Love's Game
~hotsleekeyz~
Chapter 1
Falling in Love with the Enemy
**************************************************************************** ****************
They were already in their seventh and last year in Hogwarts. All's well and fine with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Ron who was standing very manly at 6feet, and of course the ever-red red hair, had managed to let pass his feelings for Hermione as he had found love in a Ravenclaw girl.
Harry was at his best, with his perfectly sculpted arms and abdomen due to Quidditch practices in and out of school (He was secretly added to the players of his favorite international Quidditch team with only Dumbledore's knowledge). His hair was neatly fixed with gel, into a pack of spikes. He stood at a 5'10''.
Hermione, looking very beautiful at the time, stood at the measure of 5'6''. She was slim and proportionally sexy with her gorgeous auburn waves flowing down to her small waist.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Slytherin and Gryffindor students headed to their first class in the morning--- Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Hermione was rather busy reading through her book while she walked when someone pushed her to the side. She almost threw herself onto the floor, only lucky that Dean Thomas was beside her.
She turned around to look who it was who had to ruin her peace. Hermione saw an infuriated handsome man staring at her indignantly.
"Who do you think you are to just walk around here as if you own the whole place?" spat Hermione as her cheeks went into a bit red.
Draco Malfoy, the school's heartthrob, raised his brow at Hermione. "I thought you were smart to be able to decipher who I am after all these years Granger. Have gone stupid after all the hours you spend studying? Pity you. You don't have innate intelligence as I do". His lips curled smugly.
Harry, who heard Draco gaining at his friend yet again, walked towards their direction and immediately pushed Draco away. "Back off Malfoy!"
Draco looked at Harry's direction and his lips turned into a fraud pout. "Aw. If it isn't Harry Potter who's in time to save his friend again. . ." Then an evil smirk came out of his lips.
Harry was about to punch Draco when someone stopped him. He turned around to see who had stopped him. It was Hermione.
"Come on Harry. He's a waste of our precious time. Nothing will come out of you punching him. HIS FATHER might be here any minute to complain to the Headmaster", Hermione spat in a malicious way. She glared at Draco with a different glint in her eye.
Both Draco and Harry brushed off their robes and took composure back. Harry mouthed at Draco, "Very well. This ferret is not worth our time. Let's go"
Harry and Hermione walked side-by-side as Draco glared at them from behind.
**************************************************************************** ****************
"But Sir! I want to be part of the Dueling Club!", retorted Draco at Snape.
"Mr. Malfoy, we see it fit that you join the club only for the reason that you could surpass Potter's ability but you have to consider the fact that it would be hard to have you both in. We wouldn't want to lose two of our best students in practice, now would we?", answered Snape.
"I promise that I wouldn't get our conflict in the way"
Snape's lip curled. "Very well. I'll tell Potter about it then"
**************************************************************************** ****************
"What? MALFOY in the Dueling Club? Are you serious? They've gone nutters!", said Ron who seemed to have listened well to every word that Harry said.
Harry frowned. "I know Ron. Snape told me that Malfoy promised to behave while we're at it"
"And you actually believed him? Harry, you can't trust a word Malfoy says!"
Hermione interrupted them. "You know, if Malfoy doesn't keep his promise, he'll be dead for sure. Professor Dumbledore would have the slimy git out of Hogwarts in no time. Besides, that ferret boy does have talent. We couldn't deny him of that"
"Fine! He DOES have talent, if that's what you call it, but it's Harry's safety we should be worried about. It wouldn't be safe to have them together", spat Ron.
Harry cut in. "I'm fine. It's I that Malfoy has to worry about. . ."
Harry smiled.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Hermione stood beside Ron at the room where the Dueling Club practices their art. Draco was at the far left of the room, listening to Snape's instructions.
Hermione went over to Harry and said, "You can do it Harry. It's your first time to duel with him again after some time. Give him some kickass!"
Harry and Ron stared questioningly at Hermione and her words. Hermione blushed. "Well you know what I mean now, do you?" asked Hermione embarrassed.
