Summary

Ginny hasn't gotten over her crush on Harry Potter and is annoying the heck out of a certain busy-haired Gryffindor. What if Hermione is determined to show Ginny a big flaw in the Boy-Who-Lived? That would mean that Hermione is going to be forced into spending more time with Harry. What happens when the more Hermione tries to find something bad in him, she finds good? What happens when the big flaw in her big plan is that she is falling head over heels for someone she's only allowed to look at as a best friend?

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not owe any of the Harry Potter characters that were created by the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. So thank her…not me:D

Author's Note: Sorry that I haven't uploaded this chapter. Thanks to all those that review…! I love you! Please enjoy!

"The matter should be discussed in private. It's urgent," said Zabini.

"Okay, then," Harry said to him, then turned to Ginny, Hermione, and Ron, who stared at Harry as though he had grown an extra head. "Don't worry guys," he reassured them, "I'll be fine."

Harry, along with Malfoy and Zabini, walked down the train corridor, making a lot of curious heads poke out of the compartment's doors. Being stared at made it seem a longer walk down the train for Harry. It was like walking down a catwalk (AN: I say that Draco Malfoy would make a pretty sexy model wouldn't you all think?). Once the three boys go to the last compartment (which was always empty) they got inside and shut the door. Everyone was silent, until Harry spoke up.

"Okay, well, you got me here along to talk and now it seems that cat got both of your tongues," said Harry, slightly irritated.

"Hold your thestrals, Potter," said Zabini.

Harry sighed.

"Alright, what do you want?" he asked, more calmly.

"We want your alliance."

Harry turned to Malfoy, who was looking at him with confidence.

"You're joking, right?"

"No, Potter, we're dead serious," said Malfoy, while Zabini shook his head.

"Okay, then, tell me, why should I trust you?" Harry asked.

"At first, you are not going to believe us," responded Zabini, a little uncomfortable.

"Why don't you spill it out since we'll be at school soon?"

This time, Malfoy talked.

"The truth is we had a change of heart, well, more a change of mind."

At this point, Harry opened his mouth to say something.

Malfoy interrupted him, "Look, before you say something, just hear us out okay?"

Harry nodded.

"Both our fathers," Malfoy continued, "send us to a summer camp for teenagers. My father said that Voldemort wanted the kids of his most loyal Death Eaters to go to summer camp. So our fathers sent us together. They said that we needed to blend in since it was a Muggle camp. They both said something about needing to learn Muggle ways for missions that Voldemort would surely send us. Probably to lure in Muggle teens to torture. So, anyway, we started communicating with these people our age and….something started going through my head: these kids have no idea, nor their parents, that there s another world….a magical world. A magical world where there is an evil wizard that is plotting to kill them. I could sense that Blaise was also having second thoughts about this plan. So, I talked with him. I asked him if he was uncomfortable with the idea of interacting with Muggles just to please Voldemort. He was. The next thing we knew is that we were running away from camp, did a couple of spells to change our appearances, took the Knight Bus and stayed at the Leaky Cauldron the rest of the summer."

After an awkward silence, Malfoy talked again.

"So, what do you think?" he asked Harry.

Harry just sighed and looked at Malfoy, "I think that that camp really helped you out to communicate more down to Earth. Whoo! Did I almost fall for that bullshit!" he exclaimed.

"Please, listen to us, Potter," said Zabini, "we're telling you the truth."

"And why should I believe you?" Harry replied angrily. "Why should I trust you? How is that you won't turn me in to Voldemort later on, huh?"

"Okay, fine. Just let me ask you a couple of questions, okay? Then you can decide on your own judgment."

"Fine," was Harry's only reply.

"Have you seen with any other Slytherin besides each other?"

"No, but…"

"And aren't we always with out posse?"

"Yes, but…"

"And were we with them this time?"

"No, but…"

"Then? What do you have to lose?" Malfoy asked.

"My life!" Harry bursted out. "What if you guys are just pretending? Huh? What if all of this is just a huge set up to kidnap me and take me to Voldemort? What about that?"

"Look, Potter, I mean—Harry, look, would we be going this low by begging, if this were a trick?" said Malfoy.

