Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10: The Brat Pack

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As Ginny and Ron dashed over the grounds, with a slightly confused Pansy wandering in tow, they saw - a little ways into the woods - four dark figures. Two lay on the ground and two stood tall and proud. They were pacing.

"Oh my God" whispered Ginny "Two bodies on the ground! Hermione...and..."

"Cho." Ron said, as they drew closer.

"Send up the sparks, Ronald," Ginny whispered, "Get Harry and Draco over here."

Harry and Draco had been searching the courtyards when a red flash of light shot up over the grounds near the entrance to the forbidden forest. "Come on," said Harry. They ran over the hills to meet Ginny, Ron and Pansy. They began to crawl as they got closer, when they saw that the other three were kneeling behind a bush.

They joined the group. "What happening?" Harry said quickly to Ginny.

"That's Hermione and Cho on the ground, but the two standing we haven't - "

"My father," said Draco, "My father and my uncle." Draco said quietly, realizing what must be happening.

Ginny gasped, "Do they know about...?" she whispered to Draco.

"They always know everything, Ginny." He said bluntly.

Harry was turning red with rage. This situation reminded him all to well of the last time he had seen Lucius Malfoy; in the graveyard. But this was Hermione. 'Please, not Hermione.' Harry thought.

Pansy spoke up, "Draco, what's going on?" she looked worried and confused. Why was she hiding behind a bush with three Gryffindors?

"Nothing Pansy, maybe you should go back to the ball." Draco whispered.

Just then, his father turned so that his face was revealed in the moonlight.

"Oh my God, it's Mr. Malfoy!" Pansy shrieked, and out she jumped from behind the bush and ran to greet him.

"Hello Miss Parkinson, what are you doing here in these dark dangerous woods at this time of night?" Lucius grinned nastily.

Harry glared at Draco. Ginny elbowed him, "Listen Harry!" she whispered.

Pansy, rather cheerfully, told Lucius how his own son had set her up with a Weasley ("Well at least he still has his sense of humor" was Lucius' reply) and how suddenly, she and Ron saw Draco fighting Harry. She seemed a bit confused on how she got outside the castle, she only knew that she had followed her date and his sister and then she saw Lucius, and now here they were.

"And pray tell, Pansy darling, where are the little brats now?" Lucius practically snarled."Oh, they're right behind-"

"Here, Father." Draco stood. "I am here." He walked out from behind the bush and came to join Pansy and his father. Harry was about to stand but Ginny pulled down firmly on his shirt. "No Harry, wait. See what he does..."

"Aaah Draco." Marcus cut in, "my dear nephew. I haven't seen you in a long time. No...impure...activities since our last meeting, I assume?"

"No, uncle, of course not." Draco came to stand next to Pansy. Meanwhile, Hermione and Cho were in shadow about 20 feet away. Hermione saw them, but couldn't think of what she would possibly say, even if she got herself to stop crying.

"Surely you must know, my boy, the purpose of our visit? For, why else, would you have come?" Lucius inquired with a grin.Malfoy faltered for a moment. Hermione's heart rose to her throat. Harry Ginny and Ron leaned in. "Of course father" Malfoy grinned...that old grin...before the library.

Hermione cried out "Draco! What's going on?" there was an angry sort of hope in her voice.

"Ah," Lucius said, "You see, we have the filthy creature restrained over there..."

Malfoy avoided Hermione's hard and tearful gaze.

Lucius noticed this, "Well, Draco? Tell the poor girl." he smiled, placing his hand on Draco's shoulder.

"Alright father, alright." Draco whispered. He turned slowly towards a nearby tree. His voice seemed distant as he delivered this severe blow. "I am not so easily changed, Granger, as I would have you believe..."

Harry nudged Ron "Bastard..." he whispered "...and you believed him."

"We were simply in need of information, and you provided it. Although I did have to put aside my disgust of your," he turned and looked her straight in the eye, "Filth. But you believed me, none the less." Lucius grinned to Marcus.

Ginny gasped. It took all her will power to remain behind the bush.

Hermione was shaking her head, tears still silently rolling, "I don't believe you."

"Believe me Granger, this time..." he paused, taking a breath, looking hard into her eyes, "it's the truth. And I cannot help but thank you, for you assisted in my plan really. I not only gave my father an opportunity to torture you as he pleased, I also am now proud to present..."

Ron winced...he would expose them all.

"...the rest of the brat pack." Draco finished.

Hermione's eyes grew wide, as Harry stood up confidently, followed by Ginny, and finally a reluctant Ron."Oh Draco you out-do yourself." Lucius smiled.

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AN: muahaha more to come. Don't worry or fret, please just review and you shall see the rest unfold…believe me it's worth it.

-slytherinfan