A/N: This chapter is kind of short to, but it's a little treat for all of you who have stuck with me so far.
I own nothing.
This chapter will just be dedicated to all of you who continue to read.
Chapter Nine : But No One Can Stay Lost Forever.
Christmas morning arrived quickly at the Grangers' house. When Hermione was much younger, she would always be the first to wake up. For a moment she wouldn't quite understand why such excitement was taking over her, but then she would remember it was Christmas Day. The girl was always an oddball, but she had been a child just like anyone else. So the girl would hop out of her bed, run down the hall and jump on her parents bed to wake them up so she could begin opening her presents.
But Hermione didn't wake up first anymore. She had grown up, matured and calmed down. So nowadays it was the alarm clock on the side of her bed that woke her up in the morning. As she arose in her bed a smile crossed her face as she recalled the date. It was no longer a strong excitement, just a bit of joy. Her love for Christmas had never faded, the feeling in the air was enough to keep it in her heart, but she wasn't that child again.
Hermione entered the kitchen about twenty minutes later to see Draco and her parents drinking coffee and chatting at the table.
"Oh good morning pumpkin." Her father suddenly seemed more excited.
It was her father that got excited about Christmas now, but Susan always made him calm down. It wasn't for the same reason Hermione had been as a child though. Hermione knew that he loved to watch the expressions on her's and her mother's face as they unwrapped the gifts from him. She had once overheard him telling her mom that it was his favorite part of the whole holiday.
"Good morning," Hermione walked over and poured herself up a coffee.
"Should we get to presents then?"
The four of the piled into the living room around the large Christmas tree that was placed in the far corner of the room.
"Oh it looks as though my mother had one of the elves bring me some presents." Draco observed a few new gifts that were settled under the tree.
"Elves?" Susan asked curiously.
"House elves." Draco commented.
"Does your family still treat them like they treated Dobby?" Hermione's eyes narrowed on the boy.
"That was just my father." Draco promised
The four began opening their gifts. Susan and Dan eyed Draco's presents curiously. Since Draco was from a magical family so of course all of his gifts were from the wizarding world.
Hermione came to a small box in her pile. It was long and narrow, but it was different from the gifts from her parents and other family members. This one said 'from Draco'. She hadn't realized that he would get her anything.
She opened the packaging to find a beautiful gold necklace with three bright red rubies centered in the chain.
"Gryffindor colors, I thought you'd like it." Draco said as she observed the gift.
"I love it, Draco. Thank you."
"I see you had the same idea with my gift." Draco smiled as he pulled out the green jumper.
"My mom wanted to get a crimson one for you."
The two chuckled, Susan watched them, obviously clueless to the rivalry between their two houses.
It didn't take long for all the gifts to be opened. Hermione and her mother seemed to be discussing different clothes that they had received for Christmas, leaving Dan and Draco sitting there quietly.
"Dan, would you like to play a game of wizards chess?" Draco asked, "I think you would enjoy it."
Dan gave the boy a curious look, "How do you play?"
"The same as normal chess but the pieces move themselves as you command them."
Draco pulled the game out of the wizards chess that his mother had sent him for Christmas and set it up on the living room table. Dan excitedly took his place as he watched Draco place the pieces in their place.
Within moments after the game started, Hermione could tell her father was hooked. She wondered if her father would soon develop a boy crush on her friend. It was starting to seem like it. Draco was probably everything that Dan would have wanted in a son. He was smart, charming, Quidditch made her father more excited than Christmas and now he had introduced him to wizards chess.
Eventually Dan and Susan got busy with preparing dinner and the two teenagers finally got a chance to spend some time together.
"How is your Christmas?" Draco asked as the two took a seat on the sofa.
"It's pretty good." Hermione said with a smile, "It seems like my dad is falling in love with you."
Draco laughed with Hermione on this comment, "Well it's better than him hating me for suspicion of dating his daughter."
