Disclaimer: Don't own them….just another attempt to answer the question-what if….?"

Warning: Post War Hogwarts, Mild Violence, Aghast, Lime… all that other good stuff.

Pairing: HGXDM, LMXNM, APXDG

Author's Note: I just want to thank the people who've read, reviewed, and added my story to their story alerts and also in their favorite story listing. You guys don't realize just how much….. You inspire me. Your responses are so overwhelming…. I'm in awe of it all. So thank you.

To the old readers as well as the new, Enjoy! =D

Part Twenty Five

The surprised Gryffindor took a step toward the open doorway, her eyebrow rising in question as she stuck her head out the portrait hole to stare out into the deserted corridor. Her eyes scanned the area in front of her, her brown orbs catching the subtle shifting in the air towards her before she stepped back, letting her visitor brush past her and into the living room behind them. With a wave of her wand, Hermione set the fireplace ablaze just as her fellow Gryffindor revealed himself from under the guise of his invisibility cloak, the grinning form of Harry coming into view as he tucked the cloak beneath him before taking a seat on the nearest armchair.

"Harry! What are you doing here at this hour? Something wrong?" Hermione asked as she sank into the armchair across her best friend. In the back of her mind, she remembered that this was the Slytherin prince's preferred seat in the room, and her nose faintly made out his subtle scent as she leaned back in the chair.

The messy haired hero shook his head, a small smile on his face as he looked at his friend; her ready assumptions about something amiss amusing the Gryffindor greatly. "No, no, everything's fine. I just wanted to talk to you." Harry replied, as he himself settled comfortably in his seat.

"I was just having some tea. Would you like a cup?" Hermione offered, as she picked up her own forgotten mug off the table and taking a sip of the now lukewarm beverage. Harry shook his head as he waited for the girl to lower her mug before questioning her.

"So, how have you been?" He asked as his green eyes watched her face closely. At the question, the girl raised an eyebrow before answering that she was doing quite well, finding the question a bit strange since she had just talked to the boy that afternoon during their Potions lesson. With a sigh, the boy waved a hand to the doorway behind the pair as he asked another question. "And…. Malfoy? How is he?"

"He's… fine?" Hermione answered her bewilderment growing as she watched her friend fidget in his seat before asking his next question.

"That's… good. I trust he's…. being nice? Treating you well?" Hermione took a moment to blink owlishly at her friend, who was staring at the ground, the expression on his face decidedly a balance between awkward and embarrassed at having asked such a thing.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione sighed, as she gave a small laugh at the sight of the Gryffindor's protective streak coming out. "I can assure you, Draco's been nothing but a gentleman. Although," She paused as she lifted a finger to the bottom of her lip, her eyes staring up at the ceiling in thought. "He's been acting out of sorts lately."

"Really?" The scarred boy asked, linking his hands together as his green eyes watching his friend shake her head in affirmation. "How so?"

"Well… it seems like there's been something on his mind. I get the feeling that he wants to tell me something… but what I don't get is what it could be." Hermione placed her face into the palms of her hands as she let out a low groan. "And it's so frustrating! Ugh. Why are boys so complicated?" At this, Harry couldn't help but let out a snort as he struggled to keep down his laughter as to not anger the fiery Head girl.

"I think you've got that backwards, Hermione. Girls are definitely the more complicated of the sexes." Hermione peeked out from her fingers as Harry continued to chortle, her lips twitching into a smile as she observed her best friend writhing in his seat, his hands clutching at his sides. "I'm sure whatever it is, he'll come out with it sooner or later." Harry offered, as his laughter faded away, leaving him smiling at the girl across from him.

"Yes, I guess you're right." Hermione nodded as she took another sip, before the pair switched topics. "So, I can't help but think that you didn't just come up here in the middle of the night to ask about me and Draco's well-being, though I appreciate the concern, Harry. What did you really come here to talk about?" The green eyed Gryffindor gave his friend a sheepish grin as he brought a hand to rub at the back of his neck. "Well, I wanted to know if you gave any thought about Christmas break. Like, are you planning on staying at school? Or….?"

