Author Note: Thanks to everyone that reviewed! I'm pleased that I have gotten over 100 already, and the story
isn't even half over yet! It's great to know there is so much interest in my story. I wanted to thank everyone
for the votes. I'll definitely take them into account, though you may change your minds after the group dates in
Chapter 6. I know there wasn't much to go on yet, but as it had been awhile since I updated (I was still working on
Chapter 5...Why am I all of a sudden busier than usual? Always when you have something new going...), I thought it
would be good to give you something to think about. Anyway, I think I confused some with the whole 'voting'
thing. Obviously, she will end up with Harry at the end of the story. That doesn't necessarily mean she will pick
him (or will she? Gots to leave you hanging!), but she will end up with him. This is Portkey, after all! Besides, I
fully believe in Harry/Hermione and I definitely wouldn't have it any other way. So all of you that were worried
about me not having her end up with Harry can rest assured that they will end up together in the end. Also, some are
questioning the fact that she doesn't know them. The reason why I have done this is because #1, I don't think
the good guys at ABC would pick people who were well acquainted with the one chosen to be the 'bachelorette',
and #2, there's less 'getting to know you' action if she knows them already. For example, with Harry,
he's her best friend. She already knows pretty much everything there is to know about him, and I just don't see
that happening realistically with them knowing each other well. If there are still issues with that, I'm sorry, I
just thought it would work out this way. I am also getting alot of surprised reviews about the whole 'Draco'
thing. Not that I think he's a great guy or anything, but I think he's just very misunderstood and a victim of
his environment and upbringing. I think under different circumstances he could be a fairly decent guy, so I'm
giving him the benefit of the doubt. Well, I've spouted off enough for one chapter, so thanks for your patience,
and if anyone is still unclear about something, feel free to email or IM me and I'd be glad to give you a more
lengthy and detailed description about anything you don't understand. Also, I didn't remove my previous
'voting' author note because I'd lost all of my reviews, and I didn't want that, so I just decided to
leave it.
I know you're sick of reading, but just a few individual responses:
Muirnin: Fear Factor is DEFINITELY a reality show. I love it! Especially when they have to eat gross things because I
know I sure couldn't do it!
Jenna Kathleen: Thanks for the clarification. I didn't think you'd want to kick Harry off, though. :)
yekwah: Don't worry! I wouldn't risk getting kicked off and pair her with anyone else. Besides, how thick would
I be to put her with anyone else anyway? There is NO other way than Harry/ Hermione!
I'd also like to apologize for the lack of H/Hr goodness in this chapter.We have to get some other stuff out of the way first. Try to be patient. It's coming!
Chapter 5
'The Bachelorette'
Hermione awoke the day of her one-on-one date with Draco very nervous. This wasn't anything new; she had been
nervous just about 24-7 since she found she had been picked, but for some reason she felt more nervous than usual about
this particular date. She didn't regret her decision to give the rose to Draco, she really did want to get to know
him better, but what little she had heard about him at school had never been good. After meeting the three men she knew
to be wizards that had gone to Hogwarts with her, she found herself regretting not having gotten to know them better at
school. There was always time though, as she was going to be spending quite alot of time with them soon, especially
Draco. It was only a shame they wouldn't be able to talk about anything related to magic, as this was a Muggle
show.
As she got out of bed and into the shower, she was grateful for the warm spray as it helped to calm her tense muscles. Feeling considerably better, she stepped out into the steamy bathroom ready to face the day. She had to be ready earlier today, as they were flying somewhere quite a long distance away and they had to leave soon to catch the plane they would be taking. She hadn't been told yet where they were going, just that it was far away. Hermione got more and more excited as she dressed, fixed her hair, and put on her makeup. By the time she was finished, she was beginning to feel antsy with all the excitement. She checked one last time in the mirror to make sure everything was perfect before she left, and headed out the door.
*****(The day before, in the bachelors' pad)*****
Draco, Harry, Seamus, Matt, Sean, and Ryan were lounging by the pool, talking about whatever it is that men talk about when they are by themselves when Chris came running out from the house.
"Draco, there's something here for you!" Draco got up immediately and entered the house, all of the other bachelors in tow. Sitting on the ottoman in the living room was a small box with his name on it. Hesitantly, he opened it. Inside, he found a videotape and some bead necklaces. The tape was labeled "Play me", so he immediately crossed the room and popped the tape in the VCR. He pressed play and then stood back to watch it. It showed a smiling Hermione sitting on her deck in the sun.
