DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry and everyone else. J.K. Rowling does. Poor me.
Her Many Pretenses
She looked around to make sure they were alone in the library. When she was done, she sat down beside him, even though doing so was a flagrant violation of their unspoken rules
"What are you doing?" she asked, and ran a hand through his platinum-blonde hair.
"Aren't we supposed to be quarreling now?"
"Oh." She slumped in her chair. Damn right they should be cursing each other's heads off. But she only wanted to lay her head on his shoulder, give him a hug and a kiss.
His eyes snapped towards her. He leaned close and whispered, "We'll make up for lost time later in our quarters, okay? But now we have to pretend." He returned his attention to the book.
"Pretend." Pretend, pretend, pretend. Their love was secret. No one but themselves knew.
She hated it.
"Hermione? You've got to move away now. Someone might walk in on us."
Oh, right. She gathered up her things and went to the next table. Her back was to him as she sat down. She tried to concentrate on the book before her, but her thoughts kept straying towards him.
Pretend, she told herself. Pretend even when no on else's around.
She pretended to read. Her mind brooded. Her best friends wouldn't like this relationship. They'd go berserk with madness if they found out. As for him, spies abounded in his House. He couldn't risk them catching him on more-than-friendly terms with her—his father would kill him. He was Head Boy and she was Head Girl, all right. But it was to be left at that.
So they pretended. Pretended they hated each other. The War was nearing, after all.
In truth, their hatred was now directed at cruel Fate, and at the circumstances they were in. They'd been slow in overcoming the prejudices that made them hate one another.
Suddenly the library was filled with noise. Two people appeared beside her, and she looked up to see two pairs of eyes shining with thrust and love. She felt ashamed, and tore her gaze away from her best friends. They trusted her. She didn't, to some degree.
So pretend you trust them fully, she told herself.
She knew he did a good job of it. He said so himself. When you're surrounded by very good actors who want you to act too, sooner or later it just comes smoothly.
"Something bothering you, Hermione?" Harry was asking.
"No," she said.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"To lunch, of course," Ron interjected.
She stood up, denying herself a glance at the blonde man behind them. They walked out of the library. Good. They noticed nothing. Not even her proximity to her lover.
Sooner or later, though, the cover would be blown wide open.
It always did.
Because she couldn't keep up living like that. She wasn't the type to live in a lie. Everyone just needed to deal with their love when it came out.
A/N: One of my early attempts at a fanfic. Hope you enjoyed! Please, please, please R&R!!!