The Bachelor Chapter 12
Tearful goodbyes were said to Blaise, who gave a half-hearted smile and disappeared, but not before whispering "strawberries and whipped cream" to Draco. He waved, Blaise pouted, and the night continued.
"Oh my gosh," whispered a drunken Parvati. "Blaise is so hardcore."
"Hardcore?" Hermione was unfamiliar with the term, which she thought referred to dangerous sports, i.e. Quidditch.
"Yeah, like she is so cool," Hannah said as she took another swig of firewhiskey. " 'Cause she's so brave and stuff like she can do things to Draco that we all like wanna do."
Hannah was slurring her words. Hermione shook her head disdainfully and tried to wrestle the cup away from Hannah. "No more," she said firmly. When Hannah's grip on the glass tightened Hermione pulled harder.
Not a good idea, she soon found out, as she had ended up sprawled on the ground, firewhiskey spilled all down her front. Moaning in frustration, she stood up and with horror noticed her lovely, stretchy white robes had become, annoyingly enough, see-through. "Hannah!" she wailed. "Look what you've done!"
"It's cute, Hermione," Parvati giggled. "Show it to Draco. I bet he wants to see."
Draco was on the other side of the room, engaged in conversation with Kathy Silver. Must be catching up on death-eater-tales, Hermione thought darkly, but unfortunately insulting him had lost its appeal.
But it brought a whole other appeal…
No, must not think that way, Hermione reminded herself. Primly she shook her head and told the girls she was going to go upstairs to change. She headed towards the stairs and on the third step heard a voice calling her.
Male voice. Must be Draco. Eagerly she turned and nearly lost her footing. With a bit of a stumble she gave him a tiny frown. "What do you want?" she said sternly, her heart pounding.
"Nothing," he replied, looking slightly taken aback. "Just wanted to know where you were off to."
She faked a large sigh. "Hannah and I were, well, I was trying to keep her from exceeding her alcohol limit, and that resulted in a bit of a… tug-of-war with the drink and it ended up spilling all over me."
He grinned mischievously. "Oh, that. Don't worry, your breasts aren't misshapen or anything."
Her jaw slackened. The pig! How awful of him! Huffing she turned around quickly and this time managed to lose her balance completely on the steep stairs. "Uh-oh," she whispered as she tumbled backwards.
And promptly passed out.
"Hey, hey, Hermione, are you okay?" someone was standing over her. Someone with an awful case of halitosis.
"I was," she mumbled. "Can't…breathe…"
She struggled to open her eyes, and when she did a very pink mouth was moving. "Are you okay?" it sounded again.
Kathy Silver. Note to self, Hermione thought, send Kathy breath-mints as a thank you present. Extra strong.
"I'm fine," she muttered, and tried to get up.
"Then get off my nephew," Kathy stated firmly with a teasing smile.
Crap, Hermione thought frantically. She couldn't even get him anymore because she'd inadvertently squished him!
She stood up so fast the blood rushed to her head and she felt dizzy. But as soon as she was fine she glanced down at him, praying she hadn't killed off The Bachelor. Good, he was breathing. Move, she commanded telepathically. Move!
He stirred and Hermione exhaled loudly. Suddenly exhausted, she whispered a quick goodnight to Kathy, wished Draco good luck in his rising endeavors, and waved to the laughing Parvati and Hannah.
Damn them. Since when had she become so clumsy?
Hannah called after her, "Did you eat too many bagels, Hermione? No wonder poor Draco can't get up!"
Hermione slammed the door shut. Hard.
The next morning dawned cloudy and rainy. Hermione grinned. She enjoyed the occasional stormy day. In fact she was in such a good mood she even attempted to sing in the shower, albeit under her breath. Couldn't have Parvati or Hannah hear her; oh no, that would be hell. Humming gently, she even blow dried her hair, and smiled when it formed into slightly less frizzy curls. She gave them a genteel pat and hummed all the way down to breakfast. Hannah arrived twenty minutes later, and another thirty after that, Parvati came down, cream colored fluffy towel still wrapped around her head.
