Chapter 7
The next morning she awoke to a tapping on the window and looked over to see a tawny owl landing on the patio table setting. She rushed over and opening the door stepped onto the large balcony, untying the parchment from the owl's leg. Then quickly tiptoed back into the room, the cold biting at her toes as more snow settled around her. Unrolling it as she went, she flopped lazily onto the bed and read it aloud to herself.
Dear Draco and Hermione,
Since you have already missed this morning's classes I have taken the responsibility of sending you the notes and homework from the classes and will do so for the rest of the day and the remainder of the week. You have until the beginning of next week to complete all missed work. I have also provided a spare classroom in which you are to practice charms, potions and so forth. I expect to be seeing you at the beginning of next week healthy and refreshed. Enjoy your time together,
Dumbledore
"Hermione!" Draco yelled and shot upright, his chest heaving. A searing pain shot through his arm and he winced. Hermione jumped at her name and turned to see Draco clutching his arm, looking forlorn. She crawled over the bed until she settled next to him. Placing an arm around him he rested his head lightly on her chest, looking up at her he smiled and closed his eyes. Soon enough his breathing had returned to normal, and she had looked down to find him asleep once again. She lay back against the head board and absent mindedly ran her fingers through his hair as she thought about Draco, his dreams and the offer of kindness from Dumbledore and the rest of the professors, not to mention the work they still had to complete.
As Hermione's arm went numb she slowly edged from beneath Draco and plodded out to the common room where she went to work locating a parchment, quill, a few large textbooks and her diary. She had been keeping the diary since her first year at Hogwart's and had written in it almost once a day squished between large bouts of studying and homework. Lately however she had not found the time to write given the latest series of events. So she put quill to paper and soon found that her life was spilling onto the pages in front of her.
When her thirst for writing had finally been quenched she opened the packet containing the missed days notes and began the homework tasks. Almost half the way through Draco emerged from his room rubbing his eyes and stretching with a loud yawn. He looked refreshed but still something was worrying him, she could plainly see the battle that raged inside him.
"Draco you're up, how are you feeling?" Hermione asked hiding her true thoughts.
"Better, can't say back to normal but certainly better than before and my cut has almost healed over."
"That's really good to hear, you had me worried there for a while.you must be famished, you wait here and I'll go down to see if I can rustle us up some breakfast."
"Mione you're too good to me, but really I feel much better let's go down, dig up some food and see if we can't have an outside breakfast and maybe an ice skate on the lake.how about Hermi?"
"Are you sure you're up to this yet?"
"Really I think I am, please." He pleaded giving her his best puppy dog eyes. "I just want to get out of this castle for a while and have the day to ourselves, I read the note, we have the whole week let's use it." He said a devilish glint in his eye as he walked up and wrapped his arms around Hermione kissing the top of her head.
"Oh alright but as soon as you feel tired we're coming back inside, no exceptions." She said and turned in his grasp to find herself staring deeply into his eyes.
"Ok I promise, as soon as I feel tired." He confirmed and leaned in for a very long and very passionate kiss.
They each returned to their own rooms to change agreeing to meet back in the common room, Hermione as usual took a great deal of time picking out the perfect outfit consisting of; a pair of small black gloves, a deep blue turtle neck sweater, with matching beanie, a pair of hip-hugger jeans and a black parka. She brushed her hair so it chorused down her back in chocolate curls and applied a small amount of makeup. Then after a great deal of searching through her room she found her snow white figure-skates and slung them over her shoulder. After one of the blades swung heavily into her back she slapped herself mentally before transforming the skates into the size of a key-ring and stuffing them into the pocket of her parka. Draco however had entered his room rustling through his trunk and searching his room until he found a black turtle-necked sweater; which showed his muscles nicely, a pair of black pants and black parka which came in a set with scarf and gloves.
They each re-entered the common room each eyeing the other with great interest, before the walked hand in hand down to the portrait that opened up to the kitchens. Hermione tickled the pear which gave a giggle and a shake before opening to a bustling kitchen. Straight away the pair were seated in a small table setting, the whole table covered in plates of delicious dishes and their goblets filled with pumpkin juice. Hermione ate a small serving, some fresh baked scones with cream and strawberry jam. Draco however ate an even smaller portion than Hermione, forcing himself to chew each morsel slowly so that Hermione wouldn't notice the small amount that he ate.
Hermione then enquired about a picnic basket whilst Draco helped to clear the table. The house elves would hear nothing of the sort ad pushed Draco back firmly in his seat whilst they packed a picnic basket, even magicking a large picnic rug which folded into the size of a handkerchief and slotted in.
