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Chapter III: Fifteen Roses


Hermione casually sipped on her drink as the gathered men vied for her attention. There was no end to the supply of champagne; it seemed the kitchen was fully stocked with all sorts. Stan Shunpike emerged from the kitchen holding a tray of finger sandwiches, which all formed a giant H. He offered them to Hermione first, who politely accepted one; only to find they were delicious. After the tray had been passed around, it was unanimous that Stan was pretty good in the kitchen.

Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder, and pivoted around to see Oliver Wood smiling down at her.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, I'd like a few moments with our lovely Miss Granger."

Hermione simpered and got off of the sofa, as she walked with him, she turned to see the scowling faces of Dean, Marcus and Cormac. Oliver took her hand and walked her out onto the patio.

The sparkling pool shimmered in front of them, and the forested backdrop seemed impenetrable.

"The night is lovely, isn't it?" Oliver said, raising his champagne glass to his lips.

"It is a nice evening." Hermione saw an owl soaring above the estate, its reflection skimming across the pool.

"Hermione, when I captained Quidditch at school, I was never one to surrender my goals easily. George or Harry could attest to that."

She looked up into his eyes, and saw her face within. He had gotten very close; she could smell his cologne and feel his breath.

"Oliver, really, I must insist, for fairness…"

He extended a finger and pressed it softly below her eye, and drew back. "Got it. You had an eyelash about to get into your eye. Here, make a wish." He said, placing his finger in front of her lips.

"Oh." Hermione felt silly for having thought he would kiss her so early. She blew lightly and saw the tiny eyelash flutter and loop away into the night air.

"I hope it comes true." He said. "While we're here, Hermione, remember; I don't give up easily on my dreams, and I won't give up on you. I'm here for you, and can't wait to get to know you better."

"Thank you Oliver." She gave him a light hug, careful not to tip her champagne onto him.

"I had better let the other men have some time with you, wouldn't want them angry at me so early on." His lips curved upwards and he led her back inside.

She walked back inside and was greeted by a sweet tune; Draco was sitting at the piano, his fingers dancing across the keyboard. He changed the tune to a sweet sounding melody as he caught sight of Hermione.

Hermione walked over to the piano, and sat down beside him. "Draco, not to interrupt you one bit, but I am curious."

Draco continued to play, his head inclined towards her. "All you need is to ask." Draco said softly, so she had to strain to hear.

"You were so cruel during the war, at school." Hermione watched him.

"How else was I to get your attention? It seemed to me like you never took your eyes of Potter." He rolled his head backwards, to stare up at the ceiling.

Hermione felt an odd stirring, as if memories were shuffling to the surface, memories long since used. "Harry?" She looked at him, and saw his smooth, pale face. "Close friends always spend time together, and he had the advantage, being a Gryffindor."

"Yes, well. I tried to get your attention through academics. You might as well not deny this; we were the smartest in our class. Harry might have been at the front of the war, might even have won it." He shrugged, and Hermione wondered how it could be disputed that Harry didn't win the war.

"Okay, and?" she felt he was leading up to some bold pronouncement.

"Well, he's never been as bright as we are. " Draco continued to play, flawlessly.

"I didn't know you could play piano." Hermione said, wanting to ignore school rivalries.

"I am talented, and have changed considerably since we last had the intimacy to speak."

She laughed. "When did we last have the intimacy to speak?"

"Inconsequential, Hermione. We have the chance now, let us speak on." Draco nodded his head towards her. "Do you play?"

Hermione shook her head, and joined in with him, her fingers dancing opposite his. "Maybe a little."

"You're a beautiful woman Hermione, and a talented witch. Anyone who doesn't appreciate you isn't fit to hold your hand."

"That's sweet, Draco. I never thought you and I could speak so…" Hermione was interrupted as she heard a loud whooping sound from the bar area.

She stopped playing and touched his left hand. "Thank you for coming, Draco, I look forward to spending more time with you."

She got up, and headed towards the commotion. Terry Boot and Michael Corner were in the foyer, beneath an enormous crystal chandelier. A mosaic decorated the wall closest to Terry; a beautiful heart pattern was set inside.

