Chapter 2
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. The only way a boy like Draco Malfoy would be humiliated enough to learn his lesson was to make him want someone he had been taught all his life to believe was beneath him. He was not weak and he had no obvious weaknesses, therefore Hermione concluded that she needed to create his weakness -- a weakness for her. And once that weakness was well in place, she would crush him. In public. Hermione's sense of pride required a public humiliation for Draco Malfoy -- one that he could never deny.
Hermione quelled the voice in her head that appealed to her heart and her sense of humanity, and focused instead on that part of her that got the most difficult things done with relish. That same part that allowed her to blithely keep Rita Skeeter in a jar for a month before releasing her and then blackmailing her, and to lead Umbridge to the Dark Forest, knowing full well that the Centaurs would trample her on sight. Dumbledore had awarded her fifty points for her cool use of logic during her first year in Hogwarts. What a lot of people failed to realise was that having that kind of logic meant Hermione Granger paid more attention to her head than her heart. Most of the time, she curbed that aspect of her personality, feeling slightly guilty about it, especially in the company of friends who were open and kind. She had never really shown that part of her to her friends, and had always made sure that she brought out her more caring, less cunning, side with them. With those she loved, she opened her heart completely.
But when it came to Draco Malfoy, her head was running the show.
With a general plan on how to get her revenge against Malfoy, she now had to work out how to achieve her plan. She knew herself. She had no delusions about how she looked, and she knew that there was nothing about her physical appearance that would make Malfoy stand up and notice her. So she had to resort to other means of getting his attention. In order to do that, she had to observe him and what attracted him. So she did.
It was not at all difficult to find opportunities to scrutinise Malfoy, after all, a lot of their extra-curricular activities were spent in each other's company as Head Boy and Head Girl. While they had carefully avoided the Common Room they were supposed to share, preferring to study either in their respective House Common Rooms or separately in the library, they still spent quite a bit of time together doing their duties. They managed to do their tasks quite well together. Draco was confident that he had effectively put her in her place with his cruel words, and Hermione was willing to let him think that. All the better to stun him when I make my move, she thought.
After a few weeks of observing him, Hermione had finally fine-tuned the rest of her plan. She purchased a leatherbound notepad during on of their Hogsmeade trips, placed security and secrecy charms on it, and used it to carefully and methodically plan out what she had dubbed "The Pet Project". A perfect title, after all it was a project that would turn Draco Malfoy into her pet before she crushed him under her heel. It was also a pet project in the sense that it was small compared to her other current projects like perfecting her N.E.W.T.s, making the perfect Veritaserum for her Advanced Potions class, keeping tabs on the welfare of House-Elf rights, and preparing for Voldemort's annual mayhem in Harry Potter's life.
The last project took up most of her time and energies. They had continued holding Dumbledore's Army sessions, but unlike the first year they held such meetings, the DA sessions for the past two years had the approval of the school. Dumbledore himself had shown up during some of the classes to provide lessons in Occlumency and to distribute lemon drops and other sweets. The entire Wizarding World had stopped all delusions about Voldemort's return, as the Dark Lord's attrocities increased by the day. Reports on attacks on Muggles and Muggleborns were a regular occurence in the Daily Prophet. The mysterious disappearances of wizards and witches were happening on a weekly basis. Fear was rampant in the Wizarding World, and instead of letting that fear consume them, the Hogwarts students had decided to prepare for the imminent War. Thank Merlin, the Hogwarts professors and Headmaster were wise enough to know that this was the only way for the young wizards and witches to deal with Voldemort's Reign of Terror and the building panic that was running rampant among the students. They acknowledged that the young wizards and witches under their tutelage needed to have a semblance of control over and preparation for what was to come. Thus, the Hogwarts professors had agreed to continue having weekly DA meetings and tutorial sessions in the Great Hall. Those who were not gifted with wizarding combat skills were offered the chance to apprentice with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout, in recognition that the War would not only require soldiers, it would also require healers and those who would be able to grow medicinal plants.
Given how busy she was with everything that was going on in her life, in Hogwarts and the rest of the Wizarding World, no one had noticed her working on her Pet Project. Whenever she was huddled alone in the library with her leatherbound notebook, scribbling down elements and components of her plan, everyone just assumed that she was either studying for her N.E.W.T.s, figuring out new spells for the DA tutorials, or working out her Head Girl duties. Everyone basically left her alone.
