Chapter 22 – The Face in the Fire
Hermione awoke in the late hours of the night. She had drifted off at some point, and was now lying on the couch, a blanket tossed lazily over her legs. She figured that the reason she had awoken was probably because of the lights she had carelessly left on, but then heard something that made her feel differently.
"Hermione!"
She looked around. Draco was no where in sight, and the voice had been female.
"Hermione!" She heard again, in a rushed whisper. Her eyes finally fell on the fire… A blonde head bobbed up and down inside it. Hermione rubbed at her eyes, then realized it was real.
"Jessica!" She shouted, jumping up and crouching next to the flames. She was no longer tired. "I've missed you!"
"Same here." Jessica agreed, her usual smile creeping onto her face. "How are you? Long time no see."
"I'm good… I wish I could hug you!"
"Same here. So! I heard that chance confessed his love to you!"
"Not his LOVE… just his… like."
"Suuuure."
"It's true!"
"Anway… has anything interesting happened to you lately?"
"Well besides a giant squid getting possessed by Voldemort nothing."
"Wait… what?"
Hermione laughed and explained the story to her friend.
"Wow. That's… extremely weird." Jessica remarked. "How's Harry? I haven't seen him in ages. We just owl each other."
"He's good. You two are still going out?"
"Kind of… we are still… dating. But we are aloud to see other people also."
"Oh… okay."
"And how is that one Draco guy?"
"He is fine. We are roommates, sadly."
"Oh my god… haha. That really sucks. I'm sorry."
"I thought you said the only thing that mattered was that he was hot."
"Yeah, well I changed my mind about him. He is SO much of an asshole that it, surprisingly, overpowers the hotness."
"What was that I hear?" Came another voice.
Hermione whipped around, Draco had just walked out of his room sleepily in pajama pants and no shirt.
"I changed my mind." Jessica said quickly from the fireplace. "The hotness overpowers the asshole."
"Jessica!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"What are you talking about?" Asked Draco wearily.
"Oh nothing." Hermione replied nonchalantly. "Just how you are an asshole."
"A hot one." Jessica added with a wink.
"Uh… thanks?"
"Your welcome." Jessica said. "Anyway, I really should go Herms. I just wanted to say 'hi' since we haven't talked in so long."
"Okay, bye!" Hermione waved enthusiastically, and in seconds Jessica's face disappeared from the fire, leaving Hermione alone in the room with Draco.
"What are you doing up at this late hour… 'Herms'?" He sniggered at her nickname.
"Shove it, Malfoy."
"Why the anger?"
"It's just something about being around you." She spat, her eyes narrowing.
"I can tell. Whenever you are around me, you just want to rip off my clothes and ravish me." He smirked.
"Yeah… right." She said, sarcastically.
"So you're admitting it. That's good… saves me the argument."
"You're so full of it."
"But you like that."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know the only reason you are angry around me so often is because you like me."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Prove it."
"What do you mean?"
"Prove that you do not truly have any wish to do anything with me."
"It really should be crystal clear without me proving it, but if I must… What do you propose?"
"Get a guy to fall for you."
"What? No… that would be mean."
Draco scoffed at her. "I should have known… you're afraid of rejection."
"That's not true! I could easily get a guy to fall for me."
"So you will do it?"
"If I succeed, what do I get out of it?"
"I will leave you alone."
She paused. "Who?"
"Hmm… that's a tough one." He pondered the question. "I would say Weasley, but I know you would freak out."
"I would never do that to one of my best friends!"
"Alright then… Blaise Zabini."
"Fine. And if you win?"
"If I win… You have to kiss me."
"If I had any doubt that I would not win, there is no way I would agree. But considering the circumstances, I feel pretty safe in agreeing."
"We have a deal then?"
"Deal." She agreed, and with that she returned to her room for a good night of rest.
A/N: A little gamble :) 3 reviews please.