Disclaimer: The characters and the magical universe of Harry Potter are the property of Joanne Rowling.
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Chapter Two – Schedules
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"Always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them as much."
Oscar Wilde
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After such encounters Hermione had managed to get over the initial shock. She had even gotten over the irony of her answering in English to a remark addressed to her in French. But she was determined to avoid Bois de Boulogne at all cost, despite the still beautiful weather.
By Monday morning even her frustration was gone. Hermione detested not understanding things and Malfoy's behavior had been very far beyond her comprehension. But she would waste no more time dwelling upon this thought, after all, a new week had just begun and with that her classes.
So now Hermione was on her way to University. Well, she only had to walk out of the building her flat was in and apparate to Veneficus. The University was in the centre of wizarding Paris and for good reason; the building was the most impressive one in the city. Not only was it very large and splendid with its white shining marble, but the architecture was also quite meaningful.
The main building had the shape of a square which was whole in the center, where the University's botanical garden was hosted. The square shape was a symbol of equality and each of the four corners of the main building was continued with a smaller square representing one of the four natural elements: Air, Fire, Earth and Water.
The number four was also important for the University because that was how many specializations it hosted: Charms, Potions, Herbology and Transfiguration. Unfortunately for Hermione students could only apply for one specialization at a time, so making the choice had been rather difficult for her.
Hermione was very excited about the whole equality concept at Veneficus. They had even gone so far as too periodically rotate the classrooms among the building so students would be able to study in each section throughout the years spent there. Changing classrooms so frequently could become confusing for some, but Hermione had devised a map of the building's classrooms, inspired by the Marauders map. Every classroom was named after a great witch or wizard, so every time a classroom shifted, the names changed on her map as well making it easy for Hermione to find them.
This week they were to attend classes in the Herbology quarter of the building and Hermione's first lesson was held in the Beaumont Majoribanks ¹ classroom in the "Earth" Square.
Contrary to some expectations, Hermione had made many friends already, most of them not original from France though. Still, none compared to the friends she had left behind in Britain but they wrote to each other often and she would go home for Christmas and see them too. Until then she would concentrate on her studies.
The structure of classes was different from the one she knew in Hogwarts. Here, Hermione had two types of classes for each subject: one was theoretical, where they mostly discussed themes and took notes, and the other was practical, where they actually applied the theories and performed magic.
Mondays were always 'practical' and Hermione had reread her notes from the previous week quite a few times (as she always did). She was more than satisfied with her decision: Charms was an interesting subject and she had learned a lot already.
Her lunch break followed immediately after the first three lessons so, leaving the classroom with her colleagues, Hermione headed for the botanical garden. Half of it was actually a terrace where students could have lunch and generally spend their time between classes.
But Hermione didn't want to waste time hanging around with her friends today, so she hastily ate something and headed for the library. The University's library was hosted in a separate building, right across the street from this one. It had the shape of a circle, symbolizing infinite knowledge. And Hermione really felt like the knowledge offered in books by the Veneficus Library was infinite.
Madame Goshawk, the Miranda Goshawk ², author of numerous spell-books and professor of Spell Reversion at the Veneficus University was Hermione's favorite professor (secretly, Hermione was Madame Goshawk's favorite student as well, but openly admitting that was against the University's esteemed equality ideal). Spell Reversion had been the first class of the day and the professor had given them some extra reading to do for the next theoretical class and Hermione wanted to get the required books from the library now.
Leaving the University's building, Hermione took out her muggle agenda (a gift from her parents) where she had written the titles and authors of the two books she needed, and crossed the street towards the library.
She looked up from the agenda closing it and just then something, or rather someone caught her eye. Not far to her left a tall man with long pale blond hair was walking in her direction and before Hermione managed to hide he had looked straight at her while she was still staring.
'Damn it' she thought. She couldn't just pretend not to have seen him and flee after gaping at him. Still, Hermione opened her agenda and feverishly skipped the pages, acting busy and turning her back to him. It didn't work, of course, so now Lucius Malfoy was heading towards her, just mere meters away.
"Miss Granger" she heard only seconds later and was forced to look up from her agenda.
"I dare say fate has brought us in the same place again" he continued. "Or do you perhaps believe in coincidence?"
Hermione thought he would leave nothing to coincidence but she decided against saying that out loud. Instead she simply stated the obvious.
"I believe it was neither fate nor coincidence in this case, Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure you know that my University is just across the street so my being here is quite expected and natural" she said, analyzing his reaction. But Hermione wasn't surprised to see no change in his features; he had to be quite an adept actor.
