Very late at night, Hermione was once again kicked out of the library and was found by Filch and his bloody cat. She had immediately used the excuse of being Head girl and needing to do her rounds, and she had been let go. Hermione was now wandering the corridors, wondering where to go.
It was already eleven o' clock and she did feel a bit weary, but she really did not want to face Draco again. She suddenly found herself in front of the Head's room, and she groaned quietly, making sure the two sleeping lovers in the portrait didn't notice her. The well-dressed man was on the bench along with the woman, his arm 'round her back and resting on her hip and the woman's head resting on his shoulder. They looked in love, even while sleeping.
Hermione sighed. Will I ever get something like that for myself? she asked herself a bit sadly. At that moment, she felt extremely lonely and she slumped against the wall and onto the stone floor, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She rest her head on her knees, and sighed heavily and closed her eyes.
I hate everything about you, why do I love you? Hermione silently said in her head. She sighed heavily again and let her problem run through her mind.
Draco woke at the middle of the night, his light grey eyes wide and he was breathing deeply. What the hell, he thought to himself and rubbed his eyes. He threw off his covers and walked over to the bathroom where he splashed cold water on his face. Interestingly, he found Granger's door to be open. Curious, he walked into her room cautiously, and found her not to be there. Raising a brow, he went back to his room and flopped onto his bed, only to be plagued by insomnia.
After nearly an hour of just lying there on his bed, he groaned and got up, pulled on his robe, and decided to go search for the bushy-haired bookworm after all. Checking the time, he shook his head and ran a hand through his messy white-blonde hair. 1:23 a.m.
Draco stepped out of the dorm room, just to see Hermione sleeping right outside against the stone wall. He stood right in front of her, first a bit surprised, then he began observing her.
She hadn't changed much, except for maybe her hair had tamed a bit. Her curves were also more pronounced than before, he noticed with a smirk. He was suddenly dragged out of his thoughts when she unconsciously shivered. Without thinking twice, he bent down, slid an arm under her legs and another on around her back and picked her up effortlessly. He took a step towards the door, then hesitated. What was he doing? He was helping a swotty bushy-haired annoying little prude who was too confidant and bossy for her own good, and she being his sworn enemy since his youth didn't help to explain his actions.
Draco stood there, in front of the portrait door for a little while, holding her as her head rested on his shoulder. She was beginning to get a bit heavy, so he finally seemed to make up his mind with one thought and uttered the password, angering the two sleeping lovers a bit.
Without hesitation he passed the sofa and walked up to his bedroom. Placing her gently on the bed, he smirked as she curled up into a ball and shivered slightly again. He put his blanket over her and smirked again at her vulnerable position. At least she wasn't shivering anymore. He looked at her peaceful and angelic-looking face, then sneered at no one in particular.
"I can't possibly fancy Granger," he said quickly, as if trying to convince himself of his own words. He shook his head and ran a hand through his already mussed up hair, and he walked to her bedroom in a state of slight confusion. Hermione Granger slept on.
"What in the name of Merlin?!" Hermione asked herself aloud the next morning. She shook her head, ultimately mussing her hair up even more. 'Last I remember, I was in the dark corridor next to the Head's portrait door…I didn't sleep walk, did I? But then how would I be able to say the password? And since only…oh bloody Merlin!! Don't tell me Draco-er, Malfoy brought me in here! Of his own volition!!'
Hermione covered her mouth in shock at the sudden thought. There really was no other excuse, since the Heads were the only students allowed into their room. Hermione was suddenly excited by the prospect.
"I don't know if I'm disturbing you, or anything," a voice suddenly said from the bathroom door, breaking into her thoughts. Hermione whipped her head up to see the owner of that unmistakable voice. He looked…breathtaking, as always. His short white-blonde hair was loose and perfect as always, his clothes looked sharp on him and made him look very manly, and his semi-muscular and super tall body looked absolutely…sexy.
"Granger?" His smooth drawl broke into her lustful thoughts once again. Hermione came back to the present and smiled at him, catching him a bit off guard.
"Sorry about that. Um, did you bring me into your bed yesterday night?" she asked, then blushed at the double entendre she hadn't meant to put in. Malfoy obviously got it because he smirked at her.
"I did. Do you have a problem with that? You do seem like you enjoy it immensely," he said with a wink. Hermione blushed even harder.
"Don't say something like that to me! I don't just have one night flings! And I certainly would remember if I came in awake." Draco looked like he muttered something under his breath, and Hermione's curiosity began to slowly build.
"What did you say?" Draco looked up at her face.