So now here she was, sitting in a corner in the Gryffindor Common Room with Crookshanks grooming himself at her feet, smiling in satisfaction at her finished plan of action. She had Draco Malfoy figured out. She had now fully articulated her ideas on how to get him to want her, taking into consideration both her limitations as far as Malfoy was concerned (her looks and being Muggleborn and a Gryffindor), and his personality (arrogant Slytherin with a penchant for pretty girls). Over the past few weeks, Hermione had begun paying more attention to her physical appearance in preparation for the implementation of her plan of action. Nothing drastic, of course, as she knew that anything too obvious would tip Malfoy off and would get everyone on her case. Subtlety, she concluded, was a key ingredient to her plan. Thus, as far as her physical appearance was concerned, she limited her efforts to taming her bushy hair a bit by keeping it in a French braid most of the time, which showed off her wholesome oval face perfectly, and to wearing minimal and natural-looking make-up. Hardly anyone noticed the change, but she was glad to note that hardly anyone called her "Bushy-head" anymore.
"The best way for a girl who is not physically gifted to get Draco Malfoy to stand up and pay attention to her is to challenge him. To challenge his conceit. His manhood." She had written down in one of the pages in her leatherbound notepad.
It was true. Observing Malfoy, she realised two things. One, that he could not resist a good challenge and was almost as obsessive as she was when he put his mind onto something difficult. And two, while he surrounded himself with the prettiest girls in the 6th and 7th years, he treated them more like pets and accessories. She did not want to be another Malfoy Fan. No, in order to completely and utterly decimate him, he would have to see her as something more than one of his pets. She would have to be completely inaccessible to him, so much so that she would present a challenge to him. If she played things the way the other girls did, she would not get anywhere with him. If she joined the throng of girls who drooled as he entered a room or hung on to his every word, he would not see her. After all, there were far better looking girls (and some boys) in that throng. No, she would have to set herself apart. And the best way to do that would be to challenge him and use his conceit against him.
She set aside her inner objections about being nothing more than a trophy for a boy. She had always found how some people viewed other people as mere trophies abhorrent and demeaning, like how some of the girls in Hogwarts went after Harry just because he was The Boy Who Lived. But she told herself that this time she would allow herself to be Malfoy's trophy because it was a means to an end. Specifically, a means to his end as an arrogant bigot.
Hermione prepared for the long haul. She knew that operationalising her plan had much to do with the opportunities that came her way as with the preparations and strategies she had drafted. A passage from Machiavelli's "The Prince" that she had written down in one of the first pages of her leather bound notebook reminded her precisely of that: "... one cannot find that they owed anything to fortune but the opportunity which gave them matter to shape into the form that they thought right. Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain."
So she knew that, in order to get the best possible results, she would need to let things brew and stew. As with making the most complicated potions, she knew that hurrying the process was not an option. She would have sit back and allow opportunities to operationalise her plan happen with very little prodding from her, but be ready once the moment was at hand. Nothing would be gained by her trying too hard. For one, her plan would become obvious to everyone, especially Malfoy, whom she knew possessed a cunning mind. For another, she was juggling too many other aspects of her life to devote herself fully to her Pet Project. She was patient and busy enough to wait for opportune moments.
Her first opportunity to set her plan into action came during a weekend in early October when the students in the 6th and 7th years were allowed to go into Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts administration had tightened up the Hogsmeade Weekend Trips since Voldemort's return, keeping the privilege only to those in their 6th and 7th years -- those who could defend themselves should Voldemort make an appearance.
That weekend, Hermione planned her outfit well. She had decided to wear Muggle clothes in order to be different from most of the girls who were going to be there. She knew she was going to run into him that weekend. She made sure she was going to run into him that weekend. When Lavender Brown announced giddily in the Gryffindor Common Room that the Draco Malfoy had asked her out for the Hogsmeade Weekend, Hermione kept herself from snorting derisively, and patiently asked Lavender what they had planned on doing that day. Lavender was more than happy to tell Hermione every detail of her plans with Draco.
