Hello guys! Quick mention (like it says in my bio) that I am the same account owner for sunshinesabrina, I have just aged a couple years and cannot remember my login, password or email for that account. I simply updated the story (The Sweetest Taboo) that I wrote in middle school, and am planning on continuing it and revamping it on this account. Please feel free to review, and give me some pointers, suggestions, questions to answer, or just any comments you may have. P.s. I do not speak french, however I wanted the characters to, so I took the liberty of using google translate. If you speak french, or know the correct translation, please feel free to let me know, and I will fix it. Thank you! I look forward to this story with you guys! Now, onto Le Toure De France! :)
Draco was walking Katalina to the snack bar when she came up to him and tugged on his trousers. He looked down to see a small girl, smiling a dazzling smile up to him, holding two different flowers in her hand, her long, curly, platinum hair flowing over her petite shoulders. Her ice blue eyes stared him in the face, and her cheeks held a tinge as pink as the color on her finger nails. Draco looked down in curiosity at the tiny being in front of him, clad in a yellow sun dress, staring up at him with a delicate smile.
"Pardon monsieur, I mean not to interrupt, but I was wondering if you wanted one of my flowers?" A voice so sweet it could make paint ooze off the walls.
Forever the pessimist, Draco asked the first question to come to mind. "For how much?" Of course it was not a monetary issue, he just wanted to know how much this girl was going to try and persuade him to buy this flower from her. And maybe he would.
"You're amusing monsieur! I ask for nothing much. Simply a smile will do you," she sang, and pushed her bangs out of the way of her familiar blue eyes.
"Here Katalina, go figure out what we're going to eat. I'm going to talk to the little one," Draco held out a wad of money to Katalina, and she eagerly went on her way.
"What is your name might I ask?" He asked and wondered why this little girl could speak English and wee bit of french. She didn't look any older than 5.
"Giselle Melrose, but my family calls me Rose," she shrilled and twirled around.
"Giselle eh? That's a decent name…" Draco pondered. "You're not going to ask me my name Giselle?" He questioned, eyeing the knowing look on her face.
"No monsieur I am not. I already know your name," she said with confidence. And then just as confidently, "Have you decided if you want one of my flowers?"
Her blue eyes twinkled with amusement that was well beyond her years, and Draco felt a pang of familiarity in his stomach at the confident look on her face. After measuring her for another second or two, while the little girl rocked back and forth on her feet, Draco raised his head to normal level and searched the crowd for the girl's parents, or at least her mother. Who would leave a 5 year old unattended?
After searching the crowd, and simultaneously rolling his eyes at the sight of Katalina twirling her hair at a tall, dark skinned fellow at the food bar, Draco looked back down at the intelligent little girl.
"Where is your mother Giselle? Didn't she ever teach you not to talk to strangers?"
"Vous tes dr le Monsieur (You're funny Sir). But of course she did, but the days get boring if I do not meet new people. My mother always talks to strangers. Dances with them too. Strange men, they dance like my mother. She is around here somewhere," Giselle giggled, and dusted off a bench before sitting down.
While Draco looked at her suspiciously, she began to sing a nursery song in Italian.
"How do you know so many languages? How old are you anyways, 5?" He sat next to her.
"Well Monsieur Malfoy, my mother is a dancer here. We travel a lot, through Italy and France mostly. I was born in Paris, and we visited Italy just last year. But my mother is English, so she taught me your guys' language as well!" She answered, picking small pieces of lint off her lacy socks.
Draco couldn't help but question why this little girl was so intelligent. He had only met a few people in his life that were this smart, but most of them were not in his life anymore, either due to war or just growing up. Mostly the war, though.
"Oh look Monsieur, there is my mother," she pointed to a woman standing across the crowd, with her back to them, looking around frantically. Though she faced the other way, Draco could already tell she was just as beautiful as her daughter. Her long, brown curls hung to her waist, which was accentuated by the gorgeous black velvet dress that clung to her body. Something about that waist.. something about the way her hands laid on her waist that reminded him of…
"Giselle Rose! There you are! Que faites-vous? Combien de fois dois-je vous dire ? Vous ne marchez pas de rabais sur votre propre vous devez attendre que votre mère!"
(What are you doing? How many times do I have to tell you? You do not walk off on your own you must wait for your mother!)
Draco couldn't believe his eyes or his ears for that matter as he rested his eyes on none other than Hermione Granger. Damn. She was just as he remembered. Her recognized her satin dress as one of the main dancers downstairs, dancing with some latin guy to a soft waltz. He KNEW something was familiar about the unruliness of Giselle's hair. And better yet, that stubborn, knowing look on her face! How could he not have known sooner?
But Granger did not have blond hair.. maybe the fathers? Ugh. Draco cringed just thinking about it. He couldn't believe it. Hogwarts star top student, the Griffindor princess, Miss Smarty Pants, outcasted Hermione Granger had turned into being one of the most amazing, graceful creatures he had ever laid eyes on. The once frizzy haired girl (who seemed to somehow get that sorted out for her) was now the star dancer of Toure de France's Ballroom Dancing Academy.
Draco had not seen Granger since their last year in Hogwarts. Hermione obviously being the Head Girl (surprise, surprise) and Draco being the Head Boy (no really, surprise), and they had been forced to be around each other most of that year, almost the entire graduation day. Throughout the year he could feel a warmth, beginning of a friendship start to radiate from Hermione, little by little. They were friends by mid-year, and had almost even had a fling one night late in the library, until the next day when war had erupted. Draco had no idea what happened at that point, but from then on Hermione never looked at him the same. Never spoke to him, except with contempt, never looked at him, without clear fear and disdain in her eyes.
