The Covert Mission

Part Six: The Covert Mission

"Their guards are up."

"Obviously."

"They won't eat these."

"Willingly."

"What's your solution then?"

"A covert operation."

"Brilliant."

"Indubitably."

"Who are you, Adverb Man?"

"Shut it, little brother."

A zipper appeared over the mouth of the younger freckled man. His brother rolled his eyes.

"Fine. What is it now?"

The zipper disappeared. "What are we going to do when they find out it was us?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Ronnikins wasn't wrong when he said she was scary. She's still scary. Scarier."

"Still think we should've used different test subjects?"

"Maybe, but I get that..."

"... they were the best choice? Least likely to get involved? The human equivalent of..."

"... oil and vinegar."

"These choccies will make us rich."

"What good is money when you're too busy watching your back to count it?"

"Stop worrying, wanker. The bookworm will forgive us. She always does."

"The baby Death Eater isn't a pansy."

The twins looked at each other and snickered.

"Rat-arsed Blaise tells the best stories."

"We could always blame it on the boss."

"You're a nutter. He's a god. We're already skating the thin edge with this little side project."

"Worst comes to worst... we take a little holiday..."

"... until things calm down."

They shook hands, grinning in agreement.

"Now, about that covert operation..."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione Granger sighed and looked across the table at a flabbergasted Ginny Potter. The remains of the Leaky Cauldron's pea soup sat ignored in a pot on the dented wood between them.

"And then I stomped on his toes and shoved my tongue in his mouth."

"And?"

"I nibbled his bottom lip, Gin. My lips were still tingling two hours later." Hermione swallowed nervously. "I don't know what to do. It's impossible. I think about him. Malfoy! I think about Malfoy all the time."

Ginny studied her best friend closely. Especially the deep red mark on her best friend's skin. "Is that a love bite on your neck?"

"Damn, the charm wore off?" Hermione rubbed at the spot gently. "No, it's from that stupid dry erase board." Ginny gave her a Molly look™. "Really."

"Have you ever felt like this before?"

"A pale imitation of this. With Ron. But I think that had more to do with the house-elves."

"House-elves are pretty sexy."

Hermione laughed, which turned into a groan that caused her to bang her head against the table.

"Just push him into a broom closet and snog him until he's out of your system," Ginny said calmly as she cast a Protego against the soup that was attempting to consume the head of her curly-haired friend.

"Sure thing, Gin," was the muffled reply. "Speaking of kisses..." Hermione looked up at her from the table's surprisingly comfortable surface.

"Do I think those are the twins' work?" Ginny quirked an eyebrow. "Does Harry love treacle tarts?"

"That's an answer."

"You know what they say, Hermione. Only nutters and unstable Gryffindors..."

"... like treacle, yes."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco Malfoy flicked paper clips into his SLYTHERINS LIKE IT SNEAKY coffee cup and blatantly ignored Zabini. Unfortunately, Blaise was ignoring Draco ignoring him and persisted in uttering uncomfortable observations.

"Not speaking French anymore, are we?"

Non, Blaise. Go away.

"She must have cornered you in the men's room."

Brilliant deduction, Sherlock. Ever tried to pee with a singing hard-on?

"I saw that flinch, Draco. She must be a good kisser."

Pinocchio and Draco sighed. The best.

"Stop moping, Malfoy. Most Slytherins have abandoned their principles for a lot less."

Draco glared at him. "I am not moping. I am ignoring you. There is a difference."

"You only flick paper clips when you're moping. And you know it's virtually impossible to ignore me, so cease putting undue strain on yourself trying to multi-task. It's not your forte."

"She multi-tasks. Brilliant, really, how she can avoid me and do her work at the same time." Draco sighed and rested his forehead on his desk blotter.

"Granger is not avoiding you."

"Is too." Draco's pout was slightly muffled by the folder on a possessed teakettle in Islington. "I've gone by her desk four times this afternoon. Never there. I'm starting to slosh again."

"She's standing right in front of you, prat." Zabini nodded at Hermione and sauntered away down the hall, heading towards the Archives.

"Ha ha, Zabini, pull the other one." Draco wiggled his forehead into a softer pile of folders and closed his eyes. Multi-tasking was tiring. Perhaps he'd take a bit of a kip.

