All aspects of Harry Potter © belong to J.K. Rowling, except this story, in which the words and tales woven are of my mind.

AN: Hullo…again! Tis' the season to read fanfiction! *grin* Hope all is well with everyone reading this. ^_^ May y'all have a great Christmas with lots of snuggles from your friends and family.

AN II: Warning, of the icky R/Hr moments ahead that had to be put in, although they almost made me barf in writing them. Just kidding. ;)

Merry Christmas,

Tourniquet

Chapter 7: Move My Hips to the Baseline…

For a crisp day in December, things were usual in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students hurried around the castle anxious for the Christmas break that was coming nearer, munching on candy canes and singing carols in the corridors as they hurried to class.

Everyone was in fantastic spirits except for one person - a tall bloke with red hair and a frown to match. Ron Weasley was usually the first person to hang his stocking in the Gryffindor common room to give any indication, and this year he had yet to even mention Christmas to his peers.

He was perched with chin in hand in one of the highest rooms in Hogwarts where the owls awaited a mission and stared at him in curiosity. Staring out into the dark December night, Ron scowled for the 100th time that day thinking of a certain brunette who had haunted his thoughts and dreams for the past seven years it seemed.

Hermione Granger was his best friend, other than Harry of course. So why was she ignoring him? He still remembered the past summer when she had come to visit him and the rest of the Weasley clan and they had stayed up all night talking of the schoolyard to come. Well, that wasn't what was on his mind, he admitted. It was that kiss. The first and only time he had the pleasure of kissing Hermione. She had been laying beside him in the grass that night, snuggling up to him, as the night grew chilly and he had just planted one on her. It had taken him all night to get up the nerve and she hadn't slapped him or pushed him away. Instead she had wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

He could still recall the shivers that had run down his neck when she had gently brushed her fingertips across the nape of his neck. The next day they hadn't spoken, but snuck glances at each other across the breakfast table, and then Hermione had left – gone home to spend her last days with her parents before returning to Hogwarts.

They hadn't spoken of the incident since, and it was driving him insane not knowing. What did she think of that night at the Burrow? Sighing, he kicked at some stray straw and headed back to the dormitory. Upon returning to Hogwarts, Ron thought he and Hermione would just continue where they left that summer. Start dating, and finally he could be with the girl he loved, but things didn't go as planned.

Something strange was going on with Hermione. She was always distracted. One literally had to smack her upside the head sometimes to get her attention; she seemed to be in a daze. The strangest thing of all in his opinion was the time she was spending with Malfoy. They were spending hours together everyday, working on their committee as Hermione always said, but somehow he didn't believe it. Weirder than that was she didn't seem to hate Malfoy anymore, seemed like she liked him.

He thought back to their conversation after Potions yesterday. She and Ron were wasting time as they waited for Harry to finish talking with Snape who had held him back after class to discuss his detention. Apparently Harry had been throwing spitballs according to Malfoy, which everyone knew was crap. Instead like usual Snape either believed Malfoy or just needed an excuse to terrorize Harry. Either way, things didn't go as he wanted with him and Hermione.

"So what are your plans for tonight, Mione?" Ron had asked, fiddling with a button on his robe. He had hoping to ask her to meet him somewhere alone tonight and finally talk to her about everything.

"Oh, Draco and I are going to start arranging the Christmas stuff in the Great Hall." She had said casually as she dug through her bag in search of something.

He had stared at her, his mouth slightly hanging open. "You and who?"

She looked up in surprise at his tone. "Draco."

"Since when do you call him Draco?" Ron had demanded, his face turning red.

"Since he's not a bad guy Ron, if you and Harry just gave him a chance-"

"Puh-lease!" Ron had spat. "I don't know what is going on with you two Hermione, but I don't like it at all!" He was clenching his fists at his side, in attempt to not freak out.

She had stopped then and stepped closer to Ron, staring up all five inches into his angry face. "Since when do I need your permission to do anything Ronald Weasley?" she said in a dangerous tone.

"From the time you started liking that ferret!" Ron had almost bellowed in her face.

She had stepped back and not speaking another word, had took off down the corridor, her steps angry and her hair flying behind her. Harry chose that moment to come out, having been quietly listening.

"You still haven't learned have you?" Harry said coming up behind Ron and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You'll never get Hermione to listen if you talk to her like that."

Ron didn't respond but he knew Harry was right and his chance with Hermione was gone for the moment.

Making his way up to his room, Ron snapped at pair of first years who were still up. He had to stop taking his anger out on others but at the moment he couldn't care less. There was something up with Hermione and Malfoy and he was determined to figure out what it was.

To be continued of course…