A/N: Thanks to those who wished me happy blessings on my graduation! Special thanks to legolasEstelstar.

And remember, I will not be sending out my Harry Potter essay any longer, I hope those of you whom read it, enjoyed it…if you finished the whole thing!

This is going to be a long chapter…

ON WITH THE STORY!

Chap. 16 Easter Break

The free months of no quidditch ended quickly. It was the end of February and Draco was back to arduous practices and long games, but he enjoyed it, which is what mattered.

Hermione was back to planning alone, but recently her mother began to help. Narcissa also volunteered but Draco said no. He didn't want his mother "over-doing" the wedding, which was a very high probability. Actually, the wedding planning was going very smoothly. They had the majority of everything planned out and scheduled. Draco, after many indecisive nights, finally picked out his groomsmen which consisted of Blaise, as the right hand man, Harry, Crabbe, Goyle, Professor Snape and Uncle Jack. They were an odd group, but that's whom Draco wanted and it was his wedding so they all agreed to do their part, even Snape. Hermione begged Draco to have Bradin has a groomsmen, but Draco didn't want him to be one and he knew Bradin would NEVER want to be one of his groomsmen, so that idea dropped real fast. It took Hermione and Draco forever to choose the ring bearer and flower girl, but after much consideration they chose Dobby and Hilde. Draco desisted for many, many days, but Hermione seduced him and won him over. Besides, she is the love of his life, like he's really going to say no when it comes down to it.

—March—

Easter break.

Hermione woke up that morning with butterflies in her stomach, today she would be picking out her wedding dress. Ginny would arrive in Kings Cross Station at approximately 12:00, Hermione was picking her up. They would then immediately go to Diagon Alley and shop for shoes and a dress. Ginny had owled Hermione everyday that week, telling her how excited she was to come home and shop with her for her dress for her big day.

Hermione brushed her teeth, washed her face, grabbed some toast, and then magically straightened her hair. She threw on a white polo and blue jeans, grabbed her sneakers and car keys, then jumped in her car and drove off to the station quickly. Has she was driving her cell phone rang. It was Draco. She smiled and answered the phone.

'Hey baby.'

'Afternoon, beautiful, are you with mini-Weasley?' He asked from the other line.

'No, I'm on my way now.'

'All right, well I just wanted to call you since I probably won't see you today, Blaise called me this morning telling me to come over tonight. I probably will stay over there.'

'Oh really? That should be fun.'

'Yeah, good luck today on finding a dress. I know you and Ginny will be all giddy and girly, so thank Merlin it's bad luck for me to go with you and see it.'

Hermione laughed at him.

'Yeah, if you ever went shopping with me and Gin, I think you'd run for the hills.'

'Most likely. Well, I don't want to keep you on the phone too long, I don't want you to me distracted by my sexy voice and get into an accident and die. That would be a horrible thing, especially before the honeymoon.'

Hermione mock laughed.

'Thanks baby.' She said sarcastically. 'I love you, have a good time at Blaise's.'

'I will. I love you too, have fun with Ginny. Tell the mini-redhead I say hi.'

'All right, bye.'

'Bye beautiful.'

Hermione hung up and smiled all the way to the station. She parked quickly and ran into the building. She was a few minutes early, but better than late. She twitched with anticipation as she waited for the clock to say 12:00.

A minute prior to noon, she ran through platforms 9 and 10. When she reached the other side she saw the Hogwarts Express pulling up. She giggled excitedly. It didn't take two minutes for Ginny to run out of the train, she was the first on. She ran to Hermione and hugged her.

'I'm so excited, Hermione! I bet you are too! You have no idea how stressful yesterday's classes were! It seemed like they took a century to get over with, knowing that I was coming back today to go shop for your wedding dress!' She cried.

'I know, okay let's go.'

The two girls ran into the parking lot and jumped into Hermione's car. They sped off to Harry's first for a quick visit.

The girls ran up to his apartment. Harry opened his door quickly and Ginny jumped into his arms. He kissed her passionately (they hadn't seen each other since Valentines Day).

'How was your train ride?' Harry asked her.

'Long! I could not stop moving in my seat! Colin Creevey thought I was having a seizure, and kept snapping pictures of me.' Ginny said.

Hermione and Harry laughed.

'How has Quidditch been going?' Ginny asked Harry.

'Great, actually. Captain Walker says Draco and I are the best on our team, and we're the newbies, so it's going well for both of us.'

Ginny and Hermione sneaked grins to each other.

'Oh,' Hermione sighed, 'I feel so bad. Draco has been so busy with Quidditch, but I think he also feels he has an obligation to be helping me constantly with the wedding. He's going to wear himself out.'

'Don't worry about Draco.' Harry told her, 'He's not going to run out of energy anytime soon. He's got so much adrenaline going right now, he's really excited about the wedding. It's all he talks about in the locker rooms, when we're not meeting. He gets made fun of a lot, even if they're all joking.'

'He talks about it in the locker rooms?'

'Constantly.' Harry droned. 'I still can't believe he asked me to be one of the groomsmen.'

'You are!' Ginny asked excitedly. 'Oh good! We'll get to walk down together! I was worried I would have to walk with Snape or something!'

'I wouldn't do that to you, Gin.' Hermione grinned.

