Draco was walking to his dorm when he came across Hermione crying playing around with a charm to make paper birds fly. He stepped behind a pillar just as Harry came up to her to see if she was okay.
"You alright, 'Mione?" Harry asked when he sat down beside her. Draco decided to stick around to see what was going on. He regretted all those years he had bullied Hermione, because he had secretly fancied her not long after starting and never got around to stopping. It should've been him to comfort her but it was too late now. So he just listened.
Hermione shook her head in response to Harry's question. "Is this how you feel every time you see Ginny with Dean?" At that moment Ron came running into the corridor with Lavender. He looked surprised to see her there and to see her crying.
"Whoops. Looks like this room is taken." giggled Lavender, trying to drag Ron away but he stayed behind a moment.
"What's with the birds?" he asked. Hermione stood up, tears streaming down her face.
"Oppugno." she replied, sending the birds to attack Ron. He skirted out of the room just before the birds exploded against the wall that he was just standing beside. He looked at her in shock and hurt as Lavender drug him away.
"Well, well, well. That's different. I might actually have a chance considering the weasel has shown himself unworthy. The little wanker." Draco thought with a smug look on his face. Time to use this opportunity to my advantage. He walked away with a determination in his eyes and purpose in his he headed to the Heads' common room leaving Hermione to find temporary comfort in Harry.
Hermione walked out an hour later to find a complacent blond-haired classmate sitting confidently on the forest green, heavy plush couch that was the focal point of their shared common room.
"What are grinning about Malfoy? Whatever prank or insult you have at the ready can fucking wait." she said prissily.
"I have no insults and no pranks. Not for you." he replied, watching her arch an eyebrow skeptically.
"Oh, really? Then who might I ask." She sat on the edge of the plush gold chair that sat at the end of the couch.
What the hell is he up to. I am in no mood for any of his antics today. she thought.
"If you must know, nothing, except a bit of payback for weasel making you cry. Thought you might be interested." Draco said, sitting back with his fingers entwined behind his head and his ankle resting on his knee. "Think about it, Granger. All those years you've had a crush on him and all he's done is shove you aside, look past you and hurt you. It's the same cycle over and over and over again."
Hermione looked down as she slid into the armchair. "Has it really been that obvious?"
"Duh. I mean damn, even the Giant Squid in the black lake could tell. I'm surprised he hasn't. What do you see in him anyway? He's just so...so...blech. There isn't even a word to describe him." he stated, hoping that it would slowly open her eyes to see him in a different light. He wanted to prove he was not the blonde-haired git that had bullied and taunted her for years. But as the man who only taunted her because he didn't know how to show his feelings for someone he knew his father rather disapproved of.
"Why do you care Malfoy, what I see in him? It doesn't matter anyway since Ron is oblivious to whatever I feel and/or felt." she retorted.
"You are avoiding the question." he challenged.
"I am not. It's just none of your damned business!" she snapped.
"If you are not avoiding the question, then why are you so defensive."
"I did no-! Oh…"
"Exactly my point." Draco replied smugly.
"Oh bite me. You still haven't told me why you care so much why should I tell you anything?" she barked as she crossed her arms in front of her, surprising herself by actually enjoying the banter going on between them.
"Fine. You answer my question since I asked first then I shall answer yours. Deal?" he compromised.
"Ugh. Fine. Now that I think about it, I don't know exactly what I see in Ron. I guess it's because he is one my best friends and I thought that I could trust and talk to him about anything. But, obviously I was wrong and it broke my heart. I want nothing to do with his vile snogging and flirtations anymore. Your turn." she challenged.
"I don't care other than no one should make you cry." Draco replied nonchalantly, looking away from Hermione to hide his true emotions from her, not ready for her to know. "My idea was to make him jealous by you pretending to date me and so on and so forth. But it doesn't seem that you are interested anymore so…"
"Wait, what do you mean make him jealous?" Hermione queried.
"Hmm, so you are interested? Well, I mean exactly that. We pretend that we are dating. Every time weasel bee is near, we become all lovie-dovie, blah, blah, blah. Get it?" he moved his hands from behind his head and leaned forward to brace his elbows on his knees. "So what do you say?"
Hermione looked down is thought. "What do I have to lose. I'm in." she declared. Draco grinned leaning back into his previous position.
"So what are we waiting for. Let's spread the news. Won't scar-head and weasel-bee be ecstatic when they find out." he said cockily.
"Don't go getting too excited. It's just pretend. Don't you forget that." Hermione rolled her eyes and walked to her bedroom door.
"Good night , darling." Draco said with smartassery.
"Whatever, Malfoy, or should I say Draco" she said with matched sarcasm not knowing that just saying Draco's name sent shivers down his spine.
Once her door closed behind her. Draco relaxed a little bit. "It's all going according to plan. Let's just hope she doesn't figure out the real thing instead of what I told her," he thought.