A/N: There ya go, Chap 2!!! Knowing me, I'm a little bit late in
updating...Lol.
Elbereth141: My apologies if you get irritated about the "muscular body" thingy! I'll try not to say it again! ^_^
CHAPTER 2: LONG TIME NO SEE!
Hermione sat on the waiting area of the airport, impatiently tapping her foot against the cold marble floor. She glanced at her wrist watch. It says 9:15. Being the early bird that she is, she had been here waiting for the travel agent and the other lucky winner for almost 30 minutes. She sighed. Where are they? she thought.
"Excuse me, miss," said someone behind her.
Hermione turned around from her seat and gasped as she saw who it was. A very exhausted, panting Draco Malfoy stood before her, clad in Muggle clothes with his luggage. Then his face contorted into an expression of utter shock, suddenly realizing who he'd just talked to.
"YOU?!" they both exclaimed at the same time, making several people near them jump in surprise.
"Wha-what are you doing *here*?" Hermione inquired. The last person she expected to see in an airport, a Muggle airport, was the I-hate- mudbloods pureblood and Slytherin prince himself, Draco Malfoy.
"None of your business, mudblood," Draco drawled. He glanced at the seat beside Hermione as he pulled out a tissue. Then, he wiped the seat first before finally seating down, a look of pure disgust on his face. "Mudblood germs," he muttered.
Hermione looked shocked. "And why are you sitting *here*?" she cried. "I don't want to sit beside you!"
"Neither do I. But as you can see, there are no vacant seats left and I don't want to stand on some corner and get my feet tired. Maybe *you* should go away. Stupid, foul, mudblood," Draco sneered.
"Shut that dirty mouth of yours now Malfoy, before I make you do so. And how dare you tell me to go away! I came here first!" Hermione exclaimed. Both could feel the thick tension in the air as they glared at each other, wishing for the other to die.
Draco crossed his arms, not breaking the eye contact. Great, he thought. The least person in the planet that he wanted to know about his "adventure" in the Muggle world is the know-it-all Granger. He leaned forward and gripped her arm tightly.
"What on earth, Malfoy?!" Hermione shouted, trying to struggle but Draco was too strong.
"Look, Granger, if you tell anybody, and I mean anybody, even that filthy cat of yours, about this encounter..." Draco whispered threateningly in her ear, making Hermione shiver at his cold voice. "I'll kill you and make your life a living nightmare," he said, his cold grey eyes shining and blazing like fire.
"Like, you already made my life pure hell," Hermione retorted, glaring at him.
"I'll make it even more...interesting then," Draco said, tightening his grip on her.
"Ow! Fine! Fine! No need to get touchy!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco finally released her and she started rubbing her now sore arm.
A few minutes passed by in silence until Draco spoke. "Granger, being the mudblood you are, what is that big strange machine with four wheels and a steering thing on the left side with ropes on the seats that you tie on your waist while you ride?" he said. It was more of a command than a question.
Hermione looked at him, eyebrows knitted in confusion. She didn't know why the hell Malfoy was asking her a thing about Muggles. She would understand if it was Ron or any other pureblood except Slytherin who was asking, but certainly not Malfoy! I mean, it's *Malfoy*, she thought.
"Mudblood, are you going to answer my question or not?" Draco said, getting impatient.
Hermione stared at those grey eyes and saw nothing but curiosity and annoyance. "Fine, I'll tell you. It's called a car. It's a vehicle, like a modern carriage or train. Those ropes you were referring to are called seatbelts. They are for safety and would prevent you from accidents. The steering wheel is the round object you saw and it steers-"
"Alright, I know already! You don't have to describe each detail! I was only asking what that stupid thing is," Draco interrupted.
"Fine! But how on earth did you know about a car?" Hermione asked.
Draco smirked the Malfoy signature smirk. "Use your head, Granger! How do you think I'd come here? Walk? Aparrate as an underaged wizard? Or better yet, *fly*? And how could I not come here without passing the stupid London streets which are swarming with those stupid things you call *cars*?"
