Chapter 25 - Useful and Otherwise

What had happened between them was something that neither Hermione nor Draco wanted to go back on; and yet, having said that, neither of them knew how to move forward with it either. This was a big first for both of them, as neither of them had been in a serious relationship before. At least, Hermione didn't consider her relationship with Victor Krum to have been serious, Cormac McLaggen didn't count seeing as they'd only gone to Slughorn's Christmas party together and she'd spent the night avoiding him, and what she'd felt for Ron hadn't ever progressed to even being a relationship. All of those paled in comparison to what she now felt for Draco.

And as for his past relationships...well, Hermione wasn't about to ask about Pansy Parkinson, partly because she already hated the girl after years of being direct enemies and being bullied by her, and also because she didn't want to feel jealous or hurt in that way ever again. In sixth year, it had stung worse than anything she'd felt before when she saw Lavender and Ron together; if she could help it, she wasn't going to invite more of that same pain, even in retrospect.

In any case, in their earlier discussion both Draco and Hermione had agreed to leave the past behind them once and for all, so even while it may be hard to do so at the beginning, Hermione was going to stick to that.

After their kisses—still just those initial two, unfortunately, as after Draco's confession things had grown too serious and rather somber between them for any more physical contact—they had reverted to their old ways of discussing their missions and what was going on in the world, much as those topics were supposed to have been unwelcome until after Christmas. As it was, the first thing Draco did was ask to know in detail what had happened at Godric's Hollow, despite Hermione's insistence that it really didn't matter since she and Harry had survived anyway. Draco himself had to admit that it was rather masochistic on his part to want to hear about just how badly he had failed in making a difference in everything, but he couldn't move past it until he knew what had happened and what Hermione had been able to handle. Of course, their escape was nothing short of miraculous, given that it was Nagini whom they had been dealing with.

Hermione didn't bother to downplay any of the details, as Draco wouldn't have believed her anyway if she exaggerated the "ease" with which she had pulled things off. Instead, the only thing she didn't mention was how frightened she had been when first catching sight of that blood on the ceiling—a dead giveaway that they were in danger—and then how, for a split second, she had been absolutely petrified at seeing Harry in the coils of that evil snake. Everything afterwards had happened so quickly that she couldn't put accurate details to it, but Draco got the gist of things.

Needless to say, it was something they were anxious to put behind them more than anything else they'd discussed so far.

Harry had woken up and was just coming down the stairs as Hermione finished relating what had happened. He noted how close the two were sitting while they couldn't see him, and furthermore noticed how the expression on Draco's face was one that he had never seen before: a mixture of concern and anxiety quite different than when he had accidentally cursed Katie Bell in sixth year. It showed true caring, and only confirmed Harry's own suspicions from earlier on regarding what the young Malfoy felt for his friend.

Again, not that it was Harry's place to get involved—and, quite frankly, it would be awkward so he really didn't want to—but based on how Hermione was leaning towards Draco as well, it was his first insight that perhaps the feelings might be reciprocated, whether the two realized things or not.

Stepping forward and making his presence known, Harry naturally inserted himself into the conversation and thus the three kept a good pace going with further updates regarding any and all situations. On plans for their next steps, which they could discuss at length uninterrupted, by common accord they decided to wait a day or two before going into that, as Harry and Hermione were far too tired to even think about what to do next. Rest was a luxury they could ill afford, but seeing as they had to lay low anyway for a time, perhaps now was all they would have. The calm before a storm, so to speak.

At one point, Draco asked if he could see Slytherin's locket, just to get an idea of what to look for in case there were any telltale signs for when he would start searching for Hufflepuff's Cup—eventually. Seeing it for the first time, with a design that was so emblematic of his house, Draco felt a slight sense of loyalty come over him, but that was only from years of seeing snakes practically everywhere. He didn't touch the locket, but even being near it made him feel uneasy, that there truly was something dark and foreboding contained within there. There was, of course—a part of the Dark Lord's soul—but, having never encountered even the idea of a horcrux before, it was a lot to take in. He offered to take a turn with wearing it but, unsurprisingly, both Harry and Hermione rejected that idea outright.

"It's just...we don't know how you'll react to it, Draco," Harry confessed, not looking the other boy in the eyes. "It's taken a lot for me and Hermione to be able to put up with it even now, and recently it's grown stronger since he came back to Britain."

