Disclaimer; I do not own Harry Potter or any related material, JK Rowling does that's why she is my hero.

A/N- Hi all, thanks for reviewing! So far, a sweet ending is winning out, and I am kind of glad. The twist ending is very evil and would have lots of people chucking their computers out of an open window.I will keep voting open until I post Chapter 20. I must not have been too clear about that. The last chapter I posted was definitly NOT the end. I have been writing non-stop. So, keep voting on which ending you want. The choices again are;

#1- A sweet ending...awwww!

#2-A cliff hanger, leaving chapter 20 as the end

#3-A HUGE twist that will probably involve death threats being sent to me...lol

So go ahead, review and vote on what you think. I will continue the story and post new chapters every day or so. Love you all!

Winter Blues

The last days of the winter holidays were upon us. I dreaded my classmates coming back to school, especially Ron and Harry. Draco and I had settled into a routine of companionship and love, and I was all too content to let it continue undisturbed. On top of those worries, was the one that I still hadn't figured out what caused us to have shared dreams. They had continued nightly, and somehow they seemed just as real. The last week we slept in his bed, just to see if the dreams continued. They did, and it was driving me crazy not knowing.

We were sitting on the couch in front of the fire drinking hot cocoa. He was stroking my hair, and nibbling by neck. I loved him so much I felt addicted to him. He sat up and looked at me and asked,

"Have you decided what to tell Potty and the weasel yet?" I knew he didn't mean any harm by it; after all, old habits die hard.

"No, and I would ask you to be nice. I would like for them to accept this, when I decide to tell them." I had been thinking of this for the past few days. 'What would I say?' They were my best friends, and he was the man I had grown to love deeper than anyone I had imagined. I wanted them to get along, but I could already see that Ron would be a problem. He had written me a letter three days previous;

Dear Hermione,

How was your Christmas? Harry and I had a good one and enjoyed your gifts. I have always wanted a miniature Quidditch set. We played with it all through the holidays.

I have missed you and wished you would have decided to spend Christmas with us. I can't imagine how horrible it must have been to have to spend all your time in a tower with the ferret. But I know you can take care of yourself.

I know you told me that you were not ready to have a boyfriend, but I thought maybe after the holidays that we could take a chance and go on a date. Nothing romantic, maybe just somewhere in Hogsmead for a drink. Just let me in Hermione, being alone is not going to make you feel any better.

Love,

Ron

P.S. Harry and my whole family send their love too!

I had bitten my lip until it almost bled, worrying about Ron's reaction. Draco assured me that he would let me tell them in due time. His sweet kisses on my neck made me forget the worries in my mind.

"These have been the best few weeks of my life." I told him honestly. "Are you going to tell Zabini or Pansy about us, I know she fancies you still." I said with jealousy brewing in my heart.

"And she also knows that I told her over and over that I didn't like her like that, and if she couldn't accept me as only her friend, then that was all I needed to say to her." he said firmly. "And I don't feel it's anyone's business, unless I make it their business."

"Why can't winter holidays last a few weeks longer?" I wondered aloud.

The next day, the familiar rumbling of students in the halls below our dorm woke us earlier than we had expected.

"Oh," he groaned, "I'm not used to waking up early anymore."

I sat up in his grand bed, stretching and yawning.

"Me either." I said, "But I am looking forward to classes again, maybe we can figure out this whole dream thing, not that I mind." I said winking at him.

He laughed and I saw his beautiful smile, and dreaded getting out of his strong arms.

"I guess we better get moving." he said "we probably will have to eat in the great hall, make some kind of appearance." his eyes were a light silvery blue this morning, like the winter sky.

"Yeah, if I don't eat there, Ron and Harry will wonder where I am."

He looked slightly hurt at the prospect of eating alone for the first time in weeks.

"But you will have Zabini and Pansy to eat with, just make sure she keeps her hands to herself" I said with a sly grin. "Anyway, I can make it up to you, how about a shower?"

"With you? Hmmm…what do you think?"

"Is that a yes?"

"That is a hell yes!" and he grabbed my hand and drug me into the bathroom.

