Stuck in Love
Summary: Hermione and Draco get stuck in a closet. Enough said.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. I do not own these characters. I do not own these characters. I do not own these characters.
Chapter Nine:
It was a few days before Christmas and Hermione and Draco were holding hands as they walked along the school grounds. They were no longer receiving looks from everyone. It had been a few months since Draco admitted that he was in love with Hermione. Things were slowly getting better. Harry was talking to her again and Ron was at least looking at her when she said something to him. The only glitch was that Pansy refused to back off of Draco. Hermione had to make Draco promise that he wouldn't curse, hex, hurt or kill her in any way, shape, or form. Of course, she had to promise him something else too. That, however, was fulfilled behind closed doors.
The holidays were coming up and Draco was going to spend it with Hermione at Hogwarts. Ron was going back to the Burrow with Ginny and Harry was going to stay at Hogwarts with Hermione and Draco, since he had promised Hermione he'd try to get along with Draco somehow.
"I've got a surprise for you." Draco said, slowing down to a stop as he pulled something out of his robes.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, stopping as well and giving Draco a confused look.
Draco held up a silver necklace that had a snake wrapped around a sword engraved on it. "My dad gave this to me when I was accepted into Hogwarts. I want you to have it." He reached forward and clasped the necklace around Hermione's slender neck.
"Oh, Draco it's lovely." Hermione smiled and kissed Draco's cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Draco took Hermione's hand and placed a light kiss on it before he shivered. "Let's head back inside to warm up."
Hermione felt herself blush some. "Draco!" She hissed.
"I didn't mean that…" Malfoy waggled his eyebrows. "But we can do it later."
An even deeper red creeping into Hermione's cheeks and she smacked Draco's arm playfully as they headed back inside.
"Malfoy, there's someone to see you in the Great Hall." Professor Snape said as soon as the couple had stepped into the castle.
"Thanks Professor." Draco said as he and Hermione headed for the Great Hall.
"So, is Potter going to be spending Christmas with us?" Malfoy asked when they were halfway toward the Great Hall.
Hermione sighed. "Can't you call him Harry? And yes, he is. I want you two to get along. He's like my big brother."
"I guess I'll try…" Draco grumbled as they stepped into the decorated room. He stopped in his tracks, earning a look from Hermione. "Father?"
0000
Harry watched as his best friend packed, throwing his clothes into his trunk. "I wish you would stay here." He said.
Ron sighed and shook his head. "I can't. I need…a break. Some time away from Hermione."
"Why can't things be like how they used to?" Harry stood up and started to help Ron pack.
"Because Hermione cheated on me." The red head replied.
"Ron, you can't blame her. She fell in love with Malfoy. You can't help who she falls in love with."
"Yeah well, it should have been me."
"Maybe if you hadn't waited so long."
Ron stopped and glared at the Boy Who Lived. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if you didn't wait so long to ask Hermione out she might have never gone to Draco." Harry explained. "I'm not blaming you."
"It sounds like you are." Ron snapped, slamming his trunk shut. "Wingardium Leviosa." He said, making the trunk float in the air. He started to lead it toward the common room. "See you when I get back, Harry." He tossed over his shoulder.
0000
"Father, what are you doing here?" Draco asked, stepping away from Hermione and toward his father.
"I received an interesting letter the other day about you and a certain mudblood." Lucius Malfoy spat the last few words out, glaring at Hermione. "I don't know what kind of spell she has on you, but it better end soon." He said, looking back to his son.
"She doesn't have me under a spell. I love her."
Lucius flinched at his son's reply as if someone had smacked him across the face. "Love? A mudblood?" He let out a small, evil laugh. He took a few steps toward Hermione. "How can you love a mudblood?" He noticed the flash of silver around Hermione's neck and reached out, ripping the necklace off.
"Hey!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Where did you get this?" Lucius demanded, shaking the necklace in her face.
"I gave it to her." Draco answered, walking forward and taking the necklace from his father. "It was mine to give." He handed the now broken necklace back to Hermione.
"Take it back from her." Lucius insisted, reaching for the necklace.
"No. It's hers." Malfoy responded coolly.
Lucius marched over toward Hermione and tried to wrestle the necklace from her grasp. Draco started to yell at him to stop.
"Lucius!" A voice bellowed, causing the blonde man to stop.
"Let her go." Albus Dumbledore ordered, walking over and pulling Hermione away from Lucius. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, please head to your respective common rooms." The headmaster gave them a look before turning back to Lucius. "Follow me, Lucius."
Draco grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her out of the Great Hall. "I'm sorry about my father." He mumbled, sighing some and running a hand through his hair.
"It's okay Draco. It's okay." Hermione ran a hand up and down his arm soothingly.
0000
"I demand to know what is going on." Lucius exclaimed, slamming his fist down onto his open palm.
"It's called love, Lucius." Albus responded calmly, folding his hands together in front of him.
"Love between my son and that mudblood Granger! This is outrageous!"
"I would appreciate it if you did not use language like that in this school." Dumbledore replied coolly, standing up. "And yes, they have fallen for each other. I don't see the big deal about it."
"My son is a pureblood. He should not be dating anybody other than a pureblood, especially that filthy—"
Albus held up a hand. "That is enough. I'd like you to leave now, Lucius. And do not come back."
0000
Hermione left Draco at the portrait to the Slytherin common room and began to head toward the Gryffindor common room. She wanted to tell Harry what happened with Lucius. She was kind of afraid of Draco's father. Mostly, she was afraid of what he could do to her and her family, not to mention her friends and Draco.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the arm and spun her around.
"Mr. Malfoy!" She exclaimed, tugging to get her arm free.
"You will stay away from my son if you know what's good for you." Lucius threatened, his voice barely above a whisper.
"And what if I don't?" Hermione challenged, sending Draco's father a deadly glare.
"Then you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Lucius let go of her arm and stalked away.
Hermione's brown eyes followed him until he was out of sight before she ran back toward the Gryffindor common room to tell Harry what had happened.
0000
"Harry!" Hermione called out when she burst into the common room.
Neville looked up from the couch. "Harry's not here."
Hermione sighed and plopped down beside the other Gryffindor. "Do you know where he is?"
"He said he was going to visit Hagrid." Neville noticed the scared and worried look on Hermione's face. "Did something happen with Draco?"
She shook her head. "Not with Draco, but with his father. He threatened me."
"Why don't you tell Draco or Dumbledore?"
"I don't want to get in between Draco and his father."
Neville patted Hermione's shoulder. "Then go tell Dumbledore. I'm sure he'll be able to think of something."
"He has enough to think about, Neville. Not to mention a school to run."
"And you want to tell Harry because…?"
Hermione frowned slightly. "Oh…you're right. Well, I guess I'll just have to deal with it myself." She stood up to head to her room.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah Neville?"
"Be careful."