A.N.; Here's the next chapter my loves. Please review and tell me what you think :D

Disclaimer; I, in no way, shape or form, own Harry Potter.J. K. Rowling is god when it comes to this and if I did own it why would I be writing this.

Chapter 3

A few weeks into the school year had passed and Draco had fallen into his usual rhythm. He attended the meetings that were required of him. He went to classes, studied and had Quidditch practise during the week and weekends he normally spent with his friends. Since the train and her little challenge he tried to get her attention. They'd even begun to study together in the common room and no longer insulted another. But as soon as the conversation turned personal in any way she shut him out. It was as if she remembered who she was speaking to and cut herself off and each time she returned to her room. He couldn't understand her. But it just made winning that much more appealing.

As she walked down the stairs so she could study by the fire she noticed Draco already there. He was in his usual spot leaving room for Hermione so that they were both in front of the fire. She looked down at him and how the light caressed his features in a way that would make any girls heart skip a beat. Even the prude that was Hermione Granger was not immune to the oh so delicious Draco Malfoy. His platinum blonde hair was messy and hung in front of his eyes. Oh Merlin, those eyes, those dark silver orbs that Hermione was lost in every time she looked at him. He gave her butterflies every time he entered a room she was in, a heat would spread throughout her body. She looked further down his face to his lips. She felt herself sigh over them. How she longed for them to touch her own, to kiss her body. His shirt was undone and she could see that he was magnificent from head to toe.

"Granger? You ok over there?" He'd asked her so suddenly that she was ripped from her thoughts.

"Uhh, yes. Why?" Confusion was expressed over her face.

"Well you've been standing there awhile and you started making noises." As he said that he looked up at her through his hair, he raised an eyebrow at her and he could see that she was turning the exact shade of red that was Weasley's hair.

"Well I'm fine, thank you." And in a huff she sat down next to him on the floor and began studying. Conversation stayed in what Hermione called their 'safe zone' which consisted mainly of class topics and Head duties. Anything else was too personal and she felt like an open book to him. If he'd said the right thing or asked the right question, she'd have spilled her guts to him and in doing so she'd reveal the feelings she was now holding for the Slytherin Prince. If their conversation started to head in a direction Hermione deemed 'unsafe', she'd simply get up and leave before she broke.

Like every other night, Draco had simply asked how her weekend went and with that she packed up and headed towards the stairs. For in fact she actually attended his Quiddicth game and watched him beat Huffelpuff. He'd then know that she'd returned to their dorm with a need for a very cold shower.

"Where are you going?" She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned around to face him. "Why do you leave as soon as I ask you a question that isn't school related? Why do you pack up and leave without another word?" By this time he'd gotten up and walked over to her. And in a few more strides he was directly in front of her, he was so close that she could smell is cologne and was finding herself intoxicated by it. He reached for her books and took them from her, placing them atop the post at the bottom of the stairs. He was towering over her, his lean build perfectly sculpted, was forcing her back until she was against the wall and trapped between his arms that had taken post either side of her.

"What are you afraid of?" He finally breathed, breaking the silence that had filled the room.

"I'm not afraid of anything." But her voice wavered and she knew that she wasn't fooling him.

Draco could feel how tense she'd become and he hadn't even touched her. What had happened that made her so revolted by him. She was nice enough on the train, hell she even seemed a little flirty, what changed..

She reached up and put a hand against his chest, it sent sparks though her body, in an attempt to push him back but Hermione lacked any sort of physical strength and he hadn't moved.

"What did I do, Hermione?" He growled at her, not even aware that he'd just called her Hermione and not Granger. Her breath hitched and she didn't say anything, afraid if she tried to speak it would end in disaster. Draco slammed his fist into the wall beside her. "Answer me!" His voice bellowed towards her.

"Draco, please stop." She squeaked.

"NO! You can't run away from me now. What did I do to you? Haven't I been nice enough to you these last few weeks. I've been trying, oh Merlin help me, I have been trying. Why don't you talk to me? Am I not worthy of a conversation from Gryffindor's Princess?" He was so angry now he practically spat the last two words at her. And with that, Hermione's silence was over. She'd snapped and his words had fuelled her fire.

"Oh that's rich coming from Slytherin's Prince. You never do anything without it benefiting you in some way or another so tell me Draco, what could you possibly gain from me?" Her words slicing through the air, she could feel the fire of his glare burning holes into her soul but she wasn't done just yet. "Why would you even care if I spoke to you or not?" Her tone accusing.

"Oh no! You don't get to spin this back on me! You're the one who runs away!" Hermione's eyes looked up and met his stare and held it. She began to walk forwards, she pushed herself against him. He stumbled back a step.

"Does it look like I'm running away now, Draco." Hermione's voice was low, her eyes never left his. To Draco, Hermione looked like a Lioness on the hunt and he loved it. Her long curls had become chaotic, her hand which was on his chest to push him away was now starting to claw at his flesh and her eyes had a fire lit behind those amber orbs which made them appear like they were glowing. "Nothing left to say I see." And as she was about to turn away Draco grabbed her hair and pulled it down, making her look up at him. He expected to see fear in the face he looked down on but all he saw was pride. Draco growled as he pushed their bodies back up against the wall and he forcefully placed his mouth on hers. Hermione's arms pushed against Draco but they quickly fell slack as he bit her lip and pulled her hair causing Hermione to gasp and then Draco slipped his tongue into Hermione's mouth and he began a war for dominance against her own. Hermione snaked her arms around his neck, one hand pulling at his hair and when Draco moaned, she knew she'd found his weak spot. Draco's hands travelled down her body until he reached the back of her thighs and he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Hermione tugged at his already unbuttoned shirt and it fell to the ground. She traced the outline of his abs with her fingertips and then they were clawing down Draco's back leaving behind raw red lines. Draco hissed and then he trailed kisses down Hermione's jaw finally leaving her lips and as he reached the base of her neck where it met her collarbone he nipped and sucked at the flesh there. He left is mark and continued to ravish her neck. Hermione moaned as he nipped at her earlobe and then Hermione's hands were pulling his hair again, hard enough to drag his head back leaving his skin open for her. She began at his collarbone with small teasing kisses and as she reached the juncture underneath is jaw she sucked and nipped. It was her turn to mark him as he had done her.

"Hermione..." He whispered her name but it was loud enough to bring her reeling back to reality and she shoved him away. He wasn't expecting it so it was easier for her to do and he was too stunned to stop her from running straight up the stairs and into her room where she locked her door.

Hermione sank to the floor against her door. She had no idea what she was doing with Malfoy, let alone why they had suddenly ended up entwined as they were. That was when she'd heard his door slam shut.