Disclaimer: Harry Potter and it's character's belong to the lovely J.K. Rowling. I do not own... sadly

Secret

Natural Magic

The feel and sound of snow scrunching under Draco's feet was satisfying. It felt like he owned the snow, showing it that just because it was pure and white didn't mean that it couldn't be conquered by him and his dirty boots. He stepped proudly into the fresh powdered snow, enjoying the fact that he was the one that was wrecking its purity.

His gaze was focused on his feet as he trudged through the thick woods. The moonlight reflected against the snow, its glare causing him to squint. His ears strained against the cold night, searching for any sign of life. The only sound he heard was the crisp crush of his footsteps beneath him. His broom rested on his shoulders as he trudged along. He had flown to the woods so that his footsteps could not be followed but if anyone travelled to the back of the property they would see his footsteps if they looked hard enough. He would have to ask Hermione for some spell to cover up his footsteps, before he cursed and remembered he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school. What a bunch of bullocks… all because of that stupid crack-pot, old, delirious headmaster.

His heart jumped into his throat as he heard a twig snap nearby. He paused in his forward motion and looked out into the dark woods. Shadows flickered occasionally but he hoped that was just his eyes playing tricks on him.

"Hermione?" he whispered out. He knew she wouldn't be able to actually hear him but he felt better letting her name escape his lips.

"Draco," a calm feminine voice answered.

The voice was right next to him, and he could feel her warm breath breathing down his neck. He felt a small squeak slip out of his throat and his broom slip from his grasp. He wheeled around, whipping out his wand, and faced his attacker. Or what he thought was his attacker. He should have known better that it was just Hermione.

She was laughing quietly into her hand as if she was trying not to disturb the forest around them, as her other hand clutched her side.

"Real funny Hermione," he growled, shoving his wand roughly into his pocket as he bent down to retrieve his broom.

"You should have seen the look on your face," she continued to taunt as her fit of giggles climbed in volume slightly.

He grumbled something that sounded a lot like 'stupid muggles,' before he took off deeper into the woods. He ignored her as she quietly called out for him to wait up; he was still fuming that she was mocking him. For some reason he felt something inside of him snap when he heard her laughter directed at him. No one ever laughed at him, or mocked him; it was something that had never happened in his life. It felt wrong that his best friend would do something like that. Maybe her muggle blood was to blame after all.

"Oh lighten up," she teased, elbowing him playfully in the shoulder once she caught up. She saw the dark mood on his face and knew he was brooding.

He didn't say anything as he continued forward, veering left at an old looking tree that had a piece of wood nailed to it.

Suddenly he sank into the snow and found a curse tearing from his lips. He sputtered as snow invaded his mouth making him taste the cold along with the faint taste of dirt. He tried pushing himself out but the snow only caved beneath him, it refused to give him leverage to pull himself out. He scowled, crossing his arms in front of his slightly exposed chest, grateful at least that this wasn't a deep snow bank.

Hermione was nearly roaring in laughter. It took her a moment to compose herself enough to realize that he couldn't get out on his own before concern laced through her. She quickly looked around for something to help her friend.

"Fall in a snake pit?" she asked while pulling on a nearby branch until it snapped loudly. The sound echoed through the silent forest. She held the branch just barely out of his reach. She still had to tease him? That was a bit uncalled for. He huffed as he felt his face become a darker shade of red, but he wasn't sure if it was out of rage or embarrassment.

"Oh just get me out already," he snapped, waving his arm wildly to grasp the branch she held out tauntingly.

Hermione seemed to tense at his harsh tone but complied none the less.

"What has you in a sour mood? It's Christmas!" she said as she offered her hand out to help him steady himself.

"First you sneak up on me and tease me. Then I fall and you laugh," he said briskly choosing to condense his sentences as much as possible to show his anger.

"I was just playing the first time, and I did help you out rather quickly," she responded, her tone slightly miffed as she helped brush off the snow from his pants.

She stilled his hands and made him look at her. Really look at her, since he hadn't when they first arrived in the forest. Her brown eyes looked almost black in the darkness and her normally frizzy hair was managed into just curls in the cold weather. Her buck teeth flashed almost as whitely in the snow in the darkness.

His heart was beating fast in his chest, and he felt uncomfortable. Why did he suddenly always feel uncomfortable whenever Hermione Granger was around? She was his best mate, wasn't she? Friends for life? Or was this whole Gryffindor/Slytherin thing really getting in the way of how he viewed her? He found his breath catch in his throat as she leaned forward suddenly.

"Happy Christmas, Draco," she said warmly as she pulled him into a hug. Just a hug, a hug that made him feel warm inside. This hug made him feel something that he had never experienced before. He wanted something more, but he wasn't sure what exactly. He was pretty sure that whatever it was, he shouldn't want it with Hermione - his Hermione, who was his best mate, and just his best mate. It was just a hug after all, they had hugged thousands of times and he never felt like this.

"Yeah… Happy Christmas," he said weakly and wrapped his own arms around her.

"I told you I would make it in time," she beamed as she pulled away. She grabbed his hand, and even through the gloves he felt heat travel to where he imagined their skin was touching. Her pace was more sure footed than his; she was the one that knew these woods like the back of her hand. She would often run beneath him as he flew above on his broom, playing a game of tag almost. It felt like so long ago since they had last done that.

