Here is my Christmas Story, written for my friends Amy and Caitlin.
There are two parts, the first from Hermione's point of view and the second from Draco's.
This was supposed to be published yesterday evening but I fell asleep (whoops) so here it is now.
And no, I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them and I promise to put them back when I'm done.
Enjoy ;D
Part 1
When Hermione woke up that morning, she had no idea what the day was going to bring her. It was the last day of the school term before they broke up for the Christmas holidays.
She was going through her morning routine when she first realised something was wrong. Everywhere she looked, she could see the other 8th year girls looking at her with a look of what she could only describe as sympathy.
As she went down to breakfast, this continued, and not just from the girls, but some of the boys as well. She went to sit at the special 8th year table, and when she leant in to kiss Ron on the cheek, as per the norm, she actually heard somebody from the table gasp.
She whipped her head around, but couldn't find the source of the sound, so she decided to just continue as normal, feeling slightly self-conscious.
She was about to sit down when she felt a timid tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Lavender Brown stood in front of her, looking awfully guilty.
"Hey Lavender, is there something you need? I was about to sit down to eat breakfast." She looked Lavender up and down and was surprised to see that she wasn't, in fact, wearing her uniform, but instead was wearing her school robes over her pyjamas. And she looked awfully dishevelled, as in 'I haven't slept in a week' dishevelled. "Hey, are you okay? You look awful. Lavender?"
For a few moments there was no response then Lander mumbled something, too quiet for Hermione to hear.
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that, what did you say" At this, Hermione was starting to get worried, and then Lavender looked up at her and Hermione had to hold back a gasp at how she looked. Her eyes were all puffed up from constant crying, and she looked truly broken. Hermione was about to say something, but then Lavender spoke, albeit quietly.
"Look, I'm really sorry, and I'll get it if you don't want to ever speak to me again, but I didn't know, although I should've seen the signs, but ,bu-" she started to cry more silent tears as she waited in front of Hermione for her fate.
But Hermione had no bloody idea what was happening, "Um, Lavender, do you want to go ahead and fill me in on exactly what is happening, because I have no idea"
And she didn't. But everything was starting to click into place; everyone staring at her, whispering behind her, the gasp when she went to kiss Ron on the cheek…
"I thought you knew, oh Hermione I'm so sorry. I… I-uh, I slept with Ron, but you have to know I didn't know you guys were together I swear and…"
But Hermione didn't hear the rest of what she said, she had zoned out. After the kiss during the final battle she had been hesitant to enter a relationship with Ronald. And they had only started to 'officially date' a couple of weeks ago, although only Harry, Ginny and Pansy knew. In that time, Hermione had decided that they would tell Mrs. Weasley when they went to the Burrow on Christmas day for dinner. Not now. He had slept with someone else, and now Hermione just felt broken 'not as broken as when you broke up with Victor' said a small voice inside her head.
"Hermione, can you hear me?" Harry. It was Harry's voice, she had better respond, but all she could do was nod her head. "Come on lets get you sat down" but she shook her head 'no' she thought 'Ron was there.
And then a different voice "Come on Hermione, just sit down and stop making a scene" Ron.
And before she new what she was doing, she turned and slapped him right across the face, the sound echoing around the now silent great hall.
"No thank you, Ronald. I would rather go and sit with some of my real friends, as apposed to a lying cheating bastard." And she turned and went to sit between Pansy and Blaise, opposite Draco, who all had shocked, but slightly proud faces on.
"You go girl" whispered Blaise into her ear, and Hermione just put on a weak smile and tucked into what would now be, a very mundane breakfast.
Xx Harry Potter xX
The rest of the day had flown past in a blur, with Hermione sticking to her 3 Slytherin friends as much as possible. She was now entering her last lesson of the day, double potions. It wasn't as bad anymore, seeing as Snape turned out to be Draco's godfather, but today Hermione was dreading it.
Why? Because her 'permanent until Snape says so or else' partner was none other than Ronald, who she had successfully avoided until then.
They were all waiting outside the classroom, as per Snape's request, when he swept into the hallway.
"Today you will switch partners; the list is on the board. Enter." And with that he swept into the classroom, leaving the students to follow him in.
