A/N: AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY DREADFULLY sorry! I've been so busy with school, and now I made the basketball team. My schedule's packed, and I've rarely got a chance to write! Don't worry though, this fic never leaves my train of thoughts and I will NOT abandon this story.
Oh and…
200 REVIEW MILESTONE!!! WOOOO!!
LOADS of thanks to all my reviewers! I love that people like this story, and it gives me the motivation to continue. Thanks again!
Now, enjoy!
Chapter 19: Resisting the Urge
'She called me Draco,' Draco thought to himself, 'That's a first, and hopefully not a last.'
Draco noticed that Hermione was struggling to put on her necklace.
"Here, let me help you with that," he said, as she lifted her hair.
She turned around and faced him.
"Thank you, Draco," Hermione whispered, "for everything."
"No, thank you," Draco replied softly, "for discovering a heart beneath the stone."
Hermione smiled at him and laced her fingers with his.
"Let's go back inside," she said softly, as they strolled across the now snow covered grounds.
It was quite curious the time the first snow decided to fall. As snow can be a beautiful thing, it was not the only beautiful thing that had begun that night.
---
The two ambled through the Entrance Hall, hand in hand, relieved to find no one there. Before entering the Great Hall, Draco held Hermione back.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
Draco sighed. "Hermione, before we go in there, remember, people aren't expecting this and—"
Hermione placed a finger to his lips. "I know," she said quietly, seeming a bit stung.
Draco began quickly, "It's not that I would care if people saw us together, but my father…if he knew, he would try to hurt you."
Hermione grinned slightly. "Don't worry, Draco. I know how your father would react, and I know that he is…pardon, but it is true…a wicked man."
Draco said somewhat sourly, "No worries, I know. I've known it all my life."
Hermione sighed, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug.
"We'd better get inside," she said softly.
The two headed back to the dance separately, so as not to arouse suspicion.
---
Hermione spotted Ron near the punch table and quickly made her way over to him.
"Hey, 'Mione," Ron greeted casually.
"Hey, Ron. Where's Lavender?" she asked.
"Went off with Parvati some while ago. Probably off giggling in a corner or something," Ron said dully.
"What about Ginny and Harry?"
Just then, the two joined their friends.
"Where have you been? The pair of you?" Ron demanded quickly.
Ginny had suddenly become extremely interested in her fingernails. By the look on both their faces, Hermione could tell.
"Oh, outside with some others. It is a lovely night you know, just began to snow! I was doing some Head duty…" Hermione quickly covered, and was cut short as the music slowed.
"Alright, mates, we'd like to thank you loads for having us 'ere this evening!" the lead singer of the band said, as cheers and applause erupted. "Before we go, though, we'd like to play one last song for all of you! This is a muggle song, called 'It's A Kind of Magic' by a band called 'Queen'."
The music began again, at a slightly faster pace. Hermione, unsure of what to do, joined Harry, Ginny, and Ron as they all danced together.
Draco stood by the back of the room leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He wanted so desperately to be the one dancing with Hermione but he knew that he couldn't. Resisting the urge was incredibly hard. But in the end, he thought, after what had happened tonight…
'It's worth it.'
It's
a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
A kind of magic
One
dream one soul one prize one goal
One golden glance of what should
be
It's a kind of magic
One shaft of light that shows the
way
No mortal man can win this day
It's a kind of magic
The
bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of
time
It's a kind of magic
The waiting seems eternity
The
day will dawn of sanity
Is this a kind of magic
It's a kind
of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand
years
Will soon be done
This flame that burns inside of me
I'm
here in secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic
The bell that
rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time
It's
a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
The rage that lasts a
thousand years
Will soon be will soon be
Will soon be done
This
is a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a
thousand years
Will soon be done-done
Magic - it's a kind of
magic
It's a kind of magic
Magic magic magic magic
Ha ha
ha it's magic
It's a kind of magic
---
Hermione strolled along the corridors to her dormitory. Along the way, people would greet her with "Awesome ball, Hermione!" or "Great job with planning!".
She would smile at each, perhaps a bit more than she intended to. Her insides were floating and she felt absolutely light on her feet.
As she turned a corner toward the familiar portrait of the Fat Lady in blue, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind.
She let out a small gasp of surprise and turned around to be face to face with Draco.
"Hello, Draco," she whispered, kissing his cheek.
"That was a wicked Ball, wasn't it? Well, of course, I did help plan it," Draco said with a playful air of superiority.
"It didn't look like you were having a wicked time when I looked over at you during that last song…jealous, were we?" Hermione teased.
Draco grinned slyly and pulled her toward him, bring his lips down on hers. He dipped her and she let out a squeal of surprise, as the two broke the kiss.
"Well, I've got you all to myself now," he half growled, leaning in to kiss her again.
But noticing the nervous look on her face at his words, he quickly pulled back.
"Hermione, don't worry. I would never force you to do anything you didn't want to," he told her.
She smiled slightly and hugged him.
"I know, Draco, I know."
---
"Hermione, love, wake up! It's Christmas Morning!" a voice whispered in Hermione's ear.
Hermione's eyes opened slowly to see Draco lying in bed next to her. He was shirtless, and clad in only dark green boxers. Hermione soon found herself staring.
"Don't worry love, you can gaze all you like," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and kissing her cheek.
Suddenly, Hermione realized where she was. She was in Draco's room, in Draco's bed, and she did not remember what had happened last night.
'Oh no!' she thought, 'did we…'
As if he read her thoughts, Draco quickly spoke up.
"Don't worry, we didn't do…anything. You fell asleep here and I didn't want to wake you. I would never take advantage of you like that."
Hermione felt relieved. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips.