"I'm positively starved," she said cheerily. "What's for breakfast?"
Hannah handed her an apple and a glass of milk. "Watch your figure," she reminded.
"This is hardly watching," Parvati said, giggling as she polished the apple. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Want to have a bagel?" she asked Parvati, while glaring at Hannah.
Hermione was really not beginning to like Hannah. Food policing little twat.
The problem was, Hannah was really, really nice in all other areas. It was difficult not to like her. Hermione decided to make it a point to learn.
Kathy Silver came in some twenty minutes later with a cheery announcement. "Well," she began happily. "It's down to three, eh, girls? Are you all excited?"
"Excited?" Hermione mumbled. "This is the part where we get emotionally attached."
"Exactly. There's a lot at stake, my girls… namely, your poor, breakable hearts."
Forget breath-mints. Hermione wasn't sending her anything.
"Well, I guess I'll tell you the itinerary now," Kathy said to the empty silence. All three girls looked very upset.
"Do go on," Hannah said coldly. "Before our poor, breakable hearts break."
There she was again. Hermione found it harder and harder to dislike the creature. Instead of thinking about Hannah, Hermione focused on Kathy's notes. She was eager to see what would happen next.
"It's time for the Dream Dates," Kathy began mysteriously. "How many of you know what that is?"
"Oh, please," Hermione snapped. "This isn't class; just tell us already. I'm sure we're all… eager to find out."
Kathy frowned. "Well, Draco picked out three beautiful places he really enjoyed; dubbed Dream Dates. He's going to go with each of you to one of these places. It's random which one you will get. They're overnight dates, too. At the end of the week we'll have our rose ceremony."
Parvati, Hannah, and Hermione all exchanged glances. Things had just gotten very, very serious. And very, very romantic.
"What kind of places?" Parvati asked nervously.
"Vacation spots, of course!" Kathy said, her smile suddenly back. "We've restricted him to Europe or Asia, however; we didn't want you all to Apparate across to North America or anything."
"Well, what are the three spots?" Hannah asked.
"You'll find out," Kathy said with a wink, and disappeared.
A few minutes later, a singing pink letter arrived where Kathy had once been. Glittering glamorously, it called out, "Oh, Parvati, oh Parvati, this one is for you!"
Parvati nearly rocketed out of her chair to reach the letter. Record time, Hermione noticed.
"Where are you going?" she asked, at the same time as Hannah.
"The beaches of Normandy!" Parvati said excitedly. "I haven't been to Normandy since… since ever! Oh, gosh, I love France!"
"When are you leaving?" Hannah demanded.
"Oh, gosh, in like three hours! How am I going to get ready?" she wailed. "Girls, please help me! Please. I'll help you on your dates, I promise."
Reluctantly Hannah and Hermione agreed to help Parvati, effectively spending their afternoon stuffing fancy lingerie and revealing bathing suits into her bags. Finally Parvati was ready to depart, and blowing the girls kisses, she left happily, wearing a cute sundress.
Hannah turned to Hermione. "You're jealous, aren't you?"
"Well, aren't you?" Hermione retaliated.
Hannah nodded glumly. "I hate that. I love Normandy."
"You'll probably end up going someplace better," Hermione consoled. "Plus, he likes you."
She hadn't meant to say that. It had unfortunately happened to slip out.
"How do you know?" Hannah said suspiciously. "Seriously, how do you know?"
Hermione hated being put on the spot. Turning furiously red, she shook her head. "Know what?" she asked with a teeny hysterical hiccup.
"Don't play dumb," Hannah warned. "I know you know!"
"I know you know that I know," Hermione said merrily, trying her best to change the topic.
"Stop trying to change the subject," Hannah growled. "Tell me."
"Didn't know you were so ferocious," Hermione began, but being at the receiving end of one of Hannah's dirty looks, she stumbled and admitted to the whole thing. "So, you see," she finally finished up. "Draco's been asking me for advice and all. That's why I'm on the show."
