NB: (H) beside a name identifies a historical person.
Hermione felt the ship starting to move away from the port. However she wasn't too interested in leaving the suite to say goodbye to anyone. Instead she continued to read her book, ignoring Malfoy as best she could. While she was reading she could hear him moving things around in the next room. She had no idea what he was doing and honestly didn't want to know.
It was several hours later that she was forced to put the book down. Someone had knocked on the door that led out to the corridor. She stood up and went to open the door. Outside there was a steward.
'Good afternoon Miss. You must be Lady de Selah.' Hermione nodded. 'I'm here to deliver a message to you.' He said, pulling out a sealed envelope and handing it to her. 'The captain wishes a prompt reply Miss.'
Hermione nodded and stepped inside the room, inviting the steward inside. She sat down and opened the letter. The letter was simple and flattering, and on White Star Line stationary.
'Lady Nastya de Selah,
It is a pleasure to have you onboard Titanic for this marvellous maiden voyage, and the White Star Line could not be more honoured by your presence. I wish to extend a formal invitation for dinner for you and your guest. We will be joined by the Countess of Rothes (H), Colonel Archibald Gracie (H), Mr Henri Janssen, Mr Bruce Ismay (H) and Mr. Thomas Andrews (H) and we would be honoured if you would grace us with your presence at our table this evening.
Dinner will begin at 7pm in the Saloon Deck Dining Room, although you are welcome to meet the other guests in the Reception Room, before dinner, just off the Grand Staircase.
I look forward to meeting with you and your guest.
Captain Edward J. Smith.
Hermione looked up at the steward, giving him a small smile. 'If you will excuse me for a moment, I need to discuss this with my guest.' The steward nodded and Hermione stood up and walked to the room Malfoy was in. She knocked on the door and entered, closing the door behind her.
'What do you want Granger?' he asked, still putting things away and not turning to face her. Hermione glanced around, trying to see if she could spot the necklace anywhere, without any luck.
'I have just received an invitation from the Captain for dinner tonight.' She said. Malfoy stiffened slightly but continued unpacking. Hermione didn't understand why he was acting so strangely.
'Good. Then go and have fun.' He said, still not looking at her. Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Malfoy, I want you to come along as well. The letter says I could bring a guest, you in particular, even though it doesn't specifically say you by name, just "your guest". Besides, if I remember correctly that if a woman was unaccompanied to dinner, or in fact to travel be herself it was considered socially unacceptable, especially if she was unmarried.'
Malfoy stood up and faced her, glaring at her. What had happened to the amiable silence? She wondered.
'The steward is in the reception room. I need an answer now; we can fight about it later.' Her voice quieting towards the end. Malfoy was still glaring at her.
'Fine, I'll come with you. We'll need to talk about our dinner arrangements anyway.' Hermione released a breath she didn't know she was holding and smiled softly.
'Thank you Malfoy. I'll give the steward our reply and then we can talk. Again.' She said, leaving the room and re-entering the reception room. She smiled at the steward while heading over to the desk.
'If you would so kind as to wait a little while longer, I will reply to the captain.' The steward nodded.
'Yes Miss. I would be happy to wait for you,' Hermione smiled again and jotted her response to the captain. She heated up a wax stick and allowed a few drops of wax to settle on the envelope before pressing her seal into it. She had discovered her great-great grandmother's seal in her baggage and slipped it into her pocket, hoping to create a portkey with it.
Hermione stood up and handed the letter to the steward. 'Make sure this reaches the captain.' The steward nodded and excused himself from the suite. Hermione sighed and sat back down on the chaise she was sitting on before.
'Malfoy you can come out now.' She called. Listening carefully she heard him stop putting things away and open the door. He didn't come any further but just leant on the door jamb.
'What Granger?' he snapped. Hermione glared at him.
'What exactly is your problem Malfoy? I have been nothing but kind to you since we arrived on the ship, with the exception of the death eater comment. What has happened for you to hate me so?' Malfoy shrugged his shoulders as best he could; after all he was leaning on the door jamb. Hermione sighed.
