CHAPTER II: An Unlikely Meeting

POOF!

Hermione took in her surroundings, innately knowing she was no longer in Diagon Alley. She was not in London. In fact, she had left England.

She quickly looked around, accessing her surroundings. She was in the parking lot of a…mall? Yeah, she could see the sign for Sears, and Borders and some other stores. Over there was a Wal-mart, whatever that was. The next building was Kohl's, various restaurants and cars with odd license plates. At least she was some place civil.

"Subtle, Granger. No one noticed that, I'm sure."

Hermione whipped her head around. Not more than five feet behind her, Draco Malfoy stood with his arms crossed, humorlessly watching her.

"Malfoy? You're supposed to be in Bethlehem." The words tumbled out of her mouth as if she were actually thinking them.

He shook his head, disbelieving. "And they call you, smart. The real question is why are you here? As if I couldn't figure that one out."
"Then you know more than I do." She dismissed his comment, choosing to look around again. It didn't feel like Bethlehem. Everything she could read was in English, sorta. It was understandable, but not exactly English. There were a lot of non-nationals milling about. No. It just wasn't right. She refocused on Malfoy. "Bethlehem?"
"Yeah…Pennsylvania…USA…"He supplied one-word answers to her increasing incredulity. "You apparated here. One would think you understood the principles of how the procedure works. But, seeing as you can't find common sense in books, you are excused."

"The United States." She was torn between excitement and apprehension. "How did I get here?"

"Knock it off Granger. That act isn't going to wash. You don't know how to be innocent. Let's just do this and get it over with. I've got a life in which, you are not apart of. I'm just about to have dinner, let's go."

"Dinner?" She hadn't had breakfast yet. "I'm not having dinner with you."
"Do what pleases you. I'm going to eat. Bye." He walked off.

Hermione knew a moment of Panic. "Malfoy, wait." It was beyond humiliating to realize that Draco Malfoy was her only link to sanity.

He paused, irritated but not surprised.

She quickly caught up.

They said nothing until they were outside of Draco's chosen eating establishment. He stopped, gave Hermione a head to toe assessment. With a shiver of repressed repulsement, he pulled out his wand and flicked it in her direction. Her jeans and cotton shirt became a strapless silk dress. He smiled at his handy work. "I'd fix your hair, but I'm not Merlin. Not even McGonagall would attempt transfiguring that."

Amazing reflexes had Hermione's wand in her hand the moment Draco touched his. She looked at her new outfit, shocked at his gall. She would die before she'd admit it was pretty. "You have got some nerve."

"Uh-huh. He held the door open.

"Hermione debated her options for a second before walking ahead of Draco, swishing her wand quietly as she went.

Draco looked down at the same moment the Maitre'd looked up. He was wearing a pair of greasy, faded overalls, with patches on both knees, over a plaid flannel shirt. Completing the ensemble were a pair of outdated torn tennis shoes and a beat up hat.

"Very funny, Granger," Draco changed his cloths and altered the Maitre'd's memory. "I was doing you a service."

"I can serve myself, thank you."
"I have better taste."

The restaurant was of course, a formal establishment of the highest possible quality. Hermione was glad she had decided to keep on the dress. As skimpy as it was, it was perfect.

They were led to a table suitable to a Malfoy and given preferential treatment. Draco ordered for Hermione (This she didn't mind, as she could barely read the menu), and poured her a glass of wine while they waited to be served.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"What else would you expect?"

"From Draco Malfoy? Not this."

"It's not as if we were on a date, God forbid. This is how it works; at least in theory."

"I have no idea of what you're talking about. Why don't you help me out with that?"

"I've been playing this game for three years, Granger. I don't believe in fate. I don't believe in coincidence. And I certainly don't believe you. So, I'll make you a deal. I'll be nice to you for say…three days; I doubt if I could make a week. You can report that I'm a good boy and spend the rest of the time, touring the country or whatever. I won't tell. We won't have to see each other anymore and that will make us both very happy…Deal?"

"It sounds like a great deal, if I had a need to make one."

