AN: Hey y'all! I'm back with something new and totally off the wall. Hope you like it!

CLUB GLAMOUR

Chapter 1

The building had seen better days...

The warehouse stood at the end of Diagon Alley just a few paces from the entrance to Knock-Turn Alley. In it's hey-day the three story brick building had been a broom factory for the Nimbus Company. Manufacturers of fine brooms for over four hundred years.

Now it was in ruins. One of the countless victims that had fallen by the wayside during Voldemort's reign of evil. Looted and burned under orders from the Dark Lord, the once proud building now stood sad and forlorn and empty.

Empty of tenants, empty of business, empty of soul.

Deep red brick was caked with years of soot, dirt, debris and in places... dried blood. Missing bricks in the wall appeared in a horseshoe pattern just above the rusty door. Empty holes looking so much like a melancholy smile. The kind of expression one gets when recalling the heady days of youth. Wistful, bittersweet.

Where once pristine display windows gleamed proudly showing off the latest of the Nimbus line, there now was a dirty vacant space. Wind blown rubbish and old newspapers lay in the display windows and all across the front of the entry way. One newspaper's headline heralded the death of Voldemort. Another, the marriage of The Boy Who Lived to The Red Haired Girl.

On the second and third floors all of the windows had been blown outwards. Holes blasted through the roof had allowed years of rain and snow to collect in stagnant pools and dried spots caked with mould.

The old building stood before the young blonde wizard begging for attention.

Grey eyes narrowed as an agile mind calculated just how many galleons it would take to transform this old wreck of a structure into what he had in mind. Platinum eyebrows knit together as he took a hesitant step forward and pushed at the large, rusty entry door.

With a mighty squeal and the sound of splintering wood, the metal door fell from it's hinges and crashed to the ground. A piercing metallic clang sending eerie echoes throughout the alley. The few denizens up this early paused in their morning routines to turn towards the sound wondering what that was.

The young man cautiously stepped inside. His black boots crunching on broken glass and bits of flotsam. Not far from where he was standing, his gaze fell on the remains of a shoe. A shiver made the hair stand up on the back of his neck as his mind produced a scenario of just how that shoe made it's way to that spot.

There was a smell that permeated the area. The acrid smell of old spells, burnt wood and death.

Lives had been taken in this place. Involuntarily his eyes once more fell onto the shoe.

An uneasy sensation sent tingles up Draco Malfoy's spine as he pulled out his mobile phone. He stared at it, a grin splitting his thin lips as he wondered what his father would think of him using the muggle device. Not that it really mattered. After all, Lucius Malfoy was in Azkaban. Never to see the light of freedom ever again.

Another grin, wider than the first lit up his handsome face. Pearly white teeth appearing to glow in the dank depths of the sad building.

In another part of London, an alarm clock blared out; rudely waking the body currently buried under three quilts. A growl sounded from beneath the third blanket as an arm reached out and slapped the snooze button.

Ten minutes later the alarm sounded again.

"Ahh bloody hell!" A sleepy female voice rasped as last night's doings crept up and hit her head on.

"Oh God... I need coffee... or better yet, a new head."

A bleary eyed Hermione Granger stumbled from her bed shaking her head to clear the muddle she was experiencing. Yawning, she stretched, feeling her lower back muscles pull a bit. A twinge of pain caused a grimace to form on her "morning after" face. A painful reminder of the battle and her experiences with the mad deatheater, Bellatrix Lestrange.

An odd taste in her mouth caused her to blow into her hand and sniff. The odor gave her pause to momentarily glance back at the bed to make sure there wasn't a leftover peccadillo laying under the quilts. Seeing just an empty bed, she breathed a sigh of relief. The young woman was thankful she didn't have to worry about anyone smelling her atrocious morning breath.

"Uggg. I need coffee." She mumbled scratching her bum as she headed into the kitchen of her small, East End flat. Again her lower back causing another twinge.

"Fucking Bellatrix Lestrange. I hope you burn in the deepest recesses of hell." An evil smirk creased her face as she remembered Molly Weasley felling the evil witch with a deeply protective "Avada Kedavra" as the mother witch protected her only daughter from being cursed by the demented woman.

Another scratch to her naked bum reminded the young woman that she needed to get cleaned up and ready for the new day. She pushed a button on her coffee maker and turned to head back to her bedroom. Just then, her mobile phone began to ring.

"Merlin! Who would be calling me this early on a Saturday?" She mentally went over the list of possible candidates as she reached for her phone.

Harry was working, Ginny was home with baby James. Ron was still in bed with Lavender. They never got up till way after lunch. Besides, living at the burrow with Molly & Arthur meant that they really didn't have to do much. The unemployed wizard could be out "looking" for a job but with Lavender Brown in his bed... well why should he?

Hermione didn't begrudge her friend though. Lavender was definitely worth staying in bed for. Too bad the bubbly blonde was straight. The young, bushy haired witch smirked again as she opened her phone to answer.

"Hello?"

