A/N - Just a short story I've been playing around with. It's probably something that has been done many times before, just with my own twist . Its gunna be a short one that moves pretty fast, so hold on!

Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter nor any of its characters. I make no profit from this story.


Chapter One

"Granger, Hermione."

"Present!"

Hermione sat with her hands folded over her desk and her quills in a perfectly neat line beside her fresh and empty piece of parchment. Her chin held high and her eyes open and bright, she could not wait for class to begin.

When she had been chosen out of an elite few to participate in the new study class for Legilimency and Occlumency, she had instantly jumped at the opportunity. It was true that she could barely keep up with the mountains of homework as it was, but this being her last year as a student at Hogwarts, missing the chance to learn this mysterious magic was just not an option for her.

"McLaster, Raidon."

"Here."

The room broke out in girlish giggles and Hermione's heart froze. Her eyes slowly drifted, as much as she dared, to where the tall, masculine form of Raidon McLaster sat.

His large shoulders were hunched with his arms crossed over his desk. His long black hair hung over his eyes, casting an enticingly mysterious shadow over his flawless features. His lips were plump and his cheeks were high and defined. Hermione suppressed a sigh at the way that his black sweater hugged his muscular back and arms.

He was a transfer from Scotland, had only been a student for a short month. From the first step he had taken within the halls of Hogwarts, he had caused frenzy among the female population. It wasn't hard to see why – with every bit of him absolutely dripping of male distinction.

This was one of two classes he shared with Hermione and though the idea of having him so near caused her stomach to flutter in giddiness, she feared that he would be quite a distraction to her studies in the coming months. How could she possibly remember the seven uses of Bucksweed or the alternative name for the horned-tailed sphinx with him sitting in the same room as she?

Hermione shook her head slightly and forced herself to look away.

She wasn't quite sure when her infatuation with the Ravenclaw had began, but she found that like the others, she simply could not take her eyes off of him. Hermione had never thought herself in flock with the brainless bimbos who favored boys over study, and she felt dirty because of it.

"Malfoy, Draco."

"I'm here."

More girlish giggles. Hermione rolled her eyes in disappointment and didn't even bother to hind the detestable look she shot his way. She hadn't even noticed him enter the room…the prince of the Slytherins and the biggest sleaze of them all.

He sat with his hands behind his head and a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as the girls around him whispered to each other and stared. He had grown into himself over the summer. He had become a man in all sense of the word. He was tall, built, and handsome but the worst part about it was that he knew it. And he drank it for every drop.

Draco suddenly locked eyes with Hermione and she nearly growled at the mocking smirk that had formed on his mouth. He knew that it bothered her that he was there…it bothered her to share the same air as him. But to her dismay it seemed as though he was every bit the academic achiever that she was, which meant that they shared many of the same classes that year.

So long as he stays out of my way, Hermione breathed to herself as she turned forward once more.

Thirty minutes into class and Professor Quinn had them reading from their books and taking notes. Hermione sighed in irritation as the students broke out into noise after the Professor had stepped out of the room for a moment. And these are the smartest witches and wizards in Hogwarts? Hermione shook her head and continued to work on her assignment, ignoring the laughter and gossip that surrounded her.

"Do ye happened to have an extra quill I can borrow?" said a distinctly male voice with a thick Scottish burr. Hermione slowly lifted her gaze, not realizing that her long, curly hair had just drug in front of her, spreading the wet ink from her notes.

Raidon stood beside her, towering over her hunched form, a mountain of a man. He watched her quietly as she stared up at him with wide eyes, unspeaking.

"Uh-tha' is. I forgot mine back in the dormitories," he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily, causing Hermione to gawk at his large, flexing forearm. He cleared his throat and stared down at her with his large green eyes. "You a'right, lass?"

Hermione blinked heavily a few times and nodded vigorously. "Uh, a quill! Yes! Yes, I have a quill you can borrow," her hand darted sideways and accidently bumped into her ink jar, sending it splashing over the table and her notes. "Oh, shoot!" she grabbed hold of her tie and attempted to dab it away while giggling like an idiot. She quickly grabbed hold of the quill and wiped it back and forth on her shirt a few times to clean it, before holding it out to him with a shaky smile on her face.

Raidon stared at it with uncertainty for a few seconds before slowly reaching out, though before he was able to grab it, one was suddenly placed into his hand.

"I've got one you can borrow, Raidon!" came the sickeningly sweet voice of Tracy Davis, a 6th year Slytherin girl who happen to be loveliness personified. She stared up at him and batted her long, curled eyelashes. Raidon grinned slightly before turning back to Hermione, who still had her blackened quill held out for his use.

"Uh thanks anyway," he said motioning to the clean and sharpened one in his hand.

Hermione nodded once and turned away from him, embarrassment clearly shiny on her reddened cheeks. Raidon had taken his seat once more, this time with Tracy chatting and leaning over him, pointing out something in his book as a tactic to display her unbuttoned blouse and a clear view to her lacy black bra.

Merlin, could I look like anymore of a freak! Hermione cursed herself, her forehead falling into her palm.

"Nice one, Granger," came the voice of Draco Malfoy from behind her, causing an unpleasant tingle to run up her spine.

Scratch that, I am most definitely not the biggest freak present.

"Go on and say it, Malfoy," she demanded, her back still to him.

"Whatever are you referring to?" she could actually hear him smirk.

