Signum Vitalis (a dramione story)

The Tuneful Brew

As the wall closed behind her, Hermione cast a hot-air charm on her clothes and hair before starting down the cobblestone street.

Hermione started to pull out her robes so she could hide her stained shirt, but was interrupted by a voice.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Her hand paused in her purse at the all too familiar tone. She directed a baleful glare at the blonde man who had spoken. He was wearing a casual robe, his usual sleek appearance more ruffled, but his smirk bordered on a smile. Seeing him in such a pleasant mood irked her.

"What do you think?" she asked sharply before she continued walking. Hermione heard Malfoy start to follow her.

"Actually I was thinking-"

"That was rhetorical, Malfoy."

There was a pause, and then Malfoy spoke up again, "Granger, do the-"

"I said-" Hermione interrupted.

"-colonies dis-"

"Bugger off!"

"-agree with you?"

Hermione paused and glanced back at Malfoy, a few steps behind her.

"Did you always have this cheery disposition or shall we blame the Yankees?" he rephrased and really smirked this time. Hermione knew he was mocking her but couldn't pin down why she was so irritated.

"I'm going to blame you," she said petulantly.

He glanced off over her shoulder and tilted his head as if thinking. "I can't see why... I'll stick with the Yank theory."

Hermione rolled her eyes and started down the road again. Malfoy continued to follow her. She waited for several seconds to see if he would leave; however, each step with Malfoy behind her back made her clench her teeth and hands harder.

"Malfoy, stop following me."

"Hmf, I'm not following you. You're the one in the way of where I want to go," he still managed to say it arrogantly despite its ridiculousness.

"Clever," Hermione responded sarcastically and tried very hard to ignore him again. They continued to walk down the streets of wizarding New York. The passing shops had a very distinct Victorian influence and looked newer than London's.

Eventually, Malfoy spoke up again. "Granger, where are you going? The Tuneful Brew?" he guessed as it came into view.

"What's it to you?" she said without turning around.

"How silly of me not to guess the great Hermione Granger would be early even to a lunch date."

"I actually came early for a break by myself, alone, before everyone else showed up."

"You should rethink that and spend it lion-taming instead."

"Excuse me?" she rounded on him.

Malfoy merely pointed his long finger lazily at her hair. She reached up to touch a much puffier mess than she had had that morning. She groaned as she remembered the hot-air spell.

"And I know you're a muggle-lover, but it's taking it too far if you won't even use a charm on that." His finger trailed down to point at her blouse. She had never gotten her robes on to cover the stain because she had been interrupted by a certain blonde git.

"Honestly, take a little pride in your appearance. I'll show you a spell-"

Her wand was out and at his throat before she had thought about it.