I own nothing you recognize. I simply play in JKR's universe for fun.

Thanks as always to Amrun for her Beta work! Welcome to Julia F. who has come on board as Britpicker.

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Hermione, July 31, 1998

"So how many words per minute are you up to?" asked Draco.

"I'm doing twenty-two words per minute with four errors," answered Hermione, "But I'm not peeking at the keyboard like some people I know."

"I only peek at punctuation," grumbled Draco, "I'm never going to get punctuation."

"I've been restraining myself from peeking at punctuation. It's tempting. I'll never understand why they put the exclamation mark over the one and the question mark on the bottom row over the slash. I keep getting them confused," Hermione sighed, "It's a good thing Mavis Beacon is a fictitious character. Otherwise I think I'd find her and give her a good hexing."

"Anulus Spasmus would be a good place to start. See how well she keyboards when her fingers are twisting all over the place," he retorted.

It was early morning and Draco and Hermione were in the computer lab practicing keyboarding skills on a program called 'Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing'. The daily schedules called for one hour of keyboarding instruction and practice every morning and every afternoon. So far, Hermione found computer camp fascinating and fun, but keyboard practice was the drudgery part of it. She comforted herself that Draco was having a more difficult time with it than she was. After the first week, her hands ached from the constant unaccustomed exercise. Draco held his hands up and swore the workout he was getting was going to build up the muscles in his hand until they were the size of Goyle's.

The aching hands part was gone, but she still had a long way to go before she'd be as fast writing on a computer as she was with a pen. One good thing about being at Avalon was no one expected work to be written with a quill and bottle of ink. If anything had to be handwritten, an ink pen was the writing implement of choice.

Draco surprised her. In spite of his Slytherin training in hiding his feelings behind a supercilious expression, she could see he was having an internal struggle. In all his eighteen years, Draco was taught to despise all things Muggle. But here he was, surrounded by Muggle-developed technology and forced to face the fact that aspects of it were superior to magic.

The quill and inkpot disappeared the first day after Anita handed him a ballpoint pen. He was surrounded by students from a dozen different countries, almost none of whom could be called a Pureblood and yet they were capable wizards and witches. His angelic good looks got him some interesting responses from some of their female classmates and one of the guys, but no one treated him with any of the deference he received at Hogwarts by virtue of being a Malfoy.

The culture shock had to be overwhelming at times. Hermione had gone out of her way to include Draco in the little circle of friends she was developing. He seemed most comfortable around Anita and herself. Hermione wondered how much of Draco's name-calling and the snide remarks directed at her over the years had been putting on a show for the benefit of his Death Eater wannabe friends. On the other hand, he might have been completely sincere in despising her as a mudblood, but now he needed acceptance and help from her to make it here. Maybe he was just being an opportunist.

They trod very carefully around each other. Hermione never mentioned Draco's family and he never mentioned hers. They could discuss funny incidents that happened at Hogwarts, but made sure they didn't bring up any of the more serious ones. No political discussions or any controversial subjects were broached. They discussed their work on the computers and their studies, the safest topic because it was in the here and now. When Anita was around, their discussions often revolved around charms and comparisons of how spells were done in America and Britain.

Anita spent a lot of her time with the two of them. The three usually took meals together, joined by a rotating assortment of students from their floor. Food was another safe topic. One thing they could agree on was Avalon's food service cooks could take lessons from Hogwarts' elves.

Anita tended to dominate the conversation during social times. There was plenty to talk about just getting used to being in the States, as they'd come to call it. There were differences in language and customs, which all found amusing. Draco was annoyed the first time he ordered chips and found himself with a bag of potato crisps instead of french fries. When there were awkward silences, they tended to be filled with Anita's voice.

The first weekend, Anita took several of the students to shop for computers. It was Draco's first time travelling in a car. Afterwards, he announced it looked like fun and he wanted a car and driving lessons. It wouldn't be as much fun as a broom, but since brooms were banned for on-campus and nearby, driving a car would be more practical. Anita promised to connect him up with a school that could teach him.

The visit to the Best Buy electronics store was productive. Anita took Hermione and Draco directly to the Digital Magic section of the computer aisles. They looked at different models. With Anita's encouragement both ended up with nineteen inch monitors, top of the line hard drives and memories, CD-Rom, Internet capability, color printers, scanners, surge protectors, and something she called a zip drive backup. They weren't sure exactly what all of these things did, but Anita assured them this was a wickedly fast and powerful system that could be easily upgraded.

Their visit expanded beyond the computer section and both of them bought small televisions with a built-in video tape recorder. Draco was ready to continue his electronics shopping, but Anita announced that was all they could fit into the car. Hermione was shocked when she realized the total cost of what she had bought, but Draco took it all in stride. They both laughed when they pulled out their Gringott's Visa cards.

