Hunter and Prey

“I admit the situation is not ideal.” Draco was a logical man and began at the beginning. “But we cannot have everything our own way.” He caught Hermione’s sceptical eyebrow. “However much we might think so as children.” He conceded. “The tactic of keeping one’s mouth shut has been foiled by Weasley. The wizarding world runs on gossip and gossip will eat anything so we must feed it.”

“I was trying for the mushroom treatment.” She observed then clarified at his puzzled glance. “Keep it in the dark and feed it on shit.”

“My word, Granger, you are alluring when you’re vulgar.” Draco snickered. “But to continue, we offer the rumour mills the chaff of our choosing and thus have some control over their drivel.” His tone hardened. “As much as anyone can without throttling editors.” That strategy had grown in appeal as he had read again and again how his family were the source of all evil because they were seen to have somehow got away with it. “Your rabid solicitor will assist there.”

“I like Ms Meach.” Hermione defended her counsel.

“So do I. From a distance and well armoured.” He smirked. “However curbing the papers is only one aspect.” Draco regarded her for a moment and picked his words carefully. “There are many who will think it your just desserts to be in the condition you are in now. I dare say that was why Potter was so evasive in his explanation for why he was harassing my father.”

“I know I am not the most popular person in England.” She worked hard and risked herself and made sacrifices but she didn’t have the knack with people to make herself popular. Respected, yes. The same way Headmistress McGonagall was esteemed. A worthy example but not someone you invited to dinner parties. Hermione didn’t mind, much. She did not like large crowds or shallow conversations but she was tired of being a stereotype.

“You have more social cachet than you think. You just need to use it.” Draco adjusted his cuffs, getting down to business. “Distancing yourself from the werewolf rumour is vital. That sort of stigma is very difficult to shake once it becomes entrenched. It is one of the great fears of our society; the loss of control, the weakness, the madness. It ties in with our thinning blood. That’s why Greyback was so effective a terror weapon. Just the threat could break people.”

“Fear is a very effective persuader.” Hermione remembered Xeno Lovegood rattling around in his house when Luna had been kidnapped. He had been willing to do anything, out of fear. Neither of them said anything for a while, lost in the past. It was Draco who rediscovered his voice first. He found the sound of it reassuring.

“If Weasley hadn’t spilled his innards like an overripe pumpkin, you could have pretended the pregnancy resulted from a failed attempt at reconciliation.” He had done some despicable things in his youth but he had never kissed and told. “You need a willing wizard. Potter is out, I understand he just inflicted another of his progeny on the world. The other Weasleys won’t side against their brother.” Draco thought they were not much of a loss. “You might have persuaded Longbottom. He always did what you told him in school but he can’t be relied upon to lie.”

“Which you can.” Hermione interjected. He shrugged.

“A survival trait.” Draco regarded her critically. “You know I am speaking sense. Most of our peers have paired off or cannot be depended upon to uphold this charade. We needn’t paint the town red but we will have to show ourselves together occasionally.”

“I begin to see what you are getting out of this.” Although she was not a natural schemer that did not mean she couldn’t give Machiavelli a run for his florins. “You hope to ride my coattails out of the mire. You think if we’re seen arm in arm you’ll be able to rebuild your reputation.” Hermione gave him the benefit of the doubt and believed he had not started the day with this plan. However Draco was certainly willing to pimp the opportunity for all it was worth.

“I could plead altruism. I could plead penance. But I doubt you would believe either.” He gave her a devil’s smile. “I loathe the werewolf. He frightened me as a child and that isn’t something I can forgive. So part of this is cleaning the mud off my name. Part is sticking two fingers up at Greyback.” Draco kept the third reason to himself. He wasn’t proud of it. “We don’t need to lie for long, just until Severus has that potion for you.”

“I am hopeful. Perhaps desperate is a better word.” Hermione amended. “Have you thought about what happens if the potion isn’t ready in time? Much after my seventh month and I might as well carry to term.” She surprised herself by being able to say that without feeling ill. “Then this brilliant plan of yours becomes much more complicated.”

“That is assuming I do not play the dastard and refuse to acknowledge the bastards.” Draco was willing to do much to forward this ploy. Adopting Greyback’s get was not part of the plan. “If it comes to that, we state you are a thoroughly modern witch and need no man to support her then quietly air my parents’ objections to the match.” He clasped a hand theatrically over his heart. “With sufficient elan we can play out a star-crossed romance.”

“You’ve missed your calling. You should be on the stage.” She held up a hand to forestall any further grand plans. “We’ll run with this for a while. Other than giving Ron an aneurysm its not likely to make anything worse.” Hermione sighed. “You are going to need to stock up on silver like you’re trying to corner the market.”

“My lady, you worry for me.” Draco made another dramatic gesture, back of hand to forehead then smirked again. He really did look like a ferret when he did that, Hermione thought uncharitably. “I’ll be ready for him.” He offered her his arm in an old fashioned gesture. “Shall we?” His lips curled, turning his smirk into a smile. “I need to find a travel agent in a hurry.”