Disclaimer: Do I really have to write this every time? Blaah. It's not like
anyone's going to be believe me anyway if I ever told them that all these
wonderful characters were of pure invention on my part. They'd all just
stare as if I was mad and say that they belonged to J.K Rowling.
Greenfreak – Thank you sooo much for reviewing and for your nice comments! You were my first ever reviewer and it will always be special to me! Hope you continue to enjoy my story!
Alaranth-88 – Thank you for your encouragement! I myself don't want to rush the plot either...do you have any ideas that could help me slow it down?
Anonymous – I appreciate your constructive criticism and for saying that it could be good...I don't like it when plots are rushed either, so I had a little idea that could help slow it down maybe. Don't know if it's working. Review again, and tell me whether you still think it's rushed.
Draco's Bloody Valentine – Thank you for being so interested in my story!! Hope everything continues the way you like it.
July gurl 17th – You better read to find out!
And to everyone else: PLEASE REVIEW! And Happy Reading xx
Chapter 2: Whipped Cream
I blinked ferociously and looked again. He still had his back towards me, but I was not imagining the colour of his hair.
"Malfoy?" I called.
The waiter did not turn. He didn't even flinch, or show any sign whatsoever that he had heard me call. He probably hadn't heard me, or maybe he wasn't even Malfoy. Who was I kidding after all? I would have been having the best of luck if I had completed my job after barely starting. Plus, with highlighting hair ever so popular now in the muggle world, there were going to be more people now with white blonde hair.
Calming my stricken nerves, I turned back to my café latte sitting innocently on the table in front of me and I took a sip.
Mmm...it tasted so good. Licking the foam off the top of my lips, I placed my drink carefully back down and turned back to the first page in the so- called book 'Surviving the Office Life'.
The Malfoy family are connected to a long line of ancestral purebloods...
I inhaled deeply and let it all out in a slow, peaceful manner. Did I really have to sit here reading a whole lot of stuff about how great Malfoy's pureblooded ancestors were? It wasn't as if I didn't know that already, with Malfoy having rattled on and on about his social status and how important it was that he was a PUREBLOOD.
Another sip...it was highly relaxing. Whoever made it was very good. They knew the accurate ratio of ingredients necessary to make a perfect café latte. Urgh. That just reminded me of Professor Snape and Potions. Even to this day I can't stand our greasy haired potions master, although he had acted as a spy for us too. And Malfoy had always been very good at Potions. Very, very good in fact. He had been very good at all the other subjects.
The sound of bells tinkled in my ears and I broke away from my thoughts. The noise had come from the door opening and closing and two very young girls – around eleven years old, came bustling into the café.
"Tom!" They squealed.
The blonde waiter turned allowing me to finally see his face, and the sight that greeted me was surprising indeed. He was wearing big, black sunglasses that veiled his eyes and from where I was sitting, I was not close enough to scrutinise his features with enough detail. However when he saw those girls, he did something, which made me lose all hope of ever finding a Malfoy in him. He smiled. He flashed a big, innocent, gorgeous smile and headed their way. No wonder he hadn't answered when I called 'Malfoy' out. His name was Tom, and everyone else probably thought I was mental for saying 'Malfoy' in the first place.
Slightly ticked off, I made my way back up to the counter and ordered an apple tart, hoping it would help refresh my gradually decreasing happiness.
I began again.
The Malfoy family are connected to a long line of ancestral purebloods...
And guess what? I stopped. I took a big long gulp of my beautiful drink this time and was just about to start again when the same male voice who had interrupted me from my reading the first time round, intervened again.
"Would you like cream with your apple tart?"
I looked up at him, my mouth full of the café latte that I had not yet swallowed. He bit his lip. Maybe he was trying not to laugh...I felt something warm rising up the back of my neck and I quickly gorged the drink down my throat.
"Er...yes please."
He smiled and went back to the counter. Gosh, that smile was really irritating me now. Why, oh why did it just have to be so heart-stopping? And I was supposed to be a hard-working witch trying to help solve a mystery, not goggling over some unknown muggle waiter!
I went back to my book.
