A/N: The challenge begins! I will be writing three chapters, one for each day of the challenge. This one is the day of *gasp* temptation. How will they deal with not being aloud to touch each other? We shall see! Review review review!

"I can't believe you actually took his stupid dare." Draco commented lazily from the doorway and she jumped a half a foot in the air. You'd think she'd be used to all his surprise entrances by now but she wasn't.

This time at least she was fully dressed. "What did I tell you about knocking?" "But it's so much more fun to surprise you!" He complained teasingly and she couldn't help smiling as she turned to face him.

His face changed as he took in her outfit, tight fitting dark wash jeans and strappy silver stilettos paired with a ruffled ivory silk shirt which gathered just above her belly button and had cute little off the shoulder cap sleeves. Her glossy brown ringlets were splayed over her shoulders and her face had a light coating of make up.

"You look…" He trailed off taking a step forward then hesitating as though holding himself back. "I look…?" She prompted and he grinned at her. "Completely and utterly sexy. Is there a special occasion or are you just taunting me because of Weasely's stupid dare?"

She turned a light shade of pink at his compliment. "Oh, ah, thank you. The representatives for the ministry of magic are coming today to do interviews and we were told it was semi-formal, remember?" Again his face changed but this time he looked horrorstricken. "Shit! That's today?!"

Hermione giggled slightly as he dashed back into his room tossing clothes around like a maniac. She could imagine Ron and Harry in a similar predicament when they remembered what today was but Ginny would probably help Harry find something to wear at least.

Not to be outdone by her imaginary Ginny she walked into his room dodging the flying clothes and pulled out a reasonably unwrinkled black dress shirt from his closet and dark grey dress slacks along with a lone dress shoe. Just as she was about to back out of the closet she caught sight of a gold tie draped over a closet hanger and she grabbed it to, turning back to face him.

"Here, wear this." She said, holding it out to him, careful not to brush fingers. Ron had placed a charm over her so if she there skin even brushed casually he would know and she would loose the bet.

"Hermione, you're a life saver, thank you!" He said, stumbling over his own thanks as he dropped his pants unceremoniously, pulling on the pants she offered him over his boxers. She blushed looking away though he didn't seem very concerned that she was in the room while she changed. Then again he was a boy.

He was already tucking in the black shirt, buttoned all the way up to his collar and hurriedly knotting the tie around his neck. "How do I look?" He asked anxiously, letting his arms fall to his sides.

She felt her heart race at the sight of him so scruffy and cute, platinum blond hair sticking up all over the place, tie a little crooked with an eager to please smile on his face. "Completely and utterly sexy." She said with a coy wink and his blood boiled beneath his skin.

As they stood two meters apart staring at each other she felt a longing in her chest as heat rose up inside her. Her interview wouldn't be until later this morning, it would be so easy to just stay for awhile in his room and forget about her bet with Ron. It would be so easy to just…no. She must not give into temptation.

Malfoy sighed obviously thinking something along the same lines as her. "We should probably go." He said sheepishly, and she nodded, leading the way out into the hallway and down the stairs. Nobody else would notice a difference as up until now there physical contact in public had mostly been rumors but for her it felt like they were miles apart…

"Bloody interview, as if I didn't already have enough to worry about." She fretted ringing her hands together. "Don't worry Hermione, you have this covered backwards and forwards. If I got through it all right you sure will." Ron assured her, evidently in a good mood because of the distance between her and Malfoy.

"That's all very well for you Ron, your father is already in the ministry you're basically assured a position but I'm at a disadvantage being muggle born." She continued pacing back and forth, waiting for the next person to come out and usher her inside. You had to hand it to her she didn't get tired standing for half an hour in those spindly heels.

All the Ravenclaws had gone first, then Slytherin, Hufflepuff and now finally Gryffindor. When Malfoy came out he looked just as confident coming out as he had going in which only put a slight damper on Ron's spirits. "I got an invite to the dinner tomorrow; it was definitely the outfit that convinced them to let me in." He had paused to whisper in the ear as he passed by making her blush modestly while all the girls around her started whispering and pointing them out. He just winked and walked away casually with Zabini as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

Only two people out of each house, one male and one female were invited to the dinner along with several people from other wizarding schools across the country. It was an incredible opportunity to butter up the minister and whoever else you might hope to work for after graduating as many top employers of the wizard world would be there and looking for fresh skill.

