It was Friday
The next morning the plan went into effect. Hermione stayed up late into the night to find a charm to add to the potion. Harry and Ron stayed over, too excited about the plan to be left out of the preparation. Harry slipped down to the kitchens early in the morning, Dobby eagerly agreeing to 'anything Harry Potter requests'.
Now they sat at the Gryffindor table eagerly awaiting the Durmstangs' arrival. They didn't have to wait long as they saw Victor and Philippe entering the hall, their teammates following not long after. Hermione let out a giggle, unable to help herself, making the boys shush her before she started them off too.
"Just take a bloody sip of pumpkin juice will you," Ron scowled as they watched the boy eat endlessly, without a sip of the spiked juice.
"Look, look," Hermione said anxiously as he picked up the cup.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Draco asked as he and Ginny made their way over.
"Shh! Watch," George said, as all heads in the vicinity now turned to see what they were talking about. Suddenly, a wave of laughter broke out, at the immediate change of Phillipe's hair to bright pink. Victor choked on his juice as he looked at his friend, before he too started laughing.
Philippe, transfiguring his plate into a mirror, sat there horror struck at the sight before him.
"George Weasley, approach the teachers table now." McGonagall ordered. All heads turned to George as he stood, a huge smirk across his face, turning into a grin as a chant of:
"Weasley, weasley, weasley" started out. He jogged up to the front and stood in front of the teachers, low fiving Remus and Sirius on the way past. Before turning around and bowing to his adoring fans, he received whistles from the Gryffindors, and glares from Durmstrangs.
"MR WEASLEY!" McGonagall shouted over the crowd, making George turn around, a look of complete innocence on his face.
"Yes professor?" he asked making the marauders snort with laughter, and a grin appear upon George's features, before he quickly returned to innocence.
"Don't use that tone with me boy, we both know very well this was your doing," McGonagall said.
"Me professor? Oh no, you've got the wrong guy I assure you," George said sweetly.
"Yes I'm sure" she said a small smile playing upon her lips. George looked over to Dumbledore who sat there with a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"Am I to presume that this is, in some way, a ploy to redeem your sister's honor Mr Weasley?" he asked. George grinned.
"It is Headmaster," he said truthfully. "He should never have touched my sister, and I believe it's only right to make him regret the day he ever did so."
"So you admit you were involved," McGonagall cut in.
"Yes I was involved, but I wasn't solely responsible. But I'm sure you already knew that," George said, receiving a nod from the headmaster, before another round of laughter broke out. Phillipe's hair was now bright green, and then purple, as he tried to change his hair back to normal.
"Ah I see you enlisted the help of Miss Granger," Dumbledore said knowingly. George merely smiled.
"You know I'll never admit it," George said. "Self sacrifice to protect your own and all that," he added.
"Is it then safe to presume this will be the end of this little tirade?" Dumbledore asked.
"Of course professor, consider the scores even, clean slate, eye for an eye," George said.
"Good," the headmaster added.
"Unless they start it," George added as an after thought as he winked at the marauders and left the table, high fiving all his Gryffindors on the way past.
"So it's over," McGonagall said.
"For now, but this little feud isn't over by a long shot," Sirius said. "Trust us, we know," he added referring to himself and Lupin. Both men were smiling identical grins.
"That's what I was afraid of," McGonagall added. "Here comes Karkaroff and Snape."
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"God Girls! Is he ever going to do anything?" Tonks cried falling back on the pillows the girls had down on the floor. Hermione and Ginny had invited Tonks over for a night of gossip, magazines, TV and …wine. Tonks didn't mind obviously. Both girls were old enough. Well nearly. Ginny only had a couple of months till she was 17. So there they lay sprawled out on the large cushions placed around the floor, TV playing Love Actually, the girls onto their second bottle of Red, talking about their love lives. Well more to the point, Tonks and Remus.
"Maybe he's just nervous," Ginny said comfortingly.
"Nervous?" Tonks said incredulously. "He's either completely uninterested or he's got no balls whatsoever," she said sitting up and taking a large sip of her wine.
"Dora don't be like that" Hermione chastised. "You know he likes you, it's so obvious, and the way he was practically drooling over you in muggle clothes was fantastic!" she added, the girls giggling at this.
