On the afternoon The Hogwarts Express returned at the end of Christmas break, Hermione was standing atop the Astronomy Tower watching the scarlet train pulling into Hogsmeade station. From so far away she couldn't see much, let alone any of the students disembarking, but she could see enough to know that the holidays were over and before long she would be coming face to face with her ex-boyfriend.
As she wondered how Christmas had gone at The Burrow, Hermione felt an arm snake around her waist and a pair of soft lips briefly brush against the side of her neck. Allowing her eyes to slide shut for a moment, she leaned back against the solid form of Draco and drew comfort from his embrace.
Even though they were alone, they still kept up the act of being a couple, which had been Pansy's idea to help Hermione not feel so self-conscious about being affectionate in public. And Hermione had to admit it had worked perfectly. Now it felt natural to be constantly in Draco's arms and to be physically close to him all the time. Of course when there was anyone else around, Draco was even more affectionate, and even a bit territorial, but Hermione knew it was just his way of reminding people that she was his.
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Draco checked. He had to admit he was thoroughly enjoying playing the part of Hermione's boyfriend, he only wished it was real and that when he and Hermione acted all lovingly, she felt what he felt.
"Hell no," Hermione snorted fiercely. The plan for revenge had unlocked her inner Slytherin as Pansy called it, and now Hermione was looking forward to bringing Ron down. "This is what I want, Draco."
"Good, because I'm looking forward to the fireworks tomorrow morning," Draco chuckled.
"The plan will work, won't it?" Hermione asked, turning around to face Draco. "What if Ron hears about us before breakfast tomorrow?"
Together with the rest of the Slytherins, Hermione and Draco had devised a plan to make sure Ron's realisation that Hermione had moved on would take place in public, and be very dramatic. And even though they had discussed putting their plan into action the night everyone returned from their Christmas break, they'd decided for the morning after instead. And then they had the rest of the weekend to rub salts in Ron's wounds and show him once and for all that he'd lost Hermione for good.
"Aside from our group, no other seventh years stayed for Christmas, and I can't see any of the younger students mentioning us to Weasley," Draco answered. "But I guess if they do, he'll turn up at the Head Dorms creating a scene."
"And what if that happens?" Hermione asked, already feeling disappointment that their plan might not work the way they'd planned.
"We can still carry on with our original plan, but it might not have the same effect," Draco replied. "But I'd bet that Weasley will still be oblivious by tomorrow morning. In fact, he'll probably be champing at the bit to see you, which was why we decided to wait. But I guess we can move our plan forward until tonight."
"Let's stick with what we've decided," Hermione said. "Although what about Harry? Unless he finds out about us, I can't see Ron coming to the Head Dorms, but Harry might. He'll think it's strange that I'm not going to be at dinner."
"If he comes to the Head Dorms, I'll say you're not well and you'll see him at breakfast," Draco replied. "Although, unless we want to risk bumping into anyone, we should be getting back to the dorms."
"You know, you don't have to stay with me this evening," Hermione said as they made their way down the winding staircase in the Astronomy Tower. "You can go and have dinner with your friends."
"And leave my girlfriend?" Draco questioned with an arched eyebrow. "I don't think so, Hermione. You're stuck with me."
"I couldn't have a better fake boyfriend," Hermione laughed, giving Draco a peck on the cheek and hurrying down the rest of the stairs, missing the wistful look that briefly marred Draco's features before he shook it off and caught up with her.
Returning to the Head Dorms, Draco called for one of the House Elves to bring their food to them, and the pair had a nice dinner together. Not once did they talk about their plan and what would be happening the following day. Instead they kept the conversation light and just enjoyed each other's company. Even though their romance was fake they both genuinely enjoyed spending time with each other, and it wasn't a hardship for either of them to get so close.
After dinner the pair settled on the sofa together with their books, Hermione's feet in Draco's lap. Sadly, their peace was interrupted by a knock on the door. Not knowing who it was, Draco answered the door, only to find Pansy and Blaise on the other side.
"Is there a problem?" Hermione asked when Draco's friends entered the room.
"No, we just thought you would want an update on Weasley," Blaise replied.
"He doesn't know, does he?" Draco checked.
"Of course not," Pansy said with a snort. "He'll be able to ask around the people who were here at Christmas and find your romance began over the holidays, but no-one who was here would put themselves out to tell him the news."
"Although I would say since the pair of you weren't at dinner, those who know about you are waiting for the fireworks when Weasley finds out," Blaise added.
"Are we going to get fireworks?" Hermione checked. "What if he's moved on over the holidays? What if he doesn't care who I'm with?"
"Even if he has moved on, he'll care," Pansy predicted. "For Weasley it's all about his ego. He won't be able to stand the fact you wouldn't have sex with him, but you've jumped straight into a sexual relationship with Draco."
"I agree with Pansy," Blaise said. "He'll react tomorrow morning. Although I wouldn't say he's moved on. Brown was clearly trying to act the part of his girlfriend, but he kept shrugging her off."
"And he couldn't keep his eyes away from the door," Pansy added. "He was waiting to see you, Hermione."
