Wallflower

Hermione was startled by a sudden noise behind her. She turned around in her chair.

Ana Richards gave her a sloppy grin.

"Morning!" she said cheerfully. Hermione nearly bit her tongue. It was so hard to hate the girl, she was too friendly.

"You're up early," Hermione said, turning back to her work. Ana shrugged.

"Actually, I slept in. I'm usually up an hour earlier, but I lost some sleep last night. You coming down for breakfast?" she asked. Hermione shook her head. That was on the bottom of her priorities as they stood right now.

"Now, I'm fine, go ahead," she said. Ana nodded, and left through the portrait hole. Hermione bit her nails in frustration. Could she make it any harder?

Suddenly, another thump came down the stairs. Hermione turned, and nearly gasped. A tall, lanky teenager with messy red hair was rubbing at his eyes. Hermione ducked into her chair, trying to hide. She couldn't let Ron see her like this, at her worst, it was...

"Hermione? Is that you?"

She bit her lip and looked, half smiling.

"Morning, Ron."

He nodded. "Same to you. Have you seen Ana?" Hermione nearly said no, she hadn't, when her guilty conscience kicked in.

"She just went down to eat breakfast," she said calmly.

"Already? Damn, I was supposed to meet her there!" he said, dashing out of the common room. Hermione sighed again as he left. How could she compete with that?

Later that day, Hermione sat in the library, reading, when Parvati and Lavender came up to her.

"I'm surprised you're still in public!" Lavender whispered rather loudly, as she and Parvati crowded around her. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Parvati covered her mouth in shock.

"Haven't you heard?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Ron asked Ana to the Christmas Ball."

Hermione sat in her bed, mulling over those seven words. How could he? After all they'd been through? How dare he?

And how dare that, that whore, Ana, take Ron away from her? She'd only been here for half a year, and already, she was stealing her boyfriend. And while Hermione fumed on, the one person she didn't need to see walked into the room.

"Something wrong, Hermione?" Ana asked. Hermione stood up, and glared at the tall girl, forgetting that Ana could probably give her a good thrashing in the blink of an eye.

"As if you don't know!" Hermione spat at the girl, then stalked out of the room. She stormed out of the common room, avoiding all of the concerned glances and questions that came from everyone. She trudged out of the tower, down into the Great Hall. Thankfully, it was empty. Or at least, so she thought.

"Granger, what are you doing here?"

Hermione turned and was facing Draco. She couldn't find the words to insult him, and began spluttering meaningless phrases. He tilted his head in mock sympathy.

"Oh, has poor Hermione found out about her ickle Ronnikins and gorgeous Miss Richards? How sad. It was bound to happen, you know," he said, sitting on a bench and taking a bite out of an apple.

"What, what do you mean?" Hermione asked the blonde. He shrugged.

"It's obvious that Weasley fancied you, and you always ignored it. Now, just when his affections turn to someone else, albeit a very attractive someone else, I must say, you realize how much you desperately need him, am I correct?" he asked. Hermione wanted to punch him for his cocky attitude, but restrained herself. Once was enough.

"Yes, but there's nothing I can do now," she said, sitting down. Malfoy threw away his apple.

"On the contrary, Granger, there is one thing you can do that just may turn his affections back to yourself." Hermione looked at him sharply.

"And what might that be?" she asked quickly, realizing too late how eager she sounded.

"Come to the ball with me, of course."

"WHAT?"

Draco shrugged. "It's quite simple, really. If I take you to the dance, Weasley will be infinitely jealous. His hatred of me combined with his feelings for you will make him take action. At which point I'll leave and you can have him back." Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"And what do you get in return?" she asked. Draco grinned.

"I get to kiss you in front of Potter."

Hermione backed away. Draco shrugged. "If you don't want to take me up on the deal, fine," he said, standing up.

"No," Hermione breathed, "I'll do it."