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Chapter Text

Prologue

It’s been 10 years to the day since Draco Malfoy went missing. The ex deatheater spent 2 years in Azkaban for his crimes committed during the wizarding war, and on the day of his release he vanished without a trace. No letters to any of his friends. No visits to his mother. Nothing. He didn’t even take any of his personal belongings.

Like all the others who were released from Azkaban, Draco had his wand snapped and all magic stripped from him. So, the question left for everyone was how does one of the most famous wizards just disappear?

That was the question that haunted Hermione. Following his release the disappearance of Draco Malfoy was all everyone could talk about for years. Many searched, in hopes they could have their moment of fame for finding him, but for Hermione that’s not what made her search. She had her own reasons.

The first couple years following his disappearance she didn’t join in on the search parties. His friends, his haters, the reporters, and even aurors were all looking so surely, he would turn up eventually. But he didn’t.

It was when the wizarding world gave up that her curious mind started driving her mad. How does someone just vanish? Was he dead? She didn’t know.

Every couple months, maybe it was years, Hermione would do a search online, and as she expected she never found anything. But in the summer of her 30th everything would change. Everything.

Chapter 1: The Letter Thief

Hermione absentmindedly swirled her wine in her glass as she watched the room full of witches and wizards mingle and dance. She was attending another charity function held at the Malfoy manor, this one being for the new program offered to muggleborns prior to starting their first year at Hogwarts. The golden Trio were often invited as guests of honor to fundraising galas like this.

The manor had once been a very traumatic place for her to be, but after many visits for parties and functions over the years she had grown very indifferent to it. Narcissa Malfoy knew how to throw the most beautiful events and often raised thousands of galleons for causes that Hermione truly supported.

Glancing around the room full of buzzing witches and wizards made her feel a great sting of melancholy. She hated attending these parties alone when the evenings always ended the same. Everyone indulging in too much fancy wine and fire whiskey and dramatically retelling atrocious stories from the past, with casualty she had not yet come to possess when discussing her childhood trauma, and then finishing with either drunk suggestive slow dancing or sneaking off to find a place to snog, and more.

Hermione cringed as Seamus drunkenly slung an arm around Ginny, whom was clearly not going to be slipping off with him. He was loudly bragging to the group about her most recent victory with the Harpies, all while spilling his half full glass all over the marble floors.

She wondered what it must be like for Narcissa to host functions now. After hosting years of prim and prejudice events being attended only by Slytherins, to now having the chaos that naturally comes with inviting this diverse group.

A little house elf swiftly ran past Hermione, breaking her train of thought and likely resting bitch face, with a letter clasped in her hands. The small elf was dressed in a sharp looking suit, but hardly anybody noticed as she dashed through the crowd, dodging around legs and flowing gowns. She finally made it to where Narcissa stood, and eagerly tapped on Narcissa’s thigh. Hermione watched curiously as Narcissa talked kindly to the elf and took the letter. She glanced down at it and Hermione noticed the change in her face, the natural colour draining, and only leaving her artificial blush in its wake. Narcissa quickly glanced around the room and whispered something to the elf and handed the letter back.

Hermione watched as the little elf ran out of the room and towards the kitchen, quickly returning with a tray of appetizers.

“Alright Hermione?” Hermione startled and turned to see Ginny Weasley beside her biting into a crab cake.

“Oh, yes. I’m fine. Based on Seamus I’m probably the one who should be checking in on you!” Ginny muffled a laugh through her bite.

“Come on, you’re just jealous I had all that…” Ginny gestured to Seamus who was now air humping violently to the classical music being gently played. She cringed, both corners of her mouth pulling down. “Hitting on me.” She finished with a dramatic eye roll.

“I’m so green with envy you could mistake me for a Slytherin.” Hermione boasted sarcastically but glanced back to the kitchen. “I think I’m going to head out though.”

Ginny’s head tilted sideways, and her bottom lip protruded into a pout. “Ugh, don’t leave me here alone. You know how annoyed I get being stuck in a room with the same meat heads from our Hogwarts days.”

“I’m exhausted and they already did the toasts and speeches. If I leave now I doubt anybody will care.” Hermione quickly took the last mouth full of her cabernet as an empty tray passed. She smiled in thanks to the elf as the glass was taken away.

“I care.” Retorted Ginny. “But you’re sure you don’t want to stay for the desserts? Narcissa always has the best desserts served. It’s the only thing that actually makes me come to these pretentious things.” Hermione looked back to the dance floor where she saw Ron dancing with his fiancé Lavender Brown and then to Harry who was clearly starting to get a bit tipsy as he threw back his head laughing at something Pansy Parkinson had said. Pansy shoved a bacon wrapped scallop into his mouth clumsily and pressed her body against him laughing loudly. Hermione could see the jealous burning in Ginny’s stare.

“I might slip into the kitchen and see if I can grab a couple pastries, but I think I’m going to head out. I’m tired and…” Hermione’s eyes went back to Ron and Lavender who were clumsily dancing and laughing. She could tell her face was likely a mirror of how Ginny stared at Harry.

“It’s ok, you don’t have to explain yourself.” Ginny reached forward and grabbed a champagne flute that was passing by. “Would you like me to come home with you?” She offered sincerely. “I’ll steal a couple bottles of the good wine here and then we could watch one of your favourite muggle movies and talk shit about Lavender and Pansy?” Hermione couldn’t help the laugh snort that escaped her.

Harry and Ginny had separated shortly after the war but remained very close. Ginny did however want to knock out Pansy every time she saw her. The two witches were so different they were like oil and water. Get togethers at the Weasley’s had gotten very heated when Harry had started inviting Pansy.

Then there was Ron and Lavender. They had been seeing each other for a few years now following their cheating scandal. Hermione didn’t hate Ron and they could still chat civil, but it wasn’t the same. Walking in on them shagging in Hermione and Ron’s bed was an image she would never get out of her mind and even just thinking about it made Hermione want to rake her nails down Lavender’s face. She did transfigure a skunk into Lavender’s car though which makes Hermione happy to think about. And she may have punched Ron so hard in the nose that she broke her hand, which does not make her smile. But after a couple years she didn’t want to hold grudges that would end a childhood friendship. Even if her and Ginny would still drink to much while bashing them both. Forgiving was one thing, forgetting is another.

“As tempting as that sounds I’m gonna call it a night. Thanks, though Gin. I’ll send you a text when I have made it home.” Ginny gave Hermione an affectionate gentle hip bump and went back to the group of Gryffindors while Hermione slipped off to the kitchen.

It was bustling with excitement. Pots were magically being scrubbed in the sinks, clean dishes and cups magically flew around the room, and desserts were being accio’ed to trays, leaving hastily in the hands of the many serving elves. Hermione smiled to see them all happily working, knowing that they were all free and being paid likely more in a night then Hermione would make in a month.

“Pardon me miss, but can Binky help a witch?” asked one of the small elves. He was wearing a crooked little tie and Hermione didn’t recognize him from the other parties she had attended here. She assumed he was new of just helping for the night.
“Actually, I was wondering if I could sneak a couple pastries before I head home for the night?” Hermione asked.

“Anything Miss Granger wants; Miss Granger can have!” Chirped the happy elf as it quickly grabbed a container from under the centre island. Hermione smiled at Binky as she took the container and went to a full tray displaying a range of mouth-watering desserts. Hermione had grabbed a couple treats when she saw it. The letter.

She shouldn’t have looked, but on it she saw the letter had initials on it. D.M. written in beautiful calligraphy that was dreadfully familiar.

It couldn’t be. Hermione quickly put the lid on the container and turned to leave. But she paused. Hermione chewed her lip as she looked around the room to see that all the elves were preoccupied. She turned back and snatched the letter quickly, slipping it into her small handbag and swiftly left the manor.

What was she doing?! What if the letter wasn’t even from him? Even worse than that, what if it was?

When Hermione apparated home she frantically locked her and Ginny’s apartment door, set down her desserts and quickly pulled out the letter with trembling hands. It was covered in many stamps and had been sent internationally…. Hermione frowned as she realized that the letter had been sent via muggle mail.

She read in impeccably neat writing a return address:

D.M.
73 Range Road 241,
Nanton AB,
T0L 1R0,
Canada.

Canada? She shouldn’t open it. She shouldn’t. She can’t. She…. Fuck it. Hermione quickly tore open the letter and gasped at what she held in her hands. A letter, and even more shocking… a photo. A muggle photo. A muggle photo of four cowboys on horses, all laughing holding up buckles in their hands and one of those cowboys was… oh gods. Was Draco Fucking Malfoy.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Porn Sites and Ginger Fights

A thunderous crashing sound came from the living room and terror rang through Hermione. It must be someone here to collect the letter which she still had not brought herself to read yet.

Hermione slowly crept from her bedroom holding her breath.

“Mother Fucking….” Hermione suddenly recognized the aggravated voice as Ginny whom she realized she had locked out of the apartment. She quickly ran to unlock the door, but the short-tempered witch took another slam against it with her shoulder and busted the chain lock right off the door frame, and ungracefully crashed to the floor of the small untidy boot room.

“Oh, gods Gin, I’m so sorry!” Hermione rushed over to help Ginny up. She was staring at Hermione wide eyed.

“Are you alright?” Ginny asked anxiously, as she stood. Her face was red with agitation and confusion.

“Yes,” Hermione sighed, “I’m fine, I wasn’t even thinking when I locked the door I…”

“Wait, are you with someone?” Ginny’s face quickly switched to a devilish grin.

“No! I just…” Hermione paused, not knowing what exactly to say. Ginny’s eyebrows raised expectantly as she waited for Hermione’s response. “I may have done something very…. Very bad tonight.” Hermione awkwardly fiddled with the letter she was embarrassingly holding behind her back like a child caught stealing a treat before dinner.

