Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Harry Potter... (Although, like many here, I would gladly take it off of Rowling's hands if need be!)
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Do review, lovelies! A little click will just make my day.
Again: parts of the story in bold are directly from the book (I still take no credit for that)! Sorry if this bothers you but as I mentioned, this is my first story and I find it hard to find a starting point! This is the first chapter I've written without starting with one, and it was definitely a new experience.
I am currently doing weekly updates, but will let you know in advance if it's longer. This chapter was absolutely crazy, and thank god I got it out! I'm so sorry it's a bit late!
I didn't realise until now, but my last update was exactly a month after I first posted...seems so much shorter!
So far keeping updates regular, but they will potentially slow down a tiny bit as we get deeper into the story. Any ideas and thoughts are appreciated! Without further ado...
Signed off,
YourDiamondAngel
PAST - Good days end fast.
Hermione was having a good day. She'd ambled down Diagon Alley at a leisurely pace, happily stopping to press her face against shop windows like a first-year, or peruse a book on display outside. It was a beautiful sunny day, completely living up to the hopes and expectation of the Brits on a July afternoon.
She'd strolled into Gringotts, and presented a rude and wrinkly goblin with her bright shiny key, withdrawn some galleons, and left with a smile and a polite "Have a lovely day!". Not even a goblin could dampen her day.
She'd sent a letter off to Harry (she'd been slightly put out by Dumbledore's insistence not to, but her brother had almost died, so she chose to disregard his instructions), been invited to live with the Weasleys for the last few weeks of summer, and had already spent a week of the summer in Spain, immersing herself in the cuisine and culture. And today, finally, she was going to spend a relaxed day in the Wizarding Village, picking up her school supplies, reading in Flourish and Blotts, do a quick double pay shift at Fortescue's (the summers there were a money maker), and had plans to meet up with the Patil twins and Lavender at The Three Broomsticks afterwards.
She left the bank, her purse spelled with a combination of a Feather-Light Charm and an Undetectable Extension Charm. It was unlike her to bend the rules, but was there truly a rule against muggleborns creating magical items in term time, then using them in the Muggle World. After her 6th detailed reread of "Hogwarts: A History", and a quick perusal of "Hogwarts: Loopholes through the ages", Hermione was certain.
She'd thrown on a blue muggle summer dress, with orange and pink, geometric floral designs covering the flowing skirt, and the top clinging to her bust and her slim waist. She had a pair of sunglasses on, and was ready to have a perfect, hot day out.
It always starts that way, doesn't it?
She heard the bell above her ring slightly, as she opened the door to Flourish and Blotts. Hermione felt the aroma of both new and old books envelope her, and sighed in contentment. Almost like home. She waved cheerfully at Mr Fletcher, who ran the store during the holidays, and made her way to her usual seat, on a sofa under the window. She set her alarm in order to not be late, opened the book on Magical Psychology she'd been reading the last time she was here, and lost herself in it.
Draco was having a good day. He'd come for his school supplies, and after finishing the minuscule remainder of his list, he would spend an afternoon at Top Notch Quidditch Supplies. Whilst Draco was superior to his peers in many ways, there are some things that all wizards love.
He had no need to go to the bank, only requiring the house elf that was following behind him with his recent purchases and money bag.
He strolled aimlessly into Madam Malkins to pick up a robe he had specially ordered weeks before, before heading to Fortescue's for an ice cream. He had plans to meet Pansy there, and was looking forward to it, despite the slightly frosty demeanour he had received following the Yule Ball incident.
"Pansy!" He called in greeting, his voice not raising above a normal conversation tone. 'A Malfoy never shouts for others," Draco's father's words echoed in his brain. 'A Malfoy is served without so much as a sneer and a whisper'. He was right. Pansy's head snapped round at the sound of his voice, and a smile spread across her face. She approached him, giving a slight tip of the head, and smiled daintily.
"Draco." She acknowledged.
"Pans!" He did not noticeably whine, but her eyebrow still went up. "I know you're annoyed, but it was not that bad."
The dark haired Slytherin's eyes flared, and Draco realised he'd broken his 4th Cardinal Rule of Keeping a Girl Happy. Never underplay a situation that seems frivolous.
"I mean..." He hastened to correct. "You have every right to be angry, I would just love it if you could forgive me for my almost inexcusable actions, and just enjoy a trip to Fortescue's with me." His voice was smooth, and incredibly persuasive. It was almost...hypnotic; an art he'd perfected over the years.
A smile lit up her face, and her eyes twinkled happily.
