N.B. Any name that has a (H) next to it when it first appears means that they are a historical Character.

* * * * * * * April 10th, 1912 * * * * * * *

Hermione was sitting in her car waiting for Claude (as he preferred to be called) to open the door. Five days had passed since she left the de Selah Manor and she was finally at Southampton, much to her displeasure and she knew that Claude knew it. The trip taking longer than usual because of Hermione's frequent escape attempts and the impromptu shopping spree in London (in which Hermione bought a half case of books).

The first night that they had stayed in London, Hermione was finally able to get a hold of her wand and tried to apparate out of the hotel suite. However, Claude had anticipated that she might try this and had placed anti-apparition spells around the building. So later that night Hermione snuck out of her suite and went to the edge of the apparition field, only to find that Claude had followed her. It was a good thing that he did follow her because not five seconds before she was to apparate away, she was grabbed from behind and held at knifepoint. Claude had saved her by stunning her attacker, but Hermione was furious. She had taken on several groups of Death Eaters (although she couldn't tell Claude that) who were much worse than a solitary mugger.

Hermione later found out that not only was Claude her chauffer he was also her bodyguard and caretaker, and he had cast a non-verbal trace charm to make sure he knew where she was at all times. The charm was going to be countered as soon as the ship was five miles out of Southampton. Although this didn't stop Hermione from trying to escape. Several times she had tried to stun him, bind him or leg-lock him, all her attempts failed though and she couldn't understand why she could take on a group of Death Eaters somewhat easily yet she couldn't outsmart one man.

Despite the escape attempts, she found that she actually liked Claude. He was a good person, someone she could rely on when needed and knew that her great-great-grandmother had made a good choice in hiring him. By the end of the trip Hermione knew that she could count on him for anything and considered him as a friend, as close as Tonks and Remus Lupin.

Claude told her everything he knew about the life of being a member of High Society. When he wasn't driving he taught her about how to act, how to talk and all the different areas of etiquette. He was surprised at how quickly she had picked it up, and again expressed his opinion about her not being a Ravenclaw.

Claude opened the door and held out his hand for her to support herself on. Hermione stepped out of the car and looked around. There in front of her was the Titanic. One of her childhood dreams but also her worst nightmare. She remembered the first night in London, she told Claude about how when she was a little girl she had wanted to travel on the Titanic as a first class passenger, thinking that she would be saved by being one of the first women in the lifeboats. Claude smiled and reassured her that it could still happen, and that not all prophecies come true. That night he had also told her about the different ships that were in commission at the moment, from the English ships Mauretania, Carpathia and Olympic to the American vessels like the Leyland liner Californian.

Hermione looked at up at the Titanic. It was a massive ship. She wondered how it compared to the Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary 2 of her time. She remembered seeing images of both ships on the television on the night news. She looked around the docks and watched in fascination as the third class passengers were entering the lower levels of the ship, while the first and second classes boarded high up. She turned to Claude, giving him a cheeky smile.

'It doesn't look any bigger than the description of the Mauretania you gave me.' Claude chuckled and handed Hermione her day bag.

'I assure you it is. Now, please, remember what I told you. I know where you are until you get five miles away from Southampton and then you can't apparate off the ship because there is no real point of origin. I'll be right back with someone from the White Star Line to bring your luggage aboard. Stay here.' He said emphasising the stay here part before leaving and disappearing in the masses of people.

Hermione had no intention of leaving this time, no matter how easy it would have been to be lost in the masses of people surrounding the docks. She stood there waiting for Claude to come back. Hermione was strangely content to watch the goings on of the port.

''Scuse me miss.' Hermione turned to face a young man holding a camera. 'I'm a reporter for the Times. Are you going on the Titanic?' Hermione nodded. As much as she hated reporters (especially that Skeeter woman) she had nothing better to do at the moment while she waited for Claude to come back. 'Could I do a little interview and maybe a photo or two?'

'Only for a minute, I'm waiting for my driver to return to collect my luggage.' Said Hermione.

'Alright Miss, first I need your name and where you from and why your travelling on the Titanic.' He said pulling out a notebook and pencil.

'My name is Lady Nastya de Selah.' Hermione noticed the reporter gawk for a second before writing her name down.

'You don't need to tell me where you came from Lady de Selah; everyone knows who you are and where you live!' Hermione nodded, and for that she was glad, because she wasn't quite sure where her manor was in the first place. The reporter continued his praises. 'You are the wealthiest debutant there is this season! Who doesn't know you?'

