A/N: Thanks for all the reviews so far – they make me very happy XD so keep it up guys!

Wilted Rose and Muddy Blood – A Dramione fic

*10*

Week 2

24 days remaining…

'How's our little bet going, Hermione?' Lavender asked Hermione on the morning of the second week. It was the first time she had checked up on her in several days.

Hermione smiled brightly, hoping to crush Lavender's confidence. 'Perfect, thank you.'

'I'll take that as badly,' Lavender grinned as she began to braid her hair. Hermione rolled her eyes but said nothing, instead pulling on a black skirt and beige top.

'I dunno,' Parvati called from across the room. 'I spotted him actually acknowledge her in the hallway this weekend.' Hermione glowed slightly at the mention. It had been strange having Malfoy pass her as she headed towards the library and nod his head at her. It was definitely progress, but also definitely not enough. His acknowledgment hadn't meant a thing; in fact, he'd probably done it to spite her.

'Weird,' Lavender muttered. 'Still, that means next to nothing.'

That's true, but she doesn't know how last weeks detentions went. It was difficult to try and keep reminding herself that the previous week of detentions had really helped with her progress. Now that she was free each night, the little progress she'd made didn't seem like so much. She needed a new approach; but what?

Double Potions was the first class of the morning, and, unlike exactly a week ago, Hermione entered the class with a feeling of excitement. She hoped Snape would pair her with Malfoy again, so that she would have an excuse to talk to him.

As it happened, Hermione did not get paired with Malfoy, but with a snobby Slytherin girl called Heather Cluzor.

'Perfect,' Cluzor grumbled, annoyed. 'Two hours with a Mudblood.'

'It could be worse Cluzor,' Malfoy grinned as he passed her to reach his partner – Harry – 'you'll be able to pass class today.'

Hermione almost gasped. Had that been a compliment? Not a very good one mind, but a compliment none the less.

'Don't let that comment get to your head, Granger. A filthy Mudblood like you wouldn't stand a hope in hell in scoring with Draco,' Cluzor growled viciously. Hermione looked up at her surprised, and offended.

'I've no idea what you're talking about, Cluzor, but there's not a chance in hell that I'd want to 'score' with Malfoy!' She hoped she sounded convincing as she glared at the larger girl.

The Slytherin snorted in a very un-lady like fashion.

'Come on Granger, it's obvious you fancy him! You'd have to be Weasley not to notice!'

Hermione rolled her eyes, but didn't trust herself to say anything.

A sliver of doubt filled her; had she been being too obvious? She hadn't thought so, but if someone as dumb as Cluzor could figure it out…? Although Cluzor was only partly right. Hermione didn't fancy Draco Malfoy; that very idea was ridiculous to her. No, she simply had to make him fall for her in order to win the bet. Nothing said she had to like him back, and she didn't, even if she was seeing a new side to the Slytherin Prince.

For a while Hermione worked in silence, ignore her partner who kept throwing jibes at her, hoping to raise her tempter, no doubt.

Whenever the chance arose, and she was sure no one was looking, she would glance over at Malfoy; trying to read him for anything she could use. All she ever noticed, however, was that while she may be seeing a slightly new side to Malfoy, her best friend certainly wasn't. Harry had a look of absolute hate across his face as Malfoy said some insult or other to him.

Am I betraying my friends with this bet?

Guilt consumed Hermione, and for the first time since she made the bet, she wished she could tell Ron and Harry. She knew if she did, they'd convince her to back out, and maybe they were right to do so. If she did manage to make Malfoy fall for her, wouldn't that make her just as bad as him? Was she being selfish?

Relax, Hermione. You're not going to win anyway, so why does it matter?

'You're either staring at Draco or Potter. I know who it'd be if it were me,' Cluzor stated, sending Hermione an evil little knowing look.

'I didn't know you had a thing for Harry, Heather,' Hermione said with fake politeness before turning her back on the Slytherin girl to stir her potion.

The two hours passed slowly, with Hermione struggling with her morals. Half of her really wanted to just call the bet off now, before somebody got hurt. The other half of her wanted to complete the bet, not for Lavender or Malfoy, but for herself. She knew the latter half would win – after all, she was Hermione Granger, the girl who never wanted to back down in a challenge; only, usually a challenge involved work, and not a bet on someone's emotions.

When the lesson finally ended, Hermione joined up with Harry and Ron and listened to them complain about their partners, and Snape.

'He's a right miserable old git,' Ron complained. 'Greasy bastard.' Hermione wondered what they would say if she told them that in less than a month she would be announcing in front of the whole school that she was crazy in love with the Potions Master.

'I think I'd rather be stuck with Snape than Malfoy,' Harry muttered bitterly. He sent a sideward glance to Hermione that made her heart stop. Had Malfoy told Harry about the bet? Wait… he didn't even know about the bet! But maybe he had told Harry something else… Hermione tried to act casual as she waited for Harry to continue.

'The slime ball had a lot to say about you, Hermione.'

'Really?' she asked faintly.

'He was trying to get a rise out of me, wanted me to get in trouble with Snape I reckon,' Harry explained.

'What did he say?' she asked.

'Nothing I want to repeat,' Harry said sourly, his mind obviously back on Malfoy. Hermione sighed; obviously she hadn't made as much progress with Malfoy as she'd hoped. It didn't sound as if he'd said anything nice about her.

Unless he said something too nice… Hermione shuddered slightly at the thought, but not for the reason she would have a week ago.