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Chapter 36
"WHAT?!"
Draco looked at Hermione as if she'd grown an extra head. He couldn't register her words. She'd gone crazy, there was no way Draco could do that, could he?
I knew he wasn't going to take this well! I had to open my big mouth! Oh well, what's done is done!
"I want you to come and spend Christmas with me…at the burrow!" Hermione repeated herself, waiting anxiously for the sudden blow.
She had high hopes of Draco saying yes! It would be the best Christmas present ever. But a feeling was churning in her stomach.
"Have you gone crazy?!"
"Come on Draco, you can't spend Christmas alone!"
"Spending it alone is better than spending it with those…those immature…monkeys!"
"Draco! They're my family!" Hermione said angrily. She couldn't understand what the big deal was. He himself had said that he was a changed person and that nothing mattered.
"Sorry! But why would you want me to go through that torture?! They would eat me alive!" Draco bawled throwing his arms in the air to emphasise his words.
"They won't! You're turning this into a big deal! They're not as bad as you think they are!" Hermione said, firing up.
The Weasley's were her family, and she knew from heart that they weren't like that. They were the warmest people she knew, even though they don't act like it sometimes.
"They have a heart of gold…not that you would understand!" Hermione yelled at him and pushed him away from her. She ran out the balcony area but stopped when she reached the door.
"I thought you would do it for me…obviously I thought wrong." Hermione whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Draco watched mouth slightly open, as Hermione fled through the doors and disappearing from sight, up the short flight of stairs.
Seconds later, he heard her bedroom door slam shut and Draco jumped at the sudden sound.
"Way to go Draco!" Draco scolded himself.
Walking to Hermione's door, Draco was about to knock on the door but stopped himself. He could hear banging and bashing. He needed her to calm down.
Reluctantly Draco moved to his bedroom where he flopped down on his bed.
Urgh! Why does life have to be so complicated! And anyway, it's not my fault! How could she possibly think that I want to spend Christmas there with the annoying gits? They probably skin me alive!
But the more he thought about it, the idea of spending Christmas with people was intriguing him. He had never experienced a Christmas to which he could boast about.
Sinking in his thoughts Draco fell asleep, clothes fully on.
---
On the other side of the tower, Hermione had just flung her gifted dress into the wrapped box it came in. She was angry. She looked at the dress, strewn, and felt guilty.
I shouldn't take it out on the dress!
Hermione picked the beautiful dress up and folded it, wrapping it in the tissue and carefully putting it back into the box.
She changed into her pyjamas after cleansing her face and tying her hair into a low ponytail. She flung herself into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin, pondering over her thoughts.
I can't believe he made such a big deal over it! It was a small favour. Okay maybe not small! I mean anyone would act like that if they had just been asked to spend Christmas with the Weasley's.
Maybe I overreacted! I can go and say sorry…but why should I? After the horrible things he said! Huh!
After many more battles with her thoughts, Hermione fell asleep.
---
Morning came rather quickly for Draco. Rubbing his eyes, Draco sat up. He was still dressed in his yesterday's clothes.
Yesterday…
He suddenly got up and rushed to Hermione's bedroom, the door was tightly shut. A weird feeling was gnawing inside his stomach. A feeling that was starting to worry him.
He knocked quietly on the door. No answer. He tried again, harder this time. No answer. Draco turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Hermione wasn't in there, her bed was made up neatly and everything looked clean and tidy. The gnawing in his stomach was getting more worrying.
Draco ran down the stairs and looked hopelessly around the common room. No one. He quickly glanced at the clock.
Ten to eight. Shit! The carriages to Hogwarts left at eight. Draco rushed back into his bedroom and quickly changed out of his clothes, putting on a pair of jeans and a green roller neck.
Grabbing the nearest clothes he could, Draco stuffed them into a travel sports bag, and ran out of the common room as far as his muscled legs could take him.
