Disclaimer: Harry Potter is still not mine.

Chapter 10: Fighting Temptation

I would like to dedicate this chapter to all my reviewers! You're all so awesome and I'm really really sorry for such a long wait. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.

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Draco Malfoy stared.

He knew staring was considered rude but, he wasn't really staring; he was watching, more like observing another person who was completely oblivious to his stares. After all, staring is okay as long as the person doesn't know, right?

He watched as she leaned forward, raising her hand in the air causing her sweater to raise, revealing about an inch of the smooth, creamy skin on her back.

Draco gulped. How did he manage to avoid her before?

He could barely think, he was so intoxicated by her smooth curls. And how he longed to look into the deep caramel swirls of her eyes but making eye contact would be bad.

And of all the people to have him so captivated it had to be her. It had to be Hermione Granger. The girl who used to be the main target of his teases had now become entrapped in his mind, as her face constantly swirled around in his thoughts.

As much as he tried to tell himself she was a mudblood and a Gryffindor, it was absolutely no use. He had never felt this heart-quickening-pulse before and he did not like it.

Draco Malfoy liked to be in control. And to say he was not in control of this situation would be an understatement.

When overwhelmed by girls, Draco would usually just sleep with them and get them out of his system. Somehow, he didn't think that that was going to work with Hermione Granger. Not just because she hates him and he hates her but because he had a feeling that shagging her would just make him want her more.

But no matter how much he wanted her, he still had an extreme dislike for the Gryffindor. She was his enemy and that was a definite no-no.

He watched as she laughed with her friends. He watched her excitement during lessons on new material.

Sure, deep down he always thought that Granger was a little bit attractive. Although he would never admit that to anyone, not even at wand point.

But he'd never really looked at her. It's funny how the slightest change in her caught his attention and he hasn't been able to stop thinking about her since. It has come to the point that he barely pays attention during any of the classes that they share; she's just too distracting. One might even say irresistible.

Her shiny hair made him want to run his fingers through it and for once, he would like to be the person to make her laugh until her face is red.

But no. She is the enemy and he must resist.

To make matters worse, Draco was not on speaking terms with Pansy. She kept giving him this all-knowing glare and he was ready to strangle her.

He needed to get his mind off Granger, and he needed to get his mind off of her now. By the end of the lesson, Draco marched out of the classroom. Already his mind was set on the perfect blonde Ravenclaw to distract himself with.

Flying past the Golden Trio, he could almost feel their smirks and laughter as he began to run faster. If he was lucky, he could catch Bernadette before she went into her common room. He couldn't wait to run his fingers through her curly, brown hair.

Draco stopped suddenly.

Bernadette had straight, blonde hair.

Draco seethed as he nearly began pulling his hair from his head.

He started sprinting.

He needed Bernadette now.

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It's been three days.

Three days since Draco attempted to distract himself with Bernadette. To put it lightly, he failed miserably.

He had to stop himself from imagining he was with Granger while, in reality, he was with Bernadette. This task had proved to be extremely difficult.

Looking into Bernadette's celery green eyes, he saw deep caramel swirls instead. As he caressed her pale skin, he craved for the deep olive tone of one Hermione Granger.

If that wasn't embarrassing enough, he almost moaned her name several times during the night.

Not to mention the terrible nuisance that Pansy had become.

"For Merlin's sake, Draco. When are you going to shove your pride up your arse and go after her already?" She screeched as she entered the Slytherin boy's dormitory to find Draco sprawled out on his bed.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Pans, can you just shut up for one bloody minute?"

Pansy pursed her lips. "God. You're just too damn proud to go after what you want."

"What are you talking about? I always go after what I want. I always get what I want too."

Pansy smacked him on the top of his head as she sat down on the edge of his bed. "Stop being stubborn. I know you want Granger."

"I do not want Granger." Draco stated cooly.

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't!" Draco yelled as he jumped off the bed and pushed her towards the dormitory door.

"Draco, I may not be a know-it-all like Granger, but I've got eyes and I'm not stupid either."

"Whatever. Just leave. I'm sick of you thrusting this Granger business upon me. I do not and will not ever want her." He said as he waved his arms around.

Pansy shrugged, clearly not convinced and exited the room.

Draco groaned as he sank back onto his bed.

