Author's Note: I apologize for not being clear. I am going to try divide each "Day" up into two chapters, so therefore I will have at least 8 chapters including the first two. I will continue the story after the four days, however.
The Three Broomsticks was packed as usual. It had snowed a lot the night before and it was frigid outside. Draco sat at a table at the back of the pub, sipping some butterbeer, feeling warmth engulf his body. He picked up the Daily Prophet and began to pretend to read it. He looked up over the paper at Granger, who was sitting with Potter. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her since that morning in the hallway, and he only had two days left to charm her into bed. The pressure was beginning to build. He hoped Potter would leave soon.
A half an hour later Potter had not left. Draco was starting to get tired, for it was getting extremely boring watching the two Gryffindors chat. This just wasn't worth it, was it? He looked around the tavern, hoping that there might be someone he could talk to while he waited. He finally saw Pansy sitting a few tables away. No, he would much rather be alone. He rubbed his eyes, and then looked back at Granger's table. Potter was getting up. Draco let out a sigh of relief, only to see Granger getting up soon after. He wasn't going to get her alone until tomorrow, and by that time he would have no chance in hell shagging her.
Draco stood up casually, waiting a few seconds after they headed out the door. He then followed them out. He saw Potter leaving for the castle and smiled. Granger was going a separate direction. He studied her, trying to figure out his next move. Walking quickly, he made his way to the snowy clearing where he had had a mud fight with Potter a few years ago. He saw Hermione crossing this way and hid behind a tree, getting ready to make his move. Unfortunately someone intervened.
"Ow!" Hermione exclaimed angrily, holding her head. Someone had hit her with a snowball… possibly an iceball.
Draco looked over from his hiding spot to see a few Slytherins, including Nott and Zabini, hiding behind a fence. They broke some ice from the fence and threw it at Granger, laughing.
Hermione tried to duck as she was bombarded with the ice. She tried to reach for her wand, but she yelped in pain. Her hand was bleeding slightly. She looked livid as she began to back away, still shielding her head.
"Where you goin', mudblood?" one of the Slytherin's had come up behind her.
Hermione swirled around and pushed the Slytherin away, which caused her to be hit a few more times with the sharp ice. Draco normally would have joined in, but he felt almost… bad? She was too proud to admit she needed help. Draco darted out from behind the large trunk and grabbed Hermione's wrist, pulling her around the side of a building. Draco peeked around at his fellow Slytherins. They were getting up, probably planning to chase her. Draco took her wrist again, giving her no time to adjust to her current situation. He ran behind the building and met resistance from Hermione.
"Come on, they're going to keep throwing stuff at you" Draco said angrily.
Hermione still looked thoroughly confused.
"Come on!" Draco said again, this time louder. He tugged at her wrist and began to run. This time she ran with him. They darted throughout a few buildings, Draco being jokingly overdramatic as if they were being chased by criminals like on those muggle "cop" shows. Hermione giggled when he did this, which made him feel oddly proud. Finally, out of breath, he stopped and let go of her arm. They were in another alley, and Draco slid down the wall into a sitting position. Hermione followed suit. Draco tried to catch his breath as he laughed. Finally the laughter died down, replaced by silence. Not an awkward silence, but a peaceful one.
Draco, still smiling, looked over at Hermione. She also still had a smile on her face. She looked at him and shrugged.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. Draco could sense a slight concern in her tone.
"Doing what?" Draco replied, playing dumb.
Hermione adjusted herself so she was facing him more. She crossed her arms. "Why did you, for a lack of a better word, 'save' me from those guys back there?
Draco shrugged. He then remembered her hand. "You're hand" he said.
Hermione looked down at her hand, which looked fine now, besides the small amount of dried blood. "Oh. Right. It doesn't hurt" she said, shrugging it off. "You didn't answer my question."
"You're question?"
"Don't play dumb, Malfoy. You helped me back there and I want to know why. A week ago you would have joined in"
Draco shrugged again.
"Fine" Hermione said, her voice irritated. She stood up and started to walk off.
"Granger – I don't know."
Hermione stopped and turned around.
"You don't know?"
"No"
"No?"
"No, I don't know"
Hermione chuckled, walking back over. "I just…" she began, her lips pursed.
"What?"
"I just don't like it. You being nice, I mean. I don't trust you."
"Can't you just accept it?"
Hermione didn't say anything. Draco knew that this would be difficult. She was too smart. And after six years of calling her a mudblood, how could she become infatuated with him in four days?
"We're going to be late for class." Draco said after some silence. He stood up and walked out of the alley, fretting about the dare.
That night, Draco paced back and forth in the Slytherin common room.
"You guys fucking screwed me up!" He exclaimed to Nott and Zabini, who were lounging lazily in the large armchairs. "What the hell were you thinking? Throwing that ice at Granger? I had to be heroic, and therefore not subtle. I was too nice and now she thinks I'm using her as a fucking pawn in some scheme!"
"But you are…" Nott said, raising his eyebrows.
Draco kicked him hard in the shin.
"Prick!" Nott exclaimed, holding his leg.
"Damn it!" Draco seethed, kicking an empty chair. "I shouldn't have said yes"
"You can always back out" Zabini noted.
Draco turned to Zabini. "Are you kidding me? I can't back out. If I can't get a girl to sleep with me, how am I supposed to complete a task from the Dark Lord?!"
