THE TENDER TRAP

By Madame Plot Bunnie

Summary: It was only supposed to be a bet, a game, just meant for someone to walk away with the prize. Hearts weren't supposed to go spiraling out of control. But no one told Draco and Hermione that.

Pairing: Hermione/Draco, Ginny/Blaise Zabini

***

On Saturday morning, Ginny Weasley crept quietly into the seventh-year girl's dormitory. Shutting the door silently behind her, Ginny made her way over to her best friend Hermione Granger's bed. Ginny looked down at Hermione, sizing her up for the challenge she knew her friend was going to face. If Ginny could convince her, that was.

At seventeen, Hermione was pretty by the usual standards—curly brown hair down to her shoulders, a warm complexion, and although Ginny couldn't see them from behind Hermione's eyelids, large, chocolaty brown eyes.

The problem with Hermione, Ginny thought to herself, is that she hides herself. While Ginny herself usually wore her hair down, Hermione had taken to shoving hers back in a bun or a hasty ponytail, which usually hid her hair. Ginny, like most of the other girls at Hogwarts, had made alterations to her uniform by tailoring the shirt to fit tighter, and hemming the skirt to be shorter. Hermione's uniform had remained monotonous.

We might have to change that, if she's going to seduce Draco Malfoy, of all people, Ginny thought ruefully. Sighing, she leaned over Hermione and gave her a hard poke in the side. "Wake up, Mione! We have to talk!" Ginny hissed.

"Mmmmhppphhrrr," came the groggy response.

"No, now, Hermione, we have to talk now," Ginny insisted, pulling the pillow out from under her friend. Hermione's eyes flew open as her head hit the mattress. She looked a little surprised to see her redheaded friend there.

"Gin…what d'you need to talk to me about at—"Hermione glanced at the clock "seven on a Saturday morning?"

Here comes the hard part, Ginny's brain said. Telling Hermione her "assignment."

"Um, Mione, why don't you get dressed and meet me in the Great Hall?" Ginny said, instantly finding the need to stall for time. She needed to find out exactly how to word this without giving too much away—and fast. "Meet me in fifteen minutes?"

Hermione yawned loudly and nodded. "This better be good, Virginia Weasley. Waking me up at seven in the bloody morning…honestly…"

Ginny grinned and left the room.

***

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione was hurrying down the stairs that lead into the main hallway. She wondered what Ginny wanted to see her about—could it be Blaise? Hermione was one of the few who knew about Ginny Weasley and Blaise Zabini. The couple had decided to keep their relationship very private, lest Mr. Zabini get wind of it.

The only other people that knew about the two beside her were Ron and Harry, who were likewise sworn into secrecy. Ron had nearly had a heart attack when Ginny told him she had a Slytherin boyfriend.

But no, Hermione decided, it couldn't be about Blaise. If it had been, Ginny wouldn't have waited until morning to wake her. She would've come in at three thirty, more likely, Hermione thought as she burst into the Great Hall.

Due to the early hour, and the fact that it was indeed a Saturday, the Great Hall was sparsely occupied; the only dwellers being a few bright-eyed Ravenclaws, and of course, Ginny.  Hermione made her way over to the empty Gryffindor table and took a seat next to her friend.

Ginny was twisting a strand of hair, meaning she was deep in thought. Hermione grinned. That was usually her job. She waved a hand in front of Ginny's face. "Come back to Earth, Ginny," Hermione said. Ginny sat up with a start.

"Ah, Hermione! You're here…good. Okay. Well…"Ginny fidgeted in her seat.

"Gin? You okay?" Hermione asked, facing her. "What's the matter?"

Ginny took a breath. "I did something last night…kind of concerning you…and um…someone else." She looked up at Hermione.

Hermione sighed. "Ginny…what exactly did you do? Concerning me? I thought you were with Blaise last night!"

Ginny nodded and looked up. "I was. That why it concerns you…we kind of made a bet after reminiscing how we met, and it, um, had you in it. The bet I mean."   Hermione frowned and gestured for Ginny to continue.

   "Okay, well, Blaise said he betted no Gryffindor girl could ever seduce a Slytherin boy, because he doesn't think we're subtle enough, and I said I'd take that bet, and then he said he agreed, and then he picked you to be the girl to seduce someone in Slytherin, a boy I mean, and, uh—" Ginny broke off, catching the look on Hermione's face.