He has barely paid attention to her for six and a half years. He can completely ignore her for the next few months. Hopefully this task won't be easier said than done.

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It was the middle of the week and Blaise was lounging on his bed doing his extremely boring History of Magic homework. He had parchment sprawled out in front of him as well as his extremely large, and heavy text book.

Dipping his quill into the ink, he thought while twirling the feather in between his fingers. Barely paying attention, he accidently flung his quill across the bed and onto the floor. Grumbling, he rolled off the bed to pick it up.

The dormitory door burst open.

Blaise's head snapped up to see Draco storm in followed by Pansy. Quickly ducking behind his bed, he sat there silently. Blaise listened for a few moments before slowly crawled beneath his bed. He had a feeling that their conversation was going to be very interesting.

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Hermione was becoming increasingly frustrated. It had been almost a week since she'd been made "irresistible" and other than the puppy dog looks she got in the hallways from little second years, there hadn't been much of a change.

Being the middle of the week, Hermione, Ginny, Parvati, Luna and Blaise could not meet in the library as there would be a few students in there doing homework. So, they agreed to meet in the Room of Requirement.

They have been there for almost an hour and Blaise had yet to show up.

Hermione and the girls were getting agitated.

"Figures," Hermione said, "He's such a man. Can't even be on time." She sighed.

The girls were all lounging in comfortable chairs in a decent sized sitting room that was provided by the Room of Requirement. They all nodded their heads absently, half-listening to Hermione ramble.

"How are we even suppose to get work done if he doesn't show?" She had now started working on some of her school work but her mind was still stuck on Blaise.

"Maybe we should just go." Ginny said.

Hermione shook her head. "We can't, Ginny. This is getting ridiculous. I don't even think his big plan is going to work. So he need's to get his big-headed self in here so we can discuss our course of action."

"He'll get here, Hermione." Parvati said.

"It's more likely that he forgot. If he was just late, he would have been here by now. I hope he was stopped by a Loireadge." Luna explained.

"A what? Oh, never mind." Hermione sighed.

Everyone shook their heads at the mention of Luna's strange creature. "He wouldn't just forget about us. He wouldn't forget about this." Parvati defended.

"He's a Slytherin, Parv. It's in his blood to control and play with people. How do we know that he's not manipulating us?" Hermione asked.

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Blaise was barely breathing as he lay underneath his bed. He was trying to stay absolutely quiet so he could hear the interaction between Draco and Pansy.

So far, they had yet to speak to each other but he could hear Draco pacing around the room. If he could only peak out a little bit, he might be able to see what was going on. Blaise slowly scooted towards the edge of his bed. Peeking out from the bottom of his bed quilt that hung over the sides of his bed. Blaise could see their feet. Pansy was standing, most likely leaning against a bed post, and Draco's feet were pacing back and forth around the dormitory.

Blaise smirked. He rarely saw Draco like this. This meant that something was definitely going on in Draco's mind and that he has no idea how to control it.

Pansy coughed. "Drake." His feet paused for a moment before they continued their pacing. "Whenever you want to talk about Granger, I'll be here." She shifted the weight on her feet.

Draco's pacing stopped and Blaise heard him inhale deeply.

Blaise's smirk widened. Granger had gotten to Draco, there was no doubt about that.

"Pansy." Draco said in a warning tone.

"I'm just saying, Drake. You have been acting completely out of the ordinary. I know she's bothering you, I know you're losing control."

Draco was silent.

"But it's not like you to act like this."

"That's because I'm not in control, Pansy! I hate it!" Draco exploded.

"Good. And how does that make you feel?" Pansy asked.

"Oh, sod off, Pans. Stop trying to act like you give a damn." Draco sat down on his bed. Blaise could just see the bottom of his feet dangling off the side.

"Draco, look, I'm just as confused as you are about these feelings that you-"

"I don't have feelings for Granger, Pans. I just can't. I can't have feelings for..for a muggleborn." Blaise saw Draco begin pacing again as his own smirk grew wider.

"Draco, I know we were drilled with all that muggle crap when we were younger, but seriously, that never stopped you from getting with a girl."

Draco was silent.

"If I didn't know you, I'd say you're being more of a pansy than I am." Blaise could hear a smile in her voice as he continued to lay quietly underneath his bed.

