Author's Note: I have two AP classes and yet I managed to get this chapter done. Pat on the back to me. Ok, fine. I used this to procrastinate on my homework multiple times. Anyhoo, it's worth it because I really like this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter Seven: Let the Betting Begin

The beast was chasing her. She could feel the heat of the flames being breathed at her back. The smoke clouded her vision. She could hear the pounding of the dragon's feet hitting the ground… the pounding grew louder… it was going to catch her-

"Hermione!"

Hermione shot awake to the sound of pounding at her door.

"Hermione! It's Ginny! Wake up!"

There was more pounding as Hermione quickly got out of bed and hurried to the door.

"Quick! We have to go!" Ginny exclaimed as soon as Hermione had let her in.

"What? What do you mean-"

"Hermione! There's no time! Ron's going after Malfoy! He'll be here any second! Just throw some robes on or something! We have to stop Ron before he does something stupid! Let's go!" Ginny exclaimed rapidly.

Not only was Hermione extremely confused, but she was also alarmed by Ginny's sense of urgency. Briefly glancing at her clock, she was even more alarmed to learn that she had slept in until ten o'clock.

As soon as Hermione had thrown some robes over her pajamas, Ginny grabbed her arm and hauled her into the common room. At that moment, Ron came barging in, paying no heed to the two girls as he continued to Malfoy's door and started pounding on it furiously… although from the looks of it, he seemed more intent on knocking the door down than actually getting Malfoy's attention.

No sooner had Malfoy's furious face appeared when Ron's fist went crashing into it.

"RON, NO!" Hermione and Ginny yelled simultaneously, both hurdling over sofas to reach him before he caused any more damage. Meanwhile, Malfoy had recuperated from the blow and was feeling his bleeding cheek.

"What the fuck was that all about?" he rasped.

"What the fuck is the bet all about!" Ron barked back.

Hermione had been busy tugging on Ron's arm but suddenly froze when she heard the word 'bet'. What was Ron going on about?

"Look, Weasle," Malfoy bit out, wiping another wave of oozing blood from his cheek, "I don't know how the fucking bet got started-"

"Bullocks! You started it, you son of a-"

"What bet!" Hermione suddenly interjected.

Both Ron and Malfoy turned to look at her.

"Apparently," Ron began, throwing Malfoy a look of pure hatred, "there is a very large betting pool concerning you and Malfoy."

Panic and fear were slowly closing in on Hermione.

"What exactly are people betting on?" she asked tentatively.

Ron glared ahead and shifted uncomfortably, squeezing his hands into tight fists at his sides before answering.

"People are placing bets on when Malfoy will… seduce you."

Hermione's heart slammed into her throat. Everyone in the school knew that Malfoy was trying to seduce her… including Ron!

"I think I'll just be going now," Ginny chirped, slowly backing towards the door. Malfoy took his cue.

"Unless you have any other asinine conclusions to jump to, Weasley, I'll be leaving as well."

Just as Ginny was making her escape out of the common room, Malfoy turned and went back to his room. Hermione heard water running a few moments later.

"Hermione, why didn't you tell me about Malfoy?" Ron asked angrily.

"I honestly didn't give it much thought," she lied.

"But, Hermione, now everyone knows-"

"Ron, it doesn't matter. I'm dating you, remember?" she asked irritably.

"I still wish you had told me about him," he replied sullenly.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"If I had told you, you would have become irrational-"

"Would not!"

Hermione quirked an eyebrow.

"So storming in here a few minutes ago and hitting Malfoy doesn't qualify as irrational behavior to you?"

Ron's ears turned a bit red.

"Well, it may have been a little irrational… but it wasn't completely uncalled for," he said defensively.

"You're lucky he didn't take points from Gryffindor," Hermione berated.

"It would have been worth it either way," he replied, slightly smiling.

When Hermione just smiled back at him, Ron stepped closer and leaned in as if to kiss her. Hermione immediately jumped away.

"No kissing! I haven't brushed my teeth yet!" she warned.

Ron chuckled.

"All right then. I have quidditch practice later. Maybe you can come watch-"

"I can't. I have to study."

"Study? But you're always studying," Ron whined.

