Author's Note: It's been a bit since I've posted last. Life got crazy, as it tends to do, but I am back. This chapter takes place at the beginning of "The Unbreakable Vow" in Book Six. As always, leave me a review if you have any comments or constructive criticism, and follow this story to stay up-to-date on new chapters. xxx Lucy

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

An Unconventional Proposal

Hermione had dozens of loose parchments spread across her large table at the library. She had three books open at once, and she was trying to read from each of them to complete the research she needed to do for her Arithmancy homework. But she found herself needing to read the same sentences five or six times to absorb them. She simply couldn't focus.

The events that took place after the first Quidditch match had changed a lot of things.

For one, she and Ron went from avoiding each other to pretending the other didn't exist at all. To make this easier - and to prevent Harry from being forced into the middle of things - Hermione had her meals in the Great Hall with Ginny and her friends or with Neville.

Another change, one that Hermione detested, was the dynamic in the girls' dormitory. Since that night, Lavender didn't give Hermione the time of day. Instead, she sat on Parvati's bed, telling Parvati all of the details about her budding relationship with Ron. Even though Hermione tried to tune Lavender out, she overheard a few unsavory remarks:

1. Ron's kissing was getting a lot better since the first night, when they snogged in front of everyone. Apparently, he was a little sloppy at first, but was improving his technique with more practice.

2. He cursed a lot while they were snogging. Even though Parvati found that odd, Lavender replied that it was actually rather attractive. Sort of like dirty talk. (Hermione nearly regurgitated her dinner at that.)

3. Ron smelled really, really good. (Hermione already knew that.)

As the days went on, Hermione could see that Parvati had grown tired of Lavender's constant chatter about Ron. That's what you get for egging her on, Parvati, Hermione said to herself.

Another transition that had occurred in Hermione's day-to-day since the incident with Ron was that she purposely went out of her way to avoid any sort of run-ins with him. For one, she didn't spend any time in the Gryffindor Common Room anymore. Instead, she did every bit of homework in the Library, usually staying until Madam Pince nearly had to physically remove her at closing time. The idea of seeing Ron and Lavender sitting next to each other, probably snogging (as Ginny noted they usually did in the Common Room), was just too much to bear.

Each week, when the Prefect schedule was released, Hermione checked to make sure she wouldn't be on rounds with Ron. And in the instance he was, she would beg Padma, Ernie, or Anthony to switch with her, bribing them by taking two of their shifts for taking only one of hers.

The final change that was eating away at Hermione was the fact that she no longer had a date to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party. If Ron's behavior on the night he got drunk in the Common Room wasn't enough to turn Hermione off of bringing him, his lip-locking with Lavender made this a given. The party was only three days away, so if she wanted to go with someone, she needed to be quick. And she couldn't go stag, it would look absolutely pathetic in front of Ron.

She could easily just go to Slughorn's party with Harry. They'd be hanging out with each other the whole time anyway, so it made perfect sense for her to ask her best friend. In fact, she was a bit surprised that Harry hadn't asked her to go after seeing how Ron had betrayed her. It made her wonder: Was Harry looking to invite someone specific? Harry and Cho certainly weren't romantically involved anymore, and with how secretive Harry could be, it made perfect sense that Harry had developed feelings for someone else. But there was no use pondering on whom Harry could be crushing on when she had her own dilemma to work out.

One of the other Gryffindor boys might be a nice date for Hermione. Dean was already going with Ginny, so if she invited Seamus, she wouldn't feel guilty if she decided to desert him during the party. And Seamus was always keen on a party, Hermione knew.

Then there was Neville. He was a dear friend, and she knew she would probably have a good time with him. Going with Neville as a friend was certainly an option.

Who else? she contemplated, racking her brain for more options.

Ernie Macmillan was very nice, and he did seem upset after Hannah's father pulled her from Hogwarts for the rest of the year. She had Prefect rounds with him tomorrow, so she could always ask him then, right?

Speaking of Hufflepuffs, Zacharius Smith was an option. He was a right git and wouldn't be any fun to have at the party, but it would be a good way to stick it to Ron. But was a date with Zacharius worth the trouble?

Anthony Goldstein wasn't a bad option either, especially because they knew each other as Prefects. Terry Boot was alright as well. But she didn't know either of them particularly well, and if she was going to ask someone outside of her house, she'd rather it be Ernie anyway.

So, the question was: Neville, Seamus, or Ernie?

As she reread the same sentence in her textbook for a fourth time, she saw a figure approach her table out of the corner of her eye. She looked up, expecting it to be Harry; he had asked her for help on the Transfigurations assignment and he knew where to find Hermione at her usual table in the Library.

But it wasn't Harry. It was a tall, handsome, blond-haired boy. Cormac McLaggen. Just the last person she wanted to see.

"Evening, Granger," Cormac gave her a suave nod and, without asking, took a seat in the chair next to hers.

