5.31 PM
Hermione walked into the Common Room and looked up from her satchel, which she'd been digging around in.
Draco stood in front of her and smiled, and Hermione paused.
"Good afternoon, Draco."
"Hello Hermione." he gave her a wicked smile and Hermione felt herself getting heated.
Last time he had looked at her like that, they had ended up rather breathless and entwined on the couch. Her face flushed with the memories as she fidgeted anxiously.
He chuckled, and Hermione felt herself stepping backwards.
"Draco, stop looking at me like that. I have study to do!" she demanded, her voice wavering as he stepped forward.
He laughed and she felt goose bumps erupt on her skin.
"Don't make me smack you over the head with my bag!" she threatened, glaring at him.
"I'd like to see you try." he smirked. Hermione fixed him with a glare before she reached for her wand in her pocket. Draco's hand enclosed on her wrist before she could reach her wand, and pulled her to him, causing her to drop her bag as she was yanked into his chest.
She sighed.
"If my grades slip, I'm personally blaming you for distracting me from all my study."
He chuckled, gently tilting her chin up and kissing her.
"Sounds like you need a better study plan, Miss Granger."
"Maybe I need a boyfriend who also knows how to study and not sabotage his girlfriend's grades?"
"As long as I get to kiss you, I don't care."
Hermione rolled her eyes before leaning forward to touch her lips to his again.
"I have to ask you something." he pulled away slightly.
Hermione looked worried for a few seconds.
"Okay.." she busied herself with a button on his shirt. He sighed and twirled a curl around his finger idly, studying her with his cool grey eyes.
"Well, I was just wondering if you'd like to attend the Halloween dance with me?"
Hermione looked up from his shirt, baffled.
"You want to take me to the dance? To be seen by, well, everyone?"
"Yes." he grinned.
"Are you sure?"
"Why not? Don't you want to go with me?"
"I don't know if anyone can ever top my date with Krum." she giggled, and he raised an eyebrow.
"Let me try. I'll make you forget Krum ever took you on a date."
Hermione smiled.
"Well, I guess it's a date." she murmured.
Draco just laughed and kissed her again.
9.55 PM
"Blimey, it's getting cold!"
"As the weather generally does...in winter." Theo deadpanned.
"Why couldn't we do something inside?"
"It's our tradition! We can't not do it, Blaise." Pansy rolled her eyes as she tugged on his hand.
"You know, I've heard that warming spells were invented for a reason!"
"No!" came a chorus of answers.
"Come on, I'm getting frostbite!"
"That's truly tragic." Draco smirked, pulling his jacket tighter around him. Blaise smacked him on the arm.
The group of seven made their way across the cool grass and towards the Quidditch Pitch, chattering the entire way there.
When they reached it, Draco led the way up to the top of the Slytherin seating box, and they all piled in, arranging themselves on the seats.
Draco waved his wand and cast a warming and muffling charm on the box, and Blaise gave a huge sigh.
"Thank you! Finally! My fingers were about to snap off!"
"Lucky they didn't, I don't think I could date a boy who was missing anything." Pansy laughed, and Blaise pulled her in and started tickling her.
Draco dropped the picnic basket on the middle bench and Goyle, Millicent, Daphne, Theo, Blaise and Pansy all stopped what they were doing to unpack.
When they had finished, they had several boxes of lollies, cups of cocoa, a bottle of fire whiskey and a pack of playing cards.
"It is so on." Theo grinned, picking up the pack of cards and shuffling.
Pansy laughed as she picked up her cup of cocoa.
"You're so lame, Theo." she teased.
"Not quite as lame as your boyfriend, though."
"Oh! Harsh! Almost as harsh as the smack I'm about to give you on the back of your head!" Blaise grinned, swinging at Theo who ducked out of the way with a smirk.
As Draco sat back, laughing at his friends antics he thought about all of the times that they had visited this exact box over the past few years, and with a smile he realised that he was glad to have all of his friends here. If only Crabbe was still around, though. That guy could play a mean round of "fluffy bunnies."
10.43 PM
"Yes! You have to take another shot, Blaise!" Theodore crowed, slamming the cards on the bench.
