Chapter7

"Draco, don't rush into this. It's a very complicated potion! And very dangerous! If we make it wrong then you'll be poisoned! Plus, Snape will have our heads for trying that potion without adult supervision." Hermione excused.

"I don't care. It's worth it to find her."

"Draco! Listen to yourself! Don't you even realize she might be trying hard for you not to find her? Have you even considered her feelings?" Hermione pointed out.

Draco stopped working on his cauldron.

"No. Your right. Ill just give her some time." Draco said defeated.

Hermione could see a tear form in Draco's eye. He was hurting so bad. She had to fight back her own tears. Instead she just ran to her room, hoping he could not hear her sniffles or see her tears finally fall. She was crying so hard. She didn't know why. She spent the night tossing and turning in bed, thinking of nothing but how she managed to hurt him.

Hermione woke up, a plan formulated in her head. She had decided to ignore Draco. It was the only way she could see that her plan would work. She decided that she would stop helping him and get back to the things she had left off. Like the library and her friends.

Ginny POV

Hermione now spent more time at the library or the Gryffindor tower room then needed. She was almost always there. Harry and Ron got surprised when she did but was happy in her company so just dropped the subject. Ginny however suspected her.

"So, Hermione. Do you want to go to the burrow for Christmas?" Ginny asked happily, trying to hide her suspicion. 'I could ask her there. Then she wouldn't have an escape.' She thought

"Yeah Hermione! It could be great!" Ron chipped in.

"Yeah. Im going! So is Cho! She said she wanted to see Me." added Harry.

"I don't know. I have heads duties during Christmas. Remember when Percy was head boy? He had to stay at Hogwarts. Ill have to ask, but most probably not, because of Dr...I mean special circumstances." Hermione hurriedly changed the subject.

Hermione had ignored Draco until it was almost time for Christmas break. She ran every step he came close, she always rushed to her room, she always got up at the crack of dawn to avoid him and she always got back late at night when he was asleep. Inside it was hurting her. She was just hurting him even more and that was the cause of her problems. She didn't know what to do anymore.

Draco POV

'Why is she ignoring me? Did I do anything wrong?' he thought.

'No, but why do you care?' said a nasty little voice in his head.

'I don't.' he reassured.

'Yeah right.'

'Leave me alone!' he said to himself a little annoyed.

Draco had grown tired of being ignored by Hermione so started doing the ignoring himself. He heard her cry at night. He wondered why, but never got the courage to ask so he dismissed it.

The night before Christmas Eve, she heard her cry. Not during the night either. She was crying her eyes out for the entire day. He felt sorry. He rushed to Dumbledore's office. After a while he left and ran to the carriages. He rode one to Hogsmeade and entered shop after shop.

One day before Christmas, Draco sent his owl with a package. He smirked and thought, 'this will make her feel better.'

Hermione POV

She had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas break; Ginny had decided to keep her company and stayed as well. She woke up, her eyes puffy from crying. She didn't know why, but Draco was really affecting her. The image of him getting hurt was all she could stand before breaking down into tears.

After a shower, she saw a pile of gifts at the bottom of her bed. She opened them and a small smile was now in place. She had received such wonderful gifts. Ginny had given her a diary that wrote back and gave advice, Ron had given her a quidditch book, and Harry had given her a firebolt. She knew how to fly now and was now a reserve player in the Gryffindor team because she could play any position well. She was happy with Mrs. Weasley's regular fade away blue to light blue turtle-neck sweater and Brownies and mince pies. She was however, curious on who would give her the small silver box she found on her desk. It was a box like the one you see in movies that usually is filled with a engagement ring.

She opened it cautiously and found a beautiful pure white-silver necklace. The pendant was a silver outline of a heart with a blue diamond in the middle of the heart. It looked like it belonged to an Ice Queen. It was beautiful. She looked around for a letter and found a small note attached on the lid of the small box.

Sorry, Friends? –Draco

Even if it was short, Hermione smiled. Her first true smile in weeks. She didn't know why, but Draco reconciling with her brought her pure happiness. She headed to her mirror to pick out her clothes.

It showed her in her now, fitting blue fade-away sweater and black jeans. Her hair was in a half ponytail that had a few strands loose on her face. Her hair was slightly curled at the bottom. She smiled in satisfaction and said,

"Chosen."

Draco POV

He woke up and took a shower, not minding his presents. He headed to the common room. He knew all the presents he had received already without opening it. He simply waved his wand and found all his guesses correct. A firebolt, a couple hundreds of galleons, a black book, a new sweater and a silver choker.

He quickly threw on a fitted black shirt and light brown colored cargo pants and put on his silver chocker. He walked down the steps to the common room, waiting.

He headed down and sat on the couch staring into the fire. He was nervous, really nervous. He didn't know why but he really wanted Hermione to be his friend again.

He heard someone heading down the stairs. He turned his head and saw Hermione heading down. She was so beautiful. She was also smiling. He didn't know why. Weren't they in a fight? Suddenly, he noticed it.

He saw the necklace he bought her around her neck and smiled as well. She came closer to him and gave him a big hug. He was only too happy to respond. Without him noticing, his heart was beating faster and faster because of the close proximity of Hermione.

"Friends." She whispered in his ear.

It was only one word but it meant more to him then anyone could possibly imagine.

"Friends." He said smiling.

Hermione POV

They hugged again and Hermione could feel tears fall from her eyes. She was crying. Crying out of happiness.

The just hugged and was away in their own little world. They didn't notice the snow storm outside their window. They didn't notice that it was below 10 degrees and they were not even wearing cloaks. They didn't notice the temperature in their common room. They didn't notice. Most of all they didn't notice the portrait hole opening.

To them, that day was a day of reconciliation. A day of forgiveness and peace. And a day wherein all problems begin to blossom as a red headed girl walks in at the exact moment.

Authors note: if you cannot picture the necklace, send me a message and ill post a picture of it...