Chapter 10: Not So Merry Christmas
Hermione jumped out of her bed at Hogwarts Christmas morning and was greeted by light snowflakes falling softly from the sky. Her parents decided to take a romantic cruise and she happily agreed to stay. She ran down the stairs only to be greeted by an empty common room. Then she remembered that she had said goodbye to Draco sometime last week; he was spending the holidays with his family. Her heart gave a small pang of disappointment, but she reminded herself that they both came to the decision that they would just be friends for now. Unfortunately, it was no good. The more time that Hermione spent with him, the more she got to know him, the harder and faster she fell for him. Neither of them expressed their feelings for each other since that day two months ago; nor had they kissed again. How she longed for those surprisingly warm lips to meet hers again. She sighed and went to go sit in front of the fire that was most likely lit by a house-elf earlier that morning. Just as she sat down, a loud pounding came at the portrait hole.
"Hermione! Wake up, Hermione! It's Christmas!" came Ron's voice from the other side. Hermione got up excitedly, putting aside her Draco troubles for now. She threw open the portrait and greeted her best friends, Harry, Ron, and Ginny, all bearing their gifts.
"Merry Christmas!" they all greeted each other at once. Hermione motioned for them to come in and told them to set the presents under the tree. Right before Draco went back home, him and Hermione spent an entire Sunday decorating the tree. A small pile of presents sent to him by friends and *ahem* admirers lay on one side of the tree. Draco had explained that he wanted his presents delivered to the Head dorms because he wasn't sure what was going to happen at home. Hermione's brow suddenly wrinkled with worry.
"Hermione? Are you all right?" Ginny asked. Hermione shook herself free from her thoughts and tried to smile.
"Yes, Ginny, I'm fine. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's open presents!" The four Gryffindors gathered around the Christmas tree. Ron, Harry and Ginny simultaneously pulled miniature presents from their pockets and returned them to their original size. Hermione smiled at their thoughtfulness to wait until they were with her to open their presents. She reached under the tree and handed the three of them each a present.
"Here, I want to see you open these first," she said. Ron began to rip into his first. It was a Broomstick Service Kit just like the one she gave Harry in third year.
"Wow, Hermione! Thanks!" Ron pulled her into a very grateful hug, which Hermione returned.
"Yours next, Harry," she prodded. Harry ripped off the wrapping paper. Harry tried to hold back tears at what he saw.
"Hermione . . .how did you get this?" Harry held in his hands a large frame with a picture of his late godfather, Sirius Black, inside.
"Well, this summer, when we went back to his house for the Order, I found this picture in the attic while cleaning up there. It was in an old box filled with anything having to do with Sirius. I was surprised that Mrs. Black hadn't destroyed all of it. There was also a letter in that box. It was addressed to you, Harry. It's there in the back of the frame." Harry turned over the frame with trembling hands. He opened the back of the frame and pulled out a small envelope. He looked up at Hermione with wide eyes.
"Don't worry, I didn't read it," she said. "Go on, Harry. Open it." Harry licked his lips unconsciously and slowly opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this now, I am no longer with you. I am leaving everything in my name to you, even my house. So if you ever . . .no . . .WHEN you finally defeat Voldemort, you'll have somewhere to stay other than with those nasty Muggles. I love you Harry and I risked a lot for you. But don't ever blame yourself for anything; especially not for my death. These were all my own decisions and in no way would you have had it in your power to stop me from making them. Stay strong and never give up hope. I'm going to go to the Ministry now to, hopefully, save you.
Your godfather,
Sirius
A single tear fell down Harry's face, but he didn't care. More came as he read and re-read Sirius' letter over and over again. Hermione reached over and put an arm around his shoulders in a motherly fashion.
"Thank you, Hermione," he said in barely a whisper. "This really means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, Harry. I would have given it to you for your birthday, but it took some time to restore the picture. But it's like getting something from him as well." Harry nodded absentmindedly.
"I love it, Hermione. Thanks a lot," Harry said again, quietly. Hermione beamed. Ginny then opened her present and received a book about Quidditch and flying tips. They spent the rest of the morning opening presents. Hermione received an excellent set of new quills from Ron. Since his father had been promoted to the Department of Magical Law, he began to finally bring in more money. Hermione thanked him and told him that she needed new quill desperately, so those were perfect. Ginny gave her a special hair comb that made your hair behave the way you wanted it to so Hermione could finally tame her wild curls. She opened Harry's present to find a box of all her favorite Muggle sweets. Apparently, Harry warned his cousin, Dudley, that since he was of age, he could curse him into oblivion if he kept messing with him. So Dudley was the one who bought all the sweets for Harry and sent them with Hedwig.
