Delusion

Delusion Chapter 4

Hermione walked away from him, feeling a little baffled. What she had just done was so rash, oh so very rash, especially for someone like her. She had always taken time to explore the situation, to really know what she was getting into. And here--when Malfoy of all people had come up to her with a very rash and very precarious looking situation--she had agreed instantly. Why had she done that? She wasn't a bloody idiot, obviously something must've compelled her to do such a stupid, rash thing, working with Malfoy indeed!

By the time she reached her dorm, Hermione had second guessed all of her moves and had already made a decision that she was never going to help Malfoy. After all, she trusted Harry. He wasn't stupid enough to...Hermione couldn't even bring herself to say the words in her head. Disgusting! And sadly, Malfoy had been dead serious about the whole thing. Dead serious. Oh, was she screwed, or was she screwed. She hadn't a clue as to what to do; should she listen to Malfoy and 'break them up' as he so kindly put it, or should she trust Harry's judgement?

Wearily Hermione entered her common room, her thoughts exhausting her before she'd even gotten to any homework. She found Harry there, sitting on the couch with a bit of a stupid grin on his face.

"Harry?" Hermione asked, a little unsure.

"Oh, hello, Hermione..." he said dreamily. "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"Oh, stuff, you know...when Voldemort's coming back, how I'm going to die most likely..."

"Harry, stop. It's not funny," she said, feeling a little irritated. "I know that's not what's on your mind. What's up?"

He sighed and got up. "You might as well go ask Ron."

"Why? Harry, you better tell me," Hermione said abruptly, her bossy side taking over.

He groaned and sat back down. "Look, it's more of that feelings crap you helped me with back in fifth year."

Hermione wanted to giggle, but the feel of laughter was quickly replaced when she remembered whom, according to Malfoy, Harry had been snogging just last night. "Okay. Tell me."

"You won't laugh...or worse, gag?"

Hermione sighed. "No, I won't."

"Well...Merlin, Mione, I thought I hated Pansy."

"I thought you did too," she said, softly.

"But I don't know," Harry was saying. "Last night, she came onto me when we were working on that potion. At first I was like, God, get away from me, but honestly...it felt...nice afterwards. It wasn't that bad, and I was thinking, you know maybe she's changed, maybe..." He trailed off, looking up at her.

Hermione, however, was barely listening. It was all true then, this little spat between Malfoy and herself. Harry was smitten with someone who would only play him, it was only a bet, and yet--she didn't want to hurt Harry by telling him it was only a bet. No, she would, of all the horrible things to do, have to work with Malfoy and screw this relationship. In spite of herself, Hermione felt a little quiver of excitement--for the first time, she would teeter on the bad side.

"Hermione? Hermione?" Harry was saying. She blinked, a little surprised she'd zoned out on him.

"Sorry, Harry," she said. "I was listening, it's just that...that's so weird." Hermione was a little shocked at herself, lying to him like that, but if she was going to be bad, then she might as well get started.

* * * * * *

Ron lived for simplicity, and at this point in his life, it seemed a very unattainable goal. On one hand, his best friend had been kissing a slut, who was likely to bed him and dump him. On the other hand, he himself was smitten with his other best friend, to the point where he was a little afraid to talk to her. He didn't want to make a move on her. He smiled wryly as he thought about her reaction, something he often did. She'd laugh, he was sure. Or she'd cry.

Smiling almost sadly, Ron walked into the common room, and saw Hermione and Harry on the couch, deeply immersed in conversation.

"Hi," he called out to them.

Hermione looked up. "Hey, Ron," she said, smiling. Ron wanted to run; he didn't need to see her smile, not when he was planning on getting over her as soon as possible.

"What's up?" he asked, trying to be nonchalant.

"Oh, we're just discussing a little problem of Harry's," she said. Ron was tickled. He noticed almost an evil glint in her eye, and fought the urge to laugh. She was taking it too hard, he was sure that Pansy had forced Harry to kiss her, like Harry had claimed.

"All right," he said. He turned to Harry, who was looking a little sullen. No doubt Hermione had screamed at him for letting Pansy snog him like that. "You want to play a game of chess?" he asked him. "It'll get your mind off...things," he said, shooting a pointed glare at Hermione, who immediately got up.

"Yes, Harry," she said, rather distractedly, Ron thought. "Play. I'll be back. I need to make a little visit to the library." Ron snorted.

"Of course. It's your second home."

* * * * * *

Draco sat in his common room, flipping absentmindedly through a Quidditch magazine. All his thoughts were on this stupid bet. Why had he even made a bet with Pansy? It had just seemed so sexy, the idea of a bet that screwed Pansy. Until, of course, she started winning. Conniving little bitch, he thought angrily. He had obviously forgotten that she was rather good at this whole seducing business. In fact, until you really knew her, you'd think she was pretty and sexy. And even if you knew her reputation, she had ways around it. "I've changed, Harry," she would say to him. And he'd believe her, because she'd show some of her cleavage while she said it.

He threw the magazine onto the cold floor and decided to take a walk to get his mind off things. Or, better yet, he would start planning ways to break them up. It would be quite entertaining seeing Granger like that. His features twisted up into a wicked grin as he thought of all the fun he would have.

As he walked around the corridors, he noticed his feet were carrying him towards the library. He smirked. Everyone knew where Granger would be. And sure enough, before he had even turned into the library, she came up to him.

"I've looked everywhere for you!" she said, scowling.

He smirked. "I know. I'm irresistible. But you will have to wait your turn." He flipped the shaggy blonde hair, knowing it was a move that would make poor Granger weak at her knees. He enjoyed teasing her, showing her a glimpse of something she'd never have.

He was a little surprised when she didn't even flinch. "Yeah, whatever, there's no point in calling you a conceited bastard because it only inflates your ego even further. Anyway, down to business."

"So you believe me now?" he asked, remembering her hesitation in the morning.

She sighed. "I just had a talk with Harry, and you're...as much as I hate to admit it...completely right." He smirked as she continued. "Well, you're the one with the plan. I can only help."

"What, Granger? Brains don't assist you in these areas?" he asked.

"Shut your trap," she snapped. "Just hurry up and form a bloody plan."

"Language, Granger," he said lazily. She looked so sexy when she was mad.

"You sound like Snape," she replied.

This brought him out of his reverie and he began to talk in earnest. "Okay. Here is what we'll do. Obviously Potter is into Pansy. The first thing we need to do is baffle Pansy. And that's where you come in." He stopped to check if she was following, rather enjoying the rapt attention she paid him. God, he'd become a teacher just to have her stare at him like that. Incredibly sexy. "You will become quite friendly with Pansy over the next few days. You know, be nice, make friends. She'll be so bloody confused her attention will divert from Potter. And when she complains about it, Potter will be surprised she's being so rude."

Hermione's eyes were no longer glassy with attention. In fact she was frowning and looked a little annoyed. "I don't want to be friends with her," she said, pouting.

"Don't act like a baby," he snapped. "If you want to help your friend, I suggest you do so. And don't worry, it's only the first step. It'll be a blast."

She sighed. "Fine."

"Good. Give me a report in three days' time. I'll be getting a lot of Pansy's story, but I need your side of it to continue."

"Till then, Malfoy."

"Oh, and wait," he said lazily. "If we're going to work together, you best be calling me Draco. It'll come in handy in a little while."