She left Harry and Ron at the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shop, trying out George and Fred's latest gags and jokes, and headed towards Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. Lavender had informed her that Draco promised to buy her a quill to match her outfit that day -- apparently one of Draco's dating traditions. Hermione personally thought it was lame, but was grateful for it for the opportunity it presented to her. So she made her way to the Quill Shop, checking her watch and smiling. It was two o'clock. They would be there. According to Lavender's detailed and unwitting instructions, Draco had made reservations for the two of them to have lunch at Madame Puddifoot's, which would be followed by a trip to the Quill Shop.
Mr. Scrivenshaft smiled and greeted Hermione when she entered the shop. "Hello, Hermione. One of my best customers from Hogwarts. What can I do for you today? Would you like some standard quills or something more special? Let me show you our newest quills. Be back in a moment."
Hermione waited for Mr. Scrivenshaft to return with his newest quills and decided to do a bit of Christmas shopping while she was in the store. As she looked at what the shopkeeper had brought out for her to see, she heard the door open and Lavender's familiar giggling.
"Hermione!" the pretty blonde girl greeted her enthusiastically. The pretty blonde Gryffindor was dressed in her best "weekend" robes: pale pink velvet that made her periwinkle eyes sparkle. Next to her, Draco was just as stunningly beautiful in dark gray robes that brought attention to his wide shoulders and sharply-chiseled jawline.
"Hello, Lavender." She smiled at her housemate, then she nodded at him, "Malfoy", before turning back to the quills she was looking at.
"Are you here by yourself, Hermione?" Lavender asked, half-afraid that Harry and Ron would be in the shop and that their presence would ruin Draco's mood. He had been a perfect gentleman and date all day, and Lavender did not want anything ruining one of the best dates she's had in her life.
"Yes, I am, Lavender." Hermione responded, selecting a blue eagle feather for herself. Lavender sighed inwardly in relief. It's only Hermione. Draco is used enough to her presence, so she won't be able to ruin his mood, Lavender thought.
"Pity, Granger. Couldn't find anyone desperate enough to ask you out this weekend?" Draco smirked at her while Lavender giggled quietly at his wit. He looked Granger over, masking the unexpected appreciation he had for the way she looked today. She had her hair knotted in a loose bun that allowed some of her curly hair to frame her face, and was wearing a form-fitting red cashmere sweater and a long denim skirt. She looked unapologetically Muggle, and a bit out of place in the Wizarding town of Hogsmeade. She stood out. But then again, Draco mused, Granger's always had a knack for setting herself apart from others.
Hermione hid a smile. He was playing right into her hands. She took her time selecting her quills and paying for them before turning back to Malfoy to look at him smugly. "Malfoy, I used to date an International Quidditch Seeker, do you honestly think that any boy in Hogwarts could top that?"
She smiled at Mr. Scrivenshaft and Lavender before she left, almost laughing out loud at Malfoy's indignant expression.
Who knew that revenge could be this fun?
"Draco, why don't you just let what she said go? It doesn't mean anything." Lavender grinned teasingly at her date, trying to pull his attention back to her. They were seating at the Three Broomsticks with Blaise Zabini and Parvati Patil, enjoying tankards of butterbeer. It had been an hour since their visit to the Quill Shop but Draco was still seething at what Hermione said, and Lavender felt it had gone on long enough.
"I know it doesn't mean anything, Lavender. But... but... but the gall. The gall to throw Krum at my face!" Draco replied vehemently. "We all know that the only reason why he went out with her was because she had her hair straightened for the Yule Ball and then put charms to make her ugly mug look better."
"Um... actually, Draco, he asked her to the Yule Ball before that." Parvati hesitantly said. She knew about his temper but she wasn't about to let him get away with lies about her housemate.
Draco glared and her, and Lavender stepped on her foot. "You're not helping, Parvati." Lavender hissed at her.
"Fine, he asked her out before that major transformation," Draco conceded. "But maybe he was desperate for a date. Given his poor English skills, he probably couldn't ask anyone out for the Yule Ball."
Lavender blushed and whispered hesitantly. "I actually tried asking him out for the Yule Ball... but he said he wanted to ask someone else."
He glared at her, and she quickly realised her gaffe and moved to stroke his arm. If she wanted a second date with Draco Malfoy, she had better learn to keep her mouth shut. And she did.
