"Did you think about what I said the other day?"
"Yes, Malfoy. I think we need to get something straight, though. Ron does not care about me. But I don't care about anyone else, so it would be pointless to pretend that I do."
"Draco, remember? My name is Draco. Don't make me sound like my goddamn father."
"Okay, Draco. Happy?"
"Better. But if you did pretend that you were going out with someone else, if he does care about you, you would know."
Suddenly, a light flicked on inside Hermione's brain. If she and Draco "went out" in front of Ron, he would be totally green with envy! He would be forced to admit his true feelings then! "Draco, I have a plan. But you're going to have to trust me."
"I already do." As if he was reading her mind, he held out his hand and took her small, soft hand in his. They walked into Potions hand-in-hand, and as they walked in the classroom, a collective gasp went up around the room. Their brilliant plan had began.
* * *
Ron cornered Hermione later that day.
"Malfoy? You're going out with Malfoy? Is this what you wanted to tell me last night?"
"His name is Draco, Ron."
"I don't care if his name is John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, I'm still going to call him Malfoy."
"Fine! Go right ahead!"
"Honestly, Hermione, did you give this any thought at all? It's Draco Malfoy. He's got something up his sleeve this time. He's teased you since you graced the steps of Hogwarts. Why are you going out with him?"
"He's changed, Ron. It's nice to know that he, at least, could tell me how he feels! Unlike some people." She turned and strode off, and was feeling somewhat joyous. Her plan was working, and Ron was working himself into a tizzy.
Harry was waiting for her in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Hermione, you really did it this time. Ron can barely see straight, thinking about you and Malfoy. . .dating."
"Come on, Harry. I'm not asking for you to intercede. I'm asking for your support. And I'm asking you to tell me if Ron says anything. I don't need to tell you that this is just a hoax to get Ron, but I need to know when to activate my secret weapons."
"Fine. I will help you. But do you know what you're getting into? What if you really start to. . .like Malfoy. . .or something? This could get really complicated."
"Just leave it to me. And Harry? Don't worry so much."
At that moment, Parvati and Lavendar came in through the portrait hole and motioned for Hermione to join them. She followed them up to the dormitory.
* * *
The Traditional Christmas Ball was rapidly approaching. Hermione and Malfoy had made great progressions in their "relationship", and almost every Gryffindor besides Ron knew what was going on.
One particular morning, Malfoy had walked in the doorway to the Great Hall for breakfast, and Hermione had hurried to his side gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Harry had reported later that Ron had choked until he was red in the face and had to have Seamus Finnigan give him a whack on the back before he recovered.
"Hermione, why can't you just tell him? Can't you just come clean and confront him?"
"Harry, did it ever occur to you that I know what I'm doing? Give me a little more time. . .Ron will be right where I want him, and he will not know what hit him."
Hermione hoped that she really liked Ron. She had seen all the Muggle movies like "Gone With the Wind" and she wanted to feel that something when she kissed Ron. She wanted to see fireworks, and she wanted him to reciprocate. She just hoped that when the time came to reveal her true intentions, that her master plan would not come crashing down around her.