Chapter 7- The Winter Holidays

The song for this chapter is "Work" by Jimmy Eat World.

December began and school work became increasingly more difficult as the teachers tried to squeeze everything in before the winter holidays.

Hermione and Draco barely in the first few weeks of December, but even when they saw each other, it was all work. They hadn't kissed again, though they pulled many all-nighters in the common room; it was all work and no play.

Draco and Hermione weren't in a relationship and didn't act like it, but things definitely hadn't gone back to the way they were. Hermione and Draco were constantly at each other's throats, but they did get along better when they weren't arguing and they usually made up.

Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead. She and Draco were in the common room working on the magazine. She put her head in her hands and closed her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked.

"You care?" Hermione asked rudely. Draco didn't say a word, but looked back down on the article he was editing. "I'm sorry," she said, rubbing her eyes. 'I just have the worst headache. I think we've pulled too many all-nighters."

Hermione yawned and couldn't remember the last night she had gotten any sleep. It must have been at least a week ago. She set her work on the seat next to her and closed her eyes, trying no to fall asleep. The only thing that had been keeping her awake was the potions she had recently become addicted to.

"Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?" Draco asked, not looking up from his work.

"…N…N-no, I d-don't think…"

Draco looked up. It wasn't like Hermione to stop mid-sentence, unless it was Draco cutting her off.

"Granger?" He stood and walked towards her. "Granger?" He shook her, but she didn't move. "H-Her-Hermione?"

Hermione was motionless. Draco told himself that he wasn't worried, but that it would look bad if he didn't take her to the Hospital Wing. So, picking her up easily, that's just what he did.

"Mr. Malfoy! What seems to be the problem?" Madam Pomfrey asked as Draco entered the room.

"I don't know. I just found her like this," he lied easily, setting her gently on the nearest bed.

"Well, thank you for bringing her here. You should be in bed! You can stop by to see her tomorrow."

Draco rolled his eyes and walked out of there. He knew he wouldn't be visiting Hermione.

Now I have twice as much work to do and I was starting to think I'd actually have sleep tonight. It's all Granger's fault.

But even as Draco thought this, he couldn't help not feeling angry. He knew it wasn't her fault, but he knew she'd be fine. It was just one more sleepless night that he didn't need.

Draco wasn't there when Hermione woke up. He wasn't there when Hermione was asleep and he wasn't there the whole three days that Hermione was kept in the Hospital Wing.

It wasn't like he owed her anything. They'd kissed twice, and she had to tell herself that maybe it wasn't supposed to mean anything.

I guess it didn't mean anything to him, Hermione thought.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Ron asked, snapping Hermione from her thoughts.

"What? Yeah, I'm just…" Hermione sighed and rubbed her forehead.

She had been in the Hospital Wing for three days and was told that she would be let out the next day. Hermione was tired of being looked after and she was tired of being visited by everyone but who she wanted to visit her. Not that Draco was that person. Hermione couldn't seem to figure out when she had left behind the thought of 'Draco Malfoy, the enemy.' To tell the truth, Hermione wasn't sure how much she liked these new-found feelings. To be perfectly honest, she hated them.

"Hermione?"

"I'm just tired," she said, ignoring how she had stopped mid-sentence.

"Oh, sorry, we should let you sleep," Ginny said. "Come on, Ron, Harry."

"Can you bring my homework? I must be so behind!" Hermione exclaimed, realizing that her classes went on, whether she was there or not. She was absolutely terrified that she'd never catch up and that she'd had work piled up, waiting for her when she was released from the Hospital wing.

"I doubt it, Hermione. You've read the textbooks too many times to be behind. You ought to teach the classes by this point!" Ginny said, smiling. "But, I'll bring your homework after dinner tonight."

"Thanks, Gin. I really appreciate that."

"I know."

They all left and Hermione sighed. She had every intention of reading the book Ginny had brought her, but as soon as she opened it, she couldn't concentrate. Hermione kept reading the same sentence and didn't comprehend a word of it.

