A/N: thanks for reading, putting my story on alerts and favouring! I know I might be going at this the wrong way..it is still the same day, don't worry, as chapters go on and I get more comfortable writing, the story will progress quicker. However, Pansy does like Draco...he does not like her though.

Chapter 4

Draco found himself in the Great Hall, threw his bag down on the bench and put his head in his hands and began to massage his temples. It was the first time he used Legilimency since his father taught him before the war, that it left his head with a dull ache. An ache that matched the one on his cheek where she hit him, and the one that was in the pit of his stomach from the realization that his anger getting the better of him. He had no idea how he was going to go ahead with this thing now; he could very well kiss those one hundred thousand Galleons goodbye - and it's not even been twelve hours since making the bet.

"Hey, are you okay?" hummed a soft voice.

Draco took a deep breath and opened his eyes to see that Pansy had joined him at the table.

"No" he muttered, "Slughorn failed me"

Pansy's eyes shot wide, "What? Why the heck did he do that?"

"Cause I taught that Mudblood Granger a lesson,"

Pansy smirked, "Ooh really? Care to share?" a plate of pastries materialized in the middle of them, where Pansy just helped herself.

Draco groaned, he really didn't want to discuss this with Pansy, but he knew she would just pester him until he did. So he did what he thought was best; whip up the same old excuse.

"What's to share?" he too, helped himself to some pastries, "She was being her usual insufferable self, so I just dealt with her accordingly," Pansy broke out into a malicious grin, 'Good, she seems okay with that' Draco thought with a shrug.

He leant back and stretched, "Of course Slughorn didn't care too much for that at all, so he gave a detention plus homework"

"You know it is so unlucky we got stuck with such a Mudblood lover as our Head of House!" Pansy snarled, "I mean if Snape were still here, he would've rewarded you for that for sure and gave her the detention!"

She grinned at him and chewed away at her food, but then stopped almost immediately once she spotted Draco's left cheek marked with a bright red hand print.

"Eek! What is that?"

Draco upturned his nose at her, "Please swallow before speaking, I don't want to see what you're eating, thanks."

Pansy paid no attention to his remark, as she threw half her body over the table, "I mean your face! What...what happened...?" she cradled the side of his face, and began to graze the mark with her thumb. "Did she do that?"

Draco reached up and took a hold of her wrist, "Please don't touch it, it stings"

"There you are!" shouted Blaise as he charged up to the table. "I thought you would've gone to the Common Room; look I need to talk to you,"

Pansy whirled her head over her shoulder and glared at the tall dark Italian, "Uh, do you mind? Draco and I were in the middle of a conversation!"

"And now it's done. Now git." Blaise motioned with his head, "I need to talk to Draco"

"You can't just bark at me to leave and expect me to oblige!"

"Move it, Parkinson!"

Pansy huffed a breath, "So not fair!" she removed her hand from Draco's grasp and then hopped off the bench, and shot Blaise a nasty look before stalking off with her nose in the air. Blaise rolled his eyes as he faced Draco.

"Look, you'll have her all to yourself in your creature caring class alright?" Draco hissed as he ran a hand through his hair, "No need to-"

"It's Care of Magical Creatures, and that's not what I want to talk about...look," Blaise gave the Great Hall a quick glance for any onlookers before taking a seat down, "We made this agreement. You sleep with Granger I pay you the Galleons; you screw it up, you pay me the Galleons; remember?"

Draco scowled, as Blaise just grinned, "And well, that mark on your face tells me, it is pretty much a given that Granger will want nothing to do with you! So..." Blaise tapped a finger to his chin. "I guess I am gonna be the winner out of this thing; and it's only been half a day!" he finished with a laugh, "I gotta say, that's the fastest one hundred thousand Galleons I have ever made! Then again, you are poor, so I guess I'll have to wait a little longer until you get the money..."

Draco shot Blaise a menacing glare, "This isn't over, Blaise!"