   "You—did—what?" Hermione hissed, her mouth slightly opened. "Ginny!"

Ginny moaned and dropped her head into her hands. "I know," she said quietly, "I know. It was stupid of me."

Hermione snorted. "That's putting it lightly, Gin," she said. "But let me get this straight—you made a bet with Blaise that I couldn't seduce a Slytherin boy?"

Ginny nodded, looking relieved that Hermione had neither stormed out nor begun to rant.

"All the while knowing that one, I have never seduced anyone in my life, two, Ron and Harry'll kill both of us when they find out, and three, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SEDUCE ANYONE!" Hermione's voice rose at the end, making Ginny wince, but Hermione was unsympathetic. "You'll just have to loose the bet then, Ginny."

Saying this, Hermione crossed her arms and sat back defiantly. I can't believe this, she fumed inwardly. Me, seducing some Slytherin idiot. Hermione glared at Ginny, who was surveying her with great interest.

After a few moments of tentative stare-down, Hermione was forced to blink. Ginny took this as a sign, but then again, Ginny was always looking for signs.

"Okay, look, Hermione," Ginny said quietly. "It was not only stupid of me to make this bet, but inconsiderate too." Hermione let out another small snort. "But," Ginny continued, "I shook on it, and as you know, that's binding magical contract."

Hermione drew in a deep breath, positively quivering with suppressed rage. Binding magical contract? She thought indignantly. Letting out her breath in a hiss, she straightened.

Ginny closed her eyes for a moment. "Hermione," she said quietly, opening her eyes, "do you know what happens to witches and wizards if they break a binding magical contract?"

Hermione made no reply, pursing her lips as though she had swallowed a whole lemon. She wasn't sure she could open her mouth without something really nasty coming out.

   Ginny sighed and went on. "They become cursed, Mione, don't pretend you don't know that. Now, I can walk around for the rest of my life having nasty accidents, and you can have that hanging over your head, or you can do me this one favor—" Hermione glared—"and I'll never ask anything of you again."

Ginny sat back and they were once again playing the staring game, allowing Hermione some time to think.

Did she really want Ginny's life to be a mess from here on out? Of course not, Hermione's brain answered automatically. Ginny's my best girlfriend…my only girlfriend, at that. But she had gone and made a bet behind her back!

Absently, Hermione reached up for one of the loose half-curls at the back of her neck, and she wound it round and round her finger. Of course, maybe it wouldn't be so bad…the Slytherins were all really thick anyway, and as long as it wasn't someone like Crabbe or Goyle…

She froze mid-wind, drawing in a deep breath. "Oh, Merlin, Ginny, who is it that I have to seduce?" Hermione asked in a frozen whisper.

   Ginny looked as though her seat was suddenly very, very warm; she began to fidget uncomfortably. "Oh," she said in a would-be casual tone, "It's…Draco Malfoy."

Hermione's head flew up so fast; she lost her balance and fell off her seat. Ginny gave a little shriek of surprise.

"Oh my God, Hermione, are you okay?" Ginny yelped, extending a hand. Hermione just shook her head, dazed.

Oh my God fit it just about perfectly—Hermione pinched herself hard to make sure she had heard correctly. A dull pain tinged her arm, and she knew it was true.

Oh, why, why, why in all the seven Hells had Ginny made that dumb bet? Draco Malfoy…there was no one in the school who she hated more, and he likewise. They had been enemies since they were eleven, for Christ's sake!

"Mione! Hermione!" Ginny hissed, prodding Hermione. "Get up, people are staring!"

Ginny was right, the Great Hall had begun to fill with students, many of whom were looking curiously at Hermione sprawled on the floor. Ginny yanked Hermione to her feet unceremoniously, all the while muttering under her breath.

Hermione was vaguely aware of Ginny dragging her out the door and onto the front lawn, past a grove of beech trees and down to the lake. Once there, Ginny roughly dropped her hand and shook Hermione by the shoulders.

"Okay, Hermione, I realize I may not be in the position to dictate hear, but you've basically agreed to this," Ginny said sharply. "And now, we have to play by the rules."

