Chapter 2
Working the Plan
"Hermione, wait!" Ginny squealed.
"What!"
"Your hair! And the train doesn't leave until twelve thirty! Relax!" Ginny said as she picked out an outfit.
Hermione had woken up later than she had intended and had rushed to get ready.
Hermione tried many different ways with her hair, but finally settled on a messy bun with curls hanging down. She looked marvelous.
She smiled. She liked the new her, and she hoped Draco did too. Wait! Take that back! Who cares what Draco thinks! Take that back! I take it back! She argued with herself.
Ginny walked out of the bathroom in a jean skirt and a white tank top with crackled navy blue letters spelling 'Old Navy' across the top.
She didn't look as date-like. Her red curls were in a single ponytail and her make-up was more natural like. Hermione guessed she was going to Hogsmeade with Seamus.
"Ginny! You coming? Its almost time!" Seamus called from the common room. Ginny looked excitedly at Hermione.
"You better leave now if you want to get down there and see if Draco's going. And if he's not, you can just come with me!" Hermione took a deep breath.
"Yeah, okay." Hermione walked down the stairs and Seamus watched her legs. Hermione cleared her throat as she walked by and Seamus looked away. "Thought so," she muttered under her breath.
"Hermione! Where you going? We still have ten minutes!" Harry said as he got up from the couch he was sharing with Ron and Lavender.
Ron was watching Hermione and Lavender was glaring at her. Lavender looked like a slut and Hermione wondered how Ron could like her. She wore a tube top and a really, really short skirt and heels.
Hermione coughed something that sounded like "slut" as she walked by. What she had to show that she didn't like her one bit.
"I'm going to meet Draco!" Hermione said as she walked out of the portrait hole.
"Dang, she gets prettier every time I see—," Dean started to say, but he was cut off by a glare from Parvati, "well she is not nearly as pretty you are."
Harry started laughing hysterically at the scene and when he finally calmed down he said, "Nice save." And then began laughing again.
"Shut up Harry!" Dean stated rudely.
.:oOXOo:.
"I know you don't like them but I am going out with a Gryffindor." Draco looked around at Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and a few other boys and girls around him. There was a sharp intake of breath.
"Who!"
"How could you?" squeaked a horrified Pansy.
"Hermione Granger."
"You mean the mudblood?" Pansy said.
"I mean Hermione Granger, Potter and Weasley's friend. That is a rude thing to say, Pansy. Especially about my girlfriend. I am going to take her to Hogsmeade today." Draco said in his usual drawl. He had seen Hermione watching and walked over to her. "Don't you look nice? Are you coming to Hogsmeade?"
"Yes, I am. I presume you'll be accompanying me?" she said sweetly. Draco faked a smiled for their audience.
"Of course, Babe." he kissed her cheek and took her hand, dragging her from the hall. Hermione's cheeks no longer needed the blush Ginny had supplied. They had their own crimson tint, now. Draco said nothing, just walked towards the front doors.
"Uh, Draco?"
"What?" he snapped. Hermione knew he didn't want to be in this situation.
"You're not that bad of a kisser." Draco stopped walking and looked at her. She, too, stopped.
"What?" Draco's voice wasn't snappy, but more anxious, almost.
"I'm pretty sure you heard me, but of you didn't I'd be glad to repeat it," Hermione said sweetly.
"Why do you have to be such a smart ass?"Draco said as he started walking again. That wasn't the answer she'd expected, but Hermione laughed anyway.
Draco couldn't keep a faint smile off his face.
"ALL STUDENTS GOING TO HOGSMEAD, BEGIN BOARDING THE TRAIN" McGonagall's voice said. Draco and Hermione moved down the stone steps and down to the train. '
Draco helped Hermione in, while Ron stood and watched from where Lavender was clearing her throat repeatedly, waiting for Ron to help her in.
Draco smiled evilly at Ron as he entered his compartment and closed the door.
"What do you want to do when we get there?" Draco asked, his voice edgy.
"I don't know, where ever fate takes us?" Hermione said, scooting a little closer to Draco. Draco crinkled his nose up.
"How about we stick to the plan, Granger."
