Disclaimer: I don't own any of the orginial Harry Potter character because I am not that creative...but I wish i was...I only own the plot and my characters.

WE'LL HAVE HALLOWEEN ON CHRISTMAS

Draco just stared at the piece of paper. A single line of text appeared "if you want or need me, just come the door and say Devil's Snare". What was she trying to do? Didn't she understand how hard this was for him especially? Then he remembered the song he was listening to, so he took the CD out and got up and tip toed across the the room to her door. He whispered "Devil's Snare" and opened the door. As he got up next to her bed, he noticed she was already asleep and just beautifully peaceful she was. He placed the CD and a note on her pillow and gently kissed her forehead then left the room. He firmly believe that nothing else in his life would be as hard to do as leaving her room tonight was.

When Hermione awoke the next morning she immediately saw the note and CD. She opened the note which said:

My dear, sweet Hermione, please listen to song #3 so that it may help you to understand what we talked about last night. Please forgive me and see you soon-

Draco

She popped the CD in and recognized it as being "One Thing" by Finger Eleven-

"Restless tonight, cause I wasted the light
Between both these times, I drew a really thin line
It's nothing I planned, and not that I can
But you should be mine, across the line."

"If I traded it all, If I gave it all away for something
Just for one thing, If I sorted it out
If I know all about this one thing
Wouldn't that be something"

"I promise I might, not walk on by
Maybe next time, but not this time
Even though I know, I don't know
Yeah, I guess I know, I just hate how it sounds"

She knew what he was trying to tell her but she still cried. She knew he was probably right but the pain and hurt wouldn't go away. Luckily, it was Saturday so she did not have any classes and didn't come out of her room all day. When everyone had went to dinner, she tip toed down to the lake to watch the water to try to calm herself down. Quietly she sat and thought about her life and friends, wondering why no one had checked on her all day.

Draco knew she hadn't left her room all day as he went to dinner but Anna was standing there with him so he couldn't go check on her. Patiently, he sat through dinner without much of an appetite and then told Anna that he thought he was coming down with a cold or something so he could go back to his room without her tagging along. When he got there, he went straight to her door and gave the password but she wasn't there. Guilt flooded over him like a tidal wave and he began to panic. Ultimately, he opted to go down to the lake to see if he could find her. When he was about 100 yards away he saw her. He approached her carefully, speaking as gently as he could.

"Hermione, are you alright or do you hate me?"

"I'm fine Draco. I just want to be alone." she said with the slightest of a quiver in her voice.

"Please don't hate me. It just wouldn't be right to treat you that way. Can't you see that?" he reasoned.

"Yes," she said," it's just so lonely from this side."

As soon as he saw her tear streaked face he couldn't bear it anymore and he grabbed her and kissed her. The world around them came to a halt and there a hint of a sizzling in the air. In that moment they both realized that there was no going back. Even though it was a chilly night, they were both on fire and when they finally broke apart neither one could speak. No experience in their collective pasts came close to this one. She could still feel his soft, damp lips on hers and he could still feel the heat of her body against his. Speechless, they just stood and stared at each other for a while wondering what exactly this meant.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Draco blurted out and hurried away to the castle.

Hermione regained her composure and walked back up to the castle. When she got there she headed to the Gryffindor Common room to find Ginny, Katie and Cheyan hopefully. Upon seeing her ragged appearance they all jumped up and ran over to her. Questions were flying all around when she told them to calm down that everything was ok and to come back to her room with so she could explain everything. The girls couldn't get back to her room quick enough.

"Ok girls, I want to explain what happened but I can't tell you all everything. But I need some help, ok?" Hermione explained.

