The penultimate chapter! Here's where everything starts to go downhill for Ron. }:) Thanks for encouraging me to continue this, guys! ^_^
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. All characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling
It had been a few days since the conception and commencement of the master plan. Ron had been making moves on Hermione, trying to convince her to take him back. Meanwhile, Lavender was getting closer to Hermione as well, and farther and more distant from Ron. At the same time, Malfoy was guarding Hermione carefully, keeping a close eye on Ron and kissing her at every opportunity he got.
"I'm tired," Malfoy said with a yawn, stretching out in the loveseat.
"So am I," Hermione echoed, taking a seat next to him. "I'm so fed up of this plan. It's tiring me the hell out."
"Then why don't you give it up?" Malfoy asked, stroking her hair. She rested her head against his shoulder. "I mean, after everything that Lavender did to you, do you really want to help her?"
"Actually," Hermione said, turning to him, "think about it this way - had my relationship with Ron not failed, then we would have never gotten together."
"Good point," Malfoy said, scratching Hermione behind the ears. "But what if something goes wrong?" He turned and looked straight at her, holding her face in his hands.
"Nothing will go wrong," Hermione reassured him with a small smile. "Because when the main confrontation goes down, all of you are going to be there."
"Of course," Malfoy said. "Just don't fall for him, all right?"
"You silly boy," Hermione chided, knocking Malfoy's nose with her fingertip. "Why on earth would I do that when I have the perfect sample of a male human being right in front of me?"
"No arguments here," Malfoy said with a grin. Hermione elbowed him and laughed. "I'm hungry," he declared.
"There's ice cream in the kitchenette," Hermione said, standing up.
"Not that kind of hungry," Malfoy retorted, pulling her back down and pinning her to the loveseat.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Hermione greeted her friends pleasantly, taking a seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Hello, Hermione," Harry responded in an equally cheery tone, scooting down the bench to make room for her.
"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked just as Ron and Lavender sat down on the other side of Harry.
"Perfectly all right," Hermione replied, ladling some bouillabaisse into her plate. "Rather happy, actually."
"Oh?" Ron asked, his ears perking up. "Well, it's good to hear. I'm glad you're over your disappointment. That Ferret wasn't worth your time or tears anyway."
At this, Hermione's grip around her spoon tightened, knuckles turning white. Luna put a placating hand on her knee, glancing at her sternly.
"Yeah, I know, right?" Hermione scoffed, releasing a deep breath she didn't know she was holding. "So, guys, how are all your classes?"
"Going pretty well, actually," Ginny spoke up, putting her fork down. Hermione glanced at the other girl's plate, relieved that she had given up the grapefruit diet. For someone with an appetite as voracious as Ginny, and as physically active, there was no way grapefruit could satisfy her, unless she ate an entire cartload of them.
"Yes, Ginny's very good at dueling – she beat the pants off of Goyle the other day!" Luna chimed in.
"Is that right?" Hermione asked. "Well, I'm sure that was no easy feat, was it Gin?"
"No, but my utter resentment of the git certainly helped out in that area," Ginny laughed, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"Well, I'm glad for that," Hermione remarked. "We should just put him in every class of yours and see how you perform."
"If I could give him a potion…" Ginny trailed off.
"Now, Gin, I'm pretty sure that's against the law," Ron declared.
"So?" Ginny demanded, her eyes glinting. Hermione shot her a warning glance.
"I was just saying…" Ron said, holding his hands up placatingly. "Anyway, Hermione, can I speak to you for a moment?"
"Sure Ron," she replied. "What is it?"
"Not here," Ron said. "Outside, in the Entrance Hall." Hermione glanced around at all her friends and stood up.
"All right," she said with a smile.
"We'll just be a minute," Ron told Lavender, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Lavender smiled at him and Hermione rather acidly and nodded.
Hermione followed Ron to the door, throwing Malfoy a glance as she went. He looked up at her and nodded very slightly.
"Hermione, I need to tell you something," Ron said, holding both of Hermione's hands in his. "But there are too many people around."
"You know, if we hang around here for too long, your girlfriend will wonder where you are and why you're here with me," Hermione declared. "Let's meet after your Quidditch practice."
"Where?" Ron asked.
"Room of Requirement?" Hermione suggested, trying to keep the smirk off her face.
"Perfect."