This will be the last chapter from me before 2008, then... Wow... Neat!

Thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to support my works these past 4 months. It means a lot to me. Best wishes for the new year to you all!

Love,

Kitty


When Draco the next night pushed the door to the heads' office open, he wasn't entirely sure what he would find. He wasn't early, of course. He wouldn't be caught dead early to a meeting with Granger. He wasn't exactly late either, though. If she was going to be there, she should be there now. And she'd better be, because he was counting on her curiosity and her overconfidence to help him with this newest scheme of his.

He smirked when he noticed a bushy head bent over a desk. Good. He closed the door a bit more forcefully than he perhaps had to in order to signal his appearance. She ignored him. He snorted.

"I knew you'd be here," he said.

"State your business and leave," she coolly replied without turning around.

His eyebrows went up. "I'm not going to speak to that nest you call hair," he stated and sauntered over to the conference table and took a seat, setting down the box he was holding just hard enough that she would know there was something. Then he waited.

He didn't have to wait long. She closed the book she had been perusing with an exasperated sound and got up, stalking over to glare at him from the other side of the table. It was almost amusing how easy she was to manage sometimes.

"Why are you wasting my time, Malfoy?" she asked.

He smirked. "Because I want to beat you," he answered truthfully. "I want you to enter into a contest with me on the topic of wizarding history, winner takes all. For a month, anyway." He doubted he could endure her presence any longer than that, even if she were bound to serve him.

Hermione made a very unladylike snort. "I told you no. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."

"Who needs trust?" Draco all but purred, positively glowing with self-satisfaction. Hermione had never been afraid of him for a second in her life, but something about the way he looked right now made her eye the exit. "Who needs trust," he repeated, "when you've got magic?" His smirk widened and she just knew that he was up to something she wasn't going to like.

"I'm not taking an Unbreakable Vow," she said. "I'm pretty sure it's against school rules and even if it isn't, it's against my rules and… Not with you!" She wrinkled her nose.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "I'm not asking you to take an Unbreakable Vow," he scoffed. "There's other ways, better ways. Older ways." He waited again.

It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes when he didn't give any indication that he was going to go on. "What is it, then?" she impatiently asked.

He suppressed a grin. Her curiosity was obvious in the way that she eyed him and the box, but he could also see from the way she was glancing at the door that she was really close to just walking out. He couldn't allow that. It would rob him of the most fun that he was likely to have all year.

"You have to promise me something before I tell you," he said.

Her look instantly turned wary. "What?" she asked.

"You can't tell anybody about… what you see or experience here tonight."

"Why not?" She was unconsciously edging further away from him.

"Why do you bloody think, Granger?" he snapped. "I have something that I'm not supposed to have, and I can't have you ratting me out, if you don't like what you see."

She crossed her arms and finally stilled. "And who's to say I'd keep my word?"

"Oh, you'd keep it," he said. "If not for honor and… whatever lame reasons your type thinks up, then for the very real threat that is me."

She snorted.

He raised an eyebrow. "I still have connections," he said. "I can make life very uncomfortable for you long after Hogwarts without even once coming close to breaking the law. And if you go against your word, I will make it my life's mission to make your life miserable."

She rolled her eyes once again. "Oh, for the love of God, Malfoy – you couldn't just say please?"

He leaned forward and stared at her intently. "Please," he said in a voice that was anything but pleading.

"You are undoubtedly the most spoiled and malicious brat I have ever had the misfortune to meet," she informed him.

"Good for you! But you're boring me with your prattle. Yes or no, Granger?"

"Fine," she said on a sigh, against her own better judgment. "I promise I won't tell anyone about…" She gestured at the box. "That, I presume."

"Neither directly nor indirectly."

"Malfoy…"

"Your word."

"Yes, you have it! Now get on with it!"

He got up, grabbed the box and casually went around the table to her. Her eyes didn't leave him and her gaze was guarded. He wondered how fast she would grab her wand if he made a sudden movement, but messing around like that would probably only send her running out the door in a huff. He opened the box.

