The next few weeks passed in a rather repetitive manner. Theo was a very punctual individual, so he would be outside the Gryffindor common room portrait entrance at exactly 8 a.m. to pick her up for breakfast. Some days Ginny would walk with them, on an occasion Neville would join them too, but often they were alone. Ginny, of course, knew that she and Nott were only using each other to make people jealous, but Neville sincerely seemed to think that Hermione and Theo were dating. This caused some discomfort between her and Neville which seemed to have faded after a few days. He had begrudgingly accepted that Theo was actually not an awful human being, although he maintained that he was an intolerable prat.
On their time spent together, they would debate, discuss, work on homework, read…really any activity that Hermione would normally do on her own with the added benefit of someone intellectual to do it with. Nott was rather quick-witted and sharply funny, and soon she found herself considering him one of her best friends.
Their plan also seemed to be working exceptionally well. Their first interaction with Daphne had concerned Hermione, but Theo insisted it was quite the accomplishment to get her that riled.
Tuesday After Lunch -
"But what is the purpose of knowing how to brew Wolfsbane if its not going to be easily accessible to those who would benefit from it?" Hermione spat heatedly. They had been discussing Werewolf rights for almost 15 minutes, and she had made no progress in convincing Nott that they shouldn't be separated from society.
"Just because it would benefit a small group does not mean that the Ministry should subsidize its mass production or distribute it for free." He drew his fingers to the bridge of his nose, finding himself rather annoyed with this discussion. She was an extremely worthy debate partner, but she was much too attached to her Gryffindor sense of justice and morality.
They were sitting on a setee, her legs overtop his as she lounged. She leaned against the arm, with him sitting next to her. It was a position she had used to sit in with Harry often, and she was glad to have a closeness to someone like that again. After all, she was a naturally very affectionate friend.
Hermione's face turned a very unattractive shade of red, and he could tell she was on the edge of a vicious lecture when he heard a throat clear next to them. Looking up, he couldn't help but smirk.
"Greengrass." He greeted, using his charm on her which made Hermione raise an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Nott." Was her curt response. He took her in for a moment, being careful not to give away how beautiful he found her. She was in her robes, which she somehow made to look elegant, and her stunning blonde hair was pulled back into a beautiful braid. Her bright blue eyes daring him to say something.
"Not that I'm not thrilled to have you here, but why are you?" Theo asked, seeing that Hermione was starting to get uncomfortable at their display.
"I wanted to tell you that Pansy is attempting to ban you from the Common Room. It would be wise to be leery of the younger years. You know how she has…a way of getting what she wants. Of course, this would all be resolved if you gave up this silly charade." Her eyes slit to Hermione's, but there wasn't the same animosity that she earned from some of the Daphne's housemates there. If she had to wager, she would've bet that Daphne's animosity had to do with her relation to Theo and not her blood.
"Charade?" Hermione asked, looking to Theo to give him a look to follow her lead. "I assure you Daphne, just because I am not quite as interested in public displays of affection as some of my housemates…" She paused, shuddering as she remembered the brief time sixth year when Lavender and Ron had been dating. "Does not mean that Theo and I are not together." As a show of her point, she could feel Theo place an arm around Hermione, planting a light kiss on the side of her head.
Daphne's mask cracked for just a moment to show her anger before she placed it back. "Very well. But heed my warning." Her presence was demanding, giving off an aura of sophistication that took Hermione's breath away as she left.
"Nicely played Nott." She offered, readjusting as she realized she had inadvertently leaned into Theo more.
"Calling me by my first name was a stroke of genius Granger." She smirked at his comment, which she had begun doing all too much. "You're becoming quite the Slytherin." He teased, pulling at a stray curl, returning it behind her ear.
"So was what I saw the Slytherin equivalent of having a public breakdown?" She asked, still trying to ascertain what exactly had happened with the two.
