Operation Humiliation

As unnoticeably and calm as he could, Draco Malfoy glanced at his watch. His cold heart beat a bit faster as he realized that it was time to meet Hermione. Suavely, he bid his fellow diners good-bye and headed towards the titanic oak doors that would lead him to the lake.

Every few steps, a pair would lean together to undoubtedly gossip. Being in the middle of dinner, the only student on his feet, and unflanked by the enormous Crabbe, and Goyle, there was no doubt in their minds where he was going, and whom he would meet. Staring straight ahead, he noticed happily that it was getting darker outside, and slightly chilly, proposing several inviting moments in his arrogant mind. By the night's end, Hermione Granger would be his, he thought satisfiedly, all his. As he passed the Gryffindor table, however, a small pang of guilt reminded him of another girl that he might like to be escorting into the romantic air gallivanting around outside. Before he could think, he glimpsed her on his right, staring avidly at him with a mixture of what looked like anxiety and jealousy, sitting unusually close to Harry, who was whispering something in her ear.

Aww, look at that. The Weasley's jealous of Granger! Funny thing, both of Potter's best female companions crave for me, and he knows it too...

Ginny Weasley boiled angrily as he passed, Harry's murmur of, "I wonder if he'll really tell her? I sure hope he does," echoing relentlessly throughout her mind. As potentially dangerous and nerve-racking as this whole ordeal had been, she envied Hermione guiltily, because it seemed so romantic and dreamy, and oh how she wished that it would happen to her, having the man she adored endlessly (ahem, Harry) rush to her proclaiming his love and hopefully sweeping her off her feet...and live happily ever after, just what was undoubtedly happening to Ron and Hermione at this very moment...

Shaking herself out of her reverie (and wiping her mouth as naturally as she could), she nervously watched Draco make his way towards the door, except there was something blocking his way.

"Ah, hello my dear Hermione, I was just coming to meet you," he announced as coyly as ever, but his tone had gotten progressively quieter and agitated, cautiously noting a red-in-the-face and suspicious Ron Weasley tailing her closely. Then he looked at her.

She was positively beautiful. An elegant gown of light purple accented her perfectly. Everything about her was magnificent.

"Let's be on our way, shall we?" Draco asked cautiously. At this, the whole congregation turned and gazed in wonder and anticipation, barely on the edge of their seats, but no more than Harry and Ginny. Ron merely stared at darling Hermione, unsure of what to do or say. One thing's for sure, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"You know, Draco, I have been doing some real thinking," Hermione declared dramatically, as she took several steps toward him. "About my destiny. My kind of career, my kind of home, but most of all, the kind of man I want to love and who will love me back. In my eyes, there is only one option. A brutally honest, unwaveringly loyal, a little over-protective, selfless, brave, caring, funny and entertaining, who makes me feel warm and cozy at even the thought of him, who loves me so much he'll fight even with me," she finished with a chuckle, as Ron flushed a deep fuchsia. "If I had the choice, I'd choose him every day of eternity over you, so positive and defiant that there wouldn't be a second thought in my mind. When you share a love that real, it is all you need to live off of, something all the money, fame and power in the world couldn't hold a candle to. I am among one of the luckiest girls to ever live because I possess this in incalculable and immeasurable quantities. You can have you luscious riches, ritzy mansions, top-of-the-line equipment, the knowledge that every creature in our world would recognize your face, and keys to open every door to get exactly what you want every time, and I will have my love, and I will be richer, happier, and more satisfied than you ever could be. I will not hide it anymore. I have realized my foolishness, and I beg anyone hearing this to listen closely: Don't ever love someone without there knowing, for they might be doing the same. No matter who it is, or what the situation or what unpredictable consequences might ensue, always tell them," Hermione advised wisely, while Ginny and Harry both squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, completely oblivious of each other's identical movements. Meanwhile, Hermione continued, "He is the one. Ron Weasley, the only man I could ever consider loving. Not you. Not ever you. I could never sell my heart to such a scheming, arrogant, cold-hearted (if you have one), slimy, smooth-talking, seductive, cheating, manipulative, scum-of-the-earth devil, like you," with every one of these last words she grew increasingly angry, passionate and honest. "Never," she added with an audible whisper. Ron was so still he could have been mistaken for a statue, except the fact that his eyes were infinitely ablaze. His custom lopsided smile was attempting to show, and his eyes were practically out of his head.

"Draco Malfoy, I hope that you live a long life. A life so absorbed in terror, fear, humiliation, and grief that you will wish you were never born. I hope every unfortunate girl that crosses your path in your pathetic existence senses your cunning and sly personality immediately and avoids you like the plague, rather than get sucked not your cruel, sick, and traitorous practices." The look she gave him was deadly. She turned around proudly and came face to face with Ron.