'But Draco would, as a joke.'

'That's true.' Hermione laughed.

'Well, we wanted to come say hi quick, but Hermione and I have to go play dress up with wedding gowns!' Ginny smiled. 'Should we just apparate from here, Hermione?'

'Sure, okay with you, Harry?' Hermione asked.

'Yeah, that's no problem. Have fun and good luck.'

'Thanks.' Hermione said giving him a hug good bye. 'I'll meet you at Madam Malkins, gin.'

'Okay.' Ginny replied.

Hermione then disappeared with a pop.

Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and kissed him.

'It's good to see you again.' She told him. 'I'll come back tonight after dress shopping and dinner with my family.'

'Sounds good, I'll see you then.' He said giving her a kiss good bye.

She then stepped away from him and also disappeared with a pop.

Hermione walked into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Madam Malkin waddled over to Hermione happily.

''Ello dear! Anything I can help you with?'

'Yes, point me towards your wedding gowns.'

'For you dear?' She asked incredulously.

'Yes.'

'Oh, how romantic, you're so young, too! Didn't you go to Hogwarts?'

'Yes, you remember me? I'm Hermione Granger.'

'Ahh, Miss Granger, yes. Did your beau go to Hogwarts as well?'

'Yes, Draco Malfoy.'

'Oh. Well. Umm, follow me to the robes.'

Hermione smiled to herself. Madam Malkin probably remembered how everything HAD to be just right for Draco when he came here to get his Hogwarts robes. Hermione didn't feel like justifying Draco's new personality to her so she just let her think whatever.

In back of the store was a section of gorgeous white gowns.

'Here you are, dear. Need any help?'

'No, but when a redhead walks in, will you send her back here?'

'A Weasley?'

'Yes, mam.'

'I surely will.'

'Thank you.'

Hermione began browsing the dress, but she decided to really start looking once Ginny arrived.

After a minute or so, Hermione saw red hair fly threw the door and down the aisles, to Hermione.

'Hey, Gin, nice to see you finally.'

'Hey, it didn't take me that long! Considering I haven't seen Harry in a month.'

'I guess, good job. Now let's get going!' Hermione said.

The girls both picked up dresses, goggled over them, then found better ones. It went this way for an hour or so.

'This is the dress I'd want for when I get married,' Ginny commented as she pulled a silk white dress from the rack.

She placed the dress against her and twirled around.

As Hermione was laughing at Ginny, she was tapped on the shoulder. Hermione turned around and saw a tall, handsome young man standing there.

'I'm sorry,' He began, 'I saw you from the other side of the store and I had to come over.'

'Oh, hello,' Hermione stated awkwardly. 'Can I help you with something?'

'I usually am never this forward, but I was wondering if you wanted to get a cup of coffee, when you're through helping your friend find a dress.'

Ginny began to giggle.

'Actually,' Hermione said with a blush, 'my friend and I are here to find my wedding dress. I'm the one getting married.'

'Oh god!' He cried, 'I'm sorry, I assumed the one twirling was the one getting married… I thought she looked a little young.'

Ginny frowned.

'I'm only a year older than she is.' Hermione informed him.

'What? Do you mind asking me how old you are?'

'I'm eighteen.' Hermione replied.

The man's eyes widened.

'Oh, I'm sorry again.'

'How old are you?' Ginny asked bluntly.

'Ginny.' Hermione mumbled.

'What? He asked you.' Ginny responded.

'I'm 26, again I'm sorry.' The man said, walking back to the front of the store.

Ginny sent a toothy grin to Hermione.

'26?' Ginny mouthed. She then verbalized, 'A 26 year old just hit on you.'

'I know, he didn't look that old.'

'Yes, he did. He was gorgeous…are you going to tell Draco?' Ginny asked.

'What? Why? It wasn't a big deal.'

'I know…can I tell him?'

Hermione laughed.

'I don't care. Go for it, it's just going to make him act stupid.'

'You mean jealous. He's so hot.'

'Hey now,' Hermione warned.

'Don't worry, I have a boyfriend.' Ginny winked. 'But I'm still telling Draco.'

'Okay. You wanna sleepover tonight, Gin?' Hermione asked.

'Sure! But I'm supposed to have dinner with my family tonight.'

'Well, I can drop you off and pick you up later.'

'Why don't you just come eat with us and then we can go to your house after?'

'It's okay?'

'Sure! You know my mom loves you.'

'All right.'

The girls shopped for Hermione's dress for the rest of the afternoon, along with shoes. At about five o'clock they headed over to Hermione's house to drop off her gorgeous new dress (and shoes), then headed over to the Burrow.

—Eight o'clock, Draco is just arriving at Blaise's house—

Draco walked up to Blaise's nice sized house and rang the bell. He could hear Blaise running to answer the door.

'Hey fucker! Nice to see you.'

'Nice to see you, too. How've you been?' Draco asked.

'Good, you?'

'Busy!' Draco said, walking into the house.

'Follow me.' Blaise ordered.

Draco raised his eyebrows but followed.

'You're parents home?'

'Nah, they're in Canada on a ski trip.' Blaise replied.

Blaise was leading Draco to his basement.

'What are we doing? I thought we were just going to hang out?'

'Can't we "hang out" in the basement?'

