Title: There's No Such Thing as a Painless Love
Chapter Nine: Competing For Her
- -
It had been two weeks since Ron had found out about Draco and Hermione.
He hadn't talked to her much since then, and he felt miserable. Not only was he angry and hurt, but he missed her greatly.
"You okay, Ron?" asked a worried Harry.
All of Ron's anger that had been building up, finally exploded out, "How could she do this to me? Choose someone else; Malfoy no less! I can't stand it! I want her back, Harry!"
He did want her back. And he was willing to do anything for her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione was in the library trying to do her homework. Yes, trying. She was having a little trouble concentrating. (A/N: Wonder why?!)
She was in the middle of writing about how Banshees bite you, and turn you into a four-legged creature that howls at the moon, when someone cleared their throat. Hermione looked up.
"Draco?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry and Ron had been walking back from the Quidditch pitch in silence. It had been a pretty good practice, except for the fact that Ron's head wasn't in the game at all.
Suddenly Ron spoke, "That's it! I'm going to talk to her...where do you think she'll be?"
"Whoa, slow down! You might want to change out of your Quidditch uniform first!"
"There's no time for that! I have to see her now! You think she'll be at the library?"
"Well, she's Hermione, so-" But before Harry could finish his sentence, Ron was already heading back up to the castle to find Hermione.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Draco, what are you doing here? I thought you weren't talking to me?"
"That was only to avoid getting attacked by angry Gryffindors in the corridors!" Draco joked.
Hermione giggled. Then she came back to reality, "Well, why are you here, then?"
"Hmm, well, there's you for starters. Then there's the fact that you and Weasley haven't exactly been all touchy feely for the last two weeks. What's that about?" asked a curious Draco.
"Ron hasn't been speaking to me. Harry as well," she sighed. "Look, Draco, I know how you feel about me, and-"
"You don't have to tell me. I already know what you're going to say."
Hermione put her hand over his.
"I can't tell you that I love you, Draco...but I can't tell you that I don't."
Just then, Ron had arrived at the library, and had walked to table where Hermione and Draco sat.
Totally ignoring Draco's existence, Ron started rather calmly, " 'Mione, we need to talk."
"Oh, so you're talking to me now?"
"Yes, it's-"
"I believe you're interrupting, Weasley. Didn't your mum ever teach you any manners?"
Ron glared at him.
"I'm not in the mood for your bullshit, Malfoy! I came to talk to Hermione; to-"
"To what...win her back? I don't think so Weasley!"
Ron's face had turned red with anger, and his fists were clenched at his sides. Hermione tried to get in between them before they did anything drastic, but she was too late.
Ron had thrown the first punch. Being caught off guard, Draco fell backwards into the bookshelf. He quickly got up, though, and threw the second punch, connecting with Ron's jaw. Then they tackled each other, and started rolling around on the floor.
By now, Madame Pince had arrived to break up the fight. Both boys were bleeding, and had a few cuts and bruises that were already starting to show. They were immediately sent down to Madame Pomfrey to get fixed up, then were to head straight to Dumbledore's office to receive punishment.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What happened, 'Mione? Is Ron okay?" Harry asked (he was finally speaking to her again).
"He's fine! Got a week's worth of detention, though."
"What did Malfoy get off with?"
"Draco...oh, he received the same."
"Draco? What happened to 'Malfoy'?"
"He changed."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe you," Ron muttered. "You stole my girlfriend."
"She wasn't your girlfriend, Weasley. Not officially, anyway. Besides, it's not my fault she feels the same!"
"She does not feel the same! She doesn't lo-"
"I'm not about to argue about this during detention, Weasel. I suggest we settle this somewhere else. Meet me at the Quidditch pitch at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon in uniform, and we'll straighten this all out."
Ron nodded, and went back to scrubbing bedpans...manually.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was 3:15, and Ron hadn't shown up yet. Draco looked at his watch impatiently. Turning around to look back at the castle, he saw red hair walking towards him.
"A little late, Weasley. Thought you weren't going to show," Draco taunted.
Ron ignored him, "So what're we doing here in our Quidditch uniforms?"
