A/N: Hey everybody! How are you all going? Well here is Chapter nine... finally! Sorry I have been extremely busy with schoolwork. So yeah. Well thankyou for the reviews! And onto the Chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I shall never own Harry Potter... and I do not own it now!

Chapter Nine: The Bet

Draco starred at Hermione straight in the eye, "You bring me down? Hermione your part of the reason I finally changed into the real me."

"Exactly... and if... if this darkness fully take me over... it might bring back... the you, you don't want to be," sighed Hermione, "I don't want that to happen."

"It won't. We won't let it."

!Z!

Dumbledore stood at his office window gazing down at the Quidditch stands.

Behind him stood Snape and McGonagall.

"We need to find a way to stop the change that is happening to Miss Granger," said Snape, "There must be a way. Surely we can find a spell to stop it."

"No. No magic must be used on Miss Granger. Spells cast on Miss Granger will only bring the darkness forward. Even spells of a good nature, for it is in Miss Grangers real nature, her heritage, to only tolerate dark magic. It is in her parents blood," said Dumbledore calmly, "It is in hers as well."

"We brought her up to be good!" cried McGonagall.

"I know Minvera. But the darkness Miss Granger is fighting is her heritage coming through. She has generations of it in her blood. Her ancestors go back further than the Malfoy's, Blacks, Potters, Lestrange and myself. All of her ancestors were into the dark arts."

"It's a loosing battle than," sighed Snape.

"We can stop it. But I doubt either of you will fully agree with me."

"If it is going to save out Headgirl Albus, I will do anything," sighed McGonagall.

"Very well. Mr Malfoy and Miss Granger will have to share living quarters. He is the only one who knows what is going on and the only one strong enough to help Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, "But that is not all. We need Mr Malfoy to be a spy for us. He will need to become a Death Eater without Miss Granger's knowledge of this. He can inform us of Voldemort's plans. No one will think anything wrong of it as he is a Malfoy."

"I do not mind the sharing quarters Albus," said Snape, "But the Death Eater part is wrong."

Dumbledore looked at the two people sitting on the Quidditch Stands. Both were young and innocent. They could be anything they wish to be and yet life was slowly taking that away.

"I know. But until we find a way for Harry to defeat Voldemort it is all we have."

!Z!

"We all ere?" asked Hagrid looking at his 7th year class.

Harry and Ron looked around them for any sign of their brown-eyed friend.

"No," spoke up Harry, "Hermione isn't here... neither is Malfoy."

Hagrid frowned. He knew Hermione would never miss a lesson, even when she is sick she always got to class.

"They have head duties," spoke up Blaise.

"How do you know?" asked Ron coolly.

"Draco told me before they left together."

"But Hermione left for class before us!" yelled Harry.

"Well Potter she got intervened on her way out of the castle by McGonagall asking her to find Draco and to meet her in her office."

"Alrigh', alrigh', calm down tha lot of yer," boomed Hagrid.

Harry and Ron threw Blaise a nasty look, who shrugged his shoulders in return.

"Let's get on to the speeches," said Hagrid.

!Z!

Hermione starred out at the Quidditch felid with Draco still beside her.

"It's quiet," said Hermione softly, "Not a normal thing."

"Well with everyone in class what do you expect?" replied Draco smiling at Hermione who smiled back.

"True. Speaking of class we should get to Care of Magical Creatures."

Draco glanced at his watch. There was only ten minutes until the bell went of lesson change, "We may as well head to Potions. The bell is going to go soon."

"Together? What is someone sees us?"

"We aren't together like that Hermione. Besides we are Heads so we have an excuse for walking together."

"Oh," said Hermione feeling a little stupid, "Well let's go."

Hermione and Draco stood up and descended the stands stairs and crossed the school grounds to the castle in silence.

Both Draco and Hermione were feeling a little weird by Draco's comment and couldn't think of a reason for it.

Five minutes later they were leaning on the walls outside their Potions classroom across from each other.

"So... nervous about your upcoming Quidditch Match?" asked Hermione.

