Disclamer: I do not own any of the characters from this story. All credits goes to J.K. Rowling, besides for my story twist
Who DM + HG
When Timing: before war
Where Hogwarts: 7th year
Summary: A day in the life of a Muggle.
A certain Slytherin has to repeat a class over the summer & is given such a project that he has to live like a Muggle for a certain period of time. His hated project turns into a life-changing project with the help of a hated enemy. Will things change for the better or for worse?
'Another 30 minutes to go'
Draco Malfoy was contemplating every possible way of making this go by faster. Out of all the punishments he has received for the mischievous things he had done over the years at Hogwarts, this was probably the worst. Albus Dumbledore made a requirement for 'certain' students to take a short 4-week course and an assignment over the summer on Muggle studies. It was no surprise he was one of the chosen ones for his constant cross paths with a hated Mudblood.
One week in, he'd already learned about their non-magical sorry way of living they called life. From airplanes to soccer, everything required constant energy. He had started to pity the fools and their magic-less lifestyle.
"So what do they do when they run out of gas for these..carss?" Goyle gave a puzzled look to Crabbe.
"I suppose walk or send a note to someone with an owl for help" Crabbe replied sounding all too confident of himself.
The two shared a high-five as Draco snorted at their conversation, he was too anxious to leave and bored out of his mind that he spared them the slap to their heads. 'Send a note with an owl. Idiots' Often times he wondered why he let these two hang around him so much. If they weren't so inclined to do everything he asked them to, he wouldn't keep them around for another minute. Well that and the fact that their parents and Lucius Malfoy were part of the same clan. A clan Draco knew he'd be a part of not so long after leaving Hogwarts. His training sessions had already begun, his father was instructed, as were all the Death Eaters to introduce their offspring's to their future duty and loyalty to the Dark Lord. Draco knew why he had accepted, or forced to accept, to follow in his father's footsteps and it wasn't because of some "loyalty" to anyone. If Draco was loyal to anyone, it was his family and his beliefs and no one or anything besides that.
His thoughts were soon cut short with an announcement from Professor Burbage who cleared her throat and called for the class attention.
"Here are the directions about your class project. Each one of you will have a different subject. Most of you will be able to use the library resources to complete the assignment and others will have to rely on outside sources…" She trailed off handing the assignments to Pancy. "Well come on now Miss Parkinson, get moving, unless all of you want to stay here longer." She smiled enjoying herself from the groans that came from the Slytherins.
"Now remember, these assignments are worth half your grade in this classroom. Unless you desperately want to repeat this class in an extensive another year-round course, I suggest you all make use of the next 2 weeks of my time; exams will be the last week and these assignments due 4 weeks after this course. You can send them to me with an owl. "
"What! She's nuts is what she is. Differences between Muggle transportations and the Wizarding world! Fifteen pages! Dumbledore better be enjoying himself." Pancy trailed off. Draco hadn't paid much attention after that; he was too busy making sure he had read his assignment correctly.
Draco Malfoy
Assignment: I want you to observe the daily life of the Muggles, in their own environment. This means you are required to live and act like them in their world for 3 whole weeks. I've made a helpful guide for you in the back of this page for your journey. Please hand in your assignment and observations, 10 pages, typed, double-spaced, with a computer to me sometime within end of week 4.
- Burbage
P.S. Oh, and please don't forget to get some Muggle clothing, or they will think Halloween came in early.
Bloody Hell. What's this 'typing' and a 'computer'?
"Wear Muggle Clothes! She must be mad!" What was he supposed to do now?
"Did you say something Mr. Malfoy?" The professor new exactly why he was distressed but thought it was the perfect punishment for his foul comments she's heard from him for years.
"Nothing, Professor" He gathered his belongings and stormed out. If he refused the assignment, he'd have to repeat the class for an entire year, which he knew was bloody unlikely he'd even show up. He does the assignment; he just might die from disgust. Three entire weeks with Muggles. The thought made him shudder.
oOo
Draco made sure he had everything all set. He'd rented a fully furnished studio apartment for a month. Had pawned enough gold to Muggle money for his necessities, he supposed anyways. Checking himself out in the mirror, he picked a black button down shirt and jeans. Standing in the fireplace with his luggage, he took a huge breath and using magic one last time, he traveled to his new home.
