Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 10

November passed in what Hermione liked to call, almost uneventful. There was never anything big that happened, no news of Hastings or random calls from Dumbledore. Just nights in the common room spent with Draco.

He however had suddenly changed, he was stronger, more alert and protective of her. At night when she screamed her held her tighter, promised he would never let anything happen to her, that he loved her and she was an amazing person, an amazing friend.

When he wasn't with Hermione though was with the headmaster and it was driving her insane, no matter how much she asked, neither would tell her what was so important about their frequent meetings and knowing glances in the Great hall.

December crept up on them and suddenly it was snowing again. It was cold and windy so Hermione tended to stay in her common room more, just like the headmaster and Draco had asked her just before November had started.

When Draco was away she enjoyed sitting on the window seat in the common room, looking out over the grounds from their own private tower and seeing the snow fall gracefully through the air. It was calming, not just to her but also Hayley.

When Draco was there they would just act like teenagers, he seemed to be trying hard to get her to do that more. After the war and then all her troubles this year she had never really bothered to have fun but Draco seemed determined to do as many stupid things with just the two of them.

When they weren't playing games and pranks on each other they would crawl into bed and spend the hours curled up together, embracing the others warmth and learning as many things about each other as they could.

They had suddenly become best friends, it was something Hermione could never have imagined sharing with someone like Draco Malfoy, he definitely wasn't the cowardly boy she had met in first year but now he was a man, who spent his days making her better.

She couldn't help that slowly somewhere in her subconscious the boy had started to grow on her. It didn't just jump out at her suddenly but each night when Hermione would curl up against his toned chest she would feel the butterflies flutter in her stomach.

She couldn't help that somehow she had found herself slowly falling for her newest best friend and once tormenter.

Though Hermione had yet to even tell her friends about the extent of her friendship with Draco she did not leave them out. Ginny made sure to spend as much time with her friend as she possible could, as well as always making Harry and Ron visit her in the common room occasionally.

Hermione would not leave her friends behind because of a small crush that had begun crawling into her system, no sir! She would spend as much time with them while she still could, she would laugh with them and sit with them in classes, she wouldn't let any of that change.

And that was wear Hermione found herself now. Squished between her two best friends in Transfiguration on the last day of classes before holidays. Everyone was spread out through the class, laughing as they were given free reign as to what form they wanted to practice that day.

Ron had slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his body much to her dismay but no matter how much she tried to move away he would not allow it one bit. He had her practically glued to her side as he laughed along with the other students making jokes.

Hermione would happily do anything to get away from the group at that point. Hayley was becoming horribly loud lately, practically screaming everything she said and pushing a billion different thoughts at Hermione at once.

Today was no different as Ron leaned over and whispered in her ear "Mistletoe". Hermione had very reluctantly looked up to see that one of the students had transfigured many of the hangings and such from the roof into mistletoe. Around the room boys and girls were sharing everything from friendly pecks to full out blows of passion as the attempted to eat each other's faces.

"Oh no, that is not going to happen Ginger. Hermione you get that mop away from us, we, I mean you are not kissing that thing, get away from him now"

Hermione felt her body stat to shake again, a tell-tale sign that Hayley was starting to hurt her, Hayley bombarded Hermione's mind with various images and thoughts.

"Hey, 'Mione you okay?" sometime during when he had whisper in her ear and when she had started shaking Ron had turned her towards him and cupped his hand under her chin watching her as she shook violently.

Hermione shakes her head ruffling, trying to expel the voice from her mind but nothing happened, she just got louder as Hermione's shaking got worse.

"Harry, something's wrong with Hermione" Ron said getting his friends attention who placed his hand n Hermione's cheek and made her face his so her could look over her face.

" 'Mione what's wrong? Do you need to go to Pomfrey?" Harry was completely ignored by the young girl who continued to shake her head and small sobs started escaping from her throat.

"Shut up! Please, please, please! Just be quiet" Hermione begged before falling to her knees before her two friends and curling into a ball on the ground.

"SHUT UP! GET OUT! SHUT UP! LEAVE ME ALONE!" she continued to shout. Ron was on his knees by her side trying to calm her down as she continued to shake her head and blocked her ears as if that would help keep the voice out. The entire class was watching now as the once perfect Gryffindor Princess had a break down in the middle of the classroom.

Draco had jumped out of his chair the second he heard her shouts from the other side of the room. He couldn't see her, she was too crowded as the class all gathered around the shaking girl on the floor. He heard McGonagall order someone to fetch Pomfrey as he shoved his way through the students finally getting through and seeing her on the floor with Weasley by her side trying to comfort her.

He tried to wrap his arms around her body but she only whimpered and shuffled away still begging for the voice to stop.

"Hermione!"

Draco leapt forward only to be blocked from the crying girl by Potter and his wand. Draco took no notice just tried to get around the raven haired boy and at least catch a glimpse of her.

"Back off Malfoy"

Potter's wand was still pointed in his face as Draco snarled in his direction. "I can help her let me past"

"Why would I let you anywhere near her, this is probably you fault!" Potter seethed. McGonagall was now nowhere in sight but Hermione's pleas were still clearly heard throughout the class room.

"I didn't do anything, just let me help her" Draco practically begged as Hermione's shouts got louder, she was on the brink of blacking out, he could see it. The headmaster warned him it might happen if Hayley got really bad at one point.

"DRACO! Draco, please. Make her stop, make her go away!"

Hermione had finally looked up and seen her blonde friend there and her pleas seemed to stun Harry for enough time for Draco to get past. Ron was still trying to bring the crying girl into his embrace but she ignored him and collapsed onto Draco holding onto his shirt for dear life when he kneeled down by her side.

"Draco please, just give me more, it's so painful! Make it stop! Please just give me more of the potion, please, Draco, please!" She begged as Draco wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly whispering for her to calm down.

The classroom had gone silent as they all watched in shock as Draco Malfoy rocked the girl in his arms trying to calm her down but her shaking didn't stop and her knuckled had turned white from her grip on his shirt.

Draco was vaguely aware of McGonagall and Pomfrey coming into the classroom but he didn't have time for anyone else, he had to calm Hermione. Pomfrey kneeled down by the couples side and asked Draco if she needed any more potion.

"NO!" he growled angrily turning to glare at her as Hermione began to beg again.

"YES! YES PLEASE! I NEED IT, PLEASE MADAM P!"

"Dumbledore doesn't want her using any more than she has to and I agree"

"Mister Malfoy she's in pain, it's what the potion is for just let me give her one and maybe she will calm down" Pomfrey said as she pulled a bag from her shoulder and began shuffling through it.

"It would take a lot more than one to help right now. I can handle this, trust me. I just have to get her back to our room. She'll be fine"

Madam Pomfrey nodded her head and watched the shaking girl sadly as Draco wrapped his arms around her back and under her legs before standing to his feet with the girl cradled in his arms.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING WITH HER?" Weasley yelled and suddenly Draco had two wands on him again. He was too busy trying desperately to calm Hermione down t really care that he was being threatened by her friends.

"Calm down Mister Weasley, Mister Malfoy has the situation under control, you all may return to your work" Madam Pomfrey told him as she raised herself of the ground. Her words seemed to be true as they all looked over at Hermione who had finally stopped shouting.

Now she was just shaking in Malfoy's arms occasionally mumbling for help or to shut up but she was definitely better.

"NO! What's wrong with her? Let me help her instead of that ferret!" Ron was seething now, he lowered his wand though and took a few steps towards Hermione who whimpered and tried to burrow deeper into Draco's arms like a scared kitten.

"Mister Malfoy, knows exactly how to help you friend whereas no one else does. No one else will be able to calm her down as well as him as I am aware so I will ask you to leave her private problems alone and return to you lesson" Pomfrey ordered before shooing the two teens out the doors leaving a bright red Ron and seething Harry behind.

"If you need me just use your Floo Mister Malfoy" and with that the old Healer was on her way and Draco rushed Hermione back to their rooms.

As usual he went straight to his bedroom and placed her down onto the bed and holding her tight to her chest.

"Hayley, please calm down, I can't stand it. Don't you see what you do to her! Please, Hayley just calm down, let Hermione have some peace, she needs rest and you're not helping. Can't you see you've practically immobilized her again, she can do nothing but shake. Hayley, just calm down please!"

Draco begged with the girl in Hermione's mind. He didn't mind so much talking to Hayley now as he knew she was real and he knew she could hear everything she said to her as long as she was screaming to loud.

As if to just prove a point Hermione finally stopped shaking. Hayley had listened to him and finally Hermione was able to calm down. Draco carefully stripped the girl as he always did on days like this and put one of his sweat shirts on her before stripping down and pulling her against his chest.

She was already fast asleep.

Hope you guys liked it! Don't worry though, all the Hastings drama will be back soon, gotta give them a somewhat decent holiday though don't I? Maybe not, we'll see what happens.

I'd love to hear what you think might happen over the Christmas holidays though? What do you think Draco plans on getting her for Christmas as well?

Thanks for reading lovelies!

Love Emiily xo