A/N: Hi everyone! I know I disappeared off the face of the earth for about 2 weeks, but here's the next chappie! It's overdue, so its a bit longer. I got four reviews from the last chapter! Yay! it probably won't be a while until I post again, I'm back at school and swamped with homework, and I've almost caught up with the amount I've written...

A couple of people responded with pottermore houses, it's nice to know I'm not alone! Snakes for the win! if anyone wants to add me, I'm QuillSky31461

happy reading!

Disclaimer: "A quick spelling lesson. let's spell Charimer!" *boy raises hand* "miss, is it, J-K-R-O-W-L-I-N-G?" "no Billie, it's not! Everyone with me, It's C-H-A-R-I-M-E-R! well done class!"

Charimer x

Hermione awoke to gentle patterns being traced on her arm, and immediately snuggled closer to the warm body next to her. He put his head on top of hers, lightly nuzzling her hair and whispering, "Good morning."

"What time is it?" she asked into his chest.

"About nine. I think everyone's already left."

"Oh." She said. They lay there in comfortable silence for maybe ten minutes, before Hermione pulled away and got out of the bed stretching. Draco watched her, and when she turned around and saw him gazing at her practically in worship she blushed. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she stuttered.

"Because you're beautiful." He said making her blush again.

"Oh shut up." She said jokingly and hit him with a pillow.

"Oh, starting pillow fights are we? Better run away before I get you back." he said with a glint in his eye as he grabbed a pillow and slowly approached her. She let out a squeak before running to the bathroom. He looked at her across the room smirking and she stuck her tongue out at him before shutting the door to safety. She heard him shout from behind the door, "I'll get you later Granger! You can't hide forever…"

She emerged from the bathroom a bit later when she was sure Draco had gone, and got into some casual clothes. She walked out of the room, and immediately Draco pounced on her with the pillow. After a moment he dropped it and tickled her instead. She squirmed whilst laughing uncontrollably.

When he stopped she looked up at him. She had ended up on the floor and Draco was practically on top of her, his hands hovering over her ribcage. She pushed her head up and captured his lips, and he responded with as much passion as he had. She felt herself getting lost in the kiss, and forgot she was lying on the floor with him on top of her. Her hands took on a life of their own, roaming over his chest and down his back. She played with his hair and he gasped slightly into her mouth. He pulled his mouth from hers and trailed kissed down her neck and along her collarbone. It was her turn to gasp as he lightly bit her, and all thought flew out of her head.

After a few more moments of bliss he pulled away from her, and she blinked slightly stung by his rejection. He saw the hurt flash in her eyes momentarily, and chuckled stroking her face softly.

"It's not that I don't want to. I just don't think it's the right time right here and now." He told her soothingly, and Hermione suddenly realised again that she was lying on the floor with him on top of her. She blushed and he stood and helped her up. "It's nice to know that you're ticklish though. I might use that…" he said raising an eyebrow and she blushed. His constant flirting made her quite flustered, but she loved it all the same.

"Oh, shush." She said as he pulled himself off the floor and pulled her up. "How are you finding the books you keep stealing from me?" she asked. He grinned back at her not even bothering to deny it and honestly said

"They're very good."

"Glad you think so."

"I was meaning to ask about that, do you have the 4th one. I've been looking for it but I couldn't find it in any of your book collections."

"It's not published yet; it's out in a couple of weeks."

"Oh. Okay then."

"Cheer up, I'm sure you can wait that long." She teased, and he dramatically made the point of having an enormous sigh.

"I suppose I'll just about make it through."

By this time they had already left the dorm room and were almost at the great hall for breakfast. When they reached the doors she looked pointedly at him.

"What?" he asked confused.

"Shouldn't you drop my hand now?" she queried, and he contemplated it for a moment before smiling.

"Nah. They'll all know sooner or later." He said before pulling her into the hall.

The next few weeks passed easily. Both Hermione and Draco were happy to simply enjoy each other's company, and have peace and quiet for once. Before long, it was the day before Christmas Eve and Hermione woke late as usual. Expecting the normal lazy day, she was shocked when she walked down the stairs yawning to find Ginny there, beaming at her.

"Ginny? I thought you weren't back until tomorrow at for the ball?"