"You have got to see this building!"

Hermione pulled the phone away and stared at it, "Who is this?"

Annoyance sounded from the other end, "Come on woman! Who else would call you at stupid o'clock in the morning on a Saturday and tell you to come look at a building?"

Hermione snorted, "Draco Malfoy! You bloody poofter! Do you know what time it is? I need my beauty sleep."

There was a laugh at the other end as the wizard snarked, "If that's the case then you need to sleep for a whole year! Now get over here I need to show you something."

Hermione made a face at the phone, then replied, "You know you can be a pain in the arse sometimes."

There was a giggle from her phone, then Draco responded, "Yes, but you love me anyway."

The young witch grinned, "Yeah... just not THAT way." She ran a hand through her thoroughly mussed bed hair and asked, "So what is so bloody important that you felt the need to rouse me from my peaceful slumbers?"

Another chuckle sounded over the phone, "More like a passed out state of drunkenness."

Laughing, Hermione answered, "You have your hobbies and I have mine." She was referring to her habit of going out on Friday nights to let off a little steam. Usually imbibing in copious amounts of firewhiskey and the possible company of a pretty witch.

Another laugh, then the young wizard stated, "I really have something I want to talk to you about. I'll buy you brunch. What do you say?"

Shaking her head, Hermione Granger replied, "Fine. Give me time to shower and put my face on and I'll meet you... Where?"

Draco snorted, "Might be all day putting THAT face on."

"Arsehole!"

The blonde man snickered again, "Yup. Anyway, you know where the Nimbus Factory used to be? Meet me there in two hours. K?"

There was a pause as the young woman processed the snarky wizard's comment, "Fine. Two hours." With that she closed the connection muttering, "I wonder what that gay git is up to?" Usually with Draco it was interesting, but risky. That was the nature of their friendship as well.

Interesting, but risky.

Hermione had been the one to reach out to the young man after the great battle had ended and the guilty parties had been punished. It had been discovered that Draco had been coerced into doing the deeds he'd done. The Gryffindors of course, didn't want to hear it. Especially Harry Potter.

It was Hermione who had changed all of that. Surprising everyone by reaching out to the young man who'd been so evil to her during their school years. Pulling him close, into a comforting embrace. Holding him tightly as he had sobbed hysterically. Listening with typical Granger-esque compassion while the others clamoured for his blood.

Her wand had held the murderous rabble at bay as she'd thundered in the voice of reason, "Enough! I will not be the cause of anymore suffering!"

Even Minerva McGonagall had paused. Her deep green eyes staring at the young woman with something akin to respect. And something more.

Something deeper.

With that thought in mind, the woman let out a wistful sigh and entered the small ensuite of her flat, turning on the taps for her shower. Another smile graced her lovely face as she remembered the fabulous friendship that had developed between herself and Draco Malfoy. Her sadness for him as she'd discovered that the young man had never had a real friend. Never had someone, outside his mother, whom he could confide in. There's just some things that a man doesn't tell his mum.

His closeted homosexuality for one.

It was Hermione who'd dragged it out of him. Especially after noticing the covert, assessing glances the platinum haired wizard shot at passing men.

"You're gay!" She exclaimed chocolate eyes twinkling with glee.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

The man had been about to deny the allegation once more, when he'd looked into those dark eyes and saw acceptance and understanding.

Real, genuine understanding.

His proud shoulders had sagged as everything had poured from his soul. Like a faucet that wouldn't be shut off, it just spilled out. His sexual preference, his fear of rejection, his deep soul-aching longing for love, the total heart wrenching agony he'd felt at the treatment he'd received from his father, the absolute horror when he'd been forced to take Voldemort's mark... so many scars the young man carried on his heart.

Hermione had listened to it all without judging. Compassionate tears had slid down her soft cheeks as she'd clutched his hand. For she too had her own deep seated hurts and longings. She'd given the young man the one thing he seemed to lack...

Hope.

Hope that the tormented young man would someday lead a normal life. A life with friends, with family, with someone to love.

He'd managed two out of three. He now had friends that included the golden trio. His mother had accepted his sexuality with a great deal of love for her son and tears at herself for not seeing just how unhappy her only child had been. He just hadn't found his true love.

At least not yet.

Hermione stepped into the shower musing that neither did she. At least not someone who was attainable. Her love was unreachable.

Forbidden.

Tabboo.

Only Draco knew the identity of the passion that Hermione carried in her heart. Passion for a certain emerald eyed witch. Draco had laughed outright when Hermione had admitted to being a lesbian. He had thrown his head back and stated, "Well that explains why you understand me so well."

She had grinned and kissed his cheek. Not saying a word.

He'd raised an eyebrow and whispered, "That also explains a few things about why Weasley is not in your life and SHE occupies your heart." The Slytherin in him gave him the ability to see people and read them so well.

The chestnut haired woman's life was like reading an open book. At least to those who were really looking. He wondered what he would have to do to get those amazing emerald eyes of that special witch to look at his friend and want to read that particular book.