Their estate, Malfoy Manor, had been handed down from generation to generation, granting thems a total approximated wealth of 50 million galleons for just the Manor alone.
I rolled my eyes. At least I had succeeded in reading the first two sentences. A very disappointing accomplishment for Hermione Granger, smartest witch of all time, but still, one couldn't concentrate on anything Malfoy when a tall waiter wearing a black shirt that did not hide his toned figure, was heading towards you with a plate of whipped cream and an apple tart.
He placed it carefully next to my drink.
"Thanks." I said curtly.
"So, 'Surviving the Office Life' huh? Is that a good read?"
"Yeah, it's not too bad actually." I lied, forcing a smile onto my face.
Tom smiled again and left. I wondered why he kept his sunglasses on – maybe he was really ugly without his sunglasses and needed to put them on to shade his piggy eyes. I stifled a giggle at the thought and then groaned immediately afterwards. I was turning into someone like Parvati.
Hurriedly, I finished consuming my apple tart and drink, stuffed the book back into my bag and made my ways towards the café's doors.
Ring. Ring. The bells rang loudly as I opened the door.
"Thank you! Hope you come again!"
I pretended not to hear the comment made by someone sounding suspiciously like Tom and breathed in the fresh summer's air that welcomed me outside. I knew it was stupid to feel so queasy over a person I hardly knew, but that blonde waiter sure had the charms. I shoved the thought aside, ashamed at myself for acting like a teenage girl having a silly crush on a movie star.
It was probably because it had been quite a while since I had seen a decent looking guy – Harry, of course, was a very good looking fellow, but I was hardly going to go all goo ga over that was I? He was my best friend and someone who had been part of my everyday life for over twelve years. I fought through the crowd once again until I reached that certain corner where I usually apparated or disapparated. It was the most unsuspecting spot.
Pop!
"Hi guys." I flung my bag over the back of my chair and flopped down onto it.
Harry looked up from his notes. "Find anything interesting out?"
"No." I answered truthfully. "Just some stuff about Malfoy being a rich pureblood and all that sort of stuff which he's already nailed into our brains."
Ron grinned. "Who would have thought that Malfoy's constant brag would come in useful?"
"But it isn't useful," I replied exasperated. "I don't need to learn all about his pureblood ancestors and how much money he's got in his bank account in order to figure out where he's gone. I need to learn new things about him, things that he's interested in, what he's always wanted to do..."
I took my book out of my bag and returned it to its original size while I put it back in place with the rest of the files.
"You know what he's interested in though. Quidditch, himself, potions, himself, calling names, himself, being a git, himself – to put it all into one word, he's interested in himself." Ron announced proudly, as if this solved the matter.
Harry rolled his eyes and went back to his notes.
"I need to learn personal things about him, things we've never known before."
"Maybe you could try contacting some of his old friends." Harry suggested.
I snorted. "Yeah, who are all death eaters and probably sitting around trying to figure a plan to take over the world with Lucius Malfoy. Great help that would be."
A lightbulb suddenly flashed inside my head. This was more like the Hermione Granger I knew. "Is Lucius still living in Malfoy Manor?"
Harry looked at me incredulously. "Did you actually ask that question just now? If he was, why would the Ministry be having so much trouble trying to catch him?"
I nodded, completely nonplussed at the fact that I had asked an idiotic question. "That's what I thought. Well, what about Narcissa? Do you know where she is?"
"Yeah, I remember reading in the Daily Prophet that Narcissa's still living in the Manor." Harry responded.
I never believed that I would ever feel so happy about the fact that Malfoy's mum was still living in their house. But I truly, honestly did at that moment in time. "Thanks a lot Harry. Now all I need to do is figure out where Malfoy's Manor is located."
With this thought in mind, and feeling my own eyes glittering excitedly, I ran out of my office and into the corridors of the Ministry of Magic.
I could sense Ron and Harry looking dumbstruck at me from their desks. They were probably wondering where on earth I had gone and what crazy idea I was planning to carry out. They hadn't ever fully understood me even at Hogwarts, when I suddenly ran into the library. Those two had a lot to learn.