Hermione glared at him. "Fine! I only asked one question anyway!" she said. "I don't even know why I am talking to *you*."
Pause.
"Why are you here, mudblood?" Draco asked.
"Why do you think I'd tell you?" Hermione said coldly.
Just as Draco was about to launch into his own, top ten reasons of Hermione's presence, somebody approached them.
"You must be...Hermione Granger," a tall man in a business suit said.
Hermione nodded. "You must be the travel agent from that website," she guessed.
"Yes. My name's Roger. I'm awfully sorry I kept you waiting. Now I know you're already informed that you're the lucky winner, but I would like to repeat that you're going to New York first, via plane, obviously. You will be traveling in different places for a month, so you probably have 2-3 days for each place. Is that clear?"
Hermione nodded.
"NOOOOO!!!!" Draco exclaimed behind her. His eyes were so wide and it's like it's the end of the world for him.
"Oh, and you must be Mr. Draco Malfoy. Quite odd name, I tell you," Roger said, finally noticing Draco's presence.
"You know him?" Hermione asked.
"Why, of course. He's the other lucky winner. Don't you know?"
"WHAT?!" Hermione exclaimed, nearly falling off her chair. "Impossible!"
"Unless you haven't noticed, Granger," Draco drawled.
"Anyway, here are your tickets and a guide to the places you'll travel, the hotels you'll stay in etc," the travel agent said, handing them each tickets and a thin book.
"I-I'm sorry, but I quit! Find another person, I don't care, because there is no way in hell that I am going to travel with that arrogant prick!" Hermione said, standing up and giving the tickets back to Roger. Draco did the same.
"Me too! I'd rather jump in a cliff rather than accompany that mud- girl!" Draco said, almost saying the word "mudblood" but remembered the guy was a Muggle.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Roger said, returning the tickets back to them. "I'm sorry I hadn't informed you earlier, but there is no backing out of this trip."
"WHAAAAAT???!!!" both teens shouted. A lot of people stared at them.
"Sorry, gotta go. Enjoy your trip!" the travel agent said, waved goodbye and went off, leaving the two livid and fuming with anger.
"Oh, no. Oh God no!!!" Hermione cried. She wanted to strangle Draco-and the travel agent more than anything. She slumped on her seat and bit her lower lip.
Draco on the other hand, kept saying every single "colorful" world known in his vocabulary. He was so disgusted, he never even dared look at the mudblood.
After a few minutes of silence....
"Requesting all passenger seats going to New York, please board the plane immediately. 15 minutes before take off."
"Aaahhh!!!" Draco screamed, standing up and drawing a lot of attention.
"What now, ferret?" Hermione asked coldly, who was definitely not in the mood to talk to him.
Draco looked at her with fearful eyes. "That...s- sound...didn't you hear? It came...out-out of nowhere!" he said.
Hadn't it been for her anger, Hermione should've been laughing at him now. "Whatever. Nuts," she muttered as she stood up and dragged her suitcase and started to walk.
"Where-where are you going, Granger?" Draco yelled from behind.
Hermione sighed. "Didn't you hear? We have to board the plane," she told him and started walking again, Draco following her. They presented their tickets and soon, reached the luggage area. Draco followed Hermione's example to put his stuff on that strange thing that almost freaked him out.
Just as Hermione was walking, the personnel who was checking on the luggage, put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a funny look. "You are a relative of that boy, I suppose?" he said, pointing at Draco, who was standing curiously at the screen attached to the wall.
Hermione was about to say no but quickly caught herself just in time. "Why yes. Is there a problem?"
"I've scanned his trunk and found a, uh...a little broomstick inside," the guy said. "The thing is, it's *moving*.
