Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

Chapter 2: Let The Games Begin…

Summary: She looked at him for a moment before she sighed, sullenly, and took Draco's hand in hers. He smirked before he once again began walking.

Idly, she thought that Malfoy was enjoying this excessively. Read and Review!

"Right," Hermione said nodding firmly as she took another step away from Draco. "It's fake and you best remember that, Malfoy,"

Draco rolled his eyes as he listened to the Gryffindor in front of him. "Granger, if you want this to work you better get used to me wrapping an arm around your waist. It's what couples do."

"Of course, it's just that you…surprised me….yeah that's it, you surprised me. I didn't really expect you, of all people, to do that" She finished looking at him

He studied her for a moment before he said, "Of course, you were only…startled"

"I was," She said sensing a bit of disbelief in the small statement

"I never said you weren't," He said in amusement before he sat back down on the soft grass. He sighed as he gazed at the lake.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, becoming nerved by the long silence that was between them.

"I'm sitting or is that to complicated for your simple mind," Draco responded gazing up at her.

She glared at him, she knew that coming to Malfoy for help came with cons, including insults and sarcasm, but she will have to deal with it if she wanted to do this. So, taking a deep breath, she said, "I mean aren't we going inside? It's almost dinner."

"I guess you're right," He said gazing at the setting sun. He got up from his comfortable position and dusted himself off before he took Hermione's hand and began to walk.

After a moment, Hermione snatched her hand away from Draco's and said, "I can walk by myself, I don't need you guiding me."

"I wasn't guiding you, Granger; I was holding your hand. Like couples do," He said reminding her why she was even walking with Draco Malfoy. She looked at him for a moment before she sighed, sullenly, and took Draco's hand in hers. He smirked before he once again began walking.

Idly, she thought that Malfoy was enjoying this too much.

°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°°º¤ø,¸

Hermione glanced at the large oak door with anticipation while Draco continued to smirk, enjoying how the Gryffindor was hesitating to enter. "Well…aren't you going to open the door, baby,"

Hermione was startled by the sudden voice behind her. She was so nervous she had not realized that Draco was still behind her. She glared at him fighting the urge to slap the Slytherin right there and then and wipe that stupid smirk off his face. She took a deep breath before she, through clenched teeth, said, "Give me minute…"

She took a deep breath, once again, and fiddles with the hem of her uniform. She sighed and thought, "It's now or never," before she took a hold of Draco's hand, once more, but before she could make a step toward the door Draco pulled his hand away from hers. Hermione turned around, her hands on her hips, as she said, "What now?" Her voice was laced with anger, annoyance, and curiosity.

"Tsk. Tsk." Draco said shaking his head and wagging a finger in front of Hermione's face before he said, "My dear that is child's play. Let's up it a notch." Before he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her too close for comfort.

Hermione blushed as Draco pulled her towards him. 'The nerve' she thought, furiously, as Draco wrapped an arm around her. Draco smirked as he pushed the oak doors opened and say, "Shall we?" before he entered, Hermione by his side.

'Yes, Malfoy is enjoying this too much' She thought as they walked into the great hall. Her head held down as they continued to walk towards where the Gryffindor and the Slytherin table were.

Everything was silent as the whole student body, teachers and staff, even the ghosts, watch two enemies walk together. What was shocking was not that it was Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy walking together…no they were more focused on the fact that Draco Malfoy's arm was around Hermione Granger's waist.

Draco Malfoy: the same person who hated the muggleborn with such hatred that he would not think twice to kill the Gryffindor without one drip of guilt. They both halted between the Gryffindor and Slytherin table.

Hermione Granger, the same person who detested the boy because of his cruel personality and how he looked down on muggleborn, half bloods, and blood traitors just because they were 'below' him

Draco looked down at Hermione with a smirk before he leaned down…his lips inching towards Hermione's…

Hermione eyes widened slightly before they narrowed. 'He wouldn't…no' She thought as Draco neared her, she slowly closed her eyes expecting cold lips on her lips but she opened her eyes in surprise as she felt warm lips pressed against her cheeks. Before she knew it, a voice whispered, "Next time, I won't have mercy, babe,"

As she registered those words she fought off a glare, instead plastered a smile, and said, sweetly, "I didn't expect less, Malfoy," before she walked past him, and went and sat next to Ron and Harry who were staring at her their mouths opened.

She sighed before she reached out and began filling her plate with food. After filling her cup with pumpkin juice and taking a sip, she said, annoyed, "Honestly, you two, would you close your mouth. Do you really want to catch flies?" Hinting to everyone to return to what he or she was doing which they reluctantly did.

Instantly, Hermione heard murmurs and giggles which notified her that everyone was coming up with rumors for the sudden reason why Malfoy and Hermione were an 'item'

'Great' she thought sullenly as she turned around to face Malfoy who winked at her. She rolled her eyes and turned back towards her gob smacked friends.

After a moment of silence and Hermione ignoring them, they both said, "What the hell?" which was the hint for Hermione to realize they wanted an explanation.

"What?" She asked innocently as she titled her head to the side

"You know what," Ron hissed glaring at Hermione, "Is what I saw true?"

"Which part, Ronald? The kiss on the cheek or me walking with Mal…Draco" She finished her temper rising

"What Ron means," Harry intervened before they could start a scene, "Is why Malfoy?"

"Mmm…" She said putting a dreamy look on her face as she twirled one of her thick, curly, brown locks between her middle and index finger. "I guess because I needed to try out something new, someone different and he was more than willing so I guess it all worked out didn't it?"

"Worked out" Ron repeated, incredulous, looking at Hermione, as she was insane. "You're going out with a fucking Slytherin…Malfoy no less!" Disgust was evident in his voice as he got out of his seat. Everyone grew silent, once more, as they watched Ron's outburst.

"Why do you care so much anyway?" Hermione hissed back fiercely as she too rose form her seat.

"Because…Because you're my friend and I'm scared he'll hurt you." Ron said his ears turning a bright red

"If you really were my friend, then you would have trusted me and my judgment on who I want to go out with or not." Hermione said glaring at him

"I…I…" Ron stuttered slightly before he glared at her and began walking away.

Hermione looked at his retreating figure with sadness. She did not want this to happen. She honestly expected Ron to confess his feelings for her. That is how easy she thought this would be. How naïve…

She sighed before she turned to Harry. "Well, go on, go and talk some sense to that best friend of yours. You know you want to. Take his side as you always do." She said and watched as Harry narrowed his eyes before he too left. It seemed that she was chasing everyone away from her lately…

She sighed as she sat down. She ignored all the looks she was receiving as she laid her head on the table with a soft 'thump'. She inwardly smiled as she thought of what had just happened.

Of course she was a little hurt and sad, that both of her friends practically abandoned her but like they always say 'No pain, No gain' so she brightened up as she remembered when she had saw a flicker of jealousy behind all that anger in Ron's eyes. It brought her satisfaction that it was her that brought that emotion.

She sighed once more and forgetting she was still in the great hall, closed her eyes and thought, 'Let the games begin…'

End of Chapter

A/n: Mmm…I kind of made Hermione a little twisted didn't I? But no matter that why it's called fan fiction. Made by fans and dictated by fans. :)

Sorry for the delay but I had writer's block after the beginning and was finding excuses on why I was not updating. :)

Any who, any suggestions? Questions? Anything? Just leave me a review!

By the way, thank you all for reviewing they made my day!

Read and Review!

Luv,

Ashley
Xxx