From Venice with Love

Hermione spent the next day sightseeing with her parents. Venice was beautiful, there were so many things to see and do. Besides spaghetti, Hermione found her favourite thing to eat was gelato. She ordered what she thought was strawberry gelato and took it out to the street where her parents stood, waiting for her. Thoughts of England, of Harry, Ron, all these things seemed very far away to her and she realized that she did not miss them, or magic, very much at all. She supposed it was because she had grown up muggle that she could do so well without magic, but she felt guilty for having fun and not thinking much about Harry and Ron. She said as much to her parents as they walked.

“Honey, that’s what this trip was all about. You are only seventeen, Hermione. I sometimes think Dumbledore forgets that,” her mother said pointedly.


“It’s not that, Mum, it’s just-“


“I know, dear. I am just thrilled to see you acting young. “she lowered her voice. “You have been seeing a lot of Draco.”


Hermione shrugged. “He’s the only one my age I know here,” she replied.


“Nice young man,” her mother went on.


Hermione sighed. “I’m meeting someone later. Alessandro. He’s going to take me to see the sites as well.”


Her father frowned. “We’ll need to meet him first,” he said. “We can’t have you running about a strange city with a strange man.”


Hermione nodded. “That’s fine,” she said.


“Dating two different boys in one week, Hermione,” her mother teased.


Hermione felt her face go hot. “I am not dating Malfoy! Or Alessandro,” she said.
Malfoy’s words from yesterday came into her head. She was a little worried about meeting Alessandro but decided in broad daylight there wasn’t much he could try. She resolved to make it an early night.


They began to head towards the piazza as it was nearly three. Upon reaching it, Hermione saw Alessandro right away. “There he is,” she said to her parents. She waved and Alessandro came up to them.


“Hello, Hermione,” he said politely.”These are your parents?”

“Yes, mum, dad, this is Alessandro. He will be taking me to see a few places we’ve missed so far."


“Good to meet you,” her father said. Her mother nodded, but Hermione could tell she did not approve. In daylight, Alessandro seemed to be in his mid-twenties- a bit too old, she thought.


“Well, we’ll be off,” she said quickly.”I’ll be back later,”


She walked away quickly before her mother could ask anymore questions. Alessandro followed her.


“So,” she said brightly. “Where are we off to?”


“The Bridge of Sighs,” he answered. “Have you heard of it?”


“Of course,” Hermione answered.


Alessandro led Hermione to the water, but instead of the water taxis she and Malfoy took, he led her into a gondola. The intimacy of the inside of the boat made Hermione extremely nervous, as did going to the Bridge of Sighs. She thought of that as a romantic spot, not that Alessandro wasn’t handsome; he just seemed a bit too in control. Hermione felt like Malfoy was right- Alessandro had done this before.


As they rode in the boat, Alessandro pointed out things of interest- architecture and the like. Hermione began to relax as he sounded like a tour guide-not like someone trying to seduce her. As they finally arrived at the Bridge of Sighs, Hermione gasped.
“It’s beautiful!” she breathed.


Alessandro grinned at her expression. “It is,” he agreed. “You know," he said quietly. “Legend says that if a couple kiss under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset that their love will be eternal.”


“That’s… um, interesting,” Hermione stuttered out. She scooted further away from him. She looked around at the other gondolas with couples kissing. “It’s not sunset yet.”


“Still..” Alessandro leaned into her and she moved away. He opened his eyes, disappointed. “Did I do something wrong?” he asked. “I thought that-“


“No,” she said at the same time. “It’s just-“


“Draco?” Alessandro supplied. “I know you said that you weren’t dating, but you did come here to see him.”


“What?” Hermione thought quickly. “Oh, yes, that’s it. I’m dating Mal-er, Draco. Just started actually.” Yes, 20 seconds ago, she thought.


“Of course I understand,” Alessandro smiled, but Hermione felt it was forced. “You are meeting him at Harry’s tonight?”


“Yes.” Hermione had no idea who Harry was, but felt she had to say yes.


“Why don’t we have dinner first, then meet him there?” Alessandro suggested. “I know a great restaurant right near here.”


“Sure,” Hermione agreed. Now that he thought she was dating Malfoy, Hermione thought he would not bother her any more tonight. Alessandro said something to the gondola captain and the Bridge of Sighs drifted away.

**************


It was nearly eight-thirty when Hermione and Alessandro made their way back towards piazza San Marco. Hermione felt much more at ease with Alessandro now. He made no more attempts to seduce her, and with a wonderful dinner and a large amount of wine in her system she felt light, free.


“What time we you supposed to meet Draco?” Alessandro asked her. “I hope we’re not too late.”


“No particular time,” Hermione answered. “I can’t imagine he’d be angry.”


They stopped in front of a bar that said “Harry’s Bar” on the sign. Hermione was glad she hadn’t asked who Harry was.


