The Lunatic Headmaster's Plan

Finally concluding that she couldn't eat one bite of her food, after realizing how similar she and Draco think. It was almost….uncanny. She stood up, and told her friends she was going to go to the library. Ginny, however, stood up also, and said she too, was going. Together, the two girls walked to the library, but not without speaking.

"Mione, you'd tell us if you ever fell in love with someone, right?" Ginny cautiously said.

"Well…with Ron and Harry, I'm not sure. But of course, I'd tell you," Hermione said warmly, after thinking for a moment, and wincing at the scene that her two best friends had caused on New Year's day.

"Okay, then. By the way, when will the next meeting be? I have to ask Draco, but I think tomorrow would be the best time."

"Well, I guess I don't have to wait that long for an answer. Malfoy is standing right there," Ginny said. Hermione squinted, and she saw the beautiful white blonde hair of Draco Malfoy. Her breath caught in her throat as they walked up to him.

"Um…about the Prefect meeting…do you think tomorrow would be a good day?" Hermione said, afraid that if she said any more, she would scream out a confession of love for him.

Malfoy glanced up, surprised at first, and then nodded. "Um, yea that would be the perfect…day. Same time same place," he said, never taking his eyes off of Hermione's brown ones.

Uncomfortably, Hermione nodded, and walked into the library. "Ginny, do you mind helping me write the owls to the other Prefects? It'll be quicker if we work together."

Ginny nodded at the older girl, slightly amused at how flustered Hermione was after talking to Malfoy. "Mione, are you okay? You seem as flustered as a girl in love, and just saw the lucky guy in an awkward position!"

"I—I'm okay. And what do you mean like a girl in love?"

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about," Ginny slyly said, winking at her friend.

"Merlin, if anyone else accuses me of being in love with Draco Malfoy, I will decapitate them in the most creative way possible!"

"You mean, with a blunt ax, killing them like Nearly Headless Nick?"

"Creative enough, that's a good plan," Hermione said, smiling slightly, but still managed a half-threatening tone.

After all the notes were sent out, Hermione went into her room, since she didn't have a class until the second period. She worked on making the 'signatures' for the band, Pure Soul. Satisfied with her fifteen different designs, Hermione found herself thinking about Draco again. Sighing, she grabbed a piece of parchment, and dipped her quill in ink. It was going to be one interesting song she was about to write:

Feet in the Air

I stare up to the endless dark sky,

My feet are on the ground,

These twinkling diamonds' caught my eye,

Then I remember to keep my feet on the ground.

But it's too late to turn back;
you've clearly swept me off my feet.

Before, this was the one emotion I lack,
Today I realize Love is really elite.

Inside I know, soaring here is wrong,
but the moon is letting me pass,
the stars are smiling along,
these wings in the sky are like feet on the grass.

I'm flying higher than I've ever reached,

There's no limit for me to stay,

You're by my side and I'm assured,

There's no danger in our way.

I love this floating feeling,

This is what my soul screamed to see,

The sight up here is dazzling,

I've never known this side of me.

But it's too late to turn back;
you've clearly swept me off my feet.

Before, this was the one emotion I lack,
Today I realize Love is really elite.

I stare down to see,

My scars and pain are gone,

The staining crimson blood wasn't on me,

I guess love has made them gone.

Deep down I know

I'm in love with you,

This feeling inside me will grow;
I can feel that this is true.

I'm so confused tonight,

But I know the answer why.

You've opened up my sight,
letting me love instead of cry.

But it's too late to turn back;
you've clearly swept me off my feet.

Before, this was the one emotion I lack,
Today I realize Love is really elite.

Deep down I know I'm in love with you, Hermione thought, her mind spinning. But it was too late, it was time for Divination. Sighing, Hermione picked up her bag, and braced herself to see Draco, once again, in class.

Draco stood there, waiting for Divination to start. Slowly, he walked to class, when the time came. He caught sight of Hermione's bushy brown hair, as she flew to class, as if it were a must that she is there. Some things never change, he thought, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. This New Year was just full of surprises, especially in love; such as Pansy Parkinson and Harry Potter, possibly the most unlikely couple in Hogwarts.

When they reached class they heard the buzzing of gossip. Pansy, was practically sitting on Harry's lap, saying, "I can't believe we're going to have a Valentine's dance this year! It'll be just great!"

