A/N: Okay, this is thus far unfinished, and it's being posted here due to the wonderful fact that
TFB is shutting down. I'd really appreciate any thing you guys have to say...Constructive criticism
and all. And most of it was written during math...So if there are a couple things, out of the ordinary
forgive me...
OotP spoliers.
All characters (excluding the made-ups) belong to JK Rowling, no infringement of copywrite is meant.
Unexpected Appearances
It was the summer after their fifth-year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The summer after Sirius' murder, as they'd come to call it. The summer after Cornelius Fudge had finally made the announcement that Voldermort was back, a year after it had truly happened. Hermione had yet to contact her friends, she didn't quite no why, but she hadn't. Two weeks had gone past since the end of the school year, she was currently lounging on a beach in sunny San Francisco California. It was a long way from home, maybe that was why she hadn't sent an owl back, but distance didn't really matter, there were other ways. She wasn't really sure what to say to them, Harry was withdrawn, and Ron, well Ron was dealing with his new girlfriend.
Harry was still in denial over Sirius' departure from the world. His world as he'd known it had collapsed around him, and he didn't quite know what to make of it. She had to admit she missed the upbeat Harry that had once lived from the boy. The boy that she, like every other girl, had had a crush on the first couple of years at Hogwarts. But like most other infatuated girls she'd gotten over her crush as she'd gotten to know him. The one letter she'd received from Ron was interesting, filled with details of his life. He too had experienced changes, an exchange student from Beauxbatons Academy had come to live in a cottage with her family near the Weasley's. Her name was Faye Lamarre, and she had captivated Ron from the moment they'd met, or so Hermione perceived as a whole page of parchment had been dedicated to her. She was a year younger than them and apparently part elf, her eyes were a sparkling aqua blue and her hair a pale blonde, from the description Hermione couldn't help but guess that she was a bit like Fleur Delacour, a part veela Beauxbaton they'd met during the Triwizard Tournament in their fourth-year. However this girl seemed, from his praise, a bit more kind and sincere. Hermione had felt a spike of jealousy when she'd first heard of the girl, but this had left quickly, leaving her with a feeling of emptiness as both of her close friends seemed to withdraw into their own worlds. Worlds where she found she was quite unneeded. He had also taken over the care of Buckbeak, the rescued Hippogriff that Sirius had rescued and escaped on in their third-year. On top of all this he still seemed to be able to fit in practice for his position as Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hermoine had to admit she was impressed with his work thus far. She learnt all of this in one letter, a single letter that spanned 2½ pages, a record for Ron, about a week and a half after school let out.
Other than what she learned from his letter she knew nothing of what was going on in England. The little she did know she had learned from the American paper, which wasn't much. They had one to two page dedicated to foreign affairs and they seemed unconcerned with the current situation with Voldermort. Quite an American way of thinking, pretend nothings wrong and work around it. Sitting up a bit and looking out from her sunglasses she scanned the beach to see if her parents were anywhere nearby. Not seeing them she let her eyes wander to the cute guys playing volleyball a little ways down the beach.
During the two weeks she'd been there already she had developed a significant tan, not deep bronze but dark enough for her liking. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, she had to admit she enjoyed being a 'muggle' again as she was finally able to use an electric hair iron and therefore able to keep it straight. Her eyes glittered in good health, and she looked good in the two-piece Hawaiian print swimsuit she'd purchased. Turning over to tan her back some more she turned to her charm's book, bewitched so any muggle would see a teen magazine, and flipped through the pages. Looking for a charm with which she could keep her hair straightened during the school year. She finished the section that she'd been on and flipped the page again, a shadow fell down over her and she looked up, expecting to see her parents. What met her gaze though was an incredibly hot guy.
"Um hi? Can I help you?" she asked looking up expectantly. The guy had a slightly tanned mid-section, it didn't look like he'd been in the sun to much. He did however have a nicely toned six-pack and blonde hair. He had gray eyes, she had an odd feeling that she knew him from somewhere, yet she had no idea where.