Author's notes: Sorry, that was probably a bit boring. I was going to put some more in, and then decided to wait until the next chapter, coz it seemed like quite a good place to finish. Anyways, please REVIEW and I hope that you all continue to like my story!
Greenfreak – Thank you sooo much for reviewing and for your nice comments! You were my first ever reviewer and it will always be special to me! Hope you continue to enjoy my story!
Alaranth-88 – Thank you for your encouragement! I myself don't want to rush the plot either...do you have any ideas that could help me slow it down?
Anonymous – I appreciate your constructive criticism and for saying that it could be good...I don't like it when plots are rushed either, so I had a little idea that could help slow it down maybe. Don't know if it's working. Review again, and tell me whether you still think it's rushed.
Draco's Bloody Valentine – Thank you for being so interested in my story!! Hope everything continues the way you like it.
July gurl 17th – You better read to find out!
And to everyone else: PLEASE REVIEW! And Happy Reading xx
Chapter 2: Whipped Cream
I blinked ferociously and looked again. He still had his back towards me, but I was not imagining the colour of his hair.
"Malfoy?" I called.
The waiter did not turn. He didn't even flinch, or show any sign whatsoever that he had heard me call. He probably hadn't heard me, or maybe he wasn't even Malfoy. Who was I kidding after all? I would have been having the best of luck if I had completed my job after barely starting. Plus, with highlighting hair ever so popular now in the muggle world, there were going to be more people now with white blonde hair.
Calming my stricken nerves, I turned back to my café latte sitting innocently on the table in front of me and I took a sip.
Mmm...it tasted so good. Licking the foam off the top of my lips, I placed my drink carefully back down and turned back to the first page in the so- called book 'Surviving the Office Life'.
The Malfoy family are connected to a long line of ancestral purebloods...
I inhaled deeply and let it all out in a slow, peaceful manner. Did I really have to sit here reading a whole lot of stuff about how great Malfoy's pureblooded ancestors were? It wasn't as if I didn't know that already, with Malfoy having rattled on and on about his social status and how important it was that he was a PUREBLOOD.
Another sip...it was highly relaxing. Whoever made it was very good. They knew the accurate ratio of ingredients necessary to make a perfect café latte. Urgh. That just reminded me of Professor Snape and Potions. Even to this day I can't stand our greasy haired potions master, although he had acted as a spy for us too. And Malfoy had always been very good at Potions. Very, very good in fact. He had been very good at all the other subjects.
The sound of bells tinkled in my ears and I broke away from my thoughts. The noise had come from the door opening and closing and two very young girls – around eleven years old, came bustling into the café.
"Tom!" They squealed.
The blonde waiter turned allowing me to finally see his face, and the sight that greeted me was surprising indeed. He was wearing big, black sunglasses that veiled his eyes and from where I was sitting, I was not close enough to scrutinise his features with enough detail. However when he saw those girls, he did something, which made me lose all hope of ever finding a Malfoy in him. He smiled. He flashed a big, innocent, gorgeous smile and headed their way. No wonder he hadn't answered when I called 'Malfoy' out. His name was Tom, and everyone else probably thought I was mental for saying 'Malfoy' in the first place.
Slightly ticked off, I made my way back up to the counter and ordered an apple tart, hoping it would help refresh my gradually decreasing happiness.
I began again.
The Malfoy family are connected to a long line of ancestral purebloods...
And guess what? I stopped. I took a big long gulp of my beautiful drink this time and was just about to start again when the same male voice who had interrupted me from my reading the first time round, intervened again.
"Would you like cream with your apple tart?"
I looked up at him, my mouth full of the café latte that I had not yet swallowed. He bit his lip. Maybe he was trying not to laugh...I felt something warm rising up the back of my neck and I quickly gorged the drink down my throat.
"Er...yes please."
He smiled and went back to the counter. Gosh, that smile was really irritating me now. Why, oh why did it just have to be so heart-stopping? And I was supposed to be a hard-working witch trying to help solve a mystery, not goggling over some unknown muggle waiter!
I went back to my book.
Their estate, Malfoy Manor, had been handed down from generation to generation, granting thems a total approximated wealth of 50 million galleons for just the Manor alone.
