A/N: I like makeovers so that's why I added the first part :) thanks again for your reviews it means alot! This chapter gave me more trouble than I expected it to, and then I spent the weekend at my cottage, which is why it took a few days longer to upload. I hope I can get another update before my vacation, starting this friday.
Chapter 7
Morning
Hermione sat herself in front of her mirror, analyzing her new appearance. Her hair, once shoulder-length and bushy knotted hair was now sleek, straight and layered with a bit of a curl on the ends. A hint of blush, mascara, and a light shade of purple eyeshadow, gave her a more natural look. Her neck was more visible, and rather longer than she remembered it to be. She placed a hand at the base of her throat and ran her newly manicured fingers over the skin; checking for any remaining blemishes.
Ginny slapped her hands on her friend's shoulders and peered into the mirror alongside her face.
"Well, there you have it, Mione"
Hermione moved her head about, analyzing her new hairdo.
"Wow, Ginny" Hermione said in awe, running her fingers through the small curls, "Thanks so much" She was about to stand up but her red-haired girl held her down.
Ginny smiled in triumph, "Oh no you don't. You're gonna tell me why the sudden change!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, 'nothing ever gets by her, does it?' she thought, shrugging her arms away from Ginny so she could stand up. "I told you yesterday, I just needed a fresh start"
Ginny looked rather disappointed that her friend dismissed her question, Hermione smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "Oh come on, cheer up"
"Well, I just...thought you were just showing Ron what he was missing," 'after all, I did it to Dean'
"Partly, but mainly I just needed to change, for myself!" She looked into the mirror and smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt - it rested a few inches above her knees. She figured if she was going to change her appearance, she might as well go ahead and change her dressing habits as well. She casted a brief glance to Ginny, "I actually have something else in store for Ron"
Ginny's eyes shot wide. She always thrived for things like this, "Oh? Like what?" a broad grin placed upon her lips.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and then adjusted her robes, "That, you'll just have to wait and see."
"Tease! Oh wait before you leave." Ginny walked over to her dresser and gave her a vial of a light pink liquid, "Try a new perfume. Might as well go all out, right?"
Hermione neared Charms and immediately her insides felt like snakes. 'It's okay, just relax it's just class!' she took a deep breath, held her head high and proud and walked in. Cautiously she scanned the room, as many people looked over to her in shock, mostly them being Gryffindors.
The last time she gained this much attention was back at the Yule Ball, years ago and at that time, when she had a famous wizard by the name of Viktor Krum as her dance partner except, this time was different. She actually felt a great sense of sadness and insecurity rather than beauty. 'Is every boy here, that shallow?'
"Blimey, Hermione is that you?" said Seamus, eyes wide. Dean, who was next to him, also had wide eyes. Most of the other students caught his words and turned their attention to the door way.
Another rush ran through her system as she caught the entire class (minus the Slytherins) were looking at her and whispering to themselves. Pretending not to let it all bother her, she just offered the two Gryffindors next to the doorway her best smile and waved.
"Morning, Seamus. Dean," then she joined their table. Her eyes drifted over to the long table on the opposite side of the room, looking for a certain Slytherin. Her stomach danced as she spotted the back of his white-blond head, as he talked with fellow Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson. For a moment she wondered just how he would think of her new appearance and if it will be enough. 'Ugh...why am I thinking about that?'
A shudder cursed through her body at the thought of pleasing Malfoy, but the feeling of getting revenge on Ron quickly surpassed it. A small smile toyed on her lips as she invisioned the look of sheer horror on his face as his worst nightmare came true - Malfoy charming his ex - much like the look he had when he had assumed she had slept with Malfoy; until she was distracted my the other seventh years. Thankfully Hermione didn't have to endure the constant meddling for too long once Flitwick made his presence.
After the short Professor finished with the roster, Draco was completely beside himself at the new look of...her. He couldn't believe it. The Mudblood actually changed her appearance. Did this mean what he thought it meant? She's actually going to do this thing and pretend to be with him? Who knew she would be so easy to manipulate? He laughed at his own brilliance, of how easy this game fell into his hands; masking the growing smirk on his lips with his hand. He could picture the mounds of gold piling up in his vault.
He felt a harsh jab in his ribs causing him to flinch.
"What the hell, Blaise?" Draco said, annoyed at his friend for ruining his happy moment.
