"Listen, it's not real," she said.

"What's not real?"

"Me and Draco."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, completely confused.

"We are faking it."

"I knew it!" he yelled. Hermione shushed him and gave him a look. "Sorry," he said sheepishly.

"Don't you dare say a word to anyone. Remember. spiders." Hermione said.

Ron shuddered again. "Don't Hermione."

"I won't as long as you don't tell. No one."

"I won't Hermione!"

"Good, because remember. spiders!"

Ron shrieked.

Hermione shook her head and then went back to working on her homework. She picked up her quill, nibbled at the end a little bit, breathed in, and then continued doing her homework in peace.

"I can't believe I almost kissed Draco," she thought. She immediately shook her head. What was she thinking? She had to concentrate on her studies, not Draco Malfoy. But she couldn't help thinking. if she had waited just a few seconds more, they would've kissed.

"Get a grip, Hermione," she said to herself. "It's not real."

Over the next week, Hermione spent half her time studying, and she used the other half of the time to hang out with Draco. The more she talked with him, the more she got to know him. It took her mind off of Harry and Cho, which had been clouding her head since forever.

It was like they were actually becoming friends. And Hermione didn't dislike the feeling either.

Draco did have a soft side to him after all.

"You're not too bad, Granger, not too bad," Draco said to Hermione one day, while grinning.

She giggled. "I'd have to say the same thing about you, Malfoy." She kissed him on the cheek, and Draco blushed bright red.

"What was that for?" he asked her.

She flushed pink. "Um, well, we have to practice, just in case Kathryn or Harry showed up," she covered up.

"How's this?" Draco kissed her on the lips. It was simple and sweet. When they drew apart, Hermione stared at him, shocked and amazed at what had just happened.

"That's. that's good," she said honestly.

Draco smiled. "Yeah, that would be a shocker for Kathryn, wouldn't it?"

"It. it would," Hermione replied.

Hermione sat dreamily at her seat next to Harry. All she could think about was the feeling of Draco's lips brushing against hers. She almost slapped herself. It wasn't real, yet it felt so real. Maybe she was going out of her mind, like Ron had said.

She grinned at Harry next to her. "Yeah," she thought. "It's completely fake. By the time this trick is over, Draco and I will be back to hating each other, and Harry might ask me out." Her thoughts shifted from Draco over to Harry.

"You okay? You haven't eaten anything!" Harry said, pointing to Hermione's plate.

She laughed. "Yeah, I'm not hungry."

Hermione went back into her daydream. Harry stared at her for a long, long time. Then he spoke up, "Hermione, I'm just wondering, but what's going on between you and Malfoy?"

Hermione jumped in her seat a little bit. "What do you mean?" she asked innocently.

"Well, you and Malfoy are acting as if. as if you're."

"Yeah." she said dreamily.

Harry frowned. "Hermione?"

Hermione looked over where Draco was sitting. He was talking with Crabbe and Goyle, and didn't notice Hermione staring.

"Hermione?"

Hermione turned around sharply. "Sorry Harry. What were you going to say?"

"Nothing, never mind," he sighed.

Ron looked between Hermione and Harry. "Hey, Harry, can we step out for a second?"

Hermione looked at Ron in alarm. "Ron! Spiders!"

Ron groaned. "Don't do that to me! Don't worry Hermione. I'm asking him something else," he said.

Hermione sighed with relief.