Disclaimer : I own nothing of the Potterverse, all credit for characters and locations goes to JK Rowling.

A/N: still having trouble w/ Untouchable but this one has been bugging me so thought I'd get it out, hope you like it ;)

Friday, Prologue

The scene in the common room of the Slytherin dorm Friday morning was not an unusual sight. What made it noteworthy were the participants. The blond hair laying against the back of the black leather chair was unmistakable, unfortunately the brunette buried face first in his lap was not the witch he was engaged to. In fact, that witch had just walked in with her best friend and was less than thrilled to find her future husband in such a position. Screaming ensued, followed by threats, tears and eventually a ring thrown in the blonds face while his ex-fiancé stormed off in a fury.

The blond casually resumed his previous activities, one hand in the brunettes hair, the other twirling the ring with a strange look on his face. If any of them had ever seen a smile on Draco Malfoy's face before, they might have recognized it, instead it just worried them.

Later that afternoon, sitting in the same spot, surrounded by his acquaintances Draco rolled a letter lazily in his hand. He'd expected it, knew what it would say and really wasn't all that interested. His father was furious of course, not that the young man cared. He smirked as his friends stared at him curiously.

"He's going to kill you," one of the other boys said blankly, only briefly looking up from the book on his lap. Malfoy grinned, "Nah, I'm the heir, eventually I'll have to continue the family line and he knows it."

The Nott heir shrugged and returned to his book while the other boys watched the exchange with sympathy. Each of them was also an heir, they knew they'd have to marry sooner rather than later, and that their bride wouldn't be their choice. Even if they didn't show it, they were impressed that Malfoy had managed to get out of his own arranged marriage and wished they had the nerve to do the same. Well, most of them, Nott was quite satisfied with his families choice for his bride and had no wish to get out of it.

"Besides," the arrogant blond continued, "it's not like I couldn't have my pick of the girls in this pathetic school."

"Really?" A dark skinned boy drawled.

Malfoy snickered. "Please, I've already had most of the ones worth having."

The dark skinned boy, Zabini, grinned. "All except the one you want."

Malfoy glared at him, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Zabini laughed, a deep laugh that caused several heads to turn their way as it was an unusual sound in the somber Slytherin Common Room. "Don't bother to deny it, everyone knows you want Granger."

Malfoy's face darkened to an unusual shade of crimson, "Watch yourself Zabini, I wouldn't touch the mudblood with your cock."

Zabini smirked while the others watched on with varying degrees of amusement. "As if she'd let you."

"You've got to be kidding me, if I wanted Granger I'd have her on her back in no time at all."

"Two weeks." Zabini said calmly. "I'll bet you 200 galleons that you can't shag Granger in two weeks."

Malfoy thought this over for less than a second before smirking and saying, "Your on."

~~*~~

Hermione Granger was not having a good day. For that matter, she wasn't having a good week. She'd had a fight with Ronald, one of her best friends, on Monday. Not that it was an unusual occurrence, what was unusual, was that on Friday evening, they still weren't talking. Usually their fights were explosive and quickly over, not this time.

Thus, when she found herself on her knees in the middle of the hall, thanks to someone deliberately bumping into her, her fury reached the limit. She jumped to her feet, rage etched into her features and wand in hand, to see Pansy Parkinson turning the corner laughing like a hyena. She held her wand tightly, muttering threats and aspersions on the other girls character as she collected her scattered belongings.

"Here," a deep voice said above her head. She stiffened. She knew that voice entirely to well, although it was usually filled with malice.

"Thanks," she said through clenched teeth as she snatched the book out of his hand. She stalked off without casting a glance in his direction. She put her wand away and was shocked to find her hand brushing against a piece of parchment. She pulled it out, knowing for a fact that she never put anything but her wand in that pocket.

Astronomy Tower, 12PM, you need to hear this.

The note was unsigned, but there wasn't a doubt in her mind who had written it. The flowery handwriting was unmistakable and she was by nature, curious. Her mind began to race over what Pansy Parkinson could possibly have to say to her. She began running scenarios through her head, consequences and the like, eventually deciding it just may be worth the risk. So she traded patrolling schedules with Susan Bones and took the upper level late shift.

Hermione was waiting when Parkinson slipped through the door. "Sorry bout earlier," the other girl said in a soft voice that was very different than Hermione had ever heard from her. "I needed a way to get the parchment to you without anyone knowing."

Hermione nodded and said, "Why did you need to see me Parkinson?" She kept her voice level, not friendly, but not cold either.

"Malfoy made a bet in the common room that he'd shag you in the next two weeks. Thought you should have a heads up."

Hermione cocked her head. "Not that I don't appreciate the warning, unnecessary as it is, but why are you telling me this?"

Parkinson smirked, showing her pointy teeth threateningly. "Because I want to see the little prick put in his place and I think you're the one to do it Granger. His obsession with you is common knowledge in Slytherin. Now he has a reason to pursue you and he will. I want him to think he has a chance, but then I want to watch as you pull the rug out from under him."

Hermione nodded. "I see. You want me to play him."

"Like a violin, in front of the entire school. I want to see the bastard fall. Hard." Pansy's lips stretched in a scary facsimile of a smile. " A galleon says you can't do it."

Hermione burst into laughter, recognizing the other girls goading for what it was. "Your on."