Ginny’s diabolical grin grew again, even bigger this time, as she rubbed her hands together like a fly landing on a fresh pile of manure. “Oh, this is gonna be good! Now I’m glad I left early because that slippery snake, Markus Flint, started following me around like a lost, very drunk, puppy.” Ginny threw her red hair over her shoulder. “Not that anyone can blame him with all this.” She said gesturing to herself proudly.

“Ya ya, you’re Merlin’s gift to the male gaze.” Hermione rolled her eyes and breathlessly sighed. “Gin, I’m serious. I did something very wrong. Actually, quite illegal.”

“Spit it out Hermione! I’m dying here!”

“I stole from Narcissa Malfoy.” Hermione gushed out and she could feel her face burning with embarrassment.

Ginny suddenly looked confused. “I don’t think she will care you took desserts home with you. In fact, she is usually trying to send stuff home with…”

“No! I stole this!” Hermione finally held forward the parchment and photo in her hand.

“You stole a note? I hardly think she will care about …”

“It’s a letter from Draco Malfoy!” Hermione cut in, and instantly saw the realization of the situation hit Ginny.

Ginny’s brows pulled together in confusion. “How is that possible? He hasn’t been seen or heard from since they turned him into a squib after he was released from prison?”

“He sent this through muggle mail. I haven’t read what is says, but the return address is to Canada.” Hermione said as she looked back down at the ripped open envelope she was holding. She handed it to Ginny so she could see.

“Canada? What is the actual fuck is Draco Malfoy doing in Canada? Don’t they all live in igloos there and have sled dogs for transportation?” Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny’s naïve question.

“I do believe they have four seasons in Canada, and based off the photo of him on a horse I’m assuming they don’t ride moose around for quick travel.” Hermione rolled her eyes and handed Ginny the photo.

Ginny stared down at the photo, a deep wrinkle creasing between her brows. She looked back at Hermione and pressed her lips together trying to hide her obvious smirk.

“He’s a cowboy?” Ginny asked, and then suddenly exploded with laughter. A tear started falling from the corner of her eye as she howled with an uncontrollable laughter.

“Ginny, stop! This is serious! He….”

“Draco fucking Malfoy ran away to become a cowboy? Oh, gods Hermione, this is to rich.” Ginny wiped the tears with the back of her hand. “What does the letter say?”

Hermione looked back down. “I haven’t read it. I’m going to return it to Narcissa right now.” Hermione reached out to take the envelope and photo from Ginny but the red headed witch pulled it back before she could take it.

“Oh no you don’t” Ginny said as she held it above her head, acting the way her brothers did when they were children and not sharing their prank toys. “You can give it back once we read it! There is no way I’m letting you leave without us knowing what it says.” Ginny smiled again and Hermione tried to jump and take the photo and envelope back. Ginny quickly swiped the letter from Hermione’s hand and ran to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

“Ginevra Weasley!” Hermione bellowed as she chased after her and slammed her fist against the door. “Open this damn door before I bombarda it down!” Hermione waited, her pulse thundering in her chest. The door didn’t unlock. She pressed her ear to the door, but she couldn’t hear anything. Hermione slammed her open palm against it again. “Ginny!” She yelled.

Hermione turned to grab her wand when the door finally opened.

“We are going to Canada.” Ginny stated as she held forward the letter.

“We?!” Hermione screeched out snatching the letter back. “I am doing no such thing! I am however taking this back to Narcissa right this…”

“Since when did your ruthless Malfoy manhunt come to such an abrupt halt? You have been looking for him for years! A little obsessively if I’m going to be honest” Ginny sniggered. “Fuck, if I knew he was gonna look this fit as a cowboy I’d be hunting down the man too.”

“I have not obsessively been looking for Malfoy.” Hermione scoffed in agitation.

“Umm, yes you bloody well have.” Ginny cocked her hip and rested her hand on it. “If you’re going to try to lie to me you had better do a better job with clearing the computer search history.” Ginny’s one brow raised. “You search him almost every day and it makes it very hard for me to go back and find the good porn links I like to watch.”

Hermione let out a flustered cry. But Ginny was crossing the room to sit down in front of the laptop.

“I don’t need you to show me the history search, and also, I strictly told you NOT to watch porn on MY laptop! It will fill it with viruses! I was wondering why it was getting so slow.” Hermione protested angrily.

“I’m not going to the search history. I’m looking up the rodeo he mentioned in the letter.” Ginny said as she one finger typed in the search bar. Hermione looked down at the letter but didn’t read past the “Dear Mother,”.

Hermione startled as Ginny screamed and started kicking her feet like a mad woman.

“Fuck Gin… What is the matter?” She said dramatically covering her ears. Ginny didn’t notice. She shoved the laptop towards Hermione and slid the rolling chair out of the way, still squealing in hysteria.

“I think today is my favourite day I have ever had.” Ginny cackled.

Hermione rolled her eyes but looked to the screen and read; Pincher Creek Ranch Rodeo Champions’. Hermione saw the same photo that was contained in the letter and frowned. “I don’t see what’s so funny.” She said but Ginny was pointing under the photo to where is stated; L-R. Colt Bedford, Riley McDonald, Sage Fox, Draco Granger. Hermione shook her head and read again. Draco Granger. Her mouth fell open dumbfounded.

“Do you need to sit?” Ginny questioned still giggling.
Hermione tried to say something but only her mouth moved, no sound came out. Ginny stood and slid the chair towards Hermione, which she took a seat in immediately.

“I’m going to put on some tea. You start looking up flights to Pincher Creek.”

“Gin.” Hermione finally managed the whine out.

“Ya?” Ginny said peaking her head around the kitchen corner.

“Bring the firewhiskey instead of tea please.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Head Master

Hermione squinted in the early morning sun as her head pounded in rhythm with her heartbeat. Her mouth was drier than a nun’s cunt and she could tell her breath could repel a goat. She gingerly straightened from where she was slumped on the couch, the kink in her neck protesting. Speaking of gingerly, she glanced down to a tornado of red tangled hair that was slumped on her lap. She reached for the back of her neck and gently started rubbing where the knot was when she gasped. Sitting across from her on the other couch was the beautiful and prim Narcissa Malfoy, reading a parchment which Hermione concluded was the stolen letter.

Hermione grabbed Ginny’s shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. “Gin, wake up.” She whispered. Ginny growled and swatted at Hermione’s hand in protest. Hermione shook her much harder, her eyes not leaving Narcissa. “Ginny, wake up.” She hissed a bit louder as she tried to swallow the hard lump in her throat.

Narcissa finally looked up from the letter, her eyes meeting Hermione’s. A calm and elegant expression on her face, not giving away any emotion. Her ankles were delicately crossed, her lovely black and silver hair was neatly pulled in a half updo with a large emerald hair comb. Her dark sly eyes fixed on Hermione.

“Ginny, wake up.” Hermione said again shoving her friend hard.

Ginny squinted up at Hermione, nose scrunched. “Bloody hell Mione, your breath smells like a trolls assho…” Ginny finally caught sight of Narcissa. “Hello Mrs Malfoy.” She awkwardly said as she slowly sat up, her back audibly cracking in disapproval of her sleeping position. Ginny’s hair was in a massive sweaty cowlick that stood straight up an inch before it waterfalled down into a tangled fiery mess. Hermione could only imagine what state her mess of curls were in.

“Good morning, ladies.” Narcissa said in a low elegant voice. Her eye contact broke from Hermione as she smoothed her perfect wrinkle free black floor length skirt. “I hope you don’t mind that I let myself in, the door was left ajar and there were no wards preventing entry.” Her one perfect brow raised higher. “Considering what you ladies went through I am surprised you are so careless with your security.” Narcissa’s manicured fingers folded the letter back up and put it into the envelope with the photo. Hermione could hear her heart racing. “I sent Binky off to get a new lock for the door and some breakfast.” She finished and looked back and forth between them.

Hermione was horrified as she noticed that Ginny had removed her gown from the night before, and was sitting in just her underwear and a Harpies tshirt. Hermione wasn’t much better in ratty sweatpants and a Tshirt that said “Head-Master” with a Hogwarts castle made of penises. Narcissa’s mouth was more of a wince than a smile.

“Please let me explain what…” Hermione started but Narcissa cut her off.

“Explain why you stole my mail? Why you invaded my privacy and my son’s? Stole my yearly letter from the most important person in my life, whom I thought you despised? Yes Hermione, that would be lovely. Because I cannot for the life of me fathom what your intentions were.” Narcissa’s tone remained calm and cool.

Hermione didn’t know if the questions was rhetorical. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I saw the return address. The initials and I just…” She just what? She was horrified. What had gotten into her? She couldn’t even remember if she had read the letter. She couldn’t recall anything it said, or much after they took their 9th fire whiskey shot. She nervously pulled at a hangnail on her thumb.

Suddenly a pants-less ginger was getting up and sprinting to the washroom, hand over her mouth. Gods, they were acting like teenagers! The toilet seat banged against the back of the toilet and a loud retching sound rang through the apartment. Hermione wanted the couch to swallow her.

Narcissa’s face remained composed, and she finally stopped staring at Hermione as she tucked the letter into her purse beside her. “I had Binky put on some tea before leaving, would you like some?” She said as she gently crossed her hands on her lap.

“Sorry Narciss… Mrs Malfoy. I should be the one offering.” Hermione winced as her face burned with embarrassment. Gowns were thrown all over the apartment from the night before, heels thrown carelessly on the floor.

“That isn’t necessary miss Granger. I have many appointments and obligations that call to me today so I must be going. But before I leave, I need to know if you are going to tell anyone, and what you are going to do with this information. Other than the house elves and myself, nobody other than you and Ginevra know about Draco and I believe we would all like to keep it that way.”

“We won’t tell a soul Mrs. Malfoy”.

“Good. I took the liberty to use your laptop and booked you and Miss Weasley two round trip tickets to Calgary next week. I saw that you girls were searching Nanton airport and Pincher Creek airport but unfortunately those towns are barely large enough for grocery stores, little alone airports.” Hermione’s stomach was curdling with anxiety and booze.

