The Symmetrical Transit (Dramione)

Nine

Day Eighty-Six; 12:04am

"So we'll go in tomorrow."

"Right. It'll be the second day, and the place will be bursting with players, people, and press. We'll blend into the masses with a Glamour. We still have to figure out how to get to Krum, though."

"We just have to find out where he's staying. I'll take care of it from there." 

"How?" He didn't like not knowing details.

"I'll tell the desk to contact him and tell him I'm waiting."

"Right. The whole 'Hermione Granger' bit won't give anything away."

She smiled. "Viktor calls me 'Ninny', actually. He could never pronounce my name properly, and it bothered me when I was younger, but I've gotten used to it now. He--"

"How sweet." He looked as if he smelt something rotten. "Why would the desk bother contacting him about you? There's probably hundreds of girls who show up trying to get to him. Plenty that have...met...him at one time or another as well, I'm sure."

She gave him a look for his innuendo. "I don't know. I'll cry...make up a story about some--"

Malfoy groaned, lolling his head back. "We're doomed, if that's the plan."

"What?"

"You're a shit liar, have I told you yet? You are."

"Fine. Maybe we can wait in the lobby until..." He groaned again. "Then you come up with something!"

"I can't do this! This is a lie too! You said--"

"This isn't as much acting skills. Crying and ranting on is too dramatic. You just have to say a sentence or two for this, and you're through. Hopefully Krum isn't as dense as he looks."

"He's--"

"Go."

She swayed forward, back, and looked up at him again. "Malfoy, I--"

"You can do it. Just walk up there and do it. This is for a good reason, Granger. This is what has to be done. Are you a Gryffindor, or a bleeding Hufflepuff? Get your--"

"You suck at pep talks."

He looked offended. "I gave the Slytherin Quidditch pep talks for three year--" 

"I'm going."

"Then go."

Hermione sighed, nodding up at him. He nodded back, giving her a shove out of the alcove. Hermione calmed herself and her steps, and tried to walk toward the desk with an air about her that she didn't think she was getting very well.

"Can I help you?"

Hermione smiled. "My name is Ninny from EAWE. I'm supposed to go to Viktor Krum's room."

The woman pursed her lips. "EAWE?"

"Elite Adult Wizarding Entertainment."

She studied Hermione a lot closer then -- not that she looked like an escort, or whatever it was Malfoy was putting her up as. Besides the robe he fixed to fit her better, and a little makeup in the Glamour Charm, she was normal.

"I don't have any record or note of you being...invited."

"What?" She came out squeaky. "There must be a mistake. I suggest you call Mister Krum's room and ask him yourself."

"We try not to bother our guests--"

"Well, turning away something he paid for might bother him a little, ma'am." Her heart was pounding and she was sweating, and she was absolutely sure she was busted.