"I have a very strict studying schedule, Ron-"

"Okay, fine. No need to get your knickers in a bunch- ouch! Ok, sorry. Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Try to avoid Malfoy. I know he's Head Boy and everything-"

"Ron-"

"I'm serious, Hermione. We don't know what he's capable of. He could be dangerous- especially after what he did to his family-"

"What he supposedly did. There's no proof, Ron."

"Will you just promise me that you'll be careful and avoid him as much as possible?"

Hermione sighed.

"I promise."

Ten minutes later, Hermione had reached the Gryffindor common room and was storming up the stairs to the 7th year dormitories. She was absolutely livid. With her eyes ablaze and her spine straight, she didn't bother to knock before barging in.

Although most of the girls had dressed for the day and left, Parvati and Lavender were still sitting primly at their vanities, applying makeup and styling their hair. They saw Hermione's furious reflection approaching in the mirror.

"Parvati, would you please excuse us? I need to have a little chat with Lavender." Parvati seemed torn between the excitement of witnessing the drama or the horror of being caught in the line of fire. After looking at Hermione's expression, she decided to leave as quickly as possible.

Hermione started yelling as soon as the door had slammed behind Parvati.

"How dare you! I specifically told you that anything said in that classroom remained in that classroom! You even swore not to tell! And now you've started a betting pool! And everyone knows about it!"

Without breaking stride in her makeup routine, Lavender calmly proceeded to apply blush to her cheeks.

"First of all, Hermione, I didn't start the betting pool. Parvati did."

"Only because you told her that Malfoy was trying to seduce me! A little tidbit of information that you swore not to tell!"

Lavender snorted.

"Please. Everyone knows that Parvati and I share all of our secrets. You're the one who was fool enough to overlook that well-known fact."

"I was desperate!" Hermione cried defensively.

"Ooo! Speaking of desperate! How did the spell go? Did it work?"

"I don't know!"

"Oh, well then I probably should tell you: It didn't work," Lavender replied casually. Hermione's eyebrows shot up a notch.

"Did you know it wasn't going to work!"

"Of course. But you were hysterical. I had to calm you down somehow-"

"Excuse me! Are you telling me you knew that stupid spell wasn't going to work and yet encouraged me to do it anyways? You bi-"

"Careful what you say, Hermione. I haven't told you the good news."

"How could you possibly have good news for me! The whole school knows that Malfoy is out to seduce me!"

"Precisely! That's the good news!"

"I don't understand."

"Everyone knowing about you and Malfoy is the solution to your problems."

Hermione continued to look nonplussed.

"Don't you see? Malfoy is going to be under a lot of pressure to seduce you. And men don't perform well under pressure."

"I still don't understand how this is good news."

Lavender searched quickly for an analogy.

"Picture noodles being cooked," she began. "At first, they're hard and straight… but after being cooked under heat and pressure for some time, the noodles become soft and flaccid. Do you understand?"

Hermione's blank expression gave her away. Lavender sighed impatiently.

"Must I become graphic? Oh, you poor naïve girl, I'm referring to Malfoy's sexual drive. You see, there are two kinds of impotence. There's physical impotence where a man can't 'get it up' because of a lack of hormones. And then there's emotional impotence where a man can't 'get it up' because of psychological reasons. In this case, it would be emotional impotence due to stress. If Malfoy is under pressure to succeed, he won't be able to physically perform. Any questions?"

"Get 'what' up?"

Lavender lost all patience.

"Dear God, Hermione! Malfoy's penis! His member, his manhood, or whatever you want to call it! Do I need to draw a diagram!"

It suddenly dawned on Hermione. Her lips formed into a silent 'o' and she turned beet red. Lavender sighed with relief.

"I can see you're finally understanding. So now, all you have to do is continue to dissuade him. Tell him you aren't attracted to him-"

"Er, he actually already knows that I am attracted to him."

"How?" Lavender asked incredulously.

Hermione squirmed guiltily.

"It's a long story, but he knows."

Lavender brainstormed as she applied the finishing touches to her lips. She suddenly smiled.

"Oooo… how about this for some added incentive? The pot is close to a thousand galleons now. If you can keep the wild Slytherin at bay until midnight the night of the costume ball, I'll split my winnings with you."