“That is very unnecessary Narcissa.” Hermione tried to plead.

Narcissa tossed her hand nonchalantly. “Use the tickets or don’t. I refuse to fly on those muggle death birds and for obvious reasons involving my lack of magic, I can not apparate.” Narcissa gracefully stood and picked what looked like a raisin (Hermione hoped it was a raisin) from her dress with a sneer. “I miss my son with my entire being and I’m hoping as a favour to me, you will go and see him compete in his next ranch rodeo and give him this.” Narcissa pulled an envelope from her bag and set it on the coffee table between them. “I hope you can express some self-control and not open this letter.” Narcissa’s one perfectly manicured eye brown raised at Hermione and she gracefully stood. “If you don’t use the tickets to Calgary, please mail it via Muggle mail.” Narcissa headed for the door as Binky appeared with a soft pop of apparation, a paper bag in one hand and a toolbox in the other. “Oh, and Hermione,” Narcissa turned to face Hermione again. “If you ever steal from my house again you will see a not so friendly version of myself that runs in the Black family.” She looked to the washroom. “Tell Ginevra I said goodbye. I do hope you girls have a lovely trip to Canada.”

Once Narcissa and Binky had left, and Ginny had returned from the bathroom the girls checked the dates Narcissa had booked the flights. Ginny was taking the summer off before the Hogwarts school year would begin and she would take the position of flying instructor after a wonderfully successful ten years of playing for the Harpies. Hermione also knew she had months’ worth of vacation time saved up and could easily take off whenever she wished from her job at the ministry. But did they want to go? What would she even say to Malfoy? What would he say to them?

“So, are we going, there Head Master?” Ginny asked grinning fiendishly at Hermione.

“I think I want to.” Hermione answered, question hanging on the words.

“I think I want to as well. I never really planned on seeing the wild west, but it couldn’t be better timing, and honestly, I’ve always wanted to ride a cowboy.”

“Ride of horse you mean?”

“Yes, sure.” Ginny reached over and pulled a raspberry scone from the paper bag Binky had left.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Let’s Play, Bitch

“Did I tell you that Harry is bringing Parkinson to dinner tonight?” Ginny asked with a raised eyebrow as she met eyes with Hermione in the mirror.

Hermione’s mouth was already hanging open in concentration as she applied her mascara, but her eyebrows pulled tight together in a frown. “I thought she wasn’t coming back after the last time?”

“Oh, you mean after she insulted basically the entire family before the food was even served and how she then refused to eat anything because it looked inedible,” Ginny used fake air quotes as she said inedible, “and forced Harry to leave early? Yea, well apparently, she wants to join us again and will try to be more civil.” Ginny rolled her eyes. “For someone who spent 16 years going to etiquette classes and was supposedly taught manners, she sure is a rude cunt.”

Hermione’s mouth pulled into a tight-lipped smile. “Are you sure that throwing a hot BBQ chicken leg at her was the politest and mature retaliation?”

Ginny ignored Hermione’s question. “She can’t help herself but constantly make slanderous comments that degrade my family. I don’t know what Harry sees in her.”

“I don’t either, but he does seem happy, doesn’t he?”

Ginny let out a dramatic sigh. “Yea he does… Merlin knows why.” Ginny pulled on a Harpies jersey for the family quidditch match they would have before dinner. “She probably can fit a lot in that big mouth of hers.”

“I bet she microdoses Harry with amortentia in his night cap.” Hermione added as she giggled.

“I bet she has unicorn blood baths and sleeps in a casket with the rattles of snakes lulling her to sleep.” Ginny said drily.

“If you two get into a fist fight, make sure she doesn’t rip out any of your hair to curse you with later.” They both snickered at that.

When Hermione had made that remark she didn’t believe that Ginny and Pansy would in fact get into a fist fight that evening.

~

When the girls arrived at the Burrow, they helped Molly with the dinner prep and then headed to the meadow out back for the family’s Sunday quidditch match. The birds were happily chirping in the warm summer afternoon and the air was filled with the smell of wildflowers. The buzzing sound of grasshoppers and honeybees came from all around and a gentle warm breeze blew through Hermiones long brown curls. Everyone was standing around the makeshift quidditch pitch waiting for Ginny to start the game.

They all stood in two large groups. In the one Lavender was awkwardly standing with Ron, pretending to be interested in whatever him George and Harry were laughing about. Hermione couldn’t help but smile seeing her best friends so carelessly happy. Harry wiped a tear from his cheek as Ron threw his head back laughing even harder. Lavender awkwardly giggled, likely not understanding the joke Hermione thought.

In the other group stood Bill with his hand in Fleur’s, Charlie with his boyfriend, Oliver Wood, both standing with their arms crossed but kept bumping shoulders lovingly as they joked around, George with Angelina, and Percy with his arm wrapped around his wife Audrey’s waist. Luna Lovegood was also there with Cho Chang, as they sometimes joined in on family’s quidditch match.

Pansy was the only one not conversing with anyone. She sat in a luxurious cushioned lawn chair reading the latest Witch Weekly magazine, while a charmed nail polish brush painted her finger nails a dark green. She wore large sunglasses, a large white sun hat, and a stunning white sun dress that was incredibly over the top for the casual evening, all while she sipped on some iced lemon water with mint leaves.

“Finally! We can pick teams!” Yelled Oliver, rubbing his hands together with excitement. Everyone turning to see them approaching.

“Unlike you prats, we actually help mum with dinner prep.” Teased Ginny as she smiled broadly at everyone, throwing the quaffle at Oliver which he caught with ease.

Hermione noticed from her peripheral vision that Pansy had paused reading her magazine and was staring in her direction. Pansy knew Hermione never played the match and usually took up reading to pass the time. She also knew that it was probably polite to sit with Pansy but Luna linked arms with Hermione and they went to a spot on the lawn to set up a nice viewing spot instead. Pansy went back to casually reading, seemingly unbothered.

Ginny and Oliver were team captains. They took turns picking and Ginny’s team ended up having Ron as Keeper, George and Bill as Beaters, and Ginny Fleur and Audrey as Chasers. Oliver’s team had him as Keeper, Charlie and Angelina as Beaters, and Percy Lavender and Cho as Chasers, with Harry as their Seeker.

“Is there anybody we can invite to play for us as Seeker?” Ginny asked everyone, obviously knowing Hermione and Luna were solid no’s.

“I’d like to play.” Everyone turned to see Pansy vanishing the nail polish, drink and magazine, as she gracefully stood to join where the teams stood.

Before anyone could protest Harry happily piped in. “Really? Ahh that’s great Pans!” Harry beamed as he extending his FireBolt broom towards her. “You can use my broom, I’ll borrow one from the shed. There are a few extras in there.”

Ginny placed a hand on her one hip. “From what I remember you didn’t even play seeker, and you haven’t ever played at the Burrow before so maybe we can call…” Ginny’s protest was cut off.

“I’m sure I can figure it out Ginevra.” Pansy smiled sweetly as she took the broom from Harry.

“Pans was really good at quidditch back at Hogwarts and we fly together a few times a week. I bet she will give me a run for my money!” Harry’s smile radiated as he encouragingly bumped his shoulder into Pansy’s who gave him a cheeky wink in thanks.

Before Ginny could protest more Oliver clapped his hands impatiently and yelled, “Perfect, let’s get ready to begin the game!”

Ginny’s knuckles were white as she clenched her broom handle, and the tips of her ears were burning red. Hermione could see her jaw muscle flick and all the humour and silliness melted from her normally goofy friend. She anxiously chewed the inside of her lip as she magically set up a comfy sitting spot for her and Luna, whom was currently talking to a frog she had caught.

~

The two teams separated and got into the last of their gear as they exchanged friendly teasing and placed a couple bets. Pansy had transfigured her Chanel dress and heels into a brand new black and green uniform and black dragon hide boots she had recently purchased from Splintwitches Sporting Needs and was flying a couple laps to warm up and get use to Harry’s broom. She normally used her Bright Spark broom when they flew together, but she was fairly competent on most modern brooms. She was pleased she didn’t have to cause a scene over using the ratty old spare brooms the Weasels had for company to use. She couldn’t help but grin at how unbothered Harry was to be riding such a rickety old broom.

Harry had never given her the, “you have to civil around my friends,” speech but she knew after the last visit she was going to have to be on her best behaviour or her welcome would expire.

He flew around with her while coaching her through a couple technical moves for her to try on his broom. She tried her best to keep her expression neutral, but she couldn’t help but melt for the wizard with his wild wavy black hair, as he flew with precision and technique of a naturally talented flyer. She could barely pay attention to what he was saying with his lean muscled forearms flexing as he held the broom. His thick quidditch thighs showed every muscle and she couldn’t help but want to swing her leg over him and straddle her man on his shitty borrowed 1800’s broom.

Her attraction to Harry wasn’t really something she could explain. He was corny, and sweet. So odd and brilliant and kind. He was never too busy for anyone who needed him, and he always genuinely listened when someone was talking. He was tall and sexy and his hair drove her crazy. He had zero skills in the bedroom when they first started sleeping together but thankfully, he had a wonderful thick cock that she could work with. She loved bossing people around, and he loved to be bossed around. But the greatest thing about Harry Potter was that when the entire wizarding world turned their backs on her for her involvement with the dark lord, he was the first one to speak to her without hate or fear or disgust. He joked about the dumbest things and had her laugh more in the last two years than she had in her whole life. He was clumsy and sometimes oblivious. He could be brilliant but also very daft and as contrary as they were, she was madly in love with him. After Draco abandoned her, Harry had become her most cherished friend and for the first time in her life she thought of someone other than herself first. She would protect him and give him the life, love and family he deserved. She had made so many mistakes. So many poor decisions. But he put it behind them and gave her an honest start. Even with her terrible behaviour as a child and being on opposite sides during a war, he gave her a clean slate.

