Stupid Cupid

STUPID CUPID

(Prequel to "Not Just a Game")

P R E F A C E

Hey there. My name is Cupid. Or maybe it's Eros, it all depends on if you're Greek or Roman. Anyway, you know that conniving little loser you dated a while ago? Yeah, that was totally not your fault. I don't know what I was thinking, but don't worry, it won't happen again.

You see, mum's had a talk with me (thanks to you). She said I don't do enough for you people. I don't spread enough love. Today, all the headlines carry things like "TSUNAMI WREAKS HAVOC" (like I had anything to do with that!) or things like "WAR IN IRAQ DEVASTATES" (oh common, am I supposed to get Bush and Bin Laden to make out?!), and I'll go as far to say that I recently read "JACKSON MOLESTS AGAIN!" I don't know where I went wrong with that dude, but here's my sincerest apologies to the world.

Anyway, you're thinking, why is this cute little messenger of Love being so bitter? Well, here's your answer. I'm not appreciated! Everyone expects me to cure their aching heart, well guess what? I DON'T HAVE THE TIME!

So in order to make time...I've come up with a new plan...a plan that is infallible: I will make opposites attract (no opposites = no war). And I'm not just talking about those opposites that have no idea who each other are, but I'm talking about the opposites that really want to get nasty with each other (hey, get your mind out of the gutter, now!).

But so many people are like that, aren't they? So where do I start? I decided to start with those with the most power, so sorry all you Muggles, but I had to cure the Wizards first (my reasoning - they say one word and someone's dead; while you Muggles have to load a gun or sharpen a knife...can I say PATHETIC).

So this here is the story of how my plan carried out. If you're easily discouraged by heartbreak and tend to cry at every chick flick you've gone to see, I suggest you don't read my story. I don't need mum coming up to me saying "Too many girls are crying because of your sad story."

So here's your promise to me now - You must promise NEVER to cry while you read my story (and I didn't put anything in here to cry about...so if you do cry...SHAME ON YOU), and you must never lose your faith in me (I know what I'm doing - or I wouldn't be so quick to publicize this...would I?).

First, you should know that the story is set at Hogwarts, the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during Hermione Granger's sixth year.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to the characters of my story.

First up is...(drum roll)

Hermione Granger

(lead actress, student of Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Muggle born, and in her 6^th year)

Next up, we have...(drum roll)

Draco Malfoy

(lead actor, student of Hogwarts, Slytherin, Pure blood, and in his 6^th year)

Then, how could we forget...

Ginny Weasley

(supporting actress, student of Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Pure blood, and in her 5^th year)

And our last main character...

Blaise Zabini

(supporting actor, student of Hogwarts, Slytherin, Pure blood, and in his 6^th year)

Other characters include:

Harry Potter

Ronald Weasley

And the other unimportant students and staff of Hogwarts

<3 * <3 * <3

<3 C H A P T E R 1 <3

Hermione and Draco are in the middle of the hallway in front of the library. There has obviously been a run in. Hermione's books are all scattered on the ground, and Draco is standing over her, refusing to help.

"Watch where you're going, Mudblood!" Draco scowled.

Hermione stacked her books into a neat pile and glared up at him. "You're the one that ran into me! But I guess having a big head doesn't exactly give you big eyes, does it?"

Draco clenched his teeth and gave her stack of books a hard kick, knocking them over again. Hermione shoots onto her feet and raises her arm. Draco recoils, but doesn't back away.

"Gonna hit me, are you? I guess that's the only way you can satisfy your desperate want for me," he said sarcastically.

Hermione growled and gave him a knuckle right in the nose. Draco staggered back with an agonized scream and teary eyes.

And that's where I came in, I decided that these two foes were worthy of my intervention. I mean, I hadn't watched them for more than five minutes and already they've created OC drama! So, I delivered arrow through both their hearts...and at once, they began to show signs of love...

"YOU BITCH!" hollered Draco furiously.

