Disclaimer : This story is based on characters and situations created and
owned by J.K. Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to
Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books and Warner Bros.
Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended.
Spoilers : all five books, to be safe
Time frame :Hermione is in her 7th year
Feedback : Yes, PLEASE! I LOVE getting feedback! ;-)
~*~*~*~ CHANCE ENCOUNTERS ON DIAGON ALLEY - PROLOGUE ~*~*~*~
It had been years since she had had to enter that place. Time after time she had invented more and more improbable excuses which would allow her to flee to safer places, escaping the sinister shadow of the place. She had seen sensible grown men enter it and come out with a stupid grin that made you question their mental sanity! However, today Hermione Granger knew that no excuse could postpone the confrontation any longer. Ron's birthday was nearing and it was the last opportunity to get a gift for him. So for the sake of friendship Hermione straightened her back in determination, clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering and mustered all of her Gryffindor courage. With trembling hands she reached for the wooden door and - entered the halls of doom!
The cheerful ringing of the doorbell announced Hermione's entrance into `Quality Quidditch Supplies´. `There,´ she thought satisfied, `You've done it. Now let's just get this over with and flee as fast as possible.´
Brushing a strand of bushy brown hair out of her face, Hermione looked around curiously. To her surprise the well-lit room gave off a warm and homey atmosphere as piles of books (on Quidditch, of course) lay next to some boxes of Quaffles, which leaned on shelves containing all kinds of fan merchandise you could imagine (and quite a lot that you couldn't!). Orange Chudley Cannon-cups stood next to yellow London Lions-pencils, blue Puddlemere United-flags (with Morgan O'Donnell, the team-captain, waving cheerfully on his broom) and purple Glasgow Giants-scarves. And there! - in the far corner of the shop, there it was! Ron Weasley's heart's desire: a book by the fanciful name of `Chudley Cannons - the Chronic!´
A smile of pure and unmarred relief spread over Hermione's face as she quickly made her way over to the shelf which held her key out of here. `Only one book left!,´ Hermione noted as she approached, `but one will more than suffice.´ Feeling more confident by the second, she reached for the prized possession as suddenly - the book disappeared to the other side of the shelf! Quickly, Hermione grabbed it and pulled with the force of a desperate woman. However, the book refused to come to her where it belonged! Instead, something pulled it back with equal force! Not about to be undone by a rogue book, Hermione pressed her lips together in determination and doubled her efforts. This book was hers!
And most suddenly, it was indeed. She had barely time to acknowledge the fact that her prey was safely in her hands, as gravity reared its ugly head and the startled young woman found herself falling back, landing in an undignified heap on her behind.
"Ouch!" she yelped more in surprise then in pain, still clutching the book to her chest protectively.
"Sorry," a voice answered almost instantly, "I didn't see -" The tall, broad form of a young man came out from behind the shelf. "Wait! I know you!" he cried, then frowned, obviously thinking hard. "You haven't been to one of my matches, have you?"
Hermione shook her head adamantly. Not even Viktor had been able to persuade her to watch his matches!
"No, apparently not!" he laughed as he held out a large calloused hand to help her up. "I'm convinced I know you, I just can't remember where."
"I'm Hermione Granger," the bushy-haired woman introduced herself and watched as recognition lit up the stranger's face.
"Of course!" he grinned, "You bewitched my Seeker's glasses to repel the rain in my last year! You were wearing your school robes, a Gryffindor- scarf and a dark-blue raincoat." He recalled matter-of-factly before his gaze turned darker. "You also handed in his Firebolt to Professor McGonagall. A Firebolt! And you just turned it in!"
The manic glint in his eyes as he recalled the - doubtlessly traumatic - events told Hermione everything that she needed to know. "Oliver Wood?" she asked carefully.
"Yes?"
"Oh my." The situation had just gotten more dangerous than Hermione had expected. Wood was a manic when it came to Quidditch! He was even crazier than Ron - and that was saying something! Plastering a huge fake smile on her face Hermione carefully planned her retreat. However, her plans had no time to grow past the turn around-and-RUN!-phase as Oliver, who had obviously decided to see past the Firebolt-incident (considering that Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup in the end), placed his warm hand on her shoulder and gave her a dazzling smile.
