Disclaimer ~ I ain't got no string to hold me down and I'm getting no money
to hold me up so please don't sue.
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Falling Head Over Heels The Story of Hermione Granger and her relationship with Draco Malfoy By: Befuzzled
Chapter Twenty -Six ~ Let Loose in Europe
"On my own, pretending he's beside me, All alone I walk with him 'til morning. Without him I feel his arms around me And when I lose my way I close my eyes and he has found me In the rain, the pavement shines like silver All the lights are misty in the river In the darkness the trees are full of starlight And all I see is him and me forever and forever." ~ Les Miserables
"Could we please have your attention?" Hermione yelled over the talkative voice of the exciting sixth and seventh years. "We just have to remind you of a few of the little thing you need to remember."
"You have to stay with you group the entire time, no exceptions," Draco started starring at the Slytherins who had started grouping together. He sent a smirk in Hermione's direction. She hadn't thought to use the volume charms. She sent a light glare to him. "Half of you are going to Rome and the other's will be in Paris. The Prefects will be traveling back and forth between both places to make sure you are working. There is too be no magic, at all. If you have any problems wait and find us for help, we will determine the severity of the case and take action."
"Each group will be provided with muggle notebooks and pens. You are not required but it may prove helpful to take notes or copy down insightful information about the sites you visit," Terry hinted. "It's best if the group shares the responsibility behind that."
This was to be Hannah favorite part. "As you leave we will transform your robes into muggle clothes before you use the port key. You will have some say in want you want to wear, but it will be our decision on what to allow and not to allow. Understood?"
"Now line up in groups for the time your portkey is leaving. Draco and I will take those heading off to Rome and the Paris departees should see Terry and Hannah before you go."
The group of four prefects split off into two different directions, at two different doors leading into the Great Hall. "So how do you want to divide the groups?"
"Can you manage to fit all the guys? And I'll make sure none of the girls try to escape as sluts?"
"That works, Mina, but can I have the please of dressing Parkinson?"
Hermione gave him a quizzical look and just nodded before calling out for her first group. "Can we have the 9:45 groups please?"
Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Vincent Crabbe, Justin Flinch-Fletchy, and a large group of Ravenclaws ambled over. Draco started the well practiced and rehearsed speech.
"You will be spending a beautiful day in Rome. There is much historical value to this trip and I encourage you to absorb it. Most of you day will be spent around the tour sites involved with the Ancient Romans, but there will be a brief amount of time to do your own exploring.
"Do any of you know how to handle muggle money? Flinch-Fletchy I believe you are muggle-born, correct? Yes, well then you will be placed in charge of sorting out your affairs to balance around you day. Also included in that wallet are some tickets you'll need to get into certain venues. There should be plenty for your meals." Draco almost phrased it as a question looking over to Crabbe.
"Keep your portkey because it will bring you back at you specified time, which is..um-"
"6:45 this evening." Draco shot her a look as if to say he was getting to that.
"Are there any questions?" Draco didn't wait for a response before moving on. "If all the Ravenclaws would go to Hermione could the boys come to me and we will sort out your attire for the day."
The group of giggling girls jauntily walked over to Hermione and her waiting wand. The left her all dressed nicely but all in an array of skirts. It appeared that they were trying to impress the group of guys collected from the other houses in their group. Hermione laughed as they walked away and shook her head at her boyfriends questioning glace. Hermione took control for the next speech.
"Oh the 9:53 group please." It went like that for the rest of the morning most of the time girls requesting dressy attire to impress the guys they were with, being hopeful they might run into the group with the guys they were interested in, or that day dream that they would meet the perfect Italian that would sweep them off their feet. Most of the time Hermione talked them out of dangerously high heels to prevent sore feet, well she did on all she didn't like, basically the Slytherins.
Pansy Parkinson was associated with the 10:46 group, after his rant of rules and money Draco separated the groups by houses sending Hermione the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, while he himself took control of the clothes worn by the Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Lucky, for Draco anyway, pansy was the only girl in his care at the time. He dressed the boys comfortably mostly in jeans and khakis and cool button down tees.
"So Pansy what were you thinking of wearing today? I know they're muggle clothes but you'll have to deal with it for the day." He tried to sound apologetic about the unfortunate task of dressing as the muggles do but it didn't work really well and his voice came out sounding abrupt and harsh.
"Oh I was thinking a bright pink tank top thing, you know the things with the thin straps and a matching black skirt or something." He was grateful that she had added the 'or something' it would make his day brighter anyway. He gave her a long black skirt with a baggy elastic waste held in place with safety pins. She got her tank top to it was just under a long sleeved hideous sweeter.
Pansy looked down, and almost screamed, "Dracie what are you having me wear?"
"Oh, its totally in style." Pansy glance to Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil who had just finished being dressed in matching, short jean skirts and the same style peasant tops by Hermione.
"Why can't I wear something like what they're wearing?" Draco looked over and feigned a look of disgust on his face.