So, I have some kind of feelings for Malfoy. I don't want to and I've always hated him and everyone in the whole school is practically obsessed with him. So, why the sudden change of heart? Is it because I'm growing up or because he kissed me? Am I really that shallow and superficial? I mean, it's not like I like him or have a crush on him or anything. I surely don't fancy him. Maybe I can just stand Malfoy better now that I've matured and gotten older, or maybe, I've learned to stand him since I have to live with him. But, we're always fighting. Could I, Hermione Granger, actually have a "thing" for him? Could I actually have those kinds of feelings for someone like Draco Malfoy?

And that was the last thing she thought before slumber overtook Hermione. She slept from that morning to dinner the following day without waking up or moving an inch. And, though later she would complain about how unproductive it was for her to have been sleeping instead of working, she knew that spending that time sleeping was next to the best feeling in the world.

It snowed for the first time the day Hermione was allowed out of the Hospital Wing. She was feeling better and well rested, but not ready to go play in the never-ceasing snow like the rest of the Hogwarts population was.

As Hermione trudged to her room, her books weighing her down, she told the portrait the password and stepped inside.

"Oh, how are you?" Draco asked Hermione when he heard her walk in. She said nothing. "Granger?"

"What!" She snapped.

"Well, you just came back the Hospital Wing and I was wondering how you're doing."

"Why do you care?" Hermione asked coldly, setting her books down on a desk.

"Well, you fainted in front of me, leaving me with your work to do and leaving me to carry you to the Hospital Wing. I think I deserve to at least know how you're doing."

"I'm fine! Do you think I would have been let out if I wasn't fine?" Hermione asked crudely.

Draco stood, taken aback. He made his way towards Hermione and grabbed her, forcing her to look at him. She winced.

"What the fuck is your problem!" Draco yelled.

"You! I'm sure you had fun while I was in the Hospital Wing!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Draco asked, gripping her tighter.

You didn't visit me at all in the Hospital Wing! I wanted you to…

Draco let go of her and smirked, because he knew. It was like he had read Hermione's mind.

"You're mad because I didn't visit you in the Hospital Wing, aren't you?"

"No," Hermione said, but her 'no' had sounded exactly like a 'yes.' She rubbed her arms where Draco had been gripping her.

"Yeah, right. Why would you want me to visit you anyway? It's not like we're dating or anything. It's not like I owe you anything."

I know, Hermione thought, but his words still stung for some reason.

Hermione turned to leave, but Draco grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him.

"Look," he said, staring at the ground. "I couldn't have visited you if I wanted to. We don't really have something between us, but how would it have looked if I went to see you?"

"It's all about how you look to others, isn't it? If you really wanted to, you could have found a way."

"No, I couldn't have. There was too much work to do. I still haven't gotten any sleep. But, I, um…" He looked at the ground in what Hermione guessed was embarrassment. "I was worried, okay?"

Hermione broke out into a huge smile and lifted a hand to his cheek. Draco looked at her and smiled in return. Then, Hermione kissed him very quickly and very lightly on his lips. It was something she had wanted to do for the longest time and once she had done it, she turned to leave because of her humiliation, but Draco wouldn't hear of it. He pulled her back to him and kissed her, his arms going around her waist pulling her closer.

Hermione smiled, breaking off their kiss. She picked up her books and face Draco.

"I'll be right back," she told him.

When she came back into the common room, she held a book in her hand. She took Draco's hand and led him to a couch where they both sat down. Draco draped a blanket before both of them, put his head on Hermione's shoulder and he was asleep before she opened her book.

The second ball approached and the Heads and Prefects were working hard to make it flawless. The band was already booked and all they had to do was put up the decorations the morning of the ball. It was the first Saturday of winter break and only a handful of students were returning home, but even they wished that they could have stayed.

It was the week before the ball and Draco and Hermione were in the common room working on the magazine.

"Do you have the Arithmancy article?" Hermione asked Draco.

"Yeah, it's in my room." He stood and made his way to his room, but when he returned, he was carrying more than just the Arithmancy article.

"What's that?" Hermione asked him.

