3. You Prick
It was the next day when Ginny felt an irritating sensation in her side. She swatted at it and rolled over, trying to make it go away, but it came back. She opened her eyes slightly to see a familiar face, prodding at her side in a bored manner as she flipped through a book.
"Hermione?" Ginny groaned and shoved her head under her pillow. "Why are you waking me up so early?"
Hermione frowned. "It's eleven thirty-two."
Ginny sat up. "I'm starving." She swung her legs over the side of the couch and stood up. "And I need to clean myself up. Where's the washroom?"
Hermione pointed down a hall, distractedly as she flipped a page in her book. "First door on the left."
"Mmm," Ginny grunted and she forced herself to get up and trudge down the hall.
---
"I can't believe we missed lunch! I'm starving!" Ginny held her abdomen as a dull rumble gurgled in her stomach.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You took an hour long shower, Ginny. It's your fault." Hermione wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck to protect her from the chilly October air.
"How far is Hogsmeade from here again?"
"It's just right up the road, Gin. Chill out, you'll get your food!"
Ginny pouted. "I better."
They made their way up the Three Broomsticks and took a seat at a corner booth as Ginny murmured something about having to use the ladies room, Hermione ordered them a couple Butterbeers. Hermione sat patiently as she observed the rest of the room. It was awfully busy for a last Saturday afternoon. Her eyes caught someone's at the bar. Draco Malfoy. He smiled when he saw her and lifted his glass of what she assumed to be Fire Whiskey at her. Hermione eyed him suspiciously and slightly lifted her hand, trying to give a very… very nonchalant wave. He took it the wrong way as she feared and made his way through the crowd and plopped down in the seat across from her.
---
Malfoy hadn't been planning on running into Granger today. In fact, he had hoped just the opposite. He wanted to enjoy a drink or two… or three. Okay, maybe half a dozen shots, before heading back to the school and passing the fuck out. This was an added bonus, however, to see her sitting there. Scanning the crowd. He looked at her posture, cool, calm and collected. His eyes couldn't help but to scan the rest of her body. He was a guy after all… Her legs were longer than he had ever realized… not that he had ever stared at her legs before. Because he hadn't. She was wearing a certain type of jean that clung to her legs and showed off their shape incredibly and a nice blouse that allowed him to see her nice curvature. She seemed to have left the top two buttons undone, which definitely left something to the imagination. He smirked. Change in plans. Not only was he going to smother her with… well, himself. But he was going to seduce her and well… smother her with himself, quite literally. Yes, today just got better… and the thought of seducing her was incredibly enticing to him. He wasn't going to lie. She had a figure and she wasn't ugly… he wanted her body. Big deal? Right? Right, he reassured himself. He was going to make Hermione Granger scream. He beamed as he caught her eye and tipped his glass up to her. She looked completely idiotic with the dumbfounded look strewn across her face. He laughed inwardly. She awkwardly waved at him. Game. Set. Match, Malfoy thought. He had this in the bag and he was feeling on top of the world as he slid into her booth. His trademark smirk on his face.
---
"Granger." Malfoy smiled.
Hermione stared blankly at him. "What are you doing?"
He shrugged and took another swig of his potent drink. "Drinking."
"No, I mean… what are you doing here at my table?"
Malfoy laughed sardonically and finished off his glass. "Your table, eh? Okay then, Granger. What am I doing at your table? I just couldn't stay away from you and your charm."
"Bull shit."
"You called my bluff…" He sighed and grabbed the waitress by the arm. "Another one please? Thank you." He turned back to face Hermione. "I have no one else to talk to, really. Thought I'd annoy the hell out of you while I'm bored and lonely."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Look, I'm sorry for yesterday. I was being childish. But I'm here with Ginny and we're having lunch… just the two of us. So can you… well, sod off?"
"Weaselette is here?" Malfoy beamed, ignoring her request. "Perfect!"
Hermione glared. "Go away."
"Not a chance," Malfoy retorted and took his drink from the waitress as she set down two Butterbeers. "Have I ever told you that after two glasses of Fire Whiskey you look amazing?"
She tried to hide it, but a blush crept onto her face. "Shut up, and go away."
"Oh, I like when a woman tries to control me." Malfoy snapped his teeth at her. "Soooo appealing."
Hermione's nostrils flared. "You are acting very inappropriately." Breathe, Hermione thought. He's just taunting you. Payback is all it is. You deserve this.
"You like it." Malfoy shrugged, sipping on his drink once more. "The sooner you admit it, the sooner I can get you in the sack."
Hermione's jaw dropped. He had pissed her off. She was about to speak when someone else spoke her name.