Draco's voice was still nervous as he watched out the window. Hermione sighed and quit trying so hard. She was trying to get Draco to like, as a friend. But felt that she was overdoing it sometimes…
.:oOXOo:.
Soon they found theirself, sitting at a table at a small coffee shop, sipping at espressos and staring at each other, not sure what to say.
Suddenly Hermione burst open, not even realizing what she was saying "Draco, I realize I'm trying to make you like me as a friend, and I'm trying way too hard. I know we aren't real good friends and I know you don't really like being seen with me. I know it's hurting your reputation and everything, and I know you really hate me and everything, but I'm really sorry. If you want, you can just stop now if you want. I'm sure I'll get over Ron--it's just that I think I might have really loved him and then...He just used me like that! And it hurt so bad; I just wanted to make him pay for what –,"
"No, stop!" Draco reached for her hand and pulled her hands away from her face. Even the though make-up was ruined, Draco smiled. "I don't hate you." He didn't know why, but he couldn't help but smile at her. This made her smile. Then Draco laughed a little, and then Hermione, and then they were both laughing really hard.
Ron came over, and just watched them. "Hermione?" Hermione calmed down and looked at him. She reached across the table and grabbed Draco's folded hands as she smiled at Ron.
"Yes?"
"Uh, are you two. . .You know? An item?" Ron asked.
"Of course!" Hermione said. "Draco is so handsome and sweet. I just never noticed his soft side until he comforted me one night while I was in a hallway crying. He really is very nice and he loves me." Those last words echoed through Ron's head.
Hermione smiled brightly and hissed a "Yes!" as Ron walked away sullenly. Draco rolled his eyes and stood up.
"Lets go do something. Get out of here!" Draco said, nodding his head towards the door. Hermione stood up and smiled.
"Lets go!" They ran out the door, smiling. Hermione was acting for Ron, but Draco was trying to act. He was having a pretty good time.
They pranced outside in high spirits and saw Harry and Cho walking by. They had started dating just this year.
"Hey, Hermione! How are you?" Cho asked kindly. Hermione was glad Harry was going out with her; she was so polite.
"Fine, thanks! And how about you?"
"I'm fine, so you and Draco are an Item now?" She was so encouraging, too. Draco blushed a little, but Hermione smiled.
"yeah" she said not sure what to say.
"Congratulations"
"Thank you. Hey, Harry."
"Hi. Hi, Draco."
"Hello, Harry," Draco responded civilly. Hermione smiled; he was a wonderful actor. Ron and Lavender walked out of the Coffee shop and saw them.
Ron didn't say anything, but Lavender hopped right into the conversation.
"Hey, Harry! Hi, Cho!" Lavender said brightly. A light snow had started falling. It was a couple weeks before Christmas. Hermione pretended not to notice how Lavender hadn't invited her or Draco into the conversation.
"Hey, Lavender," Harry and Cho chorused.
"Hey, Harry!" Hermione said suddenly, excited. "Lets us four go to Honeyduke's and buy some people candy for Christmas! Who are close, but not really close, ummm," she thought thinking of an example, "Like Neville, Seamus, and Dean!"
"That's a good idea!" Cho chimed in. Lavender crossed her arms.
"How about we all go!" Lavender said, eying Hermione. "Oh My God, you have to be joking, you with that Slytherin?" she added. Hermione frowned.
"Actually, his name is Draco Malfoy, and he is the most sexy man I've ever met!" Hermione said.
Draco enjoyed this compliment, though his cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
"Lav Lav why don't we just go get Parvati's present," Ron said.
"But I want to stay here, won won"
"Let's go" he said dragging her away
"What's with her?" Cho asked.
"Who cares!" Hermione said. Draco put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her closer.
Hermione was enjoying his company and being closer to him made her feel safe from something, though she didn't know what.
After Honeydukes, the group separated and did their own thing for a while. Cho Dragged Harry off to go get Hermione's Present.
Hermione and Draco just wandered the streets, and eventually started a snowball fight which started between the two of them
And when the train was making its last call they were falling over in fits of laughter, they had to leg it to get onto the train.
Once in the compartment Draco started talking "You know, that Ball is tomorrow and I don't have a thing to wear. Is it true we have to wear muggle clothes?"
