N/A: This is my first attempt at my favorite HP pairing. It's just a dabble and I'm not sure whether or not to continue it so let me know what you think. I've got a lot of ideas towards it but I'd like to know your opinions regardless. Kudos to Wistful-Stargazer for correcting my dreadful french and unedited flaws. I combed through these drafts with more care this time, so without further ado......

An Explicit Affair

Chapter 1: Face-to-Face

She remembered the first time she laid eyes on James Potter.

She was no more than 11 or 12 years old. Not long after receiving the letter that changed her life, Hermione researched anything and everything concerning the wizarding world. It was only a matter of time before she came across his name. He was infamous. Searching through all the books in the school library, she quickly became enthralled by his story.

She sighed as she stared at his picture in her textbook. Pushing it away, she quickly gathered her things and departed the library. She was tired, exhausted really. It was still mid morning, yet she was restless; not knowing what to do or where to be, just out of place.

Walking through the palace halls, Hermione was surprised when her best friend, Annel, appeared running towards her animatedly. Gasping for breath, she used her beretas a makeshift fan to cool her face.

"La madame vous cherche," she said once her breathing steadied.

"Pourquoi?" Hermione asked curiously as to why she was being inquired for.

"Je ne sais pas..." With those words, Hermione sighed and made her way towards her Headmistress' office without any proper explanation. Why was she being sought?

"Oui, directrice?"

"Ahh 'Ermione," Madame Maxine exclaimed. Ecstatic to see Hermione, she quickly ushered her to the couch and began pouring tea her customary Earl Grey tea in two cups. Passing one to Hermione and taking a sip of her own before setting it down on the table across from them, she looked to her student.

"Vous parlez l'anglais, oui?"

"Yes, very fluently. My parents are both English, you see."

Madam Maxine looked positively delighted, which only seemed to fuel Hermione's curiosity.

"Wonderful! Are you aware of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"Yes, directrice. I remember how often Fleur complained of her stay there. Chatted to anyone with an ear, really. What does that have to do with me?"

"You, my dear, are the brightest witch here. You've been chosen to represent this fine Academy in our newly formed exchange program!"

She was speechless. Hogwarts? She knew close to nothing about it, other than the obvious. She had been too young to attend during the Triwizard Tournament.

"I-I don't know what to say."

"Oh my darling, you are going to love it. I've spoken to Professor Potter, and he has ensured that you will be well taken care of. You will go through the entire Hogwarts experience; it'll be divine. The exchange is officially commencing this next coming year. You will be with the rest of the people your age in their 7th year."

She didn't really know what to make of it. From what those who had gone had mentioned of their stay, Hogwarts wasn't much more than satisfactory. But then again none of her fellow Beauxbatons students had left without the bitterness of losing, so it was to be expected. This was obviously a way of reclaiming the pride lost during the tournament, but then again, what choice did she have?

That was how she found herself on a train to Hogwarts, very much missing their comfortable planes. She set her belongings in an empty compartment and sat down. Staring at the window, she found that she actually much preferred this scenery to the cloudy skies of France. She'd been like that for a little over 5 minutes when the compartment door opened. Two boys stumbled in and stared at her for the longest time. The first had messy raven hair and beautiful green eyes. She soon recognized him as James Potter's son, Harry. The resemblance brought a slight blush to her cheeks. The second one was a mystery to her, however. He was tall; that was the first thing that struck her. Red hair, blue eyes, fit and muscular, he was built like a Quidditch player,

"Umm....You must be Hermione, the exchange student." Harry spoke up. He looked very uncomfortable. It didn't surprise her that he knew about her, his father being who he was. Harry turned to face his friend, who seemed to be extremely stiff and shocked.

"This is Hermione Granger. She's from Beauxbatons. Dad told me all about it. To promote inter-school unity or whatnot, we're participating in this exchange program. They get Padma and we get Hermione," he informed his companion before looking to Hermione.

"I'm Harry."

Hermione extended her hand to Harry, "Pleasure."

She then reached to shake red head's, who was quick to grab it, then sheepishly let go. "Ron." She smiled at him. He reciprocated, albeit awkwardly.

"Do you mind us crashing here? Everywhere else is full."

Hermione shook her head and sat back down.

While the boys settled themselves in, they questioned her. "So how is it that you only have a light accent? Your English is surprisingly good." Hermione launched into a long explanation on how her parents were English, though they had moved to France when she was 10 for their job. They talked the rest of their trip, and it didn't seem like much later when the train pulled to a stop, signaling their arrival.

"Umm...where do I go from here?" There were so many students scattered that Hermione made a point to cling to Harry. He pointed to a large man whose size, had she not known her Madam, would've shocked her.

"Hagrid will take care of you from here. You may be considered a 7th year, but you were promised a Hogwarts experience, which includes crossing the lake and starting with the 1st years and get sorted." So with the large man, she went. The ride across the lake was spectacular, even if she was the second tallest one there and felt horribly out of place. When they reached the castle, she felt the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of what was through the doors and was unable to pay as much attention as she would have liked to the Professor who had intoduced herself as McGonagall. Not much later, the doors opened.

That was the first time she saw James Potter face-to-face.