"Of course Mione. I'll give it a good shot", replied Harry with a dangerous smile aimed at Draco.
It was time for Draco and Harry to come on top of the platform. Some of the members of the Dueling Club drew themselves closer to watch.
Draco glared at Harry while they both walked to the middle of the platform. "Ready Potter?" queried Draco with an evil smirk.
"Make sure you got Snape's instructions well or else you'll be hurt pretty badly"
"You talk too much"
And their wands were up to their faces. Then it swished to their side. In a second, they turned around and took their heels away from the opponent. At the right distance, they turned to face each other again in their fighting stance.
Hermione whispered to herself, "I hope no one gets hurt. . ." Her hands were clammy and cold. She feared for Harry---and Draco as well.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Draco was successful into putting Harry off-guard though not one was hailed as winner. They were both good at defense and offense.
Harry was back to where he stood beside Hermione and Ron was. "He's a tough one. Hard to get a spell at him"
"But you did better than him!" said Ron in disgust of Draco.
"Oi Harry, ask him if he's fine" , voiced Hermione in a shy manner, almost blushing profusely.
"WHAT?!" asked Harry and Ron in unison.
"I said, ask Malfoy if he's fine. You're in the same club now and it wouldn't help much if you still go against each other"
"You know Mione, it's hard to fathom what you're asking me to do. I mean, we can live through the year not talking civilly to each other. I don't see any problem with that" replied Harry in discernment.
"I want to talk to him, actually. I need him for Potions---you know, sometimes you need to be smart enough to know whom to ask help from. He's the best at the subject so far and from what he's been acting lately, I reckon it wouldn't be hard to get along with him"
Ron claimed, "Excuse me Hermione Granger, is that YOU speaking? Since when did you ever think about consulting Malfoy about anything? Besides, he just pushed you a while ago while walking to DADA class, Harry told me"
"Well, just like you ARE, Mr. Ronald Weasley, the ferret also has a sense of maturity. . . probably far more than what you have", snapped Hermione. "Come on Harry, talk to him!"
"Um, Mione, if you like him, you could ask him yourself. I'm in no mood to talk to Malfoy right now", Harry snapped evilly at how Hermione was acting.
The three stared at Draco who was tending a gash over his left bicep. He had his robe off, leaving him only with his white shirt and vest on. Ron and Harry stared back at Hermione.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing", Harry and Ron replied as they chuckled to themselves.
"Fine! It seems like you won't stop acting as if you won't tell me what you know---okay, I like him. Maybe because he has grown more handsome this year and that I like him that way, except for the fact that he is the albino who always ruins our day! Now, are you contented?"
Ron and Harry's guffaw echoed inside the room. Draco looked their way for a second, and then went back to tending his wound.
"You know Mione, I wouldn't stop you from liking him. It's probably your hormones working" said Harry as he tried to sound sincere about it, though he hasn't stop laughing.
"Hey, I'm serious!"
"We are serious as well Mione. It's just funny that you suddenly have feelings for that ferret. Now won't you want to deflate his head now that he has one more admirer to deal with? A HERMIONE GRANGER to deal with?" asked Harry as he tried much to suppress his laugh.
Ron hadn't stopped laughing and was close to falling onto the floor. Hermione kept her silence and glared at her friends. The two stopped laughing at once.
Harry gained composure and said, "Go on Mione. If you want to talk to him, go. We wouldn't stop you"
"But Harry! I'm not the one who's in the Dueling Club that he is in. Besides, he might still be disgusted with me"
A voice broke in. Professor Dumbledore came in from the huge wooden door. "Mr. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley please come with me"
Harry and Ron looked at each other, then at Hermione. "Mine, we've to go. You figure out how you're going to manage talking to Malfoy", Harry claimed as he knew they were in trouble once again.
"But---"
Harry and Ron were out of the room with Dumbledore. Hermione stood alone in the middle of the room. She then turned around to see Draco still mending his gash.