"Fine, so the sap has bad taste in women." Draco scoffed.
"Actually, Malfoy," Zabini began, looking Draco straight in the eye and tilting his aristocratic chin at him. "If you ignore the fact that she's Muggleborn, and that she has more brains that anyone has the right to have, she's actually not half bad. Don't take me wrong, Parvati, she's nothing compared to you. You're gorgeous, love. And I prefer tall women like you, Parvati. All I'm saying is that Hermione Granger is not ugly at all and I can see what made Krum ask her out."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Zabini, but the dark-haired wizard kept on looking him straight in the eye. Zabini was the only student who could give Draco a piece of his mind without fear of Draco's sharp tongue as he had an equally sharp tongue and tough skin. Correction, Draco thought, Zabini was one of two students in Hogwarts who dared to give him a piece of their minds. The other one was that Ugly Granger.
Before Draco could add another snide comment about Granger, the doors to the Three Broomsticks opened and in came Granger, laughing at something that one of the Weasel Twins was saying behind her. She took a seat at a table from across the room, followed by Fred, George, Ron, and Harry. She was facing Draco's table but she didn't seem to notice that they were there.
Lavender looked up to observe her date and sighed when she saw that he had moved his glare from Zabini to Granger. Blaise tried to change the topic and ease the tension that was oozing from Draco in waves, but while Lavender and Parvati jumped at the chance provided by Blaise, Draco had remained quietly glaring at Hermione.
So fine, she dated Krum but that still doesn't make her any better than what she is. And how dare she say that no boy could top that duck-footed, funny-speaking oaf? So what if he's an International Quidditch Seeker, I'm still better than him. I'm Draco Malfoy and I can best Viktor Krum any day of any week of any month of any year.
Hermione lowered her lids to hide the direction of her glance.
Malfoy was glaring at her from across the room, and while that was pretty common in Hermione Granger's life, one look at Lavender's dejected face as she looked at her date who was not paying attention to her confirmed Hermione's triumph at Scrivenshaft's.
"The first round of butterbeer is on me, boys." Hermione smiled.
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense to her. The only way a boy like Draco Malfoy would be humiliated enough to learn his lesson was to make him want someone he had been taught all his life to believe was beneath him. He was not weak and he had no obvious weaknesses, therefore Hermione concluded that she needed to create his weakness -- a weakness for her. And once that weakness was well in place, she would crush him. In public. Hermione's sense of pride required a public humiliation for Draco Malfoy -- one that he could never deny.
Hermione quelled the voice in her head that appealed to her heart and her sense of humanity, and focused instead on that part of her that got the most difficult things done with relish. That same part that allowed her to blithely keep Rita Skeeter in a jar for a month before releasing her and then blackmailing her, and to lead Umbridge to the Dark Forest, knowing full well that the Centaurs would trample her on sight. Dumbledore had awarded her fifty points for her cool use of logic during her first year in Hogwarts. What a lot of people failed to realise was that having that kind of logic meant Hermione Granger paid more attention to her head than her heart. Most of the time, she curbed that aspect of her personality, feeling slightly guilty about it, especially in the company of friends who were open and kind. She had never really shown that part of her to her friends, and had always made sure that she brought out her more caring, less cunning, side with them. With those she loved, she opened her heart completely.
But when it came to Draco Malfoy, her head was running the show.
With a general plan on how to get her revenge against Malfoy, she now had to work out how to achieve her plan. She knew herself. She had no delusions about how she looked, and she knew that there was nothing about her physical appearance that would make Malfoy stand up and notice her. So she had to resort to other means of getting his attention. In order to do that, she had to observe him and what attracted him. So she did.
It was not at all difficult to find opportunities to scrutinise Malfoy, after all, a lot of their extra-curricular activities were spent in each other's company as Head Boy and Head Girl. While they had carefully avoided the Common Room they were supposed to share, preferring to study either in their respective House Common Rooms or separately in the library, they still spent quite a bit of time together doing their duties. They managed to do their tasks quite well together. Draco was confident that he had effectively put her in her place with his cruel words, and Hermione was willing to let him think that. All the better to stun him when I make my move, she thought.
