Couple of things before I get the story started.
1. Obviously, I don't own these characters or anything Harry Potter related. It's really depressing and I'm currently in counseling for the stress that this has caused my life.
2. This story, for many of you, might border on AU. Strictly for the reason that although it might contradict some things that you know to be true about characters, their personalities, or the Harry Potter world in general my story is written the way that it is written on purpose. People might lose or acquire family members that you've never heard of, they might say things or reveal parts of themselves that you would consider completely different to how you know them to be. Trust in the infinite wisdom of your fanfic author. wouldn't include it or change it unless I felt it was important.
3. I am in the business of pleasing. I write for the people. I welcome your suggestions. Let me know what I can do to make your story experience better.
4. ENJOY!
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CHAPTER 1: "Fate is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity."---Publilius Syrus
Angelina Johnson wandered into the corner pub and cast a small nod and smile in the direction of the waitress and the bartender. She was, as always, carrying a large, fashionable, bag and talking firmly, but gently to someone on her Blackberry. She placed herself elegantly and her usual table and took out leather planner, a pen, and a spiral bound book embossed with the words Harper-Smith Wedding. She did not look around at the pubs other occupants, of which there weren't many, there never were. Angelina had been coming to this pub since she started her highly organized and widely successful career as an event planner for both muggle and magical clients. She nodded and mouthed a silent thanks to the waitress who brought her a glass of water and her usual herbal tea.
"I understand completely Claire and it is perfectly natural to feel that way. You would be surprised by how many supposedly perfect couples I get that I have to nearly drag to the altar." Angelina nodded silently as if the party on the other end of the phone could see her.
"Absolutely. It is no trouble. That is why I gave you the number. Remember you can call me whenever you want to even if you just want to talk to a friend, okay?" She flipped through the planner and spiral bound book in rapid succession. "Now, do not forget that we have to meet with the florist on Wednesday and bring your wedding dress. You really have to decide if you like the freesia bouquet or not." She snapped the book shut with a click. "Alright, good-bye." Angelina pressed the button to disconnect the call and exhaled. This life was stressful. Planning peoples weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and just any event that people felt they wanted to be perfect and didn't feel that they could do themselves.
She raised herself delicately from the chair and moved towards the lavatory. As she washed her hands she checked her reflection in the mirror. Angelina worked very hard to ensure that she exuded elegance and confidence and most of all that when people walked into her office the appearance that she gave off was one of a dignified professional. Not that the wizards and witches that contacted her needed that. She was a Johnson one of the oldest and most respected bloodlines. Pure-blood. Not that it mattered, after the war. The war. She had lost a lot in the war. She checked her bun. Still perfect. She looked perfect. She turned once. Satisfied she walked out of the bathroom and gently placed herself back into the seat she had previously occupied. She took a sip from her herbal tea and pondered her schedule.
Reaching into her bag she pulled out her mail. A bill. Another bill. A shadow fell across her table and she spoke without bothering to look up.
"Thank you Victoria, but I will not be eating today. I am not that hungry." The shadow did not move and Angelina sighed. Tearing her eyes away from her paperwork she began to repeat the sentiments more forcefully.
"Victoria, I appreciate your concern, but I eat. I am not starving myself and I am simply not..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at the handsomest man she had ever seen. He had the perfect build. Exactly as a man should be built. Wide shoulders with muscular arms a trim waist. He was dressed in an impeccable suit. His skin was smooth and blemish free. He had dark hair and shocking eyes. A blue-green with gold flecks. Angelina cleared her throat and realized that she had been staring rather rudely.
"You are not Victoria." His laugh was rich and full and Angelina had to fight to keep from closing her eyes to let it wash over her. He finally stopped laughing and a mask slid back into place. One would hardly have been able to tell that he had just shown any pleasure at all.
"No. I am not Victoria, but surely you have not forgotten who I am this quickly. It was not so long ago that you and I matriculated together at that most wonderful of magical institutions." Angelina glanced around quickly to see if anyone had heard, but the bartender and waitress were deep in conversation and the only other patron in the pub was a man in the corner who was much more intent in drowning his sorrows than listening to their conversation. The gentleman seemed unfazed by the nervousness of Angelina. She refocused her attention and tried to place the face. She stared for several moments before her eyes opened wide in surprise.
"Montague." She spoke his name gently, but with an underlying recognition. His eyes locked with hers and that arrogant Slytherin smirk of his played about the corners of his mouth. She noticed, in his defense, that he tried to supress it.
"Yes. Miss Johnson. You seem...surprised." Surprised? SURPRISED?!?! She hadn't seen Montague since...well, before the war and she wasn't exactly expecting Montague to show up after all this time so, yeah, she was surprised. However, Angelina didn't attend all of those manners classes and come from a pure-blood family and not pick up anything.
"It is a pleasant surprise, I assure you. Would you like to sit?" She smiled and motioned towards the chair closest to Montague. He glanced down at the chair and Angelina quickly before responding.
"I would like to, but I am afraid I have some business to attend to. I thought, however, that it would be rude of me to leave without at least pausing to say hello to an old friend." Angelina's smiled tensed. Friend? Really? That last time she and Montague met on a Quidditch pitch he had actually tried to kill her. With friends like Montague who needed enemies?
