Open for Business [OTA]

[notjustbooks]

Hermione almost dropped down on her knees in thanks to the island when it gave her the book store to look after. It was a welcome distraction in the face of recent events. Harry was still talking to her, but she was trying to keep him a distance. Where as Ron who she didn't want to keep at a distance wasn't talking to her. It was strange to find

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[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo had been walking around the booskhop with his mouth hanging open as he tried to absorb the sheer number of books contained in the small place. Of course, there were books and stories from his own time, but nothing like this. They were all so shiny, and the thing was, Lorenzo only had basic reading skills. He would never have chosen to pick up something like a book to read it, because, well, he just woudn't be able to. But he was on his way to the park when a book with a picture of a really large silver thing on the front caught his eye. He didn't know what it was, but it was enough to draw his attention into the store. He hadn't been in here before, and probably wouldn't buy anything, but it awed him, nonetheless

[notjustbooks]

Hermione pressed her lips together, ready to huff out an annoyed breath, and carry on, but she thought better of it. She just gave the man a smile, and waved a hand dismissively as she collected some of the books. "No, no. It's alright, don't worry about it. I've done a lot worse since I've started. Managed to knock over a shelf the other day." And she had cleaned it up with magic, but she resisted the urge right now.

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo stood up and handed her the neat pile of books with a smile. "This looks like it would be a hard place of employment if you were clumsy, m'lady," he deduced. "Or boring, if you did not know how to read... or clean."

[notjustbooks]

Hermione accepted them after stacking her pile on one of the empty shelves. "It would be, and I'm not clumsy. Just get distracted sometimes when I'm lost in my thoughts. I thought this place was a good idea to keep my busy, but somehow everything keeps catching up with me." Hermione frowned a little, trying to work out if his comment meant he couldn't read. Or clean. "True, I suppose. Still, not all books have words. There are art books with just images."

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo's eyes lit up. "Like the ones Tim put in his friend's bag with pictures of naked maidens?" he asked, looking around for the books with pictures. He moved slowly, running his fingers along the spines of the books. He was still awed at them all, even if he couldn't read what was in them.

[notjustbooks]

"Not quite," Hermione replied as she pressed her lips together in a clear sign of disapproval. She turned around, moving to another shelf as she picked up a book on Da Vinci. She came back over to the man, and handed it to him. "More like art books. I suppose there's still naked maidens, they're just not... photographs."

She gave him a smile. "I'm Hermione, by the way."

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo took the book and opened it. He looked at all the pictures in awe, and although there were naked women in there, he wasn't exactly obsessed with it. He preferred the real thing to pictures. "Who are all these people, m'lady?" he asked her, glancing up before going back to the book. "What is a..." he looked at the cover, "Da Vinci?"

[notjustbooks]

Hermione looked over his shoulder, and shrugged. He flipped to the Mona Lisa, and she got him to hold it for a moment. She'd forgotten how Muggle paintings didn't move. It would have been interesting to see her give other expressions. Still, it was a masterpiece, and Hermione would admire it all the same.

"I don't know, it's part of the mystery. I'm sure there are some historical figures. They'd probably tell you at the back of the book. I think mostly it's just people he might have known, or made up. This was a very long time ago." She smiled at him again. "Leonardo Da Vinci is the artist."

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo looked at it from a few different angles. "She looks pissed off to be stuck there," he decided. Or maybe he would just be pissed off having to sit that long in one place. He shrugged. "I do not know who she is Miss Hermione. Or who the artist is. He must be from your time."

[notjustbooks]

Hermione tilted her head. "What's your time? And name. You never introduced yourself." She glanced at the painting and laughed a little. "She probably was. She almost looks like she never wanted her painting done, and yet... I think there's a hint of amusement. Her smile is the subject of much discussion."

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo took her hand and kissed it. "Lorenzo di Lamberti, it's a pleasure Miss Hermione," he introduced himself. "1351, from Tuscany in Italy. The most paintings I have seen are in churches and I do not go in to churches very often. But I did live in a convent. Maybe he was naked when he was painting her?"

[notjustbooks]

"It's very nice to meet you as well, Mister di Lamberti. 1351? Merlin's beard. I'm sorry, it's probably rude being so surprised? After all there are probably people from all different times. What were you doing in a convent? Naked? Well, I suppose it's possible. No one really knows."

[far2beautiful]

"Lorenzo," he corrected with a smile. He didn't think anyone had called him Mister before. "I was relieving maidens of their virginity, and looking after their gardens. I fell out of a tree and hit my head. They took me in and gave me a place to live. At least, until I... they did not not need me anymore," he hastily changed his course. He hadn't exactly told many people how he managed to remain in the convent so long.

[notjustbooks]

"Then call me Hermione, please." Her eyebrows went up again, and she cleared her throat. "I see. Well, that's certainly a, ah, worthy pursuit. I'm sure someone has to shoulder that burden." Her expression changed a little to one of sympathy. "I'm sorry. Is that why you're here?"

[far2beautiful]

Lorenzo shook his head. "No, I am here because men wanted to kill me. But that is okay, because I wanted to kill them too. Their leader is a shit. I pushed him into a well at sword point. But I miss home, and horses, and things that I understand. Here, not so much. Everything is nothing I understand. It does not make sense, and it takes your friends away."

[notjustbooks]

"I'm sorry," Hermione couldn't help but say again. "It must have been awful. You had friends that got taken away? From here? Me too, even if he hasn't really left yet. Just... ignoring me."