Blossom

"Will that be all for today?" asked the bored looking, neon pink haired cashier.

"Yes, thank you." replied Hermione, handing the cash to the woman. The cashier took the money without much enthusiasm, barely making eye contact as she handed Hermione her change. The fluorescent lights of the shop buzzed overhead, adding to the dull atmosphere. Hermione clutched the bag in her hand, its contents a trivial distraction from the weight in her chest. 

She sighed as she tried to find her car keys in her infamous beaded bag, the one with the undetectable extension charm, which she had used during the Horcrux hunt. She supposed she ought to get rid of it, what with all the bad memories it carried, but it was quite useful. As she considered the idea of using a summoning charm, she heard a voice behind her, a voice that she hoped she would not have to endure the misfortune of hearing for a long time. 

"Hey Granger! Long time no see!" exclaimed the smooth, sharp voice of none other than Pansy Parkinson. Hermione internally groaned, before turning around and forcing a polite smile. Pansy stood there, arms crossed, her posture haughty as usual, but something about her seemed different. The usual venom in her eyes was muted, replaced by something more... wary, as if she herself wasn’t quite sure what to make of this encounter. 

"Parkinson." spoke Hermione, trying to hide her surprise at seeing her in Muggle London.

She must not have succeeded, as Pansy’s lips twisted into a half-smile, not entirely unpleasant, though it still held a touch of her old arrogance. “I know, I know. You’re probably wondering why I’m even here, right?” She glanced around the store before leaning in slightly, lowering her voice. “I never thought I'd find myself shopping in a Muggle place, but well... I suppose the world changes, doesn't it?”

Hermione studied her for a moment, brow furrowing. Pansy had always been one to look down on Muggle-borns, but now she seemed almost... vulnerable. Was this an apology, or merely another play at trying to maintain her old sense of superiority?

Pansy, noticing the silence, shifted uncomfortably. “Look, I’m not asking for your sympathy or anything,” she continued, her usual defensive edge creeping back in. “But I can’t exactly go back to how things were before, either. People... people don’t look at you the same after everything’s happened.”

Hermione nodded slowly, unsure of how to respond. There was no manual for dealing with former enemies who suddenly seemed... human. She had spent years fending off insults from Pansy and her friends, but now, hearing the words without the venom, made them feel strangely hollow.

“So, what exactly are you doing in Muggle London?” Hermione asked, still curious but guarded.

Pansy shrugged, the earlier bravado flickering for a second. “I’m... trying to find something. Myself, I guess.” She paused, glancing at the door as if debating whether to say more. “It’s harder than it looks.”

The vulnerability in her voice, however fleeting—shocked Hermione. Was this Pansy Parkinson, the girl who had once led the charge against her and her friends? She opened her mouth, about to say something, when Pansy suddenly cut her off.

“I didn’t come here to make small talk, Granger. I just... thought I’d say hi, that’s all.”

There was a long pause as Hermione tried to figure out how to respond, and for all her vocabulary, nothing felt right for the situation. So, she decided to deflect. “So what are you doing, in hopes of discovering yourself?” she asked.

“Well,” replied Pansy, “I’m going on a trek in three days. With my friends, to the Scottish Highlands!”

Hermione’s face must have betrayed her, as Pansy just chuckled, saying “I know, right! Me, Pansy Persephone Parkinson, on a trek! It was all Draco’s idea, he thought we should have some fun, just forget about everything for a bit.”

“That’s nice.” She said, pretending as though Draco Malfoy popping up in their conversation did not bother her.

“He’s changed, you know. We all have.” Said Pansy, with a soft smile.

Hermione nodded, not sure what to make of the entire encounter. “I should leave.”

“See you around, Granger.”

Maybe people really do change, she thought, her fingers absently playing with the strap of her beaded bag.

As she looked up, prepared to leave, she noticed a small pamphlet, with a picture of a snowy mountain. She read it and realized that it was an advertisement for a trekking group heading to the Scottish Highlands. This must have been the trip that Pansy was talking about, she thought excitedly. The bold text read: "Escape the noise. Find yourself in the wilderness." The image showed a group of hikers traversing a rugged trail, the snow-dusted peaks of Ben Nevis in the background. On the back, there was a list of things to bring, including flashlights, toilet paper, and rope.

Hermione’s eyes lingered on the pamphlet. Something about it resonated deeply, perhaps it was the promise of escape or the allure of rediscovery. For months, she had been stuck in a cycle of work and isolation, weighed down by memories of the war and the feeling that she was merely existing rather than living.

Maybe this is what I need, she thought. The idea of trekking through the Highlands, away from the suffocating familiarity of her current routine, was strangely appealing.

Without overthinking it, she picked up the pamphlet and tucked it into her bag. She could decide later, she told herself, but a small part of her already knew she would go. For once, she wanted to do something entirely for herself.

Two days later, Hermione sat in her small London flat, the faint sounds of traffic filtering in through the cracked window. The room was dim, lit only by a single lamp on her cluttered desk. She stared at the pamphlet she’d picked up at the shop, the vibrant image of snow-capped peaks calling to her. Escape the noise. Find yourself in the wilderness. The words seemed to echo in her mind, tugging at something deep within her.

The beaded bag sat on the desk beside the pamphlet, its contents spilling out in a chaotic jumble. Hermione sighed, her fingers grazing the worn edges of the paper. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done something entirely for herself. Everything since the war had been about rebuilding, working, and simply surviving. The idea of escaping it all felt almost... indulgent.

But the loneliness was becoming unbearable. She’d always prided herself on her independence, but this solitude was different—it was heavy, suffocating. She thought of Pansy’s words, unbidden: “It’s harder than it looks.” Maybe Pansy wasn’t the only one struggling to find her place in this new world.

Hermione glanced at the bottom of the pamphlet, where a contact number was printed in bold. She hesitated for a moment before reaching for the rotary phone on the side table. The cord twisted between her fingers as she dialed the number, each click of the wheel sounding louder than it should.

The line rang twice before a cheerful voice answered. “Lifetime Adventures, how can I help you?”

“Hi, um...” Hermione faltered, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “I’d like to book a spot on your next trek to the Highlands.”

“Of course! Let me grab some details from you. Have you trekked with us before?”

“No, I haven’t,” Hermione replied, glancing at the pamphlet again. “But I saw your advertisement, and it seemed... interesting.”

The woman on the other end chuckled. “It’s more than interesting—it’s life-changing. You’re in for a treat. Let’s get you all set up.”

Hermione rattled off her information, her voice steadier with each question. By the time the woman asked for payment, Hermione barely hesitated. She scribbled down the amount and promised to send a postal order first thing in the morning.

As she hung up the phone, Hermione felt a strange mix of nerves and excitement. She stared at the pamphlet again, her thoughts swirling. This was it—a step towards something new, something beyond the weight of her memories.

For the first time in months, she felt like she was moving forward.