SIX: It's Go Time (Nothing is Sweeter than Revenge)
Title: SIX: It's Go Time
Story: Nothing is Sweeter than Revenge
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content
Summary: Draco Malfoy may have thought he won when he seduced Hermione Granger. Unfortunately for him, he underestimated the vindictive side of Hermione and her friends. Sequel to Trouble.
SIX
It's Go Time
(Three weeks later)
“Does anyone know where Harry is?” Before the words are out of my mouth, I know they were pointless. I already know where he is; I suppose I should have asked why this time.
Ginny rolls her eyes. “Do you really need to ask that question?” she asks as she tips her head in the general direction of the toilets. Bingo! I knew I was right.
“Of course.” I sit down beside Ginny and set her glass in front of her. “What made him take off this time?”
Ron grins. “I might have said something about him having a nice arse,” he says with a snicker and then adds as an afterthought, “purposely.”
I truly can’t help myself…I laugh. “You are so mean.”
Ron shrugs and takes a sip of his Vodka and Coke. Ron puts up a good front and I know he would never talk to Harry about how much his homophobia bothers him, but I can see how it takes its toll on Ron’s cheery disposition. Ron would never try to make a pass at Harry. I mean, why would he? And Harry, if he didn’t have his head so far up his arse, would see that. They have been best friends forever and Ron has never once shown any interest in Harry. The only thing in their relationship that has changed is that Ron is open about his sexual preferences. Ron didn’t open up and say, but what I really am is in love with you, Harry.
I really wish Harry would see what he’s doing to Ron and their already sliding friendship. I’d hate to see them lose all they’ve gained through the years over something as silly as Ron’s sexual preferences.
I sigh and reach out my hand to touch the top of Ron’s. He looks over at me and smiles - a true Ron Weasley smile - and I know that small touch was all the comfort he needed. We’ve always been on that same wave length. We may have had different ways of getting there and we may have fought like cats and dogs along the way, but we always ended up at the same place. It’s unfortunate I misunderstood that bond as something more than friendship while growing up.
Oh well. Who else would I have spent my time pining over, had I know that about Ron? The Ferret probably, so all that miscommunication was definitely for the best.
I lift my hand from Ron’s and take a drink from my own glass. Right now we’re sitting in a fairly dark corner of the new bar in Diagon Alley…waiting. We’ve been here, slowly sipping our drinks, for nearly two hours.
But two hours is nothing compared to the three weeks I’ve been waiting for this whole night to finally come together. I’m nearly jumping out of my seat in anticipation.
And as long as our informant is correct, The Amazing Bouncing Ferret should be showing up here anytime. I can say this, the informants information had better be correct, otherwise he’ll be next to feel our wrath.
Believe me, no one wants to feel our wrath…especially when Ginny “I should have been sorted into Slytherin” Weasley gets on the case.
Yes, Ginny came up with the perfect revenge against Malfoy. At first I was just as scared of her idea as I had been of all the others she’d come up with, but once I let the idea roll around in my head for a little while, I knew it was perfect.
It wasn’t just revenge…it was utter humiliation.
And possible blackmail.
I try not to think on that last part too much. Merlin knows I want my revenge, but I don’t want to spend the next ten years in Azkaban because of it.
“Where in the bloody hell is he?” Ron interrupts my thoughts and I sigh again. He’s asked the same question a dozen times in the last thirty minutes and his tone is getting increasingly more annoyed. In turn, he’s completely getting on my nerves.
Ginny rolls her eyes. “Patience; it’s not even that late yet.”
“I don’t care,” Ron pouts - he’s probably more excited about this plan than any of the rest of us - and plops his chin down into his hand. “I want to get this going already.” I see the twinkle in his eye.
“Soon,” I say.
Something needs to be done to distract all of us from the waiting, but what?
“Hey guys.”
Ah, as if the heavens opened and dropped down an angel of mercy…
Harry returns to the table and sits down between Ginny and I, his back to the rest of the bar. I have to hand it to him; his visits to the toilets are getting shorter.
Ginny smiles and leans over to give him a chaste kiss. “Hey,” she says and winks. Yeah, they’re officially a couple again. We all knew it was only a matter of time. Even with all that extracurricular shagging, Harry and Ginny were made for each other. No one is ever going to take Harry’s place in Ginny’s life and vice-versa.
Oh, and apparently the missing extracurricular shagging hasn’t been a problem, like I thought it might be. They’ve been back together a total of five days now; three of those five days I have heard loud, passionate groans coming from Ginny’s room at all hours of the day and night.
“Are the toilets fairly clean in here?” Ron asks, the left side of his mouth quirking into a smile.
I wait for Harry to become flustered again, upset by Ron’s jibes, and head off to the toilets once more. But, he surprises me.
