The Name of the Game

Summary: A conversation per day, and a meeting every once in a while to discover how common people fall in love. Dramione, Muggle AU with a special ingredient.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. The one and only owner is J.K. Rowling.

AN: English is not my first language, so I'm sorry for any lexical or grammatical mistake I made while writing this. And I do not know much about University system in UK so… poetic licence? ;)

I think this will be on the short side… maybe four or five chapters.

Rated M: explicit language and sex

Chapter One: Knowing Me, Knowing You

Hermione Granger laughed as she put her and Ginny's plates in the dishwasher.

"Are you joking?" she said, her round eyes clearly amused. "Because I almost hope you are, you know."

"Absolutely not!" Ginny made a face and took a sip of red wine from her glass. "We all want to know what is he like when he's not scowling at people or when he's not barking like an angry old man on the verge of a third age crisis. I know I do and I'm surely sure that you are too."

Hermione bit her lip and Ginny smiled at her with a pleased expression painted on every freckle and line of her beautiful face.

"Okay," she exhaled as she sat at the table. Ginny's happy grimace grew wider so she immediately raised one hand and eyed her friend to stop whatever stream of thoughts was invading her mind. "But I'll decide when the game is over. I don't want to give him the wrong impression."

"How could you?" Ginny huffed, and Hermione held back a mocking laugh when she saw how red her cheeks were. "Your Instagram profile is so… normal. Pics of London, pics of your lips, which are beautifully plump and pinkish, pics of books! Not a single full selfie or a photo of yourself! Even the name! thesecrethistory, come on!"

"I happen to like my name very much, thank you."

With an exaggerate roll of her hazel eyes Ginny mumbled: "You're welcome."

For a couple of seconds, neither of them said a word. The kitchen of their shared flat was silent, except for the metallic sounds of the dishwasher. Hermione's tireless mind tried to balance the pros and cons of Ginny's idea. On one hand, she thought, the experience could be an enlightening adventure, a funny way to pass my free time, a sort of escape from my comfort zone.

Despite his unpleasant behavior, the man in question wasinevitably physically attractive, and she had a feeling that he owned intellect, something she considered essential in a person.

On the other hand, it could be a total, memorable disaster. A debacle that could remain tattooed forever in my memory. First, he could not follow me back. Why should he? And second, I wouldn't start a conversation with an almost stranger on Instagram. So… why should he?

"I'll do it," she said, ignoring her gut telling her that her decision could already be spelled as d-e-b-a-c-l-e. "Fuckity fuck, I'll do it!"

Ginny stood up with a excited cry.

"It'll be fun, Hermione!" She said, putting her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Just consider it as a short holiday from books and uni! What you got to lose?"

"My precious time?"

"You're a very, very, very pain in the arse," Ginny grabbed her bag and then looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "Follow him. Tonight. And like some of his pics. He likes to surf, you know?"

"A very British thing to do," Hermione said, sarcastic.

Ginny ignored her. As she watched the time on her phone, she said: "I have to hurry. Harry's waiting for my beating vagina."

"For Goodness sake, Ginny!" Hermione made a disgusted face. "He's my best friend!"

Again, her redhead friend ignored her plea. "I want updates, Granger! I want to know everything about the scowling prince: how much he reads, what kind of girl he likes, how many times a day he wanks off."

Hermione grunted as she walked Ginny to the door. "Go away, you horny witch!"

"Look who's talking, Miss Reverse Cowgirl," Ginny teased before moaning out loud. "Yes! Yes! Like that! Harder! Grab my tits! Harder!"

Now scarlet as her blood, Hermione nearly screamed. "You promised! Ginny, you promised you wouldn't bring up that embarrassing moment!"

Ginny smirked as she crossed her arms. "The only embarrassing thing of that moment was seeing my brother's freckled arse when he stood up letting you fall like a potato sack!"

"Oh God," Hermione tried to pull herself together. "We thought we were alone."

"You were and then you were not."

"Go away, you stupid snake!"

Ginny stuck her tongue out and then winked maliciously. "Try to find out if the scowling prince likes wild, hot sex."

"Get out! Out! You're the worst!"

