Chapter 2-four days to go
A/N once again I'd like to remind everyone that nothing you see here belongs to me. If anyone is thinking about suing me for stealing this amazing plot, please save your money for the last book. It all belongs to Mrs. JK Rowling.
Just a reminder that these lil' guys mean italics ( ) as I can't get the shortcuts to work…
And now on with the show!
As the weeks preceding the Yule ball flew by, Draco became more and more secretive, and Hermione was getting more and more testy. On more than one occasion she would send a younger student fleeing from the room in tears.
It came down to the point where every student -except for Ron, Harry, and Ginny of course- decided that it was better for their sanity to altogether ignore and avoid the female portion of the golden trio.
Although her three best friends stood by her like always, none of them could figure out what was wrong with the girl or that it was a certain blond that had her in a tizzy. All they knew was that their friend had gone from a straight O goody-goody Gryffindor, to the hot headed wicked Bitch of the tower.
Finally nobody could stand it any more (and I mean nobody!), and Ron was given the horrid task of talking to her. it took until 4 days before the ball to corner her outside NEWT transfiguration.
"Hey Hermione, can I ask you something?"
She braced herself mentally for the explosion that for sure was coming. "Sure Ron, what's bugging you?"
"How long have you been going with Malfoy?"
"…Wha-?" was all the dumbstruck Hermione could get out. That's definitely not what she was expecting. "How long have I what?"
"Come on Hermy, don't play dumb, you're too smart to pull it off. I know that you and the Ferret are together, I was just wondering how long it's been going on and if this is why you've been so cranky these last 2 ½ weeks. I may not be the brightest tool in the chandelier but I do pick up on most things eventually.
Hermione picked up on Ron's pitiful attempt at the Muggle saying but didn't bother correcting him because it suited him. She was still trying to figure out how he found out about them. As far as she knew they had been really careful about how, when and where they met. They didn't pass any meaningful glances it the few classes they shared, and she knew for certain that their rooms ensured total privacy, so there was no chance of anyone walking in on them.
"How on Earth did you find out about us? We were extremely careful not to give anything away!"
"Easy. When I was little mom would always tell me that when two people fought more than usual, or were going out of their way to humiliate the other, more than likely it meant that they liked each other. You and Malfoy were a perfect example of that."
"Wow. My mom used to say the exact same thing to me as well, I just never thought about it referring to me until now." She was fairly dazed by now at the thought of a common saying blowing the cover she and Draco had worked so hard to keep in place, so easily.
"So how long? You've all but verbally admitted it."
"Since the middle of 5th year, just before Easter break."
"That long? Wow, I thought I picked up on it fast this time, and that you guys were still new… guess not. So I'm guessing your not going to the ball together since nobody but we four know about you guys.'
"That was the plan…"
"So as a friend, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Actually, what I was going to say, was that it was the plan until a little over two weeks. Draco asked me to go with him, and I of course said yes. We are planning on publicly announcing our relationship there."
"Oh"
"Yeah. So I'm sorry. But what happened with Lavender? You two seemed to be getting really close weren't you?"
"Yeah we were planning on going together, but then she heard from Pavarti, who heard from Ginny, who heard from… whoever that you weren't going to the dance, so she suggested (more like threatened my sex life) that I ask you to go with me. I was the obvious choice because you're my best friend and Harry sure isn't going to go with a girl."
"So what would have happened if I said no?"
"Then I would have gone alone and hooked up with Lava later on. Her 'date' knows that it's not real."
"Ok then I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to say no. Someone has already asked me. And I said 'yes'."
Ron grinned widely "you really like repeating yourself don't you?"
"Why? What did I say?"
"Back in 4th year when I asked you to go with me you fed me that exact same line. The only difference is that this time I actually believe you."
"You remember that? You can't even remember homework assignment at the end of each day."
"Correction, I choose to forget assignments. I only remember things i think are important enough to bother with."
"Of course you do." She didn't even bother trying to reprimand him for his attitude. She had seen his OWL's and even she couldn't complain about the marks he'd received.
"So you and Malfoy huh? Never would have thought I'd have to accept him as my third B.I.L"
"B.I.L?"
"Brother-in-law. You know that I think of you as a sister, so whomever you end up marrying is going to end up my third B.I.L."
"Three…? Me and Ginny, I understand but who's the third?"
Harry of course. He and Kevin have gotten very close in the last year and a half."
"Oh!" Hermione slapped her head stupidly. "Of course, how could I forget Harry?"
'Honestly it had slipped my mind as well until Lavender brought it up, and told me to ask you." Ron blushed heavily as he said this, he was even more ashamed then her at the thought of forgetting his best friend.
"Anyway, the answer to your question is yes, you are going to have to accept Draco as family, because he and I are really serious about our relationship."
"Has he asked you to marry him yet?"