Blaise sighed and reached for his glass of fire whiskey, downing it in one go.
"You suck, Theo."
"That's not what Pansy said last night." Theo smirked, only to receive a punch on the arm from Pansy.
"Ow!" he cried. Pansy just smiled at him sweetly before narrowing her eyes and giving him a deadly glare.
"Okay, next hand." Draco said, dealing the cards.
Daphne picked hers up and smirked, and Draco surveyed his cards with a blank face while the rest of the group all reacted in different ways that still didn't give him any clue as to their hand strength.
Playing Poker with Slytherins was so damn hard, sometimes.
11.56 PM
When Draco crept into the Common-Room, it was mainly dark except for the flickering light that the fireplace cast.
Making his way into the kitchenette, he couldn't spot any light coming from Hermione's bedroom, which was odd.
Getting a glass of water, he walked slowly down her hallway, coming to her open door and peering in to find it empty.
His forehead creased. Where was Hermione?
Something in his head clicked; the library.
With a whistle, he grabbed his cloak and set off out the portrait and down the hall.
12.04 AM
"Hermione."
Someone was shaking her. Why were they shaking her? Better question, why were they in her room?
She groaned and scrunched her eyes further closed in the hopes that they would get the hint and go away.
"Hermione."
That voice kind of sounded, familiar. And the thing under her head didn't feel like her pillow, either.
She frowned and then opened her eyes, eventually coming to focus on Draco, who was sitting next to her.
"Where am I?"
"The library. You fell asleep on your books." he smirked at her in amusement as she lifted her head off the book with a wince.
"Ow."
"You really love books, don't you? Going so far as to sleep on them is new. Or perhaps you were just trying to get the words and information into your brain faster?" he grinned.
"Shut up." she gave him a pointed look as she closed the books and used her wand to send them back to their places.
"You're just adorable when your hair is all flat like that." he grinned, reaching up to tuck it behind her ear.
"Draco!" She hissed.
"Hermione." he grinned.
She stood up, smoothing down her clothes with a sigh.
"You're sure charming tonight." she rolled her eyes.
"Only for you." he teased, standing with her and tugging playfully on a strand of hair.
"Draco." she snapped, smacking his hand away.
"Stop doing that and do something useful." she glared.
"Okay. How about I'll carry you back to our rooms." he grinned playfully, and Hermione laughed.
"Do I look like a blushing bride or a distressed damsel?"
He swept her up suddenly, catching her unawares and smirking as he adjusted her in his arms.
"Draco!" She gasped and he chuckled, looking down at her with twinkling eyes.
"No, but you look like a grumpy Granger."
She just laughed and wrapped her arms tentatively around his neck as he carried her out of the library.
7.45 AM
Harry and Ron plonked into the seats across from Hermione, reaching instantly for the coffee.
"You two are hopeless in the morning." she commented without looking up from the paper.
"And you are way too enthusiastic about being awake before 10." Ron grumbled, stuffing some toast into his mouth.
"Boys." Ginny sighed, sliding into a seat next to Hermione.
"I know." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"At least we get to go to Hogsmeade today!" Ginny grinned.
"Books." Hermione sighed happily.
"Dresses." Ginny gave a wistful sigh.
"Girls." Harry and Ron said at the same time with a grimace.
"Hey! Don't forget you're dating one!" Ginny smacked Harry on the arm.
"Sorry!" Harry cringed, stuffing more toast into his mouth to avoid any more slaps.
Ron stared at Ginny.
"Blimey, Gin, you've gotten violent."
"I'll show you violent, Ronald Weasley." Ginny threatened, balling up her fist.
"Oh, look at that, there's the scrambled eggs!" Ron cried, scooping up the plate and piling them on his.
Hermione just giggled quietly, looking over Harry's shoulder to catch Draco's eye. She smiled brightly as he looked up from his breakfast, returning her smile with a wink and a smile of his own.
Ginny nudged her in the side with a knowing smirk.
Hermione ignored her, instead dropping her gaze to the paper and continuing to read it as Draco carried on his conversation with Adrian Pucey.
12.20 PM
Hogsmeade positively glowed in the lead up to Halloween, and the students bustling from shop to shop only enhanced the atmosphere.
