Disclaimer: It's not mine!
Author's Note: I'm thrilled to pieces that everyone is enjoying the story so far. Thank you all for taking time
out to let me know what you think. Also, some are still confused about the whole 'AU' thing. AU means that the
story is not going to follow canon events, and I can make the characters do whatever I want. If I want to have them not
be well-acquanited, I can. It's not that she doesn't remember them. **READ THE AUTHOR NOTES AND ANYTHING
UNUSUAL WILL BE EXPLAINED!** (This is mostly for fanfiction.net readers, by the way.) Happy reading! Also, a side note
to Jenna Kathleen, I did see "For Love or Money", and I was impressed at first that he didn't want to
look at his check, but I couldn't believe he chose Andrea. So like a typical male to think with his stomach!
'The Bachelorette'
Hermione entered the house and went straight to the dining room. When she got there, all twenty-five men were already seated, and there was one chair left at the head of the table for her. She sat, and dinner began. To her right was Draco, and to her left was Harry. She vaguely remembered the two men not being on the best of terms at school, so it was interesting to see how they would interact. This would also be difficult, owing to the fact that nobody was to know she was a witch. This left discussion topics to very few. Draco immediately attempted to engage her in conversation.
"So, Hermione, what is it that you do?" he asked politely as he reached for his wineglass to take a sip.
"I'm a doctor of sorts at a local hospital," she answered, trying to sound as if that was final so he wouldn't ask where or what she meant by 'of sorts'. Thankfully, he didn't comment on her shady wording. He merely nodded thoughtfully.
"What do you do, Draco?" she asked, trying to be equally polite.
"I'm a business owner, and my family has investments in many other businesses as well."
"That must make you a very busy man,'" she noted.
Draco smiled. "It has it's moments."
There was a break in conversation, and Hermione took that chance to look to her left at Harry. He had intrigued her from the first moment she laid eyes on him. She definitely wanted to know more about him.
"So, Harry," she started, trying to think of a really good question to ask him. "What made you decide to take part in this show?"
"Well," he started, looking like his mind was working quickly to formulate a good response.
"My best friend Ron heard about this from his girlfriend and told me I should take a shot at it. He thinks it's not normal that I haven't had a steady girlfriend in awhile. I told him it wasn't a big deal, I was just waiting for the right girl to come along, be he felt it was his responsibility as my best friend to push me into it, and here I am. It's rather odd, considering the way I kind of got pushed into it, but I don't regret it at all. I'm glad to be here and have the opportunity to get to know you." He smiled his wonderful lopsided, boyish smile at her again, and she felt like she could faint. She smiled back, and looked down at her plate. She was so far away from the men at the end of the table, but she wanted to get to know them as well. Then, she came up with a brilliant idea.
"I've come up with an idea to get to know you all a bit better," she said, looking up and down the table
at all the men that were now watching her. "We're going to go around the table and each of you will tell me
your name again, what you do for a living (briefly, please), and one interesting fact about you. Harry will
start." The men all nodded in agreement that it
was a good idea, and Harry cleared his throat to begin.
"My name is Harry Potter, I'm an investor, and there really isn't anything interesting about me," he admitted rather sheepishly.
"I'm sure that's not true. There has to be something about you, or something you've done in the past that is interesting," Hermione told him, wanting to find out more about him.
"Well, when I was in school, I would always sneak around school with my friends and we never got caught. I like to think of myself as the King of Stealth," he joked while smiling widely. Hermione and the rest of the men laughed as well, and they continued down the table until they reached Draco. He smiled at everyone.
"My name is Draco Malfoy, I'm a businessman, and I always get my way." He could tell some of the men were confused, so he continued. "The reason why I always get my way isn't a good one, but it's true, and some think it's interesting. My family has always been fairly well off, and my parents never knew the meaning of raising children well. When I was upset about something, they would just buy me something to make me feel better. This created problems, because once I got older and would go to school, I would bully others into giving me my way. I didn't realize how much of a problem it was until I became an adult. Fortunately, I've realized the error of my ways and have made friends with most of the people I didn't get along with in the past." All of the men and Hermione nodded in understanding. When Draco finished, Chris walked in and let them all know if they were finished with dinner they could go out into the loving room and have drinks and talk a bit more.
