How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days

Chapter One - Wednesday - Day Zero

Paint me over with your dreams
Shove away my ethnicity
Burn every notion that I may have a flame inside to fight
And say just what is on my mind
Without offending your mind
Cause this life is too short to live it just for you
But when you feel so powerless what are you gonna do
So say what you want

~Powerless, Nelly Furtado

Pansy spent most of the morning Draco Hunting. She had news for him and was finally able to locate him eating lunch in the Great Hall. He was sitting, in his usual spot, at the Slytherin Table. Pansy strolled towards him; her step full of purpose and the look upon her face said that she meant business. She sat opposite him and waited in silence for him to acknowledge her presence.

Draco acknowledge her but said nothing. He continued to eat his lunch in silence and it wasn't until he had finished that he finally looked up and greeted her.

"Good afternoon, Pansy."

"I've been looking for you everywhere."

Draco gave her a look. "And where did you look for me? In my dormitory?"

"No."

"That's where I was all morning."

"Then you have no life."

"Excuse me?"

"Listen, I have other things to do than spend today talking to you."

"So, you do have news for me?"

Pansy smirked; it was so like Draco to cut straight to the point.

"I have chosen someone who I think is worthy of you."

Draco made no comment, but his grey eyes were fixed on Pansy, showing that he was listening to her.

"They are in our year, and are male."

Draco gave a nod and lent back on a chair. If they were male it would mean more work for him. Most of the male population at Hogwarts were straight.

"I haven't chosen a Slytherin."

That was a relief, Draco sighed as his eyes scanned the male seventh years in his house. They returned to watching Pansy's face. None of the males in his house were very attractive.

"He plays Quidditch."

Draco gave a heavy sigh and his eyes narrowed at Pansy. He was getting fed up with her game,

"He sucks at Potions but succeeds in Defence Against The Dark Arts."

Draco automatically looked over at the Gryffindors. They were the House famous for failing Potions.

Pansy's smirk grew as she saw Draco look towards the Gryffindor Table.

"He's the Seeker on the Gryffindor Team," she spoke slowly, watching with satisfaction as Draco's eyes widen in surprise at her choice.

"Harry Potter?" he snarled at her.

"You guessed correctly, take ten house points."

Draco clenched his fists and forced himself not to curse Pansy there and then. Potter was as straight as an arrow and had only recently broken it off with the Female Weasley. He hadn't even thought about the fact that he hated Potter more than anything else in the World. There was also the small fact that Potter had completely ignored Draco for the better part of six months.

Suddenly winning this bet didn't seem so easy.

"He doesn't have a date for the Ball," Pansy pointed out.

Draco studied the boy. Potter was sitting at the table on his own, his head buried in a book. The black hair was in its usual state of disorder and fell forwards, every now and then Potter who push it behind his ear but it would only stay there for a few minutes before it resumed its position. Draco wondered why he hadn't noticed that Potter's hair had grown and was now down to his shoulders - although it still wasn't tame. The green eyes were still hidden behind glasses but Draco had seen them eyes without the glasses. He wouldn't admit it out loud but he agreed with Lavender Brown when she said that Harry Potter's eyes were breathtaking.

Pansy was being ignored and she didn't like it. She coughed loudly and Draco finally returned his gaze to her.

"Glad you finally managed to draw your eyes away from him. I know he is great Eye Candy and nearly every girl in this school wants to get into his pants, but pay attention to me for a minute. Thank You. The reason I chose Potter is because I know you are infatuated with him."

"I am not."

"Oh, don't deny it, we all know. You go out of your way to draw his attention to you. You always make sure that he is focused on you. That's why you show off in class and that's why you attack Weasley at any given moment because it makes Potter paid attention to what you are doing. Admit it?"

Draco glared at her coldly. Pansy had just summed up the truth which he had been deny for nearly seven years. When had he let his guard down so much that even Pansy could read him? He stood up angrily.

"Don't go yet, I need to lay a few rules down."

Growling, Draco slumped down into his chair and intensified his glare but Pansy didn't even flinch.

"Rule number one. You are not allowed to use any form of magic on Potter. That means no mind-altering spells, no love potions. Understand?"

"Yes Pansy."

"Good. Rule number two. There will be no sex allowed."

"I don't want to sleep with Potter any way."

"That's good because if you do, I win the bet by default. Besides, you can't denial the fact that he is pretty gorgeous and that no man wouldn't want him."

Draco kept his mouth shut. He vowed revenge on Pansy. He would not deny his crush of the Boy-Who-Wouldn't-Die but he wouldn't confirm it either. And, for the record, just because Draco wanted to get into Potter's pants, it didn't change the fact that Potter was a twat and that Draco, did indeed, hate him.

