A/N: I am very truly sorry for not updating sooner. It took me forever to get off my lazy ass and start writing this chapter. So here it is and sorry for the long wait. Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
Last time on CHS:
"It is true. I didn't notice it until now. I guess I didn't want to believe it."
"Believe what?" Hermione asked confused.
"Draco," Pansy whispered. "He really does care about you. I could see it in his eyes when he was looking at you."
Hermione sighed heavily. "Whatever. Don't think about that and just think about ways of getting him back for what he did to you. Now, lets hear this idea of yours."
"Fine, but I'm not sure if you're going to like it or even go through with it, but you have to do it. Just say right now that you'll do it," Pansy pleaded.
"What is it Pansy?" Hermione asked nervously.
"Just say you'll do it."
Hermione sighed. "Alright, alright. Just tell me what it is." Pansy muttered something under her breath. "Pansy, you're going to have to speak up a little bit I can't hear you."
"We're going to join the talent show."
CHAPTER 4: Dance Parnter
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table eating dinner silently, thinking about the situation that she had gotten herself into. It had been a week since Pansy told Hermione her stupid plan. She still couldn't believe that she was going to go through with it. The only reason she was going through with it was because Pansy had tricked her. And the idea was absolutely ridiculous. Like she could sing and dance let alone do it in front of the entire school. Hermione was dreading that she had to meet her tonight after dinner.
"Harry, go."
Hermione was brought out her thoughts as Ginny tried with all her might to get Harry out of his seat. Harry seemed to be hanging onto the table as if his life depended on it.
"No," he stated flatly as Ron sat shaking with laughter at the scene in front of him.
"What's going on here?" Hermione asked Ron curiously who was seated next to her, all the while wondering what Ginny and Harry were so worked up about.
"Ginny's playing matchmaker for Harry," Ron said still laughing. "She told Luna that Harry wanted to eat dinner with her and Harry's chickening out."
Harry seemed to get angry at this. "I am not chickening out. I never said I wanted to eat dinner with her."
"Of course you do Harry," Ginny said matter of fact still trying to get him to stand up. "Just because you didn't say it doesn't mean you don't want to."
"If I've never said it," Harry said through gritted teeth still gripping the table. "Then it's probably because I don't. Now let me go."
"Oh Harry," Ginny said finally letting him go and sighed. She looked over at Hermione and shook her head. "Denial is the first sign of admittance."
Hermione giggled as Harry snorted and threw a look of annoyance at Ron who in turn chuckled. "I hate to admit it mate," Ron said taking a bite out of his biscuit. "But sooner or later, you're going to have to admit it. She won't stop until you do."
A surprise look suddenly appeared on Ron's face but was quickly replaced with a small smile. Harry looked at him utterly confused. "Looks like it's going to be sooner," he said quickly gesturing to Hermione to follow his gaze. "Good luck Harry."
Before Harry could even register what had just happened, he felt someone suddenly sit next to him. He froze and stared straight ahead and gulped hard before looking to his right where they had sat. He turned his head and found himself staring straight into the eyes of Luna Lovegood.
"Hi, Harry," Luna said with a smile. "I saw Ginny over here trying to get you up. I thought I'd come over and sit with you instead since it looked like you got stuck." Ron nearly choked on his pumpkin juice as he tried to take a sip through his laughter. Luna turned to Ron as he wiped his mouth with his shirt. "Did you glue Harry to his seat?"
Before Ron had a chance to answer her, Ginny cut in. "Actually Luna, it was Harry," she said reseating herself on the opposite side of Ron. If looks could kill, Ginny would surely be dead by the glare that Harry had just sent her. Oblivious to his gaze, Ginny continued, "You see, Harry got kind of nervous at the last minute and was getting cold feet."
Hermione and Ron sat with their mouths open shocked at how blunt Ginny was being. Harry on the other hand turned a bright color of red that was much darker than any of the Weasley's hair. Hermione didn't know whether to burst out laughing or feel sorry for Harry. Ron on the other hand had overcome his shock and had put his head down to try and hide his laughter.
"Oh ….ok," Luna said with a dreamy expression on her face as she looked at Harry with a smile. "So, Harry do you think we'll be having any more D.A. meetings this year now that that Umbridge woman is out of the picture? I really did learn a lot from you and was hoping to learn a little bit more."
Hermione smiled to herself as Luna started a conversation with the visibly embarrassed Harry. She looked at her watch and noticed that it was just about time to meet Pansy.
