Now that Ann had Draco Malfoy doing her bidding, she was all set to go into
phase two of her plan.
She sought out Harry the very next morning. He was never very hard to find. All she usually had to do was search the crowds for a tall red head and he wouldn't be far away. When she spotted him, she stood watching for a while.
As always, he was with Ron and Hermione. The three of them were talking and laughing and Ann felt the pull of envy around her heart. Her attention diverted from Harry to Ron and Hermione.
If she was honest with herself, she knew that she really did like Ron and Hermione. They were nice enough and they were very loyal to Harry. But she also knew that out of all the people who could ruin her plans, she most had to watch out for these two.
Ann took a deep breath and popped out from behind the wall where she was hiding. She took slow deliberate steps toward them, never taking her eyes off Harry.
He watched her coming and shot a furtive look at Ron and Hermione. "Could you guys give me a minute," he said under his breath.
They glanced up at Ann and then back at Harry before leaving them both alone.
Ann gave them a small smile as they passed, which only Ron returned. "Hi," she said quietly to Harry.
"Hi," he returned in a sullen sort of voice.
"Are you upset," she asked in a small voice.
"What do you think," he returned angrily.
Ann shrugged.
He looked away from her. "I'm not going to keep playing these games with you, Ann. I'm not." He sighed and looked into her eyes. "I just can't keep up with your varying moods. I never know how you're going to be from one minute to the next."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it anymore. I can't just wait around until I'm convenient for you."
"I'm not asking for that."
"Yes, you are," he said simply.
"Harry, what do you want from me?"
"I want you to be honest with me. I want you to tell me that I mean as much to you as you mean to me."
"You do. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have your friendship," cried Ann.
"Friendship, right," Harry shook his head and turned away from her. Instantly Ann reached for him and pulled him into a hard kiss. Harry tensed in surprise, but almost immediately fell into the soft fluid feeling of her mouth. He kissed her so long he could feel his lungs screaming for oxygen and had to break away.
She leaned in again but he pushed her away firmly. "No. Stop."
"What's the matter?"
"Why are you doing this?" He asked, his voice strained with too many emotions.
"I thought this was what you wanted."
Harry released her, running frustrated hands through his hair. "Ann," he shouted. "What do you want?"
"You," she said with surprise. "I want you." Her eyes went bright and wet and he pulled her into his arms.
"It shouldn't be this hard," he whispered into her hair.
"I'll leave you alone if you want," she said shakily, holding him tightly to her.
He sighed. "It shouldn't be this hard," he repeated softly holding her even closer to him.
Ann relaxed into the feel of his arms and for the first time since she had set things in motion, seriously considered abandoning all her plans.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that night, up in the Gryffindor common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were having a serious conversation.
"So what are you trying to tell us, mate," asked Ron. "Are the two of you an item or something."
Harry shrugged, trying to suppress his grin. "I guess."
"Harry, I just don't understand how this happened," said Hermione, her voice filled with frustration.
"Hermione, I wish I could explain it to you. Then at least it would make sense to me," returned Harry with a sigh.
"I'm sorry. I've tried, really I have, but I just don't trust her," said Hermione stubbornly.
"With the exception of being Snape's daughter, she hasn't done anything to make her untrustworthy," said Harry.
"Yeah well, she lied about that," she insisted.
"She didn't lie," Harry defended. "Not technically."
"Besides, I'd lie too if the truth was I was related to Snape," said Ron joking. Hermione flashed an angry look at him. "Chill out, Hermione."
"Look," Harry interrupted. "I just wanted you guys to know that Ann's going to be hanging out a lot more with us. I hope both of you can accept that. There is nothing more important to me than the two of you and I don't want that to change."
"It won't," said Ron quickly.
"Never," agreed Hermione.
"Good," said Harry standing. "Now I'm going to bed. It's been a really... uhh... eventful day," he smiled.
"Night," said Ron and Hermione together and they watched him go upstairs.
Hermione let out a long sigh after he disappeared. Ron sat down next to her and put his arms around her. She snuggled closely to him. "You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah," she said dismissively. "I just don't get what he sees in her. She spent the last week driving him crazy."
"Yeah," said Ron dreamily. "It's the one's that drive us crazy that get us every time."
Hermione turned and punched Ron on the arm.
"Ow," he grunted grabbing for her hands. They struggled for a minute, before Ron used his weight as an advantage and pinned Hermione down on the couch.
"Ok," she laughed. "I give."
Ron leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Let me up," she said playfully.
"Why? I have you exactly the way I want you," he said and he leaned down and kissed her again, this time on her lips. She kissed him back enthusiastically.
Ron pulled away. "I love you for being such a worrier," he said and then bent down again.
