Disclaimer: HP characters not mine--the rest, plot included, are mine

Author's Note: I'm having fun showing this new Hermione & making Draco jealous...hehehe, it'll probably go on for a while seeing as he is the resident heartthrob and heartbreaker...and oh yeah, a warning to all you readers, in this chapter things started to get a bit "naughty/saucy" between Draco & Hermione so consider yourself warned, aight? Now proceed to reading the chapter.

Summary: Hermione & Draco received a nasty blow to the head when an out of control bludger careened towards where they stood bickering during a Quidditch practice. They woke up in the hospital wing not knowing each other--but they know everyone else--and an instant attraction towards each other soon formed.

Setting: 6th year

Pairings: Draco & Hermione

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XVI. the Truth Behind the Mask

Once the door of her dormitory closed, Hermione leaned heavily against it, pressing her head against the wood panel and closing her eyes. Day one was indeed over. Well, it will be over as soon as she was done with dinner in the Great Hall and face Draco Malfoy once again.

So far, so good, Herm. Just keep it up for...oh, for another seven more months. her conscience cheered her own.

Seven more months? Hermione groaned inwardly and slumped down to the floor. She couldn't possibly play the role of femme fatale for seven more months! She only agreed to change her looks after her long discussion with Ginny Sunday night about her feelings for Draco and on how Draco treated most of the girls at Hogwarts.

"But Gin, don't you think that by changing me into some femme fatale I'll only be borrowing trouble? I mean, Draco'll only pursue me more as his next conquest!" she exclaimed after her close friend laid out her brilliant plan to her.

"Ah, but that's what we want him to think, my dear Hermione." Ginny grinned, "But in truth you'll be playing hard to get and eventually forget about him all together. He'll get tired of you easily once you give him the brush off and other guys starts milling down the hallways just to ask you out!"

It seemed like a totally cool idea while she and Ginny were plotting it last night, but after today's fiasco--she had to fend off quite a few guys who wanted to escort her to each and every class she had--she was beginning to regret ever being persuaded by Ginny Weasley.

~*~

Draco waited in the dark, hidden from everyone else entering the Great Hall for dinner. He just saw Potter and Weasley, along with Weasley's sister, enter the hall without Hermione which means she was running late for dinner. Either that or she decided to skip dinner again, but he overheard Ginny tell her brother and Potter Hermione would join them in a few minutes.

He decided right there and then that this would be his chance at getting to talk to Hermione alone. He wanted to in History of Magic earlier, but she was too pissed-off at him to even listen, hence he sulked in his seat for the rest of the class and tried to listen to what Binns was talking about.

~*~

Hermione was practically running towards the Great Hall. She would be late for dinner if she doesn't hurry. She didn't mean to take a longer shower, but after wearing those gunk people call make-up, she felt her face needed to be scrubbed clean at least a few zillion times until she was satisfied!

She was busy running her fingers through her short mop of curly dark brown hair when she felt an arm wrap around her waist and pulled her into a dark corner, one hand clamped against her mouth to stop her from screaming and alerting everybody assembled in the Great Hall. She struggled hard to be free off her captor's tight hold of her, but she found out whomever was holding her prisoner was far too stronger than her, but that didn't stop her from opening her mouth and taking a bite off the hand of whomever was holding her captive.

"Son of a bitch!" a familiar male voice hissed and the hand covering her mouth was quickly removed. "Dammit Hermione!" he added before Hermione felt her back being slammed against a cold stone wall hidden from everyone's view and probably a bit farther from the Great Hall.

A whoosh of air escaped Hermione's lungs when her back hit the wall and it took her a couple of seconds to regain some balance and adjusted her vision in the dark. She noticed an all too familiar figure looming before her and a mop of bright, slicked-back blond hair that belonged to...

"Draco!" she straightened and glared at him, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"As of right now I'm checking if my hand still have skin left." he hissed irately, inspecting the hand she just bit.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. "Oh please, it was just a scratch." she taunted.

Draco stopped his inspection of his hand and turned his steel gray eyes to glare at her, making Hermione stiffen and press against the cold stone wall harder.

"It hurts and you're lucky that I have a hold on my temper or you would've found yourself becoming best friends with the back of my hand." he threatened, inching closer and closer to her, looming before her and bracing his hands on either side of her head.

Hermione gulped harder. This was a side of Draco she hasn't seen nor did she want to explore any further. He was furious and gone was that playful hint in his eyes. Even in the darkness she knew his gray eyes were shooting daggers at her.

"W-what do you want, Draco? I'm late for dinner as it is." her voice quivered, he was scaring her and she had no means of escape now that she was trapped between him and the wall. She could push him away, but she knew it would only be a futile attempt for he would be able to overpower her.

"Draco--" the rest of her words were cut-off when Draco covered her mouth with his.

His kiss this time was different. Gone was the softness she became to familiarize his kisses to her. It was more savage, his lips crushing hers. He pressed himself more provocatively against her, nudging her legs apart and sliding his thigh between hers, making her gasp at the unexpected intrusion, but Draco took advantage of this and quickly dipped his tongue into her mouth.