Blaise motioned with his head, Draco trailed his eyes over to the other side of the room; opposite to where she was, seeing that Neville had half transfigured himself with a body of a female, when the task was to conceal a set of textbooks from view.
Draco scoffed, and averted his gaze downward to his drumming fingers on the countertop before looking back over to Hermione.
'Lunch' he thought with a brisk nod. He will go to her at lunch; just two hours from now.
Ginny slumped down at the table. Hermione, who was finishing up her essay on Concealment Charms Flitwick assigned after the class was done, nearly jumped.
"McGonagall is a complete witch!" Ginny huffed. "She wants two five-foot essays completed by next class! One on 'The Complications of Human Transfigurations and Their Differences.' And then the other one, 'The Effectiveness of Stealth Disguises' and then she wants us to create our own disguise and perform the transfiguration perfectly!"
"Sixth year is the start of NEWT level classes Ginny, what did you expect?" Hermione said, returning to her own essay.
Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Honestly Hermione, it's lunch why the heck are you spending it doing work? You should be off flaunting your stuff around Ron, you know, showing him what he's missing! I say, I did hear Lavender and Parvati talking about you,"
"Oh?" Hermione said, raising an eyebrow. She tried to sound casual, but she knew otherwise - Lavender was dishing to her BFF what she and Ron witnessed yesterday.
"Ya, they...they were not happy at all! Lavender was complaining how much attention Ron was giving you, and all that stuff! I say, this plan of yours is really working Mione!"
Hermione dipped her quill in the ink and laughed, "My plan hasn't even started, Ginny. This just proves to me how much Ronald never cared for me, if all I needed was a pretty face to get his attention."
Ginny winced, at her friend's sharp tone, "Okay, my bad! I just...well...can you please look at me when I'm speaking? That way I'll know you are actually listening to me?"
"I am listening"
"Yes but I much rather look at you! I mean come on, what is this plan?"
"You'll see soon enough," Hermione dipped her quill again and felt a shudder. It was strange, she hadn't seen Malfoy all day (aside from Charms class) and well, if he was actually serious about this ploy, she hoped to have had contact with him by now. A new wave of nerves rushed through her body of when that would be. 'Stop it, Hermione, do not be thinking of Malfoy!'
"You know, perhaps you should do some of your homework now so later you wouldn't be so overwhelmed" Hermione said with a shrug, and Ginny rolled her eyes in response. It was here that she spotted a certain white-blond wizard stalking up toward their table. She had stopped eating her lunch, much like the many other Gryffindors around them, as they all looked completely shocked with half-opened mouths, staring.
Nothing was heard than the scribbling of Hermione's quill along the parchment. She reached over to take a sip of her juice and continued on; completely oblivious to the sea of openly gaping expressions of those around her.
Ginny cleared her throat and gave Hermione a light kick in the shin under the table.
"Ouch Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, breaking her concentration from her essay to face her table companion. "Why the heck did you do that?"
'Turn around' she mouthed to Hermione.
Hermione felt a chill run down her spine at the shocked look on her friend's face. Was it Ron? After the way Ginny was talking about him, Hermione wouldn't put it passed him to make an effort to talk to her. Not that she would bother, she was all too preoccupied with how to proceed with Malfoy's offer of pretending to be in a relationship. It was no secret that he had noticed her change, too, even though he tried so hard to hide it. The only trouble she had, was convincing herself of pulling it off.
She took notice of the gaping looks around her, ones of which were Ron staring from a little ways down from where Neville, Seamus and Dean were sitting. So Ron wasn't behind her, or Harry for that matter, seeing how he was opposite Ron. So who was it? She glanced at Ginny again, who motioned with her eyes this time.
'Malfoy,' she mouthed, looking slightly worried now.
Hermione adjusted her posture before turning her attention to the side. Her eyes shot wide at his expression; like he just won a vault filled of Galleons.
"Wow, look at you," he said in a purposefully loud voice, his eyes flashed around the long table of Gryffindors and then looked back to the girl before him. "Gorgeous. I like it,"
Hermione still felt a sudden rush at trying to picture the expression on Ron's face from Malfoy's words. Never once, had Ron ever paid her any complements throughout their relationship, only Ginny and a few classmates; which is why she stopped caring about upkeeping her look in the first place. So hearing one so endearing and from the least-likely person to ever say it, made it all the more special; even though it was just pretend. 'Well, he sure doesn't mess around, does he?'