//Maybe it wouldn't hurt much to talk to him//
Hermione walked towards Draco. She was hesitant at first though it seemed that her feet instructed for her to go.
There she was, a meter away from the handsome young lad who had put his hairdo back into a sleek style after 2years of having it down.
Much to Hermione's surprise, Draco turned his head towards her.
Draco was surprised as well though he remained his cool. "I felt an adversary coming"
"Adversary?" asked Hermione innocently.
"Yes. An adversary. I felt someone of your sort coming. What are you doing here anyways? You're going to pick on me as the great Harry Potter has wounded such filth as Draco Malfoy?"
Hermione was astounded. Never did it come across her mind that Draco would pertain to himself as filth. "You're not filth Malfoy. And I'm not here to pick on you or make you feel bad about that. You did great up there, and that's what matters here"
Draco raised a brow. "Granger, if this is another INTELLIGENT tactic of yours to play a trick on me, it's not going to work." Draco turned to his aching arm again and clutched it tight.
Hermione immediately put a hand over Draco's that held the wound. "Let me"
Draco thought he should brush away Hermione's hand but he felt that he shouldn't. He removed his hand from the wound.
Hermione took out her wand and muttered a spell. Sparks flew from the tip of her wand to Draco's wound.
Draco groaned. Even if there only was a gash over his perfect pale skin, the pain penetrated through it. The pain reached his limbs. "Potter must've done better than I did. He wasn't scratched one bit"
"You okay now?" asked Hermione, too much evident of concern.
Draco felt silly at the question but he knew well it was proper to give a reply, especially that Hermione helped him out. "Yeah, reckon so. Granger, why are you doing this?"
"Malfoy, I'm Head Girl. I should be concerned of all students around here"
Hermione blushed. She tried to fight it but to no avail.
"Uh, okay. If you say so"
Hermione touched Draco's arm.
"Ouch! Careful!" snapped Draco at once.
"This is not good. It's not just a gash Malfoy. I reckon you be sent to the infirmary. You must have damaged some muscle tissue or the surface of your bone. Come on, I'll take you there"
"I could manage", said Draco smugly. He was putting up his manly façade though deep inside he was feeling right with someone like the Mudblood around with him.
"Oh come on Draco! Don't be such a kid. I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey right now"
Hermione walked towards the chair that Draco placed his robe at. Draco was left astounded as he stood alone, watching Hermione from afar.
"What has gotten into you?" inquired Draco rather amused.
"I told you, I'm Head Girl. I should take care of every student around here", replied Hermione as she took Draco's robe in one hand.
Draco was silent. He just stared amused at Hermione.
"What?" asked Hermione as she looked into Draco's beautiful gray eyes quite a number of inches above hers.
Draco, who towered over his schoolmate by 5inches, smiled. "You amuse me"
"And why would I amuse you, may I ask?" asked Hermione. She felt butterflies in her stomach.
//Did Malfoy just said I amused him? Oh Merlin, Harry's right. This must be my hormones working!//
"You called me by my first name without your knowledge"
Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Did I?"
"Yeah, but that's not a big deal. Maybe you could just avoid calling me by my first name when other people around. I don't want them to think that there's something else between us other than a schoolmate to each other"
Draco turned around towards the door while Hermione's thoughts came in a rage.
//He didn't refer to me as his enemy? And did he just say ". . .but that's not a big deal". Does that mean I could call him by his first name?//
"Um, Malfoy. . ."
Draco looked back. "Yes?"
Hermione wanted to ask what Draco's words meant. "Nothing. Just wait up"
Draco stood firm where he was and waited for Hermione, that they went out of the room with him holding the door for her.
~Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Phew! That was some work.
Oh, please don't argue with the rating. This really is a HarryXHermione fic, if I'll be successful to do that. I've tried many times to make a fic for this rating though it always ends up as DracoXHermione.
PLEASE REVIEW!
