Disclaimer: HP characters not mine--the rest, plot included, are mine
Author's Note: All I can say is thanks so much for all your reviews! I don't see an end to this fic any time soon...but then again maybe the end is near for this fic..hmm...well that's for me to know and you to find out *winks*
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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XVIII. Two Can Play That Game
Hermione didn't see Draco again until Monday morning, and she nearly staggered the moment she caught sight of Draco walking in to the Great Hall holding hands with none other than Pansy Parkinson! She followed the couple walk towards the Slytherin table with their fingers intertwined, looking all smug and carefree. Hermione nearly lost her appetite for the rest of the day when she saw the happy twosome join the rest of the Slytherin students.
"Herm, are you alright?" Harry asked, nudging his suddenly still friend whose eyes were completely transfixed on the table across from theirs. He didn't have to follow her gaze to know who was the recipient of his friend's deadly glare. He saw Malfoy walk in with that Parkinson girl holding hands.
"I'm fine, Harry. Just ignore me." she replied through gritted teeth, her hand clenching the spoon tightly, nearly bending the silver metal into half. "I'm done breakfast. I'm going to go visit Ron in the hospital wing." she didn't wait for Harry to say anything and pushed herself off her seat.
She jutted her chin high into the air and looked straight ahead, ignoring the beckoning of a faint voice at the back of her head telling her to look at the Slytherin table once again. Her stubbornness overruled her and soon she found herself outside the Great Hall and hidden from everybody else. It was only then that she let the lump in her throat go and soon tears started cascading down her cheeks.
Damn you, Draco Malfoy! she thought harshly as tears kept on streaming down her cheeks. As soon as she was all cried-out it was then that she started for the hospital wing to visit Ron.
~*~
Draco's gaze followed the petite dark haired Gryffindor girl stalk out of the Great Hall with her small chin raised into the air. He was watching her when he entered the Great Hall holding Pansy's hand. He couldn't help himself from smirking.
Task one, accomplished. A complete success. he ticked-off the list he mentally written for himself and enjoyed breakfast. As soon as he was seated he let go of Pansy's hand and had no intention of ever grabbing or even holding it ever again. It was only for show that he grabbed Pansy's hand before they entered the Great Hall. He wanted to give Hermione Granger a dose of her own medicine.
~*~
"Oh Hermione, good thing you're locked away in here instead of out there in the courtyard!" Ginny exclaimed dramatically as she flung herself on Hermione's bed inside the Gryffindor girl's room. It was already Thursday evening and during the past three days Hermione has seen Draco parade around school with a different girl each time. It still made her blood boil every time she caught sight of him walking down the hallway with his arm wrapped around a different girl each time, and the way he flirted with all the girls annoyed her to bits.
"Why? What's going on?" she frowned.
"Malfoy was making a spectacle of himself with another Slytherin girl outside the Great Hall." Ginny rolled to her back and let her head hung on the edge of the bed, staring upside-down at the door.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning he was sucking faces with the girl in public, Hermione!" she exclaimed, scandalized at the gall of Draco and his female housemate to be a tad bit too affectionate in public.
Hermione tried to control her expression from showing, but she couldn't conceal her gaze from suddenly becoming murderous after hearing the news Ginny just shared with her. What the hell was Draco trying to prove? Appearing every damn day with a different girl by his side, flirting with each one nevertheless, and now he was making a spectacle of himself and whomever this Slytherin girl was in public?
"I don't care." she managed to gave an unlady-like snort and continued reading her book.
Ginny eyed her friend skeptically, an eyebrow slightly raised in question at Hermione's attempt to act indifferent towards Draco's escapades when deep down inside she knew her friend's heart was breaking.
"You know, Herm, you could always give him a dose of his own damn medicine by being seen hanging out with a lot of your newly acquired admirers." she suggested.
Hermione lifted her gaze from the book and frowned at her friend, "What? You mean you want me to stoop down to Draco's level?"
"Not necessarily."
