MARRIED IN PARADISE

When Hermione finally gets sick of everything happening in her life, she runs away to the idyllic Felicia's Isle. Here she meets the last person she thought she would ever see, under the weirdest circumstances. Have they been pining for the wrong people this whole time? With some magical hijinks, questionable people, a lot of booze, and a beautiful island, they may just find out.

Disclaimer: XXX Harry Potter is not mine XXX

CHAPTER 4: THE MORNING AFTER

'Cheers to not knowing'

Hermione could slap him again just for saying that. No, she would never drink to uncertainty again, not when it just led her to the single-most excruciating, embarrassing moment of her existence. How anyone could ever want alcohol on their lips after going through a hangover was probably demented.

Hermione groaned into the toilet, positive that she did not eat nearly as much as she was retching.

"Err, Granger," Draco came around gingerly, still nursing his swollen cheek "Need any help?"

"Go away, you-you— and her head was back down the toilet, as another wave of nausea hit her. He laughed heartily at her demise, before wincing in pain. She had got him good. Hermione groaned and slipped to lie on the floor, too dizzy to care about how she looked to Draco right then. She was in his black silk night shirt and her knickers. Nothing else. That was telling enough. He also had his hand under her shirt, the perverted git. She felt herself flush with embarrassment and anger, kicking herself mentally at her lack of control.

"Suit yourself, princess, tell me when you're done," He smirked "I need to take a leak"

"You're a git," She groaned, turning to her side.

The only good news in her mind right then was that Malfoy would never want the news that of a one-night stand with a mudblood *wince* go public, so she was quite sure this would be under wraps. A minor win. Hermione had a mind Ron wouldn't be too pleased if he found out. Or he'd be too distracted with Quidditch to care, she thought a little sadly, cursing the game that had become the bane of her relationship with an exasperating redhead. That made her head throb more.

She decided that she would rather focus on her own disappointment, than on her disappointment with him. It hurt less. That was saying something, though, because, holy Merlin, she was just in bed, and moaning against, Draco fucking Malfoy! Malfoy! She could just die right then. She wanted to melt into a puddle on his bathroom floor. Maybe he'd slip on the puddle and hit his head, and then die. She chuckled a little at herself, at how pathetic she must have looked on his bathroom floor.

A large shadow loomed over her, cutting off the fluorescent light shining directly on her face. She moved her face to the side, hiding it from view. Draco stood over her, smirking, but she was too tired, too embarrassed, too dizzy, to mock him. "Nod if you want me to carry you to the bed"

Hermione opened her eyes a peep. She really didn't want him to touch her further, but the floor must have been all kinds of dirty. Sighing, she nodded. He stretched out his arm, which she took, and in a move more gentle than she thought possible of him, he had scooped her up in his arms and scourgified the vomit around her face. He put one arm on the small of her back, pressing her head to his bare chest so it wouldn't feel so wobbly. He had a firm chest, slick with sweat, and for the first time in her life, she was close enough to smell him. When she noted that he wasn't looking, she sniffed in his scent.

Yes, Hermione hated him during their time at Hogwarts. Merlin, did she hate him with a passion. This slap had not been the first, after all, and her hand was still tingling with glee.

However, Hermione could not deny the fact that she found him handsome, because he was. This was not the first time she had wondered what he smelled like, either, but she would never come within a ten-foot pole from him when they were at Hogwarts.

Draco Malfoy smelled like fresh pine leaves, wood chips and cinnamon. Like Christmas, she thought to herself in her stupor, finding that she rather liked that. Now she was blushing in spite of herself. Stupid idiot.

He placed her back on his bed, smirking as he noticed her discomfort. "Now was that so hard, Granger?" He teased.

She wanted to retort but what came out was just a lot of painful groans as she held back another hit of nausea.

He reached over her to the potion on the bedside table, "Drink this"

"What is it, poison?" Hermione said icily.

Icy was good. Icy made the dizziness a little better, and made the whole situation between Malfoy and her a bit easier to swallow. With Malfoy, icy was standard, just like they were back at Hogwarts, and not in his hotel room, snogging on his bed just two days into her temporary break with Ronald Weasley. Oh crud, Ronald Weasley, but Hermione was too dizzy to feel guilt right now for sniffing another man. That wasn't cheating, right? No, but sleeping on his bed and then moaning against him is, dummy! And who knows what else, dummy!

