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Chapter 12- Revelations
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The plan to mentally seduce Draco was looming in on Alex. She felt deceptive and mean, but at the same time, she knew it had to be done. She and Ron had stayed up half the night coming up with a good reason why Draco should be alone with her. The idea finally came that they would stage a break up. It had to work.
She sighed as she braided her hair into two separate braids. Today was it, the day of reckoning.
The students lined up to be passed on into Hogsmeade. Hermione stood waiting with Draco. Not far away, Harry and Ginny were cuddled together in the cold. Ron and Alex were also close by, breathing their hot breath onto their cold hands.
It wasn't snowing, but it didn't look like it would take much more waiting for it to happen. The students wrapped their coats and scarves around them eagerly as the crowd made its way to Hogsmeade.
"So when do I make the move?" Alex whispered as she and Ron walked closely together.
"The Three Broomsticks, we'll start there. You'll get his attention with that outfit I'm sure."
Alex smiled. She was wearing a pair of jeans with two holes in the front knees. Under the pants she wore red and gold striped stockings, with shimmering gold lining around the stripes. Her shirt was a crimson, long sleeved shirt that hung loosely on her shoulders. Her hair in two braids, and red and gold ribbons tied into them, she looked like she was ready for a quidditch match.
"It's plain, it's simple, but it's still eye catching." Alex agreed.
Ron nodded. It was hard not to notice how hip hugging those jeans really were.
Ginny appeared at Ron's side, Harry next to Alex.
"Hello." Ginny said cheerfully.
"Hi." Alex greeted. "How are you?"
Harry's smile was happily plastered to his face.
"Did you see Hermione? She actually looks happy." Ginny gossiped. "It's disturbing."
"I'm sure." Alex said quietly. Ginny glared at her.
"Well Harry dear I think we should leave, they're on a date, we wouldn't want to interrupt." Ginny sneered. Harry looked at Alex and then Ron. He shrugged and grabbed Ginny's hand.
"Have fun, don't do anything I would." Harry winked.
Alex stuck her tongue out at him. "Brat." She muttered.
Ron laughed. "Ah sibling love. I know it too well."
"Hermione and Draco just went into the Three Broomsticks." Alex noted.
"Then I guess the day begins." Ron said as he led the way into the tavern.
Draco ordered two butterbeers and found a good table by the back corner for him and Hermione. They sat in silence for no more than two minutes when the door opened at the far end and Ron and Alex walked in. Draco couldn't help but stare.
"Whoa." He muttered aloud.
"What?" Hermione asked. Following his gaze she looked over at Alex. She and Ron had just sat down and looked like they were in deep conversation. Her face heated. What did Alex think she was doing?
"She looks good." Draco stated, attempting to sip at his butterbeer. He failed as what little he got into his mouth fell right back out.
"You're actually drooling." Hermione said in amazement.
"You have to admit, look!"
"She looks normal to me." Hermione almost sounded mad.
"Are you jealous?" Draco asked, finally catching her mood.
"No." She sniffed. "Why would I be? It's not like I have a crush on Ron."
"No, I wouldn't think it was Ron you had the crush on." Draco stated with a smirk.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked hotly.
"Nothing. You seem to be getting all worked up for nothing."
Out of the corner of Draco's eye he saw Alex stand up, throw a napkin angrily at Ron, and walk heatedly out of the bar.
"Well that was weird." Hermione said, forgetting the conversation they had been having.
Ron sat with his head down.
"Maybe I should go talk to him." Hermione suggested gently.
"Yea, maybe. Look, I'll be outside ok? It's too warm in here, I'll wait for you." Draco said, getting up with her.
Hermione nodded. "Ok."
Draco headed out the door as Hermione began talking with Ron. He turned his head to see which direction Alex had went. He saw her leaning against the next building over. He made his way toward her.
"What do you want Malfoy?" She asked as he approached.
"I just want to know why you have no coat in such dreadful weather." He asked with a smile.
