The Bachelorette 3
A/N: I love coffee! I stayed up till 1:00 AM without so much as a yawn. Hmm,
what was I doing? Erm, I was watching TV? -Laughs- I bless the day coffee
was discovered. Maybe I'll even incorporate it into the story somehow.
Maybe someone could have a coffee addiction. -Shrugs-
This chapter will have some very slight references to the sixth book, but I
won't give away the book for anyone who hasn't read it.
And thanks to all who have reviewed so far. Responses will be at the end of
the chapter.
Anyway, on with the story- (this is kind of an AU fic, in case you haven't discovered yet.)
XxX
Malfoy fought the urge to stretch. He had been sitting with 14 other men in
the Wiz TV Headquarters for hours, signing contract after contract. Things like, he
permits the camera to follow him around at all times (exception made for uh,
private business in the bathroom), that he understands the fact that the Bachelorette
can reject him (for the more sensitive fellows), and finally, the paragraph that stated: 'Under no circumstances, may an eligible Bachelor, reject a rose from the Bachelorette.'
He never gave that much thought. After all, it was his responsibility to
STAY on the show, not try to get out of it as soon as possible. Feeling
quite bored, he leaned back on the chair and looked for the umpteenth time
at his surroundings. However his reverie was immediately broken by sharp
footsteps echoing along the corridor just outside the room he was in.
A man with a head of dirty blonde curls stepped through the door. All the
men looked up at him, as he opened his mouth to speak.
'Good morning gentlemen, I am Erik Dowell, and I am going to be the host of Wiz TV's The Bachelorette.' He gave a brief nod at this. 'I see you are
all looking excited at the chance to be in this show, and I can hardly blame
you. After all you have my reassurances that the Bachelorette is, indeed
very suitable. Now, can you please finish signing off the contracts?'
The men started to murmur quietly amongst themselves at the mention of the Bachelorette. Malfoy, for the first time, really took notice of the other
men around him. His pitiful rivals, he thought with a slight smirk.
There was a well built man that Malfoy recognized from the firm Explorer
Inc. His name was Jordan something or other, he recalled, remembering when
they were all introduced. He had not missed the sly looks they
were all sneaking at each other. At me, more like it. Malfoy mused to
himself.
The only other familiar face was Marcus Belby. He had met him in the sixth
year, as he was in the so called 'Slug Club'. Malfoy had never quite gotten
over the humiliation that he wasn't considered important enough for the
club, so it was no surprise that he felt an instant dislike of the man.
Erik Dowell had by now finished collecting in the contracts, and had handed
them over to some secretary that no one quite managed to see. Then he rubbed
his hands before opening his mouth to speak again.
'You will all be accommodated at the Harroway Hotel that is located just
outside of Hogsmeade.' He paused and looked at his watch, 'You have
roughly 3 hours to get ready before we introduce everyone to the
Bachelorette. You will find a limo outside to escort you to the hotel. Good
luck.' And with that, he turned with a flourish and headed out the door.
The men then rose silently and each headed towards the entrance where they
knew the limo would be waiting for them.
XxX
After signing the contracts that bound her to the show, Hermione was
immediately whisked off to the makeup studio in the TV Headquarters to get
her proper makeover.
Hannah and Ginny had done as best as they could with the limited time, so
she looked at the very least presentable. The makeup artists and stylists
gave her a small approving smile before starting to work on her.
'You seem to have an eye for fashion,' a makeup assistant said to her delightedly.
Hermione didn't have the heart to tell her that she was actually a disaster
zone around fashion, and that it was all due to Hannah and Ginny that she
actually looked ok.
Hermione had known a lot went into just the visual aspects of the show, but
that didn't quite prepare her for the tables and tables full of specific
makeup just for her. She had an entire team just to work on her hair. The
wardrobe was bigger than her bedroom in her condo, and the stylist had just
informed her that that was the small side wardrobe.
In the midst of the hustle and bustle, a man with dirty blonde curls managed
to take a seat in front of her and fill her in.
'I am Erik Dowell, the host of the Bachelorette. It is very nice to meet
you finally, Ms Granger.' He took her hand and kissed it. Hermione tried not
to blush. Stop it, she told herself. He's not my type anyway.
Hermione had tried to say hello to him at this point, only to be cut off by
a makeup assistant as she tried to put the Quik-Magic Botox Enhanced
Collagen cream around her cheekbones.
Eric gave her a understanding smile, and sat by her for the next half hour
telling her snippet by snippet what would be happening in the next 2 days.
