Disclaimer: If we owned any of this we wouldn't be DRIVING back from Florida. We'd be flying in from, like, the Caribbean. Also, we wouldn't be going to Michigan. At least not willingly. (Shudders) We'd be headed to England.

Chapter Five: Blaise's Story

Hermione saw a burst of blinding white light. She could make out the outline of a figure above her. As her eyes focused to the light, she was able to see definition in the gorgeous being. His skin was light and his hair was lighter. He seemed to be made of the white light that surrounded him. For a moment, Hermione thought that she had died and was now awaiting the gates of heaven to open; this may be an angel that would guide her in.

If she was dead, then how had she died? The last thing she remembered was…

Oh no, she thought to herself in dismay. I'm worse than dead! I'm married to Draco Malfoy.

Hermione forced herself awake and leaned up onto her elbows. She pushed Draco away and tried to get up on her feet. She stumbled and then fell again. Suddenly, Draco was in front of her, pulling her to her feet. She let him, but as soon as she was steady she broke free of his grip again.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"Blaise called my room. He said I needed to come up here," Draco explained.

"Why would he do that?"

Draco opened him mouth to explain, but Blaise and Ginny had suddenly appeared. Ginny looked from Hermione to Draco in a questioning glance, but Blaise just smirked.

"So you woke up?" Blaise asked Hermione.

"Yes, I did."

"What happened to you, Hermione?" Ginny asked her friend as she came up and hugged her.

"Well…," Hermione began, "I got a bit of a shock when I woke up this morning," she glared at her husband, "and that was doubled when I walked in on you two in bed together."

Ginny blushed at Hermione's observation. "Oh, so you did see us."

"Yes, I did. Unfortunately, I was completely wasted last night and the last thing I remember was…," Hermione swallowed nervously as she flicked her eyes at Draco. "The last thing I remember was Draco recognizing me as… well… me."

Draco grinned at her. It was just like her to not admit to their alley way rendezvous. "I must have gotten wasted too because I only remember a little bit more than her." He glanced at Hermione and smiled. "I remember pulling her out of the restaurant and then ravaging her pretty little head in the alley."

Hermione's jaw dropped. She could not believe that he would say something like that in front of other people. Apparently Ginny couldn't either.

"What?" she asked Hermione.

"Yeah, well… You know Malfoy. But really, you guys," Hermione said, changing the topic. "What the hell happened last night? Did you two get wasted also?"

"I know I did," Ginny confessed. "I woke up this morning to a very sexy man in bed with me," she said, winking at Blaise. As Blaise beamed she continued, "I don't remember how it happened though. Blaise?"

Blaise smirked at the three other adults in the hotel room. "Well someone had to remain sober! We needed a designated driver."

"We took a cab, but OK…," Draco said slowly. "If you weren't drunk then you can tell us what the hell happened!" he said forcefully, reiterating Hermione's comment from earlier.

"Well," Blaise began, "why don't we all sit down?" Blaise and Draco each sat on a chair and Blaise offered his lap to Ginny. When Ginny actually moved to sit, Hermione grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the floor. Draco offered his lap to Hermione with a grin, but the only response he got was Hermione giving him the finger. He held up his hands in mock defeat. Soon everyone was watching Blaise for the story of what had happened.

"Not much really happened at first. We ate dinner, you three drank a lot, and then Draco paid the bill. Then as we were leaving, you two," he gestured to Hermione and Draco, "started making out in the back of the cab. Ginny was so smashed that she was almost attached to me. I told the driver to take us to the hotel, but on the way Ginny saw a Wedding Chapel that did Wizarding marriages."

"How can you tell if a Vegas Wedding Chapel does Wizarding marriages?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"Well, in the bottom right corner of the neon signs outside the chapel you can see a little blue wizarding cap with yellow stars on it. It looks like the hat from Fantasia, a muggle movie," Ginny explained.

"Don't muggles see it?" Hermione asked.

"Muggles don't see anything they don't want to see. The knight bus, Hogwarts, little subliminal messages… They just don't pay attention," Draco clarified.

"Hogwarts is charmed, Malfoy. That's why muggles can't see it in all its grandeur. Seriously, haven't you ever read Hogwarts—"

"A History? No. I think you are the only one who has, Granger."

"It's not Granger anymore, Malfoy. Thanks to you, I'm Malfoy too now!"

"WHAT?" Ginny shouted. Everyone turned to her in shock. They had all forgotten that she was completely unaware of their current situation.

"Perhaps Blaise should continue with the story," Hermione suggested, looking anywhere but in the eyes of the people around her.

