The rest of the holiday went very well. Draco had his first Christmas supper spent with people he actually wanted to be around. He even received his very own sweater from Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius gave him a "Get away from a talking-to free card," to use whenever Sirius wanted to have a conversation with him about Hermione. His only exceptions were if the conversations were about the Order and/or sex.
Another first was for Hermione. She had someone to kiss on New Years as the clock struck midnight, beginning the start of a new, war-torn year. It was only a small peck, but still.
They were among the first to arrive back at Hogwarts, the others being the rest of Dumbledore's Army.
"Hello, everyone," Harry said at the start of their New Years meeting. "I trust you all had a nice holiday. We've got a bit of news for you all."
He looked to Hermione, who had her notes in her hands.
"Remember, I'm not telling you everything," she said sternly. "I don't care that you want to know, all I care about is what's confidential."
Draco sat awkwardly in the back, not entirely enjoying himself. He was receiving the evilest of glares, and he knew that more than one person was whispering about him. He pretended as if he didn't notice.
"And finally, Draco Malfoy, newest Order member, has received his first mission."
A few jaws dropped.
"Has the Order lost their mind?" Draco heard from one of the boys in the back.
"They must have!"
"Shush! She's about to say what it is!"
"Ahem!" Hermione cleared her throat loudly. "Anyways, as I said, Oliver Wood escaped Malfoy Manor with naught but a few scratches and a sprained ankle. He brought back news that I am next on the hit list. Draco's newest mission is to guard the school against anyone that may come, and to be my body guard." Then she said, under her breath, though everyone could hear her, "Like I really need one."
"Why would they put a Death Eater in charge of keeping out Death Eaters?" someone said in an obnoxiously loud whisper.
Hermione fixed an icy glare on the offending DA member. "No one in this army is a Death Eater, do you hear me? Draco Malfoy is an amazing man, and it's because of him that half of your parents have been rescued over the holiday."
A few heads looked down at their laps in shame.
"And, because he has been honoured with the title of Order Member," Harry added, "he is now an official leader of the DA. Draco, will you come up here, please?"
He wanted to say no, but he wanted even more to rub this in the faces of anyone who doubted him. So, suppressing the largest smirk he'd ever felt, he marched proudly to the front of the room and took his spot right next to Hermione, slightly behind her. He nodded at them soberly.
"Now," Hermione said, smiling in hopes of lightening the mood. "Any questions?"
A hand shot into the air.
"Yes, Hannah?" Harry said, pointing to her.
"My question is for Ron?" the girl said.
Ron perked to attention and shoved his hands into his pockets as he nodded. "Eh?"
"Is it true you dumped Lavender?"
He flushed a bright crimson as all eyes fell on him. The most shocked eyes of all were those of Hermione. Her jaw had even dropped.
"That..." he cleared his throat. "Er, that has nothing to do with anything. Any questions for Hermione? She's got the notes..."
A new hand went up, this the hand of Parvati Patil.
Hermione nodded. "Are you and Malfoy dating?"
"What kind of questions are these, people?" Hermione exclaimed. "Since when have DA meetings become gossip circles?"
"So is it true?"
Hermione blushed. "Fine, yes, it's true. I think. Now, get into your sparring circles, please."
Hermione turned around, planting a hand on her forehead as she set her notebook on a desk.
She felt strong arms slip around her waist, and almost instantly some of her stress eased away.
"You think?"
Hermione's brow wrinkled. "Huh?"
"Before," Draco explained. "You said that you only think we're dating."
"Oh," Hermione replied. She shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I'm just not positive. We've never actually talked about it before..."
"Would someone not your boyfriend do this?"
Hermione gasped as she felt his warm, soft lips graze her neck, the chilled air of the room of requirement causing the area he'd touch to tingle.
"I guess not," she managed.
He chuckled.
"Hermione! Malfoy!"
Hermione jumped and would have fallen over, if not for Draco refusing to release her waist.
It was Harry. He was smirking at them. "Get to practising."
Hermione rolled her eyes and moved away from Draco, her hand slowly sliding out of his as she headed towards some of the first years who seemed to be having a bit of difficulties.
Draco was unsure of what to do. He was about to head over to a first year whose form was dangerously close to decapitating one of his friends, when his name was called. He motioned for Harry to help the kid and turned. He found Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas standing behind him.
"Er...hello?" Draco said, not happy with the way he sounded so unsure.
"Hello, mate," Seamus said, grinning from ear to ear. "We hear you're dating our close friend, Hermione."
"I know," Draco replied. "I was there."
"We just wanted to warn you of something," Dean said.
Draco raised his eyebrows and tried hard not to sneer. "That being...?"
"If anything happens to Hermione, either from being your girlfriend or from your lack of keeping her safe from the Death Eaters," Seamus answered, "you're going to be in the market for a new face."
"Uh...huh..." Draco said slowly. "Well, you've got nothing to worry about. I don't plan on letting her get hurt. The only reason Hermione would be hurt is if I were hurt first."
Dean crossed his arms. "You see to it that it stays that way."
Draco sighed. "Get back to practising."
They left him then, and Draco began helping those in need of it. They were shocked at his skill, but Draco only rolled his eyes. They didn't let just anybody be a Death Eater. But, then again, not every Death Eater could leave.
...
Hello! ^^ I finished this during study hall today. I feel kind of bad because this one is short and not one of my better chapters, and it's been so long...
Anyways, I hope that I can get these posted more often and with better chapters.
Please leave a review on what you think! ^^