"What they are wearing is atrocious and I am surprised Granger is letting them get away with that. This is a much better style. You don't want the Italian boys to think you easy, do you? And why would you want to wear something like the Gryffindors anyway?" He gave her a look to say that was final. "I will not let any of the Slytherins in Help clothe go out like that, its ostentatious."
Pansy followed the other reluctantly and with a pouty expression on her face. Hermione contained herself from cracking up until the group with their portkey had vanished. "Draco that was horrible. You be the laughing stock of the year."
"Well if you had heard what she wanted to wear, but anyway it serves her right for always calling me 'Drackie" and "Dracie" and whatever slandering of my name she can think of. She is so aggravating."
"What did she want to wear?"
"Oh I wasn't really listening; I just heard pink and black skirt so that's what she got. It was probably something really tight and extremely short. I was saving people's eyes, everyone should be praising me."
Hermione rolled her eyes and they sarcastically bowed to him in a gracious manner. "I thank thy for my eyes and for thy stomach."
Draco shook his head, "if you can't be serious about it, don't bother." He pulled her up from the descended position. "How many groups do we have left?"
"Just one."
"Okay let's get this over with. Is it your turn or mine?"
"Mine, but go ahead." She batted her lashes at him, in a Pansy imitation, "You are so much better at it than me, Darcie."
"Hermione," he growled, "If there weren't other people here I would punish you severly."
"Well there are Drackie, so deal." She waved her hand to get the attention of the last group. "10:57." Draco went through the speech as fast as he could and hurried the process of them picking out their clothes. He sent them across the field to want for their portkey to transport them. Then they walked over to Terry and Hannah who were sending off their last group as well.
"Next time, if we ever do this again, I say we set up a store n hogsmeade for a day and let them get their own clothes." Hannah said exasperatedly as she leaned on the door frame. "That took way to long and I never want to say that spell again."
Terry started on her, "Well you have to, you can't go around the muggle world looking like that, now can you?"
"No dear friend I can't, but all of you can do the spell for me."
'Dito, for me too," Hermione said sitting down just beside Hannah.
"Okay Hannah what do you want to wear?"
"You know? I really don't care just don't make me to hideous or dress me in high shoes. For one I'll fall and if I don't fall I'll have sore feet, and that would just be bad."
"Okay," Draco nodded. "I get the idea." Hannah ended up dressed in a dark blue Denham pair of Capri's and white v-neck collar shirt with a red tank top underneath. She wore comfortable Puma tennis shoes.
"Draco I really must say you are getting good at this."
"Oh my gods, a compliment from Hermione, catch me Terry I might pass out from shock."
"Oh shut up." Hermione chucked her shoe at him which he skillfully caught. "Me next!" Draco got an evil green plastered on his face.
"Well-la. You wanted to talk like Pansy now you get to look like her." Hermione looked down to see that she was wearing Parkinson's outfit in blue and white. She got up and tackled Draco to the ground.
"If you don't give me some nicer clothes then I'll break up with you!" That was a slip. They hadn't told anyone they were actually going out. Terry and Hannah stood there with shocked faces. "Oops, did I say that out loud?"
Draco nodded, "I suppose they should know anyway. I mean we practically spend every spare moment with them. Terry and Hannah, Mina and I are kind of, well no, we are going out. Wow that was easier to say then I thought it would be."
"Oh my gods, since when? Where? How?" interrogated the Hufflepuff looking entirely too excited.
"Valentine's Day, well if you wanted to be technical the day after Valentine's day," said Hermione, looking over at Draco.
"For the Where and the How," started Draco you have to promise to keep your mouth shut, they nodded encouraging him to go on. "In Venice and I asked her while we were having dessert. Don't ask, I had permission for both our Heads of House and Dumbledore."
"That's such good news," Hannah gushed. "We've been waiting for you two to go out since the Concordia. You looked, look, so perfect together."
"Yeah well, we still trying to work out how to tell our houses so would you two mind not telling a soul. In fact please don't mention it out side of our common room."
"Of course we don't want to interfere with anything," said terry shutting Hannah up.
Hermione turned on Draco, "Don't think I have forgotten about these clothes. You have some corrections to make." She pointed her wand at him and dressed him in a traditional golfer's outfit from the early 1950s, including the high sock, vest, and shoes. "Or you could go like that and call it fair."
He looked at himself. "You know I think I said that spell wrong let me try it again." This time Hermione came out wearing a long jean skirt with a thigh high slit up the front and a purple paisley three-quarter-length shirt. She had Birkenstocks on her feet. "There I think I got all the kinks worked out."
Hermione looked down approvingly. "Better, much better. Now for you, do you want to stay with the same thing you wore a few days ago, except for maybe the color?" Draco nodded, and he was soon clad in a lighter pair of khakis and a light blue button down that matched some of the highlight colors in Hermione's shirt.
"Oh look they match," Terry teased and soon he was wearing jean with a button down red shirt to copy the colors of Hannah's shirt. "Oh look, we do to. What time do we leave?'