"I never thought you'd be the type of girl who gets interested in Quidditch. I was under the impression that you were only there to watch over Harry, but hey! I'm not complaining! It's always nice when people see the light," he winked at her and pointed to the orange Chudley Cannons-book, "Although you seem to cheer for the wrong team."
"Really? And what team should I cheer for in your opinion?"
"I hear Puddlemere United has a damn good reserve Keeper. Devilishly handsome, too." Oliver grinned, his eyes twinkling like Dumbledore's.
Having no idea what he was talking about Hermione nodded distractedly as they both made their way to the cashier's stand, where she finally purchased Ron's present, Oliver at her side.
"So," he inquired curiously, "What turned you into a Quidditch-fan?"
Hermione sighed. He looked positively enthusiastic about having discovered her `interest´ for Quidditch, reminding her eerily of a little boy who had just found his long lost teddy bear again. Not that Hermione ever wanted to be compared to a plush toy! A look into those lively hazel eyes of his convinced her that she could not just shatter this illusion. She would probably never see him again, anyway, Hermione tried to rationalize her behaviour as she felt herself beaming up at Oliver. "I've only just acquired the taste."
"Well, better late then never. We'll have to fix that Chudley Cannon- problem, though." Wood's whole face lit up as an idea occurred to him. "I have a bit of free time and if you like, I could invite you to a butterbeer - and turn you into a Puddlemere United-fan while we're at it!"
"You think you can convince me that easily?" A part of her was shocked to discover the flirtatious tone that had crept into her voice. Oliver, however, smiled, still amazed at all the facets he was discovering about this young woman. Back in school it had never occurred to him that bookworm-Granger could be so full of surprises! His curiosity had thoroughly awoken and he flashed his most charming smile at her.
"I love challenges," Oliver grinned as he led Hermione out of the shop and into the warm sunlight that illuminated Diagon Alley with its golden afternoon-rays.
~*~*~*~
Please leave a review if you feel like it :)
Spoilers : all five books, to be safe
Time frame :Hermione is in her 7th year
Feedback : Yes, PLEASE! I LOVE getting feedback! ;-)
~*~*~*~ CHANCE ENCOUNTERS ON DIAGON ALLEY - PROLOGUE ~*~*~*~
It had been years since she had had to enter that place. Time after time she had invented more and more improbable excuses which would allow her to flee to safer places, escaping the sinister shadow of the place. She had seen sensible grown men enter it and come out with a stupid grin that made you question their mental sanity! However, today Hermione Granger knew that no excuse could postpone the confrontation any longer. Ron's birthday was nearing and it was the last opportunity to get a gift for him. So for the sake of friendship Hermione straightened her back in determination, clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering and mustered all of her Gryffindor courage. With trembling hands she reached for the wooden door and - entered the halls of doom!
The cheerful ringing of the doorbell announced Hermione's entrance into `Quality Quidditch Supplies´. `There,´ she thought satisfied, `You've done it. Now let's just get this over with and flee as fast as possible.´
Brushing a strand of bushy brown hair out of her face, Hermione looked around curiously. To her surprise the well-lit room gave off a warm and homey atmosphere as piles of books (on Quidditch, of course) lay next to some boxes of Quaffles, which leaned on shelves containing all kinds of fan merchandise you could imagine (and quite a lot that you couldn't!). Orange Chudley Cannon-cups stood next to yellow London Lions-pencils, blue Puddlemere United-flags (with Morgan O'Donnell, the team-captain, waving cheerfully on his broom) and purple Glasgow Giants-scarves. And there! - in the far corner of the shop, there it was! Ron Weasley's heart's desire: a book by the fanciful name of `Chudley Cannons - the Chronic!´
A smile of pure and unmarred relief spread over Hermione's face as she quickly made her way over to the shelf which held her key out of here. `Only one book left!,´ Hermione noted as she approached, `but one will more than suffice.´ Feeling more confident by the second, she reached for the prized possession as suddenly - the book disappeared to the other side of the shelf! Quickly, Hermione grabbed it and pulled with the force of a desperate woman. However, the book refused to come to her where it belonged! Instead, something pulled it back with equal force! Not about to be undone by a rogue book, Hermione pressed her lips together in determination and doubled her efforts. This book was hers!
