**The Superior Quality**
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Chapter Three:
"My wrists flick; it spins.
Fast, it spun, until it slowly slowed down..
and stopped in front of you."
Love's first game; the spinning bottle.
¤~¤
It had been almost a week since the agreement between Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger had taken it's affect. Both now, were close as friends, as if they have been eversince their first year in Hogwarts.
Their unspeakable friendship, calmed both hearts, but enraged many of the people in their own Houses, and baffled the other two.
In the Gryffindor House, Ron and Harry continously asked their friend if she was beginning to go mad, or if she had simply lost it. Even with all their bickering about 'her trusting the enemy', Hermione managed to knock some sense into them. Knowing she was right, Harry and Ron both agreed to not to speak of it again; unless of course, Draco would try to threaten or hurt her in any way. Still, the two did not try to befriend Draco Malfoy.
In the Slytherin House, many members spoke doubtedly about Draco. Pansy had been the angriest of the bunch; swearing she would some day 'get Granger'. Crabbe and Goyle, however, did not really go against Draco's choice to be friends with a Muggle; perhaps they were a little bit slow in the head. Still, even if his whole House looked at him as a traitor, Draco still had power over them. They cooperated with his demand that the name 'Mudblood' was no longer prohibited, as well as name-calling any Muggle-born.
As for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, both remained quiet with the turn-of-events. Not sure if it is just a hallucination, or if the two were under some sort of spell.
The teachers, however, seemed very calm about it. Except for Snape, who tried to make theories and predictions as to why one of his Slytherin members would actually agree to be friends with a Muggle; a Gryffindor no less.
The October days of Hogwarts seemed to go along just fine. Even with Voldemort already attacking with his army outside in the Wizarding world, Hogwarts couldn't be more peaceful.
Until one Sunday evening...
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"I still think you've gone crazy, Hermione, hanging around that Slytherin scum." Ron spurted out in the middle of the chess game he and Harry was in, "I don't know why you do."
Hermione gave a glare, "He hasn't tried anything funny for almost a week. He seems to be keeping his word; why are you so edgy? It's not like I'm marrying Draco."
Ron's ears hinted red, and Harry gave a sour look.
"Don't even joke about that." Harry eyed her.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Well I'll stop if only you two would actually 'try' to be friendly with him. He's trying to be, with you guys."
"Yeah, like tripping me in the hall yesterday was friendly." Ron blew his lips.
"He said sorry!" Hermione pointed out.
"After the whole hallway laughed at me!" Ron backfired, "What a good friend he is."
Crossing her arms in front of her, Hermione leaned back on her seat and pouted, "You guys just have to spend time with him, he isn't as bad as you guys think."
Harry moved his rook then looked at Hermione; a realization struck him, "I forgot that you two share a dorm.. now I'm even more worried!"
Ron heard his words and suddenly stood up, almost knocking the chess board from the table, "That's right!" he looked down at Hermione carefully, "What exactly do you do when you 'spend time' with Malfoy?"
"Draco." Hermione corrected.
"Whatever! Now answer my question!" Ron, fumed like a mother would to her adolescent daughter, dawned a look of both anger and jealousy in his face.
Hermione raised a brow at him skeptically, "Nothing, really... maybe read some books; talk.. what's it got to do with you?"
"Nothing? I think you're lying!" red-faced Ron shouted; it was a good thing the Gryffindor common room was empty at the time, or else a crowd would have been already forming around them.
Harry sighed, "Ron, this is Hermione we're talking about; she reads books for fun." he stood up beside Ron and tried to make him calm down, "What are you getting at anyways? It's like you're thinking that Hermione's doing... 'things' with Draco in secret or something." Harry turned red at his words.
Hermione gave a chortled laugh that increased into loud ones. Both boys looked at her, confused and intimidated; What does Hermione and Draco do together?
Seeing her friend's expression, Hermione sighed in disbelief, "There's nothing wrong with reading and talking! That's all we do, honestly, you two.." She almost jumped out of her seat when both faces zoomed into hers.
"You're not lying are you?" Harry asked worriedly.