"I did look pretty hot though so I don't blame him" Tonks eventually managed flicking her hair making them laugh again. Ginny grinned to herself as she checked that the tape recorder had indeed recorded the whole thing. Her and Draco's plan was in effect.
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At the other end of the Castle…..
"Check Mate," Draco said finishing his move and thus winning the game.
"FUCK!" Remus cried. "That's the 4th time! It's not right, it's just not right!"
"You're just not making your move when you should," Draco said looking Remus dead in the eye. "You need to be careful with that…leave it too late to act and you might miss your chance entirely," he added cryptically. Making Remus quirk his brow.
"Are we still talking about chess?" he asked simply. Draco just leant back in his chair and smirked, placing his hands behind his head.
"You tell me?" he said, knowing he was holding all the cards, the others just watching the exchange in interest.
"Oh! Tonks, right I got it," Ron said out of nowhere, making Remus raise his brow at Draco.
"What does it matter to you?" Lupin asked taking another swig of his firewhisky.
"She's my family," Draco said simply, making Sirius smile. Harry, Ron and George just watched on. Remus nodded. "So you like her then?" Draco asked.
"It's complicated," Lupin said after a moment, his eyes quickly flicking to Sirius, but no one noticed. That is, no one but Draco.
"Ah, so your worried about what Black will think?" he added knowingly making Remus' eyes widen and causing Sirius to raise his brows.
"Moony?" he asked as if wanting to hear for himself if what Draco had said was true.
Remus just took a large swig of his drink, Sirius shaking his head. "Are you daft man? She's bonkers about you!"
"I dunno" Remus said hesitantly.
"He's right Moony, she's head over heels for you, just waiting for you to notice her," Harry said putting his hand on his uncle-like figure's back.
"But I'm a…" he stopped looking sullen.
"I think she knows that mate," Draco pointed out. "And obviously it doesn't really bother her"
"Do you really think so?" Remus asked perking up slightly.
"So you admit that you DO like her?" George asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Like her? No I don't like her," Remus said. "I love her," he added after a second making smiles appear across the guys faces.
"Well make your move man! You have my blessing," Sirius said hitting him on the back.
"Okay! I can do this! Tonight I'll go up there and tell her!" he said standing before falling back into his seat "On second thoughts, probably best done sober!" he added.
Draco smirked, stopping his recorder. It was perfect. If the wolf boy backed down, then he and Ginny had the proof they needed to expose the pair to each other.
"Tomorrow," Sirius said raising his bottle of whiskey.
"Tomorrow," the rest chorused raising their whiskey bottles also, and proceeding to get sloshed.
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"They have to pay!" Karkaroff said looking at his Durmstrang boys. "This is unacceptable; they make us look ridiculous in front of everyone."
"But they are some of Dumbledore's favourite students," Phillipe said sadly. "How can we avenge this?" he asked looking at his headmaster for guidance.
"You listen to Krum," He said patting his Quidditch coach on the shoulder. "He will let you know what to do."
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It was Friday, the first day of events to promote interschool relations between Durmstrang and Hogwarts. Friday classes were cancelled, replaced by a Hogsmeade trip, a chance for Durmstrang students to experience more of the culture, while spending time with their Hogwarts friends. Or more to the point a chance for the girls to get in some shopping – without the boys.
"I'm glad we've got a day to ourselves," Ginny said as she and Hermione walked toward the neighbouring town. Hermione smiled and nodded her head. "I mean its not that I don't like spending time with Draco! I do," Ginny quickly started, before Hermione cut in.
"Gin, it's ok. I get what you mean. Its nice to have some girl time, away from all the boys, to go shopping for clothes, jewellery, panties even," Hermione said with a laugh, Ginny joining her.
"The panties are pretty nice," Ginny agreed before both girls burst into giggles. Linking their arms and continuing to trudge along to Hogsmeade.
"Oh Mione look at this," Ginny said turning around with a silver silk dress. Hermione smiled.
"Try it on," Hermione said encouragingly. Ginny bit her lip.
"I don't know Hermione, if I put it on and fall in love with it, and then can't have it…" she trailed off.
"You're trying it on," Hermione said as she pushed Ginny into the change room and locked it from the outside.
