July, 1992.

"Well, that should do it." Seamus brushed his hands off on his shorts and wiped the sweat from his brow. The nearby fan wasn't much good to cool us down from moving boxes and plants in the heat, though the minute breeze had felt nice when it turned in our direction.

"For today, at least. Tomorrow we'll be doing the sofas," Dean panted, taking a long swig of water from his glass. I too poured myself some from the pitcher and took a long sip.

"You know, I reckon I've started to take levitating charms for granted," Neville remarked. The rest of us chuckled at this. Helping Dean's grandparents move in for their retirement had been no easy task.

Since my father would be in meetings all day for the next week, I'd decided to come help the boys with the house while he was away. I figured I would probably do the same the next day, and perhaps the day after. The meetings were only to last a week, but my father and I were staying in Crete for two so we could spend some time together. We rarely ever went on vacation.

"What do you say we do some sightseeing?" Dean suggested. "It's gorgeous around here. We've got some bikes somewhere to ride."

"Bikes? I don't think I've ever ridden one of those." Neville said, as though he'd never heard the word before. I supposed wizards didn't need bikes when they could just fly everywhere.

"It's just like a broom with wheels," Seamus explained. Neville shot him a look.

"Yeah, well we all know how great the broom went for me." He reminded him. "I think I'll pass."

I was about to protest, insisting we could easily teach Neville to ride, when something moved in the corner of my eye. Small, almost undetectable. My senses were on high alert, and I kept my eyes peeled.

"You guys go inside and cool off some. I'll be there in just a moment," I told them. Dean and Seamus exchanged a look, but the latter just shrugged and led the other two back inside. I heard Seamus' muffled explanations of the mechanics of a bike before the screen door swung shut behind them.

As soon as they disappeared, the thing re-emerged, now standing still enough that I could see it clearly. It was a garden snake. A small, green one, similar to the ones back home that were often shades of brown or grey instead. It was peering at me curiously, it's little tongue investigating.

"Hey," I told it softly. "I'm afraid you're going to have to relocate. There's a new couple coming in and I'm not sure how fond they'll be of snakes."

The snake's tongue flicked in and out impatiently. "But I just settled in two nights ago! You're telling me I have to move again?"

"Yes, unfortunately." I informed it. "Have you a family?"

"What?"

"Offspring. A mate." I clarified.

"Oh no, not yet. It's just me." It said. "We're solitary creatures. That concept doesn't apply to us the way it does to you."

I frowned. "Sounds lonely."

"I've never known any different." The snake stated. "So I think it's alright."

It turned and began to slither away before pausing. "Oh, and thanks for the warning."

"Not a problem." I watched it disappear through the brush and into the foliage behind the house. Hopefully it could find another yard to live in.

I walked inside to see the boys had already recovered the bikes from the garage. One was light green, another blue, and the other two black. Dean was pumping air into the tires while Seamus was holding Neville on the green bike.

"Easy, now. Pick up your other foot. Just try to balance on the pedals. Hold your core—"

"What core?" Neville scoffed. He was having trouble keeping the handlebars still. I remembered having the same problem when I first learned to ride.

"Don't rely so much on the bars. Those are how you steer," I came over and held his hands steady. "Try to relax your arms and shoulders."

"You make it sound so easy," Neville grunted, but eventually he got the handle of it. Seamus sighed in relief.

"See, that's the hard part. You got it down pretty fast," he patted Neville sportingly on the back, seeming to forget he was on the bike. Quickly, I reached forward to steady him and the bike so he could dismount.

"It's a good thing too," Dean stood up and brushed his hands off. "I just finished blowing up these bad boys. I think they're ready when you are."

"Dibs on the blue one!" I called. Dean smiled at me fondly, and I felt something stir in my chest as our eyes met. Quickly, he looked away, and my eyes returned to the bike.

"It's all yours," Dean waved vaguely at it. "I think it's the tallest one we have anyway."

I had my wallet in a fanny pack at my side, along with sunscreen and deodorant. The essentials for being outside. The other boys seemed just as excited as I was after a long day of work, even Neville who was still slightly apprehensive of the bikes.