They were supposed to bring a date as there would be dancing and socializing after the dinner but if she got an invitation Hermione wasn't sure how that would work with her and Malfoy both being invited and not aloud to touch.

Perhaps Harry saw the expression on her face because he rolled his eyes. "Come on Hermione, you're going to get an invitation, some of the scouts who've heard of you would probably strangle the interviewers if they didn't. Even if you didn't, Malfoy'd just take you as his date."

"That's easy for you to say," She said, sounding a little high pitched. "You want to be an Auror, there's no competition for that job. There must be hundreds of witches and wizards applying to be editors of the daily profit." She looked like she was about to have an aneurism but luckily at that moment the door swung open and a pale looking Parvati pointed her in.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione gathered her things and walked through the door, trying not to look back but if she had she would have seen Malfoy lounging against the wall, silently wishing her good luck.

"Thank you for that lovely interview Ms. Granger is truly is nice to see such promising talents in a young witch. Can we expect you at the dinner tomorrow night?" The witch with a short brown bob and attractive blue eyes gave her a smile, holding out one ticket.

Hermione nearly fell of her stilettos in shock. "Oh –yes! Yes of course, it would be my honor, my pleasure to meet some of the finest industrial magicians of the age." She said, shaking her hand profusely and taking the ticket with a look of wonder in her eyes.

"Of course you'll be expected to bring a partner as there is a dance accompanying dinner. Feel free to bring anyone you like."

Hermione hesitated then said, "Can our 'partner' be someone already selected for the dinner?" "No, no, we prefer you bring someone we haven't already invited, just to keep the talent fresh. It doesn't have to be a date, just a friend." The witch said kindly, handing over an extra ticket which she pocketed solemnly, forehead creased with worry.

She had no idea who to bring if she wasn't aloud to have Malfoy as her partner. Someone he wouldn't get jealous of, it would be offal if they had an argument while she wasn't even aloud to touch him.

Harry would find the party boring as a future Auror and Ron was pretty much already assured a position in the ministry. She could bring Neville but he'd be liable to knock something over and embarrass himself or her.

That didn't leave many options. She was so deep in thought she nearly ran right into Malfoy on her way out the door. "Let me guess, you got an invitation?" He asked with a knowing smirk and she beamed at him, wishing she could hug him.

"I did! I can't believe it, I'm so excited" –"I told you if there was a boring work party to be had there was no way that you wouldn't get invited." Ron said sarcastically, cutting off her rant of gratitude and surprise at being one of the few selected.

"Shut up Ronald. Unfortunately now I need to find a date, and they said you didn't count." She said, turning to face Malfoy again which irritated Ron to no end. "Harry?" She asked, with a begging face.

"Don't look at me, there's no way I would fit in with that crowd." He said, raising his hands in front of him. "Ron?" She asked, pitching her voice up in hope but he just scowled at Malfoy. "Not if he's going to be there."

"I don't know who to bring." She admitted and Malfoy chuckled lightly. "Don't worry I'm sure there are plenty of boys out there who would be willing to go with you. No need to look so despairing." She rolled her eyes at him.

"That's not what I was worried about. At least you know those two; I wouldn't want you to get jealous if I brought someone else." He put on a look of mock shock. "Me? Jealous? I never. What gives you the impression that I would be the jealous type?" "Everything about you." Ron muttered giving him the evil eye.

"Ronald!" Hermione growled, turning around to glare at him. "Yes?" He asked innocently, obviously enjoying the way she struggled for words. She couldn't afford to make him angry if she wanted him to 'bless' her and Malfoy as a couple.

"I wish you would try to at least be civil towards him." She finally choked out looking like that wasn't exactly the way she had wanted to say it. "Three days 'Mione, then I will." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head, looking smug.

"If you make it through day one that is." Heat was rising up inside her but it had nothing to do with the lust she had felt in Malfoy's bedroom this morning. This heat had more to do with wanting to punch him in his stupid freckled nose.

But she must not give into temptation. Damn.

They returned to the common room to change out of there semi-formal dress before lunch and then they were expected to go on to afternoon classes. She already felt exhausted, the interview had sapped all her strength and she knew most of the sevenths years would just skip classes but being Hermione the thought didn't even cross her mind.

