''I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU SO MUCH, I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH!'' A thousand authors across the land went into an ecstasy of pathetic fallacy as thunder rolled in the sky, echoing Hermione's words. Lightening flashed, adding a crackling light to the flickering candles. And then it was gone and all Draco could see was Hermione bathed in a fiery glow.
''Calm down Granger.'' He turned back to his book and flicked a page over. Hermione stormed over and snatched it out of his hands. She thought momentarily about hurling it into a flame but immediately came to her senses.
''Look at me when I'm speaking to you.''
He rolled his eyes and then turned them on her. ''Yes mother.''
''Shut up. Have you any idea what you have done?''
''No. All you've done is come in and start screaming like a harpy. I don't know what I'm meant to have done because you have yet to enlighten me.'' Draco glared at her.
''You…you piece of scum. You went shooting your mouth off to Zabini, and he has gone and told. He has gone and told everyone. Absolutely everyone!'' Hermione's voice, which she had been striving to keep level rose up on the last sentence, so that she was screaming again. ''I have had Slytherin boys coming up to me all day asking me if I 'fancy a shag' because apparently I'm unbelievably good! I have not slept with you Malfoy, and I do not appreciate you telling everyone that! In fact to say that I do not appreciate it, is putting it so mildly that it could practically be a cheese! You are so bloody immature and…'' she trailed off with an expression of rage so animalistic that it would be pointless to even attempt to describe it.
''Wait a minute, I did not tell Blaise that I slept with you. Remember, he was gloating to you about kissing? He's obviously exaggerated to everyone else. You're over exaggerating. Go and kill Blaise.'' Draco snatched his book back and turned back to his chair. As soon as he opened the book, Hermione grabbed it back and threw it over her shoulder. It hit the wall with a loud crack.
''I don't need to get Blaise. All the Gryffindors were furious – they've taken it upon themselves to administer some form of vigilante justice.'' Hermione was breathing quickly, absolutely furious.
''Woah. He has a hoard of angry Gryffindors on his tail. I bet he's quaking.'' Draco's voice was dripping sarcasm.
''I don't think he's capable of that anymore.'' Hermione smiled. ''If you wanted to ruin my reputation, you're going the wrong way about it. I'm too perfect. No one will believe you. They think its malicious rumour. Which it is.''
''No it isn't!''
''I didn't sleep with you Malfoy – not unless you want to tell me something?''
Draco gaped. ''I didn't rape you!''
''Well then, those rumours are malicious.''
''But you did kiss me.'' Draco looked at her triumphantly, and then added, almost as an afterthought. ''Mudblood.''
''Whatever. Prove it.'' Hermione left the room.
Draco sat back in his chair. Once he had her begging, then he would be able to prove it to the school. Until then, Blaise would have to watch his own back. If he was still capable.
But what to do now? Draco poked at the fire, and thought about it. He had tried tackling her, he had tried pinning her, he had tried being chivalrous, and he had tried being commanding. And she kissed back, she wanted it, and yet she would still pull back. She still wouldn't give in, and it was being to become disturbing, rather than interesting. So what could he do? What was new?
Hermione walked back into the room, and Draco looked out the window. The cloudy sky had become even darker: clearly some time had passed. ''Where are you going?''
''Dinner genius.''
''Why don't you act like our kisses mean something?''
She stopped in her tracks. ''Why don't you?''
''I…''
''For the same reason that I don't. Because our kisses don't mean anything. It's our hormones playing tricks on us.''
''It's not.'' Draco thought about telling her that he was the one playing a trick on her. It was very tempting but he bit it down and thought of the money. ''This is completely serious to me and you're playing with my heart…'' He suddenly burst out laughing. ''No, I'm sorry, I can't keep that up.''
''You are such a tosspot Malfoy. It's unbelievable.''
''I had you going.''
''I'm going now.'' Hermione left the room. Draco sat back in his chair and decided to wait until she got back.
By the time she did return, he was playing with a piece of enchanted paper, bored out of his skull. ''Merlin Granger, how long does it take you to eat?''
''You're monitoring that?''
''I'm definitely monitoring you. You really do have a gorgeous figure.''
''That is so corny, so insincere, and so creepy. Leave me alone.''
''And yet you thrive on this kind of attention.'' Draco smiled at her, his lips crooked.
''I don't!''
''Do.''