"Huh?" He played dumb pretty well.
"You mumbled something," Hermione said. Draco raised a perfect brow.
"Uh, no I didn't. Are you deaf? Or blind?" There was the Malfoy she knew and loved. Wait! No, not loved…
"Fine then! Don't tell me! But…um…did you…sleep here with me?" Hermione had to ask. It was killing her. Malfoy wait a moment before answering.
"What if I did?" he asked with a smirk. His eyes seemed to twinkle. Hermione gasped and covered her mouth.
"We…slept…on the same…oh Merlin!!" she exclaimed with wide eyes. She was about to throw the covers back and rush out, but Draco's laugh stopped her.
"No, I didn't. I slept in your room, Granger. Do you think I'd even want to sleep in the same bed as you?"
Ouch, that hurt a bit, Hermione thought a bit sadly. He's insulted me before! Why does it hurt now?
Draco seemed to notice her crestfallen face, but he immediately shut down his remorse. Or at least tried to. He frowned deeply as he studied her, then shook his head slightly, finally looking at the green carpet. "Forget what I said. Why, did you want me to sleep with you?" Hermione finally made a disgusted face. Draco looked up and smirked at the double entendre.
"No!" she said loudly and threw the covers off of her. "How could you say such a silly thing?!" she exclaimed and rushed off to her room, slamming the bathroom door after her. Draco smirked.
o.O
"Ron! Harry!" Hermione cried, running down the stairs. She joined her two best friends at the doors of the school, pulling her Gryffindor scarf tighter around her neck. They walked outside into the snow and Hermione breathed a puff of frosty air.
"It's so bloody parky!" Ron whined with a slight shiver, and Harry and Hermione laughed.
"I agree. Why is it they almost always let us go to Diagon Alley when it snows?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Because they want us to freeze our bums off," Hermione stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I agree with 'mione here," Ron said with an eye roll. Hermione giggled and the three friends walked into Diagon Alley, talking and laughing together.
"It's almost Christmas," Hermione suddenly said as they looked around inside Flourish & Blotts. Her eye was caught on one particular book, and she stared at it, hoping her friends would take the hint.
"What are you going to do for the holidays?" Harry asked, taking a book from the shelf and flipping through it.
"Going to the Burrow as always," Ron said. "Mum wanted me to invite you too, Harry."
"I'd love to come. What are you doing Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I'm just going to stay at school. My parents are a too busy to have another body in the house."
"You should come to the Burrow with us," Ron said hopefully. Hermione smiled and looked at him.
"No thanks. I do have lots of studying to do for N.E.W.T.s. I want to work at the Ministry!" Hermione smiled and Ron rolled his eyes.
"Take a break for once! It's bloody Christmas!"
"Ron, I really need to study for them. I'll give you your presents before you go, alright?"
"Hermione, come to the Burrow!" Harry said.
"No. Nothing either of you say will change my mind."
"Please?" both Harry and Ron uttered.
"No, sorry! I told you, I've got studying to do!" Harry and Ron sighed, then shrugged simultaneously, making Hermione giggle.
"Whatever you like then, Hermione. By the way, this is a very interesting book," Ron said, taking the exact book Hermione had been staring at longingly. She felt like slapping him.
"I think so too," she mumbled bitterly. Ron put it back without hearing her.
"Well, let's go visit George," Ron said with a grin. Hermione and Harry both nodded in agreement. Hermione sent one more longing glance at the book before following her two best friends, both thick-headed and ignorant.
The Golden Trio walked back to Hogwarts after a long day of walking, shopping, and visiting. It was near evening, and darkness was slowly ensuing. At the top of a hill, Hermione could see Hogwarts on one side, and the sunset on the other. "Let's watch the sunset," she breathed as the beautiful colors began to show and the sun slowly turned red as it disappeared.
"Come on, 'mione. It's going to be dark soon. Let's go back before it gets too dark," Harry said, starting to walk down the hill. Hermione could hear the snow crunching underneath his boots, but she could not tear her eyes away from the setting sun. It was breathtaking. She drank every aspect and detail of the sun as it slowly disappeared from her view behind another hill, leaving beautiful colors in the sky which would soon fade as darkness came.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron said behind her. She turned in surprise. Had he stayed the whole time with her? He gave her a sweet, crooked smile. "It was really pretty," he said, and held out his hand. Hermione ignored the hand and walked over next to him.
