Chapter 2
Hermione stood vigilant in the alley. She watched the crowd in the marketplace. Hermione still had yet to find exactly what she was looking for. She had been observing the crowd’s behavior for over two hours before she finally spotted her target. A very tall man grasping a wand just out of sight. Hermione followed stealthily and dodged people left and right. The disillusionment was necessary to follow a wizard, but it was beyond difficult to avoid being trampled in the crowded space. More than one individual found themselves tripping over thin air as Hermione attempted to maneuver her way through without losing the Arab Wizard. Hermione only prayed he wouldn’t notice. Her stalking skills were a little rusty after being in the Department of Mysteries for the last two years. Hermione almost lost him as he “fell” into a wall. She allowed herself to breathe for just a moment before likewise falling into the same wall.
Hermione was immensely relieved to be disguised from view when she entered what was clearly a den of iniquity for not so reputable wizards. Scantily clad veela were littered throughout the smoky area along with a myriad of questionable sex partners. Female house elves walked through the space with hardly a stitch on them carrying trays of drinks. Hermione did a double take upon seeing a centaur in the corner. There were some things she would prefer to never know about, much less see when it came to interracial sexual escapades. Hermione focused on staying out of the way while she stepped carefully through the space. Hermione held the edge of her coat over her mouth. The smoke was thick with a dizzying quality; which was clearly intended to intoxicate its inhabitants and influence the type of behavior that was desirable for a whore house.
Hermione had been hoping that she would enter into a pub or a coffee house with an attached inn that could offer her some pertinent and helpful information. This was clearly not a place of lodging Hermione was going to find desirable or trustworthy to say the least. She was, however, hoping that maybe there would be a doorway into a Cairo version of Diagon Alley. Hermione held a hand to her mouth to stave off the smell of nauseous smoke and edged through the space to a door on the opposite end of the space. Thankfully, her guess was a good one when she exited out into another street and was able to breathe in hot, sandy air yet again. She breathed a sigh of relief to see pots and cauldrons for sale. Hermione stepped into another side alley to lift her spell and walk out into full view.
Hermione received several curious glances, but was mostly left alone aside from the occasional vender that Hermione quickly outran. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally found the Cairo branch of Gringotts. It was beautiful and familiar and she knew it would provide her with the information that Hermione needed so long as she paid enough. The goblins sneered. The marble floor shone. She finally felt herself relax before she approached the counter.
“I would like to exchange galleons for muggle currency and discuss potential financial investments.” The goblin looked down it’s long crooked nose in disdain.
“Do you have an account?”
“Nope, but I have money to spend.” Hermione was not trying to offend the goblin, but she had a feeling making an account would be hard to keep in the future when she eventually robbed them of a cursed goblet and a blind dragon. Therefore, not the best idea. She would do business when she had to, but her money would hardly be safe in the bank in light of the upheaval that was soon to strike the wizarding world anyhow.
“Of course,” it sneered. “Snaggletooth!” The grumpy goblin marched up only to walk off with Hermione barely following. Once they reached the meeting room Hermione, she got straight down to business.
“I need to purchase a residence in Muggle Cairo.” The goblin narrowed his eyes at her. “Then why not go to Muggle Cairo and purchase it?”
“Because I came into this country in particular quite unexpectedly and don’t have any Muggle connections to speak of. Can I purchase it through you?” The goblin rolled his eyes and passed over a parchment with pictures attached. The pictures only showed the outside. “Are there any pictures of the inside?”
“Not at the moment,” the goblin said with a nasty grin. So, it was an awful place. Probably in the worst part of Cairo. But… likely easy to get in and out of, closer to the outskirts, and poorly made; therefore easily changed.
“How much?” In light of the current time, the price was no doubt outrageous for the crappiest housing available; but Hermione was no doubt also outrageously rich due to that same inflation. “I’ll take it.” Hermione could see the triumph and the greedy gleam in the goblin’s eyes. He definitely overcharged, but she was going to annoy the hell out of him for it.
