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Chapter Fifty-Two
Hexes and Kisses
Hermione sighed contently as she hung her new dress up in her wardrobe. It had arrived just that morning, along with the monthly pocket money her parents sent her. It was absolutely beautiful, more then she had expected. She had written her mum and told her that Draco had asked her to the ball and that she had an idea of what kind of dress she wanted but couldn't find anything in Hogsmead that suited her. The dress her mum had picked out was a periwinkle blue and made of a flowy material that streamed down to her ankles, it was exactly as Hermione had envisioned. It was perfect!
The upcoming Yule Ball and Draco had been on the Gryffindor's mind more then she felt was productive lately. Her feelings for her best friend were growing to a point that is was distracting her from other important things, such as keeping up with her planned reading and sometimes even her homework. Not that it as ever late or not done to the best of her ability but she liked to have things completed at least a few day's ahead of their due date just in case something occurred to her and she needed to make some quick changes. Lately, however she found herself getting assignments done only a day or so before she had to turn them in, the other night she found herself finishing a Herbology essay just hours before she needed to turn it in. It was as if she was breaking some sort of unspoken rule, which was s something Hermione Granger simply did not do!
Grabbing her rucksack off her bed she slung it over her shoulder. With great determination to spend the next several hours before dinner getting ahead on her assignments, Hermione headed out of her room, down the stairs, out of the common room and towards her sanctuary, the library.
XXX
As Narcissa sat at her dinner table, alone, having yet touched the lovely meal Dobby had prepared for her. Her mind drifted to her son and his muggleborn Gryffindor friend. She honestly didn't know how to feel about her son going to the Yule Ball with Hermione. She was a perfect match for him in so many ways, except, that is, for one of the most important. Her blood. Even if she had been half, like Severus, it would make things so much easier. Then again, if they did become a couple then perhaps people would begin to realize that Draco is nothing like his father and those insane fanatics would get those ridiculous ideas of harming her or her son out of their heads. On the flip side, however, Lucius, even as he sits rotting in Azkaban, has many loyal friends, most of whom would not take well to their friends only son and heir becoming a blood traitor.
Either way the situation was sticky at best.
Severus had promised to do his best to protect both her and Draco and while Severus was a formidable wizard she still worried, especially now. The divorce was final, the bond broken, and while at this point Lucius was unaware, she had no doubt he would very soon. Such juicy gossip does not stay secret long. With a tired sigh Narcissa dipped her spoon to the bowl of warm soup and began to eat. It was moments like this she wished more then ever that she and Severus were already married. Loneliness did not become her.
XXX
Draco lay out on the grass, his arms cross behind his head, a relaxed expression across his face as he watched the clouds drift slowly by. It was an unusually clear day for December in Scotland and he was enjoying it quite thoroughly. So much had been burdening his mind lately and these rare moments of tranquility were truly needed. He had stayed up late talking with Harry out on the Astronomy tower, mostly about the tournament but also about Ron.
While Harry was putting on a good front to most, Draco could see how his former friends betrayal was affecting him. Harry had faith that Ron would come around and while Draco knew he was right, he felt he had to point out to Harry that even if Ron apologized for his behavior, that perhaps his friendship wasn't really worth the frustration. Harry's response had been, while unexpected, enlightening and made Draco really think.
"The most valuable relationships are usually the hardest ones."
In Draco's mind Ron was a prat and always would be, but thinking back, the ginger haired Gryffindor was always there for Harry, eventually.
In the end in was Harry's decision weather or not to keep his friendship with Weasley, that was if the idiot would ever get his head out of his arse and realize how stupid he has been, but with Weasley, that may take a while.
"Hey Dragon."
The blond Slytherin smiled and turned to the voice of his best friend. She had been using the nickname she had given him more and more lately.
"Hi Monie, what's up?" He asked turning onto his side.
Hermione sighed as she laid herself down beside her best friend. "I think I may be in a bit of trouble." Draco didn't respond but waited for her to continue. "I hexed Weasley."
She had said it so sorrowfully, like she regretted it, though Draco couldn't imagine why she would. The only reason he hadn't was because Harry had asked him not to.
Draco laughed, his smile slipping into a full on grin. "While I'm sure he deserved it, what exactly set you off?"
Hermione let out a slow exhale, her gaze falling to the grass, as she ran her fingers through the thick blades of green grass, "He was insulting you," She explained. "He called you a liar, a cheat, a dark wizard and then…
She paused closing her eyes. Draco, sensing her distress placed a gentle hand atop of hers. She shook her head but then slowly reopened her eyes. "He said you would only hurt me and in the end turn against me. He said you were using me. I… I just couldn't let him say that about you so… well…I hexed his mouth off."