"Alright." they all agreed

"For the last two months I've been talking to this guy and everything was going great with our friendship until yesterday. You see I was feeling kind of left out because everyone else had a boyfriend or girlfriend but me and the guy is really good looking and we were having such a good time together that I thought there might be something more." said Hermione

"You mean the vague "i have a friend" situation from a couple of days ago?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah, but anyway, so last night we were talking and I started asking him how he felt about me. He said he liked me and talked about how smart and pretty I am but stated that now wasn't the right time. So, needless to say, I was hurt and disappointed and stayed in my room all day so I wouldn't have to see him. Then when dinner time came, I left the castle and went to the lake. He came looking for me to ask me not to hate him and as I got ready to leave he grabbed me and we kissed. And it was no ordinary kiss. It felt like we had moved the heavens and the earth but the he said he was sorry and practically ran away." she explained,"What did I do wrong?"

"Sounds like the intensity scared him." replied Chey with Ginny and Katie agreeing.

"Who is it Hermione? Was it Simon?" begged Katie.

"Good heavens no..just a friend that will remain nameless." she chanted.

"Ron said that you were stuck with Malfoy to plan the Christmas ball. How is that coming?" asked Katie.

"OK I guess. We decided on a theme last night so now we're working on decorations and the music." said Hermione.

"What's the theme going to be?" chimed all three girls.

"Well I probably shouldn't say but....it's going to be a masquerade and masks the works..."

The conversation then turned to the ball and what they would wear, how they would do their hair and makeup and so on. After an hour or so, Katie and Chey decided to go back to the common room and spend time with the guys. Ginny stayed behind to talk to Hermione.
"What are you planning on doing about this mystery man?" she started off.

"I have no clue. I believe he's sincere in wanting what's best for me but I think that what's best is for him to be with me." she said.

"Who is this guy and why can't you tell anyone about him? I mean, you say that you have been spending time together for a couple of months but I've never seen you with anyone but Simon." Ginny stated pointedly.

"We talk late at night but I can't tell you who because he has a girlfriend and his friends wouldn't approve of me."

"It's Malfoy isn't it, Hermione?" replied Ginny.

"I..um..well you see..." stammered Hermione. What was she supposed to do now??????

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Draco went to the Slytherin common room to think about what had happened. None of his previous experiences had come anywhere near what he had felt just now. He had known for quite sometime that he was changing, he hadn't been to his house for anything in a least a month. All of his thoughts had been consumed with getting rid of Voldemort so he could figure out the rest of his life. But the he started spending more and more time with her. His dreams had begun getting harder and harder to control. Then the conversation last night had opened the door that he had a chance with her. But it wasn't time yet, there was still so much that needed to be done. As he was sitting there deep in thought, Anna come up behind him and put her hands over his face.

"Long time no see." she scolded.
"Just been busy." he replied.
"With the mudblood?" she inquired.
"No, why would you ask me that?" he hissed.
"I thought you might be planning the ball?"
"Oh, no, we did that yesterday." he said.
"So...."
"So what?" asked Draco.
"Aren't you going to ask me to the ball?"
"We'll see." he said with a cunning smile.

Then without another word, he got up and walked out. She was so accessible. No thrill or fun he reasoned with himself. It was just too easy for him. His father wasn't going to be pleased but he didn't care. At that moment he only wanted to be free. Who was he kidding? He wanted THE girl. The BEST girl NOT the best Slytherin. That's when he decided that it was time to shake things up......
When he got back to the Prefects common room, he knocked on both Hermione's and Ron's doors. Ron answered his first and when he saw Malfoy standing there he just glared.

"What do you want?" Ron asked.
"I know you don't like me but I need you to go and get Harry. We all need to talk." he stated politely.
"About what?"
"About Voldemort and the Deatheaters." he answered without emotion.
"What? Why?" stammered Ron.
"I'll explain when you get back." Draco pleaded.

Midway through their conversation, Hermione came out and just smiled. Ron looked completely confused but she just motioned for him to go. Draco turned around, saw her and held up his finger indicating for her to just wait a moment. Hermione did as he requested. Ron turned and left with a shrug of his shoulders. With that Draco turned his attention to her.

"Are we going to tell them about us now?"she asked.
"Maybe, first we have to figure out what to do about Voldemort and the Deatheaters. That threat has to be removed before we can be safe." he replied.