On his way, he knocked down several people, shouting sorry but not stopping. Several people were crowded at the entrance of the school, little groups, waving and shouting.
Please don't let me be late!
He reached the Hogwarts gates and sighed as he saw the last carriage, just about to leave. Grabbing the last carriage, Draco sat down, huffing and puffing.
He opened his eyes after regaining his breath. Three girls, younger than him were staring at him, their wyes wide and mouths ajar.
Draco smiled nervously at them and looked out of the window. He could hear them whispering and giggling. But he didn't care. He was jumping for joy at the moment, he'd made it. Draco grinned to himself in victory.
---
Hermione stepped out of the carriage and let the cold December wind wake her up. She looked around for the face she was hoping fro but sighed in defeat.
"Forget him Hermione! He's an idiot for turning down such an exciting offer!" Ron said grinning at her, trying to make her smile. And she did, reluctantly.
Harry grabbed her bag and Ginny linked her arm with hers and they made their way to the whistling Hogwarts train.
Hermione couldn't help but loo around the station one more time, I hope. But after many minutes, she gave up.
He's not coming.
---
Draco quickly got out if his carriage and scanned the station for a very curly brown haired girl. But he couldn't see her anywhere. Nor could he see the bright red hair of the Weasley's or Potter.
Draco quickly boarded the train and hastily scanned the compartments. After endless searching, he swore he heard Hermione's voice. He stooped in his tracks and strained his ears.
"Ronald you disgust me!"
Draco smiled too himself, he had reached his goal. Quietly, Draco walked to Hermione's compartment and peered inside. Hermione had her back to the compartment door. Great! He looked around the room.
Ginny and Harry were snuggled up together and Ron was sitting opposite Hermione. Sighing, Draco slid open the door and stepped inside.
"Hope I'm not late!"
Hermione quickly turned her neck at the familiar voice; Draco swore he heard a crack. Harry and Ginny looked up and smiled whereas Ron just glared in shock.
"Draco!" Hermione shouted and flung herself into Draco's arms. Grinning, he wrapped his arms protectively around her waist, not caring about the looks Ron was giving him and whispered in her ears.
"I'm sorry!"
"I'm so happy you came!" Hermione said hugging him tightly. A huge grin was adorned on her shining face making Draco feel as if he'd made the right choice.
"Come on!" she grabbed his hand and marched towards the others. She sat down opposite the others and pulled Draco down with her.
An awkward silence followed where Hermione looked from Ron to Harry. Neither spoke until Ginny nudged Harry in the ribs.
"Glad you made it!" Harry said to Draco and then smiling at Ginny who hugged him back.
"Really?" Draco said, shocked towards Harry's humbleness. He was moreover waiting for insults and immature comments.
Hermione smiled at Harry for making the first move and beamed at Ginny for encouraging him.
"Malfoy!" Ginny said nodding at the blond head.
"Weasley!" Draco acknowledged.
All that was left was Ron, who was staring at Ginny and Harry, scowling at them. Hermione groaned. Just what she needed, Ron throwing a tantrum.
"Ron…" Hermione started but Draco cut her off.
"Look Weasley, Hermione asked me to come and I came but if you have a problem get it over and done with because I don't want you ruining my holiday!"
Ron looked at Draco, shocked and speechless. He tried opening his mouth but no words came out. After several attempts Ron just nodded a yes.
"Good!"
Hermione smiled at Draco, over the moon that he was trying to get along. She tightened her hold on his hand.
The rest of the journey went smoothly as Hermione could ask for. Harry and Ginny steadily warmed up to Draco's humour and cool attitude and vice versa.
Whereas Ron, not quite. Hermione understood that he needed more time but it didn't bother her at all. There was still time.
A/N: Hello all! Hope you enjoyed that chapter! Click on the button and review!! Let me know your thoughts!! REVIEW!! Make it up to 600 Reviews and i'll love you forever...well more than i do right now!! Haha!! You know you want to:D
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