The weekends were basically the greatest, especially when there wasn't any homework weighing over him. He was a terrible procrastinator, so it would be, quite literally, hanging over him until he finally motivated himself to get it done. Usually at the last minute. It was a terrible cycle, but Peregrine didn't care enough to really work towards changing it. That'd take time and effort he'd rather spend doing other things. But this weekend he didn't have any, which was just another reason why he was really enjoying his senior year so far. The workload was so much lighter.
He'd spent the morning debating whether to just stay at home and chill with his family, or actually go out and do something with his day of freedom. He went back and forth between the decisions for a little while, before finally deciding that it might be good to get out of the house. He decided to head to the bookstore and see if they had any new new CD's. The Neighbourhood had a new album out that he'd pretty much fallen in love with already. And sure, CD's were quickly becoming a thing of the past, but he still really liked them. For sentimental reasons mostly.
There was just something special about being able to hold one of those discs in your hand, having it physically there, and then to display it proudly on a shelf. He was accumulating a nice collection already and he was definitely interested in expanding it. Besides, he was absolutely convinced that CD's sounded so much better than any of the downloads on the computer. Of course, he was also aware that the idea might just be something he had stuck in his head, because that tended to happen sometimes too.
So, walking out of his neighborhood with an iPod in his hand and earbuds blasting music into his ears, Peregrine walked contentedly as the autumn breeze swept around him. The weather was pretty perfect and it reminded him a little of the beach--well, the beach on an overcast day, with the breeze being swept in so strongly by the waves. It was, hands down, definitely one of his favorite places to be.
Catching a bus, he took it into town, lost inside his music and his thoughts. He felt just about weightless without having to worry about any obligations for the next two days. His mind was allowed to soar without being encumbered by anything. He always wished he could just stay in moments like this, or to at least pause it for a little while. Time moved way too fast. When the bus stopped, he walked the remaining distance with an easy pace, before reaching the bookstore, entering, and then immediately smiling at the comforting scent of books and coffee. He'd spent so many great hours in bookstores like these with his dad, It was a great feeling to be pulled into those wonderful memories for a little while. It created a pleasant, nostalgic sort of atmosphere.
He shut off his music and wrapped the cord of his headphones around the device before securing it in the back pocket of his jeans and making his way towards the music section. He told an employee he passed that he was just looking around when she asked if he needed any help. She nodded and he smiled before continuing on his way. He scanned the rows of albums, trying to take it all in, before pausing as he saw the album he'd been looking for. Lifting the headset device, he selected the appropriate disc and closed his eyes again as he listened to the amazingly clear audio track, the sound of it shutting out everything else.
A pleasant smile was practically plastered on her face as the girl made her way down the cobblestone walkway, one destination in mind: the bookstore. It had been such a long time since she had an afternoon all to herself like this, without work, or pressing engagements, or wedding arrangements to make, or a date she had to keep with Ronald. She was overdo for a nice, quiet day to herself, doing the one thing she enjoyed most of all: reading. Being able to sit down, leaf through the pages of book after book, soaking in the unrivaled scent of those old pages and an Earl Gray tea to go with it. It was making her all giddy, just thinking on it.
Most girls got all worked up over dresses, or jewelry, or make-up, but for Hermione Granger, there wasn't a single thing that could compare to the enjoyable pastime of book shopping.
As she stepped into the little establishment, she felt her smile widening to a grin, and she wasted no time in greeting the shopkeeper. After all these years, the lady didn't even bother asking if she needed any assistance. In fact, she was always so considerate, she knew how Hermione liked to be left alone when she came in here, and so she rarely interrupted her perusals unless she had something to share about a new shipment they had just gotten in, or if one of her favorite authors was scheduled for a new release. And those were always some of the very best days here.
After taking a brief moment to decide whether to begin her perusal, or place an order for the tea first, she opted for the former. If she picked out a book, she could start reading it while she waited for them to prepare the tea for her. Therefore, she plunged herself into the throngs of the store, browsing over the first few shelves, and coming to several stops when her honey-brown eyes glanced over a particularly intriguing title. She mentally noted how quiet it always was in here. In bookstores and in libraries. It was honestly one of her favorite things about it. There was an established speaking level when you were in here, and everyone was considerate of one another, not to interrupt the reading that was always taking place. Sometimes, they would even play subtle, instrumental music in the background. Her fingers traced book spine after book spine.
This was just perfect.
