Allo, cordyangel saying sorry for the long time between updates. But here it is, longer than usual so enjoy!

Chapter 13: The Dangerous Mix of Friends and Alcohol

Draco walked back to the hotel. As happy as it made him to see Hermione so happy, it burned inside of him, just a bit. That look on her face when she'd seen her two best friends. The way her eyes had lit up. She'd been so warm, so welcoming. Draco wanted someone to look at him like that again.

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Hermione was ecstatic. "How did you guys know we were here?"

"We didn't," Harry said. "Draco called us up and told us to get over here pronto. Said that there was someone who really wanted to see us."

"And you two just came?" Hermione was shocked that they'd just dropped everything for her like that.

"Of course we did. You didn't even tell us that you were going undercover, let alone who it was for. And you're living at the Headquarters? Man, that's gotta suck," Ron let out a low whistle and called over a waitress, ordering drinks all around.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "But is it safe to talk about this here? Are you sure there isn't some spy lurking around the corner?" She glanced nervously around, looking for some agent of Voldemort's.

"Absolutely sure. When you walked through the door, a glamour was cast on you. Everyone here thinks we're three blondes chatting about hair and make up, drinking cosmopolitans. Besides, this place is a muggle hang out. No one will see us. Draco really did his homework." Harry explained.

"So Herm, tell us all about it! How did you get past Lucius?"

"Draco didn't tell you?" Hermione asked.

"Tell us what exactly?" Ron asked eagerly. "Lucius is dead?"

"Of course not. But to get into the Headquarters, I had to pose as Malfoy's…" she struggled for the word. "Um, his,"

"Spit it out!" Harry and Ron were dying of anticipation.

"His hooker!"

Harry burst out laughing while Ron just sputtered. "Come again?" Harry chuckled.

Hermione glared at the two of them. "Well I'm glad you find it just as funny as Draco did."

"Sorry, Herm, it's just strange to think of you two as anything other than enemies." Harry continued to laugh.

"Well, he found it strange to think of us as anything other than friends," she raised an eyebrow.

Harry's laughter stopped abruptly. "How does he know about that anyway?"

"I told him," Hermione replied coolly.

Ron started to join in the conversation again. "Why, what happened?"

Hermione explained about her mind meld with Lucius and just what he'd seen. "But don't worry," she concluded. "He thinks that you were a client."

It was Ron's turn to laugh. "Lucius thinks that Harry has to pay for sex? That's hilarious!"

Harry slapped Ron's side. "At least he knows I have sex unlike someone I know…"

Ron's face turned bright red.

The threesome drank in silence for a while, an easy silence that only the best of friends can experience.

"So what's been up with you two?" Hermione changed the subject, her words slurred a tad from the alcohol.

"Nothing so exciting as you. But things are looking good. I predict the war will be over in a matter of weeks." Hermione grinned at Harry's bravado.

"I'm sure Herm is happy to hear that. A month with Draco is liable to make anyone ready for war. How has the git been?" Ron asked.

"Not bad," she admitted. "He really has changed since school, it's nothing short of a complete transformation."

"Be careful Hermione, he's been through a lot as of late-"

"So I've noticed," said Hermione dryly.

"I don't want to see you get hurt." Harry finished.

Hermione squinted at her best friend but he looked away. "You know something don't you? About what he keeps on trying to keep from me. What is it?"

"That's for him to tell." Harry said. "He may be a disgusting sod, but he still has a right to privacy."

Ron was totally out of the loop. "What privacy? Who's a sod?"

Harry slapped Ron's back. "Hey Ron, I think you had four too many whiskey sours. Let's get Hermione back to her hotel and then catch the plane back to London, eh?"

Ron nodded dumbly as Harry helped Hermione up.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Just a bit dizzy…"

Harry laughed again. "Ms. Granger, you are totally smashed. Come on, up we go," he guided her to the door where a cabbie was waiting.

Chapter 14: I'm too Sexy

" One of us has been drinking, and I'm sad to say it isn't me."
Doyle Angel

By the time they reached her hotel, even Hermione couldn't deny that she'd had a bit too much to drink. "I'll be fine," she assured her friends.

"I expect you will be fine except for the killer hangover you'll be sure to have tomorrow morning." Harry said. Hermione envied his seeming inability to get drunk.

"I'll see you two later, this has been a blast!" Hermione waved goodbye to them.

"Bye!" Ron shouted out the cab window before Harry yanked his head back in.

Hermione slowly made her way to her floor and tried to open her door. "Open up you bloody piece of crap!" She yelled at her door when her card key didn't work for the third time.

Draco poked his head out of his door. "What's going on?"

"It won't work!" Hermione exclaimed, brandishing the card key.

Draco took the key from her and turned it right side up. "You had it upside down," he explained gently. The door opened.

"Oh," Hermione said, sheepishly. "Well, would you like to come in?"

"Um," Draco didn't really want to leave Hermione alone when she was like this. "I guess I could, just for a minute…"

"Great, it's like a party!" Hermione stumbled into the room.

"Yeah, sure is," Draco agreed.

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think I'm sexy?" Hermione said in a small voice.

Draco weighed this question, hoping Hermione wouldn't recognize how long he was taking. What were the odds she'd remember this conversation in the morning? "Yes," he said at last. " I do."

"Really? That's good, 'cuz I think you're sexy too."

She does? "Thank you."

Hermione leaned closer to Draco, and he could smell the alcohol on her breath. She tried to kiss him.

"Whoa," Draco took a step back.

"What's the matter?" Hermione asked in a petulant tone. "You said you think I'm sexy. Don't you want me?"

"It's not that I don't find you sexy, I do. And if this were happening when you were sober, then I would be ready, all the way. But you're drunk. We can't do this when you're like this." I can't believe I just said that!

Hermione looked crestfallen, but then, to Draco's luck, she swooned.

Draco caught her before she reached the ground. He dragged her to her bed and tucked her in. He was just about to leave when her eyes cracked open.

"Don't leave me alone Draco, I can't sleep without you…"

So Draco climbed into the twin bed next to her, falling asleep to the rhythm of Hermione's breathing.

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So here it is. Read, enjoy, but above all, REVIEW!