Hermione rubbed a hand over her face and moaned. "The only time you ever speak to me is when you feel the need to criticize, demoralize, or humiliate. So go on…say whatever you want to say and be done with it."

There was silence for a moment, long enough for Hermione to hope that he had walked away. Slowly, she turned her head to glance behind her.

"I couldn't help but notice your miserable attempt with McLaster."

"Gah!" Hermione turned fully to face him as he leaned against the front of the desk behind her. His arms were crossed in front of him and his silver eyes were narrowed in challenge. If she hadn't of known any better, so would've sworn that enjoyed their batter.

"What do you know about it? You were half way across the room!" she whispered angrily, glancing to where Raidon sat a few desks away.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I didn't need to hear what was going on, to see it," he purposely eyed her ink-stained tie and desk.

Hermione crossed her arms and raised her chin, "And I suppose you have nothing better to do than to watch me talk to guys?"

Draco snorted. "Guys? What guys?"

"I talk to guys! There's Harry, and Ron –"

Draco cut her off. "Exactly. What guys?" Hermione wanted to punch his smug face. "And for your information, I wasn't watching you. You just so happen to be blocking my view to a more interesting subject," Draco stared to her left where a heavy set, blond, 6th year sat. She smiled his way and winked before catching the murderous look on Hermione's face and swiftly turning away.

"You're a pig," Hermione spat out at him, causing him to turn to face her with a grin.

"What can I say?" he smirked. "I've got a gift that is meant to be shared."

"Oh? And what gift is that? Venereal disease?"

Draco's eyes narrowed. "No. It's the gift of pleasure." Hermione nearly choked, but Draco continued anyway. "Word travels, Granger." He glanced at the little blond once more. "I was with a friend of hers just the other week," he wagged his eyebrows in suggestion and Hermione nearly gagged. "She must have heard of our time together and now wants to experience the bliss of it herself."

"And what," Hermione bit out, "does this have to do with me?"

Draco nodded sideways, motioning to where Raidon sat with Tracy, still giggling over him. "Word travels, Granger. Everyone in school knows that you are a prissy, virgin, know-it-all." He leaned in closer. "Some even suspect you a lezzer." Hermione's mouth fell open but still Draco continued on. "You wouldn't want that getting to your little boy toy over there, would you?"

"He is not my boy toy, and I am not of the lesbian persuasion!"Hermione said a little loudly, causing a few faces to turn their way. Hermione lowered her voice and bent toward him, pointing a finger in his chest. "And I don't need any advice from you."

Draco snorted. "Granger, you need all the advice you can get," he said, scanning over her mockingly.

"You are the last person who should be giving advice, Malfoy!"

Draco raised an eyebrow, "And why is that?"

"Because not all guys are like you," she said. "All you care about is sex!" Draco laughed and Hermione's face reddened at the realization she had just said the word sex aloud…and to Draco Malfoy of all people!

"You don't think so?" Draco asked, laughter still in his voice. "You honestly believe that McLaster over there isn't thinking about Davis' big tits in his face right now?" Hermione glanced over at Raidon, who indeed seemed to be having a difficult time keeping his eyes on his book, and not on the display that Tracy was dangling in front of him.

Hermione clenched her jaw, "Raidon is twice the man you are, he'd never stoop to your level."

"You don't think so?"

"No! If he had a choice between a smart, respectable female or a bimbo who just threw herself at him, I know that he would chose the first."

"How do you know?"

Hermione raised her chin, "I just know."

Draco pushed himself off of the desk and uncrossed his arms to place a hand in front of her. "Let's make a friendly bet then, shall we?"

"What!"

"A bet. I bet that your golden boy over there is as much a perv as the rest of the male population. I bet that you can't make him want you with just your brains and your bushy hair." Hermione clenched her jaw and patted down her untamed curls. "I'll give you until Halloween. If you can't get him to agree to go to the Halloween dance with you, then it's my turn to prove you wrong."

Hermione eyed his hand wearily. "What happens if you lose?"

Draco lowered his hand, "What do you want?"

Hermione thought for a moment before smirking back at him. "I want you to leave me alone! No more name calling. No more teasing or mocking…In fact, let's just make it absolutely no contact of any kind."

Draco actually seemed to think about it for a moment. "Fine."

"And if I lose?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"Your hurt pride would be gain enough," he said. Hermione scowled as Draco raised a finger, "Oh, and I want the trophy you won from transfiguration last year."

Hermione's mouth fell open. He was referring to a trophy that Hermione had won by successfully transfiguring a stick into a porcupine. Out of the whole class, Draco had been the only one to come close to her skill. She had won because hers had more quills. It was of no value really, other than the anger she'd feel if he took it.

And that was valuable enough to him.

Hermione glanced over at Raidon once more. Tracy had finally buggered off and he was now bent over his book, his eyes darting back and forth over the text. His large hand lifted to push his dark hair out of his eyes, causing Hermione to suppress a sigh.

Either way this would give her an excuse to talk to him. Something she had wanted to do since the first time she had seen him. Hermione turned to face Malfoy. It would also feel incredible to wipe that smug smile off of his face and prove to him that not all men were like him.

Draco smiled, his white teeth sparkling in the dim light as he reached his hand out to her once more.

"Deal?"

Hermione's jaw set as her hand darted out and shook his once.

"Deal."