A/N: The second chapter of 'An unfair love game' is finally out! I have the third chapter written already but I won't post it today. It will probably come out tomorrow and that's when the big game happens ;) I was actually supposed to post this chapter yesterday...But I watched the last part of The Hobbit on cinema yesterday...so that's why I didn't update. The movie was amazing btw! I loved it! So that's why I'm posting the chapter today, I was close not to...because I've felt so down today...but I promised some people that I would update the fanfic I also want to say thanks for the amazing response and support for this fanfic. The lovely reviews make me SO happy! You truly are the best! This chapter is more or less just a beginning before it all started. The next one will be so much more interesting! So here you go guys, the second chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (sadly) J.K Rowling is the true creator of this masterpiece. I only use my own imagination for a different storyline. So enjoy!

Chapter 2.
The interview.

Firstly this was not on Hermione's usual schedule. It was never meant to happen in her well organised life-plan. No, far from and it irritated her beyond measures not knowing what would come next. Secondly! This was entire Ginny Potter (née) Weasley's fault. If it wasn't for Ginny meddling with that dreadful article, and signing Hermione's name to it, none of this would've happened, and Hermione could've relaxed in her own apartment with a good book.

Although fate intertwined and wanted a different path for Hermione. Now she found herself waiting inside the producer's conference room for a so called interview, to be a candidate for the show 'Madness in love'. To add to it they were late, and Hermione could already feel the nerves in her body getting her in a bad mood.

"Stupid Ginny" she spoke out loud. "Stupid article" her ranting continued as she kept staring at the pale walls, gritting her teeth. "Stupid everything! I don't even want to be here!" she whimpered with a pout, a frown forming on her brows. Hermione peered down the grey concrete floor and drew a deep sigh. The room felt so empty and plain simple. It sure needed some colourful decorations she thought creatively, glancing at the different objects around the room. Nothing particular fancy inside. Except for a big painting of a handsome, sophisticated wizard from the 1700-century. The man in the portrait saw Hermione looking and grinned, winking flirtatious at her. Hermione rolled her eyes; she was getting tired of the male specie, scrunching her face in distaste when the portrait started wiggling its brows seductively. Great now an old painting was trying to hit on her.

Deciding she would just ignore the painting, and once again she started question herself why she's agreed to appear on this interview. Hermione gave a low sigh, crossing her left leg over her right, and begun tapping her nails to the armchair, wishing she brought with her a nice book. A moment later she heard the door behind her being pushed open. Hermione regarded the three different voices entering the room. She straightened her back and glanced over her right shoulder, she saw that the voices all belonged to three men. Hermione groaned quietly, of course it had to be men. Just typical.

The men who hadn't noticed Hermione when entering the room just halted, and stopped speaking. Now they were all staring at her with the same confused expression and Hermione raised a brow as a response.

"Excuse me Miss, but can we help you?" the tallest man asked with a small smile spreading. Hermione's eyes widen, blinking in puzzlement, her blood starting to boil. What an atrocious behaviour she thought outrages. They set up this interview, and they don't even have the decency to show up in time and now they claim not to know anything about it?!

"I sure hope you can. As I remember quite clearly that I was supposed to have an interview today" Hermione spat aggressively. The men shared dazed looks with each other, like they had no clue what she was speaking about. One man with rough features and a big beard scratched his chin.

"I was 100% sure the meeting wasn't until tomorrow" he spoke, an uncertainty discovered in his voice. Clearly he wasn't as sure as he thought he was. Hermione was speechless. There were honestly no words to be found. This situation reminded her so much of Ronald. He always made excuses like these when he was late for anything. Hermione shook her head preposterously.

"No...The interview is today. It did say 5:30 and the time is now 5:55. So therefore you're late" she corrected with a huff, crossing her arms. The men looked at each other again, then back at Hermione. The tallest man that spoken first blushed and walked over to Hermione, reaching out with his hand to shake.

"My apologies Miss...?"

"Granger" she added with a small smile, accepting his hand and apology. At least one of them apologised. The man gave a more relaxed smile back at Hermione.

"Granger. I hope you understand that we didn't intend to be late or forget about the interview. We just lost-"

"Lost track of time?" Hermione finished the sentence with a sly smirk. Having used that excuse whenever she was late. "Yeah, I've heard that before" The man smiled yet again, and then walked over to his chair, sitting down. The two other men followed suit but remained quiet. Their eyes never leaving Hermione. Watching her like she was their prey.