He took one look at his surroundings and flopped on the bed and groaned, "What now?" He reached over in to his luggage and pulled out, 'In the Life of a Muggle; Everything you need to know to survive'.
The apartment wasn't too big but roomy and cozy. Taking his eyes off the book, he surveyed the room, taking in how differently it was decorated compared to the wizarding world. Everything was more lighter in color and essence. Nothing dark or dramatic about it. Almost a safe feeling. His bed was in the center of the room touching the wall in the far right side across the 'television' and khaki colored couch. He had learned about televisions in his Muggle Studies class and had always been curious about them despite the pureblood part of his brain telling him otherwise.
After couple minutes of fumbling with the remote, he finally got it to work. Screens flashed across from him showing a football shaped headed baby beating a talking dog with a stick of some sort demanding for his money. He laughed, bewildered at the imagination these people had. If Lucius should see him now… His father wasn't all too happy about his little trip but agreed nonetheless without choice when Dumbledore and Burbage only gave one other option: repeat the class.
oOo
Sitting in a café, Draco sipped on some tea and did as the assignment required; observed. From couples to people late for work, people zoomed in and out of the café. Jotting down his activities of the day, he hoped he could get the assignment done early and Burbage would let him off the hook.
"Can I borrow this chair?"
Draco was startled out of his thoughts, wondering just why the voice sounded so familiar and turned around about to ask if she was talking to him when he was met with a familiar brown eyes.
"You!" Hermione stared at the blonde boy checking to make sure she wasn't going crazy. "WhAtt. Are YOU doing here?"
"Hi to you too Granger." Draco replied flatly.
"You haven't answered my question! I swear Malfoy if you and your 'clan' are up to something I won't hesitate to—"
"Relax Mudblood, As much as I am tempted to hex you, I'm only here because of Dumbledore's stupid project." Draco turned back to his tea trying to act normal, people had begun staring.
Hermione seated herself across from Draco, much to his surprise and glared at him. "First of all, I wouldn't be the 'mudblood' over in this world. No, no. That mister would be you. Second of all, what could Dumbledore possibly want to have anything to do with you? Explain."
Draco simply raised an eyebrow, "No Granger, you explain. What makes you think you can sit? I know that even here, you must ask for my permission."
"You have got to be joking" This time it was Hermione's turn to raise an eyebrow. When her only response came out as a smirk, she continued "Unless you tell me why you're sitting in my favorite café, across my house, with a pen and a paper jotting down God knows what, I will put Harry and Ron at your tail."
Draco thought for a moment. What could be the odds that the café under his apartment was across where the infamous Mudblood lived? He would have never guessed. Granger didn't know she just fed Draco information that would have cost him thousands of galleons to find out, if he ever needed it of course. But as they say, keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. And close it was. Draco didn't know why it didn't catch his attention before but Hermione Granger actually had some extreme curves to her. THE Hermione Granger. Bookworm of Hogwarts was dressed in an off-the-shoulders black fitted shirt and ripped jeans. He hadn't noticed it before but her wild hair seemed almost exotic hanging down on her body. Of course her glare was what shook him out of his thoughts.
"So that's where you live?" He turned his attention towards the two-story white house.
"Yes-Did you just hear anything I said Malfoy?"
He could tell she was getting irritated and gave a short explanation, "I'm here on a project." Seeing her face turn red, he realized just how that really sounded. Before she could open her mouth Draco continued, "Dumbledore is making me retake Muggle Studies over the summer and this is the project the professor that loves you oh-so-much-Burbage assigned to me. Observe Muggles" Although he wouldn't have minded some excitement right now, he wasn't trying to get hexed either. Without his wand, he could only do so much to protect himself. Draco took another sip of his tea and realized it had gone cold. He couldn't use any magic to reheat it and was getting hammered with questions by one of his enemies. This really sucked. He signaled the waiter over, "Another tea. Make it two."
