Pretending to Care

Disclaimer: These characters belong to J.K.R. I'm just using them and not making money whilst doing so!

I want to thank CocoaChristy for helping me dust this off to make it presentable.

Draco couldn't get to sleep. The only thing that he could think about was Hermione's kisses. Her lips were very soft and perfectly plump. It was as if they were made for his mouth. As he'd watched her walk away from him, he'd realized that he wanted to kiss her again. That was something new for him. When he'd dated Pansy, he'd never wasted time on something as frivolous as snogging. Not when there was shagging to be had. Neither of them had been overly affectionate. They'd just accepted their fate and went with it. He'd never felt guilty about having sex with her. He'd thought that she would eventually be his wife. It was the way of things.

His father had been proud when he'd confided that they'd commenced that part of their relationship. His only advice had been to make certain that they took precautions. He could remember the entire conversation perfectly.

"I do not have a problem with you getting to know what's yours, Draco, but I do have a problem with needless pregnancies," Lucius said wisely. "Have a care with how you proceed. Be certain that precautions are taken. If something happens that shouldn't, I shall hold you responsible."

"Thank you for choosing her for me, Father," Draco said dutifully.

Draco sighed. He knew he would have to tell his father the truth about Pansy... and soon. In fact, he was surprised that his father hadn't owled him or visited the castle to have a word with him yet. "It's coming," he whispered sourly. That was one conversation that he was not looking forward to. He'd not allow his father to bully him. If he wanted to date Hermione, then he would. His father would simply have to accept it...no matter what he thought of her lineage. He was not a dolt in thinking that his father would dare disown him. No, his father wouldn't do that at this point in time. Not with the public's scorn and mistrust. They'd have a field day with his father if he turned out his only son.

My father need not know the truth behind our relationship. Not yet anyway. I just need to get out of being pushed to marry Pansy. That had been the worst part of the war's aftermath. He and his father had helped Dumbledore's Order, but the people still mostly mistrusted them, having been deceived with excuses once already in Voldemort's first reign. Draco knew his father wanted him to hurry into marriage so that he could unite the stained Malfoy name with the unsullied Parkinson name. It was also an excuse to throw a large party to mingle with those who spoke against the Malfoys. It would prove that the Malfoys still had clout and friends in high places to some doubters.

He hoped that Hermione would be down in the common room in the morning. He felt the need to prepare her for an impromptu visit from his father or a nasty bit of mail. It was unlikely that his father would seek out Hermione first, but he couldn't be too careful. His father wasn't above trying to intimidate others. What would Hermione think of his father if he did such a thing? Would she break and tell him the truth? Would she be upset? Finally dozing off, Draco's last thoughts were of Hermione's head on his shoulder as they'd looked out over the lake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ron couldn't resist talking to Pansy, especially seeing her alone in the common room. No others had come down from their dormitories yet. "When did you and Draco end things?" he blurted the moment he neared her.

She looked up, raising an elegant eyebrow and looking up from her magazine. "Pardon?"

"What's he doing with Hermione? I thought you were his girl," Ron said, plopping down next to her.

"Well, Weasley, he's recently told me that he's been seeing someone else and that he loves her." She smirked. "Trust me. I was surprised when I saw them walk in together."

"But I don't see how that's possible. I never saw them talking... unless they were exchanging insults! She spent nearly all of last year with Harry and me."

"Well, one time when she went to Diagon Alley without either of you, she helped him get away from a couple of Death Eaters. While they were hiding, they had a long talk, and he decided that maybe Mudbloods weren't so bad."

"Oi! Don't call her that!"

"Sod off. I'm only repeating what he said." She shrugged nonchalantly. "They felt it necessary to keep their relationship a secret because they knew that nobody would accept them. Don't worry. I will be watching, as will many others. If it turns out to be fake, I'm certain our parents will force us to marry."

Ron's face contorted in disbelief. "That's horrid. So she's been with him since last year." He shook his head. "I thought that maybe..."

"Do you love her?" Pansy asked wisely.

"I thought I did. I was going to ask her to be my girl," Ron admitted. "She used to love me, but I guess she got tired of seeing me with someone else and moved on. I wouldn't mind that she has someone. I just hate that it's him."

"Why is he so bad?" Pansy asked indignantly. "Because in my opinion, she's the one that's lacking in the relationship."

