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Now- Draco works on his plan

Chapter Three

Phase One of Draco's plan was to let Granger get comfortable in his presence, so that she would be less likely to see him as the enemy. That way, she would let her guard down around him before he proceeded with the more aggressive phases of his plan. Besides, it was important to study your prey and Draco could use Phase One to learn more about Granger. She was certainly a creature of habit and Draco learned those habits.

Granger woke around 7 a.m. then showered and dressed before going down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He saw what food she preferred and how she took her tea. She ate well, which Draco appreciated. She would need her strength to handle what he had in store for her. So many girls seemed to be on a perpetual diet. Draco couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Pansy Parkinson or either of the Greengrass sisters fill a plate at the Slytherin table. Granger always sat with Potter, Weasel, or the she-Weasley, which Draco did not appreciate.

Draco watched how comfortable Granger was with her friends. Her smile was easy and genuine. She seemed less uptight, until someone said something to put her back in lecture mode – maybe something about House-elves, Werewolves, or some other supposedly oppressed group. Granger had her soapbox and was not shy about whipping it out on a range of topics, from the care of magical creatures to Wizard-Muggle relations, to the proper way to prepare for N.E.W.T.s. After weeks of observation, Draco could spot a lecture coming from a mile away. She stiffened her spine slightly, her shoulders tensed, and she wet her lips in preparation to speak. Draco liked that last part, in particular.

After breakfast, Granger would head off to classes and she always tried to be early. However, between policing the hallways and helping people, she was usually on time, instead of early. Draco knew her class schedule. They shared Advanced Potions, Charms, & Arithmancy. After classes, Granger generally went to the library until dinner, which was not surprising to anyone. She seemed to have her own table set aside there. Dinner was often rushed, so that she could get to her evening activities. She had her Head Girl duties of course. Other than that, she seemed to spend her time on schoolwork or with her friends. Draco realized her evenings were surprisingly normal, even if the schoolwork did take up more time than it did for most normal people.

Granger sent a couple owls every week and received a fair bit of post. When he asked her about her owls, she started talking about some pen-pal sort who lived in another country, and launched into a mini-lecture about fostering international wizarding relations. Draco wasn't really sure what she said, because he stopped listening after a few minutes and began imagining other, dirtier thing she could do with her mouth. Granger also wrote her parents weekly, explaining that they sometimes felt very out of touch with her and her life because, as Muggles, a lot happened that they didn't really understand. Draco thought it was nice she made the effort to stay close to her parents and took to writing his own parents once a week as well. After all, with his father on house arrest, Draco was sure he could use some diversion.

Draco's plan to let her get comfortable with having him around seemed to be working. Between Head duties, living together, and sharing classes they spent a considerable amount of time with or near each other. After walking in on him in the bath, Granger became scrupulously conscientious about his privacy. She always knocked on the bathroom door, even first thing in the morning when he was still in his room. He drew the line the first time she knocked on their common room door one evening after their second week together.

"Did you just knock before you came in?" Draco asked her confused, as he looked up from his Arithmancy essay on the table in front of him.

"Um, yeah, I guess I did," she shrugged.

"Whatever for?" Draco pressed.

Granger just stood for a moment, appearing to think of what she wanted to say.

"Well, I didn't want to walk in on anything," she finally stated. Draco couldn't help but smile.

"My life's an open book, Granger," Draco smirked. "Are you concerned you'll see me naked…again?"

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. Not quite the breathless 'Oh, Please' Draco was looking to get. "Like I haven't seen a naked man before."

Draco did not like the sound of that. His smirk faltered slightly.

"I spend every summer with the Weasleys and you just can't keep clothes on Fred and George," she continued.

"I imagine it's difficult to get past all those freckles and red hair to see anything good," Draco muttered. And there she went rolling her eyes at him again, this time with an indignant little huff.

"More to the point is you and your reputation," Granger went on to say. Draco was momentarily puzzled. "I wouldn't want to walk in on you when you are having… company."

"I see." Draco outright laughed at her statement. She looked at him a bit strangely then, as if it was unfathomable that he could laugh. But then, she probably had never seen him really laugh before. "No Granger, you will not be walking in on anything. I am aware that we share this common room and having company in here would not be very neighborly of me, now would it?"