"Well, I was going to make her a mixed drink, until you decided it would be smart to juggle glassware!" Terry shouted at Michael, who was still holding a stem glass.

"I'm going to stick this right up your ham shaped arse, you prat!" Michael said, his face screwed up and red, and Hermione noticed him stumble a bit; as if he had been drinking too much.

"I think you both should step down right now. I don't want to have confrontations here; if I wanted foolishness I would have remained married." Hermione spoke aloud, causing the two to look at her.

The crowd of men that had gathered around Hermione all nodded in agreement.

The two separated and walked away from the foyer, and Hermione felt a hand on the small of her back where her dress opened slightly. A cool hand felt so refreshing, for the crowd was pressed against her.

"Hermione, come into the library with me, I'd like your opinion on a piece of literature."

She turned to see Blaise gazing at her, his breath smelled of mint.

"Sure," Hermione said, wondering silently if he really cared for literature, or private conversation.

They walked into the expansive library, where oil lamps lit the room, and incense hung in the air. Hermione found it very soothing in this room, and pictured herself spending some time in here once the men were sent down to their private house.

Blaise escorted her down a long row of shelves, and she allowed him to take her hand, impressed with his boldness. "I admit, Blaise, I never took you to be a reader."

"I like romantic novels, what say you and I begin our first chapter?" He said, as he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.

She inhaled involuntarily as his lips pressed on her cheek, and she felt a little light headed.

"Blaise…we really should be talking about books…safe, delicate books…" Hermione felt his hand against her back and her head was swimming.

As he proceeded to kiss along her neck, she vaguely heard a door slam in the library. "We must be quiet in the library; Madame Pince would have our heads…"

"Petrificus Totallus!" Came the thundering cry of Harry Potter, and Blaise fell rigid at Hermione's feet.

As Hermione came back to her senses, she realized she was in Harry's arms, and perhaps half the men had congregated into the tiny aisle way of the library, the other half were staring at Blaise.

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asked, staring up into his green eyes so full of concern.

"I had heard him earlier talking about a secret to get you to like him, he was boasting. I realized once you were gone what he was talking about. He had used a spray form of Amortentia, it works like a Muggle date rape drug, of course that term is going to make you think badly of him, which he deserves…" Harry said. His glasses were sliding down the bridge of his nose. Hermione tried fixing them, and only managed to smudge the lenses.

"Sorry, Harry."

"It's fine, Hermione. But, all the concoction does is make the woman amorous; it doesn't really knock you out. Either way, it was a dirty trick."

"Very dirty indeed." Rolf Scamander said, and Hermione saw that his wand was out and at the ready, pointed at Blaise.

"Can we put that away, please?" Hermione asked, slowly getting to her feet.

"Anything you want, Hermione. " Rolf said, tucking his wand away into his Dragon Hide vest.

They all made their way out of the library, and decided that Blaise would best be kept in the center of the drawing room.

As they were all talking in the kitchen, Sir Nearly Headless Nick came in, along with a short man wearing a suit the color of tapioca pudding. "Ah hem, sorry to interrupt. But I wanted to call attention to what my good man Vincent is holding. It's the Rose of the Chosen; Hermione will be giving this rose to the person who has impressed her most this evening. This person will be safe from the upcoming elimination. Hermione, it's here for you whenever you're ready."

With that, Vincent placed it on the pass-through in the kitchen, in full sight of all the gathered.

The talk quickly turned to that of whom Hermione would choose.

"Hermione, why don't you just go ahead and choose the most handsome man here." George was saying over his second glass of champagne.

"You really should Hermione, it would save me a lot of worrying." Percy said pompously.

"Dear brother, surely you're wasted. As you can clearly see, I'm still in this room. Therefore, you pale in comparison." George said, poking Percy with his wand.

"I think I know who I want to give the rose to." Hermione said.

"Really Hermione, I am honored." Percy said standing, it seemed, to make a speech.

"It is I who will receive the rose. I am the most qualified kisser." Gilderoy said light heartedly, examining himself in a mirror.

