11 June, 2010 (Friday)

As a young child, Hermione had been to visit her mother's side of the family rarely, as her parent's dental practice hadn't really gotten off the ground until she'd entered Hogwarts, and before that, money had been tight. So, despite the fact she hardly knew the Terezsi family (most of whom were, ironically, named Anita, Diane, or Nick), Hermione was, by day four of her whirlwind holiday, beginning to have serious reservations about returning to England. Greece was extraordinary, and her mum's family lively and generous.

The rational side of her brain told her that such feelings were typical when you visited an exotic location not for work, but for pleasure, and that once the novelty of the area wore off, it would become just like any other place you lived, just with different weather. Still, the Grecian sun felt glorious upon her skin, and the Grecian men... well, they were certainly an appealing factor: dark-haired, dark-eyed, with colourful accents.

The night before, she'd had a rather enjoyable one-off with one of them – a friend of one of her cousins, Nick the First (there were four Nicks in her family it turned out, so she'd taken to numbering them). The fellow's name had been Alexio, and he'd been as far from platinum blond and grey-eyed as one could get. Twenty-five, built like a brick, with a considerate and generous disposition and a wicked smile. He'd relieved a lot of her tension.

Let's hear it for disease and pregnancy protection charms, she once more silently cheered.

Some days it was great being a witch.

"Hermione, you come," her cousin, Rhachel, requested, gripping her hand and tugging her out the door for another rousing day of mischief, fine food, and fun.

Despite the infrequency of their visits when she'd been a child, Hermione had nonetheless bonded to Rhachel as she would have a sister. The two had faithfully kept in contact over the years through Muggle post and the telephone, sending each other cards and birthday wishes. So it was when they were reunited at Hermione's Aunt's house, after not seeing each other face-to-face in over a dozen years, it was to squeals of delight and crushing hugs and tears of joy. Now, they were inseparable.

Of her entire family, only Rhachel knew Hermione's secret life as a witch. There had been an accident when they'd been eleven and playing together, and Hermione's first manifestation of magic had been in spontaneous reaction to that event. Rhachel had witnessed it, but the two had pinky-sworn never to reveal the truth, as Hermione was afraid of the consequences.

It was, of course, after that incident, when she'd returned home from the holiday, that Minerva McGonagall had been dispatched to Surrey to explain to Helene and Richard Granger all about their daughter's unique 'gifts', and to invite Hermione to attend Hogwarts that fall to aid her in learning to control her magic. Hermione was also informed at that time that her mother's lineage was rife with Squib intermarriages, which explained the very reason Hermione had been born with magic (as Muggle-born witches and wizards were the children of Squibs mating with Muggles).

Cousin Rhachel was, in fact, a Squib, and at the same time Minerva had been explaining things to Hermione about the wonderful, magical life that awaited her, someone from the Greek Ministry of Magic had been explaining to Rhachel that she'd fallen short – and extracting a binding oath from her never to tell any Muggles the truth or risk having her memories Obliviated. It had been a serious enough threat that Rhachel had kept her mouth closed all these years.

During this particular trip, Hermione had tried very hard never to mention magic around Rhachel, not wanting to rub it in that the other woman was born to have this fantastical ability, but for some reason, never would. It would hurt her cousin, and that was the last thing Hermione ever wanted to do. So, when she was required to perform feats of magic, she did so discreetly, as required by the Statue of Secrecy, and never in front of Rhachel.

Therefore, it came as a surprise to her when Rhachel requested Hermione use her magic to make her up for their night out to Mykonos with another set of cousins later that evening.

"Are you sure you want that?" she asked, feeling her heart tug with compassion at Rhachel's elevated excitement.

Her cousin nodded. "Yes, I wish to see again."

Making sure the door to her room was locked and the shades drawn, Hermione set her cousin down in front of the small mirror in the bedroom she'd been given for her use and began using simple Glamour Charms to create an elaborate and sexy up-do for the woman.

Squibs weren't forbidden from knowing about magic, or from experiencing its effects. In fact, they were cursed, in a way, to see it and feel it all around them, and yet never be able to touch it or move it with their own will. It was a sad affair that broke Hermione's heart, and made a part of her wish she'd gone the way of Healing after Hogwarts, rather than Curse-Breaking, for working on the cure for Squib-ism would have been a miraculous thing to have been a part of, indeed.

That truth was brought home as she watched Rhachel's dark, luminous eyes widen with delight, and a wide, white smile split her plump, ruby lips.

"Oh, is wonderful!" she cooed, reaching up to touch a curl left purposefully free-flowing on the side. "I wish..."

Her eyes dimmed, and her smile faltered.

Hermione's eyes brightened with tears. "I'm sorry," was all she could offer, and hugged her cousin from behind. "I wish for you, too."

Rhachel recovered quickly. "Is okay. I have you for this, yes?"

