Chapter Twenty-Five ~ Valentine Surprises

"So I've got to try to keep it inside Cause you will never, never be mine If I was the one who was loving you baby The only tears you cry would be tears of joy And if I was by your side you'd never know one lonely night If it was my arms you were running to baby I'd bring you love in these arms of mine If I was the one in your life" ~Ruff Endz

Hermione awoke with a start the next morning. She slept well, especially comfortable, but she realized she wasn't in her bed. She wasn't in a bed at all. For a moment she thought she had fallen asleep in the common room on a couch again, but that was before she picked up the sound of Draco's soft breathing. She was laying on top of him.

She looked around trying to recall where she was and why exactly she was there, with Draco. It was a quiet setting with the rising sun reflecting off the snow. Snow? They were outside? Oh yes, she remembered now. She had escaped to the Astronomy Tower the night before waiting for that dumb music curse to wear off. Draco had found her after she hadn't shown up to dinner, and he read to her until she slept.

The charm! She wasn't hearing herself sing in her head anymore it must have worn off, at least to a degree. She decided to risk trying it. "Draco. Draco wake up. The sun's coming up." She started poking him. "Come on wake up it's beautiful, all the colors are reflecting off the snow."

He grumbled a little and twisted his head to the other side of the chair. Hermione gave up and stood up. She walked to the edge up the enclosure she made last night and peered out across the newly frosted grounds. The snow was absolutely perfect, still undisturbed by the rough, trashing feet of the other students it was peaceful and extreme bliss.

While her body was adjusting to the morning cold Hermione's arms wrapped around herself. She stood there for a few undisturbed moment before another pair of arms wrapped around her. "I got cold." Hermione couldn't help but laugh.

"After all the poking I did you woke up because you got cold? You're simply unbelievable."

"Hey, you're talking," he said hugging her more tightly.

She twisted around in his arms to face him. "Yeah I am. I kind of feels a little weird though. I know I was only under the curse for about twelve hours but it's like it's still there. Do you know what I mean?"

"Like phantom pains or something?"

"I guess. I'm afraid I'm going to break out in song in the middle of class or something."

Draco laughed thinking about the prospect. "yeah I can just see you in potions, standing on the table top telling us all how great wolfs bane is or something. How many points do you think Snape would take off for that?"

"More than Gryffindor has."

"Well you don't have to worry about that today, it's Saturday. Do you think you should go see Madam Pomfrey?"

Hermione shook her head defiantly, "No. She'd end up wanting me to stay in there for days for observation and load me down with chocolate frogs telling me how much they help. I'll talk to Dumbledore later."

"Okay." He paused remembering something. "Oh crap I forgot about the Prefect meeting to go over stuff for the trip. I was just talking about that with Dumbledore and my parents yesterday."

"There was a meeting?"

"Yeah, yesterday evening. Do think Terry and Hannah will abolish us?"

"Well I don't want to wait to find out. Let's go see if they're up yet and I think I can go see Dumbledore and little earlier than I planned."

Hermione transfigured all the things she "barrowed the night before, grabbed her book and draco's hand and fled down the stairs back to the main part of the castle.

"Slow down woman. It's still dawn we're probably close to being the only one's up." Draco braked pulling back his hand while still holding on the rampant girl.

"But Draco we've missed so much. I mean a whole meeting and everything, oh I feel terrible. They're going to think we're sticking them we all the work and the Headmaster what will -"

"Hermione with all due respect shut up. You're right about us missing a lot, including dinner."

"How can you think about food when there is so much other stuff going on."

"I don't know, I'm growing I guess. Let's go down to the Great Hall and see if they're serving yet."

"You know they aren't it still way before seven o'clock. I have a better idea let's go down to the kitchens. The house elves are always willing to give us stuff. It will be efficient and then we can go find professor Dumbledore and explain are absence."

"Good idea. Let's go slowly it's much to early to go running through the halls we'd have to take points from ourselves and that's not very fun."

"If I t makes you feel any better I could always just take them from you, so you wouldn't have to take them from yourself."

"Awe isn't that sweet, and who's going to take them from you?"

"No one. I would have just cause running through the halls, so no infraction would be made."

"Know-it-all."

"Wanna-know-it-all."

"Nope, not really. I could always just ask you." Hermione smacked him, playfully on the shoulder. "Well I was just being honest."

~*~

"Oh Professor Dumbledore we've been looking for you." Hermione called out down the hall to the tall, aging man.

"Yes, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy, how can I help you this early in the morning."

"Well first I just want to apologize for missing the meeting yesterday. Draco just told me about it this morning. It's my fault he missed the meeting too. He came up to the Astronomy Tower to keep me company after what happened yesterday and all and we got caught up in a book."

"Miss Granger, there is no need to worry. There was no such meeting yesterday."