"Give me your wrist," he said, slipping on the ring that was in the box. It was a perfect match to the bracelet in its design of hand-carved scrollwork and tiny perfectly embedded diamonds. He'd have to figure a way around that later or there might be questions.

Instead of complying, she put her hands behind her back and took a step backwards.

He rubbed his forehead wearily. "I have to show you like this, ok?"

She shook her head. "You must be out of your mind if you think that I—"

"What do you think I'm going to do?" he hotly interrupted. "Maim you right here in this office? Don't you think I'd be anyone's first suspect?"

When she didn't immediately respond he mumbled something very unflattering and grabbed her wrist and closed the bracelet on it before she could object. She jerked away from him and desperately began twisting the bracelet to find the clasp. It was gone. It had smoothly closed, leaving not the least dent anywhere, and even though it had seemed bigger before, it was now small enough that there was no way she could slip it off.

"How do I get this thing off?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky. She was now doubting what she had agreed to. Trusting a Malfoy, indeed.Smart move, Hermione. Of course Malfoy was up to something; he always is. Gee, could you be any more naïve? Maybe, tomorrow, you can go have a nice little chat with Voldemort and try to convince him to be less radical in his beliefs over tea and biscuits!

"You don't," he replied. "Only the one with the ring can remove it. So, unless you want to kill me to regain your freedom, I suggest you hear me out." It was, he thought, quite fortunate that looks couldnot kill, if one were to judge from the look she sent him.

She sneered. "I think I can guess what this is."

"Clever girl," he mumbled. "But I thought you weren't going to take my word for it?"

Now he actually had the gall to rebuke her for not believing that he would go through with it if he lost?

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"A demonstration," he said. "Nothing more, I promise." He deliberately exaggerated the last word.

She made a derisive sound. "And, of course, it's not you wearing it."

"You'd think I was faking it," he growled. "Now, shut up!"

She opened her mouth and closed it again, scowling at him. Well, that hadn't been part of the demonstration, but Draco personally thought it was a pleasant side effect.

"Right," he said. Now to pick something that would embarrass her. Just a little. "How many boys have you dated this past year?" he asked, making another mental note as to just how much he deserved a medal. As far as questions went, this was kind of lame, considering that he could ask her anything and she'd be compelled to answer, and he actually already knew the answer to this one. All of Hogwarts did.

She opened her mouth, fully intending to tell him to go to Hell, and heard her own voice say, "None." She flushed and her eyes widened in outrage and she began clawing at the abominable piece of ornament again.

"Oh, come on," he said, hard pressed to not laugh out loud at her reaction. "I had to ask you something you wouldn't normally reply to and it's not like it was something I didn't already know!"

She didn't reply but just shot him a furious look. Now he did laugh. Who would have thought she'd be so sensitive about this?

"Is your demonstration done?" she bit off, presenting him with her wrist, having little actual hope that he'd free her. To her great surprise, however, he did remove it before removing his ring as well.

"Will you take the bet, then?" he asked. "Or are you afraid you'll lose?" His amusement was still apparent.

"Turnabout is fair play," she said, crossing her arms.

But I don't like to play fair, he almost said.No, that was probably not the right thing to say right now. He wanted her to think he was the soul of fairness or, well, the closest thing he was able to convince her tonight.

"Why?" he asked. "You know it's working now."

"I know it's working on me, yes," she said. "But I don't know if it's only working on women or Muggleborns or, heck, anyone who isn't a Malfoy. I want to know if it'll work on you."

Damn. He hadn't even considered that. For all he knew it could work on only witches… which added a whole new level of possible fun – in the unlikely event that he lost.

She reached out her hand, palm up. "If you really want me to believe you and have some sort of contest with you, you will do this."

"Then you agree?" he asked, unwilling to do this for anything less.

"If it works, yes."