Hermione didn't say so, but the main reason she agreed that Draco shouldn't wear it had to do with what they hadn't talked about: namely, how Draco was handling having Voldemort back in close proximity and how his family was taking it. From what hints she had and the rest that she could guess at, Draco already had enough to put up with without having a horcrux hanging around his neck. So, reaching over, she accepted it from Harry and wore it herself.

Draco looked completely dissatisfied with the situation but didn't open his mouth to comment on it or insist. In order to take away from the gloom settling over them, Hermione, as usual, thought of the perfect thing to say.

"There is something you could help us on though, Draco," she said, drawing both the boys' attention. She took out her wand. "You see, I mentioned already how Harry's wand was broken in our escape from the hollow, leaving just my wand between the two of us now. With you here, I was hoping we could work together to give Harry some practice at using it, just to make sure that it'll work for him."

Harry caught on right away. "Actually, that's brilliant, Mione." He turned to Draco. "I don't know how or even if Hermione's wand will respond to me, so it's better to find out sooner rather than later. Believe me, if we're in trouble and I'm the one holding the wand, I don't want any surprises coming our way." He remembered only too well what had happened when he'd first tried out a couple of wands at Ollivander's.

Draco furrowed his brow, obviously not liking this piece of news at all. "Why not get a new wand then? I could go get one if—"

"I'd have to go to Diagon Alley myself to try out a new wand," Harry cut in. "And besides, we already know from one of my earlier visions that Ollivander's missing. I think his shop's closed now."

Draco actually hadn't been planning on going to Ollivander's to get Harry a new wand, but he didn't think that his mention of a "contact" in Knockturn Alley would make either Harry or Hermione any more trustworthy of his idea. Besides which, it wasn't something that any of them could take lightly: a wand that didn't respond to its wizard was more of a hindrance and danger than it was a help. Better for Harry to try his hand at magic without a wand, difficult as it was for most wizards. In fact, the only wizard that Draco could think of who was capable of that kind of magic was Severus, but mentioning the man would raise quite a few barriers that he'd just brought down, especially with Hermione. Later on though, he could ask for his godfather's help regarding that, without mentioning any specific details.

For now, training with Harry and getting him used to Hermione's wand would have to be enough.

Two days passed, and just before nightfall on Christmas Eve they all agreed to put away any further thoughts of using magic, dueling, or making further plans. In an odd turn of events, it was Draco and Harry who spent the most time together since that first morning at the lakehouse, having duels in the basement while Hermione spent her time upstairs, planning and reading as usual. Occasionally, she would climb down and give Harry a few pointers on how to get a better feel for her wand, but it was clear that it wasn't particularly compatible with him. Almost every time, she found her friend in a cold sweat and panting heavily, whereas Draco remained calm and unfazed. Draco wasn't going easy on The Boy Who Lived, since no one else was likely to, but he always stopped just short of actually hurting him.

After many grueling hours, the best Harry was able to do was block incoming spells and hexes. If he was to confront more than one wizard, and especially those wielding far deadlier spells with an intent to really harm him, he would be at a clear disadvantage.

By the time Hermione had dinner prepared for him, Harry all but collapsed into his chair at the kitchen table.

"Blimey, Harry, you look beat," Hermione observed, her brow furrowed in worry at how poorly he looked. She had already insisted more than once that he take some time for himself and rest up, but he went against that advice and insisted that they wouldn't get any other chances for him to practice against another wizard once they left the lakehouse, and so he was making the best use they had of Draco now. Draco was silent and gave no comment of his own.

Hermione shook her head as she set a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. "You won't do anyone any good if you collapse on me when we get back to camping."

Neither of them were looking forward to going back out into the cold winter, but they had already agreed that they would leave the day after Christmas. After all, they had already stayed in one place for long enough, and Draco also had to go back before anyone got too suspicious over where he was. It wouldn't be a welcome farewell for any of them, especially after a short camaraderie that took away from their worldly troubles, but it was definitely necessary.

For Hermione, the separation had an added difficulty because of what she and Draco had initiated and yet not had a chance to focus on yet, but she didn't let it show as she and the boys had dinner and then gathered in the back room for a few moments of peace and quiet. Harry, worn out, excused himself early on before midnight, giving both Draco and Hermione a significant look before he went up. With his departure, a familiar comfort mixed with tension settled between Hermione and Draco, but it wasn't at all unwelcome to their mutual desires. To ease their way into a conversation that would hopefully take a meaningful turn, Hermione started by asking Draco what on Earth he had done to Harry that day to make the poor boy so exhausted.

Draco shook his head, barely managing to hide a small smile. "Believe me, nothing much. Just a few stinging hexes and maybe a jinx or two. I tried to throw in some nonverbals, but after he failed to block more than two at a time..." He paused, suddenly looking very serious as he faced Hermione directly. "To be frank, I don't think he should be using your wand, Hermione. It's giving him more trouble than I was and is probably the reason that he's as worn out as he is. Even if he insists on it, I'm not going to duel with him tomorrow."

Hermione nodded, understanding. "It's just as well; we could both use a day of complete rest. I don't plan on reading or anything either."

"No reading for you?" Draco quirked an eyebrow. "That can't be a good sign."

Hermione smiled at his comment, though inwardly she was more worried than she let on. That Harry didn't work well with her wand was a serious problem, one that left them vulnerable for essentially half of all their time, every time Harry would have to take a turn at guard duty. Hermione offering to take on more guard duty wouldn't be helpful either, since she also needed her rest; and besides which, Harry wouldn't accept that. If he got even the slightest inkling that he was bringing danger her way, then, wand or no wand, he'd start thinking of drastic measures. Hermione knew her friend well and didn't like their prospects with this additional strain on them. Not to mention that they were still stuck with one bloody horcrux and had no idea how to get rid of it.

"Recently, my reading hasn't done any of us much good," she found herself confessing to Draco. Tucking her knees up close to her chest, she shrugged, trying to play it casual when in truth the fact disturbed her more than she cared to admit. "I've gone through every avenue of information I can think of for now. It's been months since we started this mission and so far all we've managed to get is one horcrux—and even that is only based on what information Dumbledore left us with already, as he and Harry first went to search for it back in sixth year.

"Other than the locket though, and perhaps the cup, I'm not sure what or where the other horcruxes could be, let alone how we're going to get the Sword of Gryffindor to destroy them all. Going back to Hogwarts is a given, but we might need to go soon at this rate." They weren't even remotely ready, she knew, but still, what choice did they have? "And then, of course, there are other things that I don't understand, like this." She reached over to the coffee table and picked up The Tales of Beetle the Bard for the thousandth time, not needing to explain to Draco how many times she had read it over or what her frustration with it was. He was already aware of what she found at the cemetery at Godric's Hollow but, other than promising to do his own research into Ignotus Peverell once he got back to Hogwarts, there was nothing to explore there either.

It was indeed a repetitive argument, one that she, Harry, and Draco had gone over time and time again with no results, both via patronus and in their interactions at the lakehouse. If there was an answer somewhere in what Dumbledore had left them, then they weren't seeing it. Granted, exhaustion probably played a large part in muddling her thinking, but Hermione wasn't one to give up or let her own weaknesses hold her back. After all, she'd been petrified in second year and still managed to provide some clues for Harry and Ron to follow in defeating the basilisk!

All of a sudden, Draco took the book from her hands and threw it away out of sight. Hermione was shocked and usually would have called someone out for disrespecting a book in that way, but with how Draco was looking at her, she found that she couldn't say anything.

"Merlin, what does it take for you to stay serious about not reading?" he muttered. "One moment, that's what you're saying to me, and then the next you pick up the first book you can find. It's contradictory, Hermione."

And she had to admit that it was, but at the same time was ready with an argument that—

"It's almost Christmas," Draco continued, his look growing softer the longer he looked down at her. Then, reaching behind him, he pulled out a small box wrapped in dark green paper. "Shouldn't you be focusing on other things for once?"

It was a purposely smooth move on his part, though he would have liked to preface it more appropriately. However, seeing as Hermione wasn't going to give up her obsession with research and her mission that easily, it took some effort on Draco's behalf to move her along. Producing his present for her out of the blue was so startling that it actually worked.

Accepting it mutely, Hermione could only stare at Draco, making no move to open it. Finally coming to her senses, she began, "Draco, I..."

"I was only joking earlier when I said you should get me something, you know," he cut in, picking up his glass of apple cider—spiced with cinnamon this time—from the table. "I obviously didn't expect that you'd have time to pick up something whilst on the run."

At this, Hermione finally relaxed, a lazy yet contented smirk on her face. "As it just so happens, Draco, I did get you something." She glanced down at the present in her hands. "Although I didn't get a chance to wrap it as nicely as you did."

Draco coloured a little, looking away as he took another sip of his cider. Hermione, however, wasn't through teasing him.