“Actually, they are. Quite up to par,” he answers with a smirk of his own.
Shorter toilet visits and now toilet jokes? There may be hope for him yet.
“Out of curiosity, Harry,” I say, “what do you do when you’re in there all that time?” Apparently, Harry’s baby steps toward maturity aren’t enough for me. I just need to push him right towards the edge, huh?
Again, he surprises me by blushing, instead of running off annoyed or flustered. “Oh, nothing,” he says while staring at this fingers laced through Ginny’s.
Ron scoffs, “Come off it, Harry. You have to be doing something in there. You’re in there forever and there is only so much you can do in the toilets without drawing attention to yourself.” Ron makes a fairly obscene hand gesture and I can feel the heat rise on my face as I watch it rise on Harry’s.
“Ronald,” I scold.
He simply rolls his eyes at me and then looks expectantly at Harry. “Come on. Out with it.”
Harry shakes his head. “It’s really quite embarrassing.”
Ron loudly asks, “I knew it! You’re wanking in there!”
“RONALD!” This time Ginny is on her brother’s case, though she has a smirk on her face. “Keep your voice down.”
Ron shrugs, “What?”
Harry, his face red as a radish, stops Ginny’s reprimand. “Its fine, Gin,” he says, “Merlin knows it looks bad when I spend so much time in the toilets.” He reaches into his back pocket and addresses Ron. “No, Ron, I’m not wanking.” What Harry pulls out of his pocket can only be described as riotous. I hold in my laugh, though not well, as Harry sets a pocket-sized book - Origami for Idiots - and a small origami bird - made of toilet paper - on the table. He shrugs, obviously trying to be nonchalant about the whole thing, “I’ve always wanted to learn.”
The three of us burst into laughter, Harry following shortly thereafter.
This is nice.
This is exactly what we’ve been missing in our little group friendship for the last four years. The easy laughter, the jokes, the razzing - all of it had slowly been disappearing since Ron’s “coming out”. It wasn’t really apparent to me…until now.
I don’t want to blame it all on Harry, but a lot of it was his fault. Ginny, being the wonderful sister that she is, took to Ron’s sexual preferences like a duck to water. She once told me it was as if she had always known; she just never had any tangible evidence.
And, honestly, if anyone was going to have a problem with Ron’s homosexuality, it should have been me. I thought it over once and came up with an entire list of reasons why I should be upset by the incident. Topping the list was: Because I must have made him gay. But, even then, I couldn’t find it in myself to be angry. Maybe I always knew it somewhere, deep down, as well.
Ginny and I had speculated; with Harry’s initial indifference to Ron’s announcement, we were both certain that he would have some sort of mild freak out session in time. Even though we spent some time talking it over, neither of us could have ever imagined the drastic turn Harry had taken. It was apparent, within a mere 24 hours, that Ron’s declaration had shaken Harry and, in turn, shaken our group dynamic to the core.
But, sitting here now, and seeing our friendship comfort level slowly return to the way they were…well, it makes me kind of giddy.
These three sitting with me are not only my best friends, they’re my family.
And the harmonic balance of this family has definitely been missed.
“This is just like old times, huh?” Ron takes the words right out of my thoughts, like he’s been swimming around in my head with them. “Sitting around, laughing, enjoying our time together, while plotting against evil,” Ron say while nodding his head and smiling, “I’ve missed this.”
Ginny smiles first at her brother and then at Harry, who also has a small smile on his face…FINALLY! “Me, too,” she says and Harry nods in agreement.
I smile. “There really is nothing like friends, alcohol, and sadistic plans to destroy a Malfoy.”
Laughter erupts at the table again and I realize nothing is going to bring us down tonight.
Once we’ve all settled down, Harry stands up. “It’s my turn to get the drinks. I’ll be right back.”
“I think this is the longest he’s gone without rushing to the toilets,” Ron remarks as he drains what’s left in his glass. “I’m impressed.”
Ginny grins. “It was only a matter of time. I knew he’d come around.”
I don’t say it out loud, but I wasn’t so sure.
We sit for a moment in silence, just watching the people around us. I realize, suddenly, that I’m not at all nervous about what we’re about to do. I should be. Merlin, I should be; this is a huge plan we have set up and there can be no room for error. And truly, I should be sweating bullets right now because this plot has error written all over it.
But I’m not. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I’m spending this time with Ginny, Ron and Harry.
I smile. For better or for worse, they really are my best friends.
“Okay,” Ron slams his fist on the table, “I’m out of alcohol and getting antsy. That little ferret needs to get here already.”
I snicker. “Ron, seriously calm yourself.”
“Yeah,” Ginny adds, “he’ll be here soon. I can feel it.”