When she finally made a selection, she took the book off its place in the shelf, making sure to note where she had gotten it from so she could return it to its proper place when she was finished, before making her way back toward the front. As she walked across the store, her eyes already straining in the direction of the cafe in the corner, she cast one final, quick sweep over the vicinity, before she stopped short in her walk. She noticed a familiar figure, standing amidst the CD selection, with headphones on and his eyes closed. He seemed to be completely engrossed in whatever he was listening to.
She stared at him another moment, just to make sure he was actually who she had thought she had recognized, before making her way over to him. With a warm smile, she reached over and tapped him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention, after which she greeted him with a friendly tone, "Hi, Peregrine."
Having been completely caught up in the music blasting through the headset, Peregrine hadn't even noticed anyone walking up to him. So, when he felt a tap on his shoulder, his eyes immediately opened and he turned with a confused expression, before recognition took over and he answered her greeting with a smile. Lifting his hands, he removed the headset and his smile widened,"Hermione? Hey!" He shook his head and then extended an arm out to her for a hug, "it's been, like, forever! How've you been?"
Hermione Granger had been his neighbor for most of his childhood and they'd spent a lot of time hanging out back in the day. He had even been a regular patient at her parents' dental practice---much as he always hated it. He didn't think he really hated very many things more than he hated going to the dentist. In spite of that though, he'd had some good times with her. She had been a pretty bossy kid and they clashed a lot when it came to determining who was in charge, but their disagreements never lasted long. He didn't hold grudges and she had been pretty forgiving. However, they sort of just naturally drifted apart when she went off to boarding school and his parents moved him across town. Of course, they tried to make a point of seeing each other here and there over the few summers that followed, but it had been a good four years or so since then.
"You're all grown up now," he said with another smile.
She watched the recognition waft over him, and as it did, he returned her smile, and she felt her own widen. She was so happy he hadn't forgotten her, it had been a long time. When he offered her a hug, she immediately accepted it, pulling him close, but she took a quick step back to get a better look at him.
"Seems I'm not the only one," she returned with a laugh.
It was actually rather strange, seeing Peregrine like this. Seeing him this old. The last time she had seen him, he had still been attending middle school, he was just coming out of that awkward stage. But, now? Now, it looked as though that was all old news, he was well past all of that. How old would he be? Seventeen? So much had happened since last they had seen one another, so much had changed her. She had gone through so much, lost so much, and effectively aided her friend in conquering the greatest Dark Wizard the world had ever known.
She wondered what sort of things her old friend might have gone through in all this time. He was always such a sweet person, although...maybe a little controlling. Not that she was really one to talk. Surely, he must have so many stories to tell. When she thought of that, though, she couldn't help feeling a little guilty. She always felt just a little terrible for lying to all of her old friends, all of the muggles she had grown up with. After all, she wasn't allowed to tell them about magic, it was one of the most strictly forbidden acts in the wizarding world. No exposure. It was a little sad, but...she supposed it was just the way things were.
"It's definitely been too long," she decided, with a slight shake of her head. "For a moment there, I barely even recognized you."
"Same here," he agreed with a nod. Granted, she didn't look as different as he probably did, but that was mostly just because, at 15, she'd already grown in to herself, while he had still been in the process of that. It wasn't as drastic a difference for her. But she definitely looked older, more mature. There was something else too, something he couldn't really put his finger on it. She looked a little....sad, maybe? Something about the look in her eyes. It made him wonder what the last few years had been like for her.
Whatever the changes though, she was still obviously the same old Hermione. "At least neither of us seems to have changed too much," he said. "I mean, you're still hanging around in book stores." She'd always been like that. She used to spend almost all of her time reading. Peregrine personally preferred actually writing his own things, but he didn't mind a book now and then either.
When he realized that he could still hear the music blasting out from the headset in his hand, Peregrine turned to set it down before pausing it and then looking back at her, hands slipping into the pockets of his jeans. "What have you been up to?"
At his comment about her in bookstores, she could already feel herself laughing again. Perhaps she was a little predictable that way. Her interests hadn't honestly changed much over the years, all of her passions, her ambitions...they were still the same. It was strange how, no matter what else had happened, what else had changed, that had remained constant.
She briefly wondered if Peregrine's own interests had stayed the same, also. Though, based on the fact that he had been listening to music when she had seen him, and how she could spy earbuds hanging out of his pocket, she felt confident in assuming that they had.
What had she been up to? Oh...where to begin?