"But sir, you told me yesterday that you would see me at the meeting and -"

"Mr. Malfoy I was just trying to get your parents to leave as soon as possible. By providing you with a necessary engagement it gave them a reason to leave."

"Oh, I see."

"Yes, well I see the charm has faded Miss Granger."

"Yes sir, but it feels like it is lingering in the back of my mind or throat."

"Yes, I'm afraid it will feel that way for a while. It takes time for a spell to fade on his own. I will write to Mr. Malfoy and request that he remove the charm, or I will go to the governors."

"You don't have to do that sir, I'm sure I will be fine."

"Oh Hermione stop being so noble and let the man help you, or do you want to burst into song in potions?'

"Point taken. Thank you sir, that would be very kind and appreciated."

"Good day to you both and try to stay out of trouble."

Hermione and Draco walked off. "I never thought I'd see they day when you would stand up for the same cause as Dumbledore, or you teaching me gratitude." Draco just laughed.

~*~

All the prefect were sitting in the common rooms discussing more plans for the trip, until they was nothing left to discuss it was all planned out: the groups were named, their destination divided as well as traveling arrangements. They were going to leave is three days time.

"What the day's date?"

Hermione glanced at her notebook, "The thirteenth."

Hannah squeeled, "That means tomorrow is Valentine's Day."

The was a successive groan from the other three in the room. "Oh god, Hannah. You aren't really into the poetic words, candy, and flowers are you."

She looked sheepish for a second, "No, not entirely. I just think it's kind of fun, and a good distraction from everything else."

"So do you two have plans?" Hermione asked Hannah and Terry.

"Well I didn't but since Hannah is apparently set on having fun tomorrow I guess we will make them. What about either of you?"

"I'm reading a book, since there is nothing I can do with this task anymore."

"Same, I guess. I'll probably going flying later in the day though."

"Fun stuff."

"If you say so."

~*~

They were reading in the prefect common room later that night, well Draco reading yet another timeless tale to Hermione. "So are you busy tomorrow night, Mina?"

"No like I said earlier I think it's all very silly, so I'm just going to read. Why what did you have in mind."

"Oh nothing really I just thought it would be a good time for another flying lesson. It's been a while since you;'ve had one and its about time so you stay fresh and we can see what has sunk in to the full brain of yours."

"You're serious?"

"As a train wreck."

"But Draco, I haven't been on a broom for month and even when I was on a broom regularly I still sucked at flying. I don't really want to."

"But you got to. What would our dear friends Professor Snape say if I told hi you were refusing you oh-so-special lessons?"

"I don't know and nor do I really care. Be a dear and don't make me, please."

"Please I don't want to fly alone tomorrow night."

"Well than call a Quidditch practice or something. Your team would understand I'm sure. I'll beg if I have too."

"Really?"

"No, but it sounded good. I am not going to fly."

"You don't have to just sit on the broom."

"Where were we in the story?'

"You're changing the subject."

"Fine. Alright I'll go to your stupid lesson and waste perfectly good reading time. What time?"

"Dusk."

"Okay, can we get back to the book now?'

"No."

"Why not?"

"I want something first."

"What could that possibly be?'

"To give you this." He held a box to her, it was the length of his hand.

"Draco, my goodness what is it?"

"Open it."

She gave him a doubtful look before pulling off the sealing ribbon. The lid came off smoothly, and her eye light up with her saw it. It was a chain with alternating links of silver and gold and it had a beautiful pendant. It was of two intertwining hearts or gold and silver with a gem of ruby inside the enclosure of the gold and an emerald trapped inside the silver.

"It's beautiful, absolutely gorgeous," she exclaimed wrapping her arms around him.

He helped her put it on. "Oh I can't thank you enough. I'm still working on a gift for you. It's taking more time then what I thought. I know I'll have it around spring break for sure."

"Oh did Mina forget about Valentine's day?'

"No, no it has just been rather difficult to find this um thing. I've been looking for it for weeks now."

"Please tell me what it is."

"I can't, and even if I could I wouldn't not until I know I can actually produce it. But in the mean time have this," she leaned up to him and kissed him. "Consider it an I.O.U."

"I will. And this doesn't cancel out the lesson."

Hermione groaned. "Is it time to get back to the book yet?"

"yes Mina, heaven forbid we separate you from your books."

"I know, who would even imagine it?"

"Not I"

~*~

"Draco is this really necessary?"

"No."

"So you mean I don't have to be here?"

"No you don't have to be but now that you are what the point of going? Come on it will be fun. Get on the broom."

"Somebody is just a tad bit bossy." She stepped over the broom. "Okay, now what?' He climbed on behind her.

"There's something I want to show you." He took control of the broom and distracted her with conversation.

After about ten minutes of flying she finally asked, "Um where are we going?"

"Away."