"Black ribbon and green wrapping," she mused softly, running her fingers over it. "I won't ever mistake who this is from, I'm sure. I can't say that I mind the aesthetic choice." She glanced around her, leaning her head back against the couch. "Actually, I'm getting rather used to it." And better yet, she was no longer associating the colours with something that she should automatically be repulsed by. Slytherin House was, after all, the direct adversary of Gryffindor House; since coming to view Draco, a thorough Slytherin, in a different light than she had before though, Hermione no longer felt the same animosity towards them. Each person had to be judged based on their own actions, so just because Slytherin had a bad reputation as being a death eater's den of recruitment...it was certainly wrong to affix any such labels to everyone without giving them a fair judgement. In fact, that rule applied to Draco especially, considering who his family was and what they had done.

Merlin, never would Hermione have arrived at such conclusions of her own if only she hadn't taken the time to befriend Draco first—or to care for him as she now did.

Deciding not to delay her response any longer, she carefully unwrapped the package and opened up the box, only to discover...a ring inside?

Set in a gold band with a dark stone that appeared almost black, but was in fact an enstatite gem that matched the colour of her eyes, the ring was undoubtedly expensive. For a moment, Hermione's breath hitched and she couldn't help but feel both awkward and thrilled at the semblance of such a gift, but then she noticed a slight ripple in the gemstone and realized that there was something magical about it—a charm or the like.

She looked up at Draco, confused. She made no move to take the ring out of its box. "This is...?"

Draco smiled in a satisfied manner at seeing her blush and hearing her gasp. Well, she was awed, if anything, but he had yet to explain what the ring did, for it was indeed magical. Another item he'd commissioned from Moribund—and he wasn't about to tell Hermione that—it had actually cost Draco the last of his personal savings. At this point though, and when he'd first decided to have it made for Hermione, it was worth it.

"As far as I know, it's one of a kind, so there's no name for it yet," he said. "For now, I've been calling it a 'bypasser'. Essentially, it'll get you, and anyone touching you, past any barrier, charm, ward, and so on, undetected." He paused, gauging Hermione for her reaction. "I figured you could use it for when you and Potter need to get back into Hogwarts."

There were very few times in her life when Hermione Granger had been left completely speechless—and more than one of those few occasions had been in the presence of Draco Malfoy recently, it seemed. But now, for the first time, thoughts also escaped her, as she simply stared at the ring she now held in her hand and let herself get carried away by the implications of what Draco had given her. Never mind the thoughts of how he had acquired it or how much it had cost or even that he'd had the initiative to think of such a thing and gift it to her. All of that was simply beyond basic appreciation.

For a few minutes, they sat in silence, until finally Draco shifted uncomfortably, not sure what to make of Hermione's reaction. The wheels were turning in that busy mind of hers, that much was certain, but he wished that she'd at least say something and let him know if it was any good!

Well, Hermione didn't say anything, but she certainly showed it in the next minute.

Before Draco had a chance to brace himself, Hermione had thrown her arms around his neck and eagerly brought her lips to his in what was their third kiss. Chaste but quickly becoming less so the longer Hermione held on, the kiss heated passions that, unbeknownst to both of them, hadn't left either Hermione or Draco since their last kiss. What was dormant finally awakened as Hermione took the lead, probing her tongue into Draco's mouth and hungrily devouring the taste of him in abject appreciation and awe for what he had given her. Draco clenched his fists repeatedly to keep his hands from going where they ached to, as he wasn't about to ruin the moment by taking things too far.

It was with great reluctance and a heavy breath that Hermione finally pulled back, planting a kiss on Draco's cheek and then his temple as she eased herself off his lap, where, somehow or other, she had ended up.

"Draco, this is..." She sighed happily. "I can't tell you what this means to me."

Draco smirked, pleased with himself and letting his ego fill him up as he replied, "Seems to me like you don't need to say much. You did a pretty good job already of letting me know that you like it."

Blushing, Hermione bit her bottom lip, drawing Draco's attention there. He was just about to lean forward and kiss her again, taking the lead himself this time, but just then Hermione turned around and dug through her bag. Finding what she needed, she turned back to him, her present clutched in the palm of her hand. Draco raised an eyebrow, curious as to what it could be.

"Now it's your turn," she said, pressing the gift into his hand.

Offhand, it felt like a glass vial, but as soon as Draco held it up to see, there was no denying what it was. Clear, golden liquid swirled around the vial, small in quantity and yet undoubtedly powerful. Felix Felicis—liquid luck.

