A Curious Kind of Bet

Hermione waited until the footsteps of her friends had retreated. "I can't believe this," she said to herself as she left her room and walked down the staircase. She entered the common room to see Draco also descending the stairs from his room.

"Hi," he said as he sat down on a couch.

"Hi," she said back, and walked over to his awaiting arms. Hermione sat down and Draco drew her closer to him. She leaned into his chest and sighed.

"You don't look so happy," Draco said as she nestled closer to him. "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing…"

"Come on, Hermione, you know you can tell me."

Hermione sighed again. Lately she'd been letting out lots of sighs. "They're ridiculous."

"Ah, the infamous bumbling Gryffindor friends. What did they do this time?"

"I wouldn't call them bumbling. They're just—ridiculous. And exasperating."

"What about?" Draco repeated. He was getting the feeling that what they'd said this time was more than the meddling they usually did.

"Nothing important, but somehow really annoying. Can we just not talk about it?"

"Alright." They sat in silence for some few minutes. "Hermione, I don't like to ask, but is there something you're not telling me?"

"No." She looked up at him. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

That did it. Draco was convinced she more than she was letting, although he couldn't figure out how that was possible. "No," he said with perfect composure.

The two sat in silence once again. Draco was consumed in a considerable amount of guilt for not telling Hermione about the letter. There was, of course, the chance she didn't know about it, but Draco didn't place too much confidence in that. He knew that he owed it to her to be honest, but the fearful part of him said that to do that could very possibly lead to the dissolution of their relationship. Once it was out, they would have to acknowledge the fact that Draco was soon to be a dangerous man—of that he was certain—and then she wouldn't want to be with him anymore.

Draco was worried about losing the thing he was holding at that moment, lying there, tucked perfectly into his arms. He knew he was happy at that moment with Hermione, and it was just so unfair that he wasn't going to have the chance to keep her. Maybe by not telling her just yet he was postponing the inevitable separation that they faced, but at least they would have some time left to them.

"What are you thinking?" Hermione said, interrupting his thoughts.

"What?" Draco looked down into her eyes. "I was just thinking about the future."

"Really?" Hermione thought for a second. "Well, it'll get here eventually, so there's no point really in thinking too much about it."

"Hmm. You're right. There is no point in worrying, is there?"

"Nope."

"Hey," Draco said, sitting up, "let's go fool around upstairs."

Hermione laughed. "You're so to the point…"

"Aren't I, though?" he said as he lifted her off the couch and ran up the stairs to his room.

"Draco, what's up? I haven't seen you around lately."

"Well, I've been a little preoccupied," Draco replied. He shut the portrait to the Slytherin common room and took a seat on one of the couches.

Blaise moved to a seat closer to Draco. "Really? With what?"

"Oh, you know, Head duties. They just keep piling up…"

Blaise smiled. "And do the Head duties include sex with the Head Girl?"

Draco's expression remained blank. "Sex with the Head Girl?"

"Not everyone is oblivious to the facts, Draco," Blaise said in a lowered voice. "In fact, if one watches for long enough, they are quite obvious."

"Obvious?"

"You don't have to repeat everything I say."

"Well, I'm just trying to make sure I'm hearing you correctly."

"Then yes, obvious. It's only a matter of time before the other Slytherins catch on. Even Pansy might notice."

"Pansy will be an idiot no matter what happens."

"I'm just saying…I don't think you have your priorities straight."

"My priorities? Blaise, I think I know what I'm doing."

"You haven't been in this common room for weeks."

"I come by for patrols."

"And leave as quickly as you come." Draco remained silent. "I doubt the sex is that good."

"It's not—"

"Because you know there are plenty of girls just waiting for a nod from you."

"I don't care about other girls."

"You don't?" Blaise studied the expression on Draco's face. "Oh, you think you're in love with her?" Once again, Draco said nothing. "The worst mistake you can make is confusing love with what seems to me to be really, really good sex."

"You think I'm just making a mistake?"

"Happens quite often, I must say. I bet you guys do it a lot?" Blaise said with a smug smile.

"Not true. We do other things."

"Have you ever gone one day without sex?"

"Why should I?"

"Exactly. Just try it for one day and see how disgruntled you'll be," Blaise said and rose from the couch. "Well, I've got some of my own…business to attend to. I'll be seeing you around I hope."

Draco closed his eyes and leaned back. Was Blaise really right? Draco wandered back to his dorm, confused. Of course there was the possibility that Blaise was correct in this assumption. But no, there was much more to it. For one, the worry he felt whenever he looked at Hermione and thought about what would happen in the future. Of course their relationship was more than just sex, of that he was sure. He would just have to prove Blaise wrong, and do what seemed impossible.

Draco entered the dorm to find Hermione curled up on the couch reading the book of poems from the Heads' compartment.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey." Hermione looked up and smiled.

Draco walked over and took a seat next to her. "Hermione…" She turned to face him. "Are you expecting to have sex tonight?"

"Uhh…well…that's what generally happens; why?"

"Would you mind if we didn't?"

"Not really…"

"Ok. So we won't, I guess."

"Err…ok." She placed the book down on the couch. "Any reason why?"

"No reason; just, I was wondering what it was like."

"Uh, ok." Hermione said and resumed reading.

"Well, I've got a bit of work to do…" Draco rose from the couch. "Good night."

"No kiss?" She pouted.

"Well, of course, but not for too long…I won't be able to stop myself." He leaned down for a kiss and Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Reluctantly, Draco finally pulled back.

"Ahh, so you do want me…" Hermione smiled and picked up her book.

"Of course…good night again."

"Good night."

Why am I doing this again? Draco slowly climbed the stairs, and entered his portrait. He began to think as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Ok, so no sex tonight. It wasn't that bad, was it? I can handle this. Draco rolled over. No sex necessary. Well, maybe not completely.

I disagree with Blaise, his conscience said. It's a perfectly healthy thing to want to sleep with the person you've been sleeping with for the past month.

"But every day? How can someone—I mean, besides myself—constantly be that ready?"

She is, obviously.

"Probably because she was the biggest virgin I'd ever seen before we got together."

Hmm. Even I don't know what to say to that…

Well, this is where I'd left off just before the story got taken down. Who knows when I'll update next? I certainly don't…But never fear: there will always be more story.