"An owl from my father. It was from my bed." He opened it cautiously, but it was just a letter: he sighed in relief.

Sitting on a couch, Draco read the letter and Hermione went back to work, figuring that if Draco wanted her to read it, he would tell her to.

After reading it, Draco set it down next to him and sighed. Hermione couldn't take it.

"What did it say?" She blurted out, hoping Draco wouldn't get mad at her for asking.

"It was just finalizing plans about me coming home for winter break. You can read it if you want."

Hermione set down her quill immediately and sat on the couch next to Draco, picking up the letter.

"Go to Dumbledore! He'll help you," she told him.

"He wouldn't even know where to start," Draco replied darkly.

"Please, Malfoy--"

"Why do you always call me 'Malfoy'?"

"W-What?" Hermione asked, caught off guard.

"Why do you always call me 'Malfoy'?"

"I don't know. Because you call me 'Granger.' I guess we were never formally introduced."

Draco nodded and after a moment of silence, he held out his hand.

"Draco Malfoy. You may call me Draco." Hermione laughed, but took his hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hermione Granger. You may call me Hermione." She shook his hand and they both laughed.

There was silence and then Hermione remembered what they had been talking about.

"D-Draco?" It felt weird coming from her lips. Draco smiled at his name coming from her.

"Yes?"

"Please?" Draco sighed. "Dumbledore will know what to do to keep you safe. I'll go with you, if you ant, or I can talk to him for you. Just, please?"

"Why do you want me to go so badly?"

"Because… Because I don't want you getting hurt and I know you don't want to be a Death Eater, and if you don't go home you won't become one because, even if your father does come here, Dumbledore can protect you so that your father can't get to you, so, just, please talk to him?"

Draco looked and Hermione. He could tell that she was really worried about him and that made him smirk, but he caught himself just in time and turned the smirk into a smile, lifting a hand to stroke her cheek.

"Okay," he said, kissing Hermione lightly. She smiled back and stood, dragging Draco with her.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Going to see Dumbledore! Come on!"

And Draco sighed and allowed himself to be dragged to Dumbledore's office, wondering when he had become whipped by someone that he wasn't even in a relationship with.

The second ball seemed to have snuck up on them all. Draco had accepted Dumbledore's help, though reluctantly. He stayed at Hogwarts for the winter holidays, but he always had it hanging over his head that he had asked for help for the first time in his life.

Hermione, on the other hand, was overjoyed. It wasn't that Draco was staying, she told herself. She had just helped him and that's what mattered. She helped someone who needed help. Hermione saved a life, or rather, thousands, if one really thought about it.

As the night of the ball came, Ginny helped Hermione get ready. Ginny would be attending this ball with Dean, but things between them hadn't been going well. They had been on and off dating for almost two years and they had recently been fighting about every little detail. Hermione knew that they were about to go off again.

"See, Hermione! I knew these robes would fit you! You can't wear the same robes you wore for the last ball!" Ginny exclaimed happily as Hermione spun around in one of Ginny's dress robes.

"Thanks, Gin. But, my other robes were just fine." Ginny rolled her eyes.

The robes that Ginny lent Hermione for the night were a midnight blue and made of a satin material. The fabric felt heavenly against Hermione's skin, and, though the robe was a little tight-fitting for Hermione's liking, even she had to admit that she had the curves for it. Hermione did look good and she smiled at her reflection.

Ginny had already perfected herself and was working to make Hermione look stunning.

Hermione's hair, which had been done my Ginny, was left down for the first time. Only, Ginny had somehow un-frizzed it. Hermione's hair was in silky, tamed curls, which suited Hermione much more than looking as if a bush was resting atop her head.

"Sit, Hermione. I need to do your make-up."

Hermione couldn't stop smiling and sat, oblivious to how she had just agreed to let Ginny do her make-up.

"So, who are you going with again?" Ginny asked, applying a light gold-ish eye shadow to Hermione's eyes.

"Anthony Goldstein," Hermione replied.

"Who?"

"Anthony Goldstein," Hermione responded. "You know, Ravenclaw, prefect, seventh year. I have Charms with him."

