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Previous Chapter:
Mindy's way was always the only way. Hermione had an urge to mutiny, but after the honeymoon, Mindy would be back to Diagon Alley, her lunch buddy and walking partner. Most brides become real witches again after their big day.
"I hate this spell."
Chapter 2: The Bet
"Sonoros," Hermione muttered to herself as she went to the head table.
"Er.. ladies…girls…women…" The spell made her too nervous to remember what was politically correct.
The band was taking their forty-third break, and conversation prevailed.
"Can I have your attention? Please!" She pleaded seeing as none turned their attention to her.
"The bride is going to throw her bouquet!" That got them. Hermione wiggled her tongue trying to get enough saliva to finish the announcement.
"Eligible witches go to the grand stairway," she directed, surprised when the groom's Dad took the attention away from her.
"Come on, gals. Who'll be the lucky little lady to snag the bouquet?"
Hermione crept away before he thought of doing an interview on why she wanted the bouquet. In fact, she didn't. She'd caught the bride's bouquet at four previous weddings, mainly because she could be trusted to return it to the newlyweds after. Obviously the charm of the mysterious bouquet didn't work on a skeptic like her.
Judging by the stampede, Mindy had invited an army of unwed women, although some of the throng gathering at the foot of the stairs had to be women looking for love the second or the third time around.
The foyer was large with striking black-and-white checkerboard tiles on the floor. The walls were loaded with cloudy old oil paintings in heavy gold frames. Mindy had gone to the top of the stairs so she could descend dramatically, her train hooked up to avoid a tumble. Her dress was ivory silk with an over skirt of antique Belgian lace from her grandmother's wedding gown. Tess had never seen a bride who didn't look beautiful, and Mindy was no exception. It was the glow, not the trappings.
It was her job to announce, "Here she comes!" and whip the crowd into a frenzy. She intended to stand to the side to avoid the crash, but women jockeying for position outflanked her. She found herself squeezed in on all sides, threatened by a tall girl's bony elbow to her right and a pair of stiletto heels backing into her. Hermione's silly bow had come untied again, but she was too squashed to reach behind and redo it.
She caught a glimpse of Mindy nodding at her from the top of the stairs, her signal to make the big announcement.
"Here comes the bride!" she called, not that everyone couldn't see that.
A woman with jet-black hair gave her a hard hip thrust on the left, but Hermione couldn't escape the press. They'd box her on all sides.
Mindy was descending with much practiced stateliness. She threw from the half-way point, putting enough oomph into the toss to give the bouquet some spin.
Hermione put her hands defensively with no thought of catching it. But the flowers were coming directly at her. Hands were everywhere, reaching, grabbing, and snatching. She heard an ominous rip and was nearly knocked off her spike heels as two contenders got their hands on the delicate arrangement of the exotic blooms.
Neither woman would let go. They pulled until they split the prize, tearing the orchids away from the wiring. Hermione heard another tearing noise and knew she was in trouble.
The crowd thinned with a mix of disappointed grumbles and good humored laughter. Hermione found herself standing alone with her skirt hanging limply on the tiles behind her. The wretched satin streamers had been torn loose, taking the back of the skirt with them. She knew the semi transparent petticoat wasn't enough to conceal a view of her pink bikini knickers that came along with the dress, and a couple of the groomsmen were strolling her way. She knew they'd noticed when they stopped near her and pretended to be studying one of the dark old portraits on the wall in front of her. Chris, an auburn haired and freckle faced guy pretending to be an art lover, had already tried to corner her in an empty hall from a previous wedding. He had breath like a sewer and a peanut-sized brain. Hermione would rather get sucked into quicksand than get those abnormally huge hands of Chris on the part of her anatomy that was now hanging out of the ruined dress.
Reaching behind and grabbing a handful of satin, she tried to bunch it altogether enough for modesty's sake while she edged her way out of the door. This reception was over for her.
She felt a robe descend on her shoulders before she saw her rescuer.
"Let's go," Draco said, putting his arm on her shoulders to hold his robe in place.
"Gladly!"
"Crazy ritual. I'd rather get on a wolf pack than get in the middle of a scramble for the bride's bouquet."
"I wasn't going for it," she said. "I was in charge of getting the women together."
"You certainly did an admirable job," he teased, pushing open the door with his free hand.
Spotlights lit up the front entrance, and light posts illuminated the whole of the apparition area. A few tobacco clad weirdoes lounged on the steps enjoying the wonderful June evening, and a tipsy couple who seemed to have too much firewhiskey to drink were doing something in the shadows that highly resembled like exploring each other's mouths.