"Who carries a mirror, Gilderoy?" Charlie asked, eyeing the wizard warily.

"I don't know, frankly, I can't recall why I have it. It was in my pocket, next to hair styling goop." The blonde man said bemusedly.

"I do not think you should give that rose to this man, Hermione." Viktor said roughly.

"Give it to the person you want to, Hermione. There are fourteen other roses up for grabs, we don't need to act so picky over this one." Zacharias Smith said.

"Maybe…" Dennis Creevy started, before he was cut off.

"Give it to me, Janie; it'll look wonderful on my chest. Course, not as good as you would look." Cormac added loudly, causing the whole room to look at him.

"Cormac, why don't you go stuff a turkey. Or do you not touch your own kind?" Neville said, a confident smile crossing his face.

"Okay, I'm getting up now." Hermione said, and she walked over to the rose and exited the room.

Hermione girl, you need to give this to someone who has made a big impression on you. Harry did save me, but I know he would have done that anyway. And then, Blaise definitely won't be getting a rose. Oh my, the main ceremony comes soon. Fourteen roses to give out…She exhaled and walked towards him who was destined for the first rose.

Draco was sitting at the bar, talking animatedly with Oliver, the unlikeliest of combinations to be sure, and both their heads turned towards her and the rose.

"Oliver, could we talk for a minute?" she asked.

"Sorry, Draco—I'll be back in a tick." Oliver said smiling broadly.

They walked back outside, and Oliver pulled out a seat for her at a nearby patio table.

"Thank you." Hermione said, and she watched him sit opposite her.

"So, how has this been going for you?"

"Alright so far, it's been exciting to be sure."

"Oh, to be sure." He smiled.

"Oliver, I'd like to offer you this rose, for being so cool and collected about all of this."

He looked handsome in the light of the moon and stars, and his smile only made it more so. "I would be honored to wear your rose, Hermione." He stood up and knelt beside her, where she pinned the rose onto his suit.

Hermione noticed a handful of faces staring out at them from the windows and balconies.

"I think we're attracting attention." She said to Oliver.

"Let them stare, I don't mind." He said, and he kissed her hand lightly.

She appreciated the kiss, and rose after his lips parted. "Let's go back inside. I've got some things to do, I've been told."

"You'll make the right choices."

The men were left on their own, as Hermione was summoned into her deliberation chambers. Staring back at here were twenty five small portraits of her men. Nearly Headless Nick was floating beside them, motioning her forward.

"Hermione, how have you liked this so far?" Nick asked.

"Well, Sir Nicholas, it has been very interesting. Most of the men are so kind, and interested! " she said, as if it was the most amazing pronouncement.

"What have the men done to impress you the most?" Nick asked, nodding slowly, carefully.

"I liked Stan making those sandwiches for me, and of course, it was kind of flattering to see Michael and Terry fighting over me, that has never happened before, not really. You can't count Ron & Viktor in school."

"Mmhmm. I see. And what do you think about Viktor coming back to you?"

"I'm in love with the idea of him; I'm not sure if that means anything though. I just want to get to know him more intimately, to see what really makes the man, to see how much he has truly changed."

"I see, and speaking of changes, that Draco has certainly taken a new suit, hasn't he?"

"He has. In fact, he almost received the Rose of the Chosen."

"Well, here we have portraits of all the men. You'll have some time to decide on who you want to stay, but ten men have to be eliminated tonight, they will receive no rose, and they will go home immediately. I'll let you have some privacy, let me know when you are ready."

Hermione stared at the moving portraits, she watched George as he casually laughed in his portrait. She didn't know what to think of Rolf Scamander, he seemed almost too pompous for her, and on the topic of pompous, there was Percy. She felt conflicted, and kept chewing on her lip, when finally, she had her fifteen men.

She exited the deliberation chambers, and walked with Sir Nicholas into the room of elimination. She stared at all of their faces, some smiling, and some sweating nervously. Before her was a tray of fourteen roses, Oliver already had his, and his smile was the largest.