He's got a point, you know, thought Harry. But what if I make a wrong decision like I did last year? Another innocent life could be lost, and I really don't want to be like I was in the beginning of the summer. But, so far, he's had good points proven. I'm making a mental noted and here it is: I, Harry James Potter, swear that if Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini turn out to be excellent liars and in the process someone gets hurt, I will hurt them ten times worse.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Harry looked at Mal- Draco and Blaise and said, "Alright, you have my alliance, but if at the end someone gets killed or seriously hurt, all hell will break lose. Got that?"

Draco and Blaise looked at each other, turned to Harry and both said, simultaneously, "Got it."

Then, Harry, stuck out his hand in front of Draco, who just stared at it.

Harry chuckled, "For having spent summer in a camp for Muggles you obviously don't know anything about the human body. It's called a hand. You shake it to either greet a person or when people have come to an agreement. Today, we shake hands for the latter."

Somewhat reluctantly, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini, Slytherins, shook hands with Gryffindor's, Harry Potter.

The three boys just looked at each other.

Blaise asked, "Now what?"

Harry sighed once more, and said, "Now, we just have to convince the rest of the group."

"What? You mean, both Weasels and Granger?" asked Draco.

"Hmm…yeah."
"But they'll never agree."

"Well, I agreed, didn't I?"

"Yeah. Your point being?"

"My point being that I was supposed to be the hardest one to convince."

Draco and Blaise looked at each other skeptically.

"Come on, I'm pretty sure it won't be that hard," said Harry, steering Draco and Blaise out of the compartment and towards the one where Hermione, Ginny, and Ron were at.

1 ½ hour later.

"Come on, guys!" pleaded Harry.

"Harry! Listen to us!" said Hermione. "Do you hear yourself? I mean, they just admitted that their fathers are one of the most loyal servants to Voldemort! Oh, honestly, Ron! Don't be such a wimp!"

"Hey! I am not a wimp!" Ron said, indignantly.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned back to Harry, "Look, Harry, how do you know that they aren't on a mission for Lord Voldemort..," Ron flinched again- "and they won't turn their backs on us at the last minute?"

"Well, I agree with Harry," said Ginny, who had been sitting quietly, listening to their fight for the past hour and a half (and also staring at Harry).

I wonder why you would agree with him. Oh, wait! I know, because you are head over heels in love with him! Hermione fumed inside her head while shooting daggers at Ginny.

"Thank you, Ginny! See, 'Mione, why can't you be a little more understanding like her…" Ginny beamed- "besides, nothing is what it seems, you always said that!"

"Whoa, back up, down, boy. When did I ever say that? That sounds like a load of…"

"Hermione, look, at a time like this is when you have to learn how to trust other people," Draco spoke up.

Hermione stared at him.

"You called me Hermione."

"Well, that is your name, isn't it?" Draco asked, with slight sarcasm.

"Yeah," Hermione smiled at him.

For the first time since, ever, Draco Malfoy broke out into a true genuine smile.

Wow, Hermione thought. She sighed. What other choice do I have? None. But to surrender. Let's see if I don't die out of this scam.

"Okay, fine. I agree to have an alliance with you two."

"Yes! Finally! Man, Potter, I thought you said that this was going to be easy?" Draco asked.

Harry shook his head. "No. I said and I quote myself, 'this shouldn't be so hard.' There's a difference."

"Well, at least it was worth the fight," said Draco, looking at Hermione intently.

The bushy-haired Gryffindor smiled and blushed profusely.

"Ok," said Harry, rubbing his hands together, "two down, one to go."

Harry looked at Ron, while Ron looked at Harry. Ron sighed.

"Oh, alright. I see I'm never going to win. Ok, I agree to have an alliance with Malfoy and Zabini, also," Ron said, a little frustrated.

With still a long way to go 'til they got to Hogwarts Castle, Harry and Ron started to make small talk with Draco and Blaise. While the boys did that, Hermione and Ginny started to talk about their previous agreement.

"So?" Ginny asked Hermione, who was looking out the window, while shooting glances to a certain blond blue-eyed guy.

"Hermione!" exclaimed, while nudging her friend.

"What?"

"What are you thinking of? I've been trying to get you attention for the past five minutes."

"Oh, sorry; just a little preoccupied, I guess," Hermione responded, shrugging. "So, what do you want?"

As fast as flicking on a light, Ginny's facial expressions went from annoyed to mischievous.

"So…when are we gonna start our bargain?"

Hermione sighed.

