Hi :))
I really need your help - please read a/n at the end of the chapter! Thank you :)

Italic letters are Hermione's thoughts.

Dear cousin

~by Lidi~

~*~Chapter 2, where Hermione is about to faint ~*~




Luckily for both 'cousins', mother was first to react (who knows what Hermione would answer):

"Darling, you do remember him, don't you?"

What did Malfoy do to my mother?! And what does Malfoy do at my kitchen?!

Hermione was unable to gather all thoughts together, so she answered with first thing that poped up in her mind.

"I do remember Malfoy. But I don't remember him being my cousin!"

Hermione shot angry look at her so-called relative. Her mother gasped:

"Hermione, darling, it's so rude of you! How can you tell such impossible things!"

"Mom, it's exactly an *impossible* thing!"

"Don't be silly! It you haven't seen Draco for several years it doesn't mean you have to reject him now!"

Hermoine didn't say a word, because now she was in panic - either Malfoy put too strong memory spell on her mother or he just made her crazy.

Nah, it can't be that bad.

Though when her mother continued Hermione opted for craziness. Both mother's and hers.

"Darling! Probably he really hurt your feelings, when he choose Amanda over you. But you can't be jealous for so many years! Let it go and be-friend with Draco. Now!"

Last word was said with such emphasis, that it was, without doubt, an order.

It so crasy! 'You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it' - perfect definition of that ridiculous situation.

"Mom?!"

"Come on! Hug your cousin!"

With those words mother pushed Hermione a bit forward, to Malfoy, who was still sitting with an evil smile on his face.

God, help me now, please! I don't know it you exist, but if you do, help me. PLEASE!

Hermione tried to stand still, and even to step back, especially when Malfoy lazily razed from a chair and mockinly opened his arms for an emrace. To say that he didn't enjoy the every second of Hermione's torture was to ignore the most obvious fact since discovering the Earth is round.

Not to make this situation even more humiliating (you know, when you mother forcing you to hug your enemy, obviously still in the condition of crazyness, and you try to save last drops of sanity) Hermione finally gave up and bravely darted forward and slightly touched two spots on his back, pretending this to be a real hug.

And just when she was quickly recoiling, Hermione met Malfoy's eyes. She didn't notice if they looked differ in electric light or if they were unsufferably beautiful. Instead she soaked all the contempt and superiority from her foe's depths.

Next second the light bulb in the kitchen blinked for a several times and then room sank in the night's darkness - as well as the whole house.

"Oh my! Fuse went. I have to call your father to fix it. Children, I hope in the meantime you two will get to know each other better."

Hermione couldn't see a thing, but she felt that Malfoy was no longer by her. Fading echo of dim and gentle steps indicated her mother already left the kitchen. At least now Hermione would get an oppotunity to ask that damn 'cousin' everything she wanted to know. She tried to adjust her eyes to the empty blackness when she heard her mother shouting from the dining room:

"One more thing, while I'm away, you have to decide where Draco would sleep tonight. And be nice to each other".

Hermione was about to faint.

End of chapter 2.

A/n: I hope it's not fluffy. And I'll try to do my best not to turn it into fluffy fic. I thought a lot about Malfoy - why he behaves the way he does. And I decided that he's not suffering form bad treating (of Lucius), he's a lovely though rejected (by Harry) guy, he's not 'an alien' in that dull Slytherin's company. He's just such a git who likes to annoy people. It's in his nature.

Oh, and I'm really proud that I noticed Hermione never saw Malfoy in the electric light - only in candle's or day's (correct me if I'm wrong :) ).

Thank you all - each and every of you, who was sooooooo kind to review the first chapter!!! I love you all! Thank you!!!!!

I wonder - if I can answer to your lovely and great reviews by reviewing too? You know, in reviews page? Because it'd be very convenient! :)

Oh, and I need your help - please, tell me about houses in England - do they have 2 floors? How many rooms, which room and on which floor do they have? What about bathroom? And is it polite to come to your friend's house in a neighbourhood without invitation? As I'm not from England (obviously) I really need to know it for the fic! I'll be grateful for any information :)

And please, review this one, I want to know what you think about it. It's very-very important for me! I'm not sure if I turned this story into the right direction.

PS - I just dyed my hair and instead of chestnut it turned red!!!!! Now it's me who's about to faint! :)

PPS - Random thought: Orlando Bloom (Legolas) is soooooooo cute! :) I even made a wallpaper with Orlando and Elijah :) The resolution is 800|600, but if you wish I can send you one with resolution 1024|768 or 640|480 :)
http://severussnape.narod.ru/Orlando_wall8.jpg

PPPS :) - in case if you don't know - You've got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it line is from U2's song "You've got stuck in a moment". My favourite song of the moment (by U2) is 'In a Little While'.