Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize. I only own me, myself, and I.
Last Night of Summer and the Train RideHermione and Ginny winded up watching a Johnny Depp marathon. Hermione finally turned off the TV at five declaring their brains utterly useless from all of that television. Ginny who hardly ever saw TV sighed but agreed. The two girls sat and contemplated what they could do on their last night of summer. For Hermione it was her last, last night of summer for her. The two turned toward the stairs as Bryan came tumbling down them sleepily.
"I think I'll go see Russell. Then I'll go to sleep." Bryan said as he started looking for what Hermione guessed was his coat.
"Russell is a druggy who won't notice that you're gone and if he does he'll think it was either a day or a decade." Hermione said with a scowl. "It smells like you're doing drugs and drinking when you come back."
"I know but I would feel guilty, besides, I can always write him. The whole smell thing, comes off in the shower." Bryan said.
"You can go only if I get the car, considering you haven't found your license yet." Hermione said. "What do you say we hit Paul's restaurant, bar, club, and casino, Ginny?"
"Sounds fun. I'll be down in fifteen." Ginny said as she raced to get changed.
"I hate that place." Bryan said. "No complaints on either end I suppose is fair. Deal?"
"Deal! I have to go change and explain to Ginny what to wear." Hermione said as she followed her friend's path up the stairs. She found Ginny holding up two revealing pieces. "Neither, wear some tight jeans and a tight shirt. You'll see why." Ginny didn't complain and did as told. Hermione came out in tight jeans, sneakers, a top that grazed the top of her navel and a baseball cap on backwards. The two hopped in the car and Hermione sped them to Paul's. Hermione pulled into the staff parking lot, when suddenly Paul himself appeared.
"Hermione Granger, and friend. What on earth are you two wearing! Hermione, this is your last night here and you think I won't let you into the club? Crazy woman, let's get you dressed and then a VIP status!" Paul declared. Ginny climbed out but stopped.
"Who are you?" Ginny asked as Hermione and Paul were about to walk off.
"My manners must have escaped me!" Paul said as he rushed over to her side. "I'm Paul, the owner of this dump. And you must be Ginny!" Paul said as he kissed her hand and led her away, Hermione silently laughing at her friend's lack of knowledge.
The two were rushed into Paul's private stash of clothes. Ginny and Hermione started looking around as Paul was called out on a fight. Promising to be back soon, he left. Hermione rushed over to Ginny.
"Three things I forgot to mention that you have to know, a) Paul is a pansy so stop flirting with him, secondly, don't ever mention he designs clothes out of this room, this is his design room and the only place he considers himself a designer, c) do not complement him unless it's really necessary, and never complement what he's wearing." Hermione said quickly, and Paul walked in.
"I like the blue dress." Ginny said and walked toward Paul with it in front of her, "what do you think?" Paul looked at her a moment before shaking his head.
"Blue fights with your hair, which you should pin up. Wear red, try a red halter and a black skirt, looks great on everyone. Tan would work too. If you get the right color you can match your eyes. Hermione, don't touch that, it's not done." Paul said. Ginny glanced at the dress on the doll Hermione was looking at.
"It's gorgeous!" Ginny whispered. "Did you make it for someone?"
"No, I can't get the top right and I have no one to wear it." Paul said with a frown. He suddenly brightened and the two girls stepped away as he went crazy with changing the top. They went through the outfits and changed. Hermione had her hair up in a ponytail, a few ringlets falling, framing her face. She was in a silver top that looked like it wrapped around her torso, starting on her right shoulder, nothing on her left shoulder. To complement the top was a black skirt that was short enough by it self, but also had a slit that went quite high. She topped off the outfit with silver earrings, black heels, and a light touch of make up. Ginny followed Paul's advice and went for red. She had a red top on, it had a ring of fabric around the neck, then the fabric poured down loosely, never touching her shoulders. It had no back except a tiny strip at the bottom to keep her top from lifting up easily. She had on a tan skirt without a slit that was a little shorter than Hermione's. She had on red heels, black earrings, and had only a splash of make up on. When Paul looked up from his now finished dress half an hour later, he just smiled.
"You look wonderful. Why don't we grab a bite to eat since hardly anyone is in the club until at least seven thirty." Paul said as he led them into the back of the restaurant. The three ate as they talked about the club, their summers and, of course, boys. They were all done and ready to party at five until eight. They made their way to the club and went to the VIP booths. After getting drinks and finishing their discussion they hit the dance floor. They joined the sweating sea of bodies and were soon lost in bliss. Around ten Hermione left the floor, her two friends long lost. She headed toward the booth to find Ginny and someone she didn't recognize.