"Have it your way, Granger. If you're not supposed to be here with me, you would already be gone. That takes us back to the original question: why are you here?"

"Why am I here?" Hermione pondered aloud, not paying much attention to Draco. "I was running…Mrs…You're mother…That's it. It must be."

"It's so clear now. I'm glad that's all worked out." he said sarcastically

For some odd reason, Malfory's comment reminded Hermione of Ron. A stab of pain went through her. Fortunately, their food arrived that moment. She had time to smack her emotions back into place. While they ate, she explained her theory. "I heard your mother telling someone that you were in Bethlehem. And then shortly after that, I literally bumped into her. People were coming and it was confusing. I apprated without thinking. Obviously, the first place that popped into my head was the last place I had heard. I guess I kind of apparated to you."

"You don't apparate to people."
"Somehow, I did. If you know a better reason for me to be here with you, I should like to hear it."

"I already told it to you."

"But, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Too bad for you."

They ate in silence for awhile.

"May I ask you a question?"
"If you must."

"Why are you here?"
"The nice answer is because I work for the Ministry. I'm on assignment."

"That's right. Your Mom did say that."

"What were you doing, eavesdropping?"

"No."

"What were you running from?"

Hermione studied her plate.

"Let me guess…too much attention. The traumatic-Trio stage act is getting a little overwhelming…"

Her lack of response was answer enough.

"Did you get into a fight with Scarhead? Or better yet, did you and the weasel break-up or something. Aren't you supposed to get married and have eighteen bushy-redhead kids and live in a tin can somewhere?"

"I don't see how my life is any of your business."

"Did I touch a nerve?" His sincerity was non-existent. "What does the ditzy-duo have to say about you coming here with out" Suddenly, he stopped. He shook his head, as if to clear it. "Damned insect," he growled.

"Are you alright?" Hermione's concern existed, but just barely. She watched interested, as Draco appeared to be uncomfortable. If Draco was uncomfortable, then that was a good thing.

He nodded stiffly and then, after a few minutes, he looked her squarely in the eye and said through gritted teeth. "I apologize. I was taunting." He chased those words with a drink.

So did she. "Excuse, me, but did I just hear you apologize for something?"

"Yes you did. Don't bother gloating. You didn't earn it."

"No one would ever believe that Draco Malfoy apologized to me for something."

"That would be why I'm not worried about you telling anyone."

"Why?"

He paused, thinking how best to answer…or not.

"I mean, yes, you were rude, but nothing that bares notice. In fact, you've been quite…gentlemanly. I'm confused."

"Another me would agree," he smiled. "You've been recognized as my assignment. Are you still going to deny knowing what this is about?"

"Honestly, Malfoy. I don't know what you're talking about."

He studied her, wondering why he thought she was telling the truth. He gave it one final push. "I know the bylaws, Granger. If you're lying to me, you will regret it."

"I don't even know the subject; much less the ramifications, legal or otherwise."

"Tell me what you've heard about me, since the war?"

"Uhhh, you got some kind of probation that didn't seem like anything, and you went to work for the Ministry. Since then, you've been…away."

"That it?"
"To be frank, Malfoy; I haven't given you that much thought."

"That's alright. I hadn't given you any."

"So, what have you been up to?"

"Probation."

"Probation?"

"That's what I've been up to. Probation. Breaking probation. More probation. That's about all they can do to me. I am a Malfoy."

"Your job?"

"A cover up."

"What?"

"I'm a Malfoy. Do I need a job?"

"Soooo?"

"Alright, I'm convinced. Nobody could play that dumb. I work for the Minstry to cover that fact that I'm on probation. Nobody makes an example of a Malfoy. Part of my probation is to spend time in the muggle world. The theory is that if I'm around them, I will develop some appreciation for them."

"Have you?"

"What do you think?"

"Muggles have a lot to contribute."

"House Elves for hire. Muggles will do anything for money."

"The same thing can be said about some wizards."

He didn't comment, but instead, signaled for their plates to be removed.