"Oh. So, is he cute?"

"Ginny!"

"What? Well, I'm done," she said, and Hermione looked at herself in the mirror.

Gold eye shadow played across her eyelids and made her eyes a golden bronze. A touch of eyeliner made her eyes stand out beautifully. A slight amount of blush gave Hermione's face a warm, but shy glow and a clear gloss was lightly applied to her lips, causing them to seem full and desirable.

"Wow. Thanks, Ginny."

"See, I told you that if you let me do your make-up, I'd make you look amazing, but no…" They smiled and reached for their masks, putting them firmly in place.

"Ready?" Ginny asked.

"Ready."

And they opened the door and stepped out.

The Great Hall looked oddly different then when Hermione had been decoration it earlier that day. It was full, for one thing, but because everyone was festively dressed and looked their best, it made the hall look more beautiful.

Hermione stepped in with her date and caught herself before she gaped at the Great Hall.

It looked much like it had for the first ball, with the streamers and candles. The only difference was that there were balloons charmed to float in mid air and there were banners and tapestries representing each house. It hardly looked different, but looked amazing nonetheless and still left the Hogwarts population in awe.

The band playing was one that had just come out. They were new and alright, but no one could remember the name of their band.

"What would you like to do first?" Anthony asked Hermione, snapping her back to reality.

Find the mystery boy, her mind said and Hermione smiled.

"Let's get something to eat," she said and they headed in that direction.

Hermione seemed to inhale her dinner, meanwhile searching for her mystery boy. She wanted another fairy tale and he was just the person to give it to her.

Hermione knew that he had forgotten about her and that she was just wasting her time with someone she didn't even know, but still, she couldn't help feeling that glimmer of hope that hung in the air.

"The hall looked really terrific. We really did a great job," Anthony said and Hermione nodded and smiled.

"We really did, didn't we?"

They both looked around a moment until Anthony broke the silence.

"So, this band, they're pretty good, huh?" He asked.

"Yeah. Do you remember their name?" Anthony shook his head and Hermione laughed.

"Well, would you like to dance anyway?" He asked and Hermione agreed, taking his hand.

Draco arrived, unsurprisingly with Pansy. It was all about his image and Pansy had practically begged him to take her. It was pathetic, really. Draco almost felt sorry for her, so he agreed to go.

Pansy immediately pulled Draco onto the dance floor, pressing her body against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. It was then that Draco took control, tightening his arms around her slim waist. She giggled and kissed Draco hard, catching him off guard. He let go of her immediately, to his own astonishment.

"What is it? Do you want something to drink, baby?" Pansy purred, stroking his hair. He pulled away from her.

"I'm not your boyfriend; we're not dating and I'm not your baby. But, I'll get us drinks. Get a table," Draco ordered. Pansy looked as if she were about to cry, but she obeyed.

Really, the only reason Draco had wanted to fetch the two of them drunks was because there at the drink table was his mystery girl.

Draco went swiftly towards her, his black dress robe swishing behind hi. He had no clue what he would say to her, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was there and he didn't seem to care about anything else.

"We have to stop meeting like this," Draco whispered in her ear. She jumped and turned, a beautiful smile graced her features.

"It's you!" She said, feeling ridiculous.

"Were you hoping it was me?" He asked. The mystery girl rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm glad I saw you," he said, taking two drinks off the table. "Save a dance for me." He winked and turned, walking away. The mystery girl smiled and watched until he disappeared in the crowd.

Draco found Pansy waiting eagerly. He sat and she smiled, placing her hand on his knee.

Taking Draco by surprise again, she kissed him, only this time, while she kissed him she took a vile full of clear liquid from her dress robe and slipped the liquid into his drink.

Draco pushed her away angrily, but didn't say anything about it this time. He only sighed, wiping his mouth, and drank his drink in one gulp.

"I'm going to the bathroom," he said, standing. He wobbled a little, but steadied himself and went across the room.

"May I have this dance?" Draco asked his mystery girl. The clock rang the time—11:45 PM. There was only fifteen minutes left of the ball.

