Disclaimer: Many thanks to JK Rowling for her wonderful works. They are hers and hers alone. I have only borrowed her characters for a while and built my own little fantasy around them. There is no pay involved for me in doing it.
A/N: Thank you to all who have read my story and an additional thank you to those who have reviewed it. You don't know how much I have loved reading each one. You have made me smile. Last, kudos to CGMoonlight, MiaRWeasley, X-miss black-X, classygyrl, and hpdork22 for setting Alerts for it. Wow. I am surprised and humbled.
Thank you all very much and I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Chapter 3Each of the girls nodded and started to apparate away. The men watched Beth step closer to Hermione and the two of them disappear. Draco looked from them to Blaise and with a quick nod from the other man, grabbed the girl closest to each of them before they could pop away. A pull and squeeze later Draco stood with his arms wrapped around a cute girl with green eyes in the middle of a living/dining room.
The women in his arms pulled away quickly as if she had been burned and Draco heard Ginny from across the room, "You two weren't supposed to follow us!"
He turned to see several of the girls had formed a semi circle around Hermione and most of them had their wands drawn, pointed at either Blaise or him.
Blaise, ever the ladies' man laughed nervously, "Okay, girls, let's just relax here. A minute ago Julie, Tala and I were dancing. Nothing bad happened, right? Just having some fun and a few drinks, right? So, how about you all put the wands down and let's talk and drink some more."
His smile and wink started doing the trick as a few of the girls, giggled and lowered their wands.
"I mean I never got to dance with half of you," he continued. Then, as more wands lowered, he let out a held breath, leaned back against a bookshelf and glanced around, "Nice place, Hermione."
"Shut up, Zabini," Ginny sneered, her wand moving between the two men. "What are you two up to?"
Draco shouted, "Dammit, Weasley, nothing!" Just as Blaise laughed, "About 6 feet four inches."
The women nearest him giggled, but Ginny, Beth, and Snoop, didn't crack a smile.
"Okay, Gin, Snoop, wands away now!" Hermione yelled. "And, what the hell were you going to do with that, Beth, cook the two of them to death?" She snatched the spatula out of her friend's hand and stepped between the men and women. "Okay first, everyone calm down. And, sit down."
As people started to drop onto sofas and chairs around her, Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I need a drink. Anyone else?"
A quick glance around showed all the girls with their hands in the air and Blaise waving a finger at her as he winked and smiled. The only one not sitting was Malfoy. He stood resolutely by the fireplace, his hands moving restlessly, indecision on whether to stay or go clear on his face, as his eyes darted to the floo powder on her mantle.
"Don't even think it!" Ginny hissed from across the room.
"Okay, stop! Ginny, Blaise, Malfoy, let's go into the other room and deal with this. The rest of you get Snoop another drink. I don't think this is the way the night was supposed to end. I'm so sorry," she whispered in her friend's ear as she hugged her.
"No worries, HG. Just hurry up, okay?" Snoop smiled at her. "And, I know I am drunk, but I'm just saying, for a malicious, self-centered, prejudice asshole, he sure looks like walking sex on a stick!"
Hermione rolled her eyes and pretended to gag as she followed the others into her kitchen. Before she got out of ear shot though, she heard them all launch into a discussion of which one had the cuter butt.
When she stepped into the room, both Ginny and Draco had their wands out, while Blaise lounged in one of her kitchen chairs a smirk on his handsome dark face.
Catching his eye, she smiled softly and saw his dimples flash at her, "Just like the good old days, huh?"
Neither Ginny nor Draco turned at the sound of her voice, but Draco's voice dripped with sarcasm as she said, "Yeah, Granger. Just like 'em. Why don't you call Potter-Dee and Weasel-Dum. Then we can have a real reunion."
"Nice, Malfoy," Hermione sighed and added with a small laugh. "Way to endear yourself to the girl with the wand. Um, Mrs. Potter, please lower your wand. Gin, please?"