After he finished ordering dessert, Hermione said, "You said being in the muggle world was part of your probation. What's the rest of it?"

"Ahh, the rest of it. You see, it took the ministry about a year to realize that I could avoid muggles no matter what they made me do. Then it took another year for them to learn that sending me to muggle villages didn't guarantee muggle safety…not physically, but there are things…The Minstry got better, I'll admit. The civil behavior bug with the random meeting test as been…interesting."

"You have a Civil Behavior Bug?"

"You've heard of it?"

"The civil behavior bug is a magical insect that remains within six feet of its subject. While the bug is unseen by anyone but the subject and Minstry officials with a clearance level five or higher, the bug behaves as a nuisance whenever the subject is in anyway uncivil. Further, the nuisance does not stop until"

"Granger, We're not in History of Magic. I know all about the damned bug."

"Wow. I'm impressed."

"Yeah, well, the Minstry couldn't very well have me walking around in chains."

"So you have to be civil," she said, finally understanding "You deserve a civil bug. What kind did you get?"

"A dragonfly."

"Impressive."

For dessert Draco had ordered something Hermione had never heard of but couldn't get enough of. She didn't know chocolate came in that many varieties. She had to stop herself from using her fingers.

"Ummm. What's the random meeting test?"

"That's what I thought you were." He gave himself a mental shake, wondering how he could have been so gullible. "Every so often, The Minstry tests my behavior by sending me to some Godforsaken place and then arranging for me to," he air quoted, "'coincidentally' meet some one that I wouldn't normally be nice to."

"And you thought…"
"I don't know any one I'd rather be less civil to than you, Granger. Except your girlfriends, Potty and Weasel."

"As if I don't have anything better to do than baby-sit you."

"Would it be rude to point out that you are not off doing them?"

Hermione stood up. "That's my cue. See ya, Malfoy."

"I'm not disappointed. I know an opportunity when I see one."

"Excuse me?"

"Sit down, Granger. This is to our mutual benefit."

She wondered why she was listening to him, as she sat. It was the dessert; it was doing something to her.

"Obviously, something took place at home that sent you here. Ergo, you'd rather be here; at least for a little while. With you, I don't have to be phony and pretend that I've changed; it's tedious and you wouldn't believe it anyway. If you are here, the Minstry won't need to bother me with anyone else. If nothing else, it could be fun to see who cracks first, you or I." He smiled a challenge.

"The Minstry doesn't know I'm here."

"They will. I'll have my father make the necessary arrangements. You'll be on a Minstry assignment. They'll even be pay you for your time."

That part didn't sound too bad. Hermione liked the idea of having a reason for being away. It felt better than admitting she was hiding. "Why would your father do that? He hates me."

At this, Draco laughed. "Jeeze, Granger. You've really let fame go to your head if you think my father gives a damn about you."

"Is that bug bothering you, I hope?"

"A little. But a necessary truth needed to be told. My father is Lucius Malfoy. All you are to him is an example of what's wrong with the world. He won't care what I do with you as long as he doesn't have to endure it and he doesn't get any mudblood grandkids. Damn." He swatted at something. "Sorry. Mudblood's definitely not allowed." He swatted some more. "Sorry. Forgive me for using foul language in the presence of…a…lady."

Hermione couldn't tell if he were more frustrated at the dragonfly or for having to apologize. Either way, she loved it. "This is fun."

When he had control of the irritation, Draco said, "Maybe it's not such a good idea."

"Oh, no, Malfoy. I think it's perfect. Unless you're already cracking under the pressure?" She handed the challenge back to him.

With sleek cat-like movements, Draco stood up. He rounded the table to stand before her. Holding out his hand, he flashed her sensuous smile, "If you dare."

The chocolate-thing had made everything warm: her, her thoughts, the room, her… she placed her hand in his for no other reason than she dared.

With a glint in his eye and a grunt of pleasure, Draco pulled Hermione to her feet. He led her through the room. He tucked her hand into the rook of his arm and as they made their exit, he apparated them.