Disclaimer: How many ways is there of saying that Harry Potter only belongs to JK Rowling?
Ch 13: The fight for a girl
True to Harry's word to Bill, Harry wanted Hermione back to her dorm at a decent hour so that he could talk to the remaining Weasleys about his problem. With the moon as their only source of light, the two stumbled down the stairs of the stands. As they came closer to the castle, both teens were gathering their courage to say what had been on their minds for the last few hours. Harry desperately wanting to tell Hermione of his thoughtlessness; Hermione wanting to ask about something that she overheard Bill say before she jumped on him. Just as Harry was about to come clean, Hermione's curiosity could no longer be restrained."Harry, I heard Bill say that you were in some kind of trouble earlier. What have you done this time?" Hermione demanded.
"What are you going on about, Herms? I'm not in any trouble." The guilt built up inside of the boy so much that he just could not tell her yet. So Harry did the next best thing, denial. He knew what she was referring to and he knew that he could only hide from her for so long before she either figured it out or wiggled it out of him. And the look that Hermione threw at him made it so much more harder to tell her. She looked hurt that he wouldn't confide in her, but how could her tell her that she was just meant to be a prize in a silly bet?
"Okay, you don't have to tell me now, but I know you too well. You'll tell me soon enough." She elbowed him in the ribs, playfully. Before she knew it, Harry had scooped her off the ground and was spinning her until they were both dizzy.
After they had regained their composure, Harry took her straight to her dorm before he dashed off the the Lion's Den (the Gryffindor Common Room). He needed the help of the Weasleys to make sure that he beat Malfoy for good. When he had seen her under the arm of the ferret, looking like a true girl, something ignited within his chest. He prayed that someone like Hermione wouldn't fall for Malfoy's tricks. A small smile of relief graced his face at the sight of the redheads in the Common Room. The smile disappeared as the twins, Ginny, and Bill rounded on him.
"Spill it, Harry. What exactly is going on? You took a bet from Malfoy and somehow Hermione is involved. How?" Bill demanded.
"We want the whole story-." George said.
"Yeah! No leaving out details!" Fred cut in.
Ron gave Harry an encouraging nod, and Harry sighed. They really did need all of the details in order to help him, perhaps there was something he overlooked. All that he cared about anymore was saving Hermione from the evil clutches of Draco Malfoy.
Flashback:
"Bring it on, Scarhead!" The cocky look on Malfoy's face only made Harry even madder.
Harry threw his wand down as he tackled his enemy, causing Malfoy to drop his wand as they crashed into the wall. Draco swung his fist at Harry, but miss his target, his fist colliding with Harry's shoulder. Harry staggered backwards, then rushed forwards at the blonde who was going for his wand on the floor. "Why couldn't you just leave her alone?Now we have to do this the hard way." Harry grunted after he dove onto Malfoy and pushed the offending wand farther away from them.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you to share your toys?" Draco huffed.
"Toys? TOYS?" Harry roared. "How." He grabbed Malfoy by the back of his shirt. "Dare." He pulled Malfoy up off the ground. "You." He rammed the boy under him into the ground. "Call." He yanked upwards. "Call." Again he pushed down hard. "Hermione." Up came his enemy and back down he went. "A." Up. "TOY!" Harry banged Malfoy's head against the ground again.
Draco, who was tired of having his head shoved into the floor by one Harry Potter sitting on his back, rolled over causing Harry to topple off of him. This allowed him to kick at Harry, his shoe slinging off as he kicked. "It doesn't matter what I call her, she'll be mine soon enough."
"You wish, ferret! Hermione is the one girl that will always see you as a no good, cocky..." Harry picked himself up from the floor with a grunt. "...Death Eater." As soon as the words escaped his mouth, Harry found himself knocked back onto the ground.
Out of nowhere, the hate that Draco felt for Harry was multiplied. How dare that git think that he could have won the war without me, he thought. I was the reason he won! As he watched his opponent fall back to the ground, Malfoy smirked. There, but afew feet from where he laid, was his wand! He stood, with Harry following his actions. The two boys walked a circle around each other, both debating on continuing this fight the muggle way or wizarding way. Before Harry could respond, Draco hurled his fist at the raven haired boy, this time it connected with his jaw. Then, and only then, Draco saw his only chance to retrieve his wand. Muggle or wizard? Without a second thought, he dove across the floor, sliding towards his wand.
