Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
A/N- Hello all! I have had this story swimming around in my head for the past few weeks and decided today was the day! Enjoy :]
Chapter 1.
He had all summer to make a decision.
Either go back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and complete his education branded with the Dark Mark on his left forearm… or give up his rights as the Malfoy heir.
Give up everything he has ever known. His status, his fortune, his ancestry… it would all disappear. No, that would never happen. His father only had one child for a reason; they wouldn't dare defy thy father.
To follow, or not to follow. Door A or Door B.
By the time June rolled around, Draco was appalled that he hadn't realized it sooner. His Father wasn't truly giving him an option. It was either get branded and follow the Dark Lord for the rest of his existence—or royally piss everyone off by choosing otherwise.
Lucius would never disown his only heir. He would force the ugly mark onto his son's pale forearm and watch from the sidelines as Draco worked mercilessly for years to get back in the Dark Lord's 'good graces'.
To defy the Dark Lord would be slander-blasphemy even, to Lucius. No, there was no 'out' for Draco. His life was pre-determined before he could utter a single word. And now, fully grown he could do nothing to change his destiny.
Every year had been the same. Finish the semester, go home for summer break, visit the boys at the Burrow, and then take a trip with her parents before her next year at Hogwarts was to begin. Having come from a seemingly average high-income American family, Hermione had jetted all over the globe with her parents. She never considered herself on the same level as say, Harry or Malfoy, but then again she never asked. However she was never denied much, unlike Ron.
Hermione hated to admit it, even to herself, but she was extremely spoiled growing up. Thank goodness she never had the usual bratty 'rich bitch' attitude to accompany her family's fortune.
Her father always said he would give her whatever she wanted if she stayed humble, and never expected anything to be handed to her in life.
She listened.
The more she grew up and gained knowledge and life experiences, she became independent, and scolded her father for the lavish gifts and lifestyle he had always adorned her with. At one point around second year, she was even embarrassed that her parents wanted a lifestyle that was unreachable by most. That was, until her father sat her down for a 'money-talk'.
"Sweet pea, you cannot be embarrassed that we have the things we have," Dr. Granger reprimanded his young daughter softly, "your mother and I want to give you everything we were denied when we were your age."
The twelve year old Hermione sniffled and shook her bushy head to and fro, "But…but, do you have to..to.. flaunt it like you do?" Sniffle. Sniffle. "I'm spoiled."
Her father merely shook his head and smiled at his only child.
"I'm going to tell you something darling," he said and waited for Hermione to look him in the eyes, "Did you even wonder why your mum and I didn't have more children to spoil?"
She shook her head 'no'.
"That's because your beautiful mum couldn't have any more babies. There were complications during her pregnancy with you, and we almost thought you weren't going to make it."
Hermione lifted her head with wide eyes, "Really?"
He could see her mind churning in her head, obviously over-thinking what he had just said and analyzing what could possibly have happened to make her mother barren.
"Yes, really. The reason we always give you everything you could possibly want is because we can, Hermione. We love you very, very much. Of course, we had always wanted more children but we were given you, our miracle baby. How could I not spoil my best girl?" her father gave her a dazzling smile and winked before scooping her up and planting a kiss on the tip for her nose.
Hermione squealed and smiled through her wet lashes.
"I understand now, Dad. I'm sorry I got so upset, I never knew about Mum…"
Dr. Granger set her down and gave her a sad smile, "It's a story I'm sure she will share with you someday Mione', when your all grown-up and having your very own children."
She smiled up at her dad and wrapped her arms around his middle and gave a squeeze.
"You're the best dad in the entire world."
"And you're the best daughter any mummy or daddy could ever ask for, peanut. Don't you ever be ashamed of what you have, for it was earned. We worked very hard to give you your heart's desires, and it's a bit sad to throw away all that hard work just because you are afraid someone might think badly of you, hmm?"
She nodded into his stomach and stepped back, "Thanks, Daddy.'
She was getting to know Harry and Ron in a deeper and more meaningful way, she noticed that Harry was very careful about his finances around Ron. After the discussion with her father, Hermione was never ashamed to have big bills in her pocket… but she too, became careful. Almost to the point where neither of her boys knew to the fullest extent just how much money she really had.
It was her last year at Hogwarts. She had just gotten back from a two week tryst; her parents had rented out an ocean-front bungalow on a secluded island in Bora Bora. Long gone was the bushy-haired, buck toothed bookworm that hid behind her knowledge and paid little mind to her looks.
Not that she really cared what others thought, but after the week-long spa treatments and woman fussing over her split-ends and bitten cuticles in multiple dialects she swore she would maintain their hard work and spend a little more time on her appearance.
She had never considered herself beautiful, but something about the way she had drastically changed this past year-not only mentally, but physically, made her heart flutter when she looked into the mirror. It was like seeing yourself for the very first time. The way you know you are supposed to be.
For the first time in her existence Hermione felt like herself, comfortable in her own skin.
She smiled to herself before pulling up to the curb and rolling down her window, "You can take it from here, Geraldo." With a slight nod of his head, the man opened the driver door and she took two deep breaths before stepping out of the low sleek car at King's Cross Station and handing him a few knuts for the trouble.
He never boarded the train like most students. With their parents waving happily as they stood to the side of Platform 9 3/4, wishing them well and blowing kisses from the train. Bloody hell. He turned to his best friend and confidant Blaise Zabini.
