A Woman's Game

Title: A Woman's Game

Author: Reetinkerbell

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Draco/Hermione

Summary: Pansy is bored and she gets Hermione to play a little game with her.

Author Notes: Bunches of thanks and love to Jaqui for listening to me, letting me bounce ideas off of her and for just being such an amazing and patient person.

Distribution: Link only please.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is the Queen.

Written: For Shannon in the Quiet Ones Secret Santa Exchange 2004.

Edited: March 2006.

A Woman's Game (1/1)


~*~

     "…for next class. That will be all," Professor Snape finished before he hurriedly exited the classroom, leaving the students to pack up their belongings and head off to their next classes.

     Hermione stood next to her workbench, slowly putting her books and quills into her bag. She wasn't in a hurry, as her Arithmancy class had been cancelled and she'd made plans to met the Head Boy in the Library. And he was always late, so Hermione figured she might as well take her time. Pansy stood beside her, stuffing her books and parchments carelessly into her bag. Hermione glanced over at Pansy and sighed when she noticed that while the other girl was already finished, she still hadn't left.

     Ever since the War ended, Dumbledore and the rest of the staff had done everything they could to make sure that students worked on their Inter-House relations. In class, the teachers always paired students from different houses up, and that day had been Hermione's turn to partner with Pansy. As bad luck would have it, that day Dean had been the one assigned to partner with Draco, and the two had used the workbench right in front of Pansy's and hers. The part where Hermione hadn't been able to stop sneaking glances at Draco the entire class, and Pansy had noticed, Hermione was sure was just fates way of letting her know that her life had been too uncomplicated up till then.

     Hermione ignored Pansy's looks as she put her last piece of parchment into her book-bag. Just then, someone passed her on their way to the door, and she automatically looked up as the person bumped into her arm. Although she tried, mindful of Pansy's eyes on her, when she noticed that it was Draco, she couldn't help but follow him with her eyes as he walked out the door and disappeared into the hallway.

     "Dream on Granger," Pansy suddenly hissed into her ear.

     Hermione frowned, turning to look at her. "I'm sorry?" she asked politely as she picked up her bag and heaved it onto her shoulder. The bag was heavy and she reminded herself not to forget to return some of her books while in the Library.

     "I said, 'Dream on Granger'," Pansy repeated as she followed Hermione out of the classroom. "You'll never get him, no matter how much time you spend drooling after him."

     "Speaking from your own experiences Parkinson?" Hermione asked innocently. Before Pansy had a chance to reply, she continued. "I don't want him." Pansy raised an eyebrow, looking at her with disbelief. "But if I did, what's to say I couldn't get him?" Hermione asked.

     Pansy smirked. "Well, you're a Muggleborn and a Gryffindor. Not to mention, you're the best friend of Harry Blood Potter as well. Even if we all fought on the same side in the war, doesn't mean that he likes any of you. And besides, why would he want that," she said, eyeing Hermione's robe clad form up and down with a very critical eye, "when he can have this?" she finished, stopping in her track once they reached the now empty hallway.

     "And by 'this', you mean you of course?" Hermione asked, doing her best not to let out the laugh that threatened to escape her at Pansy's words. She too stopped, and when she looked at Pansy, she found the other girl looking at her as if she had suddenly grown another head.

     "Why yes. Who else could I possibly mean?" Pansy asked, shocked that Hermione would even entertain the idea of Draco being with someone other than herself.

     This time, Hermione couldn't contain her laughter. It echoed through the hallway as she started to walk away, rolling her eyes at Pansy's stupidity. Before she had gotten far, Pansy caught up with her. She grabbed her arm and pulled Hermione to a stop, and forcing her to turn around to face the Slytherin.

     "Listen Granger," Pansy started, all humour gone from her voice and face. "The thing is, the War is over. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm happy it is, but the teachers would have our heads if we started to fight now." Hermione nodded, not sure where Pansy was going with it. "I'm bored. It's our last year here, and I figure we should live a little. I've been entertaining the idea of you and I playing a little game together."

