Author's Notes: Okay soooo I just hope y'all like this. I know it's been done before...but I couldn't help myself.Everyone likes a little game of"I Never". There will be more to come of course. Because well yeah. Imay notbe the best at updating but I'll do my best. Okay wellon with the story.

Disclaimer: I don'town anypart of the Harry Potter phonominon.

Chapter 1: I Never

Hermione Granger wanted to be Head Girl from the moment she was accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but being Head Girl with Draco Malfoy as Head Boy had not in her plans. They managed to give the first meeting on the Hogwarts Express to the younger prefects well enough without killing each other. However, now in their shared common room they sat on opposite chairs glaring at one another without saying a word.

Professor McGonagall had informed them just moments ago that they had better use the night getting to know one another. She had informed them that if they didn't get over their petty differences the titles bestowed upon them would be revoked. It seemed that neither was at all pleased with the situation at hand.

"Well what would you suggest Malfoy," Hermione asked halfheartedly. She felt she could be using her time to do something constructive like studying or being with her friends.

"Let's just say that we did this heart to heart bullshit and not have to look at each other ever again. I think I like the sound of that." Draco said with his usual air of arrogance. On the other hand he really didn't mind the fact he was being forced to learn more of the girl. She had been a mystery to him for years. He had secretly wanted to get to know more about her, and now he was given the perfect opportunity to do so.

The Gryffindor girl rolled her eyes at him, "You may very well not care about keeping your place as Head Boy, but I've worked too hard to let a spoiled little git like you take my position away from me."

"It's amazing that they even let a…person like you have the position at all," Draco Malfoy sneered. Hating himself for saying it. He had just come to terms with his new beliefs, but old habits die hard, as the cliché goes.

"What, you can't say it? Mudblood. You've been saying it for years now. Don't stop on account of having to live with me," she said bitterly.

"I can call or not call you anything I want, whenever I want. Trust me it isn't because I have to share the same common room as you," he said truthfully.

Just then the fireplace turned bright green momentarily and a letter went flying out of it. Draco was up and caught the letter his seeker instincts kicking in. He looked at the letter curiously. He skimmed over the letter and smirked.

"I guess we've been having someone eavesdropping on our conversation. The headmaster believes that maybe if a slight breech in the rules for an evening is in order," as he tossed the letter at Hermione.

"What is he suggesting?"

"One can only guess. Well this brings things to a new light. Why don't we play little game called 'I Never'?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well you would have to get over your good goody ways and drink a little."

"What? How did you get alcohol into the school? It says in Hogwarts: A History that there are charms on the castle so students can't smuggle in alcohol."

"I'm a Malfoy," the boy shrugged.

"I can't believe you! That's…I'm not…"

"Look Dumbledore isn't going to revoke anything, at least not tonight. He said so himself in a round about way," he shook his head and mumbled something that sounded something awfully close to 'and they say she's the smart one'.

Draco took his wand and flicked it and a bottle of Firewhiskey appeared on the table between himself and Hermione. He flicked it again and two shot glasses appeared neatly next to the bottle.

"I don't know," Hermione looked skeptically at the bottle filled with the amber liquid.

"Look I don't really care. The only way I'm going to be able to handle a cozy little conversation with you is while I have something stronger than pumpkin juice in my system. And if our past encounters are any gauge I believe that you yourself will need a little help opening up. Now do you need a quick run of the rules?"

Hermione closed her eyes to think. Of course he was right, but then she wasn't sure of herself being drunk infront of the boy. She had been at a party that the Weasley twins held over the summer. She had gotten completely smashed, but after all that was with people she knew and trusted. Drinking with Draco Malfoy just didn't seem to be the same. However, the call of the bottle was getting stronger. She could handle her liquor well enough. A smile came to her lips remembering how she had out drank Harry and Ron both before that night was over.

Draco saw her smile and knew he had won. He'd be able to kill two birds with one stone. He'd get the teachers off his back by doing what they asked, and he'd be able to see the innocent little Hermione Granger, pride of Gryffindor, get schmashed.

"Alright, fine. Fill the glasses. Refresh my memory about the game."

Draco took the bottle and filled the glasses as he explained the rules. (A/N: I'm sure you know the rules but bear with me. Don't you hate author's notes inside the text of the story? Yeah. So do I.) "Okay you say a phrase beginning with 'I never' and if the statement about you is false you drink. For example 'I never played Quiddich for the school' I would drink while you wouldn't. Got it? I'll go first."

He passed her one of the glasses, "Here, okay, so what should I start with? …I never had Muggle parents."

"That's not fair!"

"Drink. It's fair."

Hermione grimaced at Draco, and downed the glass. She let the hot whiskey run down her throat and sucked in air to chase it. The rush of cool air over the hot track of the liquor was encouraging to her. It was her comfort in the strange situation. Draco raised an eyebrow. She handled that better than Pansy, and Pansy has been known to hold her liquor along side himself and Blaise.

"I never had blonde hair."

Draco smirked at her as her downed his glass. Hermione held up her hand and pointed her wand at the bottle and said a truth detecting spell. "Now I know that you won't lie and not take a drink."

"What don't you trust me, Granger?"

"Only when the stars fall from the heavens, Malfoy, will I trust you."

The Slytherin laughed. It was a real laugh Hermione noted and was confused by it. Draco flicked his wand and both glasses were full again.

"I never liked Potions class."

Draco took a drink, and was surprised to see Hermione do the same.

"Why do you like Potions," he asked filling their glasses.

"Well I'm a logical person and Potions takes more than just reading a recipe. You really have to put your whole mind into it. It's one of the few classes that really challenges me."

"But what about Snape?"

