The Bet

Hermione was fuming. She climbed through the portrait hole, slamming the picture behind her, earning a series of curse words from the fat lady. Scanning the room and spotting Harry and Ron sitting by the fire, she stomped over and plopped between them.

"He is so infuriating!" She said loudly as she sifted through her bag. The boys didn't need to ask to know who Hermione was talking about.

At the beginning of this year, Hermione and Malfoy had been made Head Boy and Girl. Since their initiation, it was common to find the flustered brunette in the Gryffindor common room as opposed to her and Draco's own private one.

"What'd he do this time?" Ron asked as he pushed away his potions homework. He wasn't getting anywhere on it, anyway.

"He was harassing first years! Again! Why McGonagall made him Head Boy is a mystery to me!" Harry and Ron had heard the rant before. It was nothing new.

"What'd you do?" Harry questioned, deciding to copy Ron and give up on his Tranfiguration homework of turning a tea kettle into a cushion. Becoming headmistress had not lessened McGonagall's work load in the least.

"I cursed him," She said bitterly. Now, that surprised them. Ron's jaw dropped and Harry dropped his wand, spraying sparks on the carpet. Hermione rarely broke the rules, but Malfoy had seriously pissed her off. She calmly put out the singeing carpet, while the boys sputtered.

"What?" Ron said in disbelief. "You did not!" She turned to shoot him a nasty glare.

"Yes. I did."

"Well, go on! What curse did you use?" Harry questioned. For the first time in days, Hermione smiled.

"You'll see tomorrow."

The next day, Harry and Ron met Hermione at the door to her own common room. Finally, after helping the boys with their homework, she had returned to her room last night. Without warning, the supposed blank sheet of wall next to them opened to reveal Hermione. She stepped out, a grin stretched across her cheeks.

"Shall we head to transfiguration?" She questioned. Harry nodded, then kicked Ron who was trying to peek around her to get a glimpse of Malfoy. Hermione led the way, lightly humming with Harry and Ron following warily.

When the trio arrvied, Hermione sat in her assigned seat, sandwiched between the boys. She calmly pulled out her copy of Advanced Transfiguartion and buried her nose inside, the smile still present on her face. Ron looked at Harry and shrugged. Just then, McGonagall entered. Malfoy still hadn't arrived. She scanned the room.

"Where is Mr. Malfoy?" She questioned. Suddenly, the door to the room slammed open revealing a red-faced Malfoy. He glared hatefully at Hermione, who was still smiling behind her book, then walked to his seat across the room, crossing in front of the desk of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Upon closer inspection, the boys realized that Malfoy wasn't red in the face, his face was covered in dozens of tiny red boyles. Harry and Ron buried their face in their hands and snickered.

"Oh, well..." McGonagall said, trying to hide her own growing smile. "Take your seat Mr. Malfoy and we can begin." Malfoy walked to his desk and sat down between Blaise and Pansy.

"Draco, what happened?" She whispered urgently as she leaned in. He ignored her and turned to stare icily at Blaise who was openly laughing at him.

"I thought you were heading to the hospital wing," Blaise said.

"I did. Madam Pomfrey tried, but couldn't do anything. She said it will probably wear off," He said bitterly.

"Probably," Pansy whispered, horrified.

"I'll get you Granger," He whispered as he glared in here direction.

Draco had decided during transfiguration that to pay Hermione back for embarassing him, he was going to figure out her deepest secret, then expose it. After class he lingered, pretending to be looking for a quill he dropped on the floor. He had noticed Granger had stayed after to ask McGonagall a question. Out of the corner of the eye he sensed movement and turned to see a boy with wavy brown hair and blue eyes had also stayed after. Draco recognized him as Anthony Goldstein, a fellow 7th year, but in Ravenclaw.

He approached Hermione after she finished with McGonagall. "Hey Hermione," He said as he walked over to her, a smirk present on his face. According to Pansy, he was a catch and as handsome as Diggory had been. He shook his hair out of his face.

"I was wondering if on the Hogsmeade trip this weekend, you'd want to have dinner with me at the Three Broomsticks?" Draco gagged as he stood. He stayed after for this?

"Oh, wow Anthony. Thanks, but I...Promised Harry and Ron I would help them with their Astronomy charts," She answered as she picked up her bag.

"Ok, then. Maybe another time," He said as the pair made for the door. Draco grabbed his own bag, then went to find Blaise and Pansy. He found them in Charms, another class he had with Granger, unfortunately. He watched the pair of Granger and Goldstein laugh and talk, then break up as she went to join Potter and Weasley, while he sat with Boot and Corner.

"I don't get it," He said loudly as he plopped down at the desk.

"Don't get what?" Pansy questioned.

"What they see in her," He anwered with contempt. Blaise looked up and followed his line of sight.

"Well, she's supposed to be unattainable. Everyone is either intimidated by her good-looks or by Potter and Weasley."

"Good looks?" Draco spat. He stared at her. So maybe she had nice hair...and eyes...and a great body...He shook his head. Blaise smirked.

"She's supposed to be as hard to get as you," He answered. Draco rolled his eyes. "You know what I think?" Blaise questioned.

"Not really, but you're going to tell me anyway."

"You're jealous." Draco whipped his head around.

"You can't be serious. Jealous of that filthy mudblood?" Blaise simply smirked.

"No jealous because you know she's the only girl in school you can't get. Jealous of the fact that your arch rival is her best friend." Draco almost threw up. "Okay, so how about a bet?" Blaise suggested. "You can't get in Granger's pants by Valentine's day." That perked Draco's interest. Sure he hated her, but this gave him an opportunity to put his plan into action. He could find her secret, publicly embarass her, and break her heart. An evil grin grew on his face.

"Terms?" Blaise thought for a moment.

"50 galleons." Draco nodded. That kind of money was nothing to him.

"Deal."