Oh right, our bargain, she thought. Well, guess what, Ginny? I kind of don't want to do it anymore!

"Well?"

"Oh, alright, I'll do it."

"Oh, good. When?"

"Umm, right now?"

"Perfect. How?"

"Umm, by talking?"

"Great. What are you going to talk about?"

"Ginny!" Hermione whispered loudly. "Just let me do this on my own. Please?"

"Okay, fine. But start, like, right now."

"Geez, fiery red head with a whole lot of impatient."

"Ha, ha."

"Anything off the trolley, dears?" asked the old, plump woman.

"No, thank you," everyone responded.

About five minutes after the old woman had left pushing the trolley in front of her, Ron, Draco, Blaise, and Ginny realized that they did want something from the trolley.

As Ginny was getting up, she noticed that Harry was going to stay behind. So, she backed up and whispered to Hermione, "Here's your chance at making me shut up about him."

Ginny glanced at Harry, "And you better work hard. I'm a very difficult person to be convinced." Then she walked out of the compartment.

Goodness! She nags worse than Mrs. Weasley! I'm going to feel sorry for her children, Hermione thought. I guess that I better move next to him and try to make small talk.

So, doing as she thought, Hermione got up and moved next to him. She glanced at him and he glanced at her. They both smiled and looked down at their laps.

"So, Harry," Hermione began, "how was your summer?"

Harry sighed. "Well, it was better than usual. You know, I got some new clothes. My aunt was nicer, my uncle didn't really care, and my cousin was extremely nicer."

That was usually how the train ride went on. Harry and Hermione talked quietly about everything and nothing at the same time, while at the other end of the compartment, Ron, Ginny, Draco and Blaise talked loudly about Quidditch and other stuff that guys with girls talk about (AN: which I definitely don't know what stuff is that!).

At long last, Hogwarts Express pulled up the train station in Hogsmeade.

Everyone left the compartment, except for Hermione, who was looking for one of her books, and Draco, who had stayed behind to see if Hermione needed some help.

"Are you looking for something?" Draco asked Hermione, who, currently, was bending over on the floor to see if her book was under the seat.

Hermione, obviously thinking she was along, squealed and jumped up in fright.

"Oh, Malfoy, you scared me," said Hermione, getting up.

"Malfoy?" he asked, offering her his hand in help. "I thought it was Draco, now?"

"Well, it's kind of a habit, you know?" she said uncomfortably, since he hadn't let her hand go.

"I know," he said, glancing at her hand, still in his grasp. "So, how about we start over?"

"Ok."

"Ok. I'll go first. Hello, my name is Draco Malfoy." Then, he added as an afterthought, "And no, I'm no Death Eater."

Hermione grinned weakly.

For a while, both stood staring at each other, shaking hands.

Finally, Draco broke the silence.

"This is where you would introduce yourself."

Hermione snapped out of her reverie and giggled.

Hey, she thought, since when do I giggle all girly?

"Oh, right. Ok, umm, my name is Hermione Jane Granger. And yes, I'm a bookworm," she said, mocking his previous statement.

He chuckled.

"Well, Ms. Granger, great pleasure it had been meeting you, milady," Draco said, bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it lightly.

"Why, the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Malfoy," said Hermione, a bit flirty.

Wait one darn minute here, she thought. Once again, since when do I flirt with guys? Especially when this guy happens to be Draco Malfoy? Oh, well.

Both smiled at each other and left the compartment rather hurriedly because the "horse-less" carriages were about to leave.

"Where are they?" asked Draco, looking around for any sign of them.

"Oh, look! There they are!" Hermione exclaimed pointing to the third carriage away from them.

Sure enough, Harry's messy black-haired head was sticking from out the window, looking desperately for someone (them, obviously).

Together, they ran towards the carriage.

"Harry!"

Harry's shaggy head finally turned in their direction, smiled, but then his expression turned to a sour one.

"Where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you!" he exclaimed.

An ahem was heard from the inside of the carriage (probably Ron).

"Ugh, ok, I meant we were looking everywhere for you," Harry said.

"You got that right," said the voice again.

Harry rolled his eyes and went back inside, "Look, Blaise, why don't you pipe down unless it'll help someone out, huh?" (AN: fooled ya, didn't I?)

"Hmm, no."

Harry was heard letting out a frustrating sigh.