"True enough, I still don't understand why my parents are so caught up on that. The way my mom talks about it makes her sound almost hopefully that she's right."
"Well who wouldn't want such an attractive prat for a son in law?" Draco joked.
Hermione just rolled her eyes, unable to keep from smiling.
"Thank you for inviting me for Christmas. Right now I would probably be sitting in my dorm room hating life. I'm having a great time."
"It's okay, admittedly my Christmas has been a lot better with you around."
The hours flew by quickly. People started arriving at the Grangers' house around five in the afternoon. Draco was introduced to many people. Almost each time they got the same remark, 'Is this your boyfriend?'
"Herminny, what did Santa Cwause bwing you?" Hermione's three year old cousin walked up to her.
The girl smiled at the toddler's pronunciation. "Lots of pretty things, what did Santa Clause bring you?"
The little girl began describing all of the toys that she had gotten for Christmas. She was so adorable. Hermione had always wanted kids. Even when she was married to Ron she had dreamed of children, but the boy had refused. He didn't want her kids. Those were the words he had said to her, like there was something wrong with her.
"Becca your daddy's here, lets go see him." Her Aunt Liz entered the room and took the little girl away. The girl seemed to have forgotten what she was talking about at this new exciting news.
"Who is Santa Clause?" Draco whispered to Hermione as Liz walked away with Becca.
Hermione stood there and laughed for a moment. She kept forgetting that Draco didn't know about their muggle traditions.
"There's this muggle tale that says a long time ago there was this man named Santa Clause, he was a saint and he always wished to give. One year he created Christmas and traveled all the way around the world, bringing gifts to every boy and girl. The tradition is still carried on today but it's just parents who give their children the gifts, and tell them that it was from Santa Clause."
"That's... odd." Draco said.
"I know, but it makes the kids so happy. And it's tradition."
"So is that where Christmas came from then?"
"Well partly, the rest of it was because it was Christ's birthday."
"Who...?"
"Oh never mind, you'd rather not know." Hermione laughed.
"So Hermione," her Aunt began at dinner, everyone was seated around a large table that had been set up, "How do you know Draco?"
"He's a friend from school."
"Are you still going to that boarding school?" her Aunt asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Yes." Hermione nibbled at the turkey on her fork.
"I had always figured it was an all girls school."
"No, it isn't but our teachers keep a good eye on us." Hermione assured the woman, knowing where she was going with the whole conversation.
"Well that's good. But they can't keep an eye on all of you at once. You know how teenage boys can be." She eyed Draco suspiciously.
"Aunt Liz." Hermione complained.
"Your Aunt seems nice." Draco said with a hint of sarcasm as they watched everyone leave that night.
For the rest of dinner she had lectured Hermione about how all boys just wanted one thing. She started going into detail about how their hormones caused them to think with only one head, and not the one on their shoulders. Toward the end Hermione was pretty sure that her Aunt was starting to hint at the fact that all really attractive guys were man whores, and moments before that she had complimented Draco on how attractive he was. It wasn't so hard to fit the pieces of that puzzle together.
"I'm sorry about her, my uncle kind of broke her heart. That's why they didn't come here together." Hermione whispered back.
"Well that was interesting." Draco said as the two headed into the living room.
"It really was, you can't tell me you didn't find her a little humorous."
"Well she was, a little but it would have been funnier if it wasn't all about me being a man whore." Draco pointed out.
"Well you know, some rumors at school could have supported her theory."
"You should know better than to believe rumors Hermione." Draco said as they took a seat on the sofa, "Or should I remind you about in fourth year when you were leading on both Potter and Krum." Draco referenced a daily prophet article written by Rita Skeeter.
"Oh shush you." Hermione said, playfully glaring at him.
"So what are your plans for tonight?" Draco asked.
"I was wondering if you would watch a movie with me, I know you don't find them interesting but we could pick out something." Hermione suggested.
Draco stared at her for a moment but eventually nodded, "Sure, why not."
