Disclaimer: Do you think I could ever own such awesome characters as the HP ones? I don't think so! But I do own this incredibly awesome story!

Warnings: Warnings? We don't need no stinking warnings! Actually, this story is very much AU. So much for canon events huh?)

Tears, Idle Tears

The cold wind whipped and whistled around the young woman as the newly fallen inches of snow crunched and groaned underneath her hurried steps. She wasn't sure why she needed a walk. She just felt stressed and a little sick to her stomach. Hermione woke up on this white Christmas day, not as happy as she should have been, especially for such a beautiful day. She felt she was missing something, but didn't know what. She didn't feel empty per se, just not…whole. There was no other way to describe it. She shuffled her way to the large, wooden doors of Hogwarts, and with all her might, she shoved it open.

As she walked in she sniffed and wrinkled her nose to gain back some of the feeling in her face. Quickly, she made her way the Great Hall for lunch. She spotted many students leaving and figured she was late and hoped that she hadn't missed it. Walking had given her an appetite. As she walked into the large Hall, she spotted her two best friends. They fitted her perfectly. The fiery-red head matched her easily in loyalty and heart. The raven-haired matched her in courage and strength of character. Together, they had been through more than most adults, and they had a bond that people rarely had. With these thoughts, she smiled and sat down between them. Her usual spot.

"Happy Christmas!" She greeted them warmly and gave them each a hug. They gladly returned her welcome. They were happy to see her smile. She didn't know it, but she was what held the three of them together. Her quick wit and mind had saved them from danger. Neither of them could ever voice how special she was, and how much she meant to them; but they did what they could to let her know it.

"I didn't miss lunch did I?" She asked.

"No, just a little late is all." Harry said with a smile.

"The food's been out for only 20 minutes so your ok. Where were you anyway?" asked Ron.

"I was out walking. I needed to burn off some energy." They seemed believe her. She wanted so desperately to confide her feelings to them, but she didn't want them to worry about her.

They took to a comfortable silence eating their meals. She took the time to observe the current occupants of the Great Hall. Students were chatting merrily, holding hands, and exchanging late gifts. She brushed some of her long, bushy hair out of her face and sighed. She often saw couples holding hands, and she always felt a little sad to be single. She let her eyes wander to the staff table. The professors had their glasses, no doubt of a little wine, raised while they each gave a toast to the ending of the year and the beginning of the next. This thought made her eyes water. It was her last year at the place she called a second home. She had seen and learned so much over the years, and it seemed so final to imagine that she wouldn't be returning. She hoped to be a professor here someday, but that did little to comfort her. Her one comforting thought was that she had no regrets; well, with one exception.

Her dark brown eyes landed on a pair of crystal clear blue ones that seemed…sad. Draco. The boy's normally guarded and untrusting eyes were now the watery pools of a person wallowing in self-pity. She had never seen eyes like his before. They conveyed what his face held secret. His eyes were like the sea after a storm when he was angry. They were gunmetal grey when he was being malicious and cunning. And on the rare occasion when he was truly laughing, they were bright and warm and had specks of gold sprinkled throughout. In short, his eyes were the loveliest she had ever seen. In all the years Hermione had known him, never had she seen sadness across his face. It startled her, and it made her feel even worse than she did this morning.

She knew Draco hated her and her "kind." She even thought the feeling was mutual. However, she had begun to think differently about him lately. After a particularly nasty fight between him and her friends, she realized something that stuck with her. It wasn't his fault he was raised to be a bigot. When the idea sunk in, she neither feared nor really cared about his words. But her interest in him slowly and steadily grew. Her thoughts of him had gone from indifference to curiosity; then to interest; then to regard of his thoughts and feelings. She stole glances at him in classes, lunch, and whenever she could. He was always sarcastic, witty, and could even be charming at times.

Draco was her match in intellect. Their verbal sparing and competition for grades proved it. When she was younger, these fights were stressing and annoying to her. As she got older and realized how intelligent he was, she felt a little turned on by their arguments. She was attracted to him. No one could pull as much emotion out of her, or demanded as much mental ability. He was so confident. The way he walked the way he carried himself…she would be a big liar if she said he wasn't attractive. He intrigued her, and looking at him now only spiked her curiosity even more. He wasn't eating. He wasn't even conversing with his "friends."

"What could be wrong with him?" she thought. She looked back down at her nearly empty plate and started to play with some of the left over carrots. She screwed up her face in concentration. She looked up at him and saw that he was looking at the large Christmas tree in the corner on the Hall. Then it hit her. He was lonely on Christmas! The "heartless bastard extraordinaire" was lonely! No family, no real friends, of course. Anyone would be lonely.

Suddenly, she felt a pang of guilt. She had two amazing friends and a loving family. She was lucky, and she hadn't shared it with someone who obviously needed some company. She sighed and made up her mind. She would put aside their past, hold her tongue as best she could, and keep him company.

His face sharpened so quickly that she missed it when she blinked. He said a brusque "goodbye" to his friends and quickly got up to leave. For her, it was now or never.

"Well, I couldn't eat another bite. I think I am going to go take a short nap now. I'll see you later." She said as tired as she could.

"Alright. Hey, let's go to Hogsmeadelater." Ron said.

She stopped in her tracks. They wouldn't understand if she tried to explain. As much as it hurt to lie to her friends, she needed to do this.

"I don't know. I think the walk I had really tired me out. I just want to hang out around here."

"Oh. Ok, well later tonight we were going to go caroling. You should come." The Ron said a little disappointed.

"Yeah a few of us are going around the school." Harry chimned in. "You need to get into the spirit of the season!" He joked with a grin.

"That sounds fun. I'll see you tonight then." She replied cheerfully. She loved these guys, but right now tall young with stormy eyes was on her mind and she needed to hurry if she was going to find him.

Preview of Chapter 2:

That was it. He had had enough of this. He turned around to see her only a couple feet away. He lunged at her and forcibly shoved her against the wall. She groaned.

"Why?" He hissed angrily.

Her back was now a little sore. Her arms hurt in his harsh grip. But she needed to continue. She needed to try to make up for all that was said, for the both of them.

"Since when do I do what you tell me, Malfoy? I don't listen to you unless I decide to. What's more, it's Christmas damn it! You are lonely. No one, not even you, should be alone on Christmas. Do you really want to turn away the only person willing to keep your sorry arse company?" She said so slowly, making sure he heard every word.

A/N: I applaud those that know where I got the title and the line "His eyes were like the sea after a storm..." because you have great taste in literature and movies! Be on the look out for more of that kind of stuff! This is my first fanfic! It's also posted on Mugglenet. I am really excited about this story so please review! I am not too sure as to how I'm going to end this story. I have all the basics written and even a version of the ending basically done but I don't know that it's right. Hermione and Draco will either end up together, just be friends, or just part. I personally want to have them either be friends because, let's be honest, they don't really work together as a couple you know? Or Draco couldn't really admit to her let alone to himself how he felt and not have them end up together because it seems a bit more realistic that way and plus the way I had written that ending I am in love with so...but if I ended it that way, it wouldn't be all fuzzy and make you feel Christmasy inside now would it? You see my problem. I know could ask a beta to read it and give advice, but I am here to please you guys the readers, so tell me your opinions! Thanks! Happy Christmas!