Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
With step one officially complete, proceed to step two, Hermione typed furiously. She was supposed to write a day to day account and just recalling all the things that had happened that day made Hermione's head spin.
"Raya," she said, whining. "I don't think I can do it. I can't keep up this image, it's too much."
"Don't be stupid," she said, flipping her dark, glossy braid behind her back. "It's not too much. You just have to come out of your shell, Hermione. You have to self actualize. This would be so much easier if you weren't always so hunched up over a book."
Self actualize? Thought Hermione. That would be easy for Raya to say. She also had no trouble hiding herself. She didn't need to be hidden. Raya was a complete individual right down to the small silver and diamond stud in her nose.
"But what if this all gets foiled?" asked Hermione, desperately. Raya slapped Hermione on the back.
"As if it would!" she cried. "You're doing way too good of a job."
But am I? Wondered Hermione, contemplating with her laptop buzzing in front of her. Honestly, Hermione didn't think she had it in her to keep up this stupid act. Her black boots made her feet ache and the too tight blouse made her feel extremely revealed. But if that was what Raya wanted….and if that was what was going to make her the new editor when Raya leaves in the end of this year….then she'll have to stick with it….unfortunately.
Hermione sat in front of the mirror and started to wipe off the heavy make-up, starting with the deep red lipstick. She had to admit, up close Draco was cute…very cute. Hermione started to smile as she wiped off the eye-liner. Maybe this wasn't so bad. Maybe can have some fun with this.
Step Two: Keep him interested.
Hermione noticed something that was different about Draco. He looked at her with more interest when she insulted him and seemed to find it fun to trade insults. Well…if that's the way he wants to play it….
"So Granger," said Draco, when he saw Hermione walking up towards him, teetering slightly precariously on her pointed heels.
"New shoes?" he asked, and smirked when he saw Hermione come a little too hard on one heel. Hermione felt her cheeks heat up slightly but thought it'd probably blend in quite well with the blush that Raya had put on her cheeks.
"You noticed," she said, with a nod.
"Muggle parents rich?" he asked. "I mean, they must be to give you new shoes every other day. Didn't know you were so spoiled. Why don't you share some of the wealth with Weasley?" Hermione ignored the insult made against Ron.
"I hear your parents are rich too," she said, pitching her voice a little lower.
"Of course," scoffed Draco, flipping his hair out from his eyes. He never really did miss a chance to show off his wealth.
"Pity then," said Hermione, stealing Draco's smirk. "It really is too bad they can't buy you a new brain." The Slytherin boys around Draco started laughing and Draco's fist splayed out to the side and caught one of the in the stomach. The laughter died down. Hermione raised one eyebrow and turned around, skirt twirling perfectly.
"See you around then?" called Draco. Hermione didn't even look back; she waved lazily over her shoulder.
Hermione was scribbling furiously into her notebook what had happened between her and Draco. Perhaps Draco was easier to "charm" than she had initially thought.
"Seat taken?" asked that obnoxious voice. Hermione slammed her notebook shut and looked up slowly.
"Ye-es," said Hermione, drawing out the word. She looked at him, making her eyes hard but lips curving slightly to tease him. "But that won't stop you from sitting here, will it?" Draco smirked and shrugged.
"Guess not." Hermione blew her hair out of her eyes.
"Lucky me then," she said, sarcastically.
"Lucky you," whispered Draco and try as she might, Hermione couldn't stop those shivers that ran down her back.
"What do you want?" snapped Hermione.
"You are so beyond charming," said Draco, as sarcastically as Hermione had before. "Just wanted to be in the presence of one of the hottest girls in Hogwarts, what else?" Hermione stood up.
"Then you made a mistake," she said, leaning over, her face close to Draco's. She could hear Draco's breath quicken…her's too as a matter of fact, but Hermione ignored it.
"I never make mistakes," whispered Draco. Hermione smirked.
"I'm not a girl," she said. "I'm a woman, don't make that mistake again." She left, feeling satisfied at the impressed expression on Draco's face.
Dear Journal, wrote Hermione. It looks like mission accomplished for step two as well as step one. Maybe it's my imagination but I think this might be getting easier. It's still crazy but I have to hand it to Raya for thinking up such a project. But the problem is…it's not that I like Draco. I don't not like him but I'm sure I don't like him. Hermione paused to nibble on the end of her sugar quill. Honestly, it's worth everything to see Draco stunned. Hermione heard a tapping on her window. She frowned. An owl at this hour?
Hermione pushed back the curtains and jumped in surprise. Hovering outside above her Juliet balcony was Draco on his broomstick.
"What the hell Draco?" hissed Hermione, opening up the French doors. Draco hopped off the broom and entered her room. Hermione was about to say that this was against the rules but decided to keep her mouth shut.
"Let's just say," said Draco, playfully. "That I couldn't stop thinking about you." Hermione batted her eyelashes.
"Well that's strange," said Hermione. "I had no trouble forgetting about you except it seems, annoyingly, that you follow me around."
"Follow you? Don't flatter yourself, Hermione," said Draco. "I like to fly around at night."
"Right outside my window?" Draco grinned.
"I have my reasons," he said.
"Whatever," said Hermione. "It's too late for this." Draco shrugged and walked back outside.
"Wait," he said. "Before I go." He turned around and grabbed Hermione and kissed her. This time, it was Draco who left Hermione stunned. He saluted her and jumped on his broom and left. Hermione sank onto her bed, pressing two fingers against her bottom lip.
"Think about the project," Hermione ordered herself. She thought hard. She shouldn't have stayed stunned like that, like some stupid deer caught in the headlight. Draco Malfoy will pay for that one. Hermione was suddenly playing and toeing the lines of the assignment…but if she won't, who will? Oh yes, this was definitely going to be more fun than she imagined. She wasn't shy Hermione any more…she was something different.
