Substitute

SUBSTITUTE

I was in the photo-studio arranging the flowers for the bridal photo-shoot and immediately hid myself in a corner when a man with a scowl on his aristocratic face stormed into the room. He was talking in irritated briskness to the other person who was the photographer.

He slammed a frustrated fist in his palm. "Blaise stood us up."

The photographer didn't give a hint of disappointment. He'd expected it would happen. He just didn't want to point out that Blaise Zabini stood him up for better prospects because she was a materialistic witch as she was beautiful.

"We need a substitute." His eyes dropped on my photos. "Like her."

My eyes widened in dread seeing him taking a photo piece of me being a bridesmaid for Hermione Granger's wedding to Severus Snape recently and eyeing it with interest.

He jabbed a lean finger on it. "Colin, get her."

Colin Creevey looked at the picture, gawping, "Mr. Malfoy, she's a florist!"

The man opposite him pressed the photo into Colin's hand. "Get her!"

Colin looked distraught, glancing at Mr. Malfoy's back as he left. I came up to him, wrested the photo from his hand.

"I'm toast!" He gave me that desperate look.

I shrugged nonchalantly. "You're absolutely correct. I'll leave you as burnt toast."

He blocked my way out of the door. "Please..."

I whipped an index finger wagging it furiously. "Colin, I'm not in it anymore!"

He grabbed my hands in his the desperation in his voice reflecting in his eyes. "Please help me. I promise, I won't bother you again."

I closed my eyes in despair. "I left the modeling world because I hated its sleaziness." He nodded dejectedly, looking at him I sighed in resignation. "Okay, only this time."

His head jerked in shocked delight. "Thanks." He kissed my forehead in gratitude. "I owe you one."

I raised an eyebrow. "As I recall, counting this, you owe me three."

The photo shoot session went well until Draco Malfoy visited the set. He was the proprietor of Bewitched magazine and sometimes modeled when 'he felt the need to be vain', as Colin whispered this to me.

Rolling my eyes heavenward. "Thank God, I won't be here long!"

Draco stopped in front of us, staring hard and rather skeptically at me then at Colin. "Is she any good?"

My lips thinned in annoyance. The arrogance of the man was infuriating. I drew myself up to give him a piece of my mind.

Colin saw it and he immediately replied, "Better." He looked at me with pleading eyes that said 'calm down.' I inhaled and exhaled to calm my grated nerves.

Draco had the audacity to continue perusing from the tip of my white stilettos right up to my chic elegant coiffure. As he lowered his gaze to my face, I smiled at him sweetly. "I feel like Scarlett O'Hara."

He blinked disbelievingly, glancing at Colin who was trying his best to swallow his mirth, with a look saying 'what is with women and muggle romantic stories'. He could never fathom what's the fascination with all things muggle. He stationed himself among the flowers changing from grumpy to dashing, tuning his masculine charms for the camera.

I stood transfixed gazing at this beautiful transformation, whispering to Colin, "Odin on-screen, Loki off-screen. An amazing contrast."

Colin pleaded with a grin. "Go now. I saw an aggravated twitch in his left eye."

Colin instructed us to do shoots that had me doing a semi-pirouette and Draco catching my wrist. Then, softly whirling me around as in a Waltz, next we had to do a steamy Tango swoop with his hand flat on the arch of my back while my hand clutching a single rose that touched the floor. The ending was he'd lift me up slowly, my hand releasing the rose to the floor putting my hand on his shoulder. I'd then, rest my head on his chest with my eyes closed and my face filled with contentment.

I did all of those but I wasn't going to end the shoot just yet. I was all flushed and light-headed. My eyes had the mischievous glint in their depths and Colin caught a shot of it with his camera. Instead of leaving the set, I did the unthinkable. I grabbed Draco by the lapels and gave him a thorough kiss of a bold passionate bride, with my hands snaking in his hair, speaking for all to hear. "It gives extra weight to the project."

Colin, who was a menace with a camera, snapped this candid shot, shouting, "Excellent." He took another shot of us with Draco staring at me dazedly with the lipstick mark, askew necktie and ruffled hair.

The makeup artist, Seamus Finnegan who looked like a cheap imitation of Boy George clapped his hands in girlie delight. "Instead of the girl having that look at the end of the shoot, it's the boy. I love it!"

I disappeared into the dressing room. Undressing as rapidly as I could with the assistant's help. I plopped into the chair wiping the gunk off my face while the assistant undid the coiffure.

"Nice try for an old pro." The icy cold voice of my nemesis sliced the warm atmosphere. She raised an eyebrow at the assistant to leave us. The poor girl fled out of the room.

I remained seated, smiling stiffly at her reflection on the mirror. "Jealous, Blaise?"

Her eyes narrowed, glittering in resentment. "He's mine." Her eyes suddenly lit up upon seeing Draco. She slipped her arms around his neck, purring, "Draco, I'm sorry to disappoint you."

His hair, I saw was back to its pristine smoothness. He gave Blaise a bland expression. "Too late for apologies, Blaise." The anger held in his icy grey eyes gave him away. "This shoot was very important for this magazine. Since you were selfish and greedy," He gave her a cold smile. "I found a substitute."

She flinched at his retort but didn't want to admit her mistake. "So, now everything's alright." She seductively nuzzled herself to him but he held her at arm's length. It was an act that startled and mystified her.

"That's right," He nodded slowly turning to me to smile. "And all thanks to my wife."

Blaise's head jerked up stunned at his revelation. "W-what...!" Looking dubiously at him and me, then back at him. "You married Ginny Weasley!" A myriad of emotions contorted her perfectly sculptured features. "W-when?"

Seamus poked his head into the room. "While you were doing all those magical imbuing enhancement to your already perfectly taut and flawless skin just to look 'fresh' six months ago." He looked at her like she was trash.

Colin intervened, smiling sheepishly at us. "We couldn't help ourselves, sorry."

Blaise swooned, placed a shaking hand on her forehead and crumpled to the floor. I started towards her to aid her but my husband Draco held me back. "Just leave her there."

Draco embraced me, giving me that smoldering sexy look and brought his lips onto mine giving me a consuming kiss that left me breathless. "I'm returning that passionate kiss you gave me while we were on set." He held his arm out. "My love, shall we?"

"Yes, my love." I linked my arm with his and we left an unconscious Blaise with Colin who took the flowers out of the vase, kneeling beside her. While Seamus was casting her with the evil eye and...the rest was history.

THE END