Two Can Play That Game

Chapter One

I can't sit there anymore, she realised as she walked up to her usual spot within the Gryffindor table and stopped organising her notes, in order to solve her dilemma. Not with them two snogging the living daylights outta each other! She turned, disgusted, to the two lovebirds. The two figures passionately embracing looked oddly familiar.

"Hello, 'Mione!" greeted Harry, as he finally parted with... GINNY? Hermione stared flabbergasted at the two.

How can you do this to me? Her eyes asked of both of them; the hurt unmistakable in them.

"Wha-What are you doing?" she asked of Harry, finally regaining her composure, shocked by such open acts of affection... that weren't aimed towards her.

"I'm over you," he stated. "Really," he finished with a blatantly pained expression, which she missed so ignorantly,

"We're o-over? Just like that?" she asked, not convinced that last night wasn't a horrendous nightmare. Hermione knew him, she knew what he was about to say and so she closed her eyes in preparation for the blow.

He had been acting strange for the past month; where he once showered her with praise, he had become withdrawn and cold. She couldn't understand why. Everything was so perfect before; the break up was such a shock. An unbearable shock.

"Yes," he uttered lightly before locking tongues once again with Ginny.

Hermione, knowing all about Ginny's obsession with Harry since her first year, never thought it would end this way. How could he get over me so quickly? The pain of breaking up slapped her again; but was now clashed with the betrayal of one of her closest friends. Not only was she stunned at Harry for suddenly breaking up with her and fooling around with Ginny; but she was bewildered by Ginny, too. How could they do this to me?

"Dwon'ch woury boot ite 'Myownee," Ron said around his food, trying to calm her down. Even the densest piece of lice could see that he was equally happy about Harry hooking up with his younger sister, Ginny, as he was sad about his two best friends breaking up. Probably more so.

Clearly even the densest piece of lice could've also seen that Harry wasn't that into Ginny and responded to every movement of Hermione instead; sadly both Ron and Hermione and Ginny - God, even Harry! - were oblivious to this fact.

As Lavender strutted beside Dean to have breakfast, she too was shocked.

"Merlin's beard! Ginny's stealing your boy, 'Mione!" she exclaimed, stating the obvious to everyone in the hall, before realising her mistake and carefully sitting as far away from the beet red girl left standing alone.

Burning red, Hermione seated herself on the free space beside the two lions in heat, trying unsuccessfully to ignore the avid "couple" beside her. You're so daft, Lavender.

Glaring darkly around the room, at anyone besides The Boy Who Has No Heart and his confused partner, she began selecting suitable candidates as a catalyst to her revenge. With a glare like daggers, she scared away whoever was interrupting her plan for retribution.

Continuing to calculate in a very Hermione-like fashion, she began a hawk-like scan of the entire 6^th year male population, from Gryffindor, to the Hufflepuffs, then the Ravenclaws and continued even to the Slytherins.

It stopped on a certain blonde, with features that belonged to angels; living proof that looks are deceiving. He simply didn't care about the affairs of others and was surrounded in a shield of Slytherins who were undoubtedly drawn to him; he didn't return her glimpse.

Perfect. Who else but Harry's counterpart, the Prince of Slytherin, would do? She glowered mischievously at the heinous pair beside her. Two Can Play That Game.

---

She had no idea where the sweet-ignorantly-confused Ron and that no-good-back-stabbing Harry bloody Potter; her two closest friends that always waited for her - clearly - were. So she left them behind - wherever they were. Potions, she thought dryly before she followed a certain stuck-up boy out of the hall and down towards the dungeons. Isn't he ever alone?? She observed that he always had at least 3 other slaves from his house that fondled over him, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and Malcolm Baddock.

Entering the Potions classroom, she found her ex surrounded by little slaves, too, from his - their - house. I've never noticed how the two are so alike. She noted the likeness in the two rivals.

Hermione couldn't believe she had just compared Harry to Malfoy.

Harry would never have cronies. Having hit men like Malfoy did would've been the last thing Hermione expected, but as such unexpected turnings miserably bruised her, she was too lost to care.