"Well, he's a right arrogant bastard, always going on about his father and being a pureblood." He grinned sheepishly. "No offense to you, I guess. You've not been rude for a while."

"Thanks," she said, adding, "I think."

Ron's cheeks turned red, and he stood. "Right then. Think I'll be going. Sort of hungry."

"All right, Ron," Pansy said, looking back down to her magazine.

"Er... Right... Pansy."

Ron walked away feeling relieved. Maybe Draco wasn't so bad for Hermione. No effing way! Hermione deserves better than Malfoy! I thought she had more sense than to fall for a git. He's probably just using her for sex. Bastard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Hermione exited her room, she was accosted by Ginny. "How could you?" the redhead asked angrily.

"How could I what?" Hermione asked, trying to prolong the inevitable.

"You know what I'm talking about! You could have told me that you were dating someone instead of lying about it! I could have broke the news to Ron and saved him the shock of seeing you with Malfoy!" Ginny's hands were on her hips, and her eyes were narrowed. She seemed to want to sort things out through arguing.

Hermione was in no mood. "I hadn't told anyone. The decision to finally let the school know was a mutual one."

"But you were in love with Ron!" Ginny said heatedly.

"I was. Hear that, do you? Was! I'm with Draco now. If you'll excuse me, I need to go to..."

"You are NOT excused!" Ginny said shrilly. "Something isn't right with this. Not two weeks ago you were on about how much of a prat Malfoy was, and now, you are his girl?"

"I couldn't say how charming I thought he was, could I? It was all part of a cover up. We only pretended to hate each other," she said. "And what the hell are you doing here anyway? These dormitories aren't yours!"

"Visiting," Ginny replied, spinning around and leaving Hermione standing in the doorway.

"Well, that went well," she grumbled before making her way down to the common room. To her surprise, Draco was standing at the bottom of the stairway. "Good morning," she said uncomfortably. "You've been here long?"

"Not very," he said, extending an hand to her. "I'd like a word before breakfast. Do you mind?"

She shook her head and noted that others were watching them with interest. She leaned forward to kiss his cheek, whispering, "They are watching."

He simply smirked and led her from their common room. Once alone in a corridor, he said, "I think my father likely knows by now... about us."

"Oh," she said, suddenly worrying about what Draco would have to endure because of her. "Do you think he'll force you to marry Pansy anyway? Will our plan still work?"

"He wouldn't dare try to force me...not after I firmly tell him that I intend to marry you." He swallowed. "I've told Pansy that we've been a couple for nearly a year. I hope you don't mind."

"How can we make that work?" she asked incredulously. Ron and her other friends would never buy it. She listened as he told her of the tale about Death Eaters following them, causing them to have to hide together and starting a secretive friendship. "Well, I guess that could work. That would be an excuse as to why I never told them about that."

"Right," Draco said. "I'll tell my father the same. This way he'll believe that I have true feelings for you. A year is a long investment in someone in this day and age."

She smiled and nodded. "It is." Her brow creased as she thought of something. "How did Pansy take this?"

Draco laughed. "She ate it up. I think she was surprised that it was you, but then, I got the feeling that she was glad. It'll likely make it easier to cry to her father. She can pretend to be hurt to not be chosen over a Mu... er... Muggle-born. The old man dotes on her. He'll likely let her take her time and choose her next fiancé. The man never was able to stand up to my father, but this will give him extra ammunition. I'll bet he's glad of it."

Annoyed, Hermione said, "I think that the prejudices in this world are horrible. So what if I'm not from your lot! I'm still as good with magic as any of you. It just takes practice and study!"

"I didn't say you weren't."

"But that's how you used to feel!"

"It was," he said, unable to deny her accusation.

She pulled her hand from his. "I hate that."

"It's not how I feel about you now," he drawled quietly.

"What do you feel now?"

"I think that maybe we..."

Ron rounded the corner. "Oi, look who it is! You two are going to miss breakfast if you don't stop snogging in the corridor!"

"We're not snogging," Hermione said in annoyance, hating that Ron had interrupted.

"Yet," Draco said, pulling her back to him. "I think Weasley wants a bit of a show." He pressed his lips to hers.

Feeling uncomfortable, Hermione pushed him away. "I won't put on a show for anyone." She glowered at Ron for a moment before hurrying away. She could hear them shouting insults at each other until she was a couple of flights down.