“If you can’t figure out the broom, I’ll call Seamus to play!” Yelled Ginny from her team’s huddle. Pansy snapped back to reality and giggled. Harry gave her a dramatic eye roll as he cleaned the lenses of his flying goggles with his shirt, exposing a little peak of his black stomach hair below his naval. His nose was covered in light freckles and his lower lashes were so thick and dark they made him look like he wore eye liner.

“Play nice my little snake.” Harry whispered as he glided beside her. The hair on his forehead had windswept into a mess and the cowlick at the front exposed his scar. He gave her a cheesy smile, his bright green eyes meeting hers. He leaned forward and kissed her warm sun kissed cheek. Yes, she thought, she did love him with all of soul.

“I play to win baby.” She winked back at him and flew towards her team below.

A quick five-minute game plan was laid out by the She-Weasel as she predictably bossed everyone around. She was obviously the most talented at the pitch with her playing pro for the Harpies, but her being the captain was agitating Pansy.

“Ok! Let’s go kick some ass!” Finished Ginny dramatically as if she were running into a Viking battle. Everyone clapped and mounted their brooms and Pansy sneered at the whole performance of it. It was a fucking back yard quidditch match, not the world cup. Everyone could cool it on the intensity.

“Wait,” said Pansy as Ginny lifted off the ground. “What about me? You don’t have any advice?”

Ginny pretended to look like she was thinking very hard. “Umm, don’t wreck Harry’s broom? Maybe try to stay out of the way and if you see the snitch, try to grab it?” She flew a bit higher, then paused. “Oh, one last thing Parkinson. Quidditch is a rough game, just so you know what you’re getting into.” Ginny gave a large fake smirk and took off. Pansy’s blood turned to ice.

“So that’s how you want to play? Fine. Let’s play, bitch.”

~

“They don’t usually play this rough, do they?” Luna whispered to Hermione, leaning in as if they were exchanging a secret. She had let the frog go and was surprisingly watching the game, unlike usual when she ends up roaming to the pond or skipping off to feed the pigs in the sty.

Hermione grimaced as Ginny scored yet another goal against Ron and violently fist pumped the air. Cho screamed something at Ron who was returning his teammate with the middle finger. “No Luna. You’re not mistaken. The Burrow games are not normally this rough.”

Ginny’s face was flushed with splotchy red cheeks. She was playing as if it was a Harpies match. Pansy had been hovering high above the pitch for the last hour and hadn’t moved. Multiple times Ginny gave Pansy an obvious death glare, but she finally flew towards her team’s seeker. Oh Fuck, Hermione thought to herself.

“How about you fucking try, ya?” Barked Ginny between laboured breaths.

Ginny turned back towards the pitch when Pansy took off like a bullet and smashed into Ginny from behind and knocked her from her broom. It happened so fast Hermione thought maybe she was the only one who saw. Ginny plummeted towards the ground and Hermione barely pulled her wand fast enough and yell “Arresto Momentum!” The red haired witch hovered just inches from the ground. Ginny whipped her head around, her face white with rage. Hermione ran towards her friend as she saw Pansy darting through the air with Harry fast on her tail.

“Did you see that?!” Barked Ginny, flabbergasted as she grabbed her dirt covered broom handle. “The cunt fucking hit me off my broom!” Ginny angrily swung her leg over the broom.

“Ayy! You can’t remount once you have fallen off!” Yelled Angelina as she zoomed towards them, hitting a bludger away that was coming straight for Hermione.

“Come on Gin, sit with me and Luna. You guys are ahead anyways…”

A loud whistle blew, followed by Bill yelling “Pansy got the snitch! Game over!” Ginny’s eyes snapped to the dark-haired witch as she gently held the snitch out between her thumb and pointer, it’s gold wings glinting in the light. A few cheers rang out and a couple groans of disappointment. Hermione couldn’t help but see the pure rage in Ginny’s eyes.

“Gin, lets go inside and…” Hermione stopped as Ginny marched towards where everyone was landing.

Pansy’s upturned fox eyes met Ginny’s as she leaned on Harry’s broom casually.

“Here ya go Captain!” Pansy sweetly said as she gently tossed the snitch to Ginny who quickly threw up her hand and slapped it out of her face to the ground and before anybody could react she threw herself into a low tackle and smashed Pansy backwards onto the ground.

Everyone jumped to pull the raging ginger from Pansy. Ginny’s fists violently pounded into Pansy’s head and blocking arms but Hermione saw the first punch had gotten her right in Pansy’s cheek. George and Ron both pulled Ginny off and she kicked and flailed as they tried to contain her.

“What the fuck is your problem Ginny?!” Yelled Harry as he knelt wide eyed beside Pansy who was just sitting up. Her perfect pouty bottom lip was slightly split and a large red mark was blossoming across her cheek, which would surely turn to a bruise.

“She fucking hit me off my broom!” Roared Ginny, who was still trying to charge back at the witch like a chained dog. “I’m on her fucking team and she hit me off my broom!”

Pansy stood with the help of Harry. Her sly dark eyes burning through Ginny, but a small smirk was on her face. “I just wanted to help the team win.” She said innocently, finally looking away from Ginny. “I saw the snitch and I didn’t want to lose it. To let the team down.” Her eyes met Harry’s and he sighed. “I’m fine. I’ll just excuse myself to the loo to try and repair some of this before the bruising sets in to deep.” Pansy casually said as she brushed the grass off herself and started heading to the Burrow. She paused and turned back over her shoulder. “Quidditch is a rough game, I knew what I was getting into.” She winked at Ginny and continued walking. Ginny growled and shook her brothers grip from her and angrily brushed off the dirt and grass on her uniform.

“I’m going to see if she needs anything.” Said Fleur as she trailed after Pansy.

“I think we are gonna head out.” Said Cho as she came beside Luna. “Like always, great game everyone.” They smiled to everyone, except Cho to Ginny, and they apparated away.

“If the game is over than get cleaned up and come in for dinner!” Came Molly’s loud shrill voice over the pitch’s speakers.

Everyone started heading to the house, loudly replaying the game to one another. Harry was awkwardly running his hand through his tangled hair, clearly waiting back to talk to Ginny.

“You alright Gin?” Hermione asked quietly.

Ginny was angrily retying her long straight hair back into a ponytail, aggressively combing her fingers through the tangles.

“I’m ready to go to Canada for a bit and not have to be around my ex and all his lovers!” her elastic snapped into place, and she grabbed the last of her gear to put into the quidditch shed and continued, “Because if I don’t leave here, I think I may Avada the spoilt cunt.”

~

Dinner smelt delicious and around the table was way to crowded, as per usual. Molly had made BBQ pulled lamb sliders, with garlic roasted potatoes, grilled mixed vegetables and cobs of steaming golden corn had butter dripping down the kernels. The smell of the glorious home cooked meal filled the room and within seconds ravenous hands started filling plates with the food.

Hermione couldn’t help but see Pansy’s one nostril was slightly quirked in disgust as she observed the Weasley family dropping bits of food on the tablecloth and scarfing down bites of sliders before they had even set them down on the plate. Pansy sat formally upright and politely waited her turn. Harry scooped a couple big spoons full of the grilled veggies to his plate and offered to put some on Pansy’s. She cringed and whispered, “just a small amount, please.”

Hermione turned to her side to see Ginny’s death stare burning into Pansy who was kept far on the opposite side of the table from her, well out of leaping reach.

Everyone was laughing and the murmur of conversations drowned out individual chats. Molly beamed around the table listening to bits of everyone’s conversations. Her home being filled with family and friends was what made Molly the happiest and Hermione knew Ginny would be putting in a lot of effort to keep the peace.

After everyone had filled their plates, some already on their seconds, Arthur loudly addressed the whole room, “Well now, let’s hear everyone’s summer plans!”. His smile beamed as he glanced around.

“I’d like to start!” Said Ron as he scootched his chair in closer to Lavender, and grabbed her hand. He smiled at her as she smiled back, encouragingly. “Lavender and I are expecting!” The room erupted. “In February!” Hermione’s hands were clenched so tight that if her nails weren’t chewed half way down, they would be digging into her palms.

Molly squealed and waddled her way over to the two, wrapping her arms around both in a big embrace. “Congratulations!” She sobbed as she scolded Lavender for flying, even so early on.

Hermione felt the blood leave her. She stared at her food and couldn’t bring herself to look at anyone. Her appetite left her and she felt her stomach turn. She figured that Lavender and Ron would start their family soon, but she had been so preoccupied she hadn’t figured they would drop the bomb tonight, with her awkwardly sitting there like the ghost of exes past.

Ginny gently bumped Hermione’s knee under the table and sympathetically met her eyes. She mouthed ‘you ok?’ to Hermione and all she could do to answer was give back a forced smile. Ginny frowned and stood up before Hermione could stop her.

“Congrats Ronald…” She glanced at Lavender who was anxiously staring at Ginny as she rolled her napkin nervously through her fingers. “And congrats to you too, Lavender.” Hermione could see Lavender visibly let out a breath of relief. “Hermione and I are going on a girls trip this summer before I start teaching this fall.” Pansy whipped her head to stare a predatory glower at Hermione.

It was obviously not the time to share their news but after how wild the evening had gone, Hermione figured Ginny was running out of fucks to give. She hoped Lavender and Ron didn’t blame her for stealing their thunder.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! Especially for you Hermione dear.” Cooed Molly. As she took her seat again. “You work so hard and never take any time off at the ministry.”

“Where are you going?” bluntly asked Pansy, her icy stare cutting into Hermione.

“Canada.” Ginny snipped back as she sat back down without even glancing at Pansy.

“Where in Canada?” She asked, her face burning with aggitation.

“Not a hundred percent sure, hey Hermione?” Ginny smiled as she shouldered her encouragingly. The conversation continued around the table with news about jobs, and promotions, and vacations and so on, but Pansy wouldn’t look away from Hermione.

