Chapter 10: Holiday Surprises

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and soon the snow began to fall and Hermione was watching as her friends discussed holiday plans. She was sitting on the couch with a book in her hands, reading over her notes. "Hermione, this was sitting outside the Fat Lady's painting," Ginny told her.

Looking up, Hermione saw a parcel in Ginny's hands. "From whom?" Hermione asked curiously.

"There's no card or note," Ginny replied.

Taking the parcel, Hermione started untying the gray ribbon and unwrapped the rose red paper. Opening the box, her eyes widened when she saw that it was a book. "What is it Hermione?" Ron asked.

"I've been searching for this everywhere. Every book store I went to they were sold out," Hermione commented as she picked up the brown book.

"Well?" Harry asked.

"It's a copy of Kneazles: The Myths and Truths," Hermione replied when Crookshanks jumped up beside her.

She scratched her cat's ears with a smile. Opening the book, another stem of bluebells fell into her lap. A soft smile appeared on her face as she held the flowers between her thumb and index finger. "Any idea who it's from?" Ginny asked. Lifting her head, she shook her head.

"No idea," she replied.

Getting up, she smiled softly at her friends. "I am going to turn in for the night, goodnight," she told them before going up to her room.

When everyone else went to bed, the young woman got out of her bed and went downstairs. At the same time, she saw Draco climbing up the stairs. "What are you playing at?" she demanded, forcing him to stop.

"What?" he asked.

She stared at him. "What kind of joke is this Malfoy?" she demanded, showing him the book. Draco stared at the book in her hands, feeling a little stung that she was again using his surname and not his first name.

"I believe it is a Christmas gift," he replied, "usually people say 'thank you' for a gift. It is a little early but I thought you would appreciate it."

Hermione glared at him. "You break up with me, yet you leave flowers in my book bag and Christmas gifts by our door. You can't do this to me!" she snapped.

"What?" he asked.

"Play with my emotions this way! How can I move on and be happy when you're making everything worse and miserable with your confusing signals?" she demanded.

The young man was silent, sighing a little. "Happy Christmas, Hermione," he answered before walking away. Anger rushed through her veins as she stormed after him.

"What game are you playing Malfoy!" she demanded, grabbing a hold of his arm.

Before she could react, she was up against the wall with his arms pinning her arms up by her head. Her book had slipped through her fingers, falling to the floor with a thump. "You have no idea how much I still care for you. How much this kills me that I have said what I said. The fact our relationship is over kills me," he told her.

"Then why did you do it?" she asked.

"I already told you, it's safer this way. Safer for you," he replied.

With his free hand, he caressed her cheek with his thumb. "If only you knew how much I care," he said softly, "how deep my feelings go." Swallowing hard, their lips were close together. "Every part of me aches that you are not around like you used to be," he told her. Locking his jaw, he forced himself to back away from her. "If you are with me, your safety will be in danger. I can't let that happen," he told her.

Picking up her book, he put it in her hands. "Please believe me when I tell you that this is for the best," he murmured. Swallowing hard, he walked away, leaving a stunned Hermione behind. Looking at the book in her arms, she bit her lower lip as she slowly climbed up the stairs.

When she got back to her room, she lied down on her bed with her book clutched to her chest. His words were swimming in her head, but they didn't make sense. What was he doing that was endangering her safety? Why did he feel like he had to leave her alone in order to keep her safe?

Draco on the other hand, was making his way through the castle halls, avoiding Filch at all cost.

Making his way to the Room of Requirement, Draco walked over to a pile of boxes before he pulled out the box he had put in there the night before. The last thing he needed was one of his friends finding the package. Opening it, he stared at the object inside. Closing the case, he took it back to his room.

The next day, Draco walked into the Three Broomsticks, removing his jacket and hat. He still kept the package close to his side as he walked around. "Can I help you?" the man behind the counter asked.

"I'm fine thank you," he answered, his eyes scanning around the room.

As he made his way around to find someone to deliver his package to Dumbledore, he saw the back of Hermione's head. Letting out a deep breath, he made his way around the room.

With her back turned, Hermione didn't notice Draco staring at her. "Mione, is it just me or has Malfoy been watching you a lot?" Ron asked. Hermione shrugged a little.

"So? He watches me, doesn't mean anything," she replied.

"I just find it odd and kind of creepy," Ron commented.

Hermione again shrugged before she took another drink of her butterbeer.

After the three of them left the Three Broomsticks, Hermione wrapped her arms around her friends' shoulders with a smile when they heard someone scream. Looking over, they saw Leanne looking at them with wide eyes. "I warned her! I warned her not to touch it!" Leanne exclaimed horrified. The four of them watched as Katie Bell was dragged back and forth on the ground before she was pulled up into the air by an invisible force.

Hermione's eyes widened in horror when Katie let out a horrible scream before she crashed to the ground. Looking over, she watched as Harry stood above the package that was still lying on the ground. "Do not touch that except for the wrappins," Hagrid told them as he lifted Katie up off the ground.

"Who could have done this to her?" Hermione asked.

"It had to be Malfoy," Harry answered.

She looked at her friend, her forehead creasing. "You can't be serious Harry, Malfoy couldn't have done this," she insisted.

"I'm telling you Hermione it was him," he answered before the necklace was taken back to Hogwarts.

Leaving McGonagall's office, Hermione kept her arms crossed over her chest. "Hermione don't you see? Malfoy is a Death Eater, he was sending that necklace to Dumbledore," he insisted.

"Honestly Harry why would he want to kill Dumbledore? You have a hypothesis and nothing to back it up with," she answered as the three of them climbed the stairs.

"Is there a reason why you are defending him?" Harry asked.

"I'm not defending him, I just don't think Malfoy could do this," she replied.

Shaking her head slowly, they stood in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. "I have to do something," she told them, "I need to go to the library and get a book."

"Alright then," Harry answered.

Hermione turned on her heel and went down the stairs. As she made her way to the library, she saw Draco making his way to the Slytherin Dormitory. "Malfoy," she called. Instead of answering, he walked right by her and went down the stairs. He didn't even glance at her. Standing in the middle of the hall, she was a little lost with his reaction. However, instead of letting it bother her, she turned and went to the library to get the book she wanted.