To The Contrary!

By Emma

Chapter Three: He Bribed Me!



Thanks everybody, for the great feedback. I won't have time to work on the story tomorrow, but I'll surely upload a new chapter before Thursday. If I don't....I'm really sorry in advance.



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Hermione sighed and drummed her fingernails on the desk in her lone prefect bedroom. She was restless- and hungry. Finally, when she'd reached that point of hunger where one cared about nothing else, she decided to sneak into the kitchens.



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Draco sighed. He felt lonely. He wasn't used to an empty bed. He leaned across and pointed hi wand at the fireplace. It was freezing in the dungeons at night.

Moments later, he sat watching the roaring blaze. Then he heard a noise above him- was it footsteps? What was anyone doing lurking about in the castle after midnight?

Sine he was never introduced to much anything muggle, he'd never read a Sherlock Holmes mystery. But if he had read them, now he would surely be blaming his spark of interest in the noise on Arthur Conan Doyle.

He threw on a pair of boxers and sprinted stealthily up the stairs.

When he saw that the form was a definite female, he grinned. But as he drew closer, he nearly gasped. It wasn't just any girl- it was Granger!

Deciding that this could make a turn to his advantage, he continued to follow.

He didn't speak a word, even when she stopped in deserted hallways to see if she could hear the footsteps following her. She was a bright girl.

He watched from behind a suit of armour as she ticked the canvas pear. She entered the kitchen moments later, and Draco quickly ran in behind her and held the door open. He leaned on the doorway and smirked. When she finally noticed him, she nearly screamed. After recovering from her shock, she smirked right back at him.

"You seem to have forgotten something, Malfoy." she was eyeing the scantily clad bottom half of his body.

"Considering you can't tear your eyes away, I'll only consider it a mild error on my part."

Hermione tried furiously not to blush as he looked her over in her nightgown.

You should wear things like that more often," he commented, "Satin flatters you."

She glared at him as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.

"So," he raised his grey eyes to hers, "What on earth are you doing here?"

Hermione smiled at a random house elf, "Getting a scrumptious snack."

The elf beamed at her. The house elves seemed to like her a great deal more since she'd consented to stop S.P.E.W- for their personal happiness, of course.

"Pardon me if I'm incorrect, but is it not against the school rules to be parading around the halls and breaking into the kitchens?" Draco raised an expectant eyebrow.

She shrugged embarrassedly, "Especially after hours. Why? What do you care?"

"I care because Hogwarts doesn't need prefects who can't follow the simplest of rules."

Hermione rolled her eyes in understanding, "All right, Malfoy. What do you want?"

He let his eyes linger over her once more, then snapped his gaze up to meet hers. He set his mouth.

"One date."

Hermione blinked.

"One what?"

"One. Date." he spoke very slowly, as if speaking to a small child or dumb animal.

Hermione began to laugh, "Alright, let's think about this. You have something to blackmail me with. And the conditions of this blackmail are that you won't tell of my nightly wanderings if I consent to go on one date with you?"

"Correct and very well stated."

Hermione could hardly believe it, "But we loathe eachother!"

"Yes, but have you ever thought about why?"

"Because you're a slimey, arrogant git."

"And you're a stuck up tightass. Which as of late I happen to find incredibly sexy."

Hermione's eyes went wide, and she considered. She didn't need Malfoy tattling on her. And it would just be one small period of time not killing eachother, right? And besides, it didn't mean she was committing herself to anything. Who knew if they would even live to complete the night?

She finally just rolled her eyes and stuck out her hand.

"Deal?" he smirked, eying her suspiciously.

"Deal." she sighed, and they shook on it.

Just as he looked as though he were about to leave he turned back slightly.

"I'll speak to you tomorrow at the breakfast table and we'll set something up."

Great, she thought, He's doing this just so every Gryffindor will know what's going on.

"And remember," he added silkily, "No telling. Not anybody."

Hermione inwardly groaned.

"Right-o." she replied, and couldn't help rolling her eyes again as she watched his pale retreating back with mild interest.



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Draco tried his hardest not to laugh with triumphant giddiness as he ran down the stairs to his room.

"Hermione", he mused, smiling to himself, "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."





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Hey All! I know that last line is weird, it will eventually be explained. I know the chapters are short but I do have a sad resemblance to a life every once in a while. :) Later, dudes. And don't forget to note me, dammit. *grins*