"There's been an awful lot, actually," she started, with a head tilt and a wry smile to go with it. "Let's see...well," her head lifted, just a fraction, in pride, as she informed him, "I graduated top of my class a few years back, and I just recently got a promotion at my firm. I'm working as an attorney, now. I've...," she trailed off with a slight shake of her head, still marveling at how different things actually were. She had known Peregrine best when they had been children, and now she was moving toward starting a family of her own.
"It sounds so strange to say it, but I recently got engaged, also," she stated, shifting the book to her right hand, so she could lift the other and show him her ring finger. This was definitely something she was still getting used to.
Peregrine just silently listened as Hermione began to explain some of the things that had happened over the past few years. He smiled a little when she mentioned graduating top of her class, not feeling at all surprised, but definitely still pretty impressed. She'd always been good about pushing herself and staying focused. He always remembered her as being one of the smartest people he knew.
And she was an attorney too, which sounded just about perfect. She was sharp and observant, and also had a reputation for winning just about every argument she involved herself in---a trait that you used to really get under his skin at a time. He had always felt so riled up, challenged to argue right back, but usually failing miserably.
When she mentioned the engagement though, he was definitely surprised by it. His smile turned a little disbelieving as he saw the ring and shook his head. "Wow," he said to her. "That's crazy!" She really had grown up, hadn't she? Already well on her way to leading a successful life. He never thought she'd marry young, but he supposed, since she already had a career going, that it was the next logical step for her to take. He hadn't even been aware she was seeing anyone. Hermione had never been very boy crazy, she had thought most of it was just silly, but it was also just another part of growing up. "Congratulations," he said, genuinely happy for her, bemused smile turning into a full-on grin of excitement for her. "For everything, I guess. The graduation, the job, the future husband, that's all some pretty amazing stuff, Hermione." He shook his head, "so weird how fast the time goes by though, isn't it? Seemed like yesterday when we were just playing in the backyard."
Hermione witnessed his disbelief, the widening of his eyes, the incredulous reaction, and she could hardly fault him for it. To be perfectly honest, she could scarcely believe it herself, more often than not. Things had been moving relatively quickly since graduation, she was speeding into her adult life at a rate she could hardly keep up with, making an enormous transition, but she also couldn't say that she really minded it. She hadn't ever been looking for a family life, necessarily, but she did like the idea of it. It would be a grand adventure, teaching her children all that she knew, passing her knowledge onto them, watching them grow. And to get the chance to do it beside one of her best friends was a wonderful outcome of events, one which she hadn't ever really allowed herself to completely anticipate in the past.
She listened to him with a warm smile, to his congratulations, and as he began to reminisce, she nodded her head slowly, in agreement. "I know," she told him. "I feel the exact same way. So many things have happened, so much has changed, and yet, it's crazy how it feels as though almost no time has passed at all. I'm still having a little trouble catching up with it myself, sometimes." Lowering her hand, she placed it back on the book, glancing briefly down at the engagement ring, before she returned her honey-brown eyes to meet his gaze once more. "Thank you, though, Peregrine. Really."
That was so freakin' true. For sure. Time worked a little strangely that way. How it was both moving too quickly while also feeling that not much time at all had passed. It was actually pretty scary, every time Peregrine really thought about it. Life was very short and they could only live it once. In no time at all, he'd be ninety years old and looking back on it all in the same way he was doing now, feeling that this moment too had just felt like yesterday.
He stopped himself from indulging that thought process too far though, and just looked to Hermione's ring again when she did the same. It made him wonder what sort of girl he'd ask to marry someday. It was definitely something he wanted, always had. To have a family of his own and to spend the rest of his life with the person he loved most. He had plenty of time to find her, of course, but he often wondered. He wasn't even seeing anyone at the moment, so the possibilities were pretty much completely out there. He also didn't have many preferences as far as personality went. No specific traits he simply had to have. He just figured he'd know when the time came. And then, when he reached that ninety year mark, he'd have someone to reflect back on life with. It was definitely the most comforting part of growing old and helped a little with the scariness of it.
All of that also led him to wonder what sort of person had become the love of Hermione's life, and so he smiled as he looked up at her again. "You're welcome," he said with a nod, before waving a hand towards the cafe in the corner of the room. "Do you wanna grab a coffee with me? You can tell me all about your fiancee. I'd love to hear how it happened." He hoped she'd take him up on it, but he would also understand if she just wanted to continue her book shopping and get on with her reading.
"I'd love to! I was actually just about to head over there, anyway," she informed him, glancing toward the café, and then proceeding to begin leading the way.
