Author's Note : This is a Hermione/ Draco romance! I know that these have been done many times before, but I like to think of this story as one of those rare stories that come along from time to time, that some people can relate too...and it makes you think about things you take for granted, like friends, love...even life. I don't know how long this will be or how long it will take to write. Just please give it a chance. Disclaimer: This story includes song lyrics from "Oxygen's Gone" and "Cure My Tragedy" by Die Trying, "Learn to Crawl" by Black Lab and a song of my own. I don't claim the lyrics from any bands I may use to be my own work. Also, I do not claim ownership or any legal rights to any of Mrs. Rowling's characters.
A Winter's Kiss: The Extended Version by EgyptianAngel
Prelude to 'A Winter's Kiss'
The days would now be darker at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Hermione's seventh year. Not just at Hogwarts, but all over the world. Rumor of Voldemort had even spread into the Muggle world. Cornelius Fudge told muggle officials that the man called himself "Lord Voldemort", and was clearly crazy because he thought that he was a wizard trying to take over the secret world of magic. Now the entire world, magical and muggle, was in fear of Voldemort. The security of the Wizarding World now rested in the hands of traitors to the Ministry, the tired few that kept the fight against Voldemort and his followers alive.
Shortly after Hermione's fourth year, Albus Dumbledore had called upon the old team of Aurors that had helped defeat Voldemort once before. Remus Lupin, Harry's former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, were among the men to lead the re-unification of the Order of the Phoenix. Sirius Black was, after all, the reason the Order had a secure Headquarters at all.
The Professors of Hogwarts had become closer, and more protective over the students. The Head Boy, Head Girl, and all the prefects received more responsibilities than usual. Yet with the protectiveness of the Professors, came their now more than ever strict lessons. The worst of them all by far was the Potions Master at Hogwarts, Severus Snape. If you weren't a Slytherin, you had better not cross his path, and if by some chance you did, you'd be wise to not speak nor even look at him, and he might even let you off with just a few points from your house and a minor detention.
Arthur Weasley, one of the most trusted Ministry workers, had been promoted to Head of Muggle relations, his duties increasing. With the promotion, came a pay increase, making the Weasleys more secure, very secure in fact. His youngest son, Ron, was no longer embarrassed of his family's money situation or any of his belongings. Yet, where there are pros, there are bound to be cons. Since he was more sure of himself, he stood up to Draco.
One thing Hermione found odd about all of Ron's and Draco's encounters during sixth year was that Draco no longer took the effort to come up with clever insults, and never once tried to slyly injure Ron. In fact, he showed no interest in that at all. He kept to himself, which was unusual for Draco. He no longer insulted Gryffindors loudly from the Slytherin Table or in double potions. He hadn't called Hermione a 'mudblood' in two years, he hadn't called her any crude names in fact. He even smiled at her every once in a while when he passed her in the halls. She was beginning to think that under that pale, cold exterior there was a heart. But to think that was crazy, wasn't it?
Chapter One: The Daily Prophet
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was normally a very loud castle. It housed several hundred teenagers for a very long ten month school year. Naturally, the Professors enjoyed summer break much more than during the school year when the children were riding brooms through the halls, setting off fireworks or using the latest trick wand from Weasley Wizards' Wheezes. This kind of activity, which Argus Filch found highly unnecessary, only gave him a very painful, throbbing head ache.
When the Headmaster had asked Argus to take on the post as Hogwarts Groundkeeper, he had graciously accepted. Dumbledore knew that Filch would be the man to protect Hogwarts from intruders. When Argus Filch and Mrs. Norris were patrolling Hogwarts Castle, no one was going to get away with anything, or so one would think. In truth, Filch is just a squib, and there are many wizards, and several other magical creatures, for that matter, that would take great pleasure in getting past Filch. He had, after all, been outsmarted by two very mischievous twins for almost seven full years at Hogwarts.
