Dangerous Games

A/N: Special thanks to CharmedForce for doing such a fantastic job betaing this fic. I am truly grateful for all her help and support.

Chapter Four: Dangerous Games

He knew it was almost nine o'clock and wondered if she would even show up tonight. Embarrassing her had felt so good earlier, but now it felt like a hollow victory. He didn't even know if he wanted to face her.

The look she'd given him just before she'd left the library had shaken him. If he hadn't used kissing Pansy as a pretense to pull his gaze from Hermione, there's no telling what she would have read in his features. He couldn't describe those feelings himself.

Before he could consider these things, she was there.

Hermione strode past him without so much as a sideways glance. She took a seat, not too near him, and immediately set at her homework.

They were apparently making a ritual of starting these long hours in silence.

Her mere presence was niggling at him, annoying him. Why the hell had she come?

Draco sneered at her.

She didn't look up.

He glared at her.

She kept reading as if he wasn't even there.

He expected her to scold him, sneer at him, hell, even rage at him.

Still she sat – ignoring him.

He wanted her to yell. Yelling was normal. Fighting with her was... normal.

She was acting as if she didn't care about what she had seen in the library. Pretending she didn't even care what she thought she had seen on the grounds!

Maybe she doesn't care.

Something was grumbling inside him

"Why are you here, Granger?" he spat, voice raised, pushing to start the fight he wanted so badly.

"I'm supposed to be here, Malfoy," she snapped.

He wanted her to go away. Part of him wanted her to stay. He really just wanted to yell at her. She was the reason he felt this way.

"Did it ever occur to that arrogant, frizzy head of yours that Snape sending you out here was my punishment, not yours? Why don't you sod off?"

At his insult, he again registered just how attractive he actually thought she was.

"I came tonight because you stayed last night," Hermione huffed. Really! She was doing him a favor, right? He didn't need to be such a prat.

Draco took in her words like a shot.

She's staying out here so I won't be alone.

A look of shock flitted across his features, but he schooled them back to indifference before Hermione could notice. After seeing him with the second year and with Pansy, she was still willing to stay out here with him.

Unfortunately, this did not make him feel better.

"I don't want your bloody pity, Granger!"

"The only person I pity is Pansy Parkinson!"

Draco laughed derisively. "I'd hate to see what you and Weasley do together if you don't even know what a good snogging looks like."

"I would hardly consider that good, Malfoy." Hermione returned to her book, seemingly expecting that to end their argument.

What the bloody...

"I practically had to pry her off me!"

Without looking up, Hermione stated sardonically, "I wasn't talking about her, Draco."

Oh, she'd definitely hit her mark.

He sat dumbstruck for a moment, gaping at the girl who was still barely acknowledging his presence. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She smirked.

"What it means is that it wouldn't be a very good snog if I was doing everything short of shagging the guy and he was just sitting there bored."

"I wasn't...." he began, but seeing her cocky expression, he realized denial was futile. She looked so fucking smug.

"Well, Granger, you think you're so talented, why don't you show me what you've got?"

She did not expect this. A challenge. Hermione was determined to win.

She shut her book with a snap, stood up, and stepped to him, sitting back down mere inches away, purposefully invading his personal space.

Her chin was raised in defiance when she spouted, "Fine, Malfoy, what are you gonna do if I call your bluff?"

She was daring him to continue, and Draco almost laughed out loud at her attempt to play a game on him. She was way out of her league.

Thinking fast, he leaned in toward her with the quickness of a Sphinx, stopping only millimeters from her mouth.

His lips felt like a feather tickling hers when he all but whispered, "What are you gonna do if I call yours?"

~~~

Draco wanted to kiss her. Her strong will and quick wit excited him. She wasn't like the Slytherin girls who threw themselves at him without an ounce of self respect. Rival or not, she was his equal, and it made something inside him burn with desire.

He was so close to her that even with only moonlight he could see the amber flecks in her deep brown eyes and could smell the scent of lavender and sweat pea from her hair. He was yearning to reach out that last step, not even a breath away, and taste her.

But that would give too much away. His Slytherin upbringing would never allow him to display such weakness. Kissing her would only give her something to hold over him, to manipulate him with later. He had to show her that he was the one in control.

His eyes flashed as he ever so slightly brushed his lips across hers. A tease; not a kiss, but a touch. Then he pulled away.

Hermione regained herself (was that a shudder in her breath?), shrugged, and gave him a 'you lose' look before scooting away and returning to her book.