Hermione only shared this class with Draco and Blaise, and as such, was stood next to Draco when Snape left. She lent over and whispered thanks in his ear. He smiled and replied "You're welcome, but it gets better" And it did.
Not only was she paired with Draco (which she was secretly pleased about because; not only was he amazing at potions, but he was also very handsome which Hermione was only just starting to see) but Ron was paired with Blaise.
Now Blaise, put simply, was gay as the 4th of July. He had come out very publically after the war, (although his parents still don't believe it) and was known to be a player.
So while Snape was droning on at the front of the classroom, Hermione and Draco, along with most of the rest of the class, were enjoying watching Blaise run his hand up Ron's leg, or lean over and whisper something in his ear, with a very startled looking Ron trying to get away from him without alerting Snape.
The rest of the lesson was fun as well. Draco was a very good partner seeing as he actually helped, and as such, Hermione's hair didn't get frazzled like normal. And she actually had a lot of fun because conversation with Draco just came easily to her.
By the end of the lesson she was happier than she had been all day, thanks to Blaise, and Draco. When they walked out of potions she looped arms with Draco and Blaise (after he winked at Ron) and walked up to the great hall for dinner. She sat again with her Slytherin friends, who were all happy to see her being somewhat normal again, and waited for the end of term speech.
It was different this year seeing as it was McGonagall, and not Dumbledore, making the speech. But it was heart-warming never the less. Hermione had all but zoned out when Pansy nudged her and pointed at McGonagall to indicate she should listen,
"And finally, I would like to announce that for all 6th, 7th and 8th years there will be a new year's ball held here in the great hall. For everyone wanting to come, only formal dress shall be accepted, and we would please ask that while there, anyone under 17 does not drink any alcohol.
Now, I'm sure you're all hungry, eat."
As the food appeared there was a quiet roar of voices as almost all the girls in said years started talking about the ball.
"So, Hermione, we're going to have to go shopping for dresses for the ball, I say tomorrow because there is one shop I simply must look in before anyone else finds it. What do you say?"
Hermione was hesitant to answer. Sure, she wanted to go, but she would never get a date, and would end up spending the entire nigh alone, not something that would help her at this point. But for Pansy, she would go anyway, what could possibly go wrong, it was dress shopping.
The feast went very quickly after that; Ron tried to talk to her twice, Blaise helping out both times and Pansy practically talked her ear off about the upcoming ball...
When she finally got to her room and tried to sleep that night, she was very wary of the fact that tomorrow could bring any measure of things, some worse than today, but for now, she was content to be happy with what she had.
And with that thought she drifted off into a restless sleep.
Part 2
Draco was up earlier than normal. The day before he had heard a terrible rumour – the Weasel had had sex with Lavender.
Now Draco, being the smart, intelligent, sexy man he was, had figured out that Hermione and Weasley had started somewhat of a secret relationship. So now he was just hoping what he had heard wasn't true.
And so, apparently, did Pansy when she met him in the great hall for breakfast. They were just finishing a conversation about ho to deal with 'damage control' (deciding on using Blaise's 'skills') when a sudden hush came over the entire great hall. He turned to see Hermione coming through the door, looking slightly self-conscious.
He was going to get up and go and drag her to their spot at the table when he saw her stop next to said Weasel and Pot- Harry. To say he was surprised was a bit of an understatement, and when she lent towards Weasley he couldn't help but gasp, which had her looking around for a culprit.
Then a metaphorical 'hell' broke loose. Lavender was approaching Hermione at a rapid pace, they couldn't stop her.
They couldn't hear what was being said between them, but they could see the pale shade of white Hermione turned as Lavender was talking, so it was true, he'd slept with his little 'Lav-Lav' again.
The next events went really quickly, Harry said something and they saw Hermione nod her head, but them Weasley said something, and Hermione whirled round and smacked him in the face. She said something, took a deep breath and walked away from the others toward Draco, Pansy and Blaise.
She seated herself between Blaise and Pansy. Blaise leaned over and whispered "you go girl" into her ear which earned them a weak smile before she tucked into her breakfast.
Draco looked up at Pansy with a worried expression, but Pansy merely shrugged and went on with eating her own food.
Draco sat back in his seat for a minute, wondering what he could do to cheer up Hermione, when a sudden thought came to him.