Hermione felt like hitting Draco with that silly broomstick of his. She figured out that he must've shrinked his broom and cast a charm to make it move or something. She racked her brains for an excuse. "Oh, please don't mind him, my poor cousin had just been released from the local asylum. He likes to think he's a wizard. And don't worry about the broomstick, it's just a simple toy with batteries," she said, hoping by hope that the man would believe her.
To her relief, the man nodded. "Alright, we'll let his toy with him this time. But better keep an eye on him and make sure toys with batteries are turned off," he said before letting Hermione and Draco go.
"Malfoy, you almost got us into trouble! Why the heck did you bring your broomstick along with you?" she hissed, but made sure no one would hear.
"So? I can't live without it," Draco replied with that same arrogant voice.
"It's pointless because you'll never get to use it while you're here. But who cares? Oh, there's the plane at last," Hermione said as they reached the airplane.
Draco stopped in his tracks and stood gaping at the gigantic, white machine in front of him. He couldn't believe how stupid Muggles could build something like that.
"Get going, Malfoy or you'll be left behind. Now that's an encouraging thought," Hermione said. Draco glared and followed her. Then they were on the plane, Hermione sitting down on her assigned seat with an angry Draco standing on her left.
"But I want the seat by the window! And there's no way I'm going to sit with you," Draco complained, crossing his arms.
"What have I told you, Malfoy? You can't choose your seats!" Hermione said.
"Why not?" Draco whined.
"Because," she said. "They are assigned to us, it's in the tickets. Plus, that travel agent didn't reserve us seats we want so stop blaming me and just sit down!"
"But I can't sit beside you!" Draco insisted.
"Fine, stay standing while the plane takes off. You'll see, it'll be horrible," Hermione said and stared at the window, completely ignoring Draco and his wails.
Draco, being the stubborn git he is, continued glaring at Hermione and standing, even the power of the stewardess can't make him sit. He only gave up and sat down when the plane started to move and take off. He was terrified at the sounds and the sudden movement.
And so, the journey begins...
A/N: That's Chap 2! Reviews please! For those who're wondering where Harry and the others are, they'll show up after the trip to New York. Hermione hadn't even informed them about Malfoy and her!
Elbereth141: My apologies if you get irritated about the "muscular body" thingy! I'll try not to say it again! ^_^
CHAPTER 2: LONG TIME NO SEE!
Hermione sat on the waiting area of the airport, impatiently tapping her foot against the cold marble floor. She glanced at her wrist watch. It says 9:15. Being the early bird that she is, she had been here waiting for the travel agent and the other lucky winner for almost 30 minutes. She sighed. Where are they? she thought.
"Excuse me, miss," said someone behind her.
Hermione turned around from her seat and gasped as she saw who it was. A very exhausted, panting Draco Malfoy stood before her, clad in Muggle clothes with his luggage. Then his face contorted into an expression of utter shock, suddenly realizing who he'd just talked to.
"YOU?!" they both exclaimed at the same time, making several people near them jump in surprise.
"Wha-what are you doing *here*?" Hermione inquired. The last person she expected to see in an airport, a Muggle airport, was the I-hate- mudbloods pureblood and Slytherin prince himself, Draco Malfoy.
"None of your business, mudblood," Draco drawled. He glanced at the seat beside Hermione as he pulled out a tissue. Then, he wiped the seat first before finally seating down, a look of pure disgust on his face. "Mudblood germs," he muttered.
Hermione looked shocked. "And why are you sitting *here*?" she cried. "I don't want to sit beside you!"
"Neither do I. But as you can see, there are no vacant seats left and I don't want to stand on some corner and get my feet tired. Maybe *you* should go away. Stupid, foul, mudblood," Draco sneered.
"Shut that dirty mouth of yours now Malfoy, before I make you do so. And how dare you tell me to go away! I came here first!" Hermione exclaimed. Both could feel the thick tension in the air as they glared at each other, wishing for the other to die.
Draco crossed his arms, not breaking the eye contact. Great, he thought. The least person in the planet that he wanted to know about his "adventure" in the Muggle world is the know-it-all Granger. He leaned forward and gripped her arm tightly.