Draco's eyes widened as he looked from it to Hermione. Like her, he had only seen the rare potion once before, in Potions class when Slughorn had awarded a vial to Harry. Back then, Draco had only been paying half attention to everything that was happening, but even he couldn't deny feeling envious of Harry for having it when he could also have used the luck at that time. He still hadn't puzzled out how Harry of all people had won it, especially when Hermione was in that same class, but it was clear that Harry had it in his possession since then—was Hermione now giving him that same vial that maybe Harry hadn't used in all this time?

Hermione set him straight about it right away, guessing at where his thoughts were. "It's not the one that Slughorn gave Harry," she explained. "I brewed this myself."

Draco gave her an incredulous look. Not that he didn't think that she was capable of it, of course, but Felix Felicis was notoriously difficult to brew just right, and even the slightest error of a quarter turn of the cauldron would take away from its working. But the potion that Hermione had given him was obviously done right—it wouldn't retain its clear-gold colouring otherwise. As it was, even this quantity, despite being no more than perhaps one mouthful, was quite a lot, considering that too much would result in recklessness even unto death.

To think that Hermione brewed this herself though and managed to get it perfect...

Draco held out the vial to Hermione. "How long have you been at work on this?" he asked.

Hermione swallowed, not liking how serious he looked all of a sudden. "Well, I—"

"I'm not as clever as you, but I do pay attention and remember things," he said in a low voice. "For instance, I remember Slughorn saying that Felix Felicis takes six whole months to brew properly. Since when have you been at work on this?"

"Since before the end of sixth year," Hermione said. "About mid-June."

Draco clenched his fingers slightly as he placed the vial down on the table. "You initially brewed this for you and Harry to use, didn't you?"

Hermione furrowed her brow. "Just in case we might need it, but I wasn't sure at the time whether I would even get it right. I last checked on it before going to Godric's Hollow and it was ready."

"Is that all of it?" Draco asked, nodding down at the table.

Hermione pursed her lips but gave a nod to the affirmative.

"Then you have to keep it," Draco said, reaching over to hand it back to her. "You and Harry need it much more than I do."

But Hermione wouldn't take it back once he held it out to her. Instead, to Draco's horror, her face took on an expression that suggested that she was going to cry. He had never made her feel that way before, and Draco was actually shocked into stillness that he might have hurt her.

When Hermione slowly reached out and wrapped her arms around him though, this fear quickly dissolved, to be replaced by confusion. What Hermione said next was hardly enlightening.

"I hate this."

"What?" Draco asked.

"The fact that everything, everything we do or think of has to do with this bloody war," Hermione replied, tightening her hold. "That the very first thing we each went to as a Christmas present, for Merlin's sake, was for the off chance that it would help us in the future somehow. Do you know that under ordinary circumstances I would have accepted the ring you gave me?" She let out a shaky breath. "Don't imagine for a moment that I don't know how expensive it undoubtedly is or that it wasn't easy for you to get ahold of. 'One of a kind' indeed! But...because I understand that Harry and I will actually need it and it's important, I can't afford to refuse. And it's the same for the potion I'm giving you."

Pulling back a little, she stared into Draco's eyes, not exactly close to tears, but close to breaking down, anyway. "The reason I'm giving it to you isn't unselfish, Draco. Quite the opposite. There's only one thing that I would expect you to use it for, and I think we both know what that is."

Draco swallowed. Of course—to search his own house for Hufflepuff's Cup without getting caught, and not to mention any number of dangerous things he might have to do in the future. It made sense. And right now, considering that he was only trying to find the cup for Harry and Hermione anyway, it would serve their ends as well.

Looking at things in that perspective, what they gave each other could hardly count as proper presents, but were more like...the same "even exchanges" they'd been having until now.

Finally, it clicked into place for Draco why Hermione had gotten upset, and why his initial refusal of the Felix Felicis had set things off.

"So...please, accept it," Hermione prompted, folding his hands over the vial. "And afterwards, maybe we can really forget everything for a change." It was unlikely, but they could at least try.

Draco finally did accept the vial, tucking it out of sight just as Hermione placed the ring in her bag. In their own ways, perhaps they each had already brought a bit of a negative impact to their Christmas, but neither was willing to throw it away entirely.

"As a proper present then," Draco prompted, after a few moments of silence, "how about that chocolate frog I promised you?" He accio'd a bag from one of the kitchen cupboards, holding it out to her once he had it in his hands.

Hermione, accepting one, looked up at Draco before she opened it. "What about my present for you then? All I have left is a bag of stale crumpets. I don't suppose you'd like those?"

