21. Love Is Like a Rainbow, It's Beautiful, And After a While It Disappears
Hermione woke up earlier than Charlie in the morning, which gave her plenty of time to think. And while she always liked to wallow in her thoughts, she didn't appreciate it very much this morning. The large amount of fire whiskey she drank yesterday had taken its toll. First last night when it happened with Blaise and now when her head was about to explode.
She was immensely relieved when her little one woke up moments after her so she could take him and flooed them back home. Of course, it wasn't without minor protests from the youngest Zabini, who wanted to say goodbye to Blaise, but luckily she managed to explain to him that daddy was very tired and needed to rest. She felt like she had so many shards in her head that she didn't even find it strange that Charlie wasn't surprised they were at Blaise's.
However, they managed to use the floo without bumping into him, causing a huge stone to fall from her heart. She didn't have the strength to face him right now. Not after yesterday. She couldn't believe what she had done. She was so stupid.
To her added relief this morning, Charlie had decided to lie down for a bit more when they stepped out of the fireplace at home, so she went to put him to bed before going into the kitchen to make some strong coffee that would hopefully get her through a bit from a hangover. Now she would kill for a hangover potion.
With a mug of hot coffee, she made her way to the bedroom where she set the drink down on the bedside table and went to take a quick shower before changing into clean clothes. The shower was quick, so her coffee wouldn't get too cold, and very invigorating. The clean clothes also helped her calm down a little, and as she drank the first sip of coffee, she decided that it wasn't as bad as she thought after all.
However, her hopes were dashed when she walked over to the table with the mail, where she found a package from Draco and a letter from Blaise lying on it. With more force than necessary, she set the mug down on the table and took the package from Draco in her hand with great frustration. There was a card attached to it, which she tore off, not too gently.
I saw it while I was in Diagon Alley and I had to buy it for you.
Hermione growled before furiously tearing at the kraft paper the book was wrapped in. And yes, it was one of her favorites, but today was a really bad day to give it to her. She picked up the pieces of paper that had fallen on the floor and carried them all to the kitchen where she threw them in the trash. All of it, the torn paper, the business card with his neat handwriting, and even the book.
Then she returned to the bedroom, took a sip of coffee, perhaps to give herself strength for the letter from Blaise, and a little more gently, but still with great vigor, tore open the envelope.
Hermione,
I'm sorry about yesterday. Let's talk about it, I know you'll be thinking about it all the time otherwise.
Blaise
That was all Blaise, he never elaborated too much.
That's not quite true, the voice in her head said. Which didn't help her at all in this situation because she immediately remembered how he had written her long love letters at school that she had kept well hidden.
"You all know me so well all of a sudden," she snapped angrily.
She just stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, trying to control all the rage that was currently coursing through her veins. The worst part was that she knew very well that she was really only mad at herself.
And to top it all off, she remembered that tonight was dinner at the Burrow, which Draco and Blaise would very likely be at.
The brunette sighed, took a mug of already lukewarm coffee, and moved to the kitchen. She took Draco's book out of the bin because it was a brand new book after all, and she didn't throw away books, new or old. She would take it to work, she was sure that their patients would be happy to see their modest library expand a bit more.
"I swear I'll never drink again," she muttered under her breath as she began writing two letters. If she'd known how bad her day was going to be today, she wouldn't have even sniffed that fiery whiskey yesterday.
When she finished both letters, one for Molly and one for Blaise, she sent them off with Hugo and started making breakfast. She figured Charlie wouldn't sleep for too long, and she was already spending too much time on things she shouldn't have. And not only this morning.
Ever since that conversation with Ginny on the terrace, she was still distracted by something. It had to end. Everyone, including her, should realize that the only man she should be giving her attention to was Charlie.
"Hi, Mommy," Charlie greeted her, snapping her out of her thoughts, which was somewhat liberating for her.
Hermione wiped her hands on a towel, so she could take Charlie into her arms. "Good morning, bug," she wished him with a smile and kissed his forehead.
Although his third birthday was approaching, she still couldn't believe how lucky she was. It wasn't hard for her to imagine never dating again because as long as she had Charlie, she didn't need anything else to be happy. She was ashamed that she didn't realize it until so long after the divorce.
Unfortunately, even Ginny was right about something. One day Charlie will grow up and she will be alone. But it was still far away, so she didn't have to worry about it now. Merlin knew she was already blessedly worried.
“Are you hungry?” she asked as she sat him down in his chair.
"Yeah," he answered simply.
"Then here you go," she smiled and placed a plate of pancakes and fruit in front of him.
“Yummy!” he squealed excitedly and immediately got down to eating.
Meanwhile, Hermione had boiled water for Charlie's tea and new coffee for herself, as she hadn't even drunk half of the first one. In the meantime, she put a little something on her plate herself. She knew she had to eat something, even though she didn't have the slightest appetite. She had seriously forgotten what it was like to get drunk.
"You're going to Grandma Molly's today without me, okay?" she informed him as she sat down next to him. It was smoking from a coffee mug, and she had to control herself not to drink and burn her tongue.
"Why?" Charlie didn't understand.
“I have to run errands before work, but don't worry, you'll have grandma and grandpa and all your aunts and uncles there. You're going home with your daddy, okay? I'll pick you up when I get some sleep after work."
"Okay," he agreed, as it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.