a.n. hello wow thanks to everyone for reading hahahah its crazy. i hope its okay. this chapter is just a little cute christmas break one. i will be doing another 1 or 2 i think just to tie it off and get some character development in there hahaha but yeah definetly review and tell me if there is anything you would like to see, any suggestions or corrections!

erin xxxxxxxx

'Are you sure you don't want to come, Hermione?' Ron asked. She was seeing them off for the Christmas break.

She nodded with a smile. 'I'm sure.' Hermione said reassuringly. 'Make sure you owl me and keep me updated.' Harry and Ron promised they would and she hugged them both.

'Merry Christmas.' They said to her as they hurried off. Hermione took a deep breath and head back into the castle. It was terribly empty. Only a few students had decided to stay back this year. She made a quick decision to go to the library and read a book.

When she got to the library she picked up a book and sat down to read. Her eyes flickered over the words but she didn't actually take in the meaning. Too many times she tried to focus and re-start but her mind refused to take anything in, she was too distracted. She could hear someone shuffling behind her finding a book. Hermione almost had given up when she felt the chair next to her move and looking up to see who it was she found Draco Malfoy. He rested his book on the table and crossed his legs on his chair. She tried to catch his gaze but he simply sat there next to her reading. She smiled to herself and put her head down to keep reading. Having him next to her was worse than before, she couldn't concentrate one bit. Draco shifted his leg so it brushed against her and a warm shiver danced on her skin. Hermione looked up at him and found the corners of his lips rising as he read, still avoiding her gaze. They sat like that for a long time, legs brushing under the table until Hermione let out a long sigh and broke the silence.

'Let's go somewhere else.' She said. Draco finally looked up at her and nodded.

'Alright.' They got up from their chairs, putting their books back and leaving the library.

Hermione began walking but Draco stopped and gave her a suspicious glance. She turned around to see him standing still. 'Where are you taking me?' he asked. She let out a short laugh, this situation was reminded her of another night when she was in his position.

She rolled her eyes. 'Come on. Trust me.' She told him almost jokingly. Draco cracked and smiled. He caught up to her and they began walking side by side.

'I didn't know you were staying for the break.' She remarked stealing a glance at him. His face faltered at this.

'Yeah, well. There's nowhere better to be.' Draco replied vaguely. She heard the change of tone in his voice and decided to not push the subject. Hermione stopped when they made it to the grounds and groaned. It was beginning to snow. They had been sitting in the library and didn't have any warm clothes on. There went her plans to find a tree and sit down. Where was somewhere warm they could go? When she thought of warm, she thought of fire. The Gryffindor Common room would be perfect. There were almost no Gryffindor students around. Draco saw her stop.

'I'm guessing this was not part of the plan?' he asked gesturing at the silver snow that was beginning to fall around them.

'Not quite. But I have another idea.' She admitted. Hermione turned and began to walk towards the Gryffindor tower, waving Draco to follow her. They had almost made it until Draco started to realise where she was taking him. The Fat lady was up ahead.

'No. No way, Granger.' He shook his head.

'Malfoy, come on! There is no one around.' She added. He looked around desperately before studying her.

'Granger.' He groaned. Walking up the steps to the Fat Lady. 'I'm going to remember this.' He reminded her. Hermione whispered the password under her breath and the door swung open. She stepped inside and looked back to see Draco standing outside the door frame stubbornly. She laughed and grabbed his hand pulling him inside; the door shutting behind them. The room was warm and cosy, the fireplace had been on for a while. They moved across to a couch in front of the fire and sat down next to each other. Hermione pulled her knees up to her chest and laid her head back enjoying the warmth. Silence hung around them in a comfortable aura.

'See, it's not so bad.' She smirked taking a glance at him but found him looking at her. Draco looked away quickly pretending to be interested in anything else around him. She thought she could see a red blush spreading across his cheeks but it might have been the warmth of the fire.

'I suppose.. For a bunch of Gryffindor's.' he smirked. Hermione hit him lightly on his arm.

'So what are your plans for the rest of the break? She asked him.

'I'm not sure yet. I guess I'll see what happens.' He replied playing with the threads on the couch absent-mindedly. She mumbled in agreement followed by a yawn. It had been a long day. Her eye-lids were getting heavy.

'Draco..' she murmured, her words were heavy with sleep. He looked over at her again and noticed her falling towards sleep.

'Yes?' Draco asked.

'Will you stay?' she mumbled through another yawn.

'Okay.' He nodded. She smiled tiredly and shuffled on the couch, moving her head so it rested on his shoulder. Draco watched her eyes droop and her breath slow. She looked completely and utterly peaceful. He noticed goosebumps on her bare skin. Draco slipped his hand into his pocket and drew out his wand; muttering an incantation. 'Accio Blanket.'

The blanket drifted towards them and he draped it over her carefully. Draco rested his head on top of hers and let sleep pull him under.

