A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this took so incredibly long to write and get posted. I've been out of town and caught writer's block. Please review! I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (I wish ;P ), even though I used some of the samedialogue to make the story make sense. Sorry!
Chapter 6: The Christmas Party
The sun peaked above the mountainous terrain in the Easter sky; a few scattered clouds caught its early light, their undersides pink in color. The morning air was crisp and cool, and a fresh layer of powder lay on the grounds, blanketing all of Hogwarts in a layer of white.
Draco Malfoy awoke early due to the brightness. He lifted his arm to pull the hangings on his bed to block the unwelcome light, but found he could not move his arm. He opened his eyes immediately, looking around wide-eyed to see what restrained him, to find himself on the astronomy tower and Hermione Granger beside him, nestled against him, her head on his chest. Oh shit! What happened last night! Draco's mind raced- the last thing he remembered, Hermione was most certainly NOT curled up in his arms. We instinctively moved closer during the night due to the temperature. Yes, of course, that is it; perfectly natural.
Hermione shifted slightly, a small smile was on her face. Lost in dreams, she did not wake when Draco carefully moved her head, laying it on the blanket so that he was free to get up and wander about. He couldn't go back to sleep, it was too bright, and there was no way in hell he would let Hermione wake up in her arms. How awkward. Too many questions.
He leaned over the turret wall, facing the sunrise. A small gust of wind rippled his blond hair. He closed his eyes, feeling the rush of wind against his face, smelling the cold. Today was a good day, he knew something was going to go right in some facet of his life today, though he did not know why, when, or how.
Turning his back to the east he looked down at Hermione still fast asleep. Her hair just as bushy as ever, but with flakes of snow ornamenting the unruly curls. Her small nose was pink from the chilly air.
"Hey, Granger," Draco called to her.
Hermione rolled over, still unconscious.
Oh please. "Granger, it is time to get up," He called again.
Hermione did not move her bodyagain, but rather opened one eye to peer at Draco giving him a very sleepy look. Still, she rolled her one open eye at him, and then shut it, rolling over so that her back was to him, rewrapping herself in a dark green cocoon.
"Oh bloody hell Granger! If you don't get up right now you will be late for your second class of the day!" Hermione shot out of her cocoon as a very surprised butterfly, her face wide with shock. One second later she threw the blanket off, standing up quickly and nearly slipping on the snowy tower.
"Oh no, oh no, oh NO! I can't be late, I just can't! Am I really late? Oh, I must go right now! Oh damn!" And Hermione pivoted sprinting to the door.
Draco let out a laugh, his breath becoming a cloud around his mouth. "Granger, calm down. You won't be late; it is only just after sunrise. You're unbelievable Granger, you really are." Draco leaned against the tower wall, perfectly happy with himself- He was smarter that she was; he knew her.
Hermione turned her head towards the blond haired boy and relief poured over her in a flood as she saw the yellow-orange sun hanging low the Eastern sky. "Oh, well then, thank goodness for that." She walked over to the stonewall leaning against the wall next to Draco, looking at the sunrise. "It's beautiful."
"Yes, it is." But Draco was not looking at the sunrise, but was staring at Hermione, still amused at her momentary senselessness, but in awe at her attractiveness- the way the morning sun reflected on her face, brightening it with a golden glow, her cheeks wererosy.
With out a coat to shield the cold, Hermione began to shiver and her teeth began to chatter while she looked intently at the sky. Draco noticed her sudden change in composure, and stood behind her, rubbing his hands on her arms attempting to keep her warm. Hermione turned to face Draco, her body stuck between him and the tower wall. Merlin, he is gorgeous! She thought as she contemplated his face, full of concern and complaisance.
Draco stopped rubbing her harms, pulling her closer to him- he lowered his head downwards as if to kiss her.
"I really must get going- before everyone else wakes up." Hermione said uncertainly. She knew what was on his mind, but this was so wrong. This wasn't the Draco she knew, who was this person? Hermione wasn't sure if she could trust his intentions.
"Oh, yeah alright." Draco retraced, looking her in the eyes. He saw that look, the one that expresses the quandary of a yearning mind- the look that questions, "should I stay or should I go?" He wanted her to stay, but knew she wouldn't.