"She might as well have thrown down a gauntlet challenging you for my hand." The glee in his voice was palpable, and she took this chance to tease him back.
"You're becoming quite the Gryffindor too." His face dropped into his mask of indifference almost instantly and employed one of his famous scowls. "Oh, don't look at me like that. Its so…Malfoy of you." The joke quickly caught in her throat. Every time she brought him up, she felt a mixture of guilt, anger and longing.
"He's such a miserable sod these days its almost intolerable. If I wasn't fake dating you to get my own happily ever after, I would lock you two in a room and throw away the key." Hermione rolled her eyes at his statement. They played this game every day where Theo would talk about Malfoy and Hermione would insist he wasn't the one she was trying to make jealous.
Potions on Thursday -
"Do you have the eye of newt?" Hermione asked her partner, swearing that she had just seen it. Malfoy did his best to avoid her eye when she looked at him, simply gesturing to a bottle next to the cauldron. They had barely spoken since Theo had sat at her table, and she had found that despite the fact that she had only been on speaking terms with him for a few days, she was deeply hurt that he was ignoring her. Theo assured her that he was just trying to distance himself so he didn't have to admit that he was jealous, but Hermione wasn't sure. He was so hard to read, and even though he had shown her a little bit of the man behind the mask, she didn't know much about him.
"You know you'll have to speak to me eventually." Hermione warned, not looking at him, but rather focusing her gaze on measuring out the next set of ingredients. They were brewing a slightly complicated healing potion, and she couldn't let her distraction affect her grade.
There was no response to that, and the air between them seemed to fill with tension to the point where even their professor felt the need to come over.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, whatever is going on here, I must insist that you resolve your issues. We are about fifteen minutes from one of you conjuring a thundercloud in my classroom." Her voice was even, but stern, and it was not a request but a warning.
"Sorry Professor." They both groaned, still not looking at each other. Hermione decided that if he was going to be a child, then she would not be the one to bridge the gap. As much as she missed his conversation, she did not care for childish antics.
They finished brewing the potion, showing it to Abignail to get it analyzed, who said that despite the tension, they did a good job. After cleaning up and bottling the excess, Hermione turned to him, shooting him an expectant stare. He just frowned at her, gathered his things and left. She wanted to chase after him, to yell at him, but he would have to come to her. It was one of the conditions of her agreement with Theo.
Trip to Hogsmeade -
"Happy Birthday Hermione!" She heard a crowd of voices shout as she entered the back room of the Three Broomsticks. Running up to her two best friends, she flung her arms around their necks, enveloping them in a tight hug.
"Its so good to see you both!" Hermione cheered, pulling back to get a good look at them. Auror training had done them good, and they were both leaner and more toned than they had been in school, the benefit of vigorous physical training. She smacked Ron on his arm, making Harry laugh. He stopped laughing quickly as she smacked his arm as well. "You can't send an owl every once in a while? I know that I was just as bad with not owling you, but at least you have something exciting to talk about." She only held her stern glare for a moment before melting and hugging them again. Seeing them was all that she needed to get over the month she hadn't seen or talked to them.
Ginny joined them then, strapping a ridiculous cardboard party hat to Hermione's head that said its my birthday. It must have been spelled because every time Hermione tried to take it off, another appeared. The red-head gave Harry a quick kiss, but that didn't stop Hermione from blushing at their passion. Those two were disgustingly in love, but she couldn't help but be happy for them.
"Blimey Hermione, you look amazing!" Harry noted, gesturing to Hermione's dress. Even though September chill had started to set in, it was unseasonably warm, so Hermione had worn a red floral sun dress. It had off-the-shoulder sleeves and fanned out at her waist. Ginny had worked her hair magic again, so her curls were bouncy and full rather than wild and frizzy. She had actually done her own makeup charms that day and had gone for a natural look. All in all, it had been her favorite look of the makeover thus far.
