Chapter 9: Attraction!

"So should we go home with the same people we were with before?" Tom asked. Everyone nodded, well everyone except Maria who looked at Tom and said, "I want to go with Rob." Tom looked at her and smiled and said, "Don't be foolish if no one else wants to trade we're not changing just because you don't want to go home in the same car as me." As he said this Maria looked at him furiously and went by Robbie. She said, "I'm going home with Robbie." Harry saw this and said, "Its okay I want to go in the same car as Hermione anyways. So this way it all works out." Tom looked at him and then at Maria.

"See it's not just me," Maria said.

Tom looked at her and asked, "Anymore requests?"

"I want to go with Parvati," Ron said as Parvati smiled and blushed.

"And I want to go with you," Lavender said as she walked by Tom.

"Well that can't work," Maria said looking directly at Lavender.

'Why not?" Tom said looking at Maria with a smile on his face.

"Because that would mean that there would be six people in one car and four in another," Maria said.

"It still can work," Tom said, "My car can have six people I don't mind."

"But you won't all fit," Maria explained.

"Yes we will," Tom said, "Harry can drive my car and Lavender can sit on my lap." He grabbed Lavender by her wait and took her close to his body. Maria looked at him and said, "Fine then it can be you, Lavender, Ron, Parvati, Harry, and Hermione in one. Then me, Robbie, Draco, and Blaise in the other." Tom opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Maria quickly said, "Does anyone have a problem with that?" Tom once again was about to say something but before he could Maria said, "Good, then let's go, we've only got about an hour until ten." She walked right past Tom who was smiling and went straight into Robbie's car, Tom once again was watching her every move. Harry turned to Hermione and asked, "Are you sure it's not the other way around?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.

"Well I mean I know you told us that Tom is jealous of her but to me it seems like she's jealous of Tom," Harry said.

"Well Tom's only acting this way to make her jealous," Hermione said, "She's simply responding to him. I swear the way he has that girl wrapped around his finger is sickening." Harry looked at Maria and frowned. He felt sorry for her. She was such a beautiful and sweet girl and she didn't deserve Tom toying with her. However there was nothing to be done, not now anyways and so he turned his thoughts to Hermione who obviously was thinking about the dare again because her arms were crossed and she was looking straight down at the sand. However her daze was broken as Tom yelled, "Come on guys; let's go we've got some goodies to watch."

Harry snickered softly making sure Hermione did not hear him. He looked at Hermione however and felt sorry for her. He squeezed her tightly from shoulder to shoulder and said, "Don't worry I'm sure you look good naked." He then winked at her and Hermione looked at him surprised as her mouth opened and her eyebrows rose with her terror completely gone and said, "Harry Potter, don't say such things."

"Why you want me to say, you'll look bad naked?"

"No, but …"

"I was giving you a compliment Hermione."

"I know," Hermione said, "Harry tonight is just going to be weird."

"But you shouldn't be ashamed Hermione you're a beautiful girl."

Hermione didn't know how to respond so they just walked together to the car without saying anything else to each other. After a lot of arguing the seating arrangement was decided, and even after a lot of arguing from Lavender, to her bad fortune Tom wound up driving the car, she ended up sitting in the front next to, Parvati and Ron were in the back sitting next to each other and Hermione ended up sitting on Harry's lap. She didn't know how to feel, happy or weird or horrified, but she couldn't help thinking that this was nice. She closed her eyes and could feel Harry's strong arms around her, she felt so safe in his arms, and it just felt right. The others were talking loudly but Hermione heard none of it, all she wanted to listen to was the beating of her own heart at the sweet sound that it was making now that she was so close to Harry. She smiled as she thought of how before she would have given anything to be held by Harry, and now she was being held by him, and she was confused and at times consumed with fear whenever she thought of the dare.

As Maria went to Robbie's car she took a seat in the back. Robbie took a seat in the front and Draco and Blaise were outside arguing who would get to sit next to Maria. "Please Blaise," Draco pleaded, "I got to sit next to her man."

"No," Blaise said.

"Please!" Draco begged.

"Man I told you no like a hundred times, she's mine, I got the luck of the draw," Blaise said.

"Come on Blaise I'll trade you, you can have Lavender for Maria."

"Lavender for Maria?" Blaise asked looking at him in disbelief, "Are you kidding. That's like saying here I'll give you dirt for a firebolt."

"Oh come on," Draco urged, "Lavender's a really great girl."

"Yes, and dirt was only a myth until yesterday," Blaise said sarcastically.

"Oh come on," Draco said.

"No!" Blaise said, "Dirt is still dirt."

"Please accept the trade; it's not that bad of a trade."

"Only a crazy and an idiotic man would accept that trade, and I am neither."