And almost as if Malfoy had heard her, I see the door open. He saunters in with his usual air of confidence and a girl on his arm. I narrow my eyes at him and cringe when I see exactly how gorgeous he looks wearing a simple pair of black slacks and white Oxford.
Yeah, I know, I know. I shouldn’t, for any reason, think Malfoy looks hot. I get it, okay? But, it’s really all beside the point. No one, not even me, can deny that Draco Malfoy is a sexy beast. The man exudes self-assured sexy when he walks into any room. It would be impossible for any woman or gay man (Ron being the perfect example of that) to turn away from Malfoy when he cranks up the charm. It’s the only excuse I have for falling victim to his scheme three weeks ago.
And it’s also my only ammunition to justify why I’m going along with this elaborate revenge plot. Merlin, it might have been easier to strap him naked to the Knight Bus.
I push all the doubts from my mind as I watch them walk from the door to the only unoccupied table. Of course it’s a reserved table and comes with its very own waitress - like we should expect anything less from the Great Pureblood Git.
“Ron,” I say and punch him lightly in the arm, “take a look at who just walked in the door.” Neither Ginny nor Ron had been paying attention like I had during Malfoy’s entrance.
I point my finger in their general direction and Ron’s gaze follows. I can tell the minute he spots them sitting there; a low, sexual growl escapes Ron’s throat and it takes me everything I have not to burst into hysterical laughter. He really has been looking forward to tonight.
“He looks damn sexy tonight,” Ron says, lust evident in his voice and his eyes never leaving their table.
I look at Ginny and she’s grinning. “He definitely does.”
I sigh, “Of course he does. He’s Draco Bloody Malfoy. He’s like the synonym of sexy.”
Ginny nods in agreement, but comments on his date. “I almost feel sorry for her.” Ron and I both turn to look at Ginny, noting her concerned voice. But, instead of a concerned face, Ginny is smirking wildly. “I’m so kidding,” she says and bursts in raucous laughter.
Just then Harry returns to the table with a tray holding our drinks. He has an excited grin on his face. “Did you see who just walked in?”
Ginny laughs and starts passing out the drinks. “Yeah, honey, we did.” I watch Harry’s smile fall just slightly, but then he sits down and shrugs.
“So, now what?” he asks. We, for the most part, had left Harry out of the loop. He was just so awkward every time we’d talk about it, that we decided the less he knew, the better. He had one real job, and he was aware of it. That was enough.
“I think we need to give them about ten minutes,” I say and look down at my watch - it’s just after 11:00 PM. “And then Ginny can hit her with the charm.”
Ginny grins devilishly and pulls her wand out of her purse. “I am so ready,” she says, rolling her wand between her fingers. I can see it in her eyes; she’s itching to Bat Bogey hex them both, but she won’t.
The next ten minutes are, without a doubt, the quietest ten minutes we’ve had as a group. I try my hardest not to concentrate on anything except the loud techno music in the bar and the loud shouts of the people all around us. This little distraction has actually helped me stay calm.
I most definitely need to stay calm.
After nine minutes of silence, both Ron and Harry get up from the table and walk towards the toilets. The sight, under normal circumstances, would actually make me chuckle. Men going to the toilets in pairs? Ha! What is the world coming to?
But this isn’t normal circumstances, so I just watch them go. But, while I see their backs retreat into the corridor leading to the restrooms, I miss Ginny shoot the spell towards Draco’s date over her shoulder.
“Done,” Ginny says and shoves her wand back into her purse before anyone notices.
I turn my head just in time. The girl Draco is with - the informant told us her name in Mandy (of course it is), but I refuse to call her that - gets up from their table and sashays her way towards the restrooms. This, in turn, brings her closer to our table.
As covertly as possible, I study her as she comes our way.
And scoff.
She's blond, of course, and her hair is ridiculously long, reaching towards the small of her back. It looks like she's taken the time to master a curling charm for the ends. Or as mastered as a bimbo like her can manage.
Honestly, it looks wretched. The curls are frizzy and the top of her head, the part that should be straight and luscious, has fly-a-ways galore. She, apparently, doesn’t know how to administer a proper hair charm. Big shocker, I know. And seriously, what man would want to run his hands through that rat's nest?
"Hermione, why are you messing with your hair? Merlin, it’s straight. No fly-a-ways, alright?" I look over at Ginny and scowl. She shrugs her shoulders, "What?"
I don't dignify her with a response. Instead I turn my head to watch The Girl come still closer. Merlin, what is she wearing? Didn't someone tell her Slag’s Night is on Wednesdays, not Fridays? Ugh.
The red halter top is snug against her sagging boobs and pudgy stomach. The tight, black pants reveal the cottage cheese thighs her gym membership is obviously not helping dissolve and they make her short legs look even shorter. Apparently, Malfoy is into chubby midgets these days.
