The Contract

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in anyway, shape, or form(though I wish I did because J. K. Rowling has to be one of the richest people in the world by now).

Summery: Tired of being asked out by guys she wouldn't want her worst enemy to date, Hermione decides to take Oliver Wood's offer. Oliver Wood, tired of being mobbed by almost every girl within twenty feet of him, hears about Hermione's problem and offers a solution; they pretend to go out until one of them finds another person they want to date.

Hermione: 5th year(15 yrs. old) Ron: 5th year(15 yrs. old)

Harry:5th year(15 yrs. Old) Lavender: 5th year(15 yrs. old)

Oliver: 6th year(16 yrs. Old) Alicia: 6th year(16 yrs. old)

Fred & George: 6th year(16 yrs. Old)Katie: 6th year(16 yrs. old)

Ginny: 4th year(14 yrs. Old)Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle: 5th year(15 yrs. Old)

Chapter 2

Oliver smiled to himself after listening to their conversation. It seemed like they were very loyal to the Granger girl and were worried about her. Oliver just thought she was tired of being asked out by boys seeing as how at the Yule Ball she showed just what a beauty she could be. He'd heard from Ron (the new Chaser), Harry, and the twins how many times she had to threaten to curse guys a day. Guys who always came back again to ask the same question: "Will you go out with me?"

A thought struck Oliver that was so good he had to call himself a genius. Hermione didn't want boys bugging her all hours of the day and he didn't want girls doing the same to him. They could pretend to date for a while to get them off of their backs. When one of them found someone else they could "break up" and do as they please.

Oliver chuckled to himself shoveling the last of his scrambled eggs into his mouth and standing up. He'd have to hurry if he was going to ask Hermione before Quidditch practice in an hour and a half.

'Oliver, my friend,' he thought to himself hurrying our of the hall before his fan club could notice and follow. 'You've got to be the only cute genius ever!'

Hermione grabbed a book ('Deadliest Magic Spells') from the shelf, found a table in the back of the library, and slammed it down. After the librarian came to scold her she tried to be more calm.

She waited until the woman had left to open the book. She took out a roll of parchment, ink, and a quill and began taking notes from the book. She knew this was not required in any of her learning, but she figured she should learn the worst of what was out there seeing as how she'd be out of school in almost two years.

Out and alone. The thought scared her as much as Voldemort coming to kill Harry, which she assumed he would try any day now.

She heard the library door open and thought nothing of it. It was probably Ginny and Lavender coming to calm her down and ask her to date what's-his-name again. She grimaced and went back to taking notes. She wasn't surprised when, a few seconds later, someone sat across from her. She was surprised, however, when that person put a broom stick on the table.

Hermione looked up into Oliver Wood's grinning face completely confused and annoyed.

"May I help you?" she asked politely. His grin just became bigger.

"Actually," he said. "Yes. I noticed that you're being bugged by the girls to date."

"Were you listening to our conversation?" Hermione asked dropping her quill. She glared fiercely at Oliver, but was disappointed to find it didn't effect him at all.

"I was," he admitted unabashed. "But that's not important."

"It isn't?"

"No."

"What is?" Hermione leaned back in her chair. She was interested now.

"I was getting to that. Your friends are bugging you about dating right?"

"What does it matter to you, Leprechaun?" Oliver shrugged and raised an eyebrow.

"You don't like my accent?" he asked. "I'm told it's sexy."

"I'm told you have a big ego," Hermione said back. "Forget about your accent. You were being annoying so I made fun of you."

"You're bloody annoying, you know that?" he asked her. Hermione sensed he was getting angry at her. She took a deep breath to calm herself and looked him square in the eye.

"Okay," she said in a softer tone. "What did you want to help me with?"

"Your dating," he said simply after staring at her. He was surprised at her quick change of mood.

"Why?"

"Well, since you're being bugged to date and I've got ninety-nine percent of the female population in this school after me-"

"Ninety-nine?" Hermione raised in eyebrow. "My, we think a lot of ourselves."

"I think we should pretend to date," Oliver finished as though she hadn't interrupted at all. He then added, "and it's true. They took a poll." Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth opened and shut several times without accomplishing anything but making her look like a fish.

"Y-you've got to be kidding me!" she said loudly. A loud 'Shh!' from the librarian made her quiet down.

"Think about it," Oliver pleaded. "We both want to be able to relax without worrying about being mobbed by the opposite sex. Look, you can come up with the ground rules. I have to go. You don't have to give me an answer today. Let me know." Hermione nodded mutely. Oliver smiled at her, grabbed his broom and left the library.

'What in the bloody hell have I done to deserve this?' Hermione asked herself.

"Ron Weasley has the Quaffle! He's heading towards the Ravenclaw hoop...he's just dodged two Bludgers...he passes it to Alicia Spinnet just as the Bludgers are hit back to him. Alicia throws it to Katie Bell who tosses it back to Ron and...Gryffindor scores!"
Hermione clapped and cheered along with the rest of her house while thinking about Oliver's proposal.

"It's ridiculous," she said to herself. "There's no way it would work."

"No way what would work?" Ginny asked. She and Lavender were on either side of Hermione clapping along with everyone else.

"Not important," Hermione said distractedly. She watched with baited breath as Harry dropped into a heart-stopping dive with the Ravenclaws' Seeker right behind him.

"...Gryffindor wins! 250-120!"

Hermione, Lavender, and Ginny raced down the steps waiting to congratulate the team. They walked down to the locker room and waited outside for the team to come out. Alicia and Katie were the first out.

"Great job!" Ginny said hugging them. "All you have to do is beat Hufflepuff and you'll have Slytherin right where you want them...defeated!"

"How come I don't get hugs like that?" Harry asked pouting as he and the rest of the team joined the group of hugging girls.

"It's simple. I like them better." Harry smirked.

"I doubt it. I don't think they can kiss as well as me."

"You wouldn't know," Katie and Alicia said at once. Hermione hugged the two girls again before heading over to the others.

"Great play, Ron," she said. "Great dive, Harry." She hugged the two and they accepted their compliments with grins.

"What about us?" Fred said.

"Yeah! We're not invisible, ya know," George added jumping on Fred's back. Fred carried his twin around, giving him a Piggyback ride.

"Oh! We're sorry," said Hermione. She, Lavender, and Ginny immediately went to the twins bombarding them with hugs and compliments.

"That's not right," Ron said his mouth hanging open.

Oliver watched the girls soothe the twins egos while thinking about what he'd asked Hermione. She'd probably spend the night and morning going back and forth on her decision. He knew that she knew it was a good plan. But the girl was just so bloody hardheaded. Now he knew why Ron and Harry listened to her all the time. If she didn't approve she could be a nightmare.

He continued to watch, a small smirk playing on his lips. He saw Hermione catch sight of him. She raised an eyebrow and nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment. Oliver almost bit his tongue. He'd never known a girl to pass off a chance to flirt with him. He'd blown off the morning in the library because he knew she was angry, but right when she'd seen him staring openly at her she'd blown him off! She'd acted as though he was Harry or Ron!

Okay, maybe she was right. Maybe he did have a big ego, but after being pursued by anything in high heels with a pulse he felt it was bound to happen. 'Get a grip, Wood,' he told himself. 'If you keep on with the arrogance the girl's just gonna forget about it.'