Hesitantly, he gave her the ring and snapped the bracelet shut around his own wrist, watching the clasp disappear as she put the ring on. He wasn't stupid; he was aware just how much power he was giving her. Hopefully, she wasn't. Getting answers to one's questions was just the tip of the iceberg... but he didn't plan on letting her find that out just yet. Especially considering how dangerous questions could be in themselves.

"How many girls have you dated this past year?" she asked.

He rolled his eyes. "Two." He held out his wrist for her to remove the bracelet again.

She smirked. "That was just idle conversation; I'd hardly need the bracelet to get that reply."

He scowled at her but didn't reply. She couldn't know that if given the choice to lie, he would have answered 'one'.

"Has your father tried to contact you?"

Draco's eyes bulged. "Granger, that's crossing the line!"

"Answer!" she demanded.

"No," he growled. I'll get you back for this, you little Mudblood bitch!

"Why didn't you kill Dumbledore?"

He clenched his teeth.

"Come now, Malfoy," she calmly said. "I have to ask something you wouldn't normally reply to."

She actually dared to mock him on top of everything?

"He was old and defenseless in that moment, and he's always been kind to me in spite of my family's reputation, and I swear to you, if you do not remove this bracelet right now, I will make you regret it in so many ways that your great grandchildren will feel the effects!" he snarled in one breath.

He should have known she couldn't be trusted even this far. He should have known she'd turn it around and abuse and interrogate him. All of her morals and rules about how to treat others had never applied to him, and she repeatedly did to him exactly what she accused him of doing to others. He would win this thing and he'd show her exactly how nasty he could be. He would give her everything she deserved and then some. She would pay for being such a self-righteous bitch.

Hermione wasn't surprised to see that Draco had murder in his eyes. She almost thought she could feel his fury. He clearly hadn't wanted to tell her the last bit and it was this that finally convinced her that the bracelet was, in fact, working. Also, the new knowledge helped set her somewhat at ease. Still, she got her wand out, just in case, before she touched the bracelet, snapping it open.

The second he was free, however, he twisted the wand from her with one hand before throwing it to the floor and then he grabbed her wrists, while the other tangled in her hair and yanked back, hard, causing excruciating pain and forcing her to look up at him through teary eyes.

"I will let this slide, just this once," he said in a low and deadly voice. "But the game is on. You agreed to do this. If I were you,Mudblood, I'd do everything in my power not to lose, because I promise you… You won't like it if you do." His fist in her hair tightened and she whimpered slightly. "Make a list of people you think could judge fairly and discreetly and, if it's a good list, I will choose someone from it. If not, then I will find someone on my own. You are not getting out of this. I will turn myself in if I have to, just to see you go down with me. Your only hope is to win. Am I making myself clear?"

Hermione nodded. It was a very slight nod, seeing as she could barely move her head, but a nod just the same. She was too stunned by the violence to be able to do anything else. He then wrenched the ring from her finger and abruptly let her go. She gasped as her skull began prickling painfully.

"You bastard," she whispered. "You disgusting, slimy, piece of—"

"Get used to it, Granger," he interrupted in a tight voice. He had placed the set back in its box and closed it. "I'm done making efforts for you and your kind."

"Nott won't like this," she mumbled.

"Nott won't hear about this," Draco replied. "Because even if you don't care about your word, which I'm suddenly not at all sure that you do, he would turn us both in and then I would be happy to show Dumbledore what you just did."

Hermione blushed a little. "What I did was—"

"Inexcusable!" he cut in. "Don't bother claiming that you couldn't have thought of something less intrusive. If I were you, I'd start studying."

He slammed the door on his way out. Hermione scowled at the door. She didn't understand why he'd be so upset. He'd had perfectly reasonable answers for everything, and it wasn't as if she was going to tell anyone. It hadn't been so terribly wrong of her to ask the only two things she had been genuinely interested in knowing… had it?


Had it, indeed... Next: Kissing, but between who:P And also, Hermione is acting distracted... (God, I love doing this)