I think it's been a little more than 7 minutes, but I hope you forgive me for the delay ;D Enjoy part two which was edited by my AWESOME BETA once again (I love you shrus6291). This half is considerably shorter, but I hope you still like it.

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Disclaimer: 7 minutes is hardly enough time to progress with my JK Rowling situation. so I STILL OWN NOTHING.

Enjoy :D

Previously on Choices:

Draco leaned his head over hers and she let their lips gently touch. It was nothing more, just a peck; but the effect was electrifying. Hermione's hand moved to where his lips had touched her. A tingle travelled from her lips to the tips of her fingers and she shivered involuntarily.

"Sweet Merlin,"

…

"I love you." Blaise blurted out, his voice managing to echo into the night sky

Luna simply turned to Blaise with a pleasant smile. "That's nice."

…

"That was your first date, Zabini. What is wrong with you?"

…

"I met someone." Ron watched Hermione cautiously. "It's Pansy."

…

Hermione asked hesitantly. "We could watch a movie." She suggested.

Both Draco and Blaise answered at the same time. "A what?"

Draco Malfoy liked movies. It was two hours of not thinking about his eventful life and focus on someone else's.

"Why hadn't I discovered this before?"

"Because it's a Muggle thing, Draco." Hermione rolled her eyes. Blaise had been sitting silently next to her on the couch for the whole movie, sulking.

Draco shrugged but kept his eyes on the screen. He leaned in slightly and spoke into her ear. "Do you want to have dinner later?"

"Oh, sorry." Hermione leaned in towards him too. "I already have plans." She glanced at the clock over her kitchen counter and immediately straightened up. "Plans that I need to be ready for in fifteen minutes." She stood and began walking to her room.

Draco's eyes followed her. "Plans with who?"

Right on cue, the fireplace blazed to life and Harry stepped out, brushing soot of his clothes. A few seconds later, Ron was out too, coughing as he choked on the dust.

"Hey, Hermione," Ron greeted her with a goofy grin. "Ready to go?"

"Give me ten minutes, guys," She hurried into her room and put on a purple shirt and jeans and slipped her feet into her black flats. Standing in front of her mirror, she dabbed on whatever make-up she had (which wasn't very much) and stepped out, finger-combing her hair.

Harry looked down at his wrist, his eyebrows raised. "Some girl you are; that actually was ten minutes. Alright, then; we should be off."

"Wait," Draco stopped them. "Where are you going?"

The trio eyed him curiously for a while, all obviously thinking the same thing. The glanced at one another, their minds clearly in tune.

"Do you think he can come? Can he take it?" Ron wore a smirk that very much resembled a Slytherin's.

Hermione shook her head with the same condescending smirk. "No way." She stepped towards a now very perplexed Draco and ruffled his hair slightly in an adoring way. "Little rich boy won't be able to handle it."

Harry and Ron shrugged. "You're probably right." Hermione smiled and patted Draco's cheek fondly, much like Molly Weasley would.

"W-wait," Draco stuttered as they were stepping out. "I-I am, I am offended."

"Okay, Draco." Hermione turned around. "We are going to a Muggle bar." The trio once again made their way to the door.

"A bar?" Draco furrowed his brow. "You know, those places can be dangerous." He added a little warily.

Hermione snorted. "No, Draco. It's not dangerous, and if you'll excuse me, I'll be off."

They walked out into the hallway with Draco still standing at the door.

"But Hermione–"

"Don't worry, dad," Harry said, his back turned to Draco. "We'll be back by curfew."

They all snickered and walked down the stairwell, away from Draco's sight. Draco sighed and went back into the apartment where the sulking Blaise Zabini was staring at the blue screen of the television, a blank expression on his face.

"Oh boy,"

The shot glasses clinked together before they threw their head back and gulped the small amount in one go. Altogether, they picked up their lemon wedges and sucked it, the sour taste making them cringe a little. The fire that burned her throat and warmed her chest, made Hermione feel instantly alive. Harry clicked his fingers at the bartender and demanded, "Three more,"

The drinks kept coming, they knocked their glasses again and again, and the blazing vodka that ran down her throat began losing its bitter taste. As she sucked on the lemon, her tongue felt numb and the need to squirm at the sourness was no longer there.

"How many was that?" Hermione asked, her words slurring together.

"Five?" Ron said uncertainly, his words slightly more coherent than Hermione's. "Maybe six or seven."

