A/N: Where have some of my readers gone? Like Hermione at 24 and Burnt Reflections… I miss you guys!

Chapter 23 – The Gamble

"Blaise!" Draco shouted, running to catch up with his friend.

"Hm?" Blaise muttered in a bewildered tone turning his head from left to right. "Oh… you."

"I'm glad you are so happy to see me." Draco replied sarcastically.

"I didn't mean it like that…"

"I know. Anyway, come with me to my dorm, I have something to tell you."

They walked up the stairways, past many statues and paintings before finally ending up in front of the Head's dorm. Draco muttered the password then stepped in, sitting down on the couch. Blaise sat beside him.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Okay, so you know Granger?"

Blaise perked up. "Yeah?"

"I have a bet with her that she will not be able to get someone to fall for her."

"Wicked!" Blaise shouted, his eyes narrowing evilly. "Who's the poor git you are making her seduce?"

"You." Draco replied carelessly, looking out the window.

"ME?" Blaise shouted. "What? Hey!"

"Oh don't worry. I only chose you because you are my friend and I need someone to… 'help' me win."

"So she is going to try and seduce me, and I have to reject her?" He frowned pitifully. "But she's sooo hot!"

"Exactly why I need to win."

"What do you mean?"

"I told her that if I won, she had to kiss me."

"YOU? Kiss HERMIONE GRANGER?" Blaise's eyes widened. "I thought you hated her!" His face twisted into a smile "How the mighty have fallen."

Draco scowled back at him. "It's not that I want to kiss her… but I'm the Slytherin Sex God!" He was now whining. "I am supposed to be able to have whoever I want! And dammit, she won't let me have her!"

"Welcome to my world." Blaise said sorrowfully.

"Blaise, the girls reject you because of your lame pickup lines."

"My pickup lines are NOT lame!"

"'Baby, I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your bedrock'" Draco quoted.

"Okay, maybe they are a LITTLE lame… but when it works on a girl, I'll know she's the one."

Draco chuckled. "Whatever you say. Anyway, will you do it for me?"

"I guess… But you owe me!"

Draco beamed. "What would I do without you?"

XXX

Hermione took a deep breath. Was she really going to do this? 'Yes.' She thought. She had agreed on this bet, and if she didn't do it she would have to KISS Malfoy. Which she was trying to tell her self she DIDN'T want to do. She took a deep breath and tapped Blaise on the shoulder.

XXX

It was night time. Draco waited in his dorm room. 'Did she do it? Or did she fail…' He asked himself, hoping for the latter. He heard foorsteps approaching their door, then he heard Hermione's voice speak the password. The portrait creaked open, and Hermione stepped in.

"Well?" Draco asked.

She looked down.

"Ha! I knew you wouldn't win!" He said, mentally noting to thank Blaise. "Now admit it, you want me."

She glared at him. "I do not."

"Admit it!" He yelled gleefully. He loved rubbing it in.

She crossed her arms.

"Admit it! Admit it!" He yelled, walking towards her, closer and closer with every triumphant shriek.

"Get out of my face." She spat back.

"Admit it." Her repeated, now right in front of her. Then she did something he would have never expected…

She reached her head up, and kissed him softly.

His eyes were wide, but as he realized what had happened, he closed them slowly and savored the sensation. The kiss gained passion, and she nipped his bottom lip softly. She moved over from his lips, taking his earlobe into her lips and sucking it, then kissing down his neck. She stopped for a bit, taking enough time to roughly lead him to the couch and push him down on it. He smirked at her eagerness… he loved it when women took the lead. She inched up his shirt, exposing his toned stomach and planting kisses up it, until she was back at his lips. Finally, his hot lips reached her neck and she threw her head back, with a whimper. As he continued to ravage her neck and shoulders, her hands flew up to his hair, and brushed through them softly, then pulled his head back up to meet her lips once more. Finally, she sat up, straddling his waist and smiling. They were both breathing quite heavily. He wanted desperately for this not to stop, but she swung her legs over her and got up.

"I knew you wanted me." He smirked. He loved winning.

"Who said I wanted you?" She asked, returning a smirk of her own. "I was merely keeping my end of the deal." She watched his face fall, and retreated into her room in triumph.

'Why did she have to say that and ruin it? What did that mean anyway… does she not want me? Was she following the rules of out bet?' He searched his mind for answers, but found none.

XXX

The next day at lunch Draco sat down next to Blaise.

At seeing him, Blaise grimaced nervously. "I'm sorry!" He said quickly.

"Huh? You don't have to be sorry for anything… in fact, I came to thank you. With your help I won… even if Granger is being a bit of a stuck up bitch. But thanks for rejecting Granger."

Blaise stared at him strangely. "What are you talking about… She was just too sexy. I gave up and made out with her for like half an hour…"

"What?" Draco asked incredulously. "So… I lost?"

"It seems so…"

"But…" Draco trailed off. If he had lost… why did Hermione kiss him?

Did she ACTUALLY want him?

Perhaps he had lost the battle… But he had won the war.

A/N: 3 reviews at least before an update please:)