"Your winnings? Then you-"

"Yes, I placed a bet in your favor- the only bet in your favor thus far."

"How can you be so confident that I'll last until then?"

"Because I saw you do it."

"What do you mean, you saw me?"

Lavender turned around in her seat to face Hermione.

"I am a Seer."

Hermione snorted.

"I'm sorry, but I don't believe in that branch of magic."

"Believe it or not, I know you can do this because I have already foreseen it… just like I've already foreseen that you will receive a nine out of ten on the homework that's due Tuesday in Potions."

Hermione looked appalled.

"That's impossible! I've never received anything less than a hundred percent!"

"We shall see. However, let's return to the bet. I proposed to split the winnings with you. All you have to do is keep away from Malfoy until midnight at the costume ball. Deal?"

Hermione debated with herself for a few moments before deciding. She really wasn't the betting sort. And she really didn't need added incentive. The possibility of losing her friendships with Ron and Harry were reason enough not to give into Malfoy. But the thought of outdoing Malfoy and seeing his face when she won… that would be priceless.

Her mind was made up.

"I'll do it."

Bat wings! Bat wings! That couldn't possibly be right! Hermione raged to herself as she weaved quickly through the people in the corridors to get to the library. It was Tuesday afternoon and Potions had just ended. But more importantly, Hermione had just received her first nine out of ten on a homework. Lavender had been right.

Finally arriving at the library, Hermione went straight to the Potions section and grabbed the book she had used to study from. Rushing to one of her favorite tables in the back, Hermione plopped down and quickly flipped through the pages. Finding the one she had been looking for, she looked closely at the text.

"No!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed. Realizing she had said that aloud, she looked up to find several people staring at her and Madam Pince giving her the evil eye. Blushing furiously, she looked back at the page. Although she had written down 'bat fangs' for an answer on her homework, she must have misread because the text said 'bat wings.'

How could I have missed this? Hermione thought, berating herself for making such a careless mistake. It was all Malfoy's fault. If she weren't so stressed out about trying to avoid him, then she would have been more focused on her homework. That heartless bast-

"All alone, Granger?"

Hermione almost jumped out her skin.

"Do you get some sort of sick pleasure out of sneaking up on people?" she whispered irritably.

"Not people. Just you," he replied grinning. He sat down next to her.

"Malfoy, shouldn't you be out terrorizing the first years or something?"

"I suppose."

"Then why are you here annoying me instead?"

"You haven't been studying in your room lately, so I came to see you."

"How thoughtful of you."

"I try. You smell good, by the way. Is that jasmine?"

"Yes, now go away."

"Granger, you can't just flaunt that intoxicating scent and expect me to let you be. Are you trying to drive me crazy?" he asked seductively.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"That's right, Malfoy. My whole life is centered on you and your overlarge head. Now you may leave."

"Actually, I won't be leaving just yet. I need to talk to you."

"Oh, really? About what?"

"The bet."

"What about it?"

"I was telling Weasle the truth earlier. I didn't start the bet nor do I publicize my affairs. Therefore, you must have started it… or at least told someone about you and me."

"Two clarifications- wait, three. Do not call Ron 'Weasle" around me. Secondly, I play no part in any of your affairs. And thirdly, there is no 'you and me.' As for how the bet came to be, I had nothing to do with it."

"Come now, Granger. You don't have to lie to me," Malfoy rasped softly in her ear. His hand reached under the table, found the opening in her robes, and came to rest on her mid-thigh. Hermione blushed furiously, trying to focus on the people just tables away instead of the hand that was slowly inching up under her skirt. She clamped her legs together.

"Malfoy, please remove your offensive hand from my thigh."

His hand only inched up further.

"Why should I do that?" he asked huskily, making tiny circles with his thumb.

"Because," Hermione began, smirking, "I'm pointing my wand right at you. So unless you would like to get reintroduced to the blond ferret within, I suggest you get as far away from me as possible."

Malfoy abruptly removed his hand and stared at her coldly, his eyes once again their glacial gray.

"That's extremely reckless of you, Granger."

"Why, thank you, Malfoy. After all, you do bring it out of me," she replied cheerfully as she gathered up her books and stood up.

