"Mama, I wish Daddy was here." A pair of sad, dark eyes looked up at Hermione's. So much like her father's -- Hermione had to catch a breath.
"I know, sweetie, I wish that too." Hermione finished zipping up her child's sweater and then pulled her in for a hug.
"Calla, I know there's been a lot of big changes in the past few weeks, and a lot of them have been sad, and I'm so very proud of you. Your father would be proud of you, too."
Calla didn't lift her head from Hermione's shoulder. "I don't want to go."
"Third grade will be so much fun! I'll pick you up as soon as your day is over. We talked about this."
"I know," Calla said, a little resigned. She trudged over to the front door and began putting on her brand new sneakers.
Hermione watched, her heart feeling more than a little heavy. Calla had had to leave her school and all her friends when they moved at the beginning of the summer. Viktor's job had offered a promotion and a higher salary that was just too good to pass up. No sooner had they gotten unpacked and settled in their new house than the unthinkable happened. Viktor had been killed in a car accident one night on his way home from work. The three of them had only lived in their new house together for two weeks.
Now fall was here and Hermione was going back to work the following day after weeks of bereavement leave. She loved working at city hall, her boss was wonderful, and her work friends were great. It was time to go back, start picking up the pieces, and establish a new routine.
Hand in hand Hermione and Calla walked the three blocks to Calla's new school. There was just enough time for another hug and a kiss goodbye before the bell rang and Calla walked inside with all the other students.
"Bye," Hermione murmured softly, waving even though she knew Calla couldn't see her.
"Rough morning?" asked a voice at her side.
Hermione looked over, and there stood a tall redheaded man in a button-up shirt and khaki trousers with a burgundy-colored tie.
Hermione broke into a small smile at this friendly-looking face. Two brown eyes twinkled down at her.
"Yes," she breathed in relief, "my daughter's first day here. We moved here in early summer."
"What grade is she in?" He seemed kind and genuinely interested.
"Third grade."
"My son, too. His name is Dominic."
"My daughter's name is Calla."
"Do you know which teacher she has? Dominic has Mrs Marshall."
"That's who Calla has too," Hermione grinned.
They stood there, smiling at each other, and then the man pulled his hand out from his trouser pocket and extended it to her.
"Fred Weasley."
"I'm Hermione Krum."
Fred's handshake was firm and warm. And somehow comforting.
"You said you're new to town? New-ish?"
Hermione nodded and confessed, "It's been... quite a summer. My husband, Calla's father, unexpectedly passed away soon after we moved here. It's been rough on both Calla and me."
Fred clicked his tongue in sympathy. "I'm so sorry. I know how you feel." He paused for a moment, shyly, and then said, "Listen, I've never done this before, but let me do the neighborly thing and take you out for a cup of coffee. What do you say?"
"That... that sounds wonderful, Fred. I'm free all day, actually. But what about you, don't you have places to be?"
Fred drew himself up somehow even higher. "Well, actually, it helps that I'm the boss," he grinned. "I run a toy shop here in town with my twin brother. We come and go as we please, but generally one or both of us are always around. Our staff is fantastic, and the store pretty much runs itself."
The pair of them fell into step together as they made their way down the sidewalk. The autumn air smelled fresh and clean, one of Hermione's favorite smells. Colorful leaves crunched under their shoes. They talked and laughed back and forth, discovering that it was easy to converse with each other.
Fred had chosen a coffee shop in the center of town that she had never been to yet. And he insisted again on paying for everything -- an Americano for him, a chai latte for her, and a plate of pastries to share. Hermione blushed and appreciated his kindness. It was nice to be taken care of for once.
Fred knew everyone, and everyone knew him. He introduced Hermione to every person who stopped by their table. With every interaction, Hermione felt better and better about making a new start for her and her young daughter.
Their coffee outing stretched into lunch -- they went to a nearby grill for burgers and fries. The more Hermione and Fred talked, the more they felt at ease with each other and found that they had several things in common.
After lunch, Fred took Hermione to his store and introduced her to his brother and business partner, George. George shook Hermione's hand and teased, "You can see I'm the better-looking one, right?" Then he shot Fred a teasing, knowing glance that Hermione pretended not to see.
All too soon it was time to pick up Dominic and Calla from school. As they both had to go in that direction anyway, Fred and Hermione walked to the school together -- still talking, still laughing.
All of a sudden Fred stopped and took Hermione's hands, his thumb rubbing back and forth across her warm skin. "I haven't laughed this much in weeks, Hermione," he grinned. "I just want you to know that I enjoyed our day together very much. My wife passed away three years ago, cancer, and... um... I just want to say that... that it's been a long while for me to do this kind of thing. But I'd love to see you again and spend more time with you, if you would like that?"
Hermione looked on ahead, and saw students pouring out of the school. Dominic and Calla had evidently found each other, because they were hopping down the stone steps two at a time and chattering away to each other.
She turned and looked back up at Fred Weasley, her brown eyes shining. Somehow she knew that it would be a new beginning for all of them.