She could see both Ron and Harry tense up, and before she could figure out why, a cold hand wrapped itself around her waist. Theo pulled up next to her with a butterbeer and a quick kiss to the side of her head.
"Theo…" Hermione remarked, thinking back to the conversation she had had with him and Ginny. If he didn't come to her birthday outing, it would be too obvious that they weren't really dating. Theo had been too eager to agree, which made her think that he was just excited to bother Harry and Ron.
"'Mione what is that snake doing here?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes as he made eye contact with Theo. Harry actually seemed to be conflicted, and Hermione remembered that Theo had talked to Harry before after his father's trial.
"Well…umm…I don't know if you remember Theo. He's…well…he's my boyfriend." It didn't feel right coming out of her mouth. She knew it was one thing to be lying to them, but it was even worse that she knew the truth would be so much worse. How could she possibly tell them about Malfoy if this was how they reacted to Theo?
Theo, to his credit, didn't make any snarky comments or attempts to bait Ron, instead choosing to extend a hand. "I know I was awful in the past, but Hermione and I have an understanding and I hope that you won't give her too hard a time." Making a note to suggest a career in the theater when they got back to Hogwarts, Hermione planted a real-looking smile on her face.
Ron and Harry both seemed taken aback by Theo's demeanor, but Harry was the first to bridge the gap. "Glad to see you took my advice to heart Nott. You're much more tolerable when you're not being a prat." Hermione smiled at this, making a note to ask Harry about his talk with Theo later.
"Yeah well I guess if Hermione thinks you're okay you must not be completely awful." Ron grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Thank you for that vote of confidence Ronald." Hermione teased, placing her arm in the crook of Theo's elbow. It was far too easy to be physically close to Theo, and she thought it was insane that even her best friends couldn't tell their relationship was fake.
"Butterbeers on me for the birthday girl?" Harry offered, not waiting for a reply before he and Ginny went to fetch drinks. Standing there with Ron facing her and her fake boyfriend, Hermione felt an overwhelming sense of guilt withholding information from him, but she knew that news of her crush on Malfoy would destroy him. As cruel as Malfoy had been to her, there was a deep hatred that ran back generations between the Weasleys and Malfoys, and she wasn't sure Ron would ever forgive her.
"How have you been Ron? You look good, Auror training is whipping you up into quite a handsome man." Theo, ever the peacock, made a big show of tightening his grip on Hermione's hand and moving slightly closer to her.
"I've been good. Um there was actually something I wanted to tell you." He paused, fiddling with his thumbs the way he did when he expected to be lectured. She took a deep breath and promised herself not to yell at him for whatever he was about to say. If she was going to keep this whole operation a secret from him, then he didn't deserve her lecturing him.
"I um…I asked Susan Bones out." There was a nervousness in his smile, but the fondness in his eyes spoke more to Hermione. It was how he had looked at her when they first got together, back before they realized they were only meant to be friends.
"Ron that's amazing! What spurred that on?" He seemed slightly taken aback by the sincerity in Hermione's joy, and she saw a glimmer of relief flash in his eyes before his smile turned up more in response.
"Well I saw her at the Leaky when Harry and some other Auror trainees and I went out for drinks one night. She's studying magical law and she still had her Wizengamot robes on and I just thought she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen." Ron's eyes grew wide and a panic spread across his face. "Not that you're not beautiful…I just mean…You know I think you're beautiful."
Hermione cut him off with a playful laugh. "Ron, its okay to say that when you're talking about your new girlfriend. I didn't get offended by it. Besides, Theo never lets me forget that I'm beautiful. Do you sweetie?"
The pet name was clearly sent his way to make him uncomfortable, which just drew a smirk from his lips. Placing a kiss on the side of her head, he whispered quietly, "You'll pay for that…darling." The last word was filled with a promise of retribution and Hermione couldn't help but shudder. Ron took it as some sort of sweet nothings and promptly blushed bright scarlet.