Molly stood and snapped her fingers, vanishing the empty plates to the kitchen and loaves of lemon poppyseed appeared on the table for dessert. Everyone started cutting into the loaves when Pansy’s voice cut back in.

“I go to Toronto frequently for the magazine and the fashion column. I’d love to recommend some places to see if you would like, Hermione.” Her tone and kind words did not match the cold stare she was giving her. “When are you going?”

Before Hermione could answer Ginny jumped in, “We are going next week actually, and we aren’t going to Toronto.” She responded as she drizzled some cream cheese glaze on her piece of loaf.

“So, you know you aren’t going to Toronto, and you are leaving next week but you haven’t decided where yet?” Pansy retorted, sitting still as a statue.

“You girls need to let me know where you will be, it’s not safe traveling across the globe alone with nobody knowing where you are!” piped in Molly.

Hermione let out a tired sigh. “We will be landing in Calgary early Friday morning and will be flying home the following Thursday.” She answered, ignoring Ginny’s kick under the table.

Pansy let out a gentle “hmm” noise and finally smiled but didn’t break her stare. “What possibly could entice you ladies to go to Calgary Alberta?”

“Cowboys.” Blurted Ginny. “I’ve always wanted to see real cowboys.”

Harry’s face pulled into a confused frown, “You have?” He asked. “Since when?”

“Since reading one of Hermione’s cowboy novels, anyways, what else is new?” Ginny tried to move on.

“I didn’t know you could read.” Pansy remarked as she took a small bite of Harry’s Lemon loaf. Ginny’s hand fisted around her fork so firm her hand shook.

Pansy dabbed her split lip with the napkin and smiled sweetly at Molly. “The lemon loaf is absolutely delicious Molly, thank you so much for making dinner and hosting such a lovely evening.” She looked back at Ginny for a glance, “Even the match was a smashing time.”

Hermione wasn’t sure what Pansy had been fishing for but based on the smile she had plastered on her face for the rest of the evening, she clearly had gotten exactly what info she wanted.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5: Tres Señoritas

Hermione glanced down at her watch and saw that the driver Narcissa had set up for them would be arriving in fifteen minutes. She had gone over her to-do list already about ten times and it was all checked. But she began to pace the small room with anxiety. She was already weeks ahead with her work at the Ministry of Magic, so that was easy. She had packed days in advance so anything she had forgotten during the week had been added. Neither of the witches currently had any pets to have looked after and Hermione had been eating all the perishables during the week so they wouldn’t come home to a reeking fridge or a fruit fly infestation.

Unfortunately, she had likely killed her non-magical plants she had over watered them so much, but other than that she had everything set to leave.

She rolled her suitcase to the door and set her carry-on bag beside it. Ginny had been slamming drawers and marching around the apartment all morning, because unlike Hermione, Ginny had not packed in advance. A loud sigh, or more like a growl, came from Ginny and Hermione walked down the narrow hallway to see if she could help.

The bathroom was a mess again, even after Hermione had tidied it twice. She waved her wand and quickly returned the room to its organized state but when Hermione went to Ginny’s room it looked like a tornado had gone through. The bed not made, clothing, both dirty and clean scattered around. Hermione tried to hold in a laugh at the look Ginny was giving her.

“Don’t say it!” Ginny snapped pointing a finger at Hermione just the way Molly does. Ginny stood up from grabbing her deodorant that had fallen under the bed and gave Hermione an exasperated look. Hermione bit her lips to conceal her smile.

“I was just going to see if you needed help.” Hermione said leaning against the dresser with all the drawers hanging open.

“Could I maybe borrow…”

“No.” Hermione said simply. “I asked you multiple times this week if you needed anything and I will not have you destroy my room right before we leave.”

“But Mione,” Ginny whined, “My only swimsuit I have is all saggy in the bottom from sitting on the concrete at the pool. Can I please borrow one?”

Hermione hadn’t packed a swimsuit and hadn’t even considered it. “I doubt we will be doing any swimming Gin. I didn’t even pack one.” Hermione started carefully folding Ginny’s clothing she had messily shoved in the suitcase.

“Ya, I guess you’re probably right.” Ginny sat on the edge of the bed and tied her trainers. “We aren’t supposed to travel with wands on airplanes, are we?”

“No, unfortunately not…” Hermione paused and stared at the overfilled luggage. “There is no way you will get that trunk closed.” She said gesturing to the overflowing pile of clothing. “We are only going for a week. You don’t think this is maybe a little excessive?”

Ginny smiled and cast a ‘Diminuendo’ charm over her luggage, shrinking all her items down. “Let us hope my wandless magic can make these fit again or I will be stealing more than just a bathing suit.” She joked back, as she set her yew wood wand in her nightstand drawer with a sigh and glanced around her room. “Ok!” she clapped ger hands. “You ready?”

~

Both the girls gawked at the black Aston Martin parked out front of their shitty apartment. The handsome driver, whom was wearing a very nice suit, politely took the girls bags and opened the back door for them.

Ginny slid in first, making an obvious nod and raised eyebrows to the bottle of champagne on ice waiting for them. Hermione laughed as she slid in too. The leather seat was cool through her baggy linen trousers and the car smelled of clean leather and sandalwood with a faint touch of tobacco.

The vehicle pulled away smoothly, and Hermione felt a tingle of excitement for the first time. After years of wondering and searching, she was finally going to find Draco Malfoy and get answers to all her questions. She hoped he was well. She also hoped he was happy. It was hard to see much in the photo from the website, but she wondered if he would look the same. Would she only recognize him because of his silvery white hair? Did he still have a cold intimidating aura? What were his interests and beliefs? The realization that she was going to see him soon made her stomach flutter with butterflies.

“To us!” Ginny dramatically stated, interrupting Hermione’s thoughts, as she grabbed the bottle and took off the wire around the cork. “And our mission to see what the fuck Draco Malfoy is doing in Canada.” Hermione giggled but then the cork popped with a loud bang, escaping Ginny’s grip and smacking into the back of the driver’s head. Hermione’s hand shot to cover her laugh exploding from her. Ginny let out a “Whoops,” and quickly put her mouth over the bottle that was fizzing over. She loudly choked, champagne sprayed from her nose and corners of her mouth. Hermione threw the napkin over Ginny’s lap as she herself bubbled over with laughter.

“Sorry!” Hermione said to the driver who did not look very amused. Ginny’s eyes watered as she choked and coughed on the drink, but then both girls erupted with uncontrollable laughter. Hermione took the bottle as Ginny wiped the back seat with the napkin and then her face and hair, while Hermione poured/ spilled some into two crystal flutes and handed one to Ginny, still shaking with hilarity. “Thank you for coming Ginny.” She wiped a falling tear with the back of her hand. “I think this is going to be a very great vacation.”

~

Hermione sat on a bench with her carry-on bag between her feet. She read the book she had just bought from a news stand by their boarding gate. Ginny had gone to look around and see if she could find some good snacks for the flight now that they were through security.

The hustle and bustle of the airport was loud, with many sounds, and voices indistinctly filling the air, but then a certain voice made Hermione pause.

There was yelling coming from the security area. A pause. Then again, a shrill angry woman’s voice cursed and scolded. Hermione frowned, not sure where she recognized it from when the automatic doors opened, and she saw her. Pansy Parkinson.

Hermione’s eyes were wide as saucers as she watched Pansy, dressed in a emerald green dress with a Birkin bag and stilettoes, strut into the waiting area. She wore a calm expression across her face, but rage still lingering in her fox eyes.

Hermione wasn’t sure why, but she shrunk down in her seat and pretended to continue reading. Pansy just walked across the large room and to the man at the gate for Canada… The same flight Ginny and her were to board.

Fuck Fuck Fuck. Hermione thought to herself as she scanned the same sentence for the fifth time, still not absorbing what she was reading. What was Pansy doing here? Ginny was going to combust with rage when she saw.

Hermione gave up on the book and grabbed her things. She scanned the room for Ginny as Pansy walked past the lady at the desk to board the plane.

A voice came over the speakers calling passengers with priority, disabilities, children and or pets to come to the gate for early boarding.

Hermione went to find Ginny, which she found easily, because she was wearing an outrageous large sombrero. Hermione frowned in confusion as Ginny waved and started walking quickly towards her smiling broadly.

“What do you think?” Ginny asked gesturing proudly to her hat as she flashed a smile. She did a little curtsy and waited for a response. Hermione cringed at both the news she was going to share and the odious hat.

“Well, I think even your sombrero won’t bring you happiness when I tell you who I just saw board our flight.” Hermione’s eyes went back to the hat. “What the fuck are you wearing that for?”

“Who did you see?” Ginny asked shoving some chocolate bars into her bag. “And it’s the closest thing I could find to a cowboy hat.” Ginny snipped defensively.

“You’re a couple countries to far south. I believe Mexico is the sombreros country origin.” Hermione shook her head and then rushed out the rest. “Parkinson is on our flight.”

Ginny froze, as the voice on the speaker rang out again, calling their zone to boarding.

“Get fucked. Are you serious?” Ginny hesitantly asked.

Hermione sighed out a loud breath as she gathered her bags and looked over her shoulder at the boarding gate. “Pansy Parkinson is on our flight.” Hermione swung her shoulder strap on and went to the line to board, Ginny following with a gapping mouth.

~

As soon as they boarded they saw Pansy sitting in the front of the plane in the larger seats with the extra leg room. Thanks to Narcissa booking the flight, Hermione and Ginny were also sitting in the large front seats… Right behind Pansy.

Pansy didn’t look at them as they put their carry-on bags in the overhead compartment, but Ginny’s stare burned at her as they slid into their comfy leather seats.

“What? She’s gonna pretend she doesn’t see us?” Ginny asked angrily and before Hermione could stop her Ginny was flicking Pansy in the back of the head.