"My name is Richard and this is my co-workers Tom-" he motioned to the man with the big beard whom nodded his head as a greeting "-and to my left is Neil" he pointed at a man who was fairly thin and had a face like a model; although he just kept quiet and stared at Hermione with a judgemental look.

Then Richard's gaze went back to Hermione. "Now Miss Granger, before we get started with the interview, there's two questions we always start with first." Hermione raised a brow, but nodded her head for him to continue. Richard cleared his throat and took out a small notebook and a golden pen. Clicking the pen to write down in his notebook.

"How did you find out about the show, and why did you want to participate in it?" Hermione instantly thought back to last week. She still blamed her female friend for finding that article, and Hermione was still furious at Ginny for signing her name on the blasted paper.

"If you must know my friend actually found out about it in the daily prophet." Hermione scoffed a laugh, but recovered from it quickly and cleared her throat."You have to know that my true intentions to join your show were not by my own actions. I never wanted to join. Instead I was forced to it." A quiet snort was heard from one of the men, it was Neil. Hermione raised a brow, creasing her forehead.

"You know that you could've just withdrawn, right? Forgetting all about this interview. So as far as I'm concerned you really want to be here. If you didn't you wouldn't even shown up" Neil snarled out, a crooked smirk plastered on his wickedly handsomely face. It was the first words he spoken and Hermione instantly thought 'snobby prick'. She wanted to wipe that amused smirk off his face. He seemed too proud, and arrogant for her likings. Luckily Richard spoke up before Hermione got the chance.

"Neil, play nicely" he glared with a warning. Then he gazed back to Hermione with an apologetic smile. "Thank you for answering Miss Granger. Now to the last question, afterwards we start with the real interview."

Hermione bit her lip, her heart fluttering for whatever reason. She gave an affirmative nod on her head.

"I'm sure you know about the money prize. However what would you do with 300,000 galleons?" Richard clicked his pen again, tapping it on the notebook ready to write. Hermione had foreseen that question to come up eventually. Clucking her tongue to her front teeth, and straightening her back once again. She hadn't planned to tell the whole truth about her real intentions, but a white lie never harmed anyone.

"I was thinking about donating 200,000 for a new department building at St Mungos. I'm not sure what to do with the remaining 100,000. Maybe place it in my bank at Gringotts...or of course sharing the remaining galleons with the 'last standing guy'" she rolled her eyes sarcastically.

"Actually that is not necessary. You're fully entitled to do whatever you want with the winning prize" The man with the big beard whose name was Tom spoke with a gentle smile. Hermione furrowed her brows, now this news was better than she expected, the many possibilities she could do with that money. Hmm interesting.

"It's an admirable goal Miss Granger, thank you for your honest answer" Richard spoke as he wrote Hermione's reply down in his notebook. When he looked up again he placed the notebook down on the table and smiled.

"Now we can go on with the real interview. " Richard cleared his throat in his hand and Hermione actually felt more confident, and ready for the questions to come.

The Interview lasted for fifteen minutes more and Hermione had tried to answer as truthfully as possible. After all the questions wasn't too complicated. This time they just wanted to get to know her better. It had been mostly Richard questioning her; Hermione discovered that she liked him the most out of the three men.

Richard stood up with his notebook in his left hand and gave a wide grin directed to Hermione.

"Well Hermione, I have some good news. Out of the five other girls we interviewed this week, we like your answers the most. So my companions and I decided that the position is yours. Welcome to the show 'Madness in love'"

His last words faded away with the grin still large on his face. Hermione felt stunned, being unable to move or even speak in her seat. Her heart was beating to loud for her to regain focus on the situation.

"I'm s-sorry?" she managed to stutter out, even though she already knew what he was referring to. Neil, the guy she liked the least rolled his eyes.

"How do we explain it for you to understand? You were the best craziest, desperate woman out there to join the show, and congratulations. You just earned your place" he spoke with utterly no care in the world. Hermione felt anger creeping up slowly and glared daggers at him, if looks could kill, then Neil would've already been dead. He had no manners or respect whatsoever.

"Now if you may excuse me, but I've grown quite dull of this interview. So I'll take my leave" with no more words. Neil stood up and left the conference room, shutting the door behind him. Richard sighed and rubbed his temples achingly, looking over to Hermione apologetically.

"I do apologise for his behaviour Hermione. He's always been this hot-headed towards everyone" he tired jokingly. Hermione did however not laugh, although she understood what he meant. He did remind her of a person from Hogwarts.

"No need to apologise. However I do have to ask. Is he acquainted with a certain Draco Malfoy? Their personalities are identical." She merely asked as a laughing matter, but when she saw Richard tense up she raised a curious brow.

