If You Want It to Be Good ...

A/N: Ok, this little plot bunny hopped into my head a few weeks ago when I heard -- for the first time in years-- the Backstreet Boys song "If You Want It to be Good, Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy)." I had attempted to make a Draco Malfoy video to it, but unfortunately, I just didn't have enough clips to do what I wanted, and then this little story popped into my head.

This unfortunately will be the last thing I post for a while. “Love of a Lifetime” has come to a bit of a standstill. I just don't have the time that I used to have thanks to my new job. And I would hate to sacrifice chapter length or anything like that when I've been so proud of that story. I'm certainly not stopping with my fanfictions or with my ship. Merlin forbid! I've been writing some one shots at a website I belong to and I may post those. But I just can't post anything more than that. I hope when my muse returns, you guys will still be around to finish “Love” and read the other drabbles I post.

For now, please enjoy this one and please review!!

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“Harry! Harry, are you home?” called Hermione as she hung her coat on the rack. The house was pitch black. “Hello?”

“In here,” Harry's faint voice replied.

“Is there a reason all the lights are off? We paid the electric bill, right?” Hermione joked as she followed the sound of her husband's voice.

“Yeah,” Harry mumbled.

“Honey, what's wrong? Kinda dreary, sitting here in the dark all alone.”

“I just wanted to think about some things.”

His tone concerned her. “Like what?” she asked, walking and sitting by him on the couch. She left the lights off to make him more comfortable. Even after all their years together, Harry still had a hard time sharing.

He just shrugged.

“Ok, you're hiding something,” she prodded. “Just tell me what's in that head of yours.”

“Nothing,” he laughed sarcastically. “You know that.”

“Come on. What is it?”

Harry sighed deeply. He decided it was easier to just talk to her, rather than have her try to guess. And she was getting better at Legilimency. “Do you remember last week, when we went to that party at Ron and Luna's?”

Hermione nodded.

“Well, I overheard you and Luna and Ginny talking about guys and stuff. I'll admit, it intrigued me, so I eavesdropped.”

Before she could chastise him for listening in, he continued.

“Well, Ginny mentioned how even though she loves Neville, there was always a pull towards the bad boys. And how at Hogwarts, she had a bit of a crush on Draco Malfoy.”

Hermione blushed. She could see where this was going.

“Harry, I hope you didn't take it all to heart what we said -”

“Well, I mean, you did say that you thought the bad boys were kinda hot,” Harry interrupted.

“True, I did say that. But I certainly never said that I would want to be with one for the rest of my life. Besides, it's not like you can't be a bad boy. What we did in the bedroom last night certainly wasn't for good boys …” she said coyly.

“Yes, well… I thought maybe you wanted more of a bad boy in your life.”

Hermione paused. “Harry … turn on the light,” she cautiously said.

“Lumos,” Harry whispered.

Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or shriek when she saw her husband. His hair was spiked up and he had an earring.

“Harry! When did you do that?” she asked.

“Um, today.”

“Well, of course, today. You certainly didn't have that when I left this morning! And what did you do to your hair?”

“I - well - it looks better than normal, doesn't it?”

“Oh, Harry. What would give you the impression that I would like it like that?”

“Because of -”

“And do not say because of that stupid conversation!”

“Well, that's pretty much it.”

“Harry, Harry, Harry. When will you understand that I love you just the way you are? Hasn't the last decade of knowing each other and friendship and dating and marriage taught you anything? Don't you know that I don't want a “bad boy?” I want Harry, the man I married! The man with no piercings and no spiked hair and no - Merlin forbid - tattoos.”

Harry sighed. “There's no tattoos. And the gel will wash out.”

“And that earring?” Hermione asked, tentatively.

He reached up to his ear and pulled the earring off. “It's a fake. I didn't have the guts to actually get a real one.”

“Well, that makes me feel better. I can't imagine this permanently.”

“Really?”

“Oh Harry. I didn't fall in love with you for nothing. I love you, bad moments, good moments, all the moments. Some girls may want to live with the bad boys, but they can be unreliable. Why would I want that? You are the rock in my life. You're all I need, not the Draco Malfoy types.”

“So I've been foolish?”

“Oh yes. But it's ok,” she smiled. “I've gotten used to it.”

For the first time since Hermione got home, Harry grinned. “I deserved that. I don't know, Mione. I just want to make sure that you're always happy.”

“Haven't you noticed how deliriously happy I already am? I don't need you to change to make me happy. I need you to stay the same.”

“Ok. That's a good thing. I really don't think I would be able to deal with an earring. And you don't know how much gel it took to get my hair to hold.”

“It looks like it,” Hermione said, examining Harry's hair. “Can you go wash that out?”

“Yeah, I think that's a good idea.”

Harry stood and helped his wife to stand as well.

“I'm so glad this baby isn't born yet,” she sighed, rubbing her round tummy. “I need a little more time to get you ready.”

“Yes, but you love a challenge!” Harry said, smirking.

“Too true.”

“Care to help me wash this out?” he asked with the look in his eyes that always made her melt.

“I think I could be persuaded …”

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