Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling.

Joys of Manual Labor

Chapter Two

Hermione ducked behind a broken wall as soon as she was out of site of the two men. She crouched down and held her hands to her cheeks. She felt the heat radiating from them and closed her eyes in mortification. 'Why am I reacting this way? I've seen men shirtless before.'

'But you didn't see those men as men, did you?' Asked a quiet voice at the back of Hermione's mind. 'The two people you saw just now were men.'

Hermione gave a small groan unable to argue with the voice. 'But why?' Without being able to answer her own question she stood up and again made her way towards the Great Hall.

Ginny was facing the Great Hall doors and waved to Hermione when she entered. As Hermione drew closer, Ginny noticed that she looked a little unsure about something and that her cheeks were slightly pink. "Are you alright?" Ginny asked as soon as Hermione sat down. "You looked flushed."

"Yes, I'm Fine. I just-" Hermione cut herself off as she saw two people enter the great Hall. She felt her cheeks flame again and ducked her head.

Ginny frowned and moved her eyes away from Hermione and towards the doors. What she saws made her gasp. Professor Snape and Lucius Malfoy in Muggle clothing. "Why are Snape and Lucius Malfoy dressed like Muggles?"

"I have no idea." Was Hermione's response but she was speaking to the table not Ginny.

Ginny looked back at Hermione. "Professor McGonogal sent you to tell them lunch was being served." Ginny was speaking slowly wondering if she was completely wrong. "Are they the reason you were flushed when you first came in? Your face is certainly flushed now."

Hermione didn't say anything, just kept looking at the table.

Ginny's eyes widened. "They are!"

Hermione immediately put her hand over Ginny's mouth. "SHHHH! Not so loud!" Hermione hissed, glancing around to make sure no-one had heard Ginny.

Ginny rolled her eyes and removed Hermione's hand. "I wasn't that loud and there isn't anyone sitting close to us anyway."

Hermione looked around again and noticed that Ginny was quite right. She frowned. "Where are Harry and Ron?"

"They weren't at a good stopping point. Said that they would grab some food later. Now, tell me why-" This time it was Ginny's turn to be cut off by the two men she and Hermione had been discussing.

Lucius and Severus stood for a moment in the door to the Great Hall taking in the number of people that were gathered.

Eventually Lucius spoke. "Well standing here is not doing either of us any good. Shall we seat ourselves?" He looked at Severus as he spoke, but his friend was looking elsewhere. Following his gaze Lucius determined that his friend was watching Hermione Granger and the Weasley girl, Ginevra. 'So, he was affected by her blush just as I was. Interesting. Perhaps it would be prudent to place ourselves closer to the young woman.' With that thought Lucius starting walking towards the table at which Hermione and Ginny were sat. Severus silently following. Lucius placed himself directly in-front of Hermione, while Severus sat opposite of the empty spot to her left.

Ginny stopped talking the second she noticed the two men come closer. 'What are they doing?' She thought to herself. 'They're not going to...? Bloody Hell. They are.' Ginny turned towards Hermione as Severus and Lucius sat down. 'And she's looking at the table again, hasn't even noticed...' Ginny gave a mental eye-roll. She returned her focus to the two men in front of them. "Good afternoon Professor Snape, Mister Malfoy." Her voice was polite, if a little curt.

It was Lucius who responded. "Miss Weasley. I hope that you do not mind us sitting here."

"I don't suppose it would make a difference if I do, correct?"

Lucius smirked. "No difference at all."

"Thought as much." Ginny gave an actual eye-roll this time. 'Still full of himself. Though, he is, impressively, being rather polite. Has he actually had a change of heart?' "Is there a reason behind your current attire Mr. Malfoy?"

Lucius frowned and looked at himself. Having forgotten what he was wearing. "Part of my penance, Miss Weasley. I am to, attempt, to find the benefits of Muggle clothing."

"And have you found any?" Ginny asked in a voice that clearly showed she wasn't buying what Lucius had said.

Lucius glanced at Hermione. It was such a short look that Ginny would have missed it had she not been giving Lucius her full attention. "I believe I have found one or two."

Before Ginny could respond food appeared on the table. She and Lucius started serving themselves, and it seemed their movements, or perhaps it was the scent of the food, finally caused their companions to move.

Hermione purposefully focused on the meal, trying to not be affected by the two men across from her. While Severus acknowledged Ginny.

"Miss Weasley, I had not realized that you were aiding in the reconstruction of Hogwarts."

"I've been told everyone needs to do their part." Ginny responded with a slight shrug. "Besides, it keeps me busy." She added in a much lower voice.

Everyone was quiet for a few moments. Thinking about why it helped to be busy.

In an attempt to cheer herself up a little Ginny pulled a small metallic looking device from her pocket. It had a cord that split into two attached to it. She turned it on while putting one of the ends into her right ear. She was so focused on her task that she didn't notice that the three people sitting by her were intently watching. At wasn't until after she had tapped a couple buttons that she looked up again. She glanced around and pulled a face. "What?"

It was Hermione who answered. "You have a Muggle music device."

"Yeah...?"

"But those aren't supposed to work here. There's too much magic."

Ginny laughed. "Quoting 'Hogwarts a History', somethings will never change. Though, you're right. Normally it wouldn't work. However, this isn't completely Muggle."

"What do you mean?" This question came from Severus.

Ginny looked at him, then Lucius, and then back at Hermione. Before sighing and tapping a button on the device. "Last year I was contacted by a distant relation in the States. Their family is very interested in family history and discovered that we're sixth cousins, three times removed, or something like that. Anyway, I didn't believe it at first, but going through some old family records, confirmed their story. So, I responded, and it became a weekly thing. It was nice to have something to look forward to during last school year.

"Anyway, eventually we started talking about Muggle technology, and how it doesn't work here at Hogwarts. Along with the fact that most wizards here don't even know what Muggle technology is, let alone use it. My cousin couldn't believe me. Apparently in America wizards have been adapting Muggle technology for years. To prove it my cousin sent me this music playing device."