"We still have about 10 minutes, but we're the first ones back to make sure everyone gets back okay," said Hermione trying to stifle a groan herself. "But, I asked the Headmaster and he agreed to let us go back tonight for some free exploring." All the other's eyes perched at the news. "Shall we go then?"
They all nodded and grabbed on to the small purse that was to be used as their portkey. The familiar tug in the pit of their stomachs was soon felt and after a dizzying few moments they appeared by a small dumpster on the back side of a restaurant. A big metal door swung open revealing a young looking bus boy adding more trash to the mounting pile. They had to react quickly it probably wasn't everyday that you find a bunch of teenagers milling around a large dumpster.
Hermione pushed on Draco's shoulder, "I told you there was nothing back here. All I wanted to do was look at the sites and you go get us lost in some ally." Draco hadn't seen the man and looked questioningly at the three others who inconspicuously lead him in the direction of the door with their eyes. "I'm sorry. Excuse me sir, could you tell us how to get back to the main roads."
The man still looked confused. Hermione spoke up, "Draco you know Italian right? Well when in Rome do as the Romans. I don't think he understands English." Draco nodded in compliance and turned back to converse with the man getting direction to the road and some museums.
Hermione looked at her watch again. "We're down to five hours to make sure nobody gets in trouble. Let's look around here for a while and then we'll go to Paris after like an hour or so, to make sure the others are fine as well."
Draco did a dramatic solute, "Yes ma'me." Hermione shook her head and began pulling him out of the ally under the stifled laughter from Hannah and Terry.
"Okay," said Hannah after looking at her watch, "we should head back now. The first group should be arriving soon. And Draco don't even think about scowling at me; we're coming back you know. Who would have ever imagined that Draco Malfoy would have to be dragged out of a muggle city?"
"Shut it Abbott."
Hermione turned to Terry, "And to think they were playing so nicely together today." Draco and Hannah made a move to lunge at the Gryffindor; Hermione held up her purse in defense. "Nope, stop. Put a hand on the bag not the person holding it, you both should know how portkeys work by this point in your life." She smirked and once again held out the bag and they all soon felt the familiar pull at the base of their spine; lurching their abdomens forward.
Slowly, and orderly the other groups got back without hassle and thankfully all in one piece, for the most part. Neville had fallen at some point and had a bruised knee that still trickled blood. His other group members had convinced him that it was hardly anything at all, but still upon his return Hermione usher him off to see Madam Pomfrey.
They went to the Great Hall to make the announcement to the teaching staff that all had returned with only one student being sent to the hospital wing with one very minor, clumsy injury. They all turned to face the student body mainly to address the sixth years.
"First off, we'd like to thank you all for you participation today. I know being thrown in to the jumbled groups like you were was rather hectic and I know that not all off you get along; but you handled the task marvelously," Hermione beamed at the sixth years.
"The trip was just an experiment, but thanks to all off you it might become a tradition and something for all students to look forward to for their sixth year." Hannah looked back and forth between the professors and students, both parties catching on the implied statement of what she wanting.
"Next year though, if I would make a suggestion," Draco started, "we might just set up a shop for you all to pick out your own clothes. After about the tenth person the job got tedious and down right boring." His statement brought mild laughter from all the students.
"Again thank you and we will down be working to put our head together to find something for the whole school to do. I know the first, second, and third years are feeling rather left out, but we're trying to think of something. Any suggestions are welcomed. We'll try to make ourselves available, to the extent of our ability. We'd appreciate the input." Hermione whispered something in his ear. "Oh, I've just been informed that you can keep your clothes, or if you want the reverse spell it will be posted in the main hall."
With the final statement, they stepped from the front of the student body and directly out the front doors, to begin their night of exploration. Hannah stopped them before they left. "You guys, we're going to be going to see Paris and Rome by night, and do we really want to look like common tourists? Come on, and let's dress for the occasion."
Draco and Terry just shrugged at each other, but Hermione fully agreed. "Yeah we looked like we just stepped off a plane or something."
"Whatever you say ladies."
Hannah turned to Hermione, "Now the question is - do we go shopping there? Or conjure up are own little magic?"
"Hate to break it to you Hannah, but Dumbledore only gave us enough for meals," Draco reasoned.
"True, you have a point Draco." Hermione pondered for a minute. "I'll be right back I have to run to the dorm to get something. Postpone the portkey." She didn't wait for a confirmation and just dashed off.
Arriving back a few minutes later, slightly out of breath, she pulled out a wallet. "I almost forgot. My parent give me an allowance, of muggle money. I have nothing to spend it on really since they buy all my clothes and stuff, so now we have enough money to go shopping. I'd say for all four of us to buy at least two outfits."
"Hermione you've got to be kidding. You of all people should know how jacked up those prices are. You couldn't possibly have enough money for that."
"I've been getting ten pounds a week since I was ten, and the award went up with the age. I haven't spent a cent of it ever. You do the math."
"No, don't bother, I trust Hermione more than a logical Ravenclaw, let's go all we're wasting precious time," Hannah pushed them together before Terry could defend himself. "All hands on purse."
