Author's Personal Notes:
I'd like to address some things I've received via reviews lately...
First, Rhachel isn't as fluent in English as others in the group. Her English is 'broken', and as such, her sentences are incomplete (i.e. missing prepositions or misuse of some terms). Most of her cousins are the same. Only Apollodorus is fluent in English. I thought I'd made that clear in the story, but apparently, that wasn't conveyed as well as I'd assumed. I apologise for that weakness in the writing, and appreciate the con-crit that pointed that issue out. I'll have to consider such things in future writings or if I come back to this story much later and revise it.
Second, please do feel free to con-crit any of my stories if you feel it's justified and appropriate. I enjoy hearing what works/doesn't work for you in any given chapter, because it helps me to grow as a writer. It also helps me to gauge what you might be interested in reading, and what plot elements disagree with you.
Third, please note that being open-minded to accepting con-crit does not give readers license to hurtle abuse. Demanding I update immediately or you'll leave a bad review the next chapter, threatening to stop reading if I don't make the story go in the direction you expect/want, or calling me a terrible profanity because the chapter ended on a cliffhanger = NOT OKAY. Behaviour like that is rude and cruel, and shows a distinct lack of manners and class. Please be courteous and respectful in your reviews.
Remember: we're a community of fans here, sharing a love of our ship (Dramione). I'm writing these stories because I enjoy doing so and the fandom's enthusiasm makes me want to contribute. The moment this stops being fun for me and the abuse becomes too much, though, I'll move on to other projects, regardless of the status of WIP stories. I'd rather not do that, so please let's all try to work together here to keep the Dramione love going for years to come, yeah?
19 June, 2010 (Saturday)
After a day of rest and relaxation, the night's entertainment was planned by Nick the First: they would all enjoy a bonfire on a beach just outside Aegio, near Apollodorus' home, drinking and eating and talking and singing songs (Nick the Third played the bouzouki, a type of Greek guitar). It was a popular destination for such gatherings, and so didn't require a permit, and best of all, it was free to everyone. The whole group of cousins were coming, along with their dates, and Hermione's Aunt was packing for them enough food to feed an army. The Nicks were stacking coolers full of beers and fizzy drinks, while Diane and Anita made sure there were blankets, matches, and kindling.
Hermione was, of course, bringing Apollodorus along. A part of her was worried that tonight he might make a move and honestly, she was hesitant to follow through, unsure if it was the right course of action anymore. Her logical side was at war with her emotional side, however, prompting her to be brave and to try.
She was torn.
It was all Malfoy's fault, the rotten git. If he hadn't been so ill-tempered one moment, then amusing and flirty the next ever since Apollodorus had showed up on the scene, she might feel a bit easier. Her partner's continually shifting moods, however, were affecting her, making her wonder his reasons, lighting a small hope in her heart...
It was the sound of the door to her temporary bedroom shutting and the feel of magic released nearby that made her look up from rummaging through her valise to put together an appropriate outfit for an evening outside. Draco was leaning against the door, looking down at his feet as if he was puzzling something out in his head.
"What did you just do?" she asked, instantly suspicious. Malfoy was acting weird again, and even having been his partner for four years, sometimes he could still be unfathomable to her.
"Silenced the room," he admitted, glancing up to meet her eye with all seriousness. "Keeping the Muggles out."
A nervous flutter took up residence in her belly and she rubbed at it with one hand. "Why?"
"A little, pesky thing called the 'Statute of Secrecy' – or had you forgotten?"
He sounded a tad angry.
"Of course not. You're careful around the family. Rhachel is a Squib, though, and she knows all about the magical world. The Ministry here has already talked to her about remaining silent on the matter," she explained. "So, you needn't worry about either one of us slipping in front of her, if that's your issue."
Malfoy stared at her as if she were daft. "I already knew that. She and I have history, as you are well aware. I wasn't referring to her."
Ah. He was speaking of her newest interest.
The nerve of him, insinuating that she'd let hormones get in the way of the law!
"I'm perfectly capable of juggling such a secret, Malfoy, especially from Apollodorus. I've been keeping that law sacred since I was eleven and was first informed of the Statute," she pointed out. "Thank you for the concern, however. Now, if you don't mind-"
Just like that, she dismissed him, just as he'd been dismissing her most of this last week while he played footsy with her cousin. She turned back to her shirts, and transfigured one into a cashmere cable-knit jumper that was thick enough for her to ward off any chill. Then, she chose an appropriate pair of Muggle jeans, and her packed trainers. They'd be cosy and warm for tonight, and she'd bring a jacket with a hood, just in case…
"You can't seriously be considering anything with that blond doufus. He's too much like Weasley."