Just then Ginny poked her head out and told Hermione and Draco, "So what, you guys planning to walk to Hogwarts? Or did you want to ride in the boats with the ickle firsties?"

"Ha, ha, Ginny, hilarious," said Hermione, sarcastically, as she was helped onto the carriage by Mr. Malfoy.

At last, the carriage departed from Hogsmeade's dirt road entering the castle grounds.

Looking at Hogwarts Castle with its shadowing, humongous towers, small square windows, Harry reminisced slightly on what happen with his godfather, supposed escaped convicted murderer, Sirius Black.

He shook his head. No, I don't want to dwell on it, it's not good to dwell on the past, after all

Suddenly, his thoughts were stopped, literally, when the carriages halted at the castle doors.

Then, before anyone even had a chance to step inside the castle, Professor McGonagall approached, calling out their names.

"Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini! The headmaster would like a word in his office, right now. Follow me," she said, already marching up the castle steps.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Blaise looked at each other and followed the Deputy Headmistress to Professor Dumbledore's office.

Climbing up a whole lot of stairs, crossing the Great Hall which , even though wasn't serving food yet, was giving off a very strong smell of very good food waiting to be eaten, and giving the password to the Headmaster's office("Mars Bars"), Professor McGonagall excused herself by saying that she needed to help with the Sorting Ceremony.

Just as Hermione was about to knock on the door, an elderly voice came from inside, "Come in."

The group of students looked at each other and slowly opened the headmaster's office door. When they opened the door they found Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, in ocean blue robes with matching hat, stroking his pet phoenix, Fawkes. Fawkes stood enjoying his friend's gentle stroke up and down its folded wings, which were a bright crimson red.

"Ah," said Dumbledore, turning from Fawkes and sitting at his desk. "Please, take a seat."

At his words, three extra chairs appeared next to the two that were already in front of the desk.

The two Slytherin boys and the Gryffindor trio sat down and waited patiently while Dumbledore was trying to unstick two pieces of green-yellow candy, lemon drops; his favorite Muggle candy.

"Would you like some?"

While, Harry and Hermione already knew of this candy, Ron (who was hungry), Draco and Blaise accepted the lemon drops with curiosity.

Finally, thought Dumbledore, someone accepted my offer for lemon drops. I don't know why anyone would not like the candy; it's delicious! But, then again, that is my opinion. Alas! I think some people other than me have found this treat marvelous! He mused, watching the looks of delight on Ron, Draco, and Blaise.

Hermione, growing sort of impatient of just watching the boys eat candy, asked Dumbledore, "Professor, what is it, exactly, that you wanted to talk about?"

"Ah, yes," said Dumbledore, snapping out of his thoughts. "Well, I'm sure that you three have agreed to Mr. Malfoy's and Mr. Zabini's plea for alliance."

"Yes, sir," they all replied.

"Well, the little part that they missed is that I went to find them at the Leaky Cauldron during the summer. We talked, argued, discussed, whatever you want to call it, but we came to a conclusion that they are not going to be safe in the Slytherin Common Room."

The word "duh" came from the three Gryffindors.

"Yes, well, I made arrangements so that they have their very own common room, which will be open to only Harry, Ron, and Hermione! Which means, you three, that you will not be telling anyone where the entrance is," Dumbledore said, looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "And I'm sorry, Ron, by young Miss Ginny Weasley must not know where the entrance is either. NO ONE," he emphasized, "must know where the entrance is. Understood?"

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore," they responded.

"Now, well, since I'm pretty sure that you missed most of dinner, you might as well have a quick dinner here so as not to go to bed on an empty stomach," he said, waving his wand, conjuring a tray of finger sandwiches, a pitcher of pumpkin juice and five silver goblets.

"Well, enjoy yourselves and I'll come back in about thirty minutes. I still have to go and make some quick announcements. Then, I'll take you to see Draco's and Blaise's new common-"

BANG!

Suddenly, the door had slammed open, showing a very out of breath Professor McGonagall, accompanied by Professor Snape.

"Albus! There's been an attack!"

"For goodness' sake, Minerva, where?" Dumbledore asked.

This time Professor Snape answered, "In Little Whinging, Surrey."

At this moment I'd like to take the time to thank the only four reviewers I had for Chapter 3: AJ the Ass Slayer, Lady Narcissus, LuffySP, and Parvati. Thanks a lot and peace out.