A/N: Hello everyone. I just thought of this thing while in the shower (not like you needed to know that) and thought I would write it. I don't know if I will continue or not, unless you want me to. And just a warning... if I do decide to keep on writing this then it will be a while before I post again. I have other stories that I need to get finished. Enjoy
The Heart's Tempo
Chapter One
Draco Malfoy was stood at his window letting the cool breeze flow past him. It was dark outside still. Dark. Just how everything was in his life at the moment. The night was silent and the only sounds that could be heard was from the men on the floor below. Men dressed in black robes and masks.
His father was down their and so was the Dark Lord. Draco made sure that he was never around when Lucius came looking for him, to bring him along to the meeting. Draco never wanted to see that creature again. But that didn't stop him from hearing him. His shrill, cackling voice as he called out an unforgivable on the lucky muggle that had been captured that night.
Their screams would haunt him long after he was dead.
Draco didn't know how long he stood looking out at the dark sky, but everything was silent now. Meaning the meeting was over and the death eaters were probably off in some desolate place destroying someone's life. They seemed to like to burn things lately.
The silence began to become eerie but he still stood there motionless. He was thinking about his life, what he wanted to change about it. A very important decision was being made. One that would change his life. Either save him from the wrath of his father and the dark lord or just assure that his punishment would be worse by tenfold.
He was going to run.
Yes very cowardly, but their wasn't any other option. If he stayed here his father would get to him or the Aurors would. After the horrible night on the astronomy tower he had had the Aurors after him non stop. That was another reason why he was running. He didn't want to be in the same house as the man who encouraged him to murder an innocent man. He didn't want to be on the same planet as him.
Even if he didn't mutter the words that would end Albus Dumbledore's life, he saw it happen. It was because of him that he was trapped there in the first place. His eyes didn't contain the joyful twinkle they usually had, no they were dull, and they became even duller as the green stream of light hit him.
Draco's eyes snapped open. There were footsteps coming down the hall. Far away but still coming in his direction. The footfalls hitting the floor at the same pace his heart was beating.
He smirked, he was prepared for this. He grabbed the backpack and slung it over his shoulder. It contained enough money to last him years and some clothes and essentials. He looked back at his bedroom, decorated with greens and blacks, he used to love it, now it just made him shiver.
Making sure his wand was in his pocket he waited until the footsteps were right outside his door. There was a pause for a few short seconds until the door swung wide open.
There was his father, red with rage. Yes his son had missed another meeting. But the thing that had him snarling was the fact that his son had just given him a giant grin and apparated away from him.
Draco landed in an alley somewhere in London, narrowly avoiding a big metal rubbish bin. At least he thought it was London. That's what he was thinking when he closed his eyes. He would have to get out of London though; most wizarding folk lived here and would defiantly recognise the blonde hair of a Malfoy.
It was still dark and would be for a few more hours. So he headed on foot, north. Didn't have any idea where this would lead him but he would at least be far away from his father and the Dark Lord.
He needed to find someone who could help him, hide him maybe? Maybe just a muggle family would do? Draco cringed scolding himself afterwards. He had to learn to tolerate muggles if he were to hide among them. Shaking his head, he stared walking at a faster pace, where ever he was going, he needed to get there quickly.
The small room was brightly lit by the natural light that shone in through the open window. The thin pink curtains were swaying backwards and forwards from the light summer breeze that was blowing gently in through the window.
Across the room was a double bed with sheets of light pink that matched the curtains. The girl lying on the bed was completely still and breathing evenly. Her honey-brown hair was spread around her face across the pillows. The blanket was kicked off to the side; a small smile tilted the corner of her lips upwards. She looked like she was in a deep sleep, having a pleasant dream. But it was a very different case, she was completely awake and her mind was running a mile a minuet behind her closed eyelids.
She had been in this state for a good hour, and would remain so until she had to get up. The red numbers on the digital clock on her bedside read 7:59am.
Nine seconds later the girl's eyes shot open and she rose into a sitting position on the mattress. She slammed her hand down on the alarm clock successfully silencing the irritating buzzing. The red numbers now showed 8:00am.
She grabbed a brush from her dressing table and took her dressing gown off the hook on the back of her door. Pulling the brush through her tangled hair and pulling her arms through the sleeves she opened her door and went down to the kitchen.
The kitchen was empty when she entered and not as bright as the rest of the room as the sun didn't shine through the kitchen's small window in the mornings. She went over to the fridge and started to remove the eggs and bacon, along with the milk for breakfast.
She was just scooping up the last bit of scrambled eggs and staring into her now nearly empty tea cup when another person came down and also started bustling around the kitchen. The woman looked very similar to the girl only older, and maybe a little shorter.
