Rainfall

Introduction-Hermione

Bellaluna

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. Please do not copy or steal any of this fanfiction.

Author's Notes: My first Harry Potter fic and it's a DracoxHermione. I blame this completely on my friend Lori who asked for a DracoxHermione ficlet for Christmas and then all these plot bunnies spewed forth and this story was born. Now admittedly, this story will stray far, FAR away from the main plot of the Harry Potter series. The timeline will be the summer before and the 6th year of Harry and Co, but the main plot ideas of the original book will take a back seat to fluff and stuff of this fanfiction. Well anyways, please enjoy!

Introduction-Hermione

It was raining out. Hermione hated it when it rained, especially in the summer time. The humidity did nothing for her already frazzled brown locks. The tepid weather had her in a foul mood that early July morning and the sight that greeted her at the bus stop didn't make matters any better. In fact it made things, if possible, a thousand times worse. The one thing that Hermione never, ever expected to see in her Muggle neighborhood was sitting right there at the bus stop bench. Sitting on the bench was Draco Malfoy. Not only was Draco sitting there, but he was drenched by the downpour of summer rain. Hermione never gave Draco much credit for anything, but she had to think that sitting in the rain was something he'd think to avoid.

Hermione's first instinct was to leave, but quite unfortunately, she needed to get to the part time job she had picked up at the beginning of the summer and the bus was the best transportation she could use at the time. Taking a huge breath as she straightened her self up, Hermione made her way across the empty street to the bus stop. Surprisingly it took a few moments for Draco to realize he was no longer alone and looked up at saw Hermione. Instantly his expression went from that of vague disinterest to that of anger and disdain, directed right at Hermione.

"What are you doing here Mudblood?" he sneered.

"I think I should be the one asking you that. You're the one sitting at the bus stop of a Muggle community in the pouring rain without an umbrella, not me," Hermione smoothly retorted, gripping her own umbrella tightly to emphasis her point.

"What I'm doing here is none of your business."

"Then the same goes for me."

An awkward silence fell over the two of them, which came as a mixed blessing to Hermione. She was certainly grateful that Draco wasn't saying anything more to her, but at the same time she felt the tense feeling in the air that he could say something at any moment. The fact that he was even there was baffling enough, but why on earth was he staying?

Thankfully it did not take the bus long to arrive at the stop, but it had been long enough for Hermione. As soon as the metal doors folded open, Hermione hopped up on to the first step, holding out her umbrella behind her. She turned a bit in order to close her umbrella before going up all the way, but as she turned she was surprised to see that Draco had not budged an inch and didn't look like he was going to any time soon. She was caught starring too long by Draco who returned her stare with another disdainful glare.

"What?"

"Aren't you coming?" Hermione asked against her better judgment.

"No," Draco replied as if it were obvious, which really it was.

"Well, fine!" Hermione huffed as she struggled with her umbrella, still trying to close it. However, the umbrella didn't appear to be too cooperative of Hermione's plan. Try as she might she couldn't fold the thing completely down. With red cheeks, Hermione peered up and saw that Draco was looking at her with a completely smug grin. He apparently was taking great joy in Hermione's uncooperative umbrella. Hermione felt a growl growing at the back of her throat as she wanted to release a slew of angry statements right at Draco's direction, but instead she found herself thrusting her arm out at him, holding the umbrella right at his face.

"Take it," she grumbled.

"Wha-?" Draco began.

"Just take it!" Hermione snapped before Draco could even finish.

Without another word Draco reached out and took the umbrella from Hermione. Just as the brunette let go of the umbrella, releasing it to one of her most hated classmates she just barely felt a tingle run up her spine as her hand brushed against his. With a curt nod and quick spin on her feet Hermione hurried up the rest of the steps, dropped her fare into the collection bin and found her seat. As she felt the rumbling of the bus starting up again, she dared to glace out the window and watch Draco sitting under her umbrella as the bus passed by. With a sigh she let her head rest against the coolness of the glass window, her thoughts swirling all about. She couldn't help but wonder just what on earth had compelled her to do such a thing.

It had to be the rainy day.