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All in Good Time

Chapter 4

Let's get something straight here. I do not fancy Granger! No bloody way. How dare Matterhorn accuse me of something so ridiculous? He must be thicker than I thought. "Looks like we both want the damsel." Pshh. I mean honestly, what does he see in her? She talks too much, she thinks she knows everything; she's a "do gooder". I mean you can't actually take her out in public anywhere.

Yeah, okay maybe she can pull off a nice tight pair of jeans, but that's not nearly enough to have men banging down the door. Especially if it's me. Now, stick her in that Slytherin nighty again and we have a different story. Mmm…No! No! Stop!

Malfoy threw the covers off his body and stood up stretching. He had Quidditch practice that morning and thought it would be a good distraction.

Since it was 4:30am, Draco headed into the little kitchenette area their dormitory had. He strode out in his boxers and stood in the dark as he got himself a glass of water.

Whether or not I want Granger, if Miles wants a competition, I'll give him one. Never underestimate a Malfoy.

He heard someone clear their throat subtly behind him and he choked on the water as he turned around.

"Sorry." Hermione said covering her eyes. The moonlight coming in through the window gave Hermione just enough light to see Draco…wearing less than usual.

"Why are you up?" he asked trying to resolve from choking.

"Same as you. Thirsty." she said still covering her eyes. Draco rolled his eyes at her and grabbed her wrist lightly, pulling it away from her face. She slowly opened her eyes and lifted the other hand down. Draco faced the sink, giving her a nice look at his back. A little taken aback by the view, Hermione contemplated just going back to her room.

"I thought you were thirsty." Draco said.

"Right. Yes." Hermione said slowly going to retrieve a glass.

Standing their awkwardly in the silence, Hermione couldn't take it anymore.

"Can I ask you something?"

"No." Draco said dumping the rest of his glass out.

"Why do you have such a problem with Miles?" Hermione asked ignoring his response. "He's in Slytherin like you and you both…have similar lives…so I don't see why you hate each other."

"Similar lives, meaning?" Draco asked looking at her.

She looked away to answer his question.

"I just mean with the whole having a…death eater…as a parent...thing."

"Granger, drop it." he said slamming his glass down on the counter. "I am nothing like Miles and Miles is nothing like me. He's the last person I would ever want to be compared to. And we've been over this before. I told you not to bring up my father ever again."

Hermione looked at him strangely.

"I never brought up your father before." she said carefully.

"Yeah you did. When I was asleep on the sofa and you came in the portrait hole screaming at me…"

She looked at him with the same weird expression.

"We yelled at each other." he said trying to make her remember. "You told me I was just like Lucius and then we…" Draco finally put two in two together. "We…" That crazy dream came rushing back to him. The intensity of that kiss he shared with her, but didn't really share with her.

"We?" she was so confused.

"Never mind." he said looking away. He couldn't believe how he had gotten real life confused with fantasy.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

This was impossible. He almost gave away his most valuable secret.

"I'm fine." he snapped.

"Okay." she said setting her glass down. She knew she had pinched a nerve.

Heading back to her room, Draco called after her.

"Granger!" Turning around, she wondered why she bothered with him anymore. "Stay away from Miles." he said.

"And why would I do that?"

"He's not as marvelous as you think he is."

"You mean nice…smart…and funny?" she asked sarcastically. Draco nodded with a small smirk. "Forgive me for not spending time with someone more like you, Draco."

"Fine." he said raising his hands in the air. "Warm by the fire, but don't dance in the flame, Granger." he said turning back around.

"What does that even mean?" Hermione asked utterly perplexed. "You're trying to tell me to stay away from Miles…because?" she asked.

Draco just smiled before wandering over to the giant bathroom that he shared with Hermione.

"It'd be the wisest thing you've ever done." he said before going into the bathroom and closing the door. On the other side, Draco kept in a loud laugh.

That should keep Granger away from Miles long enough strategize my own plan.

The heads bathroom was quite larger than that of the Prefect's. So, climbing into the large bath; for a change, Draco thought about what was going to happen from there on out.

Apparently, this whole Granger thing isn't going to dissolve on its own. So…maybe, if I use the whole situation to my advantage…good things could come from it.