"Well, whatever it was, Miss Granger" Lucius said indifferently "I'm glad to have run into you."
Hermione suppressed a snort, lifting an eyebrow instead.
"Yes" he continued. "My family and I were going to owl you this evening, but it is quite fortunate to have met you instead." He looked straight into her eyes, lips curling, much to Hermione's annoyance.
"Really?" Hermione said innocently. "I don't see what I could do for you and your family, Mr. Malfoy." Lucius Malfoy narrowed his eyes for a second and then smiled openly at her.
"Actually, it was more a matter of doing something for you, Miss Granger" he said, still smiling.
Hermione briefly considered magically vanishing his mouth but contented herself with glaring.
"Please, there's no need to bother, sir, and I assure you that there is nothing I lack" she said angrily but he seemed to be quite amused watching her reaction. Hermione silently cursed herself; annoying her was surely his goal and she had unwillingly obliged.
"Now, now, Miss Granger. There is no need to be so upset, we, my family and I that is, had only thought you couldn't have made many friends in Paris in such a short period" Lucius Malfoy said in a pacifying tone.
Before Hermione could object he added quickly: "The French can be quite difficult sometimes; not easy to befriend. I believe they're a little…paranoid." Hermione had to wonder why he would say that. 'Surely his ancestors were French, weren't they?' She had assumed that, given his name.
"Well, we simply wanted to invite you to have lunch with us this weekend" Malfoy said pleasantly. "It would be an opportunity to…get better acquainted" he added.
Hermione tried not to snort yet again at his choice of words. They were well acquainted as far as she was concerned. She could still remember her 'visit' to the Malfoy manor not more than a year and a half ago quite vividly.
"Ah, you still do not trust us, Miss Granger?" Lucius asked. Was her expression really this revealing, Hermione wondered, or had he just used Legilimency without her noticing it?
"But surely you believe in second chances, Miss Granger. You don't think people can change?" he said in a mock-hurt voice. "Well, then, why don't we meet on neutral ground, shall we?" Lucius added, the smile back on his lips.
"Yes, well…" Hermione hesitated, "I'm afraid I have a very busy schedule. With all the subjects I've taken and the extra-curricular activities…I have such a full agenda" she said lifting the mentioned item which still rested in her hands. Lucius looked at it suspiciously, then added:
"Surely you can find the time, Miss Granger. After all, you have to eat so why not have lunch with us?" He smiled again.
"I assure you, Mr. Malfoy" Hermione started, but before she could finish her objection he snatched the agenda from her hands leaving Hermione to ponder between shock and fury. He casually skipped the pages, reaching October and a triumphant smile spread across his lips. She had, of course, lied about her programme. Hermione felt like tearing the blasted agenda from his hands but knew it would make no difference now.
Lucius then conjured a quill out of thin air. "I see you have no plans for this Saturday, Miss Granger" he said, as he wrote something on the page at which he had been looking. When he finished he handed Hermione her agenda back and she glared, first at him, then at what he had written. At the top of the page allocated for October 24th she read 'Lunch at "La Mandragore" ³, 13.00'.
Hermione looked back into his now smirking face. She was about to say that he had absolutely no right to force her to see all three Malfoys again but before she could do so Lucius spoke.
"Well then, we shall see you on Saturday. I will leave you to your busy schedule now" he said, his voice dripping sarcasm. That being said he simply nodded and turned on his heels, leaving Hermione to stare after him for the second time within less than a week.
Author's Note
¹ Beaumont Majoribanks "was a pioneer in the field of Herbology. He collected and classified many rare and magical plants. Marjoribanks is credited with discovering Gillyweed, although Elladora Ketteridge had discovered it about a century earlier."
² Miranda Goshawk (b. 1921) "Author of Standard Book of Spells series of books (Standard Book of Spells Grade One, etc.) which are required textbooks for students at Hogwarts"
– names ¹,² and quotes taken from the HP Lexicon.
³ I have yet another confession to make: I went out to a wonderful restaurant/café/club (3 in 1) last week, it was called La Mandragora…I instantly thought of HP so I was all for going in :P I thought I might use the French version of the word here.
So…please tell me what you think of the story's style and plot so far. Too much dialog? Too many descriptions? Something missing or exaggerated in your opinion? Do you find it boring or interesting? Criticism of any kind, be it positive or negative, is welcomed!