:: Chapter Twenty-Two: A Blanket Of White ::

The first day back to Hogwarts was much like all the other first days before, everyone acted as if they had never left and many people still frowned upon the presence of Draco Malfoy in the castle. The relationship between the two school rivals had been kept somewhat quiet. The days before classes were drawing near and they still had much to do, lessons to prepare, old papers to grade and for Draco he had lessons to catch up on. Thankfully Potions was one of his best subjects in school.

A few moments before dinner was about to begin, all of the professors were conversing in the Great Hall. Almost instantly Hermione was engrossed in a conversation with her old classmate and Gryffindor alumni, Parvarti Patil, Draco was pushed aside as the girls gossiped.

"So, Hermione… You and our new Potions Master seem to be very chummy." Parvarti said with a smile.

"Parvarti! What are you getting at?" Hermione asked stunned.

"I'm just saying that he seems different from the Malfoy I knew… And I think you're responsible."

"What in the world would make you think that?" Hermione asked appalled.

"Hermione, I've seen the way you keep looking at him, and the way he keeps looking at you. I swear, as soon as you two are alone he's going to snog you senseless."

"That's quite enough Parvarti Patil, I'm going to talk to other people now." She said swiftly.

"You mean Draco."

"Shut up." Hermione said before making her way over to the aforementioned man. "We have ourselves an audience."

"How so?" He asked.

"Parvarti suspects something."

"It's not a sin for people to know 'Mione."

"Draco, if people knew, Harry would find out." She nearly whispered.

"And all of this would be over."

"And, my best friend would hate me." Draco sighed deeply and Hermione's heart lurched. "I'm so sorry."

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Headmistress Minerva McGonagall called. "Dinner will beginning momentarily so I suggest you all take your seats now before the students begin filing in." She left the room leaving the professors to find their own seats. Hermione was seated between Draco and Parvarti who laughed a little at the seating arrangement. Hermione elbowed her friend before smiling at her.

"I told you so." Parvarti whispered.

"Be quiet." Hermione hissed as the first few students filed in.

The students all took their seats and Headmistress McGonagall stood up to make an opening announcement.

"Now I know most of you are aware of the absence of our Potions Master and Head of Slytherin. Mister Draco Malfoy has kindly offered to take the spots. So please all treat him with respect and please disregard all rumours you may have heard about him." A small smirk coated her lips and Hermione and a few other staff members bit back a laugh. However a somewhat offended look graced his face. "Let dinner begin." She announced as food appeared on the table. Dinner was filled with polite chatter and conversations that didn't go anywhere. Hermione was relieved to be back in her own room and was nearly falling asleep on her favourite book. She was curled up on the couch in her room with a book propped up on her knee. A soft knock was heard on her door and she didn't even need to answer the door to know who was there.

"Draco, you don't need to knock." She called gently without even opening her eyes.

"Hello."

"What's up?" She asked setting her book down on a nearby table.

"Honestly, I'm nervous."

"Excuse me… Could you repeat that for me?"

"Malfoys don't repeat themselves."

"Not even to their girlfriends?" She pouted playfully.

"I'm nervous."

"I still can't believe that." She laughed. "That tough little twit I grew up with is nervous about teaching a simple little class."

"You've warped me. And anyways I know how vicious those little brats can be, I was one of them."

"But… There's always students like me in classes."

"True, but they're all in Gryffindor."

"The potions positions are biased aren't they?"

"A little…"

Hermione got into her bed and curled up facing Draco. He got in and curled up beside her. They slept soundly and awoke in the morning, the first Saturday before the second term began. And finally, the first snow fluttered to the ground. The sunlight flowed into the room and the bright rays of the sun glistened off the snow sending its vibrant rays into Hermione's room. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked outside to see a beautiful white coating on the ground outside.

"Draco wake up…" She shook him gently. He stirred before opening his eyes to glare at her.

"'Mione, it's Saturday, can't I sleep please?"

"It snowed." She stated with a bright smile.

"So?"

"We're going to make a snowman." Draco knew it would be pointless to fight with her over this so he got up from the bed and dressed himself for the cold weather. They left the castle and were surprised to see some students outside already. They found a secluded spot and Hermione immediately got to work. She started with a simple snowball before rolling it around in the snow, watching as the size increased.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Hermione asked after Draco just stood their watching her do all the work.

"Not at all… You just need to let me actually do something you little perfectionist."

"Shut up." She said throwing a smaller snowball at him. It hit him square in the nose. Before long a full out snowball fight had escaladed between the two and it had drawn the attention of some nearby students. After being pelted continuously Draco finally tackled Hermione, pinning her against the cold, snowy ground. The snowball fight was paused for a moment and the two just stared at each other, awaiting the others next move. After a moment Draco captured her lips in his, unaware of the eyes of nearly a dozen students watching them.