"By the way," she added, leaning over him, "I placed a bet in my favor. If- excuse me- when I've succeeded in not being seduced by the infamous Draco Malfoy, I get half the pot. So until the clock strikes midnight on the thirty-first of October, I plan on seeing as little of you as possible."

With one last smug smile, Hermione walked away from the sullen Malfoy somehow feeling a lot taller than usual.

"Granger? Betting? So she's a gambler and an alcoholic. You sure do know how to pick them, mate."

Draco found himself yet again sitting dejectedly on a sofa in the Slytherin common room listening to Blaise taunt him to no end.

"The whole situation is fucked. Not only is she threatening to jinx me, but now the whole school knows about me wanting to shag the bookworm. If Granger actually did start the bet, then that was one hell of a move on her part because, like I just mentioned, I'm fucked."

Blaise studied his glass of fire whisky before replying.

"You see my glass, Malfoy?"

"No, I'm blind. What's your point?"

"Well, you can either look at it as 'half-full' or 'half-empty.' At the moment, you are looking at the whole situation through a 'half-empty' perspective."

"How philosophical of you to point out," Malfoy snapped sarcastically. But after a minute of careful contemplation, Blaise's theory started making sense. Draco was suddenly inspired.

"A lot of money has been put into this."

"That's very true," Blaise replied.

"In fact, most of the people involved could probably be easily manipulated if they thought they had any chance of winning."

"Also very true," Blaise said, now grinning.

"How many people have placed bets, do you think?"

"Fifty or so, I suppose."

"So hypothetically, I could have fifty or so persons on my side."

"Hypothetically speaking, yes."

"Who's taking the bets?"

"I believe the lovely Parvati Patil is holding the books on this one."

Malfoy grinned to himself, a plan brewing in his handsomely shaped head.

"September ends this week. I'll lure the little bookworm into a false sense of security. On the thirtieth, I'll make my move, and you'll win the pot."

Blaise set his drink down.

"Tell you what, mate. You actually pull it off, and I'll give you twenty-five percent of my winnings."

"Only twenty-five percent? I think fifty percent would only be fair, Blaise."

Blaise sighed.

"A thousand galleons would have made for some nice pocket change, but I suppose five hundred would do just as well," he replied with mock regret.

As Draco downed the rest of his fire whisky, he pictured the look on Hermione's face when he won the bet… that would be priceless.

A Special Note to My Awesome Reviewers: I'd like to thank everyone who sent in positive reviews… especially after my author's note from the last chapter that some people took way too seriously. So thanks to the majority of you who have a sense of humor and respect my rights as an author. Oh, in response to a certain review, I am open to any grammatical corrections you can find. Being the only one who edits this story, I do sometimes miss a few errors and it would help me out tremendously if you, the reviewers, can point them out so I can edit and re-upload the chapter. However small the error is, I will still go back and fix it. So thanks.

A Special Note to the Not So Awesome Reviewers: For those of you who took my last author's note from the previous chapter too seriously, I'm sorry you haven't come to realize that I'm very sarcastic and very dramatic. However, I do mean it when I say I don't want reviews saying to "sex it up" or "sex it down" or whatever other direction I can sex it. I find those reviews very offensive. By the way, I would never make a drastic twist to the story to the extent that Ron joins the circus. Twas a joke. However, I did type something special for my negative reviewers. This is how I was tempted to falsely start this chapter as a sort of hoax. Enjoy!

What Could Have Been Chapter Seven of Bookworm and the Beast:

After Malfoy had taken Hermione's virginity, he was consumed, for the first time in his life, by an overwhelming amount of guilt. He immediately dropped out of Hogwarts and became a monk.

When he found out Hermione had lost her virginity to Malfoy, Ron went insane and dropped out of Hogwarts to join a circus, using his magical powers as his special talent. He died accidentally when he performed a spell incorrectly during a very tricky tight rope act. He fell tragically to his death.

Hermione, having lost her best friends, became extremely depressed. She failed all of her N.E.W.T.'s and ended up living in her parents' house. She became an alcoholic and randomly died one day when her liver failed. She was found a week later on her living room floor, half-eaten by her many cats.

The End.