The tall, dark figure traveled up the steps of Hogwarts Castle very quickly. His movements were swift, almost as if he were gracefully flying up the steps rather than actually running. His placed his hand on the door, which groaned softly, and quickly obeyed his orders to open. The man heard several clicks and then a very loud groan as the doors to the Castle opened. He looked around to see if there was any human movement on the grounds before he entered the Castle. He made his way past the Great Hall and effortlessly found Albus Dumbledore's office. The shadowy figure mumbled, "boogie bean" and the statue slid to the left, allowing the wall to open and a staircase to appear.
His dry, cracked lips formed into a twisted smile across his pale face. The man made his way up the stairs as he'd done before at the beginning of the summer, and soon he was standing in the room he knew all too well. He hesitated slightly where Dumbledore kept his pensive, be he knew that it wasn't the right time. He had more pressing matters to attend to. He approached the shelf nearest the Headmaster's desk and his gloved hand stroked the Sorting Hat softly. The hat snorted and coughed as it awoke, startled.
"Who wakes me so early?" the Hat asked insistently. It knew it wasn't yet September 1st. Therefore, it was too early for him to perform the sorting.
"I have come for you to do my bidding," the man barely spoke above a whisper.
"I have already done your bidding, Master. I chose the names that you instructed as this year's Head Boy and Head Girl. The Professors were puzzled, yes, but they dare not go against my word."
"Yes, you did well. So I took the liberty of writing a new song for you," he said, pulling a long piece of parchment from his cloak. He opened the hat's mouth wide enough to place the paper inside, and then closed it., "you deserve a well earned break from that".
The Sorting Hat chewed on the paper for several minutes before responding, "Thy will be done, Master."
' MINISTRY SECURE THANKS TO SCHOOL GOVERNOR'S DONATION
Minister Fudge announced that late last week a large sum of money was donated to the Ministry of Magic in London. The Money will be used to arm the building with extra security devices, a renovation that would otherwise be impossible to make because of budget issues. Minister Cornelius Fudge explained to this reporter what changes will be made to the offices, "We have hired a team of very skilled spell-casters to place further security spells on the building and its offices. New equipment has been supplied to Aurors and several other departments. After we were finished with that, we decided to replace old office furniture and build a few new offices."
Clearly the improvements are appreciated by all of the Ministry workers. Lucius Malfoy, now a member of the Ministry's Enforcement Board, was glad to share with us the reason for his donation. "The well-being of our world has always been a matter of great importance to me, and if I can help ensure our security and the uphold of justice, then I am proud to make this donation." Mr. Malfoy also commented that he will be donating a sum of money to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where his son Draco will be attending for his seventh year this September. Mr. Malfoy also said that he specified to the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, that the gold be used to improve the aging castle. After he and his wife, Narcissa Malfoy, return from a vacation in Italy, he will begin working under his new position.
Harry threw the newspaper down in disgust.
Hermione, having already read the article, stared at him with a sympathetic gaze.
"Why would Lucius want to improve security at the Ministry? Wouldn't that just make it harder for the Death Eaters to break in?" asked Harry in a very worried tone.
"Well," Hermione replied in a soft tone, "it's going to make him look good politically ...and look, it got him a seat on the board!"
"Yeah," Ron added bitterly, "the Magical Law Enforcement Board. They sit in at trials and decide who goes to Azkaban. That's what Dad told me, anyway."
"Wait a minute! Lucius Malfoy can prevent Death Eaters from going to Azkaban..."
"...and he's going to know how to break into the Ministry!" Hermione added.
There was a knock at their compartment door. Hermione rose to open it.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" the plump woman asked.
"No, thank you," Harry replied, sounding too sick to eat.
Ron, however, made his way over to the cart, and moments later he returned to his seat, arms and pockets full of all sorts of chocolates and candy, including the newest collection of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"I can't believe this...I have to tell the Order, no doubt they already know though," said Harry gloomily.
