Operation Humiliation

Draco Malfoy splashed his face with cold water, forcing himself to wake and think clearly. He had thought more about his friendly chat with Ginny last night, and all that it had revealed.

So. Weasley's got it bad for her. Stupid git will never get her though. She's too smart to do something like fall for him. She's too good. She deserves someone a lot better, a lot richer, like me. I can just imagine him telling her that he loved her! If she ever admitted to that or went out with him it would be out of pity. That entire family, even the girl, is a disgrace to Wizardkind, and to purebloods above all. Hermione is a Mudblood though...I guess I could work around that. Well, since she was deprived of being in my company last night, I will invite her today to...have a little walk around the lake. It's peaceful, undisturbed, and a little romantic there. By the end of the week, Hermione Granger will be mine.

Draco waited impatiently throughout the day, waiting for the most opportune moment to ask her. A horrible, cruel idea had popped into his head just before. Malfoy had witnessed on various accounts Ron Weasley blowing up, and most of them seemed to be when he was itching with jealousy. In order to make the hothead even more furious and jealous, Draco had ruthlessly decided to ask Hermione when her fellow suitor was closest, and listening.

The perfect opportunity presented itself right after Care of Magical creatures class, when her and her comrades were packing up, and had just finished chatting with a god friend of theirs, that bumbling oaf Hagrid. The trio was trudging up to the castle alone, because all of the other classmates had left as quickly as they could, and were out of sight.

Draco skillfully hid behind the giant doors that his girlfriend-to-be and company were obliged to pass through, and slyly slid out into the open as they approached.

"Good morning there, brave gentlemen and lovely lady," Draco addressed pleasantly, yet there was a slight uncontrollable hint of sarcasm and drawl in his voice, which as hard as he tried, he could not erase. He knew that pulling this whole Prince Charming act would not be easy, nor delightful, but the results would be priceless and unforgettable.

Predictably, Ron and Harry shot Malfoy suspicious looks, while Hermione responded cheerfully, "Hello, Draco," immediately after her eyes lit up in anxiety.

"Hermione, I was hoping that you would like to join me by the lake this evening, since unfortunately you couldn't join me last night," Draco inquired sweetly, but his cold gray eyes couldn't conform. "I was hoping that we could catch-up, chat about completely pointless topics, enjoy the moonlight," he added flirtatiously.

Harry's eyes flashed warningly toward Ron, who seemed to be inflating like a balloon, which pleased Malfoy to the extent.

Hermione was thinking furiously quickly. "I think I would enjoy that, Draco."

Her insides squirmed nervously at the prospect of Ron's reaction to her answer, and when he found out that she didn't tell him about their supposed date the previous night.

"I can't wait. See you then, Hermione," Draco said coyly as he turned his back and disappeared into the hall's darkness.

"What was that about?" Ron asked with the air of one investigating a murder case, and Hermione was the victim of his ruthless and vindictive questioning. He was fuming. He was so angry that his voice quivered with heart-breaking wrath and fury. The vividness and jealous flush of his ears put the hue of his trademark hair to shame. As Hermione stared into his eyes, she had never been so regretful of her actions in her entire life. The maddened look he wore placed her on the fragile brink of confession, which Harry was thankfully quick to notice.

"Listen, Hermione, I am with Ron on this. Malfoy isn't exactly trustworthy, and--"

"Don't worry you two. I can take care of myself, and anything Malfoy plans to pull," Hermione invoked earnestly.

"That's not the point, Hermione!" Ron shouted in a desperate tone.

"Then what is your point, Ron?" Hermione inquired, her voice rising dangerously.

"You shouldn't be talking to him! His father is a Death Eater, which might not be a serious threat to you," he continued with a horrible sort of hysterical sarcasm.

"Ron, I am allowed to talk to anyone I want to talk to, no matter what you say!" she yelled rebelliously, then she dramatically spun around and followed in the direction of which Malfoy had gone.

Ron turned toward Harry, opened his mouth and demanded, "Has she lost it? My God! Why does she want to talk to him anyway? All he ever did to her, and us, was sneer, insult, attempt to hex, destroy, expel, and humiliate us!" He was saying all of this very quickly and angrily, more than Harry had ever seen him.

Perfect, Harry thought satisfiedly. Now to put in his and Ginny's pieces to complete the puzzle. "You know, Ron, I don't know what has suddenly gotten over her or Malfoy, but if it is anything romantically involved, then, well, I guess you better tell her."

"Tell her what?" Ron said blankly, as the pair stomped up the steps, staring pointedly ahead.

Harry sighed exasperatedly and hurried up the steps to face Ron. "Don't play stupid, Ron. You know what you have to tell her, and to jog your memory, it has something to do with the fact that she is much, much more than your best friend," Harry implored seriously. "And as soon as possible, I would say. I also know that she feels the same way for you. Trust me, and I have a private, exclusive, completely trustworthy and reliable source of information. That source has given me a first hand account on this, okay?"

Ron broke his continuous stare ahead, sharply turned to look at Harry, his bright blue eyes overwhelmed with hope, and it seemed like they were questioning the sincerity of this remark.

Harry smiled truthfully and nodded, assuring Ron's faith in Harry's advice and confession.