"And what fun he'll have when he does see you," Blaise cackled. "I can't wait until tomorrow morning."
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Pansy asked Hermione. Even though the idea had come about as a way of bringing Draco and Hermione together, Pansy had come to like Hermione and she really wanted her to get her own back on the scumbag who had broken her heart.
"I think so," Hermione answered. "But do you think I'm ready? Can I really pull this off, Pansy?"
Over the last couple of weeks, Hermione had been overwhelmed by the support the Slytherins had given her, Pansy and Daphne in particular. Both girls had played a big part in helping her get comfortable with public displays of affection, and they'd both given her plenty of confidence and some advice on how to be comfortable in her own skin and appreciate her sexuality.
"You're ready for this, Hermione," Pansy assured the Gryffindor witch. "You and Draco have great chemistry, and no-one seeing you together would ever believe it was all an act."
"But will they believe we're having sizzling hot sex?" Hermione questioned. "After all, that's what we want Ron to believe."
"He'll believe it," Pansy vowed. "Just do as we planned, and there won't be anyone in that Great Hall who'll doubt that the pair of you are shagging the living daylights out of each other."
"I hope we're as convincing as you think," Hermione chuckled.
"Oh, you are," Blaise remarked. Even though he knew Draco had genuine feelings for Hermione, he was beginning to suspect that the feeling was mutual and Hermione cared more for Draco than she realised.
Draco shot Blaise a warning look, feeling that his best friend was going to let his mouth run away with him and say something he shouldn't, but before Blaise had a chance to say anything there was another knock on the door.
"That might be Harry," Hermione said.
"Don't worry, I'll get rid of him without making him suspicious," Draco promised. "But just in case he insists on coming in, maybe you should make yourself scarce."
Draco waited until Hermione had disappeared up the stairs before he opened the door, and sure enough he found Harry waiting outside of the Head Dorms.
"Potter," Draco greeted, making no move to allow the Gryffindor into the room.
"Malfoy," Harry returned. "I'm here to see Hermione. She wasn't at dinner."
"No, she wasn't feeling well," Draco lied. "She's spent most of the afternoon in bed."
"Is it serious?" Harry asked in concern. "Has she been to see Madam Pomfrey?"
"She's just a bit under the weather," Draco replied. "But she did say that if you called round to tell you she's sorry not to see you today, but she'll see you tomorrow. Unless you want to get her out of bed?"
"No, I don't want to bother her if she's not feeling great," Harry said. "But how is she other than feeling ill? She didn't spend the whole holidays moping, did she?"
"And let Weasley ruin her Christmas?" Draco snorted. "I won't deny she was devastated by what happened, but she's strong. She's not going to let that loser bring her down."
"Good for her," Harry said, the hint of a smile on his face. "If you see her tonight, tell her I called round and I'll see her tomorrow. And Malfoy, thanks for keeping an eye on her."
"It was my pleasure," Draco returned with a slight smirk as he said goodnight to Harry and shut the door.
A couple of seconds later, Hermione emerged from the upstairs, a pensive look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked.
"I'm going to have to lie to Harry," Hermione whispered. "I was so focused on getting my own back on Ron, I forgot to think about Harry. I'll be lying to my best friend, and he doesn't deserve that."
"Do you want me to go and get him back?" Blaise asked.
"No," Pansy said, jumping in before Hermione could reply. "I don't mean to be rude, Hermione, but we don't know if we can trust Potter. He seemed to be sympathetic to you, but that doesn't mean he'll support your idea to get revenge on Weasley."
"Pansy's right," Draco said softly, taking hold of Hermione's hand and gently pulling her down onto the sofa next to him. "We could tell him, and he could go running right back to Weasley. I guess if you wanted, you could also tell him the truth after tomorrow morning. But even then, if he tells Weasley, the revenge in ruined."
"I guess I could wait and see how he reacts tomorrow," Hermione mused. "I just don't like lying to him."
"It won't be forever," Draco assured Hermione. "Just until you've got your own back on Weasley."
"I suppose," Hermione agreed with a nod.
If she thought Harry would agree with what she was doing, Hermione wouldn't have hesitated in telling him their plan, but the truth was, she didn't know how he would react. Until Ron had broken her heart, Hermione herself wouldn't have considered doing such a thing herself. But here she was, involved in a scheme to get payback on Ron and she was loving every minute of it.
Although she had to admit a big reason she was enjoying herself was down to Draco and his involvement. Hermione wasn't quite ready to admit it to herself, but she was definitely coming to think of Draco as more than a friend. If she was brutally honest with herself, she would admit that she was far more comfortable with Draco than she'd ever been with Ron. And even though everything they'd done had been fake, it had aroused her far more than anything she'd done with Ron. It could be so easy to slip and for pretence to become reality, if only Hermione would admit to herself that she had feelings for Draco.
"We should be getting back," Blaise suddenly announced. "We don't want to be tired for the big day tomorrow."
"Get a good night's rest, because tomorrow it's show time," Pansy said with a devious grin, hardly able to wait until the following morning when Ron Weasley would get the shock of his miserable little life.