Game of Emotion

Pansy was thrilled by the latest turn of events.

Her dress was all picked out. It was a rich green silk dress with a low neckline, drawn in at the waist before flowing out to the floor. She had black heels and a darker green silk wrap. Potter was wearing robes the same colour as her wrap, and he was still under the impression that he was going to win this game.

Not if she had anything to say about it, however.

Everything was going to be perfect, and she was going to win.

Meanwhile, Hermione was not having such a fabulous time.

Of course, she too had her dress picked out for the ball (shimmering blue robes clasped with a silver belt around her waist, sleeves half slit so that her skin showed through. She even had matching silver shoes and jewellery. An incredible change from the Gryffindor red robes she had worn to the last dance.), and she had to go with Malfoy as it was tradition for the Head Boy and Girl to go to these sorts of events together. Although both Hermione and Draco suspected the tradition was there so that Dumbledore could attempt to 'improve interhouse relations', as there were never two people from the same house as Head Boy and Girl.

No, Hermione's bad time stemmed from her current lack of ability to carry out her Evil Plan. Okay, so it was not that evil. However, it wasn't exactly what people would expect from Goody Two-Shoes Hermione Granger, either.

By Merlin! Where on Earth was Harry's invisibility cloak??! Okay, so Hermione did feel a bit guilty about rummaging through Harry's trunk for his cloak, but surely he would not mind.

Socks, underwear... eww! What was that??! Sneakascope. Old mouldy sandwich? Hermione shuddered, and turfed the offending piece of food aside. Something that was plant matter in a past life? Like many girls at Hogwarts, and in fact the world, Hermione did not understand why guys kept old food around instead of throwing it out. One of those days she was going to have to have a serious talk to Harry about it.

Carrots... A noise outside the door made Hermione sit up in shock. Quickly, she closed the trunk and dove under the bed. Please don't be Ron. Please don't be Ron.

"Blimey! Where did I put that map?" A scrabbling sound over by the other bed made Hermione go completely still.

It was Ron, unfortunately.

Although, it would be a good chance to find out what exactly Ron was doing... Pushing her guilt aside, Hermione made herself more comfortable under the bed.

"Ah hah!" Having found the map, the boy sat down on his own bed and drew his wand. He tapped the parchment "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Immediately, swarms of dots appeared on the map.

Luckily for Hermione, he just focused on the Harry dot.

"Oh, Harry. Where did you go wrong?" His lip curled into a sneer. "Going off to see your slut again?"

He continued on, ranting and raving, before taking a closer look at the map, muttering a "mischief managed", and walking out the door just as Seamus walked in.

Hermione heard the bathroom door creak, and assumed Seamus had gone into the other room.

Mistake.

She was just finishing levering herself out from under the bed when Seamus walked out of the bathroom. And stared.

"Hermione?" he asked incredulously, positive that the Head Girl could have no good reason to hide under Harry's bed. "What are you doing in here? And under a bed at that?!"

Hermione was unruffled. "Would you believe... sleepwalking?" she asked, curious if he would. You never knew with guys like Seamus. One minute they'd be wailing like a banshee, and the next they would be having a conversation about the merits of chocolate frog cards.

Seamus raised an eyebrow. "I would, except for the fact that it's the middle of the day. You, missing a single moment of daylight studying time? I think not." Now he grinned cheekily, waiting to see what creative story she tried to tell. To his amazement, she didn't.

"I came here to find Harry. I was waiting for him, when Ron walked in. You know the situation, so I hid under Harry's bed until he was gone. No more, no less." Crossing her fingers behind her back, Hermione mentally excused her omission of the more interesting factors in the innocent visit of the boys' dorm room. Starting with the fact that she had planned to 'borrow' Harry's cloak without asking. She rolled her eyes in anticipation of the next question as he opened his mouth again. "And no Seamus, there were no illicit trysts involved, so there's no point in badgering Lavender or Parvati about it." She paused for a second. "Not that I'd tell them anything, anyway. Not unless I wanted my love-life details splashed across the ears of the entire school. Which I don't, by the way." She smiled innocently as Seamus gave her a suspicious look, before smoothing her expression over so that her face was blank. "Yes?"

Familiar footsteps by the door alerted her to Ron coming back. Panicked, Hermione jumped into the bathroom, and as an afterthought, dragged Seamus in with her. Thinking quickly, she locked the door and turned on the taps.

The boy gave her a weird look. "This is a bit much, isn't it Hermione?" he asked. "I mean, this is Ron, the boy who was your best friend a month or so back!"

"Yes he was," Hermione tersely replied, "but since then, he's spread malicious rumours about me and Harry, verbally abused us both, and overall acted very strangely. Do you know what he did, Seamus?" she demanded in a soft voice.

At Seamus's negative reply, she explained. "He accused me of having sex with Malfoy. Malfoy! Of all people!" She laughed freely, pushing down the guilt it brought as she actually liked Draco now. Not that anyone else could know that. "And that was what made me terminate our friendship. How could I remain friends with someone who made baseless remarks about me and my co-worker?"

