Disclaimer; You know it by heart by now... don't you?
A/N Okay, I know it's been like forever since I have updated. And I am SO SORRY. But I had severe writers block for this story, but I think I'm somewhat over it so this story wont' be updated every week, but I promise not to make you wait too long till the next chapter. Happy reading and don't forget to review.
A New Plan
Before they knew it January 2nd had snuck up on them. Hermione's parents drove them up to the station at King's Cross. Hermione felt her parents had really grown to like Draco in the past two weeks. He had been a perfect gentleman while in their house and they both were quite frankly ready to leave. Mr. Granger walked carrying Hermione's luggage to the platform. They said goodbye and hugged their daughter before turning to Draco.
"Thank you." Mr. Granger said.
"For what?" Draco asked.
"Respecting our house. And loving my daughter. You are welcome at our house anytime." Mr. Granger said holding out his hand for Draco. Draco took it and shook it heartily.
"Thank you sir. I'll take her luggage to the train."
Draco grabbed both of their luggage as they waved goodbye and disappeared into the wall leading to platform 9 ¾.
The familiar scents and sounds of going back to school were all around them. Students were scrambling, saying their goodbyes and hurrying to find a compartment on the train. They left their luggage in the designated area and were about to board the train when they heard a commotion behind them.
"NOW!" they heard Mrs. Weasley bellow. A few feet ahead of them stood Ron. Red faced and looking down at a leaf that was blowing across the red brick walkway.
"Mum…" he started but it was too late. Right in front of everyone she grabbed him up by the ear, no small feat seeing as she was only five foot four and he was over six foot tall, and pulled him over to where Hermione and Draco stood.
"Say it Ronald! Or you will not be boarding the train!" she shouted.
"Sorry." Ron said as quietly as he could. Others had stopped to stare at Ron and snigger.
"LOUDER! And say it like you mean it!" Molly's face was nearly as red as Ron's.
"I'm sorry Hermione. For treating you the way I did this year." he did not look up at Hermione as she stood on the steps of the train.
"AND?" Mrs. Weasley said loudly.
"And I'm sorry Malfoy for acting the way I did as well."
Hermione could tell that he would have rather faced a forest of spiders than say that to Draco. And of course Draco wasn't making it any easier.
"My name is Draco, not Malfoy if you please." he taunted.
Hermione shot him a glare and he smiled.
"I accept your apology Weasley. Now we must be going." He grabbed Hermione's hand and led her aboard the train. Mrs. Weasley pulled Ron back and talked to him before letting him board the train.
Harry and Ginny got on right after them and sat in the same compartment as Hermione and Draco. Ron followed soon after, entering the compartment silently and sitting there just as quietly.
Harry and Ginny talked with Hermione about the holidays, what they had done and the presents they had received. Draco sat there thinking about how he would be received back at school and if Pansy had gotten the word out about their 'engagement' yet. He had no idea how to deal with it or what Hermione was going to say to her friends when they found out the news.
"Hermione." he whispered. "Do you think you should tell them about Pansy before they hear it at school?"
Her eyes got wide and she thought about it for a moment. She nodded to him before whispering;
"Let me tell them though. Okay?"
He gave a quick nod.
"Hey…I kind of have something to tell you guys." she said loudly with a firm voice.
"What is it 'Mione?" Harry said putting his full attention on her. As did Ginny and Ron.
"We had a visitor over the holidays. An unwelcome visitor."
"Who was it?" Ginny asked. She leaned into Hermione so that she had her full attention.
"Gerard Parkinson. And Pansy." Hermione said in a disgusted manner.
"Pansy? Came to your house? And I assume her father…" Harry said.
Hermione nodded.
"For what?" Ron asked finally breaking his silence.
"To tell us of a deal Draco's father had made with him before he passed away." Hermione said.
"What does that have to do with you 'Mione?" Harry asked.
"Well, a lot. Apparently Draco and Pansy were betrothed."
Ron, Harry and Ginny all gasped simultaneously.
"They made an unbreakable vow. But I don't see how it could supersede my father's death." Draco said. "But Mr. Parkinson said if I don't follow through with the marriage I will die."
"I don't see how that is possible." Ron said thinking. Hermione was eerily aware of Ron's newfound calmness around the both of them.
"Me either. Have you contacted the ministry?" Harry asked.
"Well no. We were kind of hoping she would find someone else and let me off the hook." Draco said.
"Are you mad? Pansy is completely in love with you!" Ginny shouted. "She will never give you up if she doesn't have to."
"She does have to." Hermione piped up.
"I know Hermione." Ginny said in a calming voice. "But she won't see it like that."
"She's not a bad person." Draco said. "She's just misguided. And spoiled."
The four others rolled their eyes at him.
"Yeah." Ginny said sarcastically. "She's great to hang with other than that."
The five of them laughed.
"I mean it." Draco said putting his arm around Hermione and his feet up on the opposite bench. "Hey Weasley, why don't you ask her out?" Draco said suddenly.
