Still thinking up a good revenge plan for Malfoy, Hermione finished packing.
It was early morning and she had to admit that the chirping birds and the bright sunlight streaming into her room made her feel cheerful and not so bad about this marriage and seeing Amber. She had rung her parents last night claiming that she would visit Amber as a 'surprise'. She didn't put it past them to tell her though.
As well as preparing for her trip she was also preparing for the wrath of Amber. She shivered.
Just as she closed to lid of her suitcase, the door creaked opened and Narcissa and Draco entered her room.
'Ready?' snapped Narcissa.
Hermione nodded. 'So, how are we getting there again?'
Blandly ignoring her, Narcissa snapped her fingers and a house-elf came running. 'Take Ms Malfoy's bag,' she said, not even bothering to glance at the weary house-elf.
Hermione twitched in anger, at being ignored and at the cruelty to house- elves, but at the moment could do nothing about it. So she sucked in her breath and vowed to do something about it.
Draco soon found out why Hermione didn't want to go to Paris.
She was still pissed at him, never uttering a word to him as they went there, or even when they reached the hotel and his parents left.
Draco had been trying to coax her out of her bad mood, either with soft kisses or his soothing voice. But when he tried to kiss her for the second time, she slapped him and she was immune to his soothing voice. So he had given up for the time being.
The first time she spoke was when they reached their room.
'Draco,' she said in horror. 'There is only one bed!'
There was a silence as the news sunk in.
True, Hermione one hell of a body and she was a great kisser, but he still hated her and he would not – could not share a bed with her. It just wasn't going to happen.
Luck was not on his side, either. When they ordered a fold-out bed, there were none left. When wanting to change rooms, they were all full. When wanting another mattress, they had no more.
'What kind of fucking nightmare hotel is this?!' yelled Draco into the phone before slamming it down. He was breathing deeply. 'Gran – Hermione, you're gonna have to sleep on the floor.'
'Me?!' she yelped. 'For once in your life, Malfoy, be a gentleman. I'm getting the bed, thank-you.' She made to dump her suitcase on the bed, but Draco grabbed her wrist.
'Hermione, I get the bed.'
Hermione dropped the suitcase, yanked her wrist out of his grip and stared him square in the eye. 'Sorry, Draco, but I already have it.'
Draco stepped closer to her, cupping her chin in his palm.
'You could share in with me.' He chuckled, blowing into her ear.
The half-excited, half-rebellious look on Hermione's face vanished, replaced by one of horror.
'We both know that's not going to happen, Malfoy.'
'I won't try anything,' Draco smiled. He knew perfectly well Hermione would not ever be sleeping in the same bed as him so he felt quite safe bugging her. As he bent down to kiss her again, she backed away.
'Malfoy, just surrender the bed.'
He shook his head. 'No way, babe.'
'Don't call me that!' she snapped, eyes flashing. He gave a fake sigh.
'What should I call you then?'
'Hermione.'
'I'll call you Hermione if you call me Draco. Remember how we're going to get along?'
She smiled. 'Deal, Draco. So if you don't want to see me angry, you'll give up the bed.'
Personally, Draco wouldn't mind seeing Hermione angry, but that wasn't the reason he gave the bed to her. Maybe if she had something happy, she wouldn't take his news so badly.
'Okay, Hermione, the bed is yours.'
Hermione blinked. 'Really?'
'Really. But, I have some bad news for you.'
Her eyes narrowed. 'Spill.'
He bit his lip. 'You know how you wanted me to ask my parents if you could work?'
She nodded slowly.
'Well, they said no way.'
She stood there still, shock pulsing through her. Draco waited nervously for her reaction, watching all color drain rapidly from her face and her mouth hang open.
'N- No, this is n-not happening - !' her voice was squeaky.
'I'm sorry, Hermione,' he said, leading her carefully to a nearby seat. Hermione leapt back up though.
'I don't give a shit what they say, Mal – Draco, I'm working no matter what!' she jabbed a finger into his chest. 'And you'll help me!' An even more rebellious look entered her eyes. Draco thought it best to agree with whatever she was saying at this point.
'Of course, Hermione.'
'I'll just sneak out,' she decided. 'You'll cover for me, and it will all work out!' her eyes shone.
