Author's note

Sorry only one update this weekend- this week has been insanely busy. This is a bit of a linking chapter to move the plot forward but there is some serious Dramione fun to come in the next few chapters.

Thank you so much to all of you who are STILL following, reviewing and fav. this story. SO THRLLED by all your support.

Chapter 39- Out 'Slytherined'!

Draco watched as the school emptied for the holidays- he would not be going home.

"Home," he scoffed to himself, Malfoy Manor had long since ceased to feel like a home. It was more a prison, where the duty that came with his birthright strangled the life out of him. He wished he could raise it to the ground.

Draco watched as Hermione made her way with Potter towards the gates. To his surprise Hermione did not apparate away with him. Draco watched as Hermione took her leave and returned to the castle. She was staying behind Draco realised with a thrill of anticipation.

Hermione waved her friends goodbye and made her way back towards the castle. Wishing she were going with them but she had decided to stay behind because it was the only chance she thought she might have to get into the headmistresses office and use the pensieve. She knew those memories that Harry had been keeping somehow related to her and she needed to know what happened to her. She had considered asking Harry for his map or the invisibility cloak to make her task easier but she daren't it would arouse too much suspicion-she would find a way.

She had considered asking the headmistress to use the pensieve but she worried that she would be forced to reveal things she would rather not. So she planned to wait until Christmas day when she hoped the staff would be in their cups and she might creep into the head mistresses office without arousing suspicion. In the meanwhile she had a little last minute shopping to do.

Wrapped up warm against the chill December wind, her head still full of schemes to break into the headmistresses study, Hermione made her way into Hogsmeade.

The wizarding village was all bright light and cheerful faces. The cares of the war washed away in a mixture of mead and steaming cups of spiced hot chocolate. Hermione smilled to herself at the normalcy of it all.

Though she was tempted to go into Tomes and Scrolls bookshop, afterall a girl could never have too many books, Hermione resisted the temptation and made her way into Scrivenshafts. She had some small gifts to buy and quills made especially good gifts for those, who like Ron, broke them frequently.

Hermione took unusual pleasure in surveying the glass cases displaying Scrivenshaft's wares. Hermione was not usually one for shopping but she felt unusually carefree, lighthearted and aimlessly ambling through the store seemed to suit her mood. Her eyes was particularly caught by a beautiful green and silver quill. It looked like green tortoise shell veined with silver, it brought to mind a certain blond haired former Slytherin. Hermione momentarily had the impulse to buy it for him but then she reasoned what use would Malfoy have for a quill? He certainly had all the best equipment money could buy. Snapping her thoughts away from the boy who had everything he could possibly ever need Hermione dismissed the quill. It certainly would not suit Ron.

Hermione continued to browse dismissing various items of stationary as; too costly, too cheap, too gaudy and god awful or green. Then her attention was caught by a sudden flash of light. Another customer had open the shop door and as they did a beam of watery winter sunlight refracted across the room, bouncing from cabinet to cabinet until it hit an ornate silver bowl. Initially Hermione thought nothing of it, it was not unusual to find fine goblin wrought silver, ink stands and blotters in Scrinvenshaft's but this was not the shop's usual fayre. She needed to look more closely, if it was what she thought it was…Too absorbed in her thoughts to really look where she was going Hermione didn't notice the wall of muscle until she bounced off it.

"Woo, Granger," Draco grabbed her upper arms to keep her upright, "where's the fire?"

Hermione canted her head at him, how peculiar for Malfoy to use that muggle phrase.

"sorry," she automatically apologized, I didn't see you there."

"Well clearly, I know you are not prone to throw yourself at young men even when they are devastatingly handsome," he mocked in a tone more self-deprecating than arrogant.

Hermione, who might normally have told him to get over himself, just smiled.

"Well," she began awkwardly, " I better get on with my shopping."

Rather than letting her pass Malfoy just stood there staring at her.

"Did you see anything you liked?" he asked trying to maintain a light tone as he wondered if he could buy her a surprise gift from a secret admirer.

"Well…hmmm. Yes. I was just about to ask about it."

"Oh, well enjoy your shopping Granger," Draco told her deciding to step aside and observe carefully.

Draco walked away and browsed nonchalantly. It was a few minutes before he caught her indicating to the sales assistant the item that interested her.

Draco whistled in surprise as she indicated the item, Hermione looked up and caught his eye.

"I didn't know you had that kind of money Granger."

"I'm not a pauper Draco," she told him unconsciously using his given name, "but you are right this is beyond my means."

Draco smiled to himself knowing exactly what he would gift her.

Hermione wondered, could she out Slytherin Draco Malfoy? She knew he could afford the silver pensieve could she trick him into buying for her?

Hermione put on her best devastated face. She was almost sure that this Draco had a heart, could she warm it just a little?

"Why did you want that anyway Granger?"

Hermione smiled inwardly; just the right question Draco, she thought.

"My parents," she began willing slivers of tears to her eyes, "they don't remember me and I miss them so much, I…" Hermione made her lower lip tremble. She was no actress but for some reason she was inspired to put on the performance of her life. She made a show of straightening her continence and with a watery, stoic smile she looked Draco in the eye and told him;

"I just want to remember how Christmas used to be…" she trailed off dropping her eyes before he had chance to see her deceit.

"I'm sorry Granger," he told her sincerely, "Christmas is not the same for me either."

Hermione supposed it wouldn't be, she could not imagine that Malfoy Manor would ever be a happy place to be regardless of the season.

"Well, I have to go," she told him, hoping he had taken the bait, "Merry Christmas Draco." She told him sweetly and turned to leave him in the store.

As soon as he was sure she had left Draco purchased the pensieve and had it gift wrapped- in silver and gold.

Author's note

So of course Draco took the bait and he has just unwittingly bought Hermione the one thing that will unlock their secret past. What will happen when Hermione finally views those memories?

As always your reviews are most welcome- please review.