Shocked by the cruelty and vehemence in his words, Hermione turned on her partner. "How dare you! Apollodorus may be as open and enthusiastic as Ron, but in case you failed to notice, that's where the similarities end. My date is an intelligent and witty man, and he has excellent manners. I'd be glad to get to count him as a new friend."
The dark cynicism slashing across Draco's aristocratic features astonished her. "Oh, I'm sure that's exactly what he's after with you – just friendship."
She arched an eyebrow at him, confused by his odd over-protectiveness. "Perhaps he does want more, but so what? What's it to you? I'm perfectly capable of deciding that course of action for myself as well. If things lead in that direction, I'll take the necessary precautions, and thank you to mind your business."
Despite her rebuke, like a hound on a trail, Draco refused to let up on the issue. "He's only interested in one thing from you, Granger. Even a blind man could see that much."
She sniffed in disdain at him. "For Merlin's sake, I'm a grown woman, Malfoy, and a rather accomplished witch to boot. I can take care of my own affairs, and don't need a man lording over me, especially the King of One-offs." She moved into his personal space and poked him repeatedly in the chest with one finger. "Besides, you're one to lecture me on shagging a little known quantity, Mister I'll-Pull-Anything-That-Walks-Swims-Or-Flies. How many times have I had to bang on our interconnected hotel walls to tell you to shut the feck up while you're nailing some witch to the bloody mattress – while on mission, I might add?"
He grabbed her wrist to stop her from poking him. "We're not talking about me. We're talking about you and that Greek playboy with the pretty green eyes and the cunt-licking smile."
"Let go of me," she snarled back in his face, yanking her arm to get free. "You have no right to say such things about him to me, you bloody, bloody hypocrite! Besides, I happen to like his smile!"
Malfoy's face was red with anger, his eyes narrowed and spitting daggers. He used his considerable height and weight advantage to push her bodily backwards. She forcibly retreated across the room until she collided with the small bedside table, nearly tripping over it. Bracing herself against the wall with her free hand, she managed to keep her feet under her, but was at an awkward angle that put a strain on her lower back.
"Well, if I'd known it was that easy to get into your knickers, Granger-" he hissed, but was interrupted in his tirade by a knock at her door.
"Hermione? Ready go?" Rhachel asked from the other side of the divide, having heard none of the conversation thanks to Malfoy's one-way Silencing Charm.
One beat. Two.
Hermione met Malfoy's resentment with her own, refusing to look away. Her heart pounded out a stallion's rhythm in her chest, and her throat felt tight as tears flooded her eyes.
How could he do this to her? How could he say such hurtful things? In four years, she hadn't once openly commented on his parade of affairs, or the quality of the women he'd taken to his bed. They were supposed to be partners, ever watching the others' back, that judging nonsense long ago laid to rest when they'd come to an agreement to work together rather than in opposition. They'd put their lives in the hands of the other more times than she could count since, and she'd given this relationship –him– her all, even going so far as to turn a mostly blind eye to his sexual exploits.
But perhaps that had been the problem all along. Trusting someone with your life wasn't the same as trusting them with your heart, was it? It should be, but more often than not, it wasn't.
"Your girlfriend's waiting."
The bitterness in her tone was hard to miss.
Malfoy released her with careful reluctance, one finger at a time, and then he stepped back and tugged at his shirt to straighten it. When he felt he was presentable, he turned on his heel without a word and headed out the door, speaking in Greek to Rhachel, who was waiting out in the hallway. A few seconds later, the two headed off, and the door closed behind him, leaving Hermione alone once more in her temporary room.
On shaky knees, she made it to the bed and sat down, feeling dizzy from the confrontation.
She and Malfoy hadn't fought like that since the first time they'd been assigned to work together, and she'd nearly cocked-up that mission by not having his back during an emergency. Her childhood prejudice had firmly stood in the way of doing her job and had nearly cost him his life then. She hadn't repeated the mistake since, realising how she'd needed to let those times go and to accept that Draco was her assigned partner, like it or not.
He was her partner.
Only he wasn't, at least not in the sense that Hermione desperately wanted him to be.
"One time at the altar was enough for me, Granger."
And in the meantime, he had Rhachel (and a slew of other women after her) who would gladly scratch his itches for him.
Oh, she hated how that thought finally released her tears!
X~~~~~X
The bonfire was cheerful and warm, as was Apollodorus' arm around her as she sat next to him, but Hermione was feeling anything but. She was cold all the way to her marrow, emotionally and physically. She huddled in her coat as the night grew longer and the winds colder.
