~*~The Calm~*~

She had packed what she hoped was enough to run about for a little while. The beaded bag was securely around her middle and she wore slightly warmer clothing for their first trip. Hermione couldn't help but to be reminded of the times out in the wilderness with the boys, except this was a concrete jungle.

Draco kept staring at her over his shoulder, his pale grey eyes very unnerving, as they flew over the city. Though they could have Apparated, Carmen liked to scope out their next show like a scout for war. He wanted to know what other types of business were around, if there were schools near or if office buildings faced the nightclub they were playing at the next night.

Hermione supposed it was a good tactic. Of course, the task of hopping on the back of a broom in the middle of the pitch black night and trusting mostly strangers to save her if she plummeted, was a challenge she couldn't quite face. In lieu of riding by herself, Draco had gloatingly offered the place in front of himself, suggestive eyebrows and all, but she had slipped behind him and chuckled as his face fell. His body was a welcome warmth from the chilly night air and she knew she had a death grip on his waist. She could feel his muscles beneath her hands. Hermione's overactive mind wasn't helping matters and she hoped they got to the place they were staying for the duration of the two shows soon.

They weren't staying in a hotel or a place she would expect an out of place person would go. Instead, they were landing atop the rather cluttered roof garden of a flat, amid so many flowers the scent of each combined made her dizzy. Draco lifted her off the broom by tossing his arm over her head and tugging her entire body by her shoulders. He held her there for a second and she had to clear her throat and deftly step sideways to release herself. She'd never been that close to Draco Malfoy in her entire life, sans the frantic kiss from few days ago, and the ease of it made her feel awkward.

"Philip won't like feeding us, so you'll have to go catch your fish somewhere else. Aurora, don't kick a single thing or I toss you out on your ear. There will be two rooms; one is mine, the other can be divided between you all. Hurry up and decide." Carmen walked away after his orders without a half-glance back to see the reaction. Hermione licked her lips so she wouldn't vocalize what her heart immediately said in response.

"Right. William, we'll take the couch." Aurora chuckled and Draco sighed.

"We're all taking the room. You girls can have the bed and we men will take the floor. Now, let's get inside before Philip comes looking for us."

Hermione followed the group in silence, for once just soaking in the situation around her.

She had somehow forgotten during all these things recently that she was meant to be writing an article about the band she was currently trailing like a lovesick puppy. Benson wouldn't be happy if that 'front page shocker' was never delivered. Hermione wasn't even sure if she could write what she had planned on.

Would Draco want her to go in depth about what happened their sixth year at Hogwarts or the part he played in the short but bloody reign of Voldemort? Would the band allow her to just soak up all this information and leave, taking with her the fate of their success?

Hermione knew better than anyone that a well-written article could ruin or make a band on the upswing. She'd seen it happen before her eyes. She wasn't sure if the public would embrace the knowledge that the son of one of the men serving a life sentence was singing into their children's ears. Then again, the climate of the world had changed significantly after Voldemort's death. Perhaps the daring and dangerous appeal Draco exuded when he performed would win over the people Hermione would have pegged for prudes and naysayers.

It was all unknown and she had the feeling she would have to just ride the wave to wherever it carried her. Let the article write itself.

Philip was a tall man with no hair atop his red splotched head and a pocket watch that he checked frantically as though time would flee the silver object if he wasn't staring at it. Draco was the only one to step forward and shake the man's hand, which Hermione saw was sweaty and wrinkled. Aurora made a gagging noise near-silently behind William and the drummer laughed.

"Sir, we should only be here for a couple days, we'll try not to impose." Draco sounded like his breeding; proper and respectful, with just a hint of pride. Purebloods were subtle creatures by nature, she had observed over the years.

"A second's too long, boy. If the missus hadn't made me swear to watch over Casey, I'd have let him starve by now. Him and his friends..." Philip glanced back at the them and Hermione attempted a kind smile. Casey?,she wondered, Is that Carmen's real name?

