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Hermione's eyes widened as Zabini's mouth deftly covered her own.

What the heck?

This was madness, this was insane, this was… did all Slytherins have such soft lips?

Focus!

It was hard to focus, this was simply too surreal. It had been a surprise when Malfoy had kissed her, sure, but… still not quite as surprising and this. And what had he meant with the words he had whispered in her ear, anyway? They were the reason that she just stood there, rooted in place, allowing this Slytherin boy this outrageous liberty. Well, ok, he was actually being rather decent about it, not touching her anywhere but on the lips, but still… why was he touching her on the lips?

"Play along," he'd whispered into her ear.

At this point she did seem to be playing along against her better judgment, but she didn't know why she shouldn't fight him or what was going on. Perhaps this was some odd joke; see how she would respond to yet another kiss from yet another one of their lot. This could, in fact, be Malfoy's revenge. He couldn't force her to kiss people using the ring, but if he had other people force her, then he would neatly avoid the contract. Prat.

Zabini seemed to get bored with just the pressure of lips against lips, but instead of ending the kiss, which would have been the thing that would have made sense, he flicked out his tongue at her lips. Hermione's eyes widened again. NO, she was not going to snog another one of them. She turned her head slightly, but he just chuckled too low for anybody but her to hear and ran his lips over her cheek to boldly nip at her ear.

She squeaked and jerked back, as the little hairs at the back of her neck stood on end, but Zabini just smirked slightly and winked saucily at her. He then turned on his heel and quickly took the stairs back down. As he reached Malfoy, who was just staring, he patted his friend on the shoulder and said, "Was it as good for you as it was for me?" before he went off in direction of the dungeons, whistling.

Silence. As Hermione slowly emerged from her state of dazed confusion, she realized that Malfoy hadn't said one word and was now just looking up at her, his face an inscrutable mask.

"Is this your idea of a joke?" she asked, her voice a little shaky, as she slowly descended the stairs.

He didn't respond in any way.

"Answer me!" she demanded, having forgotten that she was going to beg for lenience. She finished descending the stairs and walked up to him. "Was this another one of your dirty tricks? Sending your friends at me?"

"Yeah, well, you enjoyed it well enough, didn't you?" he finally said. "Congratulations, you've worked your way through the current Slytherins in our year. Who's next?"

Her eyebrows shot up. She couldn't believe the gall of him. She hadn't done anything! "Well, I was thinking Gryffindor," she coolly replied. "I have a head start there, only a few to go."

"Good," he bit out, his eyes glittering angrily, "then maybe you'll stay the fuck away from my friends."

What was his problem? "Yes, well, I'm sure I'll be the first girl in a long time to get both all of Slytherin and Gryffindor," she taunted.

He smiled coldly at her. "Don't be so sure, Mugglespawn. But there are usually names for girls like you…"

Her eyes narrowed. "Get real, Malfoy!" she snarled and turned her back on him.

"Not so fast," he said, before she could walk away. "It seems like I should keep you on a shorter leash."

Safe in the knowledge that he couldn't see, she rolled her eyes. "Meaning what?" she asked.

"Meaning, for the rest of the bet you do not leave my sight unless you have express permission from me to do so," he clarified.

She swirled back round. "That's ridiculous! I need permission from you to just go to the lavatory or go to bed?"

"And if I were you," he added, "I wouldn't challenge that point too hard. I'm sure arrangements could be made."

Her eyes widened. Why was he reacting like this? "You can't be serious!"

"I am very serious," he coolly replied. "This was what you wanted, wasn't it? To be bothered more? Well, you got your wish, princess."

She moaned as she had to acknowledge defeat.

Draco couldn't believe how furious he was. There had been no call for Blaise to pull a stunt like that. He knew, of course, that Blaise had only been proving his point. He had even taunted him as he had gone for her.

"So you don't care about her at all, you say? Then you won't mind me doing this…"

So Draco had had to watch his friend, who had been all teary-eyed over another girl mere minutes earlier, kiss Hermione. In all fairness, her response hadn't been explosive in the least. In fact, she had been mostly surprised and confused. But she hadn't pushed him away, and she hadn't not liked it. All the evidence pointed towards her actually finding the experience rather pleasant.