"I love you too, Ron," she murmured, and their joyful faces broke into unimaginably and unfathomably happy grins. Gracefully, Hermione threw her arms around his neck as he pulled her towards him by the waist, and their eyes met for a second. The stare broke and she fell into his open and loving arms as they embraced and had true love's first kiss, passionate and honest, real and true.

Immediately, the entire school burst out into uncontrollable and riotous applause, cheers and stomps.

None other than the Gryffindor table, so ecstatic and enthusiastic you would have thought they were knighted the Rulers of the World. Lavender and Parvati were sobbing onto each other's shoulders, clapping whenever they had the strength. Seamus led the group onto standing on their chairs, screaming and cheering with the rest, which everyone was quick to follow. Up at the staff table, which had surprisingly remained quiet and uninterruptive, Hagrid was booming, "I knew they would do it! Good for you, you two!" A shock to all, Professor McGonagall was dabbing her eyes with her napkin, while Dumbledore was watching with much amusement, and lifted his wand slowly, flicked it as if he was just stretching his wrist, and magically, as far as the eye could see tiny stars were flaring up, emitting tiny golden sparks as the traditional dinner candles flames dissolved to showcase Ron and Hermione, who by the way were absolutely oblivious.

Harry and Ginny weren't applauding, cheering, stomping, dancing on the tables (as Seamus had progressed to doing), screaming or banging their silverware. Each was heavily contemplating Hermione's sage advice, and whether to apply it to their delicate circumstances, and decided, why not?

Perfectly in sync, Harry and Ginny faced each other and nervously said, "I love you!" In sync again, they were both extremely taken aback at the other's proclamation. "What did you say?" They questioned in amazement.

"I love you, Harry!" Ginny shouted light-heartedly, over-whelmed with relief at him feeling the same way.

"I love you, Ginny!" Harry shouted back. Ginny threw herself on him and they kissed each other senseless.

Ron and Hermione, unglued their lips and shared another loving look, radiating contagious love, joy, relief, excitement...

Their gaze landed on the snogging pair, which surprised them both immensely, but thankfully. Hermione burst out laughing in pure joy and ecstasy. Ron looked very offended, and looked pumped enough to tell them off, yet Hermione noticed this quickly and whispered, "Ron, be happy for them." He smiled gratefully and whooped enthusiastically as more and more saw the new pair.

I bet you are wondering what has happened with dear Draco? He was rather red in the face, in total disbelief about the incident before him. Since the Slytherins couldn't care less about two people admitting their undying love for each other, they began ridiculing him, booing, jeering, throwing several amounts of food (tomatoes, chicken, and mashed potatoes among the airborne projectiles), and many other humiliating actions, you are free to use your imagination. Having a Weasley being chose instead of me has to be the lowest insult I could conceive, leave it to Granger to think of something like that, he thought. Finally thawing from his frozen moment, his cold eyes still focusing rather intensely on Ron and Hermione, he shifted to his other girl, his back-up. But no, she was preoccupied, too. Unsure of what to do, say, think, he stumbled backwards and continued stumbling down the hall, and wasn't seen for three days.

* * *

With Ron and Hermione's fantastic love discovered to each other, life would never be the same to those who knew them and appreciated their presence. They were rarely seen and weren't sporting enormous and permanent grins, but it wasn't that different. They still argued and fought, but they were still the same Ron, and the same Hermione, which as much as Harry and Ginny enjoyed the new couple, they adored the old ones more than anything. Well, maybe except each other. Surprisingly, Ron accepted Harry and Ginny as a couple rather easily, more like embraced the idea with colossal enthusiasm.

Several days later, the group sat down to discuss the memorable day. Finally, Ginny announced, "Well, I guess we can call Operation Humiliation a success, right?"

"What?" Ron said loudly.

Hermione, Harry and Ginny exploded with laughter.

"You explain this, Hermione, it was your little scheme," Harry reminded her.

She sighed in exasperation, and began, "Well, it all started one day when Ginny and I were very annoyed with Malfoy, and..."

So, Draco never bothered them again. He still hated them, and hated them more and more every moment that any of them entered his revenge-seeking imagination. So humiliated about being placed below a Weasley, nothing could ever make up for it.

Predictably, Hermione, Ron and Ginny dealt with many hardships throughout the rest of their life. Harry, just as predictably, had the hardest, cruelest, horrible experiences of all. But, they made it through, with each other at their sides.