Chapter 1
Falling in Love with the Enemy
**************************************************************************** ****************
They were already in their seventh and last year in Hogwarts. All's well and fine with Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Ron who was standing very manly at 6feet, and of course the ever-red red hair, had managed to let pass his feelings for Hermione as he had found love in a Ravenclaw girl.
Harry was at his best, with his perfectly sculpted arms and abdomen due to Quidditch practices in and out of school (He was secretly added to the players of his favorite international Quidditch team with only Dumbledore's knowledge). His hair was neatly fixed with gel, into a pack of spikes. He stood at a 5'10''.
Hermione, looking very beautiful at the time, stood at the measure of 5'6''. She was slim and proportionally sexy with her gorgeous auburn waves flowing down to her small waist.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Slytherin and Gryffindor students headed to their first class in the morning--- Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Hermione was rather busy reading through her book while she walked when someone pushed her to the side. She almost threw herself onto the floor, only lucky that Dean Thomas was beside her.
She turned around to look who it was who had to ruin her peace. Hermione saw an infuriated handsome man staring at her indignantly.
"Who do you think you are to just walk around here as if you own the whole place?" spat Hermione as her cheeks went into a bit red.
Draco Malfoy, the school's heartthrob, raised his brow at Hermione. "I thought you were smart to be able to decipher who I am after all these years Granger. Have gone stupid after all the hours you spend studying? Pity you. You don't have innate intelligence as I do". His lips curled smugly.
Harry, who heard Draco gaining at his friend yet again, walked towards their direction and immediately pushed Draco away. "Back off Malfoy!"
Draco looked at Harry's direction and his lips turned into a fraud pout. "Aw. If it isn't Harry Potter who's in time to save his friend again. . ." Then an evil smirk came out of his lips.
Harry was about to punch Draco when someone stopped him. He turned around to see who had stopped him. It was Hermione.
"Come on Harry. He's a waste of our precious time. Nothing will come out of you punching him. HIS FATHER might be here any minute to complain to the Headmaster", Hermione spat in a malicious way. She glared at Draco with a different glint in her eye.
Both Draco and Harry brushed off their robes and took composure back. Harry mouthed at Draco, "Very well. This ferret is not worth our time. Let's go"
Harry and Hermione walked side-by-side as Draco glared at them from behind.
**************************************************************************** ****************
"But Sir! I want to be part of the Dueling Club!", retorted Draco at Snape.
"Mr. Malfoy, we see it fit that you join the club only for the reason that you could surpass Potter's ability but you have to consider the fact that it would be hard to have you both in. We wouldn't want to lose two of our best students in practice, now would we?", answered Snape.
"I promise that I wouldn't get our conflict in the way"
Snape's lip curled. "Very well. I'll tell Potter about it then"
**************************************************************************** ****************
"What? MALFOY in the Dueling Club? Are you serious? They've gone nutters!", said Ron who seemed to have listened well to every word that Harry said.
Harry frowned. "I know Ron. Snape told me that Malfoy promised to behave while we're at it"
"And you actually believed him? Harry, you can't trust a word Malfoy says!"
Hermione interrupted them. "You know, if Malfoy doesn't keep his promise, he'll be dead for sure. Professor Dumbledore would have the slimy git out of Hogwarts in no time. Besides, that ferret boy does have talent. We couldn't deny him of that"
"Fine! He DOES have talent, if that's what you call it, but it's Harry's safety we should be worried about. It wouldn't be safe to have them together", spat Ron.
Harry cut in. "I'm fine. It's I that Malfoy has to worry about. . ."
Harry smiled.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Hermione stood beside Ron at the room where the Dueling Club practices their art. Draco was at the far left of the room, listening to Snape's instructions.
Hermione went over to Harry and said, "You can do it Harry. It's your first time to duel with him again after some time. Give him some kickass!"
Harry and Ron stared questioningly at Hermione and her words. Hermione blushed. "Well you know what I mean now, do you?" asked Hermione embarrassed.
