The Hidden Lake

The Hidden Lake

Chapter 2: Blaise's Plan

"Don't worry Draco," Blaise smiled and got a devilish look in his eyes. "I've got a plan."

"Do you now?" Draco eyed the boy suspiciously. "It wouldn't have to do with any illegal magic now would it? I told you after father was taken away I wanted to get as far away from that stuff as I could. Look at me, look what that stuff has done to me. I can barley imagine what Hermione would say if she ever found out I used the Dark Arts to gain her attention. No more Dark Arts mate, it'll ruin our lives, and I've already lost a good part of my life to it. You know that."

"I know, no more Death Eater wannabe's for us mate; not that we have to worry about that anymore. No; I am talking about some good old fashioned cunningness. We are in Slytherin you know; it's our nature to be sneaky."

"Alright, out with it then."

"Well you know my cousin don't you? I believe you had a run in with her last year?" Blaise smirked; Draco was still touchy about the fact that he was so busy watching Hermione leave with Professor Umbridge when he was supposed to keep a few Gryffindors under control, that he didn't even see Ginny aim her wand at his face until he was covered almost entirely in bat bogies.

"That Ravenclaw with the creepy eyes? How can I forget, I swear she can see into your soul that one. OOH gives me the creeps. What's her name again, Loony?"

"Luna," Blaise spat. "She's family you know. I don't poke fun at your parents do I? And besides, she's not creepy she's eccentric."

Draco rolled his eyes. Blaise was always quick to defend any member of his family; no matter how weird. "Anyways, back to this brilliant plan of yours...."

"Oh yeah; well Luna, being the darling, helpful girl she is, just so conveniently happens to like a certain friend of yours with red hair that has just succeeded in stealing your woman. OUCH" Draco punched Blaise in the chest. "Fine I won't tell you then. Come up with your own bloody plan." Blaise muttered, "Offer him my help and he has the nerve to deck me...."

"Well if you wouldn't offend me, I wouldn't be so keen on hurting you now would I?" Blaise agreed. "Now that that is settled; please, continue."

"Alright. Where was I, ah yes; Luna spent all summer telling me about how much she fancied the weasel. Said she would do anything to get him. Well almost anything; she's got a soft spot for Ginny and Hermione; something about them accepting her even though she's an outcast and that she wouldn't try to go back on their friendship for a guy. I guess it's a girl thing." Blaise shook his head and Draco laughed at him. Apparently his best friend just couldn't imagine giving up on a girl for a guy's friendship instead. "Now Luna, she's a pretty decent girl, smart, pretty, and has a uh... quirky personality. She has got a bit of mysteriousness about her that a lot of guys find attractive. Once you get passed the big eyes and those stupid magazines, she's a great catch. Plus, she's growing into a beautiful woman. Well you know how the weasel feels about women don't you mate?"

Draco nodded with comprehension; "'if she ain't got it, I don't want it.' Feisty little thing ain't he. Sounds a bit chauvinistic don't you think?"

"Exactly. Now Hermione," Blaise wanted to test the waters before diving to deep, Draco could be a real bitch at times, "while she is perfect," Draco nodded with a supreme smirk on his face, "she has certain; shall we say 'traits;' that weasel could find unattractive." Draco looked confused. "She isn't just a girl, she has steady mind, the kind that us males are afraid of. She doesn't feel the need to look attractive, because she knows one day, someone will love her not because she is a trophy to be displayed, but for being an amazing person who can motivate her partner more than in a sexual way. Which in turn works to your advantage, not the weasels."

Draco looked impressed. "Where did you get all this stuff? Can you read minds, or did you take a course on the workings of a females mind or something?"

"You know I'd hate to admit this," Blaise looked uncomfortable and glanced out the window to ward off any ease droppers, "but when Luna was visiting, she had no one else to talk to so she pestered me. For the hours I would have to 'play host,' I would look through some of her magazines at the models, and I noticed that they have all these articles about how girls think and why they think that way. It's amazing; we spend our entire lives trying to understand them, and everything we need to know they publish monthly. Women!"

"Okay, that's great and all, but what does this have to do with Ron and Hermione?" Draco was a bit bewildered.

"Think about it mate. Do you think Hermione is going to be one to keep him interested with the clothes she wears and the way she acts? She may not be a prude, but she would rather fail all her classes then be a floozy. And with the weasel approaching sixth year, he's bound to notice the girls who aren't covering up next to his conservative girlfriend. Guys think with their dicks more often than with their heads if you know what I mean." Draco nodded. "If every other female in school were to flaunt their gifts right in the weasels face do you think he could contain himself?"

A wicked grin flashed across Draco's face. "No. Hermione is too dignified to go around in minis and crop tops, and if the weasel were to be tempted with what he undoubtedly wants, and it was what Hermione wouldn't give it to him, how could he resist? It's brilliant!"