"Hey Ginny." Hermione said as she sat down and ordered a drink.
"Hey Hermione, you remember Luna." Ginny said, gesturing to the gorgeous person seated next to her. Hermione's mouth dropped. Luna was clad in almost nothing, she was covered with tattoos, which the school uniforms, and decent clothes covered, and she had many piercings. Her hair was straight and raven black. She smiled her dazed smile at Hermione before going back to listening to Ginny. Hermione downed her drink and hit the floor, bored with listening to Ginny's constant chatter. She was in the middle of the floor, heading towards Paul, when a hand wrapped around her waist and spun her around. She saw none other than "chain." He raised an eyebrow as he looked her over.
"I never thought I would ever grab a beautiful woman in a club and turn her around to find it was you." He said and Hermione slightly blushed.
"Most don't really think about me." Hermione said with a sigh. Chain smiled a genuine smile.
"I think you are terribly mistaken. Would you like to dance?" he asked, offering a hand. Hermione accepted the offered hand with a smile. He spun her around before pulling her close in his arms. She turned her back to him and snaked an arm around his neck. He had an arm around her waist and they were both dancing in time with the music, letting it take them away. The two danced, under a watchful eye.
Bryan, true to his word, had gone to Russell's, but had gotten bored and headed down to Paul's. He went up to their usual both and sat with Ginny and her friend. Completely ignoring their confused looks, he spied Hermione. She was dancing with a pretty good-looking guy. Then he noticed her clothes and he was pissed. She was wearing almost nothing! Her skirt was short and her top had a low v-cut. He glared at Ginny who was talking to her friend, actually, he had noticed her friends wasn't talking at all.
"You let her go out into a club with wankers in THAT!" he growled at her.
"You understand that after the 'haunted house' incident she listed 'over protective' as a reason. You need to chill. She's dancing with Chain. They hardly know each other, there like, friends with enemies. Nothing will happen. Chain doesn't do one night stands unless it's someone on a hit list." Ginny said. Bryan looked skeptical. Ginny rolled her eyes and went back to talking at her friend.
"They'll fall madly in love with each other and have secret flings in hallways when no one is looking. This year Hermione will learn terrible pain when she loses him. He will come back though, he always strays when his feelings are out of control." Ginny's friend interrupted Ginny. The two other occupants stared at her. "What?" she asked innocently.
"You aren't supposed to tell people things like that Luna! You are suppose to tell me quietly and less dramatically. So, when do they fall in madly love?" Ginny asked. Bryan rolled his eyes.
"When her eyes never seem to stray from him. It's obvious; they'll fall in love when… I've said too much already, I really should learn to be quieter but it was just so obvious. Damien is such a lovely name, remember it." Luna said before leaving the mad and confused pair at the table.
"Damien?" Ginny asked.
"Madly in love?" Bryan asked. The two looked at each other. "My life was doomed ever since I found out I had a sister!"
"My life was doomed when I was conceived. I win. Hermione deserves Captain Jack Sparrow. He is sooo nice, kind, and so very romantic!" Ginny said dreamily.
"What is with romantics?" Bryan said.
"It makes life poetic!" Ginny said. "I love this song, we have to dance!" She declared as she pulled Bryan down the stairs and onto the dance floor. Bryan couldn't help but notice Ginny. She was rubbing herself all over his front and she was gorgeous. He almost lost his breath.
Hermione heard this song and groaned. Ginny listened to it for a week straight! She was so sick of it. At hearing Hermione's dislike toward the song Chain lowered his head so he could whisper into her ear. "Why don't we leave? Come back in an hour or so? I know a cute little place." Chain whispered. Hermione laughed.
"I'll say yes if only because I just heard the Slytherin Prince's best friend say cute." Hermione said as she followed him out the doors of the club. When the cold air hit the two, they immediately cooled off. Hermione shivered and Chain draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. They walked in silence for a few blocks, before Hermione spoke, "Where are we going?" They had just walked into a very dangerous area. Chain turned down a dark alley, Hermione very hesitantly followed. She was about to speak when he held open a door she hadn't seen. It was a kitchen. A sparkling clean kitchen. She entered, closely followed by Chain. He led her through a door, so now they were behind the register. He lifted the counter and they walked through. "No one is here." Hermione stated. Chain smiled.