Slut.

Did she have to like every kiss she got? Did she have to be so compliant every time? Did she have to look so flushed and dazed afterwards? Did her lips have to be so swollen?

He was going to kill Blaise. As soon as he found an excuse that wouldn't make his friend suspicious of his real motives, he would kill him. Slowly and painfully. Perhaps after kissing Tracey.

He knew he was being completely unreasonable to Hermione, but he couldn't seem to summon the will to care. She may not have invited the kiss, but she had allowed it to go on for several seconds, allowing Blaise who knew what liberties. It tore at Draco in ways he had never imagined it would. It made him want to yell at her, demanding to know what the hell she thought she was doing.

But he'd just sound like a jealous boyfriend. She would get the wrong idea.

He just had to live with the fact that the kiss that he still fantasized about and fought not to repeat had just been cheapened even further. Not only had she been unbelievably drunk at the time, but she would kiss anyone like that, even when sober. Absolutely anyone. Except perhaps him. She hated him.

He swallowed hard as he realized something. He didn't hate her. He didn't like her very much most of the time, and right now he was really angry at her and could barely look at her, but he knew hate. This was not it.

"When does this start?" she asked when no more details were forthcoming.

"Now," he said a little hoarsely. "Can't have you roaming free, can I?"

She turned back towards him. "Is this really necessary?" she asked with an imploring smile. "I have been good lately."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Well, maybe I have been forgetting myself with what I said earlier, but I didn't mean it…"

He snorted.

"… and I haven't kissed anyone for weeks, because you didn't want me to! Well, except Theo on Saturday, but I don't know if that—"

"You kissed Theo on Saturday?" Draco sharply interrupted. How the hell had he not noticed? Oh, right, he had been too busy bleeding for her.

She blushed a little. "It wasn't really a kiss," she hedged, "and besides, you said that Theo was exempt."

Draco saw red. There was no better way to explain it. Her face slid out of focus and his blood thundered in his ears. She had kissed Theo again. Theo had kissed her. He hadn't even known. In spite of the ring, he hadn't even known. Why hadn't anyone told him? Someone should have told him, should have warned him.

A small voice – a sane voice – asked why anybody would think of informing him, but he ignored it.

What else had she been up to that he didn't know about? Several possibilities, one more exaggerated than the other, entered his mind. It was a good thing he was keeping a closer eye on her. She was his for another five days. He didn't like to share.

"M-Malfoy?" she hesitantly asked.

"No more!" he growled. "Can't you even keep your lips to yourself for one bloody week?"

She crossed her arms and stuck her nose up at him. "Well, obviously it wasn't even big enough of a deal for you to notice, so I don't see your problem!"

She wouldn't. "Dungeons. Now!" he just said, turning away from her.

She sullenly followed him. Unfortunately, she couldn't just keep quiet and it didn't take her many seconds to begin nagging him again. "What will you do in a few days when you don't have me to boss around anymore?" she asked. "Won't your life be void of all meaning?"

"I'll manage," he ground out.

"I'm sure you will," she retorted. "But who will you manage?"

"Ha ha," he mumbled.

"Or you could always grovel and get Parkinson back. I'm sure she'd let you treat her like a—ungh!"

He had slammed her against one of the clammy stonewalls, and it occurred to her that she might have gone a bit too far. Again. She had just been goading him because… well, she wanted to fight. He could at least fight with her when he was treating her like this.

"Now, you listen to me," he hissed. "I don't care for your endless opinions and suggestions. And I don't care for you badmouthing Pansy. It stops now."

"Or what?" she asked, wincing a bit at her own words.

He leaned closer. Too close. "You don't want to find out," he said so softly that she had to strain to hear it.

Hermione squirmed uncomfortably in Draco's none too gentle grip. This was strange. She felt awkward. He wasn't usually quite like this, all… quiet and menacing. She knew he was waiting for her to apologize or something along those lines, but her stubbornness wouldn't allow it, so she just mutely glared at him.

Draco couldn't believe this girl! She had been horribly rude to him all day, called him every name in the book, kissed his friends, and made snide remarks about his ex, and still she wasn't the least apologetic – not even when he was trying to intimidate her. All he felt was defiance, apprehension, and a vague uncertainty. At least there was the apprehension, or he'd have to make some sort of example of this. And there was… tension? What kind of tension?

He narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to figure her out. He could see her pulse jumping, but her lips were pressed together as she steadily glared back at him. No, it wasn't any kind of tension he could use. He felt like sighing. This was such a mess. She was horrible to him, he was horrible to her, and really… she just wanted to be rid of him and he just wanted to kiss her senseless once more.

Why shouldn't I kiss her?

Draco almost blinked. No, she didn't want it. She was only staying passive because she thought they were in the middle of some sort of battle of wills, which was funny, since he had actually given up on bending her to his will weeks ago. He let go of her arms, but she stayed rooted, still glaring at him.

She didn't particularly want Blaise's kiss and she still allowed it…

Could he settle for being allowed to kiss her? His eyes dropped to her lips. She wasn't pressing them together anymore and they looked so soft and inviting. It was just a kiss. She would like it. She always liked kissing. She might not be very pleased with him after, but… he wanted it so much. Just one more taste before his time was up. She wouldn't mind that much, would she? Just one taste. He wouldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to do. It was harmless.

Before he could change his mind, he bent and pressed his lips to hers, desperately seeking the contact he needed.

And was swiftly rewarded with a stinging slap.

For a second, he could only stare at her in shock, barely registering the implications. Then it all did register, and he closed his eyes, vainly trying to hide his shame and humiliation. She hadn't said no, turned her head, or pushed him away – she had slapped him. It didn't get any clearer than that. There was an almost unbearable pain in his chest, and he swallowed a few times, trying to compose himself. He should have realized this. After all, he had already known the level of contempt she had for him. He knew he shouldn't have tried to do this. Damn Blaise for making him think so much about it.

The worst part, apart from the rejection itself, was that he was apparently the only one she would reject. Even Blaise she had just let kiss her. It was just him she would do this to, and she would do it so horribly hurtfully, too. He wasn't perfect, but he hadn't tried to force her or grope her or anything that would warrant such a cold treatment. He had just wanted her lips against his once more.

It wasn't in Draco's nature to just stick around for this kind of treatment. He was a Malfoy. He had pride. He had arrogance. He did not spend his time trying to coax kisses out of bitchy little witches who would just slap him when there was no need. He would have stopped if she had asked him to. He wasn't a complete arse.

He was done.

Hermione was staring at Draco in terrible confusion, her hands covering her mouth. She hadn't meant to react quite that violently, but when he'd suddenly made that unexpected move, she had panicked and… well. She winced as she saw the reddening of his cheek where the slap had landed. She wanted to apologize, but she couldn't seem to find the words in the middle of all of her confusion – and he was just… standing there. Oh, this was awfully awkward. She should say something.

"What the hell were you thinking?" she almost shrieked. Ok, not exactly what she had meant to say, but it was hard to think in the middle of all of this shock and… and… he had tried to kiss her!

"Obviously, I wasn't," he said, unbearably calm.

"I'll say!" she said, feeling thoroughly agitated. "I can't begin to imagine what would make you that was a good idea! I mean, common sense—"

His head snapped up and his voice was very cold when he said, "A simple 'no' would have been enough, Granger. You don't have to be such a bitch about it."

"How do you expect me to react?" she almost shouted at him.

His jaw clenched. "Don't worry. I got the message," he seemed to force out. "Go back to your tower. I think this is enough for one day, don't you?"

He turned and began very quickly walking away from her, almost toppling Blaise as the other boy turned the corner.

"Oh, hey!" Blaise said. "You were taking your time, so I decided to come look for you. I need to borrow your—"

"Not now, Blaise!" Draco choked, before he fled.

Blaise frowned after his friend before realizing Hermione was there. His eyes narrowed. "You again!" he spat. "When are you going to stop being such a bitch to Draco?"

Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth fell open at the sheer injustice of the accusation.


:o

It's becoming increasingly difficult to find previews that don't spoil too much :P

She crossed her arms, looking as if she would like to thump him hard on the head. "Did you lie about the note too?"

"What note?"

She sighed impatiently. "The one that found its way to my friends after Crabbe put me in the hospital wing."

He gave her an odd, weary look. "I'm surprised you didn't figure that one out yet."