Chap24 - A Fair Exchange

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The next day, after Draco had recieved his 'well-earned' money, he skipped his classes without Hermione knowing and flew to Hogsmeade on his broom. He walked around the shops for hours, still undecided about what to buy... and then it twinkled catching his eyes attention, the curious pureblood walked over to the shop window and stared down at the sparkling necklace which had caught his eye, there was only one necklace on display.

He walked into the shop and spoke to the shopkeeper.

"Can I see that necklace in the window?" he asked, the shopkeeper nodded and went to fetch it. Draco waited paitently - the shopkeeper soon returned holding the necklace in his hand, he placed it into Draco's hands so he could get a closer look, the silver lace hung from his hand as he stared at the attached silver cage, which held inside a sparkling diamond, the one that had twinkled for his attention.

"For somebody special lad?" the shopkeeper asked Draco, who then looked up from the necklace.

"You could say that" Draco said trying not to smile. He looked back down at the necklace and asked himself, would Hermione like it?

"It costs 175 Galleons" the shopkeeper told him, Draco sighed heavily and put the necklace on the counter.

"I only have 100" he told the shopkeeper, who nodded and then tried to negotiate.

"I tell you what lad... you give me that 100 of yours, and throw in that broom of yours to make up for the lost 75" the shopkeeper told him as admired Draco's broom which was outside leaning against the window, Draco looked at his broom, it was a nimbus 2001 which he had recieved at the beginning of the year from his mother.

Draco stood there thinking about it. "I play quidditch though... I'll need my broom" he told the shopkeeper, who then shrugged.

"Then I can't help ya lad" he told Draco. He then picked up the silver necklace and went to walk away with it until he felt Draco's arm reach over the counter and grab his arm lightly.

"Ok... I'll take it" Draco said lowly, the shopkeeper grinned and placed the necklace down for Draco, he collected the money and then watched Draco bring in the broom. "The necklace best come in something nice like a box... this broom is worth more then 75 galleons" Draco said at the shopkeeper, who nodded.

He placed the necklace into a thin black box and passed it over to Draco, who handed his broom over the counter and into the hands of the shopkeeper, Draco then waked out of the shop and began to walk back to Hogwarts.

The snow was thick of the ground as Draco walked through it, his hands were deep inside his coat pockets, his hat placed over his head with a scarf wrapped around his neck. His breath escaped his mouth every so often leaving it visible in the frost, his cheeks were red from the cold and his jaw trembled.

It wasn't until thirty minutes later that Draco returned to Hogwarts, he jogged through the halls and down into the dungeons and into his common room, he waved his wand at the fire place which soon lit up with flames, Draco sat on the sofa and pulled off his hat and scarf. "How am I going to play quidditch now?" he asked himself.

He sat around waiting for Hermione, who arrived after her last class had finished, she smiled when she saw her boyfrend beaming his smile at her.

"I have something for you" he grinned sinfully, she stared at him in curiousity and sat beside him.

"And what would that be?" she asked him, eagerly to know.

"Close you're eyes" he instructed her, and she did. Draco slipped into his pocket and pulled out the black box, he opened it in front of her face and smiled, "You can open them now".

Her eyes opened and the surprisement on her face pleased him.

"Draco it's so beautiful!" she gasped. She removed it from the box and stared at it lovingly, "But it looks far too expensive" she said lowering it from her face.

Draco took it from her hands and undid the catch, he signalled for her to turn around and he put it on for her.

"You're worth every galleon" he said softly in her ear, she smiled sweetly and turned to see his face.

"Now what have I done to deserve such a sweet gesture?" she asked him, he lightly kissed her lips and took in her sweet scent.

"Perfect" he answered. Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around him softly, she rested her head on his shoulder as he rubbed his hands up her back.

"I wish you didn't have quidditch practice tonight... I haven't seen you all day" she sighed pulling away from their embrace. He looked away with a sigh on his face too.

"I won't be going" he told her.

"Why not? You love that game" she asked him in bewilderment.

"Well... I flew to Hogsmeade today, and well... I had to fucking walk back" he said with a hint. She looked at him as she didn't quite catch on.

"You lost it?" she asked.

"I traded it Hermione... for you're jewel" he smiled, but Hermione didn't smile back.

"Draco, you loved that broom" she sighed. He stared into her eyes.

"But I love you more"