"Hermione?"
She froze. Was that…? No. It couldn't be… But she knows that voice… She turned her head to match a face to that voice. "Ronald…" she breathed, still shell shocked at the sight of him. The man she loved was standing right in front of her. He was there. She could smell him and if she wanted to, she could reach out and touch him. It was real. He was really there! "Ronald!" Hermione finally processed who was in front of her. She shot up out of her seat and wrapped her arms around him. She pulled back slightly, and kissed him with all the passion that she had building up inside of her, not caring if he felt the same. Though she guessed he did feel the same because he was answering her kiss most fervently.
"I've missed you, Hermione."
"I've missed you too, Ron."
"Hem, hem." Malfoy cleared his throat.
Hermione gave him an annoyed glare. "What?"
"It's rude to leave a guest hanging like this," Malfoy answered, sneering at Ron who looked less than pleased to see him sitting there.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I never invited you to join me. You aren't my guest." She turned back to Ron. "Would you like to join Ginny and I for lunch?"
"You will be joining me too." Malfoy pointed out.
Ron narrowed his eyes at him and then smiled back at her. "I would love to, Hermione."
Hermione grinned. "Perfect." Then she frowned. "Where's Ginny?"
Ron turned red. "Hermione, this was set up. She actually went to Floo me when you guys sat down so I could apparated here and sweep you off your feet and stuff… Don't be mad."
Hermione patted his hands as they sat across from each other, Malfoy sitting next to Hermione. She as annoyed at this arrangement but didn't want Malfoy to know that. He would milk it like no other if he knew. "Why would I be mad…? We both got what we wanted didn't we?" Ron nodded. "Alright then, don't worry about it."
"Ron? What are you doing here? Such a coincidence!" Ginny exclaimed over dramatically as she made her way to the table.
"I know right?" Hermione replied sarcastically.
Ginny stamped her foot. "Ron! You told her already? For Merlin's sake you can't keep a secret!"
Ron grabbed her hand from across the table. "Not from the woman I love."
"Gag me," Malfoy muttered.
Ginny noticed him for the first time. "Who invited this git?"
Hermione shook her head. "No one. He invited himself. Just ignore the arrogant prick."
"Ouch, Granger." Malfoy smirked.
Ron got up so he could let Ginny slip into the booth and he kissed Hermione's cheek before he sat down. Hermione was thrilled to have her man back. Little things like that made her know for sure she was still madly in love with him.
---
Malfoy watched as the Weasel and the Mudblood ogled at each other, a look of disgust plastered on his face. He glanced down and started focusing on her thigh. I wonder, he thought as his hand slipped beneath the table unseen and reached sideways toward Hermione.
---
"…and then I have this first year who is just…oh!" Hermione gasped and turned bright red.
"You alright?" Ron furrowed his eyebrows at her.
"Y..yes," Hermione stammered and slipped her hand below the table as well. She swatted at his hand but he kept it firmly on her upper leg. He began massaging her leg, slowly moving his hand towards her inner thigh. "You know what? I think I need some fresh air." She got up quickly. "Malfoy… would you care to join me for a moment?"
Ron was puzzled and Ginny was suspicious. Malfoy was delighted. "I would enjoy that very much, Granger."
They made their way outside and Hermione shoved him up against the wall. This turned him on more than he cared to let on. She began poking him rather hard in the chest.
"What's your damage, Malfoy?" She howled. "Yesterday you loathed me enough to barely speak one word to me. You were the pure definition of cold. And then today… today you are some sort of pervert! What the hell is your problem?"
Malfoy shot Hermione a suave smirk and grabbed her by the shoulders, spinning her around and pinning her up against the wall. "Let's just say that I see you in a different light. Don't think your body hasn't gone unnoticed… and I've been wondering all day what would happen if…" He plucked the third button off her shirt as her bra became visible. "Ahh… there it is."
And then something hard connected with his face as the ground rushed up to meet him.
"You prick," Hermione hissed and stepped over his body, walking back into the pub.
---
God, she punches like a man, Malfoy thought as he pouted in his dormitory, a cold cloth over his eye. He had only been teasing her. Trying to get a rise out of her. He rather hoped for a different response. Operation Granger was going to be more difficult than he expected. She was way too complex to think he could lay her in just one day. No, she was going to need a fair amount of wooing… and he needed to get rid of the Weasel too. Fat chance, he thought. He sharply inhaled as he nudged his eye a little too hard.
"Oh, fuck you, Granger," he groaned and fell back in his bed. He realized that he had become obsessed, but it was too late now. There really was no turning back.