Hermione froze, then pulled away slightly. "What did you just say," she asked quietly.
"What?"
"Did you just say you loved me?"
"Yeah," said Ron casually.
Hermione smiled. "You never said that before."
"Sure I have," dismissed Ron.
She shook her head. "No, you haven't."
Ron looked down at her incredulously. "Well I do. I have, forever."
Hermione brought her hands to her mouth and tears formed in her eyes.
"Oh come on now. Don't go being a girl and crying."
"Oh, Ron," she said throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him close. "I love you too."
"Well, if you're going to get all weepy, I'm never going to say it again," he teased.
"Don't say that," she smiled.
Ron smiled back and then grew serious. "I really never told you I loved you before?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I'm a real idiot," he sad shaking his head.
"Maybe," she said. "But you're my idiot and I love you."
"And I love you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ann rubbed her eyes sleepily trying to refocus her tired brain. She was determined to catch up on her homework. She couldn't afford for anyone to think she was anything less than a good obedient student. If she kept up in the same careless manner she had been carrying on in, she knew she would have more than detention to worry about.
"Focus," she quietly berated herself.
"Burning the midnight oil?" Asked Draco.
Ann closed her eyes briefly and forced a smile on her face. She turned in her chair. "Got to keep up appearances."
Draco dragged a chair over to her and straddled it. "You're good at that."
"I try," she said. I was actually just going to go upstairs," Ann lied. She began gathering her books and parchment and went to stand.
"Not yet," said Draco grabbing hold of her arm and forcing her back into her seat.
Ann looked from his hand to his face, but didn't say anything.
"I talked to my contact today," said Draco.
"That quickly?"
"I thought it best to move fast."
"Good. Thanks. When can I meet him?"
"Not so fast," said Draco releasing her arm and leaning back. "My contact isn't so sure about you."
"Your contact," Ann scoffed. "Who do you think you are? James Bond?"
"Ha Ha," said Draco coldly, through narrowed eyes. "Joke all you want, but you've got some credibility issues."
Ann set her jaw. "For you or for them?"
"For everyone."
"You son-of-a-bitch. What did you tell them?"
"Strong language for a lady."
"This isn't a game, Draco," she hissed. "And I don't need you to do this. I can do it all myself."
"Calm down," he spit out. "If you could do it by yourself then you wouldn't have come to me."
"You know, I'm not hearing anything remotely interesting coming out of your mouth."
"All is not as bad as it seems. All they want is some proof."
"Proof? Proof of what?"
"Proof of how close you are to Potter. How committed you are."
Ann gazed steadily at Draco. "And how am I supposed to prove that."
"I have it all planned out."
"Care to share your brilliant plan," she asked sarcastically.
"Love to. It's really very simple," began Draco. "We have a Hogsmeade visit coming up this weekend."
"Yeah, so."
"So, just make sure you're there with Potter."
"That's it," asked Ann incredulously. "Go with him to Hogsmeade."
"Let's just say, there will be someone waiting there for the two of you."
Ann's heart started beating wildly. She could feel things slipping from her control. "Someone waiting for us," she asked trying to keep the waver from her voice. If she had to put Harry in any danger she was going to call the whole thing off now.
"Yeah, a photographer."
Ann nearly laughed out loud with relief. "A photographer?"
"Yes. I know this photographer from the Daily Prophet who is going to get a tip that Harry Potter and his new girlfriend are going to be in Hogsmeade this weekend."
"I don't get it, Draco. What does it prove?"
"It proves that you're willing to do what you're asked."
"Oh please, Draco. You came up with this stupid plan just to embarrass Harry. You know how much he hates photographers and reporters," said Ann angrily, standing up and starting to walk away, silently berating herself for involving Draco in the first place.
"What do you care? You're just using him, right?" Draco called after her.
Ann stopped. She couldn't give up, not when she was this close to being in. Everything depended on them accepting her. She turned slowly. "That's right. I don't care. I'll do it." They stared at each other for several seconds but it seemed there was nothing left to say so Ann began walking to her room. As she was about to disappear around a corner Draco called out, "make sure you put on a good show."
Ann kept walking feeling sick. She made it to her room as quickly and quietly as possible. The last thing she wanted to do was wake one of her roommates.
She changed and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes, but her brain was too busy to succumb to the sleep she needed desperately.
'Stop it,' she told herself. 'This is the easy part. If you can't do this, then you'll never be able to bring your father down.' Ann let the tears roll down the sides of her face, allowing herself to absorb the full force of her pain. She let it grow and consume her until she felt hot all over. Part of her felt disgusted with herself, but the other part, the winning part, knew that it was her hurt and anger that was going to pull her through this. And no matter what, she had to get through this.