They walked along the street again absorbing the delicate view of the cooling Paris street. Many people had gone back to their homes and hotels to prepare for the night life so they were left practically alone.
"How about we go in there? That dress looks adorable." Hannah couldn't resist the urge to shop and pulled her friends in with her. The sales woman eyed them suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" She took in their clothes and youngish appearance, and decided there wasn't much of a sale going to happen. "Anything in particular you're all looking for?" Her voice wasn't at all welcoming or friendly and Hermione immediately picked up on it.
"Yes, we have reservations tonight for dinner, and after looking through are bags, we'd decided that we had nothing suitable for the occasion."
"And what is the occasion, if I might ask?"
"Nothing special, we're on a school trip and it's my birthday so my friends are taking me out," she lied almost easily. The other's caught on.
"Oh how special. Well let me take you to look at these." She led them past the major designer dresses to a few less known ones.
"I was kind of hoping to try on this one?" Hermione pointed out holding up a long black dress labeled 'Gucci'.
"Oh, that dress is very expensive, one of a kind really."
"Oh," Hermione put the dress back, the sale's woman had just proved her point. "Come on guys, I'm not really seeing anything else in here. Thank you for your help mame." They walked out of the store casually.
"What was all that about?" asked Draco.
"The nerve of that woman. She didn't trust us just because we're teenagers. Didn't you notice how she led us pass the designer dresses like we weren't good enough for them? Hannah new plan. We find the most beautiful designer dresses, then march back into the store with the purchases claiming to look for jewelry. We'll do something like ask how much money we have left and rub the money in her face."
"Hermione, I don't think I've ever seen this side of you. I've always thought you could have been in Ravenclaw if not Gryffindor, but now I'm wondering if you shouldn't be in Slytherin."
"From you Draco, I'll take that as a compliment. But for now, we have outfits to find and that includes the two of you," she said while pointing to the boys.
"What could be more fun than shopping?"
Simultaneously the boys said, "Almost anything," before they were pulled down the street.
Hermione and Hannah walked out of the dressing room to get the approval of their dates, although they already had decided that these would be the ones. Hannah cleared her throat to get the attention of the men who already had their purchases wrapped up. Their jaws would have fallen to the floor if not held up by skin.
"Wow," Draco managed; Terrance could only nod in agreement.
Hannah was in a stunning red sparkling dress. It had a halter top string and the back went low with zigzagging material all the way down. It wasn't quite floor length and the angular line would be perfect for dancing or strolling through a park.
Hermione dress was made with several combined layers of sheer light purple fabric. One string hook around each shoulder and back to the front to hold the dress up since the fabric was loose around her breast. The back dipped to just an inch above her butt, while the different layers formed the skirt just below her knees.
They both had on shoes that match they colors perfectly.
"Is it too much? I mean just for an evening out?" Hermione asked self consciously. Draco walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"No, it's absolutely geogeous, but I don't think it's the dress. It just might be you." Hermione blushed before a sales clerk interrupted their moment.
"I assume you'll be taking these."
"Yes, thank you. We'll wear them out." They casher returned to the register to ring up the cost. "Draco and Terry, why don't you get dressed too? We have some people to set straight."
"Okay, Hannah saw something in here earlier, a necklace, that she thought would go perfect with her dress, so that's why we're back." Hermione looked through the window and was glad to see the same sales woman was still there. Draco held the door open for them all as they made their way back to the boutique.
They sales woman recognized them, but only because of Draco's platinum hair. "Oh, yes. Can I help you?"
"No, that's okay. We were in here earlier, and my friend saw a necklace that she thought would go with her dress."
Realization dawned on the middle aged clerk: the no-sale teenagers. She thought they had proved her point about being broke and just browsing. But now that they were back with the girls in the what she thought were Valentino dresses and the Pravda bag, with the boys dressed handsomely in there dress shirts and sports coats with ties to match the girls dress, she knew she had missed out on a big sale.
"Nevermind Hermione, I don't like it as much as I thought I did. It doesn't really match the dress."
"Perhaps I can help you find something else?"
They four looked at each other before Hannah shook her head. "That won't be necessary."
Draco linked his arm around Hermione waist drawing attention to his Rolex, "Come on we don't want to be late for dinner."
"Well, good-bye again."
They walked out to the street and had to force themselves to contain their laughter till they were out of the sight of the store windows.
"Hannah you were perfect absolutely perfect."
"Why thank you. You were a show in yourself."
Draco's stomach grumbled, "So about dinner where should we eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So much for this being a short chapter it's probably the longest I've ever written. My three pages of the trip turn out to be like eleven, so I decided to cut it off here and once again insert another chapter I hadn't planned on.
I know my chapters are few and far between, but that's only because I'm lacking ideas. I don't want to say that I'm becoming bored with it, I'm not. I'm just strained for ideas on this part anyway. I have written numerous other chapters for the sequel and the triquel (is that even a word?). They aren't in any particular order; they're just thoughts that have come to my head so I've written them down in chapter form.