"Just dropped by to say hi…" He sat down next to her as if they were old friends and she became more confused than ever. Picking up the book her flipped through, stopping on the pages she'd book marked. "Working on Flitwick's essay I see," he commented when he saw the bits and pieces she'd highlighted on the usage of summoning charms through the ages. Now she knew she must know him from somewhere, probably Hogwarts since he knew Flitwick. And she had the oddest feeling that he had to be in her year, otherwise how else would he know what the essay was on.
"Look do I know you?" she asked finally, all politeness gone from her voice in her confused state of being.
"I'm hurt you don't remember me. Really a smart young lady like yourself, head of every class…Except Snape's," he said a bit more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Now she knew him, fixing him with a cold stare she replied her own tone icy.
"Oh I remember you now Malfoy. You dirty-You…Oh what in heaven's name do you want?" she said finally, not feeling like getting in a name calling argument with him at that point in time.
"On a last name basis are we? Well Granger I was just happy to see a familiar face, unpleasant as it may be to admit it I'm sure your happy to see me as well. You see I was dragged here against my will, to a place where I can't order a drink in peace and there are no servants to bring the aforementioned drink and to a place where I know absolutely no one. Plus the girls here are incredibly dull, so far I've not met one who knows about the wizarding world. I must at least find one that knows…And then you appeared, an answer to my prayers if I do say so myself," he stopped his long speech when she fixed him with an even colder stare than that she'd been giving him.
"But you wouldn't enjoy the company of a mudblood would you Malfoy?" she asked sarcastically her eyebrows arching. She was about to say something when he spoke again,
"You know your quite cute when your mad. That hair style works for you too. Heard from Potter lately? I was hoping you might have some news of London. How's the Dark Lord's campaign going so far," he paused again but she figured as soon as she turned the conversation he'd stop her again and ask more questions. She had an odd feeling that maybe he really did want to spend time with her, but that was preposterous this was Malfoy after all.
"For one who I'm corresponding with is none of your business, but no I haven't been in touch. And for another, I know little more than you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my room," she began to gather her stuff, putting everything into her beach bag and purposely ignoring him hoping he would go away.
"So their ignoring you are they? No letters from either or them at all? Gee that's a shame…I really want to know what's going on. Father refuses to tell me anything. He's 'punishing' me for the bit of trouble I got in…Too much to drink or so he says. He's blaming everything on me I swear. Broken martini glasses, I swear it was that damned house elf."
"Really Malfoy is there a reason you need to talk to me. In five years you have never once had a conversation with me in which you didn't insult myself or one of my friends. I'd really love it if you cut to the point," she said her eyes meeting his for a moment before she went back to folding her towel.
"Well you see, there's this thing tonight. A banquet so to speak, for some of father's associates and I was wondering if maybe you might-"
"There is no way in hell I'm going to any banquet with death eaters."
"Oh no, not death eaters," he said quickly. "You see he's meeting with some of the richer people here, some of the wizarding families, he's hoping to make some ties…You know I'm not into the whole rid the world of muggles and mudbloods thing," he finished quietly in an attempt to get her to agree.
"Oh please Malfoy, all those years…No, my answer is no," she said forcefully.
"Please Hermione, just this once. I don't want to get paired up with one of his friends' daughters. I don't know the least thing about them. Please?" The look he gave her, the pleading look melted her heart.
"Don't do it Mione, he may be hot but he's still an ass," she thought to herself. But even as her thoughts told her not to do it she nodded her head. "Just this once Mal-Draco. No more favors, and I want something in return."
"Name it, anything."
"A month at Hogwarts where you just leave Harry, Ron and I alone. No comments, no remarks. Nothing. Politeness if you can bear it."
"Fine. I'll pick you up at seven o'clock. At the?" he looked at her expectantly, thinking he would hear one of the cheaper inns. Seeming to know what he was thinking Hermione once again raised her eyebrows.
"The Maxwell Hotel. We're staying in the Grand Terrace Suite. I'll leave your name at the desk and they'll let you up," looking slightly impressed he nodded and waved as she turned to leave. Hailing a taxi she got in for the drive to her hotel, she didn't look back. Sighing he looked down the beach, he couldn't quite believe it himself. He'd just asked Hermione Granger on a date. Was he getting softer? Standing he too headed to hail a cab, to get back to the hotel they were staying at.