"Are you guys coming?" Maria yelled.

"Yeah," Draco said.

"We're trying to decide something," Blaise said.

"What?" Maria asked.

"Who gets to sit in front," Draco said.

"You are acting like little kids," Maria said, "Blaise you can sit in front and Draco will just have to sit next to me."

Draco smiled and Blaise nodded however neither one argued, they got in the car exactly as Maria had instructed. As soon as the car left the parking lot Rob and Blaise were into an intense conversation about something that Maria could not even understand however neither of them were paying attention to the back. She then turned her attention to Draco and said, "So Draco Malfoy, did you have fun today?"

"I did," Draco said, "However I would have had more fun if you were there. Where were you?"

"Out thinking about you," she said moving closer to him.

"Don't tease me, Maria; you know I can't be trusted when I'm near you."

"Why?"

"Because when I'm near I just want to…"

"What?"

"Kiss you, and many other things that I can't say on front of you."

She smiled at him and said, "You know my parents aren't home tonight and they won't be here until Monday, what do you say you spend the night?"

Draco raised his eyebrows, "Really?"

"If you want to."

"I do," Draco nodded.

"Good," Maria said.

Blaise seeing Draco and Maria talking extended the conversation to Draco and Maria simply put her head on Draco's chest, "Do you mind?" she asked him.

"Not at all," Draco said, and the boys' conversation began once more. However before Maria knew it they had arrived at her house and they all got out. Tom however saw that Maria had been resting on Draco's chest and looked at Draco with envy for a moment although no one noticed. Maria hugged Draco and thanked him.

"No problem," Draco said, "Anytime you need a chest to rest on call me."

She smiled at him and said, "You are really something you know that."

"Only around you," Draco said and they both got out of the car.

When Hermione got out she frowned. She frowned at the fact that the car ride was over. She smiled at Harry and said, "Sorry, your legs must be tired."

"Why?" Harry asked, "You're even lighter than a feather."

Hermione smiled but was kind of sad at the same time, she was sad at having lost that feeling of safety, the feeling of comfort and instead had gained a feeling of complete terror, as it entered her heart she realized that in a few minutes, Harry Potter the boy she had been madly in love with ever since she had met him, and Draco Malfoy, the boy she had hated since she had met him, and Blaise Zabini the boy that had annoyed her since she had met him, would all be there watching her tonight as she would dive in the pool naked. The more she thought about it the worse she felt and she found herself wishing and hoping that time would simply stop and that every second would feel like an hour. However much to her disappointment the opposite happened and in a matter of seconds Ron, Lavender, and Parvati were gone and the rest of the kids walked inside Maria's house.

The house was huge and spotless. There was an amazing chandelier in the hall as soon as you walked in that made the whole room glow. As Harry looked around he thought that this house was so clean that it would even make Aunt Petunia jealous. The house was beautifully decorated and very huge. They walked all the way to the back of the living room and Maria put the curtains on one side revealing a big glass door. She opened the door and then they arrived at Maria's pool. The pool was big and along the pool were tiny lights that glowed allowing them to see through the darkness of the night. Inside the bulbs were what seemed like candles but Harry did not see them melt nor did he see any wax. It was very beautiful and Harry himself wished that he could take a swim.

He looked at Hermione who had her arms around her stomach and more looked nervous than Harry had ever seen her. He walked near and said, "Don't worry Hermione."

Hermione smiled and nodded at Hermione and then he saw Maria coming towards them. She smiled at Harry and said, "Is she nervous?"

"Yeah," Harry said he looked at Maria who was cool and calm and then at Hermione who was a wreck, how different they are, Harry thought.

"I got her," Maria said, as she whispered something in Hermione's ear and Hermione laughed, and it seemed as though Hermione's shyness was gone. Harry smiled and Maria took Hermione's hand as Tom said, "Put the towels right there." He pointed to the side of the pool furthest from the stairs and Maria and Hermione came back with two towels in their hands and put them right where Tom had specified. All the boys seemed to be excited even Harry although he did a tremendous job of concealing it.

"We'll be right back, when we're ready," Maria said. Then Hermione and Maria left the boys and climbed the stairs quickly. Harry, Draco, and Blaise looked at the girls puzzled and then Draco asked, "Where are they going?"

"To take their clothes off," Tom said.

"They don't take them off in front of us?" Blaise asked.

"No," Tom said, "that is where they draw the line at."

The boys laughed and Tom said, "In a matter of minutes they'll be out here with their robes on and then they'll take them off, jump in the pool, swim all the way over there take their towels and then they'll go upstairs and get dressed and it's over. It's not that bad really."

"Yeah," Draco said. He looked at Tom and whispered to Blaise and Harry, "He's drunk, trust me."

