Chapter Six: Trusting Hermione with a Plan
"Well?" Draco asked.
"Not here. I think you should take me home with you for Christmas," she said, with a smile.
Malfoy gaped at her. "Do you know how dangerous that is? You could get figured out and killed!"
"So?"
The blunt answer nearly swept him off his feet. "SO? I don't want you killed!"
Hermione smiled at him, her pretty eyes light. "So I won't be killed. Plus, I don't think you'd let that happen."
He blushed. "Why on Earth do you have to be so stubborn? Is that why you like me?"
"Possibly," she said, winking at him flirtatiously.
He blushed deeper, smiling a little reluctantly. "Hermione-"
She put her hand over his mouth. "No, Draco. I have to let them think that your job is working."
"You're trying to weaken them, aren't you?" he whispered, his voice slightly muffled against her soft, cold hand.
She hesitated a moment, then nodded.
He said, "You don't understand. They're my family...a horrible excuse for a family, but it's true. Bellatrix, my Father..."
"It would be better for you. I promise everything will be okay, Draco," she whispered, a tear leaking down her face.
Draco sighed, looking resigned. He kissed her lightly, causing her to smile sadly. "Listen Hermione, don't...don't do anything...anything reckless. Christmas...I'll let my family know you're coming. Do be aware that you'll have to act...broken."
"I'm good at that," she said wryly. "Don't worry about me."
They kissed tenderly again, and then Draco said reluctantly. "We'd better...leave."
"Can't we stay here tonight?" she said softly. "Nice bed, pretty night, relaxing room. We can relax for one night, Draco."
"Hermione..." He lied down in the comforting mattress, and she lied down next to him.
"Please?" she breathed, kissing his cheek.
He blushed. "Hermione!" Finally, he gave in and nodded a little, flicking off the lights with a flick of his wand and pulling the covers over the two of them.
"Draco?" she whispered in to the dark.
"Hermione."
"I like you a lot, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. I like you too." He rested his arms around her, and she snuggled in to his chest.
"Goodnight, Draco."
"Goodnight, Hermione."
It was a quiet night. They both more comfortable than what the either had been in ages. Hermione rested her head in his chest, relaxed and happy. Even the daunting thought of having to wake of tomorrow didn't upset her.
The dark, which had been gentle and soothing before, was broken by Draco's gentle, "Time to wake up, Hermione. We have to go to breakfast, my dear."
"Ugh...are you sure?" she groaned, blinking sleepily. "I'm so tired!"
"Alright...five more minutes." Draco smiled a little, lying down next to her. Six minutes later, he roused her again.
They both got up, and Hermione straightened her crinkled clothes. She thought about needing a brush, and then found one on the nightstand.
"I love this room," Hermione told him.
He smiled, his eyes light. "Only because I'm here, right?"
"Sure. But maybe we could...more often."
Draco smiled. "I'd love to meet you here more often."
Hermione blushed, finishing brushing her hair. Draco felt her soft curls, smiling a little. "You know, I love your curls. They're so you."
Hermione laughed shyly. "Oh...they're so irritating."
"I think they're pretty."
She blushed, and then stood on her toes to kiss him. "We um...should split up. For good reasons. You know, we can't have the houses thinking..."
He nodded. They reluctantly left, and Draco took the longer route to the Great Hall. Hermione graciously took the shorter route and ended up at her table.
"Hermione, what took you so long?" asked Ron.
Hermione smiled, truly for the first time in months in front of them. "Oh," she said cheerfully. "I was taking a nice long walk."
"You seem happy. What, did Snape actually give you an O?" asked Ron.
Harry smiled at Hermione warmly, who was delighted to take the opportunity to make this normal, smiled back at both of them and nodded vigorously.
"You're a crazy girl, Hermione," Harry told her.
Hermione laughed, and said, "Yes, I know." A crazy girl. And little did he know, about her new "boyfriend", Draco Malfoy.