Draco carried the basket as they said their goodbyes and walked through the entrance hall, out into the freshly-falling snow. Hermione breathed deeply releasing the pent up emotions for a moment she almost felt free of everything bad in her life, but then she remembered she was now that Draco was here she felt things were going to get better. This thought made her smile and she looked at Draco who seemed to be doing the same as he stared straight into the sky.
"Sorta looks like heaven don't you think?" he asked as Hermione looked up.
"I dunno really I don't ever remember imagining heaven to be this blasted cold." She replied and turned back to him. Draco chuckled and headed for the largest tree within a close distance to the lake and set down the basket.
"Let's begin the skating then." Said Draco as he transformed the blanket and smoothed it out on the ground.
"Let's" Hermione replied and took out her own pair of skates, tapping them with her wand they enlarged to their correct size and sitting on the blanket she removed her shoes and socks and began to put them on.
"Oh for warlock's sake, accio skates." Draco demanded, his skates flying at a record speed before stopping just before his outstretched wand. He sat down beside her and began donning his own skates.
Together they walked onto the ice and began doing leisurely laps around the fringe of the lake. Hermione's many years of figure-skating soon kicked in and she began to circle into the middle of the lake doing one of her old routines. Draco watched in awe as she danced gracefully across the ice, before sweeping into a pirouette to finish. He clapped and she blushed, before it was his turn to show off.
"A race, from the top of the lake to the end, if you're up for it twinkle toes" he teased.
"You're on, but I warn you now I shall beat you and then your pride will be hurt." She retorted.
"Never!" he cried and circled at the top of the lake.
Both lined up at the top of the lake and as Draco raised his wand ready to shoot sparks to signal the start of the race when Hermione sprinted.
"Cheater!" Draco exclaimed and raced after her. He grinned and bent low advancing on Hermione quickly, before he heard a startled scream and saw her disappear from the surface of the ice, skidding to the side sharply he fell and slid over the hole that had formed where Hermione had been. She emerged gasping for breath before plunging back beneath the surface once more.
Hermione fought to try and reemerge her lungs felt like they were going to burst, but her skates were weighing her down and soon the darkness circled her. Thinking it was the end she let it take her.
The next morning she awoke to a tapping on the window and looked over to see a tawny owl landing on the patio table setting. She rushed over and opening the door stepped onto the large balcony, untying the parchment from the owl's leg. Then quickly tiptoed back into the room, the cold biting at her toes as more snow settled around her. Unrolling it as she went, she flopped lazily onto the bed and read it aloud to herself.
Dear Draco and Hermione,
Since you have already missed this morning's classes I have taken the responsibility of sending you the notes and homework from the classes and will do so for the rest of the day and the remainder of the week. You have until the beginning of next week to complete all missed work. I have also provided a spare classroom in which you are to practice charms, potions and so forth. I expect to be seeing you at the beginning of next week healthy and refreshed. Enjoy your time together,
Dumbledore
"Hermione!" Draco yelled and shot upright, his chest heaving. A searing pain shot through his arm and he winced. Hermione jumped at her name and turned to see Draco clutching his arm, looking forlorn. She crawled over the bed until she settled next to him. Placing an arm around him he rested his head lightly on her chest, looking up at her he smiled and closed his eyes. Soon enough his breathing had returned to normal, and she had looked down to find him asleep once again. She lay back against the head board and absent mindedly ran her fingers through his hair as she thought about Draco, his dreams and the offer of kindness from Dumbledore and the rest of the professors, not to mention the work they still had to complete.
As Hermione's arm went numb she slowly edged from beneath Draco and plodded out to the common room where she went to work locating a parchment, quill, a few large textbooks and her diary. She had been keeping the diary since her first year at Hogwart's and had written in it almost once a day squished between large bouts of studying and homework. Lately however she had not found the time to write given the latest series of events. So she put quill to paper and soon found that her life was spilling onto the pages in front of her.
When her thirst for writing had finally been quenched she opened the packet containing the missed days notes and began the homework tasks. Almost half the way through Draco emerged from his room rubbing his eyes and stretching with a loud yawn. He looked refreshed but still something was worrying him, she could plainly see the battle that raged inside him.
"Draco you're up, how are you feeling?" Hermione asked hiding her true thoughts.
"Better, can't say back to normal but certainly better than before and my cut has almost healed over."
"That's really good to hear, you had me worried there for a while.you must be famished, you wait here and I'll go down to see if I can rustle us up some breakfast."