“I beg your pardon!” snapped Pansy as she turned to look at them both. Her eyes shot up at Ginny’s enormous hat and winced. “What the fuck is on your head?”

Ginny ignored her. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Pansy adjusted in her seat and turned her shoulders more to look back at them, “I know what you two are up to. I just haven’t figured out why. But thankfully we are all interested in seeing the same person. Cowboy was it?” Pansy’s eyes went back to Ginny’s hat. “Please tell me you aren’t seriously wearing that abomination on your head?”

“Um, one,” Ginny dramatically held up a finger. “Shut the fuck up about my hat. And two,” She raised another finger, “you don’t have a clue what we are doing. We are simply just going on a vacation. So you have surely wasted your time and money. I’m sure they will let you off still though. I can call one of the flight attendants over.” Ginny went to stand when Pansy threw her arm between the seats and pushed Ginny’s shoulder down.

“Salazar, you are fucking embarrassing enough with that hat, you don’t need to draw any more attention to yourself. But I’m very content continuing with my travel plans, thank you very much for your concern though Ginevra.”

Hermione shifted awkwardly in her seat. The two witches continued to bicker back and forth when Hermione finally piped in. “You know we found Malfoy,” both witches paused and looked at Hermione. “You know we found where he is, don’t you.”

Pansy sucked her front teeth and then nodded in confirmation. “He was my best friend in the whole world. He was all I had. You lot all had your tight knit group of brave and famous Gryffindors. All I had was him.” Pansy’s face remained ice cold. “He didn’t even say goodbye to me. I wrote to him every single day when he was sent away to Azkaban. I got nothing back.” Pansy continued, remaining cold as ice. “I wouldn’t have thought anything about your announcement to go on a girl’s trip to Canada had I not just been at Narcissa’s tea the day before where she had also briefly mentioned Albertan cowboys.” Pansy paused and a sad look flickered across her face. “He was my best friend in the whole world and I miss him. I need to know he’s alright.”

“What about Harry?” Snapped Ginny. “You just gonna ditch him now that you found where Draco is? Did you think to yourself that maybe we didn’t want you to come with us?” Hermione could see the hurt even through Pansy’s icy façade.

“Harry has my whole heart you fucking asshole. He may be a daft man to think that we could all actually get along but he’s my daft man.” Pansy went to turn back in her seat but paused and continued. “I need to say my piece to Draco and that is all. I need to know he has found happiness. The same care and worry both you would give to Harry.”

Hermione felt sick and very guilty as Pansy turned forward in her seat and stuck ear buds in. Even Ginny didn’t say anything back.

Hermione looked out the window at the men throwing the last of the bags into the underbelly of the plane and thought about what Pansy had said. What was she even going to say to Draco. Why did she think that he would even want to see her? If he hadn’t even sent a letter to his childhood best friend, what made her think he would give her the time of day.

She felt a terrible feeling of guilt rush over herself. Pansy really had nobody after the war till Harry and her started dating. None of them had been welcoming or forgiving to Pansy, not that she had ever apologized. But she started to feel like she was being a rather shite friend to Harry by not giving Pansy a chance.

Hermione turned to face Ginny who was already staring back at her. “You want us to be nice now and include her, don’t you?” Ginny said first with no expression.

“Yes…” She answered hesitantly.

“Fine. But I’m not getting rid of the hat.” Ginny looked up over the seat. “Do you think they will be serving drinks soon?”

Pansy must have been listening despite the headphones and gently handed three water bottles back and shifted to face them. Hermione was confused but then Pansy pulled out her wand and whispered, “Eye of rabbit, harp string hum, turn this water into rum.” And then their waters turned to rum.

“Gods Pansy, you can’t do magic on a plane!” Whispered Hermione frantically looking around. She saw that nobody was looking and settled back into her seat nervously. Ginny actually smiled though. “How did you even get your wand on here?!”

“Nobody will notice me do a thing with that atrocity of a hat.” She said gesturing to Ginny’s sombrero. “And it did turn out to be a hassle getting my wand on the plane. I had to convince them it was a sex toy and made it vibrate for them. Thankfully they handed it back quickly after that.” Pansy grabbed one of the glasses of rum from Hermione and held her cup to them both. “Cheers!”

Both hesitantly tapped their cups to Pansy’s, and then she turned back in her seat.

“I didn’t know you could make your wand vibrate…” Ginny whispered almost to herself as she took a sip of her rum. Hermione couldn’t help but giggle.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6: Ronald McDonald’s Sister Can’t Drive

            The three witches awkwardly waited as the baggage carousel went around yet another time. The same solo unclaimed bag making its way around for what seemed like the hundredth time. Hermione awkwardly played with the ribbon she had tied on her bag’s handle and avoided eye contact with Ginny who was bubbling over with snorts and snickers. Pansy continued tapping her heel as her bag still had not come out yet.

            “The lady at the desk said if it doesn’t come out on here it must have been loaded onto the wrong plane.” Ginny repeated with far too much joy, to Pansy who was resembling an aggravated Graphorn.

            “Incompetent useless muggle swine.” Pansy sneered angrily.

            While Hermione and Ginny both had their bags, Pansy’s had not arrived, nor did she have any clothing in her carry on.

            “I’m sure you could just share some of our clothing.” Offered Hermione cautiously.

Pansy looked up and down Hermione with a blank expression. “Even with a transfiguration spell I doubt I could manage much with the materials you wear.”

Ginny let out a huge sigh and started walking towards the doors of the airport.

“Gin? Where are you going?” asked Hermione awkwardly, feeling torn between the two.

“I’m going to go find our car rental.” Ginny said over her shoulder as she stared at a large painting on the airport’s wall of a rodeo bronc. The entire airport was decorated beautifully to represent the heritage of western Canada. “I’m not having our trip ruined by someone who wasn’t even invited.” Hermione flinched at the brash words. Pansy seemed unaffected but Hermione felt that the witch was putting on an unbothered front.

“Accio trunk!” Pansy angrily whispered again, flicking her wand nonchalantly in her hand. When nothing happened, Hermione sighed and grabbed Pansy’s hand. Pansy looked at the touch in confusion and pulled her hand away as if she had been burned. Hermione sighed in irritation.

“If you want to share some of my clothes than you’re welcome to.” Hermione stated bluntly, her eyes glancing to Ginny who was now looking at tacky Canada t-shirts. “But it looks like we have a two-hour drive ahead of us, the ranch rodeo starts at nine AM and I need a strong bloody coffee with the time change.” Hermione pulled out the handle and started rolling her bag after Ginny. “So, either wait here and figure out this luggage issue or come with us.” She said over her shoulder.

Pansy stared daggers into Ginny and let out a sigh. “Fine. I doubt anybody will photograph us in this part of the world. But I’m only coming so Ronald McDonald’s little sister doesn’t buy any more airport apparel. And before you suggest anything, I will absolutely not be getting any clothing from here!”

~

“I’m not getting in if she’s driving.” Pansy stated firmly as she crossed her arms and stuck a defiant hip out.  

            The early morning was still dark, and the summer air was brisk in the underground car rental’s parking lot. Hermione nervously rubbed up and down her goose fleshed forearms. Pansy wasn’t the only one nervous about Ginny’s driving if she was to be honest. Narcissa had ordered the girls a rental car for the week but clearly had not factored in the driving on the opposite side of the road.

            “You drive then.” Ginny retorted bitterly as she put the two bags in the trunk of the black Cadillac they had rented. “Oh wait… You can’t!”

Hermione massaged her eyebrows with her thumb and forefinger. Despite Hermione being the logical choice to drive she did not have her license. Most witches and wizards didn’t. With all the magical ways to transport that were more convenient and faster, there usually wasn’t much need for a driver’s license, especially with living in the city.

            “I’m the only one with a license, so you’re gonna have to just trust me.” Ginny quickly eyed Pansy’s high heels and her lips pulled to a coy smile. “Unless you wanna walk or hitch a hike.”

Pansy’s jaw muscles tighten as she ground her back teeth.

The car rental shop was in the same building as the airport. They had gotten the most luxurious vehicle there, which was likely not practical for Ginny to be driving with her very minimal driving experience.

Ginny gently tossed her sombrero in the back seat and paused as she opened the passenger’s door.

“Fuck me!” whined Pansy. “She doesn’t even know what side of the vehicle the driver’s side is!”

Ginny giggled and casually went to the other side. “Whoops.” She said innocently, obviously trying to ruffle Pansy even more than she already was.

“I rode a blind dragon. I fought in a war as a child. I am the brightest witch of my age…” Hermione whispered to herself.

“What are you going on about Granger?” Asked Pansy.

Hermione looked over her shoulder at Pansy as she opened the passenger door. “Just going over my odds of living in dangerous situations.” Hermione meant it to be funny, but she was very frazzled.

The vehicle started with a very low smooth sound and Hermione got in. It was very beautiful and clean and had the new car smell. Ginny was playing with the radio till she found a top hits channel. She looked at Hermione who was putting on her seatbelt nervously.

“Just think, if you are nervous about my driving than you won’t have time to stress about seeing Malfoy for the first time in ten years.”

Hermione gave a weak smile back. “Oh wonderful. Thanks for that boost of confidence.” She looked back at Pansy who was awkwardly looking around the parking garage. “Do we just leave her?”

Ginny let out a breath, “Oh that’s a wonderful idea!” Ginny put the car in drive and put on her signal.

Hermione went to stop Ginny, when Pansy quickly made up her mind and reached for the back door. Which had locked when the car was put into drive.

“Sorry, ran out of time.” Ginny tittered with a big smile through the opening in the window. Pansy’s eyes bulged out of her head in shock.

“Merlin’s sake Gin,” Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and clicked the unlock button. Pansy quickly hopped in muttering curses. “Play nice!” Hermione whispered to Ginny who was clearly loving every second of being in Alberta so far.

The car rapidly jerked forward and stopped, then shot forward again, as Ginny navigated out of the parking lot and onto the paved road. Hermione grabbed the ‘holy shit’ handle above her head while Pansy let out a dramatic gasp.