Draco looked down at her as she quickly reached for the frog and popped it into her mouth before it could hop away. As soon as it touched her lips, the spell cast on it wore off, and it became fully chocolate, as intended. He watched as Hermione ate it, reveling in the first proper sweet treat that she'd had in weeks. She even licked her lips for good measure to capture the enjoyment of the taste. Again, a far cry from her sorry camp rations. Other than Draco, the accommodations of the Malfoy lakehouse and its well-stocked pantry would be what she missed the most, without a doubt.

Holding up the card—Artemisia Lufkinm, the first female Minister of Magic—Hermione barely caught what Draco said next, but abruptly dropped the card once she did.

"I can think of other things I'd rather have from you."

She glanced slowly towards him, but there was no mistaking the huskiness of his voice, the look when their eyes met. Perhaps the evening hadn't gotten too off-track if he was still able to look at her like that. Hermione felt a delicious shiver pass through her spine, right down to her toes.

"Like what? What would you have me give you?"

"A chocolate frog."

"What?"

In answer to her question, Draco leaned down and caught her bottom lip between his teeth, biting gently and then licking as though in apology. "Sweet..." he murmured, then probed further for her to open up to him. Hermione was taken aback by his sudden boldness, but there was no denying that she wanted this just as much as he did. Merlin, with how he had begun to massage her mouth, possibly even more!

"Draco..." she breathed once he pulled back at last. On instinct, she reached out and soothed her hands to the back of his neck, holding him close. "What else?" She was baiting him, in a way daring him to go further. But everything, from her tone of voice to her very obvious body language, communicated in turn that she was open to more of whatever he suggested. They hadn't had much time to get accustomed to this new way of things between them, but...

With so little time left before she had to go anyway, did it really matter?

As for Draco, he was testing his boundaries as much as anything. Now that he was finally alone with Hermione again, and with the knowledge that soon they would have no choice but to separate again, it was hard to hold himself back. One would think that he'd had enough practice of doing just that until now, but it wasn't so. Something about having Hermione so near and knowing that she cared for him...it took away any reserve he might otherwise have had. She was different, she was special. And although nothing about them felt as though it corresponded to the rest of their lives in the slightest, Draco couldn't remember feeling more right than he did now.

Hermione Granger—how was it that she of all people could get him so excited in all the right ways, so distant from everything? If she was his refuge from the world, then Draco felt he would willfully plunge forth into such a sanctuary and never come out, all else be damned.

It wasn't a rational thought, but with her in his arms like this, eager and responsive...it felt possible.

"Hermione...would you...?"

The way he looked at her now made it obvious what he was asking. Hermione, still breathless, comprehended in a part of her mind that things were moving terribly fast between them, and yet...she wasn't going to say no. There was no stopping this now, not by her own will.

"Yes, Draco, if...if you want me."

Draco leaned down, kissing her again before moving downwards, trailing kisses along her throat, each one gentle but lingering. Hermione heard him draw in breath after breath, as though he couldn't get enough of her scent. His hands were shaking slightly as he brought one up to her jaw, tilting her head back to give him better access. Hermione actually moaned aloud when he came to her collarbone, opening his mouth and sucking the tender flesh there.

"Draco...I..."

He stopped, then brought himself level with her, waiting so long that finally Hermione had to open her eyes and gaze right back at him. For a moment there, she had almost lost herself, but seeing Draco this close brought another level of intensity to what they were doing and where they were going—if they had been going anywhere, that is.

"I won't ask again. Is this what you want?"

Hermione blushed to have it put so bluntly, and at the same time felt the first bit of doubt and apprehension since starting everything. She had already said 'yes', hadn't she? So why was Draco...?

Blinking up at him, she reached out a hand and caressed his cheek. "Do you want to?"

The smirk he gave her was as dark as it was enticing. "Well, you started this, after all."

Hermione gasped. "I did?!"

Draco brushed his thumb over her lips. "Weren't you the one who kissed me first, earlier on?"

"T-t-that was to show my thanks for what you gave me. I-I may have gotten carried away in the moment," Hermione found herself saying, although it was a feeble attempt to save face. Good lord, he made it sound like she was overly bold, when that really wasn't the case...was it?

"Is that how you give 'thanks' all the time?" Draco prompted, holding her chin steady with his hand so she couldn't look away. "Or could it have been something later on, like asking me what I want from you when it should be obvious." He tsked lightly. "Either you