"And finally, rule number three. You are not allowed to tell anyone about the Bet. Not even Potter. If you try and get Potter to pretend that he loves you, just so that you can win. Trust me, I will know about it."

Draco crossed his arms over his chest. "Anything else?"

"If I can think of anything, I'll let you know." She held out her hand. "Shake on it," she ordered. Draco took her hand and as soon as he was released, he stood again and left the hall. Pansy watched him go, the evil smirk on her face gave way that she was already forming many plans to ruin all of Draco's attempts at talking to Harry Potter.

* * *

Hermione Granger was sitting in the library, reading. Beside her, sat her boyfriend. Ronald Weasley was bored and had taken to resting his head on his arms which he watched Hermione. He simply loved to watch her, even if it did annoy her at times.

Hermione had discovered that Oxford University had a hidden house. One where witches and wizards could go and continue their education once they had finished at Hogwarts. A handful of students had looked into it, and as long as they got the grades need, they were in. Ron had already decided that he didn't want to continue his education but both of his best friends had seemed keen on it. He blamed this on the fact they were brought up by muggles. Harry had also been offered a place at Oxford; he was planning on a career in either DADA or teaching; being leader of the DA had had a very positive effect on Harry. Hermione was looking into medical careers, and that was what she was currently reading up on.

"Why don't you head down to lunch?" Hermione suddenly spoke, her hazel eyes looked over at Ron. "I'm sure Harry will be down there. Spend the afternoon with him. I'm only going to be reading this for the day."

"Nah, I'm fine just sitting here relaxing." He smiled at her.

She glanced at the clock. "You miss lunch if you don't go now," she informed him.

"I don't..."

"Ron, please. I don't like you watching me while I'm working," she pleaded suddenly and Ron finally gave in and sat up.

"Fine, I'll see you at dinner." He placed a light kiss on her cheek before he left the library.

She smiled and returned to her work.

Ron was halfway down to the hall when he ran into someone.

"Oy, watch where you are going!" he snarled.

"Screw off Weasel, I have as much right to walk here as I do, its not my fault you don't look where you are going. Try walking without looking at your feet, or do you need to look down to make sure that you are actually walking correctly? Its easy really, just one foot in front of the other."

Ron glared at Malfoy. "Have some respect, Ferret Boy."

"Ferret Boy?" Malfoy laughed. "You've been using that one for nearly three years now. It's about time you thought of something else to call me, maybe something clever for a change."

Ron fumed. "Give me a reason to take points away from you, Malfoy, and I will."

"You don't have the power to take points away. You are nothing more than a Prefect, same as me. I thought spending seven years with the brainy Mudblood might have had some sort of effect on you, but obvious you are nothing more than a Lost Cause."

Ron took a step towards the blond Slytherin, his hands curled in fists.

"Ron!"

The redhead took a step backwards as he saw his best friend appear, walking down the corridor towards him.

"Ah, Potter has come to your rescue, Weasel. You will have to tell me one day what it is like to always be second best," Malfoy threw one last insult at Ron, and a glance at Harry before he stalked away.

"I've told you before," he heard Harry say. "Ignore him, he isn't worth it."

* * *

Draco was now lying on his bed, looking up at the green canvas above him. He had the curtains drawn shut and was bathed in a pool of light green. It was relaxing. In the winter, his dorm was always too cold but in the summer it was a nice cool place from the boiling sun and a shelter away from the rest of the World.

He didn't understand why he was not surprised over Pansy's choice. Him and Potter had been rivals since day one, and it wasn't hard to see what she thought would happen. She knew that Harry and him hated each other too much to just get along. But she was underestimating him. Draco had the perfect plan on how to win the boy's trust and affection.

He would start at simply being there. He knew Potter flew every morning before breakfast on his own. That would be the best time to try and talk to the Gryffindor, when he away from Granger and Weasel.

Draco turned on to his front and buried his head in to his pillow.

'How had Pansy discovered what he had been trying to hide from himself?'

It had been two years ago when he had first dreamt of Potter; he had woken up, shocked and unsure of what to make of the dream. It had been nothing sexual, just sweet and loving. He had been lying on a sofa, his head resting on the armrest and his eyes closed. He had been able to feel the weight of another being on his chest, his legs entwined with another pair. A head had been tucked beneath his chin and he had been playing with the silky strands. He had opened his eyes to find himself staring into black hair and Potter's sleeping face. He had woken up with a yelp, as soon as he had recognised the boy who was lying on top of him.

He had thought he hated the boy for what he had done to his Father, but he had quickly realised that the only reason his Father was in jail was because of his Father, and Potter had done nothing to do with putting him there.

"Oy! Draco? You in there?"

Draco pushed his curtains open with a wave of his wand and he looked at Crabbe.

