This Wasn't Part Of The Plan

Chapter Three

The Plan

By SurferChick

A/N: A longer chapter this time! Thanks for reading, everyone.

D/C: I don't own anything except the plot. JK Rowling, Scholastic, and people who are luckier than me own them.

~*~*~

Early the next morning, Ron went downstairs to the library, where he knew Hermione would be. She had been spending every spare hour she had studying. He found her quickly (she was the only one in there) and walked over to her.

"Hi, Hermione," he said, sitting down across the table from her. She jumped about a mile into the air.

"Ron, don't scare me like that!" she said, regaining her composure. "What are you doing down here so early, anyway?"

"I'll take it you forgive me for yesterday?" he said.

"It never happened," said Hermione, waving her hand around. They had gotten really good at making up lately. "So what's wrong?"

"Nothing," said Ron. "Why do you always just assume that I'm here because something's wrong? I could just be down here to study for the O.W.L's, you know."

Hermione raised her eyebrow. "Right, Ron. Funny joke. Now why are you really down here?"

"You know me too well," he said. "All right, I need to ask you a favor."

"What is it?" she said, putting her book down.

"It's a really big favor," he said. "Like a huge favor. A enormous favor, even. Some could even call it a gigantic fav…"

"What do you want?" she asked, cutting him off.

"Well, it's kind of a long story," he said. "But last night, I went down to the common room because I just had a nightmare and I wanted to get my mind off it. So, anyway, I go down there and I find Ginny and Harry there, and they're talking about something. I get closer, and I find out they're talking about how they've been secretly seeing each other for awhile." Hermione's eyebrows went up. "Yeah, that was my reaction too. And then they said that they'd let everyone know today, and then they started kissing! Can you believe them?"

"What's not to believe?" asked Hermione. Now it was Ron's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"What's not to believe? Are you crazy?! This is one of my best friends kissing my little sister!" Ron said. "They're not right for each other! And, plus, sooner or later he's going to break her heart and then I could never be friends with him again because someone can't be friends with someone else after they break up with their little sister because it's just not right and…"

"All right, Ron, slow down," said Hermione. "So your little sister is going out with one of your best friends. Live with it. She's not going to break up with him just because you say so. Anyway, what was that favor you wanted to ask me?"

"Well, anyway, I stayed up late last night trying to think of a plan that I could use to break them up," said Ron. "And the only one I could think of that won't hurt either of them is…well…" He was hesitant in saying what he needed to.

"Spit it out, Ron," said Hermione. "I've got to finish my book."

"I was thinking that what they need is for someone to show them that they aren't meant for each other. So I thought that…um…you and I could pose as a couple and act like we're in love so then they compare themselves to us and see that they really aren't in love."

If Hermione was shocked any time in her life, it was nothing compared to this shock. "You…me…couple…what?! Please don't tell me that you didn't say what I thought you just said."

"I think you heard me right the first time," said Ron.

"No!" Hermione exploded. "I'm not going to pretend that I'm in love with you just so then I could break up a perfectly nice couple! They're my friends, and I'm not going to do that! And besides, they'd see right through us, anyway. We fight all the time, it's not as if we're all of a sudden going to have a change of heart!"

"It could work, Hermione," said Ron. "Think about it."

Hermione paused for one second, and then said, "I've thought about it, and my answer is no."

"Hermione, please!" said Ron. "I don't want to see my little sister get hurt, that's all!"

"That's not it!" said Hermione. "You just don't want to see your little sister have a steady boyfriend before you have a steady girlfriend!"

"That is completely besides the point!" said Ron. "I couldn't care less about that! I just don't want Ginny suffer! You know how she is," he said, lowering his voice. "She's real sensitive, Hermione. She'd cry for weeks if Harry even mentioned that they should see other people." Hermione sighed. Ron knew that he was getting through to her. "Look, all I'm trying to do is help my sister out. She's your friend, don't you want to help her?"

"Ginny may be my friend, but I don't want to ruin her happiness," said Hermione.

"You'd be saving her from depression if you did this," said Ron. "I know her, I know she'd be devastated if Harry broke up with her. We'd just be lessening the pain." Hermione bit her lower lip the way she always did whenever she was trying to make a big decision. "And plus, this means that I'd be able to study with you," Ron said, smiling. He knew that would win her over.

