When Draco found himself walking up to Hogwarts behind Hermione, he wondered if fate was handing him the chance to act on his desire to get to know her a bit better. His friends were still down in Hogsmeade, and there was no sign of her friends either and he'd been sure he'd seen them all going down to Hogsmeade shortly before the Slytherins had set out, meaning it would be just the two of them when they got back to the castle.

Draco was working out just how he would go about getting to know Hermione better when he saw her slip on the ice and go crashing to the ground. Even if he hadn't liked her, Draco still would have gone to her aid as there was no way he would have been able to bring himself to just walk past a girl lying on the floor in the cold. But as he did like her, he was at her side in an instant and even though he could tell she was wary of his offer of help, nothing could have stopped him from helping her to her feet and assisting her up to the castle when it became clear she wasn't able to walk on her own.

Getting back to Hogwarts was slow going, but Draco didn't mind in the slightest since Hermione was tucked in his arms and he kept getting a whiff of the coconut shampoo she used. And when she refused to go to the hospital wing, he had no hesitation in carrying her up to the third floor. He also didn't think twice of sharing his lunch with her, or bandaging her ankle to make sure that she really didn't need medical help.

"I'm still not sure why you're doing this," Hermione remarked after a long silence.

"I told you, there's more to me than meets the eye," Draco replied. What he really wanted was to show Hermione there was a different side to him, and maybe then she would give him a chance if he decided to ask her out.

"And you're really going to look after me and cater to my every whim?" Hermione asked with a teasing smile.

"I guess that depends on what your whims are," Draco chuckled. "But I am willing to help you manage until your ankle heals."

"Hmm, anyone would think you actually liked me," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"I do like you, Granger," Draco admitted. "I can't say I've always liked you as that would be lying, but over the years I've found you less disagreeable and these days I can honestly say I like you."

"I had no idea," Hermione gasped. "I thought you'd suggested a fresh start at the beginning of the year so that living together wouldn't be complete torture."

"That did have something to do with it," Draco conceded. "But I also thought that if we made a fresh start, we might actually become friends. I could do with some friends who don't spend all the time with their tongues down each others throats."

"The joy of young love," Hermione laughed. "It's like that with Harry and Ginny. They've only got eyes for each other."

"I know that feeling," Draco said with a nod. "But you've also got Weasley, haven't you? He's not involved with someone, is he?"

"No, Ron is single," Hermione said. "Not that I want to spend time with him at the moment, not after what happened down in Hogsmeade."

"What did happen?" Draco asked, wondering if whatever had happened was the reason Hermione was heading back from Hogsmeade by her own.

"I don't really want to talk about it, but if he does come by, could you get rid of him please?"

"Consider it done," Draco promised. To be honest he relished the chance to tell Weasley what for, as while he'd grown to like Hermione, and didn't really have an issue with Potter these days, he still hadn't been able to warm to Weasley.

"Thank you," Hermione replied, giving Draco a smile as she gingerly inched her foot off the cushion on the coffee table.

"Whoa, where are you going?" Draco asked, jumping to his feet to put Hermione's foot back on the table.

"I need the bathroom," Hermione replied.

"Okay, but let me help you," Draco said, assisting Hermione to her feet.

He then helped her manage the handful of stairs up to the top floor and left her at the bathroom door. While Hermione used the bathroom, Draco grabbed a book from his bedroom and waited until he heard Hermione finish in the bathroom before heading back to help her down the stairs, but not before grabbing her book from her bedside cabinet. Back downstairs he settled Hermione back down on the sofa, and grabbing them both a hot drink, they settled down to enjoy a quiet afternoon reading by the fire.

Before either of the head students realised it most of the afternoon had passed in blissful harmony, and it was only when Draco realised he was hungry that he realised just how long he and Hermione had been sitting. He also couldn't help but wonder about their friends, and if they were back from Hogsmeade, or if they would come and see what was keeping the head students from attending meals.

"You can go down to dinner," Hermione said when Draco asked what she wanted for dinner. "I can manage on my own."

"When you can barely get up from the sofa?" Draco scoffed. "I'll stay here just in case you need me."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're rather protective?" Hermione asked with a chuckle.

"I'm merely being a gentleman," Draco said with a shrug as he summoned one of the elves and informed him that he and Hermione were dining in the Head Dorms.

Over dinner the pair chatted like old friends, and Draco was convinced that if given a chance friendship, and possibly more, could develop between him and Hermione. Of course there was still an element of cautiousness from them both, and Draco suspected that if friendship did bloom, he and Hermione could have some pretty entertaining arguments. She certainly wouldn't be the sort of witch to agree with everything he was saying.

"I think I want a bath, but I'm not sure I can manage," Hermione said with a sigh after the dinner dishes had been gathered up by the elves.

"I would offer to help, but somehow I don't think you would be comfortable with me undressing you," Draco remarked with a teasing smirk.

"I think that's taking helping me a bit too far," Hermione agreed. "I guess having a bath will just have to wait."

"Not necessarily," Draco said with a shake of his head. "I can help you upstairs and into the bathroom. I can even run the bath for you, and I can sit outside in case you need help. And I promise you that if you need help, I'll help with my eyes closed."

