AN: Yay!! i finally got my laptop set up in my room. So now itlll be back to updates every day or so. Im so happy. And sorry about the longgg wait. But i think it was worth it....((heres the disclaimer... jk owns it all))

...and Now... without further adieu....

A Most Unexpected Love

Chapter 8: The Game

Lunch had gone well. Draco, Narcissa, and Hermione had easily busied themselves with small talk in between bites of food. Well... really, it was more like Narcissa busied herself with conversation while Hermione and Draco listened, adding in the occasional "Really?" or "You dont say" now and then. Often times, Hermione almost wanted to just put a silencing charm on Naricissa to save herself from insanity. It was during those times when her and Draco would share a glance and a smile, knowing that as annoying as the chatter was, it wasn't worth getting expelled over. It was almost as if Narcissa had been silent for many years and was finally able to express herself freely. Hermione betted it wasn't far from the truth. But even with all of Narcissa's excess chatter, the actual food part of lunch was rather enjoyable.

Draco and Hermione had both gotten thier fill and were siiting at the table, quite unsure of what to do next. Even though most of the food was gone, Narcissa's chatter still remained. Neither of them wanted to be the first to get up from the table and interrupt her. Especially not Hermione, whose parents had taught her better.

So Hermione and Draco sat pushing the remaining morsels on the plate around and around, giving each other glances that said "Tell her" or "No you tell her" both hoping the other person would find the nerve to excuse them.

Many "Oh's" and "You're kidding me's" comming from Hermione and Draco later, Narcissa finally seemed to have gotten her fill on talking.

"I have an idea! Draco darling, why dont you give Hermione a grand tour of the grounds?"

Though this was just the escape from his mother he needed, he wasn't planning on spending it outside. After all, just because he and Hermione were now friends, didnt change the fact that he was still a lazy boy."Well...erm.." Draco tried to think quick to get out of the request. "Didnt you do that already when she first got here?"

Narcissa was quick to sense what Draco was up to. "Nonsense! I gave her no such thing! I merely showed her where the things in the kitchen were located. That's hardely a tour. Draco really.. is it that hard to get off yer arse once in a while and get some fresh air?" Narcissa got up from her seat at the table and drew back the curtains. "Its a beautiful day outside honey. Isnt it just...calling you?"

Draco raised his eyebrows. Calling him it was one thing it was definately far from doing. Seeing that his plan was failing, he had to resort to plan B. Putting on his best puppydog-pout face, he turned to his mother. "But mother, I'm ever so tired. I've been up all morning entertaining our guest," Hermione gave a snort at that comment. "And i think that it would be very benifici-"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Draco, are you really that lazy? After all, it could be fun." She flashed him one of her dazziling smiles.

Draco felt his stomach do a twist. 'Erg.. must have been the tofu.'

Before he had a chance to respond, he mother had pulled him off of his chair and was shooing him and Hermione outside. "And Hermione make sure you guys don't come back until Draco's done a satisfactory job."

Hermione laughed. "Oh.. don't worry Narcissa." She gave draco a sly look. "I'm sure we wont be comming back until wayy after dark."

Draco's POV

'What does she have up her sleeves,' Draco thought. 'Oh welll... i must admit i wouldn't mind spending all night with her.' Draco mentally slapped himself. ' Lets try and not think those thougths ever, ever again Draco.'

"Okay you two be safe." And Narcissa shut the door.

So by the looks of things it looked like Draco was going to be stuck with her. But he supposed that company from Hermione was better than no company at all.

"So...what on the agenda first?"

He shurugged his sholders.

What were they going to do? Draco began to walk. "I dont know. There really isnt much to do here."

It seemed she wasn't convinced. "Oh yeah right. Your telling me that with all these acres of land that there is not one even remotely interesting thing that one could do here?"

"Nope. Not really." And it was the truth. Draco thought that the manor was frightfully boring, and ususally just stayed in his room all day. Or went over to Blaise's house, but really that wasn't much better. Though sometimes... Pansy would show up in univited. And of course his mother had to let her in. Then he would be forced to be a good host and entertain her. Draco shuddered at the thought. Actually, when he thought about, he was sort of doing the same thing now. But, at least Hermione wasn't giggling like a mad woman everytime he uttered a syllable or trying to attack his ear with her tongue every 20 seconds.

Hermione sighed. "Okay then. How about we play a game."

Draco chortled. "A game? Yea that's funny. What kind of games do you like to play? Catogorizing all of the flowers in your mother's garden according to thier Phylum, Species, and Order?"