"What, you really think you can redeem yourself after that?" Blaise said, amused. "Oh man, I sure as heck like to see you try"

Draco pushed himself up from the table and sneered, "Trust me, this game is all for me. Granger..." he trailed off in a groan, "She will be mine; those Galleons are mine" yet the second he said those words, he had his doubts. Granger won't want anything to do with him, something he usually would have been more than happy with; under normal circumstances, but he had a deal. A deal he was most certain to not let Blaise win.

Draco knew what he needed to get it done; he had to apologize. He shuddered at the thought; fake or real, yet he knows he has to do this to get back in the game; to increase his chances of winning those Galleons.

Blaise broke out into grin as he watched his friend battle with his mind. "Then again, you can just step down and we can forget this thing ever happened, of course that'll mean you forfeit so you'll still have to pay me and-"

"I am not backing down, Zabini" hissed Draco.

"Draco Malfoy?"

Both he and Blaise turned their focus around to see Professor McGonagall, the new Headmistress of Hogwarts, making her way over to the two of them.

Blaise shook his head, "Keep telling yourself that, mate." and then he made his exit, saluting McGonagall on his way out, "Goodday Professor,"

McGonagall just glared at Draco, "To my office...now"

Draco swallowed tightly and looked around, catching only a few people were looking at the two of them and then slowly nodded.

McGonagall motioned with her head for him to follow her out of the Great Hall. Just as the two of them reached the doors, Draco caught sight of a certain pair of girls. Weaslette and the Mudblood.

Ginny stuck out a hand to stop Hermione from walking any further. McGonagall gave the two of them a brisk nod and then walked on, as Malfoy remained rooted on the spot.

Hermione didn't dare to look at him, rather she just kept her head down. Ginny took a hold on Hermione's arm, "Come on Mione..." she tugged her along into the Great Hall.

Draco instantly backed up as though to prevent them from making any contact with him.

"TODAY Mister Malfoy!" snapped McGonagall.

He scoffed and then marched on where McGonagall was waiting for him.

Ginny found them a nice spot in the middle of the Gryffindor table, as Hermione hesitated for a long moment before deciding to take a seat down.

"Ha! Did you see his face?" Ginny grinned, as she helped herself to some food. "Bet someone didn't-"

"That was me." Hermione huffed a breath as she stared at the food, "I...I slapped him"

Ginny's eyes shot wide, "Wow, way to go Hermione! And now McGonagall's got him! So I say cheer up. Eat. Celebrate even! By this time tomorrow, he will be gone!"

"I want to, I just feel so annoyed..." her voice was just above a whisper.

"All the more reason to eat!" Ginny said mid-chew as she watched Hermione toy with a crumpet that was just hanging off the plate.

"You know, I couldn't help but wonder all of this could be avoided if I just-"

"Oh no you don't. You're not gonna start blaming yourself for what that prat Malfoy-"

"What?" Hermione said with a shrug, her voice becoming stronger now. "It's true! If I just learned Occlumency, I would've protected myself from him!"

"Oh, that's what you mean..."

Hermione bit her lip, "Or, I could've just...answered him"

Ginny scoffed, "Ya and then what? What do you really think would have happened if you told him? Malfoy is a monster and a bully he-"

"He wasn't being that mean!" Hermione retorted. "Just...strange"

"Seriously?" Ginny scoffed, "I can't believe I am hearing this..." she bit into another crumpet and shook her head.

Hermione finally gave in and helped herself to some crumpets as well, "I'm not defending him or anything,"

"Well whatever this is, you need to stop it," Ginny drank her juice. "He invaded your privacy and-"

"Yes I understand that, Ginny, really. But I was going to say, his behaviour was odd. Like really odd." She felt her stomach churn at the idea of telling Ginny that Malfoy not only sat beside her in Potions, but refused to move when she asked him to. "Um..."

Ginny just waved her hand to the Head Girl, "Listen, Hermione whatever you think is going to change my mind-"

"Malfoy sat beside me, okay?" Hermione said hurriedly, closing her eyes, to defend herself from the judgemental look she knows Ginny will give her.

Ginny stopped mid-chew and stared at her friend, blinking and waiting for Hermione to reopen her eyes. She did, and then licked her lips and continued, "That's why he was able to use Legilimency. He was...he was next to me in Potions."