Hermione stood in the main square, a smile tugging at her lips as she surveyed everything.
"I've always loved Hogsmeade." a quiet voice interrupted her thoughts, and Hermione jumped, turning to find Pansy Parkinson standing beside her.
"It is rather lovely, isn't it?" Hermione answered.
Pansy sighed.
"I remember a time when it wasn't."
Hermione turned to look at Pansy again.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Well, normally you don't talk to me."
"What a wise observation."
"Sarcasm coming from a Slytherin? How unusual." Hermione smiled.
Pansy chuckled.
"I've always looked up to you since last year, you know. Ever since you decided to skip Hogwarts and risk everything to take down Voldemort. And then seeing you in the final battle; looking so fearless and ready to take on everything." Pansy whispered, and Hermione glanced at the raven haired girl in shock.
"Am I hearing you correctly?"
Pansy gave her a look.
"I'm not going to say it twice."
"Well, I'm quite flattered." Hermione blushed.
"Want to buy a butter beer?" Pansy asked, interrupting the silence.
"Sure." Hermione smiled brightly, and Pansy gave her a smile back before they headed off to The Three Broomsticks.
5.12 PM
Hermione exited the Hogs Head with Harry, Ginny and Ron, the four laughing amongst themselves as they crunched through the frosty ground and towards the path that led back to Hogwarts.
Harry had his arm wrapped around Ginny firmly, and when Ron reached to drape a friendly arm over Hermione's shoulders, she let him.
And while they walked back to Hogwarts, it was like it used to be. Before Voldemort was trying so hard to bring down Harry; before they had all been forced to grow up quickly and fight in a war that took so many from them.
And as they scooped up the frost on the ground and threw it at each other, laughing and collapsing and rolling on the ground, Hermione felt like a child again.
7.13 PM
Hermione could feel his eyes; they were like a warm fire, licking gently at her neck as he watched her out of the corner of his gaze.
As she conversed with her fellow housemates and slowly ate the food on her plate and gossiped with Ginny in hushed whispers as Harry and Ron peered at them curiously, she could feel him watching her.
And, not for the first time, she wondered what he was thinking.
Did he think that she looked pretty? Did he wonder what she was saying?
Hermione was pulled out of her thoughts by Neville.
"Are you alright, Hermione?" he asked quietly.
She turned to him with a bright smile, and the truth.
"I'm fine, Neville. So, how's your apprenticeship with Professor Sprout going?"
9.41 PM
Draco was doing homework when Hermione silently stepped into the common room, putting her bag on the floor and coming over to the couch that he was sitting on to sit next to him.
He turned to her, placing his quill down and reaching out a hand to stroke her spine.
"What homework are you doing?" she asked as she leant into him, curling her feet up underneath her and resting her head on his shoulder.
"Transfiguration."
"Hmm." she replied, sighing contentedly as he picked up his quill and continued scribbling down answers, his other hand twirling her hair around his fingers.
10.23 PM
"You know, it's kind of hard to complete one's homework when you're doing that." Draco groaned as Hermione placed another light kiss on his shoulder, the heat seeping through his shirt and causing tingles.
He felt her smile against his skin and he tried not to give anything away as he finished off his essay quickly.
Hermione's lips carefully moved upwards, hovering by his collar and in her moment of hesitation he dropped his quill and turned to capture her lips with his, grasping her head with his hands as he kissed her deeply.
When he pulled back, she gazed up at him with glossy eyes and pink lips, and he smirked charmingly and touched his nose and forehead to hers as he continued to cup her face.
"You really shouldn't do that while I'm studying."
She giggled, and he dropped his hands to her shoulders.
"Bet you can't catch me." She grinned, and in a flash she was gone, her body flying across the room as she ran; her curls bouncing and twirling as she dashed across the carpet.
Draco grinned.
"I'll give you a five second head start, but you better run faster!" he called, patiently counting down the seconds before he chuckled and took off after her.
Five minutes later found him standing on one side of his double bed, while she stood on the other.
He had the advantage; standing closest to the door, and her escape route.