"I lost count after the second." Harry said and laughed; he laughed a lot. He honestly couldn't stop and soon enough, Hermione joined him too. Their uncontrollable laughter felt strange and foreign to their cheeks but it felt as if a large weight had been lifted from their chests.

Hermione suddenly felt light and her feet moved by itself. Looking possessed, she got off her stool, swaying slightly on the spot. Hermione stumbled to the dance floor with Harry following behind her to the center and their arms flew in all directions while they did what one could only assume was dancing.

Ron had ordered two more drinks, his larger frame needing more alcohol to reach the same level of inebriation as Harry and Hermione and he gulped it down in lightning speed. His thrashing movements proved more dangerous than the other two's because of his lanky limbs.

Hermione swung her arm around Harry and Ron, almost on tip-toes, and gave a wild laugh.

"What would I do without you two?" She was shouting in their ears, trying to overpower the music.

"Stay sober?" Harry suggested, his arm awkwardly swinging around her shoulders as well.

"Never get in trouble?" Ron said, his arm sliding across her back and holding her waist.

Hermione felt her stomach clench as Ron's hand tightened a bit too much and she immediately pulled away from them; they didn't seem to mind too much as they continued with their hazardous movements, going deeper into the crowd on the dance floor.

Hermione staggered back to the stools in front of the counter and leaned over on the table, about to get the bartender's attention. She saw a hand slam the counter forcefully next to her. Her eyes followed along his large muscular arm which had a tattoo of a dragon wrapping around his bicep and the tail was hidden underneath a short green sleeve which clung to his burly arm. Hermione let her eyes travel to his face which wore an arrogant grin. He ran his hand through his short blonde hair with his eyes still on her.

"Get the pretty lady a drink as well," he ordered the bartender in a deep voice.

Hermione let out a giggle which was uncannily like Lavender Brown's and bit her lip. Two drinks were placed on the counter and with his eyes still on hers; he pushed the drink towards her.

Hermione eyed the glass cautiously and glanced back and forth between the man and the drink. Her mind seemed to suddenly register the situation; she was in a bar. She was drunk. She was being offered a drink by a stranger.

Well, she thought. Why the hell not?

"Blaise, will you please eat something?"

"I don't want food!" he complained.

"How about you just try to get your arse off that bloody couch?" Draco muttered snidely under his breath. Blaise's moping was really starting to bug him. He fixed himself a plate of whatever he could find in Hermione's fridge and went out into the living room to sit in front of the television.

He plopped himself down next to Blaise who didn't acknowledge his presence in any way. Draco ignored him as well and proceeded to figure out how to use the remote. While struggling with the buttons, Blaise finally spoke.

"Never fall in love," he said. "It will only break your heart." His voice broke in the last few words and he let his head fall to the arm of the couch. Blaise lifted his legs up onto the couch and curled himself into a ball; the sight was really quite pathetic.

"No food?" Draco asked one last time. Blaise shook his head. "Firewhisky?" Blaise shook his head again.

"No amount of alcohol can mend my heart now." Blaise said softly. "Only she can."

Draco groaned. "You're acting like a lovesick fool, Zabini! Would you grow a pair?" Blaise answered by putting his arm over his face and moaning.

Draco stared, wide-eyed. In all his years, he had never witnessed Blaise Zabini show any signs of crying; he believed that someone had left out the tear ducts when they created him. But now, here lay Blaise Zabini, sobbing his eyes out over a girl he'd known for two months. Draco refrained from pinching himself.

It was indeed an amazing sight, but rather unnerving. But after ten minutes, Blaise showed no signs of improvement; his sobs were loud and close to yells. Draco was just about ready to pull out his hair.

He heaved himself off the sofa and strode to Hermione's bathroom. He opened the cabinet behind her bathroom mirror and rifled through the bottles until he found what he was looking for. Ignoring the cries that were still coming from the couch, he got a glass of water from the kitchen and poured in half of the bottle.

"Drink, Blaise."

Blaise peeked out from under his arm and simply stared.

"It's water; drink before you become dehydrated." Draco held the glass in front of him until he took it gingerly and drank it. Draco took the empty glass from his hand and went to put it away in the kitchen. By the time he returned to the living room, Blaise was fast asleep with his mouth hanging slightly open.

Draco let out a relieved breath and thanked Merlin that Hermione had stocked up her medicine cabinet. The apartment's tranquility was welcoming, but Draco couldn't ignore the discomfort in the bottom of his stomach; something felt off. He couldn't place exactly what it was, but he could give a guess as to who caused it.

