A/N: I'm writing this before the chapter? How weird! I usually add these notes in after the whole thing is said and done...but I feel like writing this now...Okay, well, I think it is my responsibility to inform everyone that...*drum roll*...*awed silence*...I like red bean popsicles. *Audience glares* HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! *C.Kitsune hits me on the head* Owchies...she does it too! What was I really going to say now? Oh yeah! I've been reading this manga called Flame of Recca, and I was wondering if anyone else reads it...wait, wrong place to say that. Uh...uh...*breaks down*...Oh, I feel like it's been forever since I've seen you guys!!! (More like, never, but still...) Won't you...*sniff*...ever...*sniff*...forgive me? I was...uh...busy! HA! School's started again. Darn...Oh well, I've decided I'll post every Sunday so no one gets mad at me and I get a whole week to write a chapter. Aren't I a genius? Tired of me rambling? Okay, read on to the disclaimers.

Disclaimers: This is seriously getting boring. What kind of name is Tom Felton? Oh, I can't think of anything creative right now, so let's just leave it with 'I don't own any of these people', okay?

***

Glimpse of Your Future Husband

***

Chapter 5: She Shows Her Face in London

Draco frowned slightly as he heard the doorbell ring. He really didn't want to go through with this, but what say has he? One is, after all, expected to obey their elders.

He could hear the soft, muffled foot steps come closer...closer...closer...almost here...and...

"DRAKKY! How have you been, my darling little boy? Awn, let Auntie give you a kiss!"

The Duke grimaced as he felt cold, fish-like lips touch his cheek. He hated it.

"Well, hello Aunt," he said, unconsciously wiping at his face.

The Lady Isabella, Dowager Duchess of Heodawing, smiled radiantly at her nephew, not at all noticing his discomfort. Quite unceremoniously, she plopped her stout little self upon the expensive leather chair and took a long, loud sip of tea.

"Oh God, what will this room come to, I wonder?" Draco thought to himself.

"My dear boy, what have you been doing of late?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just taking care of the country estate and all those uninteresting things."

Lady Isabella nodded wisely, though she could really care less. She was not here to discuss the developments of country estates.

"So in other words, you have been quite idle?"

"Well, yes..."

"Your brother certainly hasn't! Why, if he hasn't gotten himself worked up in another disgrace completely! And this time, he's dragged poor Miss Hermione along with him!"

Draco tensed slightly, but he kept his easy (and extremely fake) smile as he pushed another cake towards his aunt. However, this duchess ignored it and continued speaking her mind.

"You know, you really should teach him not to be so irrational. Have you no idea what he's been telling everyone all over town?"

"Why none at all," Draco replied with his smile looking more false by the moment. "But really, it's not important, is it? How's Allison?"

"Wonderful, but that's not what I'm here to say. I mean to inform you just what he's been doing! Why, he's been telling everyone that Miss Hermione is a fat, ugly, and extremely ill-mannered male-looking female! Do you have any idea how that could ruin a young girls reputation? You see, when I was her age..."

"Aunt, I'd love to hear your story, but my estate manger will be coming shortly and..."

"Oh, I understand perfectly," the old lady said with annoyance. "You don't want me here at all. Why, Allison is much better than you! I-I...oh, what have I done to make you hate me so?"

Draco suppressed the urge to punch her in the face, and said softly, with care, "Oh Aunt, you've mistaken me completely. What I mean to say is that I'd love to hear what you want to say and so I would rather hear all of it than have my estate manager cut you off in the middle. If you would please continue?"

"Well," the lady said with a sniff, "If you insist. So you see, I've just been off to visit Miss Hermione and her mother, because I felt so sorry for her, you know."

"Oh really," wondered Draco to himself, "I truly thought it was because of a certain vanity to prove that Miss Hermione isn't as pretty as yourself." "And well, I was waiting for tea, and the daintiest little girl came in. Her hair was very odd colored, of course. Red, I believe. I haven't seen many with red hair around! Have you?"

Draco raised his eyes in interest.

"Miss Granger has red hair?"

"Oh, no. I didn't mean her! I mean her friend, Ginny Weasely. She was very pretty, you know, if you're considering a match for yourself..." the old lady stated suggestively.

"Not really, but pray continue. What was Miss Granger like then? Blue hair?"

"Why not at all! Why would you suppose such a thing? Oh, she was beautiful! I don't see how her brown hair that could have been considered ordinary could be so curled and springy, and so full of life, and so stunning! In my age..."

The Duke coughed politely.

"Oh, sorry. Getting a bit side-tracked, as you can see. Well, truly though, she was beautiful. And her eyes! Oh, what a pretty shade of blue! I loved it! However, I thought I detected a glint of...oh, never mind that. Anyhow, I don't see what right Harry has to go saying such things about the poor girl!"

"Of course, he has none. I will apologize to her myself, if need be."