Hermione stared in dazed surprise when her best friend leaned over, kissing Pansy on the forehead and asked, "Then, will you be my date for the dance?" When Pansy just smiled, Harry grinned and said, "I take is as a yes."

Just then, Professor Trelawney came in, breaking up the love fest between Harry and Pansy (in which Pansy scrambled to a seat next to Blaise). Finally, Hermione slid into her seat, grinning slyly at Harry. "What in the world was that? Looking at the face of Parkinson, I would've thought you proposed to her!"

"Mione…" Harry said in a warning tone. When Hermione pouted slightly, Harry said, "When you and Ginny left, Dumbledore announced that there would be a Valentine's dance this year. Pansy is my date. Oh, and Dumbledore wanted to see you and Malfoy. I'm just passing along the message. Go during lunch, Blaise will inform Malfoy." At the name of Blaise, both Harry and Hermione noticed Ron paling a bit, and then his cheeks tinged bright red. Before either could ask Ron, Professor Trelawney spoke, trying to gain all attention.

Hermione squirmed in her seat as Professor Trelawney spoke in a distant foreign language that she couldn't comprehend. A dance…for Valentine's Day…? Do we have to attend? If we do, who will my date be? Draco would take someone, I know he would. I'm not fond of Valentine's Day…but I bet you Draco would have tons of girls throw themselves at him…. After all the thinking, class was finally dismissed, and lunch hence started.

Without bothering to eat, Malfoy headed for the Headmaster's office. Hermione did the same, and the two silently walked down the corridor. "Sugar quills," Hermione said to the gargoyle. The hidden entrance swung open, allowing the two secretive lovers in.

Dumbledore looked at the two, his eyes twinkling with amusement. These two won't know what hit them…"As you both know, we have a Valentine's dance this year," he paused long enough for the two to nod. "Well, I would like for the two of you to go together, since you're both Heads," waving his hand to stop the protests, he continued, "and I would like for the two of you to start off the first dance."

Hermione and Draco stared at the Headmaster in mock horror. "WHAT…!" They both screamed at the same time. Hermione blushed, and looked away, and Malfoy was flustered as ever at the sound of their words tied together, in a beautiful ribbon of sound.

Dumbledore chuckled at the sight. Ah, if I am correct, they are more in love than I first thought. "And Professor Flitwick will teach you the dance that I want the two of you to dance on a platform. It will be held during your Potions class, since you two share the same class, and are partners for the Potion's project that Severus will assign. I have already spoken to him, and he has excused you two for the remaining month before Valentine's Day."

Hermione and Draco just looked at their lunatic of a Headmaster. "Are…you serious, Headmaster! With all due respect, sir, I don't believe that dancing with each other is exactly the best idea…" Hermione finally croaked out. This is absurd…how exactly can he force us to go together! Malfoy as thinking the very same thing, and had just barely closed his gaping mouth.

"Exactly how can you force us to go together…?" Draco asked, his drawl twisting in his words, echoing Hermione's thoughts.

"Just an advantage a Headmaster has. Now, Professor Flitwick is awaiting for his two dance students," Dumbledore said, ushering the two shocked teens out of his office.

True to Dumbledore's words, Flitwick was standing there, waiting for the two. "I'm sure Dumbledore has informed you of the dance routine I will be teaching the two of you. So come," Flitwick said, his robes swishing as he turned, putting Snape's trademark exit to shame.

Draco and Hermione had no choice, but to follow suit, and walked into the Great Hall, now magically cleared for them to…dance. Flitwick went into a lengthy explanation of the dance that they would have to do. It was supposedly a complex one, filled with twirling and holding, and dipping. But when Flitwick said, "…of course you would both have to look intimate and into the dance…" both had stopped looking, and were trying to just absorb the meaning of those few words. Both snapped out of it though, when Flitwick announced that they would dance.

"Put one arm around her waist, Mr. Malfoy. And Ms. Granger, put one hand on his shoulder, and then extend your free hands out, and let them hold each others," Flitwick said. Hah, easily said than done, Hermione and Draco thought in harmony, as they struggled to get into the correct position, because of their awkward incident only a few hours ago. Finally, they were in the correct position, and Flitwick had started the slow music. It was easy to fall into the drowning music, they soon found, as they danced, staring into each other's eyes. "Dip, up, left, left, right , right, dip, up, twirl once, twirl twice, twirl thrice, stop, dip, right, right…" the pattern went on and on, as Flitwick's demanding monotonous voice rang out. Finally, the song ended, leaving Hermione and Draco alone in each other's arms when Flitwick announced he was going out, and allowing them to practice alone.