'We never hang out downstairs.'

'Well tonight we are.'

Draco rolled his eyes, not knowing what was up Blaise's sleeve, but he knew something was.

Blaise opened the door leading to downstairs, to a pitch-black basement.

'Blaise, what's going on?' Draco demanded.

'Just come on fucker!'

Draco waited for Blaise to walk down, but he didn't move.

'Go.' Blaise said pointing down the stairs.

'You first.'

'Just go!' Blaise yelled.

Draco rose his eyebrows again.

'Why can't you just tell me what the fuck is going on?'

'It's a surprise, Drake.' He said mysteriously.

A few circumstances were forming in Draco's mind, but none of them were what Blaise really was planning.

Draco walked down the stairs and as soon as he reached the bottom, dark red and neon lights lit up the room. The room contained about twenty guys who were in Slytherin at Hogwarts (before they graduated).

'Surprise!' They yelled.

'What the fuck? Blaise, it's not my birthday.' Draco stated.

'It's not your birthday party.' Blaise said.

Then a darkened corner of the room, suddenly had a spotlight aimed at it. Three beautiful strippers were sliding up and down poles.

'It's your Bachelor Party!' They all cheered.

Draco's eyes were wide.

The crowd pushed Draco to a single chair that sat in front of the portable stage with three poles.

'Wait! Wait!' Draco cried, but he was not heard, because now club music began to play loudly.

The three strippers all began to swing around their poles and then high-kick their way down to the floor. They crawled to Draco; two of the girls began to grind on each leg, and the third began to unzip his pants. All the men around Draco hooted and whistled loudly.

'Wait!' Draco said standing up, causing the strippers to fall.

A dark haired guy turned down the music, Blaise looked at Draco questionably.

'What's up Drake? Aren't the pretty enough?'

'No! They're gorgeous, but I can't do this, Hermione —'

'Drake,' Blaise interrupted, 'a Bachelor party is a normal pre-wedding event. Hermione probably assumes you'll have one.'

'I don't know…' Draco sighed.

Draco then felt hands on him again. Six hands. He turned his head and saw the gorgeous strippers.

'Come on, pretty boy.' One cooed in his ear, 'we won't bite.'

'Unless you want us too.' Another chimed in.

The rest of the men cheered again. The girls pushed Draco back into the chair. This time, successfully removing his pants. The three girls piled on his lap and all began to grind him, and in turn, each other. Draco's eyes were wide and he involuntarily became aroused and an erection formed. Suddenly Draco felt a hand grab his erection.

'Whoa!' Draco cried, jumping up from the chair, the three girls toppling over once again. 'I can't do that!'

'What?' Crabbe asked.

'Get a hand job from some stripper!'

'A hand job!' Blaise cried, 'You're boxers are still on, man!'

'Not anymore,' the blonde sighed suddenly whipping down Draco's boxers, revealing his manhood.

All the guys laughed and whistled again.

The girls pushed Draco down and he clumsily fell onto the floor, boxers still down. The blonde crawled on top of Draco's legs and began to lower her head.

'Nooo!' Draco cried, pushing her off and pulling up his boxers.

'What's wrong with you?' the blonde asked, a finely tweezed eyebrow raised high.

'I'm getting married in two months, and you're about to give me a blow job!'

'Every guy who hires us is usually about to get married,' the raven stripper said, 'if not married already.'

'Dude, you've got to let yourself have some fun! Granger's wound you way too tight.' Goyle said.

'Let that leash out a bit!' Another Slytherin cried.

'I told you, Drake, Hermione knows this is bound to happen.'

'I don't think so.' Draco stated, pulling his pants now up.

'What about a simple lap dance?' the brunette stripper asked.

'Yeah, Drake, that's harmless.' Blaise said.

Draco didn't say anything.

'That's a yes!' A few men cried.

'Pick one of us.' The brunette said.

'You I guess.' Draco shrugged.

The brunette grinned and pushed Draco back into the chair. She straddled him and began to grind him slowly. In a quick move, she removed her silver glitter bra, pushing her large, silicon filled breasts into his face.

The guys all cheered again.

'Okay, enough!' Draco cried.

'Okay, ladies, get off.' Blaise said, shooing them, 'Get back on the stage, I have you for two more hours.'

The brunette frowned, but on her glitter bra and the three of them went back to the poles.

Blaise put his arm around Draco and led him to a mini-bar.

'Okay, here man, at least have a few drinks.'

'This I can do.' Draco said taking a seat with Blaise at the bar, while the other guys watched the three girls dance.

Draco and Blaise began shots.

'Let's have a contest.'

'We're in!' The strippers called, running down from their stage.

'You? You belong on the stage.' Blaise said.

'That didn't sound demeaning at all.' Draco sighed to himself.

'You don't think you can hold your liquor better than us?' the blonde asked.

'Well, besides that fact, I didn't hire you to drink.' Blaise replied.

'Well, what about this,' began the raven stripper, 'if you can beat us in a shots contest, we'll give you a free hour.'

'Really?' The men behind them all asked.

'Really.' The three strippers replied.

'You're on.' Blaise replied. 'Let's go.'

'No, not you.' The brunette stated. 'The guest of honor.' She said looking at Draco.