Draco snorted, snapping Hermione out of her reverie, "I think you have enough of that in your system right now"

He handed her the potion again, egging Hermione on until she finally took it from him in frustration, "It'll make the hangover better"

She snorted "And if it's poison?"

"Then that'd be one less puddle of vomit for me to worry about" She glared at him.

Hermione sipped gingerly, and then stopped, wrinkling her nose "Yuck"

"If you can down an entire bottle of tequila just to prove how insufferably competitive you are, which—and he rolled his eyes – you are, you can take a little potion's after taste. After that, go back to sleep. It's still early" For effect, he yawned.

Hermione looked back at his bed, where she had just spent the night. She was so tired and sick she was actually considering it. Her eyes fell on a rose petal, taking it in her hand "Flowers?"

He abruptly took the petal from her hand and threw it to the floor. Then he took his wand and made all the other petals disappear, his face in a frown, as if he had just noticed them now. He turned back to her, his features arranged into a strained smile. "Nothing you should worry about now, Granger, go on, we can exchange insults again at a better hour, now sleep"

She steeled her resolve, and her stomach, "No, I think I'm good enough to leave" Hermione shook her head. Her head swooshed, and she fell back.

"You alright there, Granger?" She could have sworn on Crookshanks' grave that he was enjoying this, daring her to leave in her state. But no, there would be no more sleeping in other men's beds that day. So, still woozy, she slowly shuffled off the bed and made for her dress and shoes. They were a bit damp. She frowned. Did it rain? Did they leave the hotel? Did they have a shower while fully clothed? Hermione couldn't tell. "I think I'd better get going"

Draco shrugged "Okay suit yourself, I was just trying to be cordial after— and he gestured to his bed –that"

She waved him away, not wanting cordial. Where was the hate she was so used to? "With our history, Malfoy, pleasantries are not needed". She didn't wait for him to react to that before continuing, "I'm not mad about that, unless you tell someone" she found herself saying. It wasn't entirely his fault, after all, as she could also remember how she was acting just a few minutes ago on his bed.

For a fleeting moment, she thought it had been Ron. Then she knew (which made her mood worsen) it wasn't, and then, when she saw Malfoy's grey eyes staring back at her, she had reacted out of habit.

"Why would I tell anyone?" Draco crossed his arms, confirming what Hermione had already anticipated.

"Then we have an understanding," She arranged her features into one of sheer determination, walking to him and extending a hand "Enjoy the rest of your holiday, Malfoy"

Draco looked down at the hand extended to him, before extending his. "Goodbye, Granger"

"Aside from that little—Hermione gestured to the bed and winced, as if in physical pain – I actually think we may have had a blast last night, for what's it worth" She smiled at him, "Well, considering my present company" Okay, so she did not feel that cordial.

He scowled. "Good riddance then, since I'd be the one cleaning up your mess anyway"

She snorted "As if the great snob, Draco Malfoy, would ever clean up vomit out of the goodness of his heart. I'd be surprised if housekeeping wasn't already on the way" His eyes narrowed, she chuckled. What else could she do in that situation except exchange empty insults with her former enemy?

"Still the ray of sunshine from Hogwarts, I see" Draco dropped his glare. She had walked to the door, opened it, and turned back to see his frame leaning against the door. He was shirtless, wearing the bottom half of the pajama top she had had on. She strained her neck as far as it could go to her left.

"Always, but never for you. Good day" She gave him one final grimace-induced smile before walking to the elevators, willing herself to forget that the exchange ever happened.

Draco felt that a cold shower was in order, one as cold as Hermione's final goodbye before running off the corridor and into a lift.

He watched her receding form dash away from him, before wincing once again in pain. Granger had slapped him, hard. That had not been a first time either, and in all honestly, the blow to his ego to be hit by the same petite female twice in his lifetime should've made him livid. Draco was surprised, not just at his lack of lividity, but also of that he was mildly amused, and aroused.

She was on his bed and for just a moment he had considered continuing. By Salazar, he knew he needed release. He and Tori may not have been the most emotionally connected partners, but by far, he knew they were one of the most physical. Two weeks was a strain, by his standard.

