Borrowed Hearts

Summary: 'You know how you like to make up stories sometimes honey? Well this is going to be just like that. We're going to pretend for a little while.'
Based on the Christmas movie by the same name. Back again after a very long break!
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own the rights to neither the Harry Potter books nor the movie Borrowed Hearts
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Merry Belated Christmas! I meant to have this up a few days ago but… well… I've never been very good with deadlines. Haha Anyway, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy! It's one of my favorite scenes in the movie and I wanted to do it justice so it took me a while to write. Let me know what you think.
Also, I wanted to thank everyone who has taken the time out to review this story. I am so overwhelmed with all the responses I have gotten. It's more than I've ever had for a story before. Thank you all so very much! I really do appreciate it.

Chapter 14: Lessons one the Ice Part II

Draco leaned against the rail of the ice rink, attempting to look at ease while not falling down. This was ridiculous! The only thing he was going to accomplish here was to make a complete fool of himself in front of Del Campo. He looked across the rink to see just where Del Campo was and saw Josie making her way over towards him.

"Del Campo said I should come help you," Josie said as she approached.

Draco arched an eyebrow. "Oh he did, did he?"

Josie nodded. "What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head as she gazed upward at him. Draco studied her for a minute, a coupled of excuses for why he wasn't out on the rink flitting through his mind.

"I can't skate…" he admitted at last, sighing slightly at his confession. Even as he spoke it he was unsure of why he had opted for the truth rather than a lie. After all, no Malfoy admits they have a weakness… ever. Even if it is just to a seven year old.

Josie, however, seemed unfazed by this news. "That's ok," she assured him confidently. "My mommy taught me and I'll teach you"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Josie, I couldn't do it when I was a kid. I doubt I can do it now."

"Sure you can!" Josie grabbed onto his hand and began tugging him out onto the ice with all the strength she could muster up. "There's no need to be afraid! I'm right here! Come on!"

She tugged and pulled with all her strength until finally, with the help of Draco's unbalance upon skates, managed to pry him from the rail and out into the rink.

"Josie! No! Stop! Josie!" Draco shouted at her as he attempted to keep his balance amidst the other skaters. He spun dangerously and reached out for the closest thing to keep his balance which just happened to be Josie. Amazingly, the small child did not buckle under his weight and he remained standing… for now.

"I'm going to fall down and make a fool of myself," he grumbled. He glanced around at the other skaters to see if any had seen him.

Josie giggled. "No you won't. I'll catch you."

Draco looked at her. He couldn't help but smile at the notion that she could stop a grown man from falling. Yet she seemed to have complete confidence that she could. "Promise?" he asked her, still laughing slightly.

She nodded her head solemnly. "Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a thousand needles in my eye."

"Alright," he relented finally.

Josie smiled. She skated over to him, grabbing his jacket with one hand and his arm with her other. "It's easy. Just lock your legs nice and straight," she instructed.

Draco looked around once more to see if anyone was paying attention to them before doing as he was told.

"That's good, now just follow me." Together the two began to skate slowly around the rink, still linked.

"Good. Now wait here." Josie told him after they had gone across the ice a few times. She let go and skated a few feet away before spinning back around toward Draco. "Just do what I told you," she instructed. "Keep your knees straight and glide forward. On the count of three. One… two… three!"

Draco took a deep breath before taking a step forward carefully. He glided across the ice, shakily still but he managed to not fall. He grabbed Josie as he skated at her, drawing to a shaky stop as he did so.

"You did it!" Josie cried happily.

Draco smiled back, Josie's enthusiasm for his accomplishment more than a little contagious. "I did, didn't I?" He laughed happily. A hearty laugh that was unaccustomed for any Malfoy.

Josie beamed up at him. "Watch me now!" She skated off once more leaving Draco alone in the middle of the rink, watching her go a slight smile still on his face.

While Draco and Josie worked on their skating lesson, Hermione and Del Campo skated slowly around the perimeter of the rink together. Josie's laughed echoed across the ice and Hermione couldn't help but smile.

