Summery: A holiday started it all… and no one expected it to end like this …
Also this story does not follow the DH ending.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters... Wishing I did but not that Lucky: P
Also, many of you may have read some of this, and I haven't updated in FOREVER, but that's because I wanted to fix the first chapter up (added some more lines, to make the story flow) and I didn't have time till recently, so there will be new stuff within the chapter and its really long cause I combined all the chapters I had. But now I promise that updates will be more frequent and my writing possibly better I also think people should write more Marcus and Hermione Hint to Severus' Malfoy Maiden ), and for without her urging for me to continue a little while ago, I probably wouldn't have had the urge to write once more.
Update 2015: I did notice a few things that didn't add up and hence I have corrected them, I apologise! I promise I will get something new to you all! I hope some people are still reading...
Italics: Hermione's thoughts
Bold: Marcus's thoughts
In the times after the war, the Wizarding world was devastated. There were not enough people to replenish the people that had been killed fighting in a megalomaniac's vendetta and hypocrisy against the Muggleborn, Muggles and Half-Bloods. Even though many Purebloods gave up their views on blood purity, and some even went as far as marrying Muggleborn, half bloods and the occasional Muggle.
However not enough Purebloods changed their opinions and caused problems during the restoration period, not only of Hogwarts but also their world. The problem was that these Purebloods thought that they were doing the right thing, they were afraid of losing themselves and the traditions that the Wizarding world worked so hard to keep in place and the fact that it had been ingrained into many of them that Muggles, Half-Bloods and Muggleborns would make their offspring less powerful. The Purebloods, were crazy about these views either ended up in Azkaban or killed in scuffles with Aurors.
While the wizarding world was at peace, it still had a long way to go and the Ministry was considering many laws that while seemed like a good idea could possibly start a whole other problem for them. It was released that the Ministry was going to implement a marriage law, one that required so much from everyone that was of age, the people who had already given up so much of their lives and had to, now give up more. While people were not happy about it, they saw the reasoning behind it. As many wished to finally live their lives in happiness and contentment, it would take too long for the Wizarding world to thrive once more if this measure was not put in place, but it did not stop them from panicking and being furious at the Ministry for the interference.
Hermione Granger was one of the people affected, and to say she wasn't happy was an understatement.
***Hermione's Flat***
"Hermione you need to come out of there" Luna Lovegood pleaded with her.
"Why, why do I need to? The Ministry might do something else to me and everyone else" Hermione yelled, her voice muffled by the pillow.
"Sweetie, this isn't helping, so this is what we are going to do. We are going to have brunch at the restaurant and talk about this." Ginny chimed in. "So get yourself dressed or I'll do it" she then ordered, while twirling her wand dangerously, which Hermione knew she could do some damage with.
Hermione pulled her head from underneath her pillow and glared at the door, she hopped up and opened her bathroom door and began to undress, first her hair came out of the hair band it was held in and then pulled her shirt, socks and shorts off, then her underwear. Hermione turned on the shower and got in, leaning against the glass.
Why is it always me, after everything I've done to save this bloody world this is how the Ministry repays me especially Kingsley, he knows exactly what we gave up and yet he pulls a stunt like this. Not only is he doing to it to me who has sacrificed so much but also everyone else who sacrificed themselves and lost family members, even though we are having to do it does not mean I like it at all, its barbaric, I thought this was the 21stCentury not the middle ages. I suppose I have Luna, Ginny, and surprisingly Lavender, Padma and Pavarti as well.
She hopped out of the shower and grabbed a big fluffy towel; it was a comfort to her. Hermione went into her bedroom and pulled out a pair of jeans, boots and a shirt and a worn leather jacket, ever since the war she had decided that she would live everyday as they come, but also be sensible but the first thing that changed was her hair. Instead of being out of control, knotty and basically the rat's nest people called it, it became ringlets, soft to touch by the help of some charms taught to her by Lavender and the girls.
She walked into her living room and Luna and Ginny stood up while Hermione grabbed her wallet and keys and left the building. They wandered around and found that nice Italian restaurant that was hidden well but they had been to a couple of times. Lavender, Parvati and Padma were waiting at the entrance for them, the girls all hugged and were seated at a table.
"I cannot believe this, that they are doing this too ME" Padma whined even though she had put a brave face earlier when meeting with the other girls.
