we should break up

Hermione Granger wanted absolutely no part in any New Year's Eve festivities, not even in the highly anticipated Weasley Twins' Ultimate New Year's Bash no matter how big of a deal it was promised to be. Oh nah, if it were up to her, on the last day of the year, they'd find her exactly where she'd been for the better part of the past few days: in her bed, wearing her comfiest pyjamas (definitely not a certain blonde Slytherin's Quidditch jersey), wrapped in a blanket cocoon, drowning in eggnog, and devouring an absurd amount of sweets. Muggle or wizarding candies, it wouldn't matter. She'd have a giant bowl of chocolate ice cream (charmed to stay cold) that she would spoon into her mouth between sobs, surrounded by a fortress of crumpled tissues, while Crookshanks, the only trustworthy man in her life, softly purring in her lap. Perhaps she might borrow Lavender's stash of teen witch magazines—they always seemed to offer advice on healing heartaches, or at least she hoped they did. She planned to let herself cry without restraint, ignoring any basic hygiene needs and screaming into her pillow whenever the emotions overwhelmed her. Meanwhile, her enchanted Walkman would stubbornly play Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart" on repeat, providing a melancholic backdrop to her private moment of grief.

That's what she planned to do, it was, more or less, what she had been doing ever since that dreadful afternoon on the 24th, when Draco Malfoy, that insufferable, greasy-haired git, shattered her heart just before Yule.

Why couldn't he have done it a week earlier? If he had, she would have had the chance to take the Hogwarts train back to London with the other students who were heading home for the winter break. She could have been home for the holidays, nursing her wounds in the comfort of her childhood bedroom. Each morning, her mum would have undoubtedly prepared her favourite blueberry pancakes—the fluffy, homemade kind that no house elf could ever replicate. Her parents would have surely rented out all the muggle romance movies with her, ensuring they could continue their tradition of cosying up on the living room couch with takeout Chinese food and indulging in cheesy movie nights together. Instead, she was stuck at Hogwarts for the entire bloody winter break. And to her utter dismay, she wasn't alone in staying behind. Many seventh-years had opted to remain, taking advantage of the library to prepare for their looming NEWTs exams and manage the overwhelming workload of their final year.

To cope, she spent most of her time locked away in her dorm room. She avoided the Great Hall and even the library, a significant departure from her usual self. Even though the castle was quieter with fewer students around, she was certain that those who remained weren't sharing her sorrowful mood. The thought of being surrounded by laughter and celebration felt like a cruel joke, rubbing salt in the wound of her broken heart.

So yes, if anyone had asked her just a day before what her plans were for New Year's Eve, she would have responded with a narrowed, disdainful look. But that was yesterday, and today was today. What changed?

She decided to venture down to the Great Hall for breakfast. After days of seclusion, her eyes were red and her face was swollen from endless tears. She hoped to catch a glimpse of Draco, curious about his reaction to their abrupt breakup, seeking solace in shared sorrow.

She expected to find dark circles under his eyes from sleepless nights, his sharp gaze dulled by sadness. Perhaps his hair would be unkempt or his tie slightly askew. She imagined him pushing food around his plate, unable to muster an appetite, his friends' attempts at conversation falling flat against his detached silence. She envisioned him looking lost, eyes searching the hall as if hoping to find her, to catch a glimpse of the girl who had once been his. She hoped to see his shoulders slumped in defeat, hands resting limply on the table, the energy to maintain his confident facade abandoned.

She wanted to see him withdrawing into himself, the lively spark in his eyes replaced by a weary, distant look mirroring her own. It sounded harsh, but seeing him broken and sad like her would have eased her pain.

Yet, instead of finding him in despair, she saw him at the Slytherin table, chatting animatedly and flashing his trademark smirk, as if the heart-wrenching events of mere days ago had never happened. The sight of his unaffected ease felt like a dagger twisting in her heart, hurting more than the breakup itself. She almost turned away from the entrance, unable to bear Draco Malfoy's cold indifference. Shouldn't he have shown some regret, some hint of the turmoil she was enduring alone?

But no—Draco sodding Malfoy was simply enjoying himself, leaving Hermione to grapple with the shattered remains of their relationship alone.