'Come and sit down Malfoy.' She looked him in the eyes, pleading with him. 'Please.' He pushed himself from the door and sat down in front of her again. 'You said we needed to discuss dinner arrangements. What specifically did you mean?' She could see Malfoy thinking for a moment before answering.
'What I mean, Granger, is that we will always have to be together. As you said, you are an unmarried woman travelling to the States. No matter how famous your great-great grandmother seems to be, it is still socially unacceptable.'
'That doesn't explain your sour disposition Malfoy.' She pointed out.
'In a way it does. It means that because you or your great-great grandmother was stupid enough to not bring any servants with her I have to play chaperone, and even then you are still pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable.' He stated. Hermione was confused.
'How am I still pushing the boundaries Malfoy?' Malfoy chuckled.
'You seriously don't get it? And you are supposed to be the know-it-all fast learner, quick on the uptake.' Hermione could feel herself going red with embarrassment and just a touch of anger.
'Just spit it out already, Malfoy.' She snapped. He chuckled once more at her tone, but the quickly closed up again.
'What would you think if you saw a woman travelling alone being 'chaperoned' by a man, who shares the same suite, even if it is not the same room, no matter how legitimate the reason?' Hermione didn't say anything. 'They would still think that we are eloping. You can't escape it Granger, just like I can't.'
Hermione nodded sadly. She knew he was right. Everyone would think that they are eloping – which technically was the case with Nastya and Draco. But she wasn't going to give up without fighting.
'We have to convince them otherwise Malfoy. I don't want my great-great grandmother to be labelled a whore or something along those lines.' Malfoy stared at her.
'There is nothing you can do about it Granger. People talk and that is how it will always be. Think of the Gossip Queens at Hogwarts.' When he said that she was instantly reminded of Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil, the two annoying girls in her dorm. Yes, he was definitely right. She sighed, defeated.
'Fine you win, but we stick to the fridges story as best we can. It doesn't matter who says what.' He nodded.
'You will also have to start calling me Mister Malfoy. After all I am your business partner and chaperone, besides it is common courtesy in public.' Hermione sighed again, but nodded anyway.
'That means that you have to call me Lady de Selah.' He nodded.
'Agreed, Anymore then that and we'll have to wing it. Don't slip up Granger, I mean de Selah.' Hermione ghosted a smile.
'As long as you don't Mister Malfoy.' She said, standing up. 'Now if you don't mind, I am going to have a bath. If I remember correctly one never wears the same thing to any meal and since this is my boarding dress, I need to change.' She headed towards the bedroom where her trunks were still packed.
Once inside and the door shut, she cast a charm, causing all her clothes to unfold neatly and hang themselves in the cupboard. She whispered a quick thank you to Molly for teaching her that spell. She then went to said cupboard to select her dress for the evening. She laid the dress on the bed and grabbed the shoes to match, placing them on the floor next to the bed. She then grabbed her silk bathrobe and a towel and headed to the bathroom.
Once inside she placed her stuff on the vanity and ran a bath, thanking god that there was running hot water on the ship. When the water was warm enough she stripped down, using her wand to untie the corset, and climbed in, letting the water relax her muscles.
After a blissfully peaceful hour Hermione sat up and decided that it was about time that she got out and started her long 'beautification' process. She emptied the water and dried herself off. She dressed in the basic undergarments (forgoing the corset for now) and donned her robe. She grabbed her belongings and headed back to the room.
Hermione spent hours preparing her hair, trying to get it looking right for the period and a simple yet elegant ponytail wasn't going to cut it this time, not like the Yule ball. Once her hair was settled for the evening, she did her make up. It was simple, just some eye shadow, lipstick and blush. She sighed and looked over to the clock; it was already quarter to six.
She stood up and made sure that her robe was secure before opening the door to check on Malfoy. She saw him sitting the in reception room reading.
'Malfoy,' she said. He looked up and cocked an eyebrow at her, she gave a little laugh. 'I do apologise, Mister Malfoy.' She gave a mock curtsy. 'I'm terribly sorry to disturb your reading however, I wish to inform you that I am nearly ready and that you should consider getting changed into your suit for this evening.' She noticed that he had ghosted a smile at her little act.
