I'm baaaack! Thank you to all those people who have reviewed - you truly keep me going.
Straight xx
XxXxXx
After dragging Draco through four more fashion stores, at which he continued to joke about pulling her into change rooms to ravish her while attempting to ignore the blatant attempts of the shop assistants both female and male as they tried to get his attention, Hermione finally decided to call it a day and they stopped at a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Hermione had never laughed so hard as she watched Draco attempt to use his chopsticks to feed himself. He kept missing his mouth or loading up the chopsticks with to much food only to have it all fall everywhere and make a terrible mess. Finally he huffed and threw his chopsticks down,
"Is this some kind of horrendous muggle dieting technique? Because I can assure you the diet the Falcons have me on is just fine. I could show you if you'd like…"
He went to reach for his shirt to pull it up and show Hermione his glorious body but she stopped him quickly, unsure if he was joking or if he'd really expose his upper body in public to prove his point. She, finally, flagged down a waiter and asked for a fork.
"You told me they didn't have western cutlery here" he said
She giggled, "I lied. It was too funny to watch you suffer"
The fork was delivered and they commenced eating in silence but not for long…
"You know that I will extract revenge don't you 'Mione?" he said, quietly.
"Oh I'm scared now" she laughed, "What, pray tell, are you going to do to me Draco?"
"Well I always prefer to get my revenge physically" he said, while smirking, "So I guess you'll have to wait and see…"
Hermione shrugged, "Well I've barely experienced you 'physically' so I doubt i'll know what I'm missing out on…"
"Oh you'll know" he said winking, "You'll see"
Hermione watched him but giggled, "We'd better get going so that you can make it to your press conference in time"
They stood, having finished their meals, and Draco threw some galleons on the table and, with a sneaky swish of his wand, changed it to muggle money.
"I could have just paid…" Hermione said, "I mean I actually know the currency and you've overpaid them"
He shrugged and took her hand, leading her out into the street,
"I was never going to let you pay.. and you never will pay as long as you're secretly dating me. Its not gentleman like to allow that"
They crossed into a small alley way where prying eyes wouldn't see the bit of magic they were about to do.
"Are you sure you're not nervous?" Hermione asked him.
"Why should I be nervous?" he shrugged, "I know what the outcome of the announcement is"
"Yes but its a media conference… they could say things, ask things… maybe make it worse?"
"The club will be prepared for that" Draco told her, "As long as you don't listen to anything they say… I won't lie to you Princess. If they come out with any shocking information please don't believe it until I've confirmed it…"
"Ok…" she said slowly.
The weight of the press conference was beginning to dawn on her and remind her of what Draco had been a part of and it made her stomach feel like lead and it was sinking. She looked to the ground and waited for Draco to speak but instead he pushed her, gently, until she was back against the wall of the alleyway and he pulled her chin up so she had to look at him.
"It was a mistake. I've told you this - I got carried away, our whole team got carried away, and we allowed ourselves to do something stupid and we got caught but if the situation had been different, if i'd had the balls to begin pursuing you before I was forcibly placed in your apartment to hide out then I would never have been there and I'd have never done it ok?"
His eyes showed her nothing but sincerity and Hermione found that she believed him. She nodded and watched as his eyes darkened slightly before he leant down and kissed her. He pushed his body up against hers so that she could feel every defined muscle and also his growing hardness against her thigh.
"You should go first" he said while kissing her, "We need to arrive separately if you want to avoid suspicion and I don't want you waiting alone in this alleyway"
He kissed her hard and passionately for another minute before he pulled away, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"After the press conference, we have to have a team meeting so I will see you back at your place. Don't wait around ok?"
"Ok" she replied, slightly out of breath.
"I'll see you soon Princess"
She gave him a small smile before glancing around to check no one was watching them and then she apparated.
The Zabini Grand was a very classy, very high-brow hotel in Falmouth. Hermione knew that upon finishing school and after his mother's latest husband had died and left her a tonne of money, mother and son had purchased a chain of B-Class accommodations and had begun turning them into A-Class Hotels. So far, they had been quite successful. They were a sponsor of the Falcons (probably because of Blaise's friendship in school with Draco) and set the Falcon's up in their hotels whenever the team would travel. Today though, The Zabini Grand was also where the media press conference was being held. Hermione stepped into the lobby and had only glanced around a second when she found Harry.
