So Much for Civility

Warning: Draco may be a tad OOC, but I'll try to stick with him.

Thanx to nature love 95 for being my first reviewer XD

I woke up to a loud banging sound. It took me a minute to comprehend it was someone knocking at the door.

'Yes?' I called out, my voice raw.

'Room Service!" replied a shrill voice. Uggh.

"I'm sorry; could you please come back at around three?"

"Okay, I'll be there then."

I lay in bed for a few minutes, then pulled my doona aside and stood up. I walked to the mirror and held my hair back. There were dark circles under my eyes – I couldn't sleep knowing that I could be reunited with my parents so soon.

I examined my teeth, which were now average size, and my nose. It was my morning ritual to make myself more self confident, which was great except I often walked away feeling ugly.

I pulled out my wand to fix my hair up a bit, and then dragged myself out to breakfast.

I poured myself some special K, something I was getting quite bored of, and sat down at the small table I had to eat. It was then that my eyes wandered over to the clock.

I jumped up.

Oh no, I must have stayed up even later than I thought!

It was two thirty, so I quickly threw on some clothes and fixed myself up fully, and then threw my breakfast down the sink. I was too nervous to be hungry.

Luckily, the café I had suggested was just down the street, so it took me only about five minutes to walk to.

The Victoria Rose was a sweet little coffee shop that I had been to a couple of times before. It reminded me of home, in an odd sort of way.

I sat down at a corner booth, then realised a flaw in my plan. How was I going to find my case worker?

The place was crowded, a lot of hotel guests went there, so I had no idea how I could find an unknown person, in a crowd of unknown people.

I scanned the people around me, trying to find someone who looked kind, official and patient. But my eyes instead settled on someone who I thought I'd never see again – Draco Malfoy.

"Umm, hey, Malfoy. Long time, no see?" I laughed awkwardly.

I had spent ten minutes trying to ignore him, but for some reason I couldn't.

"Never thought I'd see you again, Granger."

"Well I can't say I disagree with that. Umm, how are you?"

How I wished I'd never come.

"Why are you here?" he asked, completely ignoring my own question.

"I'm here for personal reasons. Australia's such an interesting place, don't you agree? It's so new; the magic industry is still developing. What about you?"

"I'm here for work."

"Oh, okay. What do you do?"

Honestly, I had never thought of Malfoy as someone with a job. His family had money on both sides, work was unnecessary. Though something may have changed when Lucius went to Azkaban.

"None of your business, Granger."

So much for civility.

"Oh, okay. It was nice catching up with you then. Maybe I'll see you around."

Malfoy grunted, and I walked back to my booth.

To: Let us help you reunite (at) just on time. net

From: Hermione Granger needs them (at) just on time .net

To whom it may concern,

Upon going to our meeting place on this afternoon, I was unable to make contact with my case worker. I was wondering if some kind of error in communication.

Sincerely

Hermione Granger

To: Hermione Granger needs them (at) just on time .net

From: Let us help you reunite (at) just on time. net

Miss Hermione Granger,

We apologise that you couldn't make contact with your case worker, though we assure you there was someone here. If you request, we can try to re-schedule the meeting for the coming Friday, at the confirmed place at time.

Please reply so we can know what is happening.

Yours Sincerely,

Veran Stalter

Director for Parent Contact

To: Let us help you reunite (at) just on time. net

From: Hermione Granger needs them (at) just on time .net

Thank you for responding to my e-mail so quickly. I would very much like to try again at the same meeting place and same time.

If possible, could I please have a description of my case worker so I can easily contact him?

Thank you very much

Hermione Granger

To: Hermione Granger needs them (at) just on time .net

From: Let us help you reunite (at) just on time. Net

As I'm sure you can understand it is very difficult to disclose personal information without running into legal problems. We can, however, confirm that your case worker is tall, has pale skin, and will be wearing a suit with a badge and licence.

Unfortunately, that is all the information we can give you.

We apologise for any inconvenience

Veran Stalter

Director for Parent Contact

I shut my laptop lid.

Tomorrow I would see whether or not this company was a fraud.

I was still puzzled by the fact that my co-worker was apparently there. I racked my brains, trying to think of anyone I had met on Tuesday who fit the physical description.

Brushing my hair, I remembered the tall, pale skinned lady I had bumped into on the way in. But she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Besides that, she was pretty horrible, and I was sure no-one horrible would spend their life trying to re-unite families.

Getting into bed, I remembered the pretty blonde girl at the booth next to me. But she was young, tanned, and with friends, so that ruled her out.

Just as I was falling asleep, it hit me.

How could Hermione Granger, top of her year, be so slow?

Of course I had seen my case worker.

Draco Malfoy.

Poor Hermione isn't going to be happy. Nor is Malfoy.

Okay people, I need five reviews before the next chapter's coming up, though I'm already starting to work on it.

Next Up… Malfoy gives Hermione a run down on how he could find her parents…if he really wanted too.