"Pans," Draco groaned, "it's not like that. Granger isn't just a mudblood. She's a third of Harry Potter's 'Golden Trio'. She represents everything that I hate." He sighed. "She's an itch I can't scratch."

"So, what are you going to do?" Pansy asked a tad impatiently.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Pansy replied in disbelief. "Are you joking me? Draco Malfoy is going to hide in the corner with his tail between his legs?"

"I didn't say th-"

"Merlin. I remember when you were such a bastard (well, you still are) and did everything for the benefit of yourself. I'll admit, you've gotten better over the years but it's been awhile since I've seen you this out of out control; especially over something as stupid, as trivial as Granger."

They were both silent for a few moments.

"You probably couldn't get her anyway." Pansy said nonchalantly.

"Yeah - wait," Draco stopped pacing, "what? I can get any girl that I want."

Pansy snorted. "Anyone but Granger and I." Blaise saw Pansy walk towards the dormitory door but Draco pulled her back.

"I can get any girl I want including you and Granger." He voice was angry and annoyed.

"Psh, you already had your chance with me, so, you can just forget about another. But, as far as Granger goes, my money would be on her." She turned towards the door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He yelled at her retreating back.

She must've turned back around because Blaise heard her reply, "That she would most likely break your nose several more times." Then she left as the dormitory door slammed shut.

Draco groaned loudly and flopped onto his bed.

Blaise just laid there quietly, listening to Draco mumble obscenities towards Pansy. Now, he just needed to wait until Draco left, which could be awhile, and he was already late for his meeting with the girls.

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The four girls had been sitting in silence for a good half an hour now, silently waiting for the last member of their group to arrive. Most of them had given up hope that he was going to show, it was only Parvati that managed to get them to wait a little longer.

Luna was gazing around the room, humming to herself as she tapped her foot in sync with her tunes. Parvati's eyes were glued to her watch and every now and then mumbling to herself something along the lines of, "Come on, get here already!" Ginny appeared to be reading a book but her eyes were glazed over and she hadn't turned a page in over forty minutes. Hermione was staring holes into the wall.

Ginny suddenly stood up, throwing her book on the ground. "That's it, I need to leave. Now." The silence of the room was broken.

"But, Ginny, no! I promise you! He'll be here soon!" Parvati begged.

"That's what you said over an hour ago, Parv." Hermione chirped in. "I'm leaving too. I've already wasted enough valuable study time."

Hermione and Ginny gathered their things as made their way towards the door. Luna continued humming to herself, seemingly oblivious to the others.

"Please, just wait ten more minutes. If he's not here, then you can go." Parvati said.

Hermione stopped, as did Ginny.

"Fine." They said together, as they returned to their spots on the sofa.

"We gave him Veritaserum." Parvati said breaking the tension that had filled the room.

She was meant with two confused glances, as Luna continued to hum.

"You asked how do we know that he's not manipulating us, 'Mione. We questioned him under Veritaserum, remember?"

"We could've asked the wrong questions." Ginny responded.

Hermione nodded. "He could have even suspected that I'd pull out veritaserum and use it on him. It's possible that he took an antidote prior to meeting us."

"That's just ridiculous, Hermione. You're just looking for excuses to dislike Blaise and to get out of your own revenge!"

Hermione jumped up. "I am not. You're the one that's being ridiculous, Parvati."

Luna finally stopped humming and was watching with a look of mild interest. Ginny stood between Parvati and Hermione. "Look, we are not going to get any revenge on Malfoy if we keep fighting with each other." Ginny sighed. "Parvati, we've only spoken with Blaise a few times, we don't know how he operates. He could be serious, he could be playing us. It's just that, right now, it looks like the latter."

Parvati scoffed. "Figures that you'd take her side." She pointed harshly towards Hermione as she turned and sat across the room, far from Hermione. Hermione's eyes narrowed in return as she sat back down. Luna and Ginny watched as the two friends glared across the room at each other.

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Draco walked out of his dormitory fifteen minutes later to a room full of laughter. He stopped and looked around.

Most of his house was sitting among the couches and chairs in the common room. But the only person he noticed was Pansy, who was standing in the middle of everyone and it was clear that whatever she just said caused the whole rooms eruption of laughter.

Draco scowled.

Theodore Nott raised his head seeing Draco standing there, fuming. "Oi! Draco, I hear you're having some girl troubles." He sniggered as the entire room burst out in a wave of laughter.