"As I said, Ginny saw a Chapel and wanted to look around. We had the cabbie stop, and then we went inside. The owner was really nice and he showed us around. He asked if we were interested in a wedding and we all said no. But then his seventeen year old daughter came down," Blaise stopped talking for a moment to look at his best friend. "Apparently, this girl had a major crush on the world's most eligible bachelor over here and as soon as she saw him she started freaking out. Draco got really nervous and started lying through his teeth."

"What do you mean freaking out? What was I lying about?" Draco asked.

"Well first she started asking for your autograph, but then you said you weren't Draco Malfoy. When Hermione confirmed that you weren't, you leaned over and kissed her for a good five minutes. You must have been really grateful for her keeping your name secret. At least you looked like you were grateful. This teenager started flipping out saying things like 'No! You're single! It says so in Witch Weekly!' and 'I know you're Draco Malfoy. Who is she? You're supposed to be single!'" Blaise was talking in a very high pitched girl voice as he pretended to be a seventeen year old girl and so Ginny was giggling.

"So then you finally admitted to being Draco Malfoy, but she wouldn't let go of the fact that you had a girlfriend. So you, being a right old ass, wanted her to be really upset and told her that the relationship was really serious. Hermione wanted to play along I guess because she was agreeing with everything you said. Ginny and I decided not to say anything and we just sat back and watched. This girl was really insistent though, and kept saying that you were faking. I guess she couldn't realize that you were both drunk out of your wits, but then Hermione got in a fight with the girl.

"You went back and forth arguing about whether or not he was dating you. Finally Draco broke in saying, and I quote, 'This relationship is so serious that we are getting married!'"

"So it's YOUR fault!" Hermione accused Draco.

"I. WAS. DRUNK. You can't seriously blame me!" Draco retorted.

"Oh yes I can and I will!"

"Let me finish please!" Blaise said angrily. "As I was saying, Draco made that statement and suddenly the room got very quiet. Hermione, your jaw must have been hitting the floor. Ginny and the girl were both silent and had their eyes widened. I was the only one who was genuinely amused. I had seen Draco do stupid things, but this topped them all." Blaise looked around at the sullen room. When no one said anything he continued.

"The girl looked from Draco to Hermione and then back to Draco. That was when she made a big mistake. She dared him to marry Hermione right then and right there."

"She didn't," Draco said slowly. Hermione looked at him and could tell that he was furious.

"Yes she did, Draco. And when you're sober you can't turn down a dare. When you're drunk, it's ten times worse. You walked straight over to Hermione and proposed."

"And I agreed?" Hermione asked disbelievingly.

"Not at first," Blaise clarified. "Draco had to convince you, and I might say that he did a damn good job of it. If I had been as drunk as you were, I would have agreed. And I'm a guy!"

"What did I say to her?"

"Oh a lot of things. You would be able to support her, you'd be faithful, you'd respect her…"

"And I believed that load of rubbish?" Hermione gaped.

"Hey!" Draco yelled. "What's rubbish about it?"

"Faithful? If there is one thing that you aren't, it's faithful! I would know!" Hermione yelled back at him. "Also, you don't respect women! You use them. You can't deny that."

"Well then," Blaise interrupted, not liking where their fight was headed, "you called the guy back in, and you got married. He asked you if you wanted it to be a wizarding marriage or a muggle one, and Draco said wizarding. The rest is pretty self explanatory. You got hitched, and then we picked up a cab to take us back here. You two went to Draco's room and I took Ginny back to hers. From the looks of your outfit, Hermione, I'd say that you two had a great night."

Hermione groaned as she looked down at her ensemble. Draco's boxers and T-shirt didn't exactly flatter her body, even if they were extremely comfortable. "Maybe. Fortunately, I don't remember."

"Hey!" Draco said again. "I'm a damn good lay, and you know it! But what about you two?" he gestured to Ginny and Blaise. "From what I got of it, you two had a nice night also."

Blaise grinned at Ginny. "Nothing happened. Hermione just came in while we were asleep under the covers, both fully clothed. I may go after married girls, but I don't take advantage of them while they are drunk."

"So there are guys with respect for women," Hermione said. She turned to Draco. "What a shocker."

"OK," Ginny broke in. "As fun as this was, I think you two need to leave. Hermione and I need to get ready for the—"

"We just need to get ready," Hermione interrupted. For some reason she didn't want Draco to know that she was in a beauty pageant. The two boys nodded. Blaise gave Ginny a peck on the cheek and whispered something about having a great night.