"You're not coming out till you have it on," she added, hearing the other girl sigh in defeat from the other side of the door made her smile, knowing she had won.
"Happy now?" Ginny asked as she pushed out of the room. Hermione instantly beamed. "Of course you are, you got what you wanted! Honestly, you're just like your broth.." All breath escaped her as Hermione spun her to face the mirror mid rant. "Wow," she finally managed. She was gorgeous! The dress just clung at the best possible angles, and felt divine. "I look pretty" she said making Hermione all out grin.
"No you look amazing Ginny! We have to get you this dress if it's the last thing we do."
"Hermione, look at this price tag! This is out of my price range, you know that!"
"I could buy it for you! Early birthday present."
"No Hermione. It's ok. You know I don't like that sort of thing," Ginny replied looking down at the dress, before turning and heading back into the changing room. Hermione waiting till Ginny was safely in the cubicle before heading over to the counter.
"Can you put that dress aside under the name of Malfoy? He will be in later to pick it up," she said getting an eager nod from the sales person.
"That won't be a problem ma'am," the lady said politely.
"Oh and please don't tell my friend. It will be as a surprise," Hermione getting a nod and a wink making her smile, before a black dress in the corner caught her eye. "I found my dress," she said to Ginny when she walked over.
"Cool. I think I might just wear that blue one I got over holidays, I haven't worn it yet anyways," she replied in a dismissive tone.
"Yeah good idea, that dress is really pretty," Hermione said taking her dress over to the counter and paying for it, smiling knowingly at the sales lady.
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"Hey Guys, fancy meeting you here," Hermione said as they entered the Three Broomsticks, running into the boys, giving George a quick kiss.
"Yeah imagine that," Draco said sarcastically rolling his eyes, smiling as he received a kiss from Ginny.
"Hey Gin, wanna get us some drinks?" Hermione asked getting a nod from Ginny, before she turned and left. "There is something waiting for you to pick up at the dress store," Hermione whispered to her brother making him raise his brows. "She wouldn't let me buy it for her,"
Hermione added with a shrug. "Trust me, you would pay it just to see the way she looks let alone how happy it will make her," Draco nodded without Hermione needing to say more.
"No worries," He said before reclining in his chair and continuing to chat with the guys like nothing had happened.
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"Why do girls always take so bloody long to get ready," Ron groaned, from where the boys were waiting at the bottom of the stairs of the Heads' dorm.
"Dunno," George said turning to his brother. "But it certainly pays off in the end," he added, looking at Harry when he hit him, but Harry was transfixed on something else, George following his gaze and hit Draco, who inturn did the same to Ron. And there all four boys stood looking up at the gorgeous young woman that Hermione Granger had turned into. She was a classic beauty, Audrey Hepburn in breakfast at Tiffany's. She wore a black velvet dress that started as a choker around her neck, covering all her chest and hugging her curves just right, her back was left exposed, and she had decided that for the night she would cover her tattoo. The dress fell to the floor with a split coming up her left thigh. Her hair in a beautiful up-do and her make up very elegant. She was every bit the lady. The boys continued to stare as she made her way down the stairs.
"Flash, you look… like a Malfoy," he added making her grin.
"I wonder why that is," she said smugly as she made her way over to George who just stood there memorized. "Say something silly."
"Marry me," he said making a huge smile cross her face as she laughed, George grinning also.
"One day," she said honestly leaning up and kissing him softly. "Ask me again in a little while ok?" she added getting a nod from George. "Come on Ginny," Hermione called up. One again all eyes were at the top of the stairs, and a round of sharp breaths were heard from the boys as the stunning read head emerged. She looked absolutely amazing in the silver dress, her hair soft as silk, down and in loose curls, and she had a smile on her face as she looked down at Draco who was grinning from ear to ear. She made her way down the stairs and over to Draco, the boy immediately taking her hand and pulling her gently to him.
"You're breathtaking," he said softly making her smile. "And I love you," he said making George's ears perk. He hadn't heard Draco say that to his sister yet, and he found that he didn't mind.
"Shall we go then?" Harry said sounding like Dumbledore, making the others smile and agree, the group heading down to the hall.
(A/N" Thanks soooooo much to WeasleyForMe for being my beta for this story. She's wonderful )