He knelt down in front of the fireplace, threw in some floo powder and stuck his head in, searching. To his luck, she walked into the room that very minute and jumped at the sight of his face in the fire.

He greeted her. "Ginny,"

Hermione smiled at him flirtatiously and picked up the drink. She could already feel the guilt and regret settle in. What are you doing? Don't give the man any ideas!

Her thoughts flickered to Draco, but that was quickly forgotten when the alcohol flowed in. The drink made her feel loose and free; an emotion that was both enthralling and scary. She looked around and spotted Harry and Ron in the distance, still dancing like they were possessed. A very un-Hermione giggle escaped her again as she watched them make complete fools of themselves.

"You want to dance?" the deep voice belonging to the blonde man broke her out of her trance. His mouth was uneasily near to her ear and his breath smelled off whisky.

"Umm," she hesitated. "Sure." Hermione shrugged. It's just a dance, She reassured herself. They moved to the crowd of dancers where Hermione made sure she kept a distance of about half a meter between herself and the man whose name she still didn't know.

He stepped forwards slightly and she subtly stepped back, making it look like she was dancing; but he was making her feel more and more nervous by the second. She glanced around again, searching for Ron and Harry who she saw in the distance; they were paying no attention whatsoever to her.

The man moved forward very noticeably and put his hand on her hip, trying to pull her towards him. Hermione stumbled but pulled back, turning her face away from him. She felt suffocated and tried to back out of the crowd. He was still moving forward though, trying to hold her arm. Hermione turned away from his grip and began simply walking back.

"Come on, gorgeous," he managed to step in front of her and block her way, attempting to push her back to the dancers.

Hermione tried to push him aside but he wouldn't budge. Oh god, she thought, horrified. What have I gotten myself into?

Where her two best friends who were supposed to be saving her from her distress? Oh right, getting plastered themselves. She turned her head around, searching desperately for someone who could help her but all she could see was the blonde man's muscular body, pushing her back.

"Hey," she heard a voice that was all too familiar. "I think she wants you to back off."

Blondie finally turned away from her, facing the voice. Hermione took this opportunity to slip out from under him and stand next to her savior.

"Draco?" she said under her breath in shock. Draco wasn't looking at her though; he was staring at the man with malice in his eyes. Hermione saw two rather big men come up from behind him.

Oh great, she thought with dread. He has cronies; should've figured. The worst part was that they were both as big as him and Draco looked like a beanpole in comparison.

"I don't think this is any of your business," The man spit back at Draco in a threatening tone.

Harry and Ron chose this moment to make their way towards Hermione. She glared. I guess they just remembered that they had brought me along.

The three men looked at Draco disdainfully, daring him to go any further.

The blonde man spoke again. "So why don't you just back off," He said through clenched teeth.

Hermione looked worriedly at Draco who had a humorless smile on his face. Is he nuts? He glanced at Hermione once before looking back at the Muggles.

Hermione now knew she was doomed. He really had gone delusional; his face clearly showed he was going to insult men who were twice his size and he showed no signs of taking out his wand.

"You know what I like about drunk guys?" Draco asked no one in particular with the same grim smile. (E/N I think I know what's coming…)

Suddenly, Draco's clenched fist came in contact with the man's jaw with a crack and he was sprawled on the floor with clutching his bleeding mouth. Draco stood above him, his teeth bared and his hand still clenched tightly.

"Nothing," he spat. (E/N HAHAHAHAHAHA I LOVE YOU)

Hermione was rooted to the spot, her eyes staring widely at the large man who was on the floor. The cronies stood staring frantically at the man on the ground and then narrowed their eyes at Draco.

Uh-oh.

"You mess with him," they said menacingly, "you mess with us."

Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and tugged on it, pulling her out of the bar. Wise decision, Draco. She kept her sarcastic comments to herself as she pushed people out of the way to run to the door.

Draco looked back and called out to the two buffoons still gaping in horror. "Hey, morons!"

To Hermione's shock, they responded to the call and immediately bolted out the door with them. She heard the two large minions yell and follow so they quickened their pace.

"I should have thought that through," Draco muttered.

"Never mind," Hermione said. "Where can you apparate?"

"Few more blocks," he panted, running out of breath.

They turned a corner into an alleyway and stopped for a moment, catching their breath. Draco still held Hermione's hand and stuck out his arm to Harry and Ron who immediately grabbed a hold of it and Draco turned on the spot.

(A/N Acknowledging Josh Schwartz's 'The OC' from which I borrowed an idea)