Chapter Text
“Hermione, you need a holiday! All you do is work. It’s Christmas and maybe you need to get away from it all,” Ginny complained while handing her a glass of wine. “Your job sucks and your ex-sucks more.”
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I know, Gin. How did everything end up being this terrible? That promotion was supposed to be mine. I trusted him and he used my ideas to get my promotion. How am I supposed to go back to work tomorrow with him as my superior?” I dropped my head and pressed my left hand against my forehead.
Ginny made a face that I took to mean she felt sorry for me. How was I to know that a month ago when Jasper asked my opinion on changes that would improve our department, that he would take all those ideas to our boss before a promotion was about to open up. Jasper knew that I was wanting a promotion for months. He didn’t even tell me about the possibility of one opening.
She settled next to me on the couch and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Owl your boss and tell them there is an illness in your family and you need to be with them for a week or two. It’s weeks before Christmas, nothing is going on in the ministry that is needed right now anyways. December is always the slowest season as everyone prepares for the holidays.”
I hummed in thought. Maybe she was right. I didn’t want to go back to work right now. My boss may clearly see through the lie and be sympathetic anyways.
I summoned a leaf of parchment and made a draft before handing it to Ginny who made a couple edits. I rewrote the final copy before sending it via owl to my boss before drinking more wine and brainstorming holiday locations with Ginny for the rest of the night. Luckily, it was Thursday night and if she did go in tomorrow, it would only be for one day.
~*~*~*~
In the morning, I woke to an owl pecking at my window prior to my wand alarm going off signalling the start of my day. My head throbbed a little which meant I drank a little more than I should have last night, but at least it wasn’t a full blown hangover.
I unraveled the letter from my boss approving my abrupt leave to travel to my parents due to an ill relative. The worrisome part of the letter was the phrase, “take as much time off as you need.” Before I could spiral into anxiety over what that meant, I added ‘find a new job’ to my to do list on the counter before focusing on task one first, find a holiday. I had enough money for bills to cover me for a while and I would be okay mentally leaving my job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Other departments have been trying to poach me for the last couple years that I have worked in my department, maybe I could select one of those when I return refreshed from my holiday.
A perk from renting a muggle flat instead of a magical one was being able to use muggle technology like tellies, mobiles, and having internet. The downside was no Floo, so I always had to leave and apparate to my destinations. Though it was my preferred mode of transportation. At least it wasn’t a portkey, those always made me nauseous for a few hours afterwards, though chocolate did help a little.
I sat on my couch, pulling my computer onto my lap to begin searching warm locations to stay over the next week or two. Ginny and I brainstormed ideas last night which I wrote down. I look around to find out where I set it when I see it underneath a half full wine glass on the dining room table. I sighed, knowing I couldn’t summon it without spilling the wine and breaking the glass. So, I set my computer on the couch next to me before standing to retrieve the parchment.
I picked up the wine glass in one hand and the list in the other. Thinking, fuck it, and downing the remaining wine from last night. Not really caring if it was mine or Ginny’s. Maybe it would help with the small headache that I had, it’s not like I needed to go to work today anyways. I set the wine glasses in the sink to be washed later and settled back onto the couch with my list.
I proceed to search my list for each location. I choose not to go to Australia because it will only remind me of my parents and I would be too tempted to spy on how they are doing. I was never able to return their memories of me after the war, but when I went to Australia to try. They had adopted a little boy who was about seven or eight years old. They had always wanted to be parents and struggled to get pregnant with her for a couple years, so it made sense that they would adopt having no memories of her.
I found a website that specialized in swapping homes with another person or family, meaning no hotel fees or constantly eating out for meals. They would have access to each other's home and vehicles. Good thing I had a muggle flat with nearby access to the London Underground. It seemed ideal when she first moved in. Though I would need to remove the magical items around the flat before swapping home, but I was confident Harry wouldn’t mind if I left those items at Grimmauld Place. Nodding to herself, she used the filter to narrow down the locations to warm places only.
I clicked on a listing for sunny Florida. Nope, that didn’t seem like the right fit. Ooh, Hawaii, but that might be hard to travel to internationally. I shook my head and tried again. If only some one had a home in the Maldives or an island somewhere. Next I clicked on a picture of a sunny beach. Three bedroom home near the beach in San Diego. Not that she needed three bedrooms, but near the beach sounded ideal. The listing was placed by a female who wants a true Christmas holiday with snow. I sat up straighter with interest, she wanted to swap soon to a snowy place. We have plenty of that in London and I was ready for it soon. I needed to make a profile for my home before I could message Amanda to see if it would be a good fit to swap.
I spent the next thirty minutes creating a profile for my home. According to the website, you're not allowed to take pictures of your home, only the area with a description of your living situation. I guess it prevents people from being picky and focusing on the experience and not the luxuries. I describe my home as a cozy two bedroom flat near central London close to the tube station. Not many London flats are spacious, so mine was more standard of what you would get. She was hoping that Amanda would see the nearby attractions as intriguing.