“Salazar!” Pansy hissed from the back. “You’re already in the wrong fucking lane you lunatic!”

“Shit,” whispered Ginny as she looked over her shoulder quickly and hopped the car over the curb, cutting off the only vehicle in sight. The vehicle smoothed out and Ginny let out a deep breath as Hermione started trying to figure out the Garmin GPS.

~

            They did not stop for coffee. After turning off the busy multi-lane highway multiple times and getting completely lost and barely avoiding multiple accidents, they decided to hope the rodeo grounds would have a place to grab breakfast.

            The GPS had taken them on a horribly busy route right through the city of Calgary and the morning traffic was horrible.

            Pansy had squeezed the handle above her head so hard she had broken it in a near collision with a semi-truck. But after about forty-five minutes they were now out of the city and driving on a smooth, nearly empty multi-lane highway.

            “Can you please slow the fuck down?!” Gasped Pansy from the back. Hermione had noticed last glance back that Pansy had started to look ill and pale.

            “I’m going ten under the speed limit!” Ginny retorted, smiling broadly as she distractedly played with the review mirror so she could see her reflection.

            They were flying past all the vehicles on the road, and Hermione couldn’t believe the speed in Canada was so fast. “I think that mirror is so you can see behind you.” She offered gently as she too was starting to feel unwell from the distracted fast driving. 

            There was a faint whooping sound over the loud music, and Hermione saw in the mirror a cop had their lights on behind them.

            “Oh thank Merlin.” Gasped Pansy. “Finally, a way to get out of this death trap.”

            “Piss off.” Mumbled Ginny, slowing the vehicle and pulling off to the side.

            Hermione’s face burned with embarrassment as the cop got out of his vehicle and walked up to Ginny’s window. This was not what she expected of her first morning in Alberta.

            The police officer was young, and quite handsome. He had on a very well fit uniform that was much more appealing than the uniforms in the U.K.

            “License and Registration please.” He said casually as he leaned down to look at the girls in the vehicle. His eyes flicked between them all and a slight reddening blushed his cheeks. “Where are you ladies headed in such a hurry?” He asked with a small smirk.

            “We were headed to the Nanton Ranch Rodeo, sir.” Stated Ginny as Hermione frantically searched the glove box for the registration.

            “You have a lovely accent.” He said smiling at Ginny. “Where abouts are you from?” He leaned on the open window and watched her fiddle with her license from her wallet.

            “We flew in from London this morning.” Hermione offered as she handed the registration to the officer. As she did, she saw Pansy’s wand in her hand, ready to cast a memory charm. Hermione burned a glare at her and gave a small head shake.

            “Oh, that’s awesome! My brother-in-law is actually competing in the rodeo today!” He looked down at the paper and licence in his hand. “Do you even know why I pulled you over?” He asked.

            “Honestly, no.” Stated Hermione. “The speed limit seems really fast here but I swear she wasn’t going over.”

The officer raised his eyebrows in shock. “You were going sixty over the limit actually.”

“What?!” Gasped Pansy from the back as she slapped Ginny in the arm. “I told you to slow down!”

To Hermione’s surprise the officer was smiling, clearly holding in a laugh as he glanced at the dashboard. “The car is American.” He stated casually as he pointed at the speedometer. “You were going a hundred and fifteen miles per hour. The speed limit is one twenty kilometres. So, you were actually going about sixty five over.”

Fuck. Hermione knew they were screwed. She again saw Pansy slightly raise her wand.

“Look,” the officer said shifting on his feet. “I’m actually not on duty yet. I was just heading in to work. I’d hate for you girls to start your trip getting a nasty fine. It was clearly a mistake.” He smiled to each of them. “I’ll let you off with a warning.” He reached in and tapped the speedometer. “The smaller numbers are in kms and the big are miles.” He straightened up and handed Ginny back her license and the registration. “I hope you ladies have a wonderful trip, and I might be stopping by the rodeo tonight to see my sister and her husband. If I do, you’ll have to let me buy you a drink.” And with that, he tipped his hat and strolled back to his car, shutting off the lights and pulling away.

They all stared in shock as Ginny slowly merged back onto the road.

“Well, I guess they weren’t lying about Canadians being nice.” Said Ginny casually as if she wasn’t nearly about to go to prison for street racing. “If I had known the cops here looked like him, I would have planned a trip years ago.”

~

            When they arrived in the very small town of Nanton, they turned off the highway onto a gravel side road. They passed a beautiful golf course and then came to a driveway with large log gates that were swung wide open. They stopped and looked around for security or an admittance worker, but none came so they slowly pulled in.

            The parking lot, if you could even call it that, was just a field of grass with mainly trucks and trailers parked around and pot holes big enough to bottom out the Cadillac they were in. Horses were tied to trailers, munching on full hay nets, while families with more children than a Weasley clan walked toward where the rodeo grounds were. They parked along a barb wire fence in the grassy field and both Hermione and Pansy let out anxious breaths, shocked they had arrived in one piece.

Ginny stepped out of the car, stretching her hands up in the air and let out an exaggerated moan as she breathed in a deep breath. The sun was just starting to warm the cool damp air, and the bottom of Hermione’s long linen pants and leather sandals were already damp with dew. The air smelled of grass, shavings and horse manure.

“This has got to be a fucking joke!” Snarled Pansy. Hermione turned to see Pansy’s heels sinking into the damp soil and tried to hold in a laugh.

Ginny grabbed her sombrero from the back and smiled at Hermione. “You ready to go find Malfoy? Or should I say Granger?” She asked.

Butterflies violently danced in her belly, and she wasn’t sure if it was the jet lag, being six hours behind England’s time or the terror of seeing Malfoy for the first time since the war. “I think I need to find something to eat.” She responded. She checked her watch and saw they had thirty minutes before the ranch rodeo started.

She watched as Pansy angrily transfigured her high heels to flats and shoved her wand into her Berkin. Pansy flinched as a nearby horse snorted loudly.

“What, you don’t like pretty ponies Parkinson?” Snickered Ginny.

Pansy ran her hands over her slightly wrinkled green dress. “I don’t. If you must know my parents sent me to finishing school during the summers away from Hogwarts, where a portion of it was to learn riding etiquette. Draco, Astoria, and Daphne were all naturals with the beasts.” Pansy’s face pulled into a sneer. “Blaise, and I however unsettled the nasty things. My vile pony not only bit me but also violently bucked me off, and I’ve had a vendetta against them ever since.”

Hermione hadn’t really thought about Draco riding ponies as a boy but she could imagine all the pure bloods hosting extravagant polo matches while sipping on champagne and fire whiskey.

The three of them headed towards the rodeo grounds and looked for someone to pay admittance to. When they found nobody, Hermione asked a lady struggling to manage her four screaming children, all looking under the age of four.

“Excuse me, but could you tell us where we pay to enter?”

The lady shoved a soother in the mouth of the baby in the stroller and swapped a screaming toddler from one hip to the other, bouncing as she smiled unbothered at Hermione. “Oh, it’s free to enter, like it always is!” She offered brightly as she leaned down quickly to happily pick up another of the screaming children.

Pansy was not hiding her distaste for the woman and her children, but the lady hardly glanced at any of them. Not even acknowledging Ginny’s ridiculous hat.

“Thank you kindly.” Hermione offered as they walked into the rodeo grounds.

They headed across the lawn to a large open Quonset building filled with fold out chairs and tables covered in plaid table clothes. Men with dramatically shaped mustaches and cowboy hats shaped in a way Hermione had never seen before sat with their families and enjoyed breakfast with others, loudly laughing and clearly enjoying the outing. The seating space was surrounded with beautiful western art, from paintings to silver jewelry with large turquoise stones. The artists sat with their art and happily chatted with the families walking around to see their masterpieces. There was a small concession stand on the one side of the building with a small kitchen, bustling with older ladies happily baking and serving delicious pancake and sausage breakfasts to the very long line up of waiting folks.

Hermione saw as Ginny’s bulging eyes took it all in. Pansy was holding her bag as if she expected it to be snatched from her manicured fingers.

Lots of people glanced at them, but they would all smile welcoming. Hermione couldn’t help but smile as the kindness and excitement of the day filled the air.

“They do breakfast till ten it says on that sign. Do you guys want to go for a walk around and see the stands outside while the line-up is so long?” Ginny asked enthusiastically as a tall young cowboy tipped his hat to them as he walked past, a blush burning his cheeks. “I am thinking I’ll find lots of things I’d like to eat outside too.” She joked, wiggling her eyebrows up and down suggestively.

“Sure. I’ll also have to find a place that I can exchange my money from pounds to Canadian dollars.” Hermione answered when she felt a gentle touch to her hand. She turned around and looked down to an older lady sitting on one of the fold-out chairs. She sat with a group of laughing people enjoying their breakfast.

“Breakfast and coffee are free my dear.” The old lady said in a hoarse smoker’s voice as she smiled a large grin that was missing most her teeth.

“Really?” Hermione questioned. “We haven’t even found a place to pay to get in. Surely the food is not also free?”

“There is no entry fee. The rodeo comity does all this on donations from the community and volunteers run it all.” She said very proudly.

            “Wow. That’s awfully kind. Thank you so much.” Hermione glanced at Pansy who was looking around the building with a grimace.

            “It’s awfully dusty and dirty in here.” Pansy remarked as she looked around. “The floor is hardly swept and looks like animals have been living in here prior to the event.”

Ginny rolled her eyes and linked arms with Hermione. “If you’re gonna be a snob go find someone else to annoy.” Ginny led Hermione out of the building and they turned to the sand arena, where they could see horses were being rode around. “We have some time before it starts to do a quick walk around before we grab breakfast. Let’s see if we can find the ferret.”

~

            Pansy went for walk around the booths set up selling homemade goods such as clothing, western riding gear, food and art, while Hermione and Ginny went to walk around the riding arena.