"Don't worry Harry, they'll find a way to handle things...they always do," Ron replied, trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah, I just wish I was old enough to join! One more year..."
"Our last year, actually," Hermione mentioned, rolling up The Daily Prophet and putting it away in her book bag.
Hermione had already changed into her robes and the gold letters "HG" shone brightly against the dark black robes. Ron had already mentioned to Harry several times that now they really wouldn't get away with anything and that he felt sorry for the poor bloke that had been made Head Boy. Ron even felt a little sorry for himself, wondering what Hermione would make him do considering that he was a prefect.
"Harry, you don't look so good. You should try and relax while I go find you something to drink. The two of you really should think about changing into your robes, I expect we'll be there soon."
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes as Hermione left their compartment. She wandered down the hallway of the train, catching glimpses of all the students in their compartments. She could see students having eating contests, and hear their laughter and playful bickering. Yet she could see no sign of the lady with the trolley. Although, that might be because Ron had just purchased quite a bit of her supplies and she needed to replenish. Not being able to keep it out of her head, she wondered what it was going to be like to be Head Girl. She hoped that she could live up to Dumbledore's high expectations.
'Stop worrying' she told herself, 'you'll make yourself nervous'. She hated the way that her stomach tied itself in knots whenever she became nervous. Not only that, but when she was nervous she was never really good at concentrating...SMACK!! A loud crash filled her head before her mind registered what had happened. Realizing that she had collided with something or someone, she felt herself being lifted off of the ground. The first thing she saw after firmly planting her feet on the ground was a recently polished Head Boy badge. She anxiously looked up and she met eyes with...Draco Malfoy. A Draco Malfoy that, until now, had never been taller than her. Now he stood a good six inches above her, his blonde hair slicked back in his classic style, and still as pale as a ghost. Her nose caught a whiff of a lovely type of bark, cherry wood, perhaps? Was Malfoy wearing cologne?
"Hello Granger. I see you made Head Girl, no surprise there. Do you like the new badges my father donated the money for?" Draco asked smugly.
"Actually, I thought that the old ones were perfectly fine. Besides, I would have thought your father had spent all his money paying off people to get himself on the Enforcement Board and to make you Head Boy," Hermione replied.
"Nonsense. We needed a new set. And I'm sure you'd agree that Albus Dumbledore is not a man to accept bribes. You'll just have to accept that he chose me out of his own free mind."
"Draco, if you or anyone else would ever read, 'Hogwarts, A History', then you would know that the Sorting Hat spits out the names of the Head Boy and Head Girl at the beginning of each summer." Hermione said in her usual informative tone.
"Then why are we even having this conversation? The Sorting Hat picked us, Granger. So I guess you'll just have to accept it."
"Well, perhaps the Sorting Hat can make a mistake every once in a while. Now, if you'll excuse me…
"Wait. Before you go run off to Potter and Weasley I just wanted you to know that I'm looking forward to working with you. This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend, maybe I'll see you there.""Maybe."Draco simply pursed his lips before leaving. Hermione assumed that it was the closest thing to a smile that Draco would ever manage in public view. Hermione didn't quite know what to think...how was she going to work with Draco? Although, he was already being polite to her. Maybe that just meant he was taking a leaf out of his father's book. It reminded her of an old muggle saying: Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.
Hermione, Ron and Harry took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall for the last sorting they would ever see. Dumbledore gave his speech to welcome the new students to Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall placed the old hat on the stool and a hole opened up at the seam, just like it had every year before. The hat's voice could be heard throughout the hall as it bellowed quite possibly its longest song the school had ever heard,
"In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest"
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same"
These differences caused little strife,
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted so.
For instance,
Slytherin Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest.
And taught them all she knew.
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony,
For several happy years.
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on all our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
Had once held up our school
Now turned upon each other and
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end.
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out,
He left us quite down-hearted.