"I can see you are very busy, Malfoy, so I won't linger." Draco's head came up so fast, dark spots danced a fandango in front of his eyes. Hermione was smirking at him. "I was just at lunch with Ginny Potter. She and I both think it's the twins that have been sabotaging the Kisses."

He shook his head a little to clear it. 'Why are you telling me this?"

"Well..." Hermione sat in the guest chair. "I want to catch them in the act and thought you might like to help."

"Help?"

"Ginny said they're going to plant some more Kisses at my desk tonight. She overheard them discussing it at the shop. We can set up a trap and capture them. I was hoping you might know a good curse or two." I was hoping we might have time for a snog or two. She endeavored to look completely innocent.

Draco did not notice the effort, as he was trying equally hard not to look excited.

"Yeah, sure. I can think of a couple of family curses that might do."

"Meet you here at eight? We can hide the stealth detectors and Extendable Ears and be clear away by nine."

"Nine?" Draco inquired, calculating absently.

"When Fred and George intend to deliver the goods."

"That's a bit of a wait, isn't it, Granger?"

"They might be early. I wouldn't want our surprise ruined." I wouldn't want our snog interrupted.

"All right. Here at eight."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Their fireplace blazed bright green. Fred kneeled by the hearth and greeted his sister with a cheery, "Wotcher, Red."

Ginny rolled her eyes at him and said, "They'll be there by eight."

"Thanks, Gin. That's a class friend you are, helping your mate find love."

"Well, Hermione did help me with Harry."

"That's right. I had forgotten the bookworm was the one who locked you two in the kitchen at Grimmauld."

"I hadn't." Ginny and Fred grinned at each other. "Of course, I'll expect ten percent of the Kisses' profit as well."

Fred beamed at her and mimicked wiping a tear from his eye. "You do us proud, Gin, you do."

"I love you too, Fred. Have fun tonight."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What time is it?"

"Eight thirty-two, Draco."

"Why are we in this closet again?"

"Because it has the best view of my desk." And because it's a snug fit in here. Hermione shifted a little, trying to get comfortable.

"Stop. Wiggling. Granger," Draco bit out.

Her lushly perky bum, encased in tight black leggings, "stealth wear," she had explained to his protruding eyes and slack jaw, rubbed against the placket of his navy trousers. Merlin. He couldn't stand much more of this. His hands itched to grab her by the shoulders and spin her around for a blistering snog. He almost groaned out loud, remembering the feel of her tongue against his and the way she had nibbled his lip.

Her breath tickled his throat. "I said I have to go pee!" She hissed. For the third time. Clearly, he wasn't interested. She had practically worn an embarrassing hole in her new leggings rubbing up against him for nothing. Nada. Zilch. Bupkis.

"So, go, Granger. Disillusion yourself first." Why was she glaring at him like that? He was just being cautious.

'I'll tap three times when I come back," she replied in a whisper that made Pinocchio begin to hum.

"Whistle if you need help," he answered and groaned as the door creaked shut.

When you meet temptation

pucker up and blow.

Shut it, puppet boy.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What time is..."

"... shhhh... did you hear that?"

"The... ummm... Disney song?"

"What?" Hermione craned her neck to look at him and brushed against his trousers again.

Blue Fairy?

"No. Something is moving in the hallway."

All three froze, nearly breathless, listening alertly. They heard it at the same time. A swish, then a faint buzzing noise. Draco flung open the door, and they both leapt out of the broom closet, mouths open in accusation.

The Disillusioned Kisses suddenly popped into visibility and buzzed straight into their mouths, melting instantly. The hapless duo was compelled to swallow, their eyes meeting in shared dismay.

A tiny incandescent blue and white banner caught their attention in the darkened hallway. NICE TRY, it said.

It was the last thing they saw before they passed out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: Song lyrics from Disney's Pinocchio "Give a Little Whistle" Performed by: Jimini Cricket (Cliff Edwards), Pinocchio (Dickie Jones), Music: Leigh Harline, Lyrics: Ned Washington.

Many thanks to my beta, Elyaeru. (This statement is endorsed by the League of Peruvian Subtitling Llamas.)

Originally posted to the Live Journal dramionedrabbles community for the 2008 St. Valentine's Day 7 Kisses Challenge.

Day 6 prompt: secret kiss.