Author's Note: Full chapter now. Not much longer, but chapter two is posted as well. Enjoy.
Cue Chapter 1
Hermione Granger sighed and took a sip of her Peach Schnapps. By age twenty-four, she'd hoped to have been past the point of sitting in clubs each weekend hoping to dance with an attractive stranger. This particular club, Twist, wasn't half bad in terms of the layout or music or strength of the drinks, but Hermione was bored. She'd only been to Twist a handful of times and wasn't expecting much out of her Friday night.
"Oy, Aries, can I get a refill?"Two stools down a moderately tall woman elbowed her way to the bar. Hermione immediately found herself staring at reddish-brown hair, tanned bare arms and a wickedly smooth smile. She watched intently as the bartender, who had no problem earning tips from the male and occasional straight female clientele, snagged a clean rock glass.
"Good night so far, Mikey?" Aries busied himself with making the woman's drink.
"Shouldn't complain. Mostly the same ladies I've already danced with and left without. You know how it goes." The athletic woman grinned again and Hermione sipped her drink slowly, watching.
"I do. Here you go, Mike. Enjoy."
Mike tipped back half her drink and turned in Hermione's direction. "Thanks, Ari, I owe you."
"Forget about it, Alpha." Aries moved down the bar, away from Hermione and Mike, to help another customer.
Curious as to how Mike got away without paying, Hermione calmly met her gaze as she turned and arched a brow.
"Evening, love." Mike's accent was slightly lilting and by her looks Hermione figured she was probably at least part Irish.
"Evening. What's in that free drink of yours?"
"Specialty of Ari's: a wolf bite. Double shot of blue raspberry vodka, three ice cubes and half a shot of vanilla cognac." Mike grinned widely. "Want to try?" She offered her glass to Hermione.
"Not sure it would mix well on the palate, but thanks. I'm Hermione, by the way."
"Michelle. And perhaps you should clear your palate. The drink's worth it." Michelle put the rock glass down on the counter between them and settled onto the stool next to Hermione.
"Oh? And how do you suggest I do that?" Hermione smiled and sipped her Schnapps.
"Water maybe?" Michelle's eyes mirrored her flirtatious tone.
"Not really in the mood for plain water. Maybe after a few dances…" Hermione shrugged and finished her drink. She stood and walked slowly towards the dance floor, which was full. A Beyónce remix had the crowd singing.
Behind her, Michelle downed the rest of her drink and followed Hermione quickly. Catching up, Michelle leaned close. "Perhaps you'd like to share a few dances then?"
Hermione leaned back against Michelle, who stood perhaps five centimeters taller than her, in reply. The two moved together as the music shifted into what Hermione assumed was a techno song by the beat. She wasn't familiar with it, but didn't mind the sound of Michelle humming along in her ear.
About twenty minutes later the two walked arm and arm outside to an semi-enclosed area out a side entrance of the club to cool off for a bit.
"So, now that we can hear ourselves think, where're you from?" Michelle asked, leaning back against the nearest wall. She put one foot up against the wall, striking was Hermione though to be an extremely sexy pose.
"I live in here in London. You?"
"Same. Where abouts do you live? If you don't mind me asking, that is." Michelle nodded slightly and stuffed her hands in the pocket of her loose jeans.
"Kind of the middle of nothing, really. And I don't mind." Hermione wished, of course, that she could be honest and say she lived near the Ministry of Magic, but Twist was a muggle club.
"Oh yeah? I'm near Oxford. Mostly a student neighborhood, but I haven't gotten the chance to move out."
Hermione tried to hide her surprise. "You went to Oxford?"
"Yeah. Music composition and education. Bloody hard program but worth every minute and pound." Michelle smiled again and Hermione felt herself warm.
"What do you play?"
"Piano. And I sing. Mostly I just teach children to play 'Chopsticks.' Occasionally I play a bar though." Michelle grinned again and Hermione stepped towards her.
"I'd like to hear that. You singing and playing, I mean." The other people outside were entirely insignificant as Hermione trailed her fingertips up Michelle's stomach.
"That can probably be arranged, Hermione." Michelle smiled again.
Hermione pressed the palm of her hand against Michelle and leaned in, stopping short of kissing her. "How soon can you arrange it?"
Rather than answering verbally, Michelle closed the remaining space to Hermione's mouth and kissed her softly. After a few moments, she pulled back so that their lips continued to touch. "Depends on how much you want to do other things."
Hermione smiled in response and stepped forward, closing the remaining space between her body and Michelle's. They spent a few long minutes in each other's arms before Hermione broke their kiss. "I like that quite a bit. Perhaps I can hear your music another time…"
Michelle nodded and kissed Hermione again, almost thoughtfully. "What's your last name?"
Blinking, Hermione gave Michelle an odd look. "Granger, why?"
Michelle smiled slowly. "I've heard of you. I have Wizarding friends."
"Really?" Hermione tightened her arms around Michelle's back.
"Mmhmm. I know some kids who went to Hogwarts with you."
Hermione felt her face split in a wide grin. "Anyone I'd know?"
"By name, I'm sure. You weren't in the same house." Michelle kissed Hermione again, for longer this time. "Speaking of houses, your place or mine?"
Hermione considered this for a moment. It hadn't really occurred to her that she'd meet someone tonight. "I'm not sure I have a preference."
"You live near the Ministry?"
Hermione nodded, wishing she could quell the voice in her head that said this was possibly too convenient, to meet someone who knew she was a witch like this.
"Then my place is closer. Did you drive here or…"
"No, I didn't."
"Alright," Michelle pushed off the wall, her hands slipping down towards Hermione's ass. "My bike's in the lot." She jerked her head to the right and left it angled, catching Hermione's eye. "You up for a ride?"
Hermione shivered a bit and kissed Michelle deeply. "Sure."