"He planted you here from the very beginning? Is that why you even applied?" Hannah asked incredulously.
"No, no, no!" Hermione corrected hastily. "I didn't know it was going to be Draco, but we kind of struck a deal at the beginning. I don't know why I agreed to help him, but we're kind of friends now." It was awfully awkward telling Hannah, but Hermione was not prepared for the girl's next statement.
"So you're not competition, then!" Hannah bellowed gaily. "And here I was worried that there was a bit of a chance he might pick you! I should've known; he wouldn't pick you of course. Now all I need to worry about is Parvati!"
Hermione couldn't help the tears that pricked at her eyes. Even these girls, who didn't care about social class or previous rivalries or friends that would be really upset if she married Draco didn't think that she had a chance with him. Suddenly feeling very rejected she stood up and walked shakily to her room, ignoring Hannah's, "What's wrong?". Ordinarily she would have taken offense at Hannah's statement, but the fact that it was true was really depressing. And Hannah had just been blunt about it. Made Hermione see the truth.
Her conversation with Hannah was limited for the next day and half, until Parvati returned, her smile wide. "It was so beautiful," she said. "I wish it never ended. It was like a honeymoon."
"Did you sleep with him?" Hannah asked.
"He didn't want to," Parvati said, looking puzzled. "We messed around a bit but then he said he didn't want to go any further. He's so noble!"
Hermione suspected something else entirely but kept her mouth shut.
The next day, a singing letter done up in green arrived for Hannah. "Vienna," she said happily. "I've never been to Austria."
As promised, Parvati helped her pack and Hermione joined in. Hannah departed with a grin, a "wish me luck!" and a "hope Hermione told him good things about me!" Parvati looked puzzled but Hermione was in no mood to explain to her as well. Let her be in the dark.
All while Hannah was gone, Hermione thought about what she was doing. Was she sightseeing with him? Was she "messing around" with him? Did he do it with her? Feeling immature, Hermione sighed. She had to stop this. She hated obsessing over him; it made her feel extremely vulnerable and it was making her very upset. Poor Parvati got the brunt of her bad mood; Hermione was constantly snappish and irritable.
At dinner one night Parvati casually mentioned Draco. Well, not so casually, considering the giggle and pant that went with the name. Customary. "I'm scared," she admitted. "I don't think he's going to pick me."
"The cameras will pick this up," Hermione hissed. "Do you want to look like a wuss in front of everyone that is watching this spectacle of a show? Sadly it is the highest rated show on the Wizard Broadcasting Network!"
"That's also known as WizTV, right?" Parvati asked, confused. "In other words, out of all the shows that are available to wizards, this one gets the most people watching, right?"
Hermione nodded. Her brain felt like goo, talking to such… silly people.
"Anyway," Parvati continued. "I don't care about the cameras. I'm saying that I don't think he's going to pick me… and… I'm hoping he picks you."
Surprised, Hermione blinked.
Parvati continued as the words gushed out of her mouth. "I mean it; I think you both make the cutest couple. After all there's a thin line between love and hate, right?"
Hermione blinked again.
"I really, really hope he picks you. You know I'm rooting for you Hermione." With that Parvati left the table and retired to her room.
Hermione stared after her friend. She suddenly felt horrible. How could she ever call such a nice person silly? Parvati was definitely an amazing, wonderful friend. Hermione suddenly felt that squishy, warm, mushy feeling inside that she had always scorned against.
Damn. She was such a hypocrite.
Hannah returned, looking pleased. Hermione bit back the first question that rose to her mind and hugged her. "Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah, absolutely," Hannah responded vibrantly. "We get along beautifully. I think… I think I might be in love with him," she finally stumbled out.
Hermione's heart contracted but her smile stayed just as bright. "That's wonderful," she said warmly.
The next day, Hermione's own letter, in silver and white, arrived. She tore it open and read the salutation, which bade her to come to Switzerland. With a whoop, Hermione raced back to the other girls. "I get to go to Switzerland!" she said excitedly. "It's supposed to be absolutely breathtaking there."
