~Unexpected Circumstances~

~Chapter 1~

"Does everybody understand what they have to do for the project?" Mr Hereford asked his class of 17 pupils attending the compulsory Muggle Studies class.

Hermione Granger, who was sat at the front of the class, raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" He asked with a sigh. He was all too familiar with Hermione's tendency to ask incessant questions.

"Um, how are we supposed to get access to the National Heritage sites? As far as I know, we aren't allowed to film the houses or the grounds." Hermione glanced behind her to Ginny. She just shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"Are you not a witch, Miss Granger?" He replied waspishly.

"Yes, but I don't think that it's ok to use magic to get into places and then obliviate anyone who catches us filming!" She snapped back. Hermione was already in an intolerable mood. Draco had used the last of the milk, one of the straps on her rucksack had ripped despite countless sticking charms, she had forgotten her essay on the difference between the protego and the spheresis spell, and now she had to deal with a teacher who actively encouraged using magic as a means to get in and out of illegal situations!

"Well then, it's either that, or you risk failing Muggle Studies. That would not only ruin your perfect record, but I'm sure that it would be humiliating considering you are muggle born yourself. Take your pick!" He flashed a sarcastic smile before he turned and waved his wand at the board, removing the dry wipe pen.

Hermione growled a string of profanities under her breath as the bell signalling the end of the day rang obnoxiously through her ears. She packed away her books, quill, and ink and set off down the halls with Ginny. She and Ginny had become close during Ginny's seventh and Hermione's "eighth" year at Hogwarts. There were a few people who had returned to retake their seventh year, as the previous one had been so disrupted and none had finished their NEWTS. Harry and Ron didn't return to Hogwarts, as Harry had jumped straight into Auror training and Ron had been given a contract with the Chudley Cannons as their new Keeper. They still saw each other regularly though, and still laughed at the calls of, "Look! It's the Golden Trio!" when they were out and about.

Ron and Lavender had got back together after the fall of Voldemort, much to Hermione's dismay. She admitted to herself that she did used to have a crush on Ron. But when she thought about it, she realised that her and Ron would never have worked, as she would have gotten bored. Yes, bored. She was, and she knew, very intelligent. You don't get called "The Brightest Witch of Your Age" for nothing! She would be too clever for him, and quite frankly, they had hardly anything in common! And besides, she loved him as a sister would a brother, and that would be, for lack of a better word, ew.

And it turned out that Draco Malfoy wasn't such a prat now that the weight of death-eaters, family strain and torture had been lifted. He and Hermione had shared dorms as Head Girl and Head Boy, and they also grew to be close friends. Draco and Ginny had struck up a relationship, and have been dating for almost a year now!

Hermione and Ginny reached the apparition point at the magical university and apparated to the flat they shared with Draco. Hermione unwarded the door and dropped her bags down onto the sofa. Ginny did the same and put the wards back up.

"You're back then?" Draco called from his room. He strolled out and sat down next to Ginny on the sofa. He draped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"Draco, what is that smell?" Ginny asked, scooting away from her beau on the couch.

"Oh, right. Severus has got me making all sorts for the infirmary at Hogwarts. Basically all the stuff he can't be bothered to brew. But I can't really blame him, the potions take ages and they smell disgusting!" He did the patented Malfoy smirk as Ginny went to sit in the chair opposite the sofa. Draco had started as Severus Snape's apprentice, as he wanted to become Potion's Master like his godfather, and really, Proffessor Snape didn't have much else to do after the war. Hermione still had no idea how he had survived that snake bite. Infact, no one did.

"Yeah, you do smell a bit…have a shower Draco." Hermione said grumpily.

"Later, and why are you so grouchy Mione?" He asked.

"Because, that stupid teacher of ours has set us a project that involves breaking the law." She replied as she dropped into the other chair.

"Ok…That's a bit vague, do you want to expand on that?" He asked teasingly. Hermione shot him a warning glare.

"We have to go a National Heritage site, you know, the old stately homes that are dotted around England, and film it and make a sort of documentary on the house, its history, and its current inhabitants."

"Right…And?" Draco prompted her to carry on.

"And the only minor problem with that is that it's illegal to film anywhere! But oh, we can just use magic to get out of that, can't we? And that's perfectly ok!" Hermione finished her rant and crossed her arms defensively.

"Well, if it's that much of a problem for you Mione, you could make your project about my house." Draco suggested calmly.

"What? The flat?" She asked dumbly.

"No, you idiot, Malfoy Manor! It's a stately home, it has a lot of history, and it's definitely not illegal for my best friend to film there!" He smiled as he watched her features change from confusion to realisation to joy.

"Really? You wouldn't mind? Yes! Draco you are a life saver!" She hugged him tightly and stepped back.

"Wait, won't your father mind? I'm sure Mr Malfoy will be very pleased to have a Mudblood snooping around his home and his family history. Great. That's that plan down the drain then." Hermione slumped back into her chair with a look of defeat.

"Mione, I'm not the only one who's changed since the war. My father is much better than he used to be. Well, since…you know…the divorce anyway." Draco looked down at his shoes as he remembered his parents' divorce. It had been printed across the Daily Prophet for no less than a week. The media went crazy for it, as divorce wasn't common in the wizarding world, and Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were so high up in society. Hermione didn't know much about why it happened; she was just happy to be there for Draco when it did. He had carried on living with his father in Malfoy Manor whilst his mother went off to God-knows-where.

"Yeah, well, anyway." Draco said sadly. "I swear he's really changed. I can't say he's going to be thrilled, but I haven't heard him use the word Mudblood since the end of the war! I'll speak to him and see what he says."

"Thanks Draco!" Hermione said gratefully.

"Yeah, there's still one problem." Ginny said, leaning in to the middle of the group. "This is a Muggle Studies project, and sorry to point this out Hermione, but Draco's ancestry is as pureblood wizard as you get!" She tossed her long, vibrant hair out of her eyes and waited for an answer.

"Yeah, but we're bending the rules Gin." Draco replied before he kissed her softly.

"I'm going now!" Hermione stated sarcastically. She didn't want to have to watch them practically swallow each other again. She shuddered as she entered her room. She lay on her bed, stared at the ceiling and let her mind wander.

So, Malfoy Manor then. This should be interesting…..interesting as in the last time she saw Lucius Malfoy he was trying to kill her. Oh god. What was she letting herself into? She let out an amused sigh and accioed a book from her neat piles lining the wall. She began to read and from having such a trying day, began to drift off to sleep. Her last thought was of being looked upon condescendingly by a very arrogant Lucius Malfoy.

Thanks to everyone who's reading! I would really apreciate some reveiws, and this my first fic, so don't be too harsh! But seriously, reveiws will really help. I'll try to get another chapter up soon, but I don't know how long it'll take.

Love you all! Carolinexx