Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Karana Belle: Thank you for your review. It made me feel a lot better about the last chapter I wrote.

chammoro: Thank you for reviewing. I love when Draco is sweet once in a while.

chikiro: Thanks! I'm glad that people appreciate my story because it's original.

ShadowlessGirl: Here's the next chapter as promised.

periwrinklemagic: I'll try to not change a thing. Thanks so much for your review.

Jocelyn Padoga: Wow, thanks. I'm very happy that you like my story so much.

Alexis: You'll find out who she is in this chapter.

SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03: Your quest to find out who Mark's mother is at an end. Go on and read to find out.

Siria: You're right. Not many people seemed to catch on to the second-generation romance that is budding.

adam16699920: Here's your update. Enjoy!

D/HR SHiPPER: Yes, everybody is anxiously waiting to find out who Ron's wife will be. It will be answered in this chapter. I will fix the mistake soon. By the way he's supposed to be a red head.

Chapter 11

Hermione pulled her scarf closer to her face, as she walked through the crowded streets of Hogsmeade. She jumped up and down trying to see over people's heads, but only succeeded in her losing her balance and falling down on the ground hard.

A hand was extended in front of her. "You ok Hermione?"

"I'm fine Susan, thanks," Hermione said looking up at the grinning girl.

"No problem. Who are you looking for?" The younger girl asked.

Hermione brushed the dust off of her clothes. "Harry, Ron, and Ginny."

"Oh." A flicker of emotion sparked Susan's eyes. "Mind if I join you?"

"No problem." Hermione said laughing. "I did promise you that you could hang out with me and the others."

The two of them ran to the Three Broomsticks, where Harry and the others were waiting for Hermione to arrive.

"I'm here." Hermione announced, as soon as she arrived at where her friends were sitting.

Ron handed her a butterbeer. "Who's your friend?"

"Who?" Hermione asked, confused for a moment. "Oh, everyone this is Susan. She's the girl I've been tutoring these past few weeks."

Harry brought another chair for Susan to sit on, and joined in on the conversation the others were having.

Harry asked, after taking a seat. "What took you so long?"

"I was finishing up my Christmas shopping, before I came here," Hermione said, pointing to the numerous bags.

Ginny tried to peer inside one of the bags, but was stopped by Hermione. She sighed. "I wonder why the last Hogsmeade trip was cancelled."

Ron shrugged. "Don't know. The professors refused to tell us anything about the reason."

"Dean even got detention for asking Professor Snape about it," Hermione said.

"Yeah, but that might be because he's Snape. He gives out detention all the time to students," Said Harry.

Hermione looked skeptical. "Maybe."

Before anyone could say anything in response, Draco walked over to where Hermione and the others were talking animatedly.

Ginny gave him a cold look. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"

"I have something to talk to Potter about," Draco said smirking.

Harry glared at him. "I don't have anything to talk to you about."

"Really?" Draco said, leaning against the table behind him. "I haven't finished my part of the deal. Unless you want me to talk about it here."

Harry stole a glance at the confused Ginny and said, "Fine I'll be right out." He turned to face the others. "I'll be back in a few minutes."

'Stage one complete.' Hermione thought amused, as she watched Harry leave. 'Now for my part of the plan.' She tapped Ginny on the shoulder. "Could we talk in private?"

"Sure," The redhead answered, having a good idea of what Hermione was going to say.

Ginny put her hands on her hips. "So, what did you want to talk about Mione?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "The thing is I-oh, Ginny I'll be right back. I left my um...notebook at the Three Broomsticks."

"I'm sure-" Ginny managed to get out before Hermione started to go back to where the others were.

"Wait for me at the new quidditch store. I'll be right back!" Hermione said, before she was completely out of view.

Hermione silently laughed and headed to the park. 'I can't believe the plan worked.' She thought excited. 'Now all I have to do is find Malfoy.'

"Finally decided to come?" Draco said, lounging on a bench.

"Yes, Malfoy I have," Hermione said calmly, taking a seat next to him. "Were you able to make Harry go to the quidditch store like we planned."

"You promised that we'd use each other's first names. Oh and of course I did," He said, then added jokingly. "Although I had to gag and drag him all the way there."

Hermione shook her head. "You're so immature."

Draco put his hand on his chest, with a hurt look on his face. "That really hurt you know that?"

"Of course," She said. "And Harry sleeps with a teddy bear at night."