"Hello Draco, tomorrow we will be going on a long trip...I haven't been given any specifics, so neither will you, but they did leave you one clue in the box. All they will tell me is to dress for some walking, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes! I'll pick you up tomorrow at 11 a.m. See you soon!" The tape cut off there, but it left the guys' imaginations running. Where on earth could they be going, and how were bead necklaces a clue?
**********
The next day, Hermione's limo was pulling up to the bachelor pad at 11 a.m. sharp. She got out, walked to the door, and knocked. Not five seconds after she knocked, the door was answered, and she was floored by who answered it. As she looked up, she got lost in bright green eyes, and it took a few seconds for her brain to process her thoughts enough to allow her to speak.
"Please come in," Harry told her, opening the door wider to allow her entrance. She obliged and stepped into the entryway. At that moment, Draco was also coming down the stairs.
"Perfect timing," she told him with a smile as he came up to her and kissed her cheek. They waived to the others and exited the house. Once they were seated in the limo and it was pulling away, Draco spoke first.
"Any clue where we're going?" he asked, looking pleasantly in the dark.
"Not at all," Hermione answered. "It's kind of odd that they didn't tell us, I thought they normally did?"
Draco just shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose they wanted to try something different this time?" he suggested. Hermione nodded thoughtfully.
"So, Hermione," Draco started. "I know you're a doctor, but are you any special type of doctor?"
Hermione smiled. It was going to be difficult to talk about school and work. She knew Draco wouldn't care about the nature of her work, because she knew he was a wizard, but of course they couldn't talk about it too openly on television. They would have to be very vague.
"I'm actually somewhat of a researcher. I don't deal with the patients as much as I used to, I normally just research information for cures or new medicines. I occasionally deal with patients, but I'm afraid I'm a bit out of practice what with all the research I have been doing lately. I don't mind though, because I love research. It's what I do best," Hermione added wistfully.
Draco chuckled appreciatively. "I've never met a bookworm as nice-looking as you," he complimented. Hermione blushed in spite of herself.
By this time they had arrived at the airport and were given instructions. They boarded the small plane and took the seats offered to them. They listened politely as the flight attendant gave the safety instructions and watched out the window as the plane taxied down the runway and took off smoothly.
"So, Draco, now that we've heard all about what I do, I know you are a business owner. What kind of business do you own, exactly?" Hermione asked with interest. She had been wondering about that for awhile.
"Well, it's kind of difficult to explain," Draco started carefully, trying to phrase his response so as not to give too much away. "I don't own just one business, really, it's more like I own a rather large stake in a few different businesses. My father was not a very nice man, so when he died, rather than use my inheritance on something directly for myself, I used it to help out certain businesses financially that I knew needed the assistance. So I don't really own them, per se, I just invest in them quite a bit and help out where it is needed. It really helped me to shape my own life the way I wanted it, not how my father had taught me to live it."
Hermione was impressed. She was glad he had not been greedy and had used the money where it was really needed, and that he had been able to break away and be his own person.
"So, in between all of this 'helping', what do you do for fun?" she asked him interestedly.
"I sometimes go out and have a drink with my best mates, but I don't really do alot out of the house. My friends try to make me get out and do more. They definitely would like it if I dated more. They try to set me up alot, but the girls they pick are never right for me. I have had a couple of insignificant relationships, but nothing much to speak about. I read alot, though." That had definitely sparked some interest with Hermione.
They began talking about books of interest (Muggle of course!), and before they knew it they had arrived. Just as they touched down, the pilot's voice came over the loudspeaker and announced their location.
"Welcome to New Orleans, Louisiana. It's a beautiful day out there, plenty of things waiting to be seen. Have a pleasant stay!"
"New Orleans?" they repeated simultaneously. Hermione was slightly shocked. She wasn't upset about the location, she was rather pleased, actually. She had never been there, but had heard good things. Draco was equally surprised, but looked forward to a whole day alone with Hermione. They got off the plane and into the waiting limo. They spent the ride in comfortable silence, each enjoying the scenery outside the windows as the limo wound through the impossible traffic. Once they stopped, the driver opened the door and they stepped out of the car and into the French Quarter.
