Surprisingly, Valentine 's Day approached and Lacey hadn't hooked up with anyone since Snape. She'd stood Harry up that night in the library and hadn't spoken to him since, as well as avoided Draco and his goons. She hadn't felt up to messing with hearts after hers herself had been messed with. She sighed and rolled over in her bed. What was she even talking about? Snape messing with her heart? She never would've guessed that would even be possible.
There was a tap on her headboard and she rolled her eyes, expecting to see Draco. Instead, it was a blonde-haired girl.
"Some Gryffindor named Granger told me she wanted to talk to you," she relayed.
Hermione? "Where is she?" Lacey asked, looking around.
The girl smirked. "I told her no Gryffindor's are allowed in here, especially mud bloods." She laughed some more, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder, looking quite pleased with herself. "So she said she'd be at the library. Typical Gryffindor loser."
"A loser that fails at literally nothing? You'd probably do well to relate," Lacey retorted, standing up to retrieve some clothes from the dresser. "Typical Slytherin bitch."
Blondie gasped, but said nothing before she stormed from the dormitory. Lacey knew she would hear all about it later. Girls loved finding reasons to hate her.
When she arrived at the library, Hermione waved her down from behind several bookshelves. Her hair was tied back and there were books stacked in front of her, as if she was doing homework…on a Saturday.
"I didn't think you'd actually come!" she said excitedly.
"I couldn't help but be curious about what you would want to talk to me for," Lacey responded honestly. "We don't know each other, other than through association."
Hermione smiled, but held a long pause before explaining her intentions. "Well, today's Valentine's day, and…gosh this is going to sound so stupid."
Lacey pulled out a chair and sat down, motioning for Hermione to do the same. "What is it? Do you like someone?"
Hermione nodded.
"And you want me to help you get their attention?"
She nodded again. "I'm sorry if I'm offending you or anything, it's just that every boy fancies you and I figured you would be able to give me some tips or something-"
"It's Ron, right?" Lacey interrupted, not even needing her to answer. "Ron's a simple guy. I can bet he likes you too but is too intimidated to show it. You just have to be direct with guys like him." She looked around the library. "I can help you be a bit bolder with pursuing him, but this isn't the kind of stuff you teach in a library, Hermione."
She raised an eyebrow. "Where should we go?"
"It's usually empty in my dormitory. I know we aren't supposed to go into each other's common rooms, but as you already know, I've been in the Gryffindor common room plenty of times."
She gave Lacey a nervous glance, but Hermione had to buck up if she wanted to get Ron's attention before the end of our last year. If she really liked this guy, she shouldn't have to waste her time being scared.
Hermione agreed to go down to the dungeons and in the Slytherin common room with Lacey. On their way inside, she looked in awe at the underwater view of the lake. Lacey didn't blame her; it was probably much more interesting than what the other houses had.
They sat together on a couch, and Lacey immediately turned to Hermione. She'd never really been into girls, but Hermione was relatively good looking and there was a first time for everything.
Lacey reached over and untied Hermione's hair, watching as it fell over her shoulders and across her back. "You look hotter and more approachable like this," Lacey commented, scooting closer to her. "Remember, a lot of communication comes from eye contact. Give Ron a look that tells him you want to fuck him."
Hermione's cheeks grew pink and her gaze fell, darting back and forth from Lacey to the floor. Lacey's grey, storm-colored eyes bore into her soul and caused something inside her to stir. In the back of Hermione's mind, she couldn't help but feel as though she'd stared into the same eyes before. The same eyes, but on a different person…
"Hold his gaze as you lean in, maybe even look at his lips and then lick yours," Lacey said, dragging her tongue over her own plump lips as she kept her sight on Hermione. She took the nerdy brown-haired girl's face in her hands and planted her lips on her soft mouth.
Hermione's lips parted, and Lacey slipped her tongue in smoothly, brushing against Hermione's. She heard Hermione gasp lightly, so she began to withdraw in fear that she had gone too far, but Hermione quickly placed her right hand against Lacey's cheek to guide her mouth back to hers. Obeying, Lacey took over the kiss and moved her face sensually against Hermione's soft skin. She smelled sweet, almost delicious, and when Hermione pulled away it was too soon.
"I was having fun," Lacey said, emitting a whine.
Hermione laughed, but her cheeks were flushed and pink. "Perhaps we can continue the lessons another time, this all has me a bit flustered."
Lacey smirked and turned away from her. "See what I mean? Kiss Ron like that and he'll be begging for you within seconds."
Her blushed deepened and she smiled. Pulling her bag over her shoulder, Hermioned stayed silent for a moment before placing her hand on Lacey's arm. "Hey, if you're not doing anything tomorrow, we'll be going into Hogsmeade for a double date. You're welcome to join."
"'We' as in…?"
"Harry, Ginny, Ron, and I." Hermione stated. Then when she saw the expression on Lacey's face she added, "Bring someone. You shouldn't have much trouble looking for a date."
"I'm not so sure about that," Lacey sighed.
Hermione raised her eyebrows in confusion, and Lacey was sure she wouldn't press further. After all, why would Hermione want to engage in a girl talk with Lacey of all people? She was not well liked among the girls in Hogwarts and Hermione was well aware of that. Though that didn't stop Hermione from being kind to her, having a personal conversation was a long shot that Lacey was almost certain Hermione wouldn't pull the trigger on.
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked, and Lacey couldn't help but turn to her in shock. "It's blatantly obvious you fancy Harry, but is there not anyone else here you have your eyes set on?"
Lacey thought back to the soft and gentle touch of Snape. The possessive, protective nature he'd shown with her had turned her on more than she wanted to admit to herself. Also, with Snape she was completely safe from Draco, and maybe that contributed to her attraction to him. He'd shown a vulnerability to her that Harry was not capable of doing due to being with Ginny, and the other boys in Hogwarts? Well, Ron had always been off limits for Lacey, Crabbe and Goyle were repulsive, Dean Thomas was too touchy, and the others were pretty much background characters.
"There was one person, but he isn't exactly someone I could bring to Hosmeade," Lacey said with a small smile. "I guess if I really had to find someone, I could bring Dean."
Hermione nodded. "He's decent, the only thing is that he's Ginny's ex."
Lacey flashed Hermione a grin. "Even better."
"If you have to, I suppose," Hermione said, smiling nervously. "But if you can, try and find someone a little more… uninvolved. I want to keep the peace, and Ginny will already be upset that I've invited you."
She was taking a risk in order to help Lacey feel included, and that made Lacey warm considerably toward Hermione.
"Got it," Lacey assured her new almost-friend. "You can count on me."