This is my first FF and the first time I would write something, but I've read a lot of fics. Constructive criticism is welcome. And this has been beta'd by Thegirlwhocouldopenflowers. Oh, I don't own anything.
Summary: When Draco Malfoy finds himself surrounded by friends who are beginning to settle down, he is faced with the possibility of finding his true love. It all comes down to one name: Hermione, his ex-girlfriend whom he had the best memory with. They were a perfect couple until one mishap led them to fall apart. It must be fate then when he sees her once again after a year and a half.
Chapter One
"According to the census, there are 9 million people in London. How will you know if you've found the one for you? Maybe you've seen him already, but you bent down to tie your shoelace. Maybe he was already beside you but you looked to another direction to see the traffic lights. Maybe you've already crossed each other's paths but the cab blocked your way. There are some people who were lucky to find the one for them. There are some, who are still searching and some who have given up. But the worst part is, he's yours already but you let him slip away." he said while looking deeply in the eyes of the woman in front of him. "But, what if, you were only given one chance to meet the one? Will you miss your chance…even if it's in front of you already?"
She has been batting her lashes the moment he spoke. "So, how many boxes do you want?"
She sighed. "Everything."
Draco smirked and stood up. All of his employees applauded. "See? That's how you make a sale. You grab your chance while it's still in front of you because you only have one chance in your life. And of course, don't forget to use your charms and looks." His phone rang. He knew who it was so he rushed out his office.
It was the 14th of February, the Muggles celebrated what they call Valentine's Day. It was the day of love, obviously. This is the day where they choose to spend time with their specific someone or just ignore this day and stay at home. But as for a famous bachelor, say, Draco Malfoy, he could be spending tons of galleons on clubs and partyin' all night with the prettiest ladies who are willing to throw themselves at him.
It could be his activity right now but it wasn't... He was at a wedding.
oOoOoOo
Draco felt someone nudge him on his arm. "Hey, Draco, go and dance with Pansy." Marcus Flint cocked his head to where Pansy was. "She has been waiting for you to dance with her. Don't keep the bride waiting." Marcus wiggled his brows while Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.
Draco glared at the three and cursed under his breath. He glanced to his right and found Theo grinning. "Sod off." he grunted. He stood up slowly and took a glass of champagne from the waiter who was serving drinks at the table next to them, drinking it down in one swift.
Not strong enough. He needed scotch.
He was dragging himself on the dance floor when Pansy turned around and immediately saw Draco on his way. She beamed at him, leaving the old man she was dancing with before.
He smirked and held out his hand. She accepted it gladly.
"Are you happy Draco?" she asked.
"Of course I am." He spun her around.
"Well I could see how ecstatic you are." she replied sarcastically.
Draco rolled his eyes. "I am happy for you, Pansy. I just don't like weddings. You know that."
Pansy gave a small smile. "Sorry. I know how allergic you are to weddings." she placed her palm on his cheek, "Thank you, you know. You still came even if you despise this kind of occasion."
He spun her once more when he felt someone tap his shoulder. "Mind if I dance with my wife?"
He turned around and saw his best friend Blaise Zabini. He held his hands up as if in surrender. "Hey mate, she's all yours."
Blaise chuckled and took Pansy's hand. They were about to start to dance when Draco came back. "Thank you Blaise- you know- for saving my feet. And may I remind you to be careful. Pansy here -" he cocked his head to the side "- has two left feet. Been stepping my foot the whole bloody time. Felt like a mountain troll danced on it. No wonder why these chaps stayed on their seats at the corner."
Blaise couldn't control his laughter while Pansy was glaring at him. She was about to say something inappropriate but Draco flee quickly, whistling on his way back to his safe little seat.
Once seated, the light started to dim and only a spotlight focused on the married couple. It was time for their wedding dance.
A soft melodic tune began. Draco assumed it was Pansy's idea because Blaise wouldn't pick that kind of song. Pansy was still glaring at Blaise but he whispered something on her ear. She playfully rolled her eyes and slapped him gently on his shoulder. And in an instant they were both smiles again, her leaning her head on his chest.
They sure loved each other.
Now that's what Draco wanted. He wanted a real relationship, true love, how everybody calls it. He wanted to experience this deep, mad, crazy love thing the Muggles call.
He included himself as one of the unlucky ones.
oOoOoOo
The reception went on until all of the guests were leaving, which means the only people left were the gang (Draco, Blaise, Marcus, Goyle and Theo). Crabbe had left earlier with his wife, Millicent Bullstrode. They were all seated in one table drinking their scotch. Pansy had to go inside their Manor to rest, being pregnant and all.