Hermione placed herself on the seat in front of Malfoy, just on the verge of her fellow Gryffindors to avoid blatancy. She swiveled around in her seat to face him. Looking up at him from her lashes Hermione tried to look mysterious; she had seen Parvati do it so many times. She, of course, failed miserably. Hermione, who batted her eyelashes furiously to no avail, settled for just smiling sweetly and demanded attention with her rapt gaze directed at the Prince of Slytherin.

"What, Mudblood? Are you lost?" he asked mockingly, this is going to be harder that I thought, not bothering to turn. Anna, a Slytherin, who was shifting her robes higher and higher in order to reveal her tattoo, captured his attention. Judging by the surprised, but pleased, look on the Slytherins' faces, Hermione presumed it was new. Hermione squirmed slightly, trying to think of a smart reply and was astounded when Pansy, too, pulled - practically yanked - up her robes in competition with Anna to show an even bigger tattoo, even higher up her leg and showing even more skin. Sickening.

Anna flicked her blonde hair back in challenge, sneering as she looked in Hermione's eyes. Hermione could've sworn there was a brief flicker of emotion behind them, other than disdain of course; too brief to identify.

"Seeing as my previous company is too captivated by the words of The Boy Who Flies Like A Turkey," she said sarcastically, Slytherins were always sarcastic, and gestured to the crowd gathered around Harry as he made rapid hand movements to further express whatever he was talking about, "I decided to find others to...talk to," she added, as she gazed up through her lashes. She had no idea how ridiculous she looked; nor did she care. Malfoy liked easy women; why else would he be around Pansy? He raised an eyebrow, and spun to face her, intrigued at what she had to say, "So, can I join you?" she asked, a challenge played in her eyes,

"Does such the chaste little Gryffindor want to play with the big kids?" he asked, scornfully cooing her,

"Aren't I...good enough?" she replied with a question, feigning her innocence. So the game begins.

"Other than being a filthy, incompetent Mudblood?" Draco smirked, "I assumed a know-it-all bookworm like you would know the likes of you will never be... good enough,"

The Slytherins smirked and urged their leader on. Hermione grew hot in the face and started to burn,

"Fine," Hermione agreed haughtily, "Since I'm not good enough, I'll just go back," she added with a huff. She spun around sharply, intentionally revealing skin and attitude.

"You're...fine," Draco teased, unsure what the filthy Mudblood wanted, but played along, "Pansy, shove, make room for the Mudblood," Draco ordered, never taking his eyes off Hermione, What is she playing at, he inquired to himself. Pansy, not hesitant in obeying began to shift. Hermione turned around and imitated Draco smirk,

"Don't bother, I don't want to disturb anyone; I believe there's enough room," Hermione buttered up and smirked; ignoring the brutal name she had just been called.

Hermione got up and slowly walked around the desks to stand directly in front of Malfoy, and planted herself onto his lap. She lost her balance and flung her arms in the air and they ended up weaving around his neck. Acting as if this was all according to plan, she started to massage his broad shoulders and neck.

Startled by such bold moves from a Gryffindor especially to one of them, all the Slytherins just stared. But not Malfoy. Malfoy brushed his lips across hers, taking advantage of his companion's silence; his tongue flicked playfully at her teeth, and asked permission to enter. When he faced no resistance he dominantly began exploring her mouth.

Eww, I'm kissing a Malfoy. Thoughts repeated through her head, I don't what's worse; the reality that I'm kissing a Malfoy... or that I actually like it.

His hand moved from supporting her back towards her face. It started gripping on her hair, and strained it. Tears began to form in her eyes. He was pulling her hair! Uncontrollably Hermione let out a moan filled with desire and involuntary used her arms to drag him closer to her. The yanking on her hair was so excruciating, but his mouth and tongue was so satisfying; such a mixture of pleasure and pain made her confused. She moaned involuntarily, whether out of pleasure or pain, she didn't know.