So she did what anyone in her situation must: she wiped away her freshly shed tears, forced a brittle smile onto her face, and strode into the Great Hall as if ready to conquer the world. Determined to test the waters, she purposefully sat down within view of where he was, hoping against hope for even the slightest acknowledgement—a glance, a nod, a sad smile—but received nothing. Not a flicker of recognition crossed Draco's face; instead, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid her, chatting loudly, eating heartily, and appearing completely unaffected. Her heart sank, but in that moment, her hurt transformed into determination. Her original plan to spend the rest of winter break nursing her wounds flew out the window as she resolved to take the road of revenge.

Determined to show him just how little his mistreatment affected her, she decided to stop hiding away from everyone. She was planning to prove that she could move on easily too. She needed to make a statement, and what better way than attending the party of the year looking her absolute best? The party, she knew full well he wouldn't be able to attend—it was a Weasley party, after all, her territory, her people, her family. Technically, he was invited as well—she had invited him before everything fell apart. But now that they were no longer together, he wouldn't dare show his face there. That much was certain.

Nevertheless, the news would inevitably find him. She would ensure photos circulated, showcasing her radiance and poise, ensuring he saw exactly what he was missing out on for the rest of his pitiful life. Everyone would talk about how stunning and effortlessly happy she appeared, and she relished the thought of the news spreading to him. His year would start with the bitter knowledge of what he had lost, making his existence all the more miserable.

Of course, for this to work, she needed the right dress. She had many dresses in her closet, and she had even picked one out already—a simple black dress with long sleeves, knee-length, and no cleavage. It was more of a smart, everyday dress, something appropriate but not remarkable. But now, that just wouldn’t do. She needed something that radiated confidence and captivated everyone's gaze, something that would ensure all eyes were on her.

That was why, just a day before the New Year's Eve party, she found herself trudging along the cold, snow-covered path toward Hogsmeade. The snow glistened under the pale winter sun, and the air was crisp with the scent of pine. Ginny Weasley and Lavender Brown walked beside her, their breaths visible in the frosty air.

"He's such a jerk, did you see him this morning? He was practically cuddling that pug-faced Millicent," she began her tirade as they approached the first shops in Hogsmeade. She knew she sounded like a broken record, but since yesterday morning, she just couldn't stop talking about it—it consumed her. Yet, wasn't it understandable? Her friends, bless their hearts, stuck by her side, even if they couldn't fully grasp the turmoil in her heart. Ginny was happily single since she had ended things with Harry peacefully a year ago on the last day of the year, without drama or yelling. Even more shockingly, they stayed close friends afterwards. (Hermione, now having experienced a breakup herself, couldn't fathom how they let each other go so easily.) Ever since, Ginny seemed less interested in serious relationships, as if she had decided Hogwarts was her dating playground, sampling the male population, and occasionally female. Having the best time of her life. Lavender, on the other hand, happily wrapped up in her four-year relationship, couldn't quite grasp Hermione's pain, being so content herself. She and Ron had the quintessential cookie-cutter happily-ever-after love story, so sickeningly perfect it could make anyone nauseous. But who was Hermione to judge, with her recently shattered relationship? Not that she and Draco had ever been that sickeningly sweet. They were always arguing, constantly at odds, never agreeing on anything; they'd even fight over things they both knew to be true, just on principle. Regardless, both of her girlfriends could spare a moment from their perfect lives to support her and her broken heart, for once.

"Have you seen him? He acted like dumping me was the best decision he's ever made. I'm just so glad he's finding it easy. Guess it won't be an issue if I do the same, right?" she said with a tone that clearly contradicted any happiness over the situation. Ginny wisely chose not to respond, merely nodding in silent agreement. Lavender, on the other hand, suddenly became very interested in the display at the Apothecary, her eagerness to inspect fresh toad eyes rather unconvincing.

There was more to their avoidance than met the eye; they must have known something she didn't, having lived like a hermit for days. "Come on, spill—what are you keeping from me?" she demanded in a voice that bordered on hysteria, causing both girls to jump in surprise. It wasn't just her voice that gave her away. Despite resolving to cease mourning and focus on planning her retaliation, she still struggled to regain composure. Her hair, more dishevelled than ever, framed puffy eyes, encircled by dark shadows from endless weeping. An irregular twitch in her eye suggested either sleepless nights, the weight of her current mental state, or perhaps both. As a result, she certainly looked like a madwoman. And perhaps she felt like one, too.

"Does he already have a girlfriend? Is it Millie?" she exclaimed in shock, placing her hand over her mouth and shaking her head. She couldn't—she wouldn't—believe it. "It's only been, what, six days?"

"Mione, stop it now!" said Ginny, shaking her head in disbelief. "He doesn't have a new girlfriend, certainly not Millie, for Merlin's sake. You see, he just..."