The two spent a good ten minutes picking out a movie. After they put it on the two settled into their seats on the sofa. They silently watched the movie, even Draco seemed interested in it. Eventually he looked over and saw that Hermione had dozed off. She looked so different when she slept. She usually had such a tough exterior but when she slept she looked so innocent and vulnerable. The boy covered her up with a blanket that sat on top of the sofa and turned back to the movie, only to find himself soon falling asleep, too.
The holidays continued to race by. Before they realized how fast time was flying, it reached December 31st.
Dan and Susan had long ago been invited to a friend's New Years party, and the two invited Draco and Hermione to tag along.
"So what's your new years resolution?" Draco asked.
The two of them stood in a corner, out of the attention of all the adults who were mingling amongst one another.
"Not to let anyone control me anymore. I want to lead my own life. I don't care what other people say anymore. I don't care what I have to lose." Hermione added.
"Good, I'm proud of you. I'm going to hold you to it." Draco smiled.
"Well what is yours?"
"I'm going to try to be a better person." Draco said, she could hear a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
"That's a great resolution. I'm going to hold you to it as well."
"Good, I may need your help. Being a good person isn't very easy you know. There's so much temptation to be bad." the boy teased.
"Oh? And what temptation is there?" Hermione teased back.
She wasn't sure what had gotten into her. She could almost swear that her reply her been quite flirting. It was probably the result of the alcohol they had managed to snag without anyone noticing. Hermione had drank maybe once before in her life, so it wasn't hard to get her tipsy.
"Well, there's yo-" Before he could finish his also flirty come back they were interrupted.
"Hey pumpkin, I just wanted to check in. Are you guys having fun." Susan asked.
Ever since the woman had discovered the two teenagers asleep together on the sofa the day after Christmas, she had been even more in Hermione's face about the possibility of a relationship blooming between her and Draco. Hermione was beginning to figure that her mom wouldn't leave her alone until she admitted to some sort of thing. Unfortunately that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Oh, uh, yeah it's pretty fun." Hermione said.
"I'm having a great time as well. Thank you for inviting us." Draco jumped in before Hermione could sink.
Her mom stayed and talked for a few minutes. She left giving the two a look that had become quite common lately. It was a look of suspicion and hope. Hermione wished her mom would lay off a bit.
"So we're going back to Hogwarts in a few days." Draco pointed out.
"Yeah, it's going to be so weird going back. I've gotten so used to it just being the two of us." Hermione sighed, "It's going to be weird to pretend I hate you in public again.."
She had gotten so used to being able to speak to Draco whenever she wanted. When they got back to Hogwarts the two would once again have to meet in secret and pretend to hate each other in front of all of their friends and other peering eyes.
"I know," Draco whispered, "Can you do me a favor?"
"Of course." Draco took her hands in his and stared down at her seriously, "No matter what I may say to you in front of others, no matter how harsh it may be. No matter if I ignore you or give you cold looks, please don't take any of it to heart because I don't mean it. You mean so much to me Hermione. You took over such a big place in my life so quickly. I don't want to hurt you but I know these things will happen."
Hermione almost felt tears fill up her eyes but she managed to force them away.
"I know, it's not your fault. We're from two different worlds. I don't blame you for anything. Please don't take anything I say to heart either." Hermione pulled the boy into a long hug.
"How did this happen?" Draco asked softly.
"How did what happen?"
"This. Us. We hated each other for so long. This whole thing is so surreal, but at the same time I can't remember what it's like to hate you the way I hated you before. Never did I think that a day would come when you would be so important to me."
"I don't know, but thank you for being a part of my life. I had no one to talk to before you became a part of my life."
"We're so corny." Draco laughed as he pulled away from the shorter woman.
"I'm guessing it's the alcohol talking." Hermione giggled a bit, causing an amused look to cross Draco's face.
"You don't drink much do you?"
"This is the second time in my life."
