Thanks to harryherm84, hpdancer92, Eli, Izabel, Austenlover, Jack Ryan, Larissa, Harry-Potter obsessed, Ren, Falling, hermionepotter17, Kristin, akjennymay9, bamaslamma29, Renae, kw702955, Roxy, ears91, Hermiones Phoenix, Hermione Graner Potter, Kinsfire (yeah, lol!), hrhermione, and watchoutforme for your supporting comments!
Davaca, there actually is magic, as you'll see from this chapter. I agree that I was a little short sighted to use portkey as a name to the company, but I figure that Ron would've wanted to name it the Cannons and Harry isn't too creative with names either. Just so everyone knows, they did go to Hogwarts and all that, but after the war with Voldemort he, Ron, and Ginny wanted a break from the wizarding world. The reason Hermione and others are in this muggle world is because muggle-borns were never allowed into Hogwarts. Hermione doesn't know about magic or anything, yaddayaddayadda. As to why McGonagall is in there, well, that was me possibly misusing my author license...hehe.
Glitterfairyxoxo, Ron's my favorite character too! I had to have him die to fulfill the plotline, you know, the whole Harry/Ginny but they aren't no more thing. Yeah. Sorta sad. I think I have Ron die in like half of my fics...really sad, isn't it. What a way to show I love him!
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Girl Boy
Chapter Two: Surprise
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(Hermione)
"And that awful coffee maker, I swear, it makes the most horrible coffee ever presented to man-Penelope, she thinks she's so much smarter than me, just yesturday she was trying to inform me that the Iliad, written by Socrates, was the best story she had ever read, I have no idea how she gets paid better than I do-the only friend I really have in that entire place is Colin, he often comes into my cubicle and asks if we can compare numbers, then we go across the street to Starbucks and gossip like the teenagers we always are..."
How did I get here? What was I saying to Harry?! Revealing the darkest, deepest secrets in my life-shut up, Hermione! But no...just keep on going, girl...
"I don't want to die, oh God I'm going to die, there were only three things I wanted to do before I die: one, to go to Greece, two, to prove to my parents that I'm more than a stupid employee at God damn Portkey, and three, that I would fall deeply, desperately in love..."
Harry stared at me, his mouth slightly open, those beautiful, glorious eyes gazing unblinkingly at me.
"I have a boyfriend, Justin, but really, I think it's gone on far too long, I mean we've tried to find my G-spot countless times and I swear that boy has no talent in bed-"
Oh my bloody God! I did not just say that outloud!
"I've actually tried finding out about it from books, as I obviously can't find it out by experimentation-"
SHUT UP HERMIONE!
"And at work, I usually work so fast that I finish all my work in a few hours, but instead of going to get some more and proving that I'm smarter than all the rest of them I just call my friends, or my mum, or whatever, and pretend I'm talking to a client or a worried manager or another executive-"
Ah, yes. Once again, my paranoia has unleashed my worst enemy-my own god damn mouth. About half an hour ago the plane had suddenly hit horrible turbulence; trays and dishes were flying everywhere. Harry's head hit the ceiling and I nearly fell out of my seat...the flight attendant's were trying to calmly tell us that we were fine, that this was perfectly normal, but then they would strap themselves down and close their eyes fiercely...the pilot came on the intercom and told us that this was standard, but when we hit another wave of turbulence he shrieked and oh we were going to die...
"I want a guy who'll take me out to the park and take a midnight stroll with me, hold my hand and kiss my knuckles, string lights up in a tree and play music and we'd waltz away into happiness-"
"Miss?"
"Why are all men pigs, hm? Is it just genetically impossible for them to deviate from anything other than porkish horror?"
"Miss?!"
"Y-yes?" What was it? Was I in Heaven? I must be in Heaven-
"We've landed."
"We've...what?" I looked out the window to see that I was safely on the ground, the airport in my view.
"Everyone's gotten off...the man sitting next to you came to me and expressed his concerns..."
"O-oh, well, thank you, I'll just...g-go, now, um..."
How utterly embarassing.
Ah well I told myself as I walked off the plane. At least I'll never see him again-
"Hermione!" someone yelled and before I knew it, my nose was forced into a plaid shirt smelling awfully like too much cologne and Justin was holding me close. "When everyone else got off and I didn't see you, oh I didn't know what happened to you, I was so scared..."
"I'm okay, Justin," I said, gently pushing away from him. "What're you doing here?"
"Missed you," he said, grinning. I tried to smile back, but failed. "What's wrong?"
"Just..." I've just had enough, Justin. We're through. I'm sorry, but... "Just tired, I guess."