"Mione you're too good to me, but really I feel much better let's go down, dig up some food and see if we can't have an outside breakfast and maybe an ice skate on the lake.how about Hermi?"
"Are you sure you're up to this yet?"
"Really I think I am, please." He pleaded giving her his best puppy dog eyes. "I just want to get out of this castle for a while and have the day to ourselves, I read the note, we have the whole week let's use it." He said a devilish glint in his eye as he walked up and wrapped his arms around Hermione kissing the top of her head.
"Oh alright but as soon as you feel tired we're coming back inside, no exceptions." She said and turned in his grasp to find herself staring deeply into his eyes.
"Ok I promise, as soon as I feel tired." He confirmed and leaned in for a very long and very passionate kiss.
They each returned to their own rooms to change agreeing to meet back in the common room, Hermione as usual took a great deal of time picking out the perfect outfit consisting of; a pair of small black gloves, a deep blue turtle neck sweater, with matching beanie, a pair of hip-hugger jeans and a black parka. She brushed her hair so it chorused down her back in chocolate curls and applied a small amount of makeup. Then after a great deal of searching through her room she found her snow white figure-skates and slung them over her shoulder. After one of the blades swung heavily into her back she slapped herself mentally before transforming the skates into the size of a key-ring and stuffing them into the pocket of her parka. Draco however had entered his room rustling through his trunk and searching his room until he found a black turtle-necked sweater; which showed his muscles nicely, a pair of black pants and black parka which came in a set with scarf and gloves.
They each re-entered the common room each eyeing the other with great interest, before the walked hand in hand down to the portrait that opened up to the kitchens. Hermione tickled the pear which gave a giggle and a shake before opening to a bustling kitchen. Straight away the pair were seated in a small table setting, the whole table covered in plates of delicious dishes and their goblets filled with pumpkin juice. Hermione ate a small serving, some fresh baked scones with cream and strawberry jam. Draco however ate an even smaller portion than Hermione, forcing himself to chew each morsel slowly so that Hermione wouldn't notice the small amount that he ate.
Hermione then enquired about a picnic basket whilst Draco helped to clear the table. The house elves would hear nothing of the sort ad pushed Draco back firmly in his seat whilst they packed a picnic basket, even magicking a large picnic rug which folded into the size of a handkerchief and slotted in.
Draco carried the basket as they said their goodbyes and walked through the entrance hall, out into the freshly-falling snow. Hermione breathed deeply releasing the pent up emotions for a moment she almost felt free of everything bad in her life, but then she remembered she was now that Draco was here she felt things were going to get better. This thought made her smile and she looked at Draco who seemed to be doing the same as he stared straight into the sky.
"Sorta looks like heaven don't you think?" he asked as Hermione looked up.
"I dunno really I don't ever remember imagining heaven to be this blasted cold." She replied and turned back to him. Draco chuckled and headed for the largest tree within a close distance to the lake and set down the basket.
"Let's begin the skating then." Said Draco as he transformed the blanket and smoothed it out on the ground.
"Let's" Hermione replied and took out her own pair of skates, tapping them with her wand they enlarged to their correct size and sitting on the blanket she removed her shoes and socks and began to put them on.
"Oh for warlock's sake, accio skates." Draco demanded, his skates flying at a record speed before stopping just before his outstretched wand. He sat down beside her and began donning his own skates.
Together they walked onto the ice and began doing leisurely laps around the fringe of the lake. Hermione's many years of figure-skating soon kicked in and she began to circle into the middle of the lake doing one of her old routines. Draco watched in awe as she danced gracefully across the ice, before sweeping into a pirouette to finish. He clapped and she blushed, before it was his turn to show off.
"A race, from the top of the lake to the end, if you're up for it twinkle toes" he teased.
"You're on, but I warn you now I shall beat you and then your pride will be hurt." She retorted.
"Never!" he cried and circled at the top of the lake.
Both lined up at the top of the lake and as Draco raised his wand ready to shoot sparks to signal the start of the race when Hermione sprinted.
"Cheater!" Draco exclaimed and raced after her. He grinned and bent low advancing on Hermione quickly, before he heard a startled scream and saw her disappear from the surface of the ice, skidding to the side sharply he fell and slid over the hole that had formed where Hermione had been. She emerged gasping for breath before plunging back beneath the surface once more.
Hermione fought to try and reemerge her lungs felt like they were going to burst, but her skates were weighing her down and soon the darkness circled her. Thinking it was the end she let it take her.