I rolled my eyes. At least I had succeeded in reading the first two sentences. A very disappointing accomplishment for Hermione Granger, smartest witch of all time, but still, one couldn't concentrate on anything Malfoy when a tall waiter wearing a black shirt that did not hide his toned figure, was heading towards you with a plate of whipped cream and an apple tart.
He placed it carefully next to my drink.
"Thanks." I said curtly.
"So, 'Surviving the Office Life' huh? Is that a good read?"
"Yeah, it's not too bad actually." I lied, forcing a smile onto my face.
Tom smiled again and left. I wondered why he kept his sunglasses on – maybe he was really ugly without his sunglasses and needed to put them on to shade his piggy eyes. I stifled a giggle at the thought and then groaned immediately afterwards. I was turning into someone like Parvati.
Hurriedly, I finished consuming my apple tart and drink, stuffed the book back into my bag and made my ways towards the café's doors.
Ring. Ring. The bells rang loudly as I opened the door.
"Thank you! Hope you come again!"
I pretended not to hear the comment made by someone sounding suspiciously like Tom and breathed in the fresh summer's air that welcomed me outside. I knew it was stupid to feel so queasy over a person I hardly knew, but that blonde waiter sure had the charms. I shoved the thought aside, ashamed at myself for acting like a teenage girl having a silly crush on a movie star.
It was probably because it had been quite a while since I had seen a decent looking guy – Harry, of course, was a very good looking fellow, but I was hardly going to go all goo ga over that was I? He was my best friend and someone who had been part of my everyday life for over twelve years. I fought through the crowd once again until I reached that certain corner where I usually apparated or disapparated. It was the most unsuspecting spot.
Pop!
"Hi guys." I flung my bag over the back of my chair and flopped down onto it.
Harry looked up from his notes. "Find anything interesting out?"
"No." I answered truthfully. "Just some stuff about Malfoy being a rich pureblood and all that sort of stuff which he's already nailed into our brains."
Ron grinned. "Who would have thought that Malfoy's constant brag would come in useful?"
"But it isn't useful," I replied exasperated. "I don't need to learn all about his pureblood ancestors and how much money he's got in his bank account in order to figure out where he's gone. I need to learn new things about him, things that he's interested in, what he's always wanted to do..."
I took my book out of my bag and returned it to its original size while I put it back in place with the rest of the files.
"You know what he's interested in though. Quidditch, himself, potions, himself, calling names, himself, being a git, himself – to put it all into one word, he's interested in himself." Ron announced proudly, as if this solved the matter.
Harry rolled his eyes and went back to his notes.
"I need to learn personal things about him, things we've never known before."
"Maybe you could try contacting some of his old friends." Harry suggested.
I snorted. "Yeah, who are all death eaters and probably sitting around trying to figure a plan to take over the world with Lucius Malfoy. Great help that would be."
A lightbulb suddenly flashed inside my head. This was more like the Hermione Granger I knew. "Is Lucius still living in Malfoy Manor?"
Harry looked at me incredulously. "Did you actually ask that question just now? If he was, why would the Ministry be having so much trouble trying to catch him?"
I nodded, completely nonplussed at the fact that I had asked an idiotic question. "That's what I thought. Well, what about Narcissa? Do you know where she is?"
"Yeah, I remember reading in the Daily Prophet that Narcissa's still living in the Manor." Harry responded.
I never believed that I would ever feel so happy about the fact that Malfoy's mum was still living in their house. But I truly, honestly did at that moment in time. "Thanks a lot Harry. Now all I need to do is figure out where Malfoy's Manor is located."
With this thought in mind, and feeling my own eyes glittering excitedly, I ran out of my office and into the corridors of the Ministry of Magic.
I could sense Ron and Harry looking dumbstruck at me from their desks. They were probably wondering where on earth I had gone and what crazy idea I was planning to carry out. They hadn't ever fully understood me even at Hogwarts, when I suddenly ran into the library. Those two had a lot to learn.
Author's notes: Sorry, that was probably a bit boring. I was going to put some more in, and then decided to wait until the next chapter, coz it seemed like quite a good place to finish. Anyways, please REVIEW and I hope that you all continue to like my story!