Draco said, sternly, "Okay, everyone touch this plank," There was a quick scramble to get to it, and Draco looked at his watch, as he put an arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Portkey," he said, and the world spun black.
Everyone reappeared on the flat roof of a villa, and Draco immediately ran to the railing, inhaling the salty spray. Turning around, his face rapturous in delight, Draco grinned and said, "Well, how do you like it?"
"It's wonderful!" Hermione said, as usual completely unrestrained. "How long have you owned it?"
"Two weeks," Draco Malfoy said with a foxy grin.
"You just bought this?" Ginger said, "Quite a nice new acquisition,"
"I've never been to the ocean before," Harry managed, looking wistful, before quirking his lips up. "This'll be fun!"
Neville squinted, and said, "Is that Snodgrass?"
Draco leaped over to Neville, patting him on the far shoulder, "Why yes of course it is. And you can investigate it thoroughly once you Get Changed!" Draco spun to everyone else, saying, "On the Double!"
Hermione giggled, and Harry snorted, as Draco's impression of the affable Nobleman and Officer was hilariously out of tune with his normal mannerisms.
As everyone headed inside - quickly, as ordered, Hermione hung a little back, saying in a low voice to Draco, "Tell me you didn't just buy this for, well, This!"
"Course not," Draco said, holding Hermione's gaze with a genuine smile, "I fell in love with it, and it'll make a fine place to let out. With house elves, I needn't fear rampaging houseguests."
Hermione grinned back, relieved. It was one thing to trust that Draco's plan was going to be intricate and interesting, when she figured it out. It was another for him to be buying titles to land to do it. That was a bit more than pocket change, even if he was a galleonic millionaire.
Draco was about to head to his own room, when he looked back at Luna Lovegood, "Why aren't you changing?" he asked, smoothing his voice to avoid the impression of trepidation that he was actually feeling.
Luna gave a silvery smile, and shrugged. At which point her sundress pooled at her ankles, and she stepped out of it, "Didn't need to change," she said, stuffing the dress in a beachbag. "Can you put my bags away for me? I could have sworn I saw something illusionary out on the waves. I want to take a look before the buffoons startle it."
Draco nodded, taking the bags himself, all the while thinking that calling Gryffindors buffoons was quite apt.
[a/n: Oh, Luna. It's boyscouts that are always prepared. Leave a review?]
