Operation Find-A-Hetero was officially under way. After a light breakfast, the two families had decided to spend a day at the beach and, after checking the colors of the flags lining the pole, they figured it was the perfect day to do so.

Where they were staying, there was a flag system that went along the beaches. It was a color scheme. If there was a single green flag on the pole, it meant that the tide was low and the water was more than safe. If there was a single yellow flag on the pole, the tides were medium and therefore people were to be aware. A single red flag meant that tides were high, and swimming was to be done very cautiously, if at all. If two red flags flied, the beach was closed. Aside from those, there was also a purple flag, which meant that marine life - typically jellyfish - was present in the water, and it was to be dealt with cautiously.

Today, the flag flew green. The two families changed into bathing suits and gathered sunscreen and any other necessity they thought they'd need. Frank even suggested they bring bottled water, as a beach vendor's water would most likely be ridiculously priced. It was tourist season, after all.

They arrived at the beach about a half hour later, having decided to walk there, as it was only two blocks away. They walked along the wooden deck that separated the sand from the parking lot, and then down the steps and onto the white sand and the magnificent Gulf of Mexico.

The water was a beautiful emerald color, and had therefore earned the nickname as The Emerald Coast. People were everywhere: throwing frisbees, in the water, building sand castles. It was calming, and Harry found himself glancing towards Draco, who also seemed to be enjoying the view - or searching for his target; he really couldn't tell with him.

The blond was dressed in a pair of black and green swim shorts done in a weird, striped pattern. He kicked off his black sandals, and bent down to pick them up. His spine curved delicately as he did so, and Harry could see the slight rise of his bones against the tight, black t-shirt he wore. Harry wondered how he wasn't sweating to death in all that black, but then again, he was Draco, and he was peculiar, and he did look oddly nice under the powerful rays of the sun.

The two families made their way to an open spot on the sand and set down their towels. James got to work on applying sunscreen to Frank's back, and Severus did the same to Lucius's. Harry dropped his red and golden towel, which matched his imperial themed swim shorts, removed his white muscle shirt, and grabbed the bottle of sunscreen from his fathers once they'd finished with it, and motioned for Neville to turn around.

This left the young Malfoy standing awkwardly, but Harry really didn't care. Though, to Harry's surprise, he felt a pair of skinny fingers on his own back only a few seconds later, and was surprised to see that those hands belonged to Draco.

This also came as a surprise to the rest of the family, who watched Draco and Harry with interest. Although, once his back was lathered in sunscreen, the green-eyed boy moved away from him, muttering a quick "thanks" before applying the cream to the rest of his own body.

Neville shuffled awkwardly forward, taking the bottle from Lucius and Severus, and motioning for Draco to turn around. He coated the blond's back in sunscreen, and then hurried off towards the water before anyone could comment. Harry swallowed thickly, feeling awkward for the scene that had just occurred.

~~~

The water was the best thing about Florida, Harry decided as he waded up to his pectorals. He smiled down at the small silver fish that darted past him, and looked around interestedly. He then noticed that there was a change in color in a few places, and he made a move to go towards them to see just what they were.

"I wouldn't recommend doing that." A feminine voice explained, and Harry turned in surprise to see a girl around his age with brown, bushy hair staring at him. She wore a plain, purple bikini, and waded through the water effortlessly. Also, she was tan. A lot tanner than Harry, who had spent his life in dreary London.

"Why not?" He asked curiously, swimming slightly closer to her once he'd noticed the light tide had separated them.

"Those two lighter things you've spotted: they're sandbars. They're dangerous. I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?" She asked suddenly, extending her hand.

"Harry, Harry Potter. How are they dangerous?" He asked, shaking her hand.

"Well, this is the Gulf of Mexico, which branches into the Caribbean. So, the Caribbean is a lot saltier than the Atlantic Ocean that you're used to. You're from Europe, right? Anyways, past the first sandbar - you'll notice the water's a bit of a darker blue - you drop off into a smaller reef area. This is typically where kayakers take their boats, as it contains bigger fish, like eels and stuff. And well, once you're past the second sand bar, you're in open water. See how the water's almost black there? That's 'cause it's deep, and dangerous. There, you'll find sharks. Ever seen a shark before, Brit-boy?" She asked.

Harry shook his head.

"You don't want to. They're nasty, vile creatures of the sea. The sandbars are not to be tested, especially around nightfall. Around that time, those sharks who stay confined to past the second sandbar come into the reef around the first. Sometimes, they come closer than that. You don't wanna be in the water when a shark's around." She explained, and Harry shivered.

"Do you live here or something?" Harry asked, though the question was obviously stupid, and Hermione found it funny.

"I have my whole life. My parents are both marine biologists, and I spend a lot of the time in the water." She stated pridefully.

"I take it you're very passionate about the ocean then." Harry noted, and she smiled.

"Most definitely. I plan on becoming a marine biologist just like my parents someday."

Then, it occurred to Harry that this girl seemed to be alone. She didn't seem to have her parents, or a girlfriend anywhere near her, and he decided to try his luck.

"So, are you seeing anyone?" He asked.

"Besides my textbooks, no. But, from the scene I saw up on the beach earlier, I take it you are, so nice try, my friend." She smirked, and he rolled his eyes.

"We're not- uh..."

"Yeah, sure. I know sexual tension when I see it, Harry Potter." She laughed.

"What? We're not- fuck, we're not like that." He was blushing profusely by this point, and she was loving every second of it.

"Regardless, you're spoken for. Which means, you're gay. Which means, I'm off-limits. When I say I'm in the textbooks, I'm talking about all the textbooks, not just sciencecy ocean ones. And therefore, I know that marriage laws are a lot stricter in the U.K. than here. I may be a Hetero, but I'm not stupid." She explained, and Harry felt like a righteous idiot.

"You're an insufferable know-it-all, aren't you?" Harry asked, cautiously wading back slightly.

"Maybe, if that's how you'd like to put it. And you're a self-entitled douchebag from Britain who thinks he rules the world, aren't you?" She smirked, raising an eyebrow as his eyes widened.

"What? No! That's... Listen, I'm sorry. Can we start over? Sandbars are a no-no, got it. You're scientific, got it. I'm an idiot, got it. Hi, I'm Harry Potter, and you are?" He rambled, and she laughed.

"Calm down, lover boy, I don't hold grudges." She winked, taking his hand and shaking it once more. "So, what is the deal with you and blondie?"

"Arranged marriage." Harry explained, and her eyes widened.

"That's legal?"

"Why wouldn't it be? But yes, we're supposed to get married someday, but he hasn't asked me yet, but I'm still promised to him, and I don't want to be. He doesn't wanna be, either. And so, this is where you come in." Harry explained the plan to her, and her eyebrows narrowed.

"So, you want me to pose as a Hetero love interest to you in front of two clearly stuck up families? Do you have a death wish?"

"Please, Hermione. Please play the part." He begged, kneeling down in the water slightly while clasping his fingers together in a pleading gesture.

"You sure are something, Harry Potter." She chuckled, but then took his hand, and led him onto the shore. His eyes widened as he noticed their fingers clasped together, and he couldn't help but stare at Hermione in admiration as a young lesbian couple scoffed at the sight of their locked fingers, and covered their toddler's eyes in disgust.

The pair made their way past Harry's and Draco's families, and the dark-haired boy did his best not to look at his father's disapproving face at the sight. He did, however, catch Draco's eye, and the blond lad was smirking.

One down, one to go.