"Well I should…" He cleared his throat, clearly very uncomfortable watching Theo and Hermione share public displays of affection. "Oh is that Neville? Haven't said hello to him yet. Be back in a bit." Ron nearly ran away, fleeing the situation which both relieved and annoyed Hermione.
"Great. Now you've chased him away." She separated from him, crossing her arms and giving him her best lecture glare. He simply arched an eyebrow back at her and she couldn't keep her composure anymore. They broke out into a small bout of laughter, and she knew that she wasn't actually upset.
"Sweetie?" He asked, pursing his lips.
"Darling?" She responded, her lips pulling into a tight smirk.
"You are becoming far too Slytherin for my tastes Ms. Granger." He teased, ruffling her hair slightly as Harry and Ginny returned with butterbear.
"Where'd Ron go?" Harry asked, the foam of his butterbear giving him a rather unflattering mustache. Ginny was quick to wipe it away, clearly ecstatic to have her boyfriend visiting.
"Theo made him uncomfortable so he's hiding out with Neville and Hannah. He might come back now that you two are here, but who knows?" Hermione stated matter-of-factly, and Theo put on his best hurt puppy dog expression.
"Brilliant!" Ginny praised, giving Theo a smile of support. "One of my personal favorite pasttimes. He's grown positively too unaffected by Harry and my's relationship and I for one am glad to see he still has the emotional range of…oh what was it you described him as Mione?"
"A teaspoon." She offered, laughing with the red-headed witch as she did.
"Yes precisely, a teaspoon. Has he told you about Susan yet? He was really worried about how you'd react." Ginny was always terrible at keeping her brother's secrets, although Hermione knew that she would never betray her confidence. There was something in the sibling dynamic that allowed for these betrayals to become commonplace between the two siblings.
"Oh yeah he told me. I'm so happy for him. From what I remember Susan was always lovely. He deserves some goodness after the past few years. After all you have Ginny." She gestured to Harry who gave his ginger witch a quick kiss before turning back to Hermione.
"Well you have Theo too." Harry offered, and Hermione nearly spit out her sip of butter bear.
"Oh yes…Theo…whom I am dating and love very much." She knew she didn't sound convincing and she shot a panicked look over at Ginny who, a testament to her friendship, 'accidentally' spilled some of her drink on herself, drawing Harry's gaze away from Hermione and her insincere words.
As Harry dashed with Ginny off to the lav to clean her up, Hermione could feel Theo's eyes on her.
"What was that about Granger? We've been doing so well. The boy wonder brings it up and suddenly you crumble under the pressure?" His voice was low and chastising, and she hated the childish feeling it gave her.
"He's my best friend. I can't…as much as I don't like lying to Ron. I really don't think I can lie to Harry. He and I have been through too much. Me keeping this from him…it'll kill him. I have to tell him." There was a shakiness in Hermione's voice, and he could tell she was really frazzled.
"Fine. If you really have to tell the Chosen One, I can't stop you, but if you tell him, you need to tell the Weasel too." Theo was right, and she knew it, but she didn't want to have to tell Ron.
"Ugh…you're right. I can't tell them. Not yet…maybe not ever." A distinct frown marred her features, and she took a long contemplative look towards where Ron was chatting happily with Neville. He was so happy and carefree, she loved being his friend. Harry might forgive her for Malfoy, but Ron wouldn't. She needed more time to get them used to the idea before springing it on them.
"Lets…lets see if this whole plan works. If it does, that's when I'll tell them." It was a promise more to herself than a statement to Theo. Having made up her mind, she decided to try and enjoy the rest of the party. She talked to Seamus and Dean for a while, congratulating them on their engagement. Theo actually chatted for quite a while with Dean, having both found a fondness for muggle rugby.
