Chapter 1
Twenty- seven felt good.
It weighed on Hermione Granger’s shoulders like a lightweight blanket, just heavy enough to be reassuring, but light enough to be a comfort. The pain surrounding the war, losses, and everything in between had faded to the background of life, and it was easier now to move on.
Eyes closed, she took a deep breath outside of her latest investment. The street she stood on hummed with activity, both magic and mundane- tucked into the back corner of Diagon Alley, Wrackspurt Way toed the line between the magical and muggle worlds, and just beyond this particular building laid the complete barrier to the wizarding world. The shops before the barrier, though, were accessible by all- a novelty that had ultimately persuaded her when it came down to which location Hermione had wanted to purchase.
Of course, purchasing property that was accessible to both worlds was particularly tricky and involved an alarming additional amount of paperwork- something not only time consuming but that required the help of a Squib real estate agent as well as the goblins. It took a few weeks longer than expected (damn bureaucratic red tape), but the work paid off.
Number 96 officially belonged to her.
It was a rustic building, one of the older faces on the street, built of reds and browns and pane glass windows, a charming sign (not yet displaying the business name), and flower boxes. It looked smaller than it was from the outside, and that suited her just fine. It was the inside that drew her in.
When she had stepped foot in the shop she just knew- this place was made to be a book store.
Not just any bookstore- but a service location for the needs of Muggles and magical beings alike, with an attached tea shop to visit while you read. A few well place extension charms had enlarged the building to sprawling, with floor to ceiling cherrywood shelves covering every wall. Oil lamps dotted the areas not covered in shelves, and bronze hanging lights tastefully descended from the exposed beam ceiling. The tea shop, located right inside the door of the bookshop and to the left, was constructed of the same cherry wood, it’s defining piece being a massive natural edge, polished slab bar. Tables with built in seating lined the wall shared with the bookstore, and the same lights adorned the ceiling. A spiral staircase in the back led to the upstairs, where the storage rooms for the tea shop, book store, an a comfortable four bedroom apartment were.
Hermione finally felt at peace. It had taken ten years, a failed relationship with Ronald, an escape to America (where the peace she was looking for wasn’t found), some serious soul searching, rigorous investing, and a good chunk of the galleons littering her Gringotts account to get here, but it was well worth it.
She opened her eyes, straightened her shoulders, and stepped forward to grip the door handle. It was time for the next chapter of her life to begin.