"Fourteen roses are before me," Hermione swallowed. "I have to send ten of you home. I'm really sorry that I have to cut this short, between us. If I don't give you a rose, don't hold it against me, I'm sure most of you are very good men, I just don't feel the connection."

She breathed deeply, and picked up the first rose. The men stared at the rose, or maybe it was her chest, as they were very close together. She lowered the rose self-consciously.

"Neville. Come here." She asked, and Neville released a deep breath, he smiled as though given new life.

"Neville, you've really impressed me tonight. Will you accept this rose?"

"Happily, Hermione." He said, and he boldly extended his chest as she put the rose on him. He kissed her cheek. "Thank you." He whispered.

Neville returned to the men, to stand beside Oliver.

Thirteen roses left.

"Michael, will you come here?" she asked, and he blushed vividly.

"Hello Hermione."

"Michael, I liked how determined you seem. Will you accept this rose?"

He nodded his head, were he Nicholas it might have turned gruesome. "I will happily accept your rose."

She pinned it to him, and he returned to his spot.

"Anthony." Hermione said, picking up the next rose.

"Oh yes, I'll accept the rose!" He laughed, running up to her and placing a kiss on her cheek.

Hermione smiled and added the rose to his suit. Anthony returned and stood proudly.

"Harry, come to me." Hermione said, and so Harry came.

Harry was all smiles.

"Hello again." Harry said.

"Will you accept this rose?"

"Yes. I will." He leaned in as she attached the rose to his suit, and he kissed her on the cheek. "I am glad you chose me."

"I am too." She said, and watched him return to the crowd of men.

Ten roses remained.

"Viktor. Come forward, please."

The tan skinned wizard approached her, his stony looking lips curved into a smile.

"Will you give me your rose?" He asked.

"Will you accept it?" She asked, as she watched him gazing at her.

"Ever more."

The men without roses were looking apprehensious, most of all, was Cormac. Hermione picked up the next rose and called the next name.

"Charlie."

Charlie Weasley strode forward, grinning as he passed George and Percy. "Sorry brothers. The lady knows what she likes." He grinned as he walked towards Hermione.

"A bit of sibling rivalry?" she asked him.

"Just a tad bit." He chuckled.

"Would you accept this rose?"

"I would." He said, and she pinned it on him.

She continued calling out the names, Rolf, Dean, Seamus, Terry, Lee & Stan, all accepted her roses.

The tension was palpable in the air, and Hermione called out the next name.

"Draco will you…" but before she could finish her sentence, Draco was in front of her.

"Thought you'd never get there." He smiled radiantly, his cheeks flushed.

"I assume you want this rose then?"

"It's better than a punch in the face, to be sure." He smiled as soon as he saw her start to smile.

"Thank you, Hermione." He whispered, as she leaned into him.

"Thank you, Draco, for letting me play with you."

"A bit dirty sounding there, might want to keep it down. Don't know if children are watching."

She swatted his cheek and he laughed his way back to the gathered men.

Nearly Headless Nick stepped forward from behind the pillars. "Gentlemen, Lady, we are down to the last rose."

"No kidding, captain obvious." George said, nervously. A few of the men around him chuckled. Nick gave him a stare, and floated away.

Hermione barely kept a straight face. "George, come here."

George looked around, and pointed at himself, feigning uncertainty.

"Yes you, silly man." She laughed, and George strutted forwards. The rest of unrosed men looked crestfallen. Maybe except for Blaise, who should have expected it.

George stood in front of her proudly.

"George, will you accept this rose?"

"Absolutely." He smiled.

Nicholas came out again and put his hands together. "Sorry gentlemen, if you did not receive a rose, you must leave immediately."

The varied unselected men all came forward and gave Hermione hugs, wishing her the best of luck.

Once the fifteen men and Hermione were alone, they again gave a toast.

"At last, I have my fifteen men. I'm so glad you're all here. May this coming week be filled with magic, and fun of course. To us!" Hermione said jubilantly.

"To us!" the men cheered.

AN:


Thanks for the reviews, they're most helpful. This next chapter will be your first opportunity to vote on who you like and who you think is just in it for themselves. Thanks for the +favs as well.
Until next time,

TowerMage