((Sorry this took so long. Haven't really had chances to write. Please review!!))

Chapter 21::
Going back to Hogwarts & Memories

Sudden Tidal Wave Strikes Britain!

While no one was hurt and little damage was done, a sudden freak occurrence took place on Christmas in Britain. Oceanographers were baffled when several thousand gallons of Atlantic Ocean came rushing up onto several beaches on the coast. Being as there is no evidence or even cause for such an event to occur, as to why it happened is still a mystery that muggles and wizards alike are trying to decipher. It is the belief of the Minister of Magic that these unexpected instances are not magic related. In related news, it would appear that a hurricane was taking place at the same time in the Pacific Ocean. Oddly enough, the hurricane lasted but two hours before disappearing as quickly as it came. It's the opinion of this reporter that witches and wizards might need to prepare for these freak occurrences in the future.

Hermione was baffled as she read the newspaper the morning she and Draco were to leave for Hogwarts. She had been warned about her new powers going awry in intense situations, but she did not think much about that when she and Draco…err…were intimate Christmas afternoon. Taking a sip of her coffee, she could not believe it had already been two weeks since that day. It was the best experience she had ever had, one filled with love and passion. Of course, now that she thought about it, it would more than likely stay her best experience. She found herself smiling at the memory.

* * * * Christmas afternoon * * * *

Hermione opened her eyes to the sun streaming in through the open balcony doors of Draco's room. At first she couldn't remember where she was. But, as the memories came rushing back, she noted how incredibly sore she was. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was very prominent. Smiling, she blinked the sleep from her eyes as she stretched her body. It was when she lifted her arms to stretch that her hand whacked Draco in the face. Startled, he jumped up and lifted his wand arm, brandishing an invisible wand. Unable to contain her laughter, she sat up and covered herself with the blanket.

"I don't think anyone else is here, Draco." Her voice was light and perky.

Draco, in all his naked glory, turned to look at her as reality came crushing in on him, "That was not very funny, love."

Smiling, she shrugged, "I didn't mean to wake you like that, love. I was just stretching out the muscles that you over worked."

Heat filled his eyes and a smile lit up his features. Sliding back into bed, he cradled her back in his arms, her back pressed against his chest. "Overworked them, did I? Well, maybe I should help you...work out the kinks."

As he kissed her neck she moaned, the sparks igniting behind her eyes again. However, when she looked at the sun she noticed that they must have been sleeping for a few hours. That fact registered in her mind, causing her to push away from Draco. "I would love for you to, but I believe dinner will be ready soon. We don't want your mum or dad walking in on us, do we??"

He sighed as he watched her stand, sliding her jeans and shirt on without knickers. "I suppose you're right." He, too, stood and dressed.

Successfully clothed, she spotted the presents she got for Draco on the floor. Bending over to pick them up, she walked over to the bed and sat down before spreading the two gifts before her. "I think you should open the presents I got for you now. Since I already opened yours, that is."

Draco, without a shirt on Raven noted, smiled and walked forward, sitting behind Hermione and drawing her back against him. Looping his arms in front of her, he grabbed the first gift. It was medium sized and wrapped in blue paper. Hermione grew frustrated as he took great care opening each side. It was a present for Merlin's sake. It's meant to be torn open! Just as she was about to tear it open herself, he got the white box underneath the paper. He lifted the lid and his breath caught. Hermione was unsure whether or not he was flabbergasted or flustered.

"Bloody hell." He stood up from behind her and grabbed the gift, holding it up to see better.

It wasn't much but it was downright expensive. Made of real leather, his gift was a belt with a buckle made out of platinum. The buckle, which was the most expensive part, had DM on the front with a large emerald separating the two letters. That wasn't the best part, however.

"I hope you like it," she said nervously, "It's real leather and platinum. There is a spell on the emerald, you see. If there is anyone around that means to do you or someone you love harm it'll heat up and glow bright green. Also, if someone near you loves you it will glow a subtle blue."