"There isn't anything going on between you two, right?" Ron's tone was more determined.
"I'm not lying, and there isn't anything going on between us!" Hermione's cheeks hinted pink, "I can't believe you actually think I would do that! If you guys are so worried, then come over our dorm tonight and see for yourself."
It wasn't until that evening that Hermione regretted saying that.
¤~¤
It was quiet, annoyingly quiet. The kind that seem to last forever; the kind that pounds you in the head over and over, and every expression in the faces of the people were clearly shown through the silence. It was both nerve-racking, and awkward.
As the light of the fire flickered across the room, Hermione bit her lip anxiously, wishing someone, anyone, would speak up. Instead, she sat there, nervously eyeing Harry and Ron glaring at the person beside her. Why did she start this anyways?
Finally, someone had started a conversation; Draco spoke up, "So tell me, what deed did I do to earn the grace of Wonder Boy and his sidekick?"
Hermione vocal chords went tight, Draco had spoken in a sneering tone; not at all cordial. Her eyes quickly shot to the other end of the room; Harry and Ron were now clenching their teeth.
"Be nice, Draco." Hermione murmured.
"I'm trying my hardest." he said through his teeth, "You're easy to be friendly with.. but with them?" Draco shook his head.
Hermione blushed at his comment, but quickly shook it off. Looking over to her friends on the other couch, Hermione gestured them to say something.
"So... what's the deal Malfoy? Why are you friends with Hermione?" Harry was the first to speak out of the other side of the room.
Draco smirked, "Well.. why are you?" he said coolly.
Harry turned red, "I asked first!"
"What do you think is my reason?" Draco kept his smirk.
"I think you're doing it as an act!" Ron was now standing up, furious again.
"I don't think so, Weasley." Draco stared coldly at Ron, "Whatever you're thinking, you might as well tuck back in that little brain of yours."
Ron's ears went red; he turned his eyes to Hermione, "See! He isn't friendly at all."
Hermione stood up, "Well maybe if you guys would find something better to talk about, other than question his motives, Draco would be friendly."
Draco stood up beside her and smiled, "You're such a good buddy!"
"Yah, I know!" Hermione replied before both Draco and her started to laugh.
Once again, Harry and Ron were left out, staring at the two in confusion and intimidation. Other than that, both never heard Draco laugh so heartedly. His laughs almost sounded evil; it was a little frightening.
Ron, boiling his jealousy out of his ears, rushed in between Hermione and Draco, interrupting their laugh. Draco faced Ron; a crooked smile in his lips.
"Excuse you." Draco said, "What is it now?"
Sputtering words that no-one in the room understood, Ron looked like he was doing a one-man circus act. He waved his arms in anger and frustration, jumped up and down his spot, and jerked his head around a couple of times. Hermione crossed her arms at him in disappointment, and tugged him beside her by the collar. Ron didn't resist her tug.
"Ron! Shut up!" Hermione told him, "I don't know what you're saying, but just knock it off! Why can't you at least try? For me, please?" She watched as Ron's face softened at her; he nodded his head and grumbled. She then looked behind him and to Harry, who also nodded.
Draco, a little amused that Hermione acts so much like a mother to them, couldn't help but let out a chuckle. Bad idea.
"You too, Draco." Hermione turned to him with a quick snap of her neck, "You have to try also!"
"Yeah, yeah.." Draco answered indifferently. All three; Ron, Hermione, and Draco, sat back down in their spots quietly.
"So," Hermione started, getting the everyone's attention, "Anything new happened to any of you today? Anybody?"
There was an odd silence as the three boys thought of something to say.
"Fred and George are finally getting their own shop in Hogsmeade." Ron shared in a low voice.
"That's great!" Hermione said excitedly, "What are they calling it?"
"'The Weasel's Revenge'" Draco droned before Ron could even answer.
Hermione placed her hands on his hips, "That's not nice to say Draco!"
"No.." Ron looked at her, "He's right, that's what it's called." he turned to Draco questiongly, "How did you know?"