Needless to say, it's not a good look for her. I want to shout out: "Yeah, honey, you're not as young as you think you are. A nice Push-Up Charm would be really helpful right about now. Oh, and a girdle!"
Ginny's voice interrupts my staring once again. "Hermione, seriously, what are you doing? Why in the world are you sucking in your stomach and thrusting out your chest? Tonight, of all nights, is not the time to think about picking up men. I thought you were in this one hundred percent?"
I grumble and relax back in my seat. "Shut it, Gin." I don't think she hears me, which is just fine.
The Girl is nearly by our table now and I finally get a good look at her face. And Merlin, is it a face. Her elongated nose tapers into a severe point kilometers away from her face, and her eyes are a boring, murky gray.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, her makeup is hideous, especially around those horribly dead eyes. The thick, black eyeliner lining the bottom of her eye is smearing down her face, like she’s been dancing and sweating it off for the last three hours.
Really, is this the person at the top of the “People Who Get to Shag Draco Malfoy” list? Pfft. She must have waited a long ass time.
“You’re not okay tonight.” I turn again to look at Ginny and she’s scowling at me.
“What?” I snap back, watching with my peripheral vision as The Girl comes within ten feet of our table.
“You. Are. Not. Okay.” She separates each word like I’m an idiot. “You’re over there messing with your hair and then sucking in your stomach; now you’re wiping at eyeliner under your eyes like it’s dripping down your face. What is going on with you? You’re not freaking out are you?”
I hear her. I hear every word Ginny is saying, but I don’t acknowledge her. I can’t. The Girl is walking past our table.
“Psst, Hermione,” Ginny whispers, “you’re not supposed to stare at her.”
But, I can’t stop myself. I watch her walk by and my stomach drops. I can’t deny it anymore, The Girl is beautiful. Her long, blond hair shimmers under the flashing lights and her legs are much longer than I gave her credit for. Her face isn’t only beautiful; it’s flawless - just like her makeup. She is, on a ten-point scale, an eleven.
And it makes me feel completely inadequate.
Over the last three weeks, while we’ve planned this little revenge, there were times when I simply thought that maybe Malfoy actually wanted to shag me. I had almost convinced myself, on more than one occasion, that he used the bet with Zabini as simply a ruse for his friends. He wanted me and he knew no other way of getting me and having his friends not rag on him about it.
But, looking at The Girl, it’s apparent that isn’t the case. Of course Malfoy wouldn’t actually want to shag me because he thinks I’m shaggable. No, he really did do it because of a bet. I can’t even be classified as being in the same league as The Girl. And I’m not sure why I even thought it was possible.
“Hermione?”
My thoughts are broken by Ginny, as usual. “Yeah?” My voice sounds weak, I know it, and Ginny is going to pick up on it. I just hope she doesn’t call me out on my ridiculous behavior tonight.
“Are you alright?” Her voice is laced with concern. “You’re having second thoughts about this, aren’t you?”
Am I?
“No.”
No, I’m not having second thoughts. If anything, this little epiphany I’ve just had only makes me want revenge on Draco “All Holier than Thou” Malfoy that much more. Oh, the little ferret is going down.
“No,” I repeat, “I’m not having second thoughts at all. If anything, I’m more ready for this than I ever have been.”
Ginny scrunches her brows at me in confusion, but I set my face into a devilish smirk worthy of a Malfoy, and she finally smirks back. “Excellent.”
I lean back in my chair, finally at ease with this whole idea, and scan the crowd. It’s only a matter of time now before this whole plan will be completely underway. I’m a jumble of different emotions right now, and not sure which takes precedent over the other.
I’m nervous that this is going to completely fall apart, though Ginny assures me it’s full proof.
I’m excited to finally see that nasty, pureblood git get what’s coming to him.
I’m worried that some of the actions we’re taking tonight are going to come back to haunt us.
I’m happy that I have my friends here with me.
It’s just all so…exhilarating. I can’t even begin to explain. I’m extremely ready for this.
And, what’s this I see?
A smile graces my lips when I notice Malfoy staring at me, a smirk on his face, raising his glass to me in recognition.
He thinks he’s won and he doesn’t even know there’s a game being played.
Oh, it just makes this whole plan that much sweeter.
I raise my glass in return and nod my head. He looks slightly shaken by my response, but only for a moment. If only he knew.
I set my glass down just as Mandy comes back out of the restrooms. Her newly confident swagger is enough to make the corners of my lips pull up into a vindictive smile.
As I watch her walk back towards Malfoy, I see Harry sit back down at the table. “Well, she was a little resistant,” he says, his voice quivering just slightly, “but it’s go time.”
Ginny and I exchange a glance and my smile widens.
