Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Anastasia (from which this story is inspired). All rights go to respective owners.
The Biggest Con in History
"Adrian, I can't do this."
Her voice was soft, no louder than a whisper, but it carried quite clearly in the small dressing room. Adrian slowly looked up and studied her in the mirror. She was holding her stomach and her eyes were tightly shut. Her forest green ball gown elegantly hugged her curves. Despite her anxiety, Adrian thought she had never looked more beautiful than in that moment.
He crossed the room in a few quick strides. Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He pressed his cheek into her soft, blonde curls and thought hazily that he might be in heaven, if not for the Pureblood Death Eaters waiting in the ballroom below.
"You can, love," he whispered. "We've worked so hard to get here. You're going to be perfect."
She opened her eyes and met his in the reflection. Her electric blue eyes stole his breath; he still wasn't used to seeing them since they had been changed from chocolate brown earlier that day. "I don't feel like myself," she responded. "I miss my brown hair."
"You're not meant to feel like you," Adrian instructed. "You're meant to—"
"Don't," Hermione warned. "Please don't finish that sentence. Just … tell me the plan again."
"You are Anna Azarova," Adrian replied softly. "Adopted daughter of a small Russian Pureblood family, who were all killed in a terrible accident seven years ago. You traveled to Europe where you discovered you were actually the long lost heir of the Fawley family, the only dormant Sacred Twenty-Eight family. We'll use your novelty and new political connections to find weakness in the regime."
"And we do this to save Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked, her voice small and uncertain.
Adrian brushed back a stray curl in her hair. He had to choose his words carefully. This was a moment that she would remember. It might even make the difference between success and failure.
"We will save Harry and Ron," he said with as much conviction as possible. Adrian smiled despite himself. He sounded like a Gryffindor. "But we do this to save everyone. We play the long game and change everything. I know I chose the wrong side before and … Hermione, I'm so sorry. I never thought winning would bring this … this, living hell."
She turned around and met his gaze. He tried to convey all of his feelings, especially for her, in that look. Hermione reached up and gently cupped his cheeks.
"And it's different now?" she whispered. He felt his heart beat wildly at the sound of her voice.
Finally, a question he could confidently answer.
"Everything is different now."
She smiled at him and he felt as if he could take on the world. I'm going to have to do just that, he thought wryly. Adrian suddenly realized they were very close. He quickly closed the distance and captured her lips in a kiss. She pulled him closer, but he reluctantly pulled away after a minute.
"We have to get going," he murmured.
"Right," she replied breathlessly. "Let's go." Adrian held out his arm, which Hermione graciously accepted.
"Shall we go start a Slytherin-styled revolution, Lady Fawley?" he asked, a teasing edge to his voice. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I suppose our first one didn't work out too well," she responded dryly.
"You hold a Gryffindor-styled revolution—" Adrian began. Hermione cracked a small smile.
"—and this is the price you pay," she finished. "You have to do it all over again."
Prompt (Tiggerific Times — The Golden Snitch): (character) Adrian Pucey
Word count (not including title and author's notes): 573
Name: Dessie / School: Castelobruxo / House: South
Total Points: 15