For a while, we rode without incident, keeping a slow pace so Neville could work on controlling his trajectory. I didn't mind, my body was still tired physically from working, so I didn't want to endure a difficult bike ride right after.

The slight summer breeze pushed us along into Heraklion, the city bustling in the afternoon. We rode with ease down the streets and hills, Neville even taking the lead at one point. However, as we  began to slow to a stop for a crosswalk, I realized dimly that Neville was still blazing ahead. Suddenly, my eyes widened.

"Brake, Neville! Brake!" I cried.

I'd never whipped my head around so fast.

"Did you teach him how to brake?!" I snapped at Seamus. He looked at me, then Neville several meters away who was accelerating quickly.

"Ha," he grinned nervously. "It might have slipped my mind."

"Reverse, Neville, reverse!" Dean called, which Neville finally seemed to understand. In fact, he he braked so suddenly that he flew off of his bike into the man in front of him, who was knocked off his feet and nearly fell into the road.

Neville recovered quickly, beet red, and quickly turned the corner and rode off. With no choice but to follow, the rest of us cut the corner sharply, preventing the man from standing each time he tried to get up.

"Sorry," said Dean.

"Hope you're alright!" Seamus added as he passed.

I brought up the tail, and was about to say have a nice day when I actually noticed the man's features for the first time: platinum blonde hair, sharp nose, deep-set scowl. And then right beside him an all-too familiar face.

At least Malfoy looked just as shocked as I felt, his jaw hanging open like mine when I realized who the man was.

Oh God. Neville just bowled over Malfoy's dad. By the time the thought could form though, I was already well enough away, trailing behind Dean and Seamus until I pedaled hard enough to catch up.

We eventually stopped when we were at least a block away, pulling over our bikes in nervous laughter which quickly turned to relief.

"Oh, Merlin, Neville," Seamus chortled. "We can't take you anywhere."

"Don't laugh at a time like this!" Neville was flushed with mortification. "If that's who I think it was—"

"Malfoy's dad?" I grinned. "Definitely."

Neville groaned. "I'm done for. If he doesn't kill me my gran will."

"Don't worry. Let's go in here," Dean shooed us into the antique shop we'd stopped at. "The Malfoy's wouldn't go in here. They've probably got enough old, expensive rubbish anyway."

We ended up looking around, trying to calm down from what had just happened. We split off to opposite sides of the store, browsing the shelves. I found a little Minotaur carving I thought to get Harry for his birthday. I hadn't heard from him in a while, but I figured it was because he hadn't wanted to send Hedwig so far away. I took the figure from the shelf, scanning it for imperfections. Even for an antique, it was very high quality.

I looked up at the antique silver mirror above me and nearly dropped the figure. Malfoy was standing right behind me. He'd gotten taller since the last time I'd seen him, almost level with me. His hair had grown out some, and a few strands were falling out of the gel he usually had it slicked back with. I whipped around, poking a finger to his chest.

"Y'know, someone ought to tell you that you have a sneaking problem," I scoffed at him. "You nearly scared me to death."

"Well if anything," he began, ears pink with anger, "you've got a real knack for appearing at the least convenient time imaginable. You let Longbottom run over my father and then rode away without so much as an apology—" he paused, eyes falling to my waist.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

I looked down, tightening the strap around my stomach. "A fanny pack." I said matter-of-factly.

"A what now?" He drawled, seeming almost amused.

"It's practical!" I defended, looking at him shrewdly. "You wouldn't understand. You're a boy, you get pockets in your clothes."

"It's a crime is what it is," he said skeptically. "If anything you owe yourself an apology for walking around with that abomination strapped to your hip—"

"I thought you knew we weren't here to make friends, Draco."

The cool, silken voice of his father appeared suddenly at my side. I told myself to breathe normally. Don't let them know you're frightened. That's how they get you. Why should I even be scared of him, anyway? The image of him being knocked over replayed in my mind, and suddenly I was biting back a grin.

"I'll assure you we aren't, Mr. Malfoy." I told him. "Your son is merely my Potions partner, asking about our summer coursework." I smirked pointedly. "He seems to have forgotten the assignment — expected from the one that lost to me in class ranking, of course."