'Away where?"

"A surprise. Just relax I would never let anything bad happen to you. It may take awhile to get there. Don't give that look I've had it approved by Dumbledore and our heads of house. Calm down, go to sleep just don't worry about anything."

"Easy for you to say. You aren't being whisked off to some unknown part of the country by some boy."

"And that would be a good thing, I tend to lean the other direction, you like being straight. You should feel very special and all I haven't done this for anybody before. And who said it was ever in the country?'

"Draco Malfoy take me back or tell me where we are going right now?'

"Relax brainiac. It's still in Europe just not England. We'll be back to school in plenty of time for classes, and even if we aren't or we want to sleep I have gotten us excused from all the morning classes tomorrow. Don't give that look it the whole school. I claimed they needed time to pack, organize get last minute things from Hogmeade, you know."

"Draco you are abusing your rights as a prefect."

"And you get the luxury of enjoying those abuses as you like to call them."

"You're sure we won't get into any trouble?"

"Positive, trust me and relax."

"I do trust you." Hermione stared out at the sights and gazed at the stars, informing Draco on the myths behind the constellations. She eventually talked herself to sleep. This was all the better for Draco, he figured it would be a much better surprise this way. An hour or so later he finally woke her up.

"Mina, wake up, we're here."

She was still groggy from her sleep, "Where's here?"

"Venice. Here I brought you a change of clothes so we fit in a little better, and I can set up a patrician behind this building so we can change."

"You picked out my clothes? Muggle clothes?"

"Kind of on one of the trips I took with McGonagall to Diagon Ally, we went to Muggle London and I had some lady pick out an outfit for you."

"You've been planning this since December."

"Yes, I told you I had everything planned out."

She tightly entangled her arms around his neck. "You amazing. You'd make the best boyfriend ever."

He laughed to himself. She was just outside the loop of what his plans were. "Well shall we change." Hermione nodded enthusiastically. She was rather pleased with the outfit he got her. No doubt he was watching what he choose since he was in the presence of her head of house but it was still lovely none-the-less. And she certainly was dressed for the holiday. She had on a red, one-strap dress with asymmetric lines and light ruffles at the hem. It came complete with a matching pair of red strappy shoes and to off set the color a little bit a white shawl (thing). She did a spell to fasten her hair in an up do and decided to use the same make-up spell she used at Concordia just to add her own touches.

"Mina, are you done changing yet?"

"Yes, and I must say you have great taste." She stepped out side the patrician and was again delighted at what she saw. Draco was dressed in a pair of dark khaki dress pants and had on a matching red shirt to match the dress. The top three buttons were un-done giving it the young and sexy look. "Wow."

The word reached Draco, "I was about to say the same thing, my mouth just wasn't working. You beautiful Mina." He shrunk down her other clothes in to a neat small package and placed it in his pocket. "Shall we go don't want to be late for the reservation." He offered her arm and her excitedly took it.

They were seated at a small table out side a restaurant, quietly talking over dessert. They was a slight lull in the conversation and Draco took full advantage of it. "Hermione we've been friends for a few months down and I know that's not very long but I was wondering if you would like to be my girlfriend?"

Hermione smiled and took his hand. "No, I wouldn't like it." She watched as his face turned into a look of hope to depressed rejection, "I would love it." His eyes shot up and looked into hers, relief, and ecstasy visibly showing.

"Really?"

"Really, really." They shared a kiss. "What time do we have to head back?"

"If I had a say never but I don't so I'd say in about two hours."

"Perfect." They paid for the meal and spent time walking hand and hand down the streets, looking at people and the beautiful architecture.

"Well we have to go back now."

"Do we?"

"Yes, come on don't putz we have a train to catch."

"A train but what about the broom?" "I have it still. But we might actually be able to sleep on the train and it's going right into Hogsmeade we'll arrive at dawn. Unless of course you want to ride the broom back?"

"No, no, no the train sounds wonderful."

The sat comfortably on the train next to each other, talking about what little the had left and soon found themselves supporting each other as they slept.

They train whistle awoke them the next morning and they casually walked off the train and to both their surprise Dumbledore had a carriage waiting for them. Draco offered her a hand up, "M'lady."

"Thank you, sir."

The separated and each going to their own dorm room as the castle emptied out of students on their way to Hogsmeade.

~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` ~`

Wow this kind wrote it's self, I had nothing to do with it, and it wrote itself fast. I opened word at what 10 and it only 1133 now ( know it's kind of short a lot of talking and what not it was just to finally get them official and fill up time space, a little foreshadowing). Maybe y'all were meant to have this chapter.

Well what to expect next chapter: 1) Skim over the trip mentions the importance maybe 3 - 6 pages 2) Hermione Tells Harry and Ron 3) Completely jump ahead to spring break find out what Hermione is up to