Chapter Two

Draco should have known better than to get too comfortable with his newfound freedom. While his author was sticking with her promise to give him some space, his publisher had no qualms about nagging him at least once an hour. Annette had employed his friends and family to call, trying to convince him to return. He had been pleaded with by Blaise, berated by his mother, enticed by Pansy. Even Vincent had tried; that had been an enlightening conversation.

Not.

He knew Annette was desperate when he got a call from Ron Weasley.

"Shut your ugly face, Weasel, I'm not coming back."

Ron growled. "Look, Ferret, I don't like you, but…well…even though you're a nasty git, you're necessary."

Draco smirked, and then realised that Ron couldn't see it; he settled for a sarcastic drawl. "It's so nice to know I'm appreciated, but that owl has flown. Now, put Annette on the line and go, I dunno, slobber over Granger."

He heard angry grumbling and muffled whispers, and then "What if she isn't here?"

"Umm, slobber over Potter, I guess. Oh wait, you mean...put her on, idiot."

Annette's voice grated over the line irritably. "Draco? Are you finished with your little game yet?"

"It's not a game! And stop calling me."

"I'm getting really tired of this."

"Well I'm sick of being hounded by a bloody publishing company! I never want to hear from you again."

"I know you don't mean that. You're in Katmandu now, right?"

"Maybe."

"What if I send someone over to see you? To help talk you through this."

He pondered for a moment.

"I've already spoken with most everyone. If those blundering idiots couldn't change my mind, I don't know who you think will."

"You just leave that to me. I'll have you back here in a week."

"Yeah, whatever."

Something was wrong.

Hermione felt free, more relaxed than she could ever remember. She no longer worried about school. She no longer worried about anything, really; all of the stress in her life had disappeared.

It was eerie.

Nothing was happening. Life had been flowing along, and she had been enjoying the summer hols, when all of a sudden...nothing. She felt her motivaton slacken, and the days began to ooze around her with the viscosity of glass. Which means, very slowly.

At first she thought it was typical summer melancholy; she hadn't seen Harry or Ron in a while, and there was nothing good on the telly, and she had read each of her books at least twice before. Boredom was understandable. But this was more than boredom; there really was nothing to do. It was almost like living in a time warp. She began to realize the gravity of the situation when her mother didn't go to work.

"Mum, why are you still home?"

Mrs. Granger looked puzzled. "Oh...am I? Umm, I dunno. I just don't feel up to pulling teeth today, I suppose."

This was highly suspicious. Mrs. Granger loved her work, and hated to stay home even when she was sick. She also never spoke in vague terms or used filler expressions like 'I dunno.' Hermione decided then that it was time to talk to someone.

She waited a week after owling Harry and Ron without any reply before she tried Dumbledore. He didn't answer either.

That's when she called Scholastic to talk to Annette. Which was probably a mistake.

"You should go, Hermione. He needs someone who can challenge him, but can sympathize with his position as well. I think you're just the ticket."

"But he hates me! And I hate him!"

"Oh, I don't think that it's hate. It sounds more like friendly banter to me. He probably has a crush on you."

"Annette, have you read the books?"

"Well...no."

"Then I'd hardly say you have an authoritative opinion on the matter."

"Just trust me. It will be fine. I honestly can't think of anyone who'd be better."

"Is that saying something about me, or about Draco?"

"Perhaps a little of both. Just think; it would be a nice trip. You've never been to Katmandu before, have you?"

"In Nepal? No! Is that where he went? Why would he go to a poverty-stricken country whose main source of income is agriculture?"

"He was talking about shrines, anger wad or something like that."

"Angkor Wat? But that's in Cambodia...huh…Do you know why he left, exactly?

"Rowling said that he's going through a rebellious stage…it sounds like some kind of identity crisis. You know, this really could be a lovely trip, it sounds right up your alley. We'll pay in full, of course. You can fly out this evening."

"I…" She pondered the situation. She had always loathed Draco, and she didn't feel that he deserved to be treated as well as he had been, especially now that he was having what sounded like a whiny, spoiled fit, but still; this would be a nice opportunity to travel, and since Rowling stopped writing, she found that her hatred of him had abated some. It would be good to go ahead and get this last book over with as well, and the sooner Draco returned, the sooner they could get on with things. "Well, alright."

Her misgivings began with Annette's somewhat feral grin.

"Wonderful. I'll book the tickets right now."

a/n- So, things should be picking up in the next chapter. I'm hoping it will be kind of philosophical...a lot of this has been inspired by my philosophy class, which I love.

Thanks to blackXxXblossom, Book junkie from beyond, and tiedye for reviewing! Seriously, it's really nice to get feedback.