"Well I thought I'd come back early, seeing as you must be bored out of your mind here! Then again… how are things with your Slytherin boyfriend?" she asked striding over to her and grabbing her wrist before dragging her into her room.

"Things are fine…" she replied narrowing her eyes at the redhead. Ginny practically squealed with glee. Hermione stared at her like she'd gone insane.

"What! I think you two are such a cute couple! Harry told me." She explained.

Next moment there was a knock on the door and after Hermione called for the knocker to come in Draco Malfoy himself poked his head around the door.

"You okay Hermione? Sounded like someone just died…" he trailed off noticing Ginny in the room.

"Morning Malfoy." She said extending her hand out for him to shake. He took it raising an eyebrow fractionally.

"Morning Weaselette. I assume you've come here to steal Hermione."

"You would assume right." Ginny replied with a sparkle in her eyes that Hermione really didn't like.

"Um, do I get any choice in this?" Hermione tentatively asked.

"Nope." Ginny replied before shooing Malfoy out of the room.

"So, what are we doing?"

"We are going to get you a dress for the dance, seeing as I don't think you even currently own a skirt, let alone a ball gown."

"Well, neither do you" the bookwork smartly responded.

"I'm a tomboy, which makes it okay. And I'll have you know I already have a dress I borrowed. And there's no way going shopping with you dressed like that, I do have some standards."

"Honestly, if you weren't one of my best friends I swear I would have pushed you off a tower by now. And I didn't realise I'd actually have to leave the dorm today, so obviously I didn't know to dress nicely. Maybe if you'd warned me you were coming!"

"Calm down Hermione, and get changed. I'll be waiting for you downstairs; I got permission to go to Hogsmeade with you."

"Seriously, why am I friends with you" she muttered before Ginny left the room and Ginny laughed.

"Because you love me really. And you know I don't mean it."

"Yeah whatever, get out so I can change!"

Ginny grinned before walking out the door to give her some privacy. A few minutes later she walked out looking slightly more presentable and Ginny deemed her acceptable. Hermione scowled at this and Ginny just chuckled and dragged her out of the portrait. She quickly shouted out a goodbye to Draco and she swore she heard a chuckle before the portrait closed.

"How'd you get in anyway?"

"They let me in, obviously recognised me as your friend." She said with a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Hermione groaned before Ginny dragged her out of the castle down to Hogsmeade. She wasn't looking forward to a full day of looking for a dress. Though it was true, she did need to get one. Thinking this, she gave in and allowed herself to be dragged away. Maybe she'd have time to stop in at a bookshop and treat herself. And she needed to do her Christmas shopping! 'How had she forgotten that?' she thought.

Hermione staggered through the portrait hole and collapsed on the nearest sofa. She'd just got back from her shopping trip with Ginny, and to say it had been tiring would have been an understatement. Ginny insisted on going everywhere, and making Hermione try on practically every dress to find the 'perfect' one. To be honest, she was happy with practically all of them; as long as it looked vaguely presentable she didn't really care.

"Stupid, annoying friend…" she grumbled under her breath, slipping her shoes off and relaxing back into the cushions. A chuckle from across the room surprised her; she opened her eyes to see her roommate obviously trying not to laugh at her. She narrowed her eyes at him, and his smirk grew. They both stared each other down for a few moments before both looking away, Draco chuckling and Hermione blushing slightly.

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad…" he mocked her.

"It was. You've never had to go shopping with her. She's bloody insane!"

"Come on, lighten up Granger. I'm sure you enjoyed it really."

And he was right, she had, deep down, enjoyed the company of a best friend again, albeit a hyper and slightly mental one. Instead of admitting he was right, not wanting to inflate his already overlarge ego any further, she simply lay her head back again and relaxed into the soft sofa. It was warm in the common room, and before she knew it she'd fallen asleep.

She woke the next morning in good spirits. It was Christmas Eve, and Ginny and Harry were back. She was looking forward to spending some time with them, if only she could persuade them to let Draco join them. He wasn't that bad, and she didn't want him to be left alone around Christmas. Not to mention she felt she needed the support if she was going to hang out with a couple like those two, she'd rather not feel like the third wheel.

Glancing over at the clock, she realised it was well gone 10 and practically leapt out of bed. She rushed to get dressed, realising she'd overslept, and dashed to the common room to grab herself some breakfast. Grabbing herself a cereal bar she dashed over to the portrait hole and wrenched it open.