Hermione stood up and gathered her things. Not wanting anyone to know that she was meeting her, she planned on pretending to go to the library. "I'll catch up with you guys later on in the common room. I'm going to the library."
She left before they could ask any further questions. Hermione had just walked out of the great hall when she felt an arm drape around her shoulders. Hermione jumped out of his grasp as she spun to the silver-blue eyes that met her brown ones. "Well, well. Aren't we a little jumpy tonight?"
"Bloody hell, Malfoy. You scared me half to dead," she cried and held a hand to her heart as it beat wildly. She didn't know why she was reacting like this. Calm the bloody fuck down, she thought.
Malfoy took a step towards her and Hermione instinctively took a step back. Malfoy noticed this and smirked. "What happened to the formalities Miss Granger? Your not, scared of a little Slytherin are you?" he asked taking another step closer. This time Hermione stood her ground.
If he's going to play like this, maybe I need to play along with his game. "Well, I wouldn't exactly say …. little, when it comes to you," she said pausing before she said little and also taking a step forward. They were now mere centimeters apart. Malfoy's eyes grew wide at her choice of words and she couldn't help the smirk that came across her face. "Listen, Malfoy. I would love to stay around and chat about how little you're not, but I really have to get somewhere."
He seemed to have come out of his reverie as she put her hand on his chest to push him aside. Before she could walk pass him he grabbed her wrist and turned to her. Hermione looked up surprised but quickly recovered. "Maybe later on you can find out just how little I'm not."
Hermione smiled as she pulled her hand away from his grasp. "Maybe, I'd just take you up on the offer," she said walking away facing him, "if I wasn't a mudblood." He smirked at her choice of words and she knew he was very serious. "You know, I wouldn't want to tarnish your reputation or anything."
"Maybe I can make an exception," he said as he watched with what Hermione could only describe as a look of hunger. Not that she knew what that look looked like, but she only assumed. "I'm not as cold-hearted as you think."
Funny choice of words, she thought as she continued to slowly walk backwards. "Maybe. But how do you know I'm not?" she asked. "I'll see you later…….Draco," she said, smiling almost seductively. She finally turned and hurried away, full knowing that by saying his first name she would leave him thinking.
After what seemed like forever, she finally reached the vacant classroom that she was to meet Pansy in.
As Hermione walked in, she noticed there were a group of people waiting along with Pansy, mostly Slytherins. "You're late," Pansy said.
Hermione walked slowly over to her eyeing people as she passed. "Sorry, I got caught up by something. Um, Pansy. What are all these people doing in here?"
Pansy smiled mischievously. "These are you back up dancers. Of course, I'll be with them too, but we needed a lot to get the whole effect."
"Ok, I understand that, but they're all Slytherins," Hermione said matter of fact. "I thought we decided that nobody should know about our little 'plan'."
Pansy rolled her eyes. "Nobody's going to find out. All these people are younger Slytherins. I have power over them." This time it was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes. "Ok, so I blackmailed most of them. They're not going to talk for what I've got over them."
Hermione shook her head. "Fine, whatever. I've just got one more question." Pansy looked at her questioningly. "Why are there so many guys here?"
"I'm glad you noticed," Pansy said. "I don't like girls always dancing by themselves. All the girls have dance partners. Including you."
Hermione's mouth dropped open. "What?!"
Pansy rolled her eyes again. "Don't give me that look. It's not that bad. Besides, it has to be really sexy. We're going to make Draco jealous." Hermione still had her mouth open. "Granger please, close your mouth you look like a fish without water."
Hermione immediately closed her mouth remembering how Ron had looked. "Ok, um… how exactly are we going to get Malfoy jealous?" she asked crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Well, I would think that was obvious," Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Honestly Granger think about it. Your dance partner. Who is the one person that knows about you?"
Hermione's eyed grew wide. "Oh, no Pansy please tell me you did not do this?"
"I'm sorry, but it's the perfect revenge. Well, not all of it of course, but it's a start. Which reminds me, he's late too." Hermione closed her eyes and rubbed her temple feeling a headache coming on. "Speak of the devil. Your late."
"Sorry, love."
Hermione turned around to look straight into the green eyes of non other than Blaise Zabini.
A/N: I am so very, very sorry for taking almost a month to update. I hope you are happy with this. I'll try to update sooner. I know I haven't put a lot of Draco/ Hermione moments, but I promise you they will come. Remember patience is a virtue. I think (really I do) that I am over my writer's block. Please, please update. I really want to know what you guys think.