While Hermione and Seamus watched the pair heatedly argue about formations or something, they got to catching up. Seamus was now the proud owner of the biggest up and coming restaurant in Wizarding London. She found it ironic that her friend with a penchant for explosions seemed to have found a calling in food preparation. Smiling fondly, she remembered when he had tried to transform water into rum their first year.
"Did you ever imagine during the war that we would be here?" Hermione asked him, looking out on the crowd of those present, trying not to focus on those she didn't…couldn't see.
"What? That I would be engaged to Dean and you would be pretending to date a Death Eater's son?" Seamus gave her a knowing look, and her mouth dropped open. Shock overtook her features and she started sputtering, desperately trying to explain.
"Don't worry Hermione. I'm more observant than most when it comes to these things. I called Ginny and Harry getting together in fourth year, and he still had that thing for Cho at the time." Hermione took another sip from the drink in her hand, finding less comfort in it than she had expected. "I'm not going to tell Harry or Ron if that's what you're worried about. I know a thing or two about pretending to date someone to cover up something else. All I wonder is who you could possibly like that would make Theo Nott a better choice." The knowing way he smiled at her made her think he knew. He couldn't know. How could anyone know? She wasn't that obvious, was she?
"Thank you Seamus. I…I don't even know if this fake dating thing will work. He doesn't seem to want to talk to me anymore now that Nott and I are together…or pretending to be I guess." Sadness overtook her tone, and she could feel the corners of her mouth turn down into a frown. Forcing a smile though, she looked back up at him.
"I just have one question." Seamus began, cryptically. "Is Malfoy different now? Has he moved on from the blood purity shite?"
She just nodded, waiting for her friend to scream at her, to tell her she was an idiot to want him.
"Well then I guess that's that. He'll never be good enough for you, but then again, no one is." Seamus took a small sip of his glass, it looked like firewhiskey to her.
"You don't think I'm mad?" Hermione asked, perplexed more and more every second by her friend.
"I know a thing or two about loving an inconvenient person. As much as you wish it could be someone else, someone easy or simple, you can't help who your heart chooses. My life would've been a lot easier if it hadn't been Dean for me, but I wouldn't trade him for anything."
"You really love him, don't you." She didn't need an answer, a twinkle in his eye. Theo and Dean seemed to have reached an impasse in the argument, and Dean gave Seamus a sweet kiss. Seamus looked at the man like he was the sun, and she knew in that moment that she wasn't afraid of an inconvenient love story. Theo gave her a look of controlled confusion, but just put his hand on the small of his back like he did when they were around people.
"It was nice talking with you both. Congratulations again!" Hermione offered, preparing to step away. Theo shook Dean's hand and said something about going to a Rugby match soon, and she couldn't help but smile. She was glad that Theo's past wasn't keeping her friends from letting him in. It would be so much harder with Malfoy though. Theo had just been a Death Eater's son; Draco had been a Death Eater.
The night wrapped up around dinner time, and she made sure to go around and thank everyone for coming. Those of them who had come from the castle needed to be back for the dinner feast, and those who had come from elsewhere had begun apparating away. Harry and Ron had wrapped presents for her, and when mostly everyone had cleared out, they insisted that she open them.
The first package was a small box, wrapped in gold ribbon. Harry handed it to her and watched with expectant eyes for her to open it. Inside was a locket, white gold with a beautiful engraving of a G.
"Oh Harry it's beautiful!" She cried, examining it carefully.
"Open it." He instructed, sharing a smile with Ginny. Hermione listened to him, pushing the clasp on the locket aside. Inside were pictures of her parents. Richard on the right and Helen on the left. Emotion overcame her immediately, and she gave Harry a tight hug, crying into his shoulder.
"It's amazing! I…How'd did you get photos of them?" She knew that her parents had sold their house when she gave them the idea to move to Australia. Other than the few family photos she had saved, she had nothing from her parents.
