Disclaimer: I truly wish I could say that Harry Potter's world belongs to me – but it doesn't.
TRIP-PING
Hermione and Draco were very busy in the months that followed. Their assignments kept them so busy that they had to specifically make time to concentrate on their responsibilities as Heads. It was time to plan the Snowflake Ball. They brainstormed individuallly for ideas at night when they were done with their academic work. Tonight they will finally get together to share their thoughts and ideas. Draco owled Hermione to arrange a meeting. They were to meet in their office after dinner.
They spent almost an hour to decide which idea they want to use and present to Professor McGonagall. The air surrounding them was strange. Hermione was still confused about some things that were said the last time they were both there and Draco were walking around with the troubling knowledge that he must tell Hermione about the Ralph incident. He thought she might ask what he meant with what he said before McGonagall interrupted but she didn't and he didn't know how to bring up the topic. He had to admit that he has been wrong about a few things he assumed about her lately. He thought her to be nosy, defensive and hard – but she wasn't. Instead she was sensitive, sympathetic and warm. Being in her presence was somewhat comforting. This led him to wonder why Weasel dumped her. He could not think of one good reason. Usually after thoughts like this Draco would reprimand himself for thinking about Hermione's dating life. But he was just curious. He hated the stiffness in the air that was caused by all the things left hanging in the air after their last conversation.
Hermione was lying in bed and thinking. She thought about a lot of things. She thought about what Draco was about to tell her that day before McGonagall made her appearance. She knew it wasn't her place to ask him about it. Maybe he was relieved at McGonagall's appearance. Thinking of McGonagall made her smile because the older witch gave her consent to proceed with their plans for the Ball. So, the two of them are to go to Hogsmeade this weekend and get everything they will need for the Ball. And then she thought about what she witnessed earlier that day. She walked in on Ron and Lavender snogging in an empty corridor. Luckily they didn't saw her because that would have been quite awkward. She didn't know how she felt about that. It didn't hurt. She guessed this means that Ron has finally moved on. Hopefully he will be more cheerful now when in her company. Hermione's mind was spinning with all these thoughts when Ginny spoke. It startled her because she didn't know Ginny was still awake.
"Ron is still not over you, you know," Ginny whispered. Hermione was taken aback that Ginny chose to say this now when she was thinking about him. Then Ginny's words sunk in. "I know you're awake, Hermione. You've been rolling around restless for a while now."
"I'm just processing what you said." There was a small pause. "I have reason to believe that he is indeed over me." Hermione waited for Ginny to respond.
"He told me about you catching him and Lavender in the corridor."
"I didn't realise they saw me. They were quite busy. Why didn't he say anything then?" Hermione was confused to say the least.
"Only Ron saw you. He was too ashamed to say anything. You know, he is only getting it on with Lavender to be distracted and I think he hopes you will get jealous. He confessed to me earlier today that he is still in love with you." Ginny stated matter-of-factly. "I'm not surprised to be honest."
"Oh Ginny, when is this going to stop? I just wish things between me and Ron could go back to how they were before we dated. Everything with him is just a mess. I try to avoid him most of the time."
"Yeah, I don't blame you for doing that. He should just accept the fact that you are never going to be together. It's hard for me to say that aloud. I always thought you and Ron were perfect for each other."
Hermione unwillingly thought of some of their good memories and she smiled. "Yes, there was a time when I thought so too. After we broke up I thought it would take a while to get over it – but frankly, it didn't take that long. When I saw him with Lavender today I felt nothing."
"Harry and I picked that up, you know. That's what made me realise that maybe you two weren't meant to be after all and the fact that you never talked about the break-up."
Hermione laughed. "You and Harry are quite observant. I never had the need to talk about it."
Ginny laughed now too. "Harry and I only want what is best for the people we love. So don't think I won't notice if you start fancying some other bloke – I will immediately pick it up."
Hermione smiled at her friend's statement and thought of Draco. Her smile turned into a frown. Why did she think of Draco?