Draco's brow rose in surprise. Was she really saying what it sounded like, that she actually hexed off one of his body parts?
"You mean, his mouth is completely gone?" He asked to clarify.
She nodded, this time a tiny laugh escaped through her lips. "I was just so tired of hearing him talk that way about you and Harry and I-I just lost it."
Draco took his friends hands, pulling them both up to a sitting position. Then, taking Hermione completely by surprise, he cupped her face in his hands. She gasped at his sudden touch. His hands felt so soft as they covered her cool cheeks. "Thank you." He told her, his grey eyes connecting with her brown. "Thank you for defending me." And then he did the last thing she would have ever expected him to do. He leaned in, moved away his hands and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "No one could ask for a better friend then you Hermione Granger, no one."
XXX
Severus lay next to his lover; her long, blond hair draped over her bear shoulders. Her blue eyes bright and beautiful as they gazed lovingly into his own. He had wanted to wait until Christmas to ask her. He had planned to take her to the Yule Ball as his date having no shame in showing the world she was his and he hers. Then after, he would take her back to his room. The setting would be ideally romantic. Lit candles would be scattered around the room, a fire going in the fireplace, soft music playing in the background. It was well thought out and he had no doubt it would have gone off perfectly.
But then…things changed. She came to him, late that very evening. She was frightened and crying and so he took her into his arms and did his best to calm her.
When she was able to finally tell him why she was so upset her words not only frightened him but angered him as well. Someone, most likely using dark magic, had managed to get through the wards at Malfoy Manor. Narcissa woke up to find a wand pressed into her neck.
Her natural reaction had been to scream, which alerted Dobby who immediately popped into his Mistresses quarters. Using his own magic he stunned the assailant, knocking him across the room and into the far wall. It allowed the small elf enough time to apperate Narcissa out of the house. She then went directly to Severus. He realized then that he could no longer leave her alone in that place and so he did what he had planned to do Christmas Eve, he asked her to marry him.
"You can stay with me in the castle. I will protect you," he promised moving a piece of stray hair from her eyes. "I love you, Nacrissa. Marry me."
She had been caught off guard with his sudden proposal, but not taken totally by surprise. It had been their plan to wed eventually. She just hadn't expected him to pop the question so soon or at that particular moment. Expected or not she knew her answer.
"Oh Sev, yes! Yes, I'll marry you."
And so there they lay, several hours later, as a newly engaged couple. Severus took her left hand in his, running his finger over her engagement ring. Not to long ago he never imagined a moment like this for himself. Not since he had lost Lily had he thought of himself as a husband or even father but now… now he could see the possibilities. Despite the growing tension of the wizarding world and the possible return of the Dark Lord, he could still see it.
"I love you." He whispered to his love in the dimly lit room.
"And I you," She replied, leaning in to press her lips against his. "For the rest of my life and beyond."
XXX
Hermione glared annoyingly at the large black cauldron, but of course it did nothing back. It just sat there, smelling like a mixture of mildew and the Gryffindor Quidditch team after a three-hour practice. It was coated with a yellowish brown substance that had the consistency of a flubber worm but seemed to break off in tiny flakes as she attempted to scrape it off. She knew she didn't have any right to complain, she deserved this after all. She hexed Ron and she was punished accordingly. She supposed cleaning Snapes cauldron's for a week was better then anything Filch would make her do.
At the sudden sound of Snapes office door opening she quickly went back to work running the scraper along the side of the gooey mess.
"Ms. Granger, I think that's quite enough for this evening. You may go."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief as she looked up at her Potions Professor. "Thank you, sir." She replied putting the scraped down on the table beside the cauldron. She then picked up her rucksack from the floor and flung it over her shoulder.
"Ms. Granger," Professor Snape spoke up just as the young Gryffindor turned to leave "I would suggest that the next time you feel the need to hex Weasley you do it where there are no witnesses. That way it would be your word against his and I can assure you, yours would win out."
Part of Hermione wanted to be horrified that a teacher would even suggest such a thing, another part was shocked that he even said it, but then there was that part of the young teen that had been hanging around with her Slytherin best friend so much that his tendencies had been rubbing off on her, and so in response Hermione Granger, in a very Draco-esque fashion, smirked and replied, "Thank you for the advice Professor, I will keep it in mind." Before casually leaving the classroom.
XXX
A/N: Hello all, I know a bit short but it's done. Next up the Yule Ball.