"Me nervous? Never!" smiled Draco, "Its just Potters team."

Hermione smiled, "Well we will see who's the best by Saturday afternoon."

"I bet Slytherin wins."

"What are you betting for?"

"Hmm..." said Draco a smirk slowly appearing on his face, "A full on kiss from you if I win the bet. If you win you get a kiss from me."

Hermione's mouth fell open, "A-alright. Your on."

They both shook hands closing the deal as the bell rang.

Both continued joking around until people started arriving.

Just as Snape opened his classroom door Harry and Ron came tearing down the corridor yelling for Hermione.

Hermione looked up from the ground as she was walking in and turned to face them.

"What do you both want?" asked Hermione frowning, "Don't you both have standard charms?"

"Yeah," said Harry breathlessly, "But we came to see where you were last lesson."

"I was at a head meeting," replied Hermione.

"Your not lying are you?" asked Ron.

"No."

"You sure bec-"

"I'm not lying!" snapped Hermione, "I'm telling the truth!"

"Okay, okay... calm down Herms," said Harry calmly.

Hermione just glared at him and stormed into the classroom leaving her shocked friends behind.

!Z!

Draco watched as Hermione slammed her bag down in front of him next to Hannah Abbott. Hannah shot her a surprised look, which Hermione ignored by pulling her gear out.

"Boys," muttered Hermione, "I'll hex them I swear... no... no I won't... stupid idiots, curse them to hell... no they are my friends..."

Everyone was working on his or her potion; only Hannah, Snape and Draco were looking at Hermione muttering to herself.

Draco shot Snape a worried look meaning he had to talk to her. Snape walked over to Hermione and touched her on the shoulder.

"What?" snapped Hermione her brown orbs near black.

Snape jumped back in surprise. Hermione gave a strangled gasp and shook her head.

"I'm so sorry Professor... really I am," cried Hermione.

"It is alright Miss Granger why don't you step outside for a bit."

Hermione nodded and walked out of the classroom quickly. Draco looked at Snape who nodded telling him to follow her out silently.

!Z!

Hermione slid down against a cold stonewall slightly rocking back and forth.

"I'm a monster," whispered Hermione, "Just go away! Leave me alone... please let me be."

Draco exited the classroom and saw Hermione sitting in the shadows. He walked over to Hermione and sat beside her.

"It's getting stronger Draco," whispered Hermione, "I'm fighting it the best I can."

"Shh," said Draco putting an arm around his friend, "I know you are... I know you are."

!Z!

The rest of the week past with no more incidents for Hermione, in fact Hermione was starting to think the darkness had gone. But it was their lingering in the back of her mind wait for the right amount of anger to take over Hermione to strike.

Dumbledore and the Professors had finished renovating the East Tower into living quarters for Hermione and Draco. They were going to inform Hermione and Draco of the living arrangements after today's Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Hermione left the Gryffindor bright and early. She was dressed in her houses colours clearly supporting her team. Maroon ¾ jeans and a golden yellow singlet top underneath a maroon mesh ¾ shirt.

She entered the Great Hall with a smile on her face when she spotted her friends.

"I don't get her," muttered Harry looking at his ex-girlfriend as she walked closer, "One minute she's happy the next she's... dark."

Ron nodded in agreement but smiled when Hermione sat across from him and Harry, "Morning Hermione."

"Good morning Ron. Morning Harry," grinned Hermione.

"Hey Herms. I see you're all ready for the match?" smiled Harry.

"Ready as always. Are you both nervous?"

"A little. We won last year but only because Alicia was the captain and this year is my first and only year as couch."

"We will win Harry. You're training us as hard as Wood trained all of you. Fred and George would be proud," grinned Ron.

Harry smiled, "Yes they would. Are they coming today?"

"Hell yeah. They've been dying for the day you became couch. Apparently Wood, Angelina and Alicia are all coming... Katie isn't she broke her ankle tripping over a broom."

"Talking about us little brother?"

