Fiery Gryffindor Princess, Cold Slytherin Prince by Starlight-Mist
Story Summary: [Dramione]: After the war, the seventh years all go back to Hogwarts for eighth year. Starting with an intro from Prof. McGonagall's diary, the story covers the first quidditch game, a Halloween Ball, truth-or-dare, I've Never, Secret Santa, Valentine's Day, Graduation, and a lot of pranking, kissing, working, matchmaking, and getting sick. Ends at the Ministry of Magic.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series, world, and characters are NOT mine. Anything that you recognize belongs to J. K. Rowling. My name is Brigitta, and I don't make any claims to the Harry Potter series, world, and characters. I just came up with the plot.
Pairings: Dramione, Neville/Luna, Blaise/Ginny, Ron/Pansy, Harry/Millicent, Theo/Lavender, Terence/Parvati
Chapter Title: Chapter 11: July
Chapter Theme: Beach-Going. Brothers. Slight Dramione Fluff. Filler Chapter.
Last Chapter: Hermione and Draco go on a mission. Draco's Birthday Party. Dramione kiss.
July 24, 2003
"Hermione and Draco," Harry said, clapping his hands on their shoulders as he passed them in the hall, "what would your thoughts about going to the beach be?"
There were opposite reactions from the two Aurors.
"That's one of the best ideas I've heard in a while," Draco nodded, slinging a friendly arm around Harry's shoulder, "so that is a yes from me."
"No way. We have work to do," Hermione sputtered, waving her hands agitatedly, "we can't just walk out like this and go to the beach right now, and Harry, you're head of the Auror department!"
"Hermione, just belt up," Harry sighed, steering his two Aurors into the elevator, "I've already made arrangements for the beach and we're going. Hermione, don't give me that look. I've put a very reliable Auror in charge and if anything happens, he knows to immediately contact me."
"Well then," Hermione said, "I guess it's okay to go. But, I don't have any beach-going equipment."
"Lies," Harry and Draco chorused, pointing to the little beaded bag that clung to her belt.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about this little thing," Hermione said, slowing her walk as she unlooped it from her belt and opened it, peering around in the little bag.
"Remember about a year ago?" Harry asked, "We packed almost everything that we would need should we ever need to go into hiding again, plus some other essentials for any climate. I'm sure that you've got a bathing suit in there somewhere, and Ginny's bringing sunscreen."
"Alright then," Hermione said, "which beach are we going to, and how are we getting there."
"Don't worry your pretty little head over it, Granger," a new voice instructed, "we've got it covered."
"Blaise Zabini," Hermione said, surprised. Blaise, like Ginny, had decided to go on and play professional Quidditch and she and Draco occasionally caught one of their games.
"It's good to see you too, Granger," Blaise grinned, tousling her hair with a hand that Hermione quickly swatted away.
"Well, since we're finally all here, are we ready?" Ginny asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Well then, let's go," she said, joining hands with Hermione
Luna and Millicent went first, followed by Harry and Draco, Neville and Blaise, Terence and Ron, and then Parvati and Pansy.
"Alright then," Ginny chirped as she Apparated them.
They, however, didn't appear at a beach, but in a woody area.
"So that the muggles wouldn't be cared off and so that we can change, "she explained at Hermione's perplexed look; "the boys Apparated to a place a littler further away and we have a designated meeting spot."
Reassured that she would have some privacy to change, Hermione flicked her wand and put up a changing curtain, the opened her little beaded bag.
It took a few tries and a little rummaging around, but Hermione finally found a bathing suit and changed. Once she finished, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, put away her work clothes, and dropped the changing curtain.
All the other girls had changed, and with the exception of Luna's eccentric and flowery yellow and pink bathing suit, they were all wearing either black or turquoise.
"Looking good," Parvati praised Hermione in a sing-song voice.
"You too," Hermione replied as they headed over to the designated meeting spot.
The boys were already there, laughing raucously at someone or another's expense.
"Hey Gin," Blaise said as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist.
"Bonehead," Ginny replied with a roll of her yes. Everyone, except for Ron, laughed at their exchange.
"Oh, lighten up," Pansy laughed at her fiance, "you don't always need to be a protective older brother, and besides, we can trust Blaise."
Ron heaved a sigh, and before the conversation could continue, Parvati interrupted them and suggested that they should head down to the beach.
"Don't want to be late," Harry nodded as the group started walking across the rocky ground.
"Are we meeting up with Lavender and Theo?" Hermione asked, knowing that Lavender had developed quite the pet peeve for lateness.
"Someone more-special," Draco answered vaguely.
Other than Parvati and Ginny's idle chit-chat and Luna's detailed account to Hermione on how her newspaper was running, the walk to the beach was a rather quiet one.
"What about you?" Luna finally asked Hermione, "how's everything going for yo?"
"Oh, same-old same-old," Hermione answered. "I finally caught up on my rent and Draco's still insisting that we ditch working at the desks and go out on more missions."
"But it's boring just doing deskwork," Draco whined, joining the conversation.
"He is right. You need to get out for some more excitement more often," harry added, pitching in his own two Knuts.
"See?" Draco laughed, "Even the Big Boss agrees with me!"
Hermione pouted.
"We're here," Millicent announced.
"I can't wait to swim," Ginny squealed as she took off her flip-flops and wiggled her toes in the sand.
