a/n

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Chapter 21:

"So when will we meet again?" asked Vanessa shyly, putting her jeans back on.

"Around school, most likely," replied Draco, smirking as he pulled his shirt over his head, smoothing the fabric.

"That's it?" she asked, feelings of confusion and hurt visible on her face.

"What else do you need babe? Just take this for what it was, a good shag."

Vanessa was speechless when she opened the cupboard door and walked out. She promised herself that she would never be such a fool again, no matter how good looking and persuasive the guy was.

Draco shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the cupboard, not feeling any sense of guilt what so ever. After all, he did give her what she asked for, and she seemed to really enjoy it while it lasted. Why did girls always think that sex will lead into something bigger, more serious? Why couldn't they just be happy with what there was, and not think about what could have been?

He knew he enjoyed his life the way it was; getting what he wanted, no strings attached.

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Ginny pulled away from the kiss and placed her hand on her lips. She shook her head and walked away from Blaise.

"Where are you going?" he asked, chasing after her.

"This was wrong, very wrong of me. I'm sorry for kissing you," she said, feeling a little shocked still.

"What are you talking about? You have nothing to be sorry for, I enjoyed it."

"I did too, but it was wrong of me and it can't be repeated."

"You're being silly, and taking things way too seriously. It was just a kiss, no harm done," said Blaise, cupping her pretty face in his hands.

"That's right, and we should stop before any harm does occur. I'm sorry I ever initiated the second kiss and for everything basically, please don't come looking for me," she said as she removed his hands from her face, and made her way back to the Gryffindor tower quite quickly.

In the comfort of her warm common room Ginny finally relaxed and let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She looked around and saw Hermione sitting by the roaring fire doing her homework; Hermione seemed to be sad and looked like she had a hard time concentrating on her work.

"Ok, spill it," said Ginny, sitting down in the chair across from her.

"What?" asked Hermione, trying her best to hide her emotions.

"Hermione, I know you better than this. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she answered, as a tear escaped her eye. Ginny gave her a look that said "did you really think you can fool me with your lying 'skills' ".

"Everything," Hermione sighed, lowering her shoulders.

"Let it out hon, let it all out," said Ginny, as she patted her on the shoulder, encouraging her to talk.

Hermione told Ginny about everything that had occurred, from the awkwardness that started at their first date to their passionless kisses. She told her all about the conversation they had, and how they decided to just let it go and be nothing but friends. It felt weird, talking to her best friend about her own brother, but she didn't have anyone else she could turn to; especially with Harry gone.

"It just sucks," said Hermione looking into space, "I just always pictured us being together and all of it just went down the drain."

"I understand," said Ginny, giving her an encouraging hug. "But it will all work out. I know it's hard to believe, but it will."

"Enough about me," said Hermione, faking a smile. "How was your day?"

"It was ok," answered Ginny, a blush creeping up her face.

"Ginevra Weasley, are you blushing?" asked Hermione, in a Mrs.Weasley-like way.

"Erm, no," replied Ginny, looking away.

"Yes you are! You must tell me what happened immediately!" exclaimed Hermione, temporarily forgetting about her heartache.

"It's all very weird and confusing," confessed Ginny, blushing crimson. "And it's in the past," she added, a somewhat sad smile on her face.

"Ginny, if you do not spill it this moment I will make you talk and you know I can!" threatened Hermione pointing her wand at Ginny playfully.

"Ok, ok, I'll tell you," said Ginny defiantly.

Hermione tapped her foot impatiently.

"Erk... I kind of, sort of, snogged Zabini," Ginny looked away quickly.

"You did what?" gasped Hermione.

"Erm, I snogged Zabini," repeated Ginny in a small voice.

"When? How? Why?" asked Hermione, shocked.

"It all started on our trip to Hogsmeade," started Ginny, "the git cornered me in the Three Broomsticks and started flirting around with me. I guess he made it his mission in life to persue me or whatever because that's what he's been doing, and today he kissed me."

"How was it?" was all Hermione could say.

"Amazing," admitted Ginny, turning redder if possible. "That's why I initiated the second kiss," she added in a matter of fact kind of way. But it didn't pass with Hermione.

"You did what?"

"I don't even know why I did it myself. I mean, I'm not even over Harry yet and it's all very confusing; But when he kissed me, it was as if none of it mattered. All I cared about then was the feeling of his lips on my own."

"Wow, it must have been amazing," said Hermione, giggling.

"Well, amazing or not, it's all in the past."

"Why?"

"Hermione, get real."

"I am, but why?"

"Because, he's a Slytherin meaning he's a git, things will never work out between us."

"He could be different," argued Hermione. Ginny snorted in reply.

"Just think about it," Hermione pushed further.

"No, I don't think I will. I really don't have time for this in my life, especially as of now."

"Just do whatever pleases you Ginny, you've been through enough pain already," Hermione smiled at her best friend.

"Imagine Ron's or Harry's reaction if they ever find out," said Ginny, falling into a fit of laughter.

"Haha," laughed Hermione, "it would definitely be a Kodak moment."

"A what?" asked Ginny, confused.

"It's a Muggle thing," explained Hermione.

Ginny just shrugged her shoulders and continued laughing along with her friend.

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"Why are you looking so smug?" asked Draco, throwing a decorative pillow at Blaise the minute he sat down on the couch opposite him.