"He just... just what?" Hermione bit her bottom lip, struggling to maintain composure.

"He just... moved on, I suppose," Ginny added gently, turning towards Hermione with a sympathetic expression.

"He moved on," Hermione repeated, the words sounding more real now that she'd said them out loud.

"Look, Hermione," started Lavender, "you both agreed it was final, no going back, right? It's tough for both of you. But you handle things differently, you are just different."

"No, that's not true, we're not different!" Hermione exclaimed loudly, feeling misunderstood. "We're not different. If anything, we're the same. That's why we broke up—because we're both too stubborn, too headstrong. We're the same," she reiterated firmly.

"I used to agree with that too, but maybe we were wrong.." Lavender mused, lost in thought.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

"I don't know... Gin, help me," Lavender said, clearly feeling out of her depth.

"You see, Mione, you're upset and devastated, crying your eyes out—that's a normal reaction to a breakup, right?" Ginny interjected, trying to offer perspective.

"I suppose," Hermione agreed reluctantly. "And him? How did he manage while I was hiding away?"

"Not like we've been seeing him much to say for certain, but from what the boys were hinting at..." Ginny paused mid-stride, her nose scrunching momentarily as if she had wandered into forbidden territory.

"Blaise is supposed to be my friend too! And Theo, for that matter."

"Yeah, you hang out sometimes, and you're friends, sure, but they were and still are Draco's friends above all else. You have to understand that. Obviously, they'll take his side in this," Ginny explained calmly.

"That's so unfair! He dumped me, and now he can take our friends away like that!" Hermione protested, feeling the sting of betrayal.

"You keep saying he dumped you, yet as far as we know you both agreed it was mutual. You broke up together; it was a decision you both made," Lavender pointed out, walking with Hermione into Zonko's Joke Shop, the first stop on their shopping trip. The door swung open with a loud clang, announcing their arrival. Inside, a few students milled about, but it wasn't yet crowded. They had arrived early, at Hermione's insistence to beat the midday rush, wanting to get through their shopping as quickly as possible.

"You know, that might be for the best anyway. You two were never like Ronniekins and me, you were always arguing," Lavender remarked with a pointed glance at Hermione. "We've never even had a disagreement in our relationship," she said proudly. Who needs enemies when you have friends like this? Ever since Hermione started dating the Slytherin boy, Lavender had a knack for steering every conversation into a comparison, turning their interactions into an unspoken competition of whose relationship was more enviable.

"And hey, maybe now you'll find someone who measures up to what I have with my Won-Won" as she patted Hermione on the shoulder, it felt more like a jab than a gesture of comfort.

At that, Ginny made a big grimace. Hermione knew, that as much as she loved her future sister-in-law with all her faults—or tolerated her enough—she found her brother's relationship with the blonde a bit too much. As Lavender walked deeper into the shop, she grabbed Hermione's hand, leading her to a more secluded corner.

"I can't tell you much, and I probably shouldn't. But I don't want you to go in blind, especially since you suddenly changed your mind and decided to come to the party," Ginny said quickly. "Which I'm really happy about. But just so you know, he is coming to the party as well."

Hermione's eyes narrowed in anger. "He is going to the party? He only got invited because of me. He should have the decency not to show up, knowing that I will be there," she added bitterly.

"Well, you said you weren't going to come, and he's still on the guest list after all," Ginny added cautiously, meeting Hermione's sharp gaze with apprehension.

"I am just saying... but that's not it..." Ginny continued, her voice growing more awkward and nervous. "You need to know that Dracomighthaveadateforthenight."

"Ginny, slow down, I didn't understand a single word."

The red head took a deep breath, then repeated herself more slowly and clearly, "I said, Draco might have a date for the night."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat.

"WHHHHAAAT?" Hermione screamed, causing nearby heads to turn, though she didn't care in that moment. "You said he doesn't have a girlfriend."

"Because he doesn't have a girlfriend. He only has a date, and it's more of a favour on his part than anything," Ginny explained quickly, trying to gauge Hermione's reaction.

"Explain yourself!" Hermione demanded, growing angrier by the minute. The audacity! It was one thing not to grieve for their relationship, but a date? She felt tears threatening to spill again. Who was she kidding? They were already welling up.

"Please, calm down a bit, please! It's nothing like that... It's just, you know Daphne, so there is her sister Astoria, you don't know her, she studies at Beauxbatons but came home for the holidays from France. She wanted to come to the party but hardly knows anyone, so Daphne asked Draco if he could escort her so there would be someone she already knew..."

