Hermione had quite made up her mind that she would pursue Draco. Carpe diem, et cetera, et cetera. Hermione could talk herself into something given enough time, but there was rarely a time when she could talk herself out of doing something once she'd decided on it. Harry'd fondly called it stubbornness. Her parents had told her it was her gift of determination.
Whatever it was, she was putting together a plan. She'd thought briefly of asking for Ginny's help, but unfortunately, she had the gift of the gab, and Hermione saw her as a liability in this scenario. Besides, she'd made so many jokes about Hermione looking like she'd fit into the little Malfoy family unit, and Hermione couldn't bring herself to admit that was exactly what she'd like after such adamant denials. She'd have to do it on her own.
Coming up with a plan was tough, though. Hermione's dating history had been limited, and she'd never really had to be the pursuer. Viktor had asked her our and Ron had all but assumed they were together – and she'd let him. So she had to fall back on her books. She'd spent the weekend after the Potter twins were born lounging in her home reading a bunch of the cheap modern romances, she'd also looked down her nose at. Really they were quite good, and excellent research materials.
Everything indicated that she should be casually bumping into at places, and she'd felt decidedly accomplished in knowing that. She was ahead of the curve, as per usual. Many of the books also indicated an initial animosity between the love interests. Been there done that – for years, in fact!
The only thing they were really lacking was the titular turning point – the obvious moment of revelation. But how could one orchestrate their own denouement? Hermione created a vague outline of a plan in the same way she'd create strategic collection development plans for the archives. It took her a full month to finally settle on a solid list of goals – checkpoints to ensure she was moving in the right direction.
The first checkpoint: obtain compliments on her appearance.
Hermione generally hated it when people commented on her looks. She much preferred comments on her accomplishments. But that was because she wasn't romantically interested in people. She was interested in Draco Malfoy, and she wanted him to think she was well fit. Besides, he'd complimented her work in the archives several times since their reacquaintance. He had even offered to reconnect her with his friend, Theodore Nott, who was working on teaching and improving magical conservation techniques.
Hermione had been a bit put out when he'd first suggested she meet up with Theo because she'd thought he was trying to set her up, but as Draco continued to tell her about Theo's professional work, he mentioned Theo's wife. Hermione had felt notably relieved when he'd mentioned it, and she hoped that her tension hadn't been evident to Draco.
Now, her first goal set and a goal deadline carefully selected for a generous month's time, Hermione was eager to get started. The best part of a plan was seeing it carried out successfully, after all!
Although she'd decided to go to Ginny for – for lack of a better term – seduction advice, she decided asking the witch for a bit of help with her wardrobe couldn't hurt.
"Shopping?" Ginny'd asked, amazed that Hermione was offering to undergo her least favorite past time. "You want to go clothes shopping? Are you ill? Are you interviewing?"
"No and no. I've just realized it's been a good while since I've spruced up my day-to-day wear is all. I'm looking positively year 2000."
Ginny snorted. "Please, you act as if you haven't been magically altering the same pair of jeans you've worn you were 16."
"A good pair of denim, well taken care of needs no replacement," Hermione said haughtily. A staple item was a staple item.
"Well, you're getting some new staples today. Good Godric, I don't like shopping either, and I still manage to go more than you."
"Do you want to go, or not?"
Ginny sighed and nodded. They apparated to a point near muggle London, and as they walked arm in arm to one of their favorite shops, Ginny considered how best to broach the subject of Malfoy.
Really, she'd never expected Hermione to fall for Malfoy thanks to one tiny bit of payback, and she felt a bit guilty knowing that it'd been her silly whim that'd brought a whole whirlwind to her friend's life.
Then again, she also felt Hermione might throw her a bit of a bone. Well, lucky for Ginny, Hermione was an organized genius who tacked a copy of her planner to her fridge for review.
"A Comprehensive Plan to Dating Draco Malfoy."
Merlin. Geniuses really did the dumbest things.
Ginny was certain she was going to say something to Hermione while they shopped. All she wanted to do was let Hermione know that she understood what was going on and that she'd support this unexpected turn of emotional events.
But the way Hermione touched and turned each piece of clothing her hand told Ginny this was more intimate of an issue than she'd anticipated. Hermione scrutinized the quality and style of each piece of clothing she looked at, judging its potential service to her. Ginny gently steered Hermione in the direction she thought was more apt for the task at hand.
"Oh, that shirt with that pair of jeans you grabbed early would be so hot, but you could totally pair it with a skirt to make it business casual or maybe, like, casual date wear."
Hermione perked up a bit and nodded, gently folding the garment into her shopping basket and then moved quickly over to the skirt rack to find something that matched.
So obvious, Ginny thought.
Hermione couldn't keep the pep out of her step, and Ginny felt the need to tease her rise. The only thing tamping that want down was the desire to see Hermione go on a damn date with a man that had at least the barest understanding of manners. Harry and Ginny and even the twins once or twice had gone out of their way to give Draco and Hermione the opportunity to run into each other since they'd rather hit it off after the babysitting excursion.
Ginny pulled a few skirts she knew Hermione wouldn't normally consider and tossed them at her.
"First skirt's flirty, second datey, third more casual."