"You could have saved me and your father some milk Hermione. How are we going to have our tea now hmmm?" Mrs. Granger said leaning against the worktop and waiting for a response off her daughter.
Hermione turned and smiled innocently at her mother. She shrugged and gulped down the last of her tea.
"Sorry. I didn't actually notice it was the last of it. I can go get you some more if you would like?" she asked as her mother sat opposite her and started to butter her toast.
"No it's alright. I'm sure we can go one day without caffeine, besides I'm taking your grandmother food shopping later so I will get some more then." She said unfolding the paper and scanning the front pages. "You going to 'Mizz Mandy'z' today?" she asked not glancing up.
"Yes," she said glancing to the clock on the wall. "And I should be getting in the shower soon or I will be late." She slid her chair back under the table. "Can you give me a ride or do I have to get the bus?" she asked looking over her shoulder from where she was stood in the door frame.
"You will have to get the bus dear; I was planning on getting the garden de-weeded before your dad wakes up and tries to help." Hermione smiled at the memory, he father had removed all the flowers last time he did the gardening, thinking they were weeds, her mother had been furious. "Do you need any money?" she asked finally glancing up from the newspaper.
Hermione just shook her head and walked up the stairs and along the landing. She stopped to get a fresh towel out of the cupboard and then went into the bathroom.
She washed her body and hair as quickly as possible with her fruity soap. By the time she got out the she could barely see. Steam hovered everywhere in the tiny wash room. She pushed open the window and winced when is squeaked in protest.
There was no need for a hair dryer as the summer air and sun would have her hair dry in no time, so she just brushed it through and proceeded to get dressed.
With in an hour she was ready to go. She had on a pair of black leggings that came to a few inches below her knee, and a light blue skirt that came to mid thigh. The T- shirt she wore was just plain blue with black stars. Her hair was pulled back into a high ponytail and she had put on a light layer of make-up.
Grabbing her bag from her bed she heading out her room and down stairs. She went out through the back door to see her mother already filthy from digging up the flowers.
"I'm going mum. I will see you tonight. Bye." She said and saw her mother wave and give a muffled farewell.
Hermione smiled and went out the wooden gate. She had to walk about half a mile to the bus stop that would take her into town so she walked at a slower pace so that she could catch the sun that was shining down on her.
"Good Morning Hermione. How are you today?" a cheery voice said from behind her.
"Morning Mrs. Rogers. I'm very well, just enjoying the sun, you?" she asked politely stopping so that the old lady could catch up and then walking at her pace.
"Yes me too, and Jasper needed a walk anyway." She said pulling the scruffy little dog behind her. "Where are you off to so early anyway? I though you kids slept in until noon?" she said smiling at Hermione.
"It's 9:30am Mrs. Rogers, not that early. I'm going along to the dance studio in town. I go every Saturday." She said trying to keep her foot pacing as slow as her neighbours.
"Well you have fun pet. Perhaps I will see you later, me and the girls were going into town later for our bingo game." She said looking down the street for oncoming cars and then crossing the road onto the field on the other side, letting jasper run free.
"I will. See you later Mrs. Rogers." She called before turning and running to the bus stop which already had a bus waiting there, she signally the bus driver not to pull away and then ran to the open doors.
Around twenty minuets later she arrived in the town, it was filled with people of all ages hurrying here and there. She dodged the people until she finally arrived at her destination.
It was a small building with the paint peeling on the wood. It had glass windows on the front looking in on the shiny laminate flooring. The hand painted sign above said 'Mizz Mandy'z' in bold, black, curvy lettering.
She walked in and inhaled happily. She loved the smell of this place. She had been coming here since she was six and never stopped loving the place.
Hermione looked around and smiled when she saw the familiar face of the owner. Mandy. She skipped over and tapped her shoulder giving her a fright.
She jumped and spun around. Smiling when realizing who had done that to her. She had black pixie cut hair that was spiked in several directions.
"Hello Hermione. Why don't you go in the back with the rest of them. You have the back room all morning as usual and the front room last hour or so of the day." She said gently pushing the teenager in the direction of the back room door.
"Yeah Yeah. I know. Is it me and Abby who is teaching the kids today or me and Eddie?" she asked with her hand on the door knob.
"Abby." She heard Mandy shout to her.
Hermione opened the door and saw the sight she saw every Saturday. The seven people all turned to look at her and smiled some of them giving out hugs.
There was four girls there and three guys. The girls dragged Hermione into their conversation at once jabbering on about their week.
There was Abby. Tall and blonde with light brown eyes. She was Mandy's sister and basically made it possible for them to get the back room every single week. That power made her bossy sometimes but she was generally a nice person.