She agreed just as Ron and Harry were returning. Both boys looked confused and skeptical but willing to hear him out. Draco was very nervous but determined to make them understand.

"Let's ge some things straight before we begin...Over the summer, I changed my mind about alot of things including my opinion on you and all your friends. I'm sure that means little to you, Potter, but it is the truth. I would like to help you get rid of Voldemort and his followers including my father. If they're allowed to live, no one will be safe including my family. I realize that it will take time to gain your trust and respect, so I asked you here to see what could be done." Draco finished.

The room was so quiet, you could've heard a pin drop. Hermione decided to help things along and stated,"I believe him guys but I'm sure you have some questions for him. Just remember that he has pretty much left us alone this year."

That point had not gone unnoticed and had prompted several discussions but this was still a great shock to them. Finally, Harry processed what was going on and remembered what Dumbledore had told him earlier this year. "With extreme situations come extreme actions and leaps of faith."

"Alright, Draco, I'll bite. Do you want to go to Dumbledore?" Harry replied.
"Not yet, but soon. I want us to come up with a plan and then tell him but we have to always remember that Voldemort has spies everywhere, so we must be careful."
"Would you be willing to become a spy for us?" Ron countered.
"That might be our only option." he said.
"Nooooo," Hermione yelled,"That's too dangerous. If you are discovered they would kill you."

Harry and Ron both were taken back by the passion in her voice. No it wasn't passion..it was concern..maybe fear. They looked at each other with knowing looks. She was falling for Draco. But how? Why?

"What's going on Hermione?" they both asked in unison.
"I..uh..well you see..." she was trying to think as fast as she could.
"Are you in love with him?" they asked again in unison.
"Well, er...no..uh..but.." she couldn't say what she was thinking but they knew.
"Would you like to explain, Draco?" Harry asked.
"Does it matter?" he responded.
"If something's going on between you two, we need to know because that could unwittingly put her in danger." Ron snapped.
"Nothing has really happened guys but we've become friends. That's all I promise." Hermione answered.
"But you want something more, don't you Draco?" Harry asked.
"Don't answer that, Draco." Hermione cautioned."You guys are supposed to be my friends and I don't get in the middle of you love lives. If I like Draco or Draco likes me, It's our situation to work out, ok?"
"Are you sure we can trust him?" Harry questioned.
"I do. But you all have to make up your own minds." she retorted.

Harry held out his hand to Draco. "I'll give it a go, mate, but don't think for a second that I won't hurt you if you hurt her. Agreed?"
"Absolutely." he said truthfully and with that they all shook hands.

The four of them stayed up all night talking and planning what they should do and opted to tell Dumbledore after Draco talked to his father to see if the plan would work. Hermione was totally against it but the others wouldn't listen. Ultimately, she got up and left with a disgusted look on her face that told all of them that she was pissed. Harry and Ron said goodnight to Draco and told him he should go talk to her.

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He went to her room and knocked on the door but when she didn't answer, he said "Devils Snare" and entered the room. She was on her bed crying. Suddenly, Draco didn't feel so good about his decision. He walked over to CD player and turned on song #3. As the familiar music began she turned to look at him.

"Please don't do this, Draco. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you." Hermione sobbed.

He sat next to her, put his hand on her chin and gently lifted it up so that he was looking in her eyes." If we have any chance of being together in public without fear, this has to to be done. It's better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all. No matter what happens, no one can take away what we've shared." he said openly.

"You're the one, Draco." she said.

"The one what?" he asked confused.

"The one who would steal my heart. You're the one I want to share my entire self with. The one that was meant to change my life forever." she whispered.

"I'm not deserving of you. You could do so much better than me. Despite all my cruelty and mistakes, you would still give me your heart?" he questioned.