Or not.

He cupped his hand over his nose and glared at her angrily. She crossed her arms and scrunched up her face, showing no signs of regret. Draco stomped out of the hallway, looking ready to break down into tears while Hermione's face was brightened with a victorious grin. Now why didn't my arrow work on them? That puzzled even me, so I sat back and watched; watched what they turned out to be.

<3 * <3 * <3

The next day, Draco and Hermione were fortunate enough to have Care of Magical Creatures together. Surely, my powers of love will have influenced them by then...

In class, Hermione was working with a ferocious looking mammal alongside Harry and Ron; while Draco was off to a corner watching Crabbe and Goyle poke their creature with their wands.

"A'ight class. Yer go'n to have a battle now," announced Hagrid (the instructor). "Harry! Yer Clawer with Malfoy's!" Hagrid waddles off to Harry and whispers in his ear, "Yeh can do it, 'arry! Jus' remember what I told ya."

Harry looked sick, but nevertheless grabbed his Clawer by the chain and led him to the clearing Hagrid made up ahead. Malfoy did the same. Both looked more frightened by their Clawer than they did of each other. Once facing each other, they unleashed the beasts.

The Clawers (covered with six feet of spiky jet black fur and sharp claws at their feet) dug up the dirt beneath their paws and scowled menacingly at each other, baring both teeth and drool. Hagrid blew a whistle and sent the animals onto each other.

Harry immediately conjured a red firecracker, and it burst loudly in the air. His Crawler saw the sign and rolled on its back, letting Malfoy's Crawler dominate. Then, Harry emitted a green firecracker, signaling the Crawler to kick out its hind legs. Once he did so, Malfoy's Crawler went flying through the air and onto the blonde boy himself. The class heard a loud and unappealing crack as Malfoy fell to the leaf covered ground.

Hagrid hurriedly called the match off, and ran over to Malfoy. Hermione gasped and rushed over also.

"Is he going to be alright?" she asked, looking pale.

Hagrid grunted. "What a wimp! No broken bones, don't know what he's actin' all tortured 'bout. He'll be jus' fine. Can't be nothing but a little bruise."

Hermione looked down at Draco, who was whimpering softly and rubbing his undoubtedly bruised ribs. Harry came up beside her.

"Should we get him to Madame Pomfrey?" he asked, registering her concern.

"Why?" Ron laughed from behind, clearly amused by the situation. "I like him better now than I ever did before!"

Harry stifled a laugh. Hermione walked away. Crabbe and Goyle eventually found the brains to retrieve Malfoy. Hermione watched as Draco was carried away off to the castle. Harry watched her watch him.

"Hermione, are you okay?," he asked, taking her hand in his own.

She nodded her head, obviously distracted, and once again, walked away. Ron took her place by Harry.

"What do you think is up with her?" he asked with a crooked expression.

Harry shrugged and a shadow fell across his face. "That's what I'd like to know," he muttered darkly.

<3 * <3 * <3

Valentines was less than a week away. Harry and Hermione had been going steady for a whole semester now; they were the gossip of the school and newspapers. I remember when I decided to put them together; they seemed so perfect for each other back then. But what can I say? I change my mind a lot, you should know.

Hermione pretended to read in Harry's arms later that night. She kept skimming her eyes over the same sentence in her book til she had to have read it at least a thousand times over. But still, she had no idea what it said. Her mind was just blank, and off on a distant planet. She buried her head into Harry's chest and put her book down in resignation.

The hearth was dancing with flames, she wanted to be just like it - free. Uncaring, wild, and free. For the past five and a half years, everyone had known her to be the perfect student: smart, organized, serious, and a real bore. She wanted to change that, but how?

Harry stroked her hair softly, she looked up and gave him a kiss. He was caught by surprise but didn't mind. Ron groaned and left the room. Hermione smiled and kissed him again after Ron left. Harry shifted on the sofa so that she didn't have to crane her neck to kiss him; they continued for a good five minutes.