Hermione laughed lightly. 'Thank you for your compliment. Now as I was saying, as for why I am travelling on this magnificent vessel, I am going to settle a business deal with an American company, whose invention will revolutionise the world. I will not say more than that.' Continued Hermione, she didn't really know why she was going on the ship, only that she was 'destined' to be on its disaster of a maiden voyage.

'Why the Titanic? What made you choose this specific ship? Why not travel on the Carpathia in a few weeks?' asked the reporter. Hermione thought for a brief moment.

'Why, I would have thought it was obvious!' she exclaimed. 'Titanic is the most luxurious and safest ship in the world! What other reason is needed?' She smiled slightly, although it was completely fake, but the reporter didn't know that. He laughed and then asked if she would pose for some photographs in front of the ship. Hermione complied and had her photo taken several times over. On the last shot that she would allow she spotted Claude and three White Star Line crew members.

'I do apologise, but I do need to board the ship. These lovely gentlemen are here to collect my baggage.' She waved her hand in the direction of the gentlemen. The reporter nodded and thanked her before moving on to another couple who had just arrived. She smiled to Claude who introduced her to the crew members who asked where her baggage was to be taken.

'The Queen Anne Stateroom (1), please.' Answered Hermione after fishing out her ticket and looking at where she was going to be accommodated. Hermione watched the crew members pull her stuff out of the back of the car and headed off back to the ship. She turned to Claude once more.

'Thank you for everything Claude. I'll try to remember what you said. I hope I don't screw up too badly.' Claude smiled at her.

'I'm sure you will be fine. Now remember, I have you 'tagged' until five miles out. If you get off the ship before you head out to the Atlantic then the trace will be reactivated and I will hunt you down.' Hermione sighed, she knew she was stuck and there was nothing she could do about it.

'I promise I won't leave. I'll fulfil your silly prophecy.' She gave Claude a brief hug. 'Thank you for everything. I can only say I hope I get the chance to see you before the month is over, that is if I survive Titanic.'

'I'm sure I'll see you again. I feel it in my bones.' He imitated an old man causing Hermione laughed at him. 'Don't worry missy, we'll see each other again. I'm sure of it. Now you best be off on that ship. '

Hermione nodded and walked over to the gangway. She presented her ticket to be checked and was allowed past. She headed up the gangway and stopped. She turned and looked for Claude by the car. She spotted and waved to him. She waited till he waved back before continuing on up the ramp. As she entered the hull of the ship she was greeted by a steward.

'Good morning, mademoiselle. Do you have your boarding ticket with you?' Hermione nodded and showed him the ticket.

'Ah, the Queen Anne Stateroom. A very nice choice. Gustav!' called the steward. A young man came forward quickly and bowed gracefully to Hermione. 'Gustav will take you to your rooms Lady de Selah. I hope everything shall be to your liking. Your luggage should already be there by now. If you need anything, just ask any of the stewards and we will be most happy to help you.'

'Thank you.' Replied Hermione. Gustav indicated that she should follow him to her room and so she followed the young man, listening as he explained where everything was on the ship. The walked up the two flights of the six flight Grand Staircase and arrived onto the Bridge Deck. From the staircase the steward led her down a carpeted corridor and stopped at an engraved door with a plaque reading 'The Queen Anne Stateroom' Hermione nodded her thanks as she was handed the key to the room. The steward bowed and left her as she opened the door to the suite.

Hermione was in awe of the reception/lounge/common room. It was beautiful, in the Queen Anne style. No wonder it is called the Queen Anne room she thought. She wandered over to the window and looked outside. She could see the people below on the docks hurrying to get the last things aboard the ship. She smiled.

'If only this wasn't a doomed ship. I'm sorry it has to go to the bottom of the ocean.' She said out loud, thinking that she was alone. A masculine voice answered her unexpectedly.

'I'd wholeheartedly agree with you for once Granger.' Hermione whipped around and there standing in front of her was her partner for the assessment task, who she had completely forgotten about. Draco Malfoy.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(1). The Stateroom that Hermione will be staying in actually did exist but it wasn't called the Queen Anne Stateroom. For the purpose of the story the room has been named as such. Titanic provided 39 private suites on the Bridge Deck and 9 on the Shelter Deck. The expensive and exclusive staterooms boasted excellent fittings. Each room was decorated in different periodic styles including Louis XVI, Louis XV, Georgian and Queen Anne.

Thanks for all the review guys! I won't be updating till sunday at the earliest. I have to go to Adelaide tomorrow and won't be back till sunday evening, that is if the train is on time, which normally isn't, and i manage to make the conncection. Otherwise i'll update on monday.

at shygirl: I'd love to know what the dirty gossip was as well. Maybe we'll find out later? ;)