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Author's Note: Oooh, I think my writer's block gone now! Yay! We can all rejoice now 'coz I can finally writer chapter after chapter without being bugged by coming face to face with that dreaded writer's block!

Summary: Hermione & Draco received a nasty blow to the head when an out of control bludger careened towards where they stood bickering during a Quidditch practice. They woke up in the hospital wing not knowing each other--but they know everyone else--and an instant attraction towards each other soon formed.

Setting: 6th year

Pairings: Draco & Hermione

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XXIV. Hands Off, She's Mine!

Doing some last-minute Christmas shopping at Hogsmeade during their final weekend before Christmas break, Hermione decided to simply get over her feelings for Draco--a task she was having a real hard time doing since the object of her affection kept on popping up everywhere and anywhere she went--and went Christmas shopping with Ginny. This year, however, the four of them decided to remain at Hogwarts for the holiday since...well, since it has become a somewhat tradition of theirs every year to remain at Hogwarts since their first year.

"I hear Malfoy's staying at Hogwarts too for Christmas." Ginny whispered to her in confidence as she sat beside her friend and their two bodyguards--Harry and Ron--at the Three Broomstick sipping some butterbeer.

Hermione shot her friend a look that pretty much told her friend she doesn't give a damn, but Ginny being Ginny, she didn't bother taking heed and continued on telling her everything she found out about Draco. Now how Ginny got a hold of these information Hermione doesn't want to know; sometimes there were things that were best left a secret.

"His old man was fuming mad at him. He didn't want to go back to their house because another world war would probably ensue once the younger Malfoy sets foot there."

Now that caught Hermione's attention.

"Why is Lucious fuming mad at him?" she asked back.

Ginny shrugged. "Beats me. From what I heard it's because of Draco's sudden association with you, my dear Hermione." she took a swig of her butterbeer and turned her attention to an oblivious Ron and Harry who were deep in conversation about Quidditch.

Hermione wanted to ask Ginny some more questions, but her friend obviously wanted to leave her with her curiosity running amok. Just then the doors of the Three Broomstick opened and in came Draco flanked by Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him. He scanned the place and his gray eyes rested on the table she was occupying. For a brief moment their eyes locked, the first time in a very long while, and she felt a jolt of electricity pass down her spine. If it hadn't been for Ginny nudging her she wouldn't have broken eye contact with him.

"What?" she turned irately to her friend who then backed off when she saw the murderous look pass through Hermione's eyes.

"Whoa! Sorry, Herm, didn't mean to bug you, but we gotta go. We're all done our butterbeer and we still have to finish doing some shopping." Ginny reminded her friend.

"Oh. Sorry 'bout that." Hermione murmured under her breath and slid out of the booth she was occupying with her three friends. Together the four of them, Ginny's arm linked to Harry's while hers was linked to Ron's, walked out of the Three Broomstick.

~*~

Draco's gray eyes never faltered from watching the cozy scene the foursome--Hermione, Potter, and the two Weasleys--created. They were all chattering non-stop as they stood up and walked towards the exit. He thought Hermione wouldn't look back again at him, but at the doorway, she stopped and let the first couple--Potter and the youngest Weasley--go ahead and she made a discreet glance over her shoulder, swept past the entire room and met his watchful gaze. He thought he saw her gave him a faint smile, but it could be his eyes playing tricks on him. Before he could smile back or wave Hermione and company already left and he was once again stuck with his two useless louts of bodyguards for company.

He turned his attention back to his two cohorts and pretended to have a good time. He was having a hard time doing that lately after receiving an owl--thank God it wasn't a howler! he thought sounding relieved--from his father berating about his sudden infatuation over a certain Mudblood since practically the beginning of the school year.

...what the hell were you thinking, boy? You can't mean to be associating the Malfoys with a Mudblood like your precious Granger! You better stop this nonsense right now or I swear I will take matters into my own hands--and you know how I do this. I'm sure your precious Mudblood wouldn't like to suffer the consequences of my wrath...

Draco closed his eyes as he remembered the threat his father wrote in his letter to him. He knew his father well enough to know just what kind of 'consequences' Lucious Malfoy was talking about.

Death.

Draco cringed at the word. No, he wouldn't--couldn't--let that damn prat kill Hermione just because she happen to catch his fancy! If she had been a Pureblood like himself Lucious wouldn't have minded, but she wasn't and now her life would be in danger because of him.

God, love really sucks! he thought miserably and tried to drown his misery in his cold mug of butterbeer.

~*~

Hermione was busy eyeing some pretty necklaces she thought of sending to the Burrow for Mrs. Weasley and also to her mother inside Letty Luke's Fine Jewelry when her surprised scream echoed throughout the entire store. She quickly spun around and came face to face with a smirking Slytherin thug who was looking down his nose at her in a suggestive way that made Hermione wanted to vomit.

"Just what the hell was that for?!" she demanded irately, rubbing her butt cheek where the dirty Slytherin just pinched her.

