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.
Chapter 5
Ginny watched in a sort of horrified awe as Hermione entered the common room and stomped up to her dormitory. Minutes later, she reemerged without her books and stalked around the common room muttering to herself and pulling at her hair.
When Ginny could take it no longer, she stood and placed herself in Hermione's path, effectively blocking her friend. When Hermione looked up at her, clearly confused, Ginny bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.
"Hermione," she said slowly. "What is wrong with you?" Hermione blinked a couple of times as though to process the question. She also bit her lip, though it was because of nervousness, and shrugged.
"I really don't want to say." Ginny raised her eyebrows at Hermione.
"Oh, okay," Hermione sighed before dragging Ginny into a dark corner. She pulled her friend close and whispered in her ear. "Malfoy kissed me."
"He did what?" Ginny shrieked.
"Shh!" Hermione said looking around to make sure no one heard. Seeing as how the common room was empty, she didn't worry too much. Ginny quieted her voice before continuing.
"What happened?"
"Well, I was studying, he came in and started talking like her normally does." At Ginny's questioning look, she elaborated, "You know. Mudblood this, mudblood that, Potty, Weasel, blah, blah, blah." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Trust me, I know."
"Yeah well, after a few minutes of this, I asked him what he wanted and he told me that if he answered my question truthfully, that I'd run and never look at him again."
"Wow," Ginny whispered.
"I know nutters isn't it?" Ginny made a face to suggest what she had to say, Hermione wouldn't like.
"Well, Herm, it kinda sounds like Malfoy was hitting on you."
"Absolutely not!" Hermione said fervently, not caring who heard. "He was only doing it to shake me up or something."
"Okay, okay," Ginny said putting her hands up in defense. "It was only a suggestion."
"Well, anyway, he then reached across the table and kissed me. I broke it off and he wouldn't tell me why he kissed me. Then some Slytherin girls came into the library and I bolted off. I couldn't take it anymore."
"Wow," Ginny said again. "Herm, what are you going to do? What about Oliver?" Hermione stared at Ginny disbelievingly.
"I'm not going to do anything. Like I said, he was just trying to get under my skin. Oliver doesn't need to know or he'll go ballistic. Neither do Lavender, Ron, or Harry for that matter," she said staring into Ginny's eyes meaningfully.
"Gotcha." She was about to say more when Harry and Ron walked through the portrait speaking loudly to one another and laughing.
"Ron, for the last time, you cannot tell professor Trelawney that her glasses are so thick you can see the craters on the moon and expect to get away with it," Harry howled. Ron shrugged.
"Well, she said my red hair and freckles reminded her of a love she once had."
"And that's offensive?"
"Uh, yeah! Why would I want to be compared to someone she obviously brainwashed into thinking she's attractive. The woman is nuts anyway. She probably met him in the insane asylum before they let her out." Harry snorted. "You're right. They didn't let her out, she escaped." Ron corrected himself at Harry's look.
Oliver hummed to himself as he made his way to dinner. He was to meet Hermione there. He had to admit that not even he had thought the charade would do this well. He had not been chased by one girl at all that day, though one girl did hound him in his mind.
Hermione. Somehow she'd gotten to him within one day. He couldn't stop thinking about their kiss. He wanted to continue their little game, but a part of him was afraid he'd seriously piss her off and she'd shred their contract. Damn the thing.
Not one day ago he'd thought that it was perfect. He'd thought the idea of the contract and it's purpose was perfect also. But now, when his interest in Hermione was piquing, he was bound by the damn thing. There was nothing he could do.
'Unless,' he thought to himself. 'I use the contract to my advantage. She has no choice but to spend time with me. It's in the contract. I could just use that to get to know her better.' He smiled to himself and entered the Great Hall. He glanced around and noticed Draco Malfoy glaring at him harder than usual. 'I wonder what's got his knickers in a bunch,' he thought pushing the thought away and moving to sit at the Gryffindor table.
