Chapter 6

Let love do its magic

Hermione awoke the next day as the temperature outside decreased. Outside, snowflakes gently fell on her windowsill and whitened its surrounding. It was the students Christmas break at Hogwarts. This was a time where students were given a week off to spend their Christmas together. On the other hand, Hermione already knew she'd have to spend it with Malfoy. She scurried off and prepared her books that she had just borrowed to read and walked towards the door which opened the portrait. However, she was happy that she hasn't bumped into Ron and Harry, which were probably angry with her.

She opened the door catching Malfoy who was already standing right outside. As usual, Draco was pale and sweaty from the pain that the handcuffs gave him. "So, how was 'the talk' with Pansy last night?" she asked as she brushed some snow off her robes.

"I guess it was alright. I mean she is 'allowing' me to do this, but she made me promise that once its done, then I have to be back to normal" he replied looking down.

"Well, I can't do anything about that I guess. So what are we up to now?" she sighed.

"Anything..." he said in a bored way. "Thank God, it's the Christmas Break, or it would be extremely hard to go to classes. I guess we can go down to the tree."

"Oh yeah sure." Hermione smiled.

"Ok," Draco said watching the shackles bind them together again. He smiled inwardly. YES, another day would end. Hopefully...

As they headed towards the Whomping Willow Hermione couldn't help but notice Draco Malfoy being nice to her. Oh now what, here we are alone sitting under a shady tree. I should start a conversation or something. However, should I tell him how I really feel about him? I mean it seems like the right time. Hermione thought. She then turned to face Draco and spoke up, "Malfoy, I have something to tell you that I really want to get off my chest..."

Draco's heart pounded up to the top of his throat, he couldn't breathe. But after he swallowed down the fear, he was able to say, "What is it?"

"Well it's basically about these handcuffs," Hermione started as she thought more of how to explain the whole thing. "We've been together for nearly a week now and as I see it, the handcuffs are really making a lot of progress...For me, I believe it worked really well.…it's just that…well…as I saw a different side of you I began to…you know, like you. I mean more than a friend..."

Again, that lump of his heart threw into his throat and he felt himself move his hand over onto her hand. He gently grasped it, but he wasn't doing it. He couldn't feel himself think. "Well Hermione," he whispered. "I like you more than a friend also, I told Pansy last night and listened to her screech a little, but I endured because I know that I really like you now." With those words, he felt the cuffs lose weight.

Hermione suddenly felt a slight move of Draco's hand towards hers...but didn't. Piles of tears were forming in her eyes. "Oh...umm...well...so you do...but the thing is that I remembered you saying that you'll be back to normal when this entire thing is over. Though I really didn't want that to happen..." Hermione replied as she gently placed her hand onto Draco's and took a hold of it.

"That was just to stop Pansy from screeching her little wail of terror. Now, last night when I went to bed I thought about it. I-I don't want to change." he replied.

Hermione silenced for a minute and spoke, "I don't know about that, but it's your decision..."

"I, I want to stay with you. First of all, Crabbe and Goyle can't keep a conversation. Not even for their lives. Second, Pansy is, is well… just annoying."

Interrupted, Malfoy saw Harry come in.

"Hermione! What do you think you are doing!" he yelled seeing his worst enemy and his best friend hand in hand.

Hermione heard Harry interrupt and focused her eyes on him. She had a feeling that she'd be facing this situation. "Harry just to inform you I know what I'm doing. Let me make my own decisions. Yes, I know you completely hate him along with Ron. But just let it go...I'll explain later." Hermione exclaimed.

"Ronald is going to be sooooooooo mad." he said.

Draco sat and frowned slightly as he watched the two talk. He was ruining different things, and his dad would be terrified at his decision. But, he decided already and he was going stick to it.

"Draco, can we leave?" Hermione asked Draco ignoring Harry. She just wanted to run away from it all.

"Ok, Hermione." he said. She will have to face it soon he thought. The Gryffindors hate me. I bet they will question her why. On the other hand, Harry followed and decided to spy on them.

Hermione smiled and headed towards The Lake still holding Malfoy's hand.

"Well, I guess we'll just deal with them tonight huh…so, are you going to tell Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy about all this?" she asked as she sat at a nearby tree that was close to the lake.

Harry hid in a near by bush and put on his invisibility cloak an watched them.

"Yea, I'll watch them freak out tonight." Malfoy said sarcastically. "But, what I really wanted was you there too."

Harry chuckled softly.

"Ok no problem. I'll be glad to help. Shall we see them now? It's quite boring here." Hermione replied. For some reason, she had felt like some one or something was watching them.

