Reconciliation

by Christina Ihnen

The snow fell in brilliant white flakes outside her window. She looked up from her thick book and wiped the glass off with her hand. Children were playing in the yard across the street, stuffing snow down their siblings necks. She smiled at the sight and the muffled sound of their shrieking laughter.

She turned back to her book and flipped the thin page. Even though she loved Hogwarts, a History, the words were blurring as her thoughts drifted. Stupid Ron, she thought to herself as she looked up to stare out the window again (the kids were now making a massive snowbank), why do you always have to ruin everything?

Thinking that trying to read anymore while her thoughts drifted to Ron was a lost battle, she marked her page and closed the book gently. She stood up and brushed her curly hair out of her eyes, setting off for the kitchen.

She walked slowly down the stairs and down the hall before pushing the door open and entering the kitchen. Her mum was humming tunelessly as she baked a chocolate cake, dark hair pinned up in a bun out of her face. She brushed her hands on her apron and looked up.

"Hello, Hermione," her mother said, smiling at her daughter. "Would you like to help me complete this cake? It's for the dinner that we're going to tonight. Would you like to come?"

"Umm, I don't think so," Hermione said, pouring the batter into the pan as the oven dinged.

Dr. Granger took the pan from her daughter and placed it in the oven. She looked back up and stared at her daughter.

"Alright, honey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, pulling on a strand of hair.

Dr. Granger reached out and tipped Hermione's head up to look at her.

"Is it Ron?"

Hermione's eyes widen a little. "How did you know that?"

Her mother laughed out loud. She then guided her over to the dinning room table and sat Hermione down.

"Sweetie, everyone can blatantly tell, just to tell you. I think Ron's the only one who can't tell that you two like each other. Now what happened?"

"He's dating another girl." She murmured under her breath.

"What was that?"

"He's dating my roommate."

"Really?" Her mother looked at her somewhat surprised. "Which girl?"

"Lavender Brown."

Dr. Granger nodded.

"You know...your dad was dating another girl when we met."

Hermione's head jerked up. "Really?"

"Really," Her mum affirmed and then she nodded again, smiling largely. "I was jealous at first. But I was pleasant to both your father and his current girlfriend. Life took its course, he realized she wasn't for him, they broke up, and the rest is, as they say, history."

They were quiet for a while as Hermione thought over what her mother had said. She stood up and walked slowly over to the window. The snow had stopped falling and the children had were going inside, dragging shovels and sleds behind them as they went. For a second she saw two redheaded children; one girl with curly hair and a younger boy with an orange Chudley Cannons hat on his head treading through the snow up to a small cottage...

"You really think he likes me?" She asked quietly, smiling slightly at her vision.

"How could he not after all that you've been through?"

Hermione and Dr. Granger laughed loudly.

"You know, I might come tonight."

"Good. Someone has to eat my sugar-free cake!"