Hermione hit him in the arm.
"What?" Draco asked rubbing his arm.
"Me? Right." Ron said red in the face.
"Why not?" Draco asked. "She's not that bad. And she's easy."
Hermione hit him again.
"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY!" she said loudly. "Ron does not want to shag that spoiled, selfish cow!"
"How do you know I don't?" Ron said incredulously.
"Because it's PANSY! You git!" she said back.
"And?" Ron added, happy to see it was giving Hermione a rise.
"And she's a Slytherin, a cow and an all around slut!"
"You're dating a Slytherin." Ron retorted.
"That's completely beside the point." Hermione said sitting back in the seat and crossing her arms across her chest.
"So is that a 'yes' Weasley?" Draco said slightly amused at the argument.
Ron nodded keeping his eyes on Hermione.
"Great!" Draco said cheerfully. "I'll introduce you when we get to school."
Hermione sat silently. To the others she seemed irritated. But only her andDraco knew it was an act. An act that had been planned out the last week of vacation. A ploy to make Ron interested in Pansy. And it was working perfectly.
"Walk with me Weasley." Draco said getting up from his seat. Ron followed slightly confused.
"What is it Malfoy?"
"I know Pansy. I know how to get to her. And I also know you are doing this to make Hermione jealous. If you want this to work you need to do as I tell you. Understand?"
Ron looked at him for a moment.
"How did you know that?" Ron asked.
"I can tell. You were baiting her. You have no interest in Pansy. You only have eyes for Hermione."
Ron blushed deeply.
"But she's yours now right?"
Draco nodded.
"We are only 17. Nothing is permanent."
Ron's face lightened considerably.
"What should I do to persuade Pansy then?" Ron asked.
And Draco proceeded to tell him.
Inside the compartment Hermione hoped things were going as planned. Draco had to let on that nothing was permanent between the two of them and things could always change. He had to get Ron to want to date Pansy. Even if it was only to make Hermione jealous. That way Pansy would forget about the 'engagement'. Hermione knew it was a long shot, but hoped it would work.
When Draco and Ron returned to the compartment they both had an odd look on their faces. Draco sat down next to Hermione and she laid her head on his shoulder. Harry, Ron and Ginny chatted for a bit before becoming quiet. Before they knew it, the train had arrived at school and the hundreds of students were disembarking the train. Draco too Hermione by the hand and led her to an empty carriage. They bumped and jostled up the rocky path until they reached the stony, twinkling castle. They hopped out and were walking up the steps when Blaise cornered them.
"Hey mate…how was the trip to Muggleville? No offense Hermione." he joked.
"It was fine. And how were your holidays?"
"Just great. You haven't seen Pansy yet have you?" he asked.
"No, why?" Draco said becoming alarmed at what awaited.
"You'll see." he grinned before sprinting up the castle steps. Hermione and Draco looked at each other before running off after her.
In the entry hall Pansy was standing there, amidst a gaggle of girls from all different houses. She was showing them something on her left hand. And they were 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at her.
"There's my Drakey now!" she squealed, breaking free from the group and running towards Draco.
Draco put his hand in Hermione's and his other straight out in front of him to keep her from getting to close.
"Sod off Pansy." he said coldly.
Some of the girls that surrounded Pansy previously gasped.
"What's the matter Draco? I was just showing them the ring you bought me." she said sweetly.
"Why is he still holding her hand?" Millicent Bullstrode asked. "You said he was just sowing his oats."
"He's not holding her hand…" she said trying to pry the two apart.
"Yes I am because…I LOVE HERMIONE GRANGER!" he shouted.
Pansy's face became really red and flushed. She tried to joke it off but to no avail. Draco was unyielding and cold towards her.
"You know what my father said." she whispered. Hermione just smirked at her.
"And the ministry is taking care of that as well. You will be lucky if he is not put into Azkaban for making that deal with my father and including me as well. Either way I am not marrying you. I would rather die." his eyes were steely grey.
Pansy looked like she would die herself of embarrassment. And then the tears fell from her dark eyes.
"Draco…" she whispered. "Don't do this to me. I love you."
"Go away." he said pulling Hermione up the steps towards their private head's quarters.
Pansy looked around at the students that were staring at her. And she tried to hide her tears. Ron had watched the fight and was prepared to do what Malfoy wanted to make Hermione jealous.
He straightened himself out and walked purposely towards Pansy. He spoke quietly. And not directly to her.
"You don't deserve to be spoken to like that." he said in a low voice.
Pansy's head whipped up to see who was speaking so kindly to her. When she noticed it was Ron her face contorted into a sneer.
"Move on Weasley. This doesn't concern you." she sniffed.
"I know how you are feeling. Hermione used to be mine." he said in a sad voice before walking up towards the Gryffindor tower.
Pansy just stood there confused.
'Why is he being so nice?' she thought.
Ron turned to look at her once before reaching the top. She gave him the smallest smile before heading back to the dungeons.
'This might just work.' Ron thought as he took the remaining steps two at a time.