The Importance Of

Summary: Hermione Granger is 22 years old, single, and the only virgin left among all those around her. But no one knows that. Well, at least not until a certain New Years trip.

A/N: Just posting this story I started months ago and haven't really thought about finishing to see what kind of feedback I get. I have a few chapters written and I know where I want it to go but I haven't been very inspired to continue with it lately! But I thought I'd share anyway. Obviously, it's EWE, and slightly AU, and a bit OOC.

Rating: Not big on M stuff, but there are adult themes, nothing in detail though so a T.

Prologue

If someone had told Hermione Granger she'd be walking down the aisle to marry the spectacular man of her dreams, she would've laughed and told the person, "Fat chance!" Just a year prior to this amazing moment of her walking down the aisle, she was in utter despair at being a 22 year old, hopelessly in love virgin. She would've never thought the man at the end of the alter would be the person she had agreed to marry one day.

"Hermione, no!"

"Please, 'Mione!"

"Wait! Stop! Don't do this!"

Those were the three simultaneous yells Hermione heard from behind her from three different men.

She spun around and was shocked to see that these three men would ruin her wedding day like this.

"What is the meaning of this?" She yelled.

The answer lie in those three, desperate faces, and Hermione frowned, looking back at the man she was supposed to be marrying.

Chapter One

The scenery was perfect. The hall was adorned with glittering silver and gold lights, the Christmas tree sparkled with colorful ornaments, and everyone was dressed in beautiful clothing like something very important and romantic was about to be announced, which one could gather that it was.

Suddenly people were clanking their glasses with silver spoons and everyone's attention was on the golden couple at the top of the spiral staircase in the hall.

Every soul in the hall held their breath.

"Ginny Weasley," Harry Potter began, "Will you marry me?"

Ginny stood as gorgeous as ever in her gold gown with her perfect red hair flowing effortlessly down her back. Everyone in the room stood still, even the servers and bartenders, waiting for the red-head's answer.

Ginny sighed heavily and for a moment something like panic flashed through Harry's green eyes.

"Yes," she finally whispered, eyes brimming with tears. "Yes!" She said louder. Harry nearly jumped up to the ceiling before she jumped on him and they embraced and kissed while the rest of the room cheered enthusiastically.

Hermione Granger sat at the bar and smiled. It was a bitter smile. It had been a long time coming, of course, but the scenery wasn't supposed to be perfect for the golden couple. This was Hermione's dream, and she had thought someday it could have been Ron Weasley proposing to her where Harry and Ginny now stood, in front of a crowd of very important people. She knew she shouldn't have given the idea to Harry. But it's not like he knew it was secretly her dream and it's not like Ron even cared much that she was in love with him either. She'd confessed to him. He'd been silent. Then he patted her on the back and said, very confidently, "It's okay, 'Mione. You'll get over it." And he'd meant it. She felt stupid, but she'd told her friends, Ron included, that she was over it. They believed her, as they should and Ron even went so far as to flirt with her carelessly again, but she knew it was just his nature. Despite the hurt she felt watching Ron date around carelessly, she'd hid the pain well. It wasn't as if she could do anything about it now… it was two years after the fact.

"Quit gaping," someone said, taking a seat next to her.

Hermione snapped out of her thoughts after realizing she was staring at Ron, who was currently flirting with a random girl. "What?" She looked at who interrupted her and glared. "I am not gaping, Theo."

"Yes, you were… staring at Weasley like he was going to disappear at any moment. The moment's about your other friends in case you forgot about them."

Hermione groaned. She always had moments where she wondered how the hell she'd managed to become rather good friends with Theodore Nott. He was extremely insensitive and blunt most days, which was the complete opposite of her very sensitive and caring self. She supposed he grounded her and kept her in touch with reality, thus making their whole opposite attitudes work on most days.

WORK! That's how they'd even started talking in the first place. Hermione didn't care much or even notice the quiet Theodore Nott when they went to Hogwarts (let's be honest, did anyone really?). He was just another Slytherin who laughed at mudblood jokes and occasionally got the same scores as her. He was probably the smartest Slytherin in their time, but she still didn't notice him much. It was after the war when his father was incarcerated that Theodore had loosened up. He started working at the Ministry and was paired with Hermione in the Department of Mysteries translating Runes. Hermione tried her best to keep their relationship all business but she got curious about the quiet boy and started trying to get to know him. She didn't like working in such close proximity with someone she barely knew, after all. But once he opened up she realized that he was actually a decent guy, and also that he could be a downright git! But they became friends nonetheless and she'd even confided things in him that she couldn't with anyone else, such as her hopeless romantic feelings for Ron Weasley. Of course he'd gotten that out of her while they were drunk, but that's another story…

"I did not forget. Who could? This Christmas party was for them in the end after all…"

Theodore took a sip of some wine. "Does it still bother you that Potter actually took your idea to heart?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. She really should stop telling Theodore things he could use against her. She just attempted to take another gulp of her champagne when Theodore grabbed the glass out of her hands.

"None of that," he said. He turned to the bartender. "Two Firewhiskeys, please."

