Chapter 3 is here! So let me say just a few things first...thank you to those of you who have given me support and like my story! I feel great knowing that there are readers out there who are enjoying what I'm writing. Next, I bumped up this story's rating to M, not because it's going to get dirty but because I've been getting lots of alerts on this story. I'm not quite sure why yet but I'd really appreciate it if someone would tell me what is so offensive with my fic. Thanks for your support and help!

THE SWEETEST THING Ch. 3

Draco's POV

Take a chance

Moments like this don't happen every day

Don't let this slip away

Believe in what you say

Don't hold your heart at bay

Find the courage to play

The game

Of love and jealousy and lies

Your burning desire shouldn't hide

Let your heart be the guide

Stay steady, don't change with the tides

Keep your mind open wide

Take a chance

And fly

Krista Everett

Draco walked swiftly into the library, over to where he was meeting Hermione at her table. He was still having trouble believing that she had accepted his proposal of revenge on Ron, but he was glad nonetheless.

It was only their fifth day of planning and when Professor Snape had assigned them to work together on a month long project they suddenly had the perfect cover. Now they could scheme together while it looked like they were being forced to work on the project.

She was already there, sitting with her nose shoved into the book. He knew she had finished reading it but now was scanning through again to uncover any missed ideas that could come in handy. Though the book was mainly about getting even with enemies, there was a long chapter about dealing with exes. That was where he came in.

The chapter involving exes detailed that if one wanted to make his or her ex jealous, one should enter a new relationship with a person completely different from the ex his or herself. Basically Hermione needed to go out with a badass who didn't have freckles taking over his entire face and wasn't a ginger who's best friend was a scarhead. Immediately, Hermione wanted to put her own twist on the idea by going a step further and asking out Ron's own brother, Fred. When she suggested this to Draco, he cringed and made up some excuse about how she had to make sure she had nothing to do with the entire family as she did this. Upon hearing that, Hermione flew into a rage and insisted that she not give up her friendship with the youngest Weasley, Ginny, and after a few hours of arguing Draco finally realized she would not relent and he gave up on trying to make her break her friendship with Ginny.

After that, the two had gone through all the possible candidates for the position. Draco never agreed with the guys Hermione picked and he purposely suggested boys that had no chance of ever being good enough for to the task of pretending to be her boyfriend.

But today he would carefully imply that he wouldn't be such a bad choice for the job. In fact, he was even willing to, in the name of sweet, evil revenge of course. He had to live up to his Slytherin Prince title, but wouldn't it be sweet to have the prince and the princess of the school be together?

Draco shook his head to clear his mind and pulled a chair out across from Hermione. Her head whipped up and she had a huge smile on her face. "I'm glad you got here just now," she said and Draco's heart filled with excitement. She was happy to see him!

"I didn't know my presence put you in such a good mood. I'll come earlier next time..."

She gave him a confused look. "Actually, I meant that I just read something in the book and it was perfect timing that you got here so I can tell you about it."

Draco's shoulders slumped a little and he looked down at the floor. "Oh. I guess that's good. Er...so what is it?" He tried to sound interested.

"Well," Hermione looked down at the words in the book, "it says here that if I want to make Ron jealous I need to go out with someone who's more accomplished than he is. I was thinking that Jacob Smith in Hufflepuff would be good because he's on the Quiddich team and he's scored the most goals so far this season. Also, he gets better marks than Ron does and," Hermione blushed before she said the last part, "he's really cute too." She smiled at him and waited for a response.

"Er...I suppose he would work, but..." Draco trailed off, trying to think of an excuse as to why Jacob wasn't the best choice.

"But what?" Hermione seemed shocked that yet again her pick wasn't good enough.

Draco was thinking quickly. He hoped he wouldn't have to make up another excuse like he'd had to for Malcolm Weston the other day. Draco had told her Weston had been tongue-tied jinxed and wasn't able to talk, though Draco knew for a fact that Malcolm's speech was perfectly fine.

