Refractorily Yours

Hermione was set up in a small little apartment meant for government employees.

She has Voldemort after her. Again.

They have given her absolutely no useful information so far. Dale said that “They are looking in to it.” Having collected armfuls of newspapers, she took it upon herself to make every list in the book. What could’ve happened, what could she do, what’s different here, how might she get out of this?

It’s a been a couple of days. She’s going insane. There’s no entertainment in the flat. She can only watch the ongoing marathon of “To the Manor Born” so many times.

Knowing that Dale is a weak man, she lightly “threatens” him into her current outing. While speaking further with the Unspeakables, it is let loose that Dale was the one on duty responsible for watching over her prophecy. Dales boss is unaware of this. It would be a shame if this information came out into the open…

She’s allowed to stroll through the most populated area of Diagon under heavy Auror watch.

This is how she finds herself in a clothing shop unknown in her time, clothes twenty years outdated. Looking through the items, she tugs on her headscarf, her disguise just being her covering her face and body.

On her way to the mirror, she passes by a man who nods at her. An Auror in disguise. She’s grateful that at the very least, precautions are being taken for this utter cock-up.

She can’t help but notice a neon orange sleeve sticking out of the bin in the corner of the store. Old and rugged clothes poke out, bin itself looking rough. No one has touched it in a while. A sign is plastered of the front, “Free.” She digs through it, knowing that her eyes were right.

It’s an original Chudley Cannons jersey.

Oh, she just has to get it for Ron. She can’t wait to see his face when she gets back. “Hello, I time traveled, but I made sure to grab this for you.” But, she will never tell anyone just where she got it from. Lord, it’s only been a few days but she misses him. Harry, not as much.

Excited, she stands up and turns around, preparing to use the borrowed money to buy a couple of clean outfits.

Only to come face first with shoulders. Her eyes meet a man’s collarbones before traveling up. She can feel the dread sinking in. In front of her stands James Potter, a nasty, devilish smirk curling up the corner of his lip.

It’s a separate time line, so it doesn’t matter much if she messes it up or who she comes in contact with. Especially since its already been messed up by her being the newest Harry Potter. She would still rather avoid this man, however.

She can’t help but blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

“Why are you everywhere?”

This has him leaning down towards her, mouth obviously about to release something awful and cocky. He makes sure to speak just a little too loudly.

“You left me all high and dry last time we were together.” Hermione’s nose scrunches.

“Don’t- don’t speak like that.” She looks back at the at the Auror in disguise. He isn’t looking. James gets louder.

“Yeah, remember we were all sweaty and breathless, only for you to just up and leave?” This comment has other people looking. An old lady is giving her a judgmental look.

A blush is forming. Hermione can feel her temper rise, along with the embarrassment of her people-pleasing personality being threatened.

“James Potter. Stop.”

“Oh man, I spent the whole night awake and thinking about you. The thing you did to me.”

How horrifying. She tries to bypass him, but he steps directly in front of her, a strange scented cologne hitting her nose. He leans his arm up against the store doorframe, an eyebrow raising behind those god-awful glasses.

“You going to run off again?”

Hermione hisses out her words in such a manner that James wonders if she may secretly be a cat animagus.

“What is wrong with you?!”

He licks his lips. This time, his volume lowers, voice coming out a bit deeper, a more serious expression on his face.

“Me? It’s more along the lines of what’s wrong with you. You know, you have everyone after you.”

She looks at him, knowing exactly what organization he belongs to. By what means would the Order know of her? Surely, they can’t have people infiltrating the Unspeakables. This information would’ve been visible to her in the future.

“What I can’t figure out, is why.”

She is going to take a wild guess and assume that it’s just the Aurors information they’re going off of. She knows she’s confidential information, but some things can always slip through. Does this mean that Moody is one of the Aurors here watching her?

Just then, someone James must know walks by, greeting him briefly. The older man looks between Hermione and James, a perplexed expression on his face. He’s caused a scene with his little comments.

James becomes hubristic once more and looks her way, clearly wanting to goad another reaction out of her. He’s feeling petty, his ego still hurt from her disappearing act after quite literally saving her life. Just from being around Hermione for no more than a couple minutes total, he’s got a pretty decent read on her that she values how others perceive her, no matter the person. A little more embarrassment would surely wound her. Soothe him.

So, James helpfully clears things up.

“Sorry, sir. She’s just all over me, you see. Won’t admit it, of course.”

He takes off his jacket in a slow and steady manner as though he were a male stripper, dramatically showing off his biceps. The tight and thin fabric clings to his arms, hiding nothing.

“She simply can’t get over how nice they look. They make all the gals drool.”

The old man looks like he expected this behavior from James and does not want to entertain it. With a sigh and a look of faint distaste aimed towards both of them, he walks away.

Hermione feels her heart stutter. The muscles in her body tighten as her face grows warmer.

Why? Does this man have no impulse control? Does he just fall victim to whatever thought appears first? Why is that the first line of defense he has to rid of this man?

Her merely disappearing on him after hearing his name has not warranted this! She faces toward him again, ready to yell. He just wiggles his eyebrows at her like the turd he is.

Hermione angrily makes her way to the checkout, throwing one heated look back at James. A minute later, she presumes that he is making his way out. She takes another glance back, only for him to still be staring at her, standing in the same spot like some sort of stalker. Her eyes flicker down to his stupid biceps still showing. He saw that.

He flexes.

Hermione wants to go home.