She tugged him along, he followed, both trying to soundlessly traverse through the woods, their breath puffing out visibly in front of them in the cold air. The wind whipped through the trees from time to time making the two walk closer together for warmth. And then finally, after what seemed like hours, they stopped in a large clearing. A small patch of ice in the center, it was completely clear. It looked like a mirror as it reflected the night sky perfectly.

"Just in time," he found himself whispering.

He felt Hermione move so that her head was resting on his shoulder as they sat down on a dry nearby rock. They both looked to the sky, admiring the clear bright stars of the winter night.

In moments, streaks of light danced along the night sky, and it reflected along the patch of ice as well. Both sucked in their breath at the same time as they realized they were witnessing a meteor shower. Rapidly the lights flew, dancing in short bursts along the sky. It seemed as if time stood still as they watched. It seemed to last for hours. They were caught up in the beauty that danced before them. Draco couldn't help but sneak a glance at his friend. Her face was flush and her eyes reflected the night sky. This was magic. Natural magic, caught in a moment. Just like Hermione; she was a natural magic instead of a bred magic. He would never tell her that, it would be his own little secret. He smiled as he turned back to the display in the twilight sky. He knew neither of them would ever forget this night.

()()()()()()()()

The train ride back was long and awkward. He was stuck in a compartment with an angry Zabini who wouldn't tell him why he was angry, and two awkward lumps that sat there with their eyes glazed over as if they were waiting for some kind of order from him. He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest; he would settle for staring out the window and get lost in his thoughts then.

Christmas break had been the most fun he had had since the school year started, and it left him deeply reflecting on his house's value of friendship. He missed Hermione, a lot more than he would ever admit to her. While he sat around thinking about how much he missed her, she was off making friends with that spotlight-obsessed Potter and his dirty-nosed sidekick Weasley. And he couldn't help but feel somewhat betrayed by that thought. If only she had been in Ravenclaw, - hell he would have even been happy if she had been in Hufflepuff - but why did she have to be in Gryffindor: where any chance of an open friendship would and could only end in disaster? He sighed and felt his leg begin to bounce up and down in frustration.

"Pansy sends her love," mocked Blaise after several more tense moments of silence. Draco tried to refrain from rolling his eyes. He tried and failed miserably.

"So you ended up writing to her over break, I take it?" he asked, feeling equally as peeved as Blaise seemed to be.

"How else would I know to send her love?" his friend asked tersely. His eyes flashed with something akin to jealousy.

"Stop being bitter about the fact that she likes me. I haven't made any moves on her. As far as I'm concerned she's yours," he told his friend feeling his annoyance seep into his tone.

With that being said though the tension almost immediately dropped.

"Mine?" as if the word sounded foreign on his tongue, as if it was weird that Draco would just say something so forward and not try anything just to get Pansy to spite him.

"Yeah. Yours. I don't care for her," he let out a deep breath and uncrossed his arms to stretch them over his head.

Goyle's face was screwed up and his face darkened a few shades, almost turning purple, which drew Draco's eye.

"Forget how to breathe again?" he mocked. His lackey just shook his head, not losing the stupid expression on his face (although it rarely left).

"Stop trying to think and just ask the question already," he stated, bored, and waved his hand to gesture to get on with it. Seriously, how did these two wind up in the house of the cunning?

"If you're not interested in Pansy. Who are you interested in?"

"Whoever I want to be interested in," he snapped feeling like he closed the subject to his friends. Why was it so important right now? He frowned slightly as Blaise attempted to strike up a conversation with the other two like he always politely attempted.

Needless to say it was a boring train ride.

()()()()()()()()()()()

He had been dying to test out this curse for a while now. It was the leg-lock curse; he had been practicing on Crabbe and Goyle but he wanted to see if he could find someone that might possibly be a challenge. He roamed the halls letting his mind wander as he searched for someone he could practice on.

It had only been a few days back, yet there was no word from Hermione about a meeting to the library. He tried not to think about that but his feet had led him straight to the meeting place. He paced outside for a few moments before strolling in. His eyes scanned for the bushy brown hair that had lately caused his heart to act weird.

He did pass a small Gryffindor boy though, the one he had taunted and been jealous of. Longbottom. The coward was averting his eyes from him and doodling on a sheet of paper. Draco couldn't help but let his eyes travel down to an elaborately drawn heart with the initials HG + NL drawn around it.

He had never really thought that they were at an age for dating or for love interests. He had thought they were a bit young for stupid crushes and puppy love phases. Obviously this didn't apply to this idiot. What bothered him the most was that a boy like this was in love with his best friend. The kid was not worth a moment of her time.

He shot the spell as the boy stumbled up to leave, and he heard a random amount of obscenities leave his mouth. He wasn't sure what he said. All he knew was it was along the lines of worthless Gryffindor trash, along with a few other harsh words.

He would regret losing his cool later, at the moment though he felt self-righteous as he strolled through the halls. He felt powerful and cool. This was what it must have felt like playing the hero, and protecting the ones you love. He could get used to this. He smiled to himself as he entered the dungeon and pulled out a quill. He would send her another note, and hopefully this time it wouldn't get lost.

A/N: Alright devoted and new readers I have no valid excuse or reason for taking so long to update this story. Please feel free to scold me in a form of a review... that may or maynot help make me write faster :P. Just kidding... okay guys... a few more chapters than year two. You guys excited? I sure am... :). Next chapter is in progress so I hopefully won't take so long next time. Stay tuned ~

Oceanwind