From Venice with Love

Hermione spent the next day with her parents on the island of San Giorgio visiting San Giorgio Maggiore, a gorgeous church from the 1500’s. The church was beautiful and the scenery amazing. They went on a tour of the church and then ate lunch on the island before returning back to the mainland mid- afternoon. Upon arriving back at the hotel, Hermione found Hedwig sitting by her window with another letter from Harry, asking how things were. She wrote back to Harry about how beautiful Venice was and sent Hedwig away with the letter.


Her task completed, Hermione and her parents had dinner out at a restaurant near the hotel that had the most amazing pasta she had ever had. She wondered why everyone in town was not fat with food as wonderful as she had sampled here so far. As they started back to the hotel it was 9 o’clock. Against her better judgement, Hermione again went to Piazza San Marcos with her book. Scanning the tables, she sighed with relief. Malfoy wasn’t there. Relaxing, Hermione sat down and ordered her coffee. She looked out at the square as people walked back in forth, hurrying on their way to …she wasn’t sure where. It was Friday, however. Clubs, maybe? Hermione frowned to herself. She had never been a drinker and loud clubs where you had to yell to talk were not her idea of fun.


“Predictable as always, Granger,” came a smooth voice above her. Swallowing a groan, Hermione looked up.


“If you saw me, Malfoy, why stop? I’m sure you have much better things to do with your night.”


“I do,” he said, smirking. “You just looked so pathetic sitting here by yourself-“


“Sod off, Malfoy.” Hermione looked away from him. He was wearing muggle clothes again- a grey button up shirt, black trousers and a black suede jacket. Definitely on his way somewhere, she thought.


“I’m trying to be pleasant, Granger,” he said, pretending to be offended.


Hermione snorted. “Since when?” She took a sip of her coffee and looked up at him.
Abruptly, he sat down in the chair opposite her. “I didn’t-“ Hermione sputtered.


“Granger, is this how you intend to spend your holiday? Trotting around sightseeing with your parents all day and reading schoolbooks all night?” he interrupted her.


“Why? What’s it to you what I do?” Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious. “What do you want, Malfoy?”


“What could I possibly want from you?” he snapped. As Hermione went to get up he sighed. “Don’t get so excited, Granger. I was curious if you’d like to accompany me tonight.”


“What?” Hermione couldn’t have been more shocked if he had grown two heads. “”Go somewhere with you? Where?”


“Just to a bar. Where did you think- a brothel?” He slid back in the seat and stared at her with cold grey eyes.


Hermione shook her head. “I’ll never willingly go anywhere with you, Malfoy.”


“Stop being so paranoid, Granger. What could I do to you in a public place?” he smirked at her.


“What do you get out of it?” Hermione said.


Smirk still in place, he rolled his eyes. “Fine. There’s a girl I’m trying to avoid. I thought if you were there…”


“I’d run interference?” Hermione finished his sentence. “Why would I help you hurt the poor stupid girl any more?”


“It’ll get you out of here.” He said. “Come on Granger, live a little. I’m not going to hurt you. Tonight.”


Hermione ignored his last remark. “If I go, it would just be for a little while. And it’s not to help you- it’s to see more of the city.” She had no idea why she let Malfoy get to her. She was curious about the nightlife here but would never venture out alone.


“Whatever. Can we go now?” He was already up and waiting for her.


Hermione sighed. “I don’t know why I’m doing this…” she muttered and followed him.


They walked to a water taxi where Malfoy spoke to the driver in Italian and they set off. Hermione watched as they sped away from the piazza, and she once again breathed the cool air over the water, closing her eyes in pleasure.


Hermione rode in silence in the dark night. Lanterns from the shore illuminated the boat and its occupants. Malfoy’s blond hair glowed in the light and he looked at ease, still conversing with the driver in easy Italian. Hermione wondered if he’d known it before this summer or if he’d just learned it. She eyed his clothes again, and then snuck a look down at her own jeans and jumper, feeling hopelessly underdressed.


“You’re fine,” Malfoy changed to English as he addressed her, She blushed, embarrassed that he knew what she was thinking, but didn’t respond. Within a few minutes they were back on land and Hermione was following him down a few streets until they reached a crowded club.


Hermione stopped. “You said it was a bar. I hate clubs!” she said.


