Hey people! This is your friendly disclaimer... Just letting you know that I'm playing in the world of JK Rowling and that I did not come up with the characters. Well, I own John Westwood (a lovely English chap that you will meet in later chapters but who does not feature prominantly) as well as the personality of Robert Granger. I can't even really say that the plot is mine. I adopted a plot bunny that was known as Hermione Malfoy from LondonsLegend (I'm pretty sure I got that right, just know that it wasn't my plot to begin with) although the way that the story unfolds is completely mine, MINE I tell you:-)

Well, I know that I said that this story is Hermione and Draco, but I probably should make it Hermione and Narcissa. I'm still not entirely sure where this story will take me, but the idea from LondonsLegend was that perhaps this would end up being a DHr fic. We shall see. I just thought that I should prewarn you all so that you aren't looking for DHr romance within the first two chapters. That isn't going to happen. But if you do want a Draco/Hermione quick fix with some romance involved (stay tuned for later chappies), then read my other story entitled Summer With The Grangers. Chapter 13 is up.

I hope that you stay with this story though because I like the original concept of Hermione finding out ... whatever she finds out ;-) . Lemme know how it goes and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask them.

12th January, 1980

Narcissa and Bellatrix exited the Muggle theatre in a complete state of contentedness. Surprising really, since they both usually despised anything Muggle. However, due to the slowly declining number of wizarding actors, there was little choice but to watch Muggle productions.

They had just watched the Royal Shakespeare Company's performance of Twelfth Night and were relishing in the aftermath of the performance.

"I always felt bad for Andrew," Bellatrix announced dramatically. "He should have known that Olivia would never accept a proposal from someone like him."

"I know," Narcissa agreed, "but Sir Toby really ought to have cared a lot more than he did. Maria could have kept him in line, as well."

This discussion carried on for some minutes more when both of them were drawn to the presence of a particular male waiting for the bus. He was obviously a Muggle, judging by the type of clothes that he wore. He was tall with a broad build that suggested he was someone who exercised regularly. The two teenage girls moved a little in his direction. The man turned towards the left of the road, obviously in the direction that the bus was going to come from. As he did so, his longish wavy brown hair caught the breeze and it blew clear of his face, revealing a chiselled jawline and good looks. He was obviously someone who would get the ladies at the drop of a hat.

"Ooh, I've always wanted to know what it would be like to bed a Muggle!" Narcissa whispered frantically.

"Narcissa Black, you cannot tell me that you are considering approaching him!" reproved Bellatrix.

"Why not? I'm betrothed to Lucius no matter what I do or say in the matter. There is no doubt in my mind that he has gone against his parents' wishes of being faithful for our wedding night. No, I'm going to go up to him. Cover for me, can you?"

Narcissa knew how faithful Bella was and that she would not disclose anything about the male Muggle to the rest of her family. That was why she knew she could get away with what she was about to do.

Bella sighed in resignation. "Okay, I'll come up with something. But you have to tell me all about it when you get back. Although I can only imagine it will be utter filth!"

"Oh Bella! Why don't you have a go, too?"

"Because I have no desire to ruin myself for Rodolphus. I don't need anyone else anyway because I already know what Rodolphus is like and let me tell you, he certainly knows what he's doing!"

Narcissa let out a shudder. She really did not want to know about such things despite Bella's insistence that she did.

"Look, the bus is nearly here. It's now or never okay? I'll meet you back home."

"Alright. Good luck," Bella finished sarcastically, shaking her head as Narcissa made her way over to the tall male in question.

Narcissa wondered what on earth drove her to actually realise one of her fantasies. Now that she was approaching the beau garçon, she was starting to have second thoughts.

Come on, she thought to herself. You have to do this. Bella won't expect anything less.

She sighed inwardly and continued to walk towards the Muggle. He turned towards her as she drew up close beside him.

Giving him her sweetest expression, she asked, "Excuse me, Sir, I was wondering if you could tell me how to get to Liverpool."

Her smiled at her and replied, "Were you not in the theatre just a moment ago?"

How did he know that? I don't remember seeing him.

"Yes, I was but what's that got to do with anything?"

"I'm just suggesting that perhaps you came from your home tonight to watch the spectacle, hence you should know how to return."

Confused, Narcissa looked at the man. "I don't know what you mean."

"What I mean is; if that were the case, you should already know how to get to Liverpool."

He just got the better of me! Fancy that, a Muggle outsmarting a Witch! Alright I may as well be frank with him if he's so clever.

She sighed resignedly. "Alright, you caught me out. It was merely an excuse to come and talk to you."

He laughed, flashing his pearly whites at her. "I must say, it's not the most original way of approaching someone but nonetheless it worked. My name is Robert Granger."

"I'm Narcissa. Narcissa Black."

The man whom she now knew as Robert looked at her in wonder. "Narcissa? That's certainly a unique name. It's very similar to the name Narcissus or Nausicaa. That is, if you are familiar with Greek mythology."

This little fact stunned Narcissa. She only knew a little bit about Greek mythology but enough to know where her name originated. Not that she cared to go into the former name that Robert mentioned. The thing that surprised her mostly was the fact that this particular Muggle was obviously quite learned in the topic of myths and legends, even though from first impression he did not appear to. What's more, the fact that Robert didn't mention the legend behind the name made Narcissa develop a (albeit very small since he was a Muggle) respect for him.

"Yes," she responded. "That I am. All of my family are named after someone from Greek or Roman mythology. My parents are somewhat of traditionalists."

"How extraordinary. I've always wondered what it would be like to name one of my children after a Greek God or Goddess. Nothing too obscure of course but something a little different. You see, judging by my name, I've come from a long line of British traditionalists as well. You cannot really get a more British-sounding name than my own, which was why I thought it was time for a change. After all, it is nearly the end of the second millennium."