It’s go time.
SEVEN: Hell Hath No Fury
Story: Nothing is Sweeter than Revenge
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content
Summary: Draco Malfoy may have thought he won when he seduced Hermione Granger. Unfortunately for him, he underestimated the vindictive side of Hermione and her friends. Sequel to Trouble.
SIX
It's Go Time
(Three weeks later)
“Does anyone know where Harry is?” Before the words are out of my mouth, I know they were pointless. I already know where he is; I suppose I should have asked why this time.
Ginny rolls her eyes. “Do you really need to ask that question?” she asks as she tips her head in the general direction of the toilets. Bingo! I knew I was right.
“Of course.” I sit down beside Ginny and set her glass in front of her. “What made him take off this time?”
Ron grins. “I might have said something about him having a nice arse,” he says with a snicker and then adds as an afterthought, “purposely.”
I truly can’t help myself…I laugh. “You are so mean.”
Ron shrugs and takes a sip of his Vodka and Coke. Ron puts up a good front and I know he would never talk to Harry about how much his homophobia bothers him, but I can see how it takes its toll on Ron’s cheery disposition. Ron would never try to make a pass at Harry. I mean, why would he? And Harry, if he didn’t have his head so far up his arse, would see that. They have been best friends forever and Ron has never once shown any interest in Harry. The only thing in their relationship that has changed is that Ron is open about his sexual preferences. Ron didn’t open up and say, but what I really am is in love with you, Harry.
I really wish Harry would see what he’s doing to Ron and their already sliding friendship. I’d hate to see them lose all they’ve gained through the years over something as silly as Ron’s sexual preferences.
I sigh and reach out my hand to touch the top of Ron’s. He looks over at me and smiles - a true Ron Weasley smile - and I know that small touch was all the comfort he needed. We’ve always been on that same wave length. We may have had different ways of getting there and we may have fought like cats and dogs along the way, but we always ended up at the same place. It’s unfortunate I misunderstood that bond as something more than friendship while growing up.
Oh well. Who else would I have spent my time pining over, had I know that about Ron? The Ferret probably, so all that miscommunication was definitely for the best.
I lift my hand from Ron’s and take a drink from my own glass. Right now we’re sitting in a fairly dark corner of the new bar in Diagon Alley…waiting. We’ve been here, slowly sipping our drinks, for nearly two hours.
But two hours is nothing compared to the three weeks I’ve been waiting for this whole night to finally come together. I’m nearly jumping out of my seat in anticipation.
And as long as our informant is correct, The Amazing Bouncing Ferret should be showing up here anytime. I can say this, the informants information had better be correct, otherwise he’ll be next to feel our wrath.
Believe me, no one wants to feel our wrath…especially when Ginny “I should have been sorted into Slytherin” Weasley gets on the case.
Yes, Ginny came up with the perfect revenge against Malfoy. At first I was just as scared of her idea as I had been of all the others she’d come up with, but once I let the idea roll around in my head for a little while, I knew it was perfect.
It wasn’t just revenge…it was utter humiliation.
And possible blackmail.
I try not to think on that last part too much. Merlin knows I want my revenge, but I don’t want to spend the next ten years in Azkaban because of it.
“Where in the bloody hell is he?” Ron interrupts my thoughts and I sigh again. He’s asked the same question a dozen times in the last thirty minutes and his tone is getting increasingly more annoyed. In turn, he’s completely getting on my nerves.
Ginny rolls her eyes. “Patience; it’s not even that late yet.”
“I don’t care,” Ron pouts - he’s probably more excited about this plan than any of the rest of us - and plops his chin down into his hand. “I want to get this going already.” I see the twinkle in his eye.
“Soon,” I say.
Something needs to be done to distract all of us from the waiting, but what?
“Hey guys.”
Ah, as if the heavens opened and dropped down an angel of mercy…
Harry returns to the table and sits down between Ginny and I, his back to the rest of the bar. I have to hand it to him; his visits to the toilets are getting shorter.
Ginny smiles and leans over to give him a chaste kiss. “Hey,” she says and winks. Yeah, they’re officially a couple again. We all knew it was only a matter of time. Even with all that extracurricular shagging, Harry and Ginny were made for each other. No one is ever going to take Harry’s place in Ginny’s life and vice-versa.
Oh, and apparently the missing extracurricular shagging hasn’t been a problem, like I thought it might be. They’ve been back together a total of five days now; three of those five days I have heard loud, passionate groans coming from Ginny’s room at all hours of the day and night.
“Are the toilets fairly clean in here?” Ron asks, the left side of his mouth quirking into a smile.
I wait for Harry to become flustered again, upset by Ron’s jibes, and head off to the toilets once more. But, he surprises me.
“Actually, they are. Quite up to par,” he answers with a smirk of his own.