Falling Head Over Heels The Story of Hermione Granger and her relationship with Draco Malfoy By: Befuzzled
Chapter Twenty -Six ~ Let Loose in Europe
"On my own, pretending he's beside me, All alone I walk with him 'til morning. Without him I feel his arms around me And when I lose my way I close my eyes and he has found me In the rain, the pavement shines like silver All the lights are misty in the river In the darkness the trees are full of starlight And all I see is him and me forever and forever." ~ Les Miserables
"Could we please have your attention?" Hermione yelled over the talkative voice of the exciting sixth and seventh years. "We just have to remind you of a few of the little thing you need to remember."
"You have to stay with you group the entire time, no exceptions," Draco started starring at the Slytherins who had started grouping together. He sent a smirk in Hermione's direction. She hadn't thought to use the volume charms. She sent a light glare to him. "Half of you are going to Rome and the other's will be in Paris. The Prefects will be traveling back and forth between both places to make sure you are working. There is too be no magic, at all. If you have any problems wait and find us for help, we will determine the severity of the case and take action."
"Each group will be provided with muggle notebooks and pens. You are not required but it may prove helpful to take notes or copy down insightful information about the sites you visit," Terry hinted. "It's best if the group shares the responsibility behind that."
This was to be Hannah favorite part. "As you leave we will transform your robes into muggle clothes before you use the port key. You will have some say in want you want to wear, but it will be our decision on what to allow and not to allow. Understood?"
"Now line up in groups for the time your portkey is leaving. Draco and I will take those heading off to Rome and the Paris departees should see Terry and Hannah before you go."
The group of four prefects split off into two different directions, at two different doors leading into the Great Hall. "So how do you want to divide the groups?"
"Can you manage to fit all the guys? And I'll make sure none of the girls try to escape as sluts?"
"That works, Mina, but can I have the please of dressing Parkinson?"
Hermione gave him a quizzical look and just nodded before calling out for her first group. "Can we have the 9:45 groups please?"
Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Vincent Crabbe, Justin Flinch-Fletchy, and a large group of Ravenclaws ambled over. Draco started the well practiced and rehearsed speech.
"You will be spending a beautiful day in Rome. There is much historical value to this trip and I encourage you to absorb it. Most of you day will be spent around the tour sites involved with the Ancient Romans, but there will be a brief amount of time to do your own exploring.
"Do any of you know how to handle muggle money? Flinch-Fletchy I believe you are muggle-born, correct? Yes, well then you will be placed in charge of sorting out your affairs to balance around you day. Also included in that wallet are some tickets you'll need to get into certain venues. There should be plenty for your meals." Draco almost phrased it as a question looking over to Crabbe.
"Keep your portkey because it will bring you back at you specified time, which is..um-"
"6:45 this evening." Draco shot her a look as if to say he was getting to that.
"Are there any questions?" Draco didn't wait for a response before moving on. "If all the Ravenclaws would go to Hermione could the boys come to me and we will sort out your attire for the day."
The group of giggling girls jauntily walked over to Hermione and her waiting wand. The left her all dressed nicely but all in an array of skirts. It appeared that they were trying to impress the group of guys collected from the other houses in their group. Hermione laughed as they walked away and shook her head at her boyfriends questioning glace. Hermione took control for the next speech.
"Oh the 9:53 group please." It went like that for the rest of the morning most of the time girls requesting dressy attire to impress the guys they were with, being hopeful they might run into the group with the guys they were interested in, or that day dream that they would meet the perfect Italian that would sweep them off their feet. Most of the time Hermione talked them out of dangerously high heels to prevent sore feet, well she did on all she didn't like, basically the Slytherins.
Pansy Parkinson was associated with the 10:46 group, after his rant of rules and money Draco separated the groups by houses sending Hermione the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, while he himself took control of the clothes worn by the Slytherins and Ravenclaws. Lucky, for Draco anyway, pansy was the only girl in his care at the time. He dressed the boys comfortably mostly in jeans and khakis and cool button down tees.
"So Pansy what were you thinking of wearing today? I know they're muggle clothes but you'll have to deal with it for the day." He tried to sound apologetic about the unfortunate task of dressing as the muggles do but it didn't work really well and his voice came out sounding abrupt and harsh.
"Oh I was thinking a bright pink tank top thing, you know the things with the thin straps and a matching black skirt or something." He was grateful that she had added the 'or something' it would make his day brighter anyway. He gave her a long black skirt with a baggy elastic waste held in place with safety pins. She got her tank top to it was just under a long sleeved hideous sweeter.
Pansy looked down, and almost screamed, "Dracie what are you having me wear?"
"Oh, its totally in style." Pansy glance to Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil who had just finished being dressed in matching, short jean skirts and the same style peasant tops by Hermione.
"Why can't I wear something like what they're wearing?" Draco looked over and feigned a look of disgust on his face.