Then, Harry pulled back and laughed. "What's the special occasion?"

Hermione shrugged. "Do I need a reason to kiss my boyfriend?"

"No, but I usually need permission to kiss you!" Harry joked. Hermione poked him in the stomach and pretended to be upset. He laughed again and hugged her.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered softly. She held him tightly.

<3 * <3 * <3

Hermione was to meet Harry by the Whomping Willow on Valentine's. She suspected that he had something planned in the Shrieking Shack (and she was right). It was a fine day; it was a day everyone was able to love.

The sun was high in the air and shinning brightly, but it wasn't hot; there was a cool breeze every now and then, but it wasn't cold; everything was still, but festive at the same time; leaves glided onto the ground, but were at once swept away by the winds.

Hermione waited patiently for Harry to arrive, but someone else was to come first. She was just about to sit down and make herself comfortable when a gleaming blonde head caught her eye. It bobbed up and down as it came closer to her. She already knew who it was, but she still squinted her eyes in the sun to see him.

Draco looked drunk, or nauseous, she couldn't decide. He swayed as he walked, and he was hunched over with his arms hugging his stomach. Then, without warning, he collapsed. Hermione ran down the walkway toward him.

"You okay?" she called, standing a safe five feet away. Draco didn't reply, neither did he show signs of hearing her. She cautiously made her way closer to him. His face was a whole new level of pale, making him look ghostly against his smooth black robes. She bent down and gently shook him. "Malfoy?"

Still no response.

Hermione looked back at the Whomping Willow, Harry still wasn't there yet. Making a decisive choice, she pulled out her wand and cast a levitation spell on him. His heavy arms hung down as his body was risen into the air. And like that, they arrived at the infirmary.

Madame Pomfrey was quick to put him in a bed. She was worried, but did not seem surprised by his condition. She muttered something about potions and doses as she checked his vitals. Then, after an exhausted sigh she said, "He'll survive."

Hermione reluctantly asked, "What's wrong with him?"

The nurse eyed her suspiciously. "He can tell you if he wants." Then she closed the curtains around Draco's bed and went off to check on another student. Hermione watched Draco's chest rise and fall through the gap in the curtains. Occasionally, he would wince or twitch.

Looking around, Madame Pomfrey was busy and no one was watching her. She held her breath and slipped into Draco's confines. No one had noticed. She sat down somewhat uncomfortably. She continued to watch Draco.

An hour must have passed before he turned his head weakly. Hermione sat up straight in her chair and almost reached out to hold his hand. But she quickly stopped herself and placed them back in her lap.

"Are you okay...?" she asked. Draco stirred and opened his eyes. He didn't seem to know where he was for a second. Slowly, his head rolled over to look at her. Then, as if he was hit by a brick, he shot up on the bed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked angrily, now very aware of everything.

"I was the one who--"

"GET OUT!" he hollered loudly, making his voice crack. "Get out," he repeated in a hoarse whisper. Madame Pomfrey ran to them and flung open the curtains.

"Miss Granger! What are you still doing here?" she admonished.

Draco's heavy breathing forced him to lie back down. "Get out," he said again, even softer.

"You'd better go," the nurse said.

Hermione stood up, hurt. All she did was try to help him, and this is how he repaid her? She looked down hatefully at Draco, but he seemed to be unconscious again. The nurse escorted her out of the infirmary and shut the door behind her.

<3 * <3 * <3

"Where were you?" Harry asked, feeling a cold stab of jealousy. Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. She dragged her feet as she walked closer to him. "I asked, where were you?" Harry repeated.

"An emergency came up," she replied softly.

"What kind of an emergency?" he asked, still angry but showing some concern.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," she sighed. She looked pleadingly into his bright green eyes, and he softened.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she whispered. She gave him a peck on the cheek and went up to her room. Harry watched her go, as if that kiss was the last one he'd ever receive from her.