Ginny swallowed the food, she was ready to respond, but Hermione held her hand up to her, "And he also refused to leave when I asked him to, so don't bother asking,"

"Wait...what? Malfoy sat beside you?"

Hermione huffed a breath, as she started to break up her crumpet in bite size pieces to pop into her mouth.

"I told you, it was bizarre. Usually he avoids me whenever he can!"

Ginny tapped a finger to her chin, "True, but this is Malfoy, and he always finds a way to fight with you! I mean, obviously you weren't with Ron and Harry so...wait, hold on, what did they say when they saw you with him?"

Hermione fidgeted in her seat, uncertain how to deal with the sudden change of direction in conversation, "Nothing, they just went about their business like everyone else in the class did"

Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Really? They weren't bothered at all?"

"Don't look so surprised..." Hermione rolled her eyes, "Ron said he doesn't care about me, so..."

"Well Ron I can understand, but Harry too?" Ginny shook her head, "It doesn't make sense."

Hermione went to respond, but got interrupted by a loud smack a bag on the table top. Both girls turned to face the one and only, Harry Potter.

"You left these in class, Hermione"

Ginny immediately got up from the table, "Oi! You almost hit me, you know!"

Harry shot her a look and then turned to Hermione. She took her items wordlessly, as she got up from the table.

"Hermione?" Harry said taking a seat beside her.

"If you're here to ask what happened with Malfoy, forget it." she slipped her bag over her shoulder, flipped her hair and glanced over to Ginny, "Come on Ginny, let's go to the library"

She was about to leave, but Harry wouldn't let her pass, "Listen, Hermione..."

"I said forget it, Harry!"

Hermione took Ginny by the arm and tugged her along as they left the Great Hall.

McGonagall sat behind her desk, with her elbows on the desk and her fingers entwined under her chin, staring at Draco, who was sitting arms folded and ankles crossed looking sulky.

"You know why I've brought you here, Mister Malfoy?"

Draco swallowed tightly and dropped his gaze. He knew why, the Mudblood ran off and told on him. He knew he should get angry at her, but he really has no one to blame but himself.

"Yes," he said quietly, clenching his jaw and tensing his fists.

"Well then, explain. Why you felt the need to invade Miss Granger's mind? And please no name calling."

Draco shook his head, and said nothing.

"You realize, Mister Malfoy, that with your co-operation, it will determine the severity of your punishment, don't you?"

Draco nodded.

"So..." McGonagall said with her nostrils flared.

Draco swallowed tightly again, "I was...annoyed" he lifted his eyes to look at the severe looking woman before him. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and winced. He knew that was a pathetic answer, but it was the truth. He needed to stay calm and adult about the scenario, but being around the Mudblood triggers more unpleasant attributes than nice.

McGonagall did not seem very pleased of his answer, and took a deep breath, "And the reason why?"

Draco huffed a breath, "I rather not answer that,"

"Mister Malfoy..."

"I don't alright?"

McGonagall gave the young wizard a harsh glare. "Are you not aware of the pain you have caused to Miss Granger due to your little scam?"

Draco winced again, but didn't answer.

"The heart is a very fragile thing, Mister Malfoy, I wouldn't doubt you would appreciate it if someone invaded your mind and made you relive a terrible time! And all because of annoyance and boredom"

"I wasn't-"

"Then why"

Draco sighed. He really didn't want to answer her, but he was too afraid to see what McGonagall would do if he refused her, "She refused to answer my question." He had a bitter taste in his mouth as he said the words.

McGonagall remained expressionless, as Draco bowed his head, not really wanting to stare at the old-bat's eyes anymore than necessary.

"Well that's certainly disappointing behaviour, Mister Malfoy; as a Prefect, you should've known better. Fifty points from Slytherin. Also, I feel that it is appropriate for you to apologize to Miss Granger. Seeing how Slughorn had already awarded you with a detention, that is all I have to say. Dismissed"

E/N: don't worry, Draco will stop referring Hermione as 'Mudblood' soon enough.. give or take a few chapters.