"She lived in me like the first days of summer. She was warm and new and infinitely possible."

-Atticus

Chapter Three


June 8, 1998. 7:30 P.M.

Little Venice

Mykonos

His eyes stayed on the crowds in front of them as they walked through the streets. Her clothes were nearly dry now, but she still hadn't forgiven him for throwing her into the oncoming tide just before they left.

Hermione looked at the shops they were quickly approaching. "Is this Little Venice?"

He smirked, "It is. There's a pub here I wanted to visit, but I assumed you might like to see the sunset from the balcony. Mother says it's the best sunset she's ever seen."

Her lips parted in surprise, and her hand flew up to catch her hat before the wind blew it right off her head, something that happened so often it was hard not to find endearing. Malfoy didn't look down to see her beaming up at him, but judging from the smug smirk on his face, that bastard knew. "That's thoughtful of you. Is there time to go into a that shop right there? They have cameras on sale."

Before he could ask her what a camera was, she told him she would show him and she grabbed his arm, pulling him to the store as fast as she could. To be expected, the line for the sale was long and it was immediately after they got into the line that she realized she didn't have enough, so the polaroid camera that was just calling to her was completely out of the question.

"Let's go." Hermione murmured, turning away from the line as if she weren't disappointed at all.

"Mister Malfoy! What a pleasant surprise." The voice was low, more cheerful than she could have expected anyone to be when greeting Malfoy.

Perhaps he wasn't a prick to everyone he met. "Mister Thatcher, it's nice to see you. Are you on holiday as well?" Malfoy reached out to shake the man's hand.

Hermione didn't look up from under her hat, choosing to keep her head down instead. It was a sharp reminder that she was not invisible to the rest of the world, and being at Malfoy's side was sure to get back to her friends. They would show up in Mykonos just to cause a scene.

"If only, my boy. There's been a string of magical crimes here, so you'd do well to look after yourself and this pretty girl you have with you." If she weren't trying to remain quiet, Hermione would have gagged when thick, meaty fingers reached out to pull her hat away.

Breaking her facade, she smacked his hand away and stormed outside. However long Malfoy wanted to spend talking to that man, Hermione would rather wait elsewhere. She sat on an empty stone bench, leaning her back against the cool stone wall behind her and crossed her legs. As much as she was loathe to admit it, Malfoy had known Little Venice would be breathtaking.

In front of her, in cobblestone streets that she adored, couples, and families made their way towards the restaurants with a nice view of the beach. Hermione bit lip, her hands gripping the edge of the bench. Crowds never failed to make her feel uncomfortable. Strangers always bumping into her, or how they always seemed be so loud.

"Granger," Draco said from beside her, but she didn't look up at him. "this doesn't mean I'm some nice sap, all right?"

"What on earth are you babbling about? We came to Little Venice because you wanted to go to a pub, not for me - " A gift bag landed in her lap, a heavy weight across the tops of her legs. "Malfoy?" When Hermione finally looked up, he was wearing a smug grin. Reaching into the bag carefully, she pulled dark blue tissue paper out until she had a firm grip on the heavy object. Pulling out the camera, her mouth fell open and her eyes burned. "How did you..?"

Malfoy shrugged. "You were so excited to have it, and I thought - whoa."

Setting the camera down on the bench as carefully as she could, Hermione lunged forward, throwing her arms around his neck. Her hat drifted to the ground at their feet. "Thank you," she whispered, afraid her voice might break if it were any higher.

"You're welcome." He said, his voice strained and patted her on the back before wrapping one arm around her waist. Inhaling the scent of vanilla before letting her go.

Hermione's cheeks were flaming as she looked back to the camera, scooping it up into her hands. "Shall we?" She asked. "Lead the way." She walked several steps behind him, lifting the camera up and peering through the lense.

"Are you taking a picture of me?" He called, turning to look back at her just as she took the photo. As it slid out, she plucked it from where it was spit out. "Did it turn out well?"