At the mention of Christmas break, Hermione felt her stomach drop as she remembered that she had no home to return to over the break. Unlike the previous year, when the trio had been on the run in the midst of a war, Hermione had spent almost every Christmas away from the castle, whether it was to vacation with her parents or staying under the same room as Harry and Ron, she had never really spent a Christmas alone at the castle. But now, with her parents gone and her strained friendship with the hot tempered redhead, Hermione couldn't see anything else she could do aside from stay behind at school as she was sure that Ron would not be keen on having her over at the Burrow.

"I'm not sure. I might just stay here." She shrugged; trying to act as though it didn't really matter to her, though Harry could tell the opposite was true. "What about you?"

"Well…. Ron invited me over to the Burrow over the break. But seeing as I haven't yet visited Grimmauld Place since the summer, I was thinking of airing it out over the break. I wanted to ask you if you wanted to stay with me as well…." At the words, Hermione visibly brightening, making the scarred boy wince as he continued. "But then I remembered that I'll be spending time with Teddy too… and well since Bill and Fleur will be bringing him up there from Shell Cottage, the whole family thought it'd be great to just have one big visit. And well… Ron will be there, and I wasn't sure if you'd want to be bothered with him at the moment. Especially after how he's been acting since it's come out about you and- you know." He trailed off, his eyes apologetic as he watched the Head girl give a sad smile at her friend.

Hermione in a rush of emotion, jumped at the glasses specked boy, wrapping her arms around his neck as she enveloped her friend into a crushing hug. She was happy to have such a thoughtful friend like Harry, who knew that she had not yet restored her parent's memory- or even checked up on them for that matter. And though it would seem that everything was fine with the girl in his arms, her friend knew of her inner pain at being so far from the people who had given her life and had accepted her life as a witch from the time she received her letter to the time she had oblivated their memories. He knew of her struggle to go on after the war without them -the decision to leave her mum and dad behind in favor of focusing on her education something that had not been easy for her decide, and though it had been so long, time had merely dulled the ache, the agony sometimes resurfacing so sharply that Hermione was left in pieces. Hermione knew that if Harry could do anything more for her, he would without a moment's hesitation, the thought alone being enough to give the girl some comfort.

She laid her head on her shoulder, her eyes closing as she felt Harry's arms wrap around her body in a loose embrace, his hands rubbing her back in soothing paths on her back. "Hermione… if you asked me to, I'd stay too… with you." He whispered into her ear, his voice low and gentle like the sounds of the ocean's waves lapping languidly against the shore.

Hermione, as much as she wanted to be selfish just this once and ask Harry for such a thing, knew that Harry sorely missed his godson, the last remaining link to not only their former teacher and comrade, Remus Lupin, but also his own godfather, Sirius. She shook her head, knowing that as much as she wanted to, she couldn't let Harry sacrifice what fleeting time he had to share in his godson's youth, the pride in his voice at the mere mention of the boy's name, enough of a reason to put her own wants aside.

"Don't be ridiculous, Harry! You need to spend time with Teddy." She told him, as she lifted her head, her warm eyes gazing into his glowing green orbs. "Besides I can hear it in your voice just how much you want to see him and pictures can only be enough for so long." This time, Hermione gave the Gryffindor she was sitting on a real smile, to which he could only return.

"You're right, Hermione. I just wanted to make sure you'd be okay and everything." Harry nodded, as they broke apart, the pair standing up as they felt their late night conversation drawing to a close. "Still… I hate the thought of everyone together without you." He took her hand in his and gave it a slight squeeze, to which she returned with a reassuring strength.