Shorter toilet visits and now toilet jokes? There may be hope for him yet.
“Out of curiosity, Harry,” I say, “what do you do when you’re in there all that time?” Apparently, Harry’s baby steps toward maturity aren’t enough for me. I just need to push him right towards the edge, huh?
Again, he surprises me by blushing, instead of running off annoyed or flustered. “Oh, nothing,” he says while staring at this fingers laced through Ginny’s.
Ron scoffs, “Come off it, Harry. You have to be doing something in there. You’re in there forever and there is only so much you can do in the toilets without drawing attention to yourself.” Ron makes a fairly obscene hand gesture and I can feel the heat rise on my face as I watch it rise on Harry’s.
“Ronald,” I scold.
He simply rolls his eyes at me and then looks expectantly at Harry. “Come on. Out with it.”
Harry shakes his head. “It’s really quite embarrassing.”
Ron loudly asks, “I knew it! You’re wanking in there!”
“RONALD!” This time Ginny is on her brother’s case, though she has a smirk on her face. “Keep your voice down.”
Ron shrugs, “What?”
Harry, his face red as a radish, stops Ginny’s reprimand. “Its fine, Gin,” he says, “Merlin knows it looks bad when I spend so much time in the toilets.” He reaches into his back pocket and addresses Ron. “No, Ron, I’m not wanking.” What Harry pulls out of his pocket can only be described as riotous. I hold in my laugh, though not well, as Harry sets a pocket-sized book - Origami for Idiots - and a small origami bird - made of toilet paper - on the table. He shrugs, obviously trying to be nonchalant about the whole thing, “I’ve always wanted to learn.”
The three of us burst into laughter, Harry following shortly thereafter.
This is nice.
This is exactly what we’ve been missing in our little group friendship for the last four years. The easy laughter, the jokes, the razzing - all of it had slowly been disappearing since Ron’s “coming out”. It wasn’t really apparent to me…until now.
I don’t want to blame it all on Harry, but a lot of it was his fault. Ginny, being the wonderful sister that she is, took to Ron’s sexual preferences like a duck to water. She once told me it was as if she had always known; she just never had any tangible evidence.
And, honestly, if anyone was going to have a problem with Ron’s homosexuality, it should have been me. I thought it over once and came up with an entire list of reasons why I should be upset by the incident. Topping the list was: Because I must have made him gay. But, even then, I couldn’t find it in myself to be angry. Maybe I always knew it somewhere, deep down, as well.
Ginny and I had speculated; with Harry’s initial indifference to Ron’s announcement, we were both certain that he would have some sort of mild freak out session in time. Even though we spent some time talking it over, neither of us could have ever imagined the drastic turn Harry had taken. It was apparent, within a mere 24 hours, that Ron’s declaration had shaken Harry and, in turn, shaken our group dynamic to the core.
But, sitting here now, and seeing our friendship comfort level slowly return to the way they were…well, it makes me kind of giddy.
These three sitting with me are not only my best friends, they’re my family.
And the harmonic balance of this family has definitely been missed.
“This is just like old times, huh?” Ron takes the words right out of my thoughts, like he’s been swimming around in my head with them. “Sitting around, laughing, enjoying our time together, while plotting against evil,” Ron say while nodding his head and smiling, “I’ve missed this.”
Ginny smiles first at her brother and then at Harry, who also has a small smile on his face…FINALLY! “Me, too,” she says and Harry nods in agreement.
I smile. “There really is nothing like friends, alcohol, and sadistic plans to destroy a Malfoy.”
Laughter erupts at the table again and I realize nothing is going to bring us down tonight.
Once we’ve all settled down, Harry stands up. “It’s my turn to get the drinks. I’ll be right back.”
“I think this is the longest he’s gone without rushing to the toilets,” Ron remarks as he drains what’s left in his glass. “I’m impressed.”
Ginny grins. “It was only a matter of time. I knew he’d come around.”
I don’t say it out loud, but I wasn’t so sure.
We sit for a moment in silence, just watching the people around us. I realize, suddenly, that I’m not at all nervous about what we’re about to do. I should be. Merlin, I should be; this is a huge plan we have set up and there can be no room for error. And truly, I should be sweating bullets right now because this plot has error written all over it.
But I’m not. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I’m spending this time with Ginny, Ron and Harry.
I smile. For better or for worse, they really are my best friends.
“Okay,” Ron slams his fist on the table, “I’m out of alcohol and getting antsy. That little ferret needs to get here already.”
I snicker. “Ron, seriously calm yourself.”
“Yeah,” Ginny adds, “he’ll be here soon. I can feel it.”