TFB is shutting down. I'd really appreciate any thing you guys have to say...Constructive criticism
and all. And most of it was written during math...So if there are a couple things, out of the ordinary
forgive me...
OotP spoliers.
All characters (excluding the made-ups) belong to JK Rowling, no infringement of copywrite is meant.
Unexpected Appearances
It was the summer after their fifth-year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The summer after Sirius' murder, as they'd come to call it. The summer after Cornelius Fudge had finally made the announcement that Voldermort was back, a year after it had truly happened. Hermione had yet to contact her friends, she didn't quite no why, but she hadn't. Two weeks had gone past since the end of the school year, she was currently lounging on a beach in sunny San Francisco California. It was a long way from home, maybe that was why she hadn't sent an owl back, but distance didn't really matter, there were other ways. She wasn't really sure what to say to them, Harry was withdrawn, and Ron, well Ron was dealing with his new girlfriend.
Harry was still in denial over Sirius' departure from the world. His world as he'd known it had collapsed around him, and he didn't quite know what to make of it. She had to admit she missed the upbeat Harry that had once lived from the boy. The boy that she, like every other girl, had had a crush on the first couple of years at Hogwarts. But like most other infatuated girls she'd gotten over her crush as she'd gotten to know him. The one letter she'd received from Ron was interesting, filled with details of his life. He too had experienced changes, an exchange student from Beauxbatons Academy had come to live in a cottage with her family near the Weasley's. Her name was Faye Lamarre, and she had captivated Ron from the moment they'd met, or so Hermione perceived as a whole page of parchment had been dedicated to her. She was a year younger than them and apparently part elf, her eyes were a sparkling aqua blue and her hair a pale blonde, from the description Hermione couldn't help but guess that she was a bit like Fleur Delacour, a part veela Beauxbaton they'd met during the Triwizard Tournament in their fourth-year. However this girl seemed, from his praise, a bit more kind and sincere. Hermione had felt a spike of jealousy when she'd first heard of the girl, but this had left quickly, leaving her with a feeling of emptiness as both of her close friends seemed to withdraw into their own worlds. Worlds where she found she was quite unneeded. He had also taken over the care of Buckbeak, the rescued Hippogriff that Sirius had rescued and escaped on in their third-year. On top of all this he still seemed to be able to fit in practice for his position as Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Hermoine had to admit she was impressed with his work thus far. She learnt all of this in one letter, a single letter that spanned 2½ pages, a record for Ron, about a week and a half after school let out.
Other than what she learned from his letter she knew nothing of what was going on in England. The little she did know she had learned from the American paper, which wasn't much. They had one to two page dedicated to foreign affairs and they seemed unconcerned with the current situation with Voldermort. Quite an American way of thinking, pretend nothings wrong and work around it. Sitting up a bit and looking out from her sunglasses she scanned the beach to see if her parents were anywhere nearby. Not seeing them she let her eyes wander to the cute guys playing volleyball a little ways down the beach.
During the two weeks she'd been there already she had developed a significant tan, not deep bronze but dark enough for her liking. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, she had to admit she enjoyed being a 'muggle' again as she was finally able to use an electric hair iron and therefore able to keep it straight. Her eyes glittered in good health, and she looked good in the two-piece Hawaiian print swimsuit she'd purchased. Turning over to tan her back some more she turned to her charm's book, bewitched so any muggle would see a teen magazine, and flipped through the pages. Looking for a charm with which she could keep her hair straightened during the school year. She finished the section that she'd been on and flipped the page again, a shadow fell down over her and she looked up, expecting to see her parents. What met her gaze though was an incredibly hot guy.
"Um hi? Can I help you?" she asked looking up expectantly. The guy had a slightly tanned mid-section, it didn't look like he'd been in the sun to much. He did however have a nicely toned six-pack and blonde hair. He had gray eyes, she had an odd feeling that she knew him from somewhere, yet she had no idea where.
