New Beginnings
Co-Authored by Fiery-chan and LyssaQuill

A/N: Greetings to all! How is everyone doing?

Lyssa: Are you trying to get on their good side for not updating in so long?
Fiery: Um….
Lyssa: Thought so. *Whacks Fiery across the back of the head with frying pan (its my job to keep her in line, she works well with concussions don't worry)* Seeing as I have been promoted to co-author *gives a sparkling, braces-free grin* I want to do the opening for this chapter!
Fiery: I may be bad with updating but I'm still typing! This is my story!
Lyssa: Do I look like I care? Anyway, welcome to chapter 3 and today's hostag- um guest- will be Emma Watson. Let's all give her a nice round of applause! *Looks around at the audience and waits expectantly for cheers, but hears only the chirping of crickets*
Emma: Lousy ungrateful little bastards.
Lyssa: Now Emma, no need for profanity. I am sure the little pieces of shit who didn't get excited to see you are just assholes anyway, who don't know who you are. So for those little numbskulls *cough* Jackie *cough* who didn't know this, Emma plays the beloved Hermione Granger. *Lyssa looks threateningly at the audience and gestures head toward Emma who is now looking angry and dangerous. Scattered applause issues from the crowd and Emma seems satisfied*
Emma: *complete change of demeanor, now smiley and sweet* Aw thanks! You guys are so great!
Fiery: You guys used bad words; I think I am going to have to boost the rating up to R now.
Lyssa: Cool, besides you would have had to eventually, for what I have planned!
Fiery: I'm afraid.
Lyssa: You should be.
Fiery: Ok disclaimer time! We do not-
Lyssa: Good enough, I think they are aware. On with the story!


Chapter 3

Hermione stood in the shower, the hot water pouring down her sides, her chestnut curls dripping water onto her shoulders and down her back. The peaceful sounds of the shower were soothing and sensual. She ran her hands through her freshly washed hair. The sounds of the shower always made her feel so at peace. The sound of water running, it thudding against the shower's floor in sharp streams, the door creaking, even the sound of the fragrant suds squishing through her fingers was calming. She felt a presence in the room, must be a spiritual presence one feels when in a state of such tranquility. Hermione continued scrubbing her body with the lavender scented soap. It was not until the shower curtain was pulled back two arms wrapped around her soapy waist did she finally realize that perhaps the presence she felt was more real than she had thought. She attempted to scream, but a hand clasped firmly over her mouth.

"Shh, it's only me." A deep, familiar voice whispered.

"Draco?" Hermione asked. She could feel him pressed up against her backside, and she blushed. Draco wasn't wearing anything. 'Obviously, this is a shower.' Her mind told her. Keeping her eyes shut tightly, and trying to ignore the warm tingly feeling that was coursing through her body at his touch, she asked "Why are you here? How did you get in here? I locked the door."

Draco leaned in and whispered quietly her ear "Alohamora". His soft lips brushed against the side of her neck, and Hermione felt her knees weaken.

"But we're not allowed to do magic outside of Hogw-" She never finished that sentence. Draco's lips landed squarely on hers, capturing her face in his hands. His lips trailed down the side of her face, planting soft kisses along her jaw line. His hands traced little circles on her wet skin at the spot between her collarbones and continued to go lower down her chest and to her abdomen, all the while kissing her passionately. A moan escaped from Hermione's throat as he guided her against the wall of the shower. Now her knees were more than weak, and she slid down the cool tile bumping into a shampoo bottle on the way down. The small bang of the bottle knocking down and falling onto wet floor of the shower caused her eyes to snap open. She lifted her head sheepishly to look at Draco, only to find that he was not there.

Getting to her feet and looking around, Hermione saw that she was all alone. The shower curtain was still slid closed, she moved it aside to reveal that the door was still shut and locked. She shook her head. Trying to rid her mind of the vivid images from her apparent daydream. Why would she imagine something like that? She didn't like Draco in that way. Or did she? Hermione wasn't sure how she felt anymore.

