A/N: Hey everyone! How you all doing? That's good. Well I have completed my trilogy… and boy it was hard to say goodbye to it as it is was in my life for a long time. Anyway, onto this story… the ending will be hard the write, but I don't know how far away that is…

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the plot.

Chapter Twelve: Christmas

"Draco… Draco…Draco," came a distant angelic voice, "Come on sleepy head… we have much to do today."

Draco rolled onto his back and opened his eyes a crack to be welcomed by a smiling face. Draco half smiled and sat up.

"What time is it?" mumbled Draco rubbing a hand over his eyes to get rid of the sleep.

"Eight in the morning," replied Hermione, "My parents have gone to work for a few hours. Mum said we could go to the cinemas or spend time here at home watching television."

"Television… is that, that big grey rectangle thing your parents were watching last night when we went down to say goodnight?"

Hermione nodded smiling at him, how he loved that smile and how he was going to miss that smile, "I made us breakfast too… do you want to come and eat it now?"

"Sure," smiled Draco standing up and following Hermione out of the bedroom and down the staircase to the kitchen.

Sitting on the table were two plates with bacon, eggs and toast with glasses of orange juice – not pumpkin juice noticed Draco.

"It's not much," said Hermione as they sat down and started eating, "Probably not like what you eat at your home."

"It's perfect. Don't you like pumpkin juice?"

"I drink it, but I'm not fond of it. My parents hate it when I returned from Hogwarts they had a jug full of it for me and they wondered why I never drank it till I told them I don't like it that much."

Draco smiled, "Well its all my mother allows me to drink at home, but I sneak the occasional orange juice when she's not around."

Hermione chuckled, "Very Slytherin of you."

"Well it is my nature. That is why I was put there."

"Do you like being in Slytherin?"

"It's okay. But when I think about it, I would never trade anyone to change houses… not that you can do such a thing, but do you get what I mean?"

"Yes. That's how I feel about Gryffindor. Sure it gets noisy and the first years are pains at times, but Gryffindor… suits me. Anyway, so what do you want to do today?"

!D!

Hermione pulled on her winter jacket and wrapped her scarf around her neck. Draco held her gloved hand as they stepped out into the snow-covered yard. Both had decided they would go to Digion Alley for the day to do some shopping and well, be around familiar surroundings for Draco seeing as he didn't have a clue about anything in the muggle world. Hermione spent the night before trying to explain to Draco what a CD player does, how the telephone operates (after Hermione had spoken to her Grandmother), what a microwave does and why it makes a noise when it finishes. Draco stuck his wand out and waited for a few seconds till the familiar bang filled the air.

"Are you sure you want to catch the bus?" asked Draco, "Why don't we walk?"

"It's to cold to walk… with the bus, sit up the back with your chair against the wall," replied Hermione, "Oh and grip onto the bar tightly."

Stand Shunpike stepped off the bus, "Where too?"

"Digion Alley," answered Draco handing over two galleons.

"Right then. We can get you there in abou' three stops."

"Thankyou."

Draco stepped onto the bus and found Hermione up the back, against the wall, positioned so she could hold onto the bar. Draco slid a chair over to beside hers.

"Have you ever been on this bus?" asked Hermione curiously.

"No… why?" asked Draco, "I've just heard of it and how to call it."

"Well, I have and you were will want something to grip onto."

"Wh-"

Before Draco could finish that sentence the Knight Bus began moving with a loud crack and Draco was thrown back with such force his head cracked hard on the wall behind him. Once the bus was moving more… smoothly Draco dared move his arm and rub the back of his head.

"Told you," smiled Hermione, "You okay?"

"Just fine."

"Hold tight," said Hermione as the bus slammed into a stop.

Draco grabbed his chair, only to have it tip forward on him, crashing him to the floor with a loud, "Oomph!"

"Draco! Are you hurt?" cried a worried Hermione kneeling down beside him.

Draco sat up and looked at Hermione, "Let's never catch this bus again."

!D!