Personally, Draco knew that would never work, but he nodded. 'Of course, Hermione.'
To his immense surprise, Hermione hugged him, her eyes raining tears. 'Oh Draco, I'm so glad you're here, I'm having such a bad time, first with this marriage, then this honeymoon, then the hotel, and soon Amber – '
She wailed loudly.
Draco stood there, still as a statue, wanting to kill himself. He knew how to handle most females, except Hermione. And now that she was crying onto his shoulder, he had no clue what to do.
Why hadn't he noticed the signs and run? Why him?
He patted her shoulder uncertainly. 'Why don't we go out for lunch?'
Hermione lifted her head and it struck him that she was still beautiful even with her eyes big and swollen and her nose running. 'Okay, good idea.' She gave an enormous sniff, and him an unsteady smile. 'Sorry about that, Draco.'
'S'alright,' said Draco, grabbing another tee-shirt to change into. Hermione's tears were soaking the left shoulder of his current one. Damn women... 'I understand.You'll be able to work.'
The unsteady smile increased with radiance.
'And,' said Draco, 'I want you to tell me who this Amber is.'
Hermione gulped, realizing her slip.
Draco had just finished hearing the whole tale of Amber.
From when Hermione was five and Amber refused to share any toys with her and laughed when she fell off her bike, to just recently, where Amber had scorned Hermione for being a witch and finding out Viktor's address and bitching about Hermione to him and telling him false rumors.
'What a bitch,' said Draco, shoveling food into his mouth. 'Are we going to see her or not, babe?'
Hermione fiddled with her napkin. She couldn't believe she'd got herself into this mess. But Draco was acting all right so far on this trip, he hadn't even complained when she'd cried on him and she knew by experience that most guys would.
And when he called her babe, a shiver ran right through her.
It's just show, thought Hermione disappointedly. He does have to pretend we're in love. She had even seen the hotel secretary reading an article about their marriage in the local newspaper. The article was small, but still.
'I hope not,' she said. 'Promise me, Ma – Draco, that we won't go see her, okay?'
'Whatever makes you happy,' said Draco with a genuine smile.
Or so she hoped.
The next voice she heard chilled her to the bone.
'Hermione!!'
No, it wasn't. This was not happening to her. Fuck you luck, this is not happening. It's not, I've been put through enough ...!
But it was.
With another high-pitch strangled cry, a figure with ridiculous high heels came tottering over and gave Hermione a small hug.
'Oh, girlfriend, you never told me you were coming here!' Amber cried in a thick French accent.
'It – it was a surprise,' muttered Hermione, who couldn't believe her luck. Amber eyed Draco in a way that Hermione deemed "not appropriate".
'Who's he?'she half-moaned, batting her eyelashes.
'My husband,' snapped Hermione, wiping the flirtatious look off Amber's face.
'I'm so happy for you.' she said dully, a trace of spite in her voice. 'How long have you guys been married?'
'A few days,' replied Draco.
Amber's eyes boggled. 'Really? Wow! Er, I suppose it was a small wedding, eh?'
'Very small.' Draco stood up, putting his arm around Hermione's shoulders.
'So,' Amber said, turning back to Hermione. 'Wanna hang out, girl? I'll show you all the shopping malls and everything!'
Hermione, being her studious self, would much rather visit some museum or the Eiffel Tower or something. But her plan was coming into action, so she didn't complain.
'I have some very important business to attend to,' she lied, seeing Draco's eyebrows rise, but she recklessly continued. 'So, Amber, darl, why don't you show Draco here the sights? I have been here before, and I'm sure Draco wants to get shown around.'
Amber looked like her birthday had come early. She eyed Draco in a way a starving man eyes food. She licked her lips and a pang of irritaion and remorse surged through Hermione.What if Draco falls for Amber... and that bitch, I can't believe she has the nerve to flirt with my husband!
She truly felt bad about making Draco go through this, though.
But I wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for him, she thought grimly.
Draco looked panicky. 'Hermione, no, sweetheart, please – '
'Have fun, Drakie, honeybun!' she blew him a kiss. 'I'm waiting for your return!'
She gave an evil laugh as Amber dragged him away.
A/N: How was that?