5. Nasty, Dirty, Sexy Hangover

Hermione was kneeling over her toilet bowl Saturday morning, getting violently sick every ten minutes. She hadn't woken up in her bed. She had woken up in a certain bright blonde's bed. Hermione was so shocked at herself that she didn't know what to do. She was still in her clothes from the night before, her heels lying next to her on the floor as she was whipped out of her thoughts and got ill again. She hated this feeling. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she felt that she might get sick yet again. "Fucking Malfoy…" she groaned as she shoved her head in the toilet bowl once more.

---

Hermione trudged to the Great Hall with a raging headache after she had snuck out of his dormitory. She rubbed her temples as she sat at the head table, sipping on her pumpkin juice. She looked down the length of the table and saw that half the staff was missing. Everyone that had been out last night. She bit her lower lip, trying to remember everything that had happened the night before. She set her juice back down on the table, shoved her mouth full of eggs and grabbed a piece of toast as she made her way to the professor's dorms. She needed to get answers.

---

Malfoy woke to a loud bounding in his head and on his door. He rolled over and threw his covers off, grabbing his wand and planning to hex whoever was waking him up at eight o' clock in the morning on a Saturday morning. His day off. He stood up and the room began to spin.

"Fuck," he moaned and grabbed his bedpost. He eyed his robe hanging on the bathroom door and shrugged. Whoever was at the door was going to have to deal with seeing him in his boxers. He stumbled his way to the door. Realizing that he was still half drunk and half hungover. He pushed the portrait door open only to be shoved backwards as the woman who seemed to be haunting his dreams stormed in.

"Merlin, Granger…" he murmured and shut his door, making his way to where she was now sitting, legs crossed.

She looked like hell. There were bags under her eyes and her hair was more disheveled than usual. She was still dressed in the clothes from the night before, he noticed, but she was wearing her school robes over it to hide the fact that she was too lazy.

"What happened last night?" Hermione asked.

Malfoy slumped down on the couch opposite her and rubbed his temples. "Don't you remember?"

Hermione sighed. "No…" She looked around his dorm. It was much more normal than she expected. "If I remembered I would not be here."

"Touche." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. His head was still spinning.

"Oh god," Hermione moaned. His eyes snapped open and he saw her nearly get sick.

He moved as quickly as he could over to her and half carried her to the restroom to be sick. He even held her hair back.

Hermione was half sobbing at how horrible she felt. "Thank you," she sniffed and leaned her head against his chest as they both sat there on the restroom floor. She didn't even feel awkward that he was still in his boxers. "Do you remember anything?"

Malfoy stroked her hair and rubbed her back, trying to make her feel better. "Yes. I remember it all."

---

It was Friday afternoon and all the classes were finished for the day. Hermione was walking to the library when she spotted familiar red hair walking down the hall with Headmistress McGonagall.

"Ronald?" Hermione called out.

He turned and smiled at her. "I was just looking for you."

She smiled and welcomed his embrace. "What are you doing here?"

He kissed her and took her hand. "Come with me."

He led her out all the way to the Quidditch pitch where half her family and Ron's family were. Hermione looked up at Ron inquisitively. He just beamed lovingly down at her.

"Hermione," he began as friends and family beamed at them. She felt awkward. "I love you and the months we spent apart killed me and I realized that I never want to be with anyone but you." He knelt down. Oh god, Hermione thought. "Would you marry me and spend the rest of your life with me?"

Hermione looked down at him and at the beautiful ring. Her eyes stung with tears and her head was swimming with a mixture of emotions. "I…I…" Hermione stammered as she looked into his eyes. She melted. She really did love him. And even if she didn't want to get married right away, she could draw out the engagement right? Hermione smiled. "I would love to… yes!"

Rom beamed and shot up, hugging her and spinning. He pulled away and placed the ring on her finger. "I am so happy," he whispered in her ear. She smiled and nodded at him, agreeing with his emotion.

"Oh Hermione! We must get started on wedding plans! We have the perfect place set up for the ceremony!" Molly bombarded Hermione with everything.

"Oh, I…"

"Mum! Stop that. Give her room to breathe!" Ron scolded and laughed at the same time.

Molly smiled sheepishly. "Dear, I'm sorry! I'm just so excited!"

"Me too," Hermione murmured when in fact Molly's bombardment had freaked Hermione out. How soon was she expected to get married?

Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione as a sudden wave of flashes went off. "You invited the newspaper?"

Ron laughed. "It was Mum's idea. She figured since we're semi-famous that everyone would care."