Then there was Callie. Thick as a post that girl but one hell of a dancer. She was kind of short and had strawberry blonde hair that fell to her shoulders. She would probably go on to win a major dance contest when she was older, marrying some attractive film star along the way. She helped all of us with the crazy dances she created.
Marisa was next. Marisa is the most talkative person you will ever meet. If their was the smallest amount of scandal around she would have told ten people about it within the hour. You could never be too careful with her. She was like a muggle version of Lavender Brown.
Standing next to Marisa was Sabrina. She was her younger sister. But only by ten months. She was the complete opposite of Marisa. She was very shy and only spoke when incredibly interested in the subject or being addressed directly.
Then there was the guys. Noah, Bradley and Eddie. Hermione got on the best with Noah out of all of her muggle friends. He was just as smart as her and seemed to hate football with a passion, just the same as Hermione with Quidditch. He had tanned skin and shoulder length curly black hair. Dark brown eyes that always seemed to be glowing with laughter.
Bradley was the tallest, standing at a massive 6 foot 4 He looked like a giant next to Callie. He had dark blonde hair that was cut short. His eyes were a light brown and like Noah's always seemed to be glowing.
Eddie was tall as well, not as big as Bradley but still towering over the girls. His hair was the same style as Noah's but only his hair was brown and straight. He tended to get moody easily, hence his defensive green eyes. But when he was in a good moon, so was everyone it seemed. He was smiling brightly today.
"Hiya Hermione! Where've you been? We have been waiting for like… ages!" Marisa whined.
"Sorry. I was talking to an old lady and then there was some traffic. You want to get started?" Hermione asked not in the mood to deal with Marisa's over exaggerating.
"Sure let's go. Bradley will you turn the music on please?" Abby asked moving to her own space in the room.
Everyone found their own space and waited for the music to start. When it did they all started warming up to the beat and doing their own thing.
Sabrina and Abby were basically just twirling round in circles while Callie did these complicated moves. Hermione laughed and attempted to do some of Callie's minor moves.
"No you guys. Left, left and then right. Not Left, right and then left. Sheesh!" Callie moaned demonstrating again. "Go again from the top. Eddie, set the tempo!"
The music started and we moved in unison. Left, left, right, squat, stamp, twirl and then a whole lot more lefts. Usually everyone except Callie ending up spinning in circles until falling over dizzy. Every week she would do this. Try and teach them a complicated dance, she made up.
She usually gave up after about an hour of us not listening. She got to practise herself though.
Today was Hermione's choice at choosing a dance to do. Her mother had been teaching her how to Tango and she wanted to practise in a large enough place.
Callie knew all the steps off by heart of course so we were all off to a great start. Callie dancing with Marisa. Abby and Bradley, Eddie and Sabrina, Hermione and Noah.
"So why is your mum making you learn the tango?" Noah asked as he dipped Hermione so low that her hair touched the floor.
"She isn't making me, we just started doing it one night when there was nothing to watch on TV." She said between breaths as she grabbed Noah's shoulder to keep her balance before he twirled her again.
"Noah, Hermione you're doing great!" Callie shouted over. How she managed to watch everyone else while perfecting her moves was beyond everyone. Hermione once had a theory that she had two sets of eyes.
Noah rolled his eyes and Hermione laughed.
"You want to have a break. If I spin you again I think my arms are going to fall off." Noah said loud enough for the other guys to hear who grunted agreement and let their arms fall from around their partners.
Abby fell to the floor when Bradley let go, she shrieked and aimed a kick at his shin.
"You can't just drop me you idiot!" she shouted kicking him again.
"Hey quit it. I'm fragile!" he said sarcastically helping her up and rubbing his leg.
"You guys ready for lunch?" Eddie asked.
Everyone nodded or murmured 'yes'.
They all went out of the studio passing some younger kids who had the front room filled with movement.
Abby caught up with Hermione shoving Noah to the side while doing it.
"You bring your ballet shoes?" she asked.
"Yeah they are in my bag. Which kids is it today. The six or the ten year olds?" Hermione asked, she preferred the ten year olds because they could keep up but the little ones were just too cute not to love to bits.
"Six year olds I think. The ten year olds don't come in until next week… I think. Remind me to ask Mandy when we get back." She said to herself more than to Hermione.
"Guys, where are we going?" Hermione called over her shoulder.
No one answered her but just turned into a shop to their left that sold sandwiches and pasties.
Hermione rolled her eyes and followed them into the bakery. She didn't seem to notice the tall young man with the white blonde hair standing in the shadows of the street. Nor did she see the way his lips turned up in a smirk when his eyes came to rest on her.
A/N: Should I continue with this story or should I delete? If you think I should keep writing if you have any ideas then they will be appreciated, I have some ideas for this story IF I keep with it but more would be great?!
ReViEw