When Draco Met Hermione

Chapter 4: New York! New York!

Thank you to everyone who has been so great at reviewing and giving me excellent feedback! Writing for such a great audience makes the experience ten times betterJ Happy Reading!

~*~

Before either one of them knew it, they were in New York City. Skyscrapers loomed above them. The noise of the city was overwhelming. It was unlike the hustle and bustle of London. This was NEW YORK!

Hermione pulled up to a posh looking brownstone on the west side. She looked up and frowned. 'Stupid Malfoy and his bloody riches. Well, at least it's good riddance!'

Draco jumped out of the car as soon as it pulled up the curb. The doorman was immediately at Draco's side retrieving the luggage from the trunk and the backseat.

"I'll be taking your bags to your apartment, Mr. Malfoy. Your mother has already had everything furnished and ready for you. Will there be anything else for you sir?"

Draco smiled at the man and tucked a bill into the man's jacket pocket. "That will be all Mr. Billings. My mother has told me nothing but good things about you."

"My pleasure sir," said Billings as he took Draco's things into the building.

"Well," said Draco as he looked at Hermione through the open driver's side window "thanks for the ride."

'Snobby prat,' thought Hermione. She mustered up a small smile. "Yes, it was..........interesting."

"It was nice knowing you."

"Yeah," said Hermione almost wistfully. Draco leaned in and took her hand and shook it rather forcefully. Hermione grabbed it back and shook it as if she was making sure her bones were still intact.

"Yes, well, Draco," Hermione spat out his name. Draco smirked. Even though he was being quite a gentleman, she was still irritated by him. "Have a nice life Malfoy."

Draco smirked, "You too Granger." Draco walked away from the car and towards the entrance to his new home. He turned back for a moment, but she was already gone.

~*~

Hermione pulled up in front of a rather cozy flat. 'Well, it's not the upper west end, but it's perfect,' thought Hermione as she unloaded her car. She looked at the brick building her father had chosen for her in the area of Chelsea. She loved the tree lined street. It almost looked as if she wasn't living in the middle of the city. Down on the corner was a grocery shop, and 3 blocks away was Washington Square and New York University. It was an eclectic area full of people who, Hermione hoped, were as intellectually stimulating as her friends in college had been.

She gathered her bags and walked up the steps to the building. Her apartment was on the first floor. She noticed that her father had already placed a doormat on the floor that had the words "HOME SWEET HOME" written on it. 'Oh dad,' Hermione smiled and unlocked the door. Her mother and father had flown in from London before her graduation to pick out her apartment and furnish it. It was a nicely furnished apartment with simple beige couches and brightly colored and patterned pillows. The small dining room had a wonderful view of a small park where Hermione could see several children and mothers playing. Her room was simple as well. Crisp white sheets and pale yellow accents.

Hermione flopped onto the bed and smiled. She was ready for the world. No more long drive and especially, no more Draco Malfoy! With Draco as the last thing on her mind, Hermione fell asleep.

~*~

Draco took the lift up to his new penthouse apartment. 'Leave it to mother to spare no expense, even though her husband is nearly certifiably loony, and she no longer carries any social power since the fall of Voldemort.'

Once he reached his new home, Draco surveyed his surroundings. The lift went directly to a small foyer tastefully decorated in late 19^th century English furniture. A small regency table topped with summer flowers decorated the small entrance hall. Two French doors served as the entrance to the apartment. His bags were placed near the doors.

Key in hand, Draco opened the doors and brought his bags in. Dark French and English furniture, again from the 19^th century, decorated the large apartment. Several white pillars were artfully scattered around the large living room and sitting area. A fireplace and floor to ceiling view of Central Park complete the view. His home was decorated mostly in dark green and black, for obvious reasons. He looked at the living room and sitting room area, approving the furniture as he looked at them. By the fireplace was a pair of bergeres chairs were across from a green silk settee. A satinwood console separated the living room from the sitting area. The sitting area contained some muggle entertainment units such as a television, a very state of the art sound system and what Draco recalled to be a DVD player. Several muggle movies were on the shelves, as well as an array of music discs. His mother had left out the handbooks and manuals for all the equipment. Draco then saw a note on pale green parchment on top of the manuals. It was from his mother.

Draco darling,

Why on earth would you ever want to live as a muggle? This "New York" place is DREADFUL! Aside from some fantastic shoes I bought, everything else seems, well, dilapidated. Well, I hope your flat is furnished to your liking, I basically replicated your suite here at the manor. Speaking of the manor, your father and I (well, mostly myself, seeing as your father is completely mad now that he's persona non grata among wizarding society here in England) are going to close up the manor for the time being and live at the villa in Monte Carlo. Your father hopes to meet some proper people who will be less........callous towards our family at this time. Do try and reconsider coming home. Your father, although he never said it much, loves you and wishes you were here to run the affairs for the family.

Well, best regards to you on your new.......well, choice of lifestyle. Do your best to not soil our name further than you have in the past by going against out beliefs and siding with that dreadful Potter boy. If you need any funds, the New York branch of Gringotts is located at the Port Authority station. Just go to the locker area and tap your wand on locker number 25. A door will appear and there is a small branch there. You have sufficient funds set up for you there. I have also acquired a muggle credit card that you should be able to figure out how it works. Owl post us dear at the Malfoy Villa in Monte Carlo.

Regards,

Mother

Draco stared at the note. 'Humph,' he thought as he made his way to his room. The room had a large directoire style bed, obviously made by 19^th century "ebenistes," or furniture makers. He flopped onto the bed, note in hand and sighed as his eyelids drooped and his thoughts wandered.....

'No more mum, no more Lucius, no more awful drive...and no more Hermione..."