Stepping out of the shower, and drying herself off, Hermione decided that she would just try and forget about her little fantasy and go about business as usual. 'It must have been the sensualness of the shower' she tried to convince herself. 'Yes, I just dozed off for a bit and started imagining things. It means nothing. Absolutely nothing.'
***
Fiery: Woah. You changed that around quit a bit, but I have to hand it to you, I like it.
Lyssa: I know. Can you say denial?
Emma: One quick question.
Lyssa: Ask away, m'dear.
Emma: Who exactly are you picturing in these little stories of yours?
Fiery: Um... no one you know.
Lyssa: No need to lie. It's you. Only about 3 years older.
Emma: Ew! You just put me nude in the shower you sickos! I don't' want any part of this. *Gets up from her chair and starts for the door*
Lyssa: Right, only, we put you in the shower with Tom Felton.
Emma: *Stops in her tracks and sits back down, a dreamy look on her face* Ok, I'm in.
Fiery: Mmm.... Felton *drools in a very Homer Simpson-like way*
Lyssa: Ugh. Jackie, close your mouth.
Fiery: Can't.
Lyssa: Oh, right. Back to the story.

***
Draco opened his eyes to find a Hermione standing above him, hands on hips.

"What'd you do that for?" He asked, rubbing his aching back. "You could have just tapped me or something."

"Oh, I know. But seeing you, lying there in that hammock, just waiting to be tipped. I couldn't resist." She replied.

"Well, that's understandable. Not many woman can resist the Malfoy charm." He shot her his signature smirk as he brushed the grass off of his legs.

"Don't flatter yourself." She rolled her eyes at him and started heading back towards her house. "I just thought we'd better do some studying." She added, calling over her shoulder.

"Studying for what?" he asked her incredulously, following her to the study, which was more like a very small library and Draco would have bet it was Hermione's favorite room in the entire house.

"The O.W.L.s, of course." She stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"We've got 10 months!"

"Exactly! We're running out of valuable review time. Now hurry, go and get your books." She began shifting papers around on a small table and taking out quills and ink.

"No way. I'm going upstairs to take a shower." At his declaration, Hermione began to blush. "Honestly, Hermione. I know I'm sexy but you're going to have to find a way to control your excitement."

He turned to leave and heard Hermione mumble something indistinguishable under her breath, he couldn't quite make it out but he could have sworn it sounded like something along the lines of "You have no idea".
**

Fiery: Wow, Lyssa. You changed this around a lot.
Lyssa: I know. Tis a gift.
Fiery: Right.
Emma: Why? What did it look like before?
Lyssa: You don't even want to know.
Fiery: Come on! I'm not that bad.
Lyssa: Looks like Hermione's not the only one who's in denial.
Fiery: Shut up.
Lyssa: Make me.
Fiery: Ok. I will say the magical words that will end this A/N interruption.
Emma: There's a spell for that?
Fiery: No. Just, back to the story!

**

As Draco dried his hair off (the muggle way), and trooped down the stairs, he couldn't stop thinking about strange dream in the hammock. It certainly didn't seem like a dream at the time, but then, looking back on it, cats can't talk. 'But what did it all mean?' He asked himself. 'Do I- do I have-' he was having trouble even saying it in his own head. 'Feelings for- for Hermione?'

**

Lyssa: Oooh!
Fiery: What are you 'oooh'ing about? You wrote that paragraph.
Lyssa: Must you ruin my moment? I was simply trying to portray what the readers might be thinking.
Fiery: Whatever.
Emma: And write now they are probably thinking 'will they just shut up and get on with the dam story?'
Lyssa: Fine.

**

Hermione put away her notes and books when Draco walked into the room, still drying his hair.

"Don't move." She said when she looked up at him. He froze in place.

"Why not?" He asked nervously, shirting his eyes from side to side, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever it was that he had to stay still because of. A bee? A lethifold?

"Because I want to capture this moment in my mind forever. Draco Malfoy, drying his hair with a pink towel." Hermione burst out laughing and Draco groaned and dropped the towel into his lap.

"It's not my fault! It's the only bloody color you had in there!" His words did not deter her laughing. He decided to just change the subject. "Is there anything to do around here?"