Within a couple of hours, the computers were set up as they learned to connect cables based on matching the colors on the back of the central processing unit. Anita helped them hook up their Internet access and got them both American Wizards On-Line (AWL) accounts. Use of the scanner would have to wait for another lesson, as Anita had to take two more students shopping. The rest of the day was spent quite happily as Hermione explored Internet access to Avalon's library, especially the journals. Draco, back in his own room also explored the Internet, but Hermione got the impression he'd found other kinds of interesting things to view.

The television was another new experience for Draco. He was disappointed the characters he saw on screen wouldn't converse when he talked to them. He found the commercials to be crass, for the most part. He was offended when he saw advertisements for constipation or diarrhea remedies. He sputtered and almost turned blue the first time he saw a commercial for Preparation H hemorrhoid cream. Draco found he could appreciate the wit that went into the beer commercials. After watching one inning of a baseball game, Draco decided that Muggles must be deadly dull beings. Anita assured him he just needed to wait until football and basketball started and he'd think differently.

Hermione could understand how people might get addicted to computers. They barely scratched the surface in computer camp. In two and a half weeks, they learned to use a mouse, gained some keyboard skills, acquired basic Internet skills, and learned some word processing and a little bit of the database program. With a little extra coaching from Anita, Hermione began to access the Avalon library and some of the special programs available there.

She looked forward to using word processing for essays. She thought about all the time she could have saved revising an essay on a screen rather than having to recopy it to another parchment. She was a good speller but always had a hard time with proofreading her own work. It was nice to have the computer take over that task.

The second weekend was spent with Anita further Americanizing the two Brits. She announced a visit to Old Navy was called for. Draco didn't own a single pair of jeans, let alone a t-shirt and Anita declared she was tired of seeing him dress all the time like he was going to church. Hermione kept her opinion to herself, but was reasonably certain Draco wasn't a regular churchgoer. Draco was game for it, so he allowed the two women to take him shopping.

In short order, Draco looked like an upscale American college student. Hermione had to admit -- he cut a nice figure in blue jeans. She noticed Anita giving admiring looks to his rear end. The t-shirts Draco modeled showed he did not carry the Dark Mark, which Hermione found reassuring despite what Professor Snape had said.

Anita talked Draco into buying a leather jacket. This was considered low class in Pureblood circles, but Anita said it was the height of fashion coolness in the United States. An expensive pair of trainers -- or tennis shoes as Anita called them -- and Draco was set. Anita tried to talk him into a haircut, but Draco would have none of it.

Hermione, having a fairly extensive Muggle wardrobe didn't need much. She selected a soft gold sweater (Anita explained that in America, a jumper was a type of dress), brown trousers, and matching loafers. She picked out a denim jacket to go with jeans she already had. After inspecting an assortment of backpacks, Hermione decided to wait and buy one on campus. They had some there that were charmed to be bottomless, allowing the wearer to carry as many books as they needed without the weight or bulk. Anita, her own chestnut hair cut in wavy layers, encouraged Hermione to get her hair cut short so the curl would show better. Hermione flatly refused.

During the week, the three continued to explore American and local ethnic cuisines. They went to a neighborhood delicatessen, which had wonderful Italian beef sandwiches. Hermione really liked the Reuben with sauerkraut, corned beef, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island Dressing. Draco hated it. The Monte Cristo, made with ham and cheese on bread dipped in beaten eggs and grilled was excellent.

Their second visit to Lou Malnati's restaurant for deep-dish pizza was a hit and they promised themselves that they would return often. Draco had never had tacos or burritos before and discovered he liked hot sauces. He was offended the legal drinking age in the States was twenty-one and he couldn't try a cold beer to go with it. Hermione still couldn't tolerate refried beans. Next on their list after their return from home visit weekend was a trip to Greek Town.

The mediocre food served in the cafeteria was annoying and a blessing. If it had been as good as Hogwarts food, combined with their excursions into American high calorie dining, their new clothes would not have fitted them for long. Word had it, the teacher's dining room had a much better menu and the assigned service elves were much better cooks.

Hermione enjoyed watching Anita and Draco. Draco didn't appeal to Hermione, at least not in that way. But he clearly held interest for Anita and it looked like the interest was mutual. Draco behaved very differently towards Anita than he did to Pansy Parkinson. Pansy was a sure thing where Draco was concerned. All Draco had to do was crook his little finger and Pansy was right there, totally compliant with whatever Draco wanted. Anita was a complete opposite. She was confident and had a strong sense of her own identity. No man was ever going to boss her around or take her for granted. Anita knew she was a woman with choices. Hermione wished she had half of Anita's confidence, especially around men.

Not that there had been much time for Hermione to start looking for The Right Wizard. Half of the students in computer camp were male, but no one caught her fancy. There was no need to be concerned. The campus wouldn't fill up with the regular contingent of students until autumn. Hermione was quite willing to wait, especially after the box in the plain brown wrapper arrived.

