Chapter 14

Hope you enjoy this installment! :-) xx

Hermione had kept her protests about the situation to herself from that day on. She liked Draco, and didn't want to say anything to ruin it. She said to him about the breakdown, that it was caused through lack of sleep. Which got her off the hook. As the months went on, they continued seeing one another.

Now the Christmas holidays had arrived. All students were packing to go home for the Holidays.

"So Hermione, you coming round for Christmas?" asked Ron, carrying his suitcase through the common room.

"Not this year, sorry Ron," replied Hermione, her mind else well and not really paying attention.

"Why not?" asked Ron, sounding most disappointed. "Spending it with Seamus, I'm guessing."

That shot Hermione out of thought, as he head shot up at him, even Seamus alerted by the mention of his name.

"Seamus? What on Earth gave you that idea?" Hermione snapped at him, standing up so they were eye level.

"Well, you're both always together and talk to one another."

"So that means we're dating now, does it?" asked Hermione.

"Well, I just assumed -"

"Well, next time, don't just assume things, especially things that are absolutely ridiculous, Ronald!" Hermione lifted the handle up on her suitcase. "Seamus and I are friends, nothing more. Goodbye," she headed out of the Gryffindor common room. "Have a nice Christmas, Harry," she spoke normally before leaving. Seamus just stood awkwardly before leaving the common room also.

"Hermione!" he caught up with her. "What was that all about?"

"Ronald, thinking we're dating. That's absurd. We're friends," said Hermione, still walking.

"Ha, yeah. That was a bit out there, then again, so is you and ye' Mr." Seamus commented, smiling. "Anyway, hope ye' both have a nice Christmas, yeah?"

"You too," Hermione smiled, waving to him as he walked off. She was really thankful for everything he did for her and Draco so far this year.

She made her way down to the train, Hogwarts Express, waiting for any signs of Draco. She saw all the students get on the train before her, but didn't see Draco.

"He must not be coming," she told herself, feeling disappointed she got on the train alone. She walked down the corridors of the train, trying to find a free compartment to sit in, however, she found herself being pulled into a compartment, the door shutting, locking and the blind coming down. It all happened so fast. She barely had blinked.

"Managed to get a compartment all for ourselves," Draco's voice said. "Got a silent charm on the doors too." Draco found himself getting hit in the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You scared me! I nearly had a heart attack!" said Hermione.

"Sorry," Draco said, sheepishly, as he rubbed his arm where she had hit him. Lucky for him, she found him adorable, so she gave him a peck on the cheek to show he was forgiven.

"Excited for Christmas?"

"Not really," Draco confessed.

"Oh, enthusiastic much," said Hermione, turning her attention out the window.

"Never really been excited about Christmas,"

"Not even when you were a kid?" asked Hermione.

"Well, when I was really young, maybe," Draco fiddled with his fingers. "Never was very festive in my house." the mention of his house obviously brought Draco's mood down. His expression dropped and he looked lost in thought.

"Draco, try not to think about him, I promise Christmas at my house will be very peaceful, and -" Draco looked up at her, to see what she had left to say. "We can be alone."

This instantly brought a smile on Draco's face, as he put one arm around her, pulling her close to him. He gave her a gentle kiss on her head.

"Something, I am defiantly looking forward to," he smiled, as they both pressed their lips together.

However, the journey back to Hermione's hometown was worrying. Draco would be spending the holidays with Muggles. He had come to think, that was probably worse than him and Hermione seeing each other. He would be dead if his Father ever found this out, and that was certain.

Once they arrived, Draco had to cover himself so he was barely recognisable to anyone so he could leave with Hermione without suspicion.

The ground was covered in snow, both were wearing their coats, snow boots and long scarves, dragging their suitcases along the ground.

"I'm having second thoughts, Hermione," said Draco, which stopped Hermione in her tracks.

"Second thoughts?" she repeated. "Why, what's wrong?"

"Well … I'm not exactly … comfortable with this," Draco had to choose his words wisely.

"We can't exactly do much about it now, can we?" said Hermione. "We're already here, and the train has already left." Draco looked at the neighbourhood. He felt so out of place. "You'll be fine, I promise." Hermione grabbed his gloved hand with her free hand and lead him further through the street.

"What do I say to them?" asked Draco, along with many other questions on the way.

"Hello? Nice to meet you? You have a nice daughter?" Hermione suggested.

"Ooh, dunno if I should lie about the last one," Draco joked, which earned him a playful shove.

"But, things along those lines, oh and keep all wizard talk to a minimum please,"

"They know you're a witch, don't they?" asked Draco.

"Yes, however, I don't talk so much about the things that go on at Hogwarts, I just tell them how Harry and Ron are, what I learnt so far and that's it. Everything else, is kept to a minimum."

"That lowers my conversation level to zero."

"You will be fine, Draco"

"Do they even know about me?" asked Draco.

"Yes, I recently sent them an owl about you … now here we are." they halted their walking as they arrived at a decent sized house. However, it was very small in Draco's eyes. "What do you think?"

"It's … nice," said Draco, which took him a while to think of a good word. Hermione led him to the front door where she opened it, Draco nervously walking behind her.

"Mum!" Hermione called out, as she and Draco stood in the hallway.

"Hermione!" her Mother came out of the kitchen and greeted with a warm friendly hug. Which was alien to Draco for a start. "How are you? How was your train ride?"

"It was great, Mum," Hermione smiled, then faced Draco. "Mum, this is Draco Malfoy. The one I told you about in my letters."

"Well," Hermione's Mum looked very happy to see him, causing Draco to smile awkwardly. "Very nice to meet you, Draco," she held out her hand for a handshake which Draco grabbed a shook. He then tried to think of some of the things Hermione had suggested before, but he was so nervous he became muddled.

"Nice to meet nice daughter," he came out with. Realising it was wrong the moment he said it, and the expressions on Hermione and her Mother's faces didn't help.

"I'm sorry?" Hermione's Mother asked, looking very confused.

"You have a nice home," he managed to say, which wiped off the confused expression off her face, and replaced it a friendly smile.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"Where's Dad?" Hermione changed the subject.

"He's at work, working late tonight to, so you probably will see him tomorrow," her Mum explained. "Why don't you both get settled upstairs and I'll call you when dinner is ready?"

"Thanks Mum," and with that she took her case and escorted Draco up to her room. He stood in the doorway of her room, feeling embarrassed about entering.

"Draco, you can come in you know," she laughed at his innocence. Draco took one small step in, and she immediately saw the blush form on his face. Which she laughed at. "Aw, you're so cute."

"No I'm not," he smiled, bashfully. Her hands grabbed his and she brought him further into her room. "I just made a complete fool of myself didn't I?"

"No … well, maybe a little bit, but that was very funny what you said," Hermione giggled. Draco sighed while Hermione embraced him. "Don't worry, give it a day and you will feel right at home."

This chapter is not my fave, but I hope you liked it anyway :-) please leave a review and thankyouu for reading! xx