     "What kind of game?" Hermione asked, her curiosity getting the better of her every instinct, despite the look in Pansy's eyes.

     "Well," Pansy hedged, "I know that you want Draco." Hermione rolled her eyes. "So I figured a good bet would be something involving him." Pansy smirked the way Flint had taught her back in second year. "The bet is simple."

     Against her better judgement, Hermione found herself intrigued. "What kind of a bet are we talking here?" she asked.

     "We'll each pick a guy for the other to... seduce," Pansy answered.

     Hermione looked at her, speechless. "What?"

     "It's simple really," Pansy said lightly, behaving as if she was talking about the weather, "we will both have until midnight tonight to seduce whomever the other person choose."

     "Let me guess, you'll pick Malfoy for me to shag?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.

     "Of course. That way, I can't lose." Pansy gave a short, humourlessly laugh.

     Hermione snorted but didn't comment on Pansy's statement. "What about you?"

     "Well, who I'm going to seduce and shag is up to you of course. As long as he's a student, and of age." Pansy looked thoughtful. "Now, if you fail and I don't, I win. If I fail and you don't, you win. If both of us succeed or fail, neither wins."

     "All right," Hermione agreed, the beginning of a plan forming in her head. She smirked. "You're on." The two shook hands briefly before they both turned to go. "Wait," Hermione called out to Pansy, remembering something. The other girl turned to look at her. "The guy you're going to.. do, is Justin Finch-Fletchley," Hermione said.

     Pansy looked at her, shock and horror written all over her small face. Hermione smirked at her before she turned and continued down the hallway in the opposite direction. "Good luck," she called over her shoulder.

~*~

     A few hours later, Hermione walked into the Library. She waved to Madam Pince as she walked past her, and the librarian gave a short nod in greeting before she turned back to her books, after having shoot some nearby students some dirty looks. It was Friday night and the Library was almost empty. The group of Ravenclaw's still there would be going back to their own common room soon, as their curfew was quickly approaching. As she, Draco, Pansy and Justin were all Prefects and in their final year, they were allowed to stay behind another hour after the Library officially closed, which made Hermione very happy. She'd die if Madam Pince or some younger student stumbled upon her and Draco engaging in some extracurricular activities.

     Under the disguise of making it easier for the other, Pansy had suggested that they bring the others 'guy', which Hermione had gladly agreed to. Pansy might not be the sharpest quill in the pack, but she was smart enough to realise that Hermione would find a way to lure Draco to the Library, but she might have a harder time to convince Justin to meet her.

     Thus, Pansy had asked Draco if he could help her with her Transfiguration homework due the next day, and Hermione had told Justin that she needed to talk to him about some Prefect patrol changes. As they weren't in the same house, he hadn't found it odd that she asked him to meet her in the Library, as that was where the two usually met up. She and Justin had gotten to know each other quite well during the summer following the War, when they both stayed behind at Hogwarts with some of the other older students. They'd worked together in the hospital wing and it hadn't taken long before the two started to confide in each other. Hermione knew of his deepest secret, just as he was the only one who knew about hers, and they often covered for the other when friends came looking. In addition, they often met in the Library to do homework together, having found in the other not only a good friend, but a study partner they worked well with.

     Hermione smiled when she saw Justin already sitting at 'their' table, going over the essay he'd written earlier that same day during their cancelled Arithmancy lesson. He looked up at her as he heard her approach and he gave her a smile, which she easily reciprocated as she sat down in front of him.

     "What did you want to talk about?" he asked, putting his essay back into his bag. "Actual Prefect business or..." he trailed off with a raised eyebrow and Hermione smiled.

     "Actual Prefects business," she replied. She took out a schedule from her bag, handing it to him. "I talked to Ron, and he agreed to change patrol duties with you. Because of his Quidditch schedule however, I had to move him and Hannah to Thursday instead."

     "All right. Sounds good. Tell Ron I appreciate it," Justin said.