"Of course, sir. I can compensate you for the time if need be." Draco's eyes had turned some shade of blue that reminded Hermione of the lighter colored feathers of a mockingbird. It was an odd observation and it made her want to laugh. She shook her head; she desperately needed to sleep.

"Ten Galleons for each of you, including my useless son." The thick hand of the man turned palm upwards and Draco deftly placed the required amount of money in it. Like a greedy goblin, Philip's lips pulled back in a smile and he clapped Draco on the shoulder. "Maybe you should have been my son, Turin. you've got more sense."

"And more money." he added with a self-righteous smirk.

"That too. Well, you can take the usual room. I'll fetch some blankets." and the man was gone around the low kitchen island to a closet in the back of the flat.

"Thanks, Issac." Carmen came from the second room with downcast eyes. He was thankful for the assistance, Hermione could see, but he did not like having to lower himself to get it.

"He hates you for following what your mother said instead of what he said. If I have to pay a few Galleons so he'll let us be, then I will. You took us in Car, we owe you that much." The smirk was gone from his face and his eyes were back to the pale grey Hermione remembered.

Carmen smiled for the first time since Hermione had seen him and Aurora hugged his middle. "I'm hungry, Carmen." The guitarist sighed and nodded.

"Want to go eat before we settle in?"

Hermione didn't cast in her vote, but her stomach made sure it grumbled loudly. Draco laughed and soon they were all herding themselves back onto the roof and weaving through the garden to their brooms.

Slipping back behind Draco and wrapping her arms around his waist felt like putting on a glove and Hermione had to think of falling to her death to stop the blush from crawling up her cheeks.

A/N: This one troubled me because I wanted to make it something else, but the next chapter needed a set-up, so I went along with what my fingers demanded. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review.

Also, for those who would like to see the full lyrics to the songs written, if you have a Google account and use Google Docs, I could send both albums to you. Some songs are from Bad Faith, the first album they ever did and some are from Blood of a Dragon, their proper studio album with professional, high-grade equipment. Each album is thirteen songs long and I have messed with some pictures I found using Google and created album covers that can be found via the links in my profile. I am attempting to make the music and the scene as real as possible so if you have any suggestions, I would appreciate them.

Ricca, I would attempt to, but I honestly don't know if I can. I made up each song by lyric completely beforehand and as I wrote the characters made the music for me. Though I will say that all of Firstborn Sons music is influenced by these things: Metallica's Death Magnetic(for the heartbeat, but that could also be attributed to Disturbed or System from the Queen of the Damned soundtrack, the opening of that song reminds me of a musical translation of a heartbeat instead of just thump-thump.) and Lars Ulrich who I use as a basis for William Nessball's talent, but I use Slash for his looks. Amy Lee from Evanescence(for Aurora's voice and the undertones behind songs like Whisper or Lithium, though listening to Valora added a little flair to it that will probably come out in later chapters). Anything Jonathan Davis, seriously. And at times when I least expect it, Rammstein(which I adore with all my heart and probably aided the heartbeat as Mein Herz Brennt as inspiration) i.e., the military uniforms, red and black instead of green and black like proper Slytherins, and the flames from the mouth(though it fit with the dragon theme so I win regardless). Also, Till Lindemann's stage presence is something to be admired and I mix that with hints of Maynard James Keenan(Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) which is also something fascinating to me. Um, I guess Billy Idol, which makes me laugh for a reason I can't fathom. Billy's awesome and the sneering blond syncs well with Draco. Plus, the scream/growl that Billy has is one of my favorite things. I listened to The Red Violin on Youtube(randomly clicking through videos of violins) and it seemed so tragic in this trying to hold on but unable to kind of way...so it seemed to fit the scene in my head. I would say Nathan Hunt from Shaman's Harvest and Brent Smith of Shinedown also had a hand in the imaginings of the vocals, though I lean more toward a Maynard/Corey Taylor type sound. Hope that works as my answer and didn't bore you to death! Tickle2Kill