(A/N: Hello everyone! I know normally there is a section where she would go visit their families, but I didn't want to have to invent a whole family for David, and who would she visit for Draco? Would she have to go see his dad in Azkaban? As for Harry, it's either the horrible Dursleys or his 'adopted' family the Weasleys, but the Burrow is way to magical for the Muggle camera crew, so it just wouldn't work. To make things easier, I am going to skip straight to fantasy overnight dates and then we'll cut one out and the two finalists will visit her parents and then she'll choose. Since nobody really cares too much about details for David and Draco's dates, I'm going to put Draco's in this chapter and put snippets about David's, and next chapter will be Harry's date. After that, I expect only maybe two or three chapters and then we'll be done!
On a slightly different note, I've had a couple reviews asking for more action. I know normally there is more action on these shows, but if you think about how Hermione is, she is very unlikely to go around kissing anything that moves like they normally do on the real show, so I'm sorry I won't be able to deliver in that area. Fear not, however, because you will be getting plenty of Harry/Hermione action. Now that we know what direction we'll be heading in, let's get on with it!)
Now that there were only three men left, Hermione knew things would be more difficult. She had significant feelings for
all three remaining men, so she was constantly trying to compare them. She did feel something for Harry that she
didn't feel for the others, but with going on these fantasy dates, that could very possibly change. It was one
thing to spend an hour or two with someone, but when you stay with them overnight, you learn things about them. She was
hoping they would only be good things, but one cannot be too sure. She had been able to choose the order that she would
take the dates, and she decided to go with Draco first, then David, and save Harry for last.
She didn't know why she wanted Harry last, but it seemed right.
Today she was packing for her date with Draco. They were going to New York, and were going to see a Broadway show and stay at the Plaza. Hermione had heard about the Plaza, and was excited to be able to stay at such a fancy hotel.
Once she had packed all of her clothes, she shut the case and made her way downstairs to let them know she was ready. Someone would go up and get her suitcase and make sure it went into the limo. She would then go pick up Draco and they would catch a private plane to New York. Later that night they would see Chicago on Broadway, and after the show they would have dinner in their suite.
Before she knew it she was in the limo on the way to the Bachelor Pad to pick up Draco. She wanted to be able to tell him she was a witch, she just didn't know how when they were surrounded by cameras every minute. She didn't know how, but she knew she had to.
Much too soon the limo was pulling up to the Bachelor Pad, and she was stepping out to go up and get him. She found she wasn't as nervous as usual, and she liked it. Maybe she was getting the hang of this television business!
She knocked on the door and waited for a response. She was surprised when Draco answered the door himself. Usually he was still primping and Harry answered. She tried to tell herself she wasn't disappointed that Harry didn't answer the door, but that it was a natural reaction. She tried to smile brightly at Draco.
"Hey, are you ready?" she asked when she noticed he didn't offer any information.
"Sure, just let me get my bag. Would you like to come in and wait?" He held the door open for her and she entered. She didn't have to wait long and he was coming down the stairs with a small suitcase.
"Let's go," he told her as he opened the door for her to exit the house first. The driver took the suitcase and put it in the trunk with Hermione's while they climbed into the car.
"So are you excited about going to New York?" she asked him, trying to make conversation.
"Definitely. I have only been to New York once, and that was when I had a layover on the flight here from London. Needless to say I didn't have much time to see the sights."
"I know what you mean," she agreed with a laugh. They sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the ride to the airport. Once they got there, they made sure their luggage was loaded and then took their seats and prepared for the long flight.
They chatted about fairly general things on the way to New York, surprisingly not running out of topics to discuss. They only stopped once they landed. They then took another limo to the Plaza Hotel to get settled into their rooms and get ready for the show that night.
Hermione had decided to wear a plain black, floor length strapless silk dress. She had a diamond necklace with matching bracelet and earrings to go with it. She decided to wear her hair up, and once she was finished, she thought the effect was very classic and elegant.
She stepped out of her room, and saw Draco stepping out of his at the same time.
He looked very handsome his tux. She smiled, and he returned it. He approached her and held out his arm for her to take. She accepted it, and he led her out and down to the limo that would take them to the show.
Hermione thought she would be lucky to make it to the theatre alive. Their driver was dodging traffic like the Knight Bus, which wouldn't normally be a problem except things didn't jump out of the way for him since they were in a Muggle vehicle.
Luckily, they pulled up to the theatre with both passengers alive even if they didn't feel so well. Her system quickly righted itself, and she took Draco's proffered arm and allowed him to lead her to their seats.
They sat through most of the show in silence, only commenting on something occasionally. When it was over, they exited the theatre and climbed into the limo. The limo would then take them back to the hotel where their dinner would be waiting for them in the small living room of their two bedroom suite.
Hermione let out a gasp of surprise once they entered the suite. Someone had set up a table for two in the middle of the room and had filled the rest of the room with various colors of roses and candles. The lights were out, and the only light came from the scattered candles. It was so beautiful, it was almost a shame to step into the room and make use of it. Draco took her hand and led her into the room and to the table. He pulled her chair out for her, and when she sat he rounded the table and took his own seat.
While they waited for their food, Hermione took the time to ask a couple of questions she had had running through her head for awhile.
"I just have a couple of questions for you, Draco," she started, hoping he wouldn't mind that she was giving him the third degree. He nodded his agreement, and she pressed on.