     Hermione nodded, making a mental note to do just that when Pansy and Draco walked by. They continued down the aisle towards the back of the Library, and Hermione could hear the two of them the whole time, due to Draco's whining about having to help Pansy with her homework when he could be doing so many other, more important things. Hermione and Justin shared an amused look, doing their best not to laugh out loud.

     Madam Pince rang the little bell she'd recently started using, tired of always having to run around making sure all students knew the Library was closing. She always did her best to make sure that all non-prefect students were out of the Library before curfew, so that they would have time to return to their common room before it was too late and points would be taken away. She packed up her things as the group of Ravenclaw's left, and she gave another nod to Hermione and Justin as she passed their table on her quick walk through of the Library. It didn't take her long to eject the last few stragglers and soon the doors were closed, leaving the four prefects behind.

     Hermione smiled secretively while Justin picked up his bag, shifting through it to find his notes.

     "Hey, I'm just going to go get a book, but wait here, I'll be right back," Hermione said.

     Justin looked up momentarily at her, nodding, before he went back to search his bag. Hermione turned and walked over to the Potion section where she and Pansy had agreed to meet up, and found Pansy already there, waiting for her.

     "Nervous?" she asked.

     Hermione shook her head. "Why would I be?" she asked. Pansy simply smirked in return. "You're going first?"

     "Yes. I won't be long," Pansy said confidently.

     Hermione nodded and smiled at her as she turned and began walking towards Justin's table, fully expecting Hermione to follow her and hide behind a bookcase to make sure she went through with it.

     Hermione waited until Pansy had turned a corner before she too started to walk, but in the opposite direction. She found Draco sitting with his back turned towards her, his blond head bent over a book. She smirked and silently crept up behind him. Once she stood right behind him, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him from the back. Draco jumped in surprise, half turning his head in shock, only to find Hermione's face right next to his own.

     "Why hello handsome. Fancy meeting you here."

~*~

     Pansy silently grumbled to herself as she walked down the aisle towards the place where she'd last seen Granger, not too long ago. She was fuming on the inside, but her pride was too strong for her to let anyone see her distress. She couldn't believe that Justin Finch- Fletchley had turned her down. Her! She'd been his first, and he turned her down now? What was wrong with him?

     Her only comfort was knowing that there was no way Granger would succeed in seducing Draco. He'd always been such a virginal prude and if she didn't know any better, she'd think he was gay. She'd always found it odd that he turned her down, but at least now she could be sure that he wouldn't shag Granger, much less touch her.

     Pansy all but stomped around the corner where she full expected Granger to be, waiting for her to show up. The sneer that graced her face in preparation for the mocking Granger would most likely subject her to upon failing was replaced by a frown when she found the space empty. Pansy stopped short, looking around herself, trying to figure out where Granger had gone.

     That was when the first groan coming from the back of the Library reached her. Pansy's eyes widened in shock and she immediately started down the aisle towards the back, praying that the sound didn't mean what she deep inside knew it meant. She rounded a bookcase and found herself facing a sight she'd never wanted to see.

     Granger sat, straddling Draco on the same chair he'd been sitting in when she'd left him, a mere twenty minutes ago. Both of their shirts were unbuttoned and their naked chests pressed against each other as they kissed. Granger had her hands in Draco's hair, holding his head to her and preventing him from moving away, but he didn't seem to mind at all. Granger's shirt had ridden high up on her hips and Pansy could see Draco's hands, cupping her bottom, the fingers digging into her soft flesh, helping her hold the rhythm as Granger rode him slowly.

     Pansy wanted to scream, run away and hide under her bed. She wanted to wake up from her nightmare and run up to them and do something – anything – to stop them, but she was frozen. Their moans fell deaf on her ears as her blood swished through her head, but every once in a while, a loud gasp or groan would break through the haze that'd settled around her.

     Draco broke away from Granger's lips and started to kiss and lick his way down her neck instead, leaving a damp trail in his wake. Pansy felt herself get hot despite herself as she watched him start to suck on Granger's right breast – so similar to many of the fantasies she'd had involving herself and Draco – and she rubbed her thighs together in a vain attempt to dull the ache building inside of her.

