"I'm happy I resigned the team. I have more time for you, homework, and Head Boy duties," Draco said three weeks later. There was one week to Christmas.
"Me too," Hermione said kissing him. "Damn it, prefect meeting, come on. We'll rain check this." Draco smiled and went through the Prefect portrait.
"Well, let's talk Christmas decorations," Hermione said when they got to the meeting.
"We should keep the 12 Hogwarts tree that are put up every year," said Justin.
"Mistletoe everywhere, and holly," smiled Padma.
"How about we put the tables on sides and have the dance floor in the middle," said Draco. They nodded in agreement.
"Live fairies flying everywhere," said Hermione.
"Lots of sweets," said Padma. Everyone nodded again. They talked about it for another hour, then Hermione and Draco went back to their common room.
"Can I take the rain check now?" asked Draco, smiling.
"Sure," Hermione said kissing him.
The next few days went by very fast. Hermione, Draco, Ginny, Padma, and Justin were busy running around, decorating the corridors with mistletoe, holly, and fairies. They would be decorating the Great Hall on Christmas and would be disappearing some of the stuff.
Hermione and Draco went to every classroom to put a miniature tree. When they got to Professor McGonagall's room, she was teaching them how to change an animal into a water goblet.
"Remember doing that Draco," Hermione whispered as they placed the tree down and started to decorate it.
After they finished, they went to Professor Flitwick's class. He was teaching them the levitating charm to a group or 1st years.
"Where would you like your tree?" Hermione asked Flitwick.
"Over there," squeaked Flitwick. She put down the tree on the table. She heard a couple 1st years saying it like Ron had when they were 1st years.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" a Ravenclaw girl shouted, pointing her wand at the feather, no effect.
"Sweetie, you're saying it wrong," the girl looked up at her, "it's Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long," Hermione smiled. The girl tried it again and her feather levitated.
"Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome," said Hermione. She put the finishing touches on the tree.
"Why did you do that? You know she hates you," Draco said when they left.
"I know, but she was saying it wrong," said Hermione.
They went to the rest of the classes and decorated the trees, then went back to the prefect's common room and waited for the prefects to get back. They were putting up holly, mistletoe, and fairies in the corridors. About five minutest after Hermione and Draco came back, they came back.
"So, did you finish?" asked Draco.
"Yep," they said together.
"Good, then, the last thing to decorate is the Great Hall. We'll do that tomorrow," said Hermione.
"Well, goodnight," said Draco. Hermione and him left to their common room.
The next morning Hermione crept into Draco's room. She wanted to get a laugh when she woke him up. She quietly as possible and trying not to laugh or make the bed move a lot as she crawled on the bed next to Draco. She grabbed his quill off of the bedside table and tickled his ear. He brushed his ear and rolled over.
"Draco, get up!" smiled Hermione.
"No," said Draco. "What time is it?" He didn't look at her. HE was still half-asleep.
"Hermione smiled and said, "It's 6:30."
"Women, go to bed, it's too early, even for Christmas," said Draco. Hermione sniggered.
"Do you really think it's 6:30?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know, all I know is sleep," said Draco.
"Fine," Hermione said going to the door and opened it then closed it like she was leaving. She went back to his bed and crawled back on it, not caring how much movement is made. "But, you have to get up, the I won't be all by myself."
"Then go to the prefect's common room," said Draco.
"Fine. Then I'll wake Justin up so we can go make-out," smiled Hermione.
"What?" Draco said bolting upright into a sitting position. Hermione laughed.
"I'm only joking. The only person I want to make-out with is you," said Hermione.
"Good," said Draco. "Now that I'm up, I'm up." He got out of bed and him and Hermione went to their Christmas tree. "It's 8:00, you said it was 6:30."
"Yeah, I thought it would be funny," smiled Hermione.
Hermione picked up a package addressed to her. "It's from Harry and Ron. I didn't expect them to get me anything."
"Did you get them something?" asked Draco.
"Yes," said Hermione. She opened it and pulled out an orb. It hovered about a foot above her hand. Both of their eyes widened.
