A/N: Hermione's just locked eyes with Ron in the Head's compartment.

--

Draco couldn't believe his eyes. He always thought that Ron would have more respect for Hermione, or any other girl, than this. He knew that Ron knew Hermione was head girl and that she was bound to be in this compartment any minute, yet he sat there with the red-head Hufflepuff and they were all over each other.

Draco had heard about this girl. She was known as the 'Hufflepuff slut' in his common room. Draco never found her attractive and he would never go near her but even though she wasn't much of a looker she always had a guy because she put out easily. As for her personality, some of the Slytherins that had slept with her had said that she was as dull as a blackboard. Hermione wasn't any of these things.

'Jeez, what was he thinking when he dumped Hermione for that? Even though she isn't a pureblood, I'd still take Hermione over that whore any day.'

And at the moment, he heard the compartment door open and he looked up to see the youngest Weasley talking to a distracted Hermione. Hermione had obviously caught Ron's eye because he'd stopped kissing Hannah and actually sat up straight for once. The two engaged in a staring competition before Ron gave up and looked out the window.

"Weak bastard," Draco wasn't sure if he heard right but it sounded like it came from Weaslette's mouth!

There were only 2 seats in the compartment left. One seat was left next to Ron, which Hermione certainly wasn't taking and the other was next to Malfoy.

'I'll talk to you later,' Hermione said to Ginny before she went and sat next to Malfoy. She saw Ginny move to the seat next to Ron, with whom she had obviously started a heated conversation.

"Look, Hermione, about before, I wasn't going to tease you about your break up before," Hermione grunted, "I'm serious. You're too good for Weasley, I mean look what he's latched onto now. He honestly can't think she's better than you. You're everything she's not. She's ugly, boring, dumb and a Hufflepuff! That says a lot!"

"So in other words, Malfoy, you're saying I'm attractive, fun, smart and so not a Hufflepuff? Besides, what do you know about Hannah anyway?"

"You heard what I said and you know what I meant. I'm not saying it again. And about Hannah, well lets just say I've heard things."

Hermione smiled to herself, satisfied that she, in a way, had gotten Malfoy to compliment her. She looked at Ron out of the corner of hey eye, who was back to kissing Hannah and then a little plan came into her mind. She could play a game; a joke on Ron to get him back for what he's done. 'Revenge is a bitch, Ronniekins.' She thought to herself.

"Okay, Draco, what next? You planning on asking me out after that little speech?" Hermione raised her voice only slightly and managed to capture the attention of the rest of the carriage – especially Rons. She winked at Draco to tell him to play along. If Ron and Hannah can sit there and play 'perfect couple,' so can she. They say revenge is sweet, but she's sure as hell going to have fun with this.

"What if I am?" Draco played along, also raising his voice slightly.

"Then I suggest you do right now before the moment passes." Hermione smiled, the look on Ron's face told her that she was hitting a few nerves deep inside. The only revenge sweeter would be if she went for Harry, but she knows he loves Ginny. He'd never do it. But then again, going for the enemy ain't so bad either.

"Okay. So, Hermione, do you wanna go out sometime?" even though they were only acting, Hermione could tell he did that often. He didn't sound nervous at all. In fact he sounded quite relaxed, confident even.

"Yeah, sure." Hermione tried to sound as casual as she could but she felt almost as excited right now as she did when Viktor and Ron had asked her out. She knew that this was pretend but she couldn't help but think that maybe if it was real, then the revenge would be a lot sweeter. Afterall, she was the single one, not Ron.

--

The rest of the train ride was fairly quiet for Hermione. She, Draco and the sixth and seventh year prefects were briefed about the upcoming school year which didn't take long and afterwards, her and Ginny wandered out to find a compartment of their own so they could talk without being overheard. Ginny obviously was still upset about the whole Blaise-thing, which happened over summer, she, like Hermione, needed someone to talk to.

--

For the rest of the train ride, Draco only had one thing on his mind; the game with Hermione. He wasn't sure what she was getting at. Was this her way at getting back at Ron? Or was this her way of showing him that she trusted him enough now to help her move on?

He was so confused. No girl had ever made him this confused

--

Once Hermione and Ginny had found a compartment, they went in and sat down.

They began to talk about Hermione and Ron's break-up and how no one in their family liked Hannah.

"I don't think he really took it that hard. I know you did. He told me that you just walked out. He had Hannah over the next day. I know it's probably hard for you to hear. I don't even think they've waited to sleep together. They did it when she stayed the first time,

they were up all night and so were we. None of us can sleep, that girl can make some serious noise." Hermione's eyes cast downwards, she knew she was going to cry. Ginny saw her reaction and instantly changed what she was saying. "You know, Hermione, they compare her to you a lot, but she never wins. She never will. Ron's the only one who can't see how perfect you were for each other."

"I wish he would. Actually, come to think of it, he cheated on me with that bitch. I wouldn't have him back anyway. He can have her for all I care. Love sucks right now."

At that moment, Ginny burst into tears and Hermione knew straight away that she had been holding them back since they first saw each other on the train.

"I really loved him, 'Mione," Hermione was caught off-guard by the redheads outpour of emotion. "He meant so much to me and I know I meant heaps to him too! It's stupid that a Gryffindor and Slytherin can't be together. Every other house pairing is excepted except that! It's so unfair. I just feel as though I'm never going to meet that one person that everyone talks about. You know the one you just can't live without?"

Hermione just nodded her head in agreement. She didn't really know how Ginny felt. All of her relationships had been accepted with ease. But then she thought 'well if Malfoy and I are going to have a fake-relationship, why can't Ginny and Blaise have a real one. There'd be no difference in the fighting, no one would know that they were real and we aren't.'

"Look, Gin, I know it would be hard but you're a strong girl and if Blaise really has the 'I don't give a shit what anyone thinks' attitude then you guys should give it a go. If I was in your position I probably would've been too scared to even consider a date with someone like him, but not you. You accepted which means you saw something in him that no other Gryffindor has. Give it a try. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, theres other guys out there. I'm not even thinking of finding 'The One' yet. You're only 16, you don't have to meet 'The One' yet."

"I know but I thought that he was 'it.' We just had a connection. I know everyone thinks I'm always between guys and that I supposedly sleep around but this is one guy I'm not going to dump in a week and move on. He's the first guy I ever slept with. I want to be with him. I really do. He means so much to me."

"You know what Gin, do what you think is right. As long as you're happy, do you really give a shit about what anyone else thinks? It's you and Blaise, not you, Blaise and everyone else.

"I guess you're right, 'Mione. As always. So anyway, what's going on with you and Malfoy?"

Hermione then explained her brilliant plan to Ginny. Ginny thought it was a great idea, but then again, she always thought Hermione and Malfoy would look great together.