In her bedroom, Hermione was packing her case and double checking she had everything that was written on her list. The routine was one Hermione was used to, she used the same system whenever she went on holiday and she'd even used it back in school. By writing down everything she needed before even starting to pack, she could ensure she never left anything behind when it came time to pack.
As she packed Hermione couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing by accompanying Draco to Blaise's wedding. Obviously she wanted Draco to be able to attend his best friend's wedding, but she was unsure if she could pull off pretending to be his girlfriend. Or more accurately she was worrying that she wouldn't be able to last the week without revealing her true feelings for her blond friend, namely that she was in love with him.
Over the years of their friendship, Hermione had somehow managed to fall hopelessly in love with the former Slytherin. Not that she'd ever told him that, instead she'd buried her feelings and tried dating other men. However no matter how hard she tried, Hermione could never quite stop herself from comparing her dates to Draco and needless to say none of them measured up to her friend, meaning her relationships were always short and over before they'd ever really begun.
Hermione tried to justify not telling Draco about her feelings with the reasoning that he'd never shown any romantic interest in her and that she really wasn't his type. Since arriving in Australia, Draco had dated a steady stream of beautiful, glamourous witches, none of whom Hermione could ever dream of competing with. She knew she was quite attractive, but she wasn't in the same league as the beauties Draco tended to attract. Draco's type was very clearly gorgeous witches who were always immaculately dressed in designer gear, and that definitely didn't describe Hermione. She wasn't opposed to dressing up when the occasion called for it, but she was more a casual type of girl. Over the years Draco had seen her at all sorts of different times, often looking absolutely terrible, while she doubted his various girlfriend's had ever let him catch them without being fully made up.
Despite telling herself she just wasn't Draco's type, Hermione knew there was another reason she didn't want to admit how she felt about him, she didn't want to lose him. Hermione had already lost one of her best friends by changing their friendship to romance, and she didn't want the same thing to happen with Draco. The last thing she wanted was for a repeat of the Ron fiasco that had ultimately led to her leaving Britain behind five years ago.
For years Hermione had pinned her romantic hopes on Ron, despite them being not very well suited. Their friendship had been tenuous at times, and they often fought over trivial little things. Not to mention they were only friends because of Harry, it was Harry who had made the first move towards friendship and if it hadn't been for him Hermione knew that she and Ron would never have gotten along. After all it was him, not Draco or anyone else, who'd made her cry back in first year. However despite knowing how incompatible they were, Hermione still let herself fall for Ron.
It wasn't until they got together in the aftermath of the war that Hermione accepted how incompatible they were. Right from the beginning of their relationship there were problems. Basically they both wanted different things from life. Ron was content to follow Harry into Auror training, while it wasn't something he was passionate about he was more than happy to just follow after Harry and do what his best friend did. Hermione meanwhile wanted to return to school to get her exams, before starting a career at the Ministry as a lawyer. As for the future, Ron was content to settle down with his job, get married, have kids and settle for a few weeks in the sun each year. Hermione however wanted a career, she wanted to go travelling and see the world, settling down with a family was something way off in the distance for her.
Despite their initial problems they remained together, mainly because Hermione was too stubborn to admit she'd made a mistake. She'd spent years claiming to be in love with Ron, and she was at least going to try and make their relationship work before throwing in the towel. For eighteen months, Hermione tried her hardest to make her relationship with Ron work. At times things were really good between them, but their fundamental differences just proved too much for the couple and more often than not they were fighting.
Finally a massive fight spelt the end of their relationship. The fight was so bad that not only did it end their relationship, it ended any chance they had of staying friends. Hermione couldn't really say what had started the argument, but she knew that both she and Ron said some things in the heat of the moment that were impossible to take back.
The end of her relationship with Ron also proved tough on her friendship with Harry and Ginny. Despite being Ron's sister, Ginny didn't turn against Hermione, but obviously her loyalty was to her brother. Hermione and Harry's friendship also suffered, with Harry being torn between his two best friends. Gradually Hermione's contact with both Harry and Ginny dwindled, and she only saw them occasionally.
Six months after her relationship with Ron had come to an end, Hermione had decided it was time for a fresh start. Australia was the natural place as that was where her parents were. After the war Hermione, alongside Kingsley Shackelbolt, had gone to Australia and returned her parents memories. Hermione's parents hadn't been happy with what their daughter had done, and had decided to remain in Australia rather than returning home to try and sort things out with Hermione. In the two years Hermione had been in Britain she'd kept in contact with her parents, but she hoped that by living in the same country that they could rebuild their relationship.