~~~

Draco sat for a moment, looking at her out of the corner of his eye. He had wanted to kiss her, he wanted her, even now, to want to kiss him. He thought he'd heard her breath catch, but he couldn't be sure, and now she acted as if she was completely unaffected by their almost kiss. This didn't sit well with him at all.

He tried telling himself that it was just to get one over on Weasley, to snog the prat's girl. Or maybe it was simply boredom? Snogging her would sure beat sitting out here in silence for the next several hours, right?

Regardless, if he couldn't at least keep her attention, then it wouldn't matter what his reason. He couldn't very well just pounce on her. The chit would probably hex him.

With nothing to really say to her, he did the only thing he could think of and gave a noticeable sigh.

"What now?" she smirked.

Success.

"I'm bored."

Hermione looked slightly affronted at this proclamation, and her look gave Draco's ever-present ego just the tools needed to get back on track.

With a cocky smile and a raise of one eyebrow, he added, "Got any ideas how we could pass the time, Granger?"

He would have gotten the message when she rolled her eyes, or even when she sighed with exasperation, but the bint seemed to think he was as thick as Weasley. He certainly didn't need the snide comment that followed.

"Yeah, Malfoy, you pretend I'm not a Mudblood, as you call me," – his smile grew – "and I'll just pretend that you're not... well, you," and then quickly faded.

"Come on, Granger... last chance..." he taunted, pretending her statement didn't bother him at all.

Hermione rolled her eyes again and decided a change of subject was definitely in order. "What were you doing with that second year anyway?"

Draco's brow furrowed, due both to the new subject matter, and at the fact that he had been so easily brushed aside.

"None of your business," he answered heatedly.

"Oh, come on," she pushed, "I'm just trying to give you the benefit of the doubt."

"It's none of your business, Granger! And I don't need any kind of benefit from you!" He was scowling at her again, the momentary calm between the storms seemingly ebbing away with every word.

~~~

She wanted to know. She wanted to confirm that her instincts were correct and that she hadn't betrayed her friends (even though only in her mind), for the silliness of a smooth talker and an attractive smile. It was time to show this boy in front of her that she wasn't to be trifled with.

With a flash of her hand inside her robes, she displayed her wand and pointed it toward Draco's chest. "I could just hex it out of you."

His shock was obvious. "You'll be expelled!"

It was a lame argument for trying to avoid being hexed, but she had caught him off guard, and that was the most threatening thing he could come up with on the spot.

"We are in very different positions, Malfoy." Her tone was light, but held a trace of something menacing. "I will have a job at the Ministry whether I graduate from Hogwarts or not."

The bloody tart! He certainly didn't have to explain himself to her!

He shrugged. "I saw the kid standing there and decided it'd be fun to give him a fright."

For a second Hermione faltered, believing her instincts really had failed her. But then she remembered who she was speaking to and how easily he had answered, and she saw this feeble attempt at dismissal for what it was.

She allowed her wand to flick lightly between her fingers and immediately saw his eyes widen, and more interestingly, his hand grab at the front pocket of his trousers under his robes.

"Well, then I guess you really are the git everyone thinks you are," she replied, hoping to sound like she took the bait as she withdrew her wand.

"Yep," was all he said.

~&~&~

Draco's eyes swept over the grounds while Hermione sat beside him reading – or at least pretending to read – her book. She was forming a plan.

If she could just get him to believe her actions were genuine, the battle would be as good as won. Besides, she thought to herself, what good is having feminine wiles if I'm not going to put them to good use? The hardest part was going to be forcing herself to go through with it if she got the chance.

Yeah, force herself. She almost scoffed out loud at that. He was gorgeous and unattainable and... and truth be told, when he'd moved in to kiss her earlier, she had wanted to hurl herself at him. To straddle him, push him to the ground, and have her way with him. She had felt like some giddy fourth year with a crush, and it was only the knowledge that he would undoubtedly hold it against her that allowed her to maintain some level of control.

Now was not the time for such silly schoolgirl fantasies. There was purpose to her plan. It was probably just the excitement of a boy's interest that had her feeling that way anyway. It had been a few months since her and Ron had split. Draco could have been any boy. Those feelings certainly weren't specific to him. And she was only about to do this to get the answers she wanted. It wasn't because she wanted to snog Malfoy. That idea was ludicrous!

Mustering her courage, Hermione shut her book and tossed it aside. She leaned back casually on her hands and looked to the blond beside her.

"Something I can help you with, Granger?"

"It really is boring out here," she answered, trying to bring them back to an earlier conversation.

Draco, being very intelligent himself, was not lost on this subtlety. He raised an eyebrow and looked at her skeptically.

"I mean," she plowed on, scooting a little closer to him. She had to lower her eyes to disguise her trepidation and the flush rising in her cheeks. "If there was some way we could... erm... pass the time for a couple of hours..."

He gave a hearty laugh. "A couple of hours, Granger?"

"Should I expect less from the great Draco Malfoy?" she teased.

