Chapter Two: Overdressed and Over challenged

Getting an early start was crucial in the Granger household. Every morning the Grangers and their brainy daughter Hermione, awoke at 7:00 A.M. to a bright day. Their home was warm and comforting and gave off a feeling of welcome. Each of the Grangers would help fix breakfast and then they would sit and eat a meal together, chatting merrily about random nonsense. That was before the incident.

~One morning five years ago~

"Hermione, dear, please pass the butter," asked the bushy brown-haired girls mother. Hermione did so, and her mother thanked her.

"Honey, did you have any good dreams?" Hermione's father asked her, drenching his pancakes in syrup.

Hermione hesitated. "Well, I had a dream… I don't want to talk about it."

Hermione's mother laughed. "Herm, I studied American history for 5 years. What would've happened if Martin Luther King had said that?"

"What do you mean? Said what?" Hermione asked, becoming confused.

"I kind of have a dream…but, I don't want to talk about it."

Both of the Granger parents laughed, and Hermione rolled her eyes with a grin.

Mrs. Granger swallowed a mouthful. "Hey, don't forget, we're going to Diagon Alley next week, so be ready when the day comes. Also, please brush your teeth after breakfast, dear. Remember we're going to that business meeting of your uncle's. He might be getting promoted!" she finished, crossing her fingers.

Hermione nodded. "Alright. Thanks for breakfast." She excused herself from the table and proceeded to her bedroom which was right above the staircase.

The walls were white as well as the carpet. The bedspread was a soft white down comforter. There were various scattered objects that were Gryffindor's colors- red and gold. Gryffindor was Hermione's house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Being 17, she was getting ready to attend her seventh and final year, and was almost finished exploring career options.

Hermione headed towards the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead, but paused at her bedroom doorway. On the wall was a tiny moving photo of her and her two best friends- Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. They had met each other in their first year. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as her eyes ran over Harry once more. For the last year and a half, she had been having foreign feelings about this friend of hers. She felt giddy when she thought about him, and speechless when she talked about him. She started to feel herself blush when she was around him, and she knew that something was different, not wrong, just different.

Exhaling, she continued on towards the bathroom, to change and brush her teeth. Hermione was a fairly good looking girl. She stood at just 5'4" and was slim. She had not changed much over the years and still had her bushy brown hair. She brushed at it vigorously, without success.

The business convention was held in a small building outside of Surrey. The men dressed appropriately- casual, yet more formal. The women dressed accordingly, so Hermione felt out of place when she discovered that a long blue flowing gown and heels wasn't necessarily what the directors of the convention had in mind. Hermione's parents were more formal than others, but weren't fancy like their overdressed daughter. Hermione grinned nervously as people passed by, glancing her way. A few younger girls giggled and pointed at Hermione from their seats across the room when the convention began. Purposely, Hermione excused herself to the restroom and began to wipe off her face powder and pull her hair down from it's restraints.

For some odd reason, she thought again of Ron and Harry. She wondered what they were up to. Hermione missed the two boys dearly and could not wait to see them at Diagon Alley. Hermione had previously sent letters to each asking them to meet her at Diagon Alley on a certain day. She later found that Harry was at Ron's home and that they could both meet her. Hermione remembered reading Harry's response excessively, memorizing it.

Dear Hermione,

I'm pleased to hear that you are doing well. I'm excited about seeing you at Diagon Alley. Ron's family heard from Charlie the other day- the one who works with dragons, remember? He's back in town and he'll be tagging along. I still can't believe that this will be our last year at Hogwarts. It's going to be weird not seeing you every day. We'll talk more later. Pig is trying to eat the letter.

Love,

Harry

Hermione was sure Harry meant more when he said 'It's going to be weird not seeing you everyday.' Maybe it was just wishful thinking. Or was it? Maybe she was just deprived of these kind of feelings so long that-

The door swung open and a tall blonde haired boy walked in. He walked casually over to the sink to wash his hands.

"Malfoy?!" Hermione said in disbelief. "What're you doing here?"

Draco looked up and scowled. "This is a unisex bathroom, mudblood." There was a silence. "Nice dress by the way," Draco observed. "A bit overdressed aren't we?"

Hermione grunted and picked up the bottoms of her dress so that she could storm out of the restroom. A second later, she walked back in and grabbed her bag that she had left on the sink. Consequently, Malfoy glared at her with his cold, unforgiving, deep gray eyes.

"Mudbloods…" he mumbled as she exited.