"Couldn't help noticing you've got a nice tush there, sweets." the awful Slytherin slurred, "Care to have some fun with me, hm?"

"Uh, no thank you." she said and pushed the big Slytherin out of her way. She managed to escape him but not for long. He was determined to play with her and followed her around all over the store. At first Hermione was just ignoring him, pretending to be engrossed checking out other things on display, but when he pinched her butt again she completely saw red and when she next turned to face him a resounding SLAP! met the autrocious boy. "Stay the hell away from me!" she said through gritted teeth and pushed him away, but this time the Slytherin didn't budge.

"Uh-uh, no so fast Mudblood." he hissed and pulled her up against him, his lips merely inches away from meetings her and planting a wet, sloppy kiss on her mouth for sure.

Hermione turned her head away from the insufferable Slytherin's disgusting kissing range, her eyes firmly closed and she kept on wriggling in his arms to let her go. She didn't need this. Where was Ron and Harry when she needed them? And Ginny?! God, why did she insist on her staying with Harry when she offered to come in with her at Letty Luke's.

"Let go of me you git!" Hermione hissed, trying to push the bulky Slytherin's hands off her upper arms, but to no avail. He was just far too strong for her. "Help!" she called out when she could no longer fight her aggressor.

"Get off her!" a menacing familiarly male voice sneered and before Hermione knew what was happening, the large Slytherin boy was yanked off her and thrown across the room. She remained frozen where she was, her arms wrapped protectively around herself.

"What the fuck?" the startled Slytherin exclaimed and saw Draco standing between him and Hermione. "Malfoy!" he said irately, "Stay outta this one, man."

"No can do, Steve." Draco shook his mop of blond hair, smirking at the other guy.

"I'm just having some fun with the Mudblood, Malfoy."

"Go find some other Mudblood to make fun off. This one is off limits." he hissed, his gray eyes piercing right through the other guy.

"Says who?!" Steve the bulky Slytherin demanded.

"Says me, you fool." Draco didn't have to raise his voice, the inflection he had there was enough to send even the most coward of all witch and wizard slinking back into their hideouts.

"What?" Steve gave him a menacing look, ready to pounce the Draco when he caught Hermione's sudden movement from where she was. She crossed the small space separating her from Draco and hid behind the sixth year Slytherin, her hand carefully placed on Draco's shoulder as she peered over him and looked at Steve. "Very well. Didn't know you have in you to care for a Mudblood, Malfoy." he snorted and walked away without as much as giving them another thought.

Hermione expelled a sigh of relief, her hand on Draco's shoulder falling to her side. She bent her dark head down and slowly started to sob. She thought that horrible Steve guy would have here right there and then, she was still reeling from the shock of almost being manhandled by somebody as big and strong and heavy as Steve when Draco turned to face her. He didn't have to say anything, he just gathered her in the circle of his arms and whispered soothing words into her ear.

"It's alright, baby, you're alright. Nobody's going to hurt you as long as I'm here, I promise." he whispered, running his hand up and down her back gently.

Hermione sobbed against his robe front, burying her face against his chest until her shoulders stopped quaking. They were hidden well enough from prying eyes so nobody would see them like this. Her arms snaked around Draco's waist and pulled him closer, crying until she was all cried out.

After what seemed like ages have passed, Hermione soon stopped her sobbing and gingerly pulled away from her savior. She wiped her eyes dry and forced a smile as she looked up into the eyes of the man she loved with all her heart.

"Thanks." she said simply and to Draco's surprise, she leaned up on tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips.

It was unbearably short but definitely filled with sweetness. His arms tightened around her and pulled her closer for a much deeper kiss, but Hermione quickly pulled away and walked out of the store, leaving Draco yearning for more of her sweet kisses. But the dampness he felt on his robe was enough to know that he had come to Hermione's rescue for once and his efforts was genuinely appreciated.

God, I love her so! he thought to himself as he watched Hermione meet up with Ginny and Potter, Ron not running far behind the happy couple, through Letty Luke's window. He remained hidden from view, his hands tucked in his trouser pockets, but he noticed Hermione glance at Letty Luke's window one last time before heading back to Hogwarts with the others.

~*~*~*~*~

to be continued...

A/N: Whoo-pee!!! I'm over my writer's block and I'm excited to write the next chapter. I think I have the next chapter all planned up and ready to be typed-up. And FYI, I think someone's idea was magically woven in to this fic *wink, wink* I think you know who you are--thanks for giving me some ideas! Actually that kinda helped me get over my writer's block 'coz after mulling over it, I started formulating ideas as to where this fic is heading...keep those ideas, reviews & constructive criticism coming guys!

maxzoid: awww, I know what you mean when you said you had a bad day and the only thing to cheer u up is reading a good fic. I hope you get over your bad day soon & as always, enjoy the fic!

Queen Li: Draco will be telling her his feelings soon enough...but I think he got close to saying those three little words to her in this chapter *lol* Maybe in the next one he'll finally have the guts to admit to her his real feelings