“And now, I have some questions.” Hermione was relentless. She hadn’t signed the paperwork even though it was sitting right in front of her. Where was the entrance to the alley? What are the laws for magic and non magic users? What should I avoid? And so on. Hermione was certain the goblin that was assigned to her was sick of her “stupid” questions by the time she was finished. She didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, however. A wizard would have seen her suspicious behavior for what it was and immediately alerted the authorities, not that the goblin was unaware. He simply didn’t care so long as she paid him accordingly, and was in no hurry to let that opportunity go. And Hermione tipped him generously after he assisted her with a map and the deed to a property that she was buying on pictures alone. Not the best decision she had ever made, but Hermione was more concerned about sleeping somewhere safe; and she didn’t trust any of the inns to be particularly trustworthy. By the time she was done with the place, Hermione was going to ensure that it was protected and the rest she could adjust and figure out as she went along.
“I’m not a bloody tour guide,” the goblin sneered as Hermione made her request. The goblin was more than a little irritated when Hermione had the audacity to ask HIM to show her to the property himself.
“I am unfamiliar with the area and simply need to ensure I reach the right place.” Hermione placed another galleon in his palm. The greedy glint in his eyes took over yet again.
“As the Lady Witch desires,” he sneered.
“Oh please, be still mine beating heart,” Hermione returned dryly. The goblin glared before wrapping himself in robes that disguised his identity making him appear as a very short man. She paid close attention to every turn and even more closely to the entrance to the alley. Hermione imagined that he was not particularly happy with her initial request because she had purchased a property in Muggle Cairo; hence the strange robes. Once they reached their destination, Hermione knew that the goblin thought he had pulled one over on her by selling her this particular property.
It was run down and certainly was the worst part of Cairo. It was clearly a Knockturn Alley of sorts. Hermione could see several unsavory characters loitering around. That was perfectly fine with her. The less respectable people go around asking undesirable questions, the better. It was also not lost on Hermione that she had four wars ahead of her. Five if she counted Muggle World War 2, and Six if she counted the war that would rage between the Middle East and America. Hermione almost wished she had been pushed back even further, there would be less difficulty if she had found herself in the Middle Ages. Merely a matter of living in the mountains and off the land. The goblin led the way into the entrance of her new home.
It was dusty and in extreme disrepair. It was truly awful. And, in Hermione’s opinion, perfect for her needs. Easy to build off of. Not like Grimmauld Place. Cleaning that place up had been a nightmare. With gluing spells on house elf heads and attachment charms on screeching portraits. Cursed objects in every corner calling for you to pick them up. Bogarts and magical critters. Hermione smiled as she remembered the look of utter horror on Sirius’s dear Mama’s face as Hermione brandished her chain saw. It certainly had not entered the dead witch’s plans that a Muggleborn would think to take out the ENTIRE wall. Hermione saw THAT as her crowning moment of genius. The goblin was incredibly disgruntled at the lack of dissatisfaction in his new customer. Snaggletooth had been sniggering at the thought of finally pawing off this awful house on the naive little witch. He was just waiting for her to be affronted and beg to sell it… at a much lower price of course. And yet, it seemed the opposite had occurred. Rather than being horrified, she was pleased. It rankled him and irritated him to no end.
“You are pleased with your acquisition, Lady Witch?” Hermione turned a mischievous smile towards him.
“Immensely. I do enjoy a challenge.” Hermione handed him another galleon. “May we work together again and may your gold always shine bright.” The goblin startled back at the familiar goblin greeting.
“And may you successfully sell fool’s gold to many fools,” he grinned viciously.
“I am sorry that my idea of fool’s gold was different from yours,” Hermione grinned. “I have no doubt you will successfully trick me next time, clever goblin.” Snaggletooth laughed.