"That was…interesting," Malfoy finally said.

"Yeah, it was rather interesting," Hermione said, trying to avoid his piercingly beautiful eyes that seemed like they could always see through her soul, her every façade. She glanced at him, and to her resentment, their eyes locked.

Together, they gasped, "Dumbledore set us up!" Hermione said, stating the obvious.

"Now, we must make a plan. He mustn't be let down for his hard work of planning this, now could he?" Draco said half bemused at how Hermione's warm chocolate brown eyes widened as the realization dawned on her.

"How dare he!" Hermione shrieked, "First it was Ron and Harry, then Ginny who accused us of being in love. Now, it's HEADMASTER DUMBLEDORE, the supposedly LOGICAL person in this BLOODY SCHOOL!"

Draco covered his ears, afraid of going deaf. Surely this sweet girl couldn't yell THAT loud. But astounding as the rest of her was, she could. "Gee, Granger. I never thought you would be a woman of vindictiveness. But whatever you say goes. So, my terribly loud lady with the atrocious voice, would you like to get back at all of them?"

"Yes. For my dignity, and as well as for yours, I would love to get back at them," Hermione said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"My, my, a brave Griffindork going through all this for the dignity of herself and a sexy Slytherin… what will the people think?" Draco said, smirking at Hermione's words.

Slapping him playfully across the face, Hermione returned his smirk, "Slimy Self-centered Pureblood Slytherin wants to taunt Beautiful Brave Muggle-born Gryffindor? That's hard…especially since we all know you cannot resist my beautiful lush brown hair."

Malfoy gaped at the girl with the unruly brown hair. "And you call moi self-centered!" he almost shrieked with outrage and disbelief. What kind of nut is this girl! And that SMIRK! It's putting MINE to SHAME! He thought, slightly bemused by the self-centeredness of Hermione.

"Why can I not? Now let's start on this…plan of ours." Hermione said, smirking at the blonde boy staring agape at her.

For the remaining hour of the "class", Hermione and Draco worked on their ingenious plan on how to get back at all those 'little people' who accused them of feeling something towards each other. Finally, they had a great plan. It wouldn't make a fool out of themselves, but most certainly those who thought they were more than friends. When the bell rung, both jumped up, not realizing that it was already so late.

"Well… see you around, Malfoy," Hermione said uncertainly, only to feel a faint blush rising to her cheeks. She was surprised, since when did she ever blush so much…and especially because of Malfoy? Probably because I'm thankful for the fact that he helped me the other night, she reasoned with her own conscience.

"Back to surnames, are we, Granger? I'll see you later in class, and then tomorrow first thing in the morning so we can actually practice the dance and not make a fool of ourselves."

"Yes, I'm sure we are, Malfoy, and as for dancing, I'm sure you'll need the practice, not like I would," Hermione said sarcastically as she turned around, her robes billowing behind her as if she were trying to imitate Snape. But Draco knew she wasn't. She always held her head up high, with a dramatic flair of fire dancing in her aura. This was normal for her, but just so normal that it wasn't noted. Snape was always so…icy that the billowing of robes seemed unnatural, as it almost represented fire. Seeing the billowing of robes upon Hermione was like seeing an ant on the floor; natural.

"See you around, Hermione," Malfoy whispered softly to her retreating figure, now too far away to hear his foolish whispers of lovesickness. I can't believe I'm falling head over heels for her. There's a first for everything. For blushing, confessing, and loving. It just happens so that Hermione was the one to make all of the firsts. He thought silently, before falling suit of Hermione, walking to his Arithmacy class, where he will once again encounter Hermione.

As the two fell into their seats next to one another, Draco muttered to Hermione, causing her to giggle, "All this because of our lunatic Headmaster's plan. What's next? Arrange our marriage just for entertainment?"

"Yes, yes. And they'll forge our signatures on the wedding certificate. That, I'm quite sure isn't far off in their minds." Hermione replied, smirking after stifling her momentarily giggles.

Draco ogled at the girl sitting beside him. SURELY I thought she wasn't so wicked with a witty, yet wicked, mind of hers… he thought, only half believing what he just heard. Even HE hadn't thought of such a devilish thing!

"Just the lunatic Headmaster's plan…" Hermione said, echoing his past vocalizations.