They all received the usual Weasley sweaters from Mrs. Weasley. Harry's and Hermione's, of course, were nicer since they were not family, but Harry's more so since he was, well . . .him. He also received some Christmas cookies from Molly. Hermione also received a few presents from her parents and relatives (obviously sent by her parents as well). Finally, there was only one present left for her under the tree . . .from Draco. But she decided to wait until he got back . . .whenever that was.
Draco awoke in a different way on Christmas Day. Since the day he got home, Lucius forced Draco into more training. Draco had injuries and cuts and bruises everywhere. His whole body ached. All he wanted was to hold Hermione again. He looked about the dungeon used as the training room. He figured he must have gotten knocked out at last night's training session and didn't wake until that morning. Draco stood up and wobbled a bit on his weak legs only to sit down again as the motion made him feel dizzy. He chose to think of Hermione instead.
He was still falling for her. In fact, he had fallen so hard, he doubted that he would ever be the same again. He missed the way she laughed at his jokes and how her eyes sparkled when she smiled at him. He missed the way she thirsted for knowledge so passionately. He missed her boldness and the way she could put him into check so easily. He liked a sense of dominance in a woman. But he mostly missed her. He missed seeing her every morning after his shower and at night just before going to bed. He felt content knowing she was just across the way from him, the only thing separating them being a bathroom. But now he was lonely and depressed. He was in love with Hermione Granger.
He sighed deeply, wondering if he would ever get the guts to tell her. He had known he was in love with her for a while now, but he still had not told her. Maybe it was the fear that she wouldn't feel the same way that kept him back . . .rejection. Draco Malfoy had never before been rejected. But then again, he had never been in love before, either.
Draco stood up again and winced. His whole body ached and his shirt was stiff with dry blood. He rolled up his sleeve to find two new bruises on his forearm. He exited the dungeon and went back up to his room, afraid to Apparate in case his father heard the loud cracking sound one makes when Apparating or Disapparating. He made his way to the bathroom and got ready for a shower. He let the hot water run over his aching body, washing away the blood and dirt left from his training. He examined his shoulder where one particularly large cut was healing. He touched the area gingerly, silently cursing his father for making him go through all of this.
Not for the first time, he wondered if he would just be better off if his father just finished him off. But he immediately shook the thought away. He had to stay strong . . .he had to go back to Hermione. He promised himself that if he survived after Christmas break, he would tell Hermione that he loved her. And with this promise, he gained a new confidence and went to breakfast thinking about his beautiful Hermione.
Hermione jumped out of her bed at Hogwarts Christmas morning and was greeted by light snowflakes falling softly from the sky. Her parents decided to take a romantic cruise and she happily agreed to stay. She ran down the stairs only to be greeted by an empty common room. Then she remembered that she had said goodbye to Draco sometime last week; he was spending the holidays with his family. Her heart gave a small pang of disappointment, but she reminded herself that they both came to the decision that they would just be friends for now. Unfortunately, it was no good. The more time that Hermione spent with him, the more she got to know him, the harder and faster she fell for him. Neither of them expressed their feelings for each other since that day two months ago; nor had they kissed again. How she longed for those surprisingly warm lips to meet hers again. She sighed and went to go sit in front of the fire that was most likely lit by a house-elf earlier that morning. Just as she sat down, a loud pounding came at the portrait hole.
"Hermione! Wake up, Hermione! It's Christmas!" came Ron's voice from the other side. Hermione got up excitedly, putting aside her Draco troubles for now. She threw open the portrait and greeted her best friends, Harry, Ron, and Ginny, all bearing their gifts.
"Merry Christmas!" they all greeted each other at once. Hermione motioned for them to come in and told them to set the presents under the tree. Right before Draco went back home, him and Hermione spent an entire Sunday decorating the tree. A small pile of presents sent to him by friends and *ahem* admirers lay on one side of the tree. Draco had explained that he wanted his presents delivered to the Head dorms because he wasn't sure what was going to happen at home. Hermione's brow suddenly wrinkled with worry.
"Hermione? Are you all right?" Ginny asked. Hermione shook herself free from her thoughts and tried to smile.
"Yes, Ginny, I'm fine. Well, what are we waiting for? Let's open presents!" The four Gryffindors gathered around the Christmas tree. Ron, Harry and Ginny simultaneously pulled miniature presents from their pockets and returned them to their original size. Hermione smiled at their thoughtfulness to wait until they were with her to open their presents. She reached under the tree and handed the three of them each a present.
"Here, I want to see you open these first," she said. Ron began to rip into his first. It was a Broomstick Service Kit just like the one she gave Harry in third year.
"Wow, Hermione! Thanks!" Ron pulled her into a very grateful hug, which Hermione returned.
"Yours next, Harry," she prodded. Harry ripped off the wrapping paper. Harry tried to hold back tears at what he saw.
"Hermione . . .how did you get this?" Harry held in his hands a large frame with a picture of his late godfather, Sirius Black, inside.