She sought out Harry the very next morning. He was never very hard to find. All she usually had to do was search the crowds for a tall red head and he wouldn't be far away. When she spotted him, she stood watching for a while.
As always, he was with Ron and Hermione. The three of them were talking and laughing and Ann felt the pull of envy around her heart. Her attention diverted from Harry to Ron and Hermione.
If she was honest with herself, she knew that she really did like Ron and Hermione. They were nice enough and they were very loyal to Harry. But she also knew that out of all the people who could ruin her plans, she most had to watch out for these two.
Ann took a deep breath and popped out from behind the wall where she was hiding. She took slow deliberate steps toward them, never taking her eyes off Harry.
He watched her coming and shot a furtive look at Ron and Hermione. "Could you guys give me a minute," he said under his breath.
They glanced up at Ann and then back at Harry before leaving them both alone.
Ann gave them a small smile as they passed, which only Ron returned. "Hi," she said quietly to Harry.
"Hi," he returned in a sullen sort of voice.
"Are you upset," she asked in a small voice.
"What do you think," he returned angrily.
Ann shrugged.
He looked away from her. "I'm not going to keep playing these games with you, Ann. I'm not." He sighed and looked into her eyes. "I just can't keep up with your varying moods. I never know how you're going to be from one minute to the next."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't cut it anymore. I can't just wait around until I'm convenient for you."
"I'm not asking for that."
"Yes, you are," he said simply.
"Harry, what do you want from me?"
"I want you to be honest with me. I want you to tell me that I mean as much to you as you mean to me."
"You do. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have your friendship," cried Ann.
"Friendship, right," Harry shook his head and turned away from her. Instantly Ann reached for him and pulled him into a hard kiss. Harry tensed in surprise, but almost immediately fell into the soft fluid feeling of her mouth. He kissed her so long he could feel his lungs screaming for oxygen and had to break away.
She leaned in again but he pushed her away firmly. "No. Stop."
"What's the matter?"
"Why are you doing this?" He asked, his voice strained with too many emotions.
"I thought this was what you wanted."
Harry released her, running frustrated hands through his hair. "Ann," he shouted. "What do you want?"
"You," she said with surprise. "I want you." Her eyes went bright and wet and he pulled her into his arms.
"It shouldn't be this hard," he whispered into her hair.
"I'll leave you alone if you want," she said shakily, holding him tightly to her.
He sighed. "It shouldn't be this hard," he repeated softly holding her even closer to him.
Ann relaxed into the feel of his arms and for the first time since she had set things in motion, seriously considered abandoning all her plans.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Later that night, up in the Gryffindor common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were having a serious conversation.
"So what are you trying to tell us, mate," asked Ron. "Are the two of you an item or something."
Harry shrugged, trying to suppress his grin. "I guess."
"Harry, I just don't understand how this happened," said Hermione, her voice filled with frustration.
"Hermione, I wish I could explain it to you. Then at least it would make sense to me," returned Harry with a sigh.
"I'm sorry. I've tried, really I have, but I just don't trust her," said Hermione stubbornly.
"With the exception of being Snape's daughter, she hasn't done anything to make her untrustworthy," said Harry.
"Yeah well, she lied about that," she insisted.
"She didn't lie," Harry defended. "Not technically."
"Besides, I'd lie too if the truth was I was related to Snape," said Ron joking. Hermione flashed an angry look at him. "Chill out, Hermione."
"Look," Harry interrupted. "I just wanted you guys to know that Ann's going to be hanging out a lot more with us. I hope both of you can accept that. There is nothing more important to me than the two of you and I don't want that to change."
"It won't," said Ron quickly.
"Never," agreed Hermione.
"Good," said Harry standing. "Now I'm going to bed. It's been a really... uhh... eventful day," he smiled.
"Night," said Ron and Hermione together and they watched him go upstairs.
Hermione let out a long sigh after he disappeared. Ron sat down next to her and put his arms around her. She snuggled closely to him. "You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah," she said dismissively. "I just don't get what he sees in her. She spent the last week driving him crazy."
"Yeah," said Ron dreamily. "It's the one's that drive us crazy that get us every time."
Hermione turned and punched Ron on the arm.
"Ow," he grunted grabbing for her hands. They struggled for a minute, before Ron used his weight as an advantage and pinned Hermione down on the couch.
"Ok," she laughed. "I give."
Ron leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Let me up," she said playfully.
"Why? I have you exactly the way I want you," he said and he leaned down and kissed her again, this time on her lips. She kissed him back enthusiastically.
Ron pulled away. "I love you for being such a worrier," he said and then bent down again.
Hermione froze, then pulled away slightly. "What did you just say," she asked quietly.