"I am not drinking Firewhiskey!" Hermione nearly shrieked.

"Trust me, you need it." He shoved a bottle in her hands.

"You do remember last time, don't you?"

"How could I forget?" Theodore said. "You threw up all over my clothes and I had to carry you all the way up to my flat because you locked our wands in your flat and lost your keys!"

Hermione turned red at the memories, or lack thereof, really. "Well you don't want that again, do you?"

"I'm willing to risk it and see what one does to you. That night you had three. And anyway I want to introduce you to somebody." Theodore took a gulp of his Firewhiskey.

"Theo!" Hermione protested.

"Drink!" he insisted. Hermione stubbornly took a small gulp. "You need to stop brooding over Weasley."

"I'm over it," she said and took another gulp because of the sheer lie that it was and the fact that Theodore knew it was a lie.

"I'm going to be completely honest with you, my dear Granger. I have it on good authority that Weasley is planning to shag the living lights out of Pansy Parkinson tonight."

Hermione felt her heart drop and couldn't help but wonder if this source was actually Pansy herself. Yes, somehow Ron Weasley was going for Pansy Parkinson for the night. It's as if the war never happened, really! A lot really could happen in five years.

"Why do you insist on making me feel worse than I already do, Theo?"

"I'm toughening you up. You don't need any more words of consolation. It's time to move on, Hermione. Now drink."

Hermione sighed and let it go. Theodore wasn't saying it just to be cruel. He was being blunt and honest and he was right. It had been two years since she'd told Ron she was in love with him. She needed to move on.

She took a larger gulp of her liquor. "Alright, who's the lucky guy tonight?" she said sarcastically. Theodore was always trying to unsuccessfully set her up with random blokes. He'd even once tried to pair her up with Ernie Macmillan and she had to put her foot down then (she wasn't even aware the two knew each other).

"Actually this is more of a favor to me," said Theodore with another gulp of liquor. "You know how I've been trying for Astoria Greengrass?"

Hermione did not approve of Theodore's taste in women simply because they were all shallow and dim-witted and she thought Theodore certainly needed someone who was up to his intelligence level. And Astoria Greengrass was not.

"What about her?" She said with a grunt and a gulp and tried to scan the room to look for the blonde.

"I'm not quite sure, but I think Malfoy's got his eyes set on her too."

"What have I got to do with it?" She asked slowly, fearing the direction this was going.

But Theodore couldn't answer her question because Draco walked up to them just then in a simple black suit with his blonde locks falling gracefully along his forehead.

"Theo, you wanted to see me?" he asked.

"Ah, yes." Theodore gave Hermione a threatening and desperate look. "You remember Draco Malfoy, don't you, Hermione?"

"Yes I do," Hermione said with a tight smile. She reluctantly shook Draco's hand before turning away, giving Theodore a deadly glare before facing the bar to down the rest of her Firewhiskey. He was right. She needed it.

"Would you keep her company, Draco? I've just – I need to speak with Daph -" And Theodore walked away abruptly.

Draco took a seat next to Hermione. Neither of them said anything or even looked at each other for several moments. Draco was an alright guy now. He worked for the Ministry as well, as a lower division Auror, under Ron and Harry and they'd actually even trained together. The boys were civil and even sometimes friendly with him, but she was not. They didn't exactly hate each other and both were passed the immature name-calling and bad blood from before, but they avoided each other because their talks usually turned into arguments, so it was awkward. What were two people who didn't exactly like each other much supposed to say to each other at a post Christmas/engagement party?

The liquor now invading Hermione's brain decided for her.

"Have a Firewhiskey, Malfoy." She said.

Draco looked taken back for a second but he then asked the bartender for his own bottle.

"I don't drink much," Draco admitted after taking a painful-looking gulp out of his bottle.

"You don't? I would've never thought," Hermione commented.

"That's what a lot of people say, at least until they see what a horrible drunk I am," Draco said with a shrug and low chuckle. "So what's this about anyway?" He took some more tiny sips of his drink.

"I haven't the slightest clue," Hermione said. "Ah! Now I remember."

She nodded in the direction where Theodore was pulling Astoria smoothly on to the dance floor. Hermione made a sour face. "Seems to fancy that one and needs me to distract you or something."

Draco actually laughed out loud. Hermione was momentarily startled because it was a genuine, warm sound, and it was coming out of Draco Malfoy.

"I'm sorry," he said, catching his breath. "It's just – you've got nerve telling me his true motives. Apparently it was supposed to be smooth on his part."

Hermione shrugged. "I could really care less about ruining Theo's plans."

There was an awkward silence for some moments while Draco sipped on his bottle of Firewhiskey and Hermione let the rest of hers settle in, looking around to find something to distract her from her current predicament.

"So," Draco said.

"Yeah," Hermione replied. "I'm not quite sure how he wanted me to distract you. I mean… what are we supposed to say to each other?" She gave a low laugh.

"Theo's a good friend and all but he's a git on most days," Draco commented.

"You're right about that," Hermione said.

More silence.