The young witch stood on the threshold of the worst excuse for a building she'd ever laid eyes on. Her lovely faced scrunched up in a grimace of distaste as she bellowed, "Draco Malfoy? Where the bloody hell are you and why am I standing in the nastiest building in Diagon Alley?"

A muffled snicker could be heard from somewhere inside the dilapidated structure.

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Hermione snorted as she drew her wand.

"Oh put that bloody thing away woman! Take a look around you. What do you think?" Draco stepped out of the shadows, his tall, slim figure quite striking in the filtered sunlight. There was an expectant gleam sparkling in his soft grey eyes.

Hermione paused for a moment and glanced around the old building. A suspicious sounding groan sounded from upstairs and the whole place smelled like dirty sweat socks but aside from that it just looked like an ordinary neglected warehouse. She looked back at her friend and replied, "I think you've dragged me out of bed to look at a creepy old building because you're daft!" Her dark eyes narrowed as she added while raising her wand, "And for that I'm going to hex your miniature willy and your tiny knobblies off!" She pointed her wand at Draco's crotch.

Crossing his leg over the other, he dropped his hands to cover his private area, "Noooo don't 'Mione! I wanted you to see this place because I think we can turn it into something else. Something special!" Grey eyes pleaded with chocolate ones.

Crossing her arms over her chest, wand still clutched in her hand, the young woman snorted, "Special? This place?" She watched a platinum head nod vigorously.

"Very special."

Frowning, the woman raised a skeptical eyebrow, "How?"

The blonde wizard took a cautious step closer and whispered, "With your magic."

"Have you been smoking crack?"

Snickering Draco asked, "You mean you can smoke it as well?"

Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose, "You are such a pig."

The Slytherin nodded, "Yeah so?"

Running an exasperated hand through her chestnut mane of curls, the witch took another look around, "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"A night club."

Draco leaned closer grinning madly, "With your magic and my savvy, we can create an awesome hot spot where ordinary people can become someone extraordinary. Where the famous and infamous can become safely anonymous." He'd said that last bit with an exaggerated mysterious whisper and a dramatic flourish of one hand.

The other was still protecting his privates.

Hermione scratched her nose as she often did when she was pondering. For not the first time, she wondered if the blonde Malfoy had finally lost his mind. Looking directly into his eyes, she asked, "So what do you need me for?"

He shook his head, "Come on 'Mione! You're the most talented witch of our generation. Merlin woman. You've got degrees in three different magical disciplines!"

He was referring to her proficiency in Charms, Potions and Transfiguration. Being an over-achiever hadn't stopped at Hogwarts. Hermione Granger had gone on to attend Oxford University's Advanced School of Magic where she'd received honours degrees in the three aforementioned disciplines in a mere two years. A truly astounding feat that still had tongues in academic circles waggling. When she finished her schooling, she'd received numerous offers for employment from both the private and public sectors.

The brilliant young witch had finally settled on a charm's research position with the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic and was earning a six figure salary. Making more money than any of her classmates except for Draco. The ministry had been very generous with her. Allowing her to create and patent her own spells and charms. Taking a portion of the profits but no credit.

They knew better.

Hermione shook her head, "You are talented as well. You could fix this place up yourself."

The blonde Slytherin smiled and wrapped a brotherly arm around her small shoulders, "I'm not talking about the building. I'll pay some construction wizards to take care of that. I need your imagination for designing the interior and..." He paused smirking as he realized that he had her complete attention. A small part of his devious mind whispered, "Gotcha!"

Hermione frowned at his pause, "And what?"

Tightening his grip on her shoulder, he replied, "I have an idea about a special glamour charm that every person coming to the club would be required to wear."

"Huh?"

He smiled widely, showing off his perfect white teeth, "Think of it! Imagine the Minister of Magic having his usual bad day, or Harry Potter or..." He paused again at the next name, "Minerva McGonagall."

Hermione's eyes widened fractionally but she said nothing. She didn't have to, Draco could feel her body tremble. With another smile, he continued, "Imagine those people. Easily recognized. Paparazzi following them wherever they go. Imagine those people looking for a place to unwind." He stepped away from Hermione and waved his hands around the building.

"Voila! Club Glamour!"

Hermione's dark eyes widened as her agile mind wrapped around his concept, "A place where anyone can come and not be recognized because they'll be wearing some kind of glamour charm?"

The blond wizard nodded and added, "Designed by the most brilliant charms mistress of the generation."

A snort was her only reply. The young woman stepped away from him and looked around once more. Her mind focussing inward as she began to see just what he had in mind. She began to visualize a night club with mirrors and sparkles and lights and sound and...

"What do I have to do?"

A whispered "Gotcha!" Once again fluttered through the young man's mind as he grabbed his friend's small hand and replied, "Come on. I'll buy you brunch and we'll talk."

With that the two friends slowly made their way out of the future night club.

Club Glamour.

-to be continued

AN: Sooooo... what do you think? Remember y'all be nice.