"Sorry Ginny, I forgot you were coming and overslept." She apologised to the girl on the other side of the door.

"I've been waiting half an hour. No one answered the door!" she complained, then took one look at Hermione and laughed. Hermione frowned.

"What?"

"Your shirt's on inside out and your hair is a complete mess!"

"Oh." She said glancing down at herself.

"Good job I'm here then" Ginny replied before dragging Hermione roughly into her dorm.

"What are we doing for," she glanced at her watch quickly, "6 or so hours before the dance?"

"I am getting you ready."

"Ginny! I'm not a Barbie doll!"

"A what?"

"Oh, never mind. But why do we need that long!"

"You'll see" Ginny replied cryptically, facing Hermione now with her hands on her hips. There was a laugh from the armchair, and Hermione turned to face an openly amused Draco Malfoy.

"Do you always skulk around in chairs in here Draco?!" she queried, slightly irritated. He tilted his head slightly, looking at her, before replying.

"Most of the time." He smiled his winning smile at her, and Ginny chose that moment to speak out.

"Okay, enough flirting. I'm still here you know." She told the two of them, and Hermione blushed while Draco just leaned back in his chair visibly unaffected. Ginny shook her head at the two of them, despairing.

"Come on Herms."

"Ginny! Don't call me that!" Hermione insisted, but Ginny just ignored her and grabbed her hand to drag her into her room. Hermione mouthed 'help' to Draco, and she could see him trying to hide a laugh. Just as the door to her room slammed shut, she heard his self-control give out and he started laughing.

After roughly 6 hours of what seemed like torture to Hermione Ginny finally stepped back and declared her 'perfect'. Hermione gave her the death glare before putting her hand up to her hair. Ginny grabbed her wrist.

"No touching! You'll ruin it!"

"Ginny! It feels strange!"

"But it looks amazing. Now, go and get your boyfriend, he's probably waiting for you down there."

"Where's Harry?" she asked slightly suspicious.

"Erm…" a knock on the door cut her off.

"Weaselette, are you two done yet? Potter's at the portrait." Draco called through the wood, to answer Hermione's question.

"Let him in!" Ginny called through to him. Hermione could imagine him scowling at this, but she heard his footsteps as he went over to the portrait and let him in.

"Potter."

"Malfoy." They curtly greeted each other, and then there was an awkward silence.

"Where are they?" Harry finally asked, and Draco responded with a smirk.

"They've been holed up in Hermione's room for the past 6 hours."

"That sounds like something Ginny would do."

Silence prevailed again for another few moments, before the door to Hermione's room opened. Ginny came bounding out, and Harry's jaw practically fell off.

"Wow Ginny, you look amazing!" he told her and she smiled at him pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Nowhere near as good as Hermione looks." She proclaimed grinning. At that moment Hermione's voice came from around the door.

"I heard that Ginny. You're so modest." She sarcastically told her.

"Come on Hermione, do I have to come and drag you out?" Ginny told her as Draco and Harry listened to the two girls slightly bemused but very amused.

"Ginny… only if you promise not to laugh at me."

"Hermione, no one will laugh at you. You look amazing."

"Alright! I'm coming out. But if anyone laughs, I will hex you Ginny." She told her, before she stepped out from behind the door and walked out of the room, blushing bright pink. To her surprise, no one laughed. Ginny beamed at her, obviously saying 'I told you so', Harry looked quite shocked, and Draco…

Draco felt like he'd just been hit by a train (not literally). He didn't even know it was possible for someone to look so perfect. His jaw was practically on the floor as he drunk in the sight of her. He blinked a few times, unable to take his eyes off her. His mouth was unexpectedly dry, and he swallowed.

"You look great Hermione" Harry told her, realising Draco was obviously completely speechless. Ginny gave him a critical stare and he looked back at her. Hermione heard him whisper 'what' to her and she just shook her head. Hermione made her way up to Draco who still hadn't said anything. She reached him, and she reached up and placed a finger under his chin and closed his gaping mouth. He seemed to come back to full consciousness and took her hand before kissing it gently.

"You look absolutely radiant." He told her, and her blush grew even deeper, if that was even possible. Harry cleared his throat awkwardly and gestured for them to leave the room. Draco took Hermione's arm and both went down to the great hall following Ginny and Harry.