"So are you happy for your friends?" Draco asked. The liquor was making him a little bit more talkative despite the fact that it was Hermione Granger he was talking to.

The liquor in Hermione's system couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice. "Yeah, sure."

"You don't sound very enthusiastic," Draco said.

Hermione sighed. "Well, of course I'm happy for them, it's just – err never mind. What about you? I thought you were planning to woe the younger Greengrass but now your friend's just taken her away."

Draco shrugged. "I don't know. I don't really care. She would've been a good shag but-"

"Oh you men!" Hermione said, exasperated. "All you ever care about is a damn good shag!"

"Hey! You didn't let me finish!"

"I don't need to. You and Theo are just the same… hell, it's not even a Slytherin thing. Ron's the same! I've seen even Neville doing the same things! House of chivalry my arse! The whoring around thing for men is universal! Have you men any self-respect?" Hermione felt the blood rushing to her face and knew she was overreacting, but she didn't really care since she was slightly drunk and talking to Draco Malfoy, whom she didn't really like anyway.

"I resent that, Granger! You don't know nearly enough about me to ask me if I have self-respect!" Draco said, standing up.

Hermione stood up as well and gave a sarcastic, short laugh. "I don't need to know you, Malfoy. I know your type!"

"You're still the most insufferable little – little -"

Hermione lowered her eyes dangerously. " - mudblood that you know?"

"I wasn't going to say that," Draco said.

"It was as thrilling as it always has been talking to you, Malfoy. Good to know that some things just never change, even after five years." Hermione turned on her heel to walk away leaving Draco gaping angrily at her.

Ron and Harry had been in happy conversation when they saw the last bit of Hermione and Draco's conversation. They would have tried to talk to her but she was already near the door and Theodore had already nodded to the boys saying he had it covered. For some reason, Theodore calmed her down more nowadays than Harry and Ron. This left Harry and Ron to go find out what happened through Draco.

"What the hell just happened?" Harry asked as they strode over to the bar where Draco was.

"I tried to be civil with her!" Draco said. "It wasn't like I was trying to pick a fight."

"She was probably drunk, mate," Ron said. "Hermione gets a bit touchy sometimes."

"What was it you said?" Harry asked.

"I just said Astoria could have been a good shag and I was going to continue saying it wasn't the only thing I was interested in when it came to women but she interrupted me and started ranting about how all men are the same… she mentioned Weasley, and Longbottom," Draco replied, running a hand through his short locks.

Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I'll never understand girls."

"I do," Ron said, spotting Pansy. "And I'm going to have to get back to you guys on that." He winked at the boys before following the direction where the girl was going.

"Anyway, are you guys still on for New Years in the cabin?" Draco asked. He was referring to the annual trip he and Theodore took every year to a cabin in the snow. They'd bring a few friends and everyone had dates and they'd all have a good time for a few days. Draco wouldn't normally invite the two boys but Pansy was a regular on the trip and she said her date this year would be Ron (Draco cursed himself for even introducing the two) and he thought he might as well invite Harry and Ginny.

"Yeah, I think so. Ginny doesn't have any upcoming games so her word on it should still be alright," Harry said. "Speaking of Gin, I gotta get back to her. I think she wants to leave soon…"

Meanwhile, Theodore followed Hermione out the door to see what everything was about.

"What happened, Granger?" he asked, grabbing her shoulder and turning her around.

"You! You are so! I don't even!" Hermione said, making no sense at all.

"What?" Theodore said. "From what it looks like you were yelling at Malfoy, not me."

"Well, I'm yelling at you now, aren't I?" Hermione shot.

"Look I get that you're drunk, but can you make some sense here?" Theodore asked, giving a more sincere face.

Hermione gave a defeated sigh. "Oh, I don't know. He just said something about good shags and I went off saying that all men are the same…"

"Your usual feminist rant?" Theodore said. He pulled her closer and hugged her. "You need to stop that. Stop letting it get to you. Not all guys are like that."

"You are! And so is Malfoy. And Ron," she spat out the last name bitterly.

"We're just young, Hermione. You need to be the same," Theodore said. He released her and looked directly into her eyes. "Now you need to go home and sleep. I have a late night date with Astoria."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Men," she muttered, but she had a soft spot for Theodore, who had really become her best friend over the last few years.

"I'll come by in the morning," Theodore said.

"I really should get my spare key back from you, or set up wards specifically against you…" she mumbled.

"Because you have a special date tonight, too?" Theodore asked slyly.

Hermione glared. "Never that."

"Except that one night," Theodore interrupted.

Hermione blushed. "That was nothing! McLaggen just came over for a cup of hot chocolate-"

"And that's why you both fell off the couch and you slurred drunk at me what an inconsiderate asshole I am for scaring McLaggen away?" Theodore smirked.

"Thank goodness you came though. I may have made a horrible mistake that night!" Hermione said, shaking her head.

"And thank goodness the back of the couch faces the door!" Theodore laughed lightly and kissed his friend on the cheek. "Goodnight, Granger. See you later."

A/N: Thoughts?