"Seamus?" they both heard Ron ask. "Are you going to be in there long? I need the bathroom."

Neither answered.

"Seamus?" Ron replied, getting annoyed. "Seamus! I'm going to unlock the door in two minutes!"

"Dunk your head in the bath," Hermione whispered.

Seamus was mystified, but complied. Now his hair was dripping wet, and it cascaded down his clothes.

"Strip," Hermione said.

Seamus blinked. Had he heard correctly, Hermione Granger told him to strip? Was this really their studious and strict Head Girl? He was so confused, and decided to express that. "What??! Hermione!"

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Seamus. You have to look like you were in the bath!" Hermione explained. "I won't look if it'll make you feel better." She looked at a point on the far side of the room. "Just strip down to your boxers and wrap your lower half in a towel. Then begin to towel dry your hair. I've got to go," she said, noticing Ron's counting winding down.

She ran over to a blank wall, and whispered her password to it. She grinned at Seamus. "A past Head Girl had this passage put in," she said as the portrait swung open silently. Then she was gone before Seamus could say anything else.

And just in time, as Ron burst through the door at that second.

"Steady on mate," Seamus said lazily. "Where's the fire?"

Ron gave his roommate a glare. "Why didn't you answer me?" He half asked, half demanded.

Seamus granted him an odd look. "Well I didn't think you were serious, for a start," he said, getting ticked off at Ron's behaviour. "Now, can you please leave so I can dress? Then you can have the bathroom."

Ron sulked.

Seamus was unrepentive.

In the end it was Ron who gave in.

"Okay, five minutes," he said sulkily, walking out. Seamus gladly closed the door behind him, and started putting on his clothes.

What was going on with everyone?

He knew things would come to a head soon. Tensions were running too high for anything else to happen.

It would be interesting to see how it all eventually played out.

*

Harry was suspicious, very suspicious.

Hermione was avoiding him, Pansy was avoiding him.

Even Ginny, Seamus, Neville and Dean appeared to be avoiding him.

Was everyone avoiding him?

Of course, the fact that Ron was avoiding him was no surprise. After all, he was also avoiding Ron, and so when two people strenuously avoid each other, it becomes a bit hard to meet up.

How was he supposed to win his bet if he couldn't find his opponent??

This was very vexing.

Harry walked around the corner and stopped. There, in the entrance-way was... Pansy. His lips curled in a slight smirk, much like the one Draco had always worn before.

Sera just would not shut up, and Pansy was fast losing patience. Who cared if some Ravenclaw had asked this girl out? Suddenly however, she was aware of the babbling, or rather, the lack thereof. Pansy raised her eyes to see what had stopped the terrible noise, and thank them if possible.

Oh. Potter. He did look rather... edible, if she did say so herself. So that was the reason Sera had stopped talking? She'd have to thank him later.

Harry Potter, in his well cut black robes, his messy black hair, and blazing green eyes was looking a little... um, hunterish. He certainly was not walking over to them, but stalking. Sera made an excuse Pansy did not hear, and scampered off, leaving the older girl to deal with the playful Potter.

Oh yes, exactly what she needed.

Pansy tilted her head to one side, and gave him a sultry look. "Potter," she purred. "I haven't seen you in positively ages."

Harry continued on his course forwards, and pulled her into his embrace. "No you haven't," he said, eyes suddenly snapping with cold, hard clarity. "Now, why have you been avoiding me?" His arms clamped around her waist, and no matter how she struggled, the Slytherin girl could not get out of them.

Harry patiently waited for her to stop. "Well?" he asked, raising an eyebrow sardonically.

Pansy flipped a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Who said it was I that was avoiding you? I've had things to plan. It's not my fault if you spend all your time on the Quidditch pitch," she said icily. "Now, I've answered your question, so kindly let me go." She renewed her attempts to struggle out of his embrace.

"Leaving so soon?" the boy asked in a stage whisper, before covering her mouth with his own.

She allowed herself to be drawn into the kiss, but when his arms slackened around her, she spun out of them and took a few steps back. "See you in class Potter!" she called out, running off and laughing merrily at the confounded look on his face.

Harry growled. She thought she could get away with that, did she?

Well, they would just see who would get the last laugh.

Pansy was still laughing as she rounded the corner to the portrait to her Common Room. She composed herself and drew on a blank mask before hissing the password ("Hieroglyph") and marching proudly into the room like a Queen, shoulders thrown back, and instantly commanding the attention of all who lounged therein.

Despite herself, Pansy's good mood bounced up a few more notches.

This was fun.

The ball was a week away, and the stage was set.

Now, all she needed were the other players.

Potter, Weasley, Granger and Draco would do well enough.

Weasley to create a scene that would drive Harry right to her, and Granger and Draco to distract each other so that neither of them would interfere with her plans.

Oh yes, her plans. Few realised it, but Parkinsons were marvellous planners, often playing a few steps ahead in every game.