After a few weeks of observing him, Hermione had finally fine-tuned the rest of her plan. She purchased a leatherbound notepad during on of their Hogsmeade trips, placed security and secrecy charms on it, and used it to carefully and methodically plan out what she had dubbed "The Pet Project". A perfect title, after all it was a project that would turn Draco Malfoy into her pet before she crushed him under her heel. It was also a pet project in the sense that it was small compared to her other current projects like perfecting her N.E.W.T.s, making the perfect Veritaserum for her Advanced Potions class, keeping tabs on the welfare of House-Elf rights, and preparing for Voldemort's annual mayhem in Harry Potter's life.
The last project took up most of her time and energies. They had continued holding Dumbledore's Army sessions, but unlike the first year they held such meetings, the DA sessions for the past two years had the approval of the school. Dumbledore himself had shown up during some of the classes to provide lessons in Occlumency and to distribute lemon drops and other sweets. The entire Wizarding World had stopped all delusions about Voldemort's return, as the Dark Lord's attrocities increased by the day. Reports on attacks on Muggles and Muggleborns were a regular occurence in the Daily Prophet. The mysterious disappearances of wizards and witches were happening on a weekly basis. Fear was rampant in the Wizarding World, and instead of letting that fear consume them, the Hogwarts students had decided to prepare for the imminent War. Thank Merlin, the Hogwarts professors and Headmaster were wise enough to know that this was the only way for the young wizards and witches to deal with Voldemort's Reign of Terror and the building panic that was running rampant among the students. They acknowledged that the young wizards and witches under their tutelage needed to have a semblance of control over and preparation for what was to come. Thus, the Hogwarts professors had agreed to continue having weekly DA meetings and tutorial sessions in the Great Hall. Those who were not gifted with wizarding combat skills were offered the chance to apprentice with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout, in recognition that the War would not only require soldiers, it would also require healers and those who would be able to grow medicinal plants.
Given how busy she was with everything that was going on in her life, in Hogwarts and the rest of the Wizarding World, no one had noticed her working on her Pet Project. Whenever she was huddled alone in the library with her leatherbound notebook, scribbling down elements and components of her plan, everyone just assumed that she was either studying for her N.E.W.T.s, figuring out new spells for the DA tutorials, or working out her Head Girl duties. Everyone basically left her alone.
So now here she was, sitting in a corner in the Gryffindor Common Room with Crookshanks grooming himself at her feet, smiling in satisfaction at her finished plan of action. She had Draco Malfoy figured out. She had now fully articulated her ideas on how to get him to want her, taking into consideration both her limitations as far as Malfoy was concerned (her looks and being Muggleborn and a Gryffindor), and his personality (arrogant Slytherin with a penchant for pretty girls). Over the past few weeks, Hermione had begun paying more attention to her physical appearance in preparation for the implementation of her plan of action. Nothing drastic, of course, as she knew that anything too obvious would tip Malfoy off and would get everyone on her case. Subtlety, she concluded, was a key ingredient to her plan. Thus, as far as her physical appearance was concerned, she limited her efforts to taming her bushy hair a bit by keeping it in a French braid most of the time, which showed off her wholesome oval face perfectly, and to wearing minimal and natural-looking make-up. Hardly anyone noticed the change, but she was glad to note that hardly anyone called her "Bushy-head" anymore.
"The best way for a girl who is not physically gifted to get Draco Malfoy to stand up and pay attention to her is to challenge him. To challenge his conceit. His manhood." She had written down in one of the pages in her leatherbound notepad.
It was true. Observing Malfoy, she realised two things. One, that he could not resist a good challenge and was almost as obsessive as she was when he put his mind onto something difficult. And two, while he surrounded himself with the prettiest girls in the 6th and 7th years, he treated them more like pets and accessories. She did not want to be another Malfoy Fan. No, in order to completely and utterly decimate him, he would have to see her as something more than one of his pets. She would have to be completely inaccessible to him, so much so that she would present a challenge to him. If she played things the way the other girls did, she would not get anywhere with him. If she joined the throng of girls who drooled as he entered a room or hung on to his every word, he would not see her. After all, there were far better looking girls (and some boys) in that throng. No, she would have to set herself apart. And the best way to do that would be to challenge him and use his conceit against him.