Hermione nodded. Completely spooked. "I hope not," she breathed and faked a smile for the pictures.

Once the whole ordeal was over and everyone had left it was just her and Ron on the Quidditch pitch. "Why here, Ron? Why in front of everyone?"

Ron frowned. "This is where I first started falling for you… when you and I would go to Quidditch games together. And I figured you would like for family and friends to be here."

She looked at his wounded eyes and melted yet again. "Of course I like it, Ron. I love it. I was just curious. You know me… I always have to know everything."

Ron smiled and kissed her. "Good, I'm glad that you're alright with everything."

---

Hermione, in all actuality, was not alright, but she didn't let that show until Ron left that evening. She felt as if she couldn't breathe and the rock on her finger felt so heavy. She couldn't do this. She couldn't commit to him just yet. They hadn't even worked out the problems that tore them apart in the first place. How could they be getting married with that many issues? Hermione tried to catch her breath but couldn't quite handle it. She felt as if she were having a nervous breakdown. She stopped and leaned up against a wall in the seemingly empty corridor. Her head was swimming with so many emotions… she couldn't handle it. She felt tears sting her eyes once more and she doubled over. Gasping for breath.

"Granger?" Malfoy, Hermione thought.

She stood up, still unable to catch her breath. "I..I…I can't br…I can't breathe." She clawed at her chest as she stumbled over to him and fell into his arms.

He grabbed her and tried to calm her down. "Hey, come on… deep breaths… Shh, it'll be ok. Breathe."

It took several minutes for her to eradicate her nervous breakdown. She sighed and pulled away from Malfoy's embrace when she thought she had her emotions in check. "I'm sorry… It's been a rough day."

"What happened?" he asked.

Hermione lifted up her left hand to flash him the ring. His face fell… a fact that didn't go unnoticed by Hermione, but she chose to ignore it for the time being. "It's happening too fast."

"Then why did you say yes?" His voice was on edge, another fact that didn't go unnoticed by Hermione.

Hermione groaned. "He invited his entire family and all our friends to witness it. I couldn't tell him that we needed to work things out before we got married… and then Molly just attacked me with all this wedding stuff… talking about shopping and where to book the ceremony… it's just too much."

"You sound like you need a drink."

"More than one," Hermione sighed and looked up at him. "Are you free tonight?" Malfoy nodded as she smiled. "Would you like to go out for drinks with me?"

He fought back a smile as he nodded nonchalantly. "Sure, I have nothing better to do."

"Perfect. I'll go ask around and see who else want to come," she replied and scampered off.

She left before she could see Malfoy's face fall once more. It wasn't a date, you idiot, he thought to himself as he couldn't help but watch her leave.

---

A whole group of teachers were at the Three Broomsticks that night and Hermione was relieved to be surrounded by people who couldn't tell that there was something wrong with her. Well, except for Malfoy… but she would avoid him as much as possible. She didn't want to have to confront any demons tonight. No, tonight she wanted to have fun and let loose and just forget about everything.

"What would you like to drink?" Neville asked as he sat on the barstool next to Hermione.

"Firewhiskey, straight up." Hermione grinned as Neville placed the order with the bartender. Hermione had never been in a pub at this time of night before. The music was much louder and there were tons more people.

"Here you are." Neville handed her the drink and smiled. "I'm going to go find Luna. Are you ok here by yourself?"

Hermione nodded. She had completely forgotten hat Luna was the Divinations teacher… she put it in her head to make a point to go visit her. She sniffed her drink and crinkled her nose. It smelled very strong. Hermione shrugged as she eyes the contents of her glass. "Bottoms up," she murmured and downed the entire glass. "Another one please," she requested as she slammed her glass on the bar. Her insides were already feeling warm and fuzzy. The bartender handed her another glass as she downed that one. "Two more please." He eyed her. "I'll take my time, promise." She smiled at him as she handed her two glasses full of Firewhiskey.

"Are one of those for me?" Malfoy asked as he slipped into the stool next to her.

Hermione frowned. "Not at all."

Malfoy laughed and ordered himself a Fire whiskey. "Going somewhere?" he asked.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

He pointed at her coat. "You are still wearing your coat. It's like a million degrees in here."

"That's an overstatement." Hermione rolled her eyes and thumbed at the buttons. She was having a hard time seeing straight. "Help?" She asked and leaned forward.

Malfoy was laughing at her again. "Sure," he replied and undid her four buttons on her coat. Hoping she wouldn't slug him this time.

Hermione shrugged off the coat. "Thanks," she said as she downed one of her Firewhiskeys.