“I look forward to it, Lady Witch.” With that the goblin apparated with a snap and was gone. Hermione blew out a huge breath. Despite being what she wanted…this place WAS a colossal mess. Hermione tossed her heavy coat to the side, tied up her hair, and got to work. It took two days for Hermione to have her new home exactly as she needed. Fidelius Charm, blood wards, and a neverending list of security measures that again gave her sad memories of Mad Eye. She breathed a sigh of relief when she could FINALLY set up her tent in the still dirty space. Cleaning was clearly the next on Hermione’s list, but all she had consumed was granola bars and bottled water. Hermione needed a bath and sleep and healing balm for her burns. She was safe, and now she could rest in comfort thanks to that fact. Hermione stepped into the same tent that Ronald and Harry and her had been on the run in… it was incredibly nostalgic. She had laughed when she came back to find it completely intact and untouched. Everything was in place if a little dusty. It had felt surreal after all that happened. All the people that were dead. The little radio that they had used to listen to constantly in hopes the names of the friends would not be voiced still sat in the corner. Hermione had never had the heart to change anything. One of the little rooms was filled with everything that she held dear. Her many school books and research. This was home. Hermione was grateful to have it here with her.
The healing balm flew into her palm from the depths of her purse and she hissed as it touched her skin. This was no doubt another magical scar to join the growing number. Hermione also had a large red burn shadow on her back from an ill fated mission with Ron and Harry that included a dragon and a not so successful attempt to apprehend the criminal before he was no more than a ball of flames. Hermione was unsurprised that Ron had left her to fend for herself and it was only one of many instances that made her fully aware that there was more than Ron’s initial abandonment of Harry and her that resulted in Hermione no longer trusting Ronald enough to be a life partner. Ron simply didn’t see Hermione as someone in need of protection. Which was true… didn’t mean she didn’t want or need someone to give a flying crap and maybe make even a SLIGHT attempt to push her out of the way when a bloody dragon attempts to toast her like crispy bacon. Hermione settled on the bed on her stomach, purse looped through her belt loop, and settled for an uncomfortable; but necessary sleep and sighed.
Harry… Harry was the one she really missed. The one who was there for everything. The lonely nights after Ron’s abandonment. The angry crying and vicious whispers of the poisonous horcrux. The torture. Harry had been there for everything. And Ron’s accusations…they weren’t entirely without merit. Hermione loved Harry. Loved his loyalty. She loved how humble he was. Hermione hadn’t allowed herself to voice when she began to love his curly black hair and kind eyes… or how he sat quietly and just LET her read her book instead of babbling endlessly like Ron. How Harry was secretly just as smart as Hermione, and therefore not at all threatened by her own brilliance. The way that Harry HAD attempted to distract the dragon away from Hermione. She was hopelessly in love with him…but Harry was hopelessly in love with Ginny, and Hermione was not touching that landmine with a ten foot pole. And Hermione supposed that Ron was adept enough to pick up on that love, even if he was not adept enough to voice it in a way to actually address the issue forthright.
Hermione really couldn’t blame his suspicions. She could blame his stupidity for thinking Hermione would go so far as to cheat on him, but everything else…sadly was a valid concern. That was why she had held onto their relationship for as long as she did. Hermione hoped she could fall in love with Ron. It was a sad day for her when she was fighting with him yet again, and realized that she in fact was beginning to hate Ron. He was just… SO obnoxious. Unbelievably irritating and insecure and angry all the time. Sex was awful with him. Always about him. Always complaining about everything Hermione loved about herself. Comparing Hermione to his insane mother. It was maddening. And Hermione’s own hate was the last straw for her. No more. She couldn’t do it anymore.
Now though, maybe this was the blessing in disguise Hermione had been hoping for. She was free. Hermione no longer had to worry about running into Ronald. He wasn’t even born. And Harry, Hermione could finally let go of. He was finally sufficiently out of her reach. It was over. She didn’t even have to be concerned about running into ANYONE she would come to know. Even Dumbledore was in England. Hermione was free. Hermione smiled to herself and began imagining what she would do to the house once she woke up. The reading nook she planned to make. The fireplace she would build. Maybe, she would even make a cat climbing structure on the wall. Hermione grinned wildly. She could have a cat again! Ron detested cats. Along with everything else that gave Hermione joy. After she was done making her house perfect, Hermione would buy the fluffiest cat she could find; after she had ensconced herself in the best library available, of course. Hermione snuggled her face back down into her pillow and breathed deeply. Now that she was set up in a safe place, it wasn’t that dire a situation after all.