"Of course Mione. I'll give it a good shot", replied Harry with a dangerous smile aimed at Draco.
It was time for Draco and Harry to come on top of the platform. Some of the members of the Dueling Club drew themselves closer to watch.
Draco glared at Harry while they both walked to the middle of the platform. "Ready Potter?" queried Draco with an evil smirk.
"Make sure you got Snape's instructions well or else you'll be hurt pretty badly"
"You talk too much"
And their wands were up to their faces. Then it swished to their side. In a second, they turned around and took their heels away from the opponent. At the right distance, they turned to face each other again in their fighting stance.
Hermione whispered to herself, "I hope no one gets hurt. . ." Her hands were clammy and cold. She feared for Harry---and Draco as well.
**************************************************************************** ****************
Draco was successful into putting Harry off-guard though not one was hailed as winner. They were both good at defense and offense.
Harry was back to where he stood beside Hermione and Ron was. "He's a tough one. Hard to get a spell at him"
"But you did better than him!" said Ron in disgust of Draco.
"Oi Harry, ask him if he's fine" , voiced Hermione in a shy manner, almost blushing profusely.
"WHAT?!" asked Harry and Ron in unison.
"I said, ask Malfoy if he's fine. You're in the same club now and it wouldn't help much if you still go against each other"
"You know Mione, it's hard to fathom what you're asking me to do. I mean, we can live through the year not talking civilly to each other. I don't see any problem with that" replied Harry in discernment.
"I want to talk to him, actually. I need him for Potions---you know, sometimes you need to be smart enough to know whom to ask help from. He's the best at the subject so far and from what he's been acting lately, I reckon it wouldn't be hard to get along with him"
Ron claimed, "Excuse me Hermione Granger, is that YOU speaking? Since when did you ever think about consulting Malfoy about anything? Besides, he just pushed you a while ago while walking to DADA class, Harry told me"
"Well, just like you ARE, Mr. Ronald Weasley, the ferret also has a sense of maturity. . . probably far more than what you have", snapped Hermione. "Come on Harry, talk to him!"
"Um, Mione, if you like him, you could ask him yourself. I'm in no mood to talk to Malfoy right now", Harry snapped evilly at how Hermione was acting.
The three stared at Draco who was tending a gash over his left bicep. He had his robe off, leaving him only with his white shirt and vest on. Ron and Harry stared back at Hermione.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing", Harry and Ron replied as they chuckled to themselves.
"Fine! It seems like you won't stop acting as if you won't tell me what you know---okay, I like him. Maybe because he has grown more handsome this year and that I like him that way, except for the fact that he is the albino who always ruins our day! Now, are you contented?"
Ron and Harry's guffaw echoed inside the room. Draco looked their way for a second, and then went back to tending his wound.
"You know Mione, I wouldn't stop you from liking him. It's probably your hormones working" said Harry as he tried to sound sincere about it, though he hasn't stop laughing.
"Hey, I'm serious!"
"We are serious as well Mione. It's just funny that you suddenly have feelings for that ferret. Now won't you want to deflate his head now that he has one more admirer to deal with? A HERMIONE GRANGER to deal with?" asked Harry as he tried much to suppress his laugh.
Ron hadn't stopped laughing and was close to falling onto the floor. Hermione kept her silence and glared at her friends. The two stopped laughing at once.
Harry gained composure and said, "Go on Mione. If you want to talk to him, go. We wouldn't stop you"
"But Harry! I'm not the one who's in the Dueling Club that he is in. Besides, he might still be disgusted with me"
A voice broke in. Professor Dumbledore came in from the huge wooden door. "Mr. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley please come with me"
Harry and Ron looked at each other, then at Hermione. "Mine, we've to go. You figure out how you're going to manage talking to Malfoy", Harry claimed as he knew they were in trouble once again.
"But---"
Harry and Ron were out of the room with Dumbledore. Hermione stood alone in the middle of the room. She then turned around to see Draco still mending his gash.