Apparently, he would be assisting her mainly before, during, and after rose
ceremonies. She would meet with the 15 men tonight, and they would each have
a 5-10 minute private talk with her before the night is over. This is to
help her with deciding the 7 men she would not give a rose to.
Hermione was a bit shocked at the quick dismissal she would have to perform. 5-10 minutes to mentally choose who she was going to kick out? She felt nervous and wondered how many hearts she was going to break.
Erik had also wanted her opinion on the first date with the men. They would
be riding on a cross-breed between hippogriffs and Pegasus horses called
Pegagriffs through a scenic rainforest backdrop.
'It will be quite fun, and the men can have another chance to talk to you
with you riding alongside them.' He had stopped and looked at Hermione
then, as she looked like she was daydreaming.
In fact Hermione had just recalled that Malfoy was mauled badly by a
hippogriff in his third year. This was exactly the kind of thing she could
do to freak him out!
'Oh, that would be just wonderful Mr. Dowell! It's a wonderful idea and
I'm sure that everyone will enjoy it immensely.'
She tried to imagine what Malfoy would do when he realizes he's riding half
a hippogriff. Hermione could see a mental image of Malfoy going Oh, no
that's fine, really, and panicking. It would be hilarious.
'Now, I better leave you in these capable hands and let them do their
magic! I will escort you to the Bachelorette building this evening.' Erik
winked and a second later Hermione could no longer see him. She sighed and
relented, letting herself get even more pampered by the people around her.
XxX
The men, all wearing impeccable suits, awaited in the lounge of the
building. The crystal chandelier lighted up the richly decorated room, but
all eyes were on the top of the curved mahogany staircase. Even Malfoy had
to admit he felt rather intrigued. Stop it, he told himself as he realized
what he was thinking. After all he was here strictly for business, not
pleasure.
For this would be the moment where the Bachelorette would reveal herself to the men. Each of them would be holding a image, unseen by others, of her in their minds. The perfect wife, they were told. And if they could win her heart, they would become the luckiest man on earth. Oh, if only Malfoy cared about it. But he didn't, and waited impatiently amongst the other
spellbound men.
It must be the atmosphere, he decided finally. It's making everyone, even
me, feel like she's the only one who matters.
The doors were silently drawn open by magic, and quiet footsteps echoed
along the marble corridor. She walked confidently past the door, accompanied by the host Eric.
I still can't see her properly dammit, Malfoy thought as he strained with
the others for a better view. Then she turned around.
XxX
Hermione was wearing an extraodinary dress. It was a creamy yellow colour, which contrasted with her golden brown eyes. It swished with every movement she made, and felt as silky and comfortable as a baby bird's down. There was a stripe that ran through the dress, and it was almost luminescent, glittering with the sculpted diamonds that were embedded upon it.
She wore matching diamond earrings, and a pair of expensive looking golden half-stilettos. Her slightly streaked brown hair was up in a complicated French twist, and a few well placed tendrils escaped to frame her face. This was what she felt all eyes on. It was her face, which every man looked captivated by.
As she walked down the stairs slowly with Eric, she had thought she was
going to trip, but his reassuring hold on her arm kept her from falling.
Hermione stepped off the last step. She heard a voice that said, 'This is
the Bachelorette, Miss Hermione Granger!'
XxX
Oh Merlin, Malfoy thought. It's Granger! GRANGER!
To think that he had thought she was gorgeous as she walked down. That was
before he heard Eric announce it was Granger. What the hell, she didn't
even look like herself. Maybe it was someone who had the same name as her. Who was he kidding? He thought, sighing to himself.
Hermione had shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with a few men already.
A few kissed her on the cheek, and she looked uncomfortable.
As she moved towards him, Malfoy thought, what the heck, I'm in this to
win! And he plastered a smile on his face, which didn't quite reached his
stony gray eyes.
'It's good to see you again, Granger.' Malfoy had forced himself to say
civilly. He silently congratulated himself on the 'see you again' part - it was like an advantage over the others, because he already knew her. Intimidation was part of the game in a show like this.
'You too, Malfoy,' Granger was as stiff as a board with him. She had just
about refused to even shake hands with him, but thought of the contracts and did it with a frostiness that would have made Professor McGonagall proud.
He remembered the deal. He had to stay on the show somehow, so he looked
down at Granger, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
XxX
Yay! Chapter 3 finished.
Ok, Draco wasn't informed at the same time as Hermione and the rest of the
men simply because he was informed when Zabini told him, and that was later than when Hermione was informed. -Grins-
Also, as you can see, Hermione gets made over by both Hannah and Ginny, and the Wiz TV crew.
And don't forget, click the button that says REVIEW! Make me happy! Make me write faster!