Mysterious Encounters

A/N: Ok, in my haste to update this chapter I haven't mentioned my lovely reviewers who have given me that extra push to continue updating. Eliza: thanks! you have been an awesome, faithful reviewer! lilycat: thanks! I'm glad you like my story and honored because I've read and love all of yours! Write a new story, please! I loved Hermann/Hermione. KatDiva: AHH! Same thing for you as lilycat! I'm IN LOVE with "Dance with the One that Brought You" This is one of my favorite stories so far! I check for updates regularly. Update soon and continue the great work! Everyone else, thanks. You guys are really great and put a huge smile on my face! On with the story...

Beta'd version! Thanks, Lynnette.

-----

"You OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Ginny."

Silence. The silence is thick with thoughts and wandering feelings. It's an Uncomfortable Silence.

"Anyway, I thought we'd go to this awesome club tonight! Wanton Cauldron. Ron and Luna won't be there, though. It's their anniversary or something. Don't know, don't care." She speaks fast and with gusto, seemingly glad for the distraction.

I laugh. Anything to get off of the feelings of awkwardness.

"Sure. I'll meet you there at nine, OK?"

-----

What a boring day I've had. After Ginny left, I could find nothing to do so I just sat there all day thinking about absolutely nothing. It's a comfort after all those years to not be able to think of anything. My mind was constantly occupied with thoughts and dreams when I was younger. Now, it's as if you're just asleep. You're mind shuts down but you're awake. I giggle. Vacant, is the word I'm looking for.

At eight I start to get ready. What's the rush? Not as if I'm in the mood for beautifying myself today. Or any other day.

I open my closet and check out the new clothes me and Ginny bought a couple of weeks ago. I spot this mid-thigh length beautiful grey-metallic skirt with a bow on its side. I start to feel excited and can't help but break out into a smile. This skirt is the Queen of all skirts. It's just absolutely gorgeous. I top it off with a fetching V-neck top and a pair of fluffy pug boots and, voila, I'm ready. I apply a light touch of lip gloss and some eye-liner impatiently facing the mirror in my hall. I'm done.

I check my watch and it tells me I'm 5 minutes late. I apparate just outside Wanton Cauldron and see a long line waiting to be admitted into a small door that has loud music blazing within it.

As I turn around and make my way to the back of the line, huffing about the injustice of waiting to get into a club when all I really wanted to do in the first place was sleep and eat chocolate, I spot straight, glossy red hair.

"Ginny!"

Ginny turns around and I admire her attractive black dress that flatters her curves, and most of all, her hair. She seems to shine and glow with attractiveness tonight. She's holding Harry's hand and they both smile wide once they see me.

Love just surrounds them. You can feel it radiating off the both of them across a long street. It's maddening. It also stirs up discouraging memories that are best left in the darkest corner of my mind.

*

We had no trouble getting into this club, just as the night before. Who can keep The Boy Who Lived waiting outside in the cold darkness for half an hour?

The club is dark, modern, fancy, and loud. People are dancing everywhere and every table is packed with people.

We move along the crowds with some effort and then find a table in the far back, near the DJ.

It's loud and fun here in the back. Everyone here feels anonymous. It's a nice place to go to after a week of hectic work.

We sit down and order some drinks.

We're all quiet tonight. Ginny and Harry keep looking at each other and I feel as if they know something I don't.

Just as I was about to get up to go to the bathroom Harry exclaims, maybe a bit to heartily, "Adrian! How are ya?"

I look up, halfway between standing and sitting, and see a handsome man with dirty blond hair and piercing blue-green eyes staring right back at me.

He looks familiar but I can't quite place him.

After the necessary pleasantries of "How've you been?" and "What have you been up to lately?" are over Harry turns around and looks at me.

"Hermione, this is Adrian Pucey. I don't know if you remember him from Hogwarts."

"Oh- Hey. I'm Hermione." Very witty. Didn't he just hear my name when Harry mentioned him to me?!

He's got really mesmerizing eyes. Just- wow.

"Hey, Hermione. You look beautiful, tonight."

Oh.

"Thanks." I smile. Stutter, though. I feel like mush in front of this man!

"Well, I'll best be off."

"Are you here with anyone?" Harry asks.

"No, just here alone. Thought I'd pop in."

There's something weird about the way they're talking. It sounds very rehearsed.

"Well why don't you come and sit here with us. We've got an extra seat."

Suddenly, the penny starts to drop. This is a set up. The bloody nerve of the two of them!

I glare at Ginny. Then I glare at Harry for extra measure. And just to make sure she doesn't feel off the hook, I flick another glare towards Ginny.

Adrian sits down. And of course, he sits down in the only empty seat which happens to be next to me.

…

This is going to be a long night.

*

I'm on the dance floor with Adrian. He's one of the funniest, most interesting, captivating men I've met in my entire life.

Of course, I could never have found someone like him without the help of my friends.

After a few drinks, Harry and Ginny blurted out the fact that this was a setup and that they would have never done it in the first place but just knew Adrian was my type.