* * *

Harry and Ron plopped down across from Ginny at dinner later that day, with Hermione nowhere in sight. Ginny immediately caught Harry's eye and shot him a questioning and anxious look as Ron fumbled with his bookbag, and Harry nodded with relief.

Ron didn't take his eyes off of Draco Malfoy for the rest of the meal. The hateful glint in his eyes was unforgettable. He seemed to be lost in thought, conceiving and scheming.

"We have to stop this, you know," Ron announced, with a finality in his tone of voice like what he says, goes. Ginny and Harry exchanged worrisome glances, because they had never thought about Ron's reaction to Malfoy's odd request.

"Ron, listen, I think we should just let Hermione do this on her own, no matter how much we disapprove of it," Ginny remarked bitterly.

"Even if we do disapprove of it, we, meaning Ginny and me, aren't going to do anything about it," Harry pointed out.

"Unless," Ginny paused, and her and Harry exchanged a significant glance, "you have something to tell her." Her tone was so serious and almost desperate that he didn't even realize that his sister knew his deepest and taciturn secret.

"Soon, too Ron. A little longer and it might be too late," Harry advised earnestly.

Deliberating frantically, Ron gazed across the hall to where Malfoy rose to leave his table, and narrowed his eyes viciously. Not this time, he thought. Anything but this, not Hermione. Anything but Hermione.

* * *

Hermione stared into her mirror, a slight flock of nervous butterflies fluttering around in her stomach, absent-mindedly ramming into their walls. Her good-natured face was luminous, as was her usually bushy hair. She wore her most beautiful dress, not revealing in any way, but classy and elegant. She was as ready as she would ever be.

Hermione stumbled anxiously towards her dormitory door, and slowly turned the handle. She forced herself to think about anything but what she was going to do...every particle in her body was focused entirely on distracting herself.

* * *

Ron had made up his mind. He only hoped he wouldn't be too late, as Harry had predicted. It was now, or never. He sprinted down the hall, as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't have the slightest clue where to go where to meet her before she encountered Malfoy.

In several of his life-risking adventures with Harry and Hermione, he had noticed how for some strange and unexplainable reason his senses had upgraded so immensely...thankfully, because he probably wouldn't have heard the soft and practically unnoticeable footfall coming from his far right. He paused to ensure what he heard was not a figment of his concocting and hopeful imagination, and real.

He took off like a rocket...his agility and speed was surprising, two skills that made him a very successful Keeper. He skidded to a halt to where he had heard the footsteps coming from, and panicked when it was Professor Flitwick in his path.

Not sure of what to do, he gazed out the window in hopes that it would guide him to where he needed to be--with Hermione, to tell her the truth. And, like a miracle from the heavens above, he saw her pacing somewhat reluctantly in the direction of the lake.

Desperate to reach her, his feet pounded the ground loudly as he flew toward her, more relieved than he ever could have been.

"Hermione! Hermione! Wait!" Ron yelled finally, his voice weak and scratchy because he had used all his energy on finding her.

"Ron! What's wrong? Are you okay? Why were you running like that?" Hermione asked concernedly as he approached her breathing heavily, but satisfiedly. It wasn't until that moment that he realized he didn't have the most remote idea of what to say to her. He stared into her eyes, terror rising once again in him after the periodic break.

Knowing this was his last chance, he just said whatever flew into his clueless mind.

"Hermione. There is something very important I need to tell you," Ron began.

"Ron--" Hermione started nervously, with an anxious glance toward the lake.

"Hermione, this can't wait, okay? And whatever you do or think, don't interrupt me," Ron implored feelingly.

Apparently, Hermione understood the sincerity in his tone and answered, "Okay."

"I don't know why you are pulling this outrageous stunt, and as reluctant as I am to admit it, it is none of my business. Except...do you remember the other day in the common room, when you screamed at me that it doesn't matter who tells you that you are beautiful and appreciated, but instead that it is heartfelt and real?" Ron paused with a look asking her if she did remember. Hermione, taken aback by this announcement, didn't respond.

"It's okay, you can nod or something," Ron suggested, remembering vividly how he had just asked her not to interrupt his stream of revelation. Hermione nodded encouragingly.

"Well, I just wanted you to know, that, well, I think that you are beautiful. I think, no, I know that you are the most wonderful person I have ever met in my entire life, and the most that I will ever meet even if I live for a hundred years. Everything about you exhilarates me. The way you laugh, the way you smile, how you care so much for everyone you know. Even the little annoying things you do, like promoting spew, degrading Quidditch, jumping all over everyone when they break the rules, even though you are not the most perfect law-abider yourself. Don't waste your time on that inconsiderate abusive twit that out there waiting for you. You don't need him to know that someone appreciates you, someone cares for you, that someone watches everything you do in amazement and wonder. You have me, Hermione. You have me," Ron said wholeheartedly and honestly.

"I--I love you, Hermione. I really do."

She ogled at Ron in pure and unmistakable shock. Several nerve-racking moments later, when Hermione had came back to Earth, she looked straight into his hopeful eyes and said, "Come with me, Ron."

Ron, who had not been expecting this as a response, followed her nervously. He had no clue what she had up her sleeve, and he hated having to wait in agony over her opinion on his pronouncement. Hermione had turned around, and headed straight back into the school. She had trooped defiantly straight towards the Great Hall, where Ron saw his greatest enemy, the one he hated the most of all, Draco Malfoy.