     After the initial shock of seeing the two of them together, like that, started to wear off, all the smaller noises – the sighs, moans, whimpers and groans – that had previously escaped her, started to registered in her head. Pansy felt as if she'd stumbled into her worst nightmare, and she wished it would stop. She started to back away, closing her eyes on the image of the boy she'd loved for years, and the girl she'd hated just as long, shagging on a chair.

     She bumped into a bookcase, and her eyes flew open at the sound. She looked up at Granger and Draco, and found that Granger had heard the sound. Their eyes met, and Granger smirked at her for a moment before she fisted a hand in Draco's hair. Pulling his head up towards hers, she captured his lips in a passionate kiss, her brown eyes still locked with Pansy's.

~*~

     Draco sat on his own in the Library, waiting for Pansy to come back from where ever she'd gone off to. Out of the kindness of his heart, he'd agreed to help her do her Transfiguration homework, but as soon as Madam Pince had left, she'd stood up from the table and left as well, telling him that she was just going to get a book. Draco sighed, deciding that he might as well recheck his Potions essay while she was away, not knowing how long she might be gone for.

     He shrugged out of his black robe and left it hanging on the back of his chair before he picked up his bag. He extracted his Potions essay from it, along with a quill and a bottle of ink, and set to work.

     Only a few minutes later, he felt distinctive female arms wrap around him from the back. He jumped in surprise and turned his head to tell Pansy off, only to find Hermione's smiling face right next to his.

     "Why hello handsome," she whispered. "Fancy meeting you here."

     Draco smirked. Forgetting all about Pansy and homework, he leaned back in his chair and twisted his head further around, easily meeting her lips in a sweet and languid kiss. Draco hummed in contentment when they broke away for air and Hermione moved around his chair. She sat down on his lap, straddling him.

     "To what do I owe this pleasure?" Draco asked, wrapping his arms around Hermione's slim waist, pulling her closer to him. He leaned his forehead against her collarbone, breathing in her sent.

     Hermione wrapped her arms back around his neck and shoulders, resting her cheek on the top of his head. "Homework," she replied.

     Draco nodded in understanding, knowing how often Hermione stayed behind in the Library to do homework or extra credit assignments. For a few moments, they sat, just holding each other in silence, happy to just be close to each other. As always when he was around Hermione, Draco felt himself harden. He knew that Hermione could feel it through their clothing and when she leaned back to look at him, he smirked up at her, not embarrassed in the slightest of his reaction to her.

     Their eyes met and Hermione moved forward, grinding her hips down against his with a knowing smile, making him grow harder. Draco groaned loudly and Hermione quickly leaned forward and captured his lips with hers, silencing him. As they kissed, Draco ran his hands down Hermione's sides and up under her skirt, sliding over her hot and silky thighs. He cupped her bottom in his hands and pressed her harder against him. Hermione broke away from the kiss as she let out a moan. Draco smiled against her lips, loving the fact that he could make Hermione Granger, Hogwarts Head Girl and, as Pansy called her when she was being extra snippy about something, their resident 'Perfect Gryffindor Princess', moan with just a few of his touches.

     He removed one of his hands from her bum, leaving the skirt bunched up around her thighs so he could ogle her nicely shaped legs and bottom if he so desired. He began to pull her shirt out from her skirt, wanting to touch her naked skin everywhere. Hermione gave him a one handed help, before she wrapped her arm back around his neck. While Hermione played with the hair at the nape of his neck, Draco slid a hand up underneath her shirt. As he moved up towards her round breasts, he left a hot trail on Hermione's skin, giving her goosebumps. Hermione gasped as he finally cupped one of her lace covered breasts and she sucked in a breath as he began to tease the already erect nipple through the silky fabric.

