorious day that explained everything. Her Hogwarts letter came by owl (unbeknownst to her at the time) to her at the tender age of eleven. Thinking on these things sends her into shock. For Lola, her daughter is now expecting that same letter in anxious anticipation.

Suddenly a shout of her name sends her back into her current reality.

" 'Ermione!"

She lifted her eyes and looked around, but saw no one. Then in a softer voice she heard it again. " 'Ermione." She turned around and to her surprise there stood a large, gruff looking man with the softest, black eyes she had ever seen.

In her surprised state, she almost dropped her book there on the sidewalk, but thought in haste to put it on the bistro table she was seated at.

"Hagrid! How are you?" she squealed as he pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

"Jes fine, dear; Jes fine. Ya know I'm on official Hogwarts business, but I do plan ter stop by Flourish's to take a look see."

"Oh, Hagrid you don't have to. I know you are really busy, but if you do have some free time, do stop by. We get so busy this time of year in anticipation of the first day of classes. It would be fabulous to see a friendly face."

With a twinkle in his eye, Hagrid could help to pick on her. "From what I 'ere, ya 'ave been seeing alot of a friendly face in Mr. Ronald Weasley, eh..." He couldn't help but chuckle at her cheeks that were slowly starting to show a little redness at his antics.

"Oh, Hagrid," she played, "There is nothing really going on to worry you we are just becoming good friends." Yes, just good friends. She thought. That's all!

"Sure, Herm, Sure," he said as he started walking of in a large manner. "See ya later, dear!" He yelled over his shoulder back at her.

As she sat back down, and took a large sip of her cappuccino, she nonchalantly looked at her watch ad checked the time. "Oh my! I have three minutes to be down at work at the register! I am going to be late, and that means I will be fired, FIRED," she yelled to herself as she quickly, yet very clumsily picked up her purse and book to run down the street, only to remember that she left no tip. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath as she ran back to throw a couple of knuts on the table and run of in haste again.

She always tended to be hard on herself in rough situations. She understood herself to be controlled. Others took that as controlling, but she didn't care. No, ever since her years at Hogwarts, she as proclaimed herself as an individual, and she liked it that way. She loved being herself, and really couldn't careless if no one like her the way she was.

Flourish and Blott's

"Yes, Mr. Scribbons. I understand, and it will never happen again," she called to the back room. Being chastised by her boss was definitely not on her to do list for the day, but somehow fit its place between lunch break and stocking back orders.

"Hermione, you are my best worker. I would hate to lose you to something so petty," Mr. Scribbons, owner of Flourish and Blotts, said as he came up from behind her with a cart full of books. "Now, since you are back, please put these in the proper place and after that you can come help me out with this inventory problem I am having."

"Not a problem sir," she replied as she watched him wobble away to speak to a customer.

Looking at the shelf before her and the pile of books to her right, she shuttered to think how much time it would take to put them in their proper place without magic, but thankfully, she didn't have that problem. She pulled out her wand, and quickly smiled at what she was about to do. She pointed at the top book, and like a natural gave the dictation.

"Wingardium Leviosa"

One by one the books flew to their proper spot on the shelf, and within 15 minutes the task was complete. Thinking of Mr. Scribbons directions, she rolled the cart back to the storage room. As she was heading back there, she must have been stopped five times before arriving at the counter, and then was asked by the part time clerk to take over her register while she went to use the restroom. "It never ends, does it," she thought to herself. But, she would never admit that she loved it. She loved the smell, and loved the atmosphere. In all actuality, she had been saving these last ten years just to buy a bookstore of her own. Old, new, big, and small, she didn't care. She loved all books, and the world that they opened up to her.

Finally, at five p.m. her shift came to an end. She hung her apron on the coat rack, and peeked in the office to tell Mr. Scribbons goodbye.

"Mmm," he grunted just like always.

"I'll be in at eight tomorrow," she replied oblivious to his rudeness as she started to walk out.

Just as she reached the door to leave, she heard him again, "Don't be late!"

She chuckled as she practically ran down the street to pick up her little girl.

This is my first real fic! Please Review! Constructive critism is hoped for, Flames are not!