A/N: hmm…. not much to say. Just getting caught up in all that has been going on recently. Sorry I'm taking so long to put up chapters. I really don't mean to. So forgive me about that and the recent short-ness of the last two chapters! Yikes, those were short. Well, here goes! **THERE IS A CHANGE AT THE BOTTOM** look for the 3 stars and read from there if you have already read this chapter…

Chapter 10: On With the Show

The next few days passed without hitch, but not without hurt. Every time Harry and Hermione passed each-other, trying not to glance too longingly at the other without the rest knowing, was painful. Hermione had been sitting with Ron is classes they all had together, while Harry sat with Seamus and Dean. Malfoy, seemingly pleased with the effects since the dance, just sat around with a smirk on his face, taking in the absolute wretchedness of it all, floating around, convinced that Harry would never look at Hermione again. Draco had convinced himself that if Harry ditched Hermione for Cho, he would have a chance to figure out what Hermione was about. Even though he had called her mudblood for years, he wanted to see what all the fuss was about with her. He had heard numerous boys in their grade, talking about if Harry ever broke up with her, they would be there to "pick up the pieces". A number of younger students, hearing about the Famous Harry Potter and his girlfriend, Hermione Granger, idolized the couple, taking after Colin Creevy. And although Draco would never admit to being jealous but he did want to feel a bit of the limelight.

Another day passed and Hermione was beginning to regret her hasty decision to "separate", for the good of the overall effect. She had seen Cho walking with Harry and felt pangs of jealousy kicking in. Now that she knew that Harry would never go out with Cho again, it did ease the pain to be almost bearable but she still wanted to just push Cho out of their lives for good. One day, she was particularly feeling brutal and she was sure she let everyone know. But Ron was getting most of it as he had chosen an ill time to ask for homework help.

"I told you, Ron…you have to swish then flick and only after that can you vary the movement!" Hermione growled as Ron messed up the wand order, yet again." How many times have we gone over this? How many times are we going to have to go over it again? Can't you…just…."

Hermione sighed and dropped her head into her hands, breathing deeply to stop the onset of words about to bust loose from her mouth. Ron, used to the way Hermione had been because of the recent events, wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"I am pretty hopeless, aren't I?" He said with a lop-sided grin. "I guess I'll have to join the other the other squibs and live my life in shame, for I will never again, be able to swish and flick in public."

Ron finished the last sentence gallantly, as if he were going off to war and may never return. Hermione peeked through her arms and smiled a little. Ron raised his eyebrows and proceeded to snuffle, putting on his best "hurt" look that he could muster.

" I must be a real handful, huh? I really can't control my emotions! I need to work on that…" Hermione said as she finally raised her head from her lap. " We had better get to Potions soon or Snape will have our heads!"

They set off for the dungeons and readied themselves for the hour-long torture that was Potions class. By the time that 50 minutes had passed, Ron was ready to pass out from sheer boredom and Hermione was close to running over to Harry, on the other side of the room, just to kiss him once. Finally, class had ended and the class started to file out the doors.

"I'll catch up with you later, Ron. I want to ask a question about this new sleeping draught." Hermione said as she packed up her bag and Ron waited patiently for her.

"Are you sure?" He asked, picking up his bag as well.

Hermione nodded and started up to the front of the classroom. Ron left the class, promising to save her a seat in the Great Hall. Professor Snape, sneering slightly that Hermione had a question, answered her questions but that was it. Finally Hermione had had enough of the coldness coming from him and she politely thanked him for the help. She stepped outside the classroom and walked up the hallway, in the direction of the entrance hall. She was rubbing her eyes and shifting her bag when she heard the distinct sound of footsteps behind her. Not really paying attention to who was behind her, she kept walking. After all, this was a hallway and other students walked it all the time. Not to mention Snape would be coming up soon. But when she heard whispering voices, she turned, but didn't see anyone there.

Hermione shook her head and looked back again, still seeing nothing but flickering darkness.

"Quit scaring yourself, Hermione." She spoke aloud, trying to convince herself that there was nothing to be worried about.

She was in a school that had the greatest headmaster ever and she should feel safe. But the unsettling feeling just seemed to grow as she felt a presence behind her. She stopped and started to turn around. She felt a hand grab her roughly on the shoulders and pull her into an empty classroom. When she heard the door shut, she was pushed into the center of the room and she looked around her, hurriedly. Yet, the windowless room provided little more than dark shadows that melted into the walls. She squinted and tried to make out the body shape. But it wasn't long before she heard an unmistakable voice.

"Well, well mudblood. Are we walking all alone around the big, scary castle?" The cold voice drawled.

"Draco, if you think your scaring me, it's not working. Would you light something so I can see." Hermione breathed angrily, fumbling around the darkness, feeling for her wand that she had dropped sometime during the struggle. "Your such a git, Malfoy. What do you think your doing?"

Hermione heard him laugh as he lit some lanterns that hung around the room. She rolled her eyes and watched as he continued around the room.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione said, trying to control her temper. "I'm going to leave…"

Draco advanced toward her and stopped a short length from her. She could make out his features, which were showing not much emotion, except a cold smile that played on his face.

"I just want a guarantee." He spoke smoothly, as if he had practiced saying it.

"A guarantee?" Hermione said, disbelief and confusion in her voice.

***"Yes. I want to make sure that you're not going to mess things up for me, in the long run. You see, Cho wants Harry and I want…well, let me put it simply…you. That usually doesn't work out. And that's why I decided to help her get him." Draco said, staring at Hermione the whole time.

"You want Cho… to go out with Harry so you can…what…I don't see the ingenious in the plan. What makes you think that I will let it happen?" Hermione said, trying to uncover what was going to go down.

"You don't know it yet, Granger? I know that Harry doesn't want to go out with Cho. It's obvious to everyone but her. So she'll put all her energy into getting him back. But there's a hitch. As long as you're around and Harry wants you, Cho is going to be jealous and fight for him. You see, she only wants what she can't have. So I have to make sure she gets what she wants." Draco smiled at his genius.

Hermione narrowed her eyes and took in what she had just heard.

" That will never work." She sneered. " Besides, how are you going to control me?"

Draco smiled coldly again and put a hand on her shoulder, which Hermione brushed off immediately.

"That's the best part of this plan!"

A/N: You like? Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger. It's a good one though, you have to admit. Anyway, enjoy! Next one will come soon! Thanks to all the pushing I got to move along. Seriously, it did encourage me a lot to get this up quicker!