     Hermione was putty in his arms as Draco let his hands play over her body and when he began to unbutton her shirt, she was rocking against him, the hot junction of her thighs causing delicious friction through their clothes. When she noticed what he was doing, she growled in impatience and in a single movement, she grabbed a hold of Draco's pristine white shirt and ripped it open, sending the buttons flying in her haste. Draco chuckled at her actions, and when she looked down at him expectantly, hoping he'd do the same to her shirt rather than being teasingly slow, he smirked.

     "No need to rush luv," he said, his voice low and intimate. "We have all night, don't we?"

     "We do, but that's no reason for you to tease me," Hermione replied, the tip of her fingers running up and down Draco's chest and abdomen with a feather like touch, sending shivers of pleasure down his spine. She followed the same trail on his skin with the palm of her hands, soothing away the tingles caused by her fingers.

     Once all her buttons had been unbuttoned, Draco slid the sides down her shoulders, proud he hadn't given in and tore them off like Hermione had. He took the straps of her bra down with it, and with Hermione's help, the shirt was soon down by her elbows. They left it there, neither caring once it was out of the way as their lips met halfway. Hermione loved kissing Draco, the feel of his soft lips sliding over hers, his nibbling teeth and arousing tongue. She could kiss him for hours.

     Their tongues mated with each other as Draco undid the clasp of Hermione's bra, letting her breasts spill free and into his welcoming hands. He cupped them and when he rolled the hard nipples between two fingers, Hermione broke away from their kiss with a gasp. Draco kissed his way down her body, coming to a stop at her breast. After kissing and nipping at the round globes, he sucked a nipple into his mouth. While rolling his tongue over the hard bud, he gently massaged the other breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers, mimicking the movement of his tongue. After a few moments, he switched breasts, while Hermione groaned and gasped in pleasure, rubbing herself against his lean form.

     When she couldn't take his teasing any longer, Hermione grabbed a fistful of Draco's blond hair and pulled his head up to meet her lips in a deep kiss to prevent the desperate cry of his name from leaving her mouth. Draco enthusiastically kissed her back, sliding his hands down over her stomach and around her hipbones, holding her to him. Hermione had resumed her previous caressing of Draco's chest, but as he deepened the kiss, the hands stilled.

     When they broke away for air, Hermione looked down at Draco, a sappy smile playing on her lips. Her skin was flushed, her chest rose and fell with her breathing and her eyes were hazy with desire. Draco had never seen anything as beautiful as her right then, and he made a silent promise to himself that he would do everything he could in order to keep the look on her face there permanently. They were both breathing heavily, drawing mouthfuls of air into their lungs. Draco leaned forward and kissed Hermione's collarbone, sneaking his hand back in underneath her skirt.

     He caressed her thigh for a moment, marvelling at the soft skin, before he slipped his fingers in underneath the lace of her knickers. He wasn't surprised to find her already wet and as he slid first one then two fingers into her heat, he leaned back in his chair so that he was able to watch the various expressions of pleasure adorning her face. She was tight and slick and he couldn't wait to be buried deep inside of her. Hermione's whimpers and moans went straight to his groin and his already hard cock and as if she was reading his mind, Hermione sneaked a hand down between them and started to unzip his trousers, just as he slowly slid a third finger into her, her underwear now completely moved to the side.

     Draco groaned in relief as his erection sprung free, and he hissed in a breath as Hermione wrapped a warm hand around his aching cock, lightly stroking him up and down, gradually applying more pressure, just the way he liked it. He threw his head back, his fingers stilling inside of her as he was swept away by the pleasure her hand was bringing him. Hermione stopped moving her hand in protest, and Draco looked up at her, a dazed look on his face. Hermione clenched around his fingers and shifted forward, sending his fingers deeper into her while her grip on his cock loosened, until she was touching him with a light, teasing touch.

     Draco groaned, his fingers slipping out of her wet heat. With the help of his other hand, he started to pull down Hermione's underwear, wanting to be inside of her for real. His hands were shaking slightly and Hermione, as if seeing his predicament, lifted herself up from his lap, helping him. When he couldn't pull them further down, he glanced at the garment in question. He smirked when he noticed the colour - green, his favourite - and when he noticed the small bows tied at the sides of her knickers, his smirk widened. It turned into a grin as the strings came undone and he wasted no time in removing the offending garment in question completely.