            Hermione was realizing that there was an obvious difference in this ranch rodeo to the rodeos she had seen in movies. This seemed very authentic and traditional, almost like going back in time.

            They sat down on the rickety paint chipped wood bleachers and watched as beautiful horses did circles and turns and got warmed up prior to the event. The horses all moved with such power and grace. The western saddles had much bigger horns than Hermione had seen in books, and every single saddle had a rope strapped to it. The button up shirts the riders wore were very plain and she noticed that some of them had matching shirts on. She assumed the matching shirts must be on a team with one another.

Weird rune like symbols were on some of their backs, some had numbers or letters. A tingle of heat burned in her core as one of the cowboys sat deep in his saddle, his horse went from a run to a sliding stop, turning up a cloud of dust as it came to a stop, lowered its head and backed up quickly before changing directions. Her cheeks burned as two more cowboys nodded towards Ginny and her, as they rode their horses around the outside of the arena.

            “Are you getting as fucking turned on by these rugged sexy cowboys as I am?” Offered Ginny, not tearing her eyes away as one cowboy with squinty eyes swung his rope around casually, laughing at what someone had said. He redirected his horse without even touching the reins and Hermione realized he was steering the black horse with his thighs.

            Another man wearing an oddly shaped cowboy hat tipped his hat at them as he rode by smiling. His horse was jogging and he would stand and then sit between each stride it made.

            “Are they allowed to all be this handsome?” She asked as she let out a flustered breath. Even the few cowgirls in the arena were attractive, all with long hair either in braids or ponytails peeking out from under their cowboy hats. Hermione had never seen women compete at rodeos other than in an event called barrel racing, but these women rode in similar saddles to the men and were also swinging their ropes.

            “Oh my fuck, oh my fuck, oh my fuck.” Ginny sputtered dramatically as she shifted in her seat, violently shaking Hermione by her shoulders.

            “What is it?” Hermione asked, but when she followed Ginny’s bulging eyed stare she saw. Oh my fuck is right, she thought.

A beautiful dark brown horse with a dramatic long flowing black mane loped around in a slow controlled circle on the far side of the arena. But even from here she could make out the rider. He stood out even with his black cowboy hat covering his hair.

The horse did a sliding stop and kept its head low as the dust flew around them. The horse licked its lips and then quickly started spinning on the spot. Hermione had never seen a horse spin that fast. It’s rider barely moved and then the horse abruptly stopped before starting to spin the other direction.

“Mione that’s…” Ginny started but stopped as she looked at Hermione who  was blatantly open mouth staring. She watched the way the rider reached down to gently stroke the horse’s neck, then pushed the horse back into a lope. He came around the arena towards where the bleachers were. Hermione’s pulse raced and she couldn’t breathe. What was she doing here? She had flown all the way across the world to find someone who didn’t want to be found.

“I need to get out of here before he sees me!” Hermione finally blurted out and started stepping down the bleacher steps, Ginny quickly adjusting her hat as she stumbled to follow. But a voice halted her in her tracks.

“Granger?” Came the deep voice that haunted her darkest dreams

Chapter Text

Chapter 7: Warming Up Hermione

            An out of body experience hauled Hermione from herself as she took in the man she could recognize in any life. Any universe. Any dimension.

            Draco sat atop his beautiful horse, who quietly stood beneath him, head low, letting out a relaxed sigh and licked its lips. He was wearing a collared black button up shirt tucked into starched blue jeans, held with a plain stitched leather belt with a silver buckle. His hat was black and shaped more traditionally to what Hermione associated with cowboy hats. All of his attire was acknowledged in her mind but it was him that had her flabbergasted. For the face of the boy she once knew was gone, and left behind was the face of a man.

             Hermione took in a sharp breath. His eyes were the same icy blue, but even the shape of them were different. Where they had once been cold and hateful, they were now slightly creased in the corners from years of squinting in the sun, giving them an almost sad kindness. His light brown eyebrows were thick and pulled together in confusion. His once straight nose had a slight bump in it now, looking like it had been badly broken and healed slightly crooked. His skin was shockingly tanned, maybe even slightly burnt. His full lips were open in shock, and it wasn’t till the one side of his mouth quirked up and he repeated her last name again that the world swirled around her, and she was brought back to reality.

            “How’s it going Ferret?” Ginny teased with a large smile plastered on.

Draco’s eyes finally tore away from Hermione and acknowledged Ginny now standing beside her. He smiled at her, ignoring her sombrero, “Not too bad, Ginevra.” His voice had Hermione melting. His voice was so low and had lost a bit of his British accent. Her core was molten. Hermione needed to dunk her head in a horse’s water bucket or something. She was just standing there, awkwardly staring at him, mouth agape.

Draco’s eyes flickered inquisitively between the two of them and then a look of horror burned away the playful curiosity. “Mother? Is she…?” he didn’t finish his sentence before Hermione could finally speak.

“Gods no! Narcissa is fine. Great, actually!” She loudly squeaked out, his eyes flickered back and forth between her eyes, searching. “We come bearing no ill news.”

Ginny’s nose scrunched as she turned to cringe at Hermione. “We come bearing no ill news?” What was wrong with her? So formal and… unnatural. Draco continued to look confused but the corner of his mouth pulled slightly up again.

“Alright… Sooo you just had some errands in Nanton?” He asked playfully as he raised his eyebrows at her. But then his eyes gazed down her, slowly assessing, and she saw his sharp adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and met her eyes again.

Ginny waited another couple awkward seconds, eyes blown wide at Hermione, before she jumped in. “We are actually just here for a girls trip, and to see you.” She said pulling her curious eyes from Hermione back to Draco. “Surprise!”

A man riding an enormous blue roan horse came running up behind Draco and his horse, playfully reaching out as he went past and pinched the back of Draco’s arm, letting out a crowing sound.

Draco hissed in a breath but quickly smiled, his face burning red. Hermione had never seen Draco be playfully embarrassed before. She had seen him embarrassed regularly at Hogwarts, but it usually followed up with a sneer or a childish retort, but he now just laughed. The big lanky horse loped a tight circle before stopping clumsily beside Draco’s horse who pinned its ears angrily at the other horse. Draco gently picked up his reins and corrected his horse before it bit the other horse.

“So much for warming up Hermione! I come out here to find you hogging the attention of the prettiest women here.” Playfully said the other man with a thick native accent, ignoring the now mortified Draco. The man removed his cowboy hat, revealing his raven locks. The sides of his head were shaved down short but the top of his head was covered in thick long and messy hair. He smiled a huge grin, his squinty deep brown warm eyes looking from Hermione to Ginny and nodded his head. “Name is Sage.” He said placing his hat back on his head. “Sage Fox.”

“Nice to make your acquaintance Sage, but what do you mean by warming up Hermione?” Ginny pried in confusion.

Sage placed an open hand against his chest, pretending to hold his heart in his chest as he tilted his head back for a second and turned to look at Draco, who had gone from playfully embarrassed to horrified. “Oh lordy, they even have British accents!” Sage now gently thumped on his chest to imitate his heart pounding. “Sorry ladies, my supposed friend here just so happened to leave out the detail of hogging you girls when he told me we was gonna take Hermione out for a rip to get her warmed up.”

Hermione and Ginny both looked at each other, still confused.   

“Hermione is his witch of a horse.” Sage said gesturing to Draco’s mount.

It was Hermione’s turn to burn a shade of crimson as Ginny exploded with laughter. Draco looked like he also needed to dunk his head in a horses water bucket. Sage still smiled but tilted his head to the side in confusion.

“My name is Ginny,” she said wiping a falling tear from her cheek. “And this is my best friend Hermione. We went to boarding school with Draco”

Sage looked from Draco to Hermione with puzzlement, Draco grimaced as his eyes met Sage’s and did a slight nod of confirmation. Sage looked back at them and exploded with laughter, Ginny joining in again.

Draco Granger, riding a horse named Hermione. Hermione had never wanted to aparate away from a situation worse than she did now and it was obvious Draco felt the same.

“Please tell me you ladies are staying for the shin dig after the rodeo.” Asked Sage enthusiastically.

“We are!” Ginny almost squealed.

Sage winked at Ginny. “Can’t wait to hear all about my mysterious albino bestie’s childhood days! He hardly tells me anything!” He said jabbing an elbow into Draco’s side.

“Hmm, wonder why that is…” Draco said drily.

“Can contestants please find your teammates and come to the north gates to prepare for the opening ceremony.” Came a low voice over the speakers.

Sage turned in his saddle to look at the announcers stand, and then smiled back. “See you ladies in a bit. So wonderful to meet you Ginny,” he said tilting the rim of his hat. “And you, Hermione.” He said with a smirk before wagging his eyebrows up and down at Draco and kicking his horse back into a lope and left.

Draco suddenly leaned forward and grabbed the top panel of the arena. “I’m so sorry about him… And that.” He said looking down at Hermione. “I’ve got to go find my other two teammates quick, but as soon as the first event is done, I’ll come find you.” He tilted his head slightly to the side to meet eyes with Hermione again. “I’m really glad to see you.” And then he sat back into his saddle, tipped his hat and cracked a half-hearted smile at them both and loped off.

Hermione watched the horse Hermione and the cowboy Draco ride off, surprised to find her mouth wasn’t agape. She turned her head to meet eyes with Ginny who did have her mouth hung open.

Before Ginny could say anything, Pansy came up to them holding a plate piled with breakfast and a to go cup of coffee. “The coffee tastes like burnt asshole but the line for breakfast is empty if you girls want to grab some quick before it starts.”

“Why didn’t you grab us some when you were there?” Asked Ginny.

Pansy raised her arched eyebrow, “Do I look like a house elf?”

“Save our seats. Or is that too much to ask?” Ginny snipped back sarcastically as her and Hermione headed back to the Quonset to grab food. Ginny linked arms with Hermione, “I've decided I love Canada.”