It was a lazy Sunday, and Harry had given Ron some excuse about going down the lake to clear his head and think of more strategies for their upcoming game. In truth, he wanted to clear his mind off of Hermione.

He hadn't seen her since yesterday; purposely avoided moments he thought that he might see her. Ron was busy, lazing around in their dormitory, munching on chocolate frogs and lemondrops. He had no idea, as usual.

And Harry wondered just where Hermione was.

He shook his head violently.

" Damn it! Stop! Stop it, Harry! " he scolded himself.

Harry continued walking around near the lake. He frowned, seeing an unwelcome person. He began to move another way.

" Potter! "

His eyes flashed. " What do you want? "

She approached him, with a shy effect in her gait. " To talk to you. "

" The world has gone mad, " he muttered. " Look, bother someone else. "

" If you'll just- "

" Stop right there. " Harry started to walk away.

" How would you like to get Hermione to be yours? " she asked.

Harry's head snapped up. He turned to face her again. " Excuse me? "

" You heard me. "

Harry didn't talk another step. His eyes bored into Pansy's blue orbs. He searched for malice, and he found it. He, however couldn't find the reasons why, of all people- did she know! He felt his head ring an alarm. Something told him he should stay away from her. But—she knew!

She tapped her one foot impatiently, waiting for an answer. " Well? I haven't got all day. "

" What's gotten into you? " he asked slowly. " How did you-"

" I've seen you, " she lied simply. " You look at her differently. I can tell. I am a woman after all. "

" What's in it for you? " he asked.

She smiled. He was interested. The son of a bitch was in the palm of her hand. She moved in to close the gap between them.

" Oh you know, " she said. " Draco. "

One of Harry's eyebrows shot up. " Draco? Are you insinuating that-? "

" Hmm…all I can say is…Draco's taken an interest in the current love of your life- he may be advancing towards her now as we speak. "

Harry frowned. This wasn't right. Pansy trying to strike the right cord with him. He knew where this was going. " You scratch my back, I scratch yours…" Harry mumbled.

" Right on, Potter. "

He frowned again. What the hall was he thinking! Gryffindors didn't converse naughty plans like these with Slytherins! It was Pansy for crying out loud! But…she knew something he didn't…perhaps if he could wheedle just a bit of information?

" Tell me what you know, " he said in a low voice.

Inside, she was laughing. She had him at the palm of her hand. Stupid, gullible Gryffindor scar boy! Wait until she was through with Hermione! She'd get away with murdering two Gryffindors with one stone!

" Well…" she began slowly, as if to tease him. " What do I know… what do I know…"

She could see Harry's jaw tensing up as he waited for her to continue. " What do I know…hmm… all I know for now, well, all that I'll tell you for now is that…Draco's been planning to ask Hermione out- "

" How the hell do you know all this? I can see that he's annoyed by your mere presence- "

" The fuck you care. I have my sources. A Slytherin's a Slytherin, " she snapped. " I'm not the only one that going to benefit from this, you know. You could save your house's face too. After all, I'm sure no one in this school would approve of a silly relationship between a lion and a snake- "

He frowned again. Pansy was good with her words…but it wouldn't hurt to play her game. He would have some use for her too. And get to the bottom of his suspicions.

Harry walked back to the castle after talking to Pansy for more than an hour. He had done the unthinkable. Was he starting to betray Hermione? Maybe he loved her too much, and he didn't want to see her end up getting hurt, as a flavor of the month, if Draco got to her.

How would he do this? Would he go through the proposals? Suddenly, he felt unsure of what he had done. It had been done in a flash, in secret, behind Ron's back even. But he would get to Draco in his won way, see to it that he saved Hermione from Draco's clutches, and perhaps find a way to get back at Pansy, IF she would hurt Hermione in any way. And he was certain that Pansy might.

Pansy stepped into the common room to see it totally empty. " Where the hell is everyone? " she muttered. There was a roaring fire in the grate.

Then she saw a figure appear from the boy's staircase. It was none other than Draco.

Draco friend and walked straight past her.

" Harry Potter knows, " she suddenly said.

Draco froze in the middle of the common room. " What? " he began.

" Harry Potter knows about you and the real score about who you like, " she said.

He scoffed. " Please- "

" It's true. I've heard them talk. Him and the Weasel. "

" What? "

" Oh, is that all you can say? " she chided, inching for him.

" Step back, " he warned in a low tone. She promptly did. " Tell me everything you've heard. Right now. "

She smiled. " Won't you take a seat? "

" No, " he replied. " I won't. I refuse to entertain any of your inanity. "

" You'll regret- when Harry sweeps Hermione off her feet, never to take another look at you- " she stopped, pretending to look away.

" Excuse me? "

" That's right. You're not the only one after that mudblood- "

" Don't call her that, " he said instantly.

" A what? A mudblood? It's true, and you used to say it so much- make fun of her like the muggleborn-whore that she is- "

" Stop it. " His teeth were gritted now.

" I'm quite sure you've never been this infatuated with anyone, any girl before, for that matter, and now, your best adversary knows about your little romance. " She gave a laugh that sounded sour to Draco's ears.

Draco stared at her with loathing. He had never felt his respect go this low for her. He wanted to hurt her, hurt her bad, just in case he had hurt Hermione.

Pansy stared at him, trying to formulate the right words to hit Draco. Then she smiled. " Oh and Draco, " she said as she spun around. " Just in case you should like to know- Harry has taken a liking to your lady love- "

He snorted. " So what else is new? "

She smiled. " He's making his move, and you're in for a loss. "

Draco frowned again and walked past her. " Right. "

Pansy stared at Draco's retreating figure.

Homerun for Pansy.

A/N: well...hmm...i don't know...give me a review, now! that's right don't be shy...don't be lazy! hahaha. thanks for reading. share with me your thoughts?