"Over here 'Mione! What are you doing here?"
She hugged Harry when she got to him and noticed he was dressed up very professionally for the event.
"I'm here to support Draco" she explained.
Harry frowned at this, "What's going on 'Mione? I mean not that Malfoy isn't a good guy, we all know he turned over a new leaf during the war, but he's still a major prat"
"Well um we've been talking over the past couple of days and he admitted that he's liked me for quite a while and - well - I know Ginny has told you that I kind of had a bit of a thing for him… so we're going to try dating….. very low key and out of the media for now Harry - I've had to explain to him that I can't have my own image dragged through the mud with his right now"
"Yeah I thought he had a bit of a thing for you" Harry muttered, "But 'Mione its Malfoy. Are you sure its such a good idea to get involved with him? He's the best example I can give of a egotistical, 'dont care' attitude Quidditch player and he does have a massive reputation for messing around with a massive amount of ladies… In truth, I'm surprised this is the first time we're having to deal with a sexual scandal involving him, I'd have thought we'd be in this situation a lot sooner"
Hermione frowned and nodded. She knew that Harry was just looking out for her and warning her against trouble but it was weird to be in this situation - one where Harry was questioning her decisions. He was usually so on board with everything she decided to do.
"Its an unconventional decision thats for sure Harry and I mean how many people start off dating by attending the press conference about the person's participation in an orgy? But I believe that everyone deserves a second chance so yes this is horrible timing and maybe Draco won't be the right guy for me but I'd rather say I tried then ran away"
"I'll destroy him if he hurts you… you know that right?" Harry told her.
This made Hermione smile, "And I appreciate that"
Together they headed into the room where the media were already set up and waiting patently for the Falcon's team & coach to make their entrance. Hermione kept her head down as she followed Harry to a spot closest to the front, hoping that the lure of a press conference about an orgy, would be enough to keep the media from focusing in on her. Hopefully, they would just think she was here with Harry. Harry found her a seat and together they sat, now also waiting.
"So the club has found the players innocent?" she whispered to him.
He nodded, "Yes, well of everything except plain stupidity. Now I have to begin conducting my own investigation of the situation on behalf of the ministry before any disciplinary action can be handed down"
"This is all so ridiculous" Hermione replied, "One bloody idiotic decision and a week later they're still facing it. I hope the orgy was worth it"
"Interesting take from the woman who has managed to capture Draco Malfoy's attention for now"
That hurt slightly and Hermione frowned. Instantly, realising what he'd said was hurtful, Harry took her hand and squeezed,
"I'm sorry 'Mione. I'm so over dealing with this situation that it makes me cranky sometimes. I didn't mean it"
She nodded but said no more. A moment later, the murmur of the media picked up as the team and coach made their way up to the little makeshift stage. Hermione could see Draco's eyes searching for her and he gave a very sharp nod when he saw her sitting with Harry.
Ernie Dobkins - coach of the Falcon's - took his seat and glanced out at the media frenzy.
"Welcome women and men of the media. We appreciate you all making the trip out here to Falmouth. Now we are all here today because a statement must be made about the recent attention that has been focused on the club. To clarify, exactly one week ago today, we won our match against the Montrose Magpies and, as is the fashion, the team went out to celebrate after the game and debrief. At approximately 3am, the Falcon's Team were present and drinking in the bar section of the Amber Stone. Special emphasis needs to be made on the fact that they had not entered the brothel section of this establishment. A short while later, they were approached by several women who showed them to a section off area and what resulted was, in fact, an act of consensual group sex"
A sea of hands flew up into the air but the coach waved them all down.
"Investigations have been conducted by the club and will be carried on the Department of Magical Games and Sports but at this time the club finds no evidence of pre-meditated acts which bare cause to mis-represent the Falcon's club… only gross mis-thought. As a result of these findings, all players shall be eligible and will play in tomorrow's game against the Ballymore Bats. As a further result, all future celebratory outings shall be done under supervision of club personnel. We will now take questions…"
The media frenzy broke loose and questions were voiced from left, right and centre…
"Ah Ms Bates" the coach said.