That was it, really. She had tried and failed—something that rarely happened to Hermione Granger. Success had always been her companion, but this time, her luck seemed to have run out. How could she show up and pretend not to care, knowing he had a date? Ginny might have missed it or was perhaps trying to soften the blow, but Hermione couldn't ignore the fact: that Draco had chosen a Greengrass girl as his date. A pureblood from one of the 28 Sacred Families—a perfect match, someone undoubtedly approved by Draco's family, unlike her. A flawless choice, a perfect date. He was going to spend New Year's Eve with someone else, someone who would likely get a midnight kiss. It was too much to bear She was about to turn on her heels, storm out of the store, run back to her room, and never leave it again—ever.

Just then, she collided straight into a chest—hard, male.

"Hold up there," said George, steadying her by the arms. "Looks like our little Mione's got places to be."

George turned to Ginny with an arched eyebrow, silently questioning the situation, while she shot Hermione an apologetic glance.

"She and the git broke up six days ago, and now she just found out he's bringing a date tomorrow to your party," Ginny summarized.

"Do you want us to ban them, Mione?" George asked, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes. Fred chimed in without missing a beat, "Yeah, we could, you know, no problem."

“Maybe we can play some tricks on them,” Fred suggested.

George added, “We’ve got some new products,”

“They haven’t been tested yet,” Fred continued, leaning closer.

“And it just so happens that blond, bony rich kids make the best test subjects,” George finished, a mischievous grin on his face.

Hermione chuckled despite herself, just picturing the possibilities. Yet, as much as she would love to see how it would play out, she was keenly aware of the kind of products the twins had been developing since their fourth year and how dangerous they could be in their untested early stages. Having been an unwilling test subject herself, and having worked tirelessly as a prefect last year to shut down their school operation involving "human testing" and their first attempt at a business venture,  she wasn't keen on risking public chaos with hundreds of people nearby. “I appreciate it, but what if something goes wrong? Innocent bystanders could get hurt.”

The twins sighed, their shoulders sagging in defeat.

“All right,” Fred said reluctantly.

“No tricks then,” George agreed, equally disappointed.

Fred looked at her earnestly. “Is there anything else we can do to help?”

Hermione bit her lip, an idea slowly forming in her mind. It might not be the best idea, and she knew she might hate it, but... "Actually, yes, there might be something. He's bringing a date... so I'll need one too. Could you help me find someone?"

The twins looked at each other, their expressions shifting from surprise to silent communication. Hermione could almost see the wheels turning in their heads. Were they really okay with banning and trickery, but setting up an innocent date was too much?

"That's a brilliant idea!" Ginny chimed in excitedly. "It would show him! You boys have to help!”

Fred and George exchanged a resigned glance.

“Well…” Fred began.

“We do have a good friend,” George continued, "He was a year above us and a distant cousin of ours, Graham Prevett. He was in Ravenclaw, a really nice guy. He’s coming tonight and he’s dateless. He wouldn’t say no to a date, if that’s really what you want, Mione.”

She couldn't recall who the guy was if she were honest with herself, but it didn't matter. She just needed a date. It was a damn good idea; she had to show up at the party, and she couldn't do it alone. If she did, everyone would pity her, especially seeing Draco with his new girl. Surely, they would assume the worst and feel sorry for her, and that was unbearable. But with a date, that would change everything.

She hoped this Graham fellow was extraordinarily handsome and intelligent. Being a Ravenclaw covered the intelligence part, and apparently, he fancied her. That was something she could work with. After six days of endless tears and sporting the ugliest sad faces, Hermione Granger finally cracked a smile. It wasn't her usual sweet and gentle smile; it was more of a wild grin—the kind that said she might be just a tad unhinged.

“Yes, it’s exactly what I need. Thank you, Fred, George.”

“Consider it done,” Fred said with a grin.

Ginny gave her a wink and a huge smile before turning towards the twins expectantly. "Alright, boys, spill the beans to your favourite sister. What's the plan for this party? What is in this big secrecy? The castle is practically vibrating with anticipation!"

"No can do," George declared, as Fred nodded in agreement, "Half of the fun is in the surprise. And don't fret, Ginny dear, you can't come anyway.

Ginny (being underage and unable to leave the school grounds without parental supervision, she couldn't attend since the party was held in Diagon Alley) wasn't pleased with their response and simply scowled at her brothers.