"Well...I've figured something out, Hermy." I cringed. I hated that nickname...
"What?"
"When you didn't get off that plane, I just...didn't know what to do, anymore...and I realized something. I..." No, Justin, don't say it. Don't. I won't be able to break up with you after that, you know I won't, don't say it, please, you- "I love you."
"Ah..."
"And I want you to move in with me."
"You...you sure?"
"Of course! You don't have to say it back, right now."
"Mmm..."
"So...what do you say? Will you?"
"I..." Of course I won't, are you bloody blind? You think Playboy is real literature! But as he looked at me, pleading at me with those bleeding eyes and holding my hand... "Of course I will."
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(Ginny)
"I get this bed," I said, laying my suitcase on the grand four-poster bed.
"No bloody way," Malfoy sneered, his gray eyes glancing around the room. There was one four-poster bed. One futon. Which would be home to his arse, not mine.
"Yes, bloody way," I shot back, lying down and snuggling my face against the soft, fluffy pillows. "You must be bleeding Merlin if you think that you can get me off this bed."
He gave me a sneer and for one moment I was worried. He didn't strike me as the type who would have anything against hitting a girl...or doing worse deeds...
"All right," he muttered, whipping out a wand from under his shirt and whispering, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
"Bloody hell!" I shrieked as I felt myself being lifted from the bed, trying to hold onto anything to get back down. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"And I do believe this bed is mine," he said, hopping onto the velvet covers and lying down.
"Bastard," I muttered before I whipped out my wand, sending a bat-bogey hex his way. He snarled as the hex hit him straight in the face. Just as his wand faltered I felt gravity grab its hold onto me and I shrieked as I fell back onto the bed, right onto Malfoy.
"Get off of me!" he yelled, trying to roll out from under me. "And take this goddamn-aaaagh-hex off of-"
"You're a wizard?!" I gasped, trying to get my breath back. Falling on my chest wasn't helping my lungs any. "You're a bloody wizard?!"
"No, Weasel, I'm-aaagh-the bleeding Easter Bunny-damn!-get this hex off of-fuck!-me-"
"Get off the bed," I said, enjoying this rare form of entertainment.
"What?!"
"Get off the bed, and I'll take the hex off you."
"You're a sodding witch!"
"My my, you are observant." Growling at me he jumped off, taking his wand and pointing it directly at my face.
"Take it off," he snarled, and I happily complied. I had, after all, gotten what I wanted.
"Who the bloody fuck are you," he said slowly, his gray eyes boring into mine. "If my father sent you, I swear-"
"Woah, Malfoy," I started, smirking. "I'm sorry to inform you, but sadly enough, it just so happens that everything doesn't revolve around your overly inflated, rather disgusting face."
He glared, gritting his teeth and I could see his grip tighten around his wand.
"The name's Virginia Weasley. From England." At his wary glance I added, "Went to Hogwarts."
"What house?" he asked.
"What?"
"What house were you in?"
"Gryffindor." Malfoy smirked, his wand lowering.
"So what're you doing here?"
"Had to get away," I mumbled, tracing my wand with my fingers nonchalantly. As he frowned at me, I exasperately explained "I was close friends with Harry Potter, and after the war, we both decided that it would be best if we left the wizarding world. For a while, at least."
"Ah, so you were close to Pothead," Malfoy said, smiling evilly at me. "That explains a lot."
"You don't know him," I spat, narrowing my eyes. I was despising Malfoy with more passion every time he reopened that foul mouth of his. He shrugged.
"You think what you want, Weasel."
"What about you?"
"I'm not obligated to tell you anything."
"Bastard."
"You're a bleeding broken record."
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(Hermione)
"So was he there?" April asked me, twirling her black hair with her finger as she glanced at me with barely suppressed glee.
"Yes," I sighed, running my hand through my hair sadly.
"What?" April asked, frowning slightly at seeing the expression on my face. "What happened? Did he break up with you?"
Oh, Hell, don't I wish.
"He asked me to move in with him."
"Hermione!" April squealed, racing across the kitchen to hug me fiercely. "I'm so happy for you!"
"You and only you," I muttered.
"What?"
"I couldn't do it, Pri! I couldn't break up with him!"
"You...wanted...but you're perfect together!" I frowned.
"Whatever, Pri..." She gave me a side glance, her slanted brown eyes inspecting me.
"Just say no, 'Mione, if you really don't like him that much. You are aware that you've been with the boy for two years, right?"
"I just can't turn him down! It's a problem I've had since...since..."