"Draco," Theo mumbled, hiding his head under the pillow. "It's late, could you please put that bloody phone away."

Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at his drunk excuse of a friend, who was currently trying to vanish into the softness and the perfume of his clean linen. His bare back and shoulders were still tanned from their summer holiday, still a mess of light brown freckles, broader and stronger than they were the day they met for the first at the swimming pool.

"It's my bed, which you are contaminating with your drunken halo, and I can do whatever I want in my bloody bed," he said, shoving Theodore's shoulder. "You're pathetic, by the way."

Theo's groaned came a little muffled. "You're a tosser, by the way."

"Watch your ungrateful mouth. This is my bed and this is my flat, and you're a pesky intruder," Draco reminded him as he clicked on the profile of the person who had previously followed him and liked some of his pictures. A girl, judging by the smile and plump pink lips that welcomed his sight and the manicured hands that were holding a consumed edition of a book called The Goldfinch to her sun-kissed chest. It was a beautiful photo: the bronze hue of the girl's skin was highlighted by the clear blue sea in the background and her laugh seemed genuine and sweet.

Intrigued by the vibes he was getting by the pic, Draco read the caption.

I had the epiphany that laughter was light, and light was laughter, and that this was the secret of the universe.

He laughed and thought: finally a caption that has something to do with the pic posted!

"Why," Theo lifted the pillow, theatrically. He had always been a drama kind of boy. "Why, oh why are you laughing like a complete idiot?"

"Why, oh why are you still awake?" Draco said, his tone bored. He liked the pic and started to type a comment. "People are trying to mind their own business here."

Said who? He sent and then he put his phone on the nightstand. It was nearly two o'clock in the morning, but he wasn't as tired as he should have been after the two hour morning swim, an afternoon full of books and notions, and the night at the pub with his friends.

Theo growled as he sat up, pounded headache still present. "Your mother and your father will hear about your rudeness."

"Go to sleep, Theo," Draco said with a smirk. "You're rambling."

Theo opened his mouth to reply but a loud vibration cut him off. "It's your damned phone. I'm done talking with you, dickhead. I need my beauty sleep."

"Good night, babe," Draco giggled, mockingly, and picked up his phone.

Donna Tartt. Or better: Theodore Decker from The Goldfinch. A good read, if you're interested ;)

It is, isn't it? I noticed it. It's all over your feed. You should change your name into thegoldfinch ;)

"So why don't you follow me back, you rude prick," Hermione rolled her eyes, annoyed. She typed, wanting to end the conversation as soon as possible. Bad idea, listening to Ginny and following her mad plan.

Sure, just because you suggested it, she sent and then she throw her phone somewhere in her bed.

During the next ten minutes, she tried to fall asleep but her mind was too busy overanalyzing the situation she was now in.

Bad idea. Bad idea. Bad idea.

It was the soft sound of her phone that put a stop to her stream of thoughts. Narrowing her eyes she looked at the screen where a notification greeted her: dracolmalfoy started following you! When she opened Instagram she found a dm request.

Good morning, thegoldfinch! I'm Draco, btw ;)

And you are?

"Oh shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Hermione let out a little frustrated cry. She only wanted to sleep. "Now he wants to talk? Isn't he tired?"

Not thegoldfinch… yet!

I'm Hermione. Nice to meet you, Draco

Still awake? Aren't goldfinches diurnal animals? Or did I fail my bio test?

Aha very funny!

Hermione, strange name…

you live in London, I presume? Your pics are beautiful, you know

"Ok, Draco Malfoy," Hermione said, arching her brows and biting her lip. "What game are you playing?"

I know, yeah. She typed as she laid on her mattress. I like to capture everlasting memories of this chaotic but wonderful city

You're good… really, really good at it

Thanks?

And are you a student? Your bio says you are

I am. I study Medicine at Barts.

Really? Me too!

I know… I see you often, you know…

"God, this is so embarrassing, Hermione!" She took the sparing pillow and put it on her face, moaning stubbornly into it. "Those three full stops: totally, extremely embarrassing!"

Seriously?! Next time you see me say hi

Sure…

I'm serious

So am I!

Bossy little thing

And when did we get so familiar?

