A/N: thanks for the reviews and all the story alerts… I'm glad that everyone is enjoying it so much. I have been thinking about this fic for quite awhile, trying to decide if I wanted to write it, but I'm glad I did.

Chapter 3: Getting There

Her first stop was Diagon Alley, of course she couldn't leave the country without the proper tools, and they of course included money, and clothing. She strode up the steps of Gringotts and passed the goblins standing stationary near the doors. She walked quickly forward and up to the first goblin holder reign over an empty desk. She sat down slowly and waited for the creature to look up.

"Yes?" He drawled.

She pulled a small object from her pocket and placed it on the desk for him to see.

"I'd like to access this vault please"

"Under whose authority?" the creature asked looking from her to the key lying in front of him. He could tell from the intricacies of the key that it belonged to one of the vaults deep within the bank, where only the most important of families were able to afford such a luxury.

"Her- I mean Gabrielle Dracontos" she stammered.

He nodded and sent a look over his shoulder to yet another goblin that walked forward and looked at the key and nodded. He gestured to Hermione, and began stalking down a darkened hallway. Hermione hesitated for only a second before she swept the key into her hand and followed him at a clipped pace. Soon she was sitting none too graciously in one of the wagons Gringotts provided to delve deep into its' depths. After a short, rather turbulent ride into the dungeons, Hermione found herself standing in front of a vault with an intricate and beautiful dragon engraved on the door. She gasped as the goblin put the key into the mouth of the dragon and the vault cracked open with a puff of smoke and dust.

Inside the vault that she had never known existed was millions upon millions of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts; more than she had ever seen. She walked into the vault and within only a few seconds her shoes were covered in money, it seems to flow on forever, somewhat mimicking a river of gold. She scooped several handfuls into the pouch she kept in her pocket and with one last glance around the enormous room she stepped from it and joined the goblin and once again the cart took them on an exciting ride through the depths of the mysterious Wizarding Bank.

Hermione left the bank and turning left walked two doors down and into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Upon entering the store she didn't see the proprietress of the shop, and as such decided to browse the selection provided on the rack. It was only a few minutes later that Madam Malkin herself entered the room. She looked Hermione up and down and sighed.

"Do you ever need help dearie"

Hermione looked up, embarrassed that she had not caught the woman's entrance.

"I must have come to the right place," Hermione quipped, turning to face the woman,

"Do your worst" she continued.

While it took several hours to complete, Hermione walked out of Madam Malkin's with a new wardrobe and several amusing stories about the elite in the Wizarding World. It was close to supper, and Hermione decided that her adventure would have to wait until the next day. She quickly entered the Leaky Cauldron and nodding at Tom walked to the bar. Once seated, she asked for a Firewhisky and a room. He slipped both towards her and receded to his previous position in the darker, murkier corners of the tavern.

Hermione sat enjoying her drink for a half an hour and then proceeded further into the depths of the pub. Finding her room she stripped and walked slowly into the bathroom. Turning on the spigot took only seconds, and soon the almost scalding spray was metaphorically stripping Hermione of the hurt, pain and anguish while literally stripping her of the dirt and grime that had accumulated on her since leaving the Granger's house. Soon she slipped from the shower and dried off before slithering into the silk sheets on the queen-sized bed in the room. The next morning Hermione awoke with the sun shinning through the windows of her room, she took a leisurely bath and dressed in the clothes she had purchased the day before. She then made her way to the Ministry of Magic, applied for an International Port Key and made her way to the fountain in the Atrium. She sat and ate a scone and drank tea from the little cart set up not so far away. Several hours later she walked slowly back to the International Travel office and was granted her Port Key. She returned to the Leaky Cauldron and began to pack, her ride was only a half hour away and she needed to be sure she was ready. Looking around the room she picked up her bag; locked the door and moved down to the main level of the pub. As she passed the key to Tom, she felt an overwhelming sense of discovery and with that feeling warming her, she stepped onto the street and activated her Port Key.