"I have heard of his name of course, but can hardly say I know the man. I don't recall Neil knowing him either." Richard replied without meeting her eyes. Hermione sensed it was something he was hiding, but didn't press the matter further.

"One more question if I may?"

Richard nodded.

"Who's funding this show and the winning prize? It's an awful lot of money just for a simple TV-show" she thinned her lips, raising a brow, determined to find out. The man called Tom shook his head no.

"I'm sorry Miss Granger, but that information is in fact classified"

Now that's odd why would that be classified? That's if the person hosting this show wanted to remain anonymous.

"I see" she said short. Hermione felt slightly tricked, but remained calm with no interventions...yet. She finally stood up, thinking the interview had taken too much of her time already.

"If there's no further need of discussion, then I think I will take my leave" Hermione gave a court nod to them both, and was just about to turn around towards the door when Richard spoke up stopping her.

"Miss Granger wait. There is one more thing" Hermione sighed, what more did they want from her!? Looking back to Richard, studying his expression.

"The show starts in three days. However we need you to arrive one day earlier. In that way you'll settle in more nicely and feel more comfortable with the new surroundings. We also need to make you more camera ready, as we'll be filming from day one. You will be staying in a new resort called 'Paradise Love' built for this show's main purpose."

Hermione chuckled shaking her head acrimoniously. Two months surrounded with only men, this was going to be interesting. It would take a lot of Hermione's efforts not to hex anyone while being recorded. She just had to focus on her main priority. Get through the competition; don't fall in love and get the winning prize for the project to start at St Mungos hospital.

"If you say so." Hermione said as calm as ever "Now, I need to go and prepare myself, I have a lot of packing to be made. So I bid you goodbye gentlemen" with that said she turned to leave for the last time. Leaving the two men standing there confused, staring at the door dumbfounded. Richard raised a brow sharing a look with Tom.

"Did she say packing?"

Tom nodded.

"Women are strange" he shook his head and Tom gave a rich laugh agreeing to that notion. A second later a loud creaking noise was heard behind them, and they saw the big painting of the 1700-century wizard was slid to the side of the wall, revealing a secret room. Richard saw Neil and a second man entering the conference room.

"Well that was intriguing" the mysterious man spoke smirking, as he walked around the room.

Neil gave an obscene scoff.

"She was a menace, why did you make us choose her over the other girls? She didn't even want to be in the show" Neil stated abruptly.

The man gave a short chuckle, as his walking had stopped by the chair where she had been seated seconds ago. He had been watching her from the secret room during the interview. He had felt stupid for doing so, but discovered that he couldn't tear his eyes off her.

"I know" he answered silky smooth, the smirk still on his lips. "That's why it's so intriguing" he reached out with his hand to touch the chair, the heat from her body was still remaining, he felt a flutter in his stomach and withdrawn his hand like he had been burned. He flinched and hoped nobody noticed. Shifting his gaze to Richard.

"Good idea, making her believe you were late. She hates it when people are late" he sniggered. Richard frowned, shaking his head. Not liking where this was heading.

"I don't know your true intentions, but I warn you do not harm her in any way" he advised with a threat. The man raised a thin brow up to his forehead, and then the corner of his mouth grew into a smooth smirk.

"Harm? No I would never harm her. Besides it never crossed my mind to harm her in any means"

Neil quirked a confused eyebrow, leaning his back to the wall as he crossed his arms.

"Tell us again? How do you exactly know her in the first place?" the other two men nodded their heads, being as curious to know that question.

"Me and Granger?"

Oh, he could've thought about a million ways to reply to that question. Instead he chose to give a simpler one.

"Oh, me and Granger we go way back." He said as he thought back to the very first day they've met at Hogwarts, but then added. "Way, way back" he grinned wickedly, running a hand through his well groomed hair. He wasn't going to tell them anything more than that. He shrugged his shoulders, telling them they should leave and follow him. They all headed towards the door, him being the last one leaving. He stopped by the doorframe and glanced back and smirked.

"I'll see you soon Granger….very soon" then the silver blond -haired wizard turned to leave as well. He had to admit that for the first time he was actually looking forward for the show to start. To meet a certain know-it-all bookworm all over again.

A/N: Guess who the mysterious guy is! If you guessed 'foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach' then you're correct! Now what would he ever want Hermione? And how will Hermione react when she discovers some things about the show in the next chapter? Well you will have to stay tuned ;)

It would mean the world to me if you write a small review, telling me what you think about the fanfic so far (: (constructive criticism is always appreciated.) Take care luvs! xoxo /Tess