Disclaimer: The characters and the magical universe of Harry Potter (who will, unfortunately, not be present in this story) are the propriety of Joanne Rowling.

.

Chapter One - Encounters

.

"There are few people whom I really love, and even fewer whom I think well of."
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

.

Paris, 1999

.

Hermione peered through the pâtisserie's window.
'Oh, not her again' she thought. 'Just my luck.' She sighed and made her way inside.
"Bon jour." She said cheerfully to the middle-aged woman behind the counter.
"Good day to you too" the woman answered, much to Hermione's annoyance.
'Why does she have to always answer in English?!' she asked herself exasperated, but then again Hermione knew the answer to that: the woman wanted to point out that Hermione was a foreigner, 'an intruder' Hermione thought, rolling her eyes. 'Paranoid woman.'

"How may I help you?" the woman asked in her remarkably good English.
"Deux croissants au chocolat, s'il vous plait" Hermione answered in her equally good French.
The woman simply raised an eyebrow and turned to get her order.
'Damn you and your delicious pastries' Hermione thought as she watched the woman return.

"Here you are, miss. Two chocolate croissants." She reached them over to Hermione.
"Anything else?"
"Non, c'est tout, merci" Hermione said, handing the woman the money.
"Merci beaucoup, Madame."
That being said, Hermione turned on her heels and headed towards the door.
"You're welcome, miss" she heard the woman say. ¹

Two months had passed since she had arrived in Paris and she still felt unwelcome at times.
But it had been her decision to leave England after finishing her last year at Hogwarts; she had needed to get away from it all, to put the last two years behind her. So here she was in the City of Love, feeling ironically alone.

But she reminded herself, as she ate her croissants, that she was studying at one of the most prestigious magical universities in the entire world and that she loved it. Yes, she wasn't going to spoil this beautiful day with such depressing thoughts.
Instead, Hermione decided to enjoy the sunny October day from her favorite place in Paris (well, after the vast library of her university) so she made her way to Bois de Boulogne, the city's largest park.

The Parisian community of witches and wizards had secretly taken over a part of the magnificent forest, hiding it from the Muggle world and thus offering itself a splendid place for walks and picnics and all sorts of magical outdoor activities.
Hermione was indeed grateful for this park. She hadn't seen one in London (not that she knew all of wizarding London) and it reminded her of Hogwarts, of the vast castle grounds she was so fond of.

Hermione sat down on one of the many benches and looked around her, admiring the colored leafs of autumn and the lake. She reached for her bag and picked out a book.
'Tracking Charms through Time' by Aura Farmec. ²
So now Hermione engaged in doing what she liked to do best: she tucked her feet beneath her and started to read. Well, it wasn't her fault the books they needed for University were so fascinating.

Lost in the history of such an interesting subject, Hermione didn't notice her own time fly by, nor did she take notice of the witches and wizards walking passed her.

So it wasn't in the least unexpected that she started when a voice from right in front of her exclaimed:
"Mademoiselle Granger! Well, well, what a surprise."

Hermione looked up and started again, automatically thinking of the fastest way to take her wand out of her bag. She blinked a few times, but they were still there; Lucius, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy. Hermione had no idea what to say to them so she simply stared.

"It has been quite some time since our last encounter, hasn't it?" Lucius continued, for it was him who had addressed Hermione earlier.
"I believe you know my wife, Narcissa" he continued almost politely, turning towards her and earning no less than three confused looks.

If she wouldn't have been surprised, Hermione would have laughed. The three Malfoy's were so alike in appearance and yet their expressions were so different right now.

Draco seemed somehow unsure, apprehensive, perhaps even embarrassed.
His mother was clearly dissatisfied with such an encounter and her husband's behavior.
But Lucius Malfoy was…pleased? Yes, he appeared to be quite pleased with himself and to see Hermione and she had to wonder what evil plot he was devising.

Hermione nodded towards Mrs. Malfoy and resumed staring at the three of them until Lucius spoke again.
"So do tell us, Miss Granger, what brings you to Paris?" he asked, apparently interested.

Hermione blinked and then looked down at the book in her lap and the bag next to her and answered.
"My studies. I have been accepted at the Veneficus University here, in Paris." ³

All three Malfoys were looking at her now and Lucius Malfoy smiled, which made Hermione even more suspicious and uncomfortable.
"Of course" he said. "I'm sure all universities were fighting to draw you into their ranks."
Hermione chose not to reply. She was once again startled as the elder Malfoy sat down on the bench next to hers, his family watching him in surprise once more.

"And what field have you chosen?" he asked in a curios tone.
"My specialization is Charms, Spells and Incantations."
"Oh, really?" Lucius asked, raising his eyebrows.
'Yes, really!' Hermione thought, exasperated that she couldn't find a plausible explanation for his attitude.

"How do you find it so far? Is university as challenging as you expected it to?"
Hermione nearly gaped at him. Was he out of his mind? Lucius Malfoy, attempting to have a conversation with her where the word mudblood was left out.
"Yes, yes it is" she finally answered, not willing to elaborate any further.

But her attempt to discourage him had no effect as he simply asked another question.
"I have heard a lot of things about the professors of the Veneficus University. Are they true?"
Hermione pondered her answer.
"I do not claim to know what you have heard, Mr. Malfoy" she said in a seemingly earnest tone, "but I assure you that all professors I have had the privilege to meet so far are not only experts in their domain, but they also have the gift and pleasure to teach."

Hermione turned to look at the other two members of the Malfoy family, who had chosen to stand. Narcissa was looking away, pretending to ignore them, but Draco simply looked back at Hermione with a sort of curiosity in his eyes.

"Well," Lucius Malfoy said abruptly, standing from the bench, "we shan't keep you from your studies any longer" he added smiling.
"It was a pleasure meeting you again, Miss Granger, wasn't it?" At this he looked at his wife and son who answered with a half whispered "Naturally" and "Sure".
"Likewise" Hermione muttered.

Narcissa and Draco turned to leave and Lucius Malfoy followed them, but not before adding one more thing.
"Au revoir, mademoiselle" he said, stressing on the second word. 'See you again'.
"Good bye" Hermione said as she stared after them.


Author's Note

¹ I must confess: the idea for this passage was stolen (with the intention of returning) from Tracy Chevalier's novel "The Virgin Blue", where one of the main characters has a similar (but not identical) French vs. English conversation. I'm completely in love with that novel!
² The word 'farmec' means 'charm' in Romanian :P
³ Veneficus means 'witch, wizard' in Latin (according to an online dictionary…so I hope that's what it means, lol)

I hope you've enjoyed reading this first chapter as much as I've enjoyed writing it.
I don't think the next part will be up so soon, I had a lot of ideas for this chapter.

Edit: I've posted an illustration for this chapter on my deviantArt account: untangomas. deviantart. com/art/Reading-100512921