"What they are wearing is atrocious and I am surprised Granger is letting them get away with that. This is a much better style. You don't want the Italian boys to think you easy, do you? And why would you want to wear something like the Gryffindors anyway?" He gave her a look to say that was final. "I will not let any of the Slytherins in Help clothe go out like that, its ostentatious."
Pansy followed the other reluctantly and with a pouty expression on her face. Hermione contained herself from cracking up until the group with their portkey had vanished. "Draco that was horrible. You be the laughing stock of the year."
"Well if you had heard what she wanted to wear, but anyway it serves her right for always calling me 'Drackie" and "Dracie" and whatever slandering of my name she can think of. She is so aggravating."
"What did she want to wear?"
"Oh I wasn't really listening; I just heard pink and black skirt so that's what she got. It was probably something really tight and extremely short. I was saving people's eyes, everyone should be praising me."
Hermione rolled her eyes and they sarcastically bowed to him in a gracious manner. "I thank thy for my eyes and for thy stomach."
Draco shook his head, "if you can't be serious about it, don't bother." He pulled her up from the descended position. "How many groups do we have left?"
"Just one."
"Okay let's get this over with. Is it your turn or mine?"
"Mine, but go ahead." She batted her lashes at him, in a Pansy imitation, "You are so much better at it than me, Darcie."
"Hermione," he growled, "If there weren't other people here I would punish you severly."
"Well there are Drackie, so deal." She waved her hand to get the attention of the last group. "10:57." Draco went through the speech as fast as he could and hurried the process of them picking out their clothes. He sent them across the field to want for their portkey to transport them. Then they walked over to Terry and Hannah who were sending off their last group as well.
"Next time, if we ever do this again, I say we set up a store n hogsmeade for a day and let them get their own clothes." Hannah said exasperatedly as she leaned on the door frame. "That took way to long and I never want to say that spell again."
Terry started on her, "Well you have to, you can't go around the muggle world looking like that, now can you?"
"No dear friend I can't, but all of you can do the spell for me."
'Dito, for me too," Hermione said sitting down just beside Hannah.
"Okay Hannah what do you want to wear?"
"You know? I really don't care just don't make me to hideous or dress me in high shoes. For one I'll fall and if I don't fall I'll have sore feet, and that would just be bad."
"Okay," Draco nodded. "I get the idea." Hannah ended up dressed in a dark blue Denham pair of Capri's and white v-neck collar shirt with a red tank top underneath. She wore comfortable Puma tennis shoes.
"Draco I really must say you are getting good at this."
"Oh my gods, a compliment from Hermione, catch me Terry I might pass out from shock."
"Oh shut up." Hermione chucked her shoe at him which he skillfully caught. "Me next!" Draco got an evil green plastered on his face.
"Well-la. You wanted to talk like Pansy now you get to look like her." Hermione looked down to see that she was wearing Parkinson's outfit in blue and white. She got up and tackled Draco to the ground.
"If you don't give me some nicer clothes then I'll break up with you!" That was a slip. They hadn't told anyone they were actually going out. Terry and Hannah stood there with shocked faces. "Oops, did I say that out loud?"
Draco nodded, "I suppose they should know anyway. I mean we practically spend every spare moment with them. Terry and Hannah, Mina and I are kind of, well no, we are going out. Wow that was easier to say then I thought it would be."
"Oh my gods, since when? Where? How?" interrogated the Hufflepuff looking entirely too excited.
"Valentine's Day, well if you wanted to be technical the day after Valentine's day," said Hermione, looking over at Draco.
"For the Where and the How," started Draco you have to promise to keep your mouth shut, they nodded encouraging him to go on. "In Venice and I asked her while we were having dessert. Don't ask, I had permission for both our Heads of House and Dumbledore."
"That's such good news," Hannah gushed. "We've been waiting for you two to go out since the Concordia. You looked, look, so perfect together."
"Yeah well, we still trying to work out how to tell our houses so would you two mind not telling a soul. In fact please don't mention it out side of our common room."
"Of course we don't want to interfere with anything," said terry shutting Hannah up.
Hermione turned on Draco, "Don't think I have forgotten about these clothes. You have some corrections to make." She pointed her wand at him and dressed him in a traditional golfer's outfit from the early 1950s, including the high sock, vest, and shoes. "Or you could go like that and call it fair."
He looked at himself. "You know I think I said that spell wrong let me try it again." This time Hermione came out wearing a long jean skirt with a thigh high slit up the front and a purple paisley three-quarter-length shirt. She had Birkenstocks on her feet. "There I think I got all the kinks worked out."
Hermione looked down approvingly. "Better, much better. Now for you, do you want to stay with the same thing you wore a few days ago, except for maybe the color?" Draco nodded, and he was soon clad in a lighter pair of khakis and a light blue button down that matched some of the highlight colors in Hermione's shirt.
"Oh look they match," Terry teased and soon he was wearing jean with a button down red shirt to copy the colors of Hannah's shirt. "Oh look, we do to. What time do we leave?'