To her surprise both Hannah and Parvati made slight faces. "Hermione," they said, trying to be pacifying, "it's really cold there. Like really, really cold."
Hermione shrugged. "I love cold weather," she informed them. "Anyway, helping me pack?"
The girls ended up packing warm winter wear and tight cashmere sweaters, and even lacy black lingerie. "Make sure you're inside when you wear this," Parvati said with a squeeze. "We don't want you to die in the name of fashion!"
The three laughed and Hermione was off.
Hermione was picked up by Draco himself and he gave her a grin. "Well, you ready to Apparate? I want to end up in the same place as you, oddly enough."
"Oh, shut it," she said, swatting at his arm. "Ready?"
One apparition later, Hermione found herself in an elegant hotel, Draco by her side. "Well, what do you think? I picked it out."
"It's marvelous," she breathed. "What are we going to do today?"
"Well," he began. "I thought we'd take the train to Geneva…we're in Zurich right now…the train that goes up to the mountains. It's…well, I think it's magnificent."
"Oh," she began. "I'm sure it is. I've heard Switzerland is absolutely gorgeous."
"It's my favorite place out of the three. In fact, it's my favorite spot anywhere. I love the cold weather over any beach weather. Love the silver mists," he said. His voice sounded far-off and Hermione suddenly felt like a puddle with his words. He wasn't even being romantic and she felt this way? Hardening her emotions, she gave him a smile. Not a loving, sappy smile, mind you, but a, well-I-think-so-too sort of smile.
"Me too," she said.
They boarded the train, each carrying a pair of sunglasses, because the snow was so bright it was blinding. Huddling in front of the window, they watched as the train climbed higher, the trees suddenly became pines, and soon the beautiful vision of the snow started. It was as gorgeous as imagined, and Draco and Hermione watched it, entranced by nature.
"I love this," Hermione said. "Thanks for picking Switzerland."
"You know," he responded. "Somehow I think you were the right girl for Switzerland. Parvati and Hannah just wouldn't have appreciated the beauty as much."
They stepped out of the train and were immediately hit by blasts of cold air. Unconsciously Hermione snuggled close to Draco and was amazed when he held her so close. Like a couple.
She felt tingly and weird. She wanted the moment to end, but she didn't want it to end. Gooey and romantic; the two things she'd promised herself she'd never be.
"So, Omelet," he began. "How's life?"
"Oh, you!" she cried. "I hate that nickname!"
"I think it's cute," he said. "After all, you're just as round as an omelet!"
In her anger, Hermione reached gingerly into the snow and having packed it tightly, threw it straight at him. "I am not round!" she screeched.
"Only kidding!" he surrendered as two more snowballs hit him, one quite dangerously close to his reproductive region.
In this manner they spent the day, and finally returned to the nice hotel. Tiredly they trudged up the stairs to their hotel room, which was lovely but had only one magnificently large bed.
Hermione was immediately worried. To the other girls this was normal, but to her… after all, there was nothing between them, at least from his part. Worriedly she sat down on the bed as he went to remove the bulky layers of clothing. In a few moments he emerged, wearing a sweater and pants. "That's better," he declared. "Maybe you won't look so round anymore once you take off the fourteen layers you're wearing."
Huffily she stood. "It's only six," she called back, and went to the bathroom to peel off the multiples of clothing. She came out wearing just the elegant shirt that Parvati had packed with a pair of jeans.
"Isn't it a bit cold for that?" he teased. She wondered if his response would have been different if she had been Hannah or Parvati. Would he have said, "hey, you look stunning in that?". Would he have reacted differently?
Ignoring her thoughts she sat down next to him. "It's warm in the hotel room," she reminded.
A silence grew between them; not an awkward silence but a comfortable silence. Finally he spoke again. "Hey, Hermione," he began. She turned to look at him. "Thanks," he said. "Thanks for being so cooperative. I couldn't have gone through the show without you. Hell I would've bolted by the second date!"