Hermione lifted her hands that were momentarily frozen to her sides and intended to push him away, but just as she was about to shove him off her Draco changed tempos with his kiss. He started softening his mouth's onslaught on hers, earning himself a throaty moan from the willing woman in his arms.

All thoughts of protests soon left Hermione and the arms she intended to use to push this man away soon weaved themselves around his neck and pulled him closer, opening her mouth to his and welcoming his tongue. She arched herself up against him and slightly rubbed against his thigh, causing Draco to utter something animal-like against her mouth. His hand that was bracing her right side soon traveled down from her shoulder to her side, cupping a feel of her ample-sized breast before moving lower still, cupping a feel of her delectable behind before his hand clamped over her thigh. Hermione's robe parted and revealed her creamy flesh exposed from the short skirt she chose to wear this evening. He pulled her leg up and wrapped it around his hip as he continued to rub his thigh against her.

Soft moans of pleasure were soon escaping Hermione's mouth. Draco tore his mouth from hers and planted chaste kisses on her closed eyelids and on the tip of her nose before he sought the flesh at the base of her throat, inching his head downward until he reached the low neckline of the blouse she chose to wear.

Hermione raked her fingers through his hair, messing up his slicked-back blond locks as Draco continued with his downward exploration, kissing her breasts over the fabric of her blouse. He managed to unclasp her robe for much easier access. His hand that cupped her breast and butt cheek moments before was now making its way under her blouse, touching the silky skin of her stomach before moving upward to cover her breast...

"Get your fucking hands off her!" Ron's outraged voice broke the erotic atmosphere Draco created and soon Hermione felt bereft as Draco was suddenly yanked off her.

It took her a while for her brain to register what was happening and she stared in horror as Ron swung at Draco, missing his face and his clenched fist landing on the blond Slytherin's shoulder instead.

"What the--Weasley!" Draco yelled in outrage and swung at Ron, but his aim was much better than Ron's and his fist connected with the redhead's jaw, snapping the other boy's head back and sending him staggering backwards.

"Ron!" Hermione squealed in alarm, but before she could leave her spot Ron pushed himself to his feet, his fists raised and ready for another round.

Draco stared at the deranged redhead. He couldn't possibly be asking for a fight with him!

"Don't push me, Weasley." Draco warned, his own fists raised and ready to fight back.

"You're going to pay for laying a hand on Hermione, Malfoy." Ron hissed, his eyes only a pair of straight line on his face as he glared at Draco.

"Stop it!" Hermione screamed at the two boys butting it out in front of her. But neither boy listened to her. They started attacking each other, fists flying here and there, flesh hitting flesh until both of them fell to the ground with a broken, bleeding nose.

"Ron!" Hermione finally tore herself away from the wall and ran to the aide of her fallen friend, his nose broken and bleeding non-stop. "Oh God, you stupid, stupid git!" she scolded, cradling the Ron's head and placing it on her lap. She started inspecting him for any further injury, asking him questions and murmuring soothing words to him.

Draco managed to help himself to a sitting position, his hand quickly touching his bleeding nose and witnessed with his own two eyes the girl who, just three nights ago, confessed her love for him tend to somebody else. He listened to her fret over her bleeding friend and dabbed the blood from his nose with the tip of hem of her robe. With a breaking heart he watched Hermione help Ron get to his feet and escorted the Weasel to the hospital wing, leaving him all alone and without giving him a backwards glance.

~*~*~*~*~

to be continued...

A/N: Aawww...poor Draco! And don't tell me I didn't warn you about this chapter! *lol* I did say things would be a bit "naughty/saucy" so don't be blaming me if you were surprised at finding Draco & Hermione necking in the dark! *lol*

Queen Li: patience, my dear. Hermione and Draco will eventually get together, but first they must go through some obstacles first before they live happily ever after *winks*

The Elfin Child: thanks for loving the story, and I hope you enjoy this chapter

Angela, Sucker for Romance: thanks for reviewing and thanks for loving the fic so far

martha: I was worried at first as to how Hermione would make Draco feel jealous, but as I sat in front of my comp and started typing up each chapter, idea after idea just started popping into my head...thanks for the review!

Claudia: sorry for driving you nuts with the cliffies, but at least you don't have to wait too long for the next update, right?

shorty: I think after this chapter Draco's next best friend will be the Slytherin shower room! *lol*

CindyLea: thanks for agreeing with the plot twist, I didn't want to bore you readers by sticking to the same plot line throughout

dazzlindiva17: is this ENOUGH PASSION for you, dear? hehehehe

Julibleations: thanks for liking the new twist

Anakah: I'll take your opinion into consideration and see how I'll be able to work it out in the story, thanks for the review!

Rebecca: well dear, I hope this one is "long enough" for you too. thanks for being patient with me, but I'm warning you now, after this chapter is posted it might take me days before I could post the next one due to work so considered yourself warned, hehehehe *winks*

CrystallineLily: Hermione was in shock after she realized what she just said to Draco hence why she left without hearing him out...and I doubt she'll hear him out until the end of this fic--whenever that may be! *lol*