She set aside her inner objections about being nothing more than a trophy for a boy. She had always found how some people viewed other people as mere trophies abhorrent and demeaning, like how some of the girls in Hogwarts went after Harry just because he was The Boy Who Lived. But she told herself that this time she would allow herself to be Malfoy's trophy because it was a means to an end. Specifically, a means to his end as an arrogant bigot.
Hermione prepared for the long haul. She knew that operationalising her plan had much to do with the opportunities that came her way as with the preparations and strategies she had drafted. A passage from Machiavelli's "The Prince" that she had written down in one of the first pages of her leather bound notebook reminded her precisely of that: "... one cannot find that they owed anything to fortune but the opportunity which gave them matter to shape into the form that they thought right. Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain."
So she knew that, in order to get the best possible results, she would need to let things brew and stew. As with making the most complicated potions, she knew that hurrying the process was not an option. She would have sit back and allow opportunities to operationalise her plan happen with very little prodding from her, but be ready once the moment was at hand. Nothing would be gained by her trying too hard. For one, her plan would become obvious to everyone, especially Malfoy, whom she knew possessed a cunning mind. For another, she was juggling too many other aspects of her life to devote herself fully to her Pet Project. She was patient and busy enough to wait for opportune moments.
Her first opportunity to set her plan into action came during a weekend in early October when the students in the 6th and 7th years were allowed to go into Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts administration had tightened up the Hogsmeade Weekend Trips since Voldemort's return, keeping the privilege only to those in their 6th and 7th years -- those who could defend themselves should Voldemort make an appearance.
That weekend, Hermione planned her outfit well. She had decided to wear Muggle clothes in order to be different from most of the girls who were going to be there. She knew she was going to run into him that weekend. She made sure she was going to run into him that weekend. When Lavender Brown announced giddily in the Gryffindor Common Room that the Draco Malfoy had asked her out for the Hogsmeade Weekend, Hermione kept herself from snorting derisively, and patiently asked Lavender what they had planned on doing that day. Lavender was more than happy to tell Hermione every detail of her plans with Draco.
She left Harry and Ron at the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shop, trying out George and Fred's latest gags and jokes, and headed towards Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. Lavender had informed her that Draco promised to buy her a quill to match her outfit that day -- apparently one of Draco's dating traditions. Hermione personally thought it was lame, but was grateful for it for the opportunity it presented to her. So she made her way to the Quill Shop, checking her watch and smiling. It was two o'clock. They would be there. According to Lavender's detailed and unwitting instructions, Draco had made reservations for the two of them to have lunch at Madame Puddifoot's, which would be followed by a trip to the Quill Shop.
Mr. Scrivenshaft smiled and greeted Hermione when she entered the shop. "Hello, Hermione. One of my best customers from Hogwarts. What can I do for you today? Would you like some standard quills or something more special? Let me show you our newest quills. Be back in a moment."
Hermione waited for Mr. Scrivenshaft to return with his newest quills and decided to do a bit of Christmas shopping while she was in the store. As she looked at what the shopkeeper had brought out for her to see, she heard the door open and Lavender's familiar giggling.
"Hermione!" the pretty blonde girl greeted her enthusiastically. The pretty blonde Gryffindor was dressed in her best "weekend" robes: pale pink velvet that made her periwinkle eyes sparkle. Next to her, Draco was just as stunningly beautiful in dark gray robes that brought attention to his wide shoulders and sharply-chiseled jawline.
"Hello, Lavender." She smiled at her housemate, then she nodded at him, "Malfoy", before turning back to the quills she was looking at.
"Are you here by yourself, Hermione?" Lavender asked, half-afraid that Harry and Ron would be in the shop and that their presence would ruin Draco's mood. He had been a perfect gentleman and date all day, and Lavender did not want anything ruining one of the best dates she's had in her life.
"Yes, I am, Lavender." Hermione responded, selecting a blue eagle feather for herself. Lavender sighed inwardly in relief. It's only Hermione. Draco is used enough to her presence, so she won't be able to ruin his mood, Lavender thought.