"Mother, I'm sorry! He's no harm!" Giselle's voice broke Draco out of his trance and reminded him just exactly what a predicament he was in. Judging by Hermione's cool demeanor, she hadn't seen Draco yet. But give it a moment. The time would come, and as soon as it did, she would be the same old, Hermione. Flushed, blushing, sassy, stubborn Hermione who would never pass up a moment to outsmart you.
Hermione still held her hands on her hips, her brows slightly furrowed, and Draco instantly felt like they were back at Hogwarts. Her stern mommy look sure was a sight though. He had never seen something so amusing.
"Je viens de parler à ce monsieur ici , il a pas de mal je le jure! Je lui ai demandé si il voulait une de mes fleurs…" (I was just talking to this gentleman here, he's no harm I swear! I was asking him if he wanted one of my flowers) The little girl argued, pointing at Draco.
"Ugh! What am I to do with you Rose?" She frowned at Giselle, and then looked over to finally meet the eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"Mother, you can speak English to him! He knows how to speak it quite well," Giselle smiled, as her mother's eyes stayed glued to Draco's. The mixture of shock, fear, and defiance that Draco saw swirl in Hermione's amber eyes alarmed him, especially when he saw her slowly start to stand in front of Giselle. She quickly knelt down to mutter something in French in Giselle's ear, all the while keeping eye contact with Draco. Giselle reluctantly walked over to the food bar, and walked in without a single knock.
"Quite a daughter you have there Granger. Seems that you've been quite busy these past few years… How have you been?" Draco slowly sat back down on the bench, and offered the seat opposite of him to the brunette still staring wide eyed at him. She looked down at the bench as though it was infested with bugs, and continued standing.
"I've been fine. Working to keep a steady future for Giselle... Why are you here?" She demanded, and just like that, the bossiness he was waiting for slipped back into her voice.
Draco was taken back for a moment, before he quickly recovered and decided that two could play this game. Hermione immediately saw the shift in Draco's eyes. She knew that look too well, and braced herself for a load of sarcasm.
"She's quite the little mini you, wouldn't you say? How old is she? She can't be older than 5, and she already speaks three languages? Though with who her mother is, I am not surprised…" He drawled lazily, feeling a smirk slide slowly into place.
"She's well beyond her years, she can assure you that," she replied curtly, almost dismissively.
When she diverted her eyes from him for a moment, looking back to the food stand where Giselle had gone in, Draco took that moment to stand up and walk until he was directly in front of her. She had grown a bit since Hogwarts, that enough was true. 2 or 3 inches, and as he loomed down on her from his tall 6'3", he took notice of how she had definitely matured into a woman as well.
"Why would you need to ensure her future? Your husband does not take this responsibility?" He leaned forward to look into her honey eyes. The sound of his voice, and the close proximity to his face made Hermione jump back in surprise, and immediately, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"Watch it Malfoy. We must not speak of things that are not. our. business," she frowned as she straightened out her dress.
The change in her demeanor was immediate, and when she looked back up, Hermione was quiet, confident, and slightly guarded.
"Now if you'll excuse me. It's been a treat talking to you Malfoy, but I must go tend to my daughter. Je crois que vous me comprenez, donc avoir une bonne soirée . Au revoir."
(I trust you understand me, so have a good evening. Goodbye.)
Hermione turned to leave, but Draco quickly caught her hand, bringing it up to his lips," How about you join me for dinner at the Clair DeMos? I heard they have a wonderful assortment of finely aged spirits." He kissed the top of her warm hand softly, noting quietly that no ring lay on her ring finger.
Hermione looked taken back, and for a moment he detected an ounce of longing in her eyes, before they shifted again, and a dark brick wall fell in front of the melted honey. Immediately she withdrew her hand, hiding them both behind her back, and she began to take slow steps backwards.
"Draco, cela fait des années . Laissez le passé dans le passé , et s'il vous plaît , ne me contactez pas plus loin."
(Draco, it has been years. Leave the past in the past, and please, do not contact me any further.)
Hermione squared her shoulders and was about to nod her head one last time at Draco, when a tall, blond woman appeared next to Draco, and took his arm.
"Draco, who is this?" Her piercing green eyes looked Hermione up and down judgingly, and the grip she had on Draco's arm tightened.
Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes and after plastering a smile on her face, she spoke to Katalina as nicely as she could.
"My name is Hermione," she spoke softly, and when no reaction came from Katalina she added ," Granger, that is."
Immediately Katalina's eyes widened and her mouth formed a small "o" before she gained composure and resumed looking at Hermione from down her nose.
Hermione smirked while beginning to turn around. "Well if you'll excuse me, I have some important matters to attend to. Enjoy the show," she nodded at Katalina, looking back at Draco one last time.
"Malfoy," she simply stated, without a head nod, and as she walked away, Draco watched her in mild curiosity, mild irritation and mild awe. Though he wouldn't admit that.
As he watched Hermione's brown waves sway left to right as she walked back to the snack bar, he felt Katalina's nails dig into his forearm and he scowled at her.
"What?"
She looked at him incredulously and huffed, " Just reminding you who you are here with. Now come along Draco, let's go take our seats."
Draco allowed Katalina to lead him back to their priority seats, and though there was a beautiful blonde haired woman on his arm, dazzling most of the men she passed by, he couldn't help but think about the chocolate haired woman that had just walked away from him. And her silver haired daughter.