"I take it you're pleased?"

The look on her face spoke volumes and he had trouble keeping the glee out of his voice.

It wasn't about winning a bet, anymore. It was about flooring Hermione Granger, who had stolen into his world and settled firmly in this room before she ever saw it for the first time.

If he could win her over, it wouldn't feel so bad that he had lost all choice.

"I am."

She was near-breathless.

It was a beautiful sound.

At least her clothes weren't as horrid as the day before, he conceded. Nothing a real lady would wear – she'd certainly drawn more than one atonished gaze as he showed her around in the snazzy complex – but she seemed oblivious to the ruckus or its cause.

"I have one thing left to show you, then, and I'll leave you in peace."

"There's more?"

She'd forgotten that she was supposed to be angry with him for putting Longbottom down earlier. She'd forgotten that he was once her enemy and all about enlarged teeth or even, he shuddered at the mere recollection, his brief period as a ferret.

The amazement in her voice was like watching a child on Christmas. It was just too easy.

"Your living quarters here. They're down the hall."

"Living quarters?"

He couldn't help but let a smirk slip. It was perfect. He'd won. He'd won! Whatever Blaise did, the first round belonged to Draco himself.

"I have a vague memory that some of your colleagues stay up at odd hours to watch their potions or correct their numbers or whatever. I've taken measures to assure that you don't have to go too far to find a bed once those are finished."

Wide-eyed and smiling. So earnest, so appreciative.

She thanked him so gratefully for being considerate. Followed him like a dog to the chambers down the hall and gasped in awe at them.

Like taking candy from a five-year-old.

Along with amusement and the sense of victory, he found a certain pride in showing off. He always had.

She wasn't socially apt, but she would do very well in her role, fulfill her piece of the puzzle. Merlin, he might end up having to thank Blaise for all of this. That would be the king of ironies. Assuming Blaise didn't manage to muck it all up, before then. You never knew, with that shrewd bastard.

That reminded him...

"I would like to discuss some things later on. Dinner, perhaps?"

She laughed. "But you don't discuss business over dinner. I have too much to do to spend an entire evening figuring out what's acceptable conversation."

It was a skill she'd need later, but he didn't want to dump that fact on her just yet. She was skittish about such things, he'd learned.

"I'll stop by, then, and see how you're settling in."

It was as good an excuse as any to spy on her comings and goings. And if any of the brats in the place decided she wasn't good enough, he'd be there to back her up.

If someone had said that to him even a year ago, he'd sneered at them, but this precaution wasn't because she was Granger. He couldn't let anyone question his choice of a leader, or risk coming off as foolish.

Everybody already knew he had a weakness for women, they'd assume the obvious.

Draco didn't mind.