"Of course." She heard her well-mannered up bringing reply before her inner voice could respond. "Perhaps some other time." Montague's eyes widened only slightly.
"Perhaps." They appraised one another silently for a few moments. The man towering and the woman sitting regally. He checked his watch discreetly. "I am sorry Miss Johnson, but I am afraid I must take my leave of you now." He bowed slightly. She raised herself as regally as she could and saw Montague's eyes widen with admiration at her feminine figure. She now had to surpress her smirk.
Montague let his eyes rake over her. She had certainly grown up since those school boy days of Quidditch fights. She was thin, really thin actually, but she had curves in all the right places. She looked like she ought to be on the cover of one of those tasteless muggle men's magazines. God. He was a womanizer, but rarely had he come across a form as perfect as hers. Mixed with the power he knew she could command, her pure-blood, her manners, the way her button up top, high-waisted skirt, sky high heels, and tight bun seemed to restrain her, and a certain innocence. He felt a tightening in an all to familiar region. She was in a word...
"...perfect."
"I am sorry?" Angelina's brows furrowed in confusion. She came around the table and reached for Montague's hand. When her skin touched his she felt a wave wash over her of what felt like electricity. She jumped back quickly, slightly breathless, and noticed that Montague was breathing heavily as well. She searched for words.
"Forgive me. I, ummm, I, uh, I could not hear you. You mumbled. You seemed to be a million miles away." Montague nodded numbly. He did not make a move to exit however. After several heartbeats, Angelina took a deep breath and moved back to the other side of the table.
"I believe you had an appointment. You are, of course, welcome to stay." Angelina offered and then immediately wondered where the offer had come from. Montague faced her and gazed a sort of half smile.
"No, I really must go. I am already late. I did, however, appreciate the wonderful company." He reached into his breast pocket and removed a card. He handed it to Angelina.
"I have enjoyed this Miss Johnson. If you would like to repeat this. Perhaps, in more..." He glanced around the pub. "...magical surroundings. Let me know. Simply hold the card and think of me. Magical contact." He smiled and winked and before Angelina could say anything else he had delivered a swift, "Good day."
Angelina released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Semi-collapsing into her chair she fingered the card he had given her. It was pitch black it was inscribed, simply, in beautiful script. Three letters, A B M. The initials were in green and shimmered as the light hit them. She twirled the card in her fingers. Very Slytherin. Very sexy.
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Several hours later Angelina entered her flat. She crossed to the coat rack and hung her coat. Making her way down the hall she could hear her flatmate doing a poor rendition of some muggle pop song in the shower. Tip toeing into her room she removed her heels so she could move silently and entered her flatmates room. The room was dark. Only a sliver of light fell across the bed from the slightly ajar bathroom door. She snickered to herself and crossed to the bathroom. As silently as she could she slid into the bathroom without opening the door completely so as not to alert her prey. She waited for a particularly awful high note to throw open the shower curtain. Her flatmate screamed, slipped, and in reaching for something to balance grabbed Angelina and pulled her into the shower. As the water hit Angelina she yelled and they both wound up in a tangled heap of limbs and shower curtain on the ground.
"FUCK ANGELINA!" Her flatmate's reaction, although harsh, was not enitrely unamused. Angelina drew herself off of the ground slowly. Shaking herself off to remove some of the water she left the room and crossed the hall to her room.
"How was your day?" She called out. Angelina didn't yell, but she knew her voice would carry across the hall.
"Uh, it was okay. You know just miserable! I hate that stupid job."
"So quit. Come work with me!" She heard the taps turn off and then gentle thuds of drawers being opened and closed and the soft sounds of wet feet padding across the hall.
"I am not going to come plan people's happiest days when I don't have any days that aren't good." Angelina leaned off her bed and rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
"I do not plan people's happiest days. I simply help people enjoy their lives and you could certainly do with a little enjoyment all you do is complain." She pushed herself off the bed and sauntered to her wardrobe. "You know Katie is going to kill you if she gets home and you are dripping water in the hall. She almost broke her neck last time."
"Firstly, I'm not dripping and secondly, that's such an over exaggeration." Angelina found the clothes that she had been searching for.
"Well, hurry anyway, we have dinner reservations and you know how she gets if we are late." She wandered over to the door. Standing on tip toe she gave him three kisses. The kind of kisses a couple that have been together forever share. Not passionate, not fleeting, no tongue, but definitely a kiss and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Get out so I can change." His face fell.
"Come on. Let me stay. Just this once." She pulled out of his grasp.
"No. Now go. Get ready and clean up the water."
"I didn't drip any water!" His last comments hit the door as she closed it in his face.
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The trio sat down at their table. Immersed in chit chat. Rather Katie was talking and the other two were listening.
"So I told him. I said, Sir, could you please calm down. The goblins are strictly doing their job. And he told be that I was being unreasonable so I told him that he was the one being unreasonable I mean that hex only lasted like two minutes tops!" Angelina laughed along with Katie.
"But, did the goblins really make him show his..."