"I visited them in Australia a few weeks ago. They didn't recognize me, but they said I looked familiar. I used a muggle camera, so no laws broken; told them I was a college student studying photography." Harry was smiling as Hermione pulled away, desperately trying to dry her eyes with her sweater. Theo just regarded her with concern and confusion, and she realized she'd have to tell him about her parents later when they walked back to the castle.
Clutching the locket in her hand, she thanked Harry again. Theo put it around her neck for her, and she barely even noticed the coolness of the metal on her skin. Ron's present was next and was just as lovely. He had gotten her some new quills and her favorite emerald ink. She was running low, so it was absolutely perfect.
"Thank you both so much. For everything!" Gathering her two best friends in a tight hug, she felt happier than she'd been in a while. All too soon, Harry and Ron had to say goodbye. She found herself crying again as she bid them farewell, promising to owl them more often. Ron also made her agree to a floo call at least once a week and they promised to come visit again soon. Giving Harry and Ginny some privacy, Hermione took the opportunity to stress to Ron that she really was happy for him.
"You and Susan will be good for each other." She spoke, pulling a piece of fuzz off his jumper.
"Thanks Hermione. I know you and I decided to stay friends, but there was a little part of me that worried you'd be hurt that I was moving on."
Hermione just laughed in response, glad to see that she and Ron still had that easy-going energy that they used to. "I could never be mad at you as long as you're happy. Are you okay with me and Theo? Truly?"
He considered her for a moment before responding. "Yeah I am. You deserve to be happy and he doesn't seem to be as much of a git as I remember." His response didn't surprise her, but she was happy to hear it nonetheless. She decided to test the waters, seeing how he would respond to information about Malfoy.
"Good to hear. I do have something to tell you though." Her voice shook a bit, but she cleared her throat and steadied it before she moved on. "I got paired in potions with Malfoy and well…he's not as bad as he used to be."
The cool anger in Ron's eyes was terrifying, and for a second he looked as if Hermione had hit him. "He's not as bad?! So what he isn't off murdering muggleborns or torturing first years? How can you even say that? He's a Death Eater for Merlin's sake!" She had been prepared for Ron to yell, to scream at her, but she had not been prepared for this calm anger. Frankly it frightened her.
Her anger grew as he finished his statement, something drawing her into the fight. "No he is not. He was a Death Eater, yes, but wouldn't you have done it if it meant saving your family. Your mother's life! He had no choice. If he hadn't taken the mark, he and his family would be dead!"
Ron narrowed his eyes. "After everything he's done. After everything his family did. How can you stand there and defend him? He hates muggleborns!"
"He doesn't believe all the blood purity shit anymore. He punched Goyle in the face a few weeks ago because he called me a mudblood! He's trying to be a better person, and its close-minded people who are too afraid to step back from their own prejudice to see that who think that he still believes that garbage." She took a calming breath, noticing Theo's hand on her shoulder. Forcing herself to lower her voice, she continued. "You can't condemn a man you know nothing about. Draco Malfoy is not the boy we knew in school, and I will be friends with him whether you like it or not." She turned on her heel then, saying a quick, final goodbye to Harry and walking out.
Theo chased after her, his wider gate allowing him to catch up with her rather quickly. "I thought we agreed that you wouldn't tell them!" He chided, catching her arm and forcing her to stop where she stood.
"I didn't tell him. I wanted to test the waters by mentioning Draco and Ron went mental! He's changed and I just couldn't stand there and listen to Ron talk about him that way. I love him and he's one of my best friends, but Draco doesn't deserve that." Hermione's face was burning red with her rage, and her fists were clenched so tight that she worried she might draw blood.
"That's just it Hermione. He does deserve it, we all deserve it. We deserve the world's anger. Particularly Weasley's. You can't blame him! For all we know it was his deranged Aunt who killed his brother! Or my father! And Draco's the one who let the Death Eaters in the night that the oldest one got bit. Don't let the fact that you've forgiven him blind you to the fact that Weasley and Potter haven't. He needs time. He needs to see Draco is different, and Draco needs to try to reconcile. You can't just lecture Weasley into dropping all of his completely justified rage." Hermione was stunned, and Theo's words felt like cold water being dropped on her head. She had never considered Ron's feelings about the war. He always tried to hide them behind humor and distractions, but he had lost just as much as she and Harry.