"Pity, Granger. Couldn't find anyone desperate enough to ask you out this weekend?" Draco smirked at her while Lavender giggled quietly at his wit. He looked Granger over, masking the unexpected appreciation he had for the way she looked today. She had her hair knotted in a loose bun that allowed some of her curly hair to frame her face, and was wearing a form-fitting red cashmere sweater and a long denim skirt. She looked unapologetically Muggle, and a bit out of place in the Wizarding town of Hogsmeade. She stood out. But then again, Draco mused, Granger's always had a knack for setting herself apart from others.
Hermione hid a smile. He was playing right into her hands. She took her time selecting her quills and paying for them before turning back to Malfoy to look at him smugly. "Malfoy, I used to date an International Quidditch Seeker, do you honestly think that any boy in Hogwarts could top that?"
She smiled at Mr. Scrivenshaft and Lavender before she left, almost laughing out loud at Malfoy's indignant expression.
Who knew that revenge could be this fun?
"Draco, why don't you just let what she said go? It doesn't mean anything." Lavender grinned teasingly at her date, trying to pull his attention back to her. They were seating at the Three Broomsticks with Blaise Zabini and Parvati Patil, enjoying tankards of butterbeer. It had been an hour since their visit to the Quill Shop but Draco was still seething at what Hermione said, and Lavender felt it had gone on long enough.
"I know it doesn't mean anything, Lavender. But... but... but the gall. The gall to throw Krum at my face!" Draco replied vehemently. "We all know that the only reason why he went out with her was because she had her hair straightened for the Yule Ball and then put charms to make her ugly mug look better."
"Um... actually, Draco, he asked her to the Yule Ball before that." Parvati hesitantly said. She knew about his temper but she wasn't about to let him get away with lies about her housemate.
Draco glared and her, and Lavender stepped on her foot. "You're not helping, Parvati." Lavender hissed at her.
"Fine, he asked her out before that major transformation," Draco conceded. "But maybe he was desperate for a date. Given his poor English skills, he probably couldn't ask anyone out for the Yule Ball."
Lavender blushed and whispered hesitantly. "I actually tried asking him out for the Yule Ball... but he said he wanted to ask someone else."
He glared at her, and she quickly realised her gaffe and moved to stroke his arm. If she wanted a second date with Draco Malfoy, she had better learn to keep her mouth shut. And she did.
"Fine, so the sap has bad taste in women." Draco scoffed.
"Actually, Malfoy," Zabini began, looking Draco straight in the eye and tilting his aristocratic chin at him. "If you ignore the fact that she's Muggleborn, and that she has more brains that anyone has the right to have, she's actually not half bad. Don't take me wrong, Parvati, she's nothing compared to you. You're gorgeous, love. And I prefer tall women like you, Parvati. All I'm saying is that Hermione Granger is not ugly at all and I can see what made Krum ask her out."
Draco raised an eyebrow at Zabini, but the dark-haired wizard kept on looking him straight in the eye. Zabini was the only student who could give Draco a piece of his mind without fear of Draco's sharp tongue as he had an equally sharp tongue and tough skin. Correction, Draco thought, Zabini was one of two students in Hogwarts who dared to give him a piece of their minds. The other one was that Ugly Granger.
Before Draco could add another snide comment about Granger, the doors to the Three Broomsticks opened and in came Granger, laughing at something that one of the Weasel Twins was saying behind her. She took a seat at a table from across the room, followed by Fred, George, Ron, and Harry. She was facing Draco's table but she didn't seem to notice that they were there.
Lavender looked up to observe her date and sighed when she saw that he had moved his glare from Zabini to Granger. Blaise tried to change the topic and ease the tension that was oozing from Draco in waves, but while Lavender and Parvati jumped at the chance provided by Blaise, Draco had remained quietly glaring at Hermione.
So fine, she dated Krum but that still doesn't make her any better than what she is. And how dare she say that no boy could top that duck-footed, funny-speaking oaf? So what if he's an International Quidditch Seeker, I'm still better than him. I'm Draco Malfoy and I can best Viktor Krum any day of any week of any month of any year.
Hermione lowered her lids to hide the direction of her glance.
Malfoy was glaring at her from across the room, and while that was pretty common in Hermione Granger's life, one look at Lavender's dejected face as she looked at her date who was not paying attention to her confirmed Hermione's triumph at Scrivenshaft's.
"The first round of butterbeer is on me, boys." Hermione smiled.