"Without question. Everyone makes mistakes but it takes a real man to ask for forgiveness and change without fear of the consquences." she said proudly. Then she gently pulled him to her and kissed him with all the passion that was in her heart. This time he didn't pull away, he gave way to all his dreams and let her into his own heart. After a few minutes when they were just laying together in her bed, he whispered in her ear,"I'll always protect you and most of all I'll always love you." She tightened her grip on his arm and replied," I love you too." And with that they both fell to sleep and dreamed of a happy ending for themselves.
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In Ron's room, him and Harry were discussing what had just happened. They didn't know what to make of it except that if Draco did what he said he would, then they might actually have a chance to defeat him. But what about Hermione? Draco could get himself killed this way and if that happened, would she hate Harry and him? They hated to admit it but they were actually starting to like Draco. Who would have ever thought? They were going to have to talk to Hermione alone, hopefully, convincing her that this was all necessary and they would do everything they could to keep Draco safe.

As Draco woke up the next morning, he realized that what happened last night was not a dream because he was still holding on to Hermione. For the longest time he just laid there watching her sleep. Memorizing every curve and bump-mentally casting this moment into stone in his mind. It was Sunday and they didn't have to be anywhere until this evening, so he began kissing her ever so gently first on the shoulder and then the neck. He marvelled at the sight of goosebumps on her arms and the hardening of her chest. She was like a flower ready to bloom and he was the sun coaxing her along. He then began lightly tracing the outline of her curves, growing more and more hungry with each slight moan or twitch. Do I stop or continue, he asked himself? His desire was ready to make itself known but was this too fast? Would she think he had taken advantage of her and hate him? The answer would present itself momentarily........
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The most haunting song began to play in the background and Draco stopped to listen. Something about the man and woman's voices made him lose all concentration on Hermione's body and instead caused him to look into her eyes.
"I wanted you to know, I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high, to steal you pain away
I keep your photograph, and I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal you pain away."

The man was singing his thoughts and hopefully the woman was singing Hermione's..

"The worst is over now and we can breathe again
I wanna hold you high, you steal my pain away
There's so much left to learn and no one left to fight
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away."

Please let it be true. He would make her body the temple, to be worshipped but not spoiled (at least not right now).

"Cause I'm broken, when I'm open
And I don't feel I am strong enough
Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away."

He kissed her gently and said,"I'll be right back. I'm going to grab breakfast before something happens that we can't take back."

The final chorus of the song echoed in her head, making her doubt her new found love....

"Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel right when you're gone away
You're gone away, you don't feel me anymore."
By the time draco returned, Hermione had gotten up and was dressed. She looked so beautiful in just a pair of hip hugger jeans and tight tee shirt with the word "Angel" printed on it. He had brought her some muffins and pumpkin juice for her to eat since she had missed breakfast. Her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail and all he could do was stare.

"That's what I'll call you." Draco said.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Angel." he stated while pointing to her shirt.
"Very funny."
"No, seriously, you're my angel. It's because of you that all this is happening." he replied knowing that he hadn't told about his dream over the summer.
"Ok, Romeo, is that for me?" she joked and pointed at the food.
"of course, nothing but the best for my ANGEL."
"Stop it." she said as she grabbed the juice.
"You know that we still have to finish planning the ball."
"Yes, but that also brings us to an unpleasant reality." he groaned.
"You mean the fact that you have to take Anna?"
"Maybe, I could go stag?" he suggested.
"Wouldn't that make your father angry?" she asked.
"Maybe but I don't think he will question it after I talk to him." he stated trying to avoid eye contact with her.
"Why, what are you going to tell him that would distract him from you not taking your fiancee to the ball? she asked with a hint of suspicion.
"Please don't be angry," he whispered,"but I'm going to agree to train to be a deatheater. I am just going to tell him that she's a distraction to something more important. He will understand."

At those words, Hermione sat down on her bed feeling defeated. Why won't anyone listen to her? If they go through with this someone is going to get hurt or maybe even killed and she couldn't bear that.
"Hermione, you're going to have to accept this once and for all. We can ru and hide or stand and fight. Everyone has lost someone to Voldemort. Death is his signature. Some of us may die but it won't be in vain. Would you rather it be Harry or Ron or even yourself? This is a rare opportunity to try to get the upperhand. I am the only one who can do this and I'll do it with or without your support. Are you with me?" he asked.

