Here it is, lovelies! Chapter ten at last! Sorry for all these crazy delays! I'm not sure if I'll ever be in a position to update on a regular basis, but I'm trying my best! Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! Without you guys, I wouldn't ever find the motivation to keep writing!

Hermione awoke in the guest bedroom of the Potter household with a pounding headache, a dry mouth and a churning stomach. Her first thought was; Why?

However, it all came back to her on her mad dash to the toilet. Oliver, the Twins, the shots and- Oh crap!- The bet.

The stupid bloody bet which she unarguably and without a doubt had lost. Because winners couldn't possibly feel this terrible in the morning. The night may have been a fuzzy blur to her, but the bet was not. She had lost and now she once again worked for Oliver bloody Wood.

She would never escape him. She would work for him until one of them died. And the thought of bumping off Oliver Wood slightly cheered her as she expelled the poison she had irresponsibly consumed the night before.

"Well good afternoon you bloody drunkard!" Harry boomed cheerfully when Hermione finally dragged herself into the kitchen.

"Harry, if you loved me at all you'd get me a cup of tea and some hangover potion. You would also do it quietly." She groaned as she plopped herself onto one of the battered kitchen chairs.

"Already got it for you, 'Mione." Ginny chuckled as she set two mugs in front of her. "Rough night?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Gin." Hermione chugged the potion and washed it down with about half a mug of tea. "Just out of curiosity, how did I end up here?"

"A very apologetic Wood dropped you off, actually." Harry explained. "Said something about a drinking game gone awry and a massive bill. All after he apologised profusely for snogging Gin and telling me I could punch him in the face."

"You bloody well should have!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I did." Harry chuckled. "Broke his nose! Ginny had to fix it before we sent him to bed."

"Wait, sent him to bed? As in sent him to bed here?" Hermione glanced around the kitchen, as if Oliver would pop out from under the table.

"Well, yeah. We let him stay the night. He was rather trolleyed when he arrived. We couldn't let him apparate home. He's still in bed actually."

Waking up has always been one of Oliver's least favourite activities. Usually because it meant having to leave very pleasant dreams and face very harsh realities. But for some reason, this morning was different.

It could have been the mouthwatering smell of buttery toast. Or maybe the soft hand that was gently shaking him awake. But what he really thought it was, was the sweet voice pulling him into consciousness.

"Oliver? Ollie? It's time to wake up now." The voice cooed.

He cracked an eyelid to peek up at the owner of said voice. It was Hermione, and she looked like crap.

"Morning love, yeh look terrible. I'd prefer teh' keep me eyes closed if tha's alright." He croaked. Apparently this was a mistake.

"Shut up! Get out of bed you lazy arse! It's almost one in the afternoon!" In a split second Hermione's voice changed from a gentle coo to a shrill bark. "I made you tea, you bloody idiot!"

Not sensing he had much of a choice, Oliver heaved himself into a sitting position and snatched the tea from her hands.

He watched her as he took a long sip. Her eyes instantly dove south and locked onto his chest.

"Did yeh want somethin'? Or did yeh just wanna oggle my chest?" Oliver thoroughly enjoyed the blush that spread across Hermione's cheeks as her eyes snapped up to meet his.

"Oh shut up." She snapped. "Anyway, I was hoping we could have a little chat."

He was amazed at how fast her voice changed. She was back to cooing again. Oliver's eyes narrowed suspiciously. She was up to something.

"A chat about what, exactly?" He asked, carefully.

"Well, last night actually. I was slightly intoxicated-"

"Lass, yeh were smashed." Oliver interrupted. Hermione huffed.

"Yes well, alright I was drunk. But anyway, I just wanted to go over a few things. That is if you don't mind of course." She gave him a sweet smile.

Of course! Oliver thought. She's trying to get out of our bet. Well that was most definitely not happening!