Malfoy motioned to the parchment in front of her, "So, what are you doing here?"
"Um..." Hermione began, but her voice quickly left her lungs as she tried to gather her wits. "Work?" she felt a harsh pull in her chest as she remained staring at him, and instantly knew she said the wrong thing.
"You were supposed to meet me for lunch," he drawled casually. Being mindful of all the people looking at him; most importantly Ron and Harry. "Remember?"
'Who knew Draco Malfoy was so forward?' she thought as she remained staring at Malfoy. They had just did this agreement a mere 24 hours ago and this is how he wants to start it? To be honest, she was rather surprised he had approached her in a room full of students.
Everyone around waited anxiously for her response, where Malfoy smirked at her blank look and then he held out a hand and motioned for her to stand up.
"Come on, get up"
Hermione swallowed tightly and then rolled up her parchment, being careful not to look at Ginny, or anyone else for that matter, as she did so. Then swirled her legs around to stand up from the table. Malfoy sized her up with his eyes and then took her clothed arm and pulled her along behind him.
Draco paid no attention to the surrounding whispering voices and the shocked looks of fellow Slytherins as he motioned for the Gryffindor Head Girl to sit as he already sat himself down.
"You know, I would appreciate it if you give me the heads up next time you go and pull a stunt like that" Hermione hissed as she sat down next to him.
Draco smirked as he helped himself to some chicken that just materialized before the two of them.
"Well you see, cause this is all your fault anyway, I don't have to tell you a thing" Draco said, adding more food to his plate.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, "Oh really?"
Draco shot her a sharp look, that almost made her yelp, "You need my help, so you play by my rules. Got it?"
"Well technically we never really had an agreement, it was more like-"
"You changed your appearance did you not? So technically you did agree to the terms without your needed discussion. Not my fault"
Once again, Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. Draco shrugged before he began to eat.
"Oh we will discuss this, Malfoy. It just won't work otherwise! It needs to be convincing,"
Draco smirked as he reached over and wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her closer to his side. "Done."
For good measure, Draco glanced over his shoulder to spot Ron and Harry shooting daggers right in his direction. His lips twitched into a grin and then subconsciously, he began to circle his fingers around and around on the fabric of Hermione's robes.
Hermione shifted slightly from the tickling sensation right on her midriff and she darted her eyes downward. Her eyes widened once she spotted Malfoy's long fingers toying with the side of her robes, just shy of where her chest was. 'Oh my god...'
"Um...Malfoy?" Hermione nudged Malfoy with the elbow squished in between the two of them, "Your hand..."
Draco returned his attention to Hermione, and then moved his eyes downward to where his hand was positioned and inwardly smirked. Without a thought, he shifted it up and rested it upon her shoulders instead.
"Relax will you? I am just playing the part of making it convincing" he said before he helped himself to a drink of water.
Hermione rolled her eyes, watching out of the corner of her eye as he started to drum his fingers on her shoulder. Her eyes also caught the death-glares from her ex-best friends and instantly she felt rather giddy; it was working. She bit down on her lip and returned her focus to his hand, spotting a flash of silver hidden under her collar.
"What is that on your hand?" she said before she could help herself.
Draco stopped drumming his fingers and held his hand out in front of her face, while his arm remained upon her shoulder.
Hermione's eyes widened at the piece of jewellery upon his thumb. A ring, engraved with two dragons coiling around each other, one with small sapphires for eyes, and the other had emeralds, as the two of them held an encased diamond in their combined mouths. He set down his goblet and licked his lips.
"A gift from my grandfather before he died"
"Wow, it's...um..." Hermione quickly bowed her head and sighed. The idea of paying Malfoy a compliment was still weird, even if was only supposed to be fake. 'Come on Hermione, you can do this!'
Draco smirked at her hesitation as he dropped his hand back down, his fingers skirted along her neck.
"You know this isn't as hard as you think it is," he said with a gleam in his eye as he slowly stroked her skin, "I mean you had no issues defending me to your pathetic ex-boyfriend yesterday, I don't see how paying me a compliment would be any different. Or does the drama queen need an audience?"
"Drama queen?" Hermione turned in her seat so she could look at him properly, as his arm remained upon her shoulder. She watched Malfoy take another sip of his water and then he turned to face her.
Draco scoffed, "Listen. This thing can't work if what we do, isn't natural. You don't know who could be watching you, so...you just gotta work it,"
"And you would just love that wouldn't you? Me, being all over you like some...some...sleaze. HA!"