The girl looked to her date, who smiled and nodded, though quite reluctantly. She smiled and took Draco's hand. He led her to the middle of the dance floor.

"So, do you like Quidditch?" Draco asked, at a loss as what to talk about.

"Not especially, but I have friends who play. Do you play?"

"Yeah," he answered.

"What position?"

"Nope, no specifics," he said.

"Fine, then."

"So, what house are you in?" Draco asked, hoping she would tell him this time.

"You asked that at the last ball. I'm not telling."

"Then I'm not either."

"I didn't even ask you what house you're in," she replied.

"I know," Draco said and they both laughed.

The song suddenly changed. A slow melody played and the two of them got closer. It was evident that this was the last song of the ball and the candles dimmed.

They danced in silence, savoring the feeling of being in one another's arms. As the last notes of the song were played, the clock struck midnight and Draco reached for his mystery girl and kissed her.

The kiss was all too familiar. Draco knew that he didn't know this girl and that she had never been just another one of his whores, but there was something oddly recognizable about the kiss and he liked it.

The mystery girl's mask started to slip and she broke off the kiss and held her mask up. She didn't say anything, only smiled and left out of sight.

Draco smiled, running a hand over his lips.

"Draco!" Came an annoying voice. Draco closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened his eyes, Pansy was standing before him.

"Here, you look thirsty," she said, handing his a drink. He swallowed it in one gulp and it was then that he realized that Pansy had been slipping him a mixture of alcohol and a strong love potion all night. Now, he was not only hopelessly drunk, but feeling a strong love for Pansy.

"Will you make love to me, Draco?" Pansy whispered. Draco looked at her a moment before nodding.

"I know the password to the prefect bathroom," he said, his words slurring. Pansy's face lit up and she led his there, helping him to walk because she couldn't on his own. He was too intoxicated.

Hermione came to her room after the ball and changed out of her dress robe, hanging it up to return to Ginny later.

She'd had a reasonable good time with Anthony. He had been nice and he had been quite a gentleman, but Hermione couldn't see anything more than a friendship with him. She didn't know why, but he was mostly her type and still, she didn't fancy him. It was a mystery to her, but Hermione couldn't force herself to fancy anyone, so she just tried to follow her heart this time, no clue where it was leading her. She was following blindly, really, and not liking one but of it.

Hermione changed into comfortable pants and a tank top and headed back into the common room. Draco still wasn't back from the ball. It was 12:45. Hermione shrugged and grabbed her book from the desk. She lay down on her favourite couch and pulled a blanket over herself. It was then that she opened her book, waiting for Draco to return to the common room.

A/N: This is the R scene… If you skip over it, you won't miss anything, I promise!

Meanwhile, only a few floors underneath the Heads' room, an intoxicated Draco and an eager Pansy stood outside the prefects' bathroom. Draco slurred the password and the door opened. They both threw their masks on the floor once they entered the room.

"Lock it," Draco muttered as the portrait closed behind them. Pansy obeyed like a trained dog.

"Draco?" Pansy said, nearing the Head Boy. "Draco, Lucius said you would be marked with the Dark Mark over the winter holidays."

"Yeah? So?"

"Well, the thing is… you're here, not there. I mean… why? Aren't you getting marked?"

Draco hid his emotions by masking his eyes expertly. He knew, though drunk that he had to play it cool.

"That bastard Dumbledore made me stay because of my Head Boy position. There was too much work to do, so he made me stay."

"He can't make you stay."

"Well, he did, okay!" Draco shouted, his voice echoing in the spacious room. Pansy cowered, but drew near him a minute later.

"Want to see something?" She asked, lifting up her right sleeve. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Draco couldn't help but gape. There on the snow white flesh of her forearm was the Dark Mark, still slightly puffy and red around the edges.

"I had it done this summer. It still hurts a little… I can't wait for you to get yours done!"

Draco scowled, but knew that he couldn't show what he felt, especially to Pansy, who had too many connections to his family and the Dark Lord.

"Just shut up and let's do this," Draco growled, grabbing Pansy roughly by the waist.