<3 * <3 * <3

Hermione was running late for double Potions the next day. She hastily stuffed everything on her desk into her bag and ran to the dungeons. She was halfway down the stairs when a drawling voice came from behind.

"Late for class, Mudblood?"

She spun around, and there he was, standing three steps higher than her with his arms crossed over his chest like he was the owner of Hogwarts. "Sod off, Malfoy," she spat. Draco frowned, and with one step, brought himself right up against her. He pushed her against the stair's rail and trapped her with an arm on each side. His hands clutched the rail tightly, not giving her a chance to run away.

"Who'd you tell about yesterday?" he asked threateningly.

"No one," she replied honestly. Draco didn't seem to believe her.

"I'll ask you again. Who'd you go mouthing off to about what happened yesterday?"

Hermione stared straight into his icy gray eyes and repeated, "I didn't tell anyone, Malfoy."

He blinked, breaking the eye contact. "I don't owe you anything, if that's what you're thinking."

She scoffed, wanting to slap him. "Unlike you, Malfoy, I help others because they need it, not because I want something in return."

Draco clenched his jaw. "I didn't need your help..." he scowled.

"Oh really? Then maybe I should have just left you there, unconscious on the ground, and if you're lucky, someone would have eventually found you."

"I don't need your pity either," he hissed.

"You're the most ungrateful person on this earth, you know that?" she said angrily.

"At least I'm not a goody little two shoes who goes around trying to save the world!"

"It's better than being a heartless and egotistical bastard!"

"Oh yeah?"

They were right up in each other's faces now. Hermione's eyelashes were less than a centimeter away from his. She could feel his labored breathing against her chest. His nose brushed hers every time he breathed out. She could see something in his eyes now...it was almost desperate. A desperate need to hold on.

"Malfoy..." she whispered sympathetically. He shook his head sadly, and kissed her. The stairs began to move, slowly, and it literally made her head spin. Draco kissed her over and over again, each time with more feeling. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

His kisses were nothing like his words; they were sweet and made her knees go weak. She felt his tongue on her lips, but then he opened his eyes and pulled away. The stairs locked itself into position.

"What'd you do to me?" he said angrily. Hermione stared at him. "I said what'd you do to me?!" he yelled. He pushed himself away from her. "This is...wrong," he whispered, grabbing his hair. "I hate you...everything about you...I despise everything you are...everything you do...I can't possibly...I hate you...I loathe you..." he ran down the stairs repeating the same words over and over again. Not once did he look back.

Hermione weakly slid down onto a step and buried her head in her arms. What am I doing? she asked herself. He's right. We're everything the opposite. I'm with Harry...But why do I want to be with him?

<3 * <3 * <3

Hermione found Harry standing outside her door later that night. He asked where she was during class, she told him she was tired and couldn't go. Then he grabbed her hand and ran down the stairs and out the portrait hole. Before she had a say, they were outside by the Great Lake. Then, he threw her hand back down to her side.

"I want the truth, Hermione!" he shouted. "Why doesn't anyone ever tell me the truth? It's always lies! Lies to protect me! Lies to comfort me! Well, I don't want anymore lies...please...just tell me the truth..."

Hermione's mouth dropped slightly. Her guilt was now eating her up piece by piece.

"She was with me," said a low voice from behind. Harry's desperate expression became an angry one. He turned around, not believing his ears.

"She was with me," Draco said again. "Today and yesterday, she was with me."

Harry looked back at Hermione, almost disgusted. "That can't be true..."

Hermione quickly looked away.

:"No...Even if there was someone else...it'd never be Malfoy..." Harry whispered. Hermione felt her chin hit her chest.

Draco took in a deep breath. "She was helping me--"

"I don't give a fuck Malfoy!" Harry fumed. "What were you doing to her?"

Draco scoffed. "Doing to her?"

Harry advanced on Draco and grabbed his collar, bringing their heads together. "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything, pothead," Draco scowled. He pushed Harry away, but he was quickly returned with a punch. Hermione yelped and ran over to them.

