About a half hour and a lot of mock pleasure on Hermione's part later, she and her new fiancée left their room, headed for the casino to partake in some of the hotels highlighted features. Namely gambling, or as Hermione referred to it as, 'the useless squandering of excessive funds by the obscenely rich', not that she didn't toss the dice every once in awhile herself.

And who should they bump into in the elevator? One Draco Malfoy, a stunning paragon of smugness with his Chesire grin.

"Oh, Hermione, I didn't know you were here!" Draco said, smiling warmly. He took her hand and kissed it. "Always a pleasure" He then turned to Viktor and held out his hand. "And I would assume this is Viktor Krum, celebrated Quidditch Seeker?"

Hermione smiled lightly. In the last days of the war, he had become friendlier to her. She no longer considered him an enemy, but he was far from a friend. Viktor, on the other hand, seemed to like him a lot.

"Oh, yes! I am Viktor Krum. And I know who you are too! I have seen you in magazines. You are Mr. Draco Malfoy?" Viktor said.

"Yes, I'm him," Draco said with a broad grin.

"How do you know my 'Ermy?" Viktor asked.

"Ah, we go way back. School friends and such," Draco lied. "I'm on my way to a party in Wizard Paris. Would you care to join me?"

Viktor nodded excitedly, while Hermione inwardly groaned. But it would be rude to refuse his offer, not that she would be able to drag Viktor away, and it would be more entertaining than watching Viktor waste all of his money, so she took her former enemy's offered arm and they were off.


The chummy invitations and activities continued to come in from Draco for the next few days. They found themselves sailing on yachts, VIP rooms at clubs, midnight pool parties, wizard golf on exclusive courses, et cetera. Viktor could not have been having a better time, and even Hermione found herself enjoying it, which was far from expected.

On the fourth evening of their vacation, the couple found themselves in Draco's suite with a couple of bottles of champagne and a wizard pool table. Hermione was lounging on oversized white leather couch reading while Viktor and Draco played and talked.

Eventually, the conversation rolled around to just north of awkward.

"You are a lucky man, Draco," Viktor said to his host.

"I'd say you were luckier, Vik."

"Vy do you say that? You have everything," Viktor replied, baffled. This disgruntled Hermione a bit, because even she could tell what Draco was getting at when he said the 'luckier' bit. Was Viktor really that dense?

"You see the beautiful woman on the couch? She's yours. Count your blessings, mate. All I've got is tramps falling all over my wallet." Ah, there's the awkward part. Hermione blushed at Malfoy calling her beautiful. She couldn't seem to get the idea that he wouldn't fall after using a Portkey out of her head.

"Oh. 'Ermy. Yes, I am very lucky," Viktor coughed. Good save--not.

"Yes, you two seem quite in love. But I wonder--loves makes you do crazy things, they say. But so does money, right?" Draco asked.

"Vell...I guess...I vould do a lot for money. But love is more important."

"Well, yes, some would say. But I wonder...hypothetically, of course...what would you say if I offered you one million galleons for one night with your wife?" Draco pressed on.

Viktors eyes got wide. Draco could see him mouthing, 'One million galleons!' Hermione yelped and jumped up, walking over to the pool table.

"Surely not!" she cried. Viktor shot her a dirty look.

"Hypothetically, you mean? Or are you not joking?" Viktor inquired.

"That's up to you," Draco said.

Viktor's eyes lit up. "Are you offering, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Are you accepting, Mr. Krum?"

"N--" Hermione started to shout, but Viktor sent her an angry glare that would have stopped a lion attacking a wildebeest.

"'Ermy, dearest, I think it's time you go to sleep. Yes, you are obviously very tired. Please go back to our room. Now."

"Now, Viktor, calm yourself. Nothing of this caliber would go into effect without your wife's consent, of course," Draco said. "It simply wouldn't do for such a woman to be bartered off as if she were a piece of meat."

Suddenly, Hermione felt a wave of calm run over her. Viktor's voice was saying in the back of her head, 'Hermione, say yes, love. Do it for me, do it if you love me.' Hermione nodded meekly.

"Wonderful!" Draco said. "Does tomorrow night work for you?" Hermione nodded again, as did Viktor.

Viktor dropped his angry gaze, keeping a tight hold on his wand behind his back, and shook Draco's hand.


Viktor let Hermione off the Imperius Curse immediately after they were locked safely and soundly back in their luxurious suite. Hermione immediately slapped him across the face, going red, trembling with rage.

"VIKTOR! HOW COULD YOU? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" she screamed at him.

"Darling, darling, please understand. I am doing it for you. Please, darling. One million galleons! I will buy you whatever you want. One night, just one night. One million galleons!"

Hermione stared at him in shock and disgust. "One million galleons? You have that much money at least six times over! Why are you so greedy? You disgust me!"

Viktor chuckled darkly. "Don't be like that Hermione. I am not stupid. I know just as vell as you know that you vould like to experience someone else before we wed."

Hermione went on glaring until his last comment hit her.

'Someone other than Viktor? Thank Merlin. This might be worth it, after all. Even if it is Malfoy.'