"5…4…3…2…1…0" Chain counted. Right on zero a woman came bustling out of the kitchen they had just come from.
"I am going to have to kill you Chain. For your name and because I was bored to tears waiting for you." Said the middle-aged woman.
"No other customers at, what is it now, eleven at night? My own Godmother can't get customers at an ungodly hour. I'm ashamed." Chain said with fake sorrow before smiling.
"Well, I forgive you because you have company, or else I would kill you. Now, what would you two like?" she said beaming.
"Oh…I don't have in my contacts, I can't read a word of that menu." Hermione said as she looked at Chain. He raised an eyebrow.
"You wear glasses? Is that why your face is so close to the pages when you read? Slytherins had bet that it was something stupid like you wanted to read and learn from osmosis. I guess I lost that one. I bet that you had a spell so that you could see what others were doing and you leaned close so you could see who it was." Chain said.
"Well, I did that a few times, I admit, but you can make it take up the whole page. Just make sure no one can get behind you. What is there to eat? We got off topic." Hermione said.
"Ice cream interest you or are you a starve yourself girl who says 'Oh, a piece of lettuce. I think that's my dinner.'" Chain said, imitating whom Hermione guessed was Pansy.
"I think a banana split with hot fudge sounds wonderful, but it does need to be vanilla. I can't stand banana and chocolate ice cream." Hermione said with a grin.
"I second that. Why don't we take those to go, we can eat at the park." Chain said. His Godmother nodded and went into the kitchen, coming back in about a minute. They thanked her and left for the park. They walked almost five minutes before Chain suddenly stopped. Hermione stopped as well and looked at him. He looked rather confused. He was looking around. "We're being followed." He whispered under his breath so Hermione hardly heard it. She looked around and then saw leaves slowly moving from wind. She noticed the lack of breeze. Hermione handed Chain her ice cream; he looked at her confused. She strode over to the followers and snatched the cloak off before the person could move back. A very angry Death Eater appeared. Hermione whipped out her wand, "Stupefy!" before the Death Eater could finish the killing curse. Chain walked over and looked down at the frozen figure. "What do we do with him?" he asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Unmask him? Shrink him, lighten him and carry him around until we can find an owl. We could owl him to the Ministry or Dumbledore. The spells would wear off though." Hermione said. Chain had already unmasked the stalker to find Lucious Malfoy.
"I better let him go. He would rat out my secrets if I don't. He knows who I am. Question is does he recognize you. I would guess no. Let's just leave. He won't unfreeze until about four in the morning. At least we'll be home then." Chain said.
"Well then let's finish are ice cream on our way to the club and skip the park. I'm getting tired anyway." Hermione said. Chain nodded. He rolled Malfoy into the bushes and the two left. They ate in silence, a comfortable silence, for almost a fourth of the way. Hermione broke it again though.
"Why don't you want people to know who you are? You can trust Josh, right?" Hermione asked.
"I can and I do. There are two problems, a) my parents would kill me, secondly, the band, the fans, and the record makers would treat me differently. Besides, the band might get jealous. Jealous of nothing, but they don't know that." Chain said with a smile. Hermione smiled and stopped walking, Chain stopped too. They just stood there, staring into each other's eyes. Then, they kissed. It was just soft and quick, but it told everything. They opened their eyes and smiled. They continued their walk and ice cream in their own thoughts.
(A/N: I would end here but it was too short. Besides, you want me to confirm who Chain is. I already told you, or gave you a HUGE hint.)
The two got back into the club and Chain took her to her seat. "I'll see you tomorrow Hermione." He said. Hermione smiled.
"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow, Blaise." Hermione whispered. He gave her a sad smile before walking off. Then Ginny appeared.
"Spill! Oh, Bryan is going to kill you, but spill!" she said happily.
"Ginny, I know better than to kiss and tell. The only part that isn't covered by that is covered by don't kill and tell. Sorry but I'm bound to secrecy." Hermione said. Ginny pouted. "It won't work, we need to return our clothes and go home, it's almost September!"
"Fine, but we should find Bryan first. Stay far away from him too." Ginny said. Se started scanning the dance floor.
"Wait, he's here? I thought he was at Russell's." Hermione said. Ginny shrugged and Hermione helped her look. They found him after about two minutes. He was coming towards them. They got up and met him on the stairs.
"Leaving?" Bryan asked.
"Yup." Said Ginny as she pulled him after Hermione. The two changed and thanked Paul before heading home. All three crashed on the couch and surprisingly enough, they weren't too tired in the morning.