Hermione inclined her head east again; it really was a beautiful morning. "Right, I'll just be going now. Goodbye, Draco." She walked away, closing the door to the tower behind her.
"Goodbye, Hermione," Draco said to the door. It was as if something was suddenly missing inside him. He couldn't quite place it. Shrugging the feeling away, Draco too left the tower, blanket in hand. He had work to do.
Hermione continued her day as usual. She was fortunate enough to have reached the common room before students had begun to wake and wander about. She was not as blind as she wished she was- nothing had changed with her, but why all of a sudden was Draco Malfoy (of all people) paying her positive attention, even affection. Normally when Draco was referring to her, the word "Mudblood" issued from his lips, which immediately curled into a disgusted sneer.
But last night- he had taken her hand with out flinching, stood within inches of her with out dying of disgust, and spoke her name without a tone of offense in his voice. What is this world coming to? I mean, with Voldemort in the open, of course people are going to change- but Draco Malfoy? Changing this much? She pondered his actions relentlessly, but came to no definite conclusion.
Seemingly nothing changed between Draco and Hermione at least to any outsiders. They had stopped being as uncivil to each other; well Draco had stopped taunting Hermione. A couple days passed though before they actually spoke again. There was no way they could. Draco was busy and most certainly was not going to go out of his way to go talk to Hermione, especially not in front of either her friends or his.
But this particular day was different- Draco was frustrated and sore about his lack of progress. And to make matters worse he could not stop thinking of Hermione. It drove him to madness. While he was in classes, he stared at her, only taking in half of what the professors said. While he was in the common room with his Slytherin cronies he found himself not as interested in their sordid affairs. Even while he slept he dreamed of him kissing a brunette passionately in various places- the tower, the corridors, the prefects bathroom, the grounds, everywhere and anywhere. He blamed his lack of progress on Hermione; if she wasn't on his mind so much maybe he could get some damn work done.
He needed to do something; he had to get this crisis fixed- right now. Storming down the seventh floor corridor, as angry as a charging bull, Draco went to find Hermione Granger. He needed to set straight that he did NOT fancy her, but needed her help. That was the whole point of his new found interest in her- her brain!
He found himself standing in from the Portrait of the Fat Lady. He was amazed he actually remembered where it was. I am just that smart. "Oy! You! Is Hermione Granger in there? I need to speak with her, immediately," He barked at the Fat Lady.
"Now Young Man! Why would I know if she was in here?" She answered stiffly, baffled at his unprovoked rudeness.
"Because you would have seen if she had entered or left!" Draco knew she was purposefully being difficult. That was unacceptable.
"Well I would not tell you- and it does not matter anyway. You cannot get it, you do not know the password." The Fat Lady closed her eyes and tilted her head upwards so that her nose was in the air- her expression daring Draco to continue his rant.
"Look, can't you just tell me? Ugh! This is ridiculous." Draco turned on his heels, his eyes shooting daggers at everyone who passed, as if each one of them had personally insulted him. If I were Hermione- Thank Merlin I am not- Where would I be when I was not in classes or in the dormitory with my nose in a book…? Draco halted immediately- an amazing feat seeing as he was walking at lightning speed- a book? The LIBRARY! Of course! She had got her nose in a book in the Library! Merlin, I am a genius!
Draco turned at the next corridor and headed for the library, in a slightly more cheerful mood that he had been in. When he got there he quietly swerved around tables- passed a large table with a group of fourth and fifth years Slytherin girls who all looked up at him ogling. Draco smiled his sexiest smile possible- he was good looking and he sure as hell knew it. He continued on, checking aisles and aisles of books, making his way through the library.
"…Love potions aren't dark or dangerous." Draco heard Hermione's voice and began to walk promptly towards her.
"Easy for you to say." Draco paused. Harry Potter's low voice issued form around the corner. Damn, she's with Precious Potter. Disgusting. Draco hugged the bookshelves, shifting as to hear them better, hoping Potter would leave soon.
