Chapter 5: Pictures of Us
"Look we're here!" Granger suddenly screamed excitedly, causing me to practically jump. Merlin that was one long drive, I think I was a sleep for most of the last half of it. I glanced over at Granger, who had leaned forward and was trying to look out the window at what I assume was Versailles. I too look out the window and am amazed that these muggles, even all those years ago managed to build such a fine palace. "I am so excited!" she said as the van pulled to a stop and the driver opened the doors. I think she almost ran her mother over trying to get out so fast.
When I emerged from the vehicle I saw that Granger was madly snapping pictures, "Relax Granger, it is just the gate. We haven't even gotten inside the place yet." I muttered as I stood beside her.
She turned and glared at me, "Did you know Malfoy that wizards actually helped to build Versailles? And that this gate is actually made by goblins? Also I have been dreaming about seeing this place for pretty much my entire life and that some of us actually get excited about historical monuments that have significant meaning in history."
"French history. You are English." I said, trying to redeem myself for not knowing that this place had ties to the magical world.
She simply rolled her eyes and walked inside the gate. This place was quite large, way bigger than Malfoy Mansion.
"How about I take a picture of the two of you in front of the palace?" my mother suggested.
"Mother, you do not know how to work a camera."
"You know what a camera is?" Granger asked surprised.
"Yes, of course I do." I said slightly offended. "Blaise has one."
"Ah, ok." She says as if it suddenly all made sense to her. "Anyway, it is really easy Mrs. Malfoy. All you have to do is hold it so both of us are on the little screen, and then just press this button."
"Amazing." My mother said as if she discovered some designer handbag. "Ok, stand next to each other. Closer Draco."
"I won't bite." Granger said smiling, looking in the direction of the camera.
"I don't know if I believe that." I said as I moved closer to her and put my arm around her shoulders.
"Ok, So I just click now?"
"Yes." Granger said
"Oh look, I did it!" Mother exclaimed, and we went towards her to see it.
"Very well done." Granger congratulated her. "Do you want to see Draco?" she asked.
I leaned over to look at the picture, well at least now we have proof that we can stand next to each other and smile as if we are best friends. And I guess Granger looks good.
"Ok, let's go inside!" Granger said as she rushed towards the entrance.
OOOOOOO
"And this is Marie Antoinette's bedroom and over there that is a picture of her and her children. There is an interesting story about the bassinet that is beside her…"
"I know Granger. I can read the sign, they have it in English." Malfoy interrupted me.
"Ok, sorry." I muttered. He changes moods so quickly, how annoying.
"Look, I just don't understand why you like this place so much. It is a large house that has no washrooms and I'm sorry but that wall colour is, well how could you possible sleep in a room like this?"
"This is a beautiful place with years of history. And once you see the clothes that she got to wear, amazing."
"You do remember that she was executed by her own people right?"
"Oh never mind. I am going to Petite Trianon" I told him and walked out of the room.
"What is that?"
"It was Marie's private residence."
"She lives in this huge house, why does she have a private residence?" he said exasperated as he followed me.
"To entertain guests and have some privacy. Anyway you do not have to come."
"Oh no, think I should see this Petite Trianon."
"Suit yourself."
We had to walk through the gardens to get to Petite Trianon. I love French gardens, they are so beautiful. Especially the one at Versailles. I love all the fountains and how the trees are perfectly shaped. Finally we arrived at our destination.
Oh great the line was long, now in addition to a silently awkward stroll through the garden I would also have to stand in line with him. He was looking around at the scenery. I don't think he has ever been in a place with so many muggles before. I looked around before a group of girls caught my eye. They were standing a few steps away, near a park bench and looking in our direction. I looked behind me to see if there was a clown or something, because they were giggling. I turn back around and try and follow their eye direction, oh my goodness. Seriously, even in the muggle world. Yes they were staring at Malfoy. I rolled my eyes, and of course he didn't even notice. He pointed at something and made some sort of comment, I smiled and nodded. Do you really not notice them staring at you. I look away to see a teenage boy staring at us too, really even guys? Oh wait he is staring at me. Ew gross.
"We are never going to get in." I say, trying to ignore all the staring going on.
"Yes, it seems that way." He says looking down the line. "I have an idea." He says and pulls me out of line.
"Great now we just lost our spot. Malfoy we cannot cut the line. Well actually there is a lady at the entrance and you could use your charm to get us in faster." I said totally surprising myself.