Apparently Harry and Ginny were food shopping a couple of weeks back and met Adrian while they were leaving the supermarket. As they were briefly catching up Adrian asked about me and mentioned how he'd had a crush on me while at Hogwarts.

Of course, this got Ginny's mind stirring.

"Well, why don't I set you up together once and see how you guys hit it off." It wasn't really a question; more of a command, Adrian whispered to me.

"I don't know. It might be a bit awkward" Adrian had said.

After some consoling, Adrian finally agreed.

After Harry and Ginny were done explaining, Adrian and I looked toward each other and burst out laughing. Although we were both blushing a bit, watching Harry and Ginny go through the dialogue –with horrible acting abilities- of how they got both of us here tonight was quite amusing. And we had both downed some, if you get my drift.

Adrian smiles as he holds me and whispers in my ear, "I'm glad I met them the other night. I'm happy I've gotten the chance to see you again."

I smile and subconsciously move closer. Inside I'm ecstatic.

*

We continue to dance the night away and the next time I check my watch, it's 1 a.m.

"It's getting late. I should go."

"How about you come over to my place tonight. Just for some drinks, I promise." Adrian flashes an adorable smile which screams 'you-know-you-can-trust-me' but the hint of teeth shows he means business.

I know what he wants. I want it, too.

"I don't know." I giggle. I'm playing hard to get but I know I'll go home with him anyway.

"Come on. Please? I'll behave."

"Umm…"

Before I can give him my answer he grabs my hand, waves at Harry and Ginny who are so wrapped around each other they don't even notice, grabs my coat, and pulls me out the door.

We apparate to his apartment and he starts kissing my lips softly and places a hand on my thigh. He peels my coat off and it lies forgotten on the floor.

He sits down on the couch and gently pulls my body to lie next to him.

As he kisses my neck, he murmurs, "I remember you from Hogwarts, but back then you were off limits."

Anger starts to boil inside me. This reminds me of things I want to forget and a chanting of 'mudblood' starts to ring in my ear.

I jerk away from him and cry, "Why? Because of my dirty blood?!"

Practically screaming at him, I say, "Merlin, you Slytherins are all alike!" This is said more to myself than to Adrian.

I jump off the couch so I can pace. I start ranting and can't find it inside me to just stop and leave.

"I fought alongside some of the bravest witches and wizards to destroy Voldemort and all you can do is continue to tell me I'm not good enough! I played a big part in the war and helped Harry the whole time! When am I ever going to be accepted into your prejudiced minds!?"

Memories of Draco and me start popping into my mind. I feel sick and want to cry. I can do this. I am good enough for everything. Slytherin scum won't take away my Gryffindor courage.

I put a hand on my burning face and push away my hair. My face is wet with tears of frustration.

"Kitten," Adrian starts smoothly, "I never said anything about your blood. You were off limits because you were so much younger than I was. Plus, you were always around getting in trouble and saving the day with Harry and your friend, Ron. You wouldn't have had any time for me."

He's smiling as I look up and feel joy wash all over me.

"As for that purity of blood," he continues, "I'm not like all the older families. I couldn't give a shit. Don't even compare me to the Malfoy's, Parkinson's, and Zabini's. Their hang ups are in-bred. Some of us in Slytherin actually had minds of our own."

He stands up from the couch and comes over to where I'm standing, still breathing fire from my earlier outburst.

"Hermione, I asked you over here tonight because I felt something. I couldn't give a damn whether you were muggle-born or half-blood." He wraps his arms around my shaking form.

My eyes are red and I can feel them start to puff up.

"Don't call me kitten," I sniff. "I hate that nickname. Makes me think of Crookshanks."

He grins down at my and places a hand on my cheek. "I know, but you always were the Gryffindor lioness, defender of lost causes. Besides, you do have a mighty roar. I like that."

He leans in towards me and gives me a sweet, chaste kiss.

"You want to talk about anything?"

I shake my head lightly. Draco's face is still soaring around in my head.

"Memories," I say, as a way of explanation and justifying my outburst.

The mood has broken and although I feel better, I knew we can't continue. I smile bashfully and apologize.

"It's OK." He smiles and I know it's full of sincerity. "There's plenty time for more of that." He nods his head towards the coach and grins saucily.

I feel myself blush and look down.

I grab my coat from the ground and feel his hands slip away from my shaking body. I feel slightly disappointed at the loss of physical contact.

"Can I see you again?"

I look up, relief displayed all over my features.

"I'd love to."

"Great! I'll see you Monday night? The Three Broomsticks, 7 o'clock?"

"Sure."

-----

A/N: Oh, YAY! I'm finished with this chapter! Sorry for the LOONG wait but I had a serious case of writer's block! *grins bashfully*

THANK YOU my amazing beta, Lynnette (aka White Dragon), who should be writing this story instead of me, who gave me support through my writer's block, assisted me with a whole scene and was incredibly helpful!

Also, thanks to my great reviewers who have made me feel awfully guilty about making you wait so long and pushed me towards continuing with this story. Please rate and review! You're not reviewing enough! :(