"No." Hermione playfully pushed him. "Though.." She had a pensive look on her face. "I really ought to try that one when i get home." Draco stared at her in disbelief. 'I knew she was bad...' Draco thought. 'But come on! She's really got to be kidding me!'

Hermione laughed. "If looks could kill... Don't worry Draco. I'm only kidding. For being the Prince of Slytherin you really dont have much of a sense of humor."

Draco smiled. "I'll just let that comment go. So what sort of game is it then."

"I'ts one to help people get to know each other. I learned about when i took a communtiy service class on how to be a better tutor. Yes," Hermione smiled fondly. "I remember... that class was actually quite informative. I learned alot of new things regarding the social habits of young children. Even though social habits dont really have much to do with tutoring, the instructor seemed to think it did. And she was right in the end actually...after a while it all seemed to tie in. Espcially when dealing with April -she was my first tutoree, mind you. She was really shy and i had a bit of a rough time trying to get her to warm up to me. After all, how can you expect to help a child learn if she's afraid to ask you for help. But she eventually warmed up to me because after-"

Draco smiled. 'So this what the real Hermione Granger is like. I see why the Weasel and Pothead are always so agrivated. They have to deal with her all day'. But really, it was actually quite cute. The way she rambled on and on. About things, that is, not her.

After a few moments more of her rambling, Draco decided to stop her.

"Hermione." She didnt seem to hear him. "HERMIONE!"

"Yes Draco!! Honestly there's no need to yell. I am right here you know."

Draco chuckled and shook his head in pitty. 'The poor thing,' he thought. 'She really must not get a chance to talk to people much in the summer.'

'The game?"

Hermione looked confused. "Game..?" Slowly, realization dawned on her. "Ahh yes.. the game. Well like i was trying to tell say." She shot Draco a nasty look. "It's like this. Your going to ask me a question. Anything you want."

'Anything I want ehh...?' Draco turned to her and lifted his eyebrows.

"Anything within reason of course.," She quickly added, seeing the look he had given her. Draco's face fell once more. "Sorry Draco. This game doesn't give you permission to be a slimy pig-headed git."

"Hey! You cant talk to the almighty Sly-"

"Like i was saying. You can ask me anything you want and I have to answer truthfully. And then it's my turn to ask you the question and you have to tell the truth. So.. you want to play?" She turned and waited for his response.

'That's her idea of fun?... No this wont do'

"How about we make it a tad more... interesting."

Hermione looked doubtful. "What do you mean...'interesting'?"

"Well.. how about the first person who isn't able or doesn't want to truthfully answer the question has to take a dare instead. And you have do to it...deal?

"Well..alright."

"Okay. I'll go first. What-"

"Wait why do you get to go first?"

'I knew it wasn't going to be that easy.' "Beacause im the Slytherin Prince and royalty comes first."

"Pshh you wish! And besides, I was the one who thought of the game! So I should go first."

"Well, not the whole game. I thought of the little twist at the end remember. So that means that I should start."

"Well... I'm the guest here, so naturally I should be the one to begin."

"True.. but where are you the guest at? Oh! That's right. At my house! There for I should start.

Hermione was beginning to get flustered. "Just because it's your house doesn't mean you have the right to boss everyone around! Honestly, Draco!! Didn't we just go over this?? Haven't you heard of ladies first?"

'Blast it! She does have a point,' Draco thought. Then a fine idea popped into his head. 'Fine. If she wants to go first... i'll let her.'

"Your right Hermione."

"Oh come on Dra-." Hermione did a doubletake. "What? Are you actually admitting that you're wrong? Wow. Twice in one day...that must be a new world record."

Draco fought the urge to retort. Instead, he gave her an overly-sweet smile. "What sort of Malfoy would iI be if I didn't allow the lady to begin? Go ahead Hermione. I'll let you go first."

Hermione seemed grately surprised. "Why, thank you Dra-" Hermione stopped walking. "Wait a minute. Let me? Let me? Now you just wait one minute Draco Malfoy. There is not a boy in this world who would let Hermione Jane Granger do anything. Because I dont-"

"Regnarg"

"-Think that any-...Exucuse Me?"

Draco's sly smile appeared on his face. "Dont you mean Hermione Jane Regnarg?"

Hermione's angry face melted into a smile. "Yes... I suppose you do have a point." They resumed walking again. "Tell you what Draco. In hopes of preventing a row even bigger than the one we had just a few hourse ago, I'm going to agree to let you let me go first."

And seeing as his plan went even better than he had origanally supposed, they walked over to the nearest willow tree and began to play the game.