~~~

For a second, he felt a hormonal urge to reach out and pull her to him. He quickly squashed that though and instead contemplated his situation. Why was she doing this? What was she going to get out of it?

Then he remembered the second year. She was trying to get him to talk. Well, he thought, two can play that game. I'll push this as far as she's willing to go. He'd never reveal his secret.

He raised his chin, raking his eyes coolly down her form and back. Surely that would show her just how little concern he had for the matter. After all, it was only boredom that had caused him to want her earlier – at least he wanted her to believe that and maybe himself as well.

~~~

The look he gave her almost turned her stomach. He was sizing her up and, even without words, seemed to be telling her that under the circumstances, she'd do.

It was disgust, not nerves, which now fueled her desire to give up this farce. Wouldn't it be nice though, to give Draco Malfoy a kiss he wouldn't soon forget? That would shut him up – if he had spoken that is.

In one quick motion she settled herself between his parted legs, sitting on her knees with her hands on the ground at either side of his hips. "Well, I guess if you don't find me attractive..."

Draco swallowed hard, a slight panic coming over him. She was really going to do this! Just to get him to talk!

Or maybe, maybe, that wasn't the only reason.

Revealing nothing, he gave another cocky quirk of his lip and raised a hand to brush away one of her stray tendrils. The truth was he found her very attractive – and getting more so by the minute.

Boldly leaning forward, Hermione caught his lips for a soft kiss.

It took Draco a moment to respond, not actually believing that this was going to happen or that it was happening right now.

Hermione wasn't moving. Almost frozen to the spot and feeling more mortified with each passing second that he wasn't kissing her back. She'd been a fool to do this. She should have just hexed the blighter!

She made to pull away, but at that moment Draco seemed to find his bearings. He reached a hand behind her neck and finally pushed back lightly against the force of her lips.

They were both moving slowly – cautiously – as if gauging their enemy before an attack.

Draco caught her bottom lip, sucking in lightly, and was rewarded by Hermione opening her mouth to deepen their kiss.

Tongues slid and tangled, a passion they hadn't expected entangling them both.

Draco's mind was confirming what he had always believed. Her pouty lips felt luscious under his touch.

Hermione may not have been thinking at all when both her hands left the ground to snake around his neck. She fell fully against him with a hard thud.

"Oof," was the simultaneous response.

She giggled and whispered, "sorry," against his lips as Draco quickly replied with a, "s'okay." Their kiss resumed instantly.

Feeling emboldened, Draco clutched her hair, pulling her head back to kiss and suckle her neck.

He heard her soft moan – oh yes, it was definitely a moan – and it gave him the courage to press onward. Pulling lightly at the neckline of her robes, he began planting soft kisses on her collarbone. He knew he had her.

Hermione was losing all rational thought with his kisses, but at the moment she couldn't give a care. His broad shoulders and hard chest, even through his robes, were fascinating her. She'd always thought he looked too thin, but that was definitely not how he felt.

The way he nipped at her collarbone and neck was stealing her breath. Ron had never given so much attention to those parts of her body that weren't directly connected with sex. This was the way a man touched a woman.

A man. He was no longer a schoolboy, he was a man, and he made her feel like a woman. It was an odd thought, that. Draco Malfoy had grown up. Draco... Malfoy.

The fog slowly started to recede from her mind.

Draco Malfoy was the man kissing her. It was Draco Malfoy's arm that was wrapped firmly about her waist, pulling her tight against him. Draco Malfoy's hand was buried in her hair, bending her to his will – and she was allowing it!

No! This wasn't right. She had a plan... some plan.

A vision of Draco grabbing his front pocket flitted through her mind.

She had come this far, she wasn't going to be distracted now. She certainly wasn't going to give in to these bizarre feelings for him! At least not until I know for sure... no – wait – what?

Regaining her focus, while still kissing him soundly, Hermione slid one hand down his chest and stomach, to rest just above his waist. She felt the buttons on his robes and quickly slid her hand between the gap.

Draco moaned into her neck, feeling her hand resting just above the snap on his trousers. He yanked on her collar, rather forcefully, and began trailing kisses as low as the impeding clothing would allow.

For a second Hermione began to feel guilty. Was she leading him on? Her plan hadn't really taken into account how he may react to having a woman drape herself against him, especially with said woman now arching into his touch, pushing her breasts suggestively against him in the process.

She needed to distract him. If he didn't think he was going to get anywhere with this, he would probably just forget about her and go find Pansy in the morning. He'd still get his shag, and obviously Pansy had nothing to complain about. Hermione could now attest to that! Everyone would get what they wanted, right?