Her eyelashes laid on her cheeks mingling with the light freckles that danced on her skin. Her chest rising and falling with the rhythmic breaths of sleep. Her legs were draped across his lap, she had shuffled around a couple of times during the night. Her lips were curled in a smile of pure content. Draco had been watching her for a while now. He had never been much of a morning person but, damn. He would be if he could wake up like this.

'Just about how long have you been watching me sleep, Malfoy?' Hermione muttered, looking up at him through her eyelashes. Shit.

'I have no idea what you're going on about, Granger.' He replied casually. Hermione let out a bright laugh.

'No, really. How long have you been awake?' she asked.

'A bit.' Draco admitted. Hermiones eyes widened.

'And you stayed?' she didn't mean to say it out loud. He rolled his eyes jokingly.

'Clearly.' She smiled at him when they heard a grumbling noise. Draco couldn't resist the laugh that jumped from his mouth. 'Was that your stomach, Granger?'

She joined in with his laughing trying to conceal the blush colouring her cheeks. 'Sorry.'

'Should we go get some food?' Draco asked.

'Definitely.' She nodded. Hermione noticed her legs draped across Draco's and her blush darkened. She slid her legs out from under the blanket and stood up off the couch. Draco stretched his arms and took her hand when she extended hers to help him up. Hermione looked down at her clothing and cursed under her breath.

'I should- Can you just wait here for a moment?' she asked.

He nodded, 'Be quick.' She climbed the stairs to the girls dorms two steps at a time. Draco was left by himself. He could already feel the weight of her absence. He flickered his eyes around the common room taking in bits and pieces. It was decorated in vibrant reds and gold's. His eyes fell on a cabinet and his heart stopped in his chest. It reminded him of the one in the Room of Requirement. Draco still hadn't managed to get that bloody cabinet to work. It had frustrated him to no end. He was running out of time with it, The Dark Lord definitely didn't hesitate to remind him either. Draco's hands had begun to tremble slightly when he heard steps coming down the stairs. Hermione came down steps; pulling the hem of her top down over her stomach, unaware of Draco watching. It looked like she had used a quick cleaning spell and changed her clothes. She looked up at Draco and instantly noticed something off.

'What's wrong?' she asked with a concerned look etched onto her face.

'Nothing,' he replied. 'I'm fine. C'mon, let's go.' He gestured towards the door. Hermione gave him a suspicious glare but joined him anyway. The two left the Gryffindor common room (much to Draco's content) and made their way to the Great Hall.

Walking through the large arched door to the Great Hall with Draco by her side, Hermione stopped. There were four long rows of tables for each house. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each row of tables was scattered with small groups of people, hardly any students were here. She couldn't sit at her houses table though, none of her friends had stayed for Christmas break. There were two options running through her mind. She could: Sit by herself at the Gryffindor table drowning in her boredom. Or- she looked over at Draco who was giving her a questioning look.- She could sit at the Slytherin table with him.

Draco looked at her while she crossed her arms over her body and bit her lip tentatively. He walked towards her, his stance was set so the other people in the room couldn't see them. He lifted her chin up with his thumb and fore-finger so he could see her face. Draco saw her eyes flicker from the Gryffindor table and then back to his face. He looked back her house table and saw none of her friends then moved his gaze back to her. There was hesitance and a question in her eyes.

'Come on.' He nodded to the Slytherin table. His hand slid over her shoulder down to the small of her back as he led her over to the table. As they took their seats, groups of Slytherin students lifted their eyes up and stared; some in question, other in disdain and the rest were just curious. With a sharp glare from Draco they all diverted their gazes.

Hermione glanced back at the Gryffindor table to find a pair of young girls whispering behind their hands, looking at Hermione and Draco every few moments. Moving her eyes along the table she found other Gryffindor students doing something similar.

'Merlin, everyone's looking at us.' She breathed. Draco looked around and smirked.

'Well, lucky them.' He joked. It was still strange to hear Draco joking around when only weeks ago she remembered him sitting in the hallway with dark circles traced under his eyes. Every now and then she could see a flicker of that inside him but not before he pushed it away. That is good, She thought. At least he was pushing back. 'Honestly, Granger. Focus on the food. Don't worry about them.' He told her casually.

'Alright.' She took some toast and some Pumpkin juice while Draco chose his food. He asked her about the rest of Slughorns party while they ate. She told him about Mclaggen and the Mistletoe.

'So you didn't snog the tosser?' he asked jokingly. Hermione laughed.

'No!' she said. 'I'm actually almost offended that you thought I would kiss him!' she exclaimed, placing her hand over her heart.

'Well, at least you got away unharmed, that's all that matters.' Draco was saying feigning seriousness.

'What about you!' she said hitting his arm. 'I'm surprised you didn't get caught.. Mrs Norris has dropped her game.'

'She certainly has, Granger.' Draco smiled at her bashfully. Looking between Draco slipped his hand into hers; their fingers intertwined.