The Missing Link

Two Years Later

They say that once you fall in love, life changes drastically. So much so, that even after you lose love you never become the same person you were before. Love washes over you like a tidal wave, and once it retreats it leaves you gasping for more. Yet, it has already passed, and there's no guarantee of it ever coming back.

Everyone talks about the calm before the storm, but no one takes note of the calm that comes after it, once destruction has reigned over and the water has washed everything away.

Hermione Granger tried to find in herself everything she was before she was royalty. It was all there, the old Hermione was definitely there, but not in the same way. She used to be so confident, so self-assured. She knew what she wanted and she knew how to get it. But ever since her stint as royalty, she realized that maybe there was so much more to this life than being the best at what she set her mind to.

She decided to step back from the life she knew and reevaluate herself. She tied up several loose ends, ensuring that her parents were free of any and all debt; reassuring Harry, Ginny, Ron and Luna that she will keep in contact with them; and seeing to it that she wasn't breaching any wizarding laws by deciding to up and leave. What was surprising, was the fact that her Hogwarts professors were more than willing to help her build Muggle education credits in order for her to pursue a degree abroad.

After a year of studying political science and prelaw, Hermione decided to pursue something that she never would have guessed would appeal to her: Fine Arts. She knew that this was considered an impractical pursuit, and that she pretty much put to waste her pre-university study efforts, but she didn't mind at all. She felt like she'd spent way too much of her life trying to be something, that she figured it was time to let things just be. Hermione could attest to the fact that no pursuit was easy. Yes, studying law was difficult, but studying the arts was not easy. Not by a mile. But she loved doing both anyway.

The drastic change in environment was not easy on her at first. She squinted at the sunlight and often wore shades because she felt that it was too bright out. She felt uncomfortable and exposed wearing flimsy clothes, but she couldn't wear sweaters because it was simply too warm. She showered once in the morning and once before bed because she often felt dried up. It took a while, but she became accustomed to California's dry weather.

Life without magic allowed Hermione to appreciate little things, such as the calming rush of water on her skin as she washed her hands and her brushes, the satisfaction of managing to cut up vegetables in uniform pieces and being able to cook it perfectly, and the time she has with her thoughts every time she walked home from school. The world slowed down all around her, and in honesty, it was all she probably needed—for time to slow down a bit.

The previous chapter of her life came to her so swiftly that she didn't have time to process it properly. She had been married way before she was ready. She was thrown responsibilities that she had no idea how to handle. She was put under immense pressure for things she had little to no control of. She lost herself in that journey, and knew that it was about time she did something for herself. She did learn a lot of things, though. Most importantly, that the world is so full of fictional stories of happy-ever-afters, of love stories that end up in wedding bells and kisses, that we forget that there is something that comes after all of this. And most of the time, the ending is not what we expect. She still loved Draco, of course, but maybe their chapter has ended, too.

Maybe this, this calm, this serenity, was the universe's way of telling her that it was about time she closed that chapter. She deserved an ending, in order for her to start working on something new.

She entered one of her favorite diners, sketchpad in tow, and was greeted by the smell of bacon, eggs, coffee and pancakes. The air was filled with happy chatter from the regulars and the waitresses, occasionally an order was shouted out, or a bell would ring followed by a loud "Order up!"

She took her usual booth near the window and smiled at one of the waitresses who winked in acknowledgment. She had come here often enough for the waitresses to know her usual.

"Not going home this year?" asked Wanda, serving her a plate of chicken and waffles, then pouring her a cup of coffee.

"I don't think so," she replied. "Thanks."

She slid her order a little to the side and started laying out her pencils in front of her. Hermione came here at least twice a week, pushing herself to find inspiration in the most mundane things. Today was no different. Tourists walked down the street, maps nearly covering their faces. All kinds of families were out enjoying the day. Fitness buffs jogged up and down the street, sometimes with their pets. Hermione sketched the perplexed expressions of the people as they walked past her window.

But one particular person caught her eye.

Across the street, a man with sandy-blond hair came into her view. Alongside him walked a lovely golden retriever. He wore shades and was holding a sandwich in one hand, a paper bag in the other. The man sat down on the bench across the street, took a bottle from the paper bag and gave his dog some water, before taking a swig himself.

Yes, Hermione had seen many blonde men but what perplexed her was how familiar this particular man seemed.

"He cute," Wanda remarked, pouring her more coffee. "Don't give me that look, I saw you. You been staring at that man for some time now."

"I don't know, I feel like I know him," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Y'know there's one way to find out, don't you?" Wanda replied. "Go and ask him who he is. If he isn't who you think it was, hey at least you met someone cute."

Hermione decided to take the chance anyway. She paid for her food and collected her materials. She left the diner with an encouraging "Go for it, girl!" from Wanda.

Every step she took made her want to bolt away more and more. But if there was anything she learned about herself this past year, it was that she had a recklessness inside her, and now is not the time to be a coward.

His face was how she remembered it when they separated some years ago.

"I like your dog," she said. The man looked up and removed his sunglasses. His silver eyes widened in shock. "I've always wanted a retriever. Can I pet um...?"

"Him," Draco supplied. "Help yourself."

Excitedly, Hermione knelt to the ground and ran her fingers through the dog's fur. Draco it seemed, was still too shocked to speak.

"What's his name?"

"Edison."

"I should have known," Hermione said with a laugh.

"I wanted some familiar company."

"Couldn't blame you."

Hermione continued to pet Edison as a comfortable silence stretched between the two of them.

"Are you hungry? That diner across the street has the best food around," Hermione offered. "Plus, dogs are allowed."

"I'm more in the mood for dessert," Draco replied. "Do they serve banana splits?"