"So, it would be down to Filch to realize it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very good wizard. I doubt he can tell one potion…"
Draco moved closer, hoping to catch something else intriguing but accidentally shifted a book, sliding it along the shelf. He heard Hermione pause. He had blown it, but he had heard enough. Bless Hermione Granger! He turned to walked back the way he had came to exit the library, a broad grin on his face and a crazed look in his eyes- this was just want he had needed. As the rounded the corner out of the book aisle he passes Madam Pince who glared at him, looking at him from head to toe as if he was mad.
That night after she had excused herself to bed, Hermione pondered whom she would take to Slughorn's party the following night. Her mind was so engaged in her dilemma that she found her way to the girl's dormitory without even thinking where she was going. She didn't have any one that she really wanted to go with.
A blurry vision of a blond-haired boy came into her mind; a boy with perfectly pale skin and eyes like an on coming storm- grey, powerful and indecipherable. We would be the talk of the party- Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, together- as a couple? Yeah, right. Even Hermione wasn't that mad to think Draco Malfoy would ever go somewhere with heras a friend much less her date.
But who the hell would she take? Ron was horribly attached at the lips all the time with Lavender Brown, she did not want to go with Harry, and she couldn't bring herself to ask Draco- that would be emotional suicide. She ran through a list of boys in her head. Dean Thomas, no. Seamus Finnegan, no. Neville, oh goodness no. Zacharias Smith, no, Ginny would kill me- Hell I'd kill me. Colin Creevy, goodness I am getting desperate. Cormac McClaggen… now that could work. Hah! How angry Ron would be! Hermione had a fleeting image of Ron- his face as red as his hair with steam coming out of his ears like steam out of a train engine. What a wonderful image!
Hermione ran down the dormitory stairs and looked over the common room from the catwalk, and when she found no Cormac in the Common Room she walked to the boys dormitory door and knocked quietly.
Ten minutes later Hermione found herself ascending the stairs back to her dormitory, this time she had a date to the following night's Christmas Party. She couldn't believe she had actually asked McClaggen- This should be fun. The image of an infuriated Ron lingered vividly in her mind. She walked up to her bed side, threw on the jumper laying on her sheets, then plopped herself down on her bed. It had been a tiring day. Sighing she rolled herself over on to her side, the crisp cool breeze blew lightly against her face. She loved the winter- how when it was cold outside she could bundle up all toasty and warm under the bed covers, except for her face, that way she could breathe in the cold and feel it on her lungs.
The dormitory was eerily quiet, even out in the grounds not a sound could be heard. Hermione had a sudden feeling that someone was watching her. A tingle randdown her bad, she wanted to open her eyes to reveal the cause of this very disturbing feeling, but she was worried about whom she might see. Giving in to curiosity she slowly peaked one eye open. Her entire vision was black, as if someone had turned off all the lights. Hermione blinked, opening her other eye to reveal the blackness was actually a robed figure in front of her.
Hermione looked up at the figure, where a face should be- but found none, only a hood with a hold as black as night. Hermione wanted to scream but couldn't. Before she could utter a sound, a pair of pale hands lashed out of the black sleeves like tentacles projecting from a sea monster capturing its unwary prey. She gasped and sputtered, unable to make a meaningful noise. Oh god, and I going to die right here in my own room. She didn't understand what was happening? Hermione thrashed and writhed, causing herself to break free from her attacker, and roll right off the side of her bed.
Hermione opened her eyes to see a room full of beds but certainly empty of people excepting herself. She gingerly put her hands up to her neck only to find her scary wound too tight. That goodness it was only a dream, or a rather horrible nightmare.
She looked up at the window to see a beautiful eagle owl perched on the windowsill with an envelope hanging from its beak. She was rather started to see her new companion but recovered quickly, leaning up from her bedside to take the envelope from the owl, who promptly turned and flew away once its message had been delivered successfully.
"A little late for mail don't you think?" She muttered to the now vacant window. Hermione looked at the letter. Hermione, first and last, was scribbled on the front. Smiling, she opened the letter and read its contents.
Meet me tomorrow night after Prof. Slughorn's party, in the Dungeon's Corridor at 10 O'clock. Goodnight.