She engaged in polite conversation with her date, trying to ignore the fact that Draco and Rhachel were off on a walk by themselves, having left their group arm-in-arm and speaking in hushed tones half an hour ago. They were completely out of sight now, having followed the path of the beach around a bend, and for all she knew, Malfoy was taking full advantage of that fact for a little humpfest.
The idea made her positively nauseated.
After an indeterminate amount of time sitting in silence next to each other, Apollodorus' moved. He leaned his mouth towards her ear as if to impart a secret.
"How long have you loved him?"
Hermione jerked back, staring at him with incredulity. "What?"
He gave her a discerning smile.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. "You've only known me a few days. Is it that obvious?"
Apollodorus shrugged. "I have been there." His eyes strayed to the bend in the beach, where Rhachel had disappeared, and his tone went soft with longing. "Am still there."
"You and Rhachel?" she whispered, assuring none of the others around the bonfire could hear them.
He nodded. "I didn't know how much until he'd shown up that first time, two years ago and began courting her."
Two years? Then that meant he must have come to Greece during that stretch of no work from June to August that year.
She'd gone to visit Hogwarts at Minerva's behest, and had invited her partner to accompany her, but Malfoy had declined. They'd parted ways, she going to Scotland and he to parts he'd never divulged. When they'd met back up in late August, he'd walked into Bill's office for their next assignment with a light tan and a barely-there sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of his nose. There had been uncharacteristic stiffness to his shoulders and a strain at the corner of his eyes and mouth ever since. She'd noticed it then, but thought it may have been because returning to work after a two-month holiday would stress anyone out. It certainly had her!
Nick the Second had stated that Malfoy and Rhachel had been involved before, and Draco had even confirmed as much earlier that evening in Hermione's room, but to unequivocally know that he'd had a love affair that summer, after vowing never to get involved with another woman in such a way... Her heart bottomed out in her belly.
Rhachel was certainly beautiful, fun, and sweet. If anyone could have moved Draco towards giving up his re-acquired bachelorhood after his divorce from Astoria, it would have been Hermione's cousin, certainly. And yet, it hadn't lasted the summer. Why was that? Was it Rhachel's status as a Squib, or something else entirely that had brought him home to England?
Why had he come back to Greece now? Was it to pick-up where he and Rhachel had left off, taking it further, or was the woman simply a holiday fling for him?
"How did they meet?"
Her curiosity really was going to get her in trouble someday, she knew, but there was no preventing the words from popping out of her mouth.
"On a beach, much like this one, on a day I will forever regret." He looked down into the flames of the bonfire, reminiscing. "Nick had invited me, and I'd gone because I'd wanted to watch her. I am always watching her, but I've never had courage to tell her my feelings. From the day we first met, I've always teased her, and I've dated other women to make her jealous. I thought if she saw how other women looked at me, I could get her to look at me as a man, too, and not as Nick's friend. All those women only made her dislike me, instead. Then he came to Greece two years ago. They met on the beach, while I was playing with some other woman. I lost her to him because I was a fool."
Hermione felt the tug of compassion. "Why didn't you approach her after he left? It's been two years, hasn't it?"
He brushed a hand through his short, golden curls and sighed. "I was false and treated her badly. No, I do not deserve her." His head hung loose on his neck. "I have never deserved her."
"I'm sorry that things are so complicated," she offered, "but I don't agree. I think you're a good man, and Rhachel would be lucky to have you."
"How do you know this? You've only known me for a few days," he reminded her with a smile, tossing her words back at her.
She gave him a teasing grin. "Because I'm an excellent judge of character."
They shared a good chuckle at that boast.
"So, tell me more about your infatuation with Draco Malfoy," he prompted, nudging her with his elbow.
"For that story, I think we're going to require large quantities of alcohol," she joked.
He held up a bottle of Ouzo and shook it at her, grinning. When he passed it to her, she took it, and cringed as she gulped back a shot. It made her eyes water.
"Opa!" she rasped, handing him back the bottle. "Now, let's go for a walk. I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
TO BE CONTINUED...
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Please review!
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Preview of Chapter 9:
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"I don't want to hurt my cousin by getting in the way, regardless. I adore her and want her happy. If that means she ends up with Malfoy, then I'll stand aside."
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"It would ruin everything between us if he did find out the truth, because I know he doesn't return my feelings. In fact, it would probably become too awkward to continue working with me in that case. He'd most likely request we dissolve our partnership, and I-" She choked on a sob. "I couldn't bear that," she whispered, agonized by the thought. "You understand? Even if I can't have him as I want, I couldn't bear not being near him at all. It's the same for you, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
Every muscle in Hermione's body went stiff as she heard the words and recognised the voice.
"Oh!" was all she managed to squeak out as Draco's arms came around her a second later, and he pulled her into the cradle of his warm body.