Glancing back toward him, she couldn't help the fond smile. He had always had a soft spot for coffee, hadn't he? Ever since those mornings, years back, when he would make it for his dad before he went into work. That's what had first started him on that slight addiction. Personally, she still planned to have her tea, and even though she probably wouldn't get a chance to do much reading today, she found she didn't actually mind so much. Getting a chance to catch up with an old friend sounded just as good.
"Oh really? Wow, that just works out perfectly then," Peregrine said with a wide smile, before trying his best to keep from openly chuckling when Hermione took it upon herself to take the lead towards the cafe area. Yep. She was still as bossy as ever, even if it was much more subtle than it used to be. He was happy she'd decided to do this though. He'd missed her and was definitely interested to hear more about what her past few years had been like.
With a final glance towards the CD's, he made a mental note to come back and grab one of the albums he'd been listening to when he was done. He then followed Hermione unhurriedly through the store and was pleased when he saw that there wasn't much of a line at the counter. He'd always hated waiting. He scanned the listed items and pursed his lips a little as he sifted through the choices. It was always a toss up for him when it came to coffee. To make his selection based on flavor and simply enjoy the taste, or actually select something that would provide a real caffeine boost? It was always one or the other. What was he in the mood for today? He wasn't too tired, most of his energy holding out alright so far, and the peppermint flavoring was looking pretty appealing to him too.
With a little more back and forth and after a final hesitation, he silently made up his mind and smiled towards Hermione as they waited, as if he hadn't just been in the middle of a somewhat frustrating, mental battle with himself. "Know what you want?" He asked conversationally.
After coming to a stop at the back of the short line that was forming from the counter, Hermione glanced over at Peregrine and watched as his expression made a slight shift, as his blue eyes perused over the options listed overhead. With a small, knowing smile to herself, she realized that he seemed to be having a bit of a difficult time deciding, but, ultimately, it seemed he'd chosen something, and so, when he turned to her with an easy smile, she just pretended not to have noticed at all.
"Oh, yes," she replied simply, her mind having been made up before she'd even walked out her front door this morning. "I'm just going to have an Earl Gray." Her eyes drifting briefly toward the list, as his had been not a moment before, she asked, "What about you?" In all honesty, she was curious what he'd decided on, which choice had actually won out in his head.
Peregrine nodded at her immediate answer, his smile widening just a little. Of course she'd already had her mind made up. And her tastes hadn't really changed either. She asked her question and he was glad that he was also ready to provide an answer. Once his mind was made up, his decisions would usually stick. "A white mocha. With peppermint," he replied. His own tastes hadn't really changed either. The line inched forward and he moved with it. Only a few more minutes to go.
"Ever had it?" Maybe it was too sweet for her though. He never remembered has being too big a fan of really sweet things, and he'd always wondered if that had something to do with the professions of her parents. It'd make sense.
When Peregrine related his beverage choice to her, Hermione's eyes lifted to the ceiling in thought. That did sound like an interesting drink, and she'd heard it was quite good, from several reliable sources, but... "No, I've never tried it, myself," she replied, bringing her brown eyes to rest on him with an easy smile as they both stepped forward in line. "It sounds good, though. Like it'd make for a nice winter drink. Peppermint in general has always made me think of Christmas, though, so I'm sure that's why."
Peppermint, gingerbread, cinnamon apples, pine...they were always connected in her mind, and they always circled back around to the happy yuletide season.
"Well, you know," Peregrine shrugged. "Peppermint is kind of a winter flavor, isn't it? Makes me think of it too. It might actually be part of the reason why I like it so much. Wanting to have that experience anytime." Flavors and scents were always good about putting him in certain moods, such as the Christmas spirit. It enriched the experience and the experience could be enjoyed just about whenever he wanted. It was nostalgic. He smiled at her, "you should try it sometime. It's pretty sweet though."
Hermione Granger: Ironically, the same thing happened to me. I'm glad you brought it up
May 24, 2016 2:50:37 GMT -5
Hermione Granger: It looks wonderful, though, doesn't it?
May 24, 2016 2:50:49 GMT -5
Draco Malfoy: It does I've been so excited for it since I first heard about it. Always been my favorite, after all. Combine that with you and it's nothing short of perfect. We definitely need to see it together.
May 24, 2016 2:53:18 GMT -5
Hermione Granger: Oh, we absolutely do! It's always been my favorite, too, but I know how much it's always meant to you. You've always sort of reminded me of how the prince was before he became the Beast, haha!
May 24, 2016 3:10:37 GMT -5
*
Draco Malfoy: Ha! Yes, and then somewhere during that whole transition...I became my father
May 24, 2016 3:20:39 GMT -5