She laughed but inwardly tried to figure out what he meant.
But before she could she noticed that there were barely two inches between his face and hers. Since when had he gotten so close? He moved in closer and before Hermione could decipher what was happening he had kissed her on the corner of her mouth and pulled away.
"What was that for?" she breathed.
He didn't respond, only kissed her again, this time… quite properly, Hermione discovered. For a moment she let herself be kissed, even kissed back a bit, until she remembered everything and hastily pushed him away.
He looked surprise but scooted away from her.
"Don't do this, Draco!" she said with finality in her tone. "I know you kiss every girl on the show, mess around with them and mess around with their heads. I can't have that. I can't leave the show… dejected because you've come onto me and then decided I'm only worth one go and pick someone else!"
"It's not like that," he said, his tone narrowing as well. "But if you think so, then fine! Be a prude!"
"I'm not a prude!" she yelled, fighting back her tears. "I'm not, I'm not! I just don't rush headlong into everything. I like to think a little less! I want to analyze and understa—"
She was cut off by soft lips, again. In her ferocious temper, she kissed him back, hard, letting it all go by ways of a kiss. Their tongues battled, not in soft appreciation but in anger and some odd form of attraction.
When air was required they pulled away and stared at each other, breathing heavily. "Good night," he finally said, pulling out his wand and creating a smaller bed to the left side of the large one.
He made his way to the small bed and Hermione stared at him for a second, before getting dressed and sliding into the warmth of her larger one.
The next morning, they got dressed hurriedly and spoke normally, neither daring to mention the activity of last night. "Come on, Omelet," he teased. "I don't care if you have mascara on or not!"
"I'm not putting make up on for you," she said coldly. "It's so others can appreciate my beauty."
Finally they were ready and they went out and shopped a bit. But time seemed to slip by like water and soon their little stay in Switzerland was over. With a hug they Apparated away to their respective parts of the mansion.
Hermione arrived with only thirty minutes left until the rose ceremony. Parvati and Hannah fawned over her in happiness, asking her questions. "We didn't have sex," she told them, and finally they backed off.
"I wonder if he's capable of having sex," Parvati said finally. "He hasn't slept with anyone yet!"
"I'm sure he has," Hannah replied, "but it's weird that he didn't on the show."
They got ready and traipsed down to the room in which the rose ceremony began. Draco was there, and when he saw Hermione he gave her a hard glare. "Well… with three of you left, it's become increasingly difficult," he said. "I really like all of you. Not… romantically, but I really like all of you."
He pulled out the first rose and exhaled loudly. "Hannah."
Hannah seemed to have been expecting it. She got up, hugged him tightly and accepted the rose.
Draco pulled out the next rose and looked from Parvati's face to Hermione's. "This is so difficult," he said again. "Hermione."
Hermione was shocked. After the date she hadn't been expecting a rose at all; she'd expected him to move on to a girl that appreciated his romantic endeavors in a different way. But nevertheless she walked up to the rose and took it, wondering if she should accept it or not.
"Accept it," he said.
She did. Giving her a small squeeze he moved to say goodbye to Parvati. Hermione remembered what Parvati had said earlier and moved to say goodbye to her friend as well.
Giving Parvati a hug she whispered, "Thanks so much for your vote. It meant a lot to me."
With a smile Parvati turned back to her. "I'm counting on you being the one to get in his pants," she said, effectively lightening the mood. "Good luck!"
With a giggle, Hermione stared after her, wondering if Parvati's wish would come true.
A/N: You guys wanted action; you got it. Oh dear, only one or two chapters left! I'm sorry to say that this fic is really coming to an end. Thanks for your absolutely *magnificent* reviews; I love them so much! Tell me if I have any major spelling errors, I haven't properly edited this thing, cuz I was in too much of a hurry to post.
Leave your e-mail add if you want an e-mail update, and with that, I'm out. Please review!