Chapter 20- Christmas
Hermione groggily opened her eyes. Someone was shaking her gently in a rather poor attempt to wake her. "What?" She whined in protest at her harasser.
"Wake up 'Mione." Draco spoke softly in her ear. Hermione shivered, but fell back into her slumber before she could stop herself. A wide grin spread across Draco's face as he slowly made his way onto Hermione's bed, lying down next to her sleeping form. Unconsciously Hermione turned, curling herself against Draco. He lay quietly besides her for what felt like hours, not wanting to disturb the beauty lying next to him anymore. He suddenly thought of their last Death Eater meeting, and of how scared and vulnerable Hermione looked after. He could tell it had affected Hermione more than she showed. Wormtail had not murdered a muggle who had stumbled upon them. Voldemort promptly killed the muggle before turning on Wormtail:
"You were to dispose of him you coward."
"Master… please," Wormtail sobbed, lying in a tangled mess on the floor. The corner of Voldemort's mouth lifted slightly forming a cruel smile. He surveyed crumbling a wizard before him.
"Watch closely, Death Eaters." Voldemort's voice was filled with amusement. "Perhaps you need a reminder of how I reward disappointment." The Death Eaters around Hermione and Draco murmured in agreement as Wormtail struggled to his feet.
"Please-" Wormtail was cut short as Voldemort raised his wand. His eyes laughing cruelly and his face contorted in harsh amusement.
"AVADA KADAVRA!" Hermione took an uneasy step backwards as Wormtail fell motionless and soundless to the floor. Draco clasped her hand tightly in his.
"Take it easy Hermione," he whispered, trying to lure her into his as to calm her down. Voldemort turned slowly, eyes locked on the young couple standing before him.
"Granger. A word." Voldemort called softly. It took Hermione a moment to realize these words had been whispered across her mind.
"Yes my Lord." She replied, eyes downcast as Voldemort sent the other Death Eaters out of the room.
"Dragon?" Hermione asked reviving from her slumber, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What are you doing in here?" Draco smiled pulling her closer to him while burying his face in her hair.
"Why Hermione, don't you remember all the beautiful things we did last night?" Draco asked in surprise, his eyes glinting mischievously.
"Wait, what? What are you talking about we didn't… Malfoy!" she yelled as Draco started laughing. He stopped as she hit him in the face with her pillow.
"Don't get yourself into a frenzy now, 'Mione." Draco muttered, trying to look like she had hurt his feelings.
"Don't give me that attitude, Dragon. Now why, may I ask, are you in my bed?"
"I came in here earlier to try and wake but you were dead to the world, so I decided to stay." Hermione looked perplexed.
"Why did you want to wake me then?" she asked at a complete loss.
"Have you gone daft?" Draco yelled at her through his laughter. "It's Christmas you dimwit." Hermione's face broke into a wide smile. "There we go, all clicking together finally…" Draco muttered, causing Hermione's pillow to once again sail across the room at his face. Hermione smirked at him.
"Merry Christmas."
~
Hermione and Draco sat on the couch together unwrapping their gifts. Hermione had received several books and CD's she had requested from her parents, along with a year's subscription to "Witches Vogue" from Ginny, a revised edition of "Hogwarts, A History" from Harry, and a polite but formal card from Ron wishing her a Merry Christmas sent along with a package of chocolate frogs. Hermione smiled happily as she surveyed the mass of presents in front of her, but her smile faltered slightly as she noticed the rather smaller pile beside Draco, who had already finished and had been watching her for some time. She leaned over and kissed him slowly until she could feel him relaxed.
"Here," she said, somewhat embarrassed as she pushed her present for him into his hands. "Open." Draco surveyed her, mouth curved into a half-smile.
"You didn't have to get me anything, 'Mione." He said as he reached his hand to her face, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Oh, ok!" Hermione replied reaching for the present again but Draco caught her hand in his.
"Well, on second thought…" he said smiling mischievously moving closer to her. "I think I'll keep it." Hermione closed her eyes but all to soon Draco pulled away and instead places a small, neatly wrapped box in her hands.
"After you." He said, nodding to her present. Hermione gasped in shock after she unwrapped it. Draco looked nervously at her.
"I knew you'd probably prefer a book or something, but-" He was cut short as Hermione threw herself against him, hugging him tightly.
"Dragon… it's beautiful." She said, smiling weakly as she pulled back. Inside the box lay a delicate crystal dragon pendant on a long, silver chain. The crystal looked like it was swirling in a rainbow mix of colors. "What are those colors?" Hermione asked, pointing to the crystal.
"Well if either one of us were ever in danger, that mist in the crystal would turn a deep red color and would instantly transport one of us to the other's side." Draco looked slightly embarrassed. "I figured with everything we're doing for Dumbledore it might come in handy." Hermione eyes were wide in shock.
"Dragon where did you find this?" Hermione demanded. Draco smirked.
"Not telling." Hermione rolled her eyes at the smug expression on his face but nevertheless pulled him to her, kissing his deeply.
"Thank you." She said softly, staring into his silver-gray eyes. Draco picked up his present. His face broke into a wide smile as he unwrapped it.
"I charmed it so all the songs on the CD's you've stolen from me are stored on it like an MP3 player, and I've already charmed it to work here for you." Hermione explained as Draco examined the CD player. "I also put an burning spell on it so you can download any song you want." Draco smirked at her.