"No particular reason," answered Blaise, smirking.

"You wouldn't be smirking like this for no reason. Start talking."

"Well, let's just say, things between me and the Weasel are getting a little more heated," stated Blaise.

"Really?" asked Draco, with a raised eyebrow. "How so?"

"I snogged her," said Blaise shrugging his shoulders nonchalently, "and not a minute later she snogged me," he added, fixing his robe collar with a smug smile on his handsome face.

"I must give you credit Zabini, you have cracked the unbreakable nut; we have to drink to that," said Draco, conjuring firewhisky and two glasses. Draco poured some golden liquid into the two glasses and handed one to Zabini. "I want to raise a toast, to your victory and my freedom," Draco raised his glass with a smile.

"Cheers," said Blaise, downing the burning liquid down in one gulp. "Run the 'your freedom' part by me once again, I think I missed it the first time," said Blaise sarcastically.

"Oh, it's nothing really; Pansy saw me snogging another girl in the cupboard and broke it off." Draco smiled.

"You seem awfully hurt," remarked Blaise, laughing.

"I am very hurt. I was wounded ever so deeply."

"You're a lucky git do you know that?"

"How so?" asked Draco, smirking.

"You didn't have to go through the whole break up "talk" with Pansy and you have a new girl already."

"Had a new girl." Draco corrected him.

"You had her already?" asked Blaise.

"Off course, she was very easy too. I really feel the need for a challenge mate, Hogwarts is getting too boring."

"Unlike you, I have my challenge laid out for me. She said she doesn't want me to go looking for her, that kissing me was a mistake," Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Girls are always so complicated," agreed Draco. "Take Vanessa for example. We shagged , we had a good time and in the end she dared to ask what's next? Honestly why can't they just be simple and open like us; why always complicate matters?" asked Darco, pouring some more firewhisky into their glasses.

"I hear you mate," said Blaise, downing his glass once again. "But you know me. I will not rest until I have that Weasel, have all of her."

"Cheers to that," said Draco, raising his glass and downing it down in one gulp as well.

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"Why are you looking so sour Granger?"

Hermione looked up from the trophy with a confused expression on her face. "Why do you care?"

"I don't; I just figured we're stuck here together, I might as well know why you're in a sour mood. It does affect my detention you know," replied Draco.

"How exactly does it affect your detention?"

"Well, I can't torment you like I normally would," smirked Draco.

Hermione just rolled her eyes in reply and went back to the all too familiar scrubbing.

"Are you going to answer?" asked Draco, breaking the silence once more.

"I just had a bad day," sighed Hermione, the memory of the words she shared with Ron still fresh in her mind.

"And?"

"And what?" asked Hermione.

"What else?"

"Nothing else. You've never had bad days Malfoy?"

"I did, but I never looked like that," he said, pointing at her face.

"You arrogant git," muttered Hermione.

"Hey, are we going back to nicknames?" asked Draco, smiling smugly. "It will make the trophy dirtier, you know." he added, a very pompous smirk on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes once again. It felt weird, having Malfoy act in a manner you would call civil; or as civil as an egotistic and spoiled Slytherin could be. She didn't exactly mind it, but she couldn't help but feel suspicious.

In the meantime, Draco was scrubbing frantically. He was determined not to look at the mudblood because he knew that if he would, the weird attraction to her physical appearance would start again and he couldn't handle another night of her looks haunting him. He told himself he would get over his obsession and he was never one to lose control.

"Why are you scrubbing so hard?" asked Hermione, raising a brow.

"I want to get the hell out of here."

"You do know that our detention is measured by time and not work, right?"

"I guess. I just have things to see, people to do," smirked Draco.

Hermione stiffled a small laugh at his reply. "You're so cocky."

"You bet your ass I am," smirked Draco, suggestively.

"I didn't mean it like that," blushed Hermione.

Draco couldn't help but laugh when he saw her blushing, her innocence amused him.

"What's so funny?"

"You," said Draco when he stopped laughing.

"And what about me do you find amusing?"

"Your act of innocence is just so convincing, any other guy would have fell for it."

"It's not an act," said Hermione.

"Nobody can be THAT innocent," remarked Draco.

"Well you don't really know me, so you can't make that statement, now can you?" Hermione gave her best shot at a smirk.

"I might not know you, but trust me when I say I know girls."

"I'm not just any girl."

"If you say so," Draco said, finally allowing his eyes to prey over her body. He stared at her without even realizing it; How could he have been so blind as to notice how enticing her looks were?

"Malfoy you're staring at me again, it's really beginning to freak me out," said Hermione, eying him suspiciously.

"Erm... I was what?" he asked, paying his attention back to her.

"You were staring..."

"No I wasn't. It was your imagination."

"I doubt that."

"Yup it was, I guess you're not that innocent after all," said Draco, smirking sexily.

Hermione rolled her eyes for the third time that night and went back to her work, smiling inwardly.

Surprisingly enough, the detention went along in the same way; Draco and Hermione were more civil to each other during those four hours than their whole entire time at Hogwarts. The atmosphere was light and the time seemed to pass quicker than ever. Walking out of the detention room behind Hermione, Draco made it his business to look at her till she was out of his eye site. Why? He couldn't give the answer to that himself if he tried to.