From Venice with Love

The next morning, Hermione brought her bag to breakfast so she could go directly to the library to study. Harry glanced at the bag as she sat down to eat. “Not seeing Alessandro today?”

“No,” she said stiffly. “He left.” She was still not over her friends following her to the restaurant yesterday.

“Come on, Hermione, we said we were sorry,” Ginny said from across the table. “He is gorgeous though.”

“Well, you scared him off,” Hermione said. “I doubt he’ll ever come back now that he thinks my friends are a bunch of crazy spies!”

“Hermione, maybe we could send him an owl,” Harry said, but Hermione shook her head.

“No, he actually left because he had to escort Gabrielle home,” she said.

“Why? Did she see the light and get rid of Malfoy?” Ron asked.

“No, Malfoy had Quidditch try-outs, so she left.” Hermione buttered her bread and took a bite.

Harry’s head whirled around. “Are you sure?” he asked excitedly.

“Of course. I saw her leave.”

“Not about her, about Malfoy. He said he had Quidditch try-outs?”

“Yes, those exact words came out of his mouth. What of it?” Hermione asked. Harry and Ron looked at each other and turned towards the Slytherin table. Draco was getting up, along with many other Slytherin boys.

“Perfect-thank you, Hermione!” Harry stood up and turned to Ron. “We’ll get the invisibility cloak and follow him.”

“Wait-was that supposed to be a secret?” Hermione asked, horrified.

“Yes. The try-outs should be kept quiet so no other teams can spy on the new members,” Ginny told her.

“You can’t go, Harry. It’s not right!” She grabbed his arm.

“Sorry, Hermione,” Harry pulled away.

Ron made a face at her. “It’s just Slytherin. They’d be at our try-outs on Thursday if they could.”

Hermione pushed her plate away, her appetite gone.

“What’s wrong, Hermione?” Ginny asked.

“Nothing. I need to get started on studying.” She grabbed her bag and hurried into the library. As soon as she put her bag down, she pulled out her necklace. “I didn’t know your try-outs were a secret,” she wrote.

“What happened?” came the reply quickly.

“Harry is watching your try-outs. I’m sorry.” There was no response, and Hermione was sure that he was angry at her. She pulled out her books to study.

Fifteen minutes later, the response came. “I don’t see him,” it read.

“He’s there, I’m sure.” She responded.

“Thank you,”

She put her necklace down and resumed her studies. A while later, a dejected Harry and Ron came into the library and sat down at the table.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Malfoy used some sort of spell to distort the pitch,” Harry said. “We couldn’t see what was going on.”

“He’s so paranoid,” Ron sighed.

“Well, he was right to be, wasn’t he?” Hermione said, turning a page in her book. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot to do and then I need to meet Ernie.”

Harry and Ron rolled their eyes at each other and got up to leave. “You didn’t…tell Malfoy we were coming, did you?” Ron asked as they walked away.

Hermione sighed. “How would I have done that, Ron? He left when you did. Do you expect I sent him an owl or something?”

“No,” he said, “Sorry, Hermione.”

They walked away and Hermione smiled to herself before she got back to her studies.


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Friday was Hermione’s birthday and her friends had planned a party for her that evening, though it was supposed to be a surprise. Ernie had accidentally mentioned it to her when he offered to take her patrol that night.

“That’s okay,” she said. “I’ll do my patrol after the party. I won’t be staying that late, I’m sure.”

She walked out of the common room and down to breakfast where Harry, Ron and Ginny were waiting for her.

“Happy birthday!” they said in chorus as she sat down.

“Thank you,” she smiled.

They began to eat and Harry said, “Can we steal you away from studying for a bit tonight? We thought we’d give you our gifts then.”

“Sure,” she said. “I don’t have patrol until ten.”

The sound of owls broke up her thoughts as three different owls stopped by her. One was just her ‘Daily Prophet’. The other two carried packages. Hermione opened the one she knew was from her parents as Hedwig had brought it to her. It was filled with snacks and clothes. There was a letter wishing her a happy birthday from them as well.

“From your parents?” Harry guessed and she nodded. “I sent them Hedwig a few days ago,” he said.

The other present came from an owl she didn’t recognise. “Wonder who that’s from?” Ginny said, grinning. “Alessandro, maybe?”

Hermione tried to decide whether to open it or not at the table. “Maybe I should wait and open it later,” she said.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Ginny said. “Open it now.”