Finally after one more falling off the seat, Draco and Hermione entered the Leaky Cauldron, walking straight through to the familiar Digion Alley. Draco watched as Hermione breathed in a happy breath and squeezed his hand happily. Draco knew Hermione loved Digion Alley, just from the look of excitement on her pale face.

"Where too first?" asked Draco.

"Flourish and Blotts, "replied Hermione without a thought.

"Thought so."

Hermione pulled over to the bookstore smiling happily, even though she was slightly shivering in the cool breeze. Draco entered the warm shop behind her and felt the warmth seep through his skin.

"So what book do you want?" asked Draco looking around at the stacks of books on shelves, piles stacked to the ceiling looking as if one guts of wind would knock them over.

"A diary."

"A diary?"

"Well a journal, even though it's the same thing."

"I know that, I just want to know why you want one."

Hermione looked at Draco with a look that said 'don't pretend you don't know why'. Draco looked away from her, yes sometimes it did leave his mind she was dying, but then Hermione would say or do something that would bring it all crashing back to him.

"Draco, fancy seeing you here."

Draco and Hermione spun around to see a tall, thin blonde haired women dressed in top of the range robes.

"Mother. How have you been?" replied Draco politely, though he could feel Hermione tense up beside him with nervousness.

"Very well. I take it this is the girl you're dating? The one that is dying?"

"Err Draco, I'll just be looking at some journals," spoke up Hermione before looking at Draco's mother, "Nice to finally meet you Mrs Malfoy. Your robes are lovely."

Draco kissed Hermione on the cheek before she hurried off. He turned back to his mother, glaring at her in disgust. How could this women act the way she does? He couldn't believe it! Never before had she come across to him, the way she was! And all he could see before him was a bitch of a pureblood!

"How could you say such a thing?" snapped Draco, "Hermione has done nothing to you to make you act like that! In fact after you made her feel worthless, she was polite to you and even complimented you. Had I been in her shoes I would've hexed you to Mexico, back again then hexed you to be sucked into Jupiter!"

"Draco, don't you speak to me like that!"

"Why should I treat you any different when you can't even be civil to the women I love. She may be dying but at least people will remember her for her good soul, whereas you will be only remembered for being the biggest pure-blooded BITCH on this planet… go and rot with father, you two really do deserve each other."

With out another glance at his mother, Draco turned and went to find Hermione, leaving a very stunned Narcissa behind, with people looking at her smugly – many of them had wanted to do something like that to her or her husband, but none dreamt it would be their own son.

!D!

Draco found Hermione clutching a book with a red cover in her hands. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder startling her. She looked up at him with dried tearstains evident on her pale smooth cheeks. Instantly Draco pulled her into a hug, while she cried into his chest.

"Shh… it'll be okay," whispered Draco, "Forget about her Hermione. She will be the one who will miss out on meeting someone so beautiful inside and out."

Hermione pulled from Draco, "I should go pay for this. Then maybe we could go home? I don't feel like being here anymore… sorry."

"Its not your fault. I'll pay for it."

"No. I want to."

Draco nodded, "I'll wait outside for you then. I might go get us a warm hot chocolate from the café."

Hermione smiled a little and Draco turned and left, still fuming at the rudeness of his mother. His mother really did hurt Hermione. No doubt now Hermione really was questioning their relationship, but no matter what excuse Hermione would try to put up, as a reason for them not to be together, Draco wouldn't leave her. He would be with her till the end and Hermione would remain with him forever.

He crossed the busy alley deep in thought and entered a warm, bright café with round tables with people sitting at them chatting away, reading or looking grumpy (that was the description of one lady). Draco walked over to the counter and a young woman walked over to him smiling.

"What can a get for you darling?" she asked smiling flirtatiously.

"Two hot chocolates to go," replied Draco not even remotely interested in her trying to crack onto him.

"Sure thing sweetums."

