Hermione stepped out of the castle. The snowy drifts circled around her. She breathed in, inhaling the Christmasy atmosphere. She linked arms with her two best friends, as they walked to Hogsmede.

"What does your mother want for Christmas this year Ron?" Hermione asked.

"I think she was saying something about some silky-straight hair potion." Ron said.

"I could do with some of that myself." Hermione sighed to herself.

"Since when did you care about what your hair looks like?" Harry questioned.

Hermione rolled her eyes, as the trio continued to trudge through the snow. She knew better than to get offended at the boy's comments but the thought of the upcoming ball and Draco as her potential date, flicked through her mind.

"Harry, hypothetically, what would you like for Christmas? I have already got you something by the way, this is just because I am wondering, for a friend." Hermione asked.

"Probably honeydukes chocolate. You know the Christmas fudge?"

"Ahhhh the Christmas fudge." Ron said, he actually had dribble coming from the corner of his mouth.

Hermione walked into honeydukes with her two best friends. The walls were stacked high with every candy and chocolate, in every possible flavour you could think of. The store was heaving with Hogwarts students, buying presents for friends and family for the holidays. She could tell it was Christmas just by the smell of cinnamon and gingerbread wafting throughout the shop. Christmas in the magical world was her favourite time of year. Hermione purchased the box of fudge and walked out, not wanting to be caught up in the rush of students.

She left the shop and waited for Harry and Ron. They walked back to the castle. The snow started to fall again. Hermione slowed and picked up a snowball. She threw it at Harry and it hit the back of his head.

"Heyyyyy!" he shouted and threw one back at her. She dodged the snowball and threw another, this time at Ron.

"Bloody hell Hermione." he jumped, startled as the ice slivered down his back.

Hermione laughed and threw another snowball at Harry. This time he ducked and it hit an approaching Malfoy, straight in the face. The three roared with laughter at the sight.

Draco used his hand to rub the snow, off his face. His hair was ruffled by the impact of the snowball. His lips had fomed a hard line at the immaturity of the golden trio. Hermione sighed quietly at the adonis stood infront of him as thoughts of his silky hair and muscular body overtook her brain. Harry and Ron didn't notice but the corner of Draco's lip lifted, as he spotted Hermione's dazed expression. Harry and Ron had stopped laughing and were now waiting for Draco to throw a tantrum or something.

Draco glared at Harry and Ron. He hated how they spent so much time with her but he reluctantly moved on, saying nothing.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron asked bewildered.

"Yeah he was looking at you funny, Mione." Harry observed, "Almost like he...no he's Malfoy. He has probably just got a wand up his ass, as usual."

"Know a lot about that do you Harry?" Ron suggested his eyebrow raised suggestively.

Harry silenced him with a snowball in the face and scowled. Hermione laughed but her heart was racing. They had almost noticed. She liked Malfoy, but she couldn't risk her friends finding out. It wouldn't go down very well telling Harry the boy she had been snogging, was a follower of the man who killed his parents. She pushed the thought to the back of her mind and thought about the ball. She had found the perfect dress and hugged the package holding two bottles of hair smoothing potion in her hand. She smiled with excitement and called the boys to go back into the castle.

"WON WON!" Lavender screeched. "I got you your present Wonnikins. Its red and lacy." she whispered seductively in his ear.

Hermione and Harry gagged at the exchange, horrified as Lavender had seemed to have lost something precious down Ron's tonsils.

"Hermione, you think you could obliviate me? Just, I think that just scarred me for life." Harry moaned.

Hermione laughed and slung her arm around him as they walked to the gryffindor common room.

"Pssst"

"Granger"

"GRANGER!" Draco whispered.

Hermione turned around recognising his silky voice at once.

"Harry, I think I have left something in one of the carriages I will see you in a second" Hermione smiled.

"I can come if you want Mione?" he offered.

"No its fine and I think Ginny might be waiting for you in the common room" Hermione winked.

Harry smiled and rubbed his hands together.

"See you later Mione!" Harry called.

Hermione checked her surroundings, before going into the vaccant classroom with Malfoy. He pulled her in by her hand and she fell into his grip. His arms snaked around her waist as she dangled hers around his shoulders.

"I've missed you." he whispered into her ear, "a lot"

She sighed as his moist breath tickled her ear. He smiled at her sigh and planted wet kisses down her neck.

"Why does he call you Mione?" Draco said, an edge of frustration in his voice.

"Err... thats my nickname"

"And am I not allowed to call you a nickname?"

"Sure you are" Hermione said, " WAIT!"

He had already started laughing. " Too late sweet cheeks, you fell into that one."

"Ugh, sweet cheeks really?"

"Sorry my sugar plum, I'll think of something better"

Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn't stop herslef from smiling. He pulled away from her and picked up her hand that fell to her side. He placed a kiss on her fingers and closed his eyes. He pulled her back into him and squezed tightly but gently.

"So you know the ball is coming up soon." Draco said. His voice shook and he hated how vulnerable and pathetic he sounded.

"Yeah." Hermione said breathily. Her heart was beating erratically, like she had just run a marathon and she flushed as she knew he could feel it as he was so close to her.

"Well, I've asked someone else."

Hermione's heart collapsed. She felt like a knife had echoed through her bones. She pulled away and stared at his grey orbs.

"Hermione, don't be mad okay. I just don't think we should be seen together in public." Draco pleaded.

Hermione had been thinking the same thing not long before but it still hurt for thise words to be coming out from his angelic face. She pulled away more and moved his hands from her waist. She felt deflated. She furrowed her eyebrows and took the ring off her finger she put it on his.

"Hermione, please."

And then he did something that for Draco was a rarity.

"Hermione' I'm sorry."

Hermione looked down at the floor and smiled weakly.

"Yeah, me too." she said,

She planted a chaste kiss on his cheek and walked out of the room, leaving a confused Draco looking out back at her.