"What made you decide to come here? You're a good-looking guy, and obviously you could have your choice of women. Why did you feel that you needed to look for love on television?" She wanted to make sure he was there for the right reasons, and he wasn't just there for the publicity.
"Everyone has known me back home since I was little, so they have this image of me that they refuse to replace with the real me. I wanted to get away from all of that and try to meet someone that would see me for who I am now rather than who I was when I was eleven."
Hermione was surprised and pleased with his answer. He seemed like he really wanted to meet someone.
"Well that brings me to my second question. What about you was so bad that people formed such opinions about you?"
Draco thought about his answer very carefully before saying it out loud. "I wasn't exactly the nicest person in school. I was the school bully, for lack of a better term. I was constantly picking on the others at school and I had very few friends. The friends I did have were only my friends because their parents were friends with mine and they felt obligated. It's hard for most people to forget the way I was and concentrate on who I am now."
Hermione nodded in understanding. She knew just how that was. It was hard to escape a stereotype.
By that time they had finished their dinner and had taken their glasses of wine to the couch to sit and continue their chat. Before she left for New York, the producers had given her an envelope to give to Draco after their dinner. She knew what it said, and she was having mixed feelings. They always gave them the opportunity to stay together rather in their separate bedrooms. She wasn't sure if she was ready to go there with Draco. She would love to have the alone time with him, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for what he would expect if they did share a room.
She watched him open the envelope and scan the message before reading it out loud. She saw his eyebrow raise questioningly as he read what the note said.
"Draco and Hermione, We hope you're having a good time in New York, and we have a proposition for you. Should you decide to forego your individual rooms, please accept our invitation to stay as a couple in the Fantasy Suite we have prepared."
When he finished he looked at Hermione questioningly. She still wasn't sure, but she didn't want to disappoint him.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked him when he hadn't responded for a couple minutes.
"I think if you'd like to, then I would as well," he answered back after a minute more.
"Sure, let's go." She stood up and waited for Draco to stand up as well. He took her hand as they went out of their suite and to the room number on the key that was in the envelope. When they got there, he opened the door and they stepped in. This room had been decorated similarly to their suite. There were roses and candles everywhere. Hermione would have appreciated it if she weren't so nervous.
Once he had closed the door, she got even more nervous. They were alone for the first time since the show started. The cameras weren't allowed in, so they were able to talk about whatever they wanted. Hermione thought this was a good time to reveal to Draco the fact that she is a witch. She knew he was a wizard, so this wouldn't be a problem for him, but he would be surprised.
"Draco, I have to tell you something." She said this with such seriousness that Draco began to get worried. He led her to the bed, sat down, and waited for her to gather her thoughts enough to tell him what was on her mind.
"There's something about me that you don't know. I'm a witch." She waited for him to be stunned, but the expected response never came. He looked thoughtful for a moment, but replied rather quickly.
"A witch, huh?" He smiled at her. "That's okay because I'm a wizard."
"I knew you were. I went to Hogwarts. I was actually in the same class as you, only I was in Gryffindor."
"How did I not know you, then?" He was surprised that they could have gone to the same school and not remember each other, or he could not remember her, at any rate.
"We didn't exactly hang out in the same social circles. Besides, did you ever pay much attention to the Gryffindors except to make fun of them?" She looked at him in a way that he knew she was serious but not blaming him.
"Good point," he agreed with a nod. "I wish now I hadn't acted like that. It's hard to make up for it now. I hurt so many people..." he drifted off thoughtfully. Hermione had scooted closer to him to offer comfort, and when she placed her hand on his, he looked up. He leaned in and brushed his lips lightly over hers. She pulled back almost immediately after it happened.
"I-I'm sorry. I can't do this. It's not you, it just doesn't feel right. I have to go back to my room." She stood up abruptly and made her way to the door.
"Hermione."
At the sound of her name being called, she turned around, hand on the doorknob.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for understanding."
She nodded her head and opened the door. With one last look she exited and closed the door behind her. What was she getting herself into?
**********
A few days later while she was packing for her date with Harry, she thought back on the two dates she had taken thus far. Her date with Draco had gone very well. Except for the incident at the end, she would almost say it was perfect. He was so gentle and understanding. They never had a lull in conversation, and he had a great sense of humor. There was something missing that she couldn't quite place, but she had a growing affection for Draco.
David was another story. He was a wonderful person, but he wasn't what she thought he would be. They had gone to Niagara Falls for their date, which was a beautiful location, but it just wasn't right. He would barely talk about himself, which normally wouldn't be too much of a problem, but when you're trying to get to know someone it can be somewhat of a bother.
She found herself bored on more than one occasion, and she didn't like it. She needed someone that could help hold the conversation together and would challenge her. David didn't seem like the one to do that for her.
She was anxious about her date with Harry. She was excited to be able to spend so much time with him. They would be going to Hawaii and Hermione was thrilled. She had never been anywhere like that, and she looked forward to spending time with him on the beaches. It was a very exotic setting, and she was glad it was Harry she would be sharing it with. She was soon finished packing and lugged her suitcase down the stairs and to the chauffeur who helped her get it in the trunk. As she climbed into the car she knew this was going to be her best date yet.
( I feel I have to apologize for the D/Hr in this chapter. I felt it was necessary, so don't get too mad. You'll feel better after next chapter. Thanks for reading, and as always I'm going to beg for reviews. I don't really need to as you've all been wonderful about it on your own, but one can never be too sure. REVIEW, PLEASE!)