     Hermione smiled at him, stroking his cock harder. Draco groaned before grabbing her wrist, knowing that if she didn't stop, he wouldn't last much longer.

     "Something wrong?" Hermione asked, frowning down at him, confused at his actions.

     Draco smiled at her reassuringly in reply and when he pulled her hips towards him, the smile was once again back on her face. Draco took a hold of his cock and after positioning himself at Hermione's entrance, he thrust up into her, cursing at the feel of her surrounding him. He fit perfectly inside of her and he took a moment to compose himself, least it ended too soon for his part.

     For once, Hermione didn't seem to be aware of his predicament, and raised herself up with the help of her feet. With her hands firmly planted on his shoulders for support, she started to move in his lap, clenching and unclenching her inner muscles as she went. Draco groaned, his hold on her hips tightening as he helped her find the right rhythm.

     He had never felt anything as good as her right then, and he never wanted it to end. Draco gasped as Hermione leaned down and began to nibble at his neck, moving up to kiss the sensitive skin behind his ear. As Hermione squeezed her inner walls around him, he shivered in pleasure and gripped her bum, urging her to go faster, harder.

     "Merlin luv," he gasped as Hermione threw her head back, groaning and gasping his name in return.

     Draco took advantage of her exposed neck and began to kiss and lick his way up and down her soft, sweet smelling skin. The skin there was even softer than that of her thighs and when Hermione ground her hips against him, he took a deep breath, breathing in her vanilla scent.

     Hermione removed her hands from his shoulders, not needing the support any longer as her movements slowed down. Both of her hands slid into his hair and as she sucked in a breath as Draco's cock hit all the right spots within her. Draco slid a hand up her body, cradling the back of her head softly before he pulled it down towards his. They met in a passionate kiss, muting the sounds of their louder and louder gasps and moans. Once he had her head where he wanted it, Draco moved his hand back down her body, sliding it over her chest, brushing over an erect nipple in the process.

     Their kiss deepened and Hermione held Draco's head to hers, loving the feel of him moving inside of her, his arms around her and his tongue in her mouth, sliding against hers. Suddenly, Draco broke away from her lips, and Hermione sucked in a breath as he started to kiss and lick his way down her neck again. He blew softly on the wet trail his tongue had left on her skin and Hermione shivered in pleasure, her hips starting to rock slower against his. Draco cupped her bum with both of his hands, urging her to go faster as he caressed the round globes, all the while his lips trailed down from her neck and down to her chest. Hermione arched her back and Draco continued his decent down until he reached her breast, where he sucked the first nipple he found into his mouth.

     Hermione's back arched further, and she threw her head back and rearranged her legs, for better and easier access. She moaned in pleasure as the angle of the thrusts changed, hitting just the right spot within her. Just then, she heard a faint sound off to the side, and her eyes snapped open. To her surprise, she found Pansy, standing only a few feet away, her eyes open in shock. Hermione had completely forgotten about Pansy and Justin in the heat of the moment, but now she quickly composed herself. She smirked at the other girl, pulling Draco's head back up to meet her lips, keeping her eyes on Pansy the whole time. She'd been close already, and the knowledge that Pansy was there, and saw them, was pushing her further towards the edge.

     Draco, oblivious to Pansy's presence just behind him, sighed into the kiss, stilling Hermione's slowly rocking hips. He didn't want it to be over too soon either, but enough was enough and it was time he took control. Hermione broke away from their kiss, looking down at him in confusion and disappointment. She'd been so close, and she was just about to give Draco a piece of her mind, when he, with a smirk up at her, secured his hold around her hips and in one smooth movement, stood from the chair and placed her on the table, never once leaving her heat.

     Hermione smiled, then groaned and closed her eyes as Draco started to thrust into her. He slid his hands down to the back of her knees and slowly lifted them up and over his shoulders. Hermione gasped, her eyes flying open at the new angle, which enabled Draco to push even deeper into her. She leaned back against the table, her hands gripping the edges as her mind went blank and all she could think, feel and remember was him and the feeling of him inside of her.