"Not formally, but he all but proposed 3 weeks ago, after he asked me to go with him to the ball. Besides even if he did, we've both agreed that we should wait until after this war is over before talking about forever. "
"That's understandable. I think a lot of the students in our year are following that line of thought. Personally, I was planning on asking Lavender to marry me at the leaving feast. We've been talking about it and neither of us want to put our lives on hold just because there's a war going on."
"That makes sense. Especially when you and I are Harry's best friends and usually get caught in the crossfire, somehow. When the final battle comes there's a very good chance that neither of us will make it back. And now Draco's in the same boat as us because he openly defied Voldemort, if any of the death eaters find him on the field he's history.
"Yeah I guess I see where you're going with this. I mean if you two start talking about the future, then one or both of you die, then there's a lot of unfinished business, and even more pain involved. Ok time to switch topics. This one is getting way too depressing for Christmas. Since you are obviously going to the ball now do you have your dress picked out yet?
"No… yes… I don't know. I don't even know what it's going to look like. Draco won't let me see it until Christmas Eve, the night of the party. He is thoroughly peeving me off. He's being a royal pain in the you-know-where. I'm not allowed to help in any way-"
"And I bet that's driving you absolutely batty isn't it? Not being in control of something? Not being able to make plans because you have no idea where things stand?" a new voice interrupted Hermione's tirade.
Shocked, both lion's whirled around and stared at the blond snake standing not six feet away.
"Draco! I didn't hear you come up behind me." Hermione exclaimed surprised.
"I gathered that from you little rant just now." Draco's cheeky smirk resurfaced for a moment. " I'm assuming from your conversation that Weas- I mean Ron knows about us then?
"Yeah, he actually confronted me about it."
Attention suddenly shifted from the brunette to the redhead in amazement. "You figured it out on your own? How? Were we that obvious? Who else knows? How many others suspect?" Draco was nearing hysterics at the thought of being found out before they were ready.
"Woah, chill out a bit there. One question at a time now. Let me see if I caught all of that. Yes I figured it out on my own. Umm… like I told Hermy, the way you two were acting it was clear that you were both interested in each other, you two took it far beyond the casual hatred. No you weren't obvious; I just knew where to look. As far as I know, only Lavender knows and that's only because I asked for her female opinion. She was the fourth person I was referring to by the way." A small oh of realization was all he got out of Hermione "And finally I don't think anyone else suspects. Not even Harry and you know how intuitive he is. Was that everything?"
Draco quickly thought back at what all he'd asked before replying "Yeah that was everything. Man why can't you be like that in class? The teachers would flip! Especially McGonagall."
"I know, and personally I don't feel like being held responsible for killing my teacher. She'd have a heart attack if I started actively participating in class."
Hermione and Draco shook their heads in unison over Ron's blatant hatred of school work.
"How considerate of you to put the health of an old professor, over the importance of your education." Draco gushed mockingly.
"Yeah, poor McGonagall almost went into shock over my OWL results. Figured that I had somehow gotten passed her anti cheating charms. But Gods was it a nightmare when she finally figured out that I really knew what I was talking about. I swear she tried to turn me into another Hermy…" an exaggerated shutter was what followed before he added "No offence Hermy." with a grin that clearly stated he wasn't sorry.
"None taken" she grinned back. As it was an old joke between the pair about her over-enthusiastic outlook on learning, she was able to laugh at the other wise insult.
A giggle escaped Draco's lips before he could catch it, and Hermione tried -and failed- to glare at the both of them. She was still smiling when she said "Oh stop giggling Draco, it's not funny, and Ron…with that attitude you'll never make the grades you need to get into the Auror program. You know that you need at least an "Exceeds Expectations" in order to be accepted. That includes Potions."
A slight gleam caught the girls' eye when she faintly heard the ginger haired boy mumble, 'yeah I know.' But knew that nothing else would come, so she quickly looked at her watch.
"Oh man! I'm going to be late for charms!"
"Lunch is over? I wasted my precious food time talking to the ferret? Ugh… I don't feels so good now." Ron pretended to faint. "Somebody catch me. I'm feeling woozy…" He caught himself just before he hit the floor. "What's the matter Malfoy? Can't help a sick guy? It's partially your fault you know."
"Oh shut it Weasel. I –" a glance at Hermione quickly shut Draco's mouth, until he finally finished with "I have to run too. DADA starts in 10 minutes."
"I guess so. I have a free period so I'm stealing Harry from Kevin and going down to Hagrid's for tea. See you both later.'
And so the three 17-year-olds split up and went their separate ways.
Ron's quote comes from the TV show "Reba". I love that show, and am overjoyed that I was able to fit a line from it into my humble story. In other words… it ain't mine.
A/N: I was re-reading my story, fixing mistakes that my wonderful readers pointed out to me (ie Blaise's last name) and noticed that Blaise also knows about the couple. Ron doesn't know this, and neither Draco nor Hermione thought to tell him about it at the moment.
I know it seems that Draco is whipped, but I promise, he isn't. He still has his Slytherin backbone, and continues to torment his peers. Just not in front of Hermione…;-) I guess he is kinda whipped…