Hermione was laying in bed by now, pondering what Draco had just said to her. Why would he tell her to stay away from Miles? Why had he talked about an event that never happened between her and him? She just…didn't understand.

It's probably nothing. He's just trying to scare me because he gets pleasure from it. Not to mention, if Miles was "bad", why would Draco care to tell me? Being a reformed deatheater doesn't make you a saint. Just ignore him. It's not like I'm doing anything bad with Miles. I mean we're just studying. Not to mention…all this studying was starting to be a good distraction from thoughts of Ron.

Draco was the first one up in the air. Flying around, the crisp, cool, morning air was a nice wakeup.

He spotted Snape walking out onto the pitch and flew down to the ground.

"Mr. Malfoy." Snape said un-cheerfully.

"Yes, Sir." Landing, Draco could tell this wasn't going to be good.

"As of yesterday night, your Keeper, Mr. Lock has been suspended of all Quidditch and school related privileges."

The entire Slytherin Quidditch team groaned at hearing the news.

"I strongly suggest finding a new Keeper before the next match." Snape said.

"But, Sir! Where are we going to find a new Keeper by then?" Draco demanded.

"Fear not, Mr. Malfoy. I've taken the liberty of finding a suitable player for you."

Looking over Snape's shoulder, he could not believe it!

"Mr. Matterhorn gave me the impression that he is quite the goal keeper."

"You've got to be kidding, Professor!" Malfoy said. "Matterhorn doesn't have nearly the skills that a Keeper needs."

"Oh, is that a serious accusation Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked. "Because to me it looks like the Slytherin House; my house, is down a player. That is an automatic disqualification which means zero points, which means zero chances at winning The House Cup. Are you following Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked raising his voice the longer he talked.

"Yes, Professor." Draco obeyed.

"Matterhorn!" Snape yelled pointing beside himself. Miles came walking over with a triumphant smile.

"Malfoy." Miles said mockingly before flashing a charming smile.

Draco glared and mumbled his name in return.

"Let's get on with it then." Draco said bitterly before kicking off the ground.

One of the beaters threw Miles a broom and he kicked off in the air after Draco.

Getting situated in front of the hoops, Miles waited for the throw. Draco narrowed his eyes at Miles before flying straight at him, throwing the quaffle with force. Tactfully, Miles hit the quaffle with the back of his broom, causing it to fly back in Draco's direction.

Catching it in his hands, Draco went for it again. This time, he flew in misleadingly. He looked as though he was about to throw it in the center hoop, but smacked it with the back of his broom towards the right side hoop.

Instinctively, Miles stopped it at the drop of a hat. Draco was infuriated at the site. This seemed to go on and on the longer the two did this. Draco unable to get one single goal in.

"I guess we're safe to assume Mr. Matterhorn's made the team?" Snape asked mockingly.

Draco didn't say a word as he trudged to the changing area.

XOXO

Heading to the library with Ginny, Hermione laughed at something her friend said. Ginny had a sense of humor like her brothers, but it was on a subtler, more mature range.

Laughing at her comment, Hermione accidentally bumped into Draco who was going the opposite direction, with his gang of friends.

"Watch it, Granger!" he yelled turning around.

"It was an accident, Malfoy. Get over yourself." she said turning her head, but continuing to walk away. Draco looked at his friends quickly and smirked. "Granger!" he yelled. She stopped and looked at him. "Tell Matterhorn being on the team doesn't make him any better than he was."

Hermione paused as Draco and his friends laughed.

"I will." she replied. "Make sure you remind yourself of that too, Draco. Getting an even bigger head at this point in your life would make you look unbalanced." Ginny laughed at her comment; making Draco feel embarrassed in front of his own friends.

"Mudblood!" one of them called her.

"Don't listen to them." Ginny told her. "Pureblood doesn't gurantee their own blood is taint free."

Ignoring the slight sting of the word they called her, Hermione continued on as far away from Draco as she could get.

Studying in the library was a nice relief. Ginny had snuck off from Hermione to meet Harry somewhere in the stacks and Hermione was kind of thankful to be able to have the alone time she needed.