"Isn't burning songs illegal?" Draco suggested in mock innocence. Hermione opened her mouth in protest but Draco cut her off. "It's the best present in the world. Thank you." Hermione's face flushed and she smiled slightly.
"It's nothing next to what you gave me." She argued. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Don't be modest 'Mione. You know it rocks." Hermione smile grew as he leaned forward and pulled her closer into a deep kiss that left Hermione breathless.
"Come on, let's get some lunch." Draco pulled her up before she could even catch her breath.
~
"Hermione!" Harry called across the Great Hall as Hermione entered, hand in hand with Draco. Hermione looked between the two boys, unsure who to sit with. "Both of you come and sit down!" Harry called. All the Gryffindors around Harry dropped their food in surprise. Ron stared at Harry, dumbfounded.
Hermione looked at Draco who raised an eyebrow in return. "Be Good." She whispered across his mind. Draco frowned at Hermione but she was already leading him to the Gryffindor table.
"Hey Hermione! Malfoy." Harry said politely.
"Potter." Draco replied with a curt nod. Hermione shot him a stern look. Harry cleared his throat.
"Thanks so much for the quidditch book Hermione, I didn't have that one yet." Hermione smiled.
"Well, I'd figure you'd like it better than the homework planners I got you and Ron in 5th year even though those were actually suppose to help you and neither of you used them once!" Draco snorted into his food.
"Homework planner?" he asked incredulously. Hermione frowned at him.
"It was OWLs year. They needed them. I even bought one for myself. Stop laughing!" Harry couldn't help but smile as Hermione started scolding Malfoy. Ron looked like he was about to gag as he surveyed the couple. Hermione turned back to Harry.
"Thanks so much for the new edition of Hogwarts: A History. There are only so many times you can read the same book, I had no idea they had a new edition out. Will you stop laughing!" Hermione turned to yell at Draco.
"Sorry 'Mione." Draco smiled innocently back. Hermione resisted the urge to smile back.
"Harry! How about a snowball fight before the feast?" Ron said loudly to Harry, interrupting Draco and Hermione.
"Sounds fun, Ron. How about you guys? Do you want to come?" Ron shot Harry a venomous glare at the invitation. Draco looked at Harry like he had two heads.
"How can Potter act like everything in our past never happened?" he thought, shocked.
He's trying to think of you as his best friend's boyfriend, not his mortal enemy. Hermione replied to Draco's mind. He looked at her startled but she was already talking to Harry.
"That's really nice of you Harry but I don't want to be a bother you know how I am, you and Ron go on-"
"You're not the bother, Hermione." Ron cut her off. "He is," he said, nodding in Draco's direction. Draco raised an eyebrow in challenge.
"You're the one trying to make Hermione as uncomfortable as she could be around her two best friends, Weasel." He drawled. Hermione and Harry looked at each other in defeat.
"I wouldn't have to make her feel uncomfortable if she hadn't decided date the scum of the earth!" Ron voice rose as they both stood up.
"Well, she has decided to go out with me. I suggest you get over it and stop acting like the jealous ex-boyfriend and pay more attention to your own girlfriend!" Hermione, Harry, Lavender, and Ginny all stood up at this.
"Dragon, let's go." Hermione pleaded as Ron started shouting at Draco again. Ignoring Ron, Draco finally grabbed Hermione's hand and stared into her eyes.
I'm sorry; I'm trying to get along with them. He thought silently in her mind. Hermione's eyes widened as she realized Draco had spoken directly to her without uttering a word. Draco looked shocked too.
Am I-
Yes. Draco smiled in amazement as he bent over Hermione, holding her interlocking hands in his and kissing her swiftly across the lips, sending a chill through her. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lavender stared at them, agape.
"Hem hem." Ginny cleared her throat.
We have to talk to Dumbledore. Hermione thought softly to Draco.
It must be the pendant. It links us, so maybe it somehow linked your power to me too. Draco thought back. Hermione glanced down at the dragon around her neck, which now glowed sky-blue.
"Well, it was nice seeing you all, I mean, seeing you again, um, we have to go, but have fun with the snowball fight! See you at dinner!" Hermione said loudly in a flustered voice. She quickly pulled a calm and smirking Draco away from the group.
"What was that?" Ron asked, bemused. Lavender looked excited, Harry concerned. Ginny had a pretty good idea what was going on but stayed silent.
"Let's go," Ginny said, tugging at her boyfriend, leaving Ron with Lavender.
~
"What's going on, Gin?" Harry asked as soon as they were out of earshot. Ginny looked uncomfortable and Harry could tell.
"It's not my place to say anything Harry, but you should know Hermione's in something big. Draco is the only one who can help her through what she has to do, and right now you need to keep doing what you did today at lunch. I can't give you the details, just try and keep Ron from making an arse of himself whenever Draco's around."
"But Gin-" Harry tried to press, but Ginny placed two fingers over his lips.
"It's not your business, Harry. Let Hermione sort it out, and just try and help her through this. Anyway you have your own girl to worry about." Harry grinned as she flashed him a coy smile.
"Ok sweetie." He said, leaning over her to kiss her softly.
A/N: Oh my gosh its snowing!!! Haha I'm so excited… :) ok I know I'm being horrible when it comes to updating lately I'm really sorry it's just that ski team started last week so I've been really really busy plus everything has to go through my beta-reader who's busy with track so… yeah. But I am going to be wrapping this up soon lol. I don't know how you can actually stand to read this much of my crap but whatever… thanks for reading and drop a review. You rock!