Hermione woke up on the couch and waited for last night to register. She looked at the mantle and saw what time it was. "Shit!" she cursed loudly, waking the other two up. "We woke up late, we have half an hour!" All three started racing around before Hermione called, "Just use spells, don't shower!" Everyone complied and started changing, eating, and in Ginny's case, leaving. The two that were left, Hermione and Bryan, headed for the door right on time. They loaded their trunks in the trunk and back seat before Hermione slid into the driver's seat and Bryan into shotgun.
"Drive at a decent speed this time." Bryan said. Hermione did more than that; she went Bryan's speed, almost ten over. They got to the platform with ten minutes to spare. Hermione went straight to McGonagal's cabin on the train and Bryan, disliking the fact that girls kept staring at him, decided to follow.
"Professor McGonagol?" Hermione asked as she knocked on the door. It opened to see a smiling yet stern face.
"I've been expecting you. I've been told you are to seek out the Headmaster's instructions before the Feast. Who is this?" McGonagol asked when she noticed Bryan.
"My step brother, Bryan, he just moved from his biological mother." Hermione said politely.
"Another Gryffindor I hope?" McGonagol said.
"More like Slytherin. Hasn't been finalized but I'm almost positive that's where he'll go." Hermione said and then bade her Professor good bye. Bryan followed Hermione until they were right outside the trio's usual compartment.
"I don't have to sit with Mr. Potato do I?" Bryan asked. "What about Chain? Help me find him and then sit down."
"Fine, but stop calling him that. His name is Blaise Zabini. Don't act differently around him either or he'll kill me." Hermione explained as she headed toward where the Slytherins usually sat.
"Why have I heard Zabini before?" Bryan asked to no one.
"They're rich, well known, purebloods, and best friends with the Malfoy's. I think they're in her. Oh, I'm not exactly friends with them so you have to over come that issue on your own. Don't say anything bad about me cause I can do worse. Clear?"
"Crystal. Are you sure they're in here?" Bryan asked.
"Fine, I'll look. Scaredy cat." Hermione said as she knocked before slightly opening the door.
"Granger, go away, no filth deserves to look at me." Draco Malfoy said from with in the compartment.
"You're right," Bryan said as he stepped into the compartment and sat down, "they don't deserve the horrible image haunting them." Malfoy glared at him.
"Who are you and why are you in my compartment?" Draco asked. Hermione, knowing he could handle himself, left.
"I'm Hermione's step Bryan. I'm here because I don't want to sit with those losers she calls friends. I was actually hoping to find someone named Blaise."
"Zabini will be here but you won't. Leave or Crabbe and Goyle will escort you. I will not have Granger filth in my apartment." Bryan just shoved the two dumb bodyguards away.
"That's a shame. You are so uneducated. Here, I'll help you out a bit, I'm Hermione's stepbrother, I'm her Father's son. My mother is some scarlet woman he picked up. Hermione's father is a pureblood and so is my mother. Your stupid high society of purebloods may have most but not all of the pure bloods. Better?" Bryan said.
"No. I wan-" Draco started but Blaise entered the compartment.
"Bryan, what are you doing here? Why aren't you with Hermione?" Blaise asked.
"Since when is Granger Hermione?" Draco asked.
"Since there are two Grangers. Let Bryan answer my question." Blaise said. Draco glared but shut up.
"I don't like Harry Potter and his chimp. I prefer people who know more than their name." Bryan said. Blaise rolled his eyes.
"You are more trouble than you know Bryan. Go sit with your sister, I'll talk with you later." Blaise said.
"I don't think you have that kind of power Blaise. I know your secrets Blaise, I wouldn't make me mad." Bryan said with a smirk.
"You have to be kidding me. You have dirt on the gossip king? Tell." Draco said with a smirk. Bryan laughed at him.
"That ruins too much for me. Oh, she is not my sister so stop calling her that. She's my step." Bryan said. Blaise gave up and sat down.
"How is your Father doing Draco?" Blaise asked.
"Fine." He said suspiciously. "What's it to you?"
"It's a lot to me. It let's me know that the person who was stalking me didn't get too hurt in that bush I shoved him in. Why was he following me?" Blaise asked, looking directly at Draco.
"Death Eat-" Draco started.
"Bull, why was he following me? You know why and I don't, that is going to change one way or another." Blaise said.