"You are a gentleman," Hermione chuckled. To be honest she wasn't sure about the idea, but the temptation of a warm bath was proving almost too much for her. "Okay, let's give it a go."

Helping Hermione to her feet, Draco aided her up to the bathroom and while she sat on the toilet lid, he ran a bath with extra bubbles for her.

"Do you need my help with anything else?" he asked as the bath finished running.

"I think I can manage, but stay outside in case I do need help," Hermione said. "And thank you, Malfoy."

"It's my pleasure," Draco said with a smile as he exited the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Waiting outside of the bathroom he tried not to think of the fact that on the other side of the door, Hermione was taking her clothes off. It wouldn't be the first time he'd thought about her naked, but he didn't think it was a good idea to allow his thoughts to drift in that direction when she might just call him for help. As it was, Hermione eventually called through the door that she was in the bath.

"Give me a yell if you need help getting out," Draco called back. "I'll be in my bedroom."

Forty minutes later, Draco was just about to check if Hermione was okay when he heard her calling his name.

"Are you okay in there?" he called when he reached the bathroom door.

"I'm sort of stuck," Hermione called back. "I can't put enough weight on my ankle to stand up."

"I'll come and help," Draco replied. "Don't worry, my eyes will stay shut."

"It's okay, I've managed to drain the water and I'm wrapped in a towel."

"As if that's going to help any," he whispered to himself, trying to prepare himself for the fact he was about to see Hermione half naked.

Taking a few deep breaths, Draco called out he was going in and he pushed open the bathroom door. Trying not to stare at Hermione, covered only in a deep red towel, Draco headed over to the bath and slowly helped Hermione to her feet. Sweeping her into her arms, he lifted her over the edge of the bath, trying not to think too much on the fact she was pressed against him wearing nothing but a towel. However, he was a teenage boy and there was nothing he could do to stop himself from reacting to having Hermione pressed so close to him wearing so little. Unfortunately, Hermione noticed his response and she gazed at him with wide eyes when she felt his hardness pressing against her as he gently lowered her to her feet.

"Sorry," he muttered. "But I really can't help it. It's a natural reaction on being so close to a half naked witch."

"Even me?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Especially you," Draco admitted in a low voice.

"Especially me?" Hermione echoed in surprise. "Why especially me?"

"You are very attractive," Draco said quietly, well aware that he was still supporting Hermione's weight and she was still half naked.

"Is that why you're helping me? Because you think I'm attractive?" Hermione asked with a teasing smile.

"It certainly helps," Draco joked. "But mainly I'm doing it because I like you, Hermione."

Hermione smiled at the use of her first name and without thinking she leant up and pressed her lips against Draco's. Even though Draco was taken by surprise by the kiss, he was quick to respond and holding Hermione tighter, he deepened the kiss. For a long moment the two teenagers were caught up in their kiss, and it was only when they parted that it hit them what they had done.

"Sorry," Hermione whispered.

"Don't be, I enjoyed it," Draco assured her.

"So did I," Hermione admitted. "So what do we do now?"

"I never thought I would say this, but I think you need to put some clothes on," Draco said with a chuckle. "I'll redress your ankle once you're done."

"And the kiss?" Hermione asked. "Do we just forget about it?"

"Not unless you want to," Draco said.

"Do you want to?"

"No. I think we should just see what happens."

"Sounds good to me," Hermione smiled. "If you help me to my bedroom, I can get ready for bed."

They'd just reached Hermione's bedroom when there was a knock on the door to the common room. Leaving Hermione to get ready for bed, Draco went down to answer the door and found Blaise had come to see what was keeping him.

"We expected to see you in the dungeons before now," Blaise remarked.

"I got caught up here," Draco said, quickly explaining about Hermione's ankle and the help he'd given her. Although he avoided mentioning Hermione's bath and the kiss they'd shared afterwards.

"I suppose playing the knight in shining armour is one way to get Granger to notice you," Blaise chuckled.

"Do you think that's why I'm doing this?" Draco asked. "Can't I just be being nice?"

"Sure you can, but we both know you've got a soft spot for Granger," Blaise said with a knowing smirk.

"Not that soft," Draco muttered, aware that he was still half-hard following his kiss with Hermione.

"I guess I should leave you to it," Blaise chuckled. "Will we see you tomorrow, or will you still be playing the hero to Granger?"

"I'm sure you'll see me, but I won't be abandoning Hermione," Draco replied.

"Hermione, is it? Someone is smitten," Blaise teased.

"Sod off Blaise," Draco snarled playfully as he gestured to the door.

"I get the message," Blaise laughed. "See you tomorrow."

Once Blaise had gone, Draco headed back upstairs and checking Hermione was decent, he headed into her bedroom to apply a new bandage to her foot. Being ready for bed, Hermione decided to stay in her room for the night, but before Draco left for the evening, she thanked him yet again for his help and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. With a huge grin, Draco said goodnight to Hermione and headed off to his own room, hardly able to believe the turn his Christmas holidays had taken.