They oohed and ahhed all the old buildings. Looking toward their left, they saw a green-and-white striped tent-like canopy bearing the name 'Cafe du Monde'. It looked interesting enough, so they looked at each other in silent agreement and began to head that way. Draco surprised Hermione by slipping his hand into hers, but she didn't pull away. The 'Bachelorette' crew must have anticipated this decision (or they would have made them go had they not made the decision on their own), because there was a table set up a little bit away from everyone else with beignets and cafe au lait.
Neither of them had tried or even seen beignets before, so they were hesitant at first and just studied them. They were covered in confectioner's sugar, so Draco and Hermione knew they would have to be careful not to get it everywhere. Draco was the first to be adventurous. He picked one up, studied it for a moment and took a bite. Unfortunately, he chose that moment to exhale his breath sent a spray of confectioner's sugar all over Hermione. She was taken aback at first. She didn't realize it would do that, but then she laughed. Draco, looking extremely relieved that she wasn't angry, laughed along with her. The fact that Draco was successful gave Hermione the courage she needed to try them as well. She just made sure that she held her breath as she bit into the sugar-covered pastry. She knew she couldn't breathe out or she would spray sugar all over Draco, but she couldn't breathe in either or she would inhale it.
After finishing their beignets and sipping their cafe au lait, they continued to walk down the sidewalks and chat, pointing out things of interest along the way. They would stop momentarily to watch a street performer, and then continue on their way. Once they had walked around a bit, they were advised that they should go back and get into the limo. They did as they were told, and were soon winding thorough traffic once more. This time when they stopped, they noticed it was right in by the Aquarium of the Americas.
Hermione had been to an aquarium when she was young as she was muggleborn and her parents would take her such places,
but Draco had never been. He was sad to find out that they wouldn't be able to look through the whole aquarium, but
that they were directed to a certain spot near the entrance. It was a huge tank with quite a few different types of
fish swimming around, only there was a tunnel thorough the middle that you could walk through. In the middle of the
tunnel was a table, set for two.
We get to eat with the fishies! Hermione thought, giggling.
Draco looked at her strangely, but didn't comment. Once they were seated, Draco was inwardly grateful that they weren't being served seafood. They had their choice of either chicken or steak, both served with a baked potato and mixed vegetables. Draco chose steak and Hermione chose chicken.
"So Hermione, you've heard a bit about my family. Well, my father anyway. Tell me about your family," Draco inquired, helping to pass the time until their dinner arrived.
"Well," Hermione started, forming the sentences carefully and checking them in her head before she spoke them. "My parents are both dentists. Needless to say, I had very clean teeth." Draco chuckled appreciatively and urged her to continue. "I don't have any siblings, which is probably why I can be somewhat of a loner to this day. I have always loved to read, just as I do now. I was very fortunate to live in the same house all of my life. I went to a boarding school, so it was great to be able to come home to a familiar place."
Draco nodded in understanding. "I went to boarding school also, so I know what you mean. I'm also an only child, so I can definitely relate to that as well."
By this time, their food arrived and they exchanged few words as they ate. They mostly watched the fish swim all around them. When they finished, they were ushered out of the aquarium and into the limo that took them to the airport. By this time, it was dark, and they knew they would be getting back late.
Once they arrived back in L.A., they were both so tired from the flight and long day that they didn't talk much. Hermione spent the time thinking about the day. She was pleased with the outcome, but it just felt like something was missing. She wasn't sure exactly what was missing, but something just didn't feel right. As she walked Draco to the door, he was polite and gave her a small hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"It's been a wonderful day, Hermione. I've enjoyed spending it with you," he told her, smiling.
Hermione smiled back. "I've had a wonderful day as well. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to get to know you better." With that, Draco entered the house and Hermione turned and got back into the limo that would take her back to where she was staying. Once she arrived, she went to bed straight away, glad to be able to rest after the long day.
(I know I kind of cut the talking short, but we know all we need to know about Draco already. Next chapter, we will
learn more about the other bachelors as they go out on their group dates. Also, the reason why I wanted them to go to
New Orleans is that I was just there today, and it's the coolest place! Anyone who has not been there should
definitely go. Also (something a bit off subject) I got to see PoA on the IMAX! I had already seen it three times at
the regular theater, but not at the IMAX, so I was very excited about that. I just had to share! Please review!)