But then he remembered that she was Hermione fucking Granger, and more importantly, that he may or may not be still engaged. Not that he wanted to care anymore.

He had only helped her clean up because she looked so pitiful and helpless on his floor. She was muttering, but not at him. Draco was an asshole, but no self-respecting person, Hermione Granger included, should be lying on a hotel room's bathroom floor, surrounded in her own vomit in his night shirt.

But then the annoying female had thanked him for his little attempt at chivalry by treating him like that smug git he was in Hogwarts. That annoyed him, but he supposed it was a coping mechanism. He supposed he should've just done the same with her, as it would have been more comforting. But he couldn't, not after she was just writhing and moaning against him on his bed.

That reinforced his particular feelings tingling in his nether regions.

Damn it, he needed a cold shower, or just a bucket of ice dumped on his head.

Stripping off his pajamas, which were the only stitch of clothing on him (he noted that she was wearing his night shirt), Draco looked around for his clothes from last night. They were on the floor under the sink. He frowned at the state of them, all damp and mud caked around the ankles. Had it been raining? Did he leave the hotel? In all honesty, he had no idea. They had an awful lot to drink, after all, and his memory only was only presently available in snippets. Most of the snippets were of him and the brunette witch talking and laughing over tequila at the Coconut Bar. He wondered how much he had disclosed to the witch, but he supposed it didn't matter because she didn't seem to remember anything either.

Well, of course, except that little episode on your bed, He thought, unsure of how that made him feel. Still, it had been the perfect distraction after two weeks of moping alone around his apartment. He was actually almost sad to see her go.

Almost, but it's for the best, he reasoned with himself, also adding that she was still know-it-all, muggleborn, Granger.

None of all of that would've happened had things gone accordingly to plan. The thought made Draco feel a dull pang in his chest.

Well, it's not as if you loved Tori, Draco. Just be glad you didn't, he shuddered to think of the state he'd be in, had he cared even a little bit more for the person who left him.

Yes, it was good that Granger left. Now he could be alone and mope in peace. That prospective future didn't look so promising. Draco sighed.

He opened the water and stood under it, washing away the events of last night. His lower abdomen was still pretty tingly, but his mind was racing with thoughts on how to distract himself and not resort to moping in his hotel room. Tori had been his fiancé for more than two years. She had been his world. Then she had left. Did he love her? Maybe. He knew that she didn't love him, or, not as much to stay and marry, at least. He may or may not have. He supposed he must have loved her, but maybe it was just lust mixed with responsibility. He wasn't sure.

Hungry. He frowned. No he wasn't hungry at the moment, thank you very much. He was aroused, yes, maybe a little more hungover than he let on, guilty, and confused, but he was definitely not hungry. For some reason, though, he was thinking of food. Specifically he wanted something sugary sweet and cold, like ice cream. Strangely though, Draco Malfoy has never been much of a fan of ice cream. He frowned, but he supposed it was just the alcohol. He made to run a hand over his hair, but his gaze had zeroed in on something he was certain wasn't on his ring finger earlier. It was a plain, silver band with runic markings.

The fair-haired man had just decided on a pair of cuffed jeans, a white t-shirt, and his casual loafers, ready to go out. He was going to have to find Hermione.

Just as he finished, there was a knock on his door. After a few knocks, Draco opened the door, and, of course, there was Hermione. She was in a white tank top tucked into black denim jeans and strappy sandals, her messy curls lazily knotted down the nape of her neck. She looked livid, so she must've alreadyknown as well.

Remembering why she was there, he looked down at his finger. The ring had vanished again, leaving only a faint mark.

Her gaze followed his.

Draco looked up to see Hermione seething at him "What in Merlin's name did you do to me, Malfoy?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Me? How do I know this isn't your doing, Granger?"

She scoffed "I'm pretty sure I wouldn't attempt anything like this Malfoy, this is entirely your forte"

"And what does that mean?" He retorted, but she just stuck her chin up at him.

She scoffed "You know what it means!"

"Oh of all the insufferable—now he was mad "Why would I do this? What could I possibly have to gain? You? If I have to remind you, Granger, we were both at the bar last night, we were both drinking, and now we both have the rings, so obviously you must have some part of the blame!"