"Alright, let's get to Hogwarts before dark." She grinned. "Race you down!" She giggled as she began running down the slope, but it was a bit steeper than she thought. "Ah!" she squealed as she fell on her arse, sliding down the hill in the snow. She could hear Ron's laughter behind her, then he gave a yelp, and she presumed he had fallen as well. She reached the bottom of the hill, laughing hard, and Ron soon joined her, laughing as well.
Wiping tears from her eyes, she gave a last giggle before getting off her soaking wet bum. She held out a gloved hand to Ron, who gladly accepted it. They took one look at each other and began laughing again. They could hardly walk as they laughed and laughed, barely able to contain themselves.
When they finally reached Hogwarts, it was dark, and they had to use Lumos to be able to see. They went through the great doors, tip-toed past the Great Hall, and quickly rushed up the stairs, taking off their squeaky and soaking boots and running in their equally wet socks. At least they weren't so squeaky.
As they passed the Gryffindor room, Ron stopped. "Goodnight Hermione," he whispered, and smiled before giving the password to the grumpy Fat Lady and disappearing within. Hermione grinned before turning and running up the stairs, towards the Heads dorm.
Hermione could hear footsteps behind her, and she had a moment of panic. Filch! her brain screeched, and she tried to run a little faster, but she was beginning to tire. She looked behind her once and saw Mrs. Norris meowing and running away, no doubt to report her to Filch. Hermione turned back around just to crash into someone and fall backwards, landing on her back. She scrunched her eyes closed in pain, then opened them to see Malfoy looking at her. He still dressed in his regular attire and held out a hand to help her up. She took off her wet glove and took his warm hand. He pulled her up and before they knew it, Filch was upon them with Mrs. Norris next to him.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" he asked with a sneer.
"You have the Heads. We were doing our rounds a bit later than we should have. Sorry about that, but we're just going to our dorm now," Draco said before Hermione could say a thing. Filch sneered again.
"You better go straight there." The two Heads nodded and turned around. Draco's tight hold on Hermione's hand kept her from bolting right there. Wait a minute. He still had her hand! She began to blush without meaning.
Why the hell am I blushing? I'm Hermione Granger, for Merlin's sake! A war heroine, and I'm blushing because the bloke I fancy is holding my bloody hand?! What is wrong with you, Hermione Granger? she chided herself. Without thinking, she squeezed Malfoy's hand, making him look down at her frowning, flushed face. She looked up and met his grey eyes, and her face began to redden again.
"What?" she asked. She wanted to ask him to let go of her hand, but she felt powerless to. Draco just raised a brow at her blushing face, and turned his gaze back to the dark corridor. He noticed it getting darker as they continued going through, and took out his wand with his free hand.
"Lumos," he suddenly said, startling Hermione out of her thoughts. She glanced at him, then at his wand.
"Are we there yet?" she asked. She could hardly see, and she suddenly felt very tired.
"Are you five bloody years old? Does it look like we're there yet?"
"I can barely see, Malfoy. It's too dark and I'm bloody tired."
"What, do you want me to carry you?" he asked. Hermione looked sharply at him, his pale face looking mysterious in the dim light.
"No. I can walk myself, as you can see!" She was still painfully aware that he had her hand in his hold. He noticed her glance down at their adjoined hands, and smirked as she looked back to the dark corridor, the embarrassment on her face present. He changed his hold so their fingers were entwined, and began to swing their hands back and forth. Hermione blushed madly and looked down at the stone floor.
"What are you doing, Malfoy?" she asked, not daring to meet his eyes.
"What do you think I'm doing? Are you that daft?" he asked, smirking.
"No! I'm not daft! Just-why are you doing it?" she asked the floor. Malfoy's smirk faltered. Why was he doing it? To irritate her? To piss her off? Because he fancied her? Malfoy shook his head.
"Because I feel like it," he replied, and then silence ensued. Questions raced through Hermione's mind, but she kept her mouth shut, already embarrassed enough as their hands continued to swing back and forth between them. Finally, after nearly an eternity of walking, it seemed, they reached the Head's portrait door. The two lovers looked upon the two with weary eyes, but seemed to perk up as they looked at their joined hands.
"Unity," Draco drawled, and the lovers in the portrait sniffed, looking warily at the two.
"Don't try anything funny in there," the man said, narrowing his eyes at their hands.
"We aren't comedians," Draco deadpanned, and Hermione giggled.
"You know what we mean," the woman snapped, obviously irate from her lack of sleep. The man seemed to caress the woman's shoulder and allowed them in. As soon as they got into the Common Room, Hermione, quite reluctantly, took her hand from Draco's and fled to her bedroom. Draco couldn't help but laugh at the effect he had on her.