The reception was splendid, of course. However, after the bride and groom had left to retire to the honeymoon suite, the atmosphere turned into a full out party on the expense of the Patil's and the Finningan's who spared no expense. Hermione spent most the evening catching with old friends and professors that she had not seen in a while. After a whirlwind hour of dancing with several old classmates, Hermione excused herself and took a seat in the outdoor heated balcony of the ballroom. She was soon approached by Harry who looked pretty knackered himself.
"Dish evening ish absolutely gweat," he slurred as he leaned over the railing and looked down on all of Paris.
"Glad to see you managed to get yourself thoroughly pissed Harry. I'm sure Apexia will love dragging your drunken body back to your suite" Harry just laughed.
"Nah, I'm not that drunk. I had a few of these marvellous shots called 'Mad Eye Moody's.' I thought that was a pretty hilarious name--well, after I had about four. And as far as Apexia, she's really starting to bore me. I think your penchant for tiring of the same person for more than a few months rubbed off on me."
Hermione just scowled, "I'll have you know that when I was with Chase it was really only because he photographed well. And I don't dump all my boyfriends! I've had my share of heart break!"
"Ha!" Harry steadied himself against the railing, "the only person who ever dropped you was Dean in sixth year only because you touched your Hogwarts: A History book more than you touched his-"
"Stop right there, don't even dare continue that sentence. So I just haven't found the right person. Doesn't mean it'll never happen."
"Do you think Draco will be that person?" Hermione was silent for longer than she wanted to be. It was one of the few times in her life that she didn't have the answer to something.
"Honestly, I don't know. I mean, I've been with him for what, almost three months now and I haven't figured out his favourite colour yet. Oh Harry, I don't even know my own boyfriend! I can't be that hopeless!"
Harry put an arm around his best friend and pulled her close. He placed a kiss on the top of her head, "You're not hopeless, and you're just looking for something that some people never find in life. Look, you have your career, your friends, a man who seems smitten with you, what else is there to find?"
"I don't know," said Hermione. "But why am I with him? Do you know I actually told him that this thing we have is a trial? A bloody trial! Like I'm conducting some sort of experiment! And yet he's still here, hanging around, I suppose waiting for me to act like a girlfriend."
"Well, perhaps you should, "Harry yawned and gave Hermione one more hug before turning back to walk into the ballroom, "it might not hurt to get to know the man you're sharing you bed with."
"Who said anything about bed sharing? I never said anything about bed sharing!"
Harry's eyes lit up as he smiled at Hermione, "'Mione, the one thing you've always failed at was covering up, and I hate to say this, but you were walking a bit wobbly this morning when I saw you on your way to brunch." Hermione just stared at Harry's retreating figure. She walked in shortly after him and found Draco talking to a group of girls by the bar. For the first time Hermione felt a surge of jealousy fill her. She walked up and slipped her arm around his waist, glaring menacingly at the women he was talking to. They disappeared into the crowd almost instantly.
Draco just chuckled as he placed his wine glass on the bar, "Now, darling, you're not suppose to frighten people. If you keep this up., I won't have any friends!"
"Oh, have as many friends as you want, but make sure they aren't falling out of their dresses in an attempt to lure you to their suite for some hedonistic romp."
"Damn! That's what they were trying to do? I had no idea! I thought perhaps they were just being nice because of my natural charm."
Hermione swatted his arm playfully, "don't be daft. You knew perfectly well what those harlots were intending to do to you once you were properly drunk and helpless. Be glad I came by to rescue you."
"Yes, of course. I am forever grateful. How ever can I repay you for your help?"
"Come upstairs with me."
Draco was more than happy to leave the party as he followed Hermione to the lift that would take them to their suite.
~*~
Once upstairs, Hermione excused herself, saying something about freshening up. As soon as she retreated into the bathroom, Draco hurriedly removed his tuxedo. Hermione entered the bedroom to find Draco on the bed lounging in nothing but black boxers.
"Are you sleeping in just your boxers? It's a bit chilly in here you know." Draco looked up to see Hermione clothed in pajama bottoms and what looked like a faded Chudley Cannons shirt. She got up on the bed and placed her reading glasses on her face and took out a book from her night stand. Hermione began to read before realizing that Draco had been staring at her with a look of confusion and frustration on his face.
"You didn't think I took this book out to read you a bed time story did you?" Hermione laughed at her own joke before returning to her book. Draco ripped the book from her hands and quickly straddled her. He began to place kisses on her neck while his hands tried to remove her shirt.
"Draco! What on earth are you doing?" Draco looked down at Hermione and smiled, "Exploring hedonistic activities with you since you said I couldn't play elsewhere." Hermione just rolled her eyes as she pushed Draco off of her.
"Draco," said Hermione as she sat up, "Do you realize that you and I have been technically a couple for almost three months now?"
"Where are you going with this? Is this intellectual Hermione foreplay? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for intellectual stimulation, but this is not one of those times."
"What's my favourite colour?" Draco sat up, "What?"
"My favourite colour. What is it?" Draco thought for a moment.
"Black, because it's practical and goes with everything."
"Wrong, I adore the colour pink. Where did I grow up?"
"Devonshire?"
"Wrong again. When I first heard about Hogwart's, what did I what kind of witch did I want to be?"
"A pretty one?"
"I didn't want to be a witch; I wanted to be the tooth-fairy."
Draco sat up and crossed his arms over his chest, "I still don't get the point of all of this."
"Draco, you and I absolutely hated each other for, oh I don't know, nearly fifteen years. All of a sudden we're dating, we're in like, and yet the only thing that we definitely know about each other are our names and where we have inconspicuous birthmarks on our bodies. Don't you find that sad?"
"Not in the least bit. Half the girls I went with I called by the first name I could think of, and that was always 'Darla.' "
"Darla?"
"Yes. And not that many people know about my inconspicuous birthmarks. Really, Hermione, why on earth are you brining this up now of all times?"
Removing her glasses, Hermione turned and faced Draco. "Look, I do like you Draco, immensely actually, more than I thought was possible. But I can't be in a relationship with someone who doesn't even know my favourite colour."
"It's pink, you told me and now I know. Can we get back to hedonism now?"
"No! I don't know you're favourite colour, or why all of a sudden you're no longer an insufferable pain in my arse, where you got that scar on your shoulder, or why you chose me of all the women in England to pursue!"
Draco sighed and laid down facing the ceiling, "Look, Hermione, has anyone told you that you have horrid timing?" Draco shut his eyes, 'Don't blow it, she's falling for this, she wants to know your bloody favourite colour! Just play along…'
"Sorry," said Draco as he propped himself on one arm and faced Hermione. "I didn't mean that to sound harsh. Tell you what, tomorrow, why don't we spend the entire day in Elba? My great-aunt left me a lovely estate there. We'll leave in the morning and be back in time to have dinner with your friends. We can spend the day, well, getting to know each other---verbally." Hermione's face lit up, "Oh Draco, really? That sounds lovely! Well, Absolutely! We should get to bed then." Hermione gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek before turning off the lights in the room.
Draco turned away from Hermione and faced a window. 'This better be worth it,' he thought.
On the other side of the bed, Hermione was thinking the same thing.
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P.S. In the last chapter, I attempted to insert a link to what I envision Hermione's dress to be like at the wedding. I don't think it worked, so here's the link:
