Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all claims to the characters and setting enclosed herein.

Deception

"Well," Draco said, crouched down a comfortable distance from Harry and Hermione. "Nice work, Potter. Do you know how long Hermione and I have kept our meetings secret? And then after a single night with you suddenly the whole school knows!"

Harry looked indignant. "It's not the whole school, Draco. It's only Ginny!"

"Yeah, so far it's only Ginny. How long do you think that'll last? Trust me, I know how fast gossip travels in this place, especially when it concerns you. I give it a week, tops."

"So, basically your saying we're screwed, is that it?"

"Basically, yes. We're screwed."

"Well that's it then, isn't it?" Harry said. "There's nothing we can do."

Draco buried his head in his hands.

"I wouldn't say that," Hermione began carefully. Draco snapped his head up and looked at her hopefully. Harry likewise turned his gaze towards Hermione, but with a little more apprehension. He knew that her plans, while usually effective, were often uncomfortable. He still hadn't forgotten the polyjuice potion of second year.

"Oh, don't look at me like that Harry!" Hermione said defensively. "It's quite a good idea! Well, it's the only one I can think of."

"Any plan at all is fine by me Hermione," Draco smiled at her.

"Well, thank you for your support Draco. My plan is that Harry pretends to be dating me."

"WHAT?" Harry and Draco exploded simultaneously.

"It makes good sense! Harry has a good excuse for having bruises on his neck and it will turn suspicion away from Draco and I. It's really the perfect solution."

"Apart from the fact that it means we're pretending to date!" Harry exclaimed loudly.

"Be quiet Harry," Draco said softly, bowing his head to look at his steepled fingers in contemplation. "It is quite a good idea, Hermione," he said after a moments thought.

"It doesn't bother you?" Harry said quickly.

"I wouldn't say that I'm thrilled with the situation, but I can't see any other possibility." He looked across at Hermione, "do you think you could manage it?"

She nodded slowly, "I think so."

"Excuse me," Harry interjected slightly hysterically, "but have you both gone just completely insane?"

"If you can come up with a better suggestion Harry, I'm happy to hear it," Hermione replied icily.

Harry tried desperately to think of another idea but his imagination was running wild, and he had a slightly sick feeling in his stomach that his sanity was frolicking in the woods with it. Possibilities swirled in his mind, each half-formed and melding into one another. How was it possible for Draco and Hermione to sit there so calmly when he felt like his brain had turned into a bathtub of soup, and someone had just pulled out the plug?

"Found a perfect solution yet?" Hermione asked.

Suddenly it was as if a light bulb had turned itself on in Harry's brain. "Couldn't we just cast a memory charm on Ginny?"

Both Hermione and Draco looked at Harry disparagingly. "Harry, do you even REMEMBER second year?" said Hermione, "Remember Professor Lockhart? Memory spells are dangerous. I don't want Ginny ending up in Mungo's, and I certainly don't think Ron does!"

Draco rolled his eyes lazily, almost pityingly, "so unless you can think of a plan that doesn't involve an innocent bystander going completely insane, I'm afraid we're going to have to run with Hermione's plan. Alright?" Harry nodded dumbly. "Alright then, we have a lot to plan."