Cormac McClaggen had most definitely been the worst decision of Hermione's life. He would not shut the bleeding hell up. He had been talking for nearly and hour and one half straight.
"Then, last summer, I was playing with Pierce Braden, who is a rookie for Ireland this year- chaser- and he threw it to the…"
Hermione clogged her ears, praying for her time to excuse herself, politely of course. Does he ever shut up!
"Hermione. Hermione?" Hermione shook herself out of her silent rebellion against boredom.
"What?" She said, a little bit more snappy that she meant to.
"Look…" Hermione realized they had stopped, Cormac pointing upwards at something over their heads. The something was horrible, something revolting at this immediate moment. Mistletoe. Hermione gaped up at it, then looked back at Cormac, who was smiling smugly. He closed his eyes; his pink-red lips puckered slightly, and leaned forward in slow motion.
He does not think I will actually kiss him does he?" Hermione thought, feeling as she may vomit.
Hermione ducked under Cormac's neck, which was arched much like a goose now. Only thirty more minutes she thought as she moved through the crowd in Slughorn's office.
Draco trudged down the seventh floor corridor. Yes another night of fruitless attempts. This is maddening! He thought to himself angrily, fully aware of his ineptness. How he hated failure, not getting his way was a newfound obstacle in Draco's life these past few months. Between this and Hermione he wasn't quite sure which was worse: failing to get his job done, or realizing he actually had feelings for Granger. That was impossible he had once thought- apparently not. Her frequent visits into his mind was proof enough, he was truly going mad.
It was already nearing 9:30 as Draco rounded the corner to see a pair of red eyes glowing in the dark a little below his eye level. Draco jumped back, inhaling sharply. It was not until his eyes adjusted that he saw Mrs. Norris sitting on the banister of the staircase. For a moment Draco thought those red eyes belonged to another being- a much more frighteningly sinister being.
He heaved a sigh of relief and began to walk down the marble staircase directly in front of him until he saw a light bobbing towards him.
"Well, well. Out of bed late, are we?" Came the wheezy voice of Argus Filch, his face hidden as he had shoved the lantern into Draco's pale face, making it hard for Draco to see much of anything at all.
"Yes, well I have permission to be. Do you might getting that light out of my face before you blind me?"
Mr. Filch rasped "Oh really and who gave you permission, eh? The headmaster said nighttime prowling is not allowed anymore, boy."
"Professor Slughorn did. I'm going to his Christmas Party right now, and you are delaying my arrival." Draco retorted his eyes flickering back and forth to each of Filch's eyes- hoping he wouldn't be caught lying; he really did need to get going.
"Well, we'll just have to see about that!" Mr. Filch said, grabbing Draco firmly by the collar, dragging him down the stairs and off towards Professor Slughorn's office, with Draco doing his very best to shake off his captor.
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It was already five until ten when Hermione began to look for Draco. She had seen him briefly after she had caught up with Harry and Luna, but had been unable to catch up as Cormac was searching for her- of course in her way of getting to Draco.
Hermione made her way through a group of giggling girls, past Luna and Professor Trelawney (Where's Harry got to?) and walked out of Slughorn's highly decorated office. Really- trappings everywhere. Hermione looked down either way in the corridor wondering which way she ought to travel to find Malfoy- he never said exactly where in this hallway. The hallways were beautifully decorated. The suits of armor had candles lit inside them that would not burn out, holly wreaths hung on the corners of some paintings and baubles in colors and patterns hung outside of Slughorn's office in the air as if they were attached to an invisible string.
Hermione wandered aimlessly, dawdling in her search for Draco, not entirely sure if she should venture too far in case she, too, was being searched for. After pacing for a few minutes later Hermione slumped down to the stone floor a good distance from the door to the party, due to the number of people entering and exiting. Plus, what if Draco and herself were seen together? How disastrous! Hermione leaned her head back against the wall, her eyes slowly growing heavier and heavier. Maybe he forgot about her; maybe he isn't coming.