After the men had all exited, Chris stopped Hermione and handed her the First Impression Rose. "Now make sure you give this to the man that has made the best impression on you initially, and you'd like to get to know them better off the bat. Whoever you pick will join you for the first one-on-one date day after tomorrow," Chris advised her as he handed her the rose. Hermione nodded to let him know she understood and exited into the living room to join the men.
As soon as she entered the room, she immediately sought out Draco. Although Harry had impressed her, Draco just had a way about him that made her want to figure out more about him. There would hopefully be more time for Harry later. She spotted him sitting on a couch, talking animatedly to a couple of men that surrounded him. She approached him and called out to him, "Draco, could I see you for a minute?" She asked, feeling bad for interrupting them.
"Certainly," he answered beginning to get up. "Please excuse me, gentlemen." Hermione led him to a smaller room directly off the living room.
"Please sit down," she asked him, finding a seat on a chair opposite him.
"You're probably wondering why I've asked you here by yourself," she started. He only nodded. "I was instructed to find the man that made the biggest impression on me initially and present him with this," she held out the rose and he took it. She continued," This is the First Impression Rose. Because I've given you this, this means that you are automatically receiving a rose tonight, and in addition, we will get a special one-on-one date day after tomorrow. The rest of the men will have to go on group dates."
"Wow," Draco said, looking very surprised. "I'm surprised you picked me. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely pleased, but just surprised. What is it that made you want to give this to me?" he asked, still looking surprised.
"Well," Hermione started, searching for the right words to answer. "From the moment you stepped out of that limo, you just emitted a certain confidence about you that was intriguing. I want to know more about that and you." She answered, hoping that is what he was looking for.
"Well thank you, Hermione. I hope I won't disappoint you," he said with a smile, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"I should probably get back and talk to some of the others," she said, getting up and heading toward the doorway. Draco got up as well and followed her. She took each of the men into that room and had a minute with them to chat and get to know them a bit better.
Awhile later, Chris appeared, and they knew it was time. "Hermione," he said. "It's time to make your decision. Come with me." She followed him into a room that had pictures of all the men set up and left her to make her decision. It was difficult, since she had just met them all, and she hoped she wouldn't let the wrong men go.
A few minutes later, Chris entered and let her know it was time. She followed him out into the living room where the men were anxiously awaiting. She stood in front of them behind the table that held the fifteen roses she was to give out to the men. She took a deep breath and began to address them.
"It has been a pleasure to get to know all of you, and I wish we could have had more time, because it's difficult to decide who to let go when I know so little about all of you. Just know that, at this point, it isn't personal. I'm sure you are all wonderful men, and just because it didn't work out here doesn't mean you won't find someone of your own after you leave."
She took another deep breath and reached down to grab the first rose. "Sean," she said carefully, watching his face light up and make his way down toward her. She smiled back. "Do you accept this rose?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation as she pinned the rose to his lapel.
"Draco," she said, watching him walk down with a large grin. "Will you accept this rose?" She asked, knowing what the answer would be.
"Of course," he answered with a smile. She pinned the rose to his lapel and he turned and went back into place.
"Harry," she said, picking up the next rose as she watched him come toward him. "Will you accept this rose?"
"Certainly," he answered, and she pinned the rose to his lapel. She then continued to name off each of the men in turn, asking them the same questions and waiting for his response.
"Jacob."
"Mike."
"Greg."
"Jeremy."
"David."
"Scott."
"Seamus."
"John."
"Chris."
"George."
"Matt."
At this point, Chris walked up and reminded them, "Gentlemen, this is the final rose of the evening. Hermione?" He returned to his original position as Hermione nodded and picked up the last rose.
"Ryan."
With the last name being announced, all the men that had not been chosen looked very disappointed. Chris stepped up again and addressed the men, "All those not chosen, take a minute to say your goodbyes."
At this time all the men shook each other's hands and approached Hermione, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. When all the men that had not been chosen had left, someone came out with glasses of champagne for them. The each took a glass and toasted. As Hermione looked around the circle of men, she was pleased with all of her choices.
(PLEASE REVIEW! Also, I know alot of you are surprised that she gave Draco the First Impression Rose, and not Harry.
There is a reason for this, so don't get mad or anything. It'll all work out!)