"It's obvious what yeh want 'Mione. Yeh're tryin' teh get outta the bet. And I cannae let yeh I'm afraid!
I won tha' bet fair an' square. Yeh work for me until I say so. I believe those were yeh'r exact words, actually."

Hermione's face fell instantaneously.

"Stop being a bloody git, Wood!"

"Oh, it's Wood now is it?"

"Yes! It is! I was drunk last night Oliver! We should at least discuss the details! The 'until you say so' part is ridiculous and we both know it! At least give me a time frame. How about a month?

"Absolutely not! Yeh lost the bet an' yeh work for me until I say so! That's that!" He leant back agaisnt his pillows, satisfied. "Now, 'Mione, how about another kiss, aye?" He winked.

"I beg your pardon?" Hermione spluttered indignantly. "Absolutely not! And what on earth do you mean 'another one'? There wasn't a first one!"

"Yeh don't remember? Well I'd wannae forget too if it were me! It was terrible! I thought yeh might wannae redeem yourself!"

Oliver enjoyed watching her turn red and splutter at him. It was rather funny to watch Hermione lose control. What wasn't funny, however, was having Hermione flip his tea from his hand and having it spill on to his lap.

He jumped up with a very undignified shriek and wiped wildly at the tops of his thighs. Why was it every time he was around Hermione he got hurt. He'd had more injuries recently than in his entire Quidditch career.

"Are yeh bloody crazy, woman?" He yelled at her. "What in Merlin's name is wrong with yeh?"

"I am not crazy, Wood!" Hermione was stood up now, and advancing on him fast. "I'm just driven to do crazy things every time I'm around you! It's entirely your own fault!"

"Well, I think yeh're bloody nuts! And yeh've always been nuts!"

"NO. I. AM. NOT!" She shrieked at him.

By now they were merely inches apart. And, for some ungodly reason, Oliver admired her in this moment. She stood in front of him, all five foot nothing of her, her chest heaving, her hair wild and her face flushed with anger giving as good as she got. Although he'd never admit it, to anyone, she was rather beautiful.

Before he could see reason and stop himself, Oliver pulled her in for a kiss.

Hermione was shocked.

She had expected him to shout, to throw a fit, maybe even hit her. But he threw her entirely by kissing her. And, to her dismay, he wasn't half bad.

His mouth was soft, and he tasted like tea. Before she knew it, she found herself responding, far too eagerly fr her liking.

Her hands buried themselves deeply into his hair, pulling him closer, and she kissed him back hard.

His hands slid around her waist and he pivoted her towards to bed. The backs of her knees hit the edge and she toppled backwards. He followed her down, their mouths never separating.

The kiss was turning into something more. Something much, much more. Hermione found that she couldn't stop. She couldn't understand the logic behind it. Why on earth was she kissing him so enthusiastically? She hated him! But he felt so good! She had never been kissed like this before. It was passionate, and breathtaking, and it sent delicious feelings pooling across her body.

Oliver was the first to pull away. He tilted his forehead to rest on hers and whispered, ever so softly.

"What are yeh doing to me?"

The separation was all it took. She just needed that one break for her brain to kickstart. For reason to override the fabulous burn she felt. She pushed him solidly in the chest and he rolled off of her immediately.

"Wha's wrong?" The look her gave her, all wide eyes and confusion, made her feel wretched.

"I-I'm not..-It's just-" She jumped off the bed and dashed to the door. She turned to look at him and gave him a weak smile. "I really don't think that this is appropriate."

And with that she was gone. She fled down the stairs, shouted a quick thanks to Harry and Ginny, and apparated as soon as her feet hit the concrete porch.

Oliver sighed and flopped back against the pillows. No woman had ever run from him before. It made him want her more. His brain was full of jumbled thoughts about Hermione now. He needed to sort it out, fast. But first he needed a cold shower.

A/N: So it hasn't been beta'd because I'm still looking for a beta. Again, if anyone's interested just send me a private message! What did you think? Gimme some feedback! xxx