Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Here's a relatively long chapter for y'all. Enjoy. Please R+R!

Murgy31

Selene98 – I agree with you about tricks, but don't worry…it'll all work out in the end!

Isadora120

"So Draco, are we really going to do this?"

Draco nodded absently, his mind on Ministry matters. Ginny thumped him.

"Ow! Damn it Gin, what the hell was that for?" Draco sounded indignant.

"You weren't listening to me." Ginny said simply. Draco teased

"See you're already acting like a possessive girlfriend, Red!"

Ginny scowled and made to hit Draco, but he stopped her, tickling her until she was begging for mercy.

"So do you wanna go to lunch?" Draco asked once they had both calmed down.

They walked into the restaurant chatting animatedly. Hermione saw them before they saw and she was about to leave, but Ginny caught sight of her and called out,

"Hermione. Wait! We haven't seen you in ages!"

Hermione noted the 'we' and felt jealously rise in her.

"Ginny."

The redhead looked at her, surprised at the witch's cold tone. Draco also gave Hermione a strange look. They all sat down and there was an awkward silence. Draco tried to break the ice.

"So Hermione, what have you been up to?"

It was the wrong thing to say. Hermione coolly said,

"Oh nothing much. But obviously you've been busy. Already moved on to another girl, Draco? What, it's only been a couple days since she started working for you and you're already seducing her?" Hermione knew she should stop but didn't care. "So is it just your secretaries that you date or just any woman within your reach? And Ginny! I'm surprised. To think you used to hate Malfoy so much and now…well how warm is his bed? Enjoying it much?" Hermione stopped, realizing what she had just said. Draco and Ginny were staring at her, shocked and the restaurant was deathly quiet. She hadn't realized that her voice had gotten louder with every word. Humiliated she ran out in floods of tears. Draco started to go after her, but Ginny grabbed his arm, hissing angrily,

"No. This is part of the plan."

He shook her off saying,

"No! Making her cry and humiliating her was not part of the plan!"

He wrenched his arm from her fierce grip and ran after Hermione, leaving Ginny with tears in her eyes. She muttered to herself,

"Well you knew he didn't want you. It was all pretend. It didn't mean anything. If he hasn't noticed you all these years he never will."

It still hurt. As Ginny was thinking this Draco was running after Hermione shouting,

"Hermione! Wait! Please! Let me explain!"

Looking over her shoulder Hermione cried,

"Leave me alone Malfoy. There's nothing to explain. You're with Ginny now and I made a complete fool out of myself."

"But that's exactly it! I'm not with Weasley!"

She stopped and turned around slowly.

"You're not?"

Draco stepped closer to her, breathing slightly harder than usual.

"No," he breathed.

Hermione looked up at him, a smile trembling on her lips, but then she remembered Ron. She cried,

"No! I can't do this! Draco, I had no business barging into your love life. I'm not a part of it. I'm sorry."

"What if I want you to be a part of it?"

His words made her pause. She didn't want to hurt him and she wanted him so much. But she could feel Ron around her and she knew that she wouldn't be able to love him.

"I'm sorry Draco. Ron…"

She turned and fled. Draco yelled in frustration. He went to find Ginny. When he saw her he approached her,

"Red, how does dinner sound?"

"Only if you pay," Ginny teased him.

"Red, I mean on a date."

Ginny stepped back shocked. Then she saw the anger in his eyes and realized that Hermione must have rejected him and so he was coming to her. She said icily,

"Draco, you left me looking idiotic in the restaurant. Just because Hermione rejected you does not mean you can come to me to sooth your pride…"

Draco stopped any further words she might have said by kissing her. It was not gently, but demanding and passionate. At first she fought him, knowing he didn't mean it, but when he didn't let up she melted into his embrace. He said into her neck,

"So Red, what about that dinner?"

Ginny nodded, breathless from the want in his voice.