The shower was hot and steamy, and took twice as long as usual because I could not keep my hands off of him. I washed his back and his chest; I ran my hands over his smooth rear. He leaned down to kiss me. The hot water felt good on my back. He took me by surprise and lifted me up by the waist and pushed my back up against the shower wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist and felt him enter me. It was so erotic and sexy that it didn't take me long to have an intense orgasm. Every time I neared coming he smiled, as if I was giving him so much pleasure by enjoying myself.

"Oh Hermione," he moaned, and then he came, panting and gasping for air.

I had not taken off the beautiful necklace he had given me for Christmas. It sparkled more and more when it was wet and clean. I had eventually given him the painting I had bought for him and it was now hanging in his room, above his bed.

"I liked the gift you gave me that night even more" he had said with a grin.

We stepped out of the shower and used drying charms to get ready as quickly as possible. I put on my school robes and met him in the common room before we headed out the door, destined for separate tables. He kissed me on the forehead and told me to have a good day; we didn't have any classes together until tomorrow.

"I love you Hermione Granger."

I blushed.

I entered the hall to the sounds of hundreds of students chatting and gossiping about what they had received for Christmas, who was dating who and other gossip that I had no desire to hear. I made my way down the Gryffindor table and saw a blur of red and black hair engaged in a game of wizard chess.

"Hermione!" They both yelled across the room. Ron stood up and ran to me, grabbing me around the waist and spinning me around. Without any warning he planted a kiss right on my lips. I felt like I had just kissed a family member. It was sloppy and awkward. I pushed him away quickly. Luckily, Draco had not come down for breakfast yet, and I didn't think Pansy or Zabini saw it, I hoped not.

"Ron, get off me." I said pushing him back farther.

"Hi Hermione…" Harry said, giving me a big hug. He looked at me with his emerald green eyes, studying my face as if he had forgotten it.

"We missed you. You missed a great Christmas. Fred and George started a food fight at Christmas dinner. We laughed until mashed potatoes came out of our noses." he said laughing again at the mere thought of it.

"Wow, I am sure disappointed that I didn't come then" I said lying. I had a much better holiday here.

Harry studied my necklace and stared at the small love bites I was trying to hide with a turtleneck under my robes. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Who's the necklace from?" He asked.

"It was a Christmas gift" I replied. I hadn't lied to him.

"From who?" he asked, more determined to find out.

"From none of your business," I said, smiling, just as determined not to let him or Ron bully me into telling them about my private life.

"Fine, don't tell me. I will find out eventually, you are my best friend, I will figure it out." he laughed and sat down to eat breakfast.

Ron was glaring at me since I had pushed him off. He finally broke the silence.

"Did you get my letter Hermione?" his face was almost as red as his hair.

"Yes and the answer is still no. I told you I am not ready to date; I have too much studying to do if I want all 'Outstandings" on my N.E.W.T.S."

"But all I was asking for was a date, not to go steady, just a drink and a meal in Hogsmead."

"Ron, listen," I was trying to be patient but it was wearing thin. "I don't want to hurt you; I just don't have those kinds of feelings for you. You are like a brother to me, and I don't want to lead you on to think that one day I will come to you and love you in a romantic way. It's just not in the stars for us. Please, I don't want to argue over this, lets just eat breakfast and catch up on our schoolwork." my eyes looked into his bright blue ones. I saw the hurt that he tried to hide.

"Fine, whatever." he remained silent the rest of the meal.

I had herbology first thing that morning and rushed through the cold winter snow to the greenhouse.

"Today class we will be making Moonflower dust for Professor Snape's potion class. You will be starting on sleeping potions soon and these will come in handy. You will notice that the buds you pruned last month have been laid out to dry. You will be taking the buds in your mortar and pestle and grinding them into dust. You will know when the dust is fine enough when it glows and sparkles like winter snow. You may begin."

I grabbed a bowl of flowers and sat by Harry to begin my work. This was a pleasant enough assignment for the first day back. As I began to grind them up, a strange sensation overtook me. The scent of these flowers brought back memories of him on Christmas Eve. I smiled as I continued to work. Harry was staring at me intently, half mindedly grinding his moonflowers.

"Hermione, what is different about you?"

"What do you mean Harry? I am the same old Hermione"

"No, no, you have a different air about you, you are smiling more"

'Did it show that much?' I thought biting my lip slightly.

"Since when is it a crime to smile?"

"Its not, I just wanted to thank whoever has brought about this change in you." he said continuing his work.

'You wouldn't if you knew the truth' I thought.