"What is it?" asked Draco.
"It's an Evil Detector. It turns a very, very dark black when evil's around. When its bright white, like it is now, there's no evil around. I read about it in a book," said Hermione. "This costs a fortune."
"Well, we know one thing," said Draco.
"What?" asked Hermione.
"That Weasley didn't buy it," laughed Draco.
"If you didn't know, he won the annul Daily Prophet draw again. 2,00 galleons this time," snapped Hermione. "Maybe you didn't notice his new school robes and dress robes."
"I don't go around school examining everyone's robes," snapped Draco.
"There's a note," said Hermione.
This works just like a Sneakoscope, but this is far more effective. When it turns black, tell Harry. It probably will mean Voldemort's somewhere near. These magnet things are to keep the orb from slowly levitating upwards.
Harry and Ron
Hermione noticed that Draco's hand was above it. He was moving his hand slowly upward. He didn't want to touch it.
"Here," Hermione said giving him a magnet. It stopped levitating. She took the other one and put it under it. She took the one Draco had and slowly went towards the orb. She set it down on the table next to her. She still couldn't believe they'd spend that much on her, friends or not. She only bought them candy and a book.
Padma and Justin got her books, and Ginny got her a beautiful necklace. She got Padma and Ginny bracelets and Justin a book.
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. Hermione's eyes widened.
"It's not what you think it is," quickly said Draco.
"Ok," said Hermione. She took the box from him an untied the ribbon. She slowly opened the box. Inside the box was an emerald and ruby studded bracelet. Around the emeralds were pure silver and around the rubies were pure gold. The stones were shaped as little hearts.
"Oh my God Draco! It's beautiful! Are they real?" Hermione asked examining the bracelet.
"Its all real," said Draco.
"Wow!" Hermione said as she put it on.
She got up and sat on his lap. He put his arms around her waist. He'd finally got her. After six long years of secret love, he got her, and he has no father to tell him not to love her. But - 'Shit, there's still Voldemort,' thought Draco. 'It's a good thing Potter and Weasley gave her the Evil Detector Orb.'
"What are you thinking about?" asked Hermione.
"You and me," said Draco.
"Oh," said Hermione. She got off his lap and gave him a box. He opened it and inside was a snitch signed by all the Bulgarian team. It was inside a glass box.
"Hermione! How'd you get this?" asked Draco.
"Just because me and Victor Krum broke up, doesn't mean we're not friends. I asked him if he'd et the whole team to sign a snitch," said Hermione. She moved back to his lap and he put his arms back around her wait.
"Come on you two, you're going to miss breakfast," Ginny said from behind them. They both jumped.
"Ginny look," Hermione said as they walked to the Great Hall.
"Oh my God, it's beautiful. Did he get it for you," she said nodded at Draco.
"Yep," said Hermione.
"Wow! Is it real?" asked Ginny.
"Yep," said Hermione. Ginny said bye and went to sit at the Gryffindor table. Hermione and Draco sat at theirs.
"Well, the corridors are great," said Draco.
"They did a great job," said Hermione.
After they ate, Dumbledore told everyone that they weren't allowed in the Great Hall until lunch, which would be at noon.
"We should put mistletoe over all the tables," suggested Padma.
"Yeah, and red, green, and white table cloths," said Ginny. Everyone nodded.
"Both muggle and wizard music," said Justin. Everyone nodded, including Draco.
They spent all morning decorating. They didn't vanish a few things, but hat big things, they did.
It was really spectacular when they finished. They had about two hours to get ready for the dance.
Hermione's dress was a floor-length gown of a mid-night blue color. It swooped low in the front and zipped low in the back. She wore a sparkly dark blue eye shadow with a red color lipstick. She straightened her hair and curled the ends. She wore it down.
Ginny's dress went halfway to her knees and was snowy white with glitter. It tied around her neck. She wore a light eye shadow and a bright red lipstick. She out her hair in a bun with her bangs out. She was going to the dance with Dean again.