"Oh Godric. You're right! What have I done? I have to go apologize!"
"I think you both need some time to cool off. He's not in the right state of mind right now to accept your apology anyway. Let's go back to the castle and you can brainstorm a way to make it up to him."
The walk back to the castle was plagued by an uneasy silence. Hermione didn't even notice they had arrived back at the castle until she almost walked straight into the front doors. Theo eased her into a conversation, complaining about Dean's rugby preferences. She could tell by the smirk on his face that he had liked talking to her friend though.
"So how was your time in the Lion's Den?" She asked, her mind clearer now that she had a draft of the apology letter she would write in her head.
"Surprisingly nice. No one did anything reckless, and everyone was far less drunk than I expected."
"Oh, you'll just have to come out with us one night. Ginny is a downright dangerous drunk. I swear she is absolutely frightening." Theo seemed to need very little convincing and shuddered at the thought. The Great Hall was already crowded when they arrived, so they took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. She always smiled noticing how quick her housemates had been to adopt her new Slytherin friend.
About halfway through the meal, McGonagall called for their attention.
"Attention please." She spoke, having magnified her voice. "As many of you know, Hogwarts has been under continuous repair from the events of last May for the past several months. In an effort to show that Hogwarts carries on its reputation as an institution of learning, I am glad to announce the first annual Halloween Ball." There was an outbreak of chatter, and she held up a hand to silence the students again.
"Unlike the Yule Ball that some of you may remember from four year ago, this ball is open to all students. There will be two balls. The younger students, years three and under, will have a dance on the Quidditch Pitch. Older students, years four and up, will have their ball in the Great Hall. Alumni as well as several prominent politicians will be invited, so please let us show the world that Hogwarts is as it always has been."
When she concluded her announcement, Ginny shot Hermione a triumphant smile. "I told you!" She insisted, turning to the girl sitting next to her to discuss dresses.
"Well that works out perfectly." Theo smirked, making eye contact with Hermione. "Hey Ginger!" Theo called, watching as Ginny turned her attention back to them at the use of her new nickname. She much preferred it to weaselette, so it had stayed.
"Yes Nott?" She asked, already knowing that there was some sort of scheming about to go down.
"What are the chances you could convince Greengrass to go with Malfoy to the ball?" Hermione didn't follow his logic, and frowned.
"Why would we want Daphne and Draco going together?" She asked, and Ginny and Theo laughed at her.
"I think that Daphne could be…persuaded." There was something evil about the glint in their eyes and Hermione swallowed hard.
"Okay but back to the point of how does that help us?" Hermione didn't like being ignored, so she pouted at her friends until they answered her.
"Well I think that the Halloween Ball will be a great place to stage a very public breakup." Ginny took over where Theo's statement ended. "And Malfoy and Daphne will be there to console you both. Daphne already complains about you and Theo, there's no way she wouldn't pounce if she thought he was on the market again. And Draco will be too enchanted by your beauty and intelligence to be able to deny his feelings. Its brilliant!" Theo and Ginny high fived, while Hermione's frown just deepened.
"Okay so lets say you do somehow convince Daphne to ask Malfoy, there's no guarantee that he'll want to be with me." She knew it was a weak argument, but she worried nonetheless. Even with her new fan club, she still had trouble believing that Malfoy would be keen on dating her.
"I have a dress in mind that will make you the most beautiful girl in the room. Lets see Draco try and resist you when I'm done." Ginny's eyes sparkled in a way she hadn't seen in a while.
"So whats say you Granger? Want to go to the ball?"
"Oh Merlin help me…yes."