Draco balled his fist and then removed his arm from her shoulders. "Okay, there's being convincing then there's overdoing it. You know, for being a smart witch you really are clueless at this"
"I-" Hermione began, but Draco hand raised his hand and pressed a finger to her lips, "No," he whispered.
Hermione swallowed tightly at the contact and just glared at him.
"This thing isn't real" Draco began, removing his finger from her lips to trace along her cheek and began to play with her hair. His eyes trailed over to the Gryffindor table to spot Harry and Ron. "If you do anything extreme the gig will be up and then you will go back to feeling sorry for yourself-"
"I am not-"
"Silence!" he hissed, pressing his other hand to her lips, "This is my idea, so I am in charge. Trust me, and everything else will just fall into place" he dropped his hand from her mouth and resumed toying with her hair with the other. "Got it?"
She felt the tingles on her skin coupled with butterflies in her stomach from his feathery touches on her cheek. 'This isn't real, he was just playing his part.'
If Lucius could see his son now, he would probably curse him to oblivion. It wouldn't matter if it was just a ploy, if Draco is touching a Mudblood, skin on skin, that kind of thing could easily cost him his life. Thankfully, he was locked up in Azkaban.
"Now moving on, Weasley's watching you...or us, rather" Draco smirked at her gaping expression, "And all I am doing is talking to you. That's all we should do, anyway. You're brainy, so I'm sure conversations with you won't be boring. Just throw in the odd touch here and there and you're golden" yet that couldn't be far from the truth; he would eventually have to kiss her and then some.
"For how long?" Hermione whispered, "How long do you think you can keep up this charade?"
'Longer than you think,' he thought as he stared at her. The trip to Hogsmeade was three days away, where he usually would just stay back and study, it was a chance to move things even further along. Asking her to go wouldn't be the problem, it's the fact he would have to buy her something, with the little money he had. Given how this ploy is going, it would have to be something with a meaning, something...worthy of a kiss.
He dropped his gaze to her mouth and wondered, just for a moment, how her kiss would feel.
Hermione bit down on her lip, as she stared into his grey eyes. "Can you...stop looking at me like that," she felt a sudden wave of insecurity, "It's like you want to kiss me," her whole body tensed as she said the word. 'oh gosh, did I really just say that?'
Draco retracted his hand from her, "Too soon for that," he turned away from her to have another helping of water as Hermione closed her eyes and groaned. 'That was awkward,' she thought before she resumed her meal.
"I don't believe it," hummed a voice from in front of them. It was Blaise Zabini accompanied with a sour-faced Pansy Parkinson. "Drake, having a lunch date with a Mudblood?"
Hermione was about to say something, but Draco had used his knee to knock her in the leg.
"What do you want Blaise?" Draco hissed.
"Well when I heard the Gryffindors in all a flutter about you claiming your date, I just had to see it for my own eyes. You know how gossip is at this place..." Blaise sat himself across the two of them, and then tugged Pansy along with him.
"Oh please, Blaise, someone obviously paid him to do it," sneered Pansy, shooting Hermione a very disgusted look.
Blaise's lips twitched into a wicked grin as he shot Draco a look, as though to say, 'you're not fooling anyone', which Draco responded with a dangerous look of his own, 'say anything and I will kill you' Blaise disguised his laugh with a cough.
"Or you just hate it, cause this shows Drake really doesn't like you after all" Blaise said facing Pansy.
Pansy narrowed her eyes at Blaise and then looked back to Hermione, "How stupid can you be? Obviously she slipped him a Love Potion. Heaven only knows no sane wizard will ever be with a Mudblood!"
"Green is not your colour, Parkinson," said the third Slytherin seventh-year, Theodore Nott. "Ironically enough, for Slytherin's standards"
Draco rolled his eyes and stood up from the table, taking a hold of Hermione in the process. "Come on,"
"Hey," Theo said waving his hands, "don't you two leave on my account!"
But Draco didn't respond, he just dragged Hermione along behind him as he left the Great Hall.
E/N: so Draco was a little more calm in his chapter, I think. (but no comments on her look; ie: anything about her face while he was staring at her, yet...that'll be next chapter) I don't believe I rushed this whole 'game' with the minor contact and the brief mention of a kiss. He is a man on a mission with only 30 days to work with, after all!