     She came first, with a loud cry of Draco's name as fireworks exploded behind her closed eyelids. Draco came only moments later, not being able to hold out for much longer, grunting Hermione's name over and over as they came down from their high.

     "I love you," Draco whispered, letting Hermione's legs down from around his shoulders as he slipped out of her with a groan of loss. He helped her sit up and wrapped his arms around her, burying his head in her hair.

     "I love you too," Hermione replied with a smile into his neck.

     "So, not that I mind, but what brought this on? I thought you said you didn't want to shag in the library any more," Draco asked.

     Hermione grinned. "Let's just say that I was given an offer I couldn't refuse," she joked.

     Draco frowned at her, not understanding the Muggle pop culture reference. After a quick kiss, he pulled stepped away from her. He zipped up his pants and after retrieving his wand from his cloak, he cast a few choice cleaning and repairing spells on them and their clothes, most of which he'd learned to master during the year they'd been together. Once they were impeccably dressed once more and didn't look as if they'd just shagged, Draco packed up his bag.

     "Oh Merlin," Draco breathed, just as they were about to leave. "I forgot about Pansy."

     Hermione tried to hide her smug and proud smile, but realised it was fruitless and she let it all out, smiling widely up at Draco.

     "I wouldn't worry about her all that much darling," she said.

     Draco frowned at her, but when Hermione took his hand and began to drag him out of the library, not saying another word on the subject, Draco shrugged and followed her out, squeezing her hand.

     Life was good.

~*~

     The next day, as Hermione and Harry were walking down towards the Great Hall together for some much needed lunch, Hermione found Justin waiting for her. She smiled at him, and after sending a starving Harry in to eat with Ron and Ginny, she walked up to him.

     "You'll never believe what happened to me last night," Justin said as soon as Hermione came within hearing range.

     Hermione shoot him an innocent smile, shaking her head, pretending that she didn't know what he was referring too.

     "After you left to get that book," he started, "Pansy of all people came up to me and started to..." he visibly gulped, "come on to me."

     Hermione couldn't help but laugh loudly at the horrified look on Justin's face, and he mock glared at her.

     "Don't laugh. It was very traumatic," he said, before he too dissolved in laughter.

     Hermione gasped for air, imagining the look on Pansy's face when Justin turned her down. "I'm sorry," she said as they both calmed down, both ignoring the odd looks thrown at them from passing by students.

     "For what?" Justin asked, leaning against the wall.

     Hermione leaned against the wall next to him, watching his face carefully as she told him about the bet she and Pansy had made the day before, and what had been going on the previous evening in the library. When she finished, instead of being mad - like she'd secretly feared - Justin found it all rather humorous.

     "Let me get this straight," he started, a big grin on his face, "not only did she get turned down by me, watch you shag the guy she's been after for years, but now she has to wear something Gryffindor coloured everyday for the rest of the school year?" At Hermione's nod, he smiled. "I knew there was a reason why I loved you so much."

     Hermione's stomach choose that moment to make itself known, and after a quick laugh at it's expense, the two walked into the Great Hall together.

~*~

     It didn't take long for Pansy to find Granger. After lunch, she'd gone to the library, figuring that'd be the best place to start looking. She found her at the back of the library, sitting in the same chair she and Draco had been doing that the night before. Pansy was in no way a virgin, nor had she been one for quite a while, but she just couldn't get herself to even think about Draco shagging the Mudblood. Obviously, Granger had used something on him, because he would never do that with her otherwise.

     And they say denial is just a river in Egypt.

     Pansy slammed her book bag down on the table in front of Hermione, making the other girl look up in shock. When she saw who it was, she smirked.

     "What I want to know is, what kind of potion or spell did you use on him?" Pansy growled out.

     Hermione frowned. "I didn't use a potion or a spell," she replied honestly.

