"Hermione? Hermione you've been lying here for hours. I'm coming in," Ron said as he cautiously opened the door to Ginny's bedroom which was currently being occupied by Hermione. He was carrying a tray with what appeared to be a bowl of soup, some bread, and a jug of butterbeer. "I've been worried about you," he explained as he tried not to spill the hot soup. "so I wanted to talk to- Oi, what's that in your hand?"

Ron nodded his head at the piece of parchment Hermione was clutching between her shaking fingers.

"This? Oh, it's, erm, just something I found…in my pocket. Yeah, I must've taken it from the library a few days ago. It's nothing, really" she said as she cautiously shoved the piece of parchment into her pajama bottoms, careful not to rip it. She didn't want Draco's scent to escape from it. "Oh, Ron, look what you've brought me! How kind…"

"Oh, this?" Ron placed the tray on Hermione's lap. "From Mum. She's insisting. But I don't mind bringing it up. Why would I? I love spending time with you, Hermione…" Ron smiled at her. Hermione could tell he was trying to flirt- He'd been doing it all year. Complimenting her, offering her things, listening more…Hermione did find it quite charming. Not nearly as charming as the white-haired boy, of course.

Hermione flashed a subtle smile back, but Ron noticed it wasn't her regular beam. Inching a little closer, he put his hand on hers, leaned in, and kissed her forehead. As he pulled away, the silent, transparent tears slowly descended from Hermione's eyes once again.

"Hermione, please. Tell me what's on your mind. Please." Ron desperately exclaimed as he tightened his grip on her soft hands. "I want to help. You know how much I care about you."

"It's nothing, Ron," she lied. "I promise," Hermione had never made such a fake promise, but Draco was worth it. "I care about you too. I guess I'm just really exhausted. Maybe this winter holiday will cheer me up! Say, it's Christmas Day tomorrow, isn't it?" she tried to change the subject, but Ron didn't buy it.

"Hermione I know you. I've known you for nearly seven years. I know something is going on, and I want to help…" Ron leaned into her lips, about to kiss her when Hermione turned her head to the side. She'd never denied a kiss from Ron before, no matter how horrid she was feeling. He's going to know something's up. He has to. But he'll never guess, will he?

Ron paused for a moment, gazing at her face. He was hurt. As he spoke, his words read anger but his voice screamed pain.

"Fine. Fine. Whatever. You don't want my help that's perfectly fine, Hermione," snarled Ron as he hastily stood up from the bed and made for the door.

"Ron! Ron stop, please!" Hermione slid out from under the blankets and went to follow him. "Ron I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Ron-"

But the ginger boy was already out the door. Hermione could hear him storming down the stairs, and she was pretty sure she could make out his voice venting to Harry about what had just happened.

Hermione folded her arms in a self-comforting sort of way. She put her head down and slowly glided back into the bed. She felt horrid. She was sickened by herself. Here is this outstanding guy who wears his huge heart on his sleeve, ready to drop everything in the blink of an eye to help her, yet she denies him. She almost hated herself for it. But then she remembered why she did it in the first place- Draco. He made her a different person. He could sense that she wasn't fully satisfied being with Ron, and in some unexplainable way gave her the strength and confidence to show Ron just that.

Though she knew it hurt him, Hermione concluded that it was the right thing to do. She couldn't keep lying to him, pretending to love him when there was really someone else. That wasn't in her blood.

But how was she supposed to tell Ron? Oh hey Ron. I know we're destined to be together and all but I had sex with Draco on the Astronomy Tower and I plan on living the rest of my life with him so sorry. She couldn't do that. She didn't want to admit it to herself. And what about Draco and his family? What would they say about her? What would He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named say to him? Would he hurt him? Would his family disown him? Would his life be ruined? Would they kill him-

"No!" Hermione exclaimed to herself, careful to not be too loud. Tears fell from her eyes for the third time in a matter of hours. "I could never do that to him. Never. Not my Draco. Not my Draco. Not my Draco…"

Hermione was distracted for a few moments at the remarkable way "my Draco" felt on her tongue

Snapped back into reality, Hermione let out a long, full sigh. Her chest rose and fell as she felt the Burrow's dusty air fill her lungs, linger for a moment, and unwillingly escape. She knew she could never tell Ron. She could never tell her closest girlfriend Ginny. She could never even tell Harry, her absolute best friend, who she'd talked with about boys, thoughts, and feelings since their third year at Hogwarts. No, this had to be her secret. Their secret. Nobody could know. He meant too much to her.

Hermione settled into the covers and pretended to be asleep when she heard Ginny enter the room. The red-head stopped by the foot of Hermione's bed, looked at her, let out a sigh, and turned to fall into her own bed. But Hermione barley even noticed. She was already too busy thinking about the white-haired boy. The way he looked, the way he smelt, the way he felt, the way he touched her; made her feel, his smile, his eyes…those silver, glistening, deep eyes…

The room fell silent as both girls slipped into their sleep stages- one dreaming about the boy with Lily's eyes, the other fantasizing about the most mysterious and sensual boy she'd ever known.

It was the last day of the winter holidays, and Ron was still upset with Hermione. He only spoke to her when necessary, and despite Harry's peacemaking attempts, their conversations remained not much longer than a few short, meaningless words strung together by poor excuses for sentences. The holiday was quite uncomfortable for Harry, Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys, so when it came time to return to Hogwarts on a cool, snowy morning, it would be an understatement to say everyone was relieved, especially Hermione. She absolutely could not wait until she could see Draco alone once more…