"You and your smooth tongue, Draco." She giggled as his shoulders slumped in disappointment, knowing he could never use his tricks on her.
"Let's go, Pans." He folded her hand into the inside of his arm, and escorted her to the colourful and pleasant parlour where dreams came true.
"Order up!" Hermione brushed her hands of on her hastily tied apron, before grabbing the sundae from the counter to deliver to the nearest table.
"Enjoy your dessert!" Her voice was light and cheerful, on autopilot. "Hope you have a sweet and colourful day!" She hovered briefly around other tables, ensuring no customers wanted anything else, before heading behind the counter where her boss stood, smiling at her.
Her employer, Florean Fortescue was not a young man, but he made up for his age with his spirit, and he was in no way past his prime.
"You're glowing! Good day, Hermione, dear?" Hermione smiled.
"The best, Mr Fortescue." she assured him, stealing a cherry from the bowl behind the counter, and quickly popping it in her mouth. If it wasn't Fortescue here, she wouldn't have done it, but her boss was ironically much more lenient than her supervisor.
The bell above the door tinkled, and Hermione called to her fellow waiter on instinct - Anthony Goldstein, a Ravenclaw - without turning to look.
"I'll take it. Don't worry."
She waited a moment for the customers to choose a table, then turned around. Her face scrunched up, and she flinched.
"Alright, dear?"
"Yes, just an old aquaintance." Mr Fortescue's face was a picture of confusion, but came to his own conclusion, seeing a pretty girl on the blond's arm. Hermione did not stick around to hear his assumptions, choosing instead to brush off her apron and grab her notebook. It seemed odd doing things the muggle way, but Fortescue claimed too much magic interfered with the process, and made it less enjoyable.
Hermione finally reached the table, which was inconveniently right in the window and a long trek from the counter.
"Hello! Welcome to Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour!" At the sound of her voice, Draco Malfoy's head snapped up.
'Don't recognise me...' she prayed, knowing it would be to late now anyway. She continued with her greeting.
"My name is Hermione, and I'll be your waiter today! Is there anything I can get you, or do you need more time?"
"Hello! Welcome to Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour!" At the sound of her voice, Draco Malfoy's head snapped up.
'No way,' Draco thought. 'The mudblood? A little serving girl?'
"My name is Hermione, and I'll be your waiter today! Is there anything I can get you, or do you need more time?"
Pansy's head snapped up too, and Draco watched as a sinister smirk spread across the girl's face.
"Granger?" Pansy sneered in disbelief, spitting out the name with disdain. "How did a filthy mudblood like you manage to get a job at a fine wizarding establishment?"
Draco watched smugly, as the mudblood began breathing deeply, and her hand flitted towards her wand before she stopped herself.
"Is there anything I can get you?" She repeated, still attempting to sound cheerful through gritted teeth, but her recovery wasn't stopping Pansy, and it sure as hell wasn't going to stop him.
"Well, mudblood, we would like a new server, since you're obviously mediocre at best when it comes to customer satisfaction...you wouldn't want us to get you fired? Would you, sweetheart?" Draco watched in satisfaction as Granger flinched away from him, his words like bullets, and merely gaped at him. Pansy was glaring at her with a sort of smug satisfaction, and merely began to peruse her menu.
The Gryffindor shook herself out of her reverie, growling to herself. He wanted polite? Well she would give it to him, with a spoon of saccharine sweetness on the side.
"My sincerest apologies, sir, I will strive to do better." She looked him right in the eye, her smile deadly sweet as she raised her notebook once more. "Is there anything I can get you today, sir?" And for good measure, she added a mocking curtsy.
"Insolent bitch..." Malfoy ground out under his breath, but she refused to lose her smile.
"Triple Creme Chocolate Sunday with every colour sprinkles you have," Parkinson cut across him, "and Draco will have a Coffee Dream with chocolate sauce." Then Parkinson merely raised a hand and waved Hermione away, looking at Malfoy expectantly.
Hermione almost burst out laughing; you could see who wore the pants...robes in that relationship. She stared at him as she left, mocking his lack of control, but he ignored it, choosing instead to make small talk with the girlfriend from hell.
"Granger!" A voice shouted as soon as she was in the kitchen. Her supervisor, Mr McHalner. How Fortescue could hire such a moody and prejudiced supremacist was beyond her, but she just had to do what she had to do to keep her job.
"Yes, sir?" She tried to keep the venom out of her voice, but judging by his expression, was more than marginally less successful than she'd originally thought.
"That right there, was Draco Malfoy, son of one of our top benefactors here." Didn't he think she knew that? Whilst the image of Lucius Malfoy funding an ice cream parlour was slightly disturbing, she'd known everything about this place and more before she applied. Probably the reason she even got the job.