They were all quiet when Marcus gave Blaise a pat on the back. "Congratulations, 'Mate. I know I've said it a couple of times but, really, I'm happy for you both." He sure was drunk with his groggy voice and hazy eyes. "I have to go now, my fiancé is waiting for me." Marcus stood up and raised his glass and headed towards the floo.
When Marcus was out of sight, Goyle placed another swig of scotch on his glass. "I still can't believe Marcus is engaged to that Patil girl. Who is it again? Padma or Parvati?"
"Parvati." Blaise said.
Theo darted his eyes to where Goyle was. "Get over it Goyle, it was a year ago. She'll never be yours."
Draco and Blaise snorted.
Goyle's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Who said I like her? You guys are crazy." Draco smirked. "So I was right all along, it was Marcus you're after."
Goyle balled his fists, stood up and stormed out of the room.
Draco sighed in relief. "I thought he would never leave."
Theo thought for a moment, "He's gay?"
Blaise chuckled. "Honestly, Theo."
Theo shrugged. The three men laughed.
Draco has been silent for a while, absently staring at his glass. The room fell silent. Then it hit him. The attention was drawn to him now.
Bullocks.
"Hey Drake." Draco glanced at Blaise. "Next time you insult my wife, make sure she's not around. I've almost got myself hexed in my arse in the middle of our first dance."
Draco snorted. "Well that was my plan. It could've ended the party earlier and saved us all from this shit." He downed his glass feeling the burn flowing down his throat. He slammed his glass back on the table.
This should've insulted Blaise but he knew why his friend was bitter or, like everyone said, "allergic" to weddings.
Theo tried to enlighten the conversation. "Hey Draco, I thought you would bring your supermodel girlfriend here?"
Draco looked smug. "Ended it." The two men's jaws dropped. She was the hottest model in London. Such a waste. "You should've introduced me to her." Theo muttered.
Draco ticked. "You would've ended it too. She is all beauty but no brains, whiny and...clingy." He made a face.
Goyle spoke behind them "Seriously Draco, you date every fine woman in this world and they are never enough for you."
Blaise raised his brow. "I thought you left."
Goyle looked confused. "I just needed to use the loo." He sat again on his seat.
Blaise glanced at Draco, "Like that French CEO?" he grinned.
Draco waved a lazy hand. "We were similar financially, but she was even more of a workaholic than I am."
Theo chuckled. "Yeah, you always ended up talking to answering machines or her gay secretary who kept flirting with you."
The look of horror in Draco's face was priceless. There was a burst of laughter in the room.
"What about that singer?" Goyle inquired. Draco sighed in frustration. "Her voice was beautiful, don't get me wrong, but she would sing all the time, like narrating the things she would do. She even tried to get me to sing-a-long. I stopped myself from giving her the worst hex I could possibly think of."
There was another burst of laughter.
"The picture of you singing was epic." Theo said wiping tears from his eyes.
Blaise poured another round of scotch on their glasses. He was enjoying where this conversation was going. "But before all these women –" Blaise began, pouring another round in Theo's glass. "- there was this one woman who truly caught Draco's heart."
Two men nodded.
"You mean the photographer?" Theo said.
Goyle furrowed his brow. "I thought she was a writer?"
Draco waved his hand. "Oh forget it, if she sees me, she might give me the Avada Kedavra." He stood up and excused himself, making a beeline towards the floo. He took a handfull of floo powder and in a second he was at his flat.
He flopped down on the couch and loosened his tie.
oOoOoOo
Meanwhile back at the Zabini Manor
Blaise felt guilty for bringing her up but he knew he did the right thing. Draco should stop himself dating the wrong women just to temporarily fill up the hole in his heart. He knew Draco needed a wakeup call, he had to swallow his pride and get her back.
Theo sighed. "He really loved her."
Goyle could only nod in agreement.
oOoOoOo
Once Draco set foot on his flat, he took his coat off, loosened his tie and slumped on the couch. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes shut.
oOoOoOo
Flashback (1 year and four months ago)
"I don't want to go to this bloody date. I don't even know who you set me up with." Draco said while taking another look at himself in the mirror.
Marcus snorted. "Yeah, it seems like you don't want to go to that date. Isn't that right Theo?" Theo just looked at them lazily and went back to the book he was reading. "Right." Marcus muttered.
"Theo, if you don't tell me who it is- I swear I'll -" Draco turned his head where Theo was and noticed him chuckling quietly. He took his wand and the book went flying across the room. Theo darted his eyes towards him "I was reading that."
Draco waved a lazy hand. "You weren't. That was a cook book and I'm sure nothing in there was funny." His eyes grew wide. "Did you set me up with Bullstrode?"
Theo shrugged and took another book from the shelf. "I just had a little chat with someone at my office and she said she wanted to set her friend's friend with someone with a passable IQ. So, I said I know someone with a bit of a brain - which is you – but she didn't tell me who was her friend, though."