Malfoy pulled away first, to Hermione's disappointment. Hermione heard Pansy's grunt of disapproval aimed towards her, rather than her innocent Draco. Dazed from the experience, she now knew the rumours about him were very true. She'd also guessed that the other gossip about him would be true too. Totally unaffected by anything, Malfoy just sat back and watched her with maddening serenity.

"You're such a good kisser," she blurted out. Hermione's face turned a surprising shade of red that would've made any beet proud.

"Opposites attract," he drawled and gave her a trademark Malfoy smirk, before mischievously winking at her. Shocked, Hermione paused for a moment, deciding whether to take offence,

"Are you suggesting..." she said, with a deliberately pause, "that you're attracted to me?"

Snape walked in the room, and noticed the Slytherins all quiet. Disturbing. He noticed the alarming fact that a Gryffindor was on his favorite pupil's knee. Very Disturbing. Snape arched his eyebrow before barking,

"20 points from Gryffindor, Ms Granger. Stop disturbing Mr. Malfoy and return to your seat!"

Standing up, she walked back to her seat, and returned Malfoy's wink at him. All eyes, including the shocked Gryffindors, especially Harry, to her glee, were on her. Before sitting down again, she gave a backwards glance towards Malfoy.

---

Can one be more bored? Draco thought imperiously to himself. Defense against the Dark Arts with Lupin. The majority of girls drooled over the grey wolf; werewolf to be more exact, and clung to his every word.

Draco's gaze kept wandering around the room and landed on the dirty Mudblood, then he'd steer it away, only to let it find its way back to her. He didn't like what he saw.

The way her hand shot up at every question asked. It was... off putting? No. Merlin's beard I'm getting turned on by a bookworm, he thought idly to himself. Every time he 'by chance' looked her way the daft Mudblood was sneaking longing looks at her friend with the raven colored mop. Disgraceful. Nauseating.

The whole school knew of their little fall-out. So much for the perfect pair living happily ever after. He saw ill Potties eating the Weaselette's face in the Great Hall when a dense Gryffindor shouted it out for everyone to hear. But Draco turned quickly away, disgusted at such open display of such amateur not-knowing-what-the-hell-I'm-doing-snogging.

Draco knew what he would do if his partners were doing such outrageous thing with anybody other than himself. But it would be just a warning of what was to come. Of course, the Mudblood was never the one for violence...let alone bashing another's head against a brick wall before booting the living daylights out of them. Such a typical do-good Gryffindor did not pound people up. Not that it stopped her in 3rd year.

Draco rubbed his cheek from where the insolent Mudblood had tried to exterminate him three years ago. Such a face could've been wasted away. He shuddered at the thought. What if she had broke his nose?

Some things were just too unbearable.

He returned to pondering about Granger and her Potter. Draco also knew what he - and most likely the Mudblood - would do next. No, physical pain wouldn't be enough. He'd make the backstabber torment mentally as well. He'd make sure the traitor would be psychologically damaged for life. Step two would be far more damaging than step one. Another typical Gryffindor act; always cutting to the chase and avoiding foreplay.

Never knew you had it in you, he congratulated as he reached his conclusion. She was using him. To hurt the one she loved most in the world but would not admit it, probably not even to herself. Draco liked this idea more and more. He never knew the Mudblood could have such spunk.

And I thought she was the smart one.

"Harry, let's see; since you've participated in many duels; what are the first five rules the two duelers should always follow?" the werewolf asked. Harry, who now shifted uncomfortably in his seat, didn't have a single clue. It's not like the famed Harry Potter played by the rules. It was just, unlike Draco, he was never penalized.

"..." His pet scholar awkwardly sat in silence.

"I mean, I know I didn't give anyone homework on it, but can anyone list me the first five rules in dueling?" the werewolf attempted to asking the whole class, "even one?" he asked desperately. By now Draco expected Granger's hand to have shot up and answered the question, saving her lover from the embarrassment. But it never happened. The gifted Mudblood just ignored it, and continued to scribble down some notes.

Yet another realization hit Draco. Has their little dispute split the Dream Team up, I wonder? He needed to know whether she and Pot Head were still friends. If not, Merlin's beard, this was going to be fun.