"Just dropped by to say hi…" He sat down next to her as if they were old friends and she became more confused than ever. Picking up the book her flipped through, stopping on the pages she'd book marked. "Working on Flitwick's essay I see," he commented when he saw the bits and pieces she'd highlighted on the usage of summoning charms through the ages. Now she knew she must know him from somewhere, probably Hogwarts since he knew Flitwick. And she had the oddest feeling that he had to be in her year, otherwise how else would he know what the essay was on.
"Look do I know you?" she asked finally, all politeness gone from her voice in her confused state of being.
"I'm hurt you don't remember me. Really a smart young lady like yourself, head of every class…Except Snape's," he said a bit more than a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Now she knew him, fixing him with a cold stare she replied her own tone icy.
"Oh I remember you now Malfoy. You dirty-You…Oh what in heaven's name do you want?" she said finally, not feeling like getting in a name calling argument with him at that point in time.
"On a last name basis are we? Well Granger I was just happy to see a familiar face, unpleasant as it may be to admit it I'm sure your happy to see me as well. You see I was dragged here against my will, to a place where I can't order a drink in peace and there are no servants to bring the aforementioned drink and to a place where I know absolutely no one. Plus the girls here are incredibly dull, so far I've not met one who knows about the wizarding world. I must at least find one that knows…And then you appeared, an answer to my prayers if I do say so myself," he stopped his long speech when she fixed him with an even colder stare than that she'd been giving him.
"But you wouldn't enjoy the company of a mudblood would you Malfoy?" she asked sarcastically her eyebrows arching. She was about to say something when he spoke again,
"You know your quite cute when your mad. That hair style works for you too. Heard from Potter lately? I was hoping you might have some news of London. How's the Dark Lord's campaign going so far," he paused again but she figured as soon as she turned the conversation he'd stop her again and ask more questions. She had an odd feeling that maybe he really did want to spend time with her, but that was preposterous this was Malfoy after all.
"For one who I'm corresponding with is none of your business, but no I haven't been in touch. And for another, I know little more than you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my room," she began to gather her stuff, putting everything into her beach bag and purposely ignoring him hoping he would go away.
"So their ignoring you are they? No letters from either or them at all? Gee that's a shame…I really want to know what's going on. Father refuses to tell me anything. He's 'punishing' me for the bit of trouble I got in…Too much to drink or so he says. He's blaming everything on me I swear. Broken martini glasses, I swear it was that damned house elf."
"Really Malfoy is there a reason you need to talk to me. In five years you have never once had a conversation with me in which you didn't insult myself or one of my friends. I'd really love it if you cut to the point," she said her eyes meeting his for a moment before she went back to folding her towel.
"Well you see, there's this thing tonight. A banquet so to speak, for some of father's associates and I was wondering if maybe you might-"
"There is no way in hell I'm going to any banquet with death eaters."
"Oh no, not death eaters," he said quickly. "You see he's meeting with some of the richer people here, some of the wizarding families, he's hoping to make some ties…You know I'm not into the whole rid the world of muggles and mudbloods thing," he finished quietly in an attempt to get her to agree.
"Oh please Malfoy, all those years…No, my answer is no," she said forcefully.
"Please Hermione, just this once. I don't want to get paired up with one of his friends' daughters. I don't know the least thing about them. Please?" The look he gave her, the pleading look melted her heart.
"Don't do it Mione, he may be hot but he's still an ass," she thought to herself. But even as her thoughts told her not to do it she nodded her head. "Just this once Mal-Draco. No more favors, and I want something in return."
"Name it, anything."
"A month at Hogwarts where you just leave Harry, Ron and I alone. No comments, no remarks. Nothing. Politeness if you can bear it."
"Fine. I'll pick you up at seven o'clock. At the?" he looked at her expectantly, thinking he would hear one of the cheaper inns. Seeming to know what he was thinking Hermione once again raised her eyebrows.
"The Maxwell Hotel. We're staying in the Grand Terrace Suite. I'll leave your name at the desk and they'll let you up," looking slightly impressed he nodded and waved as she turned to leave. Hailing a taxi she got in for the drive to her hotel, she didn't look back. Sighing he looked down the beach, he couldn't quite believe it himself. He'd just asked Hermione Granger on a date. Was he getting softer? Standing he too headed to hail a cab, to get back to the hotel they were staying at.