"Only if he does!" Ginny said petulantly. "Ignorant jerk insults my husband and my brother and expects me to..."
"Okay, enough! Both of you. This is my apartment. Wands down!" The authority in her voice did the trick. Both arms snapped down to their sides, and even Blaise sat up a little. Wow! I hope that works on the students in my class next week.
"Ginny, they were just out for a night of fun. Like us. They were celebrating their graduation, too."
"Yeah right! They didn't go to school with you. And, I know they didn't go anywhere in Europe. The Order and The Ministry would have been all over them!"
"Which," Blaise put in smoothly, "is precisely why we came over here to continue our studies. We went to USWU. And, I promise you, we had no idea you or Hermione were here, so close. We sure as hell didn't know you were with that group out there."
"Okay, then why were you dancing with the ferr…"
"Ginny! Look, we need to pick our party out there back up. Trish owes all of us a big breakfast. And, we still haven't done the gifts. Why don't you go out and get everyone ready to go?"
"And leave you here alone with them?!"
Hermione looked between the two men. Blaise still looked rather relaxed, if a bit annoyed, as he glanced around her kitchen, taking in her many muggle items. But, it was Draco's defeated posture, and downcast eyes that made her sigh, "I think I'll be okay. You guys are just outside the door, Gin. Just give me a minute to get rid of them, okay?"
"Okay, but I will be RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT DOOR. Any funny business and I'm coming back in to hex you two to within an inch of your lives!"
All three watched her back slowly out of the door, and Hermione saw a sea of curious faces trying to look back into the room. "I'll be right out guys," she smiled and waved.
Before she turned back to her unexpected guests, she heard a shuffling at the door and knew they were all queued up to listen. With a heavy snort, she wrenched the door open and stepped back from the flailing arms and legs, as the women tumbled into the room and hit the floor.
"Honestly!" she admonished as they untangled themselves and hurried back out each apologizing to her.
"Sorry, Mi."
"Yeah, sorry Mione."
"Just checking on you, sheesh!"
"Would you be mad if I gave Blaise my number?"
Hermione hung her head in her hands and tried not to laugh as she heard the conversation continue behind the door.
"Are you stark raving mad?!" – Ginny
"Well, he is hot, Gin." – Tala
"And, Mione wouldn't be in there alone if they were really bad guys." – Trish
"You guys don't know them!" – Ginny
"But, I would love to get to know that tall, blonde one better." – Holly
"Ewww!" – Ginny
Finally remembering that she was a witch, Hermione placed a silencing charm on the room and raised her head to look at the men in front of her.
Draco spoke softly from his corner of the kitchen, "So, uh, why haven't you hexed us to oblivion already, Granger?"
"Come on, D. If she was going to, she wouldn't have stopped Ginny." Then, those eyes that had made girls from all of the houses melt to nothing and agree to anything turned to her, "By the way, hello and looking good, Hermione."
She felt a blush creep up her cheeks and allowed the small smile on her lips, "Yeah, thanks. You, too, Zabini."
Blaise was one of the few people who everyone had liked. He stayed middle of the road in almost everything he did. And, he had never engaged in the house infighting, as it would have seriously cramped his dating life. Blaise had a knack for getting what he wanted, never getting attached and still leaving a girl happy as a clam. Hermione couldn't think of one girl who hadn't fallen under his spell, gotten her dream, and then badmouthed him afterward. He was a marvel.
She glanced at him as he got up and moved to stand in front of her. Okay, now what is that cologne he's wearing? Wow. Strippers Are Us? Do Me Daily? Ode de Trying too Hard? I mean, dude, dial it back a bit. Try something more manly and subtle like Draco is weari…NO! Bad Hermione! Stop those thoughts right now! And, it is MALFOY, not Draco. Got it?! Good. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, Blaise looking down my shirt, "Aw come now, after all this time, you still can't call me by my name? Come on, just once, say it."