"What have I gotten myself into?" she asked aloud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During breakfast, Hermione noticed that many students were still staring at her and whispering. She was glad that Ron had eaten already. Ginny's scornful glances were enough to put up with. Deciding to leave, she hurriedly ate some toast and made her way to her Ancient Runes class. When she walked out, Draco was waiting in the corridor for her.

"Walk you to class?" he asked.

She noticed that others had stopped to watch. Nosey buggers! "Sure," she said, smiling. "About earlier..."

"Say nothing. I was wrong. I was just trying to get Weasley mad," he said unapologetically. "Can't resist."

"Well, I don't like the way he's acting, but I don't want to hurt him any more than necessary," she said crossly. Suddenly, she found herself pulled into the entrance of another corridor off the main one.

"Go with it," he urged in a whisper before his lips descended to hers.

Hermione wanted to shove him away, but she was afraid that Pansy was headed in their direction. It wouldn't do for her or any of her friends to see her pushing Draco away. She felt his tongue tracing the length of her bottom lip, so she parted her lips, allowing its entrance.

This kiss was unhurried, enabling her enjoy the feel of his soft lips against hers. She could taste cinnamon on his tongue and wondered if he could taste the orange flavor of the candy she'd chewed moments earlier. When she felt him ending the kiss with a final brush of his lips against hers, she whimpered, causing him to resume the kiss. Draco began moving his lips against hers eagerly, pressing his body more firmly against her. She felt the strap of her book bag slide from her shoulder and down the length of her arm. The heavy bag hit the floor with a thud.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked a silky, masculine voice.

Hermione pushed Draco away and stooped to pick up her book bag. Draco coolly said, "Hello, Professor Snape. My girlfriend and I were talking about our Arithmancy assignment, and I couldn't control myself."

Snape's eyebrows rose as he looked from Draco to Hermione. "Is that so?"

Hermione nodded, unable to look into his dark eyes. She was relieved when Draco said, "I suppose we'd better be off, or we'll be late."

"Indeed," Snape said, sweeping aside and watching them through narrowed eyes.

Draco quickly led Hermione down the corridor and laughed when he was sure Snape couldn't hear him. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"Er... Yes," Hermione said. "Why did you kiss me?"

"Oh," Draco began casually, "Weasley told me that Pansy claims to be watching us. She is afraid that our parents will force us to marry anyway if they think this is a ruse. I figure that we should do things like that often enough to make it look real. When I saw Snape coming, I thought we should give it a go."

"What?" she asked incredulously. "You purposely snogged me in front of Snape?"

"Well, he is one of my father's closest friends. He's probably owling him as we speak."

"But I thought you didn't want your father to know yet," Hermione said. "And we could have received detention!"

"Detention? Ha! I didn't think he would give us any. I was right." He laughed at her horrified expression. "Might be better for Father to know sooner rather than later... from another source." Draco shrugged. "Come. After class, we can go to lunch together."

"Can we not go to the Great Hall? I'm sure Dobby would be willing to give us some food if we go down to the kitchen." Hermione looked away. "Everyone keeps staring at me and whispering. Even my friends are treating me differently. I hate it."

"Whatever you'd like, Hermione." He smiled and took her hand, pulling her the rest of the way to class.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on. You have to get closer than that." Draco grinned wickedly. "I want to put my arm around you while you read to me. That should look real cozy."

"This all just feels strange to me," Hermione said. "Look at all the people down here."

"Since we've started this publicly, they've been talking more. I noticed that yesterday." He gave her a mocking smile. "Come here, my love. Let us show these berks how to coexist peacefully."

She slapped his arm playfully and plopped down next to him. "Yes, dear," she said, using a disgustingly sweet tone. She pulled her Arithmancy book from her bag and settled back against him, allowing him to put his arm about her as she read their chapter aloud. After a while, she asked, "Do you think this is truly helping?"

"Yes, everyone has noticed and will comment on it to others," he said, moving somewhat.

"Am I hurting you?" she asked.

"Not really. My arm has gone to sleep."

She scooted away from him and leaned against the arm. Before she knew what was happening, he was stretching out and putting his head upon her lap. "Are you comfortable?" she asked incredulously.

"Quite," he said. "Continue reading." He closed his eyes, and she began reading again reluctantly.