"I don't want anyone to get hurt but if this is the price I have to pay to feel what I do when I'm with you, I will." then she got up and went over to the CD player, turned it on and sat in Draco's lap. Having anticipated this moment, she was able to sit and listen as the song began to play."I was listening to this song before you came back and since it seems we express our feelings with songs, I thought you should hear this one."

He listened and thought about how much he had changed in the last few months. Until this past summer, he hadn't even heard muggle music and now it seemed it was all he listened to. When the man's voice began singing, he was taken by the deepness of it. Almost a crying but very masculine all the same.

"This is my life, it's not what it was before
All these feelings I've shared,
And these are my dreams, that I've never lived before
Somebody wake me 'cause I must be dreaming"

"Now that we're here, it's so far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
And all the mistakes, one life contained
They all finally start to go away
Now that we're hear, it's so far away
And now I feel I can face the day
And I can forgive, and I'm not ashamed to be the person that I am today"

"These are my words, that I've never said before
I think I'm doing okay, and this is my smile
That I've never shown before
Somebody shake me 'cause I must be sleeping"

"I'm so afraid of waking, please don't shake me"

When the song ended, Draco lifted his head from her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. There was so much emotion behind those stunning blue eyes and Hermione knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth......
"Thank you." he almost cried. It was in that instant that they both understood what had to done and how important they were not only to the order but to each other. Draco kissed her softly and excused himself to his room. He had a letter to write and wanted to be alone while he did it. The words just wouldn't come to him as he sat at his desk and stared at the parchment. He took a deep breath and with the quill in his hand scribbled a small note:

Father-

I have decided to become a deatheater. Please let me know where and when I begin. I cannot spend anymore time with Anna right now because it's too hard to concentrate on everything else. Tell the Dark Lord that I am honored to be of service to him.

Your son-
Draco

He then rolled the parchment, put a spell on it so that no one but his father could read it and sent his owl off to deliver the message. Darco looked at the time and saw it was 6:00pm and dinner was being served. Suddenly, there was a knock at his door....
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"Draco, are you going down to dinner or do you want to come with me?" a familiar voice echoed from outside.
He got up and went to the door. After he opened it, he saw Hermione standing there with the biggest grin and her CD player in hand. "Where are you going?"
"Oh, to a quiet little place I know of, we could have dinner brought to us there with the help of a couple of house elves I know."
"A quiet place, huh. And what will we do there?" he raised an eyebrow as he replied.
"I..ah..just wanted to spend some more time with you and well..plan the ball." she stammered.

She lead him to the Room of Requirement where everything was already set up. Doby and Winky had done a terrific job especially considering the short notice. There was a small table with two place settings in what would appear to be the finest china and crystal. The lighting was soft with lots of candles and the aroma of lavender and lilas. Hermione walked over to an end table and put down the CD player and pushed play. She turned to Draco and motioned for him to sit down. The music was soft and spoke of undying love and devotion. Lost love and love found. She explained that the bands were from the 70's and 80's and were favorites of her parents but she always had a special place in her heart for them. One of the CD was from a group called Chicago and her favorite song was "You're the Inspiration". The music was good during dinner but kinda reminded him of music he had heard in the big buildings in the elevators. They had a nice dinner and then headed to a huge, fluffy couch to relax when the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"Thanks for dinner. I wasn't really in the mood to go to the Great Hall." he told her.
"Well don't thank me just yet." she replied,"I do have alterior motives."
"What might that be?" he asked.
"I know we can't go to the ball together but I thought maybe we could meet here afterwards and have our own private ball?"
"Anything for you." he told her.
"Really, I'll take care of everything." she exclaimed.

For the rest of the evening, they just laid there, listening to music and holding each other close. Quite to Hermione's suprise, Draco was never anything but a gentleman but with the impending possibility of losing him to Voldemort, Hermione wanted to make that evening so special that they would wish it never had to end....