Dealing With The Enemy

Chapter Three – The Hermione and Ron Problem

By Crow Skywalker

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Disclaimer – Don't own Harry Potter, nor do I claim to.

Author's Notes – Well, here's the third chapter. I want to thank you all for the reviews! :) Sorry for the spelling mistakes and all – I don't have a beta reader, and this chapter was kinda rushed. I did, however, go over it and try to fix anything I came across. I'd also like to say that this fic is AU from OoTP, since some things happened during the book. I will not be going by the book in either this fic or my other HP fic Complicated. With that said, go ahead and R&R! :P

Pairings/Warnings – Pansy/Harry friendship, Harry/Draco and Pansy/Hermione pairings. Rated PG-13, contains slash and femmeslash. You've been warned.

Summary – Pansy and Harry strike a deal to get what they want.

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Harry slumped on his bed, staring up at the ceiling with a frown on his face, wondering what he was supposed to do now. He didn't even want to know what would happen if he failed in keeping his part of the deal – he surely wouldn't be able to show his face in Hogwarts again.

I can hear it now, he shut his eyes, the whispers and gossip…Harry Potter is gay, did you hear? He wants to shag Draco Malfoy!

Harry sighed, opening his eyes against the dimming light. He always managed to get himself into bad situations, and this was certainly the worst.

I'd rather face Voldemort again than face all the student's stares when they find out… He shook his head, sitting up. I have to do this…even though Hermione is my friend. Besides, she could like Pansy…she just has to get to know her!

Voices could be heard in the Common Room as people entered, and his mind set, Harry got off his bed and headed down to see it was. As it turned out, it was Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were laughing loudly.

"Harry! You wouldn't believe what we just witnessed!" Seamus laughed, sitting down in the couch nearest to the fire.

"Yeah Harry…we were in the library, looking for a book on that spell we learned in Transfiguration today…and you wouldn't believe what we saw!" Dean laughed, taking a seat next to his friend.

"You wouldn't believe who we caught snogging behind a bookshelf." Seamus continued with a snort.

Harry forced a smile. "Who?"

"Ron and Hermione!" Dean managed to say before giggling again.

Harry's eyes widened, and he immediately felt his heart stop. Oh no…

"Who would have guessed?" Dean continued to laugh, "And by the looks of it, it was their first too…it was pretty sloppy if you ask me."

Both boys continued their fits of giggles, ignoring the fact that Harry had gone still and looked as if he had just seen a ghost. Finally their laughter stopped, and Seamus was first to ask.

"Uh, Harry? What's wrong?"

Harry didn't answer them, just stared ahead. Oh no…oh no…what am I supposed to do now? I can't carry on with the deal…Hermione and Ron are together! I refuse to break up whatever relationship they've started!

"Start by keeping the Weasel away from her."

Harry shook his head, quickly heading for the exit. He had to find them, and quick! The portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, and he soon disappeared, leaving Dean and Seamus staring after him.

"What do you s'pose all that was about?" Asked Seamus.

Dean shrugged. "Maybe Harry has the hots for Hermione."

"Or maybe Ron!" Seamus declared, and both boys began to laugh again.

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Harry quickly made his way down the hall as fast as he could, making his way towards the library.

"If it doesn't work out, I tell everyone your little secret." Pansy's words rung in his ears, making him go even faster.

He was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't hear someone coming, and literally banged into someone as he rounded a corner.

"Sorry." He muttered, not even stopping to see whom it was.

"Potter!" Came a voice, and Harry immediately froze. "Next time watch where you're going!" Snarled the voice.

Harry turned to face the other person, knowing exactly who it was. Draco Malfoy…this just isn't my day…

Draco sat on the stone floor where he had fallen, a disgusted look on his face.

"Look at this!" Draco indicated to his robes, "Dust everywhere! They're spoiled!"

"Dust can easily be wiped off," Harry rolled his eyes.

"That's what you think!" Draco spat, glaring at the other boy, "These are black robes, Potter! If I wash them the color will fade!"

"I never said to wash them," Harry pointed out, "I said wipe it off."

"And touch it? I'm allergic!" The other boy growled.

"As much as it is a pleasure to converse about dust with you in an empty hall, Malfoy, I really have to be going." Stated Harry, quite amused with the situation. It was true, he really didn't have the time…he had to find Hermione and Ron. Although he did like talking to Malfoy…even if they were arguing. It gave Harry an excuse to look at him – to stare at those moving lips he so desperately wanted to kiss with his own.

"Whatever Potter…like I want to talk to you anyway." Malfoy walked off, continuing to mumble about dust and allergies. Harry was surprised Malfoy had left so quickly – he was certain Malfoy would have some rude comments and other things to throw at him.

He shrugged. This really is a weird day…

"Harry? What are you doing here?" Harry turned to find Hermione and Ron standing behind him. He hadn't heard anyone in the hall, but apparently they had walked up behind him without him noticing.

"Oh, there you guys are! I was looking for you and ended up running into Malfoy…where have you been?" He asked, pretending he didn't know anything. At this, both Ron and Hermione blushed, both looking anywhere but at Harry.

"Was helping Hermione find a book she was looking for." Ron finally answered, and Harry could tell he was lying. Whenever Ron lied he refused to look at the person he was talking to, and the tips of his ears always turned red for some reason, which was exactly what was happening.

"Why were you looking for us?" Ask Hermione as they started walking back down the hall on the way to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Nothing important – just wanted to see if Ron wanted to have a game of Exploding Snap." Harry lied.

"Sure." Ron smiled, as Hermione said the secret password and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. The Common Room was empty, and the only movement was the blazing of the fire.

Seamus and Dean must have went out for some secret snogging, Harry mused as he followed Hermione through the portrait hole.

One inside, Ron headed towards the boy's dormitories. "We can use the new cards Fred and George sent us! I bet they do all sorts of neat tricks!"

"Ron! Wait!" Harry called after him, causing the other boy to turn and look at him curiously, "I uh…got something to do up there, so I'll get them."

Ron gave him a weird look before shrugging and settling down on one of the many couches.

I have to write Pansy…I have to tell her what's going on…I can't go though with this. She has to understand…I can't break up my two best friends. I have to talk to her…and I have to talk to her tonight! He wrote the letter quickly.

Having written a short letter telling her where to meet him, he folded the paper up and placed it in his back pocket. I'll send it after the game of Exploding Snap…

Grabbing Ron's cards from his trunk, Harry made his way downstairs where Ron and Hermione were waiting for him.

To Be Continued…