"We still have about 10 minutes, but we're the first ones back to make sure everyone gets back okay," said Hermione trying to stifle a groan herself. "But, I asked the Headmaster and he agreed to let us go back tonight for some free exploring." All the other's eyes perched at the news. "Shall we go then?"
They all nodded and grabbed on to the small purse that was to be used as their portkey. The familiar tug in the pit of their stomachs was soon felt and after a dizzying few moments they appeared by a small dumpster on the back side of a restaurant. A big metal door swung open revealing a young looking bus boy adding more trash to the mounting pile. They had to react quickly it probably wasn't everyday that you find a bunch of teenagers milling around a large dumpster.
Hermione pushed on Draco's shoulder, "I told you there was nothing back here. All I wanted to do was look at the sites and you go get us lost in some ally." Draco hadn't seen the man and looked questioningly at the three others who inconspicuously lead him in the direction of the door with their eyes. "I'm sorry. Excuse me sir, could you tell us how to get back to the main roads."
The man still looked confused. Hermione spoke up, "Draco you know Italian right? Well when in Rome do as the Romans. I don't think he understands English." Draco nodded in compliance and turned back to converse with the man getting direction to the road and some museums.
Hermione looked at her watch again. "We're down to five hours to make sure nobody gets in trouble. Let's look around here for a while and then we'll go to Paris after like an hour or so, to make sure the others are fine as well."
Draco did a dramatic solute, "Yes ma'me." Hermione shook her head and began pulling him out of the ally under the stifled laughter from Hannah and Terry.
"Okay," said Hannah after looking at her watch, "we should head back now. The first group should be arriving soon. And Draco don't even think about scowling at me; we're coming back you know. Who would have ever imagined that Draco Malfoy would have to be dragged out of a muggle city?"
"Shut it Abbott."
Hermione turned to Terry, "And to think they were playing so nicely together today." Draco and Hannah made a move to lunge at the Gryffindor; Hermione held up her purse in defense. "Nope, stop. Put a hand on the bag not the person holding it, you both should know how portkeys work by this point in your life." She smirked and once again held out the bag and they all soon felt the familiar pull at the base of their spine; lurching their abdomens forward.
Slowly, and orderly the other groups got back without hassle and thankfully all in one piece, for the most part. Neville had fallen at some point and had a bruised knee that still trickled blood. His other group members had convinced him that it was hardly anything at all, but still upon his return Hermione usher him off to see Madam Pomfrey.
They went to the Great Hall to make the announcement to the teaching staff that all had returned with only one student being sent to the hospital wing with one very minor, clumsy injury. They all turned to face the student body mainly to address the sixth years.
"First off, we'd like to thank you all for you participation today. I know being thrown in to the jumbled groups like you were was rather hectic and I know that not all off you get along; but you handled the task marvelously," Hermione beamed at the sixth years.
"The trip was just an experiment, but thanks to all off you it might become a tradition and something for all students to look forward to for their sixth year." Hannah looked back and forth between the professors and students, both parties catching on the implied statement of what she wanting.
"Next year though, if I would make a suggestion," Draco started, "we might just set up a shop for you all to pick out your own clothes. After about the tenth person the job got tedious and down right boring." His statement brought mild laughter from all the students.
"Again thank you and we will down be working to put our head together to find something for the whole school to do. I know the first, second, and third years are feeling rather left out, but we're trying to think of something. Any suggestions are welcomed. We'll try to make ourselves available, to the extent of our ability. We'd appreciate the input." Hermione whispered something in his ear. "Oh, I've just been informed that you can keep your clothes, or if you want the reverse spell it will be posted in the main hall."
With the final statement, they stepped from the front of the student body and directly out the front doors, to begin their night of exploration. Hannah stopped them before they left. "You guys, we're going to be going to see Paris and Rome by night, and do we really want to look like common tourists? Come on, and let's dress for the occasion."
Draco and Terry just shrugged at each other, but Hermione fully agreed. "Yeah we looked like we just stepped off a plane or something."
"Whatever you say ladies."
Hannah turned to Hermione, "Now the question is - do we go shopping there? Or conjure up are own little magic?"
"Hate to break it to you Hannah, but Dumbledore only gave us enough for meals," Draco reasoned.
"True, you have a point Draco." Hermione pondered for a minute. "I'll be right back I have to run to the dorm to get something. Postpone the portkey." She didn't wait for a confirmation and just dashed off.
Arriving back a few minutes later, slightly out of breath, she pulled out a wallet. "I almost forgot. My parent give me an allowance, of muggle money. I have nothing to spend it on really since they buy all my clothes and stuff, so now we have enough money to go shopping. I'd say for all four of us to buy at least two outfits."
"Hermione you've got to be kidding. You of all people should know how jacked up those prices are. You couldn't possibly have enough money for that."
"I've been getting ten pounds a week since I was ten, and the award went up with the age. I haven't spent a cent of it ever. You do the math."
"No, don't bother, I trust Hermione more than a logical Ravenclaw, let's go all we're wasting precious time," Hannah pushed them together before Terry could defend himself. "All hands on purse."