"I don't like it either, but I'll make do. " Hermione's eyes took on a mischievous glint as she pointed a finger to her fellow Gryffindor's chest. "You better write to me Mr. Potter. Don't think that just because you'll be in a house full of people that you don't have to send me anything during the break. I better hear from you."

Rubbing his slightly pained chest as the spot where she had jabbed him at the end of her sentences, Harry gave her a nod. "Of course I'll make the time to write. Jeez, Hermione, I'm not like Ron, who never does." At the comment, the pair laughed as they made their way to the portrait hole. With one last hug, Harry pulled his father's cloak over him, making him disappear from sight before he made his way out of the opened entryway leading into the Head's dorm.

Hermione walked over to the table and picked up her empty cup before she made to put it away in the kitchen, unaware of the blonde as he made his way out of his room and into his chair, still warm from the person who last sat in it. Turning to make her way to her room, the Gryffindor raised a hand to her chest, her mouth emitting a small shriek as her eyes rested upon the sudden sight of the smirking blonde sitting in the chair she had recently occupied.

"Draco!" She scolded, as she tried to calm her heart that was pounding furiously against her chest, her hands turning into fits as the blonde continued to look at her in amusement. "You nearly scared me half to death!" Hermione accused as she came to stand in front of the Slytherin prince, her hands coming to rest on her hips.

Giving a small chuckle, Draco merely shrugged as he gently took her wrists into his hands as he pulled her down onto his lap. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I thought I heard the portrait opening and came out to check. I didn't know you were awake." He explained, his hands burying themselves into her brown mane as his finger began to dig through her locks and to her scalp where he began to massage her into a boneless puddle on his lap. "Did you go out? Or did someone come in?" He asked her, his body beginning to warm as she leaned her head into the crook of his shoulder, her breath coming out in warm puffs against his neck. If he listened closely, the Slytherin prince could swear that the girl was practically purring under his touch.

"Harry…." Hermione mumbled in answer, her body too busy enjoying the attention that the Slytherin prince was bestowing on her scalp, the sensations causing her body to become lax and her nerves to tingle. It was heavenly… and yet the Head girl couldn't help but wish that his hand were elsewhere- or maybe everywhere. Which of the two she wanted more, Hermione couldn't guess, as she began to get lost to the feel of his pale slender fingers working the back of her head with strong, yet gentle strokes.

"Hmm." Draco acknowledged, though he had already known. He had just been about to venture out into kitchen in search of a light snack, as he found it almost impossible to sleep as his stomach continued to grumble as he laid in bed, when he had heard the sound of Hermione's voice, followed by another, distinctly male's voice. At first he had been tempted to rush into the room, guns blazing so to speak, to find out just who was visiting his witch at the current hour of the night, when his more logical side took over and heeded him to wait before doing anything rash. And so with his hand hovering over the handle of his door, he had strained his ears to listen to the voice, his mind registering that the sound belonged to no other than Potter himself.

He been relieved, though it was somewhat short-lived as the content of their conversation filtered through his mind. As his ears picked up the mention of the Head girl's plans to remain at the castle over the break, his silver orbs wandered to his desk where his mother's more recent letters laid about on the surface of the aged wood, his mind racing. His dear mother had once again inquired about his supposed 'love interest' as she phrased it, questioning whether her and father were to expect an extra guest to accompany him home for the holidays. In truth, the Malfoy heir had toyed with the idea of remaining at the castle as well, the thought of being away from Hermione after he had just claimed her as his, something he found he was not in the least comfortable with. But after reading his parent's letters and seeing the underlying loneliness that seemed to grow more and more apparent with each sentence penned in their usual emerald ink and fancy font, Draco could not find it in him to deny his parents of his presence over the holidays. As it were, it would be the first time that they would actually spend the Yule Tide season together as a real family, and Draco knew that his parents were looking forward to it just as much as he was.