'Come on Draco!' The men cheered.

Draco laughed.

'I'm always up for a drinking contest. Now which one of you girls am I going against?'

'Me.' The blonde replied.

Draco laughed harder.

'Even better.'

The two sat at the bar, Blaise went behind to dish out the shots. He set out five shot glasses filled with tequila.

'Ready?' Blaise asked. 'You better win, fucker.'

'I will.' They both replied.

Draco smirked.

'Clever.' He said to the stripper.

She grinned at him and lifted her shot, as did Draco.

'Go!' Blaise cried.

Draco and the blonde began.

After about five minutes the two were still going. Draco felt like he was going to be sick, but he was not about to let a skinny stripper win this drinking contest. The two have had twenty shots so far. The blonde stripper did not look like she was slowing down.

'Come on Draco!' The men all shouted.

'Come on Jade!' The other two strippers cried.

Draco and the blonde were now rounding 25 shots, Draco lifted the 26th glass to his lips, but then dropped it. The girls cheered and hugged.

'Whoa, could you girls do that again?' Crabbe asked.

They rolled their eyes at him and looked at Draco, who was just staring at his feet.

'You just lost a drinking contest to a girl who weighs a max total of 130 pounds.'

'I way 115, thank you very much.' The blonde girl snapped.

'Whatever.' Blaise replied, turning back to the girl.

Draco looked up at Blaise. Draco's eyes were glossed over. Blaise began to laugh.

'Oh! You are wasted!' Blaise cried.

'Be quiet!' Draco shouted.

'Let me take you somewhere a little quieter.' The brunette stripper said, helping Draco off the chair.

'Ah, thank you.' Draco said dizzily.

The brunette brought Draco upstairs and into a room with a couch. She set him down.

'You're awfully cute ya know.' The brunette smiled at him.

'Thanks so are you…what's your name, stripper?'

'Lelia.'

'You're cute, too, Lelia. You could be doing much better than a stripper.'

'No, I dropped out of high school. I make a lot of money doing this anyway, and I meet nice girls.'

'Nice strippers.'

'They are still people.' She replied.

'Yeah…yeah…' He groaned.

'So, when are you getting married?' She asked.

'May 11th.'

'You love her?'

'Who?'

'Your fiancée, dumbass.'

'Oh, of course I do. I wouldn't be marrying her if I didn't.'

'Love her too much to fool around?'

'Fool around?' Draco asked, not comprehending her meaning.

'I'll show you.' She said.

Lelia straddled him and began to kiss his neck; he closed his eyes. She ran her fingers down his chest, to his pants.

He moaned quietly, then mumbled and opened his eyes.

'Herm—' He then realized who was sitting on his lap. 'You're not Hermione!'

He pushed Lelia over, to a different cushion and stood up. He shook his head violently and left Blaise's house.

He ran awkwardly down to his car and jumped in. Draco started the ignition and began to drive down Blaise's driveway; after getting to the street, Draco realized he was in no state to drive. He didn't want to go back into Blaise's house to ask for a ride home though. He looked down and saw that the luxury car had a built in phone.

He smacked himself, being too wasted to remember about the phone until he saw it.

He picked up the phone and stared at it.

'What the fuck is Hermione's number?' He mumbled. A pressed the only phone number he could remember, which happened to be Hermione's, thank Merlin.

—Hermione's House—

Hermione and Ginny had a nice dinner at the Weasley's with Arthur, Molly, Ron, his girlfriend, and Charlie, who came home for Easter. The girls were now back at Hermione's playing Monopoly in Hermione's room.

'I've got boardwalk!' Ginny said excitedly.

'No! I wanted it!' Hermione whined.

Suddenly Hermione's cell phone rang, the tune was Stairway to Heaven.

'Who is this?' Hermione asked aloud. 'Hello?'

'Hermione?' Draco asked from the other end.

'Draco? Is that you?'

'Hermione?'

'Yes, you sound sick, Draco. Are you still at Blaise's?'

'Hermione, I need to you come get me.'

'What are you talking about Draco?' Hermione asked, getting angry because he wasn't answering any of her questions.

'I'm going to go get a drink.' Ginny whispered.

Hermione nodded and Ginny left, shutting the door behind her.

'Draco, what's wrong?' Hermione asked.

'I'm at Blaise's. I can't drive, come get me.'

Hermione paused and took a few breaths.

'Draco, have you been drinking?' She asked softly.

He didn't answer.

'Are you drunk?' She asked.

'Just come get me, 'Mione.'

'Are you drunk?' She asked again.

'Yes I'm fucking wasted now come get me please! I don't trust myself to drive home.' He snapped.

Hermione hung up the phone quickly and sat in her room silently. Ginny came in with two cups of water.

'I brought you some water, too,' Ginny stated, sitting in front of Hermione.

When she sat down and looked at Hermione she noticed Hermione's forlorn look and her eyes were sad.

'What's wrong? Where's Draco?' Ginny asked softly.

'I have to go get him. I'm sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can.'

'What's wrong?'

'I'll tell you when I get back.' Hermione said sadly as she stood up.

Hermione grabbed keys from her desk and went downstairs.

Her parents were in the family room watching the news when she came downstairs.

'Where are you going, Hermione?' Richard asked.