"I'm not sure where they are, but we can go look at least." he said. His training from Snape told him that someone was watching him. He could feel the pulses of nervousness.

"Well let us go then." Hermione replied.

"Alright," Draco said, holding her waist this time.

Hermione felt Draco hold her waist and just blushed at the fact. She then stood up and began to talk, "So where should we head first?"

"I guess we should try the dungeons first. They always like to lurk amongst the dark."

Hermione was unsure about entering the dungeons, it always rather gave her a bit of a scary feeling. Nevertheless at least she was with Malfoy.

They reached the Dungeons where they spotted Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy awaiting for them to approach. Pansy walked up to Draco and kissed him on the cheek, haven't seen you recently," she smiled at him completely ignoring Hermione.

Hermione just gave Pansy a jealous look yet still very angry with her. "Well Draco, tell her" she exclaimed as Draco was till holding her hand.

"Ah-hem. As of right now, you and me," he told pansy, "Are no more. We are through. Hermione and I really like each other and we have decided to be together. As to Crabbe and Goyle, I hope this doesn't ruin any friendship." he told them in a way that was straight to the point.

Pansy was shocked. "You are dumping me for a Gryffindor!" she yelled attracting everyone's attention in the dungeons. She stomped out after producing a large amount of birds that flew towards Draco and pecked at him.

"Ugh! Parkinson, just to inform you I am more than a Gryffindor. With your behavior, I can see clearly why Malfoy is dumping you!" Hermione yelled.

Draco smiled a bit, watching Pansy flip. She was always a bit temperamental, but this time it was even funnier.

"Malfoy? Are you really serious about this?" asked Crabbe.

As Draco swung out his wand, called out the stun jinx, and put the wand away. He gazed at Hermione and answered, "Yes, yes I am."

Hermione smiled.

The day turned into night, darkness took over light, and revealed the mysteries behind the Castle. Hermione gave Malfoy a smile. "Hey so I guess I have to go. Walk with me to the Gryffindor Common Room?" she asked.

"Sure," said he, hand in hand. They walked up the flight of stairs, slowly so they may feel the presence of one another.

"Draco, thanks for everything. I thought it was so brave for you to go through all of this. At first, I really didn't expect all of this to happen. But I guess it did huh." Hermione laughed as they both walked along the corridors nearing the Fat Lady's Portrait.

"I'll tell you, yesterday I would have looked at this moment and gagged. But now, I'm relishing it at this moment, pushing it down deep into my thoughts so I can remember." he said.

As they approached the portrait, Hermione felt the handcuffs go away and still found hers and Malfoy's hand together. "Well, I see we did it huh..." she said as she stood there looking down.

Draco jumped a bit with the feeling of the weight coming off. "Yea, I guess we did." he said scratching his head. But, he wouldn't let go of her hand. He felt glued to it.

Hermione also didn't want to let go. But she knew that tomorrow would be another day for them. "Well I have to go..." Hermione sighed as she opened the Portrait. "But before I do..." she paused, leaned her head over towards Malfoy, and kissed him gently on his lips. Malfoy pulled her closer, letting there lips touch longer. After a moment or so, he slowly let go as his eyes met hers. "I-I'll see you later then." he said.

Hermione sighed and gently walked into the common room looking back once more at Malfoy.

The next morning, as soon as Hermione woke up, she rapidly rose up and ran to the door forgetting the fact that the handcuffs were already been removed. Even though it was, Draco still managed to come over and see her again. This time, he was calm and wasn't panting or anything. "Good morning Draco, umm..so shall we go and see McGonagall at her office?" she asked quite excited.

"Yeah ok," he said happily, as Hermione walked to him.

They arrived at McGonagall's office and saw Professor McGonagall in a dark blue robe with what seemed to be a new black hat and a long Phoenix feather on its side. She looked up from what she was doing and saw Draco and Hermione standing in front of her. "Well well, I see you two have gotten along. Am I right?" she asked.

No, my wrists are numb now. Malfoy thought to himself. Even if he did like Hermione, he was still able to hate McGonagall. "Yes, we have gotten to look at each other's brighter side…and we even came to like it."

Professor McGonagall gave them a smile. She had a feeling that they would accomplish this task. But not to a point like this. "I see the cuffs did well." she replied as the handcuffs appeared oh her table. "Anyways…well…that's all there is to it. However, because of your efforts…10 points for Gryffindor and of course…10 points for Slytherin! I guess my work here is done." she smiled.

At the same time, Hermione and Draco smiled as well and left the office.