Hermione smiled and pulled out the invitation, read it over and answered "Yep, muggle clothes alright." Draco moaned.
He was so well-dressed. And to think he doesn't have anything muggle in his entire wardrobe! Hermione laughed at this thought.
She'd have to get something out of her Witch in the Willows Magazine. She was sure she'd find the perfect outfit.
"Well, I guess I'm taking you, then. And you know what? They're going to be having a Christmas King, Christmas Queen contest.
They said the nominees will be up Monday," Draco said. Hermione again imagined herself in that pretty blue muggle ball gown with a crown and Draco standing next to her in an identical crown while everyone cheered for them in the Great Hall. She shook herself awake as Draco started to pull her onto the train.
The trip back was quiet as Hermione was slowly falling asleep on Draco's shoulder. No one else was in their compartment. She shivered slightly as her cloak slid off her shoulders onto the ground. He took his off and slipped it around her, she smiled in her sleep and her head fell off his shoulder into his lap. Her eyes came open slightly, but Draco cradled her head until she fell back asleep.
He was no longer that lonesome, handsome, teenager who rode home with his stupid, guffawing friends; he was no longer that boy who was only adding to someone's pain and not their pleasure.
He was riding home with someone who was in need of his help. A strange thought crossed his mine, then.
What if we really fell in love? He brushed it away with anger quickly. She's a Gryffindor! Draco Malfoy can't fall in love with her. He won't either. He doesn't even like her like that. She's a friend. Just a friend. .:oOXOo:.
Hermione came down to the common room in a black skirt and a white long sleeved shirt. She didn't feel like dressing up, so she got her books, left her hair down, put some eye glitter and lip gloss on and headed out. She had ended up in her be when she woke up in the morning, how she got there she had no idea. All she remembered was fall asleep in the train
She remembered that Draco had said something about the nominees for the King and Queen of the Christmas Ball. When she got downstairs, everyone was crowded around the message board.
"Look! I've been nominated for Queen!" Lavender said excitedly. Hermione edged into the ground and tried to see over everyone. She finally got close enough to see.
Queen Nominees:
1.) Ashley Simpson -Ravenclaw
2.) Lavender Brown- Gryffindor
3.) Brittney Spears - Slytherin
4.) Hermione Granger- Gryffindor
Hermione gasped. She was nominated! She couldn't help but smile.
She would have to look stunning to win, but oh well. She was determined to win. She was nominated! She looked back at the nominations.
King Nominees:
1.) Draco Malfoy- Slytherin
2.) Harry Potter- Gryffindor
3.) Marshall Mathers the III- Slytherin
4.) Scooby Doo- Hufflepuff
Hermione smiled and walked over to Harry. "Congratulations!"
"Oh, thanks, Hermione! Congratulations to you, too!"
"Thanks!" Hermione raced out of the common room and down all the stairs to the Great Hall. She saw Draco and ran over to him.
"I was nominated!" she said excitedly.
"So was I!"
"That would be the point, genious." Hermione smiled.
"I Love you too."
"Well, I have Charms. Gotta go."
"Bye, Draco."
"Bye. . .'Mione?" he said questioningly.
"What?" Hermione remembered when Ron had called her that.
"Is that okay? 'Mione?"
"Its fine. . .Its beautiful. . .Now go! You'll be late!" Draco smiled, kissed Hermione on the lips quickly and ran away.
Hermione smiled as some Slytherins gave her bad looks, but she didn't care. She was having the best week of her life right now!
A/N: Just to let you know I was watching Scooby Doo when I wrote this, that is why he was a nominee, I thought you'd like to know… just wanted to add some humor, with the nominee's
Brittney Spears- because she's a retard
Ashlee Simpson- because I felt like it
Scooby Doo- because He's cool and i was watching... Scooby Dooby Doo...haha
Marshall Mathers the III- because he Eminem, or slim shady… my salsa makes all the pretty girls want to dance and…
Hehe I hope you liked it, and the go button is getting hungry, please feed it! It takes one second…
Has anyone everplayed cakemania... its the dumbest game but its so addicting...I play it over and over again until i beat it its just ahhhhhhhhh