Hermione's mouth dried a bit as she looked it over. He looked just the same, black swim trunks coupled with a blue v neck that she'd thrown at him while they were shopping earlier. Yet the photo had captured his from an angle, showcasing his sharp jawline and what could only be considered a playful glare back at her. "Here," Hermione told him, jogging to catch up to his pace.

His fingers brushed against hers as he took the photograph from her. His eyebrows shot up. "This did turn out well. I suppose I always knew it would, given the subject. I was more worried about Muggle objects screwing up."

She rolled her eyes. "What's happened to make you so tolerant of anything Muggle?" Hermione was unable to keep accusations out of her voice. "It's wholly unlike you to buy something like this, much less for someone like me. Or to - "

"Do you plan to ramble all night, or may I tell you anything?"

Her mouth snapped shut and she gritted her teeth. "Prat."

"Since Lucius," he barely calls him Father, unless it's in spite she notices. "has been in Azkaban, Mother has been more tolerant because of Andromeda. Suffice to say that he didn't know about that, since he's been sentenced to life in Azkaban there is no reason to pretend I believe in his stuffy old ideas anymore. What's that look for?"

She'd stopped in the middle of the street, staring at him unabashed, her eyes wide with shock. "When did they become stuffy old ideas exactly?" She prodded.

He shrugged. "Do you want a date? Maybe in third year, probably sometime after you broke my nose. I called you a Mudblood, made you cry and then you hit me." He laughed. "I was shocked. Mother told me I deserved it, and I had a think. It came with the sharp realization that no matter what I thought, I wanted to protect my family."

"I'm not sorry I broke your nose. You did deserve it."

Malfoy walked along the street, the corner of his lip twitching when she would stop to capture photos of the architecture. "Oh, Thatcher advised me that it would be wise to buy more film, whatever that is. I assumed you would know." A nod. "Good, because I likely bought too much."

Her laugh was like windchimes and he was grateful she was looking away from him. Less she might see the genuine smile that had planted itself on his face.


June 8, 1998

7:55 P.M.

Caprice Bar, Little Venice

Mykonos

He held himself to the fact that anything Malfoys' did, they did well. So he wasn't surprised, but smug when Granger's eyes lit up as they stepped into Caprice Bar. A man behind the counter waved to him, likely noticing him because of the white blonde hair all Malfoys had. "Impressed?" He drawled as Granger picked her dress up before walking up the steps.

"Would you quit looking for comments?" The soft fabric of her dress slipped from her fingers. It was likely he'd be in a constant state of awe for the summer. Each time she stepped out from changing, it sent a familiar feeling straight to his groin. Nevermind that this was Granger, know it all swot, and his only academic rival through school. And about a dozen other things that were setting of all kinds of warning signs in his head.

It hadn't been a coincidence that he chose to walk behind her. The black dress hugged her torso, snug around her hips and her arse was exquisitely framed. She stopped in front of him, hesitating as she looked over the tables in the room. Gripping her gift with her fingers tightly, she turned to him.

"Follow me out onto the balcony." He told her. Over the top of her head he could see the bartender, the same one who had just waved at him, sizing her up. "You'd better hope you didn't take too many photos. You'll want to remember this." He motioned for her to go ahead of him once more, watching her hips sway as she climbed the three steps. "Find a table for us."

"Where are you going?" For Merlin's sake, did she have to lean over the railing like that? Her cleavage was on full display, pressed together and too fucking enticing.

"Need a drink." He grumbled under his breath.


Hermione stood on the crowded patio, seeing two white and blue chairs right on the edge of the patio. The bar was built on the seafront of Little Venice, looking out across the Aegean sea. It was a wonder there weren't more patrons as she picked the seat closest to the end and sat her handbag in the one beside her. Pulling her camera up and leaning backwards to get the best view of the bright sun ray reflecting off the water, she took another photograph, setting it on the table beside her.

The sun was low, nearly ready to set. Hermione wound her fingers into her hair, tugging the hair tie from her hand and brushing her damp curls out with her fingers. Her view was stunning, with the warmth of the sun still on her face. It was chilly inside of the pub, wisps of air trailing out of the open doors and meeting the bare skin of her back.

