A/N Really sorry I'm a bit behind on this but exams and the like getting in the way. I hope this makes up for it, the next chapter should have some interesting plot twists so stay tuned.

Draco was still thinking about what he thought he saw earlier in the day, it wasn't long before lunchtime and the day was dragging, much as they did in the lead up to exciting events. Draco Malfoy couldn't lie and say he didn't still get excited about Christmas but it was a fact he kept to himself now, not too keen to lose his reputation- well at least if it was at his own hand. Draco was still with Harry but they had been in almost complete silence for about half an hour in the common room.

"Are you ok Potter?"

"Oh, what, yeah." Harry looked startled, obviously in deep thought, he had been pondering Dumbledore's words in relation to Malfoy's earlier nervousness. "Are you ok?" questioned Harry, "You seemed slightly shaken up this morning."

"Me?" Scoffed Draco, "Of course I'm fine, it was all part of an act, I reckon I would be good at that." Draco drawled as he reclined in his seat and examined his nails in a model like pose.

"What? Acting?" Harry couldn't help smirk at the remark and its ridiculousness combined with the reputation that would gain Draco within his family. "The only thing you would be able to act is an inanimate object, any movement or speech and the audience would stop watching." Harry began to chuckle at his own remark earning a look of distaste from the other boy's eyes as he rolled them and looked out of the window.

Elsewhere Hermione made her last checks just to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything or missed anything on her first two checks. Once she was satisfied that she had everything she needed, Hermione left a note for her parents telling them that if she was still out when they returned from Christmas shopping, not to worry but that she was simply at a friend's. She placed the note on the kitchen table and steadied herself before counting down from three and apparating to Luna's house, hoping desperately that her first attempt would be successful and that she wouldn't instead end up disturbing a poor, old farmer. As the haze fizzled out from view she was left standing at the bottom of a hill overlooking what seemed like never ending moors, a landscape possibly perilous but one that allowed an individual to seek relative solace when truly admiring its beauty. Perhaps that's why it suited Luna, pondered Hermione as she climbed up to the top of the hill. However absent Luna appeared to be Hermione knew that she was still involved in her surroundings mostly observing and acknowledging things most people were too careless to notice. She found it upsetting how the blonde was a target for common mockery on regular occasions but of course these people didn't know what Hermione knew, they were losing out on the company of a kind and enlightening individual. Catching her breath, Hermione stood dwarfed by a rickety old wooden house that had various oddly shaped windows and contraptions attached to it. She wrapped her knuckles on the door instantly questioning whether she had made a mistake and had come on the wrong day. Five seconds had passed and Hermione was all but convinced she had come too early and she was probably disturbing Luna and she hadn't truly meant for Hermione to come but just said it out of common courtesy. But then she heard footsteps coming towards the door swiftly followed by a creak as the door opened and Hermione was greeted by the taller girl beaming, obviously happy to see her, contradictory to Hermione's previous thoughts. Luna opened her arms before welcoming Hermione into a hug and bringing her into the house.

"My Father is at the office today overseeing final Christmas preparations so it is just me."

"I'm sure that won't be too much of an issue seen as it was you I came to visit. You look nice today." Hermione stuttered, not used to paying compliments even this genuine one seemed false and awkward and she immediately cursed herself for saying anything. It was true though, Luna was wearing woollen tights and a colourful knitted dress that made her look especially cute.

"Thank you, you must be cold. The weather has been less than desirable this week."

"Its nothing," squeaked Hermione shifting from foot to foot but her rosy cheeks and red nose weren't fooling anyone.

"Hang on a moment I will make us some tea and then we can sit in my room, it is warmer there" Luna placed the kettle on the fire and while it heated guided Hermione upstairs to the small sofa that overlooked the landscape. She went back downstairs to finish with the tea and then brought it back to where Hermione was sat, placing it on some weaved coasters.

"Room for one more?" Luna sked and Hermione, embarrassed, lifted the blanket she had been sat under so it accommodated Luna too.

