Title: Falling from Innocence
Author: Ashley K
Disclaimer: No, I don't own anything. The Harry Potter Universe belongs to the wonderful, intelligent JK Rowlings. The concept behind this fic is based off of the movie Cruel Intentions and, therefore, belongs to its owners. Which is not me.
Spoilers: Just to be safe, consider everything, including OotP.
Summary: AU. What if Hermione was a pureblooded witch who's mother married Lucius Malfoy when she was 13? What if Hermione and Draco were 'the cruelest people in school'? What if Harry Potter was the innocent victim of a bet set between Hermione and Draco?
AN: sorry for the wait! But, I figure there's going to be about 14 or 15 chapters overall. as always...review please!

thank you to everybody who's reviewed so far! ^_^

Part Four:

"Mione!"

Hermione winced at the slaughter of her name, but quickly hid her disapproval. The man-boy in front of her was very, very important to her life. "Ron," she warmly said, accepting the hug he pulled her into.

"How's my favorite girl doing this fine day?" Ron Weasley, brother to the infamous Ginny Weasley, asked.

"I could be doing a lot better," Hermione replied, handing over a pouch of Galleons. Ron slightly frowned, before heading to the secret backroom, with Hermione closely following. "I need a lot this time, Ron. I'm not sure when I'll be in London again; Draco and I are going to be spending some time in the country."

Waving off her excuses, Ron pulled out a flask of potion, handing it to Hermione. "Do NOT drink all of this at once, Mione. I'll not have the Malfoys flying down my throat because of your daftness."

Smiling down at the potion, Hermione laughed at Ron. "As if I'd be that wasteful!"

Pulling the flask open, Hermione carefully poured a tiny amount of the clear liquid into the modified base of her wand, before allowing herself the tiniest sip, straight from the flask. She immediately felt better. Humming softly to herself, she reduced the flask and hid it in her bra, laughing to herself at Ron's suddenly wide eyes.

"What's in this again?"

"Modified draught of sleep, peace, with some Wit-Sharpening Potion and Pepperupper thrown in for luck," Ron automatically answered. "Something illegal when mixed…but hey! We all know the best things in life are the worse things for you."

Snorting, Hermione nodded her agreement. "Take Draco, for instance. Do you know what we're doing this summer? No, how could you?" she asked herself, before shaking her head. "Anyway, we've got a little bet going on. Unfortunately it would appear some colossal prick decided to ruin my chances."

"Rewind and explain," Ron said patiently. He knew how Hermione's mind would go off on seemingly random tangents when she was on his drug. It made for amusing conversations. Not only that, but the potion gave Hermione an overall euphoric feeling, while allowing her already sharp mind to plot even faster. Unfortunately, the side effect was a bit of seemingly nonsensical rambling.

"Harry Potter," Hermione simply said, pondering on the best course of action for the Boy-Who-Lived.

Frowning slight, Ron stared harder at the current Head Girl. "A little vague, but…knowing you and your asshole stepbrother, I'm going to guess it has something to do with his transfer to Hogwarts and his little manifesto."

Nodding, Hermione agreed. "It has every thing to do with his manifesto. And some fucker decided to warn our little hero about my ways. Now, who knows about my…extracurricular activities?"

"Not many," Ron said. "I doubt anybody in Gryfindor would…he's from Beaubaxtons…that's in France, right?"

"Oui," Hermione answered, her French perfect.

"Cho Chang," Ron said, after a brief moment for thought. "Didn't you…well, you know?"

Hermione smiled at the memory of what she did, exactly, to Miss Chang. "You mean get her drunk and admit to her 'best' friend that she was in love with her. Oh, and don't forget the best part…recording it all and showing the entire school? Well, in that case, yes."

"Our little girl is from France, isn't she?"

"Damnit, that would be the perfect revenge for the little bitch," Hermione fumed. "Too bad she's still in France, otherwise, she would be in a massive amount of pain."

Smirking, Ron gave Hermione an 'I know something you don't' look. "To my surprise, and pleasure, Miss Chang came crawling to me at the end of the term. Asked to be my girlfriend as a resort to save both of our reputations."

Ron Weasley was a closet homosexual. Hermione and Draco were about the only two people in Hogwarts who knew the truth, however, there was a lot of speculation about his sexuality. His family informed him that, in no way, could they accept their youngest son as a homosexual.

"And…?"

"I accepted, of course. It got my dear family off my case. However, I was bit upset when Cho decided to keep her Sapphic ways alive. Hell, the only reason why I put up with her bull shit is because she's got a mouth like a vacuum," Ron ruefully said. "But, anyway, she's back, for early NEWT tutoring. And, she's already called me. Asked me if it would be okay for her to come to my flat with a friend."

Smirking, Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Tonight? Say…midnight?"

Ron nodded, and then shook Hermione's hand. "As always, doing business with you is a pleasure."

Draco had listened to a reassured Neville Longbottom's ramblings throughout the game, without any really interesting topics discussed. Inwardly sighing as Neville started taking about Herbology, Draco quickly interrupted him. "I hear that you and Miss Weasley have been friendly with one another lately," Draco queered.

Blushing a deep red, Neville nodded. "Ginny and I…well…we started dating at the end of the term."

Detecting a hint of uncertainty, Draco smiled, and asked for more. "But…?"

Biting his lip, Neville debated telling his secret thoughts on his new relationship to the Slytherin prince. Draco smiled reassuringly at him and Neville decided to trust him. "I'm not sure if I really like her," he stammered out.

Concern immediately crossed Draco's features. "Why not?"

"Well, first of all she keeps talking about some psychotic player she dated over last term," Neville answered, pausing briefly, a look of confusing momentarily crossing his plain features. "I didn't even know she was seeing anybody."

"Psychotic?" Draco parroted, mostly to himself, torn between being proud of his player status and angry over the psychotic part.

"Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction," Neville said. "And, secondly…" he trailed off, reconsidering whom he was, in fact, confiding in.

"C'mon Nev," Draco pleaded, shamelessly looking for more information. "What is it?"

"Susan Bones," Neville answered.

Draco's devious mind had already put two and two together, but he wanted Longbottom to say it. "The Hufflepuff? She's not all that bad, for a Hufflepuff."

"She's been sending me owls," Neville whispered. "Love-letters."

"Have you answered any of them?" Draco questioned. This may just be easier than he originally suspected it would be.

"No!" Neville exclaimed. "I'm with Ginny! That wouldn't be right…plus Gram would be so disappointed!"

"Neville, be a man," Draco laughed inwardly at his statement. "Love only comes once in a while. I know! I'll help you! If there's one thing I'm good at, its love letters."