Draco approached Hermione and moved her hair behind her ear. He leaned in closer and whispered, "You're wearing my boxers and shirt. I want them back tonight at seven."

"You still want to talk? Didn't Blaise's story cover everything?"

"No," he said simply before turning his back to her and walking out. Blaise mumbled a good bye to Ginny and Hermione and then turned to follow Draco. When they were both gone Hermione let out a loud groan and fell onto the bed. Normally, Ginny would have sat down near her friend and talked to her, but today they needed to get ready for the pageant.

Ginny moved to her friend and began to shake her. "Come on, Hermione! It's already one o' clock. We need to get ready!"

"One o' clock?" Hermione asked the redhead. "It was ten when I woke up…"

"And then you passed out cold for two hours. Then Blaise spent an hour talking to us and now it's time to get ready."

"Shit. Time flies when you're having fun," Hermione said sarcastically.

At 1:50 Hermione and Ginny were racing down the hallway to the small conference room in the hotel. The pageant started at two and neither one of them wanted to be the last ones there. Hermione threw open the door and walked quickly into the room. Before she could stop herself, she smacked into a tall girl with waist length black hair. The girl looked at her with large emerald eyes and smiled.

"Sorry about that," she said sweetly.

"Oh no," Hermione apologized. "I should have been watching where I was going. It's my fault. I'm sorry."

The girl laughed. "It's alright. Don't worry about it. I'm Luci Malice by the way."

"Hello, Luci. I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione said as she offered Luci her hand.

"It was nice to meet you," she said pleasantly as she took Hermione's extended hand and shook it.

"I'm Ginny Weasley," said the redhead from Hermione's side.

"Right," said Luci with a curt smile. "Well, I must be going," she said before she left through the doors on the right side of the room.

"Well that was rude," Ginny said glumly.

"I thought she was nice."

"To you she was. Did you hear her when I introduced myself? 'Right'," Ginny mocked in a squeaky voice.

"Oh, be nice Ginny."

"I'm always nice, Hermione."

"Of course you are."

Ginny followed Hermione out the doors on the right.

Their first competition went very well. Hermione was wearing a pair of khaki pants with a cute brown halter top that brought out her eyes. She had on brown flip-flops. Her hair was straightened and put up in a half pony tail. Ginny was wearing tight, light blue jeans that were worn on the knees and but pockets. They had slits cut in to the ankle and hugged her hips. She had a tight white tank on top that read Dickies Girl. Her hair was loose and she was wearing plain tennis shoes on her feet.

When they got off the runway, Hermione and Ginny gave each other hugs and each one was genuinely sure of themselves. They both thought that they had done extremely well. Of course, they had to admit that it was not very hard to walk down a runway and look sexy in front of a bunch of male judges. There had been only one female judge at this particular competition.

Hermione and Ginny went back to their room after the pageant and browsed through some travel brochures for Vegas. They had never been here before and, aside from Chapels, they had no idea what was in this city. They made a tentative agenda for their trip and then, before she knew it, it was six thirty and she had to get ready to go to Malfoy's room.

Hermione knocked on Draco's door and he answered it quickly.

"That was quick," she commented.

"I've been waiting for you by the door. Do you realize that you are a whole minute late, love?" he asked her while he shut the door.

Hermione turned around and met his stare. "What are you playing at, Malfoy?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing," he said simply. He approached her and put his hand on the small of her back. "I'm playing at nothing. Follow me."

He led her across the room and pulled out a chair at a small table. "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No. Why?" she asked nervously as she sat down.

Draco made his way over to the kitchenette and pulled a pan off of the stove. "I made some macaroni and cheese. I figured that if you wanted some, you could join me for dinner."

"We just had dinner together yesterday, Malfoy. Or don't you remember?" she asked him as he set the pan on the table in the center.

"Funny you should mention that. Actually I don't remember. I was wasted." Hermione glared at him, but he continued heedlessly. "Besides, you are my wife. Most married couples eat together."

"Don't remind me. Please."

Draco had pulled some plates and forks out and now they sat in silence, eating. Finally, when they had both finished, Hermione got up and rinsed her plate off in the sink. She turned back and reached for Draco's but he took it back from her and rinsed it off himself.

Well, she thought, at least he doesn't expect me to be an old-fashioned wife.

Hermione sat down on a couch and waited for Draco to join her. When he had put everything away and was finished he did join her on the couch.

"What did you want to talk about, Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Stop calling me that, will you?" he said angrily. "My name is Draco. I can't say Granger anymore, so you can't say Malfoy. It's almost like you are talking to yourself."

"Fine, Draco. What did you want to talk about?"