They sat comfortably in a peaceful silence gazing outside to the clouds that started to release snowflakes onto the hills, as though the clouds were covering them in a winter coat. Hermione was tired, she hadn't got much sleep the previous night as a result of her nervousness for today. Her eyelids drooped and Luna lifted her arm to wrap it around Hermione allowing her head to rest on the blonde's chest. Luna sat peacefully as she had done on the train listening to the deep and regular breaths coming from Hermione's mouth. She found them soothing and although she was asleep she appreciated the company of someone. This was a novelty she hadn't had recently, with her Dad away most days Luna decided to fill her day picking wildflowers and pressing them in her flower press. Either that or she would paint watercolours of the moors which seemed to inspire her differently each time. She knew not how much time had passed but the clock told her that it was just one o'clock and as if by magic Hermione jolted awake quickly apologising for her rudeness in falling asleep.

"Don't worry, it was nice that you presumably felt relaxed. It was comforting and peaceful for me." Hermione blushed at this remark and they decided to go downstairs to have some bread and pumpkin soup. They sat opposite each other once the food had been cooked and slurped it with minimal conversation, the feeling of hunger stopping Hermione from coming up with any small talk. They went to return upstairs but just as Hermione went to lead the way Luna took her by the waist and spun her around.

"Race you!" exclaimed Luna and although the gesture may have seemed childish to any outside it appealed to Hermione's competitive side and Luna found it most amusing. There was nothing coming between Hermione and victory so she climbed the steps, two in each stride, grasping the bannister rails as she reached the top and launching herself towards Luna's bedroom and onto her bed.

"I win!" gloated Hermione jokingly as Luna entered bent over with a fit of the giggles. She jumped onto the bed and laid on her back mirroring Hermione's position.

"Don't you ever get lonely here, with no neighbours and your Dad at the office it must be quite solitary?" Hermione asked Luna inquisitively as the prospect of living in such contrasting surroundings nd circumstances o her own filled her with curiosity. There was a silence and Hermione turned over so she was on her side to check that Luna had heard her, just in time to see a tear escape from her eye. Hermione immediately pulled her into a cuddle conscious that she made Luna cry and was now feeling incredibly guilty.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you" whispered Hermione panicking.

"No, its ok. You're right, it is lonely with no one to talk to during the day, sometimes I don't even see my Father because he comes back when I've gone to sleep and is gone before I wake up." The tears continued to make their path down Luna's soft cheeks. Hermione began to wipe them away and kissed Luna on the forehead in an attempt to comfort her.

"Would you like me to stay tonight?" Hermione asked.

"You are ok don't worry about me"

"Its fine I can send a letter home if you're happy for me to use your owl?"

"Would that be ok?" Luna looked up.

"Of course," said Hermione taking the pen and paper out of her bag which she thought she may just have needed, and starting to write the letter, "I wouldn't be a very good girlfriend is I didn't help you out when you needed it." Hermione grabbed the letter and attached it to the owl that was sat by the window and let it free out of the window.

"Is that what we are now?"

"Pardon?"

"Girlfriends?"

Hermione cursed herself for letting her tongue slip like that she wouldn't want Luna to think she was pressuring her or being needy or anything.

"Oh sorry, I umm, didn't umm." Hermione stuttered unsure what to say.

"Don't be sorry, I'd love to be your girlfriend."

"Really?" asked Hermione as she sat down next to Luna who was leant on her side.

"Really." Stated Luna raising herself up until she was on her elbows. She briefly admired Hermione's smiled before kissing it like she had wanted to do since the morning. The kiss was different this time as it was not fuelled by a rush of being caught, nor was it uncertain and clumsy. It felt how it should be, right for the both of them as it became more heated and deepened with the passing of each moment. Hermione lay under Luna and as she felt herself becoming more flustered she reluctantly pulled away to lift the jumper over the head.

"Here, let me help you" said Luna taking the jumper and placing it on the bed next to them, she put her leg on the other side of the brunette and gently pushed her back onto the pillow. Luna ran her hands over Hermione's stomach and round to her back, the soft fingers causing Hermione to feel a shiver run down her spine as every nerve appeared to stand on end. Luna brought her hands back down the other girl's stomach and moved them up to cup her face. It felt like only a minute had passed but the blonde knew it had been longer, she pulled away and acknowledged the time. It was half past three and Luna hoped that just this once her Father wouldn't return until later, she was enjoying her time alone with her girlfriend.