"Harry! Stop!" she demanded. Draco was still on the floor, even though he had only been hit once. Hermione was now standing between him and Harry, holding Harry's arm in midair. "You should go back inside," she told him. Harry's anger intensified.

"Why? So you can take care of him? Is that it?" he snarled.

"You hit him!" she scolded.

"Fine. If you want to be with him, fine. But stay the hell away from me...Mudblood."

Hermione gasped. Hearing Draco say that name to her was like normal, but hearing Harry say it made her feel cold inside. It was like he had run a metal blade straight through her heart.

Harry jerked his arm out of her hands and strutted back to the castle. Hermione fell onto the grass, dazed. Draco suddenly gasped for air and began shaking violently. He fumbled through his robes, looking for something.

"Potion!" he wheezed.

"What?" Hermione cried, emotionally unstable to handle the situation. She wiped her tears frantically.

"Find my potions!" he gasped. Hermione blinked like a lost little girl, and then snapped back to reality. At once, she began searching his pockets. It wasn't in his robes. She hesitated, but began taking off his outer coat. His shirt underneath was completely soaked through with sweat. Through the shirt, she could see three deep gashes across his chest and stomach.

His shaking had ceased, but now he looked like he was suffering from hypothermia. Hermione finally found a vial inside his pants pocket. She pulled off the cork and gently lifted his head off the ground. His hair was cold and wet, making it feel like she was holding crushed ice in her hand. He opened his mouth for her to pour the contents in.

Color slowly began to return to his face, and she could feel his body heat melt his hair. He looked up at her, and took a deep breath.

"Thanks. Thank-you Hermione," he whispered. She felt like crying again, and he passed out in her arms.

<3 * <3 * <3

Draco found himself half naked the next morning. He was in a place he'd never been, and yet it seemed so familiar. He sat up on the bed and rubbed the back of his head softly.

"Morning," Hermione greeted, watching him from the other side of the room. He looked up, then down at his body. His ears burned red, but he didn't say anything.

"I couldn't get myself to return to the castle last night," she said, walking over to him. "So I brought you here."

Draco looked up at her again. "Where's here?" he asked scratchily.

"The Shrieking Shack."

Draco rubbed his chest.

"I applied the medicine I found in your pockets," she said, pointing to his wounds.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"So how'd you get that?" she asked, not knowing if it was out of concern or curiosity.

Draco looked away. "Don't feel like telling you."

Hermione bit her tongue. She sighed and walked out the room. Draco closed his eyes and laid back down.

"Granger," he called. She came back in. "Come here."

"Don't feel like listening to you," she replied, holding her ground.

Draco opened an eye and glared at her. Then his face broke into a smile. Hermione almost said "awww" when he smiled at her. She'd never seen him smile before, not like this at least. It made her warm inside. She walked over to his side and kneeled on one knee.

He took her hand and placed it over his chest. She felt her fingers tremble at the touch of his skin. He kept his eyes locked on hers as he traced her hand across one of the gashes. She found it hard to maintain her eyes on his.

He smiled again and propped himself on an elbow. "You're the only one who knows about this, other than Madame Pomfrey."

Hermione blushed. "Do you want to tell me how you got it?"

Draco wetted his bottom lip and inhaled. "It's a long story," he sighed.

"I'm listening," she replied.

He suppressed a grin and pushed himself up to kiss her. She leaned into the kiss, letting him relax. He placed his hands on her hips, and surprising her, lifted her onto him. He was much stronger than he let on. They kept kissing, with her straddling him.

Draco brushed a strand of her hair out of her face. "I might use tongue," he whispered between a kiss.

Hermione smiled. "I might let you."

She felt his lips widen into a grin, then his tongue entered her mouth. He was a slow kisser, to her surprise; he took it slow, letting every moment bleed into the next...very perfectly. She never wanted him to stop kissing her.