Hermione sighed and opened the package. It was wrapped in heavy, obviously expensive paper She opened that to reveal a small velvet box.

“Oh, jewellery!” Ginny squealed.

Inside the box were diamond earrings that matched the necklace she had. “More expensive jewellery!” Ginny said and Hermione made a face at her.

“Ginny, hush! It’s the thought that counts.” She opened the card that came with the box. All it said was “Happy Birthday”. It wasn’t signed.

“Wow, Hermione,” Lavender leaned over to peer at the note. “How sweet. Very expensive earrings too.”

“They’re beautiful,” she said, chancing a quick glance at Draco. He was looking at her and briefly smiled before turning back to his table.

The day went quickly for Hermione. When classes were over she went back to her room to drop off her bag. On her bed was another present. Inside were a dark blue gown and a note that said, “Be dressed at 5 and meet me by the Room of Requirement.” She looked at the time- it was twenty after four. She rushed into her bathroom to shower and get ready; surprised he could meet her as he had Quidditch practice that afternoon. She quickly showered and did her hair. Upon finishing, she pulled the dress out and put it on. It fit her perfectly and made her feel like a princess in it. She finished up with her new earrings and looked in the mirror. She barely looked like herself. Smiling, she put a cloak on to cover her clothes and made her way to the Room of Requirement. She reached the correct hallway and waited a few minutes and soon saw Draco’s head pop out.

He smiled at her. “Hermione, you look gorgeous!”

“Thank you,” she said, blushing. He took her hand and brought her into the room. She looked around the room in awe. It looked just like the restaurant they had dined at their last night in Venice. She could even see the opera house. Stares reflected in the ceiling. “It’s lovely!” she breathed. “How did you do this?”

“I’ve been working on it for a while,” he admitted. “You like it?”

“I love it!” she kissed him hard. “Thank you!”

He pulled out her chair for her and she sat down. A house elf came and brought them their dinner. “Thank you,” she said, as it scampered away.

“I thought you had Quidditch,” she said as they began eating.

“I’m captain. I can change it if I want. We have to make it up tomorrow though,” he frowned.

Hermione shook her head. “I can’t believe you practice so early. There isn’t a game until November.”

“But it’s against Gryffindor. We have to beat them this year! Oh, sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I forgot who I was talking to.”

“It’s okay. I just hope you tie,” Hermione said.

“That won’t happen,” he said, staring at her.

“Can we talk about something else?” she asked. “I’m not going to argue about Quidditch with you. Thank you for the earrings, they’re beautiful.”

“I bought them when I bought the necklace,” he said. “I hoped you’d like them.”

“My mum sent me candy. You’ll have to help me eat it this weekend,”

“Of course.” He paused, and then said, ” I know that Potter and your other little friends are throwing you a party soon, I won’t keep you too long.”

“Really? You share with Harry now?” she looked at him sceptically.

“No, but it’s your birthday, I don’t want you upset, which you will be if you miss it.”

Hermione nodded. “I just wish you could come too.”

Draco shook his head. “You will never see me in the Gryffindor common room, I can promise you that.”

“I know, but I can wish, can’t I?”

“You’ll be in the Slytherin Common Room before I see the Gryffindor one.” Draco was still shaking his head.

“Okay, I get it.” Hermione changed the subject. “When’s your birthday?”

“Not until June,” he replied. “School will be out then.”

“Still, we’ll have to do something fun for your birthday. That is,” she teased. “If I haven’t tired of you.”

“Of me?” he said.

“I have experience now- I might need to ‘broaden my horizons’” she teased.

Draco rolled his eyes at her. “Sure, I can see that.”

“I can’t see past Christmas,” Hermione said. “Everything after that seems so uncertain.”

Draco didn’t respond at first, he knew she was right. “Don’t be gloomy, it’s your birthday. You know you’re a year older than me? Shame on you, dating youngsters.”

“You’re the one with an older woman,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t talk,”

Draco laughed with her. “It’s six o’clock. We should leave or your friends will be hunting you down,”

“Okay,” they walked over to the door and she turned around to face him. “This was wonderful, Draco, really. Thank you so much.”She placed a hand on his face and reached up to kiss him. Her tongue found his lips and he parted them quickly, deepening the kiss.

“Granger,” he said, pulling away suddenly. “If you don’t leave now, you won’t be leaving.”

“See you tonight for patrol,” Hermione said and left quickly.