Slipping her sandals off, Hermione dipped her toes into the water that sent shivers up her spine. She tugged her dress up to rest mid calf, leaning back into the chair. She was eager for the sun to drop lowers, so she could take a picture as it seemed to disappear below the ocean.

Malfoy came to sit in the chair beside her, handing her a glass. Hermione wiggled her toes beneath the water and held the straw, taking a sip from the orange and red drink. A small noise slipped from her mouth at the fruity taste. Not having to look at him to know he was smirking, she didn't bother at all. "Your mother was right." Hermione told him, setting her glass on the table. "I like that I can put my feet in the water the most, I think."

"I fell off the ledge when I was a child." He told her quietly, glancing over his shoulder. "To be exact, Theo shoved me off of the ledge."

She turned to look at him in horror. "How old were you?"

"Five?"

Hermione only shook her head. "I think the worst thing I ever did as a child was I broke my arm from climbing a tree. It was awful. If there's anything I'm overly grateful for, it would be how quickly Wizards are able to heal."

"How do Muggles manage?" He asked her, taking a drink of firewhiskey. How typical.

"It would be hard to explain, I think, but trust that it is a long process. I was in a cast for weeks." He gave a nod, and Hermione reached for her camera. "Do you mind if I take photographs of you?"

"Not at all. I am incredibly attractive." He was smirking as he said it, lifting his glass to his lips once more and Hermione pressed the button just in time to catch him in the motion. The picture slid out and she set it on the table.

"Conceited," she corrected. "thank you for bringing me a drink. I can pay you back." It was more of a courtesy, but still the surprise was visible when he told her that it wasn't a problem for him to pay for it. "Malfoy, it's not an issue."

"I'm the one who dragged you away from reading today, so the gentlemanly thing to do would be to pay for your drinks." Malfoy told her, kicking his shoes off and slipping his toes into the cool water alongside her. "You told me you'd give it the day and then we could discuss it tomorrow. Has my company been that horrific?"

She sighed, "Consider me impressed. I thought for sure you were going to be a prat. I assumed you would be defensive over every last thing I had to say, but instead you were nice. " Her nose crinkled and her eyebrows knitted together. "You bought me a Muggle camera, so I suppose we can give it another day."

"Cheers." He murmured, holding his glass out to her and she clinked hers against his. "Oi, Granger. You told me how you wanted to be someone else, someone who wasn't Saint Potter's best friend."

Hermione nodded.

"Do you imagine I could be someone else?" He didn't look at her, didn't even spare her a glance as he took another drink, and he was prepared to pretend he had never said anything at all.

She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "I think Mykonos could be the one place we can be different. Some of them know who we are, but that's not to say that we can't be...well, whoever it is we want to be for the summer."

"It has to end at the end of summer?" He asked her, turning to her finally. Her mouth went dry as he arched an eyebrow.

It was nothing, just a reprieve that was currently being dangled right in front of her. Yet no matter what way she spun it, it sounded like a deal with the devil. Tilting her head to the side, she told him softly, "I'm not sure. I think it might be a case by case decision."

He nodded, "Right."

Hermione clasped her hands in her lap, preparing herself for possible disappointment if this blew up in her face. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger." She told him, extending her hand to him.

For three painful seconds he only looked at her curiously. A sigh of relief escaped her when he set his glass down and pulled her hand to his lips. The gentle brush of his lips against her skin set the nerves there on fire. "Draco Malfoy."

"Okay, but is the kissing my hand a Pureblood custom, or were you just trying to surprise me?" Hermione's giggles broke apart her voice.

Malfoy just leaned back in his seat. "It's called manners, Granger. I could educate you if you'd like?"

Perhaps her howling with laughter was the last thing she needed to do given the attention it attracted. "Draco," his name rolled off her tongue, and it was worth the awkwardness to see the surprised look on his face. "I assure you I will not be kissing your hand."

He sniggered.