Disclaimer: I own nothing but this plot, JK Rowling owns the rest

A/N: Sorry for the long delay… writer's block and some other stuff prevented me from updating...On with the chapter!

Last time…

Hermione had just gotten out of a long bath as when she heard the rapping on her window. She let Tawney in and read the note; she quickly grabbed a quill and turned it over and thanked Ginny for this information and asked her to thank Blaise for her as well.

'So that is what he had planned for me? You would have expected more from a Malfoy; but he is blonde, that should explain the simpleness of the plan.' She thought as she returned the letter to Tawney and went to dress.

This time…

Hermione went to her closet and got out a tiny spaghetti-strap tank top and a short pair of boxers. 'I can beat him at this game. I know more about this than he thinks I do, and I won't have to fake anything.' She thought to herself. The painful memories coming back as she checked her hair in the mirror and seeing exactly what it was she was trying to show off.

She went into the common room to find Draco lounging on the couch casually wearing nothing but a pair of navy boxers. She could see his nicely chiseled chest and his hard-looking six-pack. His legs looked very strong as well. She knew this was part of his plan, but she just couldn't stop staring at him. After a little bit of staring Hermione noticed a scar going down his chest, it looked as if it had been really deep.

He saw her staring at his body; not sure if it was his scar she was checking out or his well-toned muscles. Either way, she was taking the bait. He noticed a long thick scar going down her left arm, it was very dark. "I see you can't stop staring at my sexy body mudblood. You want it don't you?" He said smirking.

"Oh get over yourself ferret, I just came out here to read next to the fire. Nice scar by the way." She said, she couldn't help but grin; not because she was beating him at his own game, but at the sight of his strong muscular body. 'Wow, I didn't know he was so hot!' Hermione thought trying hard not to blush.

"I could say the same for you." Draco said, his eyes darting back and forth from her scar to her c-cup's she had grown over the summer. He realized that not only had she grown bigger breasts; she had also worked on her abs, he could see the muscles… not a complete six-pack, but the muscles were slightly visible. "Where did you get that scar on your arm?" He said pointing to the long scar going down her left arm.

"Where did you get that scar on your chest?" she retorted; pointing in turn to the scar that looked to be the only imperfection on his chiseled chest.

"Don't change the subject, I asked you first, so you have to answer first. It's in the rule book." He said, his smirk returning to his face.

"Obviously you never heard the saying 'First's the worst, second's the best" she replied coolly.

"Fine, that isn't the only scar I have," he said turning to reveal his back that was completely covered in long red scars, "my father always said the only thing muggles were good for was their invention for torture called the 'whip'." He said with a frown, he looked as though he didn't really want to talk about it, so she pressed on.

"He used to whip you?" she asked sounding concerned.

"Who said that he used to? He still does!" She could tell he was sincere, and a little angry.

'Why is he telling me such personal things? What is he playing at?' She asked herself; then she realized, 'Why the hell am I asking myself? If I knew the answers I wouldn't ask, and the last person I should be asking questions to is my self!' she rolled her eyes at herself for thinking such weird thoughts. "Malfoy, why on earth are you telling me this? You hate me, what are you getting at?" she asked, was this part of his plan? If it was, it almost worked.

"I'm not the kind of person to lie, even if I hate the dirty little mudblood I'm talking to." He said simply. 'That's right Granger, feel bad, let the guilt eat at you!' he thought as he saw her face grow softer.

"Some people get all the luck," She said softly, almost inaudible.

"Are you saying this treatment is lucky?" he asked, growing angry.

"Sorta," She said, suddenly very interested in examining the carpet. "When my family went through hard times, we had to live with my uncle Bob. He was very into hard liquor and drugs, every day while my parents were at work he would come to my room in a drunken stupor and yell at me for no reason, calling me and my dad horrible names. Then the hitting would begin, first it was just slaps and punches, and that would lead to throws. He would throw me into walls, up the stairs, down the stairs; he would bash my head into corners. When I was completely unconscious he would throw me on the bed and…" She stopped here; thinking about what happened during her childhood, bringing back all those painful memories had brought her to tears.

"Well you're just lucky your uncle wasn't a wizard, my father is a master of the cruciatus curse, and you have never felt the excruciating pain it causes. I don't have scars from it though, and I didn't go completely nuts either, but those memories will always haunt my dreams." He said, his voice soft, but on the inside he was smirking. 'That little mudblood can't compare that! HA! I'm going to win this little battle she doesn't even know she is in.' he thought, smiling wide on the inside.

She had wondered over to the couch during his little explanation of his father and the cruciatus curse and they were sitting side by side on the couch in front of the fire. She put her hand on his thigh to show she really meant it when she said, "I'm really sorry that happened to you Draco. There isn't much I can say other than," she paused here, thinking hard and long. 'I know he wants me to say he didn't deserve it, that I wish things were different for him, but I know what he is playing at, I wont fall into his trap.' She decided on what she was going to say. "I know what you're trying to do, and sob stories don't work on me, maybe you should feed your 'pity me' stories to someone that actually gives a rats arse!" she said as she got up and walked to her room.

Draco just sat there, completely in shock. 'How did she know what I was doing? How did she figure out my big plan? What was it that shot through me when her hand made contact with my thigh? Why in Merlin's name am I asking myself these questions?' He thought, laughing on the inside at his own stupidity.

A/N: Again, so sorry for the long delay, please review, I hope you like it so far! Your loving author DaStogey!