You're no fun

I'm sure I am. Not with you, clearly

My dream girl: bossy and funny.

What's your surname, goldfinch?

I need to know... for research

Ok, maybe you're not the angry old man everyone says you are

I'M NOT OLD!

I can already read the papers: ANGRY OLD MAN YELLS AT A CLOUD

The surname, goldfinch

Bossy little thing you are

You're a fucking parrot!

Language...

Surname, goldfinch

Okay… Ok… It's Granger. Hermione Granger, a year ahead of you.

"Granger?" Draco whispered tasting the sound of the word on his tongue. He tried to give that name a face but his mind was blank.

Theo was snoring loudly, with one side of his face against the white sheet and his lips pouty. The sight of him made Draco realise that he should be asleep at that time of the morning. But it seemed Granger had others plan for him.

Do you like to read? I know you're going to be a doctor, but…

Well…

Do you like to read?

He wanted to see her face, not because he wanted to know if she was pretty as he thought, but because he hated the idea of not knowing something. That feeling had always eaten him alive and he couldn't stand it.

Of course! But I don't have much time to do it

That's a pity

But I'm a sort of cinephile. At my parents' I have an enormous collection of films

That's great and fascinating

Do you like cinema?

Don't you know? I've always dreamed to walk the red carpet at Cannes Festival!

Hair done, a wonderful dress and a pair of vertiginous heels on, the wind of the French Riviera that brushes my skin…

OF COURSE I LIKE CINEMA!

I'm sure you'd be a great fucking actress

No, I don't think so. I would be the nightmare of the directors

I'm a bossy little thing, after all

Yes… Yes you are

God! It's late! And tomorrow I have to face my parents and a party… Though I'd prefer a walk through the moor to the latter…

You don't really mean it. It's the tiredness.

The same for me: parents and party. Though I prefer the latter.

I'll think of you, then.

Really? Wish I could already picture your face and replace my father's with yours

Flattering. Seriously!

My father's doesn't have those lips…

Which are wow, btw

Don't think of them too much. They're private property

Fuck! How am I going to survive, now?

Draco Malfoy was actually a funny guy and the idea of it was fire to the gasoline of her adrenaline. And she liked talking with him, flirting with him. She was good at it, talking and flirting. She liked it, sometimes she searched it, craved it. It was good and simple for her. And, evidently, for him too.

So she lighted the lights and sent him a selfie. A simple, innocent selfie where she smiled a little shyly.

His reply made her smile even more and more.

Forget private property. It's bullshit. Remember Marx? Bullshit

Bossy pretty little thing you are ;)

I've always painted you as the epitome of Capitalism

FORGET PRIVATE PROPERTY

Maybe one day

Good girl

Sighing, she look at the hour and yawned. It was time to sleep, for real.

It's time to go to bed :(

Oh no, Granger don't be sad

I'm a valley of tears!

You're joking?

Of course… but I'm very very tired. Rough day yesterday

Don't worry, goldfinch. I need to sleep too

Good boy

Good night then ;) see you around (and say hi next time!)

Night Draco :*

"I really, really hope that thing down there is not what I think it is," Theo's mocking tone was the annoying sound that woke him up the next morning.

Draco grunted and brusquely moved to lay on his stomach but the rough movement made him flinch. "Fuck! Ouch!"

"A fucking epic erection you have down there, mate."

"Theo, for pity's sake get out of my fucking room before I decide to use your fucking ugly and useless face to clean the toilet!"

"RUDE!" Theo laughed and literally run to the living room, closing the door with a loud bang.

Draco rubbed his eyes and sighed, completely aware of the fucking epic erection that was standing high and proud and ready to welcome the new day.

"Fucking lips and fucking Granger," he groaned as he quickly thought how to solve his problem without picturing her. But when his hand reached inside his boxer shorts all his good intentions vanished. He stroked the length of his cock, closing his eyes as he tried to remember his dream.

"Fuck," he groaned, and the sound seemed to roar in the silent room.

He was a fucking excuse of a man.

Hi, lovelies!

hope you decide to follow me in this adventure. I would be very very happy!

Have a good day!

franmunier