Winning Harry's Love

The next morning found Ron and Hermione hunched over a table in the common room thinking about what their possible tasks could be.

'We could make them have a canon ball contest! Person with the biggest splash would win!' Exclaimed an excited Ron.

Hermione just shook her head and mumbled something about having an idiot for a boyfriend.

'Well Mrs I'm so great and I know everything, what do you think that we should do?' He questioned her.

'We could,' and she whispered something in his ear that made him smile so wide that to someone who was walking by, it would like Ron was completly insane.

'Now that is definatly something that could work.' Ron said still smiling. 'Should we tell Draco and Ginny any time soon?'

'Hm... that is something that we need to do. How about we go and get some breakfast and then we can tell them.'

'Fine, but what about Harry?'

'What about me?' Came the voice of a sleepy Harry Potter.

'Um... we were just gonna go down and get some.... breakfast! And we were jsut wondering whether we should come and wake you up. But, now that you're up there's no need! Come on now, I'm hungry!' Hermione said very quickly. She then grabbed Harry and Ron by the sleeves and dragged them out after her.

Once she had let go of them, Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered, 'She sure seems to be dragging people around a lot lately.'

Harry just looked at Ron and then walked on into the Great Hall.

After their breakfast, the trio left the Great Hall to head back to their common room. Halfway back, Hermione suddenly froze mid-step.

'Oh no!' She cried.

'What's wrong?' Harry asked.

'I've got to get started on the charms essay!'

'Uh, Mione, it's Sunday. The essay isn't due ill Friday.' Ron stated, oblivious to what Hermione was trying to do.

'I know that Ronald! That's why I have to get started! I didn't do anything for it yesterday!'

But that was a lie. Hermione had started and completed her essay yesterday. But she needed an excuse in order to go and find Ginny and Draco to tell them all of the plans.

'So what are you doing then?' Asked Harry.

'I'm going to the library to work on it.'

'Well you won't find me working on it now!' Ron stated firmly. 'Hey Harry, how about a game of chess?'

'Sure Ron.' Replied Harry.

Hermione hurried off towards the library where she knew Ginny would most likely be. The girl had informed her that she wanted to get some of her homework done. Hermione was secretly very proud of her. Ginny could be found pouring over a thick book at one of the front tables in the library. Hermione walked over to her, pulled out a chair and sat down.

'Hey Gin.' She whispered, startling her.

'Mione! Gods, trying to be sneaky are you?'

'No,' Hermione answered honestly. 'I just walked up and sat down. Must be a good book if you didn't notice.'

Ginny smiled guiltly and pulled a book up, showing Hermione that she had in fact, not been reading the book she was supposed to.

Hermione sighed and got ready to tell Ginny the plans that she and Ron had come up with.

'So basically, you want me to compete with that dirty ferret for Harry's love?! I do not think so!' Ginny exclaimed in a hushed shriek. They were afterall in the library. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.

'Ginny this is really not up to you. You agree or.... Draco wins.' She said, smiling sweetly. 'Now if you don't mind, I have to go tell Draco that you've given up the fight for Harry.'

Ginny's face grew red as she stood up. 'I am not giving up. If you want me to do some stupid tournament then fine! But Draco will not win, dammit!'

Hermione shrugged as she stood up, 'We'll be in touch, the first task is tomorrow meet me in the great hall right after classes finish.' She walked out of the library smirking.

Hermione immediatley headed for the Slytherin common room when she left Ginny in the library. She knew that she could get Draco to participate in the tournament as long as she used the same approach as she had with Ginny. She would tell him that this tournament was the only was to get Harry.

She finally came to the brick wall with the snakes engraved into it. She mumbled the password and stepped into the common room. This time, people decided to hassle her.

'MUDBLOOD! Why the fuck are you in our common room?!' Yelled one particularly rude 5th year.

She ignored him, but found it hard to ignore anyone else.

'Hey bitch! Get the hell outta here! No one wants you to infect our common room!' Screamed Pansy Parkinson.

'Pansy, would you kindly not swear at me. I might need to take points if you persist.' Hermione said calmly.

Pansy glared at her, but backed away none the less. Hermione continued walking through the common room until she came to what she knew was the entrance to the boys dorms. She started to push open the door, but a boy she didn't know grabbed her arm and held her tightly.

'Where do you think you're going filth? It's one thing to come into our common room, but another to try and get to where we sleep.' He said with a rough note in his voice.

'Who do you think you are to tell the head girl where she can or cannot go. I have permission from Professor Dumbledore to go where I please. Now, would you kindly unhand me so I can go and find Draco Malfoy.'

'Draco Malfoy doesn't want to see you. Go back to your friends mudblood. If you have any.'

'Theo.' Draco said, walking into the common room. 'Go kiss up to Parkinson, me and Granger need to have a talk now dont we.' He grabbed Theodore Nott's hand and pulled it off of Hermione's arm. Accidentally bending back a couple of fingers. Walking ahead of the two, he headed to the exit, motioning for Hermione to follow.

Outside in the corridor, Draco spoke. 'You can thank me now Granger. Otherwise, you may very well be dead now. I thought you of all people would know to not come into Slytherin territory alone. Earlier, when you were here with your weasel friend, they left you alone. It's a lot easier to hurt someone if their on their own...'

'Well Malfoy, I'd like to know then why you didn't just let them hurt me. Even kill me as you seem to think they would. Why did you "save" me?' She asked him.

'You wouldn't have ventured into my common room without a purpose. And i heard you say you needed to speak with me. I decided to grace you with my presence and let you talk. Now, what is so important that you needed to see me right now?'

Hermione sighed at his arrogance, but went on with what she had planned to say to him.

'Malfoy, you're going to be in a tournament.' She stated bluntly.

Draco looked shocked for one mere moment, but quickly concealed it with a smirk.

'And mudblood, do tell me what makes you think I will participate in this tournament. I could easily say no, and then what would you do?'

'It's not what I would do, it's what Harry would do. You see, this tournament is to see who will win Harry's love. But if you don't want to take part in it, so be it. Your decision not mine.' Hermione said, knowing well that she nearly had Draco agreeing. She turned to walk away, but felt Draco grab her arm.

'Wait. You keep talking, and don't walk away from me. Tell me what this tournament will... invole' He spat out.

'You and Ginny. Some tasks, winner gets Harry. Simple really. Just our way of decideing who's best for him. So, are you in?'

'Yes.' Draco mumbled looking at the ground.

'What was that?' Asked Hermione knowing full well what he had just said.

'I said YES!' Draco roared. 'I'll do this little tournament of yours. Only because I know I'll win though.'

'Good to hear.' Hermione said while smiling. 'Nice doing business with you. Meet me in the Great Hall tomorrow after classes. Bye!'

And Hermione walked away from Draco Malfoy, looking more smug than ever. She went back up to Gryffindor tower to tell Ron that they had two contestants ready for their tasks.

Authors Note: w00t! Our second chapter. We're looking for a beta. Anyone interested, just leave it in your review! Because you know you want to REVIEW!!! XD. This chapter is dedicated to Amanda, one of our best friends, who is having some SERIOUS guy issues. GOOD LUCK MANDA!

If interested in beta'ing, please leave the following:

Your name, email, names to work you have beta'd before, names to any stories you have written. Thank you, lovelove -- Lilyaris and Faelyn

(The next chapter is written, we're just looking for a beta!)