I opened a message to Amanda in San Diego, who was surprisingly online now even with the time difference, but before I started typing my message, my computer dinged. A message came through from Amanda first, instantly showing that I read it since my screen was open on the chat with Amanda already.
Amanda asked Hermione, “Are there any available men there?”
I assumed she meant in my building and not all of London. I replied, “Zero. All married or teenagers.”
Amanda typed, “Perfect. I’m so done with men. They are all cheats!”
I was flabbergasted. It’s like her and Amanda were the same person. “I agree,” she quickly typed.
She asked me to describe my flat, things to do, and the current weather and just like that, Amanda was hooked. They agree to spend two weeks at each other’s homes set to return the day before New Year’s Day. In the next two hours, Amanda had an airline ticket to arrive in London within two days. It took me about four hours to secure an international portkey in two days, leaving midday in order to not run into Amanda. Then another half hour to find a flight from London to San Diego, to pretend I had a flight booked.
The rest of the day, I packed my flat and transported the items to a room at Grimmauld Place I used to stay in after the war. Ginny agreed to watch after Crookshanks during the duration of my holiday stay. I didn’t want to chance him wrecking something at Amanda’s home.
~*~*~*~
Two days later, I stood in line waiting for about an hour for my turn to take the portkey to Los Angeles, California then another line for another hour to Floo from wizarding Los Angeles to wizarding San Diego. Overall, it only took two hours to get to San Diego, but I was already nauseous from the Portkey and I still needed to track down a taxi to get to Amanda’s house.
I exited the magical town of Quarter Turn into a tourist muggle area of San Diego called the Gaslamp Quarter. I wondered briefly who names these places as I quickly summoned a taxi with a raise of my arm. I pondered returning to Quarter Turn later during my stay to check out the shops to see the difference between there and Diagon.
I arrived at the address listed by Amanda. It was a large two story estate with multiple rooms. I took a moment to be shocked before I ran through the house in delight checking out each room: kitchen, living rooms, a theatre room, a den, a dining room, up the stairs, an office, a home gym, and three bedrooms. Lastly, I ran and jumped onto the large bed in the sunny bedroom squealing in delight. I turned my head and saw sunlight peaking through a heavy curtain. I stood in curiosity and slowly approached the curtains and pushed them apart. My jaw dropped open.
Amanda’s house was definitely near the beach, since it was connected to her backyard. Miles of beach stretched perpendicular from Amanda’s home with a direct view of the ocean. I watched people sunbathing, swimming, and even a couple riding something motorized on the water. There were a couple boats farther out in the ocean. Good thing I packed my swimsuit.
I looked back inside the high fence of Amanda’s backyard to see there was a large pool and barbeque area as well. What did this house not have? I paused wondering what Amanda would think of her mediocre flat compared to all of this extravagance. I chose not to dwell on Amanda and instead focused on enjoying my own vacation.
I quickly changed into my bathing suit, a navy halter style top with matching bottoms, and added a tweed beach hat before tucking a beach towel and book under my arm and headed out the back door to the beach.
I placed the beach towel over the sand in a less busy area before laying on my stomach to read my book. After thirty minutes of reading, I rolled to my back, continuing to read while using my book to block the rays from blinding my face.
A group of men walked by and whistled. I wasn’t sure if they were whistling at me or someone else. Either way, I chose to ignore them and continued to read my book.
I heard the group settling nearby and glanced over to see the group consisted of four men, spreading out what looked to be a king sized sheet over the sand. They added a cooler, towels, a bag to each of the corners and then pulled off their shoes for the final corner.
I moved my gaze back to reading my book, but I could still hear them talking. I perked up to listen when I heard the British accent. “Go talk to her. She’s hot and completely your type…you know…girls that read on the beach…you know the thick books and not magazines about gossip.”
Another man sighed. “I haven’t flirted with anyone since Maggie. It’s been a long time.” He had a British accent too. Were they all British? I tensed, did I know them?
The first man cut in again,”Look, you need to get back out there again. Maggie was a bitch for cheating you, but you need to put yourself back out there again. Maybe she’s a tourist, we haven’t seen her out here before. Flirt a little, practice if that’s all it is. You need to get out of your slump.”
I didn’t know if these two were geniuses in flirting or completely stupid. I could clearly hear what they were saying, their words traveling louder with the wind. Either the first man was a fantastic wingman showing the hurt, cheated on man who needs a good banter or once again, they were oblivious.
“Just take off your shirt. Women like muscles, especially ones that read smutty books.” I rolled her eyes. It definitely wasn’t a smutty book, why would she read one of those on the beach in public?
I sat up to brace myself for someone’s attempt to flirt. Bracing my book on my knees.
She heard him clear his throat softly first, “What are you reading?”
“A book.” I replied curtly with my best American accent. Her beach hat hid him from view, but I didn’t want to look at him in case they happened to know each other. I knew many people through my parent’s dental practice growing up.