And almost as if Malfoy had heard her, I see the door open. He saunters in with his usual air of confidence and a girl on his arm. I narrow my eyes at him and cringe when I see exactly how gorgeous he looks wearing a simple pair of black slacks and white Oxford.
Yeah, I know, I know. I shouldn’t, for any reason, think Malfoy looks hot. I get it, okay? But, it’s really all beside the point. No one, not even me, can deny that Draco Malfoy is a sexy beast. The man exudes self-assured sexy when he walks into any room. It would be impossible for any woman or gay man (Ron being the perfect example of that) to turn away from Malfoy when he cranks up the charm. It’s the only excuse I have for falling victim to his scheme three weeks ago.
And it’s also my only ammunition to justify why I’m going along with this elaborate revenge plot. Merlin, it might have been easier to strap him naked to the Knight Bus.
I push all the doubts from my mind as I watch them walk from the door to the only unoccupied table. Of course it’s a reserved table and comes with its very own waitress - like we should expect anything less from the Great Pureblood Git.
“Ron,” I say and punch him lightly in the arm, “take a look at who just walked in the door.” Neither Ginny nor Ron had been paying attention like I had during Malfoy’s entrance.
I point my finger in their general direction and Ron’s gaze follows. I can tell the minute he spots them sitting there; a low, sexual growl escapes Ron’s throat and it takes me everything I have not to burst into hysterical laughter. He really has been looking forward to tonight.
“He looks damn sexy tonight,” Ron says, lust evident in his voice and his eyes never leaving their table.
I look at Ginny and she’s grinning. “He definitely does.”
I sigh, “Of course he does. He’s Draco Bloody Malfoy. He’s like the synonym of sexy.”
Ginny nods in agreement, but comments on his date. “I almost feel sorry for her.” Ron and I both turn to look at Ginny, noting her concerned voice. But, instead of a concerned face, Ginny is smirking wildly. “I’m so kidding,” she says and bursts in raucous laughter.
Just then Harry returns to the table with a tray holding our drinks. He has an excited grin on his face. “Did you see who just walked in?”
Ginny laughs and starts passing out the drinks. “Yeah, honey, we did.” I watch Harry’s smile fall just slightly, but then he sits down and shrugs.
“So, now what?” he asks. We, for the most part, had left Harry out of the loop. He was just so awkward every time we’d talk about it, that we decided the less he knew, the better. He had one real job, and he was aware of it. That was enough.
“I think we need to give them about ten minutes,” I say and look down at my watch - it’s just after 11:00 PM. “And then Ginny can hit her with the charm.”
Ginny grins devilishly and pulls her wand out of her purse. “I am so ready,” she says, rolling her wand between her fingers. I can see it in her eyes; she’s itching to Bat Bogey hex them both, but she won’t.
The next ten minutes are, without a doubt, the quietest ten minutes we’ve had as a group. I try my hardest not to concentrate on anything except the loud techno music in the bar and the loud shouts of the people all around us. This little distraction has actually helped me stay calm.
I most definitely need to stay calm.
After nine minutes of silence, both Ron and Harry get up from the table and walk towards the toilets. The sight, under normal circumstances, would actually make me chuckle. Men going to the toilets in pairs? Ha! What is the world coming to?
But this isn’t normal circumstances, so I just watch them go. But, while I see their backs retreat into the corridor leading to the restrooms, I miss Ginny shoot the spell towards Draco’s date over her shoulder.
“Done,” Ginny says and shoves her wand back into her purse before anyone notices.
I turn my head just in time. The girl Draco is with - the informant told us her name in Mandy (of course it is), but I refuse to call her that - gets up from their table and sashays her way towards the restrooms. This, in turn, brings her closer to our table.
As covertly as possible, I study her as she comes our way.
And scoff.
She's blond, of course, and her hair is ridiculously long, reaching towards the small of her back. It looks like she's taken the time to master a curling charm for the ends. Or as mastered as a bimbo like her can manage.
Honestly, it looks wretched. The curls are frizzy and the top of her head, the part that should be straight and luscious, has fly-a-ways galore. She, apparently, doesn’t know how to administer a proper hair charm. Big shocker, I know. And seriously, what man would want to run his hands through that rat's nest?
"Hermione, why are you messing with your hair? Merlin, it’s straight. No fly-a-ways, alright?" I look over at Ginny and scowl. She shrugs her shoulders, "What?"
I don't dignify her with a response. Instead I turn my head to watch The Girl come still closer. Merlin, what is she wearing? Didn't someone tell her Slag’s Night is on Wednesdays, not Fridays? Ugh.
The red halter top is snug against her sagging boobs and pudgy stomach. The tight, black pants reveal the cottage cheese thighs her gym membership is obviously not helping dissolve and they make her short legs look even shorter. Apparently, Malfoy is into chubby midgets these days.