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Not very far away on the other side of the corridor Draco slammed the door to a classroom and stormed off towards the Christmas Party. He heard the clock chime ten0thirty. Damn! He was really late. It was all Snape's fault- talking to him like that, like a child. He was not a child and certainly was not going to ask for help from Snape! He is so selfish. Really as if he could do it any better? What does he know about fixing stupid, broken woodwork? As if could have thought of that plan by himself. Draco growled to himself huffing out his anger. This really was not a good night- and he needed to find Hermione.
No sooner than he had thought it, he saw a figure with unruly hair, legs drawn up and their head resting on their knees. Merlin, Hermione. He walked up to find Hermione asleep, sitting on the stone floor, her body moving up and down with the rhythmic sound of her slow, deep breaths.
Draco was unsure if he could or should really wake her. She seemed peaceful- and must have been exhausted to fall asleep in such an unsafe place- along in a poorly lit corridor. Well done, Hermione. Anything could have happened to you. He gazed at her, the slow pace of her breathing calming his nerves slightly. She really did have a strange effect on him- it was unnerving. Slow and gently, Draco put one arm under her raised knees, placing the other under her arms around her back, lifting Hermione from her sitting position on the floor and carrying her down the corridor up towards the Gryffindor common room. Draco took the longest route possible to ensure this display would not be seen by any other life form, save the portraits and their inhabitants.
As he began to walk Hermione's head, heavy and limp, fell gracefully on to Draco's shoulder, fitting perfectly against his neck. How awkward this may be if they were spotted. Draco smelled a sudden whiff of vanilla and juniper- no doubt due to her shampoo and soap. It smelled good nonetheless. Draco noticed, too, ho perfectly she fit in his arms, light and comfortable, as if this was meant to be.
Hermione aroused from her dreams as Draco began to climb up a staircase- the steps upward causing her head to bob slightly against Draco's shoulder. Her nostrils were filled with the smell of cologne- a smell she couldn't quite place, but thought she may have smelled it before, maybe in potions their first day back- causing her eyes to flutter sleepily open to find herself hovering up the stairs in the arms of…
"Draco Malfoy! What are you… put me down!" Hermione writhed and squirmed in Draco's cradled arms. Her sudden rapid and jerky movements caused Draco to stumble up the next step resulting in his foot slipping, sending both Draco and Hermione tumbling down the stairs causing them to land awkwardly at the bottom- their limbs tangled uncomfortably.
"Arg! Well done, Granger! What did you have to go and do that for?" Draco asked angrily as he tried to get up, but was unable to do so since Hermione's entire upper body law sprawled across his stomach.
"What were you doing carrying me? And where the hell were you? I was waiting for you," Hermione did not move except for turning her head toward Draco, glaring at him as if he had just called her "Mudblood," her hair in her face. She was not sure why she was so angry, but she couldn't help it. She still did not trust Draco Malfoy.
"I know you were- I found you ASLEEP; nice of you to wait up for me. I decided I better not leave you there alone at night, and on the floor in an empty corridor. Maybe you should wise up a bit, Granger."
"Yes, well maybe you shouldn't be such a prick, Malfoy. But thank you for your consideration." Hermione righted herself, straightening her robes, lowering her hand to Draco to help him up, but he did not take it.
Draco stood up on his own, dusting the dirt on the floor off of his robes. "Don't thank me, I just didn't want to have your death on my conscious if some unfortunate," Draco stressed the word, lathering it in sarcasm, "mishap occurred and you were murdered or something tragic." Draco rolled his eyes and threw his arms up implying his disdain.
Hermione fumed at him, "You are such an insufferable git!"
"I'm insufferable! If anything, Granger, it is you who is insufferable! There I was trying to help and you go and get your knickers in a bunch and yell at me!"
Hermione bowed her head ashamedly. She knew she ought not to have lost her cool like that, but what was she supposed to think? She wasn't ready to give up just yet thought. "How was I to know that? How was I to know you weren't planning something else? You are Draco Malfoy, after all." Hermione's imagination flashed to obscenities that cause her face to redden even more than it was already.