"Going out with guys whose intentions for you are clearly pure isn't necessarily stooping down to Malfoy's level, my dear Hermione. In fact, I'm sure quite a lot of guys here in school would be happy to see you by their side. And how knows, you might find your one true love in one of 'em and forget about Malfoy a whole lot sooner than you thought!"
Not after what happened between us Friday night. I won't be forgetting him that easily any time soon. she silently thought but bit her tongue from actually saying those words out loud. Ginny didn't know what Ron walked in to when he found her with Draco, and Hermione wasn't in the mood to share with her friend the details of her heated make-out session with Draco. Hell, even Harry didn't know just what kinda 'situation'--as Ron affectionately termed it--she and Draco were in when Ron found them, although Harry badgered her numerous times to share, she just wouldn't crack.
"No, Gin." she said firmly.
"Hermione..." Ginny whined, "Don't be a sissy and strike while the iron is still hot!"
"Whatever." Hermione rolled her eyes and ignored one of her best friend's sister. But Ginny was a hard person to ignore no matter how hard Hermione tried.
~*~
Draco sauntered into History of Magic Friday afternoon with a smug smirk plastered on his pale, handsome face. He has been enjoying watching Hermione's reaction whenever he appeared with a different girl attached to his side.
He wished she was there last night when he pulled a Slytherin fifth year and kissed her out in the hall. Of course it was just for show; he wanted to hurt Hermione as much as he was hurting inside. But Hermione skipped dinner last night. He thought his attempt was futile until he caught sight of the female Weasley gaping at him. He knew Hermione would hear about it for sure.
Little did Draco know that Hermione has something up her sleeve.
Draco's jaw nearly dropped when he entered Binns's class and found Hermione perched on her desk, her legs crossed and the front of her robe fell open, exposing one creamy leg. She was having an animated conversation with her fellow Gryffindor when Draco saw Harry approach them carrying his books.
Hermione gave him her killer megawatt smile--the smile Draco secretly hoped to be receiving some time soon--and pointed over her shoulder indicating the desk beside her. He watched Harry hand his books to Hermione which she placed on the desk next to hers.
So Potter will be sitting with Hermione today. Draco'll just have to look for another place to sit.
He found a spot hear Potter and Hermione and started for it when a movement from Harry's direction caught his attention. He glanced towards them and caught Harry placing a hand on Hermione's exposed kneecap casually. Hermione didn't seem to mind this and as Harry slowly stroked the side of her knee with his thumb, she placed her hand on top of his, lacing their fingers together as they continued to listen to the other girl yak about something.
Draco's nostrils were flaring as he witnessed the cozy scene between the two friends. If he could conjure up fire with a simple glare Harry and Hermione's joined hands would've burst into flames by now. He stormed out of the classroom seething with anger before he caused somebody some major bodily harm.
To hell with History of Magic today! He needed some fresh air.
~*~*~*~*~
to be continued...
A/N: Okay, I figured I needed to steer away from the drama for now. Draco's hurting--and so is Hermione. he needs to inflict some of the hurt back at her, but little did our stubborn Slytherin Prince know that our feisty Gryffindor Princess can inflict the same hurt back at him! What do you think? D'ya think I'm prolonging them getting together or is this ever changing plotline in the Draco/Hermione saga is being dragged for far too long? Hmm...I'm seeing that the end to this fic is nearing, but of course I still have to throw a few twists and turns along the way *lol* Enjoy & don't forget to review...thanks!
Starrynights13: sorry for writing another one with a cliffie. I know people hates cliffhangers, but what can I do? cliffhangers sorta build the tension and excitement and whatnot in every story, don't you think? *grins*
Dragoness666: thanks for leaving your mark, and I'm updating as often as I can--thankfully my workload this week isn't as much as last week's so I think I am finding some time to update each day...
CindyLea: I take it that you liked the idea of that one particular "steamy" make-out session between Draco and Hermione hence why you're calling Ron stupid?! *lol*
ju: I am not being so mean...hey, life's tough! *lol* and I think Draco's experiencing the truth about life being tough with his current situation with Hermione...but just stick around, this'll all eventually have a happy ending...I hope *wink, wink* hehehehe