Lavender let her head hit the table with a groan. "For Christ sake Padma pull yourself together, we do not have time for this" Lavender said, which would shock many by remembering how she was in school, but after the war Lavender had realised what kind of reputation she had caused herself and because of the attack by Greyback, she now also had a stronger personality which meant people weren't able to walk all over her.
"Guys, or well girls, we cannot afford to fight with each other, the Nargles are playing with our emotions, and we are all in this mess together. Luna replied, with a dreamy voice but with determination, while she was quite brilliant, still happened to love the mythical creatures that her father and herself occasionally hunted together.
The girls weren't quite sure if that was because they wanted time together as a family since the imprisonment during the war or just because they were extremely like-minded and would not judge one another. Hermione personally thought that it was both of the reasons.
"So, we are young and we are free, at the moment." A look passed Ginny's face was extremely pained to have to add those last words, which were said with bitterness.
"So why don't we go away for a while, on a holiday" Ginny said with a hint of excitement.
"Ginny you're bloody brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" asked the rest of the girls confused as to where this conversation was going.
"Well if we go away, we can relax and regroup and think about this law and make a game plan." Hermione continued.
When this thought came out of Hermione's mouth all the girls smiled and thought Hermione is preparing to fight for the rights of the Wizarding world once more. They looked at each other and began to plan where they would go and what story they would tell people, such as their families, friends and workplaces (the Ministry, Daily Prophet etc), as they ate the food that had arrived at their table. They dug in, smiling delightedly and toasted one another with their drinks.
***Marcus's flat***
"Fuck!" someone from the living room yelled.
Marcus woke with a jolt. He slowly climbed out of bed, silently not to make a sound and flew open his bedroom door. He saw Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, Theodore Nott and Adrian Pucey in his lounge room.
"What the Fuck are you guys doing here," Marcus asked while looking at his wrist, "Its 10 am, it's too bloody early on a Sunday"
"Mate have you seen the papers?" Draco asked, slightly worried as was in his nature.
"No I haven't, because I clearly was still in bed," Marcus said snapped in annoyance. While, normally around people, Marcus was reserved and quiet, when around his friends, he could be quite boisterous, especially if woken up and slightly hungover.
"Marcus, I think you should check it." Blaise said.
Marcus picked up the Daily Prophet and saw the front cover, and threw it back down in disgust and started to pace in his living room.
"What the hell were they thinking? I know we lost a lot in the war, but this is a bit to extreme, don't you think?" he started to ramble. No one but these guys knew that when Marcus stressed, he sometimes began to ramble, as he hid himself well from his work colleagues.
"Marcus calm down and relax, lets go get an early lunch and talk about this, ok?" Adrian said, trying hard to get Marcus to breathe in and out. He had known him and been best friends since they were toddlers, knowing exactly what he was going through and how to deal with it.
Marcus hopped into the shower and began washing his body; he also washed his hair, which smelled like smoke and alcohol. He got out and began to shave in the mirror as he forgot to before showering. His reflection showing the hardships his body took threw the war, battle scars on his body, that made him look even hotter (a few ex-lovers had told him), even though he was sometimes self-conscious of them, it was a constant reminder that he had lost so many friends and family members in that war and the actions that he had to take to stay alive.
Why can't the bloody ministry leave us all alone, haven't we all been though enough. This is so ridiculous, none of us should have to deal with this, most importantly the people that were right in the middle of the war, Potter, Weasely, Granger, Lovegood, Myself, Draco and all the men and women that fought should have time to relax and not be thrown into some thing like this, most of them are only kids. Fucking hell this is going to be a nightmare, and I'm going to get stuck with an annoying bint who only wants me for my families money, which isn't what I fought for.. if I wanted that as an option, I'd have had an arranged marriage by my father, the bastard.
Marcus dried himself off and went into his bedroom and got dressed and re-entered his lounge room and said
"Let's go" he barked making his friends look up.
The boys headed to the restaurant that was down the road from Marcus's flat, it was a small but cozy restaurant and they all got a table and sat down. All the men looked at each other and sighed, and Draco rubbed his head as if he was fighting off an incoming headache.
"This is bad guys, we have our lives and we seriously like our partying ways and the new law will put a lid on most of the things that happen during these times out so I say we do something really fun and exciting before the law comes in and we get stuck with dud women who spend the entirety of our fortunes" Blaise said.
"Like what?" Adrian asked curiously.
"Let's go on a Holiday" Draco said. "To an Island"
"Somewhere far away from England and exotic, hot" Marcus replied
"Exactly" Blaise said.
