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Hermione was softly squeezing a deformed looking peach to find it was perfectly ripe. She remembered her mother always picking the ugly looking fruit and vegetables, telling her that they were just as delicious but people didn’t want them because they didn’t look perfect. Now when she did those little things she felt a connection even though her parents perished in a house fire. Even after six years, the sight of a slightly deformed peach made her smile.
Hermione put the brown paper bag with her peaches on top of the rest in her little shopping basket, checking her shopping list. Before she could move on to the next item on her list, there was a soft tug on her summer dress. She looked down, a little girl who looked two years old was looking up at her with tears in her eyes. Hermione put her basket on the ground and kneeled down. “Are you lost sweetie?”
The girl nodded her head and sucked on her thumb before looking around. Hermione wiped away the tears and picked the girl up, settling her on her hip. “We will find your mommy sweetie. What’s your name?”
The girl was leaning against Hermione’s shoulder, whimpering. Hermione looked around for a woman frantically looking for her daughter but she couldn’t find anyone looking slightly distressed. The rest of the shoppers were calmly walking along the aisles, no one visibly upset that they lost a child. Hermione softly rubbed the little girls back and softly murmuring to her, trying to avoid even more tears.
“Adi, there you are.” Hermione heard a man’s voice behind her and turned around. She had to stop herself from gawking at the handsome man standing in front of her. Her eyes travelled up his legs, which were covered with a smattering of scars and tattoo’s up to his shorts. His fitted shirt hugged his muscled chest and lead up to his face. A strong jaw, a slightly crooked smile and warm brown eyes, who were looking back at her.
“Thanks Granger.” He softly said as he took the two year old from her.
“Greg?” Hermione couldn’t believe Gregory Goyle was standing in front of her, in all this masculine glory.
“I didn’t think you would have recognized me.” He smiled at her, as Adi snuggled against his shoulder.
“Your voice gave you away.” Hermione blushed. “I didn’t know you had children?”
Greg chuckled. “I don’t. This is my niece. My brother and his wife are out of town for their anniversary and I’m babysitting right now.”
Adi was reaching for Hermione. Hermione smiled and gave Adi her hand, who grabbed two fingers and rested her head back against her uncle’s shoulder. “I’m glad she bumped into you.” Greg smirked at her.
Hermione couldn’t help but imagine what it would feel like if she could rest her head against his shoulder. “She’s just the cutest.” Hermione said, Adi still holding on her two fingers.
“Would you like to get a drink sometimes?” Greg asked.
“With or without Adi?” Hermione teased.
“Well, I think she would be very jealous if I could grab a drink with the beautiful woman alone but I’m prepared to face her anger.” Greg said, winking at her.
Hermione grabbed a piece of paper out of her bag and wrote down her cell phone number and her floo address. “Give me a call sometimes.”
Greg put the slip of paper in his pocket and softly grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I will and thanks again Granger.”
“I hope that if you decide to call me for a drink you will learn my first name.” Hermione smirked.
“Oh I know it already Hermione.” The use of her name gave her shivers. This was dangerous but delicious.
“I’m looking forward to it.” Hermione said, picking up her basket again. She gave Adi a soft hug and a little wave. As she walked away, she looked back at them. Greg looking at her and Adi slowly waving. Hermione found it hard to pull herself away but she had something to look forward to.
The soft buzzing in her bag made her search for her phone. “What about that drink? G x”
Definitely something to look forward to.