He looks surprised too, "You think I have charm?"
Oh dear, umm… "No, but those girls do." I said hoping that would save me, he looks over to the group of girls.
"Ladies." He says smiling and nodding towards them; they burst into a fit of giggles. "Well Granger despite the fact that I am thrilled you have a certain Slytherin quality to you, I have a much better idea. Follow me." He said and walked towards a set of trees that were bunched together. "We are going to apparate."
"What? No..."
"Ready?"
"No." I said as he grabbed on to my arm. I opened my eyes and saw that we were in what looks to be a janitorial closet. "What?"
"Well I couldn't very well apparate into one of the main rooms."
"You shouldn't have apparated at all! What would have happened if we had gotten caught? Those girls were looking at you the entire time."
"Jealous?"
"Of what? No I am not jealous I am furious."
"What else is new, look Granger I got us in didn't I?"
"Yes, but…"
"Well than, be happy, you know we could be standing in what used to be Marie Antoinette's linen closet."
I laughed, "Highly unlikely, but yes I suppose I should thank you. Although I feel like we committed some sort of crime, though I am not sure if it is a muggle one or magic one."
"Ok well while you figure that out, let's go see where Mrs. Antoinette entertained those guests." He said and went to open the door. I stopped him before he could.
"Wait. We cannot both walk out of here. What if there are people outside. They might think we were having sex."
"Not that it will ever happen, but trust me, if we were having sex in here it would not be this organized and you would not look as put together as you do now."
I shrugged, he was probably right. "Ok well, you go out first and when the coast is clear knock on the door as a signal to me that I can come out."
"This is way more complicated than it needs to be. He said rolling his eyes, "If you insist Granger." He sighed as he went out the door.
OOOOOOO
I sighed as I went out the door. I shut it behind me and tried to act casual as a tour group walked past me and into one of the rooms. I looked around the corner to make sure the coast was clear and as per Granger's request I knocked on the door. She poked her head out to check if it was really ok for her to come out. "Relax Granger, I told you no one would even notice."
"I just wanted to make sure."
I roll my eyes, "Ok, since you are the expert and could probably work as a tour guide where to first?"
"Well I think we should go to the main room, which is near the front. It says here that there is a vase in the room given as a gift from the King of Sweden, presented to her by the man that was rumored to be her lover, but if you ask me it sounds like a bunch of poppycock." She said as she looked at the booklet in her hand.
"Well it must have been some vase if she was willing to sleep with the guy, or maybe that was just his tip for delivering it to her in such great condition."
"Malfoy" she said as she lightly smacked my arm, "How inappropriate! If you continue to say such things I will leave you and just go off on my own."
"Oh no, whatever shall I do without you Granger. I can't even imagine going on, knowing that you will not be right by my side chattering about a painting or the woman's shoe size."
"You don't have to be so rude. I never asked you to come along and you could have told your mother you were sick so you wouldn't have to come." She said and walked off.
Great, now I've made her mad again, which is rather easy to do. I should probably try and find her.
OOOOOOOO
Ugh! I do not know how much longer I can stand being around him. He is really never going to change from that annoying twit he has always been. Ok Hermione, no need to let this consume you every thought, concentrate on being here in Marie Antoinette's parlor.
"There you are. I've only been looking everywhere for you, there are so many groups in here. How is it that you always seem to be the only one in a room when there must be about 100 people in this place?"
"Come to insult me again, because we can just pretend you did and I can just walk away again." I told him as I read the plaque in front of the pastel blue chaise lounge that apparently was given to her as a wedding present from her Father-in-law.
"Come on now Granger, you like our little witty conversations."
"Witty is probably not the word I would use to describe our talks"
"Do you want a picture on that?" he asked pointing to the chaise.
I look at him, "I do not think we are supposed to sit on the furniture."
"No one is around."
"No."
"Come on," he said taking my phone, "Sit on it."
I pause for a moment, "Ok, for a second." I said and sat down.
"Ok so how do I work this?"
"Oh right" I said jumping up, show him which button to press and then I sit back down.
He looks up from the phone and seems to be displeased.
'What?" I asked, "Can you just hurry up and take it."
"Well you are just sting there, act like you really want to be on it."
"I'm sorry what?"
"Lay on it or something."
"No, this is just silly."
"Hurry I hear people coming"
"This is absurd."
"What would Ginny Weasley do?"
"Pardon me?"
"Your friend. Granted I do not know her very well but I bet she would pose as if she were actually lounging on it. So do what she would do."