"I saw it this morning." Draco responded, "I couldn't help but notice the title. Besides, I was the one who started that name; even ask your brother's who they got 'Weasel' from."
Hermione feared that Ron may explode at that, but oddly, he seemed very interested and tuned in.
"You know what, I think having a shop like that, and a last name that sounds like Weasel, is actually a plus!" Ron now sat on the edge of his seat.
Draco laughed, "Glad you liked it, Ron, it does sound rather vengeful, don't you agree?"
Ron, a little surprised that he had called him by his first name, grinned, "It sort of scares you, doesn't it Draco?"
Draco shrugged, "I probably wouldn't want to step in there."
Hermione, glad that everything was turning out just fine, noticed Harry still glowering in his seat; staring in disbelief at Ron. Hermione frowned at him, and she caught his attention. He gave a solemn sigh and sat up.
"Guess what? I saw that new broom in that one store this morning also. Flare, it was called. Fast as hell." Draco spoke; Ron paying intently at him.
This new conversation seemed to snap Harry's head to Draco, "Flare? How fast?" he asked in a hurry.
"They say at least 5x faster than the Firebolt." Draco shared.
Harry was also on the edge of his seat, "Geez! How much?"
"A lot. More money that I could handle." Draco gave a ironic sigh, "It's the best Quidditch broom ever, but it's way too expensive. Imagine how bad I'd kick your ass in a game if I had one of those." he spoke directly to Harry, who grinned proudly back at him.
"Ha! That's about as far as you get for that, 'imagine'." after a couple of laughs from the three boys, Hermione felt herself growing bored as Quidditch was the only thing they started talking about now.
She sat, cross-legged on her seat, watching as the three boys talk about the 'great' games and the 'embarassing' games in the history of Quidditch. Propping her her chin on her palm, she gave a deep sigh, "Interesting.. uh-huh... yup... I know!" she spoke each word in a pattern, trying to annoy them in their engaged conversation.
Looking up at the clock, she noticed that it was nearing dinner time.
"I hate to interrupt you boys from such a riveting talk but, it's time to go to the Great Hall." Hermione stood up and placed her hand on her waist, looking down at the boys with a sad, sarcastic look.
Draco stood up, "Yeah, we better go.. we'll talk more later." Ron and Harry followed his action, and the three followed behind Hermione; she was already halfway out of the portrait door, rolling her eyes and bickering about what Draco had last said.
"Imagine that, Quidditch brought you three closer." she commented out loud.
Harry and Ron scratched the back of their heads in unison, "Yeah.. but that doesn't mean we're already friends." Harry said quickly.
"Honestly, Hermione, you think I'd give that quick of a chance?" Draco added, he looked at her with the corner of his eye, "These two are my rivals, neh?"
"Rivals for what?" Hermione asked skeptically.
Draco gave her a smirk, "Harry knows, ask him."
Hermione looked over to Harry, but he didn't answer, "Is this about the whole He-who-must-not-be-named thing; Death Eaters and whatever?"
No-one answered her.
Sighing, Hermione brushed the strand of long hair over her shoulder, "You guys are just odd.. I don't even know why I had placed the idea that the three of you should get together." she muttered.
"It's easy," Draco gave a yawn, and casually placed a hand around Hermione's shoulders; Ron's ears turned instantly pink, "You just care so much for me, that's why. Don't deny it, you wanted them to be friends with me because you were looking out for me."
Hermione blushed but sighed pathetically, "You want a punch on the nose?" she growled.
"Please say yes so I could do it for her." Ron threatened from behind them.
Draco gave a short laugh and pulled his arm back, "Calm down, Ron. I was just fooling around."
Hermione pursed her lips dangerously at him, "Do you still want a punch on the nose?"
¤~¤
Dinner at the Great Hall was the same as usual; Slytherin, Griffyndor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw Houses all sat in their own tables; the teachers sat themselves up on the front of the Great Hall.
Poking her green beans, which laid undisturbed on her plate, she heaved a sigh as once again she was forced to listen to another Quidditch conversation. She looked to her right and spotted Ginny doing the same as her.