"What on earth, Malfoy?!" Hermione shouted, trying to struggle but Draco was too strong.
"Look, Granger, if you tell anybody, and I mean anybody, even that filthy cat of yours, about this encounter..." Draco whispered threateningly in her ear, making Hermione shiver at his cold voice. "I'll kill you and make your life a living nightmare," he said, his cold grey eyes shining and blazing like fire.
"Like, you already made my life pure hell," Hermione retorted, glaring at him.
"I'll make it even more...interesting then," Draco said, tightening his grip on her.
"Ow! Fine! Fine! No need to get touchy!" Hermione exclaimed. Draco finally released her and she started rubbing her now sore arm.
A few minutes passed by in silence until Draco spoke. "Granger, being the mudblood you are, what is that big strange machine with four wheels and a steering thing on the left side with ropes on the seats that you tie on your waist while you ride?" he said. It was more of a command than a question.
Hermione looked at him, eyebrows knitted in confusion. She didn't know why the hell Malfoy was asking her a thing about Muggles. She would understand if it was Ron or any other pureblood except Slytherin who was asking, but certainly not Malfoy! I mean, it's *Malfoy*, she thought.
"Mudblood, are you going to answer my question or not?" Draco said, getting impatient.
Hermione stared at those grey eyes and saw nothing but curiosity and annoyance. "Fine, I'll tell you. It's called a car. It's a vehicle, like a modern carriage or train. Those ropes you were referring to are called seatbelts. They are for safety and would prevent you from accidents. The steering wheel is the round object you saw and it steers-"
"Alright, I know already! You don't have to describe each detail! I was only asking what that stupid thing is," Draco interrupted.
"Fine! But how on earth did you know about a car?" Hermione asked.
Draco smirked the Malfoy signature smirk. "Use your head, Granger! How do you think I'd come here? Walk? Aparrate as an underaged wizard? Or better yet, *fly*? And how could I not come here without passing the stupid London streets which are swarming with those stupid things you call *cars*?"
Hermione glared at him. "Fine! I only asked one question anyway!" she said. "I don't even know why I am talking to *you*."
Pause.
"Why are you here, mudblood?" Draco asked.
"Why do you think I'd tell you?" Hermione said coldly.
Just as Draco was about to launch into his own, top ten reasons of Hermione's presence, somebody approached them.
"You must be...Hermione Granger," a tall man in a business suit said.
Hermione nodded. "You must be the travel agent from that website," she guessed.
"Yes. My name's Roger. I'm awfully sorry I kept you waiting. Now I know you're already informed that you're the lucky winner, but I would like to repeat that you're going to New York first, via plane, obviously. You will be traveling in different places for a month, so you probably have 2-3 days for each place. Is that clear?"
Hermione nodded.
"NOOOOO!!!!" Draco exclaimed behind her. His eyes were so wide and it's like it's the end of the world for him.
"Oh, and you must be Mr. Draco Malfoy. Quite odd name, I tell you," Roger said, finally noticing Draco's presence.
"You know him?" Hermione asked.
"Why, of course. He's the other lucky winner. Don't you know?"
"WHAT?!" Hermione exclaimed, nearly falling off her chair. "Impossible!"
"Unless you haven't noticed, Granger," Draco drawled.
"Anyway, here are your tickets and a guide to the places you'll travel, the hotels you'll stay in etc," the travel agent said, handing them each tickets and a thin book.
"I-I'm sorry, but I quit! Find another person, I don't care, because there is no way in hell that I am going to travel with that arrogant prick!" Hermione said, standing up and giving the tickets back to Roger. Draco did the same.
"Me too! I'd rather jump in a cliff rather than accompany that mud- girl!" Draco said, almost saying the word "mudblood" but remembered the guy was a Muggle.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Roger said, returning the tickets back to them. "I'm sorry I hadn't informed you earlier, but there is no backing out of this trip."
