Hermione sat, silently reading the book Ginny had got her for Christmas while the others talked or played Exploding Snap.
The lady with the food cart came by, and Harry bought the usual pastries and sweats while Hermione got a drink- the others said they where fine.
Around mid afternoon, they where in the middle of the country, and instead of being sunny like London, it was black and cloudy. Rain and thunder cluttered on the windows after a while, making the compartment go dark and dim. Ron started to complain.
'Oh come off it! They have to turn the lights on soon!' he was angry because he couldn't see his cards. 'What if one card blows up in my hand?'
'Oh Ron, be quiet!' Hermione snapped after twenty minutes. 'They'll turn them on-'
But Hermione was about to say "in a minute" when the lights flickered on and the compartment was bathed in light. Ron grinned happily and when straight on playing with Harry.
'Good one Hermione!' Ginny said smiling as she too took her turn in the game.
An hour later, Malfoy and his thugs turned up. Malfoy was smirking when he saw what three occupants where doing, but he only looked at Hermione.
She thought it was her imagination, but she thought she saw him look at her neck as though hoping to see something there…and-
Is that disappointment on his ferret face? Hermione thought. Being her, she raised her hand to her neck and held it as though protecting it from him. Seeing this, whatever what was on his face went and was replaced by a smirk.
'Relax Granger, its not that impressive.' Malfoy smirked wider.
'Well its better than some of your other whores Malfoy.' Hermione snapped.
'Ohh no very happy now are we?' Malfoy gave her one last smirk before he turned his attention to Harry, Ron and Ginny. Hermione too turned a little to watch between Malfoy and her friends.
'Having a nice game there Potty and Weasel? Oh and of course, Potty's girlfriend?'
'Well we where but a large ferret just bounced in and spoiled it.' Ginny said viciously, going red.
Malfoy scowled but Harry and Ron sniggered.
Something has changed in him. Hermione thought. He was alright before Christmas, now he's back to being himself.
In a way, Hermione was glad he was being cruel again, but a small part of her wanted the Malfoy she saw before. The Malfoy that insulted, but not as much. The Malfoy that showed a little bit of liking to her. But no, now that Malfoy was gone.
'Well, I'd rather be a ferret than friends with Weasel and Potty and Gra- Mudblood.' Malfoy spat and he turned to leave, giving Hermione one more smirk as her hand was still on her neck.
'He was about to call you Granger Hermione.' Ron said when the door had closed.
'Thank you for pointing it out Ron.' Hermione said sarcastically. 'I never would have caught that myself.'
Ginny looked at Hermione, and Hermione looked at Ginny. In an instant, Hermione knew that Ginny had also thought Malfoy was looking at her neck. But Ginny has seen it more than once.
Hermione quickly looked away, not wanting to be questioned though she knew Ginny wouldn't ask her in front of Harry and Ron- her eyes did all the questioning Hermione wanted to avoid.
The rest of the trip was smooth enough with people popping in and out, asking how their Christmas was and how they where. Neville came in to stay for a while, but left half an hour before the train rolled to a slow stop at Hogsemade station.
Hermione was first to get up off her seat. She put her book in her trunk once she had got it down and then helped the others with getting theirs down too.
After a minute, they joined the queue in the little hallway to get out. Slowly they moved forward, dragging their trunks behind them and talking loudly to be heard.
They got out in one piece and found it was raining hard outside. Hermione put her hand over her head to try and cover herself, but it didn't work very well. She then decided to put her black hood on, and that worked much more efficiently.
Hermione found a free carriage near the end of the line, helped the others in before having to walk all the way up to the front to hop into the head Boy and Girl's one.
She was alone for a minute, and then Malfoy climbed in, soaked just as much as her.
'Granger.' Malfoy nodded, closing the little black door.
'Ferret.' Hermione greeted in return.
'Why are you so mean to me?'
'Because it comes naturally.' Hermione answered. Looking up, Hermione saw yet again Malfoy looking at her neck, though this time, he looked away when he saw her watching him.
'Have a nice Christmas?'
'Yes.'
After a minute, Malfoy talked again. 'Well, are you going to ask me how mine was?'
'No.'
And then the carriage moved forward, starting up the slushy hill towards Hogwarts castle.
'Why not?' Malfoy pressed.
'Because I don't care how your Christmas was.' Hermione answered.
'Oh come on, please.' Malfoy said, trying to look like he really wanted her to ask him.
'Would it shut you up?' Hermione said angrily.
'Yes. Well, until I find another question to ask.'
'Very well Malfoy how was your Christmas?' Hermione said in mock interest.
'Oh you know, the usual.' Malfoy said, sitting back and acting as though Hermione only just brought up the subject.
Hermione rolled her eyes and wished she was near the end of the line with her friends.
'So what did you get?'
'Malfoy!'
'Just answer this one and it's the last I promise.'
'Fine, I got a ring-'
'An engagement ring?'
'No, a normal friendship ring.' Hermione snapped. 'Books, a jumper, home baked things and a-' Hermione just stopped herself before she said "necklace".
'And a what?' Malfoy pressed.
'Nothing.' Hermione answered.
Thankfully for Hermione, it was then that the carriage stopped and she jumped out quickly and dragged her trunk up through the rain and into the castle without a backwards glace at Malfoy.
She left her things in the entrance hall and was the first student into the great hall. Teachers where already sitting there, watching her walk over to the Gryffindor table.
Then Malfoy walked in.
This could be interesting. Well, for the teachers anyway.
He sat at his table, which was on the other side of the hall. He was glaring at Hermione and she at him.
About ten students walked in the hall, but stopped when they saw the death staring competition.
Hermione could hear them whispering, but they headed over to their table and she didn't break her eye contact with Malfoy.
Thankfully, people started to pour in, sitting at their respected tables and it was hard to keep eye contact with Malfoy. It then become to hard to keep sight of Malfoy, so it was then that Hermione broke eye contact with Malfoy.
Harry and Ron walked in with Ginny a minute after. Ginny was pulled aside by her friends and walked to the end of the table. Harry and Ron however started for Hermione.
'How was your carriage ride?' Ron asked, smirking. Hermione scowled.
'Actually Ronald it was fantastic.' Hermione said in sarcasm but Ron didn't pick it up.
'It was?'
'Oh yes. Malfoy was very good.' By this point, Harry was sniggering so much, Hermione thought he might burst a lung.
'Very good at what?' Ron almost screamed in horror.
But before Hermione could reply slyly, Dumbledore stood up and Hermione turned her utmost attention on him, causing Ron to do the same though still bursting with inner questions.
Hermione grinned to herself when she heard little whispers coming from Ron, who was whispering to Harry.
'What do you think she meant by Malfoy being very good?'
Harry wasn't answering, only grinning slightly and watching Dumbledore's blue eyes.
'So, I hope you all had a very good Christmas holiday those who were not here at school, and are ready for a new term of hard work!' Dumbledore concluded his speech, sat down and began eating the feast that had appeared on the tables.
Ron kept trying to talk to Hermione, though it was difficult as he was stuffing his face as normal with as much food as possible.
Hermione only grinned in a sly way. This raised Ron's fears even more, but Harry only grinned at Hermione.
Once the feast was over, Hermione yawned and soon announced that she was going to bed. Ron was angry that she decided to leave, but then the puddings and other deserts arrived so he couldn't press the matter he was so deeply confused about.
Walking through the familiar corridors was nice to Hermione who had missed so much over the holidays.
Reaching her portrait, Hermione greeted it and walked through, greeted by the warmth of the common room fire. Sighing happily, Hermione walked over to her door and through up to her room.
Her trunk and cat was already there so Hermione let Crookshanks out of his cage and began unpacking her trunk. Once she was done with that, she decided to take a long hot bath for her final welcoming present.
The bathroom filled up with steam when Hermione had turned on the bath taps. She walked over and locked Malfoy's door before climbing slowly into the bath. It was a very nice way to end a day of doing nothing. She swam around, ducking in and out of the water to grab curtain lotions and creams.
Two hours later, Hermione climbed out, drained the water and walked out into her room. She got dressed in some fresh pajamas and walked out into the common room, brushing her hair.