"That is very thoughtful of you," she grudgingly conceded. "Maybe we should set some basic ground rules about that sort of thing then, since we will be living together."

"Like no nakedness in the common room? Or no going in the bathroom when it is in use?" Draco teased. He actually saw the corners of her lips twitch at that.

"Hey, I apologized for that." She came and sat down opposite him at the table.

"Yes," Draco smiled. "Very nicely."

"So no nakedness then." She got out her quill and snagged a blank piece of his parchment.

"Do we really need it in writing, Granger?"

"Why not?" It was Draco's turn to roll his eyes.

"Fine. But nakedness is defined by the naughty bits. I reserve the right to go shirtless," Draco sighed.

"Okay. Rule number one, all 'naughty bits,' as you call them, shall be covered in common areas. Rule number two, if you decide to…entertain company, you will do so in your room."

"Well, I'm not going to bring a witch to my room just to chat," Draco protested. "Some time has to be spent in common room doing other things, before actually having company."

"How very gentlemanly of you to work up to it." She didn't even look up from writing. "Gives them time to come to their senses and run."

"Oh you're very funny, Granger," Draco said lightly. He did not want to let on that her statement did ruffle him a bit, even if he was aware she didn't consider him an appropriate bed partner - yet. But he couldn't let her think everyone shared her opinion. "I do just fine with the witches. You'd be surprised."

"I'm not surprised," she finally looked up from her Rule List. "Like I said before, you have a reputation. Gossip indicates you've made it through most of the Slytherin girls –well the passably attractive ones your age or near to it at least. You've dallied with a few Hufflepuffs and some Ravenclaws are rumored to have enjoyed your company. But gossip tends to get overblown, so I am guessing you aren't quite as…hmm… prolific as the rumor mill would have others believe."

"Listening to gossip, Granger? I'm shocked." Draco exaggerated his surprised expression so it would look like mock-surprise. She had thrown him off with her - surprisingly accurate –accounting of his conquests. He wondered how this would fit his plan. He didn't want her to see him as the village broomstick, where just anybody could take a ride. He did have standards after all. He didn't actually have sex with all those witches. More often than not, it didn't go further than heavy snogging and petting. But it might be good for her to think of him as a sexual person, preferably a person with some impressive prowess. Witches liked a man who knew what to do and where everything went, right?

"Knowledge is power, Malfoy," she smiled before slipping slightly into lecture mode. "Even gossip is information. The trick is finding the credible facts among the exaggeration. I've discovered that rumors usually have some basis in fact, but it can be hard to find. It sometimes is a little detail or an unimportant thing that is the bit of truth among a great deal of falsehood. One must keep in mind things like source of gossip, credibility of sources, and possible personal gain for spreading the gossip."

"So, according to the rumors, am I any good?" Draco smiled. She rolled her eyes for a third time, but Draco could see a slight flush. That would work with his plan.

"From what I hear you are…satisfactory." Yes, she was definitely flushed. "But like I said, gossip often involves exaggeration. Back to the point; Rule two, company that involves snogging and more should be confined to the bedroom."

"Agreed," Draco smirked. I'll show you satisfactory, he thought. He didn't think he should push her farther just yet. He was still in Phase One - observation, get her comfortable, and drop her guard. "Rule three, entertaining friends – of any kind – in the common room should be done with respect for the other. I don't want to be forced to flee my own dorm because all the Gryffindors want to have a party."

"Agreed," she nodded serious as always. "I recommend the use of silencing charms as a way to keep noise from being an issue. Also, if one of us does wish to have some sort of party or get together, it would be appropriate to notify the other prior to the event. This is a good start. I'll leave the written list here on the shelf and we can add or edit as we see fit."

Granger stood up from the table, leaving Draco to his work. She hesitated a few steps away from him.

"Is that all, Granger?"

"I'm glad we talked," she said. "That's all. It was surprisingly civil."

"I was taught manners you know," Draco sighed, "contrary to popular belief."

"I figured you had been taught them, after meeting your mother –such a lovely person. I'd just never seen them before."

"There is much more of me you haven't seen, Granger."

"Yes, well, you do use a lot of bubbles in your baths."

Draco sat agape at her parting statement as she closed her bedroom door. Did Granger just make a joke about seeing his cock? Did she have a sense of humor?

Next- Draco gets more information