Draco stepped back and waited in silence, looking around the café at the moving paintings on the wall of Digion Alley, the opening of the café, people dancing at a performance by the Weird Sisters and much more. Draco jumped at someone leaning against him and looked down a bit to see a half smiling Hermione.

"Got your book?" he asked slipping his arm around her.

"Yes. Sorry about earlier… I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay, Mione. Anyway I've ordered us a hot chocolate each and we can have them on the way home."

"On the Knight Bus? That isn't a wise thing."

"Well I was kind of thinking about going home the muggle way… in one of those things."

"A Taxi?"

"Yes, one of those."

Hermione smiled, "I can handle one of those… let me see how much muggle money mum gave me."

While Hermione went though her wallet Draco paid for the two drinks, though he did notice the waitress look at Hermione with envy.

"We should have enough. Thankyou," smiled Hermione taking her drink once they were outside the café, "You look nothing like your Mum. Except for the hair."

Draco shrugged, "It doesn't bother me. You look more like your mother."

Hermione smiled as they entered the Leaky Cauldron and walked through it to exit into the mysterious muggle world. Well it was a mystery to Draco as he looked around at the assortment of shops in the street.

They walked down heading for the main road, Hermione holding onto Draco so he wouldn't wander off. Draco looked at the signs on the stores… Fish and Chips… Second Hand Furniture…Rockmans… The Gap… Woolworth's… Big W… to many to understand. They came to a stop on a very busy street and Hermione waved her arm at a Taxi, flagging it down. Draco watched in amazement as it pulled over and

Hermione opened the door pulling her and Draco in. In a complete daze Draco heard Hermione give the middle-aged man her address and soon they were driving up the street, turned left after weird coloured lights on a pole.

"Are you enjoying your stay at my place?" asked Hermione looking at Draco in amusement as he stared open mouth at a big house (Buckingham Palace) as they drove past.

Draco turned to Hermione, "That place is bigger than the Manor. By miles."

"It would be Draco, that's Buckingham Palace. The Queen lives there. Now answer my question. Are you enjoying staying at my place?"

"I am. Your parents are really warm and welcoming. When do we return back to Hogwarts?"

"The 27th. They like you. I can tell, because if they didn't they would act… different."

"Different?"

"They wouldn't be nice to you as much. Just civil and polite."

Draco smiled and returned to starring open mouthed at the buildings and the signs. One amused him. The big golden M. When he questioned Hermione about it she told him it was MacDonald's, some sort of takeaway restaurant.

Finally they turned up Hermione's street and came to a stop outside number 15. Hermione handed over a few slips of muggle money, said thankyou and lead Draco inside.

!D!

The next day passed in a blur and then it was Christmas Day. Draco was woken by soft lips on his and opened his eyes to see Hermione sitting up, smiling. Draco sat up and smiled at her, still half asleep.

"Merry Christmas, Draco," smiled Hermione handing him a rectangle wrapped thing.

Draco took it and pulled the wrapping off and opened the black leather cover. Inside was a silver chain with a silver pendent in the shape of a dragon clutching in one of its claws a small white crystal.

He pulled it out and turned it over to read the inscription on the back.

Always will be with you. Love Hermione.

Draco looked at Hermione and hugged her. He didn't know what to say to her.

"Your name means dragon… and well… yeah," said Hermione pulling away from Draco.

Draco smiled, "I don't know what to say."

"I don't need you to say anything. I can tell you like it."

Draco reached over to the bedside table and pulled out a small carefully wrapped package and handed it to Hermione. He watched as she undid the delicate green ribbon and unwrapped the red paper to reveal a white square box. Hermione lifted the bid to gasp at a sliver ring with a small square cut red ruby.

"Oh Draco," whispered Hermione in awe, "This is just… oh wow."

Draco smiled and lifted the ring from the box and slipped it on Hermione's wedding finger, "This is my commitment ring to you Hermione. I will stay by your side in this world and the next."

Hermione flung her arms around Draco hugging him.

"Merry Christmas Hermione."

A/N: Alrighty! Well there is another chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it!

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!