//Maybe it wouldn't hurt much to talk to him//
Hermione walked towards Draco. She was hesitant at first though it seemed that her feet instructed for her to go.
There she was, a meter away from the handsome young lad who had put his hairdo back into a sleek style after 2years of having it down.
Much to Hermione's surprise, Draco turned his head towards her.
Draco was surprised as well though he remained his cool. "I felt an adversary coming"
"Adversary?" asked Hermione innocently.
"Yes. An adversary. I felt someone of your sort coming. What are you doing here anyways? You're going to pick on me as the great Harry Potter has wounded such filth as Draco Malfoy?"
Hermione was astounded. Never did it come across her mind that Draco would pertain to himself as filth. "You're not filth Malfoy. And I'm not here to pick on you or make you feel bad about that. You did great up there, and that's what matters here"
Draco raised a brow. "Granger, if this is another INTELLIGENT tactic of yours to play a trick on me, it's not going to work." Draco turned to his aching arm again and clutched it tight.
Hermione immediately put a hand over Draco's that held the wound. "Let me"
Draco thought he should brush away Hermione's hand but he felt that he shouldn't. He removed his hand from the wound.
Hermione took out her wand and muttered a spell. Sparks flew from the tip of her wand to Draco's wound.
Draco groaned. Even if there only was a gash over his perfect pale skin, the pain penetrated through it. The pain reached his limbs. "Potter must've done better than I did. He wasn't scratched one bit"
"You okay now?" asked Hermione, too much evident of concern.
Draco felt silly at the question but he knew well it was proper to give a reply, especially that Hermione helped him out. "Yeah, reckon so. Granger, why are you doing this?"
"Malfoy, I'm Head Girl. I should be concerned of all students around here"
Hermione blushed. She tried to fight it but to no avail.
"Uh, okay. If you say so"
Hermione touched Draco's arm.
"Ouch! Careful!" snapped Draco at once.
"This is not good. It's not just a gash Malfoy. I reckon you be sent to the infirmary. You must have damaged some muscle tissue or the surface of your bone. Come on, I'll take you there"
"I could manage", said Draco smugly. He was putting up his manly façade though deep inside he was feeling right with someone like the Mudblood around with him.
"Oh come on Draco! Don't be such a kid. I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey right now"
Hermione walked towards the chair that Draco placed his robe at. Draco was left astounded as he stood alone, watching Hermione from afar.
"What has gotten into you?" inquired Draco rather amused.
"I told you, I'm Head Girl. I should take care of every student around here", replied Hermione as she took Draco's robe in one hand.
Draco was silent. He just stared amused at Hermione.
"What?" asked Hermione as she looked into Draco's beautiful gray eyes quite a number of inches above hers.
Draco, who towered over his schoolmate by 5inches, smiled. "You amuse me"
"And why would I amuse you, may I ask?" asked Hermione. She felt butterflies in her stomach.
//Did Malfoy just said I amused him? Oh Merlin, Harry's right. This must be my hormones working!//
"You called me by my first name without your knowledge"
Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Did I?"
"Yeah, but that's not a big deal. Maybe you could just avoid calling me by my first name when other people around. I don't want them to think that there's something else between us other than a schoolmate to each other"
Draco turned around towards the door while Hermione's thoughts came in a rage.
//He didn't refer to me as his enemy? And did he just say ". . .but that's not a big deal". Does that mean I could call him by his first name?//
"Um, Malfoy. . ."
Draco looked back. "Yes?"
Hermione wanted to ask what Draco's words meant. "Nothing. Just wait up"
Draco stood firm where he was and waited for Hermione, that they went out of the room with him holding the door for her.
~Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns characters, setting, etc. Except: the plot is mine.~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Phew! That was some work.
Oh, please don't argue with the rating. This really is a HarryXHermione fic, if I'll be successful to do that. I've tried many times to make a fic for this rating though it always ends up as DracoXHermione.
PLEASE REVIEW!