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I also apologise in advance for any spelling mistakes. It's a new system and the autocorrect and I are at an impasse and it should be resolved once it learns all the spellings I want it to.
ENJOY!
Draco's first week back was nothing like it had ever been before. There was an air of somber severity. The entire west wing had been taken over by Voldemort. He was kept away from the drawing room for the most part. His mother almost always looked on edge. He had always thought the rise of the Dark Lord would be a time for celebration but it was just the opposite. After a week he had been shipped off to Blaise's Chateau in Italy to spend the rest of the summer there.
Hermione had decided to spent the first month with her parents before leaving for the Weasleys. Helen and Richard had missed their daughter dearly and since their practice was going so well they decided to close down for a couple of weeks and take a holiday during that month. Hermione was eager to get back to Weasleys but she'd be lying if she didn't love the idea of a holiday considering everything that had been going on.
That night she wrote to Draco about her first week back and how her parents were taking her to Portofino for a two week vacation starting tomorrow. Draco wrote back telling her to have fun and wear a ton of sunscreen. He however had not told her that he was already in Italy
After writing back, Draco went to Blaise's room.
"Hey… Got a minute?" Draco Asked
"Sure… " Blaise said putting down the book he was reading
"So, I was going to tell granger that I'm in Italy when she told me that she'll be in Portofino with her parents for the next couple of weeks…" If bouncing on his heels would have been dignified, Draco would have done that, but a he just remained still with a scheming smile on his face…
"And I'm guessing you want to go and show the Granger's a great time…" Blaise said in an almost bored tone…
"Well, you and I both know there is a magical settlement at cinque terre, we could take them there for a couple of days… Hermione has not seen any other magical settlements outside of Diagon Alley you know…" Draco said matter of factly
"Really? Well, that is just devastating… I think it's a great idea… Let's do it…" Blaise said sarcastically
"Great, so we'll leave tomorrow and surprise her there?" Draco asked
"Yes… I'll just floo the villa there and tell them to have it ready for us…" Blaise sighed realising that Draco was choosing to ignore his sarcasm completely
"How many places does your mother own?" Draco asked
"Too many…" Blaise said bored
Draco just shook his head and walked away…
—
Dr. Richard Granger loved to go fishing and sailing. The almost 2 hour Ferry ride from Genoa to Portofino was spent checking out all the boats and pointing excitedly to his wife and daughter. The Girls meanwhile caught up on all sorts of chit chat.
"I'm so glad we did this, otherwise your father and I have just fallen into a drab routine, home work home… Also I'm glad you're staying with us for a whole month before disappearing…"
"Me too mum… I've missed you both…" Hermione said smiling
"I know I don't understand a lot of what happens at your school but from what I remember, this coming year you will be taking something like LSATs? Right?"
"Oh yes! They are called…" Then Hermione came closer to her mother to whisper "OWL's or Ordinary Wizarding Levels" she whispered
"oh… I see… All I wanted to say was that don't be too worried about them, I'm sure you'll do great!"
"Thank mum… but it's the syllabus from the last 5 years and it's practicals too, I have to revise a lot, in fact I brought some of my notes from the previous years along for revisions"
Helen Granger chuckled at her daughter's obsessiveness… "I'm sure you did… but do try to enjoy yourself a bit…"
"I will, I will…"
"So how important are these… LSATs? Is there a college that you are interested in applying to after school?"
"Actually I was going to start looking up career possibilities after this year… I wanted to speak to Professor McGonagall about them… I was also hoping to maybe take a break year and visit other… 'similar' communities… learn more about this world before I chose to do something in it…"
"Oh, well yes, you did mention that this year you had students from other schools… It just never occurred to me that there might be communities around the world… but now that you say it, it seems very logical of course… but a break year won't hurt your career prospects I hope?"
"Actually, I don't know all my career prospects just yet, so I…" Hermione hesitated…
"What is it darling… you know you can tell me anything…" Helen said
"Well, the truth is mum, the boys are very sure what they want to be like policemen but cooler… I have been speaking to some of Ron's brothers and well, I feel a little disadvantaged not having grown up in that world… I feel like there is so much I don't know and the books that I find have been written by wizards for wizards… there's much I don't understand… "
"Oh 'mione" her mother said giving her a hug… "I understand… and I'm sorry… I wish there was more your father and I could do for you… "
"No mum.. it's not your fault…" Hemione said hugging her mother back
"What no hugs for me?" Richard said joining his family
—
The Grangers had just reached their hotel. The Belmond Splendido Mare was housed in a beautiful refurbished building with a splendid view of the coast. They are just reached the reception and were going to check in when they bumped into an unexpected surprise.
