A Dream of Stone and Wood
The cozy living room of their flat was softly lit by the golden glow of the evening sun filtering through the curtains. The air smelled faintly of freshly brewed tea, and the warm hum of the kettle still lingered as Hermione sat back on the settee, her legs tucked beneath her in a comfortable position. Percy sat beside her, a stack of papers spread out on the coffee table between them. They were surrounded by a jumble of listings, plans, and notes for potential homes.
Hermione glanced at Percy as he sorted through the papers, his brow furrowed slightly in concentration. He was meticulous, as always, but there was a new warmth in his expression—a certain excitement that had been building since they’d started their search for a new home. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought. They were starting this new chapter together, and this was one step closer to creating the life they’d been dreaming about.
“So,” she began, leaning over to pick up her own list of pros and cons for one of the homes they’d been considering, “I think I’m pretty sure about this one.” She flipped through the pages, scanning the neat bullet points she’d written with such precision. “The garden is perfect—plenty of space for you to grow your vegetables. And it’s near the village, so we wouldn’t be too far from all the shops and conveniences. And, of course, there’s that study with the perfect view of the trees.”
Percy looked up at her, his lips twitching into a small smile as he listened. “Right, I see that. I love the idea of the study as well, but I’m a bit concerned about the kitchen,” he said, tapping his finger on the paper. “It’s not very spacious. We’ll be needing room for more than just the basic essentials, don’t you think?”
Hermione raised an eyebrow, considering his point. “True, it’s a bit smaller than I’d like. But we could always knock through into the dining room, maybe make it more open-plan. You know, like how we talked about for our ideal space.”
“Hmm,” Percy murmured thoughtfully. “That could work. I’d just want to make sure we’re not cramping ourselves in the process. But overall, I can see it.”
They both paused for a moment, each flipping through the papers in front of them, contemplating. The process of finding the perfect place was a delicate balance of desires and practicalities. It was fun but overwhelming, full of dreams and decisions. Each house they had looked at had its own appeal—charming features, space for their growing family, and a sense of warmth that made them envision life together in it. But there was always something holding them back, just a small imperfection that made them hesitate.
“What about the one on Willow Lane?” Hermione asked, glancing at Percy’s list. “You seemed to like that one.”
Percy’s eyes lit up at the mention of the property. He straightened up slightly, his tone more animated. “That’s the one I’ve been thinking about, actually. It’s a little further from the village, but the location is great. The privacy, the fact that it’s tucked away in the woods—it feels like a sanctuary. I love the old stone walls and the large fireplace. And the greenhouse in the back—imagine how beautiful it could be in spring!”
Hermione’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him. She knew exactly which property he was talking about. In fact, it was the one that had been tugging at her own heart for days now. She had wanted to bring it up but didn’t want to seem too eager.
“I’ve been thinking about it, too,” she admitted, glancing down at her own list. “I actually wrote down everything you just said. The privacy, the charm of the house, and the greenhouse! It could be the perfect place for us, Percy.” She felt a rush of excitement building in her chest, the thought of it feeling almost too perfect to be true.
Percy looked at her with wide eyes, his gaze softening in surprise. “Wait, really?” He couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his face. “You like it too?”
Hermione nodded, her heart fluttering. “I think it’s the one. The house has character, and it feels like home already. The more I think about it, the more I can picture us there. It has everything we need, and so much space for the family we’re starting.”
Percy reached out, his hand finding hers across the table, and squeezed it gently. “I can picture it too,” he said softly, his voice filled with a new certainty. “I think we’ve found it, Hermione. The perfect place. Our place.”
The weight of the moment settled between them, and for a brief moment, everything else faded away. They were no longer discussing a house—this was their future, their new home, the place where they would build their life together. Their eyes met, and in that shared look, they both knew that everything was falling into place.
There was a quiet pause before Hermione shifted slightly on the settee, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. It had been a few months since they had found out the news, and while she hadn’t yet shared it with many people, she could feel the small but undeniable changes in her body. Her stomach, though still small, had begun to round out ever so slightly. It was a reminder that their lives were not only about building a home together but also about welcoming something new—a little life they had already begun to love more than they could have imagined.
As she glanced up at Percy, a soft smile tugged at her lips. She could feel the joy radiating between them, a quiet certainty that everything was coming together. And for the first time in a long while, Hermione knew she had found her place—both in the home they would create together and in the life they would build, step by step.
“Perfect,” she whispered softly, her heart full as she met his gaze. “It’s perfect.”