AN: ...Yeah, a little late update. (Understatement of the year!) I totally forgot where the original story led to... so I'm planning to end the story in a different way. Not too differently, though, from my original ending. The next chapter will be the last!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything is J.K. Rowling's.

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Chapter 9

The Charade is Done

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Ron and Luna approached the cozy secluded booth, both of their drinks in the respective owner's hand. They shared a secret glance and a meaningful glance with each other, an exchange that made Hermione a little uncomfortable to be watching, seeing as how it was done so tenderly and privately.

'Something must've happened at the bar,' Hermione thought, and with that thought, she hid a small smile from the rest of the booth, secretly rooting for Ron inwardly.

As the other three conversed with each other, Hermione massaged her temple and looked around the booth at each of their faces. Her eyes again strayed to Luna and Ron, both grinning as Harry told one of his anecdotes. Her gaze softened a bit at the sight of the two, remembering the past summer, where Ron had told her of his feelings for Luna.

It hadn't been that much of a surprise. Hermione, after all, was the brightest witch of her age (though she didn't mean to brag..) and the way Ron looked at Luna on the Burrow's front porch… well, one would have to be clueless to not know of Ron's ever-growing care for Luna (one could also say that you'd have to be a Harry, but it's all semantics).

Hermione, though carrying a bright and shining torch for Harry, did care for her other best friend, Ron, equally, no matter of the rumors of caring for one more than the other ('I just care for Harry differently, not more!'). And in her heart, she did, truly, want Ron to be happy and that happiness laid in Luna's arms.

As she surveyed the blonde, the recent recipient of Hermione's envy, she sighed to herself, knowing that she never truly meant ill will towards Luna. Sure, Luna was a bit… batty, but the way she gravitated around Ron and how Ron just always seemed to be more at ease and himself around her made Hermione realize that Luna, nargles and all, was pretty… alright. Hermione had to admit that, well, she had the best friend approval ('No doubt, she's got Harry's as well,' Hermione couldn't help but note to herself.)

Hermione let her gaze, and attention, roam. Even with the slightly dissipating headache, as she rested her eyes upon Harry's profile, she still found that the sight of him could ease her troubles and pains so very quickly ('even if he was at the source of it,' Hermione thought sourly). There were many reasons why she fancied Harry (and more…? She dared not to venture down that path.. Yet.) and all of them ran past her mind.

Ron squeezed her hand and she forgot that her hand was still in his nor did she remember when exactly her fingers had interlaced with his. Ron looked at her questionably, but her eyes turned back to their joined fingers, a sudden ache hitting her. She wished for another hand to hold, another side to lean against, and those belonged to the boy across her. The ache hit her so suddenly that she sucked in a breath and expelled it. The past week or so culminated in her mind and she was, finally, honest to Merlin, done with the charade.

Hermione unlinked her hand from Ron's grip and looked Harry straight in the eyes. His gaze widened and she felt fear of rejection about to shake her, before she took control of herself and took the plunge as well (she was a Gryffindor, after all).

"I fancy you, Harry."

The booth turned silent as Ron, gaping at her, his eyes screaming, 'This was not part of the plan!', and Luna, with surprise evident on her face but a very mischievous, and resigned, twinkle to her eye.

Harry's jaw had fallen slack and his eyes ranged from emotion to emotion, not settling on one, which made Hermione a little nervous. She felt a blush coming on as she realized that the whole place had fallen silent as well and she willed herself to just continue to gaze into Harry's eyes.

Hermione began to ramble, nervously, screwing her eyes tight, as she berated herself inwardly, ('Fool, fool, fool! It all sounded better in your head, didn't it? Bloody fool!'), "I've fancied you since third year, I haven't stopped, I'm not dating Ron, I only pretended to, yes, I am jealous of Luna, and no, I don't know what you guys have been scheming, but it's getting really tiring for me because it's not Ron's hand I want to hold, it's yours, no offense, Ron, and well, I--"

The screech of a table being pushed forward interrupted her. Harry was standing, pushing the table in the process to make room. She didn't dare take a glance at the rest of the establishment, as she was sure all of the Hogwarts students there were gaping at this sudden turn of events.

Luna made room for Harry as he got out of the booth and Ron quickly stood as well, allowing Hermione to get out. Hermione and everyone else in the room seemed to be waiting on pin and needles for Harry's response. The seconds of silence dragged on for Hermione, awaiting any words from the bespectacled boy.

--

Harry had let Ron and Luna take control of the conversation, slightly easing out of it. Mostly, it was to give Luna time to connect with Ron, but another reason was to sneak glances at Hermione (who he fancied, he just could not get over it!). She had been silent since he had began a tirade of teasing her, which he could not be blamed for since the blush upon her cheeks when he did was oh so lovely. Hermione seemed lost in thought, a deep thought, which Harry could always tell by the crinkling of her brow and the fidgeting of her hands.