Ginny noticed Hermione's eyes at her, "Hey... you think you could shut those two with some sort of spell? Just for now." she gave a meak smile.
Hermine giggled, "I could, but I'd get in trouble. I can't get in trouble if I'm Head Girl."
Ginny nodded sadly, "That's dumb.. at least give them a detention threat or something?"
With a grin, Hermione turned to Ron and Harry, "Can you guys just stop talking about Quidditch for a second?"
"No." Ron stated.
"Why do we have to? We're not forcing you to listen." Harry asked.
"Well, no you're not forcing me too, you're just talking loud enough that the whole table seems like we're in this." Hermione cleared her throat, "Besides, you have to stop or else I'll give you detention for disturbing me."
Harry and Ron looked at her with an 'are-you-serious?' look.
"I'm serious." Hermione answered their silent question. With a moan, the two boys shoved food in their mouths in silence.
Glancing back at Ginny, Hermione gave her a high-five
under the table. Ginny laughed.
It was already 7:00 p.m. and Hermione; along with Draco, Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Lavender Brown; all decided to go up in the HeadGirl's/Boy's dorm to play a Muggle game that Hermione had told Lavender about. Hermione didn't really want to play, since it was a game she didn't want with Ron, Harry, and Draco. Still, Lavender had begged her, saying she wanted to play it with some of the Griffyndor boys, but she had never played it ever; Hermione finally agreed, they walked to the dorm; an empty, clear glass bottle in her hands.
Sitting in a circle in the middle of the room, Hermione placed the bottle on its side in the vacant space inside the circle. She gave a deep breath and started the rules,
"The game is spin-the-bottle. All you do is spin the bottle when it's your turn. When the bottle stops and points to a person in the circle, you *have* to kiss them on the lips for 2 seconds."
Everyone's face flustered red like hers, except for Lavender; she looked as if she was shining in excitement. Ron was the first to sputter out, "What?! What kind of game is this?!"
"It's a Muggle game... used at most teen parties." red began to creep in Ron's cheeks; Hermione sighed inwardly, "It's just a game, Ron. There's even a different version you would probably bleed your nose all over about."
Ron was now a ripe tomato, "Wait.. if we play this, and I spin the bottle and get Harry, what am I going to do? Kiss him?!"
"No!" Hermione looked at him in disgust; Ginny started to laugh, "You lose your turn. Then it'll be Harry's turn."
"What if I get Ginny?!"
"Well, you can either choose a kiss on the cheek or just pass." Hermione crossed her arms and looked around, finding Ron, Harry, and Ginny flusteringly nervous. Draco seemed to be calmly accepting the rules, and Lavender is just thrilled.
"Hey, come on! On with the game!" Draco smirked, an overjoyed thought in his mind. He leaned over to be the first to spin the bottle but Hermione stopped him and eyed everyone.
"No magic. You can't make the bottle point directly to the person you want, okay?" the crowd nodded. Letting go of the bottle Draco had his hand on, Hermione told him he could start.
Draco twisted his wrist, and pushed the bottle to one side, spinning it briskly to the right. Everyone looked in the center of the circle, watching the bottle as it slowed down and stopped shortly, right in front of...
Lavender squealed--Ron gasped--Harry muttered something short--Ginny turned bright pink.
Draco had gotten Hermione on the first try. With a smirk, Draco ahemed and leaned down to Hermione; who was slightly flustered.
Closing her eyes, she puckered up and kissed Draco on his soft, cold lips. She shook at the feeling, and felt her knees go jello. Lavender counted the two seconds, and slowly Draco pulled away. A pleased grin on his lips, he sat back on his spot, "I like this game."
Hermione joined Ron's face and also became a tomato; she suddenly found her knees interesting.
Ron could be heard growling to her right, and Lavender squealing like a ninny in her left. Harry kept fiddling his fingers, and Ginny kept on blushing.
"Your turn, Hermione." Draco said in a lovely chorus tune.
Hermione took hold of the bottle and spun it with the snap of her wrists. All eyes once again watched it anxiously, until it stopped in front of Ron.