"Hmm." Hermione found a mirror and held each against her waist, imagining what she could wear with each before tossing all three into the basket with a frustrated huff. "Whatever. I'll just get them and figure it out once I get home."
"Ah, frustration. A natural step in the shopping process."
Hermione glared and threw an ugly hat at her friend. "Don't you ever feel the need to just... just look nicer? And it feels like no matter what you put on, it just doesn't look right?"
"Of course I do, Mione. Sometimes all you can do is tell yourself you look nice until you realize it's true."
"Fake it til you make it?" Hermione asked.
"Just so. But Mione, I promise those skirts will look positively stellar on you. And honestly, I could probably guess what Malfoy's gonna wear half the time anyway, so really you've a 50% chance of matching up with him if you listen to me."
"Pardon?" Hermione asked, her voice at least a pitch higher than normal. Ginny recognized her mistake immediately.
There were two options: play it off or double down.
Well, no one ever called Ginevra Weasley a coward.
"I just think if you're going to go the effort of bullet pointing a list of how to get Malfoy to fall all over himself for you pinning it to your fridge for review while your morning coffee brews, you'll take the extra effort to listen to a woman who's had many a man – and woman for that matter!"
"I- uh," Hermione stuttered a bit before finding her words. "It's an outline, not a list!"
"What is the difference?" Ginny asked, incredulous that this was what Hermione had deemed worth commenting on.
"A list is a list. An outline leaves room for expansion and fleshing out. It's a start – just a start!"
Ginny leaned lightly on top of a clothing rack in exasperation. "Whatever! Listen, putting aside the fact that you clearly didn't tell me – your best bitch, might I add – I am going to be gracious enough to extend the subtle arts of womanly wiles."
"You? Subtle?"
"Shut up. It's just like quidditch: strategy, appropriate plays, on the fly saves, and finding their week spots."
"What the hell are you talking about, Gin?" Hermione asked as she moved to get in the checkout queue.
"You've got some really cute points on your – uh – outline, but this is the real world which means you have to account for more than just you and him. Consider "
They crept forward in line. "I've included Scorpius in my outline as well, Ginny. If I ever thought he'd be uncomfortable with Draco and I – um – becoming better friends, you know I wouldn't pursue it."
They were at the front of the line now and Ginny sighed and held her tongue while Hermione paid. As soon as they were out the door, Ginny stopped in front of Hermione. "I know you'd never do anything to hurt Malfoy's kid, and honestly, I can't imagine that kid objecting to you being around more. You are very smart, Hermione, but you are not exactly a people person. You don't really care to look far beyond your circle of friends and personal interests."
Hermione felt her guard rise. She did too pay attention.
Ginny could tell Hermione was getting ready to shut her out of this particular topic again, so she rushed to finish her thought. "Malfoy is a famous quidditch player who is, loath as I am to admit it, a good player. Not to mention people seem to find him attractive," Ginny said, feigning a gag.
Hermione swatted her arm and blushed. "I happen to be people in this scenario, Ginny."
"Yes, well, nobody's perfect, I suppose. Not even you," Ginny said. They'd started walking again, nowhere in particular. "My point is, quidditch groupies aren't going to back off Malfoy just because you're friends now. You've got to factor them into your game plan! You don't create a quidditch play without accounting for a stray bludger or two, do you?"
Hermione realized what Ginny was trying to say, and she was embarrassed she'd not considered it herself. Draco was in the spotlight constantly. The last time she'd watched Scorp at one of the Canons' games, Hermione had even noticed a group of men and women all clad in replica Malfoy jerseys who cheered wildly every time he'd played a particularly clever maneuver. Her stomach turned a bit. But she knew Draco. She wanted him for his snarky attitude and his quick wit. She wanted him despite their past and despite his weird love of the caramel hard candies she hated. And yes, his looks didn't hurt either, but at least that wasn't what her interest was grounded in. Surely he would know that.
"Well, I don't see what that has to do with anything. All they've just as much right to like him as I do. Really, Ginny, we're adults."
"I'm not saying you should go putting puking pasties in their milkshakes or anything, but you could do something to just kind of send a message. Wear matching colors. Get caught speaking together before a game or leaving together after. Send a message! It's psychotic something or other. Dean was telling me about it the other day."
"Oh, it's psychotic, alright! But I believe what Dean was talking to you about was psychology."
"Well, whatever, the point is -"
"And since when are you seeing Dean again?"
"The point is," Ginny stressed, "that you could at least make it clear you're in the running, too."
Hermione rolled her eyes and let Ginny pull her into a table at a random café. "Ridiculous, really, Ginny. I'm sure I'll fair just fine with my outline."
But even as she went on to ask Ginny about her recent excursions with Dean, Hermione couldn't help but think that skirt Ginny had suggested really did seem to be one of Draco's favorites. It was rather pretty, too.
Y'all didn't really think I was gonna have Ginny just not be a part of the hijinks, did you?
Sorry updates are dragging. I've worked myself into a dark Hermione mood, so writing fluff is ✨ odd ✨ Also I'm rereading the Twilight Saga because the pandemic overlords have deemed it time, and it's torture. ALSO also, if you haven't read A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, please give it a shot. SO good, and it's currently set to be a trilogy.