'Oh, Gin and I wanted some ice cream so I'm going to go grab some.'

'At midnight?' Anne asked.

'You know cravings.' Hermione sighed.

'All right, be careful.' Anne said.

'I will be.'

Hermione then left and ran out to her car. She backed out of the driveway and then realized she didn't know where Blaise lived. She exhaled deeply. She took her cell and dialed the number Draco called from.

Draco was sitting in his car with a splitting headache. Then a loud noise perturbed his brain.

'Ahh!' He cried looking down at the ringing phone. He picked it up. 'What?' He asked.

'Draco…how do I get to you?' Hermione asked from the other end.

'What do you mean? Drive!' He snapped. He then heard Hermione begin to cry. 'I'm sorry, Hermione, it's right across that fucking coffee shop we went to earlier this year.'

Hermione nodded, but obviously Draco didn't see that.

'Hermione are you coming or not?' He asked.

'Of course I have to, you're drunk.' She said sadly.

Before any more words could be said, she hung up.

She cried softly.

He promised me he would never get drunk again.

Flashback—

'I won't drink anymore.'

'Draco, I don't want to make you not do things you like just because you're scared you will do or say something like that.'

'I'm not scared about that! I know I'd never hit you or anything like that! I'll stop drinking because you don't trust me not to hit you when I am drunk.'

—End flashback (A/N: If any of you don't really remember this, it's Relationships Change (Part One) chapter 54)

Hermione drove down the street, and to the part of town to where the coffee house is. The town was dead. She looked across the street from the coffeehouse and saw a road leading down a neighborhood. She drove down it and at the end of the street was a fairly large sized house. She drove to it, because she didn't see Draco's car anywhere else, and sure enough, there was the European luxury car at the end of the house's driveway, parked crooked in the street. She saw Draco sitting inside it, his head against the steering wheel. Hermione could feel her eyes began to water again. She pulled up next to him and got out of her car. When Draco saw her, he proceeded to get out of his car, but he was shaky and had to lean against his car. She walked up to him. She stood in front of him. She looked into his eyes, they were still glossy and could barely focus.

'What were you doing Draco?' She asked softly.

'Can't we just get into your fucking car?' He asked angrily.

'Stop swearing at me!' She shouted, causing tears to fall from her eyes.

Draco closed his eyes from a moment and looked at the road. After a few seconds he looked back up at her. She was looking away from him. Tears were slowly falling from her cheeks.

'I'm sorry.' He said.

'You told me you weren't going to drink again.'

'I know, I'm sorry. It's just that Blaise and the guys were relying on me to win the drinking contest.'

'Blaise and the guys? You went to a drinking party while I was picking out my wedding dresswith Ginny...'

'It wasn't a drinking party! I didn't know, I swear. It was a surprise for me, I tried to leave but then they brought up a contest.'

'You don't care that much about drinking contests, Draco. You never have. Why was tonight so different?' She asked. Hermione had no idea that Draco felt he had to live up to his man reputation against a female stripper.

'It just was, Hermione.' He told her.

'Because you were with a bunch of other drunk guys?'

'No.'

'Draco…how could you? You promised me.'

'I told you I was sorry.'

'How many times am I going to let an "I'm sorry" suffice for all you do!' Hermione demanded.

'Every time! It's called forgiveness!'

Hermione wiped her eyes.

'Do you even remember why you promised me?'

'Because you don't like it.' He replied foolishly.

'No.'

'Well, I'm not in the guessing mood.' He snapped, crossing his arms, leaning against his car.

'You don't even remember.'

'I'd fucking remember if I was sober, Hermione. Ask me tomorrow, I'll tell you then.'

'That's not the point, Draco! The point is you promised me something very important and you broke your promise, and now you are acting like a jerk to me, even though I left Ginny alone at midnight to come get you because you can drive your drunk ass home!' She yelled.

Draco was wincing.

'My head is pounding Granger!'

Hermione shook her head at him.

'I can't believe you're acting like this.' She said sadly.

'Just take me home.' He ordered.

Hermione began to turn to go to her car. When she heard a boisterous voice coming from Blaise's driveway. She looked to see-

'Crabbe?' She asked to herself.

'Stay another hour!' Crabbe called out to someone.

But someone didn't answer, someoneS answered.

'No, we were hired for three hours not four,' A woman's voice said.

'Besides,' said another feminine voice, 'you aren't even the guest of honor.'

'Now, if your little friend would have won that contest against me we'd still be back there dancing for you.' The last female voice said.

Hermione's eyes widened and her eyes moved to Draco. He was staring at her.

'Hermione,' He began.

She burst into tears.

He quickly walked over to her.

'Hermione,' He said again.

'Oh, so we're back to first names.' She said through tears.

'I don't know what you're thinking, but nothing happened.'

'You hired strippers! And had a drinking contest against one! Draco, how could you!' She yelled, getting into her car.

'Hermione, I didn't hire them! Blaise did!'

'Why?'

'This was supposed to be my bachelor party.'

'Your bachelor party! Draco! You watch strippers and God knows what else and then get drunk, call me because you're too wasted to get home, and yell at me on the phone and here! I cannot believe you…' Hermione became over whelmed and couldn't talk anymore.

'I didn't do anything with them.'