"Well, this summer, when we went back to his house for the Order, I found this picture in the attic while cleaning up there. It was in an old box filled with anything having to do with Sirius. I was surprised that Mrs. Black hadn't destroyed all of it. There was also a letter in that box. It was addressed to you, Harry. It's there in the back of the frame." Harry turned over the frame with trembling hands. He opened the back of the frame and pulled out a small envelope. He looked up at Hermione with wide eyes.
"Don't worry, I didn't read it," she said. "Go on, Harry. Open it." Harry licked his lips unconsciously and slowly opened the envelope and pulled the letter out.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this now, I am no longer with you. I am leaving everything in my name to you, even my house. So if you ever . . .no . . .WHEN you finally defeat Voldemort, you'll have somewhere to stay other than with those nasty Muggles. I love you Harry and I risked a lot for you. But don't ever blame yourself for anything; especially not for my death. These were all my own decisions and in no way would you have had it in your power to stop me from making them. Stay strong and never give up hope. I'm going to go to the Ministry now to, hopefully, save you.
Your godfather,
Sirius
A single tear fell down Harry's face, but he didn't care. More came as he read and re-read Sirius' letter over and over again. Hermione reached over and put an arm around his shoulders in a motherly fashion.
"Thank you, Hermione," he said in barely a whisper. "This really means a lot to me."
"You're welcome, Harry. I would have given it to you for your birthday, but it took some time to restore the picture. But it's like getting something from him as well." Harry nodded absentmindedly.
"I love it, Hermione. Thanks a lot," Harry said again, quietly. Hermione beamed. Ginny then opened her present and received a book about Quidditch and flying tips. They spent the rest of the morning opening presents. Hermione received an excellent set of new quills from Ron. Since his father had been promoted to the Department of Magical Law, he began to finally bring in more money. Hermione thanked him and told him that she needed new quill desperately, so those were perfect. Ginny gave her a special hair comb that made your hair behave the way you wanted it to so Hermione could finally tame her wild curls. She opened Harry's present to find a box of all her favorite Muggle sweets. Apparently, Harry warned his cousin, Dudley, that since he was of age, he could curse him into oblivion if he kept messing with him. So Dudley was the one who bought all the sweets for Harry and sent them with Hedwig.
They all received the usual Weasley sweaters from Mrs. Weasley. Harry's and Hermione's, of course, were nicer since they were not family, but Harry's more so since he was, well . . .him. He also received some Christmas cookies from Molly. Hermione also received a few presents from her parents and relatives (obviously sent by her parents as well). Finally, there was only one present left for her under the tree . . .from Draco. But she decided to wait until he got back . . .whenever that was.
Draco awoke in a different way on Christmas Day. Since the day he got home, Lucius forced Draco into more training. Draco had injuries and cuts and bruises everywhere. His whole body ached. All he wanted was to hold Hermione again. He looked about the dungeon used as the training room. He figured he must have gotten knocked out at last night's training session and didn't wake until that morning. Draco stood up and wobbled a bit on his weak legs only to sit down again as the motion made him feel dizzy. He chose to think of Hermione instead.
He was still falling for her. In fact, he had fallen so hard, he doubted that he would ever be the same again. He missed the way she laughed at his jokes and how her eyes sparkled when she smiled at him. He missed the way she thirsted for knowledge so passionately. He missed her boldness and the way she could put him into check so easily. He liked a sense of dominance in a woman. But he mostly missed her. He missed seeing her every morning after his shower and at night just before going to bed. He felt content knowing she was just across the way from him, the only thing separating them being a bathroom. But now he was lonely and depressed. He was in love with Hermione Granger.
He sighed deeply, wondering if he would ever get the guts to tell her. He had known he was in love with her for a while now, but he still had not told her. Maybe it was the fear that she wouldn't feel the same way that kept him back . . .rejection. Draco Malfoy had never before been rejected. But then again, he had never been in love before, either.
Draco stood up again and winced. His whole body ached and his shirt was stiff with dry blood. He rolled up his sleeve to find two new bruises on his forearm. He exited the dungeon and went back up to his room, afraid to Apparate in case his father heard the loud cracking sound one makes when Apparating or Disapparating. He made his way to the bathroom and got ready for a shower. He let the hot water run over his aching body, washing away the blood and dirt left from his training. He examined his shoulder where one particularly large cut was healing. He touched the area gingerly, silently cursing his father for making him go through all of this.
Not for the first time, he wondered if he would just be better off if his father just finished him off. But he immediately shook the thought away. He had to stay strong . . .he had to go back to Hermione. He promised himself that if he survived after Christmas break, he would tell Hermione that he loved her. And with this promise, he gained a new confidence and went to breakfast thinking about his beautiful Hermione.