"Oh oh, why the long pause? Is there already someone else?" Ginny sounded very curious.
"Don't be absurd, Ginny. There is no one. I'm going to sleep now. Good night."
Thinking of Draco on that moment bothered Hermione more than she would ever care to admit.
The mornings that followed the day they both escaped to their office Draco found himself watching Hermione. He also started watching her more closely in Muggle Studies, her mannerisms and the way she looked when she concentrated. He wasn't sure why he did it. He found some comfort in watching her – this reminded him that someone knew about his suffering and that he wasn't alone in this. It also reminded him that he would have to tell her about Ralph as soon as possible because his consequences might affect her too. He decided to tell her the next time that they have to patrol the grounds. He doesn't want to spoil their Hogsmeade trip with possible bad news because he was looking forward to going there. He hoped it will turn out to be fun because he can sure use more of that in his life.
Draco soon had the habit to go fly every night just before the weekend starts. For him it was the perfect ending to every week. He didn't know that Hermione soon caught on to his pattern. He didn't even know that it was Hermione that he saw that first time. Hermione made her way to the Dark Tower each week to watch him fly. For her it was like an addiction. It was to see freedom, not experience it personally. When she closed her eyes she can easily imagine herself flying like that, feeling the wind in her hair.
Tonight was no exception. Just after she made herself comfortable Draco pitched and her heart unwillingly beat faster. This was the first time she saw him after their Hogsmeade trip. She started to think about their day in Hogsmeade.
It started off a bit stiff but at the end of the day it was everything but stiff. They got quite comfortable with each other. The ice got broken when a snowflake fell on Draco's nose in the beginning stage of what would have been an argument. They couldn't agree on where to start looking for the decorations. That little event had the power to make them both laugh and relax a little. Draco didn't find it funny at first but soon loosened up. Hermione laughed quite a bit about it as they made their way down to the cobbled street but soon realised it will not do because she slipped and almost toppled over. Out of nowhere Draco got a hold of her arm to steady her.
"We don't want you to fall now do we," he said when she looked questioningly at him. Hermione was conscious of her arm in his the whole way down.
Finding nice decorations was an easy task as Christmas decorations took over most of the shops already. Hermione got more excited with everything they bought. Christmas was her favourite season of the year. She already had presents for everyone on her list. The one thing she hated about Christmas shopping was the crowdedness of all the places. Today was no different even though it was still relatively far from Christmas. She and Draco were trying to make their way through a particularly large group of people who was gathering around for some broom exhibition. She was almost falling behind and was getting anxious by being surrounded by so many people. She saw Draco looking around for her. He grabbed her free hand to ensure that she stayed close. She decided to ignore the warmth of his hand despite of the cold day. Hermione was just too glad to get away from the people that she didn't notice that they were walking away from Hogwarts and that Draco was still holding her hand. It soon dawned on her. She stopped abruptly and pulled her hand subtly from his. "Uh, aren't we supposed to go back to Hogwarts? We're going in the wrong direction."
Draco let out a breath. "I thought we might as well get something to drink to warm us up," he suggested.
The idea was very inviting and Hermione agreed immediately. They went to the Three Broomsticks. They settled in at a cosy little table because it was a full house. They both ordered eggnog. They sat in silence because they didn't have anything to talk about. The entire time they only talked about decorations; giving their opinions on certain pieces. Draco was the first to speak.
"Would you mind if I ask you something personal?"
Hermione looked up from her drink, evidently surprised at his question. He saw the look on her face.
"Both our walls were down the last time we truly had a conversation, why build them up again?"
Hermione thought about his comment for a while.
"Yes, our walls were down but that conversation is still hanging in the air, so I am being tentative – not knowing whether I should build my walls again or not."
Draco sighed. She made a valid point and he knew it was his fault that she felt that way. He didn't want her to build her walls again.
