A/N: I'd like to thank all people who have reviewed the first four chapters of this story. I know I haven't uploaded new chapters for a while. Now I have time again and will continue the story. However, I have edited Chapter 4 below to prepare for Chapter 5 which hopefully will be out in a week.
- CHAPTER FOUR -
CONFRONTATION
"Odyssey is my favourite Greek myth," Hermione said. Oliver and she had spent the whole week visiting the ancient ruins in Athens - Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora and Ancient Theatre of Dionysos.
"Who said it's a myth?" Amused, Oliver asked without expecting an answer.
"You mean those people were real?" Oliver's smile confirmed it. "How do you know?"
"Odyssey was my 7th year History of Magic research topic. I studied the validity of Homer's work. You'd be interested to know wizardry and magic folks were involved in Odysseus' voyage and how Muggles confused deities and wizards."
Hermione looked at him up and down as if assessing something from a new angle. So, he wasn't just a Quidditch player or a Ministry wizard as she had always known him to be, but she wasn't going to tell him that and definitely not her growing interest in him.
"Athens is really beautiful. Just look at the houses and apartments. Almost all of them have balconies bulging with geraniums," Hermione said as they sat in an outdoor cafe fringed with orange trees, taking in the view of 'Paris of the Mediterranean', a blend of east and west. "So, is this what the job is about? Touring in Greece and then I have to write a travelogue?"
"I haven't received any further orders from the Ministry yet, so we can relax a bit first. The Ministry doesn't mind paying for our expenses. Besides, I don't think Greece is less attractive than Morocco if that's what you're complaining about. If you feel being stuck with a bloke like me, then I'm sorry but I'm not going to dye my hair blond."
It took Hermione a while to understand what he said. "Oh, I'm not complaining. It's just that you don't seem to be preparing me for the job. Remember you said you would help me revise spell-casting. By the way, you aren't bad as a companion," Hermione said, looking away.
"Well, it seems that the Ministry believes you're in a satisfactory condition to take the job and there's nothing I'm required to help you with at this stage. As for your comment, I'm flattered, but I'm no replacement for you little sweetheart."
Hermione was astonished. "Dave isn't my sweetheart!"
"I saw he was intimate with you at the party."
"He wasn't intimate with me. I can't deny that he has an interest in me, but," Hermione paused, "Hey, why am I explaining myself to you? It's none of your business." Hermione was annoyed. She wanted to close the topic.
"True, it's not my business. Such deed isn't unusual for a party girl. Perhaps that Dave is the n-th addition to the conquest list."
Hermione's temper flared up again upon hearing that. "I don't understand what's wrong with you people's mind! Yes, I've been a party girl, self-destructive and hard-drinking, but I'm not a scarlet woman!"
Just then, their dish arrived. Hermione's face was red with anger and Oliver, who hadn't meant to but had successfully upset her, bent over his plate and ate in silence. He didn't understand what game the pretty brunette, sentimental yet hot-tempered, had been playing at with those Muggle men nor why he cared to know. For the rest of lunch, no one struck up another conversation.
*
The fine handcraft, comic masks and many other unique souvenirs in the street vendors and colourful markets that were reminiscent of Turkish bazaars had slightly brightened up Hermione's mood after her unpleasant argument with Oliver. Done with the shopping, they met up for a drive.When travelling around the Muggle part of the city, even wizards had to use Muggle transport. Surprising to Hermione, Oliver, being a halfblood, could steer a car so well.
After parking the car on the hill, Oliver and Hermione took in the panoramic view of the Greek islands in front of them. They were overlooking the dazzling white buildings offset by bright-blue church domes, while golden beaches met an aquamarine sea.
Anyone would be blown away by such breathtaking view, except the wizard and the witch who began staring into space, deep in their own thoughts.
Inwardly, Hermione admitted that she had overreacted during lunch, but she wasn't going to give Wood the pleasure by apologizing first. The past seven days had opened a side of him that was new to her: gentlemanlike, knowledgeable and humourous. Looking sideways at the handsome wizard on the driver's seat, she found that she had enjoyed his company immensely and wouldn't mind to spend one more week or even longer with him in Greece. Her female instinct told her he liked her too.
On the other hand, her Gryffindor senior could be such a pain. For hundreds of times, with or without intention, he had provoked her since his reappearance in her life. His quick-wit was a double-edged blade and she hated to be on the receiving end of his sharp tongue. But mostly, she hated how he had held her brief and trifling dealings with men against her. That was when she began to realise that she really liked him and wanted him to take her seriously.
Seemingly looking at the front, Oliver had been aware of her gaze. "What?" Breaking the silence, he was staring at her eye-to-eye.
"I've been very happy here. Why can't you be nicer to me?" Hermione replied wistfully.
For a few seconds, he was taken by surprise. "I haven't been bad to you," he said softly.
"Oh yes, you did. What you said earlier really hurt."
"I didn't mean it. I was just teasing. Sorry." He looked away.
"Liar! Every time you look at me, I can see it running over its slogans: 'Once a crook, always a crook,' 'Once a tramp, always a tramp.' But you like me, don't you?"
"I never said that."
"But you do. I can tell. You beating about the bush to inquire about my relationship with Dave just proved it."
"I was being nosy. I won't in the future. Ok?"
"Oliver Wood's association with the word 'nosy' would be the day when Voldemort's heart was full of daisies and buttercups. What a pathetic explanation you gave." Hermione held out her hand. "Go on. You can hold my hand. I won't blackmail you for it afterwards."
Oliver's gaze travelled from her face, to her hand, and then back to her face.
"I've always been scared of women."
"No, you're scared of yourself." Hermione wouldn't let him go so easily. "You're afraid you'll fall in love with me."
"That wouldn't be hard." Oliver resumed looking straight ahead, thinking about how very often he had studied her in the week, wanting to know more about this sensitive, headstrong, beautiful, brilliant, temperamental, daring - in a word, complicated woman since the London party night.
"Then prove it to me," Hermione insisted.
"The idea is tempting, but we're on ministry business and I won't get involved with you, regardless of any feelings of mine for you." Oliver withdrew his hands that had been resting on the steering wheel.
When Hermione didn't respond, Oliver turned to see her eyes brimming over with tears.
"I know why you won't, Oliver. You're sore," she spat spitefully. "You're sore because you're falling for a little drunk you've taken in London and you don't like it. It makes you sick all over, doesn't it?"
Oliver's heart clenched at her flow of self-degrading comments.
"People will laugh at you. the invincible Mr Oliver Wood, with a bright prospect in the Ministry, in love with someone who isn't worth even wasting the words on. Poor Oliver, in love with a no-good girl. It must be awful. I'm sorry..."
Hermione was suddenly wrung out of her not-yet-finished little speech by a pair of strong arms forcefully grabbing her shoulders forward. Before she could register what was happening, her mouth was sealed with warm and firm lips in a passionate kiss and a pair of intense brown eyes were all that she could see before closing her own to savour the pent-up emotion of two people who had been too wrapped up in their own thoughts to have their hearts laid open for seven days.
**
A/N: There you have it. Oliver and Hermione finally kissed! I know that it's fluff, but let's get their feelings sorted out before we move on to their assignment in the next chapter. And if you think, Oh good, Oliver and Hermione together now and happy ever after! then you're too naive. I have about 15 chapters planned. How can I let them be together so soon? *grinning evilly* They have a mission. Their work hasn't started yet!