It didn't take long for her to realize that he'd gone to sleep. His breathing was even and not exactly loud enough to be called a snore. Gently, she placed the book aside and boldly gazed down at his face. She traced the line of his jaw and his pointy chin with her finger, stopping to brush back a long lock of blond hair from his cheek. She smirked as she thought, The first time I touched this cheek was back in third year when I slapped him. Unable to resist, she traced his nose, thinking its slope graceful. How had she ever thought him ugly? Being this close to his nearly flawless, pale skin made her think of him as one of those unblemished portraits of young princes...haughty, regal, arrogant, and beautiful all in one.

It would be so easy for me to really care about him, especially with us... getting along like this. He's only doing this because he has to. I need to remember that. Regardless of her thoughts, she smiled as he turned on his side, nestling his face against her stomach. Her hand immediately went to his hair, running her fingers through its silky tresses. She wished that her own would be so smooth and fine. Snorting at the fact that she would envy Malfoy's hair, she looked up to find her two closest friends watching her.

Harry seemed disappointed that she and Draco were together in such a way. Ron seemed furious. Harry shrugged as Ron stood and angrily brushed by Lavender, who was trying to talk to him. Hermione flushed guiltily and looked away. I'm so sorry, Ron and Harry. All of this will be over in a few weeks. She looked at Draco's relaxed face. Will I be able to remain detached of your charms?

Draco opened his eyes and was watching her intently. He seemed to be searching her soul. It made her wonder if he'd practiced Legilimency with Professor Snape. Undaunted, she continued to gaze into the cool, gray intensity, hand still tangled in his hair. She noticed immediately that his eyes no longer seemed cold and uncaring. They'd changed. Would it be possible for him to care for me? So soon?

"I think... I need to go to bed," Hermione said softly. "It's been a long day."

"All right," he agreed, not moving aside.

"You'll... er... have to move."

"Can I come up to your room?" he asked quietly.

Panicking, she blurted, "I think not."

He rose immediately, fixing his rumpled robes and smoothing down his hair. Hermione quickly gathered her book and her bag. "I'll just go up then."

Draco surprised her by leaning forward and pressing his lips chastely against hers. "Night."

"Night," she whispered, watching him walk towards the stairway that led to his dormitory. She swallowed thickly and breathed a sigh of relief. What had he meant about coming up to her room? Did he simply want to walk her up? Did he mean that he wanted to stay the night with her? "Hmph," she groused. He will find out that I'm not as easy as Pansy. There will be no sexual arrangements between us.

Harry caught her by the elbow before she was able to escape. "Hermione, what's going on? Did something change?"

"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "We're only trying to put on a show." She nodded to Pansy and Millicent. "It seems they are watching us closely to see if it's all a game. We've decided to give them something to talk about. Hopefully, they will carry the news to his father soon, and that will be one less thing for him to worry on." She felt tears well in her eyes. "Ron? Is he all right?"

"Hurting," Harry said bluntly. "I was worried it would send him right back to Lavender. She's no good for him. Tonight, she was trying her best to talk to him again, but he told her to leave him alone. Maybe he's finally learned to keep away from her."

"I only wish things could be different."

"I know."

"Too much time passed for us. You know?" She desperately wanted Harry to understand. "Do you think I'm wrong, Harry?"

He shrugged. "I don't know what would have been worse for him." He smiled and guided her up the stairs towards her dormitory. "I'm afraid for you, Hermione. You really seemed... taken with him earlier. You should have seen the expression on your face."

She grinned wickedly. "Honestly? I couldn't believe how peaceful and nice he seemed while asleep. I mean, look at all the rubbish he put us through in the past! He looked so innocent, and it amused me."

"You're falling for him."

"No," she said guardedly. "I just hope he stays like this... even after we part ways. I quite like this Draco. Is that too much to ask for? Maybe we could all be friends."

"Good night, Hermione," Harry said. "I think I'll go see where he's gone off to."

"Night," she said as she began moving up the second flight of stairs. Was it too much to ask? There would be nothing wrong with staying in his life, especially if he remained personable. Careful, Hermione. It's only been a couple of days, and you're already wondering about the future.

Southern's Notes: Harry can see her feelings. Hermione will see them soon enough.

Christy's Notes: Well, it seems to me the only person Hermione is fooling is herself!