'Thank you, Lady de Selah, for the advice.' He stood up. 'I shall consider it. You best get dressed then.' He said before disappearing into his room, closing the door behind him. Hermione smiled and went back into her room, making sure the door was locked before untying the robe.
She threw the robe on the bed and disdainfully picked up the corset. She held it in her fingers as if it smelt horribly.
'I can't wait until this is no longer in fashion and even then it wouldn't be quick enough.' Hermione grumbled.
She wrapped the corset around her waist and held it in place with her left hand while grabbing her wand with the right. She turned so her back was facing the mirror and could clearly see what she was doing. She aimed her wand at the corset and whispered a spell to lace it up.
'Damn thing. If I find out who designed such a garment I shall be sure to curse them to hell and back.' She grumbled, tucking her wand into the corset, making sure it was hidden but still easily accessible, even when she was in her dress.
She turned to the bed and looked at the dress she had picked out. Sure it was a little dated, but she loved it. It was a beautiful deep blue and ivory beaded dress similar in style to a regency period dress. She wondered what Malfoy would think when he saw her in the dress.
Hermione carefully picked up the garment and carefully slid the dress on, thanking god that it fit. She sat down on the bed and put on the matching shoes she had picked out. Hermione then reached for her elbow length ivory gloves that she had also place on the bed with the dress and put them on. She stood up once again and looked herself in the mirror, gasping at her reflection. Surely this wasn't her.
'That can't be me.' She whispered, forgetting that even though she was in Nastya's mind, this wasn't her body. She lifted her hand and moved a stray lock of hair out of the way, and the woman in the mirror did the same. She took a step forward and the woman in the mirror did the same.
Hermione shook her head. It really was her. She looked at herself again. There was something missing; jewellery.
She moved towards the dressing table and opened the draw. There were a few hair combs and some simple jewels. She took out a pair of what looked to be simple diamond earrings and put them on. She also took out a bracelet, which she was sure couldn't be all diamonds and place that on her wrist. She looked at herself again, deciding that she needed a necklace. She sorted through her great-great grandmother's jewellery but couldn't find anything that matched what she was wearing.
Hermione sighed, giving up on looking for that elusive piece of jewellery. She knew very well which necklace would go well with her dress, but alas she didn't have it and she had no way to get it. She stood up, grabbed her small clutch purse and exited into the reception room where amazingly Malfoy was already standing and waiting for her.
'Why Mister Malfoy, don't you look impressive.' She said, after giving him a good once over. He turned when he heard her, but didn't say anything. Even from where she was standing, Hermione could see that she had impressed him, and had more then likely blown his socks off.
'You look…adequate.' He said and Hermione was slightly put off that he had even complimented her. She smiled and nodded.
'Thank you.' She walked over to him, and put out her hand. 'Shall we head off to dinner and meet the others?' He didn't take her hand, instead he stepped backwards. She dropped her hand. 'Malfoy, I'm getting tired of your games.'
'You're missing something.' Was all he said before disappearing into his room. Hermione knew what he meant but wondered what on earth he was doing. Malfoy emerged from his room with a box in his hand. Surely he wouldn't.
'This is for tonight only.' Was all he said before opening the box, and there it was. La Coeur de la Mer – the Heart of the Ocean. She reached out with her gloved hand to touch it, to pick it up but Malfoy took it out of reach and lifted it from its box. She dropped her hand and turned her back to him. Malfoy put the necklace on her, making sure it was secure before removing his hands. She turned to face him.
'Now we can go.' He said, grabbing her hand and leading her out into the corridor, closing the door behind them.
Authors note: I want to thank those reviewers for your well wishes in regards to my recovery. (Incidentally, I have busted my wrist again. Note to all: don't leave things lying on the floor.)
I'm also pleased to hear that most of you, if not all of you, like the fact that there are lots of factoids in this story. While I was in hospital I tried to gather as much information as I could. I even sat down and watched Titanic over and over enough times to have the nurses confiscate the DVD from me (I have the collector's edition and was watching the special features also).
Also, if i decide to i'll put some review replies in profile, to save adding them to the story. Oh, and can you all please check my profile for a short message regarding my accident. Thank you.