"I try and do the opposite of what she would do."
"I bet she has more fun." He mumbled.
"Ok fine." I said as I scooted to the back and rested my head on the back rest. I swung my feet up on to the chaise. "Better?"
He nodded, "Smile." He said and took the picture.
"Hey, you are not supposed to be on there." A tour guide came in and caught us.
"We were just leaving." Malfoy said as he grabbed my hand to pull me up and we ran out of the room.
We didn't stop running until we were a good distance from the building. We both stopped near one of the ponds, breathing heavily. "Why didn't you apparate then?" I asked still trying to catch my breath.
"Didn't think of it, and also I didn't want to give that muggle a heart attack. I hear it isn't normal for muggles to disappear in to thin air."
I laughed, "No it isn't."
He looked around at the garden, "This place seems to go on forever." He said, "It is very pretty here."
"Yes it is." I agreed looking around.
"Let's take another picture."
"Of what?" I asked
"Of us." He said and squeezed my hand that he was still holding.
"What do you mean?"
"Ok, so before I took the picture I accidently pressed a different button that led me to this place on your phone where it looks like you were having some sort of conversation. Anyway I saw Ginny's name at the top and one of the little bubbles said that she wanted to see pictures of the two of us."
I looked at him; I wasn't mad that he violated my privacy and looked through my conversation, because he probably didn't know what he was doing. I was confused however. "Ok but I wasn't actually going to send her pictures, except for the one your mom took of us but that is just to get her off my case for a bit."
"Come on, let's take a bunch of pictures and send them to her so she thinks we are really good friends now."
"What would that accomplish?"
"Nothing, except it would be fun to mess with Ms. Weasley. From the other bubbles I read it seems like she is trying to get you to sleep with me."
"She is." I said bluntly.
"Well how about we settle for a picture instead. I don't like you that much yet Granger."
"You better not like me like that ever Malfoy." I glared at him.
"Noted. Now hand me your phone." He said and I did, against my better judgement.
"Press this button, that way we can see if we are both in the frame." I said
"Ah, thank you." He said and pulled me to him, letting go of my hand and putting his arm around my shoulder holding me close. Ok this is a bit awkward. "Look like you like me Granger." He said through his smile.
I gave the most genuine smile I could muster...apparently Ginny can tell if I am being fake.
"Perfect." Malfoy said as he looked at the picture, "Oh excuse me!" He called out to a passing couple.
"Malfoy, what are you doing?" I hissed trying to pull him back; alas he has approached the couple and is now giving them my phone. Merlin help me.
OOOOOOOO
I went up to this couple that was walking past and asked if they could take a picture of Granger and I. I handed them her phone and walked back to Granger. "Ready?" I asked
"For what?" she asked and before she could protest I put her arm around my neck and picked her up.
"Malfoy!" She screeched, in my ear by the way.
"Shut it Granger, this really ought to get Ginny excited. Now smile for the camera." I said and she sighed and turned towards the camera.
"Put me down now." She said one the picture was taken.
I put her down and went to go get her phone back. "See it isn't so bad." I said showing her the picture.
"I am not sending this to Ginny. I will send her the other ones." She said putting her phone away.
"Keeping that for your own private viewing?" I asked, "You aren't really mad are you."
She sighed, "No I am not mad. But a little warning next time please."
"Ok, I promise to announce it before I pick you up, your highness."
"Thank you. We should probably be getting back." She said.
The sky had started to turn red and yellow as the sun was setting, we walked back to the palace and met up with our parents.
All of us got back into the van for another tedious drive back to the hotel...seriously why can't we just apparate. This time Granger sat in the middle seat, since my Mother went shopping and bought half the gift shop which was taking over the other window seat in the back of the van.
"Did you kids have a good time?" Mother asked.
"Yes it was lovely, thank you for inviting us." Granger said as she leaned her head back against the seat.
"Are you alright dear?" Mrs. Granger asked
"Oh yes, I am just tired that's all." She replied.
The ride back was much quieter, except for the occasional whisper exchanged between Mother and Mrs. Granger. I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes; if I had apparated I could be in bed by now.
All of a sudden I felt pressure on my shoulder. I open my eyes to find Granger laying on me. Alright so I guess taking the muggle route isn't so bad.
Ok sorry for the long wait but I hope everyone is happy with this chapter. I am not sure when I will be able to post another, I hope to post one more chapter before I leave but we will see. Reviews please!