"Is it true that one or more of your players have found themselves infected with serious sexually transmitted diseases which may, at the very least, put fellow teams at risk when playing against the Falcons?"
"All players have been tested and the results have come back negative for any sexually transmitted diseases. Evidently, some kind of protection was used"
"Bokkins! Bokkins! Is it true that this latest scandal of infidelity has caused your wife to leave you?"
"Oliver Bokkins" Harry whispered to Hermione, "Not the first time his wife has caught him cheating on her. She holds on for the money"
"No" Bokkins replied, "My wife has chosen to forgive me for my crude lack of judgement"
"Malfoy! Is it true that this orgy was, in fact, your idea of a celebratory gift to the team and was one of the women participating not an ex-lover?"
Hermione watched as Draco frowned and shook his head,
"Between training, the games, team meetings and trying to have a life of my own outside of Quidditch I can assure you I did not have the time - nor the will - to orchestra an orgy in celebration of our victory and, no, I was not known to any of the women who participated in this act prior to the act itself"
"But it is true Draco that this is not the first group sex act you have been involved in is it?" A small, balding man shouted from the front.
"Lets keep these questions on topic please" The coach cut in very quickly.
Hermione saw Draco's face when the man asked this and her leadened stomach sunk a little further. The look on Draco's face was one of surprise, not disbelief - he'd been shocked to find this little man knew this information. Harry squeezed her hand.
"Is it true that at least two of the women participating in this act were underage coach?"
"Absolutely not" Dobkins answered, "All the women have been verified and all were over the age of 17 and consensual participants"
"Is it true Coach that 3 or more of your boys were under the influence of illicit substances that night?"
"That is something for the Ministry to investigate" The coach replied.
"Malfoy! Malfoy! This would not be your first dabble in drugs would it?"
"Sir I am going to ask that you keep your questions on topic or you shall be removed!" The coach said firmly.
Once again, Hermione watched as Draco was quick to ensure that nothing but a blank look graced his features.
"The people have a right to know these details about their MVP Coach!" The man shouted, "Is it true Draco that you have bought the time of sex workers before?"
"Out!" the coach roared.
A moment later, the man was escorted out by two very large, burly looking security guards. Hermione watched him struggle against them as he left, a feat he was unsuccessful in.
"Hermione?"
Hearing her name, Hermione glanced at Harry and realised she was shaking and her eyes stung from her refusal to allow her tears to run free.
"Be brave 'Mione. You can't let the media see you're affected or they will put two and two together or worse.. they'll put two and four together and make a mountain out of a mole hill. Its almost over I promise you"
"Coach! Will this same supervisory approach be taken with the players during away games?"
"It is not very often that the players go out to celebrate victories during away games but in the event that this was to happen then yes, the same supervisory approach will be taken"
"What is the expected outcome of the Ministry's investigation?"
"That is something we will all have to wait and see about"
More questions broke out but the coach held up his hand,
"At this point I wish to end this media conference. Any further questions can be sent straight to our Falcon's Management Team… but until then the boys and I are in much need of a team session and we look forward to seeing you all out at Exmoor Stadium tomorrow"
The coach and team stood together and slowly made their way off the makeshift stage as the media went wild with more questions but none were answered. Hermione kept her head down, staring at her clenched hands, she didn't want to look at Draco right now for fear that the look she knew she was unable to keep off her face would give them away and open up a new whole frenzy of questions and madness.
"He's trying to catch your eye you know?" Harry whispered to her.
She nodded, "I know he will be but I just can't right now Harry, I can't. I need time to go home and process this while he's not there. So I'm just going to go ok?"
She waited until the door was cleared and then quickly gave Harry a hug and left. She was too overwhelmed, too swamped with questions to do anything but make her escape and try to put the pieces of her shattered self-respect back together again. Had she made the right decision saying she would give Draco a chance? There were still so many questions, so many things she didn't know that perhaps she needed to know. She needed time and silence and one hell of a stiff drink.