“It’s not that kind of club,” Malfoy said. “You’ll see. Hurry up!”


Steeling herself, she followed him in. Malfoy was right- it was different. There was a bar at one end of a large room teaming with people. On one wall was a large screen TV playing music with a small dance floor that was only being used as space to stand. Looking up, Hermione could see another bar upstairs with even more people. While crowded, it was not horribly noisy or dark like the few clubs she had been to previously. She followed Malfoy over to the bar. He talked to the bartender for a moment, then turned and handed her a clear fizzy drink.


Hermione stared at it.”What is it?” she asked.


“Frizzante,” he answered.”Drink it.”


Eying him, she took a sip of the drink. It was fruity, a little like wine, with bubbles. She watched him pick up some sort of glass with brown liquid and down it quickly. The bartender replaced it immediately.


“Draco!” a girlish voice squealed. Malfoy grimaced and then pretended to smile at the dark haired girl that came towards him.


“Ciao, Gabrielle,” he kissed both her cheeks. “Gabrielle, this is Gr-er- Hermione. Hermione, this is Gabrielle,”


Gabrielle looked her up and down.”Ciao,” she said, coldly.


Hermione was still in shock over Malfoy using her first name.”Hello,” she replied.


“Hermione is visiting me from England,” Malfoy went on.


“What?” Hermione thought, as she withered under the murderous stare of the other girl.


“I see,” Gabrielle spat out, her green eyes narrowing at Hermione. “Draco, could I speak with you in private?”


“Well, I’m sure Hermione-“
“No, Draco, I don’t mind,” Hermione said, smiling sweetly. “I’ll be mingling,” she emptied her glass and was promptly supplied with another. She walked away from Malfoy’s pleading gaze and went over to the juke box situated on the far wall by the TV screen. There was no fee for the songs, so she chose a few before turning around to see how Malfoy was faring. She watched the bickering couple with delight and finished her drink.


“Here,” a deep voice said behind her, handing her another drink.


“Thank you,” Hermione said stiffly. The owner of the voice was an extremely attractive Italian man about two heads taller than her.


“So,” he said, smiling at her. “You are Draco’s girlfriend?”


“Huh? Oh, no. We are- we go to school together,” she said lamely, taking a sip of her drink. She was beginning to feel giddy from the two she already had.


“Really? So, you are here visiting?” the man asked. Hermione nodded.

“I’m Alessandro. You are?”


“Hermione Granger,” Hermione replied, shaking the hand that he offered.


“First time in Venice?” he asked and she nodded again.”Maybe I can take you to see some sights before you leave?”


Before Hermione could answer she heard a voice in her ear. “I can’t believe you just left me there, Granger! That was not what we discussed.”


“Draco,” Alessandro said to Malfoy, making his presence known.


Malfoy frowned at him. “Alessandro,” he said finally. “I thought you were in Rome.”


“My trip was cut short,” Alessandro said.


“Interesting,” Malfoy said, rudely. “Now, if you’ll excuse us-“he grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her away.


“What are you doing?” he hissed at her as she pulled her arm away.


“I’m meeting new people,” Hermione said, smiling.


Malfoy frowned.”Granger, are you drunk?” he said quietly.


“What? No!” Hermione said, a bit too loudly.


Malfoy broke into a wide grin. “You are,” he laughed. “I didn’t know you had it in you Granger, I’m shocked,”


“Oh, shut up,” Hermione grumbled, taking a gulp of her drink. “I need it to deal with you,”


She looked around the room calmly, not remembering why she hated these places. “I’m going to the loo,” she announced, handing her now empty glass to Malfoy and walking towards the bathrooms. As she got in line she saw that Gabrielle was right in front of her. She sighed but stayed in line.


Gabrielle turned. “Oh, it is you,” she snapped. “I don’t know what Draco was thinking,”


“Sex,” Hermione said loudly.

The line turned and Gabrielle frowned.”What?”


“I said,” Hermione said, ”I use him for sex .I’ll be gone in a week and you can have him back,” She laughed at the expression on Gabrielle’s face.


“Granger,” said a voice behind her. Malfoy again. “I think it’s time we leave now,”


Hermione nodded and turned to Gabrielle. “See?” she whispered loudly. “Told you.”