     "You expect me to believe that you, in one night, were able to do something all other girls at Hogwarts have failed?" Pansy asked in disbelief.

     Hermione smirked. "Of course not," she answered.

     Pansy breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

     "Draco and I have been together for over a year now," Hermione continued.

     Pansy stared at her in shock. "A year?"

     Hermione nodded. "A year."

     "But..." Pansy started, struggling for something intelligent to say. "What? What? How?"

     "When I was injured in the fight against Crabbe and Goyle Sr." Hermione replied. "Do you remember that fight?"

     Pansy nodded wordlessly. The panic she'd witnessed on Draco's face when Granger went down made much more sense now. At the time, she hadn't connected Granger's injuries with Draco's distress, as there had been a lot of injuries and deaths that day. She cursed herself for being so blind to the truth. Of course, even if she had connected it, she knew she wouldn't have believed it. She would've done all she could to explain it away, until she saw them together with her own two eyes.

     Which she had the night before.

     "Right," she said, her tone flat. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed it before. Draco had been distant and his short temper had been worse than ever during the first few days after that fight. Looking back, she realised that his mood had only improved once Granger had woken up from the magic infused coma she'd been in. "I'm just going to go now," she continued.

     Hermione nodded without a word, watching the play of emotions on the other girl's face.

     Pansy turned to leave, but before she rounded the bookcase, hiding them from view, she turned back around. "Why did you pick Justin?" she asked.

     Hermione looked guiltily down at the tabletop. What had seemed like a great idea at the time, now just felt mean. And Hermione wasn't mean. She wanted to lie and say that she knew Justin well enough to know he needed to get laid, but decided to be honest. She was a Gryffindor after all. And a very bad liar. "I picked him 'cause I know you wouldn't succeed."

     "I've shagged him before," Pansy said.

     Hermione nodded. "I know, you were his first. But it's different now," she replied.

     Pansy frowned. "How so?"

     "He finally admitted to himself that he's gay."

~*~

     "I feel so bad," Hermione said a few hours later to Draco. The two were lying on a blanket in one of the Slytherin top boxes on the Quidditch Pitch, just holding each other.

     "About what luv?" Draco asked, brushing a kiss against her temple. One of his hands stroked her soft, unruly hair absent mindedly as he gazed up at the stars, something he would never admit to doing. His other arm lay folded beneath his head, playing the part of a pillow for the evening.

     Hermione was lying with her head on his chest, one of her arms thrown over and around him as she too gazed at the stars. "You remember yesterday?" she asked.

     Draco nodded, grinning. How could he forget?

     "There's more to it," Hermione warned, before she began to tell him about Pansy and the part she'd played in their library encounter.

     Draco listened carefully, not saying a word as he let Hermione unburden herself. When she finished, he turned them over to lie their sides, facing each other. "You have nothing to feel bad about," he said. "I know it's in your nature, but luv, Pansy was the one who came up with the bet. And she did say that you could pick whomever you wanted. And don't forget that she picked me, whom she really thought you'd have no change in hell with," he continued.

     Hermione smiled sweetly up at him. "How do you do that?"

     Draco frowned. "Do what?"

     "Know exactly what to say to make me feel better?" she answered.

     Draco smiled. He leaned forward and captured her lips. After a few moments of soft kisses, he pulled away. "Why did you pick Justin anyway? That wasn't very Gryffindor of you," he said, grinning.

     Hermione smirked. "What can I say?" she asked with an air of complete innocence. "It must be the Slytherin in me."

     Hermione's shrieks of laughter could be heard as Draco rolled on top of her and started to tickle her. She retaliated, and for a while, all that could be heard from the Slytherin box was laughter.


  The End.

~*~



Secret Santa Request: Shannon

Pairing of the fic you want: D/Hr, B/Hr, or D/Hr/B

Rating(s) of the fic you want: G-NC-17

3 - 5 Things you want your gift to include:

1. Fluff

2. Some kind of game

3. Happy ending

What you don’t want your gift to include:

1. Nothing dark or angsty