Dressed like two models out a magazines in khaki slacks and emerald green and deep blue shirts with rolled up sleeves were Draco and Blaise respectively.
"Hermione! Hermione Granger…." Draco called out in the reception
Hermione whirled around surprised
"Fancy seeing you here Granger… What are the odds" Blaise added cheekily
Hermione had to do everything to stop her jaw from hitting the floor
"Hi… What are you doing here?" She asked surprised
"We were just getting breakfast… This place has the most divine torte" Blaise said offhandedly
Hermione's parents had joined her by then and Draco ever the the gentleman went "Good morning Dr & Dr Granger… It's a pleasure to meet you… I'm Draco and this is my friend Blaise…"
"Hello young man…" Richard said shaking his hand
"Draco… you're not in Hermione's class are you?" Helen asked
"Yes mum, yes he is… he is the friend I wrote to you about in my letters… who lent me the books…" Hermione said unsure of what was going on "So what are you doing here?" She asked Draco smiling "I thought you were going to be home for the summer…"
Helen didn't miss the look the Draco gave Hermione, neither did Richard.
"I was and I am. Blaise's house has been my summer home forever…" Draco explained
"Yes, he's like the brother I never wanted to have…" Blaise said dryly
Richard gave a knowing smile to his wife watching his daughter look at that Draco boy "It was really nice meeting you boys… Why don't you all catch up and I'll check us in… Honey… a moment"
Richard pulled his wife away from the kids
"Did you see it…" Helen asked
"Oh I saw it… " Richard said
"Do you think we should be worried?" Helen asked
"The boy's seem polite enough, maybe we can spend a bit of time and get to know him…" Richard said
"You know she tells me everything… but she never mentioned a boy… I always thought it would be Harry or Ron you know…" Helen said wistfully
"I don't think so… She practically sees Harry like a bother and Ron is sweet honey but I've never thought of him as someone who can keep up with our Hermione… I always thought it would be one of Ron's brother's actually… one of the twins…" Richard said
"Really?" Helen mused "but what parents leave two teenage boys out on their own to have breakfast in a foreign country" she said concerned
"You heard him, they're here all the time…" Richard said offhandedly
"Exactly! This isn't the cheapest place in the world and did you see the way they were dressed, they seem like magical nobility… " Helen said concerned "At least the Wesleys are just like us… we don't know anything about this boy or his family or parents…"
"I know, and so we can spend seem time getting to know them like I said…" Richard said "Thank you" he said to the receptionist taking the key cards for the rooms
When they turned Hermione was standing behind Draco, who looked a little worried
"Errr… sir…" Draco started
"Call me Doctor, Sir was my father" her father said with a smile
Draco eased up a little "right… errrr… Dr. Granger, Hermione mentioned you love to sail and go fishing, the thing is Blaise and I have a boat, if you'd like we could sail around the coast one of these days… depending on your holiday plans of course… " Draco added with a rush
"Oh wow! that's a splendid idea… Don't you think so honey?" Richard said looking at his wife..
"Yes, I think that's lovely… How about it's just you and the boys… unless you want to get on the boat to Hermione?" Helen asked
"I was thinking we could all go" Hermione chirped in…
"Oh, well… why don't we think about it and get back to you…" Helen said with smile…
"Sure, of course…" Draco knew when he'd been asked to leave "See you around Hermione…" He said with a smile…
"Hang on…" She said holding his hand "Mum, I'll just see them off and be back…" She said and pulled Draco towards the door
Blaise gave his least awkward smile to the Grangers who both had identical knowing smiles on their face and followed the couple.
As soon as they were outside, out of site and earshot of her parents, Hermione gave Draco a tight hug "I can't believe you're here!" She squealed into his shirt
Draco hugged her back "Surprise" he said smiling into her hair.
"If your grand reunion is done, shall we should go, I need to see to it that the boat you promised her dad is sorted…" Blaise said dryly
Hermione gave Draco a peck on his cheek and then turned to Blaise and gave him a short hug. He was just shocked. "Thank you…" She said "I know this wouldn't have been possible without you… thank you so much…" She smiled and ran back inside…
Draco smiled watching her go then turned to Blaise and chuckled "Did she turn you stone with her medusa hair?" He asked
Blaise was still standing shocked and went "She hugged me! Why on earth would she do that?"
"It's a Gryffindor thing… Come one… we have to buy a boat…" Draco said seriously
Blaise just shook his head and followed muttering something about muggle borns being barmy
Weekend updates I promise!
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