Hermione who had been reading the Daily Prophet looked up with Harry and Ron to see Fred, George, Oliver, Angelina and Alicia smiling at them.

"Big day Potter?" smiled Oliver sitting next to Hermione.

"Very," admitted Harry, "And against Slytherin of all teams. Blame Hermione for that one."

"Ahh you got Headgirl Hermione?" said George sitting on the other side of Hermione and putting his arm around her neck, "I'm so proud!"

Hermione and everyone else laughed.

"So Oliver," said Hermione turning to face him, "How have you been? I haven't seen you since the Quidditch Cup."

"I'm very well thankyou. Look at you! All grown up... always knew you'd be the cute one."

Hermione blushed a little causing the guys and Angelina and Alicia to laugh.

Harry and Ron looked at their watches in unison. Harry stood up and whistled loudly to his team who looked up at him. Ginny entered the hall at that moment and groaned when she realized she didn't have time for breakfast.

"See you all later," said Harry, "Time to kick some Slytherin butt."

"Good luck!" chorused the Gryffindor table.

Hermione glanced over at the Slytherin table to see Draco and his team leaving.

"Malfoy... the captain," scoffed Alicia, "Well I never. I wonder what Flint would think?"

"I need to clean my teeth?" suggested Fred.

Alicia swatted Fred around the head, "Come on. Everybody leaving, let's go."

!Z!

Hermione sat between the two Weasley twins in the front row of the Quidditch Stands, which were packed. The match was due to begin in ten minutes.

"Hey let's start a chant!" said George out of the blue, "After three say: Go, go Gryffindor! Ready 1...2...3!"

All six stamped their feet as they started the chant, which soon caught on. Soon all Gryffindor's, Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuffs were chanting, "Go, go Gryffindor! Go, go Gryffindor!"

Hermione along with the whole school screamed when the teams flew out on the field doing laps for warm up.

"Go Gryffindor!" screamed Hermione forgetting any of the past weeks incidents.

!Z!

Draco flew above the stands circling the pitch with ease. Faintly he could hear the chant of the Gryffindor's, which he could only guess the Weasley twins, had started.

Today was a big day for both him and Harry. Both had been made team captain and today was there first match.

Madam Hooch flew to the centre and blew her whistle, signalling for all players to the ground.

Draco landed in the centre along with Harry.

"Shake hands," said Hooch eyeing the two boys.

Draco stuck out his hand, which Harry shook. Both shot venomous stares as they did so.

"Take your positions."

Harry and Draco walked to there spot.

"Mount your brooms... now I want a nice clean game!"

The whistle blew signalling the release of all the balls, including the snitch.

Draco flew above the game and circled the pitch.

"And Gryffindor is in possession... Weasley with the quaffle... she quick passes to Patil... Patil passes back to Weasley narrowly dodging a bludger from Goyle," Dean Thomas was the commentator for this year, "Weasley shoots... and she scores! Ten points to Gryffindor! A good start for new captain Harry Potter!"

Draco looked down to see Hermione jumping up and down in her seat hugging one of the Weasley twins.

"Bloody Potter," muttered Draco before yelling, "GET IN THERE!"

"Malfoy seems to be shouting orders to this team... and the quaffle is passed... Slytherin in possession... very fast passes between Rockwell and Zabini... Zabini to Danza... Danza passes... Rockwell catches... hard pass to Zabini... Zabini misses a bludger from Creevy... Zabini jumps off his broom holding it from the handle... hits the quaffle... and he scores! Ten all! Wow what a move!"

Draco smiled and flew lower scanning for the snitch.

"Gryffindor is now in possession... Patil flying very well... passes to Barton... Barton underpasses to Weasley... Weasley jumps off her broom to miss a bludger... lands on her broom with ease still holding the quaffle... Zabini attacks... Zabini gets the quaffle... Zabini passes to Danza... Danza to Rockwell... Patil intercepts the pass! Patil flying with speed... passes to Weasley who is picking up speed... Weasley to Barton... Barton shoots... Barton scores! Gryffindor in the lead 20 to 10! Wow what a game!"

