The Poker Game

Chapter 3: Of Love Declarations and Gossip Empresses

Disclaimer: Ok, so obviously JK Rowling doesn't spend her free time writing stories about poker games with characters which have already made her a filthy rich. Stories which will never actually be published. I mean this is what I would be doing if I was her, but hey, I'm not, so I don't own the characters. Just the plot.

AN: I'd like to thank all of my reviewers: you rock my world. By the way, I finished this at one in the morning and I think the review thingy at the end can be entirely blamed on that fact.

EmeraldKiwi: The thought about Draco and singing was that while it would be humiliating it would also beincedibly painful for allthe other innocents subjected to Draco's singing,and Hermione herself didn't want to ever have to hear him sing again.


DRACO'S POV

"You mean 'fine,' as in you'll do the Macarena?" Hermione's voice is steadily rising in pitch and I can't help but smirk.

"No, Granger-or I suppose I should say Hermione seeing as I'm madly in love with you." I wink at her rakishly. "I mean 'fine' in the sense that I'll be supplying Hogwarts' underground Gossip Empire with enough fodder to last them a year."

Haha! Who's shocked and dismayed now? Score one for Draco. Of course Hermione has enough victories to ensure lasting domination of the Score Board of Life, but I feel I ought to enjoy my wins as they come. And this is a rather spectacular victory. Her mouth is still hanging agape.

That being the case I should probably get this over with before I start to think because panic will inevitably follow any thought process that doesn't involve gloating. I swiftly swish my wand and reverse the sound insulating charm.

Show time.

"Hermione I can't do this anymore." I look at her with what I hope is an earnest look (never my forte) while speaking in a stage whisper. "I can't stand living a lie like this. I don't understand why we have to keep it a secret, why can't we just tell everyone the truth ?" Quicker than a Cornish pixie can leave Neville utterly defenseless, I've attracted the attention of their Imperial Majesties, the Empresses of Gossip: Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.

Splendid.

Hermione is belatedly realizing where I'm going with this. Darting quick and completely tactless glances at Brown and Patil, she whispers at me, "You know damn well there is no secret. Just shut up!" Their Imperial Majesties hear this and immediately begin twittering. Desperation and panic undulate across Hermione's face. It's sort of funny: her face is an open scroll now that we're not playing poker. Resignedly she says "The bet's off."

Now that gives me an interesting choice. I can leave this all behind me. No Slytherine political issues, no weeping Mother, no honor driven diatribes from Father, no sneering Snape. Well, no more so than usual.

On the other hand…

HERMIONE'S POV

This has not gone at all as planned. Damnit. Who'd have guessed that evil schemes are this hard to keep under control? Well, I've learned my lesson. No more spur of the moment plots. From here on out there will be hours of research and planning that go into every single plot I conceive.

This could have been a lot worse though. At least I retained enough control to stop it by canceling the bet before it span from amusement to fiasco.

"Hermione, that's not going to do it this time. Why do you care what everyone else thinks anyway?" By the Faye, what is he DOING? I called of the bet. He can't be doing this. There has to be some rule against this. This is not allowed, this is not—

"I want the whole world to know. What we have is wonderful, there's no reason to hide it under a bushel. Let it shine for the world Hermione, let it shine." Maybe if I close my eyes and count to five the Scary-Sunday-School-Teacher-Draco will disappear and everything will be happy again. Ok: one, two, three…

Damn it all. Why did I feel the need to peek? He's still there. And he's looking at me. Why must he do that? He's looking at me as if we really were, well…an item. It's craptastically awkward. Of course I suppose making it look like we really are a couple is sort of his objective at this point. Damn him. I glare at him to get my point across.

I think I do rather well, but he continues talking anyway. Now he's using this conciliatory tone.

"Don't be like that Hermione, please. I just don't like this secrecy. You're so amazing, I want everyone to know about us. I want to be able to walk you to your classes, hold your hand and carry your books like any good boyfriend should. I want lounge with you in the evenings by the fire without fearing that someone will discover us."

He's getting really into this. Lavender and Parvati look like they're about to go just die, Draco's speech is that completely romantic. The fact that it's a good piece of gossip is just a bonus of course. "I want to be the boyfriend you deserve and I can't be that so long as we keep this a secret. I love you Hermione. I love you. And I'm not ashamed of that fact."

At this point he stands up and jumps on top of the table which shakes a bit under his weight. My hopes that it will collapse and thus alleviate my suffering go unfulfilled. The whole class is staring at him as he shouts at the top of his lungs, "I want the whole world to know that I LOVE YOU HERMIONE GRANGER! I want us to be able to be out in the open and free to express how we feel about each other. And for all of you who would judge Hermione and I," He looks around the classroom accusingly, "well FUCK YOU! Hermione and I love each other and that's all that should matter." At this point Professor Vir, who I believe was a classmate of Professor Bins, blinks at Draco blearily and proceeds to walk out of the classroom mumbling something about 'dem crazy youngsters…'

Desperately I try to shout to the now anarchical class, "No, you don't understand, Draco and I aren't together—"

"Hermione did you honestly think that Parvati and I, and the rest of the Gryffindors, would reject you because you're with Draco? How could you not tell us? I am so hurt. I must have the details." Lavender smiles at me with a slightly predatory glint in her eyes.

This cannot be going anywhere good.

Now, I am a proud member of the Gryffindor House and I've proved my bravery countless times during the War. However there is a difference between bravery and stupidity. So I do what any Gryffindor with their senses about them does w hen Lavender Brown says 'I must have the details.' I sprint for the door as fast as I can.


Ok, so I've been reading some other authors, and a lot of them have crazy dialogues or review songs at the end, and it came to me that perhaps instead of the pity angle I should do something more productive. So I've ripped off/adapted the epilogue to a Midsummer Night's Dream. If you like it I may do one with Antony's speech from Julius Ceasar. So Enjoy. And Review. Always Review.

If this Authoress hath offended,

Do but this, and all is mended:

But press this blue button down bellow

That your review in truth may show.

And this plot's weak idle theme,

Is it yielding or but a dream?

Readers, do not reprehend:

If you review, I shall mend.

And as I am and Authoress true,

If by luck, you do review,

I may yet be by you inspired

to write until I am batty and tired.

Else this Authoress a liar call,

So Good day unto you all!

Review whether or no we be friends,

And I shall revise and decide amongst ends.