"Exactly." Blaise looked extremely pleased with himself.

"But where exactly does Luna fit into all of this?"

"Lets just say that she had a good summer; a really good summer; not to mention she would do just about anything to get her weasel." Blaise looked triumphant. "I must say when a girl is determined there is hardly anything that will hold them back from taking what they want."

"Wait a second, what exactly did you mean when you said she 'had a good summer?'"

Blaise looked slightly ill. "Promise you won't tell." Draco nodded as Blaise got up and checked the hall again. "Well, Luna's dad had to go out of town for that paper he makes and Luna was dropped of at our place in the middle of the night. Now, usually my mom will send me a note or something so when I wake up, I'll know not to do anything embarrassing and to keep an eye out for her. Well, my mom forgot to tell me and that morning I woke up and walked into the bathroom only to find my little cousin standing there in nothing but her knickers getting ready to take a bath. I swear I don't know who screamed louder, me or her. I thought I would have to memory charm myself."

By now Draco was practically gasping for air he was laughing so hard. When he finally composed himself he asked, "But how do you know the weasel would go for it, I mean she is a bit different from Hermione don't you think?"

"Draco, I saw my cousin in a very compromising state. Let's just say that I can't truly think of her as my 'little' cousin any more. If there is remotely one fiber of the weasels being that is male, I have no doubt in my mind that he will be attracted to her."

"That good, eh?"

Blaise nodded wide-eyed, "better than I thought possible. As much as I hate to say this, if she weren't my cousin, I would definitely find her attractive. Eww" He shivered at the thought.

"I guess I can kind of understand that." Draco lied to make his friend more comfortable. "It is a great plan, and it could definitely work. Do you think Luna would be up for it though? You said yourself that she liked Hermione."

"I think so. I could trick her into thinking that Hermione is spreading rumors about her, but her hormones might just win out in the end."

"Oh. So we can count Luna in then." Blaise looked extremely pleased with himself, but a distressing thought suddenly entered Draco's mind.

"What is it; I thought you said it was a good plan?" Blaise asked.

"It is. There is only one problem with it though Blaise..." Draco looked a bit nervous.

"Oh really, and what would that be?"

""What if the weasel really does like her, and isn't with her because she would be a; shall we say; more 'comfortable' partner? What if he isn't a horny bastard?"

"Oh shit; I didn't think of that."

The Hidden Lake

Chapter 3: Draco, nice?

The Hogwarts Express was finally approaching Hogsmeade, and Hermione was anxiously looking out the window. She had forgotten how beautiful the castle was. Lavender had joined her, Harry, and Ron shortly after 'the kiss,' when she realized that she was no longer speaking to her only close friend. Harry, who was more than thrilled at this arrangement, was able to hear the story first hand from Lavender, and was brave enough to even hug her when she started to cry.

While boys left them to change, Hermione decided to befriend the girl she hadn't truly given a chance. "So Lavender, besides your party, did you have a good summer?"

"I guess so. Seamus would always take me places, but after the breakup, I didn't really feel like doing much of anything. And to tell the truth, it wasn't working out with us anyways."

Hermione looked confused. "What do you mean; I thought you guys really liked each other? Ever since fourth year and the Yule ball you seemed inseparable?"

"Well Seamus and I were close and everything," she seemed to be searching for something; like she didn't fully understand it herself; "but it almost seemed like we should have just been friends or something. I should have dumped him a while ago."

"Why's that?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Hermione nodded. "Now I would never tell Parvarti this, but I started to realize I had feelings for someone else; and I didn't know what to do. In the end I stayed with Seamus because I was afraid the other guy wouldn't like me back. Do you think I am absolutely terrible?"

"Absolutely not; that is the same way I felt about liking Ron; better him not knowing I liked him then have him turn me down."

"Thanks Hermione."

"For what?"

"For this; I know Parvarti and I haven't been the best of friends with you, but I always thought that you cared about your studies so much that you weren't really a girly girl." Hermione laughed. "And I just wanted to let you know that if you ever need to talk, I'm not going to spill any of your secrets; that is something she would do."

Hermione laughed, "Okay, deal. Oh hey guys." Ron and Harry had finally made their way back to the cabin.

As the train lurched to a stop, she, Harry, Ron, and Lavender decided to find a carriage to take up to the school. Harry and Lavender; much to Harry's liking; would wait for Ron and Hermione to finish their prefect duties before riding together.

As Hermione was clearing some second years away from the train, she was knocked down as someone ran into her back. When trying to grab hold of the side of the train, she leaned too far forward, twisted around and slammed her head on the ground. She could vaguely hear someone calling her name right before she lost consciousness.

Where am I, what happened, and why do I feel like I've been run over by a hippogriff? The last thing Hermione remembered was leaving the train, and now she felt as though she were on a buggy; and with every bump, her head and back would ache tremendously.