The two climbed out of bed and walked hand in hand into the common room. Upon entering, Hermione noticed a beautifully decorated tree near the large window. Silver and red ornaments hung accompanied by a gold star at the top.
"Wow, that's lovely! I suppose the house elves put it up! Poor things…didn't have to," she trailed on to herself, making her way over to the tree.
'Still going on with that spew thing,' Draco thought to himself and chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Hermione demanded playfully, sliding her arms around his neck in a sensual way.
Draco could feel himself becoming highly aroused and Hermione noticed. She leaned in slowly to kiss him, much too slowly for his taste; it was killing him…
Draco could practically taste her lips on his before she pulled away quickly.
"So, let's open our presents, shall we?" she smiled brightly, and skipped over to the tree.
Draco silently cursed to himself.
"Tease," he muttered after her. He made a mental note to make her pay for that later.
Hermione sat down next to the tree and picked up a package. She read the tag on it, smiled, and tore it open.
She stood up showing Draco the book she had just unwrapped.
"From Harry! I've wanted this for the longest time, it's really great—" Draco silenced her by pulling a bouquet of wilted roses from behind him
"Hey, what's this?" she said, taking them from him.
As soon as she touch the bouquet, each of the dozen roses bloomed into a brilliant shade of crimson.
A small card then emerged magically and Hermione picked it up. It read:
For the lovely young lady who brightens anything in her presence.
-Draco
"Draco," Hermione breathed, "They're absolutely beautiful!"
Draco brought his lips down upon hers.
"As are you."
Hermione smiled and pulled him into a tight embrace. Draco planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Hermione."
---
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that! Just to clarify some things:
-The Fat Lady wearing a blue dress is the portrait to enter the Heads dormitory (she's the sister of the Gryffindor portrait)
-Draco had bought Hermione a present cause he was planning it all along, and Hermione had bought him a present because they had been friends and she was planning to give it to him anyway.
Once again, sorry about the awful delay, and for the shortness of this chapter! Next chapter I will try to have up sooner (because I already know what I'm going to write). And now, for my reviews 00
They're twice as long this time because they're from chapters 17 AND 18.
kaiba3: Haha, yeah, it's all three most popular holidays instead of saying each one :P Thanks for reading and reviewing!
xXxRiP2PaCxXx: Ah! I'm flattered (: Thank you for your very kind words –sweeping bow-
Michelle: Haha, yeah :) Oh, okay. If you find out for sure, can you let me know? Thanks!
DarkSlytherinPrincess: Haha, thanks! Wow, a career in bookwriting? Is my story that good? Email me about your story, I'll see what I can do.PiperRedfern: Whoo, glad to change your point of view on ships! Thanks for R&Ring!
dracosgirl2515: HEY! Thanks loads for reading! Really? You thought it was a bit alike? Hmm, well, I've picked up the way Blaise acts from they way he's portrayed in fics (since he's not really in the books too much) but I promise, I didn't copy his persona from you. Thanks for all the reviews, and I'll be waiting for the next chapter in your fic!
ChibiKuroKoneko: Aw, thanks! Yeah, that was one of my favorite chapters, too. Whoo! Glad the community posting worked! Thanks for R&Ring!
Inuyashaluva245: Haha, right? Where has chivalry gone these days…LMAO let's all pray that happens to us! Thanks for reviewing :)
Luisa: Lmao, yeah, there will be –interesting- stuff later on. LATER. ON. You can't expect them to jump all over each other while they just got together, hmm?
sugar n spice 522: Thanks! Glad you liked it :) Yeah, I did actually, it was cool!
Marla1: Whoo, glad you think so! Yeah, I try to keep them in character as much as possible so they story seems more realistic. Thanks for the review!
Tiarwen: Aw, thanks! Glad you like :)
Bharathnatyam: Lmao, yeah. Sweet, great, awesome. :D
natty123: Easier for Draco and Hermione maybe, but not for the plot ;) We'll see what happens.
Sarah: Haha, don't get too lovesick! Glad you liked it :) Thanks for R&Ring!
AngelSerpent91: :) Thanks for reading!
Samantha Cameron: Haha, don't we all…I'll try!
LunaDemonica: Perfectly alright! I don't mind how late a review is, it's still a review! Haha, thanks! They appreciate it :)
SiriuslyPadfoot'sGal: Yay, cool! Thanks for reviewing!
JassXOXO: Haha, yeah, did seem like it a bit, no? Oh you will find that Draco is very romantic in this one, very romantic indeed.MJ432: My faithful reviewer (and her vomiting)! So, I guess, you vomit, that means you like it. Uh, cool? Haha, no just kidding. Wow. So many emotions 0.o Keep being an awesome faithful reviewer! PS: HARRY AND GIN ARE JUST GORGEOUS TOGETHER :)
TomsPink: Haha, non taken! Glad you enjoyed it! One of my favs, too :) MaxFelton: Aw, yeah :) Later on things will change though—I've said too much O.O Thanks! Yeah, it was fun XD Keep reading!paper-sky: Cool, thanks! Glad you like! Lmao, yeah, that's a positive way to look at it…Haha, I LURVE CLIFFIES XD Well, writing them anyway…
Andie: HEYY! Lmao, you guessed it! Haha, you too! I LOVED IT! Don't worry, it was awesome. Thanks choo for adding to my beautiful number of reviews!
Alright, for the rest of the people that reviewed, I'm very sorry about not giving a personal thank-you, but I've got to get off the computer right now and I want to put the chapter up. Next time, everyone gets a personal thank-you, I promise!
i own u eddie stack, HuGs N KiSsEs 1411, CranKy, HPFanatics311, flower.OF.eden, Witchchick14, Adriegurl (not sure how many chapter it will be yet!), Faith K., natty123, schoolqueen, hmm, ever Draco's girl
Thanks again to everyone! Till next time…