Now Ron had turned a very unnatural shade of red, "Uh.. " he muttered out as Hermione leaned to him.
"Come off it Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes and softly kissed him for 2 seconds. She pulled away, looking at him like she was ready to laugh; after the kiss, Ron looked as if he was just zapped with a petrified curse.
Everyone looked at him, and laughed.
"Ron, are you alive?" Harry managed to ask in between his laughing.
"Hermione!" Ginny giggled, "What did you do to my brother?"
Hermione grinned, "Ron, it wasn't that good."
"Ah-guh-th--the--th--" Ron sputtered then shook his head. He noticed everyone was laughing at him, "Shut up!"
Everyone gradually stopped their laughing, "First time, eh Ron?" Draco bemused.
With a growl, Ron took the bottle and spun it around.
¤~¤
The game soon ended a little ways before 8:30.
It score sumed up:
Hermione recieved 13 kisses and gave 9.
Harry recieved 10 kisses and gave 11.
Ron recieved a whopping 14 and gave 12.
Draco recieved 10 and gave 15.
Lavender recived a disappointing 8 but gave 14.
Ginny recieved 10 also and gave 10.
After the game, everyone hurried back to their own Houses and dorms. Now it was only Hermione and Draco in their common room.
"Well, that was fun, I had to admit. Even with Potter and Weasley." Draco stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Hermione nodded and smiled, "Well.. we've got potions early tomorrow, Good night."
Draco watched as Hermione started to walk to her room. His throat gave a sudden call to her; Hermione turned around to face him. What was I going to say? Draco furrowed his eyebrows, trying think. Shaking his head, he cleared his throat, "Sweet dreams."
Hermione smiled lightly at him, "You too. I'll see you in the morning."
Nodding, Draco watched as she disappeared in her room. Walking towards his, he strutted with an odd walk. What was he going to say to her? He had something in mind... Oh well, maybe I'll remember tomorrow. Yawning, he entered his room and plopped down on his bed; reminiscing the events earlier in that night. He had kissed her over 6 times this evening, and all of them felt the same as the first; burning, sweet, unforgettable..
A pillow covered his sly smile, It won't hurt her any if she didn't know I used a little bit of magic...
¤~¤
A pair of eyes shot open in the eerie dark. He knew something was amidst.
"Lucious." the man commanded; another came up to him in black robes and bowed.
"Yes, my lord?" Lucious asked.
"Your boy,"
"Draco, your honor?"
"Yes.. he is drifting."
Lucious glanced up to the man sitting in the darkness enveloping his chair, "What?"
"You heard me clear, Lucious. You boy is weakening."
"That's not possible, my lord!"
"Question me, do you? Bring forth your son in this circle before he becomes a pitiful Muggle-Lover."
"Yes, my lord." Lucious said in a small voice.
"No.. wait!"
Lucious looked up; a pair of sinister eyes flashed a cunning glint.
"There are other uses for him afterall.. do not bring him forth just yet, Lucious. I have a plan." with that he gave a cackle, penetrating Lucious' ears and made him shake.
*¤~¤~¤~¤~¤*
Thanks to:
JudgeDP(you'll find the answers to your questions soon enough),
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ljp(More 'action' in a couple of chapters! ^_^),
jessiCA(Thanks for finding my fic awesome!),
Saturnian Blonde(Sorry for the minor butterfinger incident, I'm glad you liked my fic though!),
blood thirsty(Isn't it always fun when stories involve Hermione being all cocky? I luv it that way!),
Mariella(thank you, and I will keep it up!),
Mjade(greatly appreciated!),
Callisto Callispi(Yes, it's kind of hard to keep him in his usual selfless bastard when it's romance ^_^;),
The Mist(I wrote more!),
russa(why thank you!),
Incitata(Hermione is just oh so much fun when she's cocky!),
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and finally porkypop (lol, thank you for saying this was super cute!)!
Thanks everyone!! I hope you liked this chapter;
it was supposed to be dark but I figured that can wait until the next chapter.
Now, the next chapter will be very depressing. Hermione's old facade
will come back to her, and her secret will be revealed.