NOTE: Yeah, got excited. I couldn't wait. Please enjoy chapter 23!

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Chapter 23

"Have you heard the rumors about Granger yet?" The locker room was loud, but the noise seemed to die down at Ritchie's question. Draco faked an interest in his finger nails but listened intently.

"I heard she was trying to trade one of us." Michael pipped up.

"The women would be daft to trade one of us now! We're on a winning streak."

"Winning four games in a row is hardly a streak Craggy." Rhys shot a dirty look to Dillon as he removed a wet towel from his face.

"That's not the rumor I'm talking about. I heard she started seeing someone."

"Good, maybe now she'll pull that stick out of her arse," there was a murmur of agreement to Kenneth's statement.

"Who'd be brave enough to see her?"

"I bet you she's mad in the sack." Towels all flew in Rhys direction once again.

"Is that all you think about mate?"

"You've seen the way she dresses! I can't be the only one who feels this way. Dillon! You asked her out, you have to know what I mean." Dillon refused to respond, ignoring the Irish man completely instead turning his attention to Ritchie.

"Who's she seeing then?"

Draco was fuming as he waited for her on the pitch. It was Thursday and she was already five minutes late. Well, five minutes late by her standards. He stood in the middle of the field waiting, his grey eyes staring down towards the far end of the pitch where he watched as she spoke rather animatedly to someone. All Draco could see however, was that it appeared to be a tall bloke, 6'3" maybe, with broad shoulders and head of hair. His eyes narrowed as the man leaned into the touch of her hand on his arm before bending down to wrap her into a large embrace. She stood, staring after the retreated figure almost in a daze. Draco tried to control his temper.

"OI! Are you going to get your arse over here or stand around all day?" Shit. So much for keeping his temper. He watched as her expression quickly changed from warm to icy cold as she marched her way towards him. She said nothing as she stepped up to him, instead only glaring daggers in his direction. She waiting, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground, arms crossed over her chest.

"Well? I'm here aren't I?" Draco stared at her in disbelief. Had he not just a moment ago been waiting on her and now she's decided it's HIM holding up the show. He clenched his jaw, begging his mind not to make the situation worse. She was staring at him, waiting for him to give her some form of instruction. When none came, she threw her arms up in the air in frustration. "What's your problem today Malfoy? You've got more mood swings then the weather in Oregon…"

He tried counting, deep breaths, even briefly closing his eyes, but the witch in front of him just continued to grate on his nerves. "What's wrong with me!? What's wrong with you? You show up late then get all huffy like I'm the one making you wait. I know you think you're so important, but the world doesn't bow down to you Granger."

"I think the world bows to ME? You're joking, right? That's really rich coming from you Malfoy. Since the day I met you, you've thought you were better than everyone and everything, always looking down on people. Well, not anymore Malfoy. I won't put up with this any longer. Either get down off your high horse or get out of my stadium. I've had it." Her face was beat red, hair having come unclipped during her rant.

"You can't replace me." His laugh was deep but cold. "You'd be bored without me Granger. Face it, we both know it's true. You like having me around. Lynch is just a distraction. He won't last."

"Aiden is a charming gentleman, something you apparently know nothing about." He laughed again and she found herself growing more frustrated with every word that left his pale lips.

"He's a goddamn Quidditch reporter Granger! It's his job to be charming!" Draco resisted the urge to yank out his hair.

"If I didn't know any better Malfoy, I'd say you were jealous of Aiden." For the first time since she'd approached him, he saw something other than a scowl on her face. It'd been replaced by a wicked smirk. It made his stomach drop as if he'd just taken a plunge off the deep end. Hoping she hadn't noticed the widening of his eyes or the loud sound of his heart beating faster in his chest, he scoffed.

"I've never been jealous of anyone in my life Granger, let alone some retired seeker who didn't even make enough while playing to retire properly."

"Aiden is just a fan of the game Malfoy. He doesn't have to be a sideline reporter." Her response was quick and snappy.

"Oh because I'm sure you've learned so much about him in the whole day and a half you've known him," Draco rolled his eyes. "Pull your head out of your arse Granger. He's using you."

"Please Malfoy, don't pretend you know me." She'd had enough. Hermione turned away, set on walking out on their lessons. She would go to Michael's office and demand he be traded. She did not have to accept this type of behavior from him. Why she thought this would ever work in the first place was beyond her. It was apparent they were just not meant to coexist.

"Where do you think you're going?" He followed her, reaching out and grabbing her upper arm, attempting to stop her.

"Get off me Malfoy. I'm done. I want nothing to do with you." Hermione tried to remove his arm from her shoulder, but his grip was strong. She was sure she'd have five small bruises there in the morning.

"You're not going anywhere Granger. We have a lesson." She turned, facing him. Her small 5'5" frame coming up very short to his 6'1" stance. But her eyes were fierce. It'd been years since he'd seen her this riled up.

"We have nothing Malfoy. You are nothing and you mean nothing to me." Their bodies were so close, she could feel the heat radiating off of him. Her breath visible with every word in the chilly November air.

He just stared down at her, hand still wrapped around her arm. The rage that flickered in her eyes, the way her hair had completely lost control. He lost control. In one quick moment, his hand left her arm, only to find its way to the back of her neck, pulling her face towards his. She let out a gasp of surprise right before his lips came crashing down on hers.