Thanks for all the lovely reviews, guys! In thanks for that, I bring to you Chapter 10! Have fun :)

Hermione

Fog had seeped in the windows; concealing them with mist. And with that, snow had set itself down on the grounds of Hogwarts, reliving the yearly tradition of winter.

It was now the day students would be leaving for Christmas break. Intricate decorations were hung all over the place - banners, holly berries, pine trees, ornaments - everything.

As with all Christmas traditions - there was the one that left most students talking. Mistletoes.

I myself never found it quite perilous or a big matter - so I treated this like anything else. Besides, what were the odds I actually would present a kiss to the one I was under with? Walking away would be the accurate solution, now wouldn't it?

The smell of fresh crumpets enticed me to hurry on back to the Gryffindor table to eat breakfast. I took a quick swig of pumpkin juice and quietly started munching on the crisp bread.

Harry, Ron and Ginny had arrived shortly after, each with their own individual golden plates of crumpets.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Ginny grinned, taking a sip from her goblet. "I got you a present!"

From beside her seat; she pulled out a small box wrapped in crimson paper and golden ribbons. It was one of those packages that were far too beautiful to open.

Harry beamed; I assumed he knew what was inside. Ron merely crinkled his nose and continued eating.

"Thank you, Ginny," I said, gently taking the small box from her hands. I moved my plate across the table so my present was placed in front of me.

The ribbon looked absolutely inviting to pull open, but I slid it out gradually until it came completely loose; falling out of its place. Now all was left was the wrapping.

Ginny seemed to distinguish the troubled look I presented.

"Oh, don't worry about the wrapper," Ginny loosened her collar and took a bite out of her scrambled eggs. "It's the inside of it I want you to see."

"If you say so..." The pieces of tape that were pressed on the edges of the box I now took off; the wrapping paper falling out of place.

A strange but wondrous white box derived; with a silver heart illustrated on its lid.

Oh, Hermione, just get this over with, I reasoned.

I pulled the lid off, exposing a sting with infinitesimal golden chains.

A necklace.

Not just a necklace, but a locket. A caramel heart shaped pendant had a scarlet 'H' engraved in it.

Ultimately overwhelmed, I let the necklace prevail there.

"Ginny...this...its so dazzling!" My smile shimmering in appreciation, I folded the golden ribbons and shoved them in my pocket, hoping I would find a good use in them later. "Thank you very, very much Ginny. You're too kind."

"No problem! After all, its Christmas! I'm glad you like it, Hermione. Say...why don't you put it on?" Ginny insisted.

Before I had any chance to reply, she sped out of her seat, plunged under the table, and emerged next to me.

She slipped her fingers through the textured chain and opened the lock at the back.

"Put up your hair."

I isolated the back of my scar and raised my tuft of thick hair.

Ginny brought the necklace around my head and snapped it closed at the back of my neck.

"There. Done."

My hair descended to its original place and I tightened my scarf.

"It looks really good on you," Harry complimented, now finished with his breakfast.

"Thanks. But Ginny...I'm so, so terribly sorry that I haven't had enough time on my hands to get you a present as well! How can I ever make it up to you?" I felt rather blameworthy after being presented with such an appealing piece of jewelry.

"No matter, Hermione, I'm fine."

"But I really should give you something in return!"

"If you're sure you want to, its fine with me if its late. Really, the whole celebration of Christmas is enough for me to handle." She giggled.

"In that case, I'll try to."

Ginny continued under the table once more, and returned to her seat.

"So, Harry," I began. "What are you doing this Christmas Break? Definitely not staying with the Dursleys, now, are we?"

"I'm staying at the Burrow for a while again," he responded. "It's actually rather merry there. You should go see."

Ron finally said his first words to me that morning.

"Why don't you come along, Hermione?" he asked, matter-of-factly.

Was he asking to be offended? I've already informed him the other day that I would be staying at home with my parents. As he advanced to ask me again, my brain raced trying to come up with something to say that wouldn't be too insolent.

"Actually...I'm staying back at home with my parents," I replied. "Mum and Dad are expecting me."

"Oh. I...see." he said enthusiastically.

The clock chimes played in the distance, and the students who were sitting in their seats now arose, taking their suitcases with them.

"Time to go," Ginny announced.

Harry, Ron, Ginny and I made way towards the front gates to the carriages.

Wait a minute. I almost forgot something.

