A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to get this out. I've had alot of family things and such...it's really a long story. I know that since the guys in Group Date number 2 don't contain any of the ones we really care about (Harry!) I'll just make reference to it and skip right to the Rose Ceremony. The sooner that is over with, the sooner we can get into the one-on-one dates. Also, did anyone see that Jen from that one 'Bachelor' is going to be the next Bachelorette? Didn't she already have her chance?
By the time she needed to start getting ready for her third Rose Ceremony, Hermione had worked herself into a bit of a tizzy. She had had the opportunity to get to know the guys alot better, and was hoping she would make the right decisions. Despite her feelings for Harry, it was really anybody's game at this point. Who knew when someone would turn up to be the most wondrous man she'd ever met?
She made quick work of getting ready, deciding to wear her hair up as it complimented the simple black dress she had chosen for the night rather well. She was just buckling the straps on her shoes when the knock came on her door to let her know it was time to go down. When she descended the stairs, she found the ten remaining men waiting for her. Smiling brightly at them, she reached the bottom of the staircase and they each came up to greet her. Accepting their greeting, she led them into the sitting room for drinks and conversation before the Ceremony. Just to make sure she was making the right choices, she led each of the men aside to have a quick word before the Ceremony. Hermione was nothing if not thorough.
"Harry, may I have a word?" she asked politely, hoping it wasn't too rude to interrupt the conversation he was having. She thought she heard him say something about rubber ducks, but she could have heard him wrong.
"Certainly, Hermione," he answered with a smile. He continued to smile as he excused himself and followed her into a side room.
He really should be careful with that smile, she thought. It's enough to make any girl trip head over heels.
Once they sat down, she examined him quickly before beginning. He was in a simple black suit with a white shirt and emerald tie. She was amazed at just how well the tie matched his eyes.
"I just wanted to let you know what fun I had with you on our date the other day," she told him, giving him what she hoped was a dazzlingly confident smile.
"I had fun, too," he replied, noting the nervousness in her expression. It had to be hard making a decision like that. When someone was put into a position like that they could easily make a mistake. He admired her for handling it so well.
"We probably shouldn't stay gone much longer, I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy your company." That being said, she got up and began to walk back toward the others with Harry following closely. He was lost in his thoughts. She had taken him aside to talk, but hadn't really said much of anything at all, yet she had said everything. He knew she wasn't allowed to say much about her feelings toward any certain guy at this point, and it had to be hard on her. He liked to think that was her way of saying she was beginning to have feelings for him, but he couldn't be too sure. He was still thinking about this when they were notified it was time for the ceremony.
**
Hermione was lost in her thoughts and not really listening to what the guys around her were saying when Chris the host came and got her to spend a few minutes in what she fondly thought of as the 'Deliberation Room'. If she thought about it sensibly, she could compare it to a trial. She would go into this room and study the pictures of the ten remaining men and let her mind wander for a few minutes while she decided who would go and who would stay. It wasn't exactly like deciding if someone would go to jail or not, but it was the only comparison she could come up with. After a time that seemed excruciatingly short, she was told to come out and make her decision known. She just hoped it was the right one.
She walked out into the 'Ceremony Room' and studied the men. They all looked a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. She knew she would be letting some of them down tonight, but it was only one in a long list of steps she would have to take to make it to the end, and make it she would. She put on her best confident, Gryffindor smile and picked up the first rose.
"David." His face lit up excitedly at the sound of his name, but he quickly recovered and walked up to Hermione. He accepted the rose, and after she pinned it onto his lapel, went back to the group and joined the others.
"George." George was also noticeably excited, and accepted the rose Hermione offered.
"Draco." Upon the announcement of his name, he practically sauntered up to Hermione and accepted.
"Sean." He accepted quietly, and seemed to handle his excitement well.
As soon as Chris the host had stepped forward to announce that this would be the last rose, Hermione took a deep breath before announcing the last name.
"Harry." Hermione knew why she saved him for last. She enjoyed his response the most. He always looked surprised that his name was being called, and walked almost shyly up to her.
"Harry, will you accept this rose?" She asked him as was required, hoping he would accept. She knew the chances were good that he would accept, but there was always a small chance he might not.
"Of course, Hermione." He smiled his wonderfully deadly smile as she pinned the rose to his lapel.
Once Harry had returned to his spot, Chris the host stepped forward.
"Gentlemen, if you didn't get a rose tonight, it's time to say your goodbyes." The men who were not awarded with a rose nodded and began to shake hands and say goodbye. Hermione knew it would be hard to make this decision. There were a few that she wished could stay, but that was the way of the game. The one playing couldn't have regrets. If she stopped to think about all of the what ifs she wouldn't enjoy the ride. She gave a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek to each of the men as they said goodbye to her on their way out.
Yes, this was definitely a downside, she thought as she toasted the next step with the five remaining men. She couldn't afford to think about the past. She had five wonderful, not to mention gorgeous, men around her. She liked them all, but knew she was kidding herself if she thought she liked any of them as much as she liked Harry. She had to push those thoughts out of her head if she wanted to think objectively about the one-on-one dates that were ahead. It was definitely going to be an adventure.
(Again, guys, I'm sorry this took so long. I haven't really been in a mood to write lately, but I tried to get
this out as soon as possible. I know it's short, but hopefully it'll tide you over until I can finish the first
one-on-one date. I'm kind of fuzzy on details when we get to this point, as far as how it works, so I'm going
to kind of fly by the seat of my pants on the logistics of it and just concentrate on all of the awesome H/Hr goodness
I get to write. Also, I know some of you don't like that Seamus didn't get a rose. All I can say is
'I'm sorry'. Please Review!)