And ever since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Had the houses been united,
As they once were meant to be.
And now the sorting hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further
Listen closely to my song.
Though condemned am I to split you,
Still I worry that it's wrong.
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year,
Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows
For our Hogwarts is in danger,
From external deadly foes.
And we must unite inside her,
Or we'll crumble from within.
So now matter what house
you may now call home
You must do as the founders
did to hold against a foe,
Live together, or die alone.
A prophecy must be fulfilled
for our school to truly prosper.
Our hope now lies in our savior,
Harry Potter.
A muggle born and a pureblood,
Sworn enemies turned lovers,
Leaders of this great fight,
Will prevail when it all comes down
To that one, victorious night,
And redeem or condemn
All those who show their true colors.
I have told you, I have warned you.
Let the sorting now begin.
Almost everyone in the Great Hall had their mouth open. This year, the hat had gone above and beyond its duties of telling the first years a little bit about their houses before sorting them into of the four respective houses. It couldn't have gotten it's point across better if it had simply yelled, "WAR!!" for the past twenty minutes. The Sorting Hat had never mentioned anyone else but the founders, earning Harry more stares than ever before. Murmurs of "great battle", "muggle born and a pureblood" and "Harry Potter" could be heard among the students.
In a successful attempt to silence the students, Professor McGonagall pulled out her long parchment and began to call up the first years one by one until they had all been sorted. The feast began and soon the entire school was off to bed.
The week went by faster than Hermione could have imagined. The homework started on Monday night, leaving no time for students to simply ease back into their school year. Before she knew it, it was Saturday and she was riding the horseless carriages down to Hogsmeade.
Hermione smiled as she walked through the streets of Hogsmeade. She always loved coming back after another long, boring summer skiing in aspen or sailing in Italy. She got to see beautiful scenery, yes, but this was home. It made her sad to know that this was the last year she would ever walk through Hogsmeade as a student. She felt like her life was happening faster than Hermione could keep track of and she had always been a little afraid of change. Being in a position she couldn't control definitely didn't please Hermione, and lately she hadn't been able to control many aspects of her life.
She was headed to the café to meet Harry and Ron for lunch when she felt herself being pulled by the arm. She felt a sudden bolt of fear surge through her body, but it turned to anger once she realized the person grabbing her was Draco Malfoy.
"Draco, let go of me!" she demanded.
"Don't make a fuss about it, Granger. I just wanted to be able to talk to you without Potter and Weasley butting in."
"Well you know you could just ask me to talk with you instead of pulling me around like your house elf!!" Hermione retorted.
"Fair enough," he said, and he curled his lip up in a quick half smile.
Hermione opened her mouth and then closed it. Had she really won the argument that easily? Something was terribly strange about the situation and Hermione wasn't all that sure she liked this new Draco. He seemed so … well, mature.
"I figured you're going to be doing more writing than ever now that you'll be going crazy studying for the N.E.W.T'S and writing much too many notes, so.." he said, placing a long thin black box into Hermione's hands, "I got you this."
Hermione was too shocked to speak, so she opened the box instead. Inside was a beautiful quill with a medal tip and a beautiful blue and green peacock feather.
"Thank you," she said, allowing him a smile.
"Yeah," was all he managed to say. He mentally kicked himself for his horrible response. Ask her to lunch, ask her to sit with you.
Just as Draco opened his mouth to try a better attempt at a conversation, Harry caught up with Hermione.
"Hey, what took you so long? We've been waiting…" Harry stopped abruptly when he finally noticed Draco's presence.
"Draco! You'd better leave her alone or I swear I'll…"
"Save what little strength you have for the Quidditch field this year Potter, you're going to need it. Besides, I was just discussing our Head Student duties with Granger, something that wouldn't interest someone like you." Draco turned and quickly walked away from them into the crowd, his cape flying in the wind behind him.
"Can you believe him?' asked Harry.
Hermione simply shook her head.