Then the blonde stripper heard voices and walked over.

'Hey, guest of honor! There you are! How's your blood alcohol level doing? Why did you leave? Lelia said you two were having a good time. She didn't even get to finish her lap dance.'

Hermione glared at Draco.

'Nothing happened?' She asked accusingly. 'Get the fuck away from my car. Sleep on the road for all I care. I'm going back home. Don't you dare call me again to come get you either.'

She slammed the door loudly, leaving Draco upset with her, but mainly upset with himself.

'Oh…' the blonde, previously called Jade, sighed, 'Was that your fiancée?'

'Was, yeah.' He sighed.

'Well, party was fun, see you later maybe.'

'Maybe not.'

'Umm…okay bye.' She said awkwardly.

She walked away, stiletto heals tapping annoyingly.

Draco opened his car door and collapsed into his seat.

I'm so fucking stupid.

He thought back to when he did get drunk before with Blaise and accidentally told Hermione he wanted to take back her engagement ring. He remembered. He remembered they broke up for that day and she cried and was hurt. Just like tonight.

'Jesus Christ!' He cried out loud.

'Nope, just Blaise.' A voice said outside his car door.

Draco turned his head and saw Blaise looking in at him.

Draco turned away from Blaise.

'Was that Granger that just sped off?'

'Yes.'

'She found out about the drinking contest?'

'Yes.'

'And the strippers?'

'Uh huh.'

'Mmm…that's not good.'

'No, it's not Zabini. Why the fuck did you have to do this?'

'Dude! I thought it would be fun!'

'You let me drink. Remember what happened last time we got drunk together? Hermione and I broke off our engagement.'

'Oh yeah…I forgot about that.'

'Hermione didn't.'

'So, what's going to happen?'

'I don't know.' Draco replied.

'Well, come inside. I sent everyone home. Come get good sleep, get sober, and go talk to Hermione tomorrow.'

'I'm fucked, aren't I?' Draco asked.

'I don't know. Was she mad?'

'Extremely.'

'Did she cry?'

'Yup.'

'Sheesh. You fucked up, yeah. Sorry, I forgot about your little promise.'

'So did I unfortunately.'

'But you didn't even want to do anything with the strippers.'

'But I did.'

'No you didn't.'

'When the brunette took me upstairs, drunk, she began to give me a lap dance. I was drunk, closed my eyes and actually thought it was Hermione when she began to kiss me, but then I opened them and saw it wasn't. So I left.'

'And you called Hermione then?'

'Yeah, and I had a fucking headache from the drinking and yelled at her. She leaves Ginny to come get me and I yell at her.'

'Just come inside, Drake. Sleep and take care of it in the morning.'

Hermione was driving slowly along the road. She was crying. She made it into her driveway and looked at her clock. It was one. She got out of the car and quietly walked into the house. Thankfully her parents were asleep upstairs. Hermione sat down for a minute or two in the living room. She cried softly to herself. She couldn't believe Draco got drunk and messed around with strippers. And then he yelled at her and acted like an ass, after she came to get him. She began to cry harder. She loved Draco. She didn't want things to end between them, but the last time he was drunk something devastating happened and he apologized by promising not to get drunk again. And now, a year later, he gets drunk and messes around with a stripper!

'Hermione?' A soft voice asked.

Hermione looked into the foyer and saw Ginny standing at the bottom of the staircase. Hermione quickly wiped her eyes and cleared her throat.

'In here, Gin.' She said groggily.

Ginny walked into the dark room.

'I heard you come in. You were gone for a long time. Are you okay?'

Hermione didn't answer. She just shook her head no.

'What happened?' Ginny asked, stepping over next to Hermione. She then took the seat next to her.

'When Draco called,' She began, clearing her throat again, 'he asked me to come get him from Blaise's house…he was too drunk to drive home.'

'What? Draco got drunk?'

Hermione nodded and began crying again.

'Even after—?'

'Yes,' Hermione answered, 'Even after he promised me he wouldn't.'

'I drove to him and asked him what happened. The first thing he says to me is "Can't we just get into the fucking car?".'

'What?' Ginny asked incredulously.

Hermione began to cry softly again.

'He told me there was a drinking contest, it was against a stripper.'

'A stripper! What!'

'It was his bachelor party. One of the strippers came over and asked why he left, and he didn't finish his…lap dance.'

'Oh my god, Hermione. I'm so sorry.'

'Am I overreacting?' Hermione asked, 'It's this normal? Should I not be getting this upset?'

'No, Draco should not have messed around with strippers and then get drunk with them, especially after his past with you and him getting drunk.'

Hermione nodded.

'What should I do?' Hermione asked.

'I don't know. Did he apologize?'

'Well, yeah, earlier, but then he just got upset with me when I kept asking why he did it.'

'He's drunk and stupid. He didn't mean to yell at you.'

'He shouldn't have been drunk in the first place.'

'Oh, I know. I'm not condoning what he did.' Ginny said. 'Where is Draco now?'

'I left him there after the stripper came over to him.'

'Oh…'

'Why did he have to pull something like this two months before our wedding?' Hermione asked, a flood of tears falling from her eyes.

Ginny leaned over and hugged her friend.

'I'm so sorry, I don't know what Draco was thinking. He was being a stupid guy, hanging out with other stupid guys.'