Draco lifted it up and smiled, "This is one of the best gifts I'd ever gotten. What's this?" He asked, turning the buckle over.

She smiled, "I had an inscription carved into it. It's Latin for 'To warn against those who could take you away.'"

He walked over to lay a kiss on her lips, "No one would ever take me from you, Raven." Draco smiled as he looked at the emerald, "If it glows blue when someone around loves you, why isn't it glowing?"

Hermione laughed, "It won't work until it's actually on, Draco."

Without further adieu, he slid the belt through the loops and fastened it around his waist. Then, as soon as it was latched, the emerald sparked and a blue glow radiated. He kissed her again, forcing her to stand as he did so, "Thank you. It's wonderful, really."

"Don't count your chickens yet, my dear. There is still one more left for you." She handed him the smaller box. This one was wrapped in green and silver wrapping.

He didn't go slowly with this one; tearing the paper of quickly. Underneath was a ring box, which he opened swiftly to see a thick silver ring. Lifting it from the box, he looked at it from all angles. The metal was thick and made just for him. Hermione had to argue with a jeweler for hours to get it right. She made it to fit his thumb perfectly. There were also several spells cast on it.

"I hope you like that. It's also got spells on it. I had to argue with a jewel maker for hours to get it right."

She watched as he noted the different symbols and designs circling the metal band. They weren't very decipherable and most didn't really make out anything at all. There was, however, a distinguishable snake with a rose head in its mouth and the stem circling its body. This was not an accident, though, it was to keep a spell working.

She felt like she should explain. "The snake and rose is to keep a spell working."

"What spell?" He asked, noting the Latin inscription inside the ring.

"Well…" she wasn't sure how to explain it. "It's an ancient spell that a woman would give to them man she loves. For protection against evil, that is."

The made Draco raise an eyebrow, "How do you mean?"

"Well, in easier terms, it prevents anyone from reading your mind. Plus, it'll keep any spell from killing you. Including the Killing Curse." Hermione began to fidget. That was the main reason why she was arguing with the jeweler so much. He generally refused to make any jewelry that had spells or curses that he had not heard of before. But, after much arguing on her part, she convinced him to do it.

"I didn't think those existed." Draco was astounded. How is it that someone who has never known magic before last year could know so many spells that he, a lifelong wizard, had never heard of before?

"Well, like I said it's ancient. But, basically, it feeds off of my love for you. See," she lifted a small necklace out of her shirt, a silver chain with a simple diamond heart at the end; though, if you look closely you could see the same snake and rose in the middle.

"If anyone evil tries to hurt you, my love with protect you as long as you wear the ring and I wear the necklace." She suddenly felt foolish. He would probably feel offended that she would try to protect him.

Instead of getting angry, he slid the ring on his thumb and felt the warm of the band before bringing her in for a passionate kiss. Hermione couldn't keep herself from responding, kissing him back hungrily. They stayed that way for several minutes, only coming up for air. Finally, they broke away and Draco laid his forehead on her as he pulled her two rings out of his pocket. He had found them on the floor while pulling his jeans on and put them in his pocket so they didn't get lost. Now, as he slid the diamond promise ring on her left ring finger and the other onto the thumb of her right hand, he sighed at the snake on her ring slithered around before finally stopping in the oval of the ring.

"I love you, Raven. And your gifts are the best I've ever gotten." He kissed her forehead.

She smiled, "I feel the same about yours."

With a sigh, they broke apart, Hermione started heading towards the door. "I should go shower before we head down to dinner."

"Do you want company??" Draco's sly voice asked as she touched the doorknob.

"That would just lead to us being late to dinner, my love." She said, not bothering to turn around.

His voice was in her ear as his hand rested on top of hers, "I promise we are not going to be late."

She gave in and he followed her to the bathroom, where—unfortunately—they didn't do anything but wash each other.