"Ahh, I should have figured, you're such a goody goody." Draco teased.
"Hey I'm not a goody goody!"
"Right." Draco said sarcastically.
"I break the rules all the time!"
"All for a better good. Every time you and your little Gryffindor buddies break the rules you end up saving the day, that hardly counts."
"So? I've done bad things."
"You've never even gotten a bad grade. Admit it Granger, you're as good as it gets."
"No." Hermione huffed slightly.
"You're even a prefect."
"So are you!"
"Yes, but I don't care what the other students do as long as they don't kill each other. I saw you deduct points for not wearing the uniform properly."
Hermione had no come back so she just stood there and glared at the boy for a moment.
"Such a good girl." the boy teased and pushed some hair out of her face, "It's okay, lots of guys like good girls."
Hermione blushed softly, how did he do that to her. She wasn't much of a person who blushed. But he made her blush countless times a way. All of his stupid remarks, his sexual hints and his flirty charm. It wasn't fair, it shouldn't be that easy.
"Oh shut up." Hermione complained, not wanting to blush anymore and she knew if the conversation continued she would.
"You know I'm telling the truth, Hermione." Draco laughed, "Lots of guys find it sexy. A smart girl like you should realize that."
Hermione blushed even harder.
"Draco I think you may have had a little to much to drink."
Draco chuckled at these words, "Hermione I drink a lot more than you. I may be painfully honest right now, but I'm more sober than you are."
"So tell me Hermione, is there something going on with you and Harry?" Draco asked a little while later.
Hermione stared laughing loudly. She didn't know why people always assumed this. Yes, they were close friends but it was the same thing that people kept assuming about she and Draco. Out of anyone she knew, she had figured Draco to know best on that situation.
"No, we're just friends Draco." Hermione sighed, "I thought you knew that."
"Just making sure." Draco said with a smile.
"So it's almost midnight." Hermione pointed out as she glanced at her watch.
"Really? Holy, this night has just flown by. You've got to just love alcohol."
"Well I feel almost fine, just perhaps warm inside."
"That's because you barely drank any." Draco teased.
"I didn't want to make a fool of myself, especially in front of my parents."
"Then perhaps when we're back at Hogwarts I can get you nice and drunk for the first time. I'm curious as to how much alcohol it would take."
"You just want to see me make a fool of myself." Hermione laughed.
"It's almost midnight!" someone said loudly, gaining everyone's attention.
"10... 9... 8..." everyone seemed to desert what they were doing and find their friends or lovers.
"7... 6... 5..." Hermione looked over at Draco and smiled.
"4... 3... 2..." Now everyone in the room was chanting along with the person.
"1..." Hermione was completely shocked when Draco leaned down and captured her lips with his own.
She hadn't expected it so she stood there for a moment, shocked. But seconds later something happened she got lost in the kiss. It had been a long time since someone had kissed her, since someone had kissed her and meant it. She had grown so used to Ron's excuse for a kiss. Just a peck on the lips to make her shut up. Draco's kiss was so much different. There was something there, there was heat. It was more than she would have ever imagined.
As she got lost in the kiss she forgot everything. She forgot who she was, who he was, she forgot about the fact that they could never be together. She forgot about Ron and the horrible marriage they shared together. For that small moment in time she was just a teenage girl, lost in a kiss and she felt on top of the world. She felt his fingers curl through her hair and she pulled him closer. For a moment everything felt so right.
But no one can stay lost forever.
Hermione snapped back to reality and pulled away from the boy. Everything came back at once. Reality hit her like a canon right in the stomach. She felt her insides shatter. She couldn't do this. She couldn't let another boy hurt her like that.
"I- I..." Hermione stuttered, not even knowing what words she wished to get out.
Without a word she turned and once again fled a scene because of Draco Malfoy.
A/N: So they finally kissed!
I hope you enjoyed it.
Next chapter everyone will be back at Hogwarts.
I'll try to post again soon.
Please review!