"Did you finish your potions essay?" She asked Malfoy casually while sitting on his bed, swinging her feet lightly over the edge. "Mm-hmm." He replied and she was briefly surprised before remembering to be head boy he did have to have some of the top grades out of all the seventh year boys.

"Soo…" She said, trailing off as he turned to her looking amused as he loosened his tie, fingers quickly undoing the buttons on his shirt without once removing his gaze from her face. "It's just…I wrote to my parents and…" He remained silently, evidently waiting for whatever she was trying to say.

Blushing deeply she finally blurted, "I told them about you and they want me to send them a picture." He laughed as she looked flustered just saying it. "I don't see what's wrong with that, they're your parents, there supposed to care about you and this apparently sexy hunk your dating, huh?"

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't write that in the letter just that you were very nice and I'm sure they'd approve." "I'm flattered." He said dryly before hopping up on the king sized emerald green bed with her. "Well let's get this over with."

Flicking his wand at the camera in her hand, making it levitate several feet away before snapping a picture of him striking a dramatic pose propped up on one elbow, raking a hand through his longish blond hair.

She started laughing and he rolled his eyes. "What's so funny?" He asked but she just shook her head still laughing as the camera continued to snap pictures of them teasing each other without ever touching each other. Finally when the camera ran out of film they stopped, ribs aching from all there laughter.

"I haven't had that much fun in ages." He said, bracing himself on one arm while leaning temptingly closer. She closed her eyes, breathing in his spicy cologne, feeling his breath against her face, and imagined kissing him, running her hand through his hair…but she must not give into temptation.

"We should go to lunch." She said, voice wavering slightly as she fought against her instinct to forget about lunch and just stay here with him all afternoon. "Lunch can wait." He murmured and she knew if she tried to stand up now her knees wouldn't support her. "Malfoy…the bet…" "It's really that important to you?" He said, sounding a little injured and a little understanding.

She hesitated, opening her eyes slowly. He was looking at her with a wounded puppy dog expression. "Yes…it's really that important to me." He sighed then sat up with a determined smile on his face. "Alright, then what's important to you is important to me." She felt her heart lift with gratitude for his accepting attitude. She wished she could kiss him and throw her arms around him in thanks.

Damn that temptation.

Professor Slughorn was droning on again about the importance of wearing your dragon hide gloves while they put there finishing touches on there stain-removing potions which could also apparently remove skin according to the warning in there text books. He was once again reminding them of the fifth year girl who would probably never again be able to write a potions essay in her life.

Ron was starting to look speculatively at his pot while Harry was trying to stay out of sight and not get called on. Slughorn had a bit of grudge against him after finding out the best potions student was actually rubbish without the half-blood-prince and periodically called on him to try to answer impossible questions not even she knew the answer to and that was saying something.

The class was half empty today though because of all the people who had decided to skip afternoon classes and it was a small enough grouping as it was. Only ten people were scattered around the room chopping up lacewings and sprinkling caterpillar feet into there potions.

Her potion was already done but she had learned long ago not to draw attention to herself in Slughorn's class it would only earn her an irritating invitation to one of the slug club meetings. Looking around the room in boredom as she had already read the text book and all the posters on the wall she checked out the few students that had decided to show up for today's class though Slughorn didn't seem to notice there absence.

There was Harry and Ron whose potion was now a putrid green rather then the thick clear substance bubbling away in her cauldron. Seamus and Dean were arguing over what to add next, caterpillar feet or lacewings. There were three Slytherins she didn't recognize and then on the other side of the classroom was Malfoy and Zabini the latter who looked bored and the first who was just double checking his end result.

She looked at the dark haired Italian curiously as he put his feet up on the desk, hands behind his head, bobbing his head to whatever was playing in his head. He was probably one of Malfoy's few true friends at Hogwarts, always acting like he was bored and didn't care about school and yet he was in advanced potions and she had seen him use a stun spell like it was nothing.

When she had bothered Malfoy earlier about who he was taking to the dance he hadn't said a word only smiled secretively. Maybe Blaise knew.

Tearing out a piece of paper form her notebook she scribbled "do you know who M is taking to the dance?" then folded it into a paper bird and threw it across the room in his general direction, correcting its flight path with her wand.