"What do I owe the pleasure this time?" Hermione asked looking in her book. She could see the silhouette of Draco's body as he pretended to look for a book in front of her.

"Well for one." he said turning to her. "I really think that someone should have taught you some manners." he walked over to her table and out his hands down on the table angrily. "Like how to properly talk to a Malfoy." he said. "Insulting me in front of my friends was entirely reason enough for me to make your living a bloody living hell."

"I'm already living in the same dorm as you. How can life get any more hellish?" she asked looking up at him with innocent eyes.

"Well I could curse you into oblivion." he threatened.

"You mean with your wand?" she suddenly held up Draco Malfoy's one and only wand.

"Thief!" he yelled.

"Next time you walk down the hall and bump into people, then continue to yell and insult them…make sure your wand actually stays somewhere on your being." she said. "Or else, Harry, Ron and I would have no problem using your stick as a resource when making S'mores."

He quickly snatched the wand from her grasp and held it protectively like a child.

"Don't ever touch my wand again." he said.

"That's what he said." Miles said walking down the aisle. "Whoever he is…man he's got quite the dirty mind."

"Hi, Miles." Hermione said blushing lightly. Draco noticed and felt disgusted instantly. Looking at Miles, he truly wondered what planet he was on and how the other guy in the room was getting the attention of the girl. Nothing made sense anymore. "Congratulations on making the team. I knew you could do it."

"I owe thanks to Draco here." he said patting Draco on the back hard.

"If you touch me again, I will rip every single limb from your body." Draco said threateningly to Miles.

Getting the message, Matterhorn instantly stopped and sat down at the table near Hermione.

"Malfoy, we actually need to study for our potions essay." Hermione said.

"Yeah and we need all the alone time we can get." Miles said throwing Draco obnoxious eyes as he taunted him.

Draco was pissed because Miles already had the advantage over him. He was on Hermione's good side already. This put him behind in the running. But…Draco and her had to patrol the castle later that night. Although Miles got to see Hermione a lot in the day, Draco would get to see her at night; alone as they patrolled…the lakeside…on a full moon together.

Yes. This is what he needed. He would have to play the classic romantic approach to get her attention.

"You two have fun." Draco said with a smirk before turning away and walking down the aisle with perseverance.

Miles was very suspicious of Draco. He knew Malfoy's specifically were known for their cunning and mysterious ways, but he never put it up to the challenge…

Until now.

XOXO

"Guess who's got a date in Hogsmeade on Saturday." Ginny said taking a seat with Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

"Who?" Ron asked

"Hermione." Ginny said with a smile.

"Ginny! I told you not to say anything!" Hermione said embarrassed.

"With who?" Ron demanded.

"Miles Matterhorn." Ginny said.

Hermione threw her friend daggers that Ginny just brushed off.

"You can't go out with Miles Matterhorn." Ron said unhappily.

"She can go out with whoever she wants, Ron." Ginny said reaching for a piece of buttered bread.

"Hermione, how many times do we have to tell you that Slytherins…are…bad." Ron said.

"Not all of them!" Hermione defended.

"Come on. Harry agrees with me, don't you Harry?" Ron asked looking at him.

Harry didn't want to get in the middle of this dispute. He put his hands in the air and dodged the question.

"See Ron?" Ginny asked. "You're the only one who seems to think that Hermione going out with Miles is a bad idea."

Not true, entirely.

Over at Slytherin table, Draco was severely angered by this recent development.

"Guess you're a little late to the finish line there, Draco." Miles had said to him earlier, but he hadn't fully known what he meant until he heard the little redhead going on about it to a few other Gryffindors. He always thought she had a big mouth. I guess he was right.

"Draco, you okay?" Blaise asked looking over at his friend.

"I'm fine." Draco said stabbing the table with his fork as he glared at Miles.

"Want me to curse him?" Blaise asked wickedly.

"No." Draco said. "I'll deal with him. Just give it time." he said before smirking. "All in good time, Blaise. All in good time."

A/N-What do you think Draco has up his sleeve? Hmm... Leave your thoughts in the reviews! Thank you all so much!