The conversation carried on from there. Soon they were comparing great literal figures such as Shakespeare and Marlowe as well as Shelley, Byron and 'Bram Stoker.

So much for a quick fix. Who would have thought that my night could have been more educational?

Both Narcissa and Robert were quite enjoying the conversation when the bus finally pulled up.

"Oh," said Robert. "That's my bus back to Cambridge."

"That's a shame," responded Narcissa. "I was really starting to enjoy myself, too."

There was an awkward pause where neither said anything. All the people waiting for the bus were now seated on it except for Robert. He looked at it and turned back to Narcissa then back to the bus.

"Oi Mate," the bus driver announced in an East London accent. "You getting on or what?"

Robert Looked back to Narcissa. "You know what? Did you want to go out for a coffee instead?"

Narcissa was delighted. "Yes, of course, that would be lovely."

"You don't need to worry about me," he told the bus driver. "I won't be catching this bus home."

"Suit yourself," the bus driver responded in an 'I know better than to ask' sort of way then drove off.

"Well, where to, Narcissa?" Robert asked.

"I think I know of a small place where we can go. My sister and I sometimes go there after a recital."

"Right, you lead the way then."

After a couple of minutes walking and talking, the two of them settled into a small café located at the end of the street.

"I love this place," Narcissa told Robert, quite forgetting why she had approached him in the first place. "It's the only place open on a Friday night around here."

"That's funny," Robert he responded. "I don't remember ever seeing it. Of course, I'm not usually down this way so perhaps that's why."

Narcissa kept quiet about this statement. She knew why he could not normally see it but she was not about to divulge her greatest secret.

Instead she said, "Really? Well, maybe you just weren't looking as you drove past. It isn't a very large place, as you can see. However, they make a very nice coffee and cappuccino."

The cappuccinos arrived after a couple of minutes, not that either Narcissa or Robert noticed until a few minutes afterwards. The time was passing so quickly for both of them that neither could remember the last time they had enjoyed someone else's company so much. It seemed ridiculous not to try and make the most out of it. From Narcissa's point of view, she knew it would be next to impossible to encounter Robert again due to her duties as an aristocratic pureblood in the Wizarding World. As much as she didn't really want to admit it, she was starting to feel something for this man in front of her that she knew she didn't feel for Lucius. Unfortunately there was no way to break the betrothal. It was going to happen; it was just a matter of time when.

After another hour, Robert finally said the words that Narcissa was waiting to hear.

"Would you like to come back to my place after we finish here?"

The words were said not forthcoming but rather in the same way as a shy teenage boy would ask a girl out for their first date. This touched Narcissa yet she was not very sure why. It was perhaps because Robert was so sure of himself before she approached and even while she was talking to him but when it came to the final crunch, it showed that he was human.

She smiled graciously at him and replied, "Of course."

Being only of 17 years of age, she really was not sure whether this was a good idea but she had already come so far that backing out was not an option. Not only that but she knew a lot of the boys/young men at Hogwarts and they were much less of gentlemen than this man in front of her. Despite the fact that he would have been no less than 4 years older than her (age was something that neither one of them had brought up), she felt that he would not treat her as a possession, but rather a person.

They walked arm in arm back to his smallish flat where she could see that he did not possess much in the way of money. He had told her that he was studying and hence didn't have a lot of money in one of the conversations during their coffees but it became apparent that he was not lying in the matter at all. His flat was furnished with the barest of furniture and not many other luxuries.

What a shame, he seems like he really should be wealthy.

Robert caught sight of Narcissa's face and gave a small laugh. "Ah, there may not be much here at the moment but as I said in the café, I'm still studying. My parents stopped supporting me when I moved out to go to Cambridge. After I finish, money won't be something I'll need to worry about."

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

"I told you I want to become a dentist. Nowadays, that pays big money. Up around fifty thousand quid for a graduate. And it only increases with time."

Narcissa was not sure whether this amounted to much in the Wizarding World but she could see that he looked very resolved in the matter and decided to play along.

"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it."

"It's alright, you don't have to pretend. I still have two years to go, yet it doesn't seem to bother me. I still have my football, my schooling and my books of course. I'm quite content, even though I don't have much to look at."

This was almost too much for Narcissa. Having grown up with all the wealth one could muster in the Wizarding World, she could not fathom how one could maintain such a dignified air about them with so little possessions. Yet here was someone, quite educated, who could do just that. It made her a little guilty for complaining when the house-elves overcooked her meals or didn't wash her dresses properly. These things seemed almost irrelevant after seeing Robert maintaining his happy lifestyle despite being a poor university student.

Without warning, she walked over to him slowly and noiselessly. As he was about to ask her what she was doing, she reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. Pulling away from him, Narcissa wondered what on earth made her do that. It seemed Robert was wondering the same thing. He only looked at her in slight shock, obviously overwhelmed for the forthright move on her part.

Just as she was about to apologise for her actions, Robert reached for her and took her up in his arms, kissing her passionately. Narcissa responded after a couple of seconds, deepening the kiss by moving her hands behind his head.

After they broke apart to take a breath, Robert gently took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

Comments:

Narcissus and Nausicaa - Greek Mythology (as mentioned). Narcissus died from gazing at his own reflection (he fell in love with it). Nausicaa was the beautiful young daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. She was innocent and virtuous until in her youth, she became attracted to a naked Odysseus when they first met (If he was good looking, I don't blame her…!)

The reason that Robert hasn't seen this place is of course because he is a Muggle and this is a wizarding establishment. So why can he see it with Narcissa? Because she led him to it and hence he was able to see it. He isn't commenting on the dress of this place because it's located in the middle of Muggle London, so the Wizarding population that are frequenting it are dressed as Muggles to fit in.