'I was so excited today. This day was going to well, and then Draco ruins it.'

'I know you were so happy, but it's because of Draco you were happy. You picked out the dress you are going to wear with him. With good comes bad, too, no one is perfect.'

'But Gin! He got drunk and fooled around with strippers!'

'What did he do? He didn't have sex did he?'

Hermione began to sob.

'I don't even know.'

'Well, he'll probably try talking to you tomorrow. Find out then.'

'I don't want to talk to him.'

'You still love him don't you?'

'Yes, but I don't know if that's a good thing.'

'Just see what he says tomorrow.'

Hermione wiped her eyes and nodded.

'Come on, let's get rest. You've had a long day.'

'Thanks Gin.'

'No problem. Do you want Harry to talk to him?'

'No. This is my problem. Draco and I have to figure things out. See what happens now. Thank you though.'

—Next Day—

Hermione woke up from a restless sleep at 8:00.

Draco laid on Blaise's couch awake all night. He couldn't believe how stupid he was. He had no idea how to fix this. He just had to try and talk to Hermione. That's all he could do.

Hermione sat up in her bed and remembered the horrible night she had just encountered. She looked to her left and saw Ginny fast asleep. Hermione carefully got up from her bed and threw on a white robe. She went to the bathroom and brushed and washed. She didn't hear any voices in her house so she went downstairs and made herself some tea. She then wondered when Draco would try to talk to her. Would he try to talk to her? Would he even remember what happened last night?

She didn't know what to do. She loved Draco, but she didn't want to be one of those women who love their boyfriend so much that they allow them to get away with everything because they kept wanting to "try to make it work". Draco was the one who taught her not to take crap from guys. When Ron hurt her Draco said for her not to be one of those women who pretend nothing is wrong in their relationship, especially if their boyfriend is hurting her. Hermione had no idea what to do.

A high pitched whistle sounded. Hermione quickly took the teapot off the stove and poured herself some of the hot chai tea. She sat down at her kitchen table to think.

After a few short minutes she heard her parents upstairs. Hermione quickly grabbed thick slippers and a long coat, then, with her tea in hand, she dashed outside. Hermione sat on her front porch on a wooden bench and watched the people outside. The early birds.

She sighed and looked down to the ground.

Why does everything have to be so complicated when it comes to Draco and me?

She honestly didn't know why it always happened to them, "it" being troubles. Then she thought on the other side of the spectrum.

I guess I have to think about the other things, too. The good times we've had. Times that few others have been able to share.

Maybe Ginny was right. Maybe there has to be bad with the good. But breaking promises, that was different, especially such an important promise. This promise had damaging history.

Hermione wiped her eyes, forcing herself not to cry, and looked up at the people again. She saw her neighbors across the street: Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. They always looked so happy. They were in their early thirties. They always went on walks, holding hands. They seemed so happy, like nothing bad ever happened to them. But that's what the public saw. There had to be bad things that happened, too, right? Things inside their home. In their private life. But what if their life really was peachy? What if her and Draco's relationship really was a lot less "good" than everyone else's? Harry and Ginny never fight or argue and they've been going out longer than her and Draco.

'It shouldn't be this hard…' Hermione sighed. 'All we do is work to keep this relationship together and just end up hurting each other more than we make each other happy.'

'Is that really our relationship summed up?'

Hermione looked up and saw Draco standing there.

'I didn't hear your car.'

'I decided to take a stroll.'

She didn't respond.

'Have you really felt more pain than happiness with me?' He asked.

A deep pain formed in Hermione's stomach. It sounded so sad when Draco said it to her. Draco's soft voice asking her that made her feel bad that he heard what she said. It caused her to feel like a horrible person.

'No, I was happy.' She replied as tears fell from her cheeks. She couldn't be strong anymore. 'It is so hard, Draco. It shouldn't be this hard.' She then looked up at him. 'You make it hard.'

'Hermione,' he began taking a step forward, 'this morning I've realized that I have said sorry way too much in this relationship. I have done too many things that hurt you, that require an apology…but I love you. I don't know why I do the things I do to hurt you. As I do these things I just don't realize how much they will hurt you in the end. I don't think about the repercussions. But Hermione, last night –'

'No, Draco, I don't want to talk to you about this.'

'You don't want to talk about it now? Or you want to give up and not bring it up ever?'

Hermione was silent and just shrugged.

'Well, since you're not answering I'll go on. Last night Blaise asked me over, I had no idea what he was up to. He brought me to his basement and tons of guys were there and three strippers. They pushed me to the girls, but I left. I told them I couldn't. After they pushed me back to the girls, the girls tried to straddle me and give me lap dances, but I moved them away and left again. Blaise then brought me over to the mini-bar, away from them. He gave me a small drink, but then the strippers wanted to go against me in a drinking contest…Hermione…I already skipped out on the strippers Blaise bought for me, I couldn't wimp out of a shot contest in front of all the guys. They were cheering me on, and it was a girl, I didn't think I'd even have to drink much before she would give out. But she kept drinking and drinking and I had to give up. I was drunk and getting angry about how loud it was, so one of the girls took me upstairs. I was incoherent of a lot and she asked me about you, and I talked about you. I was so wasted that when she got on top of me I visualized it was you. I didn't realize it wasn't you until about five minutes later…'

'What did you do with her?' Hermione asked softly, not looking at Draco.