"I had no plans of talking about my past that day but it happened – and I am glad it did. I felt so relieved after that. I will finish my story on some other occasion because I don't want to make this day morose." He hoped he was able to put her at ease.
"Okay, but you don't have to finish your story if you don't really want to share it. I will not force you to do it." Hermione won't admit it but she was glad he was planning on finishing his story. Maybe her thoughts about him will vanish then.
"So what did you want to ask?"
Draco smiled. He decided to ask something less serious until he told her his story – just to make her see that she can trust him.
"What is your zodiac sign?"
Hermione didn't expect that at all, so she furrowed her brows and laughed.
The corner of Draco's mouth jerked into what could have been a smile but he was still confused. At least it seemed to him as if she was comfortable again.
"I don't understand why that is funny?"
Hermione laughed more at his obvious confusion. "I just expected a more serious question is all. You bowled me over with that one." A true smile played on Draco's face. How ironic, maybe he should have gone with the more serious question he had but he wanted to keep the conversation light.
"My, you are quite interesting Draco, and unpredictable. May I ask why you want to know what my zodiac sign is?"
Draco smiled wider and looked down at the table. "I was just curious."
Hermione studied him a while before answering. "I am a Virgo."
Draco had difficulty concentrating tonight. He kept flying in circles because his mind was on the day he and Hermione spent in Hogsmeade. It really was a pleasant day.
Hermione looked so warm and snug in her beanie, coat and scarf. Despite all her warm clothing her cheeks were still tinted red from the cold. Draco once had the fleeting urge to touch it to feel if the red spot was warm or cold.
Draco saw the trip as an opportunity to show Hermione the other side of him. He didn't have to focus to remember his gentlemanly manners, it came naturally. He always let her enter a shop first after opening the door for her. He could tell she was flustered by this at first. Taking hold of her hand in the crowd was also the most natural thing to do. He didn't think to do it, it just happened. What he didn't expect was the pleasant sting her cold hand sent through his body.
He didn't want the day to end; that is why he treated her to something to drink. He liked being in her presence.
Draco could feel something change inside of him but chose to ignore it at the moment. Dealing with the shift that happened inside him after his father's letter was enough to deal with at the moment. With that thought he dived headfirst with his broom towards the ground.
Hermione crept silently into the common room returning from the Dark Tower. It was somewhere past midnight already. Out of the darkness someone spoke.
"Where were you, Hermione?"
Needless to say, the voice startled Hermione but she immediately recognised it as Harry's voice. She walked around the chair to face him. She let out her breath.
"Harry, you scared me!" She felt a bit irritated now because of the big fright.
"Guilty conscience perhaps?" Harry looked at Hermione with a look she didn't recognise. He sounded angry.
"Why would I have a guilty conscience?" She didn't understand what was going on.
"Are you and Ron sneaking around and having a fling?" Harry clenched his jaw.
"What! Harry, what are you talking about? Why would you think Ron and I are sneaking around?" Hermione couldn't believe her ears and her temper started to flare.
"Well, you went missing and Ron is also missing." He said it as if she was supposed to know what he was talking about.
"Have you checked if Lavender is here? They are probably off fooling around somewhere! Harry, you know how I feel about Ron – why would you go and make such assumptions?" Hermione wanted to cry out of frustration that her friend will jump to such ridiculous conclusions.
Realisation dawned on Harry. He didn't think to check whether Lavender was also missing. He slowly realised that he just made a big mistake. Now he can't think why he thought something like that in the first place. He felt a fool.
"Hermione I am so sorry. I don't know why I made that assumption." Harry truly meant it and Hermione could see the sincerity on his face. She was still a little angry.
"It's fine Harry, don't worry about it. I'm going to bed." Hermione disappeared up the stairs to the girls' dormitories. To her surprise Lavender was sound asleep in her bed.
A few minutes later an angry Ron also entered the common room after Harry retreated to the boys' dormitory.
A/N: I am so curious to hear any thoughts and ideas and how you think this story might play out