"Oh thank God she's alright," said a boy. "I didn't think she would ever wake up."

Hermione tried to sit up, but her head started to spin and she fell sideways, onto someone. When she heard the voice, she looked around and could almost make out two blurry figures; one in front of her, and one that she was currently laying on.

"You alright there?" He said. "That was quite a nasty fall you had. How are you feeling?"

"Where am I? What happened?"

"Well, you were ushering some second years to the carriages when a couple of boys ran by and knocked you over. You slammed your head pretty hard on the ground. It's a good thing I noticed you fall; no one else seemed to." Hermione tried to sit up again when the boy pushed her back down and began to stroke through her hair. "It's okay; I'm going to take you to the nurse as soon as we get to school. You'll be fine." His voice was calm and reassuring; she began to fall asleep when he suddenly sat her up. "Oh no you don't, you may have a serious concussion; no falling asleep till Pomfrey gives you a once over. Understand?"

"Uh-huh." She leaned against him as he gently ran his fingers over her arms.

The boy whispered, "Hermione......" She couldn't help but fall asleep in his arms.

Hours later a very confused Hermione awoke in the hospital wing with a horrible headache. Seconds later the nurse came bounding towards her with four bottles and a glass in her arms.

"It's about time missy, had us worried to death you did; you must be in a lot of pain."

"What happened, how did I get here?" She said noticing a large bump on the back of her head.

"Apparently, a couple of boys were rough housing each other when one of them was pushed into you. As I hear it, you tried to stop yourself from falling, but instead managed to hurt yourself worse. I'd say you've been out for five and a half hours now."

Hermione was shocked, her first day back to Hogwarts and she had missed everything.

"Don't worry dear, you'll be fine, it's lucky that boy found you when he did; you could have easily been left behind. Here, turn around so I can clean that nasty cut on your head." Hermione hissed as Madame Pomfrey cleaned her wound. "Take some of this; it will make your head feel better."

Hermione swallowed the green liquid as she was told and found the taste quite to her liking. "Am I going to have to stay here overnight?"

The nurse looked her over once more before setting her free. "Just be glad that boy saw you and decided to bring you up to the castle for help."

"Oh, when did Ron leave?"

"Mr. Weasley?" Madame Pomfrey looked lost. "What would he be doing here?"

"Wasn't he the one to bring me in?" Hermione was sure that her boyfriend would be the one to take care of her and almost fainted in shock at her next words....

"No dear, it was Mr. Malfoy; he came bursting in my door carrying you in his arms. I had been talking to the headmaster when Mr. Zabini said Draco was in here waiting for me and that you were hurt. I came right away. I had him set you in one of the beds and the poor dear was just sitting next to you holding your hand as I began to examine your wounds. Said he tried to keep you awake but you passed out on the way over here. I made him leave about an hour ago. He had refused to leave you, but he needed his rest so I sent him on his way."

"Malfoy?"

"Yes dear. Now be on your way or I will have to keep you from your classes tomorrow."

She said in a mocking tone. "Just come by if you start to feel dizzy or get exceptionally bad headaches OK. Off you go."

Hermione walked back to the common room in complete shock. "Malfoy? Malfoy had found me and taken me to the nurse? Malfoy had stayed by my side while I was unconscious? Malfoy was worried about me?"

Right!

As Hermione approached the Fat Lady, she realized she never learnt the password. She was about to walk back to the infirmary when she noticed someone slouched in the corner.

"Ron?" he didn't move. "RON" She started to poke him repeatedly. When he still didn't wake up, "RON" She grabbed his shoulders and shook him awake.

"Wha? Oh Hermione we were so worried. OUCH, what was that for?" She slapped him across the face.

"You left me...."

"Hold on now, no one left you." Hermione had a dangerous look about her. "Listen alright; I had started walking over to where we said we'd meet Harry when Dennis ran over to me saying you had hurt yourself and that another prefect had taken you up to school. We were going to go find you but Dumbledore told us that you were OK and that you were asleep. I knew you didn't know the password so I waited up for you." He scooped her up into a big hug and kissed her forehead. "I was so scared 'Mione. I wanted to go and get you, but Madame Pomfrey is scary when she is in her element."

Hermione laughed, "It's all right Ron. Thanks for waiting up for me."

He grinned at her, "Hey, what are boyfriends for?" He scooped her in his arms and carried her into the common room. He sat her down at the foot of the girl's staircase, kissed her cheek and walked up to his own room.

Hermione had changed into her pajamas, climbed into bed, and was a second away from falling asleep when a little voice asked herself,

'Malfoy?'

After finding a hidden lake, Hermione is driven into the hands of her true love. Many, ships, heartbreak, romance, and betrayal.