"Guys, I'm going to go to the restroom real quick," I said quite agilely.

"Do you want us to wait for you?" Harry queried.

"N-no, that's okay," I hoped I didn't sound too suspicious. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up with you guys later."

"Okay, if you say so," Ginny continued her treading towards the front with Harry and Ron.

After I turned away and before they were completely out of my sight, I could've sworn I heard Ron. 'Told you she was acting weird.'

I ignored that comment. Instead of heading towards the Girls' Bathroom, I returned back to the Great Hall, where I bumped into someone in the doorway.

Oh dear.

"Mistletoe," they said, pointing up at the white and green plant hung at the towering arch.

I just pushed Ernie McMillan away and continued towards the tables.

And I finally found exactly who I was looking for.

Once I laid eyes on him, I fretted and searched through my robes as quick as I could. And I found it; keeping it in my pocket for later.

They approached towards me first, so I froze.

"Happy Christmas, Hermione," Draco pitched. "Whereabouts are you headed this break?"

"Just staying at home," I repeated once more. "What about you?"

"Same, nothing special," he gestured me to sit down at a table, so I followed and descended to the seat next to him. "Actually, father doesn't like Christmas very much."

"Why so?"

"I don't know, I'm guessing he doesn't really like celebrations...perhaps he's just in it for the wealthy gifts my relatives always give him."

"Oh."

"Ah, that reminds me," he stuck his hand in his robes and pulled out a glittery pink box. "This is for you."

Not again...the wrapping was even more breathtaking than that of Ginny's.

But still, I felt cheerful that he thought about me.

"For me?"

"Especially for you."

He placed the box on my lap and I picked it up, observing every angle of it.

"Thank you, Draco." I grasped his hand in act of gratitude.

Draco placed his free hand on top of mine; creating some sort of sandwich of our palms.

"You're welcome. But, here's something to know," he scooted closer so that my knee was in contact with his. "Don't open it until you're home."

I furrowed my brows in curiosity.

"...Why is that, Draco?"

He smirked at me with delight, narrowing his eyes. I would've never thought that staring at those cold gray eyes of his would be so fascinating.

"It'll be better if you could enjoy its magic by yourself."

"Huh...?"

"Trust me."

Exactly what did Draco give me? However, it wasn't too soon until I was about to find out.

"Now its my turn," I muttered. When I leaned down to search through my robe pockets yet again, I felt the vibration against my thighs on the seats as Draco tapped his fingers.

"Here's my present for you."

I brought out - not a box - but a velvet green pouch, tied at the top with a white ribbon; with a small tag attached to it.

Releasing the bag in his hands, he started to read the tag.

"Happy Christmas, Draco - love from Hermione," he read, his eyes fluttering from one side of the tag to the other. "So, that's love from you, isn't it?"

My cheeks bloomed and a pink tinge fell upon my face. What was I to say?

"Y...yes."

I knew that I was too shy to tell him I loved him again, and he knew so.

Draco sniggered.

"Good. That's great to hear. Tell you what, I'll open it at my house as well. That way it'll be fair."

"O...okay."

A few seconds of sitting next to Draco in the warm, toasty atmosphere caused me to lose myself.

But it wasn't long until this pleasure would last.

Pansy walked by with her friend Millicent and started to talk as if she didn't even notice the comfortable look on Draco's face.

"Draco, Hermione, you guys are going to be late," she stated. "The trains' leaving in a couple of minutes and you two really should get going."

"Seriously, you two don't want to miss the train, do you?" Millicent snorted, rather pleased with herself.

Pansy then strutted off towards the front with Millicent. I heard Millicent ask her why she addressed me with my first name.

She shook her head and when they turned at a corner, they were gone.

"She's right, let's go," Draco stood up and gathered up his belongings.

We walked out of the castle and felt our feet sink into the bitter snow; those atop landing on our heads.

A gathering of black carriages and sleighs led by white unicorns were waiting for fellow students to approach them. Others sped through the fair snow towards Hogsmeade station.

Draco paced towards a carriage with a comely unicorn; pausing for him to come towards it.

He jumped onto the cushions of the seat.

"Hermione, want to ride on a carriage with me?" he asked, flashing a smile.

The wind blew though hint; my hair and scarf lurching with it. My eyes browsed the area for a moment. After all, Harry, Ron and Ginny were gone, there was no one relatively near to ride with at the moment, so why not take this chance?