"We have some long-overdue business to take care of before we swim," Harry gently reminded her.
"Well then, lead the way," Ginny instructed.
"Where are we going now?" Hermione asked
"You'll see soon enough," Draco answered, still being vague.
The group of witches and wizards continued walking for some time until Harry, the leader, came to an abrupt stop. Then, the group parted, allowing Hermione to see what they had stopped for.
"Damian," she cried out as she spotted her older brother standing with a group of boys.
Sobbing, she ran forth and threw herself into Damian's awaiting arms.
"Oh, Damian!" she gasped, standing on the tips of her toes and burying her face into the crook of his neck as her friends and his friends watched.
"Hermione," Damian stated, wiping at the corners of his eyes as he released his younger sister, "you've grown."
"It's been what, five bloody years?" Hermione sniffled, "You're not the gangly and lanky guy I used to know. I mean, look at you! You're like solid muscle!"
"Comes from being a Marine," one of Damian's buddies laughed. "You must be the little bookworm Damian's always talking about: Hermione would do this, Hermione would do that, Hermione did this one day..."
"You've been telling stories," Hermione accused her sheepish older brother, who ran a hand of the stubble on his scalp.
"Yeah," Damian shrugged. "I guess I should introduce you to my buddies. The constipated one who just squealed is Johnny, the stocky one with the tattoo on his arm is Ricky, the muscle man is Brian, and this guy over here is Max. Now, who are your friends and which one is Harry?"
"I'm Harry," the Head Auror announced, "the one you've been in contact with."
"I owe you big, man," Damian nodded, "for letting me see my sis after all these years."
"No problem," Harry shrugged.
"Well, this girl is Luna," Hermione introduced, "and this is her boyfriend Neville, who is standing next to Millicent. She's Scarhead's girlfriend, by the way."
"Yeah," Johnny said, "I've wanted to tell you 'cool scar' since I met you, Harry. How'd you get it?"
Everyone in the magical group laughed as Harry groaned and muttered a "long story" in reply.
"This guy is Blaise and his girlfriend is red-haired Ginny here, and Parvati and Terence go together. This red-haired guy is Ginny's older brother and Pansy is his fiance."
"Damn," one of Damian's friends swore, "are anybody single?"
"Hermione is and so is Draco," Ginny offered, "though I doubt you'd be interested in him."
"Well, Hermione's rather cute," he mused.
"No way, Ricky," Damian barked, socking his friend's shoulder, "Hermione is off-limits to you guys."
Ricky heaved a sigh and plopped down in the sand.
"Well," Ginny said, "Blaise and I are going to take a swim. Catch you later."
"Mind if we join you?" Neville and Luna asked, Millicent and Harry nodding along.
"Go on," Hermione said, waving everyone towards the waves, "I'll join you guys later."
"I'll stay with you guys," Draco volunteered.
"You really don't need to if you don't want to," Hermione said, giving him a look as the rest of the group walked away. Draco just shrugged and lay down.
-O-o-O-
"Thank you so much, you guys," Hermione murmured as she wrung out her hair and followed the rest of the group.
"You're welcome," Harry said exaggeratedly, "Mione-Moo."
"Oh, belt up," Hermione muttered, strongly wishing that Damian hadn't told Harry and Ron every single one of his crazy nicknames for her.
"Want to grab dinner?" Draco asked her, throwing an arm over her shoulder.
"Why not?" Hermione shrugged, "But I'm paying this time."
"Not happening," Draco smirked smugly.
"But you paid for the time before, and then the time before that, and the two other times before that," Hermione complained.
"Quit your whining," Ginny ordered, "He's being a gentleman. Let him feel useful!"
"But he can't go on paying the bill forever," Hermione insisted.
"Then just split it," Ginny scolded, shaking her head at Hermione as if she was talking to a five year old who wanted to eat chocolate before dinner.
Draco and Hermione exchanged a look and shrugged.
"Fine by me," Draco said, scooping Hermione up and throwing her over his shoulder as she beat her fists on his sweaty back.
"Ew, boy-germs," she laughed, "put on a shirt!"
"Do you hear me saying 'ew, girl-germs'?" Draco asked her with a smirk, "and if anyone should be putting on a shirt, it'd be you."
Ginny laughed. "Well, Blaise and I bid everyone a good night. See you all tomorrow."
Soon, the rest of the group began to split up.
"I guess we're the only ones going out for dinner?" Draco asked.
"Guess so," Hermione yawned, pulling a sundress and a T-shirt out of her beaded bag.
Tossing the T-Shirt at Draco, she donned the dress.
"There," she said firmly, "much better. Now, where should we go tonight?"
"I've been meaning to try this little pizza restaurant for a while now," Draco suggested.
"Well then, let's get going," Hermione laughed, planting a kiss on his cheek as he looped an arm around her waist.
A/N: Not that much of a fluffy chapter, but maybe I'll feel a little fluffier next chapter? This chapter was kind of a filler and was meant for getting Hermione to meet up with her brother, just because I wanted to resolve the entire haven't-seen-my-brother-and-miss-him issue.
Quick Chat: Well, thanks to my reviewer - Blue eyes to 30. Thanks so much! Doing a lot of anime right now, so I'll spare you all of that. I've also been doing a lot of reading, so yeah. Anyways, SUMMER VACATION! WHOOO-HOOO! :)
"The sun shines ever, not just at the beach."
- Brande Roderick