"Thank Merlin this is our last year attending this fucking dump."
Blaise only nodded and smiled, always aloof and chipper yet uncharacteristically Slytherin. He was the epitome of 'tall, dark, and handsome'. Draco hated to admit he sometimes found himself jealous of his thoroughbred Italian friend. Suave and debonaire in a way that wasn't practice or learned, but so unbelievably natural that almost everyone took notice. A pretty boy, you might say. Draco was brushing off his new charcoal Burberry fleece and picking off invisible lint when he heard him speak.
"You know Draco, this could be the year that changes everything," Blaise removed himself from his perch near the front entrance, and flicked his cigarette onto the damp London sidewalk before squashing the bright cherry with his vintage Prada shoe.
Draco looked bored, "How so?" he drawled lazily, eyes flickering over the crowd that was brushing by on the walk, hastily bustling into the station or past towards the boutiques opposite the train station.
"I just feel it, mate." Blaise gave him another award winning smile and nodded his head towards the door, "Come on then, let's see if we can get-" He paused mid-sentence, and Draco looked over to his friend.
"Get?" Draco asked as his eyes looked in the general direction of his dark skinned friend. He was staring at something, in the near distance. He followed his line of sight as Blaise let out a low whistle. He turned to the left and watched as a seemingly brand new, candy-apple red sports car.
He had never seen anything like her. Apparently neither had Blaise.
"Mary, mother of God."
He was staring wide-eyed at the car with a mixture of curiosity and pain.
"My sentiments exactly." Draco couldn't help but feel a small amount of the big green monster rile up in his chest at the sight.
Both boys stood there, looking like they walked out of the most recent edition of GQ- staring blatently at the image before them. Draco's eyebrows shot straight to his hairline when the door opened and a lovely cream stiletto was the first thing that emerged from the sexy car. A woman? What kind of bird drives a car like that?
Blaise didnt seem to notice, "Is that a Lavazza GTX-R? A custom between the Lamborghini, Ferrari and BMW?"
Draco was no longer observing the car. For what followed the red-soled pump was nothing short of unbelievable. She exited with grace and glanced back to give a sly smile to the man in a black hat that opened her door. His eyes followed her body from her long, tanned legs to the tastefully short cream white skirt.
He watched her as she turned her body away and gave a kiss on each of his cheeks. Draco looked around and couldn't believe no one else was witnessing what he was witnessing.
Her teeth were strikingly white and even, contrasting crisply with her tanned skin on her face and arms. She had chocolate brown- waist length hair that hung in loose beachy waves and framed her face delicately. Her hands were manicured and had short square white tips on each finger. The thumb had a small silver ring shone around her left thumb; he noticed when she hoisted her butter-soft brown leather bag to her arm. It was so...American.
Draco was almost one hundred percent sure that he had never seen anything so amazing in his life. Girls at Hogwarts don't dress like that. Hell, woman in London don't dress like that. Her navy top was tucked into the navy skirt and billowed out on the sleeves, and he could see her lacy blue bra peeking through the thin material in the sunlight. She was wearing big tortuous shell sunglasses that sat nicely on her face, just high enough to reveal high cheek bones and flawless bone structure that would make even Narcissa Malfoy look twice. A true gem.
She just oozed class and sophistication, not to mention old money.
He was dying to recognize her. Dying to look into the face of this goddess and have her flash her gorgeous pout his direction.
She was coming towards them now, oblivious to the stares and cat-calls she received from multiple men on the street. Draco felt a flare of anger at the raunchy men, did they not see how delicate she was? How pure and lovely and better than all of them? Draco stopped himself altogether. What is wrong with me? Getting jealous over someone I've never met.
"Holy fucking shit."
Blaise had now noticed her. Not only that, but he smoothed his hands over his perfect quaffed hair and down the front of his sleek trench. Draco pushed himself off the side of the building and walked foward with Blaise, eying the goddess and his mate in turn.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked in a surprised and nervous voice.
"I am going to find out who that lovely creature is, walking this way."
Blaise started forward, and he had no choice but to follow right behind, curiosity getting the better of him.
She stepped out of her new birthday present from her adoring parents and smiled at Geraldo before turning and slipping him a new coins before kissing both of his cheeks. She turned and looked up to the large bell tower that was beginning to chime.
Hermione slung her purse over her arm haphazardly and tugged on her too-short skirt that her mum insisted looks fabulous on her. Her mum did that a lot, like the purse she was carrying, another gift from mum.
Apparently this Tori Burch woman was 'all the rage' in California. The state her mother and father visited after Bora Bora and decided not to leave.
She smiled again with each step, as she now walked with a swagger unparalleled to any other. She no longer wobbled unsteadily on her 5 inch heels but carried herself with the utmost grace.
Until her super skinny high-heel became wedged in a crack of the sidewalk, catching her off guard. Hermione closed her eyes and awaited the fall that was sure to come in a matter of seconds.
Only it never came.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle and she opened her eyes. A man had stopped her fall from the front, and spun her to the side a bit- dipping her with his body and holding her tightly to his hard chest. She opened her eyes and her breathe caught in her throat at the sight before her.
Staring into her face, were the greatest pair of blue-grey eyes she had ever seen.
"Hi."
"Hullo."