A/N: Enjoy!

Condition Four: Actions Matters more than Words

Third Year,

Near Hagrid's Hut

To say Draco Malfoy was amused was an understatement when Hermione Granger decided to turn around and punch him in the face. On the nose to be exact. He squeezed his eyes in pain and shouted out something or other about telling his father about this. Internally, he enjoyed seeing the feisty look of anger in her eyes and a little tinge of disappointment. To find out that she had expectations from him was definitely enlightening.

Draco always did have a mind that thought differently from other kids his age. What with having the responsibility of his family name placed on him and being treated way beyond his age, he perceived things differently. He could tell when people approached him with motives in mind or just to sidle up to him so they could raise their own status. That's why it was always amusing when he could play around with the people who didn't want anything from him or felt an instant dislike toward him.

With Hermione, though, he found it most enjoyable to observe her reaction every time they interacted with each other. How when she was angry, her lips would pucker out slightly and her cheeks would burn a scarlet color. Or when he had called her a mudblood and there were tears brimming in her eyes along with the pursing of her lips. Seeing this new expression from her proved to him how he would never tire of learning more about her.

He peeked up from his bent position, just catching her long golden-brown curls waving in the wind before disappearing into the school.

"Bloody hell," Crabbe had his usual blank look. He looked at Goyle, unsure of what to do.

Draco resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Only these two bludgers would be foolish enough to cater to his father's demands.

"Leave it," Draco muttered. "I'll handle her on my own."

Present Day

Random classroom

Hermione resisted the urge to strangle Parkinson's neck as she once again expressed displeasure at the sign Luna and Neville were working so painstakingly on.

"The colors are off. You should repaint it." She commented snidely as she looked at her perfectly manicured fingers.

It was only the second day that they were working on decorations in a room Hermione had reserved for the volunteers to work in, yet she already wanted to boot the Slytherin seventh year out. "Parkinson," she said with a tight smile, "can I speak to you for a moment outside?"

Pansy raised a brow and looked as though she was about to refuse, but got up lightly and followed the Head girl.

"Since you volunteered, could you please at least help a little instead of causing more work?" Hermione had her arms crossed, feeling more irritated as Parkinson raised a brow.

"For your information, Granger, I am helping out. I'm telling them what they are doing wrong and how to fix it."

Hermione clenched her hands into fists. "Parkinson, this is your last warning, if you don't help out more, then I'm afraid I'll have to ask one of the other Slytherins who really wanted to participate."

She had the gall to sigh. "Alright, fine, I'll go and help Lovegood and Longbottom paint." With that, she turned around and headed inside the classroom.

During dinner, Hermione arrived in the Great Hall mentally drained.

"You alright, Hermione?" Harry asked, looking up from the latest edition of Quidditch News.

She slumped down across from the two. "I'm fine, just tired. Helping Padma and Parvati with decorations is not as easy as I thought." Even after Parkinson decided to cooperate more, there was so much work to do and only two weeks left before the party. "At least Parkinson is starting to help a little more."

"I still can't believe you let her volunteer," Ron said with a frown.

"She's not that bad, once you work with her more," Harry commented.

Hermione and Ron's eyes widened at his words. "You've been partners with her before?"

Harry nodded and gave them a pointed look. "Remember that course I asked you both to take with me last semester, but you refused because it wasn't 'challenging' enough or sounded 'boring'?" The two nodded. "Well, Parkinson was in there too and the professor decided to partner us up together. Inter-house unity or whatever. Despite her attitude, she's pretty smart and insightful."

"Great, she works well with you, but that doesn't help me," Hermione muttered, although she couldn't help herself from glancing at the Slytherin table where the girl in question was laughing loudly amongst her group of friends.

"Maybe she just needs to warm up to you too. I'm sure it'll get better with time." Harry said optimistically.

Ron was about to say something further when Lavender popped up. "Hey, Ronny-bonny, are you ready to go?" She cooed.

Ron's face turned a dark shade of red as the two raised their brows. "Yeah," he muttered as he looked down at his almost empty plate. Before he could feel more embarrassed he led Lavender away.

"A date?" Hermione questioned.

Harry shrugged. "Maybe. Ron doesn't really talk to me much about his relationship with Lavender." He looked at Hermione with a sheepish smile. "I think he still might have feelings for you but is trying to forget them by dating Lavender."

Hermione frowned. "He shouldn't date her if he doesn't like her."

"I guess emotions are just complicated."

Hermione looked down at her hands. Boy, are they ever.

The next morning, as Draco was walking to his next class with ease, Weasley and Potter strode past him in a hurry. He looked at them with amusement. "Always late. Wouldn't expect anything more from the two boys who always need their mother to take care of them."

