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Chapter Six: The Biggest Barstard In The World

"Draco Malfoy is the biggest barstard in the world!" Hermione said loudly at the Gryffindor table the following morning.

   "Why?" asked Ginny, buttering a piece of toast.

   Ron frowned at her. "You don't need to ask why 'Malfoy' and 'barstard' are in the same sentence. Personally, I would've gone for stupid prick."

   Hermione laughed, and Ginny turned to her. "Well, yes, I know he's a barstard - but what exactly did he do? I mean, yesterday you didn't seem too rapt in him, but you didn't have a problem about -," she was cut off by a very severe look from Hermione, "whinging about him." Ron seemed to be satisfied by this, because he was longer looking at Ginny as if she was a bald ape.  

   "Well," began Hermione, "he won't leave me alone for starters. He came into my room three times last night - without permission. I swear, platinum blond hair is not something you want to wake up to."

   Ron seemed disgusted by this idea because he just spit out his bacon on Lavender's plate. "Er - sorry ..."

   "Lavender," she finished, but she seemed unnaturally pleased by the piece of chewed up bacon.

   Hermione grinned at him. "Wow, that's something to go on the bedside table."

   "Shut up."

   "You know, Hermione, I reckon Malfoy has a little crush on you," said Ginny mindlessly.

   It was very unfortunate for Ginny to say that at that exact moment, because Hermione spit her orange juice all over Lavender's plate. She stared at it, wide-eyed, far from apologising. "Look, Ron, the bacon's got it's own soup," she said, pointing to the piece of bacon floating in the orange liquid. She looked up at Lavender. "I think you should get another plate."

   Ron snorted quite loudly. "She's sorry, Lavender. She's just pre-menstrual."

   Hermione laughed even louder, and Lavender and Parvati stood up shooting her a dirty look, which made Hermione laugh even harder. "Hermione," Ginny whispered, "people are starting to stare." Hermione looked up at all the curious faces through the Great Hall, and her eyes fell on Draco. He was smirking - not at all unusual - but this time it was a very superior smirk, like he knew something she didn't. And then it hit her.

   "Ginny, who helps the house-elves serve breakfast?" she asked.

   Ginny stared at her as if she was crazy. "The Head Boy and Girl. Honestly, Hermione, you acting quite strange -," but that was all Hermione needed to hear. Draco had spiked her orange juice, and that was just to reel her in. He really was a barstard.

   Draco walked out of the Great Hall, and if she weren't watching him she wouldn't have had any idea he was gone, since he snuck out behind Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione stood up, and then abruptly sat back down again. Sighing, she stood up, and pushed her plate away, but was immediately pulled down Ginny. "What the fuck are you doing?" she hissed. Hermione looked at her; wide-eyed, and realised almost everyone in the Great Hall was still staring at her. "Ah, exercise ... you know, the old stand up, sit down," she paused, thinking fast. "Muggle thing."

   Ginny let go of Hermione's robes, and Hermione stood up yet again. "Now what are you doing?" Ginny sighed. "The old stand up and look like a wanker?" Several kids laughed, and Hermione ignored them and stomped out of the Great Hall. She was giving in too easily for her liking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione found Draco in their common-room. He was sitting in front of the fire, his back facing her. "Do you remember my proposal?" he asked.

   Hermione smirked. "Do you remember me standing you up at the altar?"

   "Not that kind of proposal, you fuckwit," said Draco, turning around. He hadn't expected someone he'd just hexed to have a sense of humour. He stood up, facing her completely. "You know I want the game back on."

   Hermione nodded. "You waking me up three times last night sort of gave me the clue."

   "Right. So. Are you still set in your no answer?"

   Hermione rocked backwards and forwards as if she was teetering on revealing some bit of valuable information. She shrugged. "Dunno."

   "You don't know? Is that a 'no', 'yes', 'maybe'?" Draco asked. Hermione grinned at him, she was making him impatient. "Dunno," she said again.

   "For fuck's sake!" he exclaimed. "Just pick one!"

   Hermione rolled her eyes. "Fine. Yes. Just no truths or dares now, all right? I'm tired."

   Draco sighed, and nodded. "Right."

   Hermione looked at him, and realised there was more thing to be done. So then she kissed him.

   Now, it was quite hard to tell who was more confused. Draco or Hermione. They were both standing there kissing each other like you would kiss your Mum 'hello'. Of course, Draco realised this - and kissed her back.

   Hard.

   This surprised Hermione, she expected him to push her away in disgust, but he continued kissing her as if he'd done it a hundred times before. His tongue gently tried to open her mouth, and she let him, her hand gripping his hair tightly. And then she stopped. Just like that.

   Draco stared at her. "What the fuck was that for?"

   She smiled at him. "There's one thing you don't no about me, Malfoy. I never back out of a dare."