Hermione's rebuilding of her relationship with her parents was slow going, but five years later she was as close to them as ever. A big part of that closeness was developed three years previously when Hermione's father had been diagnosed with cancer, luckily he was now in remission but for a while it had been touch and go on whether he would survive. At the time Hermione still wasn't particularly close with her parents, but her father's brush with death had changed everything. The thought of really losing each other had scared everyone and a lot of things had been discussed and fixed while her father was ill.
It was also her father's illness that had strengthened Hermione's friendship with Draco. The pair had already become friends in the year since Draco had arrived in Sydney, but this just made them even closer. Draco was always there for Hermione, and supported her through her father's illness. He was the only person Hermione felt comfortable with to just let everything out and admit how scared she was of losing her father. She'd lost count of the times she'd broken down in his arms, while he reassured her everything would be alright. By the time Hermione's father was on the mend their friendship was stronger than she'd ever thought possible, and she was also in love with him.
Hermione sighed as she thought back over her friendship with Draco. Shaking her head she snapped her case closed and placed it on the floor. She'd agreed to help Draco, so she would just have to bury her feelings for him and get through this next week. He was her best friend, and there was no way she was backing out and letting him down. She could live a lie for the next week, even if it was a lie she would love to be true.
Leaving the bedroom, Hermione made her way into the front room. There she found Draco settled on the sofa, watching the television. Over the years of their friendship she'd gotten the blond acquainted with a fair bit of muggle stuff, and on a whole he liked what she'd shown him. Television and film was a particular favourite of his, as were sports. Draco had spent the last four year studying muggle sports and he was now an ardent supporter of both the Australian cricket team and the rugby team.
"All done?" Draco asked as Hermione sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah, I just hope I have the right sort of stuff." Hermione admitted. She knew both Blaise and Daphne had a lot more money than her, and given how exclusive and expensive Blaise's hotels were she was worried she might not have the right clothes for such a fancy place.
"You'll be fine." Draco reassured his friend. "Apart from the actual day of the wedding, I'm guessing the dress code will be pretty casual. And if it isn't, we can always get you some new clothes in France."
Hermione knew Draco meant he would get her some new clothes, but she didn't bother to point out she could fend for herself. She'd learnt long ago that Draco didn't object to spending his money on her, she'd also learnt it was better not to argue the point. The way Draco saw it money wasn't an issue for him, and he saw no harm in treating his best friend whenever he wanted to.
"Are you nervous?" Draco asked. He knew he was asking a lot from Hermione, and he also knew she wasn't entirely comfortable with lying to people about the state of their relationship.
"Yeah." Hermione admitted. "What if we can't pull this off? What if everyone sees through us?"
"They won't." Draco replied confidently. "Most people think we're a couple anyway."
Hermione nodded, knowing Draco was right about people thinking they were a couple. They were quite tactile towards each other and were often touching each other without thinking anything of it. When they went out it wasn't unusual for Draco to have his arm around her, and they were always hugging. Even now Hermione was quite happy sitting with her head on Draco's shoulder while his arm was around her waist.
"Although, if you're nervous we could always practise acting more like a couple." Draco suggested with a wicked grin.
"If you're going to suggest we practice kissing again, forget it." Hermione snorted.
Several times in the past few weeks, Draco had suggested they practise kissing, since in his opinion they would need to share a few kisses to keep people off the scent. Hermione hadn't been opposed to kissing Draco, but she kept refusing so she didn't embarrass herself. She didn't trust herself not to get too carried away and snog him senseless, but at least if she did that in France she could put it down to acting the part of a loving girlfriend.
"I still reckon we need to practice." Draco continued, not dropping the subject. "What if the first time we go to kiss its awkward and everyone notices."
"Why would it be awkward?" Hermione questioned. "I've been told I'm a good kisser, and with all the practice you've had, you have to be okay."
"Okay?" Draco looked at Hermione in indignation. "I'll have you know I'm better than okay. One witch even claimed I gave her an orgasm, just by kissing her."
"That is so not true." Hermione laughed.
"To be fair I think she just wanted a second date and was trying to flatter me into agreeing to one." Draco conceded. "But still, I'm a very good kisser."
"Orgasmic even." Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"You'll be eating your words before long, Hermione." Draco warned. "I swear, one kiss from me and you'll be begging me for more."
Hermione didn't doubt Draco's words were true and one kiss would have her eager for more, but she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of knowing that. "And what if you're the one begging for more?" She asked, smiling sweetly at her friend.
"I guess we're just going to have to wait and see, won't we." Draco replied.
A/N - I forgot to mention when I posted the first chapter that there will be no set days for this story being updated. However, since the story is already finished it will likely be updated every couple of days.