I giggled and leapt up on the plush cushions, aside him.

The unicorn neighed with glee and began to run through the pure whiteness. Draco raised his left arm and wrapped it around my waist; causing me to instantly flush. What an appeasing feeling.

But still, I wonder.

I wondered why he refused to allow me to open his gift here, in front of him. Maybe there were some things in this world you're better off enjoying alone.

Finally arriving in Hogsmeade station, clusters of students crammed inside the doors, others hugged their friends goodbye, and the rest just stood there; as if waiting for something to happen.

Fortunately, Hagrid waved his hands in motion to allow the students to enter the doors in single file lines; decreasing the intensity of the crowd.

To any bystanders, anyone would consider the sight of a female Gryffindor and a male Slytherin strolling along together rather unusual, but no other than Ron Weasley would go completely berserk.

He was there. Right there, along with Harry and Ginny, watching.

Nowadays Ron constantly plastered a smirk on his face, not as cold as the one you would recognize as Draco's, but it had an aggressive feeling.

"So...you took a little detour on your way to the Girl's Bathroom, didn't you, 'Mione?" He sneered, filling me with an uncanny feeling.

"Ssh, Ron, don't make such a fuss about it," quirked Ginny, having to stand on her tiptoes to whisper in Ron's ear.

"Ron, I must say, it is absolutely none of your business in whom I'm accompanied with," I didn't care if I was hurting his feelings; for now Ronald was brushing me off on the wrong side. "Besides, why does it tick you off so?"

Harry nudged Ron to end this now, but Ron simply disregarded him.

"'Mione! Do you not realize how...how different you've been acting?"

"Oh really. Tell me, then, Ronald," I emphasized the use of his full first name. "What is it that I am doing is rankling you so?"

I could tell that Ron had no intention to yell at me. He knew that everyone found him acting quite foolish; even Harry and Ginny seemed to agree.

I waited and waited for him to throw another insult at me. Come on, Ron, keep it coming.

Ron paused only briefly before he opened his mouth to speak, but his words weren't the first to win the race.

Draco's were.

"Weasley, I'm surprised you're even capable of thinking of an excuse," he bickered before tugging my sleeve. "Come on. Let's leave."

We turned our backs to them, and I was sure Ginny laughed at Ron tauntingly due to his embarrassment.

"First you go through some freakishly dramatic change in your personal thought of Muggle-borns, then you go stealing Hermione away from us, but you don't even have the decency to fight back!" Ron screamed from behind.

Draco hopped on board of the train and I was pressed in front of him, supported by the hand placed on the small of my back.

He stuck his head out of the doorway; only barely to see the surging expression on Ron's face.

"There is no need to fight back at such witty reasons." Draco finished, gritting his teeth before we made our way completely in.

Due to the amount of students returning home for Christmas Break (mostly First years, of course); the staff had put up notices on the walls that we students would be allowed to sit where we preferred to.

"Where do you want to sit?" Draco enquired.

"Anywhere you wish to."

"Alright then, let's go over here," he held my hand, sending a thousand jolts up my spine, and led me towards to what seemed the back of the train. "In here. This is where I usually sit. With Pansy and them, of course."

I flinched.

"Ah, don't worry. She's not in there."

Through the compartment door I could see a couple of small, blurred figures, all gathered inside.

Draco slid open the door and zipped through, encountering about four Second-Years.

"...What?" one of the Second-Year boys called out.

"Get out."

"Uh, we were here first, Mister-" a perky looking girl began.

"I said leave. Now."

Draco tightened his grip and reduced his eyes to slits; frightening the kids. They sped out of the compartment, whimpering to find an available one.

"...Wow." was all I could say.

"You'll get used to it," he said, closing the door after allowing myself in. "They get pretty irritating, those kids."

'You'll get used to it.' Does that mean I would be hanging around with him more often?

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Right." I mumbled, snapping back into reality.

I felt the train move a little, and the wheels started to turn, meaning that it began its long journey back to Kings Cross Station.

That chapter wasn't very long, but I had a jolly time writing it :) Note to all of you reading this - the next chapter will be covering a bit of Draco's Christmas Break. The second half of that will be looking over Hermione's. It won't be too long until I update next, for I already have a lot of ideas for the upcoming one ;)

Hope you liked it! So, what did Draco and Hermione give each other for Christmas? Keep reading to find out, and please review!