Chapter 4
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Hermione had managed, yet again, to ruin his day. Even though it was indirectly, the Mudblood's apparent charm had lured his cousin like a curse, and everyone was feeling the effects. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, being preoccupied with other responsibilities, but Draco was there to clean up whatever mess that had been caused. He glanced into the empty Potions class. The sixth years had cleared out nearly an hour ago, but Leo's dejected form sat alone, hunched a chair.
"There you are… you missed lunch." Draco started as he entered the room, trailed by two other bored Slytherins.
"I wasn't hungry," Leo muttered, nodding a greeting to Pansy and Goyle, who wore equally vacant expressions.
"Look, if I were you I'd also be worried about my waistline, but starving yourself isn't the answer," Draco said, shaking his head.
"Ha! I'll have you know that I have a fantastic physique; I'm practically a living version of the female fantasy," Leo argued, holding his head up high.
"And humble too, it's a nice combination."
"Yet not right for Hermione Granger," Leo said defeated, tossing an annoyed glance at Pansy and Goyle who were witnessing the discussion with new interest.
"Ah, and that would be my reason for this little visit. I assume she's the cause of your troubles… what happened? Was she not all that you expected of her?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"On the contrary, she was the one that rejected me," Leo admitted.
Draco frowned, "What are you talking about? It's been three days, you mean to tell me you still haven't caught her yet?"
"She's not trout Draco."
"Of course she is, and apparently you've just been using the wrong bait. You really have no idea about these things do you? No wonder you've been running around, acting like it's that time of the month."
"This isn't funny. I've done everything… she could just never love someone like me."
"Of course not. She made that clear to me the other day, that she had no interest in you… but she's just like every other female. These obstacles can be overcome and turned in your favor so easily, especially when it comes to sex- did they teach you nothing at Durmstrang?"
"It doesn't work that way Draco. Hermione doesn't fall for cheap tricks, and believe me, over the past couple of days I've tried them all. Imported candy, flowers, special edition spell books, toothpaste, jewelry-"
"Toothpaste?"
"I was running out of ideas… and she has really nice teeth don't you think?"
"I try not to these days. You mean to tell me she never accepted any of it?"
"Nothing. I told you, she doesn't want me."
"Don't be ridiculous. What woman wouldn't want a Malfoy? She should be thrilled!"
Draco was more than a little surprised that Hermione had turned down his shiny, blonde female-magnet of a cousin so efficiently. Perhaps she'd taken his warning in the courtyard to heart… in which case Leo's misery would be his fault. The boy was still the second best catch in Slytherin, but would with him the wrath of the Malfoy family if word ever got out that he was with a Mudblood. Perhaps Granger was wise in her decision.
"Nobody will ever love me," Leo sighed, "I'm going to die alone, never having made a commitment, experiencing nothing but meaningless sex with a hundred different women…"
"Yeah, it's not easy living the male fantasy." Draco said dryly, but knowing he couldn't leave his cousin in this state. Perhaps a brief affair between the two wouldn't cause too much controversy. It was certainly a better option considering the alternative of having to constantly console his cousin. Draco Malfoy was no nursemaid.
"You don't understand Draco… you've never been in love. Besides, I can't face her yet. She looked so beautiful when she threatened to hex me if I didn't leave her alone…"
"Leo, you're an idiot."
"Oh Draco, you always know exactly what to say," Leo drawled.
"I wasn't finished. You're an idiot, but you're family. I don't want you to end up like me. "
"You mean a cynical, heartless old bitch?" Leo offered, then ducked out of the way as Draco hurled a book at him with deadly accuracy.
"Ahhhh!"
Goyle started laughing; Pansy looked up with a gasp, "You got the poor boy in the eye!"
"Your ability to state the obvious is quite uncanny Petunia," Leo muttered.
"It's Pansy!" she shrieked.
"Whatever. I'm in pain here. I may have lost an eye."
"Oh, don't complain. You've got another one that works just fine." Draco commented.
"Actually this is good," Leo stated, blinking back into focus, knowing there was no real damage done. "Maybe Hermione will pity the one-eyed version of me so much she'll give me a mercy date."
"Why did I get stuck dealing with this shit?" Draco asked with a sigh.
"Yet again, your glowing sensitivity astounds me." Leo smirked.
"You know, if the kid needs a little… cheering up… I could always give it a try," Pansy cut in, smiling pleasantly.
"No," Draco and Leo said simultaneously, both shuddering slightly for their own reasons.
"Fine," she shrugged a shoulder and returned to studying her polished nails.
"So the Mudblood didn't fancy you at all then?" Goyle chuckled, oblivious to the malicious glare he received.
"No, it had nothing to do with that," Leo growled.
"Ah, so then it was the age thing?" Draco smirked, a little curious as to Hermione's true reason, "I'm not sure if a year difference would pass her as a pedophile."
"What's a pedophile?" Goyle asked.
Pansy rolled her eyes, "A peda-file is one of those things Muggles use to trim their toenails. Honestly Goyle, sometimes you're so stupid it hurts."
"Pansy, Goyle, we're trying to have a serious discussion. Get lost." Draco ordered bluntly.
"Whatever, I didn't want to come in the first place," Pansy said with a pout, "Come on Goyle, I'm bored, which means you're about to get laid."
"Laid on what?" Goyle asked as they both retreated out the door.
"You have terrible taste in friends," Leo muttered, "At least Harry and Ron are interesting, they even tried to get me a date with Hermione." Leo said with a pitiful sigh.
"Ah, and we all know how well that worked out for you. So glad to see you're on a first name basis Granger's lap dogs."
"They're really not all that bad, Draco. They tried to get Hermione to like me."
"I'm sure they did. Those two probably know as much about seduction as Hagrid knows about showers."
"Well I was desperate! It's not like you could have helped me."
"Please, with my guidance she would have fallen for you faster than the encounter Goyle is about to have with Pansy."
"And I had tried so hard to repress those thoughts. Like I was saying… you're the last person Hermione would trust, what makes you think you can get to her?" Leo replied with a laugh.
"I may hate her, but I understand her." Draco replied, with a devilish grin.
"Perhaps, but I really don't think you could-"
"Of course I could. Mudblood or not, she still functions on the levels of all women. Once you know her weakness, you can use it against her and she'd never even know."
"You know Hermione's weakness?"
"Seven years of violent arguments have taught me much… Leo, I'm going to help you. Your father would be furious if he ever found out, but he'd probably kill Granger first, which works out really well for me. There's just no way I will see a Malfoy rejected in this manner. It's an insult." Draco sighed thoughtfully, weighing his options. Perhaps with this distraction Hermione wouldn't always be in his way.
"I'd never let anyone hurt her," Leo vowed.
"How very noble of you. Now shut up and listen to me. I'm going to get you one date with her… one… so screw her, fall in love, break her heart, let her break yours, and don't ever let me hear about any of it. Ever. Maybe you'll hurt her and I'll get to laugh, or maybe she'll hurt you and I'll get to say 'I told you so'. Either way I win."
"Draco, even if you did manage to get her to talk to you, she'd never consider-"
"Be in Hogsmeade by nine. You'll have what you want." Draco stated, only slightly disgusted with himself as he straightened up and stalked out of the room. He'd get his cousin a date with Hermione Granger, even if he had to tie her up and drag her there, kicking and screaming the entire way.
Not an entirely unpleasant thought.
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Please Review? I hope I justified Draco's change of heart well enough. : )