For a moment they sat in silence awkwardly and then Harry asked, "So you've gone out with Maria before?"

"Yeah," both Rob and Tom said unanimously. Tom looked at Rob weirdly and then nodded to Harry.

"And even then you guys still did this?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Tom said, he looked at Harry suspiciously and said, "Why?"

"Well was it this, that made you want to go out with her?" As Tom studied Harry he smiled and said, "Don't worry this won't ruin your friendship with Hermione. I mean just because you see her naked doesn't mean that you'll want to go out with her." Tom paused for a moment and said, "Even though she does have a smokin' body though." And before Harry could even hold himself back his fist were clenched and he felt like ripping Tom's head off. However he realized he was simply being protective and unclenched his fists. Draco saw this however said nothing at the moment instead he engaged the boys in a conversation about quidditch a conversation in which all the boy were happy to discuss. However none of their minds were in the conversation all their minds were on the two girls that were upstairs getting ready.

After the girls were dressed in their robes and were about to go downstairs Maria said, "Wait Hermione I want to talk to you for a minute."

"Are you sure the boys will wait?" Hermione asked.

"I'm sure their raging hormones can wait for two seconds," Maria said and Hermione smiled, "So what's been going on?"

The girls sat at the top of the stairs and Hermione said, "Nothing much, I mean it's just school, I'm sorry I broke tradition, and I didn't go out with you the first day that I came back but I mean I don't know I was feeling weird."

"It's okay," Maria said, "Actually you know what, I kissed Draco that day, so it wasn't that bad."

"What?" Hermione asked her eyes getting big.

"Yeah, He's a good kisser, Hermione."

"I wouldn't know I've never kissed him."

"Really? You know that day he told me that he was your boyfriend at first."

"No way!" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Maria said, "I mean there's nothing going on between the two of you?"

"No," Hermione said, "Nothing is and nothing ever will. Why, are you interested in him?"

"Maybe."

"Oh," Hermione retorted.

"What he's handsome."

"Oh I know, I just I don't know he's not my type, I didn't think he was yours either."

Maria studied Hermione for a minute and then said, "What about Harry?"

"Harry?" Hermione asked again.

"Yeah, Harry, the gorgeous boy with the amazing eyes, is he your type?"

"No," Hermione said immediately. She couldn't tell Maria about Harry, not yet, maybe one day but not now.

"Really?" Maria asked, "I could I have sworn. I mean Harry is a total catch, handsome, smart, sweet, I'm sure, and a legend in your school. Hello! Can you say perfect?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Girls!" They heard someone yell, which was no doubt Tom's voice. Maria looked at Hermione and said, "We'd better go, we'll talk later."

Hermione nodded and Maria yelled, "We're coming Tom, keeping your pants on."

"I would," Tom yelled, "but just the thought of you is making them want to slip off."

"He's madly in love with you Maria," Hermione said.

"Yeah, right," Maria said, "He's got that ditzy Lavender now. And besides he's drunk."

"Oh please, Lavender's got nothing on you." Hermione said.

"You know I'd hug you," Maria said, "But not now or I'd be freaked out."

Hermione laughed but as they walked to the pool and she saw Harry she could feel a knot in her stomach getting tighter and tighter as she got closer to the pool. Maria squeezed Hermione's arm and said, "Don't worry it'll all be fine." They went by the edge of the pool and the boys gathered around them. Maria looked at Hermione who looked like she was about to throw up. She had to something and Maria then turned around and said in a sarcastic tone, "Would you all like a lap dance and blow jobs too?"

"Is that an offer," Tom said, "Because if it is yea I'll take them both."

"I mean you guys are too close," Maria said, "Back off a little bit."

"So I get my lap dance and blow job for backing up a bit," Tom asked.

"Funny," Maria said. She pushed Tom all the way back and the rest of the guys followed. As she did this she saw Tom looking at her breasts that were showing mostly because of the large robe. She covered herself up and said in a voice only audible to Tom, "You had them once and you refused them, now lay off." Tom smirked and she walked back near Hermione. She said, "Go on Hermione go first, I'll go last." She whispered something in Hermione's ear and backed away. Hermione took her robe off, and Harry as if it was a reflex closed his eyes and did not open them until he heard a splash. This meant that Hermione was in the pool, so he opened his eyes and then Hermione swam all the way to the other side, grabbed one towel and got out of the pool.

It was Maria's turn now and Harry could see that whether it was intentional or not all the boys moved a bit closer and they all had big smiles on their faces. Tom then said, "Come on Maria don't keep us waiting take it off and show us what you got."