"I left it in the Three Broomsticks and I'm not going back in there." She said as she looked away. Alex was almost fooling herself; she was really good at this acting thing.
"I take it you and the Weasel king had a fight?"
"Why do you care?" Alex turned to him; a tear was rolling down her face.
"You really liked him didn't you?" Draco asked.
Alex realized she was crying. She hadn't meant to take it that far. Alex felt like they really had broken up, this was going way too far. Did she really have feelings for him?
Alex brushed her tears away. "It doesn't matter now."
"But it does." Draco came closer.
"Draco why do you care so much if I broke up with Ron? You have Hermione."
Draco remembered Hermione. "Oh yea."
"Oh yea? What does that mean?" Alex crossed her arms.
"I was just captivated I guess. You Gryffindor's have so many different emotions it's like a room full of pregnant women."
"Gee, how descriptive."
"Draco?" Hermione walked up behind him.
"Hello." He said with a smile as he turned to face her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked Alex.
"Standing, obviously. It was your beau here who came to me." Alex replied. Hermione looked at Draco.
"Oh." Hermione looked at Alex. "I'm sorry about you and Ron."
"Really. That's odd."
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.
"What, he didn't tell you?" Alex looked at her directly in the eyes. "He broke up with me because of you."
Hermione looked shocked. "What?"
Alex shrugged. "He likes you, but you're with him." She nodded to Draco. "I'm cold; I'm going to find Harry and Ginny." She smiled weakly and walked off.
"Alex wait." Hermione called. She looked at Draco. "I'll be right back, meet me back here in a little bit, I'll only be a few minutes."
He nodded and watched her run after Alex.
He stood in the cold for a while thinking. He had thought he was attracted to Alex, but it was the emotion she had he was more drawn to. He was confused. His feelings were getting crossed. It was Hermione he felt attracted too, but Alex's emotions that made him curious. It dawned on him slowly, he was falling for Hermione.
Alex and Hermione walked into the closest store. Alex just wanted warmth.
"Look, I don't know what you're doing, but I want it to stop." Hermione said at once.
"What?"
"You, trying to get to Draco. Stop it."
"Hermione, are you jealous?"
"What!?" Hermione stepped back and looked around wildly. "Of course not! That's absurd!"
"Is it?" Alex asked, crossing her arms.
Hermione looked at Alex and then away. She was right, but she couldn't admit it. She knew it the minute she saw Draco look at Alex at the Three Broomsticks. She liked him. It went too far.
"Hermione, you like him." Alex stated gently.
"Well I am dating him."
Alex laughed. "Hermione I'm not stupid."
Hermione shifted her weight and put her hands in her coat pocket.
"What am I going to do?"
"Tell him." Alex said simply. "That's all you can do."
Draco sat in the Three Broomsticks, still debating weather he should tell Hermione about his recent discoveries or not. He drummed his fingers nervously on the table top in front of him. She appeared out of no where and sat down in a hurry.
"We have to talk." She said at once.
He was taken aback. "Ok, go ahead."
"I can't date you because I want to get to Harry." She blurted.
"And why is that?"
"Because I want to date you…because," she sighed. "Because I like you."
Draco was surprised. That wasn't what he was expecting to hear at all.
"Before you say anything I just want to say, I know that this wasn't the plan, and it wasn't supposed to happen, but I fell for you damn it." Hermione said, frustrated.
"Well…."
"But if you don't like me too it's ok, I understand. You're evil, I'm not. I can handle it." Hermione interrupted.
"Hermione..."
"And if…."
"Hermione!" Draco grabbed her hand. "I understand."
"You do?" Hermione looked at him seriously. "Really?"
Draco leaned in closer. "You're unlike any girl I've ever met." He whispered. Hermione closed her eyes as Draco closed the gap between them. His breath was warm and sweet as their kiss deepened.
"I can't believe you!" Ginny screamed. Hermione and Draco jumped apart as a tear-streaked face hovered over them.