The men toasted to this and began planning and then the table was bumped, by one of the women from the table behind them. The woman turned around and her eyes widened in shock at the table.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry" she said rushed. The boys didn't recognise her even though she seemed familiar until they heard a name shouted out.
"Hermione Granger, come one we need to go" Luna said from the front of the restaurant.
"Guys, was that who I think it was," Blaise said stupidly. Adrian, Greg, Draco, Theodore and Marcus turned around with a dumbfounded looks on their faces. Then broke out into laughter. It was so loud that the dinner party down the end of the restaurant actually turned around, because they were laughing over all of the noise, which was surprising since there were more of them than the boys.
"NO, seriously Blaise dumbest question of the century!" Adrian laughed with tears in his eyes. Greg and Draco could not stop laughing, holding their stomachs almost falling out of their chairs, while Marcus snickered at the other men. The restaurant's owner came up and asked if they were alright, which Draco had the feeling that he thought they were all intoxicated and wanted them to leave from all the ruckus that they had caused.
They all stood up after the bill had arrived and looked at each other and Adrian blurted out "Seriously though we want to go on this holiday, Where to?" in the most unSlytherin way and then left to pay.
After Adrian said this, there was silence from everyone.
Hmm, where could we go, somewhere no-one would know us, somewhere we could actually get away, somewhere HOT with a beach. God knows that we don't get much sun here that's for damn sure. I think know where we can go.
"Guys, we can go somewhere hot, somewhere we are not known, let's go to the Caribbean." Marcus said walking out the door after paying the bill before Adrian could whip out his wallet, even though he got to the counter first.
"Ok, when?" Draco said looking at his watch, thinking about what they could do now after eating. It was way too early to drink, but he is Draco Malfoy, so he can so whatever he wants.
"NOW" Marcus said turning around. "Malfoy, you need to live a little, we do not need to plan every little detail to the T, I know that is how your father raised you to be once you took over the business but if we go now then no-one can stop us."
"He is right, if we don't go people will try to stop us and that would be the end to the last thing we could do without being tied down to someone." Blaise said.
"So here is the plan, we meet back here in an hour and then catch a plane out of the country." Marcus said, Draco blanched. "A Plane, as in Muggle travel as in air travel" he asked hesitantly.
"Yes, easiest way to be unnoticed and if the Ministry won't know since we won't need portkey's and then our fathers cannot get involved.
An hour later everyone showed up with bags in hand and a lot of money in their wallets. "You guys ready?" Adrian asked.
Everyone replied with a yes and got into the limo on the way to the airport, they always had to travel in style no matter if it was Muggle, even Draco had to say Muggles knew how to do luxury, which was a perk to being rich. They arrived at the airport brought tickets and sat down, waiting for their flight to be called; they still had 4 hours before they left. When it was time for boarding the plane, they all turned around when they heard a familiar voice.
***Restaurant (Hermione and Girls)***
"I'm coming" Hermione shouted back. She turned to the men and said "I'm am really sorry" and then she walked out of the restaurant leaving the men in shock that they had been sitting near their school enemies even though that was over now and not even realising it and Hermione wondering why the guys at the table seemed familiar.
***Airport***
All the boys turned and whom did they see yelling at her friends but Hermione Granger in a pair of tight jeans that framed her arse, High heeled boots and t-shirt with a picture of a wand sparking at the end, and a leather bomber jacket. All they could think was 'Granger Got HOT!' and then notice what the t-shirt said. "If I could do magic, then my life would a Blast." And snickered at the fact that no one would ever catch on that she could, in fact perform magic, but instead think it was a silly pun.
Hermione, who was walking backwards and thus did not see Marcus stand up, walked straight into him.
"Oomph" came out of her mouth and as she was about to hit the ground, Large, muscular arms, which could only be the product of years of Quidditch, reached around her waist and caught her. She turned around and was about to apologies and say thank you when she realised whom she had exactly ran into. She was speechless to say the least.
"I...I...I... I'm so sorry!" was her reaction, not only was the guy extremely attractive but also someone who intimated her in school and slightly still did, not only due to size but she also knew of his actions during the war.
The rest of the girls came up and smiled as they watched her face when she realised that she was still in Marcus's arms. She went bright red, blushing from head to toe and stepped out of his grasp as she wasn't used to affection from guys. Marcus did not really like that and thought she looked amazing with her blush. "I feel like I've said that way to much to you guys lately" she mentioned with a nervous laugh.
