Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. College is back in session and my professors actually expect me to work for my grades. Weird huh? Anyway, I also couldn't get these characters to do what I wanted them to do on the field trip to London. This led to writer's block.
Is she referring to us you guys?
I think so Draco, After all it was all your and Ron's fault that we spent so much time there.
Hush Mione!
See what I mean? Anyway, Here is chapter 15. Hope you all like it!
Disclaimer: I own not a single thing that you recognize, and suing me will get you a whole lot of nothing. Keep in mind I know very little about London so I made a few things up. Sorry if I offend anyone! 'lays out cookies and soda to all my lovely reviewers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The girls managed to keep the guys guessing all night as to where they had been, not even Harry and Draco at their most charming or Ron at his most persistent could get it out of them.
"Well, I have to get to bed. Big day tomorrow!" said Hermione with a yawn and a wink at Ginny, "See you all tomorrow in Muggle London."
Ginny grinned at Hermione and yawned too, "I need my beauty rest. So gentlemen, get out of my room now please. Thank you!" As she shooed them all out of her room with a determined smile.
Hermione and Draco bid everyone else a goodnight and went into their common room where Hermione kissed Draco on the cheek and started up to her room. Then she stopped and turned around, "Draco? Where are you going to go for holidays? Since you were disowned."
Astonished silvery eyes looked up and met serious brown ones, "How did you know that Hermione, I only told…"
"Harry and Ron and they told me. They tell me almost everything. So where are you going to go?" Hermione said heading back down.
Draco shrugged and smiled wryly, "That is a wonderful question! Moreover, if I had the answer I would gladly share it. But I don't so I can't. Night Mione, go to sleep we have a big day tomorrow." And with that s\he shooed her up to bed.
Hermione left but a plan was forming in her mind and she ran to her desk to write a letter as soon as she went in the door.
'Dear Mrs. Weasley,
I have a favor I need to ask of you. Recently, after rejecting Voldemort Draco Malfoy was disowned and kicked out into the street by his family. As such, he was nowhere to go for any of the Holidays this year. I was hoping I could persuade you to ask him to the Burrow. We have gotten to know each other this year as prefects and if he knew anything of the Muggle world I would take him home with me. This is how much I trust him. He is even becoming friends with Ron and Harry. I hope you sat down for that last part. I do so hope you agree. I hate to think of him alone on the holidays.
Thankfully yours ~ Hermione Granger'
As soon as she was done with her letter, she slipped out and ran up to the owlery to mail her letter straight away to the Weasley's.
~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~
The next morning Hermione woke up alone for the first time in awhile, and was surprised to find she did not like it very much. She quickly picked out a cute but sensible outfit to wear into Muggle London. She settled on her new pair of embroidered jeans, with a flowing creamy peasant top and her ankle boots. She grabbed her purse, through her cell phone in it and grabbed her leather blazer coat as she darted down to breakfast. Since she was late, she ran all the way up to the front of the Great Hall and got everyone's attention to make her announcements about the day's trip.
"Morning everyone! Sorry I am late! I couldn't find my cell phone!" they were some giggle from other Muggle-borns as she said this, "All right here is what is going to happen today. You are all wearing appropriate Muggle clothing thanks to Cho and Justin for all their hard work" a smattering of applause went through the room, "you are already grouped into groups of four and you will be given a port key to one of hundreds of locations in Muggle London. Now, one of you will have a wallet of Muggle money and a cell phone. The sell phone is similar to a fire, but you can take it with you. Since every group has at least one Muggle-born in it, I recommend letting them teach you how to use it. You will have 8 hours to get back to Kings Cross Station. If you do not get there within the 8 hours, your side will lose points and we prefects will have to come and find you. Do not make us do this. We will get cranky." And with that, she turned the floor over to Justin who read off the names of the foursomes starting with the first years.
"And finally it will be Hermione, Draco, Ron and Blaise" he finished, since he had read the Prefect groups last. Hermione looked dup and grinned at Ron who flashed her a thumbs up.
Soon the groups were grabbing their respective port keys and zooming off to their Spot in Muggle London. Hermione let the boys argue over who got to grab the port key until she and Blaise looked at each other and sighed. Grabbed their partner and then they each grabbed at the Port key and they appeared by the Tower of London.
"Where are we Hermione?" asked Ron in a hushed voice as he looked up at it. She noticed Draco and Blaise were looking at in awe as well.
"This is the tower of London. It was used as a prison and as an interrogation center for a very long time. People were killed here, held here and questioned until they went mad here. All in the name of the King." Hermione said with a smile at the looks that passed over her companion's faces, "C'mon! You guys have to see inside of it!"
The group spent about two and a half hours just looking at things and getting kind of creeped out. Especially around the places where they read the plaques stating people had died, and many not of natural causes. Then out of nowhere Hermione's cell phone went off, it was her mother.
"Hi mum! No, we are at the Tower of London at the moment. Yes mum I know you want us to stop by so you can meet some people I go to school with. Yes, I was thinking of showing them the changing of the guard and that is over by you and daddy. Yes, I promise we will eat a full and nutricous lunch. Mum, I have to go. People are glaring at me and the reception in here is somewhat bad. Okay, I love you too!" and then she hung up, "Sorry about that!"
"How did your mother get this number Granger? I thought these were all school issued phones." Asked Blaise who had never seen a phone work before let alone a cell phone.
"Most are I just already had this one. So said we could just use mine. Plus I like my model better than the one's everyone else has. It has more things on it." Hermione explained with a blush, "Now on the London Eye!"
And with that she led them all down to the bus station and bought all them day long bus passes, "This is similar to the Knight Bus but much more crowded and slightly more smelly. Okay A LOT more smelly, but there is no way we will be able to get a cab in London on a Sunday."
Since none of her companions knew what a taxi was, they just nodded and smiled and followed her onto the bus, where they were all lucky enough tot find seats by each other. Draco, Ron and Blaise all looked less than impressed with the bus.
"So, we get to meet your parents eh Granger?" asked Blaise just to make conversation.
"Yep. I had dinner with them recently and they want to meet more people I go to school with. Aren't you all so lucky!" she grinned at all of them, "Oh and they are dentists. Which means they take care of people's teeth. So, beware if you have not been cleaning them lately! No one can stop them once they get started…. trust me on that one!"
Soon they were at the London Eye. It had been built to celebrate the Millennium and was a large structure with little observation 'cars' that take you up sop you can see all of London from the top. It was wildly popular and they had to wait in line forever. Butt soon they were in one of the 'cars' and riding up over the London skyline. Ron, Draco, and Blaise were speechless. This was amazing! And to think absolutely no magic had been used to build this. Soon they were heading back down and they were all chattering non-stop about it when a voice cut through.
"Hermione Anne Granger! Where on earth have you been?"
"In school! Isn't that where you should be Megs? And in another country?" Mione squealed as she hugged a lovely blonde girl.
"Well, technically yes. Bu t I was bored and thought I would floo here to see you!" she said with a sassy grin, "Never floo over an ocean. Fly over oceans. I know that now."
"Sorry I forgot all about my manners. Megs, these are Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zambini. They all go to Hogwarts with me. Guys, this is my favorite cousin in the whole wide world Meghan Granger-Hanover. She goes to the American Institute of Magic."
Pleasantries were exchanged and Meg noticed someone trying to get her attention, "Listen I really have to run! But look for me at Hogwarts in the next few days. I will see you soon!" And with that, she darted off again.
Hermione looked at her companions and grinned, they all looked rather dazed. But Meghan tended to have that affect on people. She ushered them to the next bus stop and let them collect their thoughts. "How about lunch? It is already 2 pm and we have four hours to get to the station."
They all eagerly agreed and she let them pick the restaurant out of a list of twenty. They picked a little café by the Windsor palace. Then Hermione's phone rang again.
"Hello? Headmaster, how are you? We are doing well. Yes, I think everyone is enjoying Muggle London. I am going to take them to meet my parents after we watch the changing of the guard and then I will let them use the map to find our way back on foot. Yes, I realize that I can't help them on that part. Yes, I did see my cousin. REALLY??? She is attending Hogwarts next year? That is news to me sir. Yes, see you soon. Good bye!" She sat there rather dazed and then smiled, "Well, that was different."
"You can't help us find our way back." Ron asked looking rather nervous.
"Nope, it is all on you guys! But I think I can hint. He never said I couldn't hint did he?" Mione said with a grin.
They all ordered soup and sandwiches and spent the next hour happily munching and chatting. Blaise challenged Ron to a chess game back at school and was invited to go shopping with Hermione. The girl really was opening up and was very sweet if you gave her a chance.
"OH! Look guys! It is the changing of the guard!" Hermione said Pointing at Windsor castle and at the elegant guards doing their simple yet interesting changing of the guard. In their scarlet uniforms and tall furry hats, they were a sight to see.
Soon they were off again to see the Grangers' office and meet them. They grinned, nodded, and were all very polite to the two parents. Much to surprise of Draco and Blaise, they found them to be good people. Not a thing like their parents had portrayed them to be. Soon they were off again. Only this time Hermione was silent and let the other three do all the work. Surprisingly, they did very well. They were the first group back with 30 minutes to kill. Soon other groups started pouring in and right at eh buzzer the last group showed up. All four prefects breathed a sigh of relief as Dumbledore announced everyone was there and they could go through the barrier to the platform they needed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On the ride home Hermione shared a compartment with Draco, Ron, and Harry. They were all talking Quidditch and soon she was fast asleep on Draco's shoulder. Without even noticing what he was doing, Draco put his arm around her shoulders and cuddled her closer. He then placed a kiss on her head and went right back into arguing techniques with Ron. Harry saw all this and smiled a secret smile. Funny how the boy who was once their worst enemy fit right into their tight little group…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
AN: Hope it was worth the wait! I love all you guys!