Coming to the decision to merely just ask the girl if she would want to spend the holidays with him, Draco had returned to his bed as he waited for Hermione and Potter to finish their conversation together. Running a hand through his thoroughly mussed platinum locks, the Slytherin prince couldn't help but laugh at himself over his many failed attempts of asking the girl the very same question during the past week. Whenever the opportunity had presented itself, Draco had found himself hesitating and with good reason- he could not see how Hermione could even remotely want to willingly spend time in the company of his parents. The very people that had played a big role in the previous war- she had even been apprehended, brought to their home and tortured in their drawing room for god's sake!

Before he could let his thoughts wander down that oh so familiar road of doubt, Draco stopped himself, remembering just how making such assumptions had nearly ruined his chance with the fiery Gryffindor in the first place. Hearing the portrait door close once more, he pushed himself off of his emerald sheets of silk and made his way outside.

"Hermione…" Draco called softly, as he shifted her in his lap so that she was cradled on his arm on top of the arm rest, his free hand beginning to caress the sides of her face tenderly. He waited until her eyes opened to regard him tiredly before continuing. "I understand if you don't want to… but I wanted to ask if you…. if you'd like to come and spend Christmas with me. And my family." He added for good measure, watching as the question slowly sank into her mind, the only sign of it being her eyes that seemed to widen with each passing second.

"P-pardon?" She squeaked, not quite believing what the blonde holding her had just asked. Strangely, her mind seemed to process that he had in fact asked her to spend the break with him…. and his family. At the thought, Hermione couldn't help but shiver as her blood began to crawl under skin, as memories from the war and being in his house resurfaced in her mind.

She watched as his silver eyes lowered in dejection, most likely sensing just where her thoughts had wandered and suddenly the Gryffindor felt horrible for her lack of tact. The fact that he had bothered to ask her, knowing that there was a great chance that she would refuse, had Hermione considering the offer. After all, her only other option was staying at school, where she would most likely be alone now that she knew the blonde had plans of returning home himself. And if she was honest she really did want to spend time with him without having to mind the looks the pair received whenever they were in the company of the other students, the idea only becoming more and more appealing as she mulled the thought over in her mind.

Hermione took a deep breath, before placing her hand over the one that he had resting against her cheek, giving him a smile when his steely grey eyes met her own eyes. "I appreciate the offer, and I accept." The girl only had a second to react before the blonde crashed his lips unto hers, the feeling of his soft pale skin against her slightly dry mouth sending her mind as well as her body into a frenzy. As they broke away to draw air, Hermione only had time to let out a short laugh before the blonde jumped at her again, his hands winding into her hair as she placed her own on top of his shoulders. At the feel of the close contact, Hermione couldn't help but sigh in contentment, before surrendering herself to the Slytherin prince.

Closing the door behind him with a small click, Draco stood before his bed for a moment before letting out a whoop of excitement as he jumped into the air, his fist raised up high. He couldn't believe it! He really couldn't! Hermione had said yes! As he fought to compose himself, Draco coughed and settled back down on the ground, thankful that he had a whole room to himself as he was sure that had anyone seen him, they would never let him live the moment down. After all, Malfoy's were to at all times be outmost dignified- though that didn't stop the wide grin from forming on the blonde's lips.

Spying his unwritten reply to his mother's letter, Draco rushed over and sat down, hurriedly dipping his quill into his ink stop as he rushed to pen his answer. Dear Mother, please prepare an extra room as we will be having a guest at the Manor over Yule Tide…

Author's Note: *sigh* OMG I'm so happy! I'm like thisclose to getting to the parts that I'm so eager to write! Almost there guys! =D I'm so excited! Lmao.

Anyway, I just want to thank everyone for reading! =D Also, I just want to send a shout out to a reader named Mary since you don't have an account and therefore I can't respond appropriately: I'm sorry/flattered that my story distracted you from your test… but I'm glad that in the end it helped you concentrate! Hope you did well on your test! =D

Like always, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and are looking forward to the next chapter! XD