"You were in a muggle area, your parents sent him. They wanted to find out why you were never home. All he found out was that you had a girl with you. I would really like to know who it was that could stun my father. Do you know?" Draco asked.
"Considering I was walking with her, I hope so. He wouldn't have guessed who it was. I really like my reputation Draco and I know you have a loose mouth so I think I'll keep it to myself." Blaise said.
"I vote that he stops walking around one of the most dangerous areas with girls." Bryan said.
"Why does everyone think that's a bad area?" Blaise asked.
"Because they have robbers, hit man, drug dealers, run aways from prison, and did I forget to mention everyone in that area owns a gun?" Brain listed.
"Please, it was eleven. Nothing starts until one." Blaise said.
"The last bombing to make it to the news was at ten." Bryan said.
"I find this terribly fascinating but what are we suppose to call Granger if there are two of them?" Draco asked.
"I haven't a clue, but Johnny Depp sounds nice, and Ginny Weasley seemed to like Captain Jack Sparrow. Right Blaise?" Bryan said.
"Yes, Ginny really liked Captain Jack Sparrow. Too bad she already calls me that. I think we should call her someone else in that stupid movie." Blaise said. Bryan smirked.
"Call her Jack, I seem to remember I seen that goes something like, thank you Jack, your welcome, not you, we named the monkey Jack. I wouldn't know though, they only played that movie fifty times." Bryan said.
"Jack the monkey, good, what about Hermione? I hardly think she'll respond to anything of the sort." Blaise said.
"I think MudBlood works." Draco piped up.
"I think that if you call her that, as Debby likes to say, you'll wake up dead." Bryan said. "Call her strawberry shortcake. It doesn't make sense to you but I guarantee that someone will get hit and she'll go red." Bryan said.
"I think I like having someone who knows a lot about strawberry here. It helps torment her." Draco said. Blaise was studying Bryan.
"Think that he should keep his mouth shut because Hermione will kill his reputation. Obviously she'll have more dirt. She's Miss Perfect. She hardly does anything." Blaise said.
"I know more than she gives me credit for. Like I know almost all the names of the people she's dated. I know everything she likes and dislikes, and I know all her secrets except who she lost her virginity to. I don't know if she lost it but after about fifty guys you usually do." Bryan said with a smirk.
"So does everyone," Draco said, "Victor Crum."
"That's what I said before she got a call from her boyfriend and dumped him." Blaise said. Draco looked awed.
"How does she get guys to get anywhere near her?" Draco asked.
"How does she not, I have to pull them off her." Bryan said. Suddenly the door opened to reveal Hermione, like Hogwarts knew her. Bryan fell off his seat laughing.
"Granger, what do you want?" Draco said.
"Rub a balloon on your head much?" Bryan said.
"Bryan, you are so close to being killed." Hermione snapped at him. He pulled out his wand and Hermione went wide-eyed. "That will kill you times ten." She warned. Too late. Bryan was in the middle of the spell. It was supposed to reveal what she looks like without magic.
"You look much better now." Bryan commented at her loosely curled hair instead of her bushy mop. Hermione slammed the door shut so only the three could see her.
"Bryan Andrew Granger." Hermione said through gritted teeth. "You will not be waking up in the morning." She said as tried to change her hair. For some reason it didn't work. "Scratch that, you aren't living to see Hogwarts. Stupefy!" Hermione shot at him and stomped back to her compartment.
Hermione threw open the door and slammed it before many more could see her. To her horror though, half of the Gryffindor boys had crammed into the magically enlarged compartment. Hermione gritted her teeth at the stares and squeezed next to Ginny.
"Don't tell me Bryan did this." Ginny said.
"Yes." Hermione ground out before smirking. "He should be awake in time to get dressed." Ginny gasped.
"You didn't! Your Head Girl badge could get taken away." Ginny said. All the guys who were finally snapping out of their trances listened closely.
"I'm not Head Girl though, so it doesn't matter." Hermione said. Harry and Ron perked up but only Ron was stupid enough to talk.
"What happened to your hair Hermione?" Ron asked.
"A bloody revealing charm." Hermione said, trying very hard not to kill him. All the Gryffindors filed out except the smallest Weasley and the trio.
"Why did you put a charm that made your hair worse on?" Harry asked.
"So boys wouldn't stare at me just like they did." Hermione said and sighed. I was a very long train ride with people coming by to see Hermione.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews and please review again. I guess you now know that Blaise is Chain. Please don't flame me because it wasn't Draco. It would be too hard.