"In My Life"
Chapter 2
"Ms. Madison, it's a pleasure to meet you." A tall man with glasses shook Hermione's hand.
"And you, Mr. Foroy." Hermione had only just made it to the set where the film was to be shot after finding her hotel at last. "Mr. Foroy, I wanted to ask you, Tim didn't get around to explaining it, what is this film to be about?"
"Oh, Ms. Madison, I'm sorry about that, I presume that you had to catch the first flight out of Los Angeles to reach here on time."
Hermione smiled. 'If you had any idea,' she thought. "Please call me Nicole." Was all she said.
"Okay, Nicole. The film is basically a life story. It is the story of a normal girl named Rachel Smith and her life, which, she discovers, has more twists and turns than she might expect. You are the main character, and we have arranged for you to meet the other stars at a cast and crew party, celebrating the beginning of the filming of this picture. I trust you will be able to attend." He handed her an envelope with her name on it. "Many of the actors in the film will be there. It will be a great opportunity for you to meet some of them."
"Thank you, I will most certainly be able to attend." She tucked the envelope in her pocket and toured the set with Mr. Foroy.
THE PARTY
Hermione sat down by herself at a table with a glass of water. She watched the energetic people on the dance floor with amusement. She herself had already met too many film producers and directors to have much energy at all. She also wasn't expecting anyone to ask her to dance, as nobody here knew her. She giggled to herself as she saw an old man and woman glare at a young couple that were apparently acting in the film, who were dancing rather wildly. She sipped her water and looked around the rather small area in which the party was being held. She was wearing a black dress with silver artsy lines running along it that she had found in a designer store in London the previous day. It fit her like a glove, and she was growing rather fond of it. She pushed a strand of her hair, which was tied up in a pretty bun, behind her ear. She was about to ask the bar tender for some soda when a handsome young man with blonde hair came up to her.
"Would you be willing to dance with me?" The young man asked charmingly. It was too much for Hermione to refuse.
"It would be a pleasure." She said with a smile. The handsome man led her out onto the dance floor, where the band was just beginning a slow tune. He put his arms around her waist, and she put her hands on his shoulders. They danced slowly together for minute or two, and then Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder, which she found very comforting, somehow. A few minutes later, another man came up to them.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Madison." The new stranger said. Hermione smiled at him. He looked at the guy she had been dancing with. "Your father wants to introduce you to Mr. Foroy, the new director."
"I'm sorry." The young man said to Hermione, truly looking it. "I'll talk to you later?"
"Sure." Hermione replied. She stood and watched the young man leave. She felt sad to see him go somehow, yet she didn't even know his name. 'Hmmm.' Hermione thought. 'I wonder if he's in the cast.' She slowly headed back to her glass of water and sat down. Behind her, she heard snippets of the conversation.
"This is Mr. Foroy, the director of the film. He will be working with you for the next few months." said a voice that had a trace of coldness.
"It will be a pleasure. I am pleased to help produce this film with you." Hermione recognized the voice of the man she had just finished dancing with. She listened more closely to the conversation, hoping to catch his name. Mr. Foroy spoke next.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name. Would you be so kind as to tell me again?"
"Yes, sir. It's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
Hermione choked on an ice cube in her water and began to splutter. Immediately, the men behind her rushed to her side. "Ms. Madison, are you alright?" They asked as she stopped coughing.
"I'm fine." She wheezed, taking another sip of her water. "Phew. Sorry about that. Choked on an ice cube." She said. They smiled at her.
"Ms. Madison, have you met the main producer of the film?" He gestured towards a man that was unmistakably Lucius Malfoy.
"Not yet." Hermione said with all the decency she could muster.
Lucius smiled, but his eyes remained cold. "Lucius Malfoy. Pleased to meet you Ms. Madison." He took her hand. Hermione felt as if she might vomit. "And this is my son, Draco."
Hermione forced herself to look at the man that she had been dancing with only a few moments ago. "Right. Pleased to meet you, Draco. I'm Nicole Madison." She shook his hand. She let go extremely quickly.
"I'm pleased to meet you too, Ms. Madison." Hermione smiled rather nervously.
"Well, I'd best be off." She said hurriedly. "Got to get a good night's rest for the first day of filming tomorrow!" Then, without saying anything else, she nodded at them and walked as fast as she could to the revolving door, and headed out to the street. In the back of a cab on the way back to her hotel Hermione sighed and leaned her head back on the seat. 'This trip is just getting better and better,' she thought bitterly.