Severus.
Xx Harry Potter xX
Draco had free period second lesson, so he decided to head down to see his godfather, knowing he also had some free time.
He knocked briskly on the door once before entering Severus's office, taking a quick look around the room before he met eyes with the man himself sat behind his desk.
"Ah Draco, have seat, is there something I can help you with today? I'm rather busy at present, so I can give you five minute of my time" A statement like this was something Draco was hoping for because he didn't want to have to explain everything in detail to Severus.
"Well, it's like this; Hermione needs a new potions partner, preferably me, because something happened between her and the Weasel, who would preferably happen to end up with Blaise can you help?"
Draco looked up to see a slightly smug look on Severus's face, "Of course, and I would ask why, but I fear I don't want to hear the answer. And can I also assume you a 'crush' on one Miss Granger to be asking for something like this for her?"
He raised his eyebrows at Draco, almost laughing when he saw the look on Draco's face.
"No. What? Why would you? Never mind. Yes, yes I do. Happy now? Draco's got a silly crush on a girl who wouldn't look at him twice alright? I'm going now, and it would be nice if you could do what I asked. Goodbye" And with that he stood and headed to the door.
"Draco?" Draco stopped and turned to look at him "It's not silly, as long as you do something about it" Draco looked at him once more before turning and leaving, hoping to get some studying done before Charms. "I never did…"
Xx Harry Potter xX
Draco was standing outside the potions classroom with Blaise and Hermione, still thinking about what Severus had said to him 'not silly as long as you do something about it' but what could he do? She would just turn him down and never speak to him again, but there was a little voice in his head nagging him, getting louder every minute 'she is single now, it wouldn't be wrong' no, he couldn't. Just because there was nothing to stop him, didn't mean he had to do something, right?
He was so confused he missed Snape's brief lecture on the new potions partners, so when Hermione leaned in to whisper in his ear he almost froze, then hearing her say thank you, he realized what she meant and suddenly remembered his request to put Blaise with Ron,
"You're welcome, but it gets better" And he was feeling quite pleased with himself when they entered the classroom.
As the potions lesson went on, Draco tried his best to help as much as possible, and not boss Hermione around which was easier said than done. Although Hermione was great at potions, it was obvious she had become accustomed to working alone, instead of having help, so every time Draco went to do something, Hermione would already be doing it. So he would have to pull a knife gently out of her hand so he could chop something while she stirred the cauldron, or vice a versa.
It wasn't even much of a bother like it normally would be when almost every five minutes a squeak or a yelp would come from Weasley at the front of the class because Blaise did something or other to startle him. So all in all, it was a good lesson.
And he was happy to find out that Hermione had also enjoyed the lesson, so it was with much joy that he hooked arms with Hermione, Blaise on her other side, and walked down to the great hall.
When they got to the great hall and sat down Draco couldn't keep his eyes off Hermione, and he was totally oblivious to the speech and everyone else around him until Hermione turned to listen to McGonagall, so he did too.
"And finally, I would like to announce that for all 6th, 7th and 8th years there will be a new year's ball held here in the great hall. For everyone wanting to come, only formal dress shall be accepted, and we would please ask that while there, anyone under 17 does not drink any alcohol.
Now, I'm sure you're all hungry, eat."
Draco turned back to eat his food, but other things were on his mind 'this could be my one chance to show her how I feel' and he was already formulating a plan while he listened to Pansy speaking to Hermione about the ball,
"So, Hermione, we're going to have to go shopping for dresses for the ball, I say tomorrow because there is one shop I simply must look in before anyone else finds it. What do you say?"
Draco could see the hesitance in her eyes, but then after a moment she nodded her consent, 'brilliant, now I'll have to talk to Pansy before they leave tomorrow' but then that was the last Draco actually thought about the ball, instead, just thinking of Hermione.
And as he lay down in bed in his room, with thoughts of Hermione still running through his brain, he came to a shocking conclusion, and spoke the words out loud just before he drifted off to sleep,
"I'm in love with Hermione Granger"
There you go, hope you enjoyed it.
I hope to have the next chapter up on Sunday, so please leave me a review and I may write quicker.
Merry Christmas ;D