Hermione looked at him but didn't say hello. She lowered her head, returning to her book, though she couldn't focus on reading with him sitting next to her, gazing at her.

"What are you reading?" Cormac asked, curiously.

Hermione lowered the cover for a moment to show him the title, then opened it back up and went on pretending to read.

"New Theory of Numerology?" Cormac said dully. "I didn't know you were an Arithmancer." He added, trying to make a joke, "I thought only old blokes and fat, homely witches were into that stuff." He started to chuckle, but stopped when he saw that she wasn't joining him. Perhaps he thought that Hermione wasn't listening, but really she just didn't take to unkind jokes.

"Arithmancy is very interesting, actually," Hermione said coldly.

Cormac smiled, pleased to finally get something out of Hermione. "Much better than that Divination crap, eh?"

Hermione looked up at Cormac for a moment, then looked back down at the pages. "I certainly think so."

Cormac went on, "Yes. I'm not into Arithmancy myself, but there's got to be more merit in looking at numbers to predict the future and explain circumstances than looking into crystal balls and moon charts."

Hermione froze. So he did know a bit about Arithmancy. He had a one-up on Harry and Ron, who didn't have a clue about what the subject was all about.

"So," she said, looking back up at him again, this time keeping her eyes on him instead of returning to the pages of her book. "You're also not into Divination?"

Cormac scoffed. "It's all a bunch of nonsense. People have to be gullible as all hell to believe it isn't all just smoke and mirrors."

Hermione nodded, trying not to smile. So, she was having a conversation with Cormac McLaggen and, for the first time, she didn't hate him.

"Anyway," Cormac said, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry to bother you, Granger. I just had to ask you something real quick."

Hermione felt her heartbeat accelerate.

"Well, I heard from someone that you asked that Keeper Weasley to Slughorn's Christmas party. Now, I think you were certainly settling there. I mean, Weasley?! You could do much better." He paused, having no doubt in his mind that he was getting through to her. "But then I saw him snogging that Lavender Brown girl in the Common Room. Thought my eyes had deceived me because why would he pass up the one and only Hermione Granger for her?" Hermione felt her cheeks redden at this. "I'm not saying she's unattractive. She's a bit fit, actually. In fact, my parents have met her parents a few times and they're supposedly very good wizards, so she's not a bad catch. But anyway, then I saw Weasley snogging her again and again and by then, I knew it wasn't just some drunk hookup. So, either Weasley got hit by too many Bludgers in Quidditch practice or he's just that dim-witted that he would pass up the chance to bring you to an acclaimed dinner party."

Hermione didn't know what to say so she remained silent.

"I found out earlier today by one of my mates that you were likely without a date to the party. I figured some other bloke would have swooped in and snatched you up after Weasley blew his shot with you." Hermione didn't like being talked about in such an objectifying way, but she let him continue, curious to see where this was going. "Let me tell you, I would have asked you weeks ago if I had known you'd be thinking about going stag only a few days before the party. So…" He looked her directly in the eyes, smiling a bit. "Would you do me the honor of being my escort to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party?"

Hermione blinked. She could have seen that question coming from a mile away once he opened his mouth, but she was still stunned. What possibly could have made Cormac think that Hermione would want to go to the party with him, let alone be in the same vicinity as him for more than five minutes?

Looking back at him, she couldn't help but notice just how handsome he was. Glamour potion or not, his jawline was immaculate and his sky-blue eyes twinkled when they hit the light. She hadn't seen Cormac wearing anything besides Quidditch gear, Hogwarts robes, and Puddlemere United jumpers in the Common Room, but she could just tell based on the way the fabric lay on his frame that his body was lean and toned, better than Ron's.

Then she thought about what everyone would say if she took Cormac to the party. Katie Bell would be fuming. Ginny would be horrified. Harry would probably call her a hypocrite or some rubbish. Ron would…

Ron.

Brilliant.

"Cormac," Hermione started, smirking. "Your proposal is… well, unconventional, that's for certain."

Cormac puffed his chest out a bit, flattered by this non-compliment.

"I'd be happy to go to Slughorn's party with you." The words didn't come out easily, and after they did, she felt an immediate sense of regret. Was it immoral to use someone just to get back at someone else?

"Excellent," Cormac replied, grinning. "That's fantastic news." He stood up from his seat, still looking at Hermione. "You'll need to tell me exactly what color your dress robes are because I brought several sets myself for this year and it would be best to coordinate." It was a strange thing to say, but when it came to Cormac McLaggen, nothing was surprising.

"Can't wait," Hermione lied as Cormac gave her a wave and practically sprinted out of the library. To tell his friends, no doubt.

Hermione had never done something so devilish. But it did fill her with a fulfilling sense of satisfaction.

Revenge was a dish best served cold. And, right now, Hermione was the ice queen.