"Two?" Hermione shot Draco a puzzled look.
"Much to yours and my distaste Granger, I've been brought up with manners."
"Oh, thanks. I guess." She replied hesitantly while taking a sip of her tea the waiter placed in front of her.
"Plus I can tell when someone isn't leaving when I see one, so let's hear it. What's on your mind?" Draco was getting quite curious as to why she hadn't stormed out already. The Granger he knew didn't speak to him if she didn't have to, let alone sit with him having some tea, like civilized people. If anyone they knew would have seen them, they wouldn't believe their eyes. Two enemies, from different sides, sharing a cup of tea, and no one's bleeding. This of course wasn't your usual scene.
Hermione put down her tea and surveyed the light-haired boy across from her. She wanted to answer him but didn't know how to do it. In all honesty, she'd gotten her answer and should be double checking with Dumbledore by now instead of sitting across from her enemy who just ordered her some tea. He had caught her by surprise really. The fact that this boy, her enemy and Death Eater-in-training, was sitting like a normal person with Muggles was quite the scene. To add on to all of this, he had treated her with Manners she hadn't seen coming (Well besides calling her Mudblood, which was expected out of him). She peeked into his notepad and realized he was telling the truth,
Muggles
Strange clothes- women mostly wearing tight fitted clothes & men..no robes
They like tea.
Too boring and way too needy
The Bookworm has curves.
The last note caught her by surprise and she blushed a crimson red. This was all too much for her to handle. 'The Bookworm' Surely he was talking about her. Hermione knew she could look nice when she actually wanted to, but didn't worry so much about it at Hogwarts. She was too worried about her grades and well making everyone proud. She never had a real boyfriend and wasn't used to being hit on, in any way, especially by her enemy.
"Are you going to answer me Granger, or stare at my notes all day?" Draco smirked, knowing exactly why she was the color of a tomato. It seemed, his observations have had some effect on the Gryfindor Princess. If he had known this was all it took to shut her up, he would have done something similar sooner. Like the time when she punched him in the face because of that hideous bird of Hagrids in third year.
With a "Hymph" Hermione replied trying to seem cool, "This is where I like to spend my free times when I am back home." She shot a quick glance around her and thanked whoever was watching over her that everywhere else was full for she continued with, "And there seems to be no more empty spots".
"You have free times Granger? You mean besides when you aren't using it up to stuff your nose in a book or chasing after Potter." He shot her a smirk. Curveous or not, he had to keep his cool.
Hermione glared daggers "You should be the one to talk, it's you chasing after Harry. You're no different than his fans really, using up your free time to mess with him. Your clan should be so proud." Hermione smiled mentally at herself. The whole 'blushing crimson red' thing was getting to her. She wasn't used to being shut.
The girl had to be joking. Draco couldn't do anything but stare. Did she really imply Draco was a fan? A fan of lightning-bolt face? "Listen bookworm, if you're going to use insults, let's at least keep them honest."
"Oh and why is that? Did it have an effect on you Malfoy? Are you scared to admit deep down you wished Harry accepted your request to come to your side during first year? To accept your handshake? To be your bestie?" Hermione couldn't keep the grin off of her face, Draco looked almost ill. That grin didn't last long however, Draco seemed a lot smarter then what she gave him credit for.
"An effect? You want effect Granger, how about you come upstairs and I'll show you what kind of effect those curves can create. You think you can handle that Miss know-it-all?" Draco was furious was but he kept true to his word and was honest to say the least. He might not like the girl but he did like what he saw and so did his pants.
Hermione didn't know what came to her, but in an instant she had stood up, and Draco was on the ground holding his cheek in shock and what was that she saw in his eyes? She couldn't tell if it was fire or ice, but whatever it was she had a gut feeling she just changed everything.
Author's Note: Yayy I'm so proud of myself, the first chapter is almost done. I haven't made up my mind yet about how long I want it to be or where I want it to go. I'm hoping to hear back from all of you to come to a conclusion. I haven't wrote in so longgg so your reviews are really important to me. Please let me know how I'm doing and how you like it so far. Thanks everyone who took time to read this.