The two stopped in their tracks and whirled around to face him. Harry was trying to stop himself from reacting to the comment, hands clenched into tight fists. On the other hand, Ron's face was already turning into a deep shade of red as he blurted, "I'm sure you would understand since you're already such a momma's boy."

Unfazed, he smirked. "Now now Weasley, at least I don't need a second mommy to watch me while I'm at school. I mean, that's what Hermione does, right? Take care of you like you're a child."

Ron was about to lunge for Draco and he was ready to dodge when Harry stopped him. "Leave it, Ron."

But Ron was no longer sane as jealousy began bubbling inside him at the way Draco spoke of her so familiarly. "Don't talk about Hermione that way. And stay away from her. She's not yours to toy with!"

The Slytherin raised a brow. "Who I choose to associate with is none of your business. Besides, it takes two to mingle. Who's to say she's the one who can't stop…associating with me."

Ron bristled at his comment. The way Draco spoke her name and treated her sounded intimate, even possessive. "Either way, stay away from her, Malfoy. She's not someone you can mess with." He said between clenched teeth.

Draco merely stared at the red-head with slight boredom. "I wonder what your girlfriend would do if she were to hear you. Being so protective of some other girl. I'm sure she would be devastated."

Just as Ron was about to lunge at him again, they were interrupted by the one and only Hermione Granger.

"What are you guys doing?" She had popped up from a different hallway and now headed in their direction, eyes narrowed and holding books in her arms.

Draco gave her a charming smile. "Ah, speaking of the devil."

Hermione studied each of them carefully. Harry and Ron were bristling with anger, while Draco was in his usual relaxed pose, hands in his pant's pockets.

"What's going on here?" She asked again.

"Ask him," Ron said, still clearly red in the face.

She sighed, wondering if the three would ever get along. "Draco, come with me." She gestured for him to follow, but when he stayed rooted to his spot, she rolled her eyes, went up to him, grabbed his arm, and dragged him away with her.

Draco waved his hand at the other two, who only glared at him, not wanting to face the wrath of their bushy-haired friend if they tried to follow.

"Why are you always provoking Harry and Ron?" She crossed her arms and glared at him. She had dragged him into an empty hallway.

He leaned against the wall and mimicked her pose. "There's nothing wrong with having some fun." He drawled. "Besides, they have no business butting in between us."

"Us?" Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "There is no us. Especially when you've been doing everything in your power to go against the conditions I've set." While Hermione was visibly upset, internally, she was slightly amazed at his ability to retain information.

He had only seen the conditions once when they had met up in the library. He'd merely glanced at it and yet he was doing almost the exact opposite of everything she had set.

He tutted. "Hermione, if there was no us, then there wouldn't have been conditions set in the first place. Besides, you were the one who suggested the conditions, not me. And for all I know, if I were to sign it and break some of the conditions, you probably placed a spell on it to bite me back."

At his probing stare, she looked down at the ground slightly sheepish for he was completely right. She couldn't help not trusting him completely. For despite his demeanor, he was always spontaneous when it came to her. She could never read his mind. And that really bothered her.

"I just-" She didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure how she could convey her feelings when it seemed he didn't want feelings to be involved in the first place. He believed everything between them was just sexual. That he just needed to complete the deal and that would satisfy him. Setting these conditions was a way for her to not fall even more in love with him. Even if they ended up shagging, at least she could leave knowing her heart was safe. But, with the way he constantly invaded her space and showed her expressions he never showed anyone else, she knew that she was going to be in trouble if he ever showed the slightest interest in someone else. If he were to do the things he did for her now to another person, she was sure she would never recover, especially when she had fallen for him so long ago.

He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her flush against him. "Your mine." He whispered. "Do you really think I'll let some rules control our relationship?"

She pushed him away, glaring at him. Maybe it was better to let him do what he wanted. To get everything over with so she could just forget about him. So that she could enjoy the rest of her seventh year in peace and never return after she graduated. Run far away so that he would remain a small bump in the road. She had her arms wrapped around herself as if protecting herself from him. "If I let you do it. Would you stop bothering me?" She whispered.

He raised a brow. "What are you implying?"

She took a deep, shaky breath. "In two weeks time, there will be the Halloween party. If you can find me amongst all the costumed students, then I'll listen to you. I'll let you do what you've been wanting ever since the start of the school year."

He studied her carefully, then closed the distance between the two of them again, leaning down until his lips were right by her ear. "We have a deal then." With that, he walked away.

Hermione continued to hug herself even after he was gone, mind racing. She would have to come up with a really good disguise, but at the same time, something that would make him know who she was. She closed her eyes. She really just wanted to finish this. With or without conditions. She didn't want to be entangled further into Draco's games.