"Wait!" Pansy said as Draco leaned down to kiss her.

"What!"

"Drink this," she said, pulling out a clear liquid—obviously the love potion/alcohol mixture she had been feeding Draco the entire night. "You'll feel better," she promised.

Draco stared at Pansy a full minute before grabbing it and downing the alcohol in one gulp. He threw it on the floor and pulled Pansy towards him, kissing her hard.

As Draco's mouth captured Pansy's, he pulled at her dress robe, but it was so tight-fitting that he couldn't get it off. Pansy broke from his lips briefly as she ripped off her dress robe. Draco kissed her again as Pansy pulled off his robe.

Pansy broke off the kiss and pulled Draco towards the bathtub. It was as big as a pool and had the matching depth of a pool. Pansy turned on the water and the tub filled with water and bubbles quickly. She smiled, slipped off her remaining clothes and slipped in the water quickly, as if she didn't want Draco to see her naked.

"It's nothing I 'aven't s-seen 'fore," he stuttered, smirking.

Pansy stared at Draco's boxers, hoping he'd peel them off before entering the water, but he only slipped in with them on.

Dunking under straight away, Draco surfaced and slicked his hair back, sighing as the warm water flowed around his obviously well-toned body.

After a couple of laps around the tub, Draco settled himself across the bathtub from Pansy. She smiled and swam towards him slowly.

As soon as Pansy reached him, the Head Boy kissed Pansy, his hands roaming her entire body. He was drunk and it was quite evident.

Pansy kissed Draco back with all the pent up love she had for him. As Draco's mouth roamed, Pansy's hands slid down to Draco's boxers. She quickly slipped them off and they fell to the bottom of the tub, forgotten.

Their bodies were pressed together and Pansy moaned in delight. Draco caught her lips in a brief kiss before his lips traveled down her neck. She gripped the side of the bathtub.

"Draco…" She moaned. He kissed her. "Draco, I-I love you," she said, panting.

Draco traveled down from her neck and then up, catching her lips with his.

"Draco… Tell me you love me."

"What?"

"Tell me you love me."

"I… I love you," he said, breathing heavily.

"Oh, Draco…" Pansy screamed, her voice echoing in the bathroom, but the silencing charm kept it in. Their sounds were kept all to themselves.

Hours later, Draco emerged from the prefect bathroom, fully sober. He was completely annoyed and down right pissed with himself for sleeping with Pansy. He was just drunk and needed a good lay.

"Draco," Pansy purred, following Draco. She grabbed his hand in attempt to hold it, but he pulled away roughly. "What's your problem? I love you!"

"Yeah, you and half the Hogwarts population. Get used to it, babe."

"But you told me you loved me! We had sex!"

"You're a slut, I was drunk, and I just wanted a good lay. You're easy, that's all there is to it." Pansy attempted to slap him, but Draco caught her hand and threw it back towards her. He started to walk away, but Pansy grabbed him.

"Please don't leave," she begged. Draco just smirked and shook his head at her, walking away.

Author's Note: More crappy writing… Okay, I have to say that I am more than sorry for the long wait… I hate excuses, but let me dish out a few:

-Drama in my life has been endless and difficult to deal with

-School sucks and is really hard right now

-Laziness is what I'm known for

-And, I had no time with the drama and school taking up my life! Damn life! XD

On the plus side, this was a very long chapter! It's longer than most of my others!

Let's see… How was this chapter? I know it's crappy writing and boring, but let me know what you think prett please!

Whopping thank you's to:

AmericanIdiot252

mysteriouscharm

thedreamz

So, keep reading and reviewing! I love to hear from you all!

Coming up in chapter 8: Lies, deep thoughts, strong feelings, fluff, craziness, breaking up for good, Braccola, a little 'PMS' (as one of my editors puts it!), surprisingly getting drunk, almost going too far, and an unfortunate and disastrous fight causing it all to get messed up.

Once again, it's past my bed time and I'm really tired! Sorry for the late post again, and happy readings! Or sweet dreams, in my case!

xDreamerx