"First, I wanted to do this again," he said quickly as he leaned forward and swept her lips up in his. He kissed her softly this time, not hard and rough like the time in the alley. Hermione instinctively gave in to his kiss and didn't bother to fight. She knew she wouldn't win anyway so she may as well enjoy this.

Draco was surprised when Hermione started to kiss him back. He tangled his hand into her hair, and his other hand he used to trace her cheek. He pushed forward and Hermione leaned back onto the arm of the couch. He shifted his weight so that it was comfortable for both of them, and then focused on kissing Hermione again.

He left her mouth and then started to kiss down her jawbone. He left little kisses all the way down her throat and onto her collarbone. He moved to the side of her neck and began to suck and nibble on her tender skin. After a moment, Hermione realized that she was going to have a mark if he didn't stop soon so she moved her hand to his blond hair and threaded her fingers among the strands. She pulled lightly and he came back up and captured her lips with his once again.

Minutes later they broke apart, breathless. Hermione placed a hand on her breast, trying to calm her ragged breathing and Draco ran a hand through his hair.

"What the hell is it about you that makes me want to do that?" he asked her sounding annoyed.

"I don't know. I thought that I was just a filthy mudblood to you," Hermione said, throwing him an accusing look.

Draco sighed and put his head in his hands. "Look," he said, raising his head to look her in the eye. "I know that I used you back in school. I'm sorry. Honestly, I am. I was seventeen, for crying out loud!"

"And you've matured a bunch in two years, right?" Hermione asked him.

"Yes! Just give me a chance, Hermione. I'm not too pleased about suddenly being married to you either, but I'm not being nearly as hostile!"

Hermione glared at him for a moment before she lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'll try to be… nicer… from now on. What was it that you wanted to talk about though?"

Draco let out a relieved sigh. "I'm assuming that you didn't know that I was your date last night?"

"I didn't even know I was going out to dinner until you knocked on the door. Ginny decided not to tell me. Why did Blaise call you to the room when I passed out this morning?"

"He said that he thought I should be there when you woke up. We needed to have a meeting, he said. Now I realize that he thought I should be there… as your husband."

"Oh," Hermione sighed.

"Why did you pass out?" Draco asked not knowing if he really wanted the answer.

"You want the whole truth?" Hermione asked him.

"Yes," Draco answered determinedly.

"Well, at first it was because I saw Ginny and Blaise in bed. But then my predicament hit me… and I couldn't hold it in any more. I just passed out."

"And what… predicament… would that be?"

"Being married to you," Hermione said softly. She actually felt ashamed admitting it to him that she truly hated what was going on even though she knew he felt the same way.

Draco didn't say anything so Hermione felt the need to continue the conversation. "I know it was a long time ago and I should be over it by now, but I need to know… Why did you use me in seventh year? Why did you seduce me? Was it just to win the bet that you had going? No matter how much I thought it over, I couldn't ever figure out why you did that. I mean, I tried to hate you. I tried to hate myself. But I never found the closure that I needed."

For once in his life, Draco Malfoy found himself wanting to tell the truth. "Hermione," he said softly as he laid his hand on hers. "I… used… you because of the bet. That was how it started. But then—"

Suddenly the door opened and Blaise came walking in. He noticed Hermione and Draco sitting on the couch hand in hand. "Oh. Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes, you are, Zabini," Draco said rudely.

"Actually, it's fine. I was just leaving anyway." She turned to face Draco. "I don't think I want to know the answer yet. We have a lifetime to talk about it. We are married."

She stood up to leave and Draco decided he would at least be kind enough to walk her to the door. When they reached the threshold he turned his reluctant wife towards him and gave her a final kiss. He might not be the one she had wanted, but he could at least try his hardest to not make her life miserable. He really had matured in the two years since they had graduated. Now, he only had to make his new bride realize that.

A/N: As promised, the more you review, the more we write! Here's your update! Review more (we're looking for over 16 reviews) and I (Amber) can guarantee six will be up within the week. I can't guarantee for seven, however, because I have not written it yet. But six is written and ready to go. Review.

Oh, and to anonymous. That was our first "flame" and I just wanted to say I appreciate it. I was actually laughing my head off because of the sixteen new reviews, yours was the only one that didn't like the marriage. I'm sorry you didn't like it, but we aren't re-writing the chapter. The whole plot depends on their marriage. Thanks to everyone else who did like it.

And Aerion… you are smart… yes you are. ;) I can't say much more than that, but that is what we've been planning on doing. I'm glad you thought of that. Why would they be in Vegas? Hmmmmm…