Draco shot him a look.
"I swear mate. I don't know who it is."
Draco grunted. "Well, who is this woman you talked to, if I may ask?"
Theo waved a lazy hand. "It doesn't matter. I don't think you know her anyway."
Marcus stood up and headed towards the floo. "I'm sorry children, but I have plans tonight. Miss Parvati Patil just owled me and she seems to be in need of company."
Before they could say anything, Flint was swallowed by large green flames.
Draco smirked and checked himself again in the mirror. "As long as she's a woman – you're not setting me up with a guy, right?"
Theo shook his head chuckling. "No, why would I do that?" Draco raised his brow. He sighed. "Look, all I know is that your date is a woman. Just go and have fun. You could always end the date if you don't like her."
Draco thought for a minute. Yeah, he could just ditch his date if he wanted to. He ditched a lot of women before, why would he not do it now? That made him feel better. He glanced back to fish more information from Theo but he found out that he was alone in his room. He frowned.
He apparated to a small dark alley. As a Malfoy, or any upper-class men, he has access to any places he wanted to go to. Since the paparazzi were following his every move, he seldomly entered through the grand entrance and red carpets. He felt better sneaking at the back of restaurants or hotels, if you get the picture.
He looked around and muttered a password. The door opened and he was greeted by the manager of the restaurant. "Good evening, Sir." He led Draco further inside.
"Has my date arrived?"
"Yes, Sir. She arrived much earlier than expected."
Draco stopped midway. "Really? What does she look like? It's a she, isn't it?"
The manager, whose name is Oliver, looked amused. "Uh- Yes, Sir. Your date is a 'she' and she looks stunning."
Draco sighed in relief because he was sure it was a woman, but for the stunning part, he wasn't convinced. He didn't trust Oliver's taste in women. This 'woman' might be up to Oliver's expectations, not his. Good thing he reserved a table in the VIP area so that no one could see him and his date.
He has a reputation to uphold and he won't just let it shatter now.
"Oh Sir, I almost forgot, we moved your table…as per request of Sir Nott."
"WHAT?" He yelled, glaring at Oliver, who began to sweat.
"Sir- I- Sir Nott ordered-"
He gritted his teeth. "I know Nott owns this fucking place, but I've reserved that table for an amount that could provide you and your family for many generations."
Oliver swallowed. "But, Sir Malfoy, Sir Nott said to never let you in that area. He placed every spell possible in all the VIP rooms to block you from entering them."
Draco closed his fists, trying to stop himself from hitting the man in front of him. Oliver was a kind old man and it wasn't his fault that his bastard boss changed his reservations. Damn Nott.
He made a mental note to kill Nott later, after he refunds his galleons.
"Is there anything else you forgot to mention?"
Oliver thought for a moment. "Oh. Since your table is located at the speed dating event, you would have to participate, as per Sir Theo's orders. But don't worry Sir, I've seen all the ladies out there and they are all beautiful."
Draco punched and kicked the air, which concerned Oliver. Draco was mad, scratch that, he was furious. Now he knew why Theo forced him to this 'date'. He might've invited all the unattractive women in the Wizarding World. This must be his payback because Draco had set him up before with a random girl in Spain who turned out to be a guy. Bloody hell.
He turned his heel and headed towards the exit until he felt a magical belt on his waist. He closed his eyes. Great.
Oliver cleared his throat. "Sir Theo also casted a spell around you so that you couldn't leave until midnight."
"Anything else?" Draco growled.
Oliver shook his head.
Draco darted towards the double doors. He opened it wide and saw a bunch of ladies on the left side and a bunch of men on the right side. He cursed under his breath and looked around for his specific date. The only thing Theo had told him was that she would be wearing a pink ribbon on her wrist. Well, that was "useful". He's been looking at all the ladies wrists...and he was right. They were all wearing it.
This bloody event was an ultimate setup. Theo should be digging his grave now.
He took a seat at a table by the corner. He noticed that he was wearing a blue ribbon on his wrist like other blokes around. For sure it was Theo's idea. He tried to take it off with every spell he knew but it would only bounce back. He transfigured a scissor and any other sharp objects but it wouldn't even leave a scratch.
He thought of the craziest ideas on how to take it off, like say, cut his hand off. 'Till he came with the most brilliant plan he could think of. He would just stay in this safe little corner until midnight. He didn't care if his date would be alone and humiliated. Fuck it to whatever Theo's planning.
"Hey Draco!" Crabbe waved at him and took a seat beside him. "Man, I didn't know you joined in these kinds of events."
"It's because I don't, you idiot." He said through gritted teeth. Of all the people who could be here with him, why did it have to be Crabbe?