And most suddenly, it was indeed. She had barely time to acknowledge the fact that her prey was safely in her hands, as gravity reared its ugly head and the startled young woman found herself falling back, landing in an undignified heap on her behind.
"Ouch!" she yelped more in surprise then in pain, still clutching the book to her chest protectively.
"Sorry," a voice answered almost instantly, "I didn't see -" The tall, broad form of a young man came out from behind the shelf. "Wait! I know you!" he cried, then frowned, obviously thinking hard. "You haven't been to one of my matches, have you?"
Hermione shook her head adamantly. Not even Viktor had been able to persuade her to watch his matches!
"No, apparently not!" he laughed as he held out a large calloused hand to help her up. "I'm convinced I know you, I just can't remember where."
"I'm Hermione Granger," the bushy-haired woman introduced herself and watched as recognition lit up the stranger's face.
"Of course!" he grinned, "You bewitched my Seeker's glasses to repel the rain in my last year! You were wearing your school robes, a Gryffindor- scarf and a dark-blue raincoat." He recalled matter-of-factly before his gaze turned darker. "You also handed in his Firebolt to Professor McGonagall. A Firebolt! And you just turned it in!"
The manic glint in his eyes as he recalled the - doubtlessly traumatic - events told Hermione everything that she needed to know. "Oliver Wood?" she asked carefully.
"Yes?"
"Oh my." The situation had just gotten more dangerous than Hermione had expected. Wood was a manic when it came to Quidditch! He was even crazier than Ron - and that was saying something! Plastering a huge fake smile on her face Hermione carefully planned her retreat. However, her plans had no time to grow past the turn around-and-RUN!-phase as Oliver, who had obviously decided to see past the Firebolt-incident (considering that Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup in the end), placed his warm hand on her shoulder and gave her a dazzling smile.
"I never thought you'd be the type of girl who gets interested in Quidditch. I was under the impression that you were only there to watch over Harry, but hey! I'm not complaining! It's always nice when people see the light," he winked at her and pointed to the orange Chudley Cannons-book, "Although you seem to cheer for the wrong team."
"Really? And what team should I cheer for in your opinion?"
"I hear Puddlemere United has a damn good reserve Keeper. Devilishly handsome, too." Oliver grinned, his eyes twinkling like Dumbledore's.
Having no idea what he was talking about Hermione nodded distractedly as they both made their way to the cashier's stand, where she finally purchased Ron's present, Oliver at her side.
"So," he inquired curiously, "What turned you into a Quidditch-fan?"
Hermione sighed. He looked positively enthusiastic about having discovered her `interest´ for Quidditch, reminding her eerily of a little boy who had just found his long lost teddy bear again. Not that Hermione ever wanted to be compared to a plush toy! A look into those lively hazel eyes of his convinced her that she could not just shatter this illusion. She would probably never see him again, anyway, Hermione tried to rationalize her behaviour as she felt herself beaming up at Oliver. "I've only just acquired the taste."
"Well, better late then never. We'll have to fix that Chudley Cannon- problem, though." Wood's whole face lit up as an idea occurred to him. "I have a bit of free time and if you like, I could invite you to a butterbeer - and turn you into a Puddlemere United-fan while we're at it!"
"You think you can convince me that easily?" A part of her was shocked to discover the flirtatious tone that had crept into her voice. Oliver, however, smiled, still amazed at all the facets he was discovering about this young woman. Back in school it had never occurred to him that bookworm-Granger could be so full of surprises! His curiosity had thoroughly awoken and he flashed his most charming smile at her.
"I love challenges," Oliver grinned as he led Hermione out of the shop and into the warm sunlight that illuminated Diagon Alley with its golden afternoon-rays.
~*~*~*~
Please leave a review if you feel like it :)