Feeling a bit awkward with the few people loitering there, he quickly guided her towards the London Apparition spot, keeping his expensive robe firmly in place with his arm.
"I owe you," she said. "This makes twice you've rescued me."
"Well, that's two times more since a charming, rich, pureblooded, magnificently handsome—"
"arrogant, conceited, arse-faced but cute, bloody ferret boy and prick Draco sodding Malfoy rescued me?" she finished for him.
"Getting moody, aren't we? You know, I'm almost forgetting that we even had a rivalry back then, my sweet lovely Ms. Gran—wait a minute…did you say I am cute?"
"I believe I didn't," she said, realizing what she had just said. 'Cute? I mean puh-leez! I thought you were already over him, wait, I think I am not over him, or am I? I must be going nuts, talking with my self is totally psychotic!'
"You did! You said 'arse-faced but cute!" He said through his half-smiling, half-grinning lips.
"Maybe I did. Oh, just forget it! Just when I thought you were growing up, maturing and finally capable of carrying out a civil conversation, here you are again, up with your I-don't-give-a-tiny-rat's-ass façade!" She shrieked back.
Moments of uncomfortable silence passed by quite slowly. Tension was building up, just like their Hogwarts years. But this time, neither wanted to talk nor breathe, not wanting to add more of the disturbing state they were in.
"So listen," Draco said breaking the deafening silence, "about owing me. There is one little thing you could do for me."
"What?" She was surprised that Draco Malfoy could need anything from her. If truth be told, still, she was hopeful that the favor involved spending more time with him.
"You've always had lots of girlfriends, if I remember right. Do you still?" he replied.
"I guess. I've never given it quite much thought."
"Are some of them…I mean, do you still have some sweet unattached friends who've never been married?"
"I don't exactly run a club for old maids." She was liking this less and less.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound…"
"Weird?"
"My intentions are honorable." He smiled ruefully. "I'd really like to meet some good and nice women."
"Is that why you crashed the reception?"
Surely, this man could get a date in a Muggle convent if he put his charm to work! She was far more puzzled than pleased by the prospect of playing a matchmaker for him.
"Weddings are usually a good place to meet… people."
"You seemed to be doing well enough." She bit her tongue, angry at herself for letting him know she noticed.
He shrugged. In shirtsleeves, his shoulders were broad and muscular. Her fingers itched to touch them.
"I'd like to meet someone of our age."
"That's quite predictable."
"But do you have any goody good nice friends?"
"All my friends are nice—at least most of the time." She was thinking of Mindy. "But I'm not good at setting up blind dates. It's the best way I know to lose friends."
She suspected he was too much man for most of the single witches she knew. But oddly enough he didn't intimidate her anymore. She knew he'd never be interested in her—she was just his matchmaker—but at least he didn't make her stammer, stutter and shake anymore.
"How about this." He took a single galleon out of his pocket. "Heads you introduce me to some of your friends. Tails, I give you a tour of the Malfoy Boutique and a sneak preview of some new products and garments which will be available soon."
She was tempted but didn't entirely trust him.
"I'm not much on games of chance," she said.
"What's your game?"
"Basketball, a Muggle sport, like quaffle shooting on hoops. But I wouldn't stand a chance against a Quidditch player like you. I do play wizard's chess occasionally."
She didn't mention that she'd grown up practicing on Ron's chess board in the Gryffindor Common Room, or that she'd usually win on bets with idiots like Harry or Neville or even Ernie Macmillan.
"Chess it is. Same stakes. Do you like one game, sudden death or two out of three?"
"Two out of three." Her second game was usually better than her first. She needed warm-up time.
"I'll follow you. Where do you want to play?"
"You forget I did the Cinderella bit –ball gowns to rags. Maybe a rain check?" Which would give her time to wiggle out of the bet, she thought, realizing how little she wanted to fix him up with someone else.
"If you're afraid you can't beat me…" Draco trailed off.
"No way!"
"I'll apparate you to your flat. You can change, and we'll go to the nearest chess restaurant."
"It's late, Draco."
"Not even eleven."
"I've had a long day."
"No disadvantage. I was on my shop at six a.m."
"Do you always get your own way?"
His smirk was all the answer she needed.
She gave in, but darned if she'd let him win!
Author's Notes:
Well, how did I do on this one? And give me a clue, who would you want to win the bet? Please submit a review.. : )
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Review replies:
Angel of Nature- Thanks for the "Sonoros" spell! Hehe! I hope you liked this chapter. ;)
Divinus Astra- Hmm.. Maybe they might be a couple.. or not.. Hehe! I'm sorry for that.. Keep read and reviewing, though! c
ChobitsKtty- Thanks!