"It doesn't matter! What matters is you have the problem now. So fix it! Read a book on being more demanding and aggressive, if that's what it takes! Be a woman, for God's sake. Use some boob."
"E-excuse me?"
"What, do you really want me to tell you to grow some balls?"
"Not particularly..."
"Good. And there's no reason for you to grow some chest," April said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Just use them. You'll have a lot to spare."
"April!" She shrugged, giggling madly.
This is what I get for rooming with a feminist.
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"Mmm," McGonagall said, her lips tight in a deep frown. "Mmm."
"M-Miss McGonagall?"
"Miss Granger!" she said, her eyes unglazing. "What are you doing here so early?"
"Just thought I would give you the report," I said, smiling. "What were you doing?"
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, waving her left hand and fixing her spectacles with her right. "The owner of Portkey, Mr. Harry Potter, will be arriving shortly today, and I was just wondering who should get promoted...the president is retiring, as you know." I knew my eyes widened. McGonagall looked at me, a twinkle in her eye as she whispered, "I'm not supposed to say anything, but you have reason to be smiling, Ms. Granger." Straightening up, she added, "The employee will work with Mr. Potter on some marketing ideas...I do believe he's thinking about adding a female line to Portkey."
"A...female line?"
"I guess he wants to horizontally integrate, if I'm not mistaken. In any case, he'll need a strong, young woman's point of view."
I smiled. It paid to be friends with someone in the higher power.
"Well, here's the report," I said, handing her a manilla folder. "I typed it up as soon as I got home yesturday."
"On top of things, as usual," she commented, breezing through my paper. "Excellent work as well." Giving me a rare smile she nodded, her glance shifting to my left. "I do believe he's arrived. I'll be seeing you later, Ms. Granger." Giving me another nod she walked away, heading towards a blonde bloke near the entrance doors.
"What were you talking to McGonagall about?" Justin said, coming up from behind me and planting a kiss on my cheek.
"Nothing. Did you know that Harry Potter will be coming today?" I knew Justin idolized the owner of our happy company.
Suddenly, the beautiful man I sat next to on the plane popped into my mind. They had the same first name...that tantalizing, handsome-
"Of course I knew, Hermy!" I cringed. "I read about it in an article. Did you know that he was actually planning on becoming a gym teacher? But then he and his best friend Ron Weasley formulated a plan to-"
I began to tune Justin out right then, not truly caring. I hadn't even seen a picture of Mr. Potter. All I knew was that he had to be old, ugly and totally self absorbed. He was, after all, the second richest bachelor in England. And now as his partner Ron Weasley died, he inherited that half of Portkey. He was now twice as rich. Lucky bastard. I was much more interested in the articles about poverty in third-world countries than I was in reading about just how rich Mr. Potter happened to be.
"Mmm," I said, nodding my head as Justin rambled on and on.
Shut up. Really.
"Attention marketing employees," a voice on the intercom said. "Please go to meeting room 3B. Mr. Harry Potter has arrived and is waiting for the 8:00 meeting. I repeat, please go..."
"Off you go, Hermy," Justin said, smiling at me warmly.
"But Justin, it's barely even 7:30-"
"Better to be earlyl!" he called as he walked away from me.
There was once a time in my life where I would have been in the first seat at 7:20, eager to be in a meeting with a prominent, successful business man.
Where had that Hermione gone.
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"He's late," Colin whispered from next to me. I smiled. "It's already bleeding 8:15. I knew I could've gotten that cheese danish."
"It'll make you even more porkier than you already are," I mumbled back, grinning.
"As you'd know," he replied, and I softly hit him with my notebook.
"He's here!" an excited whisper rushed through the meeting room. The blonde man I'd seen McGonagall talking to earlier walked in.
"Is that Harry Potter?" Colin asked, his eyes wide. "I thought he'd be older." I shrugged.
"Must be, right?"
"Yeah."
"Ladies and gentlemen, you are in for a real treat today," McGonagall started, her eagle eyes roaming the room. "May I present...Mr. Potter."
I expected the blonde bloke to take a bow, smile at the rest of us and begin lecturing about how focus, focus, focus got him to where he is now. That, and gambling, taking risks and some more focus, focus, focus.
What I did not expect was to have my Harry step into the room, his smile force my breath to lodge in my throat, and his green, beautiful eyes to rest upon me.
"He's gorgeous," Penelope moaned, her eyes sparkling.
"Hello," Harry finally said, his eyes still resting on me.
It took all of my willpower to swallow.
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A/N: If anyone finds Hermione terribly OoC, do tell!