Seeing that the old lady had nothing more to tell, Draco smiled disarmingly and said, "Oh, I do believe that was my estate manager at the door. Shall we talk more some other time?"

The Duchess glared at him, but consented nonetheless to leave at that moment. (Not without some struggle, but still...at least she left!)

Draco breathed much easier after he saw her safely out the door. (He proclaimed heavily that his estate manager had already entered and was waiting for him in the study. She is a very suspiciously lady.)

"A glint of? What could my aunt have detected? How interesting...I wonder that she's fooled my aunt...but mayhaps it's just me being too unjust. She could, after all, just be a normal lady...a lady who likes frippery, a lady who is beautiful and graceful and elegant whom everyone likes, a lady mistaken as a maid..."

***

"I am not shopping anymore. You know I don't like frippery, and I'm not the kind of lady who is beautiful and graceful and elegant and I don't think I want everyone to like me," Hermione said tightly through gritted teeth.

"But isn't this bonnet just exquisite?" Ginny asked breathlessly, completely ignoring Hermione's last sentence.

Hermione looked incredulously at the silky bonnet Ginny held in her hands. No, truth to be told, she did not think it was exquisite. She thought it would look horrible on Ginny's mop of shiny red hair and that she really shouldn't waste all her pocket money on such frivolous things.

"Oh, it's quite beautiful, Ginny. I'm glad you've found something you like!" Lady Anne chirped happily.

She would have much preferred it if Hermione were caught up in this as well, but she knew her daughter wouldn't be forced into liking something such as shopping.

"You know, Hermione, dear, if you really can't stand this, you can wait outside the shop and look around. We'll be out shortly."

Hermione resisted the urge to snort at this. Out shortly? They've said that three hours ago! However, going outside seemed like a very good plan, and so, without further thought, she pushed out of the fashion shop.

"Not that outside is much better," she thought.

Unlike her quiet home in the country, London bustled busily with people of all trades, from the rich dukes to the lowly prostitutes. There wasn't a time in the twenty four hours considered a day when it was quiet, and Bond Street was certainly no different.

Presently, Hermione watched silently at all the mamas and servants that led young ladies of fortune around the street, searching for this dress and that. How she wanted to leave this hectic place and just go home...but that isn't possible.

"I won't cry now," she thought to herself.

With a slight sigh, she forced herself to find something to focus on, and her eyes came to a rest on...a stranger?

The stranger was certainly strange. His hair color, a silvery gold, was quite unlike any of which Hermione has encountered before, and he seemed to be gazing so intently at something...herself?

Hermione giggled a little.

"Now why would I think that? A stranger has no reason to be looking at me!"

Thinking herself to be silly, she turned the other way and began walking down the street. Yet somehow, she could still feel herself being watched.

"It's okay, 'Mione, he-he isn't looking at you...he can't be...he isn't a murderer waiting to get your head...he might want to buy you ice cream, and that's a good thing! Aren't you feeling a bit hungry? No, don't look back, that's just scary!" she told herself.

So enraptured was she in these thoughts, that she hardly heard the sound of wheels scraping hard against the cobble-stoned ground right before her. Only when she looked up did she finally see a huge horse-powered wagon stacked full of cargo coming straight at her...

She couldn't run; she felt so frozen.

"Am I going to die?" she wondered.

***

End of Chapter 5

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A/N: What was that? Writing on Saturday nights is not good for me! I want more manga!!!! Yeah, she is soooo going to die for stealing my cutie little draco away from me! WAH!!!!

Uh...am I supposed to thank my reviewers? Where did I leave off? I CAN'T REMEMBER! NO!!!!

Okay, here:

DarkQueenofShair: lol. I have no clue! *feigns complete innocence* Of course not! How could you suggest such a thing?! Yeah, I probably did.

Affisia: What can I say...hmm...okay, in order not to say anything offending by accident, I was just leave it with a thank you.

Angel: da Newsies fan: So every Sunday is okay? Hehehehe! I have a supporter! (I was going to say, I have a dream, but I would run out of words.)

Joebob1379: How could you mix up Harry with my cute little Draco? Hmm...I don't think he'll fall head-over-heels in love with her, no, that won't do at all. I don't know how fast Sevi will fall in love with you...might take a while...depends on your behavior ^_-! So back to that Tommy thing...Devin calls Mr. Ellis Tommy. Isn't that funny?

Snakeyes: FOUR REVIEWS! WOW! ^_^ Quite impressive, young lady, and I'm grateful. Yeah, this story is alternate universe, so it's quite different from the original. No wizards or witches and all that. Sowwy. Glad you liked it though!

The Dragon Guardian of the Sea: I'm suppose you've never eaten raw eggs? Lol! Purple-speckled ferret...how funny...

Archimedes: Dear Amy, that was a very interesting review, four/five in fact! HAHAHA! Okay, well, I'm going to force you to read later chapters whether you want to or not, so ha! (More hahahahahaha's! ^_^)