His raised voice must have taken Hermione by surprise because whatever she was going to say got caught in her throat. She swallowed, and looked away, chewing on her bottom lip, looking for a hole in his much too sensible comeback. After a moment she replied, "Fine, what now?" Her cheeks had colored. The witch hated to lose.

"What do you mean, what now?" He said a little too icily.

She rolled her eyes "Obviously, how do we take it off? It's magical, that's for sure"

Draco pursed his brows, "Well, then it must have come from Magus Market"

"Then we should start there, we should go now, are you ready?" She gestured to his appearance.

He scowled at the order, "Yeah, let me just get my wand and wallet"

Now he was livid. The witch was bossy and mean when she wanted to be, and right now, she wanted to be. Well, two can play at that game.

He grabbed the stuff he needed and walked out of his room, not bothering to wait for Hermione to follow. He smirked when he heard her frantic footsteps, trying to keep up behind him.

"Malfoy!" She sounded annoyed, panting as she ran after him, but he didn't stop until they were at outside the hotel. At that point, Draco halted suddenly and let Hermione crash into his back. That felt good.

Without another word, he had grabbed her arm, amid unwanted protests, and disapparated to Magus Market.

Hermione couldn't help but gaze in awe at the live bustle and bright colors all around her. There were local witches and wizards hawking various lotions, potions and some one-of-a-kind knickknacks even she couldn't identify. The streets were lined with sturdy, low bungalows, and the streets filled with both tourists and locals, which she realised she could identify easily by who was dressed more ridiculously. She chuckled quietly as a large wizard stepped out of a restaurant, wearing socks with hiss sandals and a tent of a hawaiian shirt, paired with pink board shorts and a straw hat. Tourist, definitely. She itched to walk around and touch everything, maybe get some souvenirs for her friends back home, but she couldn't. Not when she was hobbling along Draco, who was still fuming, making long strides through the crowds.

"Malfoy, wait up" She called to him, trying her damnedest to reach him. She hadn't noticed that she had begun to pant again.

He stopped, turned to her, and scowled, "Try to keep up, Granger"

She panted "Short legs, Malfoy"

He smirked, in spite of himself, "Oh? I've never had that problem" Of course he hadn't, Hermione thought in mild annoyance. He stood almost a full foot above her.

She gave him a playful slap on the shoulder "If that shop was open at whatever ungodly hour we decided to be here last night, then it should be safe to assume that it's open now"

"I suppose so, but we don't have to go there just yet. Come," He offered his hand, she frowned at it "I won't be able to find you in this chaos, Granger, what with your vertically-challenged form and all" That got him another playful slap on the arm, but Hermione gave in and took his hand, and they continued their walk through the crowds.

"Malfoy, do you know where you're going?" Draco rolled his eyes at her impatience.

"I have a general idea where we could have bought the rings, but I think we have time for something else first" He said, finally halting to a stop in front of a small ice cream shop. Hermione's eyes lit up.

"Oh, how did you—she glanced down at her ring finger where the band should be –you felt it?"

"I was pretty sure I didn't want ice cream" He said, giving her a playful smirk. "I was confused as to why I wanted ice cream at first, but if it didn't come from me, and I've only ever been with you this trip, then obviously it was your feeling, not mine"

He wiggled an eyebrow at her, and she chuckled, in spite of herself, "Didn't you feel anything of mine?". It took a while for Hermione to comprehend what he was saying, but then a small O formed on her lips. She flushed crimson.

"Oh so that's why, yeah, umm, I couldn't quite tell what was going on, yeah, but that makes sense" she finished pathetically, the shade of red deepening on her face. He couldn't stop the laugh that came out of his chest at her demise, and it felt good. "Oh sod off, Malfoy, you perv"

He gave her a teasing smirk, amused at her ability to blush on cue and still look annoyed, "Just get your damn ice cream"

Gosh, it's so hard for me to post on FFNet! I keep getting an error message with the docs page, but I finally found a way around it, so everything's good.

It took me a while to get their reactions right. I reckoned Hermione would be livid, and Draco would be more amused than livid. Hope you liked this chapter, and so many thanks to all the people who have followed, liked, and commented so far! - Asha