Dear Diary,

Apparently men cannot seem to keep their mouths shut. Not that I can say much for women either, but one never expects men to be so open with one another. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. One day, I was innocently making my way to the Department of Mysteries library during my lunch break. As per usual, I was preoccupied with my own thoughts and didn't notice that I was no longer alone in the lift. During the long ride from the first to the ninth floor, Draco Malfoy managed to squeeze his way in. He supposedly showed an aptitude for international relations and had established himself well in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. He was even the Seeker for the department's recreational Quidditch team. Unsurprisingly, he was always trying to pick fights with Harry on the mornings before a match. Typical Slytherin.

But I digress. On this particular occasion, Malfoy made it apparent childhood rivalries were not limited to the Quidditch pitch. He took it upon himself to make sly comments in reference to my hot and wild one night stand with Theo. I should have expected it, but I had been under the incorrect impression that Malfoy had matured over the years while working with a variety of characters in his department.

"Sending any interesting owls lately, Granger?" Malfoy snidely asked. Of course, I wouldn't give him the pleasure of a response, so I remained silent. "Maybe that's too intimate. I bet you follow in the Weasel's footsteps and send color-coded interdepartmental memos. It would only be one floor away."

As if I needed another reminder of Ron's latest arrangement with Lavender. Not that I really cared, but it is a somewhat like a jab to the stomach hearing about your former significant other's kinky, late-night office rendezvouses from literally everyone in the Ministry. If they were going to sneak around at work, couldn't they improve upon their so-called "sneaking" skills?

"Interesting suggestion," I said, looking him directly in the eye. "I'm sure you would know all about it."

"Ha!" he exclaimed. "As if the honourable Hermione Granger would ever do such a thing."

"Oh, bite me."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"You're all talk and no bite, Malfoy."

"You're right. I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole. I'm way out of your league," he sniffed, pretending to pick a piece of lint off his robes.

"Quite the ego you've got there."

"With a little experience, I'm sure you could come up to snuff. I hear you're a fast learner."

With a huff, I exited the lift earlier than planned. There was something about the leer on his face and his dark chuckling that irked me enough to force my retreat. Nothing was more irritating than a man feeling superior to a woman for no good reason. Seriously? The nerve! It makes my blood boil.

In the following weeks, I took every opportunity to go out with the girls. Malfoy's taunt played over and over in the back of my head, challenging me. Godric knows why, but I wanted to prove him wrong. After breaking up with Ron, I didn't want another man to get under my skin like that again, but I couldn't help myself. My competitive side wanted to play this game. And if I was going to play, I was playing to win.

I managed to add Ernie and Remy to my tally, and even saw Theo a couple of times. The last time I saw Theo, he casually remarked that I've "been busy." At the time, I had assumed he meant with work since Kingsley has me reviewing new pieces of legislature that he wants approved before the beginning of the next calendar year. It was only a few days ago when I realized he was referring to my late night activities. I had gone to the second floor for a consultation on Magical Law and saw Ernie, Remy, Theo, and Harry walking down the hall in matching uniform. At that moment, my mind imploded. For fuck's sake, how had I never noticed that they all work together?!