Seeing it coming towards him he glanced suspiciously around the room then snatched it out of the air, putting his feet back on the ground. After reading the message he grinned slightly and wrote back before sending it back in her direction. Obviously there was only one girl in the class.

She unfolded it with shaking hands, crossing her fingers but was shocked at his answer. "Will tell you if you take me to the dance." She gaped at him across the room but his expression had glazed over again looking for all the world like he hadn't just bribed her into taking him to the dance.

But why would Blaise want her to take him to the dance? She was going out with his best friend and he'd definitely find out if she asked him. Then again…Malfoy might not be jealous if it was only Zabini, they were best mates. She wrote one word on the paper then sent it back towards his desk.

It was zooming back in seconds and she hoped Slughorn or anyone else for that matter wouldn't notice the exchange. She had written "why" and his response was "I have my reasons." Biting her lip she finally wrote, "Fine I will take you to the dance. Now who's M taking?"

He stared at the note for awhile, riffled through his notes a bit, put his feet back up on the desk, obviously enjoying making her sweat. Excruciatingly slowly he started to write the name on the paper but just then Slughorn looked up from his notes.

"Mr. Zabini," She was sure her heart stopped beating. "Is your potion finished?" He shrugged with an impish grin. "I don't know sir, why don't you ask Draco?" Malfoy rolled his eyes. "It's almost finished professor Slughorn."

Hefting himself out of the chair Slughorn stomped heavily over to there cauldron. "Hmm still need to add the caterpillar feet. Very good Mr. Malfoy. As for you Zabini" –"Hey what happened to Mr. Zabini?" He complained and Slughorn glared, snatching the paper out of his hands.

This time Hermione knew the world was about to end. Malfoy was going to think she and Zabini were sneaking around his back, he was going to think –"All it says is 'Lucinda'." He sounded suspicious, switching between glaring at the paper and Zabini was looking up at him innocently.

"Can't a guy fantasize to the smell of toxic fumes?" He pleaded sarcastically and Slughorn threw the paper back on his desk in disgust, stomping back to his desk. Zabini half turned to wink at Hermione and she sighed with relief. He must have charmed it so it only showed the last thing he'd written. Now the question was who was Lucinda?

He turned back to Malfoy who was glaring at him ferociously and looked like he was telling him off about something while Zabini continued trying to look innocent. Hermione felt a twist in her gut. What were they arguing about? Who was Lucinda?

Groaning to rested her forehead against her textbook. She shouldn't have asked.

Unfortunately she did ask though so all the way through dinner she kept craning her neck to look at the Slytherin table. She had no idea who to look for but she couldn't stop herself from looking. She wasn't even sure 'Lucinda' would be a Slytherin.

"Bloody hell Hermione, the ferrets not going anywhere." Ron said through a mouthful of food, rolling his eyes. "That's not what I was looking for!" She snapped, two bright spots of color on her cheeks. "I wish I knew who she was…"

Turning to Ginny desperately she asked, "Ginny do you know a 'Lucinda'?" Ginny froze, spoon half way to her mouth before making a face. "Lucinda Calscotta?" Hermione shrugged before leaning closer to whisper. "Me and Malfoy both have to take dates to the international wizard's dinner tomorrow and Blaise said he'd tell me who Draco was taking if I took him."

Ginny snorted slightly, looking at her in disbelief. "You're taking Zabini to the international wizard's dinner? That should be interesting." "Shut up, I didn't have a choice, he wouldn't tell me otherwise. All he wrote was Lucinda on the paper. It's driving me crazy."

Ginny just rolled her eyes at her friend's desperation. "Why don't you just wait until tomorrow? Trust me, you've got no competition if it is Lucinda Calscotta and that would explain why Zabini" –"Ginny come on Harry's going to kill us if we're late for Quiditch again!" Ron grabbed his sister's arm and dragged her out of her seat.

"Stupid insane practice schedule." Ginny mumbled. "Talk to you tomorrow Hermione!" She shouted as Ron made her start jogging towards the door. Hermione opened her mouth in protest but they were already gone. What had Ginny been about to say about Lucinda and Zabini? "Yah," She mumbled, "See you."

A/N: So what did you guys think? I really need some feedback! I know this one wasn't all that interesting but I promise the Day of Envy will be much more intense!

Reviews = me writing like a maniac!

(Sorry about the long wait for updates. Damn internet…)