A few days after arriving on campus, Hermione perused some of the magazines available in the library. One of them had the most interesting advertisement and made reference to an Internet address. Since Hermione just happened to have a brand new computer, an AWL account, and a credit card, she had the ability to experience on-line shopping.

Visiting the web address listed in the ad, Hermione was astonished by the assortment of products available. There were different sizes, colors, shapes, and features. She didn't think she needed glow-in-the-dark and electric blue just didn't do it for her. Some were extremely large; she couldn't even begin to imagine how any woman could accommodate one.

Hermione selected a rather basic vibrator with different speeds, something suitable for a beginner. Having paid for rush delivery, Hermione was delighted when the box arrived the following week. Hermione had a difficult time waiting for dinner to be over. She made her excuses to Anita and Draco, claiming a headache and retired to her room.

In preparation, Hermione locked and warded the doors and added a noise dampening charm. She opened the box and took out her graduation present. It was flesh colored, good-sized but not grotesque, and had three speeds: pleasant, exciting, and ohmygod. Hermione examined it closely. It was made of a rubbery material, firm but with a little bit of flexibility at the tip. It wouldn't do to have it pinch, though she didn't intend to use it internally. Opening a trap door at the base, Hermione inserted the batteries she bought in anticipation of its arrival. In the name of hygiene, she cleaned it and then tested the three speeds against her hand. It created some very interesting sensations.

Just the thought of what she was about to do built the beginnings of arousal. Her skin felt sensitized and she had a feeling of heaviness pool below her belly. She slipped out of her clothes and climbed naked between the sheets of her bed. Turning on the vibrator to 'pleasant', she began by sliding it down her arm.

Hermione closed her eyes and focused on the thought of the strong slender hands and long fingers of her fantasy man. She imagined them moving down her arms and then up to her neck and across her face. She moved the vibrator along with the imagined hands, excitement building as she tantalized herself. The vibrator moved down her neck to her shoulder and then to her breast, teasing the nipple. She felt it harden and grow taut at the stimulation. Hermione relished the sensations as she increased the speed on the vibrator to 'exciting', stroking her breasts and then moving down her belly. In her mind, she could see those hands moving down her body, caressing and enticing her to higher levels of pleasure.

Hermione moved the vibrator down to her hips, opening her legs in anticipation. She could feel the urgency growing as she stroked it across her pubic mound; in her mind it was her unknown lover's hand exploring her. She held back, savoring the sensations pooling between her legs. She opened her legs wide and raised her knees, imagining being exposed this way to the eyes of her lover. She moved the vibrator across the skin of her inner thighs, teasing herself. As the fantasy continued, she could see his finger as it moved to her labia stroking and exploring.

Her hips began to move in a rhythm they seemed to recognize of their own accord. She was wet and the incredible sense of urgency was on her. While the vibrator moved, it was her lover's hand that slid across her folds to that tiny button where every nerve ending of her body seemed to be concentrated. The tip of the vibrator was wet with her juices from her exploration and touched her clitoris. She felt an overwhelming need to arch her back and flex her hips up to enhance the contact and in an instant it was as if a wave of irresistible and overwhelming pleasure washed from that button of flesh throughout her body.

When Hermione opened her eyes, she was panting and thirsty from breathing through her mouth. Her body felt limp and loose, wonderfully relaxed. Being naked felt very very good.

Oh my. And this is just set for 'exciting'. What would 'ohmygod' do?

Hermione had the chance to find out over the next few days. Her exploration of her own body kept her fascinated and entertained. She discovered she could delay her own gratification by reducing the speed and raising it back up, extending the fantasy out even longer. She restricted herself to using it externally, until one evening she decided she wanted to feel inside herself to see if it would enhance the pleasure. She used her own finger before to do a little exploring, but had not found it particularly exciting. She wondered if it would be better with the vibrator. Leaving it set on 'pleasant', she inserted the tip inside her. She didn't get past the head when it began to feel uncomfortable, so she withdrew it and went back to using it externally. Hermione wondered if perhaps there were limits to how comfortable an artificial cock could feel to a virgin. Maybe some things should be left until the proper moment.

In all, it was the best graduation present Hermione received.

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Author's note

Anulus Spasmus: Finger spasms.

Thanks to the reviewer who pointed out that with the Dark Mark on the left wrist, one cannot use their left hand to press it. It made me realize I put Lucius' Dark Mark on his right wrist, which is not correct. Please mentally relocate all Dark Marks to the left wrist. My apologies for any discomfort caused to the characters because of my confusion.

Thank you to my reviewers: Brotherchaos, Elizabeth, Severus-Fan, Lady Rhian (Who is taking her first shot at Fanfic, too), Gemini969, Phoenix Flight (Who is also taking her first shot at Fanfic), Amrun (Beta Extraordinaire), Pineapplecookies, Rinny08, Duj (Go read her stuff), Edania, Toto, Cathraka, Ozratbag2 (Go read her stuff), Joani-the-unique-being, Ratgal2000, Siren34, Evilmastermind666, and Elizabeth.