She barely contained her own smirk as she said, "Fine. Blaise, my eyes are up here."
He lifted his gaze to hers and winked unapologetically, "Sorry, can't help myself."
She laughed with him, but then stepped to the right and addressed them both. "Look, first, congratulations on your graduation. I hope you both did well. And, I know you guys didn't plan this or mean any harm, so I won't hold it against you. But, as you can see, you did interrupt a bachelorette party, so I am going to have to ask you to both leave. It was, um, interesting to see you again though."
"So, we can't stay? Twenty gorgeous women and just the two of us? Sounds like a great night to me," Blaise tried as he waggled his eyebrows.
"Yeah right," she couldn't help but giggle. Hermione had never allowed herself to succumb to him, but that didn't mean she hadn't been tempted. The man was hot! "Sorry, but no go. Now, quickly, go and say your goodbyes, so we ladies can continue our evening."
Draco stood and started for the door without a word. Blaise shrugged and turned to follow and Hermione was left standing there to wonder what she was feeling and thinking.
Well, Draco could have at least tried to get me to let them stay. Wait! He barely said a word the whole time. What's going on in his head? Why do I care? I don't, remember? That's right, I don't! Draco can fry in…MALFOY!!!! Stop calling him Draco. It's like you don't hate him or something. Or something…man did he smell and feel good. And, he can dance. I wonder what those lips would feel like against…WOAH! Get a grip, Hermione! Blaise! That's right, think of Blaise. Sexy. Check. Not too full of himself. Check. Funny. Check. Ladies' Man. Check and double check. Not a bad idea for a date now that things have calmed down from school and all. Hmmm. Maybe I should give him a chance now. He seems like a lot of fun. But, Ginny might kill me. But, it's not like anyone else is banging my door down. And, he seems interested, right? Right. Ooh those sexy blue grey eyes…WHAT?! No. Brown. Blaise's eyes are brown. But, you just know Draco would know how to do things right as your first sha…Holy Hannah! Where did that come from?! Stop! Get out of the kitchen and your own head before you explode!
Fleeing her own mind, Hermione stumbled through the door. She practically fell on her face, but felt two strong arms grab her to help her right herself. She glanced down at the pale hands and then quickly up to his eyes. Jeez, they are beautiful.
"Th…tha…thank you," she stuttered.
It was a long moment though before he pulled his hands away from her waist and finally nodded with a tiny smile.
She felt that darn blush creeping up again and stepped away from him to look at the rest of the occupants of the room.
"Are you sure you want to marry Weasley tomorrow? Today? I mean, that takes you completely off the market."
Snoop nodded, but continued to giggle with the rest of them as he made his way through the group. It seemed Hermione had missed the introductions, but she got the gist as several women pressed slips of paper into his hands and pockets. Okay, ladies, get a grip. There's only one of him. Margie, you are married!
She caught Ginny's eye as the younger woman sat with her legs crossed, tapping her foot impatiently on the side of the sofa. It was time to end it before the red-head exploded.
"Okay, that's enough. Time to say good bye to the boys and get on with our evening Ladies," she called over the din.
Fifteen minutes, a lot of girlish laughter, a huge amount of flirting with both men, a couple of "Come on B's" from Draco, and more than a few "for Merlin's sakes!" from Ginny, and they flooed away.
Hermione still stood by the kitchen door she had never left and Ginny still sat on the sofa in a huff, as silence finally reigned. Hermione flicked her wand at the fireplace to place a blocking charm on it and let out a pent up breath.
The quiet was finally broken when, Margie, a muggle teacher, said with a giggle, "I can't believe I gave my number to a wizard! Frank is going to kill me if that man calls my house!"
Even Ginny had to laugh.
Hermione took the opportunity to pull the group back together and get them headed to breakfast. "No worries, Margie, he has some scruples. Not many, but some. Anyone else hungry?"
With that they left the apartment and went to the diner on the corner to discuss their very eventful evening.