---

As Hermione entered the Common room, she gazed regretfully at Harry. After he ended the game of Exploding Snap with Ron, Harry walked slowly towards her as she sat on the couch quietly, reading the new addition of Hogwarts, A History. Hermione watched him out of the corner of her eye, urging him towards her. She wished he would approach her and talk to her. She didn't think that it'd actually happen.

"Hey, Herms, I was just wondering... are we still friends? Like, after everything... like, we... I mean you and I haven't affected anything, right?" he asked, as he looked anywhere but at her. Hermione looked up from her book, acting aggravated at the person who disturbed her.

"What?" she asked dimly.

"I was saying... like when we - you know - broke up and all... I was wondering, like we said: we'll always be friends?" he asked again.

"What do you mean?" she asked wearily; she didn't like this idea of 'just friends'

"Like, the way you hardly spoke to me since... that time in the forest. Ron and Ginny have noticed too," he tried to explain. Hermione fumed as she heard the name; how dare he bring her into this?

"I'm so sorry for Ron and Ginny. Maybe it's not me with the problem. Maybe one of us is too busy spending time with Ginny doing God knows what!" she exploded at him, emphasizing certain words

"I don't know what you're talking about!" he declared, his arms plunged into the air, "We're just friends," he finished.

"You call that 'just friends'? Did we mean anything to you? I guess not! You were all over her! Why did we even break up? You couldn't even tell me! You owe me at least that much!" she shouted.

"What about Malfoy, then? How does he come into the picture? I could see clearly that our relationship meant everything to you!" he fumed back. "Why should you care? You don't care! You told me! You said you didn't want me anymore! What am I supposed to do?" he continued to explode at her: no one noticed how he evaded her last question. "How come you were all over him?"

"I never..." she began, but realized she could never excuse what she had said before."I guess it makes us even then! You don't love me! You told me so yourself as well! Why do you care? I could be shagging Malfoy for all its worth and you can't do anything about it!"

"Then, I guess - I guess we were right before; that our relationship would get in the way of our friendship," his face hardened as he continued, "We're breaking it off then?" he asked, "Like, everything... even - even being friends?" he dared on. He needed to know the answer.

"Go be friends with Ginny," Hermione answered through clenched teeth. I'll get you back Harry, I swear - even if it means ripping apart everything I believed in for all my life; you're not going to get away with hurting me.

---

"Don't you think you're being a bit rough on him?" Ginny inquired as she walked up to Hermione, who now stared murderously at her so-called friend.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione stated, and walked away.

"You do know! C'mon 'Mione. You've been friends since first year. We've always confided in each other! Surely you don't mean to throw everything away!" Ginny tried reasoning with her.

"No. I don't." Hermione replied, but didn't offer a further explanation.

"Think of Harry. Voldemort's on the rise still. Harry says he could feel him increasing in power! The Ministry Of Magic won't believe him. Voldemort has been all quiet and there's no sign of anything; no proof but Harry's word alone!"

"I'm sure that has everything to do with our relationship!" Hermione screamed sarcastically. "I could've supported him. I believe him, but now - now..."

"You're holding back from me. Remember when we used to pour our secrets out to each other? What happened to that? What happened between you and Harry? What happened to our friendship?" Ginny asked.

"I guess backstabbing sorta kills off any kind of friendship then doesn't it? What happened between Harry and me? Well, I DON'T KNOW!!! The bastard won't tell me. Not only that; but you two seem to be getting on quite well nowadays!" Hermione retorted.

"I...I'm sorry. Harry told me you were over. He - he said he - he wanted me. Y-you know how I feel about him. I can't help it. I can't help it if he ended it with you," she tried to reason.

Hermione glared stubbornly at Ginny. She refused to believe her. It was all a lie.

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT HE WANTS ME MORE THAN YOU!" Ginny suddenly shouted, a voice filled with straight pride, before she gasped at the cruel words she just shrieked,

"Then you'll know that it's not my fault I end the friendship between us as well," Hermione expressed quietly, in a voice just above a whisper.

Her fears were confirmed.