"Jacob...er...he..." Draco remembered an incident from this morning when Smith had gotten a howler from his mum. Draco wasn't one-hundred percent aware of what had happened so he slightly twisted a story in his favour. "I feel bad for the kid, actually." Draco looked up to see if Hermione had taken the bait.

"Why? Is he okay? Did something happen to him or his family?" Hermione's concern showed in her eyes and her pure goodness and caring made Draco feel guilty about the lie he was about to tell her.

"Did you hear the howler he got this morning?" Hermione nodded. "Well his mum found out that he had gotten a lot of detentions recently and she said he was grounded. She sent a letter to McGonagall to make sure he wasn't allowed to go to anymore Hogsmede weekends until the end of the term and he can't date either. It's a damn shame," Draco shook his head.

"Hmmm..." Hermione was thinking and Draco wondered what was going through her mind. She seemed frustrated when she finally spoke again, "Well, I don't know anyone else who would work! We've been through everyone. Maybe this isn't such a great plan, Dra-I mean Malfoy." She shut the book and looked at him earnestly.

"Since when do you give up, Granger?" He hadn't missed how she had almost said his first name but he decided to ignore it now. "I thought you wanted to make the weasel pay for hurting you."

"I do! But without someone to pretend to be my boyfriend it simply won't work. Like I said there's no one left who would work, unless you were thinking of Elroy Jenkins, the 5th year Ravenclaw who still wets the bed."

Draco chuckled at Hermione's little outburst. "No, I was not going to suggest Jenkins, unless you wanted him to be your boyfriend. Though I'm not sure who would win in a fight, your ginger or the bed-wetting wonder." Hermione shot him a disapproving look. "Besides," he continued, "we haven't mentioned everyone..."

Hermione waited for Draco to finish his thought but he looked down at the table as though fascinated by the patterns in the wood.

"Are you going to tell who you had in mind, because now would be a superb time to let me know before I call off the entire idea right now." Draco didn't know what was on her nerves but he didn't think it was him. He guessed she had probably run into Ron again this morning or last night and he had set her off.

"I was thinking...there're lots of people we haven't talked about but...there's this one guy...probably not your type...very...experienced...and handsome...I don't think he'd mind...he's much better than Weasley...he would treat you right..." Draco trailed off waiting for her to understand.

Instead she sighed, "I need a name, Draco."

"Actually..." Draco took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, "you just said his name."

Draco cringed and squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for a gasp of shock or a disgusted rejection or a slap across his face but still after a minute or two there was no response from her. He looked up, expecting to see her staring at him with a horrified expression on her face but instead she was lost in thought again, her eyes unfocused, deep in concentration.

"Yes!" She jumped out of her chair and crossed to the other side, pulling out a chair to sit next to him. "That would be just perfect! I can't believe I didn't think of it myself. Why, Ronald's always talking about what a great seeker you are or how you're always with a pretty girl. Why, I think he's already jealous of you. Not to mention your family's wealth and well...anyway, if I were to go out with you, he would positively go mad!" She laughed at the thought and looked at Draco.

"I-I'm glad you like my idea," Draco smiled. He couldn't help but feel happy when he was around her. "Let's make this official then."

Hermione paused, "Pretend official, right?"

"Er...yeah. Pretend official." He looked into her eyes, bright with excitement and delight. "Hermione, do you...er...want to go out with me?" He winked.

"Why, yes, Draco. That would be wonderful," she smiled and winked back.

"Okay then," Draco wasn't sure where to go from there. Dozens of questions flew through his mind and he wondered if, for once, he was getting in over his head. One thing that he did know though, was that, for him anyway, this was no longer about getting revenge. In truth, for him it never really was. But this was turning into something much bigger than he had originally planned and, in spite of himself, he was looking forward to seeing where he would end up.

So there's Ch. 3 everyone! I'm going to start Ch. 4 tonight but enjoy this now and like I wrote above, please let me know if there is anything too inappropriate because I am really stumped as to what it could be. Thanks!