Needless to say, it's not a good look for her. I want to shout out: "Yeah, honey, you're not as young as you think you are. A nice Push-Up Charm would be really helpful right about now. Oh, and a girdle!"
Ginny's voice interrupts my staring once again. "Hermione, seriously, what are you doing? Why in the world are you sucking in your stomach and thrusting out your chest? Tonight, of all nights, is not the time to think about picking up men. I thought you were in this one hundred percent?"
I grumble and relax back in my seat. "Shut it, Gin." I don't think she hears me, which is just fine.
The Girl is nearly by our table now and I finally get a good look at her face. And Merlin, is it a face. Her elongated nose tapers into a severe point kilometers away from her face, and her eyes are a boring, murky gray.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, her makeup is hideous, especially around those horribly dead eyes. The thick, black eyeliner lining the bottom of her eye is smearing down her face, like she’s been dancing and sweating it off for the last three hours.
Really, is this the person at the top of the “People Who Get to Shag Draco Malfoy” list? Pfft. She must have waited a long ass time.
“You’re not okay tonight.” I turn again to look at Ginny and she’s scowling at me.
“What?” I snap back, watching with my peripheral vision as The Girl comes within ten feet of our table.
“You. Are. Not. Okay.” She separates each word like I’m an idiot. “You’re over there messing with your hair and then sucking in your stomach; now you’re wiping at eyeliner under your eyes like it’s dripping down your face. What is going on with you? You’re not freaking out are you?”
I hear her. I hear every word Ginny is saying, but I don’t acknowledge her. I can’t. The Girl is walking past our table.
“Psst, Hermione,” Ginny whispers, “you’re not supposed to stare at her.”
But, I can’t stop myself. I watch her walk by and my stomach drops. I can’t deny it anymore, The Girl is beautiful. Her long, blond hair shimmers under the flashing lights and her legs are much longer than I gave her credit for. Her face isn’t only beautiful; it’s flawless - just like her makeup. She is, on a ten-point scale, an eleven.
And it makes me feel completely inadequate.
Over the last three weeks, while we’ve planned this little revenge, there were times when I simply thought that maybe Malfoy actually wanted to shag me. I had almost convinced myself, on more than one occasion, that he used the bet with Zabini as simply a ruse for his friends. He wanted me and he knew no other way of getting me and having his friends not rag on him about it.
But, looking at The Girl, it’s apparent that isn’t the case. Of course Malfoy wouldn’t actually want to shag me because he thinks I’m shaggable. No, he really did do it because of a bet. I can’t even be classified as being in the same league as The Girl. And I’m not sure why I even thought it was possible.
“Hermione?”
My thoughts are broken by Ginny, as usual. “Yeah?” My voice sounds weak, I know it, and Ginny is going to pick up on it. I just hope she doesn’t call me out on my ridiculous behavior tonight.
“Are you alright?” Her voice is laced with concern. “You’re having second thoughts about this, aren’t you?”
Am I?
“No.”
No, I’m not having second thoughts. If anything, this little epiphany I’ve just had only makes me want revenge on Draco “All Holier than Thou” Malfoy that much more. Oh, the little ferret is going down.
“No,” I repeat, “I’m not having second thoughts at all. If anything, I’m more ready for this than I ever have been.”
Ginny scrunches her brows at me in confusion, but I set my face into a devilish smirk worthy of a Malfoy, and she finally smirks back. “Excellent.”
I lean back in my chair, finally at ease with this whole idea, and scan the crowd. It’s only a matter of time now before this whole plan will be completely underway. I’m a jumble of different emotions right now, and not sure which takes precedent over the other.
I’m nervous that this is going to completely fall apart, though Ginny assures me it’s full proof.
I’m excited to finally see that nasty, pureblood git get what’s coming to him.
I’m worried that some of the actions we’re taking tonight are going to come back to haunt us.
I’m happy that I have my friends here with me.
It’s just all so…exhilarating. I can’t even begin to explain. I’m extremely ready for this.
And, what’s this I see?
A smile graces my lips when I notice Malfoy staring at me, a smirk on his face, raising his glass to me in recognition.
He thinks he’s won and he doesn’t even know there’s a game being played.
Oh, it just makes this whole plan that much sweeter.
I raise my glass in return and nod my head. He looks slightly shaken by my response, but only for a moment. If only he knew.
I set my glass down just as Mandy comes back out of the restrooms. Her newly confident swagger is enough to make the corners of my lips pull up into a vindictive smile.
As I watch her walk back towards Malfoy, I see Harry sit back down at the table. “Well, she was a little resistant,” he says, his voice quivering just slightly, “but it’s go time.”
Ginny and I exchange a glance and my smile widens.
It’s go time.
SEVEN: Hell Hath No Fury