Harry stumbled backwards, barely noticing Draco diving for his wand. He quickly decided to follow this rival's actions and dove for his own wand. Both boys turned around, shouting "AH HA!" A feeling of gloom passed into the hallway as Harry and Draco realized that they had ended up where their fight first started. Harry charged forwards, wand ready to strike when need, only to be hit again in the head. Draco put Harry in a head lock, his wand dug into Harry's neck. Harry, being trapped in Draco grip, had his wand aimed over his shoulder and into Draco's chest.
Before either boy could shout out a curse, a voice sounded in the deserted corridor. "How did I know that I would found you two here." Dumbledore's voice was followed by his figure appearing in front of the boys who were bent on beating each other. "Now," Flashing his own wand, both wands flew into his other hand. "That is much better. I am disappointed in both of you. There are other ways to settle something other than violence."
Seeing that Dumbledore wouldn't let the fight continue with wands or violence, Draco took a chance to put his plan into action. "Sure,Headmaster." He released Harry from his grip and straighten his clothes. "How about we settle this on the pitch, Potter?"
Before Harry could respond, Dumbledore spoke. "Excellent idea, Mr. Malfoy! How about it, Mr. Potter?" He raised an eyebrow at Harry. Harry simply nodded. "Now that that is settled, I believe that it is time for dinner." With that he walked away.
Malfoy smirked, feeling relieved that his idea had went over so smoothly. "Name your stakes, Potter. But if I win, I get Hermione." And with that, Harry was once again left in the dark, alone.
End flashback
The five Weasley children sat in disbelief over what Harry had just told them. Was it possible that Draco Malfoy, purest of the pure, really wanted Hermione Granger, who was considered by all Slytherins the filthiest there was? The way that Harry described the fight was more than the ferret attempting to better Harry Potter, it was as if Draco Malfoy was really fighting for the hand of Hermione! No one could speak or come up with ideas as to how to help Harry. Finally, Bill and the twins left for the Burrow, leaving Ginny, Ron, and Harry alone with their Common Room.
Ginny left the boys to ponder, stating that all beauties need their sleep and if they wanted her help, that she needed a clear mind. Eventually Ron left for the boys dorm and Harry was left alone to stare at the fire that cracked before him. All he could think about now that he had recalled that day was bugging him. Had Malfoy really fought him for Hermione?
Gentileschi: I am so happy that I have made your day! I know what you mean by the whole shirtless Draco (wow!) I hope that I don't disappoint you with the direction that I take this fic. Some of the later chapters will get darker and the rating up, but then I will continue on with the original course of this fic. I had afew ideas that were refined and now I can't wait to actually post those chapters! Oh, now I'm even excited.
OrgnlAmagic: Heyheyhey! I updated again, aren't you proud of me? I am
really trying to update atleast once very one to two weeks. I have taken
a suggestion as to who will tell our dear Hermione about the bet. Snape
will say something soon, I promise, maybe a chapter or two at the most.
I really want her to find out early in the school year! I am glad that
you have faith in me, it really helps! Love you to pieces!
Luckycharms129: I really love your name! Anything to do with the Irish is a sad obession of mine, even the cereal! You like the tattoo, did you like the meaning? I took me forever to write. I have written afew of my own things including two songs that haven't been posted in another fic of mine that is under some serious construction.
Aelwren: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hooked, huh? Wow, but I personally like them the best since JK Rowling has declared that Hermione and Draco will never get together and that Draco will never switch sides! The box that Snape was carrying will return in the next two chapters, so you will have your answer then. But I will agree with you, the Snape's mom thing was good. I didn't want a fic that was totally dark, sad, or tragic so I added abit of off-hand humor. I will give you hints about what Hermione was looking at in the store, (1) it's in the box, (2) it's jewelry, (3) it reflects on Hermione's personality,(4) since she is muggle born, this is something that you could never find at a regular jewelry store! as for the two people at the end of chapter one, there are Dumbledore and McGonagall. And I love big reviews, so feel free to make them as long as you like!
Stella Blu: I love you too, darling!
CuteDreaming: Thanks for the info. I knew that some words were scrunched together, so now I know that I actually need to read the finished chapter and fix whatever doesn't seem right. Thank you. Enjoy!
Hugs from a deranged fruit,
Cherry.