"I thought that would be obvious; we're going to play...for Hermione."
"Whoa! Play? F-for Hermione?! I don't thi-"
"That is, unless you're chicken?!"
"Of course I'm not! But why would this solve everything? She'd still be-"
"Look, Weasel. Whoever wins, gets Hermione. She's the prize. She won't have to worry about the loser, though. You could always find another girlfriend to make her think you're over her."
"What makes you think I'd be the loser, Malfoy?" Ron spat.
"Because, I'm a Malfoy."
Ron gave him one of those looks. "Deal."
"Excellent. Get your broom."
They took off into the air, ready to compete for Hermione.
The rules were simple. Play each position against the other man, calculate the scores, and at the end of the game, whoever had the most points wins.
About a half hour later, they were still at it. Harry was watching in the stands.
"What are they doing?" came the irritated voice of Hermione.
" 'Mione!" said a startled Harry. "They're, um, they're-"
"Harry! I want the truth!"
"Okay, okay. They're competing...for- you."
"WHAT?!"
This yelling in the once-quiet stadium had caught Ron and Draco's attention. Hermione quickly ran out of the stands, and down to the pitch.
"RONALD WEASLEY AND DRACO MALFOY, GET YOUR ARSES DOWN HERE, THIS INSTANT, OR SO HELP ME-"
Both boys immediately landed on the ground with a thud.
"Now WHAT were you doing COMPETING for me?!" Hermione tried to sound calm.
"Its-"
"We were-"
"I don't want to hear it! Do you think you're making this any easier on me? I'm the one with the decision, here! And you just sit around playing little games, trying to win me like some prize?! Who do you think I'm going to pick now?"
Without an answer, she turned and walked back up to the castle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Sorry it took so long! I told you it would be delayed! I have soccer try-outs all this week, but I'm quitting before I even start, just for you guys! Well, not entirely, but I only stick with things I really want to do, and this is one of those things! Ashlina is on vacation, so I'm on my own this week! I'll update ASAP! Thanks! R/R, please...
3 FeltonFriends922 *
Chapter Nine: Competing For Her
- -
It had been two weeks since Ron had found out about Draco and Hermione.
He hadn't talked to her much since then, and he felt miserable. Not only was he angry and hurt, but he missed her greatly.
"You okay, Ron?" asked a worried Harry.
All of Ron's anger that had been building up, finally exploded out, "How could she do this to me? Choose someone else; Malfoy no less! I can't stand it! I want her back, Harry!"
He did want her back. And he was willing to do anything for her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione was in the library trying to do her homework. Yes, trying. She was having a little trouble concentrating. (A/N: Wonder why?!)
She was in the middle of writing about how Banshees bite you, and turn you into a four-legged creature that howls at the moon, when someone cleared their throat. Hermione looked up.
"Draco?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry and Ron had been walking back from the Quidditch pitch in silence. It had been a pretty good practice, except for the fact that Ron's head wasn't in the game at all.
Suddenly Ron spoke, "That's it! I'm going to talk to her...where do you think she'll be?"
"Whoa, slow down! You might want to change out of your Quidditch uniform first!"
"There's no time for that! I have to see her now! You think she'll be at the library?"
"Well, she's Hermione, so-" But before Harry could finish his sentence, Ron was already heading back up to the castle to find Hermione.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Draco, what are you doing here? I thought you weren't talking to me?"
"That was only to avoid getting attacked by angry Gryffindors in the corridors!" Draco joked.
Hermione giggled. Then she came back to reality, "Well, why are you here, then?"
"Hmm, well, there's you for starters. Then there's the fact that you and Weasley haven't exactly been all touchy feely for the last two weeks. What's that about?" asked a curious Draco.
"Ron hasn't been speaking to me. Harry as well," she sighed. "Look, Draco, I know how you feel about me, and-"
"You don't have to tell me. I already know what you're going to say."
Hermione put her hand over his.
"I can't tell you that I love you, Draco...but I can't tell you that I don't."
Just then, Ron had arrived at the library, and had walked to table where Hermione and Draco sat.