'She kissed my neck, that's all, I swear. After I realized it wasn't you, I pushed her away and tried to leave. I backed out of his driveway and decided I was incapable of driving safely.'

'At least you were coherent enough not to kill yourself.'

'So you're glad I'm still alive? That's a start.'

'I would never wish death upon you, Draco.'

Draco moved closer and sat down next to her.

'I'm sorry for ruining your day yesterday. I know how much you've been looking forward to your day with Ginny yesterday and I ruined you night.'

Hermione didn't respond.

'Did you find a dress?'

'Yes. It's beautiful.' She said softly. Tears then ran down her cheeks freely, 'But will I be able to wear it?' She asked rhetorically.

Draco couldn't take it anymore. He reached up and stroked her face gently.

'Please don't say things like that Hermione.'

'You can't keep doing these things to me, Draco. You're the one who taught me to not take crap from guys, not to roll over and let them hurt me.'

'I know, I don't know why I am so stupid sometimes, but my love for you is true and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.' He told her truthfully, 'Are you reconsidering spending your life with me?'

Hermione thought about everything about last night that he had just told her.

'I love you, Draco. I do…but, it's so hard.'

'Relationships are hard and we've got to work at it.'

'Not this hard, Draco. We are always apologizing to each other for hurting one another. Maybe we aren't compatible. We've had many good memories, but maybe that's all they should be is memories, not a future.'

'Hermione, no.' He pleaded. 'Tell me, Hermione, can you really picture yourself with someone else for the rest of your life?'

'Someone asked me out yesterday.' She said.

'What?'

'In Madam Malkin's. He was tall and handsome. He was 26.'

'26?'

'He asked me out to coffee. Ginny said he was gorgeous. She couldn't believe someone his age, with his looks asked out someone who was 18. I couldn't believe it either.'

'I can. You're beautiful, Hermione.'

Hermione sighed.

'He wasn't you though.' She breathed softly.

'What?'

'No matter how beautiful or nice he was, he just wasn't you. If we broke up now and he asked me out again I would say no, because he's not you. I can't see myself with anyone but you. I've hurt you, and you've taken me back. You've hurt me and I've taken you back. Maybe that's how we work. Every couple is different,' She told him.

'I don't think it should be the permanent way we work.' He told her, 'it will be easier once we're married, because we'll be together more. It'll be easier, if you will let me be with you.'

'I love you. I don't think you could do anything to change that. There was always something I noticed about your mother, even after everything your father did to her, all the mental and physical hurt, she still loved him.'

'That wasn't right, though, Hermione. My mother should have left my father. Please, my love, please don't relate us to my parents. If that's how you see us, then I don't think it's healthy for us to be. My parents were once a perfect couple, but as my father grew with the dark side, he ruined himself and my mother. We cannot be them.'

'I'm just relating to the fact that she loved through everything. You say you walked away from those girls multiple times and I believe you.'

'I also want to apologize for the way I spoke to you last night, Hermione. You came to help me and I yelled at you, I'm sorry. I don't even know how horrible I made you feel. I'm so sorry, Hermione. I just love you so much and I wanted to leave and I couldn't handle being reprimanded at that moment so my temper flew up, but please believe me that I had no intentions to hit you or hurt you physically in anyway. I may lose my temper, but I'll never lay a hand on you.'

'I know, Draco.' She said.

He leaned in slowly and kissed her cheek.

'I love you, baby. Nothing will stop that and I hope I do nothing to stop your love also.'

Hermione shook her head, still not looking at him.

'There's nothing you can do. My love will always be there.'

'Hermione, please look at me. I don't want you to just give in to me because you feel bad, or don't have enough strength to give up on this relationship.'

Hermione lifted her eyes to look into his.

'I'm not giving in. I still want to be your fiancée. I love you and I want to marry you, more than anything.' She told him.

He leaned in and kissed her lips. As he did, he felt a tear fall from her eye. He pulled away and looked at her tear-filled eyes. His heart dropped.

'I've made you cry so many times.' He said sadly. 'I don't know what's wrong with me. I love you, but I keep finding ways to hurt you.'

She lifted her hands and put them on the sides of his face.

'I'm sorry you heard me say there is more pain than happiness, because it's not true. You've done so much for me. I have never felt so much love. I am your first true love and I'm blessed to be. You always make me smile, I just think about you and I smile. If we have to work harder than anyone else for this relationship, then so be it, because I want to keep this relationship. I'm just scared.'

'I'm scared, too. But I know we can do it. We're going to be so happy, Hermione. You'll make me the happiest man, by just being with me, and I'll do everything in my power to try to return all the happiness you've given me. I don't remember a time when I've been happier, all my happiest memories are with you.'

'My happiest are with you too.' Hermione said, finally showing a smile.

She leaned forward and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his body. She pulled away because of air. She was an inch away from him. She looked up into his eyes.

'How is it possible to be sorrowful one moment, and deliriously happy the next?' She asked.

'It's just how we function sometimes. It's confusing, I don't understand it myself. All I know is that I am a part of you and nothing in this world, or beyond, can ever make me not love you.'