"What?" he sneered.

"This just arrived for you from Granger," Crabbe informed him while handing him a parcel. Draco nodded his thanks before shutting his curtains again. He opened the parcel to discover the books he had placed orders for.

Granger had discovered him one day, researching potions and charms into more depths than were required for the homework. She had been suspicious and asked questions. He had gotten angry with her and told her to mind her own business. She had been surprisingly nice and had confessed to him her plans on what she wanted to do after she had left Hogwarts. It had even convinced Draco he should apply for Oxford. He had been even more surprised when he was offered a place.

The next few weeks had been spent with Granger in the library. She had explained to him the Oxford Educational System, and what his course required for him to do.

Draco had been suspicious at first, it was unusual for the Gryffindor to be nice, but a lot had changed since the end of the war.

"Everyone deserved a second chance," she had said the one time he had asked her why she was being so nice to him. "I'm offering the chance to everyone who wants to continue their education. Besides, you are a lot nicer now, now that your father no longer controls you."

She was just doing her job as Head Girl, he snorted and as he rolled over he pushed all thoughts of Granger and Potter out of his head.

* * *

"Hey Harry, this arrived for you." Hermione had just finished delivering the Oxford Books to the students who were planning on going and sat down in the seat opposite him. Harry took the offered books.

"Potions?" he asked her, as he studied the titles.

"Potions can be very deadly and its part of Dark Art Training. You need to know about brewing potions so powerful it can put someone into a sleep that they will never be able to wake up from, but they wouldn't actually be dead. You need to know that sort of thing. Plus it'll all be easier without Snape breathing down your neck."

Harry smiled at her in thanks and placed the five very large books on the table beside him.

"I have to go see Snape tomorrow," he commented. "I'm out of potion again."

"I thought he taught you how to brew it?" Hermione asked, loading her plate with chicken and ham pie; she had missed lunch and was starving.

"He did, but I need the ingredients and he said that I can brew it in the lab at lunchtime tomorrow. He would leave the ingredients out for me."

Hermione gave a small chuckle. "You need to buy your own when we leave here."

Harry gave a nod. He didn't like spending his money when he didn't need too, mainly because if he didn't get a part time job when he finished at school, he would be relying heavily on his remaining money. But he was lucky in a way; on his 18^th birthday he would become the owner of the Black House. Remus Lupin was currently living at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, waiting for Harry to finished school, and turn 18. Sirius Black had left the Black House to Harry in his Last Will and Testament.

Hermione began to eat, and Harry turned back his own dinner.

"Granger?"

Hermione looked round at the boy who had just approached her.

"Malfoy, is there a problem?"

"No, I just wanted to thank you for the books."

"You got them alright, then?"

Malfoy gave a nod. "Yeah, thanks, how much do I owe you for them?"

Hermione laughed, and Malfoy noticed that Harry was watching him through narrow eyes.

"The books were sent from Oxford, they are free, from the library there. Just make sure you return them once your course has finished."

"You're going to Oxford?" Harry asked, he didn't want to think he would have to spend another three or four years with Malfoy.

"So what if I am?" Malfoy sneered back. "Thanks, Granger."

Malfoy strolled away.

"He's not as bad as he seems," Hermione spoke as soon as he was out of ear range.

"Really? And when did you start to hang out with Malfoy?"

"I was just helping him get into Oxford." She shrugged innocently.

"Does Ron know about this?"

Hermione blushed. "Its not like I am dating him or anything, plus I don't really wanna leave Hogwarts hating him."

"Wanna? That's not proper English."

Hermione fixed Harry with a gaze, the corners of her mouth quirked upwards and Harry laughed.

Malfoy looked around at the sound of Harry's laughter. He realised that it was a sound that no one heard very often any more.

"Its good to hear you laughing, buddy." Ron sat down beside Hermione, giving his girlfriend a quick kiss.

Harry smiled and turned his attention back to his dinner.

Ron looked across at Hermione. "Something I said?"

She just shrugged.

* * *

Harry laid in bed that night, his curtains draw and his wand lighting up his hide away. He was laying on his front, reading the potion book that Hermione had given him from Oxford. But he wasn't seeing the words in front of him. He was still back in the Great Hall, replaying the conversation he had with Hermione about Malfoy. Was Malfoy really any different? He had noticed they no longer insulted each other and tried to avoid fighting. It seemed to be an unspoken agreement between the two of them. One that Ron hadn't paid attention too.

Harry sighed and gave up reading; he closed the book and turned the light off, and rolled onto his back. He gazed up at the ceiling.

"What am I thinking?" he whispered to the dead of the night. "I don't want to think anything about Malfoy, other than that he is a pain in the fucking arse."