"What?"
"Did you just say you loved me?"
"Yeah," said Ron casually.
Hermione smiled. "You never said that before."
"Sure I have," dismissed Ron.
She shook her head. "No, you haven't."
Ron looked down at her incredulously. "Well I do. I have, forever."
Hermione brought her hands to her mouth and tears formed in her eyes.
"Oh come on now. Don't go being a girl and crying."
"Oh, Ron," she said throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him close. "I love you too."
"Well, if you're going to get all weepy, I'm never going to say it again," he teased.
"Don't say that," she smiled.
Ron smiled back and then grew serious. "I really never told you I loved you before?"
Hermione shook her head.
"I'm a real idiot," he sad shaking his head.
"Maybe," she said. "But you're my idiot and I love you."
"And I love you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ann rubbed her eyes sleepily trying to refocus her tired brain. She was determined to catch up on her homework. She couldn't afford for anyone to think she was anything less than a good obedient student. If she kept up in the same careless manner she had been carrying on in, she knew she would have more than detention to worry about.
"Focus," she quietly berated herself.
"Burning the midnight oil?" Asked Draco.
Ann closed her eyes briefly and forced a smile on her face. She turned in her chair. "Got to keep up appearances."
Draco dragged a chair over to her and straddled it. "You're good at that."
"I try," she said. I was actually just going to go upstairs," Ann lied. She began gathering her books and parchment and went to stand.
"Not yet," said Draco grabbing hold of her arm and forcing her back into her seat.
Ann looked from his hand to his face, but didn't say anything.
"I talked to my contact today," said Draco.
"That quickly?"
"I thought it best to move fast."
"Good. Thanks. When can I meet him?"
"Not so fast," said Draco releasing her arm and leaning back. "My contact isn't so sure about you."
"Your contact," Ann scoffed. "Who do you think you are? James Bond?"
"Ha Ha," said Draco coldly, through narrowed eyes. "Joke all you want, but you've got some credibility issues."
Ann set her jaw. "For you or for them?"
"For everyone."
"You son-of-a-bitch. What did you tell them?"
"Strong language for a lady."
"This isn't a game, Draco," she hissed. "And I don't need you to do this. I can do it all myself."
"Calm down," he spit out. "If you could do it by yourself then you wouldn't have come to me."
"You know, I'm not hearing anything remotely interesting coming out of your mouth."
"All is not as bad as it seems. All they want is some proof."
"Proof? Proof of what?"
"Proof of how close you are to Potter. How committed you are."
Ann gazed steadily at Draco. "And how am I supposed to prove that."
"I have it all planned out."
"Care to share your brilliant plan," she asked sarcastically.
"Love to. It's really very simple," began Draco. "We have a Hogsmeade visit coming up this weekend."
"Yeah, so."
"So, just make sure you're there with Potter."
"That's it," asked Ann incredulously. "Go with him to Hogsmeade."
"Let's just say, there will be someone waiting there for the two of you."
Ann's heart started beating wildly. She could feel things slipping from her control. "Someone waiting for us," she asked trying to keep the waver from her voice. If she had to put Harry in any danger she was going to call the whole thing off now.
"Yeah, a photographer."
Ann nearly laughed out loud with relief. "A photographer?"
"Yes. I know this photographer from the Daily Prophet who is going to get a tip that Harry Potter and his new girlfriend are going to be in Hogsmeade this weekend."
"I don't get it, Draco. What does it prove?"
"It proves that you're willing to do what you're asked."
"Oh please, Draco. You came up with this stupid plan just to embarrass Harry. You know how much he hates photographers and reporters," said Ann angrily, standing up and starting to walk away, silently berating herself for involving Draco in the first place.
"What do you care? You're just using him, right?" Draco called after her.
Ann stopped. She couldn't give up, not when she was this close to being in. Everything depended on them accepting her. She turned slowly. "That's right. I don't care. I'll do it." They stared at each other for several seconds but it seemed there was nothing left to say so Ann began walking to her room. As she was about to disappear around a corner Draco called out, "make sure you put on a good show."
Ann kept walking feeling sick. She made it to her room as quickly and quietly as possible. The last thing she wanted to do was wake one of her roommates.
She changed and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes, but her brain was too busy to succumb to the sleep she needed desperately.
'Stop it,' she told herself. 'This is the easy part. If you can't do this, then you'll never be able to bring your father down.' Ann let the tears roll down the sides of her face, allowing herself to absorb the full force of her pain. She let it grow and consume her until she felt hot all over. Part of her felt disgusted with herself, but the other part, the winning part, knew that it was her hurt and anger that was going to pull her through this. And no matter what, she had to get through this.