She stared at him defiantly, a smile tugging at her lips as she panted softly, her eyes wild with excitement and nerves.
He faked to the left and she twitched to the right, causing him to chuckle.
"You're like my own personal living Golden Snitch."
She rolled her eyes, moving an inch to the left, watching as he did the same.
"Oh look! Harry's flying past on his broom!" Hermione cried, looking to the window with such genuine surprise that he almost looked.
Almost.
"Nice try, Hermione." he smirked, fixing his unwavering gaze on her.
"No! Really!" Hermione mumbled, pointing out the window and waving.
Draco snarled. Damn Potter. What was he doing out flying this late anyway? Glancing out his window he realised his mistake as Hermione made a run for it, bounding onto the bed and clearly aiming to bounce out the door.
With one swift movement, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her backwards, causing them to fall onto his bed in an ungraceful heap.
Hermione groaned as she rubbed her sore spots, and Draco just grinned at her.
"I knew I could catch you."
"Congratulations, Malfoy. I always knew you were almost as good as Harry; Seeker wise, anyway." she grinned.
"You so did not just go there." Draco mock growled, pulling Hermione close with his arm and leaning down to hover above her mouth with a smirk.
"And if I did?" she grinned wickedly, challenging him her eyes.
"If you don't take that back, I might have to punish you." he fixed her with a menacing glare.
"Not a chance." she eyed him defiantly.
Draco just smirked wickedly and started to tickle her, placing kisses on her exposed collarbone at the same time until she begged him to stop between gasps of air, and only then did he cease his tickling and seal his lips to hers.
7.14 AM
Hermione sat in the Great Hall, checking her shirt and tugging it up discreetly.
Ginny gave her a knowing look over her toast, and Hermione twitched an eyebrow in response, causing Ginny to smile.
"So Hermione, how did you manage to get that suspicious looking bruise? It looks like a love bite."
"What's this about a love bite?" Ron burst in and Hermione flushed crimson.
"Oh, Hermione and I were just talking about love bites and the things that they lead to."
"Ginny!" Ron looked aghast. "You're not meant to know words or stuff like that! Mum would have a fit if she could hear you right now!"
"Well, she can't!" Ginny growled, glaring at Ron.
"You're still my little sister!"
"Listen, Ron. If you think that I don't know about se-"
Ron clapped a hand over Ginny's mouth.
"You're meant to be the innocent one in the family!" he exclaimed as Ginny shoved Ron's hand off her mouth and glared at him fiercely.
"You're lucky I don't Bat Bogey Hex you right now!" she hissed, tossing her red hair and turning to continue her conversation with Hermione.
Ron rolled his eyes and sat down with a huff, digging into his breakfast.
1.56 PM
The hype leading up to the Halloween party had taken over students, and the chattering in the halls between classes had risen to a new high.
Hermione tried to push her way past two giggling third years without any luck before Ancient Runes when a hand reached out and wrapped around her wrist, pulling her forward and into a small, semi dark alcove, and against body with a small jerk.
Finding herself looking at a green and silver tie, Hermione raised her eyes a fraction and locked eyes with Draco.
"Having trouble navigating the busy corridors?" he smirked and Hermione smiled, adjusting her book bag.
"Yes. Thank you." she beamed. "You saved that house from having twenty points taken from it though."
He glanced over her shoulder at the two girls.
"Blast, they were Gryffindors too." he frowned.
"What a shame." she laughed, fussing with his tie.
His hands covered hers and she looked back up in time to have his lips meet hers.
With a soft sigh, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into the kiss, shivering when his hands roamed around to slide up her back.
The bell rang for the beginning of class and he pulled away and sighed as Hermione nuzzled against him.
"I can see why people are late to class so often." she whispered, and Draco chuckled as he ran a hand through her hair gently.
"I never imagined a world when you would say that."
"There's a first for everything." she laughed.
"We better get to class. Being Head's and having an example to set." he said, his hand finding her cheek and stroking it tenderly.
Hermione sighed.
"I guess so. Come on." she grabbed his hand, ducking out of the alcove and dragging him with her as they headed to class.
3.40 PM
Hermione sat in Charms, taking notes furiously as Ron dozed beside her and Harry idly took down occasional notes.