“You find Draco,” Alessandro said. “I’ll get you a Bellini.”


“Ok” Hermione said, though she didn’t know what a Bellini was.


She walked through the crowd, looking for Malfoy, hoping to get him to agree to her lie. She didn’t see him and she got worried that Alessandro would find him before she did. Or he’d be with a girl. That would make her lie a little obvious.

“Here you go,” Alessandro was back with her drink. he took a sip, it tasted a bit like peaches and she liked it. “Have you spotted Draco?”


“No, I haven’t. Thank you for the drink.” Hermione said, still trying to see through the crowd.


“There he is,” Alessandro said. Startled, Hermione looked toward where he was pointing, her heart beating wildly. She picked the blonde head out immediately. Malfoy stood by the bar talking, thankfully, to a dark-haired man who was standing beside him. He was wearing his brown suede jacket again and despite herself, Hermione recognized how handsome he was, especially when he smiled. His eyes met hers for a moment and for a split second Hermione thought his smile widened, then he eyes rested on Alessandro and a frown replaced it.


Hermione pushed forward through the crowd in an effort to beat Alessandro to him. As she approached, Malfoy snapped at her, “I thought I told you-“


Hermione took a risk and quickly pulled him into a hug. He stopped talking but stood completely still. “Malfoy,” she said in his ear. “I told Alessandro we were dating so he would leave me alone. Please play along.”


He relaxed slightly and Hermione could feel the smile in his voice as he whispered back. “So, then you’ll owe me.”


“Yes, yes, Malfoy, for Merlin’s sake, hug me back before he gets over here.” Hermione snapped.


Malfoy chuckled a little, a strange sound coming from him, and finally Hermione felt his arms go around her. She relaxed in his embrace, it was a little too comfortable, she thought. He smelled good, but she couldn’t place the aftershave. His hand found her hair and she felt him stoke it absently. A jolt went through her and her stomach began to flutter. Alessandro’s voice broke through her daze.


“I hope we weren’t late,” Alessandro said, as Malfoy released her but put his arm around her back. “Hermione seemed anxious.”


“No, not at all,” Malfoy said smoothly. “I’m glad she got a chance to see some sights with a native tour guide. Did you see a lot, love?”


It took Hermione a moment to realize he meant her. “Oh, yes, lots,” she said quickly.


Alessandro looked between the two of them, his eyes searching them. “It was a pleasure.” He said, though he looked like he wanted to say more. “Anytime you’d like to do it again, just let me know.”


“Thank you, Alessandro, but I think I’ll take Hermione out next time,” Malfoy’s voice was quiet, but his tone was clear.


Alessandro nodded. “I’ll be going now,” he said.


“Thank you again!” Hermione called after him.


As soon as he was out of eyeshot, Malfoy dropped his arm. “So, you weren’t dazzled by the great Alessandro?” he drawled. “Impressive, Granger. Very few can resist the Bridge of Sighs.”


Hermione gasped. “You knew where he was taking me?” she snapped. “You could’ve warned me.”


“I did,” he said mildly. “You chose not to listen.”


“You could have tried harder.” She said sulkily, knowing he was right.


“Oh, don’t pout, Granger. You got to sightsee,” Malfoy laughed.


“You certainly could have told me how old he was,” Hermione continued, ignoring his words.


Malfoy sighed. “You wouldn’t have trusted me no matter what I said,”


Hermione started to object but couldn’t find the words. He nodded. “See?”


“Years of training, Malfoy,” she said finally.”You’ve been quite different here, you know.”


“You’re different as well,” he said. “It’s not all me,”


Hermione thought about that. If someone had told her 2 weeks ago that she would be in Venice, willingly, going places with Malfoy? Or that she’d be going to clubs? Drinking? She was definitely different.


“See?” Malfoy said as if he could see her thoughts. “You just thought it was all me. People like you when you get your nose out of books and join the living, and aren’t always going on about rules, or worshipping Potter and Weasley-“


“People?” Hermione cut him off.


Malfoy started at her a moment before looking away. “People,” he repeated.


Hermione smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself when you drop the snobby, stuck-up little prat routine.”


“Why, Granger,” Malfoy teased. “I do believe you just complimented me. Whatever would Potter say?”


Hermione laughed. “You complimented me first.”


Malfoy shook his head. “I said ‘people’. It was an observation.”


“If you say so, Malfoy.” She looked at her watch. “I have to go back to the hotel. My parents will think Alessandro kidnapped me. You want to come round tomorrow? My mum was asking about you.”As soon as asked, Hermione wished she could take it back. She knew he’s say no.


He stared at her a moment before replying. “I should be able to,” he said finally.


Hermione let out the breath she was holding and smiled. “Okay then.” She turned to leave.


“Granger?”


She turned back towards him.


“If you want to see the Bridge of Sighs again, let me know.”


Unsure of his meaning, Hermione just rolled her eyes before she walked away.