She looked around in amazement at the sights and sounds of Saint Petersburg, Russia. First on her to do list was finding a place to stay, and she would need help with that. Looking around she tried to find a restaurant or café to ask directions at, but being in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar language was not helping her. She ducked back into the alley she'd appeared in and took her wand from it's holster on her ankle, with a few elementary wand movements and an incantation she was able to understand any language she wished to, as well as speak it. Stepping from the alley she spied a sign hanging on the next corner.

'Café'

She headed there, hoping to find someone to help her. She entered the bustling café and sat a table. Around her the mumblings of a language so different from her own were washing over her. She looked up and found herself looking into the gorgeous brown eyes of a young woman.

"How can I help you?" the woman asked.

"Tea please" Hermione asked, "and directions to the nearest hotel, if you wouldn't mind" she smiled up at the young woman.

Nodding, she moved from the table and returned only a minute later with a boiling cup of tea and a map of the square in which she was currently sitting.

"Follow this road, it will lead you to the hotel. It is called Astoria. You will be well taken care of" the women said.

Thanking the woman, Hermione began to drink her tea. She pulled a piece of paper from her bag and looked at the name. She would have to see him, and soon, she really did want to know what exactly was going on. Who were her parents, how did they die? Standing up, she placed some money on the table and left the café, taking the map with her. She arrived at the hotel only moments later, and checking in only took another few. Soon she was up in her room, pacing, trying to decide how to get a hold of the lawyer in charge of her parents' estate. Chewing her lip, she pulled the paper from her pocket and stared at his name again. Picking up the phone she dialed the desk and asked for the number for the man, while the woman on the phone sounded surprised that she would be asking for such a person, she gave her the telephone number and address. Without hesitation, Hermione picked up the phone as soon as she had put it down and dialed the number she'd been given.

On the other side of the line a man answered,

"Gabriel Chekhov's office, how may I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Gabrielle Dracontos, I want to meet with Mr. Chekhov as soon as possible" Hermione requested of the man.

"Mr. Chekhov is not available for meetings at the moment, if you leave your name and contact information I shall return your telephone call when he is permitted to meet with clientele" the man explained.

Nodding to herself, Hermione felt somewhat dismayed. She wasn't sure if the man was brushing her off, or being sincere.

"Yes, that's fine. My name is Gabrielle Dracontos and you can reach me at the Astoria, please let me know when he'll be available. Please, it's very important"

"Yes mama, good day" he hung up.

Hermione felt lost, what would she do next, she needed to think. She grabbed her purse, and dropped her moneybag into it, and walked out the door. Walking out into the street, she was blown away by the beauty of the country she was now in. While England and especially Scotland, where she had spent most her time were beautiful, this place had a unique and foreign beauty that took her breath away. She strolled the streets, taking in the beauty and the people. She walked passed the boutiques and cafes, the restaurants and lovers holding hands as they strolled by. She turned back towards her hotel and began to plan her evening. As she was slowly walked down the street, something caught her eye. A man, a tall, sexy, dark and handsome man; wearing tight jeans, Italian shoes and a short but pullable hair, he was defiantly a man that Hermione could get to know; if you knew what that meant.

She walked into the boutique where he was, standing at the cash, a credit card in hand. He looked bored, for all the pairs of shoes sitting in front of him. A service clerk looked nervously on as she took the card and swiped. Hermione moved around the store, stealing glances at him. She glanced up, over a display of heels and he caught her eye. His smile was slow in coming, but it was sexy as hell once he revealed it to her. He left his purchases on the counter and walked over to her. She kept eye contact with him as he prowled towards her.

"Hello" he purred.

"Hi" she returned the greeting.

"I'm Falin"

"Hermione" she said running her hand through her hair, conscious of the fluffy disorganized mess it was.

"Pleasure"

"Likewise" Hermione smiled.

"Those would suit you," he said, pointing a pair of sexy-as-hell red four-inch heels. With that he turned from her and stalked towards the counter, picked up his purchases, snapped his credit card from the clerks' hand and left the store.

