Days stretched to weeks. As they had predicted, both Hermione and Draco were incorrigibly stubborn. So Ginny and Blaise had let the issue drop... For the time being that is.

The snow was thawing on Hogwarts grounds and the surrounding mountains. But Draco and Hermione still maintained their ice cold distance, each pretending the other did not exist.

It was Quidditch season again in Hogwarts.

And the Head Boy and Head Girl were stretched to their limits, maintaining the sanity of the students as well as their own, with the players throwing up in the corridors, while their rivals continued throwing insults mixed with barely veiled threats, that left little to imagination.

Hermione woke up with a groan, although it was a weekend.

Slytherins were up against Ravenclaws, next weekend.

She would have a hard time keeping herself from deducting House points and meting out detentions.

But first, she needed her lavender bath to calm her nerves.

Draco woke up from his usual nightmare, his face beaded with sweat, Blaise standing above him with a worried frown.

"Nightmares?" He asked. Draco remained silent. He knew where the conversation was heading. It was the same conversation they'd had a million times.

"You know how to fix those don't you?"

Oh so this time, he wasn't even expecting my reply? Should I consider that as progress? He thought to himself, because that was the kind of stubborn git he was.
He'd have to come up with something new to get a response from me.

And Blaise did.

"You're a coward Draco. I never thought I'd say this but you are."

That's it Blaise baby. Now daddy is mad.

"DO NOT call me a coward!"

"What else am I supposed to call you Draco. You're just being a whiny wimp! You won't even confess how you feel to the girl who loves you!"

"She doesn't", He said bitterly, his voice cracking, "She doesn't love me."

"So you agree you feel for her? See?! That's why you're a whiny wimp!
You want to bet?"

"What?"

Is this a joke?

"I said do you want to make a bet?"

Draco remained silent.

"What happened? Scared you're wrong? Scared you'll lose?" Blaise continued to provoke him, when Draco didn't reply.

"Fine. What are the terms?" Draco finally gave in to his anger.

"If Hermione loves you and confesses to you, I win, and you have to confess to her. If she doesn't, you win. 50 galleons."

"Time period?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Draco snorted. "You seem to be on a losing spree, Zabini. You're on."

"You'll see". Zabini muttered.

What the hell does he keep muttering to himself? And he calls ME whiny? Oh screw it! These nightmares will be the death of me. I feel like dying already. He groaned.

Hermione stepped out of the shower room to find Ginny waiting for her in her bedroom.

Oh no! It is that time of the week again. When she would be lectured to give Draco a chance.

"Ginny I'm really not in the mood.."

"I brought breakfast, she cut in. You're not in the mood for breakfast?"

"Dear Merlin! No, I'm famished."

"I thought so", Ginny's eyes glinted.

"You're the best Ginny. I just love you."

"Does that mean I can get you breakfast next weekend as well?" She asked innocently.

"Do you even have to ask?" Hermione replied, stuffing her mouth with the mushroom sandwich.

"It would be my pleasure", Ginny curtsied, with a triumphant smile bordering on her lips that Hermione was too busy eating, to notice.