"What about him? He is an excellent teacher. He is competent and manages to get his lessons taught, even if it is in an unorthodox way. Don't get me wrong, that man has made me so angry I can't see straight, however, that doesn't change the facts."

Draco simply nodded. He could respect that, although admitting that to the girl may be too much on this occasion.

"So it's my turn," Hermione tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "I never wanted to be in Hufflepuff."

Draco looked at her with disbelief, "Come on, no one wants to be in Hufflepuff. I don't think the people in Hufflepuff want to be in Hufflepuff."

Hermione laughed, "Yeah I'd have to say you're right."

"I never hit a Malfoy."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at the boy as she drank, "You won't let a little thing like that bother you still?"

"You are the only one that has ever hit me and walked away unscratched," Draco said and took a drink himself.

"I'm surprised you let me walk away actually. I wouldn't hit a Malfoy again. Well I don't know about that. Maybe I would. But it'd have to be for a good reason. I'm sure they hit back with enough force to kill someone."

"Something like that. I wouldn't advise it myself. It's your turn. Make it's a good one."

"Umm I never liked the snow."

Draco took a drink, "Why don't you like the snow?"

"Nope you have to say why you like it. I don't have to say anything."

"It has always been a comfort to me. A chance to physically feel what I feel emotionally," he said with a smirk. The smirk was directed at himself for letting on a possible crack in the walls he had barricaded himself from the outside world.

Hermione nodded and filled his glass up with a flick of her wrist, "It's your turn."

"I never liked Muggle music."

"Come on now you can't," Hermione was cut short as she watched Draco raise his glass to his lips. She could hardly believe that he was actually downing the liquid. He saw the confused look that was written all over her face as she stared at him. He enjoyed surprising the girl. He made a mental note to thank the Headmaster at some latter date about giving him an opportunity to get to know this girl better.

"I know that you have to like some kind of Muggle music."

Hermione blushed and threw her head back as she consumed the liquor. It seemed that the world was full of surprises. If a Malfoy could like something made by Muggles then maybe there was still hope for the youngest Malfoy.

"I never got a tattoo."

"Like the goody goody Gryff…."

Hermione took a swig of the burning hot whiskey.

"You have to be joking!"

The Gryffindor laughed at the face the boy across the room from her made, "I'll show you but you have to promise not to tell anyone. It was a dare that Ron gave me over the summer."

"Normally I wouldn't promise anything. Let alone to you. But this I've got to see."

"Okay. Don't laugh," Hermione got up and unfastened her school robes. She walked over to him and pushed the waist of her jeans down about an inch on the left side.

Draco's breathing quicken this was just a little too close for him. He didn't know if he wanted to be this close to her. She was one of his few weaknesses. Of course no one would know or understand. He had always treated her as he would any other Muggle-born in the school if not more so just to get the point across that there was nothing that he wanted from this girl. But that was a losing battle he dreamt of the girl every night. It was the only time he could be who he really was and be loved for it. He knew that anything more than his dreams was completely out of the question and seeing the slope from her waist to her perfect hip was too much and would feed his imagination. On her hip was a tiny pinkish while cherry blossom. It seemed to fit her personality perfectly. He never thought tattoo where worth the time and effort of marring flesh for ever. This, one the other hand, seemed to only add to the beauty of the Gryffindor that he wanted so much.

Draco nodded he couldn't speak just yet he had to clear his mind seeing that particularly innocent patch of skin had done much to his sprit. It had left too much for the imagination and for the millionth time he cursed himself for questioning his father's teachings.

"Hmmm. I never would trust a Gryffindor."

The girl who had returned to her seat drank from her newly replenished supply of Firewhiskey. She smiled as she watched him do the same. "Why would you trust a Gryffindor?"

"I wouldn't trust them all. I'm not stupid. But there are a few that I could trust if the situation called for it."

"Like who?"

"I'm sorry that would be a breech of Malfoy Code 207, Article G, paragraph 4c."

Hermione stared at him for a second and burst out laughing while the Slytherin looked at her like she was going crazy then slowly he too started laughing along with her.

"Okay, okay, I got one," Hermione wiped a tear of laugher from her eyes, "I never have been in love."

Draco's laughter faded and looked at her. His mind was getting fuzzy. How many drinks had he had? He didn't want to drink to this one, but he had to. Hermione's spell wouldn't let him skip this question. He couldn't control the glass coming to his lips and the whiskey burning a new path down his throat.

"You've been in love?"

"You didn't take a drink."

"I don't have to. I've never been in love. So who is the girl?"

"I'm not a liberty to discuss this with you."

"Come on; give me a hint or something."

"No. I think I'm about done tonight."

"What? So I out-drank Draco Malfoy. That's some crazy shit. It's one thing to out drink Harry and Ron. Hell, I'd accept the Weasley twins before I'd believe I could out drink you."

"You can't out drink me. I just have had enough of this bullshit."

"Huh? Hold on. You get all weird when I ask about some girl? Look, it was just conversation. I'm just trying to get past the petty bullshit. I'm sorry if I'm treading on thin ice I'll be a good girl and respect your wishes. Settle down. I'm actually enjoying this."

Draco who was posed to get out of his chair, and stumble his way to his room relaxed a bit. "I never thought you would enjoy my company. Much less I enjoy your company."

Hermione smiled and leaned over the table toward him indicating a toast. "I got an idea. Okay, really listen. You're listening, right? Okay so, let's try to get over the past. You never did anything to me that can't be forgiven. If you are willing we can try this whole getting along thing more often."

Draco looked into her eyes and leaned to her. He clinking his glass to hers he said, "I am not promising nothing, but it's worth a shot." What Hermione didn't know was that she sparked a flicker of hope in Draco.