Looking down at her page, she smiled. Her notes had to be the best in the class. And it seemed that not even having a boyfriend could reduce her work standards.
But then, was Draco her boyfriend? She frowned; quill paused above the parchment and considered it.
They hadn't been on a date together, and maybe kissing each other didn't count as dating? But then he had asked her to the dance..
Harry nudged her in the side, leaning across Ron.
"You alright, Mione? You're scowling." he whispered.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Hermione lied, turning to him with a smile and going back to her notes. Harry watched her for a few seconds before turning back to his own book with a small shrug.
As Hermione stared at the blackboard, it occurred to her that she really needed to talk to Draco.
4.34 PM
Daphne sighed as her book bag was accidentally shoved off her arm and fell to the ground, sending her quills, books and ink wells everywhere. The bunch of Hufflepuffs that she had bumped into, in an attempt to get past them, stared at her semi guiltily before continuing their chatter and journey down the hall.
This was the perfect ending to a terrible day. First, Astoria had been all jittery at breakfast and she still wouldn't say why; secondly, she had forgotten her books for Potions and Slughorn had been in a bad mood; thirdly, she had started her period in the middle of class, and to top it all off she'd just dropped her bag, and its contents, everywhere!
Crouching to the ground with a frustrated groan, she started to retrieve her stuff when a hand held a small pile of her stuff in her vision
"Theo!" Daphne exclaimed as she looked up to find him crouching across from her.
"You look like you could use some help." he told her, taking out his wand and summoning the rest of her fallen stuff with a swish.
"Thank you." Daphne said, giving him a smile as she placed everything back in her bag and took his offered hand, allowing him to pull her upright.
"Anytime." he winked at her as his hand lingered on hers, and Daphne laughed.
"Are you going to the Common Room now?" she asked.
"Indeed. Shall we walk together?" he asked, and Daphne smiled.
"That would be nice."
"You look a bit hot..Would you like me to carry your cloak for you?" he grinned.
"You'd just love it if I started undressing, wouldn't you?" she teased him, tapping him on the arm softly as he laughed.
"You know me well."
"Not gonna happen, Theodore Nott. Unless there are several dates first."
"Well, then. How about I start off by taking you to the Halloween dance?"
She smiled, turning to him.
"I think I could manage that. How about you meet me in the Common Room at seven?"
"It's a date." Theo smirked, his hand brushing hers as the two walked down the hall.
6.55 PM
"Is that Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode holding hands?" Ron choked on a bite of his chicken as he spotted the couple sitting down at the Slytherin table.
Harry leaned over towards Ron to look in the same direction.
"Yep." he confirmed, smacking Ron on the back as Ron coughed violently.
"Blimey. What's wrong with us, Harry? Even Goyle can get a girlfriend."
"Ron, I'm dating your sister. Remember?" Harry smacked him on the back particularly hard and Ron winced.
"Well, what's wrong with me then?"
"A lot. Even Hermione couldn't stand dating you." Ginny cut in to the conversation, sitting down next to Harry and leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
"Hey!" Ron exclaimed as Harry and Ginny laughed.
"What are you guys teasing Ron about now?" Hermione asked as she sat.
"Nothing." Ginny grinned.
"Hey, Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Yes, Ron?" she eyed him warily over the plate of roast potatoes.
"You're a girl.."
"Oh no." Ginny groaned as she hid her face in Harry's shoulder.
"Wisely spotted, Ronald." Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well, you would date me again, wouldn't you? I mean I'm a pretty eligible bachelor, right?"
Hermione speared a potato and put it on her plate.
"I probably wouldn't date you again."
"What? Why?" Ron asked, frowning.
"Well, for one-"
"It's not like you're really swamped by guys wanting to take you out, is it?" Ron interrupted.
Hermione slammed the plate of potatoes on the table and Harry cringed.
"For your information, Ronald, I happen to have someone who is, in fact, interested in me! Is that so hard to believe? And secondly, I wouldn't date you because you're like a brother to me, which is why we broke up, but if you really want some reasons as to why I would not, I can list some." she hissed, and Ron looked taken aback.