Ginny stepped in and asked, "Where you guys were headed," trying to be polite. Draco looked at them like they were insane. He snottily replied, "None of your business, as if we want you guys to stalk us, I mean we are the most attractive guys here." All the other men looked at him with all kinds of pissed of glares, but Marcus's was the most dangerous of all, his eyes glittering with dark promises to hurt Draco, if he didn't shut his mouth.
All six girls were astonished at him and the fact that even after all they had been through he would act in such a manor, and before Ginny could say a word, Hermione stepped in and said "Well Malfoy, you're a little infuriating arse, and by the way I pity the women that marries you because of this law, and at least we know your nose can not get further up your arse because it already there."
With a satisfied smirk and her hair starting to spark with her annoyance at him, she continued "Excuse us; we have a flight to catch." She walked past them with the girls up to the gate to catch the same plane the boys were meant to be at. When the girls got to the gate they found out that they did not have seats near of next to each other. The girls were miserable about that but realised there was not much they could do about it as they were sure that people wouldn't move seats to accommodate so many people, and they did book at the last minute. The girls walked onto the platform that leads down into the aircraft, chatting excitedly but dreading the long flight alone.
The boys in shock just stood were they were standing, until Marcus turned around and almost flew Draco. "How could you say that? They are going to the same place and they are the only people we know who are witches going and you had to piss them off right away!" Draco slightly cowered under his glare, but straightened up and hissed back "Well I didn't know Marcus, for that I am sorry but the prejudice from the school is still there a little, as is the war". He was a Malfoy after all and they didn't cower for anyone.
"The war is OVER, Draco! It has been over for a couple of years and they fought harder than most, we all know that you were a prisoner in your home but they didn't have a choice in anything that happened, they stood by their friends no matter, they were all ready to die!" Blaise said putting in his opinion.
The loud speaker calling their flight for final calls interrupted them. They turned and rushed to the desk and checked in for their flight, Blaise winking at the flight attendant.
As they entered the plane, they realised they weren't sitting together either, and when they got their seats as directed, they looked at who they were sitting next to. Draco saw the red hair and prayed that it wasn't whom he thought, but as she looked up it was, Ginny Weasely. Adrian got to his seat and saw Luna Lovegood. Blaise got to his seat and put his stuff into his cabin up the top and saw Lavender Brown and Greg and Theodore were placed between the Patil Sisters. Marcus walked further than the other boys and saw that Hermione Granger was the person he was sitting next to and felt a little nervous and cleared his throat. He sat down and turned to her.
"Granger, I know you don't know me and probably think that I'm stupid as I repeated my seventh year and barely talk but I'm sorry for Malfoy. I know it doesn't mean that much coming from me but we are over the prejudice that has happened and never really believed it." Hermione turned and was about to tell him to piss off, but looked into his eyes and saw that he was sincerely apologetic and felt her heart warm towards him. She smiled and turned back to her book. She could never stay mad at people; it was one of her best and worst features.
After about an hour she had gone through half her book, and looked towards Marcus who looked very bored and restless, so she bookmarked her page and smiled, put her book in her bag and turned and opened her mouth and was blunt asked "So you going to the Caribbean?" and then blushed in embarrassment at the fact she had asked such a stupid question.
Holy shit! Why did I say that? He must think I'm some draft bint now! Oh wait he is staring at me, his mouth is moving and now he is staring at me like I'm a moron who doesn't even think and as if I'm an alien.
"Granger, you still there?" Marcus asked while waving his hand in front of her face. Hermione snapped out of feeling stupid and replied meekly "Oh I'm sorry, I spaced out, I feel so rude now." Marcus let loose a little laugh, which Hermione thought was so unlike him. After all he was brutish in school.
Or rather what I've heard of him. He smirked at her, his mouth crooked and it was slightly adorable. I don't know when I became so interested in men, that I noticed stuff like his smile, but it wasn't as bad as I made fun of everyone and I think I feel something more for him, I just don't know what yet.
"It's OK; I was telling you why all of us decided to come on the trip" Marcus said, teasingly, with a half smirk.
Hermione smiled; glad he didn't get angry over the little things, which made her remember the relationship she got into with Viktor after the war. That had not ended pleasantly. However, Hermione began to concentrate on talking to Marcus and rather animatedly at that.
Marcus, who had heard rumours about Hermione's talkative and inquisitive nature, was happy to leave it to her to talk as while he would talk if he had too, he would rather listen to others.
A/N: I'm going to end it here, as it's quite long, and I've got to keep you interested somehow. Hope you all enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what you say.