"Sure," said Hermione, trying to regain her composure. "We can go for a walk. I can show you the village if you'd like."

"Ok, fine." He grumbled getting up. 'Oh, great. A tour of Muggle-town. This ought to be fun'.

Hermione dashed up to her room to grab some muggle money and as she ascended the stairs, Draco couldn't help but look at her. She wore light denim shorts that were rather short indeed, and a tight black short-sleeved shirt with black sandals. He noticed the more womanly shape she had developed over the years, and he liked it.

When Hermione got back downstairs, the pair headed out the door and started down the sidewalk. It was a pretty warm and sunny outside and with the birds chirping and the little muggle children playing on the front lawns of many of the houses, Draco decided that it was almost sickeningly cheerful.

The only person who appeared not to be smiling was a girl of about their age sitting on the front porch of a house just down the street from the Grangers'. However, as soon as she saw Draco and Hermione, the girl seemed to perk up a bit. Apparently, Hermione saw it fit to start up a conversation and she walked over to the girl who stood up and met them at the end of her driveway.

"Hi," Hermione greeted sweetly, "have you just moved in then?"

"Yeah." The girl nodded, causing her bouncy black hair shake slightly. It was straight, with half of it up in a clip, and had bright purple streaks. The girl wore a pale pink and frilly, but nonetheless revealing, tank top, a black mini-skirt, and strappy pink sandals. Her violet eyes were lined with heavy black mascara and dark eyeliner, and she her lips were colored a pinkish-red tone. The girl also wore various different bracelets and rings, and a silver chain around her neck with a green emerald medallion hanging from it. Over all, Draco supposed she wasn't bad looking, for a muggle. "I'm staying with my Aunt and Uncle for the summer, while my parents are away."

"Well it's nice to meet you. I'm Hermione Granger, and this is my... um... school friend, Draco Malfoy."

"Hm, Draco," she eyed him with interest, "Latin for dragon isn't it?"

"Yeah." Draco nodded.

"I'm Aurora by the way. Aurora Borealis" She added.

Lyssa: Aurora Borealis? Isn't that a constellation?
Fiery: Actually… *whips out her very large dictionary of everything* It's the northern lights which can be found in Alaska.
Lyssa: Same thing.
Fiery: Idiot. *Eyes widen with fright* Have Mercy! *Screams as the frying pan appears*
Lyssa: Fine. *Puts away pan and Jackie sighs in relief*
Emma: You two are weird.
Lyssa: Just noticed?
Fiery: You said a bad word!
Lyssa: No I didn't. What the hell are you talking about?
Fiery: Oh sorry. Must have hallucinated again.
Lyssa: I told you to keep away from that glue!
Emma: You two are really weird.
Fiery: Pork chop.

"I was just about to show Draco around the village, would like to join us?" Hermione asked Aurora, who was still checking Draco out.

"Oh sure. That'd be great." She smiled rather flirtatiously at Draco as the three began walking down the street. Hermione rolled her eyes, 'What do they see in him?' She asked herself as she watched Aurora giving Draco the eye, which much to Hermione's delight, he was not returning. 'Wait. Why am I delighted that he's not interested in her?' A second voice in her head answered 'Why do you think? You fancy Draco!' 'Do not!' 'Do too!' 'Do not!' 'Do-' 'Oh shut up'.

Lyssa: Woah! Schizo!
Fiery: Tell me about it.

As they walked, Hermione, Draco and Aurora made small talk. Aurora asked where they went to school and before Draco blurted anything out, Hermione quickly answered with "We're home schooled".

They had a few more close calls like that along their walk, but nothing Hermione couldn't smooth over. When they finally reached the village, Hermione pointed out some of the shops and sites to the two new-comers.

"There's the pet shop," Hermione pointed to a small building with puppies in the window display called 'Pets Plus', "And there's the music store," she added pointing to a tall building called 'Tower Records'.

"Wait a second, you actually buy music?" Draco asked disbelievingly. Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs, and gestured towards Aurora. Luckily she hadn't heard Draco's inquiry, she was actually staring at the store quite intently herself.