"Good evening ladies and gentleman. I am Maurice and I will be serving you this evening. Could I start you with a glass of wine?"
"How about a bottle Maurice?" Katie replied and batted her eyelashes at him. "Three glasses. Thanks." She turned back to the table as the other two stared at her. "What?!?! He was hot!" Angelina put on her most disapproving and stern gaze.
"Katie. I am not drinking tonight. I have a huge day tomorrow. I cannot have alcohol clouding me." Katie snatched a roll from the bread basket and began to butter it.
"One glass of wine is not going to "cloud you." Besides, you always have something to do what are you not going to ever have fun again?"
"You do not have to drink to have a good time Katie."
"I know that Angelina. I swear ever since you've gotten older you've just become so serious. All you do is work and worry about propriety. You're not the same Angelina I used to know. I just wish that you would relax. You're so serious anyone would think you were a Slytherin!" Katie crossed her arms across her chest and pouted.
"Ladies! Can we not tonight? Let's just do the shorthand version okay? Angelina, Katie thinks you've become an uptight, workaholic since the war and Katie, Angelina thinks that you should drink less and grow up more. Okay, now you're both pissed and let's fast forward twenty minutes later and you've both forgiven each other." The girls didn't respond at first.
"Shut up Oliver." Katie tossed at him and both the girl erupted into a fit of giggles. The wine arrived and everyone ordered their meal.
"Speaking of Slytherin...look over there, that's half the friggin' Quidditch team. Marcus Flint, Draco Malfoy, Alexander Warrington and that other one...what was his name?"
"Montague." Angelina had turned to look at the table and noticed the same striking man from earlier that day.
"Look at Marcus." Katie sighed. "He's gotten...well, hot!" Oliver took a swig of wine.
"Come one Katie. There isn't a man over 18 and under 50 that you don't think is hot." Katie threw him a glare.
"That's not true. I'm not the least bit attracted to you Oliver." Wood smiled.
"Well, that's good for you because you aren't my type at all. Isn't that right Angelina?" He casually threw his arm around the back of Angelina's chair. Angelina was still staring at the table of Slytherins.
"What? Oh, yeah, sorry Katie." Katie rolled her eyes.
"Angelina. What do you say we just say a quick hello. It'd be rude not to. I mean are we hot tonight or are we hot? Thank God I wore this outfit." Katie had on a low cut, short blue dress that Angelina had to all but grease her to get her in it this evening. Angelina was wearing a vintage Chanel dress. Black with a thick green belt. The girls made their way across the restaurant with Katie leading the way and Angelina close behind. Katie walked right up to the table immediately stopping the conversation. Draco Malfoy was the first to speak.
"Well, if it isn't Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson." His signature bored disinterest dripping from every syllable.
"Draco." Katie returned. "We were just having dinner and I noticed you and we were wondering what an entire table of ex-Slytherin players could be doing here." Draco piped in again.
"Well, it is a restaurant and there are plates in front of us with food on them so, I'll give you three guesses, Kathryn, and the first two don't count." Katie was about a half a breath from lunging across the table and beating Draco senseless when another voice broke in.
"Enough Draco. That is no way to speak to a lady." Angelina and Katie both looked in surprise at Marcus Flint who, although he was speaking to Draco, was only looking at Katie. Katie and Marcus stared at each other for a few moments before Montague interrupted.
"Miss Johnson. It is a pleasure to see you again." Angelina looked at Montague for the first time. She noticed how attractive he was and how much he looked like he belonged in this high class establishment. He had always been attractive, even in school, but now something was different. His maturirty and breeding made her...well, she wasn't sure what it did, but it made her feel a way that she had never felt before and in her organized and perfectly ordered life. She worked very hard for her order and she wasn't about to relenquish it to him.
"The pleasure is all mine, Sir." Katie cut in at this point.
"Again? Since when do you see Montague Angelina?!?!"
"Angelina and I simply happened across each other this afternoon. A simple coincidence that we should see each other again so soon. Although, I cannot say that I am disappointed in the least. And might I add that you are wearing a lovely outfit Miss Johnson. If I did not know any better I would think that it was for our pleasure that you wore it." Angelina glanced down at her decidedly Slytherin outfit.
"Perhaps." She smiled. "Alas, I cannot claim any such compliment for myself. This is one of my favorite dresses and belts, both vintage..."
"Chanel, yes, the dress from the 60s and the belt from the 30s, I believe?" Montague smirked as he sipped a dark liquor. No doubt a very expensive scotch. Angelina's smile faltered. Montague was certainly full of surprises and now with a slight flirtation and her interest piqued she thought it wise to end this banter before she found herself in an actual conversation with her ex-adversary.
"Katie, we should get back to Oliver. He is waiting." Katie smiled.
"Of course." She reached into her clutch and removed her card. "I'm working at Gringott's now. If you want to get together sometime. Let me know." Handing the card to Marcus she turned to walk away and Angelina smiled at the table.
"It was nice to see you all again. Excuse us." She glanced quickly at Montague, but wouldn't look him in the eye and made a hasty escape.
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A/N: Please read and respond. This is my first Angelina/Montague fic. Actually, this is my first Harry Potter fic so, be a little kind. Thanks:)