"Yes, sir, I was aware, and would just like to prepare his order as to not displease him." Her supervisor's face scrunched up in acknowledgement, and he ground out.
"Fine. But you'd better be right back here as soon as you're done, do you understand me?" Hermione mmhmed in assent, before handing in her order, and she waited.
"Order up!" The voice came, minutes later. She put the sundaes on her tray, and made the trip to their table.
"One Triple Creme Chocolate Sunday with every colour sprinkles we have here," she listed, placing one in front of Parkinson, "and one Coffee Dream with chocolate sauce." She stood straight, and after the confirmation they wanted nothing else yet, along with a haughty look from each of her classmates, she was on her way, despite her prayers that they would at least keep her from the kitchen for a bit longer.
"Granger? You done yet?" McHalner was harsh and uncaring, and Hermione didn't want to know what she'd clearly done to anger him.
"Yes, sir, how can I help you?"
"If I went over to that table right now, and asked about the service, would I get good comments?"
"Sir, I was on my best behaviour?" Inside, she was panicking.
"That wasn't my question."
"Hopefully, but potentially not, as Mr Malfoy and I are classmates, and he...hates me. I can't guarantee as he might likely imply I should be fired, to get revenge on my friend, Harry, his worst enemy."
"Excuses..." Hermione's eyes widened in panic, as he strode out into the parlour, heading straight for Malfoy's table, and she hurried after him.
Draco frowned as he saw a large man storming towards their table, with Granger hurrying after him, eyes wide with fear. From that look alone he knew she'd not reported them for their slurs against her, quite the contrary, it seemed she was afraid of the large man coming towards him.
"Mr Malfoy," The man said, shaking his hand, "I'm Mr McHalner, and I am one of the Senior Managers here."
"Pleasure to meet you, McHalner, what can you do for me?" Ever the Malfoy, proud and regal, Draco waited.
"I would just like to ask you a few questions about your service today."
"Ask away."
"Miss Granger assures me she was polite, but given your family's importance to this firm, I would just like to confirm that you and your girlfriend," he gestured towards Pansy, "were not displeased with the service.
Draco looked at Pansy, and they were in the same boat. 'We want her in our debt,' her eyes confirmed.
He could see her eyes staring at him, begging him not to ruin this for her, but he just smiled.
"Little bit rough around the edges," she flinched, then slumped, clearly resigned to her fate. "But overall, excellent, polite and cheerful service, very becoming of this establishment."
"Yes, certainly." Pansy agreed. She held out her hand, "Pansy Parkinson." She simpered, falsley, and McHalrin's eyes widened in realisation as he acknowledged how important these customers were.
From Draco's perspective, the man seemed a little disappointed he couldn't reprimand her, but recovered quickly.
"Good, Good, Mr Malfoy. Don't worry about these, they're on the house." He indicated the sundae. "I will leave you in Miss Granger's capable hands." And he strode off, leaving Granger wide eyed, and shocked. She made to leave, but Draco grabbed her wrist, making sure he squeezed hard enough to leave the mark of his house ring embedded in her skin, but not hard enough for her to complain to higher powers.
"We had a little discussion last year, that showed I owe you nothing, but now, mudblood, you sure as hell owe me something. Welcome to hell. You told me to come here, and ironically, I'm sure as hell going to drag you down with me."
Hermione flinched at his words, before nodding in acceptance.
"Malfoy?" She asked quietly, and he looked up. "Thank you."
She walked off, all the while thinking, 'I was having such a good day."
Draco smirked. Only he could manipulate her to the point where she was thanking him for putting her in his debt. And it was only going up from here...yes. Today was a good day.
Hope you enjoyed!
Slightly less eventful than usual, but don't worry. In the next few chapters, we'll meet Umbridge properly, and it will be full of action.
J.K Rowling, in all her genius, never really showed us the aftermath of any of the more violent confrontations, so I've taken a guess at Draco's and Hermione's reactions. Although, I suppose that's what fanfiction is really about, right?
I hope you all enjoyed, and had a fantastic week so far!
Please press that big button saying Review! Even if you don't have an account feel free to post Anonymously/as a Guest. I got more reviews than last time, but can always use more! ;) so please REVIEW! I'm not going to give up on you if I don't get a certain number, it just makes me that little bit more happy every time I go to write a chapter, and it really does make my day! Only so can get some feedback as to my writing style and where to go, be it negative or positive!
Thank you!
Signed off,
YourDiamondAngel