She turned to him gave him a nasty look and took off her robe. Tom did a wolf whistle and Maria jumped in the pool. Tom clapped and turned to the guys, "Watch this guy." He raised his eyebrows and ran as fast as he could to the other side of the pool and Hermione screamed, "What are you doing? Stop! You can't do that." However Tom did not stop. He ran and grabbed the towel before Maria could get to it. When Maria got there she saw that her towel wasn't there and saw that Tom had it, "Tom Give it!" she said.

"No," Tom said.

"Stop," Maria said.

Tom shook his head.

Hermione looked at him and said, "Tom give it to her."

Rob looked at him and yelled, "Stop being an ass man, give her the damn towel."

Tom still did nothing and Maria although no fear was seen in her face made no move. Hermione saw this and yelled, "Guys help her, do something.

Draco yelled, "Tom stop this, give her the towel."

Blaise said, "Tom the fun is over man, give her the towel."

Tom just simply looked at them and did nothing. Harry looked at Hermione and then at Tom and the rest of the guys. He looked at Tom and said, "Tom give her the fucking towel unless you want this to turn ugly."

"But she isn't ugly Harry," Tom said and the guys could tell that he was definitely drunk. He had spent all day with Lavender so they hadn't been too sure but they were sure now. Harry then took a few steps and said, "Tom give let her have the towel man or you're going to have to deal with me."

Tom looked at Harry and then at Maria and smiled, "All right I'll let her have the towel." He took a few steps back stretched out his arms and unfolded the towel. The towel was stretched from arm to arm and Tom looking at Maria said, "Come and get it."

Maria looked at him and said, "That's okay." She smiled at him and then swam back at the stairs and went up the stairs naked. She looked at her robe that was simply a few steps away, but however walked away from it. She walked up to Harry, kissed him on the cheek and said, "Thanks for trying Harry. You're my hero." She then swinging her hips from side to side went inside, and then turned around and said, "I'm going to bed now by the way, so I'm gonna assume you're all going to leave?"

Everyone nodded and Maria walked up the stairs. Hermione looked at Tom and said, "Way to go." She walked away from him and walked up to the guys and said, "I'll be right back I just have to change, you guys can wait for me outside." The boys nodded and Draco and Blaise left and went outside followed closely by Rob. Harry on the other waited there made sure that everyone was out of sight and then walked up to Tom. Tom looked at him and said, "Sorry man, I guess I'm a little drunk."

Harry nodded and then as they walked for a bit and Tom was close to the pool Harry pushed him and Tom fell in the pool. Tom looked at Harry and screamed, "What the fuck man?" Harry looked at him and said, "You are going to make it up to them and you're going to apologize to Maria and Hermione."

Tom looked at him and shook his head, "Unless you want trouble from me, you're going to do this Tom, and I won't be the least bit sorry for hurting you. Now I don't care how the fuck you act when I wasn't here. But I am here now so you better watch yourself." With that Harry left, and he couldn't believe what he had done. He felt guilty but at the same time he felt proud. This was something that his father and his godfather Sirius would do. Tom deserved what he had gotten and Harry had made no mistake he was protecting Hermione and Maria and that was honorable, and he had meant every word that he had said to Tom. He walked out and found Draco and Blaise and Rob talking, he said, "Would you guys wait here for Hermione and walk her back, I have to get home, I have to tell Ron something."

"Sure," Draco said and Blaise nodded.

Before Harry could leave however Maria and Hermione appeared at the door. Maria seemed fine and so did Hermione, Harry admired Maria no matter how hurt she had been she didn't show it. Hermione hugged Maria and then walked out and said, "Come on guys let's go." As all the boys were about to leave Maria said, "Draco do you mind staying for a while I need help with something."

"Sure," Draco said.

"What do you need help with?" Hermione asked.

"Oh just something, with the water heater in the basement," Maria said.

"I can help too," Blaise said.

"No," Maria said, "Draco can do it, it just might take a while, that's all its simple really."

"Okay," Blaise said and everyone went. When they could not be seen from the house anymore Maria closed the door and went to the pool. She looked around and then smiled and closed the door. She turned to Draco and said, "No one's here." Then she closed the blinds and said, "What now?"

Draco moved closer to her and said, "Well how about you show me what your room looks like."

Maria nodded and they climbed the stairs up to the second floor, and then Maria opened the door to the second room on the left and said, "This is my room."

"Very nice," Draco said not looking at her room but only looking at her.

She smiled, he followed her and said, "And this is your bed?"

"Yes," Maria said, "it's very comfortable."

"It is," Draco said.

He took her and started kissing her deeply. She kissed him and the next thing Draco knew they were in her bed, and his shirt came off.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to:

GoldenWings325

Sweet KittyKat69159

Farmall girl

Rottenkittenstastelikebras

Peacie1st

Spazz1989