Harry didn't know when he realized he knew all these little things about her. Harry didn't know when he knew that Hermione liked her hair tied up, because of less fuss, but wore it down, 'cause he had once absentmindedly remarked that it was pretty when down. Harry didn't know when he knew that Hermione always, always, preferred pumpkin pie was her favorite kind of pie, despite the fact that she rarely ate the delicacy in the first place.

Harry didn't know when he knew that she always dipped her quill twice in ink before furiously scribbling down notes. Harry didn't know when he knew that when he and Ron would joke around, she would sometimes look upon the both of them and smile contentedly before berating them for their shenanigans. Harry didn't know when he knew that she liked for her jacket to be helped out of, for gentleman hands to aid her out of her shawl or whatever it may be.

Harry didn't know when he knew all these likes and quirks about Hermione. It somewhat amazed him that in his naiveté, he simply glossed over all of these facts. Before this debacle, this plan, he used to think of all these facts as dismissible. Now each one was interesting and captivating, very much so, leaving him in want to know more about her, even though they were already best friends.

Harry's feelings for her swelled up in his chest, a knot tightening in his stomach as he gazed upon her face. He glanced at Ron, then at Luna. The tirade was fun, but Harry wanted nothing so badly in that moment than to have the ability to claim to everyone that yes, that brown-haired beauty was his. He summoned the courage to say something, admit anything, to her and her alone, when she suddenly met his eyes with fierce determination and spoke aloud.

"I fancy you, Harry."

His eyes widened and his heart fluttered and his stomach knotted, all these physical attributes seemed to happen twice as fast and at the same time. 'But Ron! And what--' Harry stuttered in thought, having to seemingly lose his ability to speak.

Hermione glanced around and looked so bashful and embarrassed as she spoke again, "I've fancied you since third year, I haven't stopped, I'm not dating Ron, I only pretended to, yes, I am jealous of Luna, and no, I don't know what you guys have been scheming, but it's getting really tiring for me because it's not Ron's hand I want to hold, it's yours, no offense, Ron, and well, I--"

Harry stood and scrambled out of the booth, interrupting her winded speech. So many things he had to register in his mind, but for now, the only thing that was replaying in his head was: 'Hermione fancies me too!'

Luna had a twinkle in her eyes as she let Harry pass, and Harry could not help but feel grateful towards his friend that he had gotten close to over the week. She was, after all, the person who had pushed Harry towards Hermione with this scheme of hers. He gave her a quick look of thanks before returning his attention to Hermione, who was standing before him so vulnerably shy and blushing red.

Harry finally responded, but not before checking that his mouth had not gone dry throughout Hermione's confession.

"Let's talk outside."

--

As Harry and Hermione stepped outside the Three Broomsticks, immediate conversation burst from nearly every mouth in the room, which was mostly filled with Hogwarts students on their Hogsmeade weekend.

"I knew it! Who called it! Pay up, folks, direct those Sickles over this direction…"

"…Hermione Granger? Isn't she with Ron Weasley at the moment? He doesn't seem so devastated though!"

"…Weasley and that Loony girl were awfully cozy earlier… maybe Granger's just getting him back for it…"

"…I tell you, the last week has just been so confusing! Can't those four just make up their mind? All this gossip's giving me a headache!"

Ron couldn't help but agree with that last tidbit as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He again stared at the door that Harry and Hermione walked out of and chuckled to himself, glad that something in this silly scheme of Hermione's worked out.

He nearly forgot all about Luna, but that proved to be ghastly wrong. She was smiling at him so serenely that he couldn't help but smile back. 'Oh yes, something definitely worked out in this. Thank you, Hermione!' Ron thought gratefully.

Ron cleared his throat, trying to seem nonchalant. "Interesting turn of events, isn't it?"

Luna had the beginnings of a smirk on her face, but her calm voice didn't betray her. "Oh yes. Especially the parts about the pretending to date you. Rather interesting…"

Ron had the decency to blush as she trailed off innocently. In the midst of cheering for Hermione to get her chance with his best mate, he had nearly forgotten that, oh yeah, Hermione totally ratted out the entire scheme to nearly all of the Hogwarts student body!

Ron began to sweat a little near his brow, thinking of how Luna would react to basically Hermione using Ron to get to Harry. Even if Hermione said that Luna and Harry were up to something, Luna was still with Harry. Ron fought to keep the anxiety down.

"So, er, you're not upset? About Harry? Hermione was just really doing the whole pretending business to get the bloke to wake up… and for other reasons," Ron flushed a little at the last part but looked up from fiddling his hands to catch Luna's eye.

Luna's mirth reflected in her gaze as she laughed loudly before shaking her head with one of the biggest, yet most beautiful, in Ron's opinion, smiles he had ever seen on her.

"Oh, Ronald. Don't you know that others can play make-believe as well?" Luna said mischievously before she grabbed hold of the back of his neck and pulled him to her lips.