Mr. Malfoy did not take to this kindly, though this was not obvious. The straight line of his mouth twitched downward, the grip on his silver cane tightening. I suddenly caught the eyes of the other three boys, who stood frozen by the door behind Malfoy's father, ushering me to leave.

"And you are?" Mr. Malfoy returned my attention to him. I placed the Minotaur back on the shelf. I'd come back for it later. I had to go.

"Lila Holmes, sir. It was nice to meet you. I'll be on my way, now—" I attempted to squeeze between them, but Malfoy's father grabbed my shoulder. I froze in my tracks. The boys shifted so they would not be in view when Mr. Malfoy turned around.

"Holmes? Surely not a wizarding family, are you?" His voice was neutral, but vaguely threatening at the same time. He already knew what I was going to say. He was just waiting for me to admit it. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Oh no, but a functional one, yes." I smiled placidly. "It's a pity you can't say the same—"

"Shut it," Malfoy warned under his breath. His father looked at him sharply before returning his attention to me. He then places a hand on his son's shoulder, who tensed beneath his touch.

"Well, Draco will be putting in much more effort this year, if I have anything to do with it." Mr. Malfoy said coolly. Narrowing his eyes at me with a smile that bordered on sinister, he added, "and I wish you the best of luck, Miss Holmes. You'll need it."

I hardly replied with more than a forced smile and a nod, backing away until I could reach the door handle. I only broke eye contact when I could turn to leave.

Outside, the boys were waiting by our bikes. They all hurried me over when they spotted me, and we took off around the back to ensure we wouldn't be followed.

"Are you alright?" Dean asked me after we'd put some distance between ourselves and the antique shop.

"Never been better," I replied. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, with that one."

It all started to come together now that I had actually met Malfoy's father. The attention seeking, awfulness that he projected everywhere he went, that is. There might be some goodness beneath it, but then again I never knew. Malfoy was very selective with when he wanted to show it to me.

I remembered seeing the mythology book open when I'd sneaked into the Slytherin common room a few months ago. I still wondered why he'd kept it. Inwardly, I hoped he was enjoying it, though I'd never admit that aloud.

"Let's go to the museum," I suggested to take my mind off of it. "I've heard good things about it."

"Sure, if there's no other secrets to operating this death machine," Neville gestured to the bike. Seamus went red.

"Sorry, Neville," he apologized. "I can safely say you've learned it all now."

Dean and I shared a look. Seamus should not be allowed to safely say anything.

"Off we go, then. I'll stay with you Neville, just in case," Dean offered. Together, the four of us rode off. I didn't want to look back, hoping Malfoy and his father stayed back in the shop. What had they gone in for anyway? Had they seen our bikes, or were they browsing for more "expensive, old stuff?"

Whatever it was, surely I could torment it out of Malfoy at school. It had been a long, peaceful summer of not thinking about him. I'd prefer it to stay that way.

We ended up returning to the antique shop a few hours later so I could buy the figurine for Harry. It was supposed to be a quick trip — I would grab the figure, pay for it, and go. However, the boys wanted to do souvenir shopping as well, so I ended up browsing the shelves some more.

This time, a necklace caught my eye from another corner of the shop. I walked toward it, feeling a strange pull. After hesitating for several seconds, I took the necklace between two fingers, bracing myself for the worst.

However, nothing. It was just a normal necklace, albeit beautiful. It was a circular ruby pendant laid on a gold chain. On the back were the letters M.W. engraved into the gold setting. I assumed they were initials.

I ended up buying both, slipping the necklace around my neck and growing curious at the warmth that seemed to emulate from it.

"That's lovely," Dean commented. I smiled in response, though I was more drawn to it's strange compelling nature than the look of it. Nobody else had seemed to feel it but me.

"Thank you," I replied. "I hope M.W. doesn't mind me buying it."

After we'd all collected our souvenirs, I bid the boys goodbye and rode back to the flat my father and I were staying in. Exhausted, I fell asleep when I heard my father come through the front door, home safe.

a/n: