Author's Note:

Hello everybody! Surprise, surprise, I'm on time this week! AND! As a special treat, I will also be posting a short chapter from Draco's point of view, continuing on with the plot at the end of this chapter! I'll warn you, I almost cried myself while writing this. Happy or sad tears, I will not tell you. Maybe both.

One more thing before you begin reading, I wanted to honestly ask how you guys actually feel about Insufferable. Whether it's my writing style, the plot, the spelling/grammar, or any OOCness (Out Of Character-ness) I really, really, really want to hear from you. I just want to write what makes people happy (even if it's a sad story...not saying it is)

Please leave a review any time you like and enjoy this chapter and soon-to-come bonus chapter!

CHAPTER TWELVE

New Years, new... Developments

Christmas that year was just about the same as always. The lights in the great hall twinkled as we all sat down to a grand feast, all sitting at the same table since there were so few of us. During the eventful dinner, I found it extremely difficult not to keep sneaking smiles at Draco, him being so close in public, but I knew it was best for me to avert my eyes.

I got Harry and sent Ron some treats from Hogsmead, sensing they wouldn't want more books, and in return I got books from them, which I was more than pleased with. Early that morning Florence gave me a lovely red and gold pendant, while she got a silver snake ring from myself, each of us trying to support the other's houses. It was lovely to take in the splendor of the castle at Christmas time, every step I took was surrounded by tinsel or mistletoe, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see Draco at all.

The days blurred by, with hardly any interaction with my boyfriend, and plenty of time with Harry. He must have thought I was lonely or he was making up for neglecting me, but after awhile, he started to wear on me. I spent my days with him, in the library or common room, wishing to have some other interactions with some different people.

Suddenly, it was New Year's Eve, and everyone was wearing their house colors in honor of it, along with fun party hats saying 'Happy New Years' or as someone had bewitched poor Neville's to say, 'Eat More Turkey!'.

The sun began to set, but everyone was far from going to sleep. The curfew had, of course, been stretched until One AM, knowing that the First years would probably be asleep by eleven, and that the Seventh years wouldn't be ready to go to bed until at least one. I sat down at the round table in the corner of the common room, excited for the New Years, but something in the back of my mind was bothering me. Maybe it was the fact that, it was almost a brand new year, and Draco and I had been dating for around two months now, still having to keep it a secret from everyone. I was tired of sending notes and sneaking down corridors, worried the whole time I would say something and give it all away. I felt the urge at times to run up the spiraling steps of the highest tower and yell out that I was in lo- dating Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin.

While I was contemplating all this, a house elf proofed out of thin air by my table, quickly laying a folded piece of paper beside my book, without more than a "For you, my lady," and was gone.

Opening the note, it was reveled to be from Draco.

Exactly my point, everything has to be kept a secret. I sighed to myself again.

Draco wanted me to meet him in the hallway outside Gryffendor tower five minutes before midnight, which would be much safer as everyone would be partying and counting down on the clock. Muggles and Wizards were very similar in their celebration of the coming years, it wasn't that big of a risk.

I smiled, I had never had a New Year's kiss before, but this year, it looked as if that would change.

I waited patiently, pretending to be engrossed in my book, considering only a minute before then I had been. It was 11:49 PM and everyone was popping open bottles of butterbeer from Hogsmead, making sure everyone awake had something to drink and say cheers with. Harry was laughing away with some students in the corner, and I decided it was about time to meet Draco. Setting down my book, I went through the portrait hole (currently missing it's Fat Lady as she was probably drinking away with other paintings) and skipped down the steps.

What I wasn't expecting, was to be immediately picked up around the waist and spun around from behind, as soon as I got into the hallway. I giggled when I was set down to face my boyfriend, but stopped him as he was about to kiss me.

"Draco Malfoy, it's not midnight quite yet! You'll just have to wait!"

He made a show off rolling his eyes and grumbling, and I gave a small smile at his wish to show me affection. "Everything okay, darling?" He asked, sensing correctly that something was off.

"Seems I'm not able to hide my emotions from anyone, these days." I responded. His hands still sat around my waist and my arms around his neck, as I told him my frustration over having to keep our relationship in the dark. He listened to me until I was finished ranting, which I was incredibly grateful for.

"I know, really I do. It will be different soon, I hope. When we graduate together I think the future will have a lot in store for us. The main thing is, well, we both have- strong feelings for each other, do we not?"

"Yes, I believe that's true." I softly spoke, nuzzling my nose against his. From up the steps we could both here exciting chanting begin.

"10! 9!"

I smiled at him, ready for what the new year had in store for us.

"8! 7! 6!" I spoke along with the crowd.

"5! 4!"

"I love you." I said, freezing as I realized the weight of the words that had come out of my mouth. We stared into each other's eyes as the last seconds counted down.

"3! 2!"

"I love you too, Hermione Granger." Draco said into my ear.

"1! Happy New Year!"

Then, I kissed him as if it were my dying breath. I never knew that I could feel this strongly about someone, especially Draco Malfoy, of all people, but right then, the world consisted of only two people.

I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment I had realized I loved him. It came slowly, but then, all at once. Maybe it was too much for someone of my age to be experiencing, but there was no doubt in my head that it was real. We separated for air for a brief second, but as the cheering continued above us, I leaned in to feel his lips on mine again.

Neither of us noticed the sound of the Gryffendor Portrait hole swinging open and closing again. Nor the sound of footsteps.

"Hermione? Are you down here? C'mon, it's New Year-" We broke apart, but not quickly enough. I turned to see Harry, standing on the bottom step, comprehension overcoming him. All those times he had noticed something off about me and him, came crashing down on Harry. "What in the world were you dong with her! Hermione he's using you!" Harry yelled as he grabbed his wand and pointed it at Draco.

"Harry, no! You don't-" my cries were drowned out.

"I am not using her for anything! How dare you!" Draco snarled.

Panicking, I turned to see his hatful expression. I didn't want to see him like this ever again.

"Get away from her, Malfoy!" Harry yelled. I knew he was just trying to protect me, but he had everything wrong. Draco took out his own wand, and I felt déja vú at this familiar scene.

Draco let go of me as I frantically tried to yell at the boys to stop, tears flowing down my cheeks. "Cruci-" I couldn't tell who had begun the unforgivable curse, it may have been both of them.

"STOP!" I screamed, putting myself in front of both their wands.

They both stopped.

"How could you possibly- why would you-" I couldn't take it anymore. I ran down the hall, not knowing my true destination, as they both cried out after me. It wasn't until I reached the Room of Requirement that I realized that was where I had been heading the whole time. There was no where else to escape to at the time being, so I began pacing before the nonexistent door until it materialized.

The room had dimmed lights, only some flickering candles on shelves, and on each wall were bookcases, the lovely parchment smell filling my senses. The only object in the center of the room was a queen sized bed that looked just about perfect for crashing onto when there were emotions weighing down one's heart. The last thing I remembered was throwing myself onto the inviting bed and casting myself to sleep immediately.

Stay Awesome!

~ ThePondFamily3