She looked down at the shoes and couldn't see herself wearing them, but looking about and not seeing anyone other than those who worked at the boutique and were now gossiping at the front of the store in a tight knit grouping, she took them off the pedestal and sitting down, tried them on.

He was right, they looked fantastic, standing up she pranced around the area, checking her feet in every mirror she could find.

"He's right you know, they look fantastic on you," a voice said behind her. It was one of the sales ladies, looking quite jealous at not only the interaction between the mysterious Falin and herself, but the shoes she was now wearing.

"Thanks, I think I'll take them"

"Of course, they also coming in black, navy blue, yellow and sky blue, would you be interested in any of those?" the sales clerk asked.

"I'll take the red, and the sky blue" Hermione replied after a few minutes; after all, it wasn't as if she was want for money now.

As the woman gathered the shoeboxes Hermione had requested, Hermione herself sat down and eyed the rest of the store. Were there any other shoes she would want, looking, she didn't see any that jumped out at her, but decided that perhaps she should wait until she could link her VISA© card with her Gringotts account. She stood and met the woman at the counter; handing her the card and waiting for the fees to go through. Who cared if she was charging exorbitant amounts to her adoptive parents credit card, they probably received buckets full of money for taking in an heiress. She walked from the boutique two bags in her hands and started back on her journey to her hotel.

That evening, she put on a pair of boot cut jeans, and a fancy red blouse, slipped on her brand new shoes and walked down to the hotels restaurant. While her hair was still a mess, she felt a lot sexier than she usual did. Sliding onto a bar stool, she crossed her legs and was about to order her usual drink when she realized that she wasn't in the Wizarding World, and there was no such thing as Firewhisky here. She looked around, and finally grabbed a bar menu that was propped up against a saltshaker. She opened and began browsing; she was so intensely studying the menu she didn't realize when a certain handsome devil sat beside her.

"I was right, those shoes look fantastic on you" Falin murmured.

Startled Hermione looked up,

"Hello, and thank you" she said.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked, motioning for the bar tender to approach.

"Thanks, I really would. I was just trying to decide what I'd like"

"Why not sit back, and I'll pick something for you?" he asked silkily.

Nodding Hermione sat back and watched as he ordered them drinks. Soon they were sitting in front of them and she was sipping a new exotic drink she couldn't describe in words. She moaned from the pleasure her taste buds were receiving. He chuckled and turned to his own drink. As the night wore on, Hermione became more and more inebriated, although she had no intention of doing so. Falin was amazing company, he listened when she spoke, and plied more information out of her than even Harry or Ron could have in such a short amount of time. Soon it was late into the night, and Hermione could be found yawning more than anything else. She stood unsteadily, and Falin caught her arm.

"I think it is time that I go up to my room, thank you for a wonderful evening" she said in a giggly voice, she always seemed to sound like a 5 year old whilst drunk, but at the moment she couldn't seem to care.

"I too think that is a good idea, but I will walk you up, to be sure that you arrive satisfactorily" he murmured and began to lead her from the bar.

"That's not necessary, I can take care of mysel-," she said before fallings slightly over the heels she was not used to wearing.

"I know Hermione, but I think I will anyway" he chuckled and pressed the up button on the elevator.

They arrived at her room and taking her room key from the back pocket of her jeans, she slid it into the door until it unlocked. Falin smiled at her, and leaning down pressed a kiss to her lips. She smiled into the kiss, but allowed it to go nowhere.

"Goodnight Falin" she said.

"Goodnight Hermione- until next time, sweet dreams" he said and turned from her as she shut the door.

She had a feeling that she'd be seeing him again.

A/N: hope you all enjoyed it. Hermione will sometime refer to herself as Hermione- such as when she is with Falin, but as the story progresses, she begins to refer to herself more and more as Gabrielle. She is only doing this now with certain people, as she wants them to know who she is (i.e., the lawyer). Obviously she's OOC but what fun would it be to write about her being in character? She's also somewhat callous towards her adoptive parents but it would understandable to be a little irate. Thanks!