Ron sank into the kiss and was far too distracted by the kiss, to analyze what she had just said ('Though I have a feeling it may have been important… mmph…' Ron thought pleasingly.)

--

Hermione was bewildered and dreadfully nervous as Harry led her past the shops and boutiques of Hogsmeade. His fingers were gripping hers, tugging her along, before they finally stopped at a cliff line out-looking a foray of mountains and trees and in the slightest background, a gray castle peaked.

He turned to her and she felt herself holding her breath, anxious as she stood there before him. He glanced down at their linked hands and brought them up to eye level, maintaining his gaze with her before dropping a small kiss upon her palm. Her breath hitched.

"Harry…"

Harry's lips curved into a small smile against her palm, tingling the surface beneath it.

"Hermione…" He closed his eyes, his head resting against her hand before he tugged her closer with their held hands and draped his arms around her waist. Her arms automatically clasped around his neck, the embrace as familiar as old.

Harry dropped his head unto her mane of brown curls and murmured into the crescent of her neck her name once again. Hermione exhaled slowly, her arms around him tightening.

Harry pulled back a little to stare into her eyes. His gaze was smoldering. Hermione didn't know when Harry had gotten so… suave, so sensual and assured of his moves.

"You know I was never good with words, Hermione…" He started, and a feeling of rejection pooled in her stomach before Harry's lips upon hers quickly eradicated any trace of it.

Harry's mouth pressed softly against hers, languidly moving against her own, as she tasted his breath of Butterbeer and sweet chocolate. His lips were soft and luscious, and Hermione felt herself sinking into his kiss. Harry let his teeth scrape slowly and agonizingly along Hermione's bottom lip before pulling away.

Hermione sighed silently, slightly swooning from the kiss, but wouldn't dare betray herself. She saw him looking at her, eyes twinkling, no doubt amused (and smug) that he had caused that effect on her.

Hermione cleared her throat. "So… was that an 'I fancy you, too' kiss or a 'Sorry, but I'm with Luna' kiss?" (Though she did not want the answer to be the latter.)

Harry broke out in a grin, a laugh escaping his lips. "Hermione… we were pretending too. She wanted to get with Ron all along."

Hermione laughed with him before his words sunk in…

"Wait, what?!"

--

"Wait, what?!"

Ron blurted out, shocked as he finally recalled what Luna had said to him moments before.

Luna pursed her lips, definitely not liking the break of lip contact. "Well, yes, Ronald, we were pretending too," she said absentmindedly.

Ron held a hand up, his eyes widening. "Wait, so you're telling me… That you guys never were with each other in the first place? No affair since fifth year? Harry's jersey?"

Luna's wide eyes peered back at him. "Nope."

Ron felt a burst of anger boil under his skin, his hands turning into fists, before he bellowed out, "Where's Harry! I'll kill him!"

--

Harry chuckled, pushing strands of Hermione's hair away from her face. "Well, yes. Luna was jealous of you because of Ron, so she asked me to make Ron jealous."

Hermione blinked. "Wait, so you mean to say… that Luna and you were never together?"

Harry smiled. "Nope."

Hermione closed her eyes and stepped away briskly, before smacking his chest. "You git!" She screeched at him. "You made me think that you guys were-- and Luna was--" Hermione sputtered the words out angrily, before narrowing her eyes and marching away.

"Where's that wanker!" A loud voice yelled nearly seconds after.

Harry was still standing there, utterly confused as Hermione stomped away from him and a tall red-headed figure was marching towards him. He hurried up to Hermione, trying to grab her elbow.

"Wait! What did I say?" Harry said hurriedly, trying to keep up with her pace. Ron met them and he and Hermione both turned to each other, eyes flashing with anger.

"Did he tell you what he and--"

"Yeah! Luna told me and--"

They both turned towards Harry, angrily. Harry held up his hands in defense.

"Hey, wait… you guys started it!" Harry cried out warily.

"It wasn't Harry's idea. It was mine," a dreamy voice said from behind the trio and all of them whirled around to see Luna standing there.

Luna merely smiled and shrugged. "There was no ill intention, except for trying to incite some jealousy. Jealousy's good for the soul… to an extent. And, Harry does have a point… you guys weren't playing fair either."

The three stayed silent, two silently fuming while digesting Luna's thoughts, and the other, greatly relieved that Luna had spoken up.

Luna's eyes twinkled before laughing. "Aren't you two winded up a little tightly? Harry, walk me back to Hogwarts?"

All eyes turned to Harry and he nervously nodded, offering his arm to Luna.

The two walked away, Luna's hand waving behind her, before they turned a corner.

Ron turned to Hermione and tried to speak, after a moment's silence, but Hermione held up her hand.

"Don't even say it, Ron!" She yelled from behind her shoulder as she walked away, following Harry and Luna.

Ron hurried after her, and after Harry and Luna. "But it is your fault! I told you so!"