They walked along the street again absorbing the delicate view of the cooling Paris street. Many people had gone back to their homes and hotels to prepare for the night life so they were left practically alone.
"How about we go in there? That dress looks adorable." Hannah couldn't resist the urge to shop and pulled her friends in with her. The sales woman eyed them suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" She took in their clothes and youngish appearance, and decided there wasn't much of a sale going to happen. "Anything in particular you're all looking for?" Her voice wasn't at all welcoming or friendly and Hermione immediately picked up on it.
"Yes, we have reservations tonight for dinner, and after looking through are bags, we'd decided that we had nothing suitable for the occasion."
"And what is the occasion, if I might ask?"
"Nothing special, we're on a school trip and it's my birthday so my friends are taking me out," she lied almost easily. The other's caught on.
"Oh how special. Well let me take you to look at these." She led them past the major designer dresses to a few less known ones.
"I was kind of hoping to try on this one?" Hermione pointed out holding up a long black dress labeled 'Gucci'.
"Oh, that dress is very expensive, one of a kind really."
"Oh," Hermione put the dress back, the sale's woman had just proved her point. "Come on guys, I'm not really seeing anything else in here. Thank you for your help mame." They walked out of the store casually.
"What was all that about?" asked Draco.
"The nerve of that woman. She didn't trust us just because we're teenagers. Didn't you notice how she led us pass the designer dresses like we weren't good enough for them? Hannah new plan. We find the most beautiful designer dresses, then march back into the store with the purchases claiming to look for jewelry. We'll do something like ask how much money we have left and rub the money in her face."
"Hermione, I don't think I've ever seen this side of you. I've always thought you could have been in Ravenclaw if not Gryffindor, but now I'm wondering if you shouldn't be in Slytherin."
"From you Draco, I'll take that as a compliment. But for now, we have outfits to find and that includes the two of you," she said while pointing to the boys.
"What could be more fun than shopping?"
Simultaneously the boys said, "Almost anything," before they were pulled down the street.
Hermione and Hannah walked out of the dressing room to get the approval of their dates, although they already had decided that these would be the ones. Hannah cleared her throat to get the attention of the men who already had their purchases wrapped up. Their jaws would have fallen to the floor if not held up by skin.
"Wow," Draco managed; Terrance could only nod in agreement.
Hannah was in a stunning red sparkling dress. It had a halter top string and the back went low with zigzagging material all the way down. It wasn't quite floor length and the angular line would be perfect for dancing or strolling through a park.
Hermione dress was made with several combined layers of sheer light purple fabric. One string hook around each shoulder and back to the front to hold the dress up since the fabric was loose around her breast. The back dipped to just an inch above her butt, while the different layers formed the skirt just below her knees.
They both had on shoes that match they colors perfectly.
"Is it too much? I mean just for an evening out?" Hermione asked self consciously. Draco walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"No, it's absolutely geogeous, but I don't think it's the dress. It just might be you." Hermione blushed before a sales clerk interrupted their moment.
"I assume you'll be taking these."
"Yes, thank you. We'll wear them out." They casher returned to the register to ring up the cost. "Draco and Terry, why don't you get dressed too? We have some people to set straight."
"Okay, Hannah saw something in here earlier, a necklace, that she thought would go perfect with her dress, so that's why we're back." Hermione looked through the window and was glad to see the same sales woman was still there. Draco held the door open for them all as they made their way back to the boutique.
They sales woman recognized them, but only because of Draco's platinum hair. "Oh, yes. Can I help you?"
"No, that's okay. We were in here earlier, and my friend saw a necklace that she thought would go with her dress."
Realization dawned on the middle aged clerk: the no-sale teenagers. She thought they had proved her point about being broke and just browsing. But now that they were back with the girls in the what she thought were Valentino dresses and the Pravda bag, with the boys dressed handsomely in there dress shirts and sports coats with ties to match the girls dress, she knew she had missed out on a big sale.
"Nevermind Hermione, I don't like it as much as I thought I did. It doesn't really match the dress."
"Perhaps I can help you find something else?"
They four looked at each other before Hannah shook her head. "That won't be necessary."
Draco linked his arm around Hermione waist drawing attention to his Rolex, "Come on we don't want to be late for dinner."
"Well, good-bye again."
They walked out to the street and had to force themselves to contain their laughter till they were out of the sight of the store windows.
"Hannah you were perfect absolutely perfect."
"Why thank you. You were a show in yourself."
Draco's stomach grumbled, "So about dinner where should we eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So much for this being a short chapter it's probably the longest I've ever written. My three pages of the trip turn out to be like eleven, so I decided to cut it off here and once again insert another chapter I hadn't planned on.
I know my chapters are few and far between, but that's only because I'm lacking ideas. I don't want to say that I'm becoming bored with it, I'm not. I'm just strained for ideas on this part anyway. I have written numerous other chapters for the sequel and the triquel (is that even a word?). They aren't in any particular order; they're just thoughts that have come to my head so I've written them down in chapter form.
