Introduction
Draco whispered softly into Hermione's hair. "I love you, Hermione. I really do."
She turned around. The two were sitting in the Slytherin common room, studying like normal. After they had become friends, she had decided to help him with his homework.
"You called me Hermione," she noted.
"I say I love you, and you notice that I call you by your first name?" Draco whistled. "How sad is that?" he rolled his eyes.
"Well, you say that you love me every time I finish one of your essays," Hermione rationalized.
"Remember, I'm the Slytherin Prince. The Slytherin Sex God, remember?" Draco tickled Hermione lightly on her stomach, making her giggle.
"So what? Platonic friendship only, remember?" Hermione took her turn rolling her eyes now.
"Well, what if I don't want a platonic friendship?"
"Well, what if I do?" Hermione stared into Draco's eyes. "Look it, Malfoy. We've been friends for less than a week. I'm not one of your Girls. I'm not going to hop into bed with you. Ever. Very sorry. Here's your essay." She pushed the essay into his hands and hugged him quickly before walking out of the common room and into the dungeons. Malfoy followed her quickly.
"Hermione, listen!" he called behind her. "I don't want you like that. I… I love you Hermione."
"Shut up Malfoy." She turned around and briskly slapped him on the face. "You've been cruel to me for eight years now. This is just a joke you're pulling on me. Listen up, pal. I hate you. Don't ever speak to me like that again, you understand?"
Draco turned around, pretending not to be hurt, although he knew his silver eyes would betray him. "Whatever. I'll just go find Pansy then."
"You do that!" Hermione yelled behind him, and he heard her storming away down the stone corridor.
"Crap." He threw himself into the common room. Pansy was, as usual, sitting on a sofa, preening herself.
"What's wrong, Draco?" she asked sweetly, getting up to 'greet' him.
"Nothing, Pansy…" Draco trailed off. Maybe Pansy was just what he needed. Just then, Blaise walked in.
"Hey Drake!"
"Hey Blaise." Draco grinned at him less happily than usual, for Blaise walked over quickly.
"I think that you need a new girl. This one obviously isn't giving you enough satisfaction." Blaise coughed, and Pansy stormed off, annoyed.
"I could get any girl I wanted," Draco protested angrily.
"Any girl in the whole school?" Blaise asked, chuckling.
"Of course." Draco nodded firmly.
"How about a bet, to test your theory?" Blaise laughed.
"Who?"
"Hermione Granger." Blaise chuckled darkly, having overheard the discussion in the hallway.
"Fine." Draco turned away angrily. There was no way to win this bet. "What price?"
"You have to declare your love to Harry Potter if you don't get Granger to say she loves you in one week."
"No freaking way." Draco stared at Blaise like he was a maniac.
"Yes way. It starts midnight tomorrow, have fun." Blaise walked away to snog Pansy in a corner.