Than Draco saw it. The golden snitch. Looking over his shoulder he saw Harry still scanning.

Draco lowered himself on his broom and began mounting speed.

"It's seems Malfoy has spotted the snitch! The game continues only ten minutes in! Potter now gaining speed having seen the snitch as well... Malfoy has a fair lead on Potter... Weasley passes to Patil who is intercepted by Rockwell... Potter gaining on Malfoy... Malfoy is putting on speed... Slytherin in possession... Zabini aims... he shoots... the shot misses with Weasley catching the quaffle... Weasley passes to younger Weasley... Potter closing in on Malfoy...no... Malfoy pulls away with a spurt of speed... Patil to Barton... passes to Weasley... Weasley aims... Zabini takes the quaffle... no Weasley takes back the quaffle... Malfoy has his arm out... Potter closing in arm out to... both are going for it... Slytherin scores! Twenty all... Malfoy... Potter... This is one hell of a game... who has it... Potter... no... Malfoy... Malfoy... MALFOY HAS THE SNITCH! SLYTHERIN WINS!"

Draco raised his arm into the air. His hand was closed around the golden snitch. For the first time Draco had beaten Harry at Quidditch.

Draco flew to the ground only to be surrounded by his fellow teammates.

!Z!

Hermione along with Oliver, Angelina, Fred, George and Alicia all ran over to Harry.

Harry was standing with Ron and Ginny along with the other team players. Harry was watching Malfoy hug all his teammates and be congratulated by Dumbledore.

"Good match Harry," said Hermione smiling.

"We lost," replied Harry.

"So? It was a fair match. Both teams are strong."

"She's right Harry," said Oliver, "Both teams have been trained really well."

"I didn't get the snitch."

"For gods sake Harry," said Fred, "We all miss something one time in our life. Besides there are plenty more matches to win. And I for one and going to come to everyone to see Gryffindor whoop butt."

Harry smiled, "I guess your right. Team! Let's go shower! We all stink!"

Hermione laughed and waved them off and turned around to look at Draco. Draco glanced at her and gave her a small smile.

The bet. Hermione had to kiss Draco.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione looked to her right to see Dumbledore smiling at her.

"Yes Professor?"

"I wish to see you and Mr Malfoy in my office in thirty minutes."

Hermione nodded, "Does Draco know?"

"Yes. He is going to shower. He asked for you to wait for him at the Hufflepuff stands."

Hermione smiled and nodded.

!Z!

Draco emerged from the Slytherin change rooms to see the stands empty except for one person in the Hufflepuff ones.

Draco ran over to them and jogged up the stairs.

Hermione smiled at him and shuffled over so he could sit, "Congratulations on your win."

"Thanks. Gryffindor played well... tough match."

"Both teams have been trained to their best. Even Oliver Wood agreed with that."

"Hmm... well we have a bet."

"The bet... I lost so I have to kiss you."

Draco smiled.

Hermione took a deep breath and both leaned in.

There lips connected once... then again and again. It was a slow and gentle kiss and slowly it sped up. Draco placed a hand on Hermione's neck drawing her closer; both were losing themselves in the kiss until they came up for air.

"Um... well. We should get to Dumbledore's office," said Hermione standing up.

"Err... yeah... office," nodded Draco standing as well.

Hermione bit her lower lip as they walked down the stands.

That one kiss meant nothing... just a bet... yeah a bet... that's what Draco is thinking as well, thought Hermione.

Draco glanced over his shoulder at Hermione, just a kiss... a bet... yeah... we are friends... close friends... nothing more... yeah that's what she's thinking, thought Draco.

Both continued walking in silence to Dumbledore's office.

A/N: Okay... not my best chapter I know. But I'm still sorta working out how exactly everything is going to happen. I don't want Hermione and Draco to hook up just yet... I want them to like each other a lot but not act on it because of what Herms is going through... anyway... review!

Love yas!

Love Coz!