"I'll explain it all later." Hermione added in an undertone. Getting back to her tour-guide voice she pointed to a small cafe labeled 'Starky's Sundaes'. "That's the ice cream parlor. They have really excellent sundaes." The sun was quite hot and Hermione could see both of her companions looking longingly at 'Starky's'. "I've brought along a bit of money, do you guys want to go?"

"Thought you'd never ask!" Aurora claimed rather loudly and she grabbed Draco by the arm and pulled him towards the shop. Hermione shook her head and followed after the two. She could tell this was going to be a fun afternoon. 'Not'.


Lyssa: I really am not liking this Aurora girl. You know, this story needs a lot more D/H flirting.
Fiery: I'm not good at writing flirting.
Lyssa: Noticed. Move over, I'm in complete control now. Hmm, how about Draco says "Hermione you are a sexy bi-"
Fiery: No!!! That wouldn't happen! And you yell at me for being OOC! Plus, Hermione really is not sexy.
Emma: Ahem, still here.
Fiery: *stuttering under the glare of Emma* Uh, w-well, what I mean is th-that Herm-
Emma: Save it.
Lyssa: Since we are already rated R, it's ok for me to say this. Jackie, you're a fucking idiot.
Fiery: That was distasteful and you ought to be ashamed! Little kids might be reading this!
Lyssa: Oh cry me a river, Jackson (I call her that). As if you really care about taste? Send me a decent chapter for drafting and then you can talk about taste!
Fiery: You little bitch!
Lyssa: Skeleton!
Fiery: Midget!
Lyssa: Avada Ke-
Emma: Break it up, break it up. *Pulls Jackie off Lyssa who was pointing a breadstick at her co-author and attempting to curse her* Honestly, you two act like a couple of 4 year olds and these little interruptions pull the readers away form the story.
Fiery: So?
Emma: Oh I give up.
Lyssa: *smoothing down her hair which Jackie had been pulling at during their little battle* Ok, let's just finish this chapter up, shall we?
Fiery: Yeah, yeah, on with the story, whatever.

All of a sudden there was a loud honk and the sound of skidding tires. Hermione looked up immediately and could barely believe what she saw.

Apparently, Aurora had dragged Draco across the street. And apparently she hadn't looked before she went. A car had come to a skidding halt right before smashing into them. The two had dove into one of the umbrella tables in front of the ice cream parlor to get away. Hermione rushed across the street and apologized profusely to the driver of the car who was shouting angrily at the pair of bewildered looking teenagers sprawled across the pavement amongst a couple of knocked down chairs.

Hermione helped the two to their feet and tried to calm down Draco, who was raving about how he could have gotten killed, and how cars were supposed to squeeze around things that got in their way. She whispered "muggle" through clenched teeth. But that reminded her, shouldn't Aurora have known better than to run across a street with cars going by? Maybe she was just that dumb. 'Yep, this is going to be a very fun afternoon'.

A/N: That's it.
Lyssa: That's it?
Fiery: It's over.
Lyssa: It's over?
Fiery: I'm getting that de ja vu feeling…
Lyssa: Yeah me too.
Fiery: Ok well that's all for now! Review everyone!
Lyssa: And thanks to Emma for stopping by!
Emma: Yeah, don't expect it to happen again. Bye then. *Grabs her coat and walks off into the night, while "Goodbye to You" by Michelle Branch plays from invisible speakers in the background*
Lyssa: Someone's pissy. And I don't even like that song.
Fiery: Nah, me either. Ok review! Or Lyssa will come after you with the frying pan!
Lyssa: You betcha! *Winks and waves pan threateningly behind her back*
Fiery: Ciao.

Note from LyssaQuill: Okay, hope you liked this chapter people! I already have the first draft of the next one sent to me for re-writing. It was actually supposed to be part of this chapter but it was just getting way too long so I cut it out (don't cry). Chapter 4 should be up soon, and I think if you enjoyed chapter 1, you are going to like this next hostage *wink wink*. Happy reviewing