With a firm nod, Hermione agreed, "Yes. Always."

X~~~~~X

Mykonos was a well-to-do island that tourists flocked to for the nightlife and shopping. It was a favourite for its scenic views and its cosmopolitan attitude, while retaining its old-world charm.

After checking into their hotel for their single overnight stay, and refreshing their make-up and hair with a simple wave of Hermione's wand, she and Rhachel met the rest of her cousins –Nick the Second, Nick the Fourth, Anita, Nicki, and Diane– in the lobby. They then all headed out together to enjoy dinner and the nightlife.

Hermione adored the island, especially the last club Rhachel and her other cousins had arranged for them to visit. Cavo Paradiso was a large building situated just outside of town, on a cliff's edge. It was a multi-tiered structure that followed the natural landscape's miniature plateaus, with a vast open area for dancing. Some of the club was sheltered under a giant overhanging roof that had been wired for a dazzling electric lightshow and acoustically built to bounce sound from one section to another without an echo. Outside, under the open sky, another dance area surrounded an odd-shaped pool in the middle, which dancers could use, if they wanted to take a dip. There were tall stools with tables lined up at the edges of the pool and a reserved space indoors with benches and low tables so guests could take a rest if they wanted. Its design was the perfect fusion of modern and ancient, of relaxing resort and high-energy disco.

The bar was packed with bodies, all clamouring for their first or next drink, even while the house trance played on in the background.

The night was just getting started at ten o'clock, and Hermione knew she'd be dancing until at least one in the morning after her cousin, Nick the Fourth (an extremely attractive swarthy man who had been eyeing her up like candy since she'd arrived, and who had turned out to be her third cousin by marriage in reality), took her hand and led her directly into the sea of bodies. He pulled her in tight and began to move.

Hermione was a bit embarrassed, to tell the truth, feeling his every curve rub against hers on the sardine-packed dance area, but she went with it, determined to have some fun.

Nick was fun, but it was clear from the get-go that they were not in sync and moved awkwardly together. Further, to her growing disappointment, Hermione realised that the look Nick laid on her was the same one he was giving other women nearby. His eyes roved over the crowd, seeking potentially better prospects, even as his hands curved around her backside and squeezed.

So not happening, she thought, as she caught him giving the 'well, hello there' nod to a girl dancing nearby.

She tapped his cheek and gave him an arch eyebrow. He had the good grace to blush and focus on her for the rest of the song after that. Still, she put some space between them, assuring his hands stayed plastered to her waist and could not roam.

At least she'd get to dance once tonight, even if it wasn't ideal.

By the end of the song, Nick had clearly gotten the vibe from her that she wasn't interested in being a notch on his belt. He led her back to their group stationed near the bar, thanked her for the dance, and bought her a beer to make up for it, but within ten minutes, he was politely excusing himself and heading out into the fray to continue trolling.

Typical, she thought, rolling her eyes. What had she expected though, especially from a twenty-one year old, hormonally-challenged University student?

Not long after that, Hermione had been approached by another man seeking a dance. She'd taken a chance with him, but his mate had shown up in the middle of it, and the two had sandwiched her between them, making it clear that they were looking for a little threesome action. A shag she might be after, but Hermione was a one-on-one kind of girl. She extricated herself from that mess rather quickly, and headed back for the bar to find Rhachel.

Her cousin, however, was nowhere to be seen. Hermione quickly scanned the area, moving between levels, and finally spotted her cousin-

-dancing closely with a very familiar blond.

Jaw falling to the level of her kneecaps and heart sinking into the floor, Hermione could only watch as Rhachel and Draco Malfoy –who should have been thousands of miles away just then– got rather familiar with some serious bump-and-grind action on the dance floor.

What the bloody hell was he doing there? Hadn't she expressly told him to stay away?

Malfoy was as smooth as ever, giving Rhachel his sexiest, naughtiest, "I want you" smile, and her cousin was staring at Hermione's co-worker as if she would happily discard her knickers on the spot if asked.

"Hell," Hermione muttered under her breath.

Score another woman down, victim to the Malfoy charm.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Muggle-born witches and wizards were the children of Squibs mating with Muggles = canon fact from JKR herself. I didn't make this up. Apparently, the gene for wizarding resurfaces randomly throughout their lineage. So, somewhere in Hermione's background, someone in her family had been a Squib. I have capitalized on that idea for this fic.

Please review!

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Here's a preview of chapter five for you:

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"Why are you here? I expressly told you not to bother me while on holiday."

"Who says I'm here for you?" he blandly pointed out. His arm snaked around Rhachel's waist and he pulled her rather possessively into his side. "If you'll recall, I stated that I was in the mood for an exotic brunette to enjoy during my holiday." He tilted her cousin's chin up to stare her in the eye. "Well, I've found one."