Draco's eyes locked with Pansy's.

She was smirking as she saw that his eyes were burning with fire. Slowly, his eyes cooled to their normal steely gray. "I have no idea what you are speaking of, Nott." Draco said with no emotion on his face.

"Well, that's not what we've been hearing."

Draco refrained from flaring his nostrils. "And what, exactly, have you been hearing?" Draco asked, stepping closer to Nott.

"That Draco Malfoy has finally been unable to woo a girl."

The room was drowning in laughter, yet again, as Draco stepped back, sneering.

"I think everyone here is aware that I can get any girl that I want. So, I must say, your source of information has been entirely mistaken."

Nott snorted. "Oh, I don't believe they're mistaken." He shook his head, smiling evilly. "Used to be able to get any girl you want, you mean."

Draco glared at Nott but remained silent.

"Pansy told us all about it."

Draco spun around, his eyes a burning steel and meet the gaze of Pansy. She just quirked an eyebrow at him.

"I don't know what stories Pansy has been entertaining you low life scum with but, I can assure you that they're all false."

"Poor Draco, can't get the girl he wants."

More laughter.

"I'd shut your mouth if I were you, Nott." Draco seethed, fingering his wand anxiously.

Nott smirked. "Or what, Drakey?"

In a flash, Draco had his wand at Nott's throat. The laughter in the room stopped suddenly, as Theodore's eyes widened. A hex was at the tip of Draco's tongue when Blaise flew out of the dormitory and pulled Draco back. "Stop."

Draco lowered his wand an inch. "Zabini! Mind your own business." He moved towards Nott again, who was slowly inching away.

"Look, Malfoy, we all know that you can get any girl you want. Are you seriously going to risk getting in trouble for this?" He asked, pointing towards a cowering Nott.

Draco lowered his wand. "I guess you have a point."

The students gave a disappointed sigh; they had nothing better to do than watch people fight over foolish things.

Draco stood proudly for a moment. "I can get any girl I want." He said to Nott and the entire Common Room.

"Except for Granger." Blaise said cooly. Draco's eyes widened as he looked at Blaise. "Oh, and perhaps, Pansy." Blaise smirked, his eyes twinkling mischievously as he stared back at Draco.

"Ha! Granger would kick your ass!" Nott shouted, laughing.

The whole Common Room joined in as well. Draco stood, staring at Blaise. Nott's exclamation made him realize that Pansy must not have mentioned Granger during her 'story time' in the Slytherin common room. What did she tell them then?

He turned his attention back to Blaise and the Common Room, where everyone was currently discussing the idea of him pursuing Granger and nearly all of them were in agreement that he would, most surely fail. The whole room continued to laugh. The longer they laughed, the angrier Draco became. He glanced around the room to Crabbe and Goyle whose faces were red with laughter, to Pansy who had tears streaming down her face, and then to Nott and Zabini whom both were holding their sides.

His fists clenched as his eyes narrowed. "ENOUGH!" He bellowed.

The room went silent.

Draco's jaw clenched. "You lot don't think I can get Granger? Well, then you just wait. I'll show you. I'll get her to love me more than her precious Potter!" Then he fled from the Common Room.

The room was silent for a few more moments. Then, gradually, the room burst into mumbles and conversations about what they had just witnessed. Nott laughed loudly with his buddies, as other students slowly began to return to their dormitories now that the excitement was over. Pansy, however, remained standing in the center of the room, a smirk slowly spreading across her face before she was pulled by her roommate into their dormitory. Blaise smirked wider than Pansy, as the Common Room was now empty, and he began towards the portrait.

He knew that he was very late for their meeting. He was supposed to be there nearly two and a half hours ago. But he knew the information he was bringing them would be good enough to excuse his lateness. As he neared the Room of Requirement, he had no way to know that only one person remained sitting inside, that his lateness would not be so easily forgotten nor that their planned revenge on Draco Malfoy was about to get a whole lot harder.

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A/N: I'm so very sorry for the wait. I know I'm such a terrible person. I got a little distracted writing A Toaster Story but I was really happy how it turned out. It's just a cute one-shot so you guys should definitely check it out! We're finally entering into the main part of this story, so updates should be coming faster. Anyways, tell me what you think and REVIEW because you are just so awesome. Thanks :)