"Blimey, Hermione, you've got a boyfriend?"
"Yes! Now, drop the topic, Ronald Weasley, or-"
"Who?"
"What?" Hermione paused, noticing that Draco was looking over from the Slytherin table with a slight frown.
"Who is it, then? Is it someone I know? Are they in Gryffindor?" Ron asked, glaring down the table at all the boys.
"It's none of your business."
"What do you mean; it's none of my business? I'm your best friend!" Ron pushed.
"Ron, you might want to drop the subject." Ginny hissed as Harry tried to pretend like nothing was happening.
"No! I'm also your ex-boyfriend, Hermione, and I think I have a right to know who you're currently dating." Ron glared.
"You'll find out soon enough!" Hermione glared right back at him, earning a proud smile from Draco across the hall.
"But Hermione!" Ron whined.
"NO!" Hermione snarled, picking up her book and then ignoring him for the rest of dinner.
11.59 PM
"Hermione." his voice floated down the corridor and she turned from the portrait, meeting his intense stare.
She knew that look; he was planning something and she was willing to bet that it involved kissing.
He watched as she flushed pink in the most fascinating and beautiful way; the blush spreading from high on her cheeks to slowly inch down her neck and past the collar of her shirt.
He found his fingers itching to slowly unbutton her shirt and find out where her blush stopped.
Hermione caught the look of lust in his eyes and felt her body temperature rise, tugging her shirt collar in an attempt to cool down.
His eyes followed the movement and he took a step towards her.
"Draco," Hermione sighed. "I need to talk to you."
"After I pin you to the wall and kiss you, or before?"
"Draco." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I need to talk to you seriously."
"About?" he queried, taking a few more steps forward and tilting his head ever so slightly.
"Perhaps inside would be a better place." she eyed him as he approached her.
His hand stretched out to trace the skin by her collarbone and she shivered.
He smiled at her; a slow, satisfied smile as he studied her face carefully, and Hermione felt herself getting lost in the depths of his grey eyes.
His hand moved up to cup her cheek so very gently, and she let out a long breath of air.
"Draco." she whispered.
"Hermione."
"What..are we?" she asked.
He looked confused for a few seconds.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, are we dating? Or you know, is this just a casual fling?"
"I'd hardly call it a casual fling, Hermione."
"Okay." she chewed her lip anxiously.
"Would saying that I consider you my girlfriend, and would very much like it if I can call you such, make you stop trying to chew off your lip?" Draco asked, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers.
Hermione smiled and rose up to kiss him quickly.
"Yes." she wrapped her arms around his middle and pulled him closer to her.
"Shall we move into the Common Room?"
"I don't know; I'm pretty comfortable with you leaning on me like that." Draco admitted, wrapping his arms around her shoulder and smiling as she cuddled into his chest.
3.04 AM
She could hear screaming; so loud and desperate.
She opened her eyes to see Hermione writhing on the ground, a Death Eater standing above her with his wand drawn.
He cast another spell and Hermione's screams started up again; so shrill and laced with pain.
"Stop." Astoria rasped, trying to reach out to Hermione.
"Please, stop!" she cried, tears gathering in her eyes as Hermione continued to scream, the sound ripping at Astoria's heart and hurting her ears. It was all her fault. She could have stopped this. She was the one that was the direct cause of Hermione's pain. SHE should be the one being tortured; not Hermione!
"STOP!" Astoria screamed, jolting awake with a start, grasping desperately for her wand on her bedside table. Her frantic grabbing stopped only once she had the familiar stick of wood in her hands, immediately making her feel safer.
Peeking out of her curtains, she was relieved to find that the rest of the girls in her dorm had not been woken by her screams-she silencing spell she cast before bed was working.
Closing the drapes again, she leaned back against the pillows and proceeded to hyperventilate for a few minutes, the breathlessness turning into full body shakes that made her limbs tremble uncontrollably. Reaching for the bear that Daphne had given her so many birthdays ago, she pulled it close and inhaled it's scent; a unique mix of Daphne and her.
Calming, ever so slowly, she lay there until she fell asleep with her wand in one hand and the bear in the other, only to return to more disturbing nightmares and dreams.