Totally ignoring Draco's existence, Ron started rather calmly, " 'Mione, we need to talk."
"Oh, so you're talking to me now?"
"Yes, it's-"
"I believe you're interrupting, Weasley. Didn't your mum ever teach you any manners?"
Ron glared at him.
"I'm not in the mood for your bullshit, Malfoy! I came to talk to Hermione; to-"
"To what...win her back? I don't think so Weasley!"
Ron's face had turned red with anger, and his fists were clenched at his sides. Hermione tried to get in between them before they did anything drastic, but she was too late.
Ron had thrown the first punch. Being caught off guard, Draco fell backwards into the bookshelf. He quickly got up, though, and threw the second punch, connecting with Ron's jaw. Then they tackled each other, and started rolling around on the floor.
By now, Madame Pince had arrived to break up the fight. Both boys were bleeding, and had a few cuts and bruises that were already starting to show. They were immediately sent down to Madame Pomfrey to get fixed up, then were to head straight to Dumbledore's office to receive punishment.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What happened, 'Mione? Is Ron okay?" Harry asked (he was finally speaking to her again).
"He's fine! Got a week's worth of detention, though."
"What did Malfoy get off with?"
"Draco...oh, he received the same."
"Draco? What happened to 'Malfoy'?"
"He changed."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I can't believe you," Ron muttered. "You stole my girlfriend."
"She wasn't your girlfriend, Weasley. Not officially, anyway. Besides, it's not my fault she feels the same!"
"She does not feel the same! She doesn't lo-"
"I'm not about to argue about this during detention, Weasel. I suggest we settle this somewhere else. Meet me at the Quidditch pitch at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon in uniform, and we'll straighten this all out."
Ron nodded, and went back to scrubbing bedpans...manually.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was 3:15, and Ron hadn't shown up yet. Draco looked at his watch impatiently. Turning around to look back at the castle, he saw red hair walking towards him.
"A little late, Weasley. Thought you weren't going to show," Draco taunted.
Ron ignored him, "So what're we doing here in our Quidditch uniforms?"
"I thought that would be obvious; we're going to play...for Hermione."
"Whoa! Play? F-for Hermione?! I don't thi-"
"That is, unless you're chicken?!"
"Of course I'm not! But why would this solve everything? She'd still be-"
"Look, Weasel. Whoever wins, gets Hermione. She's the prize. She won't have to worry about the loser, though. You could always find another girlfriend to make her think you're over her."
"What makes you think I'd be the loser, Malfoy?" Ron spat.
"Because, I'm a Malfoy."
Ron gave him one of those looks. "Deal."
"Excellent. Get your broom."
They took off into the air, ready to compete for Hermione.
The rules were simple. Play each position against the other man, calculate the scores, and at the end of the game, whoever had the most points wins.
About a half hour later, they were still at it. Harry was watching in the stands.
"What are they doing?" came the irritated voice of Hermione.
" 'Mione!" said a startled Harry. "They're, um, they're-"
"Harry! I want the truth!"
"Okay, okay. They're competing...for- you."
"WHAT?!"
This yelling in the once-quiet stadium had caught Ron and Draco's attention. Hermione quickly ran out of the stands, and down to the pitch.
"RONALD WEASLEY AND DRACO MALFOY, GET YOUR ARSES DOWN HERE, THIS INSTANT, OR SO HELP ME-"
Both boys immediately landed on the ground with a thud.
"Now WHAT were you doing COMPETING for me?!" Hermione tried to sound calm.
"Its-"
"We were-"
"I don't want to hear it! Do you think you're making this any easier on me? I'm the one with the decision, here! And you just sit around playing little games, trying to win me like some prize?! Who do you think I'm going to pick now?"
Without an answer, she turned and walked back up to the castle.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Sorry it took so long! I told you it would be delayed! I have soccer try-outs all this week, but I'm quitting before I even start, just for you guys! Well, not entirely, but I only stick with things I really want to do, and this is one of those things! Ashlina is on vacation, so I'm on my own this week! I'll update ASAP! Thanks! R/R, please...
3 FeltonFriends922 *