an overwhelming desire to win...

She stood just looking to the two of them a moment, her eyes welling up with tears as she viewed Pansy moving off of her provocative position on Snape and smirking to Hermione openly.


Hermione saw Snape falter, a loss for words for once, he looked rather dizzy to be honest. His eyes squinted, focussing on her and losing his breath. It was her. The object of his fantasy. His obsession.

\"Hermion" he" he uttered softly, not realizing he had just called her by her first name for the first time...to her face, he tried to stand and did so, rather shakily then.

Hermione didn\'t answer. She had broken off her date with Seamus moments before, explaining that she wasn\'t over her last.r...r...relationship. She had been coming up to talk to Pansy, she was coming to tell her that the bet was off. That she cared far too deeply for Professor Snape, and that all this bet nonsense was only proving to push him from her. She had come up to explain that she was falling so very fast for Professor Snape that it felt almost unreal. Total inhibition.

All that had shattered as she had burst into the room and saw Pansy Parkinson straddling Snape, her Snape and sticking that u dis disgusting tongue of hers down his throat...not that he hadn\'t been enjoying it.

She looked to his eyes, they didn\'t even seem to be his own. He was standing now, very wobbily and looking to her with utter uncertainty. What was he to do? He was her Professor after all, and Pansy Parkinson was not known for being discreet. The said bitch was sitting, arms crossed and smirking at the both of them. How typically Slytherin.

\"Hermione.\" he said again, blinking rapidly and staggering towards her. Hermione took a short glance and saw that Pansy had nothing telltale on her forehead...Snape had fallen for Pansy pure and simple.

This simple fact let all the tears that had been pricking her eyes start to seep out, and rather than have pity from Snape and become amusement for Pansy Hermione whirled around, pushing toorsoors open and rushing back to her chambers, tears almost blinding her.

Snape stood, his hands defeatedly at his side as he watched after Hermione\'s disappearing figure. Pansy stood and slunk over to him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she nuzzled the back of his neck. He felt her warm breath on the back of his neck..
.
* * *
\"Why not me?\" Hermione asked herself, sprawled out on her bed that night, the tears stained on her face and her eyes puffy from crying. She wished she could stop, but it was truly impossible.

Why did one person have to mean so much?

She punched her pillow once more, the pain inside of her never subsiding. She had been at it for a good hour now, refusing to answer her doors. Not that anyone came to them.
She felt the contract under her bedspring, and in a violent wrench she took the parchment and ripped it, again and again until the stupid little nuisance was in a million pieces, like snow in her room.

She threw herself back onto her pillow and sobbed loudly, trying not to wake anyone in the rooms next to her. A silencing charm didn\'t occur to her.

She imagined Pansy and Snape were shagging by now. Pansy would have managed to worm her way into his pants, easier than Hermione ever could have. He had practically gone frozen when she kissed him.

She shuddered at the humiliating memory.

But that look. That look he had given her as she interrupted them. He seemed almost…not himself. As if he’d been drugged. But no, the contract clearly stated that no lust potions were to be used. If she had used them, Pansy would be covered in ‘liar’ brands.

He had looked to her as if she meant something. And for one shining moment Hermione wanted to run to him. She wanted to kiss him and say that she loved him. She wanted to let herself go and feel him against her. His lips, his hair, his eyes, his voice….she wanted all of it.

But then...she had seen him, eyes closed as he kissed Pansy back, practically taking her right then and there on that stupid Slytherin couch of theirs. Gods she hated that house.
Suddenly there was a large knock on her door and Hermione\'s heart jumped. She didn\'t want to admit it...Perhaps...maybe...just maybe it was-

She ran to the door, smoothing her hair and wiping the tears from her cheeks as she opened her door and- came face to face with a smug looking Pansy Parkinson.
\"Hey Granger.\" she said viciously cheery, \"Mind if I come in?\"

\"Actua-\"

\"Great.\" Pansy insisted, shoving Hermione out of her way and placing herself lazily on Hermione\'s bed. She surveyed the clean room and rolled her eyes, \"I shoulda figured you\'d have your place set up like this.\"

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, \"I\'m sorry Pansy, but what are you doing here, exactly?\"

\"Oh, I\'ve just come to tell you that I\'ve won the bet.\"

Hermione\'s eyes widened, she wondered if Pansy was telling the truth. She didn\'t have the contract to refer to. She berated herself for ripping it up...although why should she disbelieve her? She had seen Snape groping her in the common room...that was more than enough proof.

\"You have?\"

\"Indeed I have.\"

Hermione nodded, refusing to cry in front of Pansy Parkinson of all people. Pansy was searching Hermione\'s face, looking for anything.

\"Oh don\'t cry Mudblood.\" she said soothingly, \"You were up against a Slytherin after all. We\'re known for our craftiness.\"

Hermione nodded, \"I suppose you are.\"

Pansy sighed, torturing wasn\'t half the fun unless the victim cared enough to get riled up. Stupid bloody Gryffindor. She knew Hermione cared for Snape, that had become quite evident. Bursting into tears and running from the room seemed to be more than enough evidence.

\"He said that he loved me.\" Pansy said grinning, \"Isn\'t that marvelous?\"

Hermione was tight lipped. \"Yes. I\'m very happy for both of you.\"

Pansy smirked more openly, \"He was so different. You know? He seemed so happy. And God, what an amazing kisser...not to mention well...you know. I don\'t like to kiss and tell.\"
Hermione was looking to the floor only, refusing to meet Pansy\'s twinkling eyes. She almost wanted to laugh. This was all too easy. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.

\"Where\'s the contract, Granger?\"

\"I ripped it up.\"

Pansy smirked, \"Hmmmm...I guessed as much. Not that good a sport are you?\" she chuckled lightly.

Hermione shrugged, biting her lower lip now. Pansy stood stretching, \"Well, I\'d better be going.\" she said moving towards the door, then turning a bit to face the heartbroken Gryffindor.

\"Oh and Hermione, he did say one thing you might find interesting.\" she stopped at the doorway, \"You know, might explain why you lost.\"

Hermione looked to Pansy warily, her curiosity getting the better of her. She gave Pansy an imploring look as Pansy answered.

\"He said he wouldn\'t be caught dead with a Mudblood, especially not a Gryffindor one.\"

Hermione felt her heart sink, her eyes growing glassy as Pansy, feeling rather accomplished closed the door behind her and set off for her room.

Hermione felt the emotions overcome her and she felt the dire need to throw up. She felt her stomach turn over and over, her throat burning. Damn him. Damn him and his looks of lust, damn him and that voice, and damn him and those misleading lips. Damn everything about him.

She shook her head resolutely, she didn\'t need this. She waved the wand over her head and snapped her fingers. She found herself in a familiar room that smelled of reassuring perfume and cookies. Hermione Granger needed the one thing any heartbroken young girl needed.

Her Mum.