Malfoy couldn't help but noticed how stunning she looked in slutty cocktail dresses. It was a short, black dress that started at the plumps of her cleavage and ended only mere inches below her ass. He smirked as he watched her go hang up her coat and then stumble back to her barstool.

"Stop checking me out," she snapped and the smiled. "It's turning me on."

"You're joking." He sipped on his drink.

Hermione leaned closer and whispered, "Maybe… wanna dance?"

Malfoy downed the remaining contents of his drink. "Hell yes."

She followed suit and downed her second Firewhiskey. "Just as long as you don't bring up what happened earlier."

Malfoy eyed her hand. She had taken off the ring. He smirked. "Wasn't planning on it."

---

"Oh Merlin," Hermione groaned. "I remember dancing…" She looked up at Malfoy. She was still leaning on him and didn't care. "I was such a tramp last night."

"I wasn't exactly complaining."

"Well you're a guy, and having a girl rubbing up against you isn't exactly a punishment."

Malfoy gave her a weak smile. "You have no idea," he breathed. Thinking about how hard it was to control himself from ravishing her right then and there on the dance floor.

---

"Granger… Granger!" Malfoy shouted as he grabbed her and pulled her away from the dance floor. "We should take a break." He felt an obvious erection strain against his pants. Hermione had noticed too.

Hermione was breathing heavily as she smiled goofily at him and pulled him into the hall that led to the restrooms. "Let's take a break somewhere quieter."

"Alright, let's step outside. Get some air."

Hermione rolled her eyed. He was obviously into her, but none of her come-ons were working. "Fine, she huffed as she followed him out the side door of the Three Broomsticks. "It's cold," Hermione whined.

"Here," he shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over Hermione's slender shoulders.

"Thanks," she murmured and walked into the corner of the alley that they stood in.

Malfoy sighed. "Granger…"

"Shh," she whispered. "I know you want this." She let her hands wander to his private areas as she tried to fondle them lightly.

"Granger… I… Granger!" He grabbed her hands and clasped them in his. "Stop it."

Hermione glared at him. "I don't want to."

"Yes… you do. You love Weasley."

Hermione's eyes glistened with tears. "I think I drank too much."

Malfoy smiled slightly, letting go of her hands and wiped away her tears. "I think so too."

"Can you take me back?" Hermione asked.

"Yea, let me go get your coat."

"No." Hermione shook her head. "Forget about it. I'll get it later."

Malfoy sighed. "As you wish, Granger." He held her by her waist as he tried to help her walk, but she kept fumbling. It's a wonder she ever backed him into a corner. "Here," Malfoy grunted as he scooped her up in his arms. "There… much better."

"You're way strong," Hermione murmured as she eventually nodded off to sleep as he carried her back to his dorm. He would have let her sleep in her dorm is she had been awake to tell him what her password was, but she wasn't. He laid her down on his bed and covered her up and made his way to go sleep on the couch. "Don't go," Hermione breathed and grabbed his hand. "Just stay," she whispered as her eyes fluttered closed again. Malfoy half smiled as she slipped out of his clothes and slipped into his bed, as far away from her as he could.

"Goodnight, Hermione…" he breathed before he too closed his eyes and drifted off.

---

Hermione gasped. "So we… didn't do anything?"

Malfoy shook his head. "Nope. Strictly rated PG."

Hermione's eyes softened. "I… I don't know what to say."

"It isn't a big deal, Granger."

"It is, though…"

"No it's not."

"Yes, it is…"

"Whatever."

"Shut up."

"What? I just conceded. You win. It was a big deal."

"You are so annoying."

"No I'm not. You're just hungover."

"So are you."

"So?"

"Exactly."

"What the fuck?"

"Excuse me?"

"What are we even arguing about?"

"You."

"What did I do?"

"I'm not sure."

"Oh, that's real rich, Hermione."

And before he knew what happened, her lips were pressed up against his, fervently seeking a response. He replied by snaking his arms around her and answering her kiss. He couldn't help it. It just felt right. And before he could really get into the kiss, she had pulled away.

"Oh dear god," Hermione breathed and scrambled to her feet. "I…I'm so sorry."

"Wait…" He called after her as she ran out. He heard the door shut. "Don't go," he murmured a little too late.

---

Hermione ran down the hall and burst into her own dormitory. Breathing heavily and nearly crying like an idiot. What had she just done? She had just rejoiced in the fact that nothing had happened between them and then she launched herself at him like some sort of loose whore. She groaned and threw herself onto her bed.

"Fuck you Malfoy…" she breathed and closed her eyes. Life is too complicated, she thought.