~~~

The hand around Draco's neck slid to his jawbone, bringing his lips back in contact with those full, robust beauties belonging to his... his what? She certainly wasn't his anything.

Hermione.

He decided he may just have to make her his after this.

He felt her hand sliding slowly downward, almost touching his now full erection, but instead she moved to the side, resting her hand in the crook at the top of his thigh. That was okay. He liked her innocence–well, almost innocence he corrected. He audibly grumbled at the thought.

No bother. He couldn't be concerned with such things right now. Those delicious little fingers were roaming again, sliding up toward... his pocket.

His pocket?

Then they quickly dipped inside to clutch the contents within.

Draco jerked away. "What the fuck are you doing?"

~~~

He screamed at her as he pushed her away.

His face looked angrier than she had ever seen it, and she grasped the tiny paper tightly in her hand, more out of fear and concealment than because she had any further desire to see it. He was beginning to really scare her.

"Give it to me, Granger." His jaw was clenched, and he spoke with an eerie calm, but rage blazed in his eyes.

Hermione's eyes were wide with fear. How could he get so mad over such a little thing? She shook her head and scooted away. She didn't actually care what the paper was anymore; she just didn't want to get close enough to give it to him. She shook her head again, even though he didn't repeat himself, and scooted back a few more feet.

"I'm not toying with you, Granger; give it to me." Even more steel calm grated his voice, and this time, he wasn't going to wait for an answer.

Draco lunged forward, and Hermione screamed as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist so hard that she knew she would have bruises. He yanked her fist forward, and she looked at it as if it didn't belong to her body. The paper was still clenched in a vice-like grip between her fingers.

He held her wrist in one hand while he peeled her fingers back with the other. His steel grey eyes almost burning holes in her brown ones.

"I guess there really isn't anything a Mudblood won't stoop to," he spat. "Do you always behave like a Muggle whore to get what you want?"

His words were so cold Hermione gasped at the shock of them. Still staring into his eyes, hers welled with tears as her fingers went limp and he grabbed the paper from her hand.

She stood and turned away with a feeling of overwhelming shame and disgust. She had to leave there, to leave his sight, and so she ran off into the distance of the grounds.

Draco spat at the ground as she fled. "Filthy Mudblood," he said to himself and the silence at large.

He began to think about his father's words. 'Mudbloods are worthless, Draco. The Wizarding world would be better off without them.' Maybe he'd been right all along.

Yet, it wasn't anger that clearly shone on Draco Malfoy's face as he watched Hermione vanish into the distance.

~~~

Draco's head jerked round at the sound of rustling beside him. Looking up through the whirl of black fabric, his eyes met the scrutinizing glare of Severus Snape.