If everything went well, she would be the winner by the time the first rays of sunlight hit the lake on the morning after the ball.

People really did not give her enough credit.

Her plan was perfect.

Nothing would go wrong.

Nothing.

*

Hermione collapsed on her bed, giggling as she imagined Ron's reaction to Seamus' explanations. He would be absolutely wild. Livid, even.

Perfect...

Poor Seamus, though! Having to share a dorm with both Harry and Ron. Not that Harry spent much time in his bed these days - between sneaking around trying to get at Pansy, and time spent in the Infirmary, his bed was rarely used.

Her door swung open quietly, but Hermione froze when a familiar voice sounded "What is ever so amusing, Granger?"

Draco Malfoy, for all his faults was not like other boys. For one thing, as Parvati had whispered once in a thrilled voice in the dark of the night. "When he is good, he is very, very good. But when he is bad, he is gorgeous."

By the somewhat dim light in her room, Hermione conceded that yes, this was in fact true, even if she had scorned it at the time.

"Di-" Hermione paused mid-word, slightly embarrassed by the low and husky voice that had emerged from her throat. She pretended not to see Draco's amusement, and continued in her normal voice. "-d you want something, Malfoy? Only, I'm incredibly busy, and..."

The lights of the room brightened, and Hermione stopped again as Draco stepped forward. And... what, Granger?" he asked, silver eyes glowing with childlike innocence.

The girl folded her arms in annoyance, her voice strengthened as she spoke. "And I would appreciate it if you would leave if you aren't going to do anything constructive." The second the sentence left her mouth, she regretted it. Constructive? Internally she winced. What would he say in return?

With a barely held breath, she waited.

Draco smiled, the coverboy of every girl's favourite bodice-ripper romance. All he needed was the leather trousers and white flowing shirt.

A vague look downwards proved to find that all Draco needed was the shirt.

His trousers should have been outlawed.

Hermione slid backwards on the bed as Draco stepped forwards. Why did she suddenly feel the need to put something solid between her and Malfoy?

"Granger... Hermione," Draco purred, continuing to move closer. "We really should share company like this more often." He smiled more, and Hermione felt her limbs begin to tremble.

Why did she feel so much like prey?

The sudden look of hunted realisation in Hermione's eyes was too much for Draco, and Hermione suddenly found herself pinned to her own bed. She shivered under his intense scrutiny, and she waited with bated breath to see what he was going to do.

He did nothing.

Finally, she could stand it no longer. "What are you doing?" she demanded, voice coming out in a squeak.

In response, he leaned forward and covered her mouth with his.

Sensation.

Hermione didn't know what Draco Malfoy was doing to her, but she would have to hurt him if he stopped now. All the emotions and things that she had ever felt for this boy were rushing over her like a tidal wave, and she just stood in the foam and took it.

Took it all.

It took her a while to realise that he had stopped, that he had pulled back and was regarding her with laughing eyes.

"You know Hermione," he began, tracing a finger down her cheek that made her shiver involuntarily, "this changes nothing about our bet."

The girl's eyes suddenly snapped in fury, then just as quickly, died back down to embers. Of course not," she said smoothly "what fun would it be if we stopped the game just before the end? No. Same rules apply as before." She smoothed down her hair and gave him a serious look. "Now, if you don't mind, please leave. I have studying to do."

Draco gave her another hungry kiss before standing. "But of course, Lady," he said, a mocking smile on his lips, an innocent gleam in his eye. He bowed, then walked out her door, as proud as any young lord.

Hermione sighed almost dreamily, before shaking herself. She was not going to turn into some kind of simpering lady who swooned at her knight.

Oh well, she had a competition to win.

And no one, not even someone as good looking as Draco Malfoy was going to stop her from reaching her ends.

No, that might take some thought.

But in the meantime, surely Harry should be informed about Ron's antics... if she could ever find the boy.

It was almost like he was avoiding her...

Laughing at her own silliness, Hermione turned back to her Transfiguration extra credit essay.

Harry could take care of himself if need be.

Yes, he would have to.

*

Draco Malfoy was... was he? Good gods, Draco Malfoy was whistling as he walked into his own bedroom. He had not planned on doing what he had done, but now he had, he still did not mind.

Oh dear, he was being spontaneous again.

Meanwhile in the Dungeons, Millicent returned to her room after a bout of spying on her dormmate Pansy.

It was certain; Pansy was carrying on with Potter.

This was not satisfactory! She could not have one of her friends shaming themselves, their family and their House like this!

She would have to put a stop to this, right away.

If Pansy was to be deterred, it would have to be a suitably public event, so that the rest of the House could see and prevent Pansy from ever doing anything like this again.

That settled it.

At the Ball she would tell what she knew.

A Parkinson and the Boy Who Lived??

She could just imagine the outrage that would follow her exposure.

Wouldn't everyone be ever so surprised?

Millicent allowed herself a small smile of success.

Everything would go to plan.

*

Game, set.

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