"Ahh...wait...my belt," he winced. She pulled away and looked down. Indeed, her knee was pressed against his belt buckle.

"We can get rid of that," she grinned. Draco laughed, but stopped her before she took it off.

"I'm--" he broke off, embarrassed. Hermione knew what he wanted to say.

"Don't worry, me too."

He nodded his head and she took his belt off. She bent down and kissed his navel. He moaned softly as she trailed feather-light kisses up his body, running her hands across it at the same time. He was very fit, and his body was hard, in a soft way. She enjoyed running her hands across him.

When she finally reached his mouth again, she felt how much he wanted her when he kissed her. This kiss was not like the innocent ones they had given before; it was filled with desire. He began unbuttoning her shirt when they heard a loud crash downstairs.

Both of them started and looked at the door. Hermione got off of him and buttoned up her shirt. Draco found his clothes and did the same. He walked ahead of her down the hall. They heard someone moving around downstairs. Then they heard another crash, and then a frustrated scream.

Hermione recognized that scream. She at once grabbed Draco's collar from behind and dragged him back into the room.

"That's Harry!" she whispered loudly once they were safe inside the room.

"What's he doing here?" Draco asked frantically.

"I don't know. Maybe he's cleaning up..." she reasoned.

They heard another crash.

"No, I really don't think he's making the place sparkly clean," he replied. Hermione bit her lip. She knew why he was there, and she knew what was shattering on the ground right now.

"We have to get out of here," she said. "If he finds us, he'll be furious."

Draco nodded. "You'll have to lead then...I don't know the way out."

Hermione took his hand and they crept down the stairs. Harry was in the living room, doing exactly what she thought he was doing, shattering vases filled with roses.

They made it out safely. Draco whooped.

"That was great. We should do it more often."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"What? You didn't feel the adrenaline? The whole way out, I was scared shitless that Potter was right behind us with a butcher knife!"

Hermione laughed. "You're officially weird," she said.

"Whatever. Don't talk to me. We're back on Hogwarts grounds." His tone was on the edge of sarcasm and hate.

Hermione's face dropped with hurt. "What are you saying?"

Draco gave her a look. "Common, you can't expect us to actually be together..."

"Draco..."

Draco sighed. "Hermione. If anyone finds out...if my dad finds out..."

"Who cares? I know you like me..."

He dug his shoe into the muddy ground. "You don't understand..."

"What?! What don't I understand?" she asked angrily.

"A lot of things!" Draco shouted. "Why couldn't you just leave what we had at that?"

"What we had? So what? That was like a one time thing?"

"What'd you think was going to happen? You thought we were going to become a couple? Walk down the halls hand in hand? Be together?"

"I..." Hermione couldn't believe what she was hearing. After what happened in the Shack, how could he possibly be like this? So heartless?

"Listen, Granger. You and I can never be. I had fun in there, but that's all it was. Fun."

He gave her a nod and then walked away. Hermione watched him disappear. Not once did he look back.

<3 * <3 * <3

Later that night, she came up with a whole list of comebacks that she could have spat at him. She cursed herself for freezing. Her mind replayed the scene over and over again until all she could think about was what he had said.

She needed to get out of her room, put her mind to use, get her mind off of Draco. She ran down the steps but quickly skidded to a stop when she saw Harry standing by the portrait hole with his arms crossed.

"Harry..." she greeted hesitatingly.

"You forgot something," he said coldly.

Hermione had no idea what he was talking about. "What?"

He swung his arm in her direction and something came flying at her. She caught it, at once recognizing what it was. She looked up at him, shaking her head.

"Harry, it's not what you think..." she said immediately, running down the steps.

"Yeah, whatever," he sneered. He disappeared through the portrait. Hermione clenched her jaw to keep herself from crying again.

Her breathing quivered. She looked down at the thin, black leather belt that was clasped in her hands. She hated it. She hated herself. She returned to her room, and began to cry.