"I'm very impressed with your husbands business," Del Campo remarked, driving Hermione out of her head.

She nodded. "Draco is a very ambitious man. There's nothing he won't do to get ahead."

Del Campo nodded but said no more on the subject. They skated along in silence for a while longer.

"You're very good on the ice," he remarked at last.

Hermione smiled, blushing slightly. "I've been on the ice since I was Josie's age. It was a family tradition of sorts for us every winter."

"How quaint," Del Campo replied simply.

"Josie can't believe I never fall down," Hermione remarked with a laugh.

"Really now?" Del Campo asked, raising an eyebrow. "How interesting."

They had only gone a few strides farther when Hermione felt her leg give out beneath her. Before she could catch herself and regain her balance she toppled over, landing on her back on the ice. She sat up quickly, blushing excessively now. Del Campo stood next to her, watching her impassively.

"Perhaps it is best not to be too self assured," he commented stoically. "Life has a way of surprising us."

After watching Josie skate circles around him for a bit, Draco decided he had had enough of skating for the day and turned to leave the rink. He made his way slowly through the skaters and back toward the safety of the edge, wobbling like an infant learning to walk.

"Excuse me?" A voice called out from behind him. He turned around to look and almost lost his balance once more in the process. A pretty, blonde haired girl grabbed his arm as she approached to steady him.

"Care to go again?" she asked, flashing him a smile. He stared, studying her for a moment. She was pretty with golden blonde hair that fell in waves beneath her winter cap and onto her dark pea coat. Her cheeks and nose were slightly rosy from the cold on her otherwise pale face.

"Er… thanks. I think I'll just sit this one out though," he replied finally. He removed his gloves as he spoke and her eyes fell upon the ring adorning his left hand.

"Sorry," she said, flashing an apologetic smile before skating away.

Draco turned around as she left and continued carefully across the ice. When he got to the edge he located the nearest empty bench and sat down to remove his skates.

"I think we're cramping your style."

Draco looked up to find Hermione standing before him on the ice.

"Why do you say that?" Draco asked questioningly.

"Oh come on…" Hermione rolled her eyes. She took a seat next to him on the bench. "Don't tell me you didn't want to skate with her." She nodded her head over towards the blonde who had now moved on to Blaise across the rink from them.

"She's not my type," Draco said with a shrug.

Hermione laughed. "Not your type?" she repeated skeptically.

"Not really," he stated, shaking his head.

Hermione nodded but remained silent, obviously still not believing him. Draco studied her for a moment, leaning back on the bench.

"You don't trust very easily do you?" It was more of a statement than a question but he continued staring at her anyway, awaiting a response.

Hermione shrugged, still staring out across the ice. "I used to."

She turned towards him then, her warm caramel colored eyes meeting his cool grey ones. She expected to find the ever ready Malfoy wit lurking there, ready to pounce at the slightest sign of weakness. She was surprised however when it didn't appear. Instead something else gleamed back from his eyes… something…

She quickly looked away again. "I should go check on Josie," she spoke suddenly before getting up and skating away.

Draco remained seated on the bench after she left, observing the scene before him. Hermione stood with Josie in the center of the rink, playing games and laughing.

He turned away, his eyes falling once more onto the blonde girl, now standing closer than ever to Blaise. He hadn't been lying when he said she wasn't his type… truth be told he had no real type. Pretty… and that was about it. It surprised him, however that he didn't seem to miss it; the flirting, the one night stands. None of it.

He turned back to Hermione and Josie, watching as Hermione did a simple jump, causing Josie to scream in excitement for her mother. Draco found himself smiling at the sight before him at the scene before him. The smile quickly faded however as another thought crossed his mind.

"Oh crap…"

Author's Note #2:

There you have it! In the next chapter, we find out a little bit more about Ron and what happened there. It should be up in a couple of days. In the meantime though… hit that review button please and let me know what you think!