"All right," said Hermione. "Just as long as I don't have to kiss you."

"That's fine," said Ron. "No kissing was actually on my mind, too. So all we have to do is pretend that we're the couple of the year: hold hands, talk in whispers and giggle a lot, sneak off, be in each others presence all the time, stuff like that."

"How come I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?" said Hermione, putting her books away.

"Here, let me carry that for you," Ron said, picking it up for her.

Hermione shrugged. "On second thought, it might be fun," she said as Ron nearly collapsed under the weight of all her books.

~*~*~ 

After they returned to the common room to return Hermione's mini-library, they went downstairs to breakfast.

Just before they entered the Great Hall, Ron muttered, "Hold my hand."

Hermione scowled. "No, it'll make it too suspicious. All we need to do is say that we've been seeing each other ever since this summer. No holding hands."

Ron rolled his eyes. "You act as if I have cooties or something." Hermione sighed as they entered the Great Hall and sat down near Ginny and Harry.

"Hi," they all greeted each other. "Hermione and I have an announcement to make," said Ron. Hermione sighed again. 'Once he makes this speech,' she thought, 'there's no going back.' "Now, you might find this a bit surprising, because we fight all the time…"

"That's for sure," said Harry, snorting into his breakfast.

"Yeah. Well, anyway," Ron continued, "you should know that over the summer, We…erm…this is pretty hard to say…"

"Just say it, Ron," said Ginny. "And hurry up, because Harry and I have an announcement, too." They smiled at each other.

That gave Ron a clear motivation, and he said, "Hermione and I are going out."

Harry and Ginny stared at them, then burst out laughing. "Nice try, Ron," said Harry, "but you have to wait until April Fools Day to say something like that."

"It's true!" said Hermione. "Really, it is." They stopped laughing. They knew that Hermione would never tell a lie to them.

Then Ginny smiled. "I always knew you two would get together," she said. "I was just wondering how long it was going to take you to realize it!" At this, Ron blushed.

"Well, you were right, Ginny," said Hermione, glaring at Ron. 'He is going to have to pay me back. BIGTIME,' she thought.

Harry cleared his throat. "Well, as surprising as that may be, I'm proud of you two. Now Ginny and I have something to say."

"Harry and I are going out, too," Ginny said, beaming.

"No, really?" said Hermione, pretending to sound interested.

"Harry…you, and…my little sister?!" said Ron. He was actually a very talented actor. "Now, that's just crazy!"

"We've been seeing each other secretly ever since the end of last year," said Harry.

"Wow," said Hermione. "I'm happy for you two."

"Well, I think we should be off," said Harry, taking Ginny's arm like a gentleman. "See you guys later."

"Yeah, see you," said Ron, glaring at Harry as they walked out of the Great Hall. "Now, really, who does he think he is?!" he exclaimed. "Taking Ginny by the arm like that…It's as if he thinks they're already married! I mean, come on! It's only childhood love, it's not as if…" he stopped at the look on Hermione's face. "What?"

"You do know that they didn't believe a word we said, right?" she pointed out. "That was so lame! 'Hermione and I are going out…' They definitely know something's up."

"Well, we just have to show them we're serious," Ron said, deep in thought. Hermione scowled again.

"How far are you going to take this thing, Ron?!" she exclaimed. "It's stupid, and you know it! Let Ginny and Harry date whomever they want to, and just stay out of their personal lives!"

"No," said Ron flatly. "Ginny's too young for him."

"This is Harry we're talking about, not some guy that's known to go to bed with every girl he dates," said Hermione. "Listen to reason, Ron. This is futile."

"I know Ginny, and I know this is going to work," said Ron.

"Fine. Whatever," said Hermione, picking up her books. "Hurry up, we're going to be late for Potions."

"Yay, Snape," said Ron. "Just who I always want to see this early in the morning." They packed up and left. 

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A/N: If you can find it in your kind heart and busy schedule to do so, please review! And thanks to WeasleyGirl (thanks for having faith!), Rupert Fan (I'm a big fan, too), Laurie Lupin (more action is coming soon, I promise!), and Adnap Nottap (don't worry, I like Hermione, Ron won't hurt her if I can help it). Thanks to all you guys for reviewing, you're the best! Hugs all around!