Padma wore a mini-skirt with a tube-top. Her skirt was black and her top was white. They both a glitter on them. She wore white eye shadow and a red color lipstick. She put her hair in a ponytail with her bangs out.
Justin wore black pants with a white shirt. He wore a black jacket over it. He was going with Padma.
Draco wore the same thing he wore at the Halloween dance. The only difference was the shirt. He decided to wear a long-sleeved shirt than a short-sleeved one.
The door to the girls' bathroom opened. Draco looked up when Hermione stepped out. She was beautiful. More beautiful than last time because they had to go with each other and they weren't going out.
"You like it?" Hermione asked as she twirled around.
"It's beautiful. You're beautiful," said Draco.
"Thanks, my mum and dad bought it for me for Christmas, but it came late," said Hermione.
He put his arm around her waist and they left for the Great Hall. Again, they and the prefects held the first dance. All the guys turned her way. That was a first for Hermione, and she like it. Even Ron's and Harry's jaws dropped.
The Great Hall was beautiful. Above every table there was mistletoe. Different colored fairies were flying everywhere. Holly and garland was hung up everywhere. Also there was floating candles everywhere. It was beautiful. they did a great job on it. The first song was a wizard's song. After the song ended, Dumbledore stood up.
"Happy Christmas everyone! Let us thank Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Ginny Weasley, Padma Patil, and Justin Finch-Fletchey for this wonderful ball and Great Hall," said Dumbledore. Everyone clapped and muttered 'Thank you'
Hermione and Draco danced a couple songs when
"May I cut in?" someone asked from behind Hermione.
"Why Potter?" snapped Draco.
"Because I need to talk with her," snapped Harry. He glared at Draco. Draco looked at Hermione. Hermione nodded. Draco went and sat at the nearest table.
"I have a question," said Hermione.
"What?" asked Harry.
"Why'd you send me that Orb?" asked Hermione. "Wouldn't you need it?"
"Well, no, you see, I'll know when he'll come because of our 'connection', but just to be save, I gave it to you because you wouldn't be with us when it happens. Just when it starts turning black, you, Malfoy, and the prefects come into the Gryffindor common room," said Harry.
"Ok, you know, it wasn't my fault Draco kissed me," said Hermione.
"I know, but, you know, you didn't push away," said Harry.
"I know, but I like him when I first saw him. I tried to throw those feeling away in our 2nd year, but I guess I didn't. They all came back when he kissed me. He'd liked me since he first saw me," said Hermione.
"Then, why did he call you all those names and did horrible stuff for?" asked Harry.
"Because his 'friends' would tell his father and he'd beat him," said Hermione.
"Then, why is he being nice now?" asked Harry.
"His father and mother died," said Hermione. "Don't tell anyone this. Especially Ron. Promise me ok?"
"Ok," said Harry.
"Are we friends now?" asked Hermione.
"No matter what happens, we'll always be friends," said Harry. Hermione hugged him, he hugged her back. "I have a question."
"What?" asked Hermione.
"Why did you break up with me?" asked Harry.
"Because I love you like you're my brother. You and Ron are like brothers that I never had. It felt weird," said Hermione.
"Oh," said Harry.
"Can I have my girlfriend back?" Draco asked from behind Harry.
"Yes, Malfoy," said Harry.
"Be nice you two," said Hermione.
"So what did he want?" asked Draco when Harry left.
"Well, we're friends again," said Hermione.
"That's good," said Draco.
"It is," said Hermione.
"Hermione, I'm sorry too," said Ron from behind her.
"It's ok Ron," she said hugging him. He left
"I'm surprised with you," said Draco.
"What? Why?" asked Hermione.
"You chose me over your best friends. Most people wouldn't do that," said Draco.
"Well, then, I'd have no one. They'd still be mad at me," said Hermione.
"That's probably true," said Draco.
"So, I chose the right thing," said Hermione.
"I guess so," said Draco. Hermione smiled. Draco kissed her. They didn't care what the other Gryffindors, Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws thought anymore. They ignored the buzzing coming from everyone and kept dancing.