* * * * * * *

Dinner that night had been eventful, too. Lucius kept glancing back and forth between the two of them, sensing something. Narcissa, on the other hand just smiled at the two of them knowingly. Hermione was stuck between being creeped out by that and simply being happy that she didn't care. In the end, she settled for being creeped. After all, having your boyfriend's mother know that your screwing around—and her being HAPPY about it—isn't the best feeling in the world. Besides, it's not like her and Draco kept their hands to themselves during dinner. They always seemed to have to be touching each other in some way; Draco settling his hand on her knee and Hermione with her hand upon his.

Laughing at the memory, Hermione folded the Daily Prophet and downed the rest of her coffee. Draco was supposed to meet her in the lobby before they were to head out, so she needed to get a move on. Even after that day and the weeks passed, they still couldn't seem to get enough of each other. As she walked through the grand kitchen, she thought back to the Christmas Ball. It actually had to be cancelled, so there wasn't much to think about. The Dark Lord had different business to attend to and called most of his Death Eaters away. Fortunately, he left Draco behind. This did put a damper on her spirit slightly for she was going to inform him of her decision to join his ranks.

"Ready, love?" Draco asked as she walked into the room.

Jumping on him, she kissed him quickly before falling to the ground, laughing as she did so. As she bent over to kick up her trunk, he kissed her neck, earning a giggle from her in the process. Since Christmas, they haven't been shy about…exploring each other. Since she now had the ring he got her for Christmas to keep her powers at bay, they didn't need to worry about anymore freak occurrences. In fact, she never really used her room again on her stay here.

"That I am, love." She began to walking to the door.

As she looked back to see if he was following her, she stifled a laugh. The two of them actually matched today, funnily enough. Hermione, wearing a long black skirt, combat boots, white long-sleeved shirt with a black vest over it, and her red hair in a ponytail. Draco, wearing black dress pants, white long-sleeved shirt with a blank jacket over it, and combat boots of his own. Of course, he left his hair hanging in his eyes, just the way she liked it.

Outside, Draco's mum and dad were standing next to a posh sedan. Hermione assumed this was the car that would bring them to the train station. "Oh, Raven," Narcissa said sadly, pulling Hermione in for a hug, "I do hope you'll come back on holidays. It was such a joy having you here."

"I will, Narcissa," Hermione said with affection. "That is if Draco doesn't get tired of me."

Lucius laughed in a mocking way, "Like that could possibly happen, Onyx. The boy cannot stop looking at you, for Merlin's sake."

Draco, ignoring his father's comment, said with annoyance, "No need to be patronizing, father. And yes. Mum , I will be bringing Raven," he annunciated her name to show his father what to call her, "back whenever she would like."

"Splendid!" Narcissa smiled and kissed Draco on the cheek before stepping to stand by her husband. "You have fun and don't forget to write, both of you."

As the two slid into the sedan, Draco was about to shut the door when Lucius stuck his walking stick between the door and the frame. "I do believe the Dark Lord will be sending for the two of you very soon. Be sure to be ready when he does, Onyx," he annunciated to show that he didn't care, "for I don't believe he'll be so forgiving this time."

Hermione couldn't stop herself from retorting, "Oh, but I'm sure he's not dumb enough to try anything with me Lucius. And I have no intention of not being ready. You are just worried I'll take your precious place at his side. Good day!" She said the farewell so bright and cheery that you almost could hear the small laugh coming from Narcissa; well, and the sound of Lucius grinding his teeth."

Draco slid closer to Raven and put his arm around her shoulders, "This is going to be an interesting final semester at Hogwarts."

Hermione nodded and smiled, a wicked glint in her eye, "And I'm certain that it will go out with a hell of a bang!"

((I know, I know. This chapter was a lot shorter than the others. This is just a filler chapter leading up to the good stuff. After this it all starts falling into place. So, be prepared. If I estimated right there should be—at most—ten or—at least—five chapters left. So, if there are any questions you might want to send them now. Also, please review. I was soooo hoping to make at least 300 reviews in this story; which leaves me needing 100 and change. Thanks!!!))