Crabbe shrugged. "Then why are you here?" Draco sighed and stopped himself from smacking Crabbe's head on the table. It would just cause more damage to his brain, if he even had one. "Oh, I don't know, maybe I was hoping to see some circus clowns here. I guess I was wrong."
Crabbe knotted his brows. "Yeah, you're wrong. There are no clowns here Malfoy."
Draco ran a hand on his face. "Oh that's right. Only stupid monkeys are here." He meant it for Crabbe. Such a waste of time. He thought.
Crabbe thought for a moment. "I don't understand."
He snorted. "You never will." He called the waiter and took a glass of champagne.
"Draco! Crabbe!" both men turned their heads.
"Hey Goyle! Could you please tell Draco that there are no clowns or monkeys here?"
Goyle looked confused and took another chair to join his friends.
"What is Crabbe talking about?"
Draco just shrugged.
"So, you guys excited?" Goyle asked, eyeing all the beautiful ladies passing by.
Crabbe nodded while Draco rolled his eyes. He pitied these two. They were like a couple of drooling dogs who were waiting for a treat.
"Oh c'mon, Drake. You might find your soulmate here." Goyle waved his hand at a raven haired girl, who only ignored him.
"This is stupid." Draco muttered.
"No, it's a great past time." They heard a man speak. Draco cocked his head to the side and saw his best friend, Blaise Zabini. Finally, someone who had a brain.
He shook his mate's hand. "Theo set you up too?"
Blaise chuckled. "No, only you. I knew about this event."
"What about Pansy?"
Blaise waved dismissively. "Nah, I don't think it will work out. She's off to Paris for a fashion show. She wants me to come, but I don't want to. So it's either go with her or stay here but we're over."
"You keep saying that, maybe someday you two will just tie the knot."
Blaise snorted. "Yeah right, me? Getting married? I don't think so."
He placed his arm up to get the waiter's attention. They all took a glass of champagne.
"These ladies are hot." Blaise stated. He pointed at one blonde girl. "What do you think about that?"
Crabbe and Goyle nodded. "Yeah." They said in chorus. Draco peered his eyes to where the girl was. "Maybe."
Goyle cocked his head to another direction. "How about her?" They saw an amber-haired girl. "Nice." said Crabbe. Blaise and Draco nodded.
"Hey, that brunette is mine." Blaise pointed to a girl with soft brunette curls. Her back was facing them but they could see her curves with that hugging peach dress that she was wearing. Draco's eyes went from her long curly hair, down to her petite waist and down to her fine legs. He might consider this girl even just for the night. "Sorry Blaise, but that's my date."
Blaise scoffed. "How do you know? You don't know who your date is, not to mention what she looks like."
Draco downed his glass. "Believe me, I know my date. And that –" he pointed at the girl. "-is her". Blaise just rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, Malfoy."
They were all watching the brunette move. The way she talked to the girls around her and how delicate and small her hands were. She still wasn't facing them, which made Draco even more anxious to meet that girl. They couldn't go over to the other side because there was a magical spell in the middle of the room. They would be able to meet all the ladies when the host said so. The girl turned her head slightly to the side and he saw her cute little nose.
An older woman came towards her and gave her a name tag. He narrowed his eyes and was devastated to see what it said. "Event Organizer" he heard his friends say. I think they all heard a glass shatter.
Blaise sighed. "Bloody hell. Sorry Draco." he gave him a pat on the back.
Goyle ticked. "Such a waste." Crabbe nodded in agreement.
Draco ran his hand through his hair. This girl may not be his date, but who cared? He wanted her and he would get her. He stood up. "That name tag wouldn't stop me from meeting her." At that moment the bell rang. The older woman took the microphone and greeted everyone. She announced that the speed dating event would begin.
Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle went to the vacant seats and began a casual conversation with some ladies. Draco, however, was still making a beeline towards the brunette. She was at the bar. He felt someone tap his back. "I'm sorry, but you should take a seat now." The old woman pulled him to a seat but he kept glancing on the brunette. He wasn't paying attention to the pretty blonde haired girl in front of him. He wanted to meet that girl on the bar. He glanced on the side and saw Marcus. He sighed in relief. "Hey, Marcus." Marcus looked for the one who was calling him and he spotted Draco waving at him.
He went to where Draco was. "Thought you had a date with a Patil."
Marcus shook his head. "She had to go to somewhere with her twin sister."
Draco smirked. "Then please take my place." Marcus accepted.
Draco went to a different direction so that the old woman wouldn't see him. The girl was still at the bar. "Perfect, I could just buy her a drink". She was now in front of him, her back facing him. He cleared his throat but she didn't glance back. He then tapped her shoulder and she turned around.
His smile froze and it seemed she had the same reaction. "Malfoy?"
"G-Granger?"