“I can see that. It must be rather captivating to hold your attention more than the beach and ocean themselves.”
“I enjoy the sun and the sand.” I replied.
“You will until you're sunburned and have sand in places that are not pleasant.” He informed her.
I shrugged. “It usually takes more than an hour for my skin to burn. As for the sand, I can just shower.”
“Your British,” he replied. Damn it, I let my fake accent slip in the last response. He squatted down next to me and I reflexively looked at him. I first saw his toned abs, then his hunter green swim trunks, before going up to his face. He fell backwards in surprise, his bum landing into the sand next to my towel. “Granger,” he whispered. Blinking three times like that would change my appearance to someone else.
I sat up straight and stiff. Crossing my legs in front of me and setting my book on my towel. “Malfoy,” I replied.
“What are you doing here? In San Diego, that is?” He asked.
“Enjoying a holiday, obviously. I assume that’s what you're doing here too.”
“I live here. Theo and I moved here after the war. Get away from the hexes and hateful glares.” I looked back to his group, seeing a bulky brunette man not so subtly watching them. Then at the other too, they didn’t look familiar.
“The other two are muggles that we befriended over the years.” He replied, noticing me glancing at his friends.
“Your parents, are they?” My thoughts trailed off. I couldn’t picture his parents living on sandy beaches, especially ones with muggles.
“They are in France. I usually travel there in June.” I relax slightly knowing that Lucius Malfoy wasn’t about to prance onto the beach in a speedo or something.
“How long are you here for?” He asked, pulling me from my thoughts. Thankfully.
“Two weeks.”
“When did you arrive?” He asked.
I looked at my wrist watch quickly. “Three hours ago.”
“Where are you staying?” I automatically pointed over my shoulder before I realized I probably shouldn’t be answering all these intrusive questions.
“Amanda’s house?” He said with surprise.
“You know Amanda?” I asked with actual surprise.
“Uh yeah. Amanda introduced me to Maggie…my ex. Who….uh…cheated on me with Amanda’s ex.”
Oh! That explains Amanda’s swift retreat to London for a vacation, without men. I nod in understanding.
“How do you know Amanda?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” At his confused look, I continued my explanation. “Amanda and I switched homes through a website. She’s staying in my flat in London and I’m staying in her place. We both are traveling back on New Year's Eve.”
“Huh.” He replied without adding anything else. He sat there wordless, deep in his thoughts. I internally debated fleeing back to Amanda’s house or staying through this very awkward encounter.
“I’m sorry, Granger.” I was pulled from my decision making with his words. She didn’t know if he was sorry for bugging her, for bullying her, for his actions in the war, for being intrusive. There were many things for him to be sorry for, so she stayed quiet.
“I meant to apologize after the war. I rehearsed it in my head many times, but you were always surrounded by people praising you and asking for your autograph in the beginning. Then Theo suggested we move here and I never had a chance….
Just know that I’m sorry, for everything. For being a complete shit to you for years, for threatening you, for my actions in the war, or my father trying to kill you multiple times, for my Aunt torturing you. I was raised to hate muggles and muggleborns, taught the purebloods were superior for years. Then I questioned my upbringing when you arrived at Hogwarts to my parents, which caused many bad things to happen. Through Sixth and Seventh Year, I learned what had literally beat into me, was incorrect. That my parents, my father, was incorrect.
Moving here, solidified things even more. I learned about muggle culture and technology. I have befriended them, dated them even. They are just normal people, nothing inferior about them, just different.”
I stayed silent while he talked. I didn’t know what to say or how to react. I didn’t think I would ever get an apology, especially from Draco Malfoy.
“You don’t have to forgive me or respond at all. Just know that I have changed. I’m not the person you remember at all.”
All I did was blink at him. I didn’t have any words to reply. I was stunned.
“You're more than welcome to join us. We come to the beach pretty much every day. Otherwise, Theo and I live in the house on the right of Amanda’s.” He gestured to the olive colored house next to Amanda’s white one. I rolled my eyes, of course it would be green.
He stood to return to his friends. My eyes instantly tracking his broad shoulders and narrowed waist. Why did he have to be so bloody fit? “Malfoy,” I called, waiting for him to turn. I groaned quietly, appreciating the abs that were on display. “Thanks for changing.”
“Would you….Can I take you out to dinner tonight? Show you around San Diego?” He asked. I saw Nott’s eyebrows raise over Malfoy’s shoulder, which means he could hear Malfoy’s question.
My heart raised. I was unsure. It didn’t seem like a good idea, but the words that came out were an agreement. “Sure. You know where I’m staying.” What the hell was I doing? I need to stop ogling him and why was I even talking to him during my holiday away.
“Seven?” He asked. I looked at my watch, three hours from now. I nodded again, not trusting my words. He nodded, joining his group of friends. I watched as Theo clapped him on the back, clearly excited with the turn of events. Before the four of them headed off to swim in the ocean.
That’s when it hit me. I, Hermione Granger, had a date with Draco Malfoy.