Malfoy was there sitting by the fire reading something on green parchment. Hermione coughed lightly and sat herself near the fire, but not near Malfoy. She continued brushing her hair trying not to notice Malfoy who had stopped reading and was instead watching her.
'So.' Malfoy said after ten minutes of total silence.
Hermione did nothing but stop brushing her hair. She looked over at Malfoy waited expecting him to finished his sentence.
'So.' He said again. Still Hermione remained mute.
'Have a good Christmas?'
'Malfoy, you have already asked me that.' Hermione said, smiling slightly.
'Oh. Well, I forgot your answer.'
'Malfoy, my Christmas was fine thankyou for asking twice.'
'Did you get a ne- ring?' Malfoy was about to slip something he wanted never to utter in front of her.
'Yes. I got one off Harry.' Hermione said, not noticing Malfoy's quick change in sentence.
'Oh. You like it?' really, Malfoy was asking these questions not about the ring, but about his present. Whatever answer she gave, he would interpret it as the answer she would give if she knew about his gift.
'Yes, it's a lovely colour.'
'You would wear it?'
'Malfoy, why all the questions?' Hermione asked, too tired to try and figure it out herself.
'Just asking. So, would you wear it, say, tomorrow?'
'Yes, I would and am.' Hermione answered.
Having enough of playing 20 questions with Malfoy, Hermione got to her feet and went to bed.
As usual, Hermione woke early and was ready to enter the great hall by 7. No one else was up at that time, or at least wondering around the castle where Hermione was. True to her word, Hermione had worn the ring and the necklace. The ring shone brightly on her finger, while the necklace shone in the early sunlight around her neck. This morning, the snakes eyes where red again.
Sitting alone at the Gryffindor table, Hermione ate her breakfast silently guessing who sent her the necklace.
Then through the doors, a group of Slytherins walked in, Malfoy in the lead. Hermione suddenly felt very vulnerable, sitting there at the Gryffindor table all by herself, while Slytherins sat on the other side of the hall, all talking and laughing loudly.
Hermione did her best to ignore them but as she bent down to get a book to read, she caught a little smile on Malfoy's face. Again, he was looking at her, but not her face. Her neck.
Reappearing from her back with a book, Hermione pushed that thought away.
Though before more people walked in, Malfoy walked over.
Oh no! Hermione's mind panicked. Hermione, get a hold of yourself! You're a Gryffindor! Keep it together!
'Ahh, granger, I see you have the ring on. Nice. But it has a lion on it…not my type.' Malfoy said smoothly when he stopped in front of her.
'Well Malfoy, it doesn't matter if its not your type. Its my type.'
'But that necklace.' Malfoy continued, acting as though Hermione hadn't spoken. 'That's my type.'
Hermione raised her hand to her neck again and covered the necklace.
'Who gave it to you?' Malfoy asked, something twinkling in his stormy eyes.
'Why would I tell you?' Hermione asked, her suspicion rising.
'I was only asking.' Malfoy said, rising his hands in defense.
It was then that Hermione noticed Malfoy had a ring on. A snake. But more specifically, a snake with a sword. Hermione's snake's sword was pointing down. The sword that Malfoy's snake had was side ways.
Hermione's eyes widened, but Malfoy wasn't watching. He was watching the doors of the hall. Slowly, the hall filled up with students, making Hermione fell more secure. Malfoy took one more look at Hermione and crossed back to his side of the hall before Harry and Ron walked in and sat next to Hermione.
I am soo sorry it took me for ever to update! Please forgive me! I've been in and out of hospital these last few weeks so I cant update in there! But I did today!
But can you please answer a question for me? Cos I haven't updated in so long, I've forgotten some things I may or may not have written. So, can anyone tell me if Hermione and Draco have kissed? If so, how many times? Thanks ppl, and im sorry again about not updating quickly. I will very soon, infact, im writing it now
Wow, 306 reciews! Omg. I never thought this would get to be that good!
Also, how many chaps do we want? I know I might have asked that before, but can we answer again?
THANK YOU HEAPS FOR READING AND REVIEWING. AND FOR NOT KILLING ME OR SENDING RUDE EMAILS FOR UPDATES.
I AM SORRY AGAIN!
Aj.