"He does?" Draco said and pretended to write it down in an imaginary notebook.

Hermione stopped herself from laughing and instead stared down at her lap. 'At times like this he seems so...normal.'

"Think it's about time to head over to the store?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, Let's go." Hermione said getting up.

As they were heading over to the shop, Hermione couldn't help herself from asking. "How did you manage to get the store empty for today?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Draco said, taking a pair of gloves out of his jacket. "My family owns the store."

"Oh..." Hermione trailed off.

Draco got his wand off, about to take the charm off the lock. "Ready?"

Hermione nodded in response. "Yeah, but you should go inside first. I'll follow in five."

"Sure." Draco headed inside the brightly lit store.

Hermione tapped her foot impatiently waiting for the five minutes to be up. 'I wonder if this actually worked. I really hope it did.'

Guessing it was about time, she slowly went into the shop. "Ginny, you there?"

"Yeah I'm here," Ginny said, her facing showing the faintest blush.

Hermione smiled. "Sorry I took that long. I couldn't find my notebook."

"Oh Hermione, that's horrible," Said Ginny. "What was it you were going to tell me?"

"That's not that important anymore," Hermione said to a confused Ginny.

They walked out of the store and hurried to the Three Broomstick, where Ron and Susan were talking.

"We're back," The redhead said.

"Hey. What took you so long?" Ron asked.

Hermione stopped Ginny before she said anything. "Girl talk, nothing that would interest you."

"Ok," Ron said, facing Susan again to finish up their conversation about the Chudley Cannons.

The day was nearly over and the students were ushered to their dormitories. As soon as Hermione reached the Head's common room, she plopped onto the couch.

"Ouch!" Someone exclaimed from under her.

Hermione leapt up, face red. "I am so sorry Malfoy."

"That's all right." He said sitting up. "What happened to calling each other by first names?"

"Sorry, I forgot. It's more of a habit really, I'm used to calling you Malfoy and you calling me Granger," Hermione said, sheepishly.

Hermione yawned, when Draco said, "Don't you find it strange that we haven't fought in weeks?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, her eyes threatening to close.

Draco laughed. "I mean before, we couldn't even stand being in the same room with each other."

Hermione headed towards the stairs, feeling a bit awkward. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight." She continued up the stairs and into her room. She instantly fell asleep as she hit the mattress.

--------A few months later---------

Ron and Harry burst into the Head's common room yelling Happy Christmas. Hermione groaned as she walked out her room. "Must you two be so loud?"

"Mione it's Christmas, lighten up," Ron said, enlarging the presents he brought over.

Hermione rubbed her eyes. "What are you guys doing here anyway?"

Harry handed her a gift. "We came here to open up the presents together. It's always more fun to do it as a group."

"You sure?" Hermione asked doubtful, as she watched Ron rip one present after another like a wild animal.

"Of course," Harry said, excitedly opening up a gift from Ginny. It turned out to be a miniature quidditch model.

"Aren't you going to thank me for it?" Ginny asked.

Harry looked surprised. "I thought you were still asleep."

"I wanted to see your face when you opened my present," Ginny said as her face reddened.

Harry kissed her before saying, "Thanks a lot. You don't know how much this means to me."

Hermione watched the happy couple wistfully.

They finished opening their gifts, the ground around them a mass of wrapping paper. Draco came out of his room shocked. "What did you do here, have a wrapping paper war?"

"Don't be silly Draco," Hermione said. "Let's go eat breakfast. I'm starving."

"I'll catch up with you guys later," Draco said, watching the crew head to the Great Hall.

Once breakfast was over, they headed outside to the lake. Ginny sighed. "I wish that it would snow."

"Yeah, a white Christmas is always nice," Harry agreed.

Luna gave them all a mysterious smile. "They say when two people kiss and the first snow of winter falls afterwards, that they are each other's true loves."

"And where did you read that?" Draco said, smirking.

Luna whipped out a magazine. "In the latest copy of "The Quibbler" of course."

Hermione showed her disapproval of the magazine, but inside she wondered if it were really true.

Ron got up, receiving strange looks from the others. "I have to go to the library and study."

"Study? But Ron you never-" Ron was gone before, Harry had the time to finish.

Ginny crossed her arms. "Don't you think my brother is acting strangely lately?"

"Yeah." Hermione said, knowing where this might lead to. "What are you proposing to do?"

