A/N: Hello there :) So I finally decided on writing this story, but hopefully it'll move so quickly that I can then switch to other projects. However, I'm excited about this fic and it's going to be hugely different to the last one I wrote! Chapters will on average be far, far longer than this one, but this is just my opening. Just giving you a feel for the story. :)

I'm also doing a sequal to FH, but I'm not, not, not releasing it till I finish every, single chapter. So, basically, it could be 2011 before anyone sees it! Unfortunately. Thanks for those readers who voted on which story they wanted me to continue, for those who wanted others, no fear, I will eventually get around to it. I'm particularly interested in "How To Open Doors With Just A Smile" and "Neutron Star Collision" so we shall see :) anyway, onto the story! Apologies for a longer A/N than chapter ;) haha

xCailinNollaigx
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter, nor do I own the summary line! Belongs to Casablanca :) Chapter title taken from Damien Rice's song "Canonball". All chapter titles will be taken from songs, and usually relate quite well to the chapter :)

Dark and Stormy Nights.

Chapter One: Still a Little Hard to Say What's Going On

Summary: Of all the gin bars, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine. DMHG.

Rain blurred her vision as she stumbled through the foreign streets, only finding her way because her wand told her. It was a miserable night with torrents of water falling from the sky and fog clouding the roads - dark, ominous clouds hovered overhead and she shivered. The cold was also a factor in the misery of the weather. Her fingers were unable to move at this point, and she could no longer feel her nose. Despite this, Hermione kept on walking determinedly through the Wizarding town.

Finally seeing somewhere she could get a drink and de-freeze before she made the long trip home, Hermione smiled and lumbered into 'Les Rires'. Glancing around, she noticed that it was a fairly nice pub, with lighting fires and a candle in the middle of each table. There were rows of drink behind the counter - some wine dating back years, and everything was made out of a dark, smooth wood. She was warming up already.

Soothing music flooded her ears and she smiled again automatically, feeling much more at ease now. The past few weeks had been extremely stressful, given that she wasn't fully sure what she was doing here. Sent by the Ministry on a crazed mission to find an englishman terrorizing France, she had no idea where to start. Originally, Hermione had been sent on her own, but she had been informed last night that Harry, her partner, would soon be joining her - which would be interesting, to say the least. Having her best friend there would make things a lot easier but not necessarily more productive. They tended to have very different approaches to things, but usually that worked out for the best. Granted, they had been partners for three years now.

"Bonsoir Mademoiselle, que voudriez-vous aimez?"

Hermione was drawn from her reverie with a jump, then sent the barman an apologetic look. Her French was awful as she hadn't spoken it since she did it school before Hogwarts, but common sense was able to translate for her. "Butterbeer?"

He nodded, and set off making her drink. A moment later he was back and she had the frothy delight sitting in front of her. Hermione thanked him with what little French she knew and handed him the money.

It was hard staying in France when she knew very little of the language. However, she was a quick learner, and they didn't call her the brightest witch of her age for nothing.

Hermione glanced around once again, and was drawn this time to the piano. The pianist was evidently very good, and as her curiosity rose, she decided to sit next the piano as others had done, to listen more closely to the beautiful melody being played.

She sat for hours, not feeling the time slip by her as she stared at the piano and listened to the lovely tunes. She couldn't see the player from where she sat, but was content in imagining what kind of man could sit behind it - or indeed, a woman. They had to be intelligent to compose and play the sort of music being produced. She imagined they would be good-looking, as they were a musician and its almost a rule. They had to be cultured given the other composers songs they dabbled in.

Hermione frowned; she was either very jealous of a woman, or seriously contemplating marrying a man sitting across from her. She laughed at the thought.

Then she got the fright of her life as the player sat up at the end, smiled at the crowd and then landed on her astonished gaze. He winked at her directly and then said goodnight to the crowd as he gained a round of thunderous applause. Hermione's mouth was still agape, her heart beating, her eyes round and her breath held. This was the man who she had not seen since he had disappeared three years ago without a trace - a man everyone speculated to be dead. A man who she had not seen since she trained with eight years ago and partnered with for four. Hermione was dizzy now, and felt a wave of tiredness wash over her.

She had just joked about marrying Draco Malfoy.

Apologies for the French, it's kind of awful! If anyone knows the right way of saying it, do tell me :) I'm doing French atm, but don't really know what they'd say in a restaurant. Well, hope you liked, and reviews very much loved :)

DESCRIPTION/EXTENDED SUMMARY: Hermione's sent to France by the Ministry on a case. What she doesn't bank on, is finding Draco Malfoy behind the piano of very beautiful cafe/bar, three years after his disappearance.

xCNx