Draco's temper flared; his pride had been stepped on and that was just intolerable. All the anger that had subsided form his earlier encounter with Snape began to rear back up. "Do you honestly think that after the other night I would try something like that, Granger?" Draco's voice roared like a lion- loud and relentless. He intended every syllable to cause Hermione pain. "Do you honestly think if I wanted something," he looked Hermione up and down his lip curled into a sneer, "I wouldn't just take it?" He took a step closer, threateningly toward Hermione, whose eyes flashed fear and uncertainty. "I am, as you so perceptively stated, Draco Malfoy."
The silence that resulted was maddening; the only sound that could be heard was Draco's heavy and angry breaths, which did not help the situation. Neither of them wavered their eyes from their opponent's. This was not a test- a game. Hermione knew Draco would not blink, speak, or be the first to apologize.
Hermione quickly dropped her gaze as she felt the tears that had been welling up in her brown eyes begin to fall precipitously down her red cheeks. She would not let him see the tears, not his time. She turned her back to him as she raised her hands to her face to wipe the tears away.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said quietly as she sniffed. "I'm sorry," she turned around, lifting her head upwards to look directly at Draco whose face immediately softened at the tear stains still visible on Hermione's face. "I was wrong for accusing you, and I'm sorry."
Draco did not reply to her apology, but rather closed his eyes, tilting his head backwards opening his eyes once again to look at the corridor archway above them. Draco smirked as he lowered his head to look at Hermione inform of him. Hermione, confused at this seemingly unfitting gesture, cocked her head sideways, arching her eyebrows questioningly.
"Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" I mean I've apologized three times and you haven't said a dam word in reply. You haven't even said that you are the least bit sorry, which you should…"
"Merlin, you just don't shut up do you, Granger?" Draco smiled at her- she really didn't.
"What are you going on about? Al I was…" But Hermione was unable to finish her sentence. Draco had stepped forward and in one rapid motion pulled Hermione into him and kissed her passionately. Hermione's mind went blank, it was as if no one else in the world mattered or even existed. She looked at Draco's eyelids, which were closed tight, and she too closed her eyes, leaning into his kiss parting her lips, allowing the kiss to deepen. Draco eagerly consented, pulling Hermione harder against his body, intertwining his tongue with hers.
Neither one cared they were kissing a possible enemy- they were not enemies now. Neither one was concerned who might see this illicit display. Neither one really had a care in the world, for only a kiss this passionate- a kiss that shattered six years of hurt and pain, forgave past offenses, and crossed forbidden boundaries- would cause neither Hermione nor Draco to really care about anything else but one another.
Draco pulled away from the kiss first, his hands still on Hermione's lower back. Hermione's eyes remained closed for a moment; she did not want to wake from this glorious dream. It was just too good. But slowly she too opened her eyes., staring into Draco's.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
Draco smiled at her, lifting his eyes towards the archway. Hermione followed his gaze upward to find mistletoe hinging above them, a clump of green leaves with a red bow around the stems. She averted her eyes downward again.
"Oh," she mumbled crestfallen, she made to move but was pulled back by a pair of arms that restrained her.
"I maybe insufferable, but I cannot go against tradition. Plus," Draco said, and Hermione looked back at him, "I said if I wanted something I would take it, and I want you, Granger. I want to be with you. These past couple of months, only the thought of you has kept me somewhat sane." He leaned down and gently kissed her. He leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes and se whispered, "We will argue and fight like cats and dogs, but I'm okay with that. Be with me, Hermione."
Hermione was shocked and speechless. This was most certainly NOT what she had expected. She could think of no other response but "Yes." Draco smiled as he lifter her off the ground, kissing her.
Hermione made her way back to the Fat Lady ("Baubles") and back to her four-poster bed almost in a trance. Who would have thought she'd snog Draco Malfoy? She collapsed on her bed and fell asleep, thoughts of Draco swimming in her head. Draco too seemed to find his room much faster than normal. He felt euphoric; better than he had in months. It was true, through all his failure these past few months only the image of Hermione in his mind made the failure less unbearable. Draco felt as if nothing could ruin his happiness.
A/N: Yeah! I finally got to the part where they get together. By the way- I hate writing kissing scenes! It is so awkward, so sorry if itkind of sucks.. I kind of couldn't put into words a simply fantabulous kiss- I did my best! Please review!