''You may be an arrogant, egotistical prat, but I am not. I don't need your approval!''
''You need me though.'' Draco tipped his head back and looked at her through heavy eyelids. ''You're addicted to me.''
Rain lashed the window panes, and Hermione took a deep breath in.
''I don't need you. Not in any way, shape or form.''
''You're completely independent?''
''Yes. But I'm beginning to think that you might not be.''
''What?''
''You're the one who starts all these little confrontations, trying to bring them round to a certain outcome.'' Hermione smirked at him.
Draco's eyes narrowed and he sucked in air. Screw the bet, he needed to put the Mudblood in her place – thinking that he, Draco Malfoy, needed her! ''Listen here you little bitch…''
A flash of light sent him flying across the room. He hit the wall, and Hermione was there straight away, heaving him up by his collar, her eyes furious. She pushed him back again, able to move him because he was so shocked. ''Don't you dare speak to me like that!''
''We've been through this Granger, you don't tell me what to do. You're beneath me.''
''And yet I'm the one pushing you against a wall.'' Suddenly, they realised how close their faces were, how they were breathing each other's air. ''You do not control me.''
And then her lips were pushing against him, voracious and ravenous, desperately seeking what only he could give her. He kissed her back, frenziedly matching her pace, each trying to outdo the other, each trying to grab control. Suddenly, she pushed herself back, and smoothed her hair back, regaining control as rapidly as she could.
''A little freebie for you. Because you're so desperate.''
Draco looked at her, a smirk quirking his lips. ''Whatever, you initiated that. I didn't give you any sign that I wanted it. You want me. Just admit it.''
''No. I'm going now.''
''I don't think so.'' His voice was enough to freeze her. ''It isn't going to kill you to admit it Granger.''
''It's gonna hurt me, and I'm not going to do it. It isn't true.''
''Are you worried Hermione? You should be. I'm everything your mother warned you about. I'm not in love with you. I'm not going to take you to Hogsmeade, and hold your hand when we walk down the corridors. I only want one thing. I want you.''
''You can't have me.'' Her back was still turned.
''I can, Hermione. Believe me. I can.''
''Don't even…''
''Oh, I don't have to drug you, or put you under a spell. You're already under one. I know what you like, which is a hell of a lot more than any of your pathetic little friends or boyfriends have ever managed to work out.'' He stepped closer to her, and slid his hands around her slim waist. ''I know that you like it when I do this.'' He tightened his grip slightly. ''I know that this drives you wild.'' He dropped a kiss on the back of her neck and felt her body tense in ecstasy. ''But I know that this drives you even wilder,'' and he nibbled the sensitive spot that he had just kissed, and heard her moan and tip her head back. ''And you tell me that I'm not in control.''
''You aren't. I know you as well.'' She turned around in his embrace and without any preamble, slid her hand under the back of his shirt, running her fingers up the groove of his spine. Her other hand coiled itself into his hair, teasing the strands, caressing the soft skin underneath. Draco closed his eyes and buried his nose in her neck, smelling the sweet fragrance of her skin and kissed her collarbones.
''You know that and yet you refuse to admit that you've got it bad for me?''
''I…''
''Quiet Hermione. Tell me that you want it.''
''Tell me first.'' Her hands tightened in his hair as his tongue languorously tasted her smooth skin.
''I want you. I don't want it. I could have it with any girl in this school. I want you.'' Draco was too far gone to think about what he was saying, just saying what came into his head.
Hermione's head fell back, exposing the soft white skin of her neck. Draco buried his lips in it. ''I want you too'' she murmured.
''Say it properly. Say my name.''
''I want you Draco. I need you to kiss me.''
Draco had intended to drag it out of her that evening, to end the farce, but her hands were stroking his back, his neck, his chest, his face. He pushed her back onto the sofa and forgot about what was happening, losing himself in the sensations.
AN – well, I hope you liked it! I dashed it off in half an hour, because I felt bad for leaving it for a while. Anyway, I got a fab response to my last chapter – you gorgeous reviewers, you know who you are. If anyone else wants to know who they are, looking at the lovely reviews they have left me (I'm too tired to get all of your names out – sorry, next time, I promise!). In fact, while you're looking at those lovely reviews, why not leave one of your own? Go on, you know you want to, and you know that I'll respond to you etc etc etc. Anyway, all love and all that shizzle, thanks for reading…kisses, Petitesorciere x