Hermione's head was still a little dazed, but she took in Ginny's words with a scowl. "RULES?" She yelled, causing Ginny to give a little start. "JUST ANOTHER THING YOU'VE FORGOTTEN TO TELL ME, RIGHT, GINNY? I CAN'T DO THIS AND YOU KNOW IT, AND—"

"Silencio!" Ginny muttered, having conspicuously extracted her wand from her pocket. Hermione's mouth flapped on, but no enraged screams filtered out.

Hermione caught on quick enough, and began waving her arms madly. Feeling inclined to be sympathetic, Ginny removed the spell.

"Please don't shout, Hermione," Ginny said wearily, sinking down onto the damp ground. "Just let me explain a few things. Sit." She patted the ground next to her. Hermione, glowering, sat.

"Okay," Ginny said, relieved Hermione had calmed down. "You are going to be seducing Draco Malfoy."

Breath in…let it out, count to ten…Hermione told herself quietly. Breath in, let it out, count to ten.

Hermione's eyes flew open. "Wait a second, Ginny. You do realize I hate him, and he hates me. Hate being the total opposite of love."

Ginny merely stared at her for a moment before letting out a little chuckle. "Oh, Hermione. You—" Ginny erupted into giggles again "thought I meant you had to fall in love with that prat?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes narrowed. She didn't find the situation amusing, not one bit.

   But Ginny merely sighed her laughter away. "No, silly, you've only got to get him to fall for you!"

Hermione stared at the girl in disbelief. Ginny was making all this sound so easy. But then again, Hermione reasoned, there was the problem. Ginny was, well, Ginny, bright and funny and pretty and vibrant Ginny, with hair to match her personality.

   Hermione gave a little sigh. If hair matched personality, she was in deep trouble, she thought, tugging on another brown lock.

"Easy for you to say," Hermione mumbled, ashamed of the growing feeling of jealousy growing in the pit of her stomach. Ginny's eyes lost their amused glitter, and she reached out to put a hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"To tell you the truth, Hermione, when I was agreeing to this deal, I was thinking about you," Ginny said, in tones so sincere Hermione looked up. "I've noticed—well, I mean, we all have—you've never been attached to anybody really, and I thought---maybe this was a good chance for you to leave your shell."

   Hermione stared out at the lake. "I've noticed—well, I mean, we all have"—so was that how everyone thought of her? Hermione would be the first to admit she didn't really have time for a boyfriend.

   Over the years, Hermione had steeled herself into believing that she was above all the hormonal flings her friends shared in. Thrown herself vigorously into work. Spent nights curled up in the Library, while girls like Ginny spent nights in the Astronomy Tower.

It was all very unfair.

   Often times she found herself laughing at the irony that her two best friends in the world happened to be male, and yet, she had no romantic entanglements. She pretended not to care, but every time Ginny or Lavender or Parvati made a new conquest, a new wave a jealousy for Hermione accompanied it.

   And yet here was a chance, offered to her by Ginny on a silver platter, to finally break that mold.

I don't have to be Hermione-the-good-girl if I don't want to be, Hermione thought haughtily.

   "Eh…Mione?"

Ginny's voice cut into Hermione's self ego-boost. Hermione raised her head, and, staring Ginny down, nodded.

Ginny's eyes grew wide with joy; she squealed and threw herself at Hermione in a great big hug.

"Oh, Mione!" Ginny cried, getting to her feet and doing an awkward little dance. "Ah, Mione, you're the best…Gods, this is great! I'll help you, it'll be fun!"

Hermione couldn't help smiling as she too got to her feet, following her redheaded friend back up to the castle.

***********

NOTES: "Hem, hem"

I am terribly sorry this chapter was not posted a week ago. My lovely (note the heavy sarcasm) family took a simply delightful trip to the lovely state of Maine. No offense to you if you live up there, beautiful place and all, but dead boring.

Yeah. So I started this chapter the night before we're planned to leave, and I was going to finish it the next morning, only we left AT SEVEN IN THE BLOODY MORNING. The indignity of it all.

Yeah, (and here we go with the sarcasm again) THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS I GOT. I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but ONE? Jeez.

Well, anyway, THANK YOU, GirlEnigma. It warms my heart to know that I am being read, and by someone who knows their stuff.

No sarcasm there.

*Madame Plot Bunnie