"Tail him," Said Ginny.

Harry frowned. "I don't know. Ron would be mad if he finds out we followed him."

"I'll be mad if we don't follow him," Ginny said pouting slightly.

Harry sighed. "Come on, let's go."

Ginny got up happily and followed Harry inside, Luna was trailed right behind them. To Hermione's surprise, Draco also stood up and went towards the castle. She reluctantly followed the rest of them to the library.

"Where do you think he is?" Harry asked nervously.

Ginny turned around to where Hermione was standing. "Mione, does this place have any secret rooms?

She nodded. "Yes, but all those rooms need keys."

"Except for one," Draco said. "There's this room called Lover's Paradise."

Hermione raised an eyebrow, but said, "I'm sure you visited this place quite often."

"In the past, yes," He said, his eyes void of any emotion.

Ginny looked at Draco and Hermione. "So where exactly is this Lover's Paradise?"

Draco pointed to a niche behind an empty bookcase. "Move the book case and there should be a invisible switch on the wall that will open the door."

Harry walked over to the bookcase and did what he was told. He jumped aside as the wall opened and revealed a candlelit hallway. He signaled the others to come over.

They walked into the corridor silently, their ears trying to hear any sound that might be made. Their trip stopped as they reached a pink washed door.

"So what do we do now?" Harry said.

"We could open the door quickly and try to catch Ron in the act." Hermione said, jokingly.

"That's not a bad idea," Said Ginny. She clutched the doorknob and pushed the door open.

The scene that lay before them, made them gape in shock. Pansy and Ron were snogging on in the candlelit room.

Ginny managed to say. "What are you doing?!"

The two sprang apart at the voice. Ron looked at Ginny frightened, surprised, and angry all at the same time. "I can explain."

"Really?" Luna said.

"Yes," Said Ron, running his hand through his hair. "You know how I was assigned to be Pansy's partner for the potions' project. Well at first it was horrible, we fought over everything, but then one day it all changed..."

"What happened?" Hermione said, still not quite over the shock.

Draco smirked. "Do you really want to know?"

Hermione stared at Draco. "You knew? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I promised I wouldn't." Draco said shrugging. "Don't glare at us. Listen, if we ended up being friends. What's to stop Pansy and Ron from going out?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I guess you're right."

After another thirty minutes of convincing Ginny, she finally gave up trying to make Ron give up on Pansy. "Fine, but if you're not happy. Don't come crying to me because I'll only tell you that I told you so." Ginny told Ron.

Ron grinned. "Don't worry I won't."

The rest of the day past quickly and it was soon nearing midnight. They bid each other good night and went to their dorms.

Hermione instead of heading to her room, went up to the astronomy tower. She gazed out into the distance. 'There sure are a lot of stars tonight.' She spun around when she felt someone place a cloak on her.

"Hey." Draco said. "You should go back inside you'll catch a cold."

"Later. I don't get sick very easily anyway," Hermione said.

Draco leaned on the railing. "Still wish it were a white Christmas?"

"Not really, snow isn't what makes Christmas Christmas." She grinned. "Although it would have been nice."

"Why don't we try to make it snow then?" Draco asked, casually.

Hermione looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

"We're under a piece of mistletoe." Draco said, pointing above them.

The brunette blushed. "I guess we are. I'm going to go back inside."

Draco grabbed her wrist. "Christmas is not over yet. We still have time for a white Christmas."

Hermione stared into Draco's stormy gray eyes. She stood there entranced, when Draco leaned in and their lips met. He was about to pull away, when she caught his lips again. This time, finally letting loose all the emotions she had kept secret from him.

They parted, panting slightly. Hermione flushed. "We'd better get back inside."

Draco's words stopped her midstride. "I think I'm madly in love with you."

A flake of snow fell onto Hermione's nose, she turned back around slowly. Her face was blank for a moment, but then shown in happiness. She walked back over to him and held his hand. "Let's go inside."

Hermione bid Draco goodnight and walked into her room, feeling lightheaded. 'I just kissed Draco Malfoy and he told me he loves me!' After changing into her pajamas, she crawled into bed smiling, as fell into a deep slumber.

A soft thud was heard form Draco's room. The door opened slowly, and he walked out of his out into the dark common room, eyes flashing red.

A/N: I think that was the longest chapter I've written for Matchmaking yet. Did you like it? Did you hate it. Don't forget to read and review.