"WHAAAAAT???!!!" both teens shouted. A lot of people stared at them.
"Sorry, gotta go. Enjoy your trip!" the travel agent said, waved goodbye and went off, leaving the two livid and fuming with anger.
"Oh, no. Oh God no!!!" Hermione cried. She wanted to strangle Draco-and the travel agent more than anything. She slumped on her seat and bit her lower lip.
Draco on the other hand, kept saying every single "colorful" world known in his vocabulary. He was so disgusted, he never even dared look at the mudblood.
After a few minutes of silence....
"Requesting all passenger seats going to New York, please board the plane immediately. 15 minutes before take off."
"Aaahhh!!!" Draco screamed, standing up and drawing a lot of attention.
"What now, ferret?" Hermione asked coldly, who was definitely not in the mood to talk to him.
Draco looked at her with fearful eyes. "That...s- sound...didn't you hear? It came...out-out of nowhere!" he said.
Hadn't it been for her anger, Hermione should've been laughing at him now. "Whatever. Nuts," she muttered as she stood up and dragged her suitcase and started to walk.
"Where-where are you going, Granger?" Draco yelled from behind.
Hermione sighed. "Didn't you hear? We have to board the plane," she told him and started walking again, Draco following her. They presented their tickets and soon, reached the luggage area. Draco followed Hermione's example to put his stuff on that strange thing that almost freaked him out.
Just as Hermione was walking, the personnel who was checking on the luggage, put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a funny look. "You are a relative of that boy, I suppose?" he said, pointing at Draco, who was standing curiously at the screen attached to the wall.
Hermione was about to say no but quickly caught herself just in time. "Why yes. Is there a problem?"
"I've scanned his trunk and found a, uh...a little broomstick inside," the guy said. "The thing is, it's *moving*.
Hermione felt like hitting Draco with that silly broomstick of his. She figured out that he must've shrinked his broom and cast a charm to make it move or something. She racked her brains for an excuse. "Oh, please don't mind him, my poor cousin had just been released from the local asylum. He likes to think he's a wizard. And don't worry about the broomstick, it's just a simple toy with batteries," she said, hoping by hope that the man would believe her.
To her relief, the man nodded. "Alright, we'll let his toy with him this time. But better keep an eye on him and make sure toys with batteries are turned off," he said before letting Hermione and Draco go.
"Malfoy, you almost got us into trouble! Why the heck did you bring your broomstick along with you?" she hissed, but made sure no one would hear.
"So? I can't live without it," Draco replied with that same arrogant voice.
"It's pointless because you'll never get to use it while you're here. But who cares? Oh, there's the plane at last," Hermione said as they reached the airplane.
Draco stopped in his tracks and stood gaping at the gigantic, white machine in front of him. He couldn't believe how stupid Muggles could build something like that.
"Get going, Malfoy or you'll be left behind. Now that's an encouraging thought," Hermione said. Draco glared and followed her. Then they were on the plane, Hermione sitting down on her assigned seat with an angry Draco standing on her left.
"But I want the seat by the window! And there's no way I'm going to sit with you," Draco complained, crossing his arms.
"What have I told you, Malfoy? You can't choose your seats!" Hermione said.
"Why not?" Draco whined.
"Because," she said. "They are assigned to us, it's in the tickets. Plus, that travel agent didn't reserve us seats we want so stop blaming me and just sit down!"
"But I can't sit beside you!" Draco insisted.
"Fine, stay standing while the plane takes off. You'll see, it'll be horrible," Hermione said and stared at the window, completely ignoring Draco and his wails.
Draco, being the stubborn git he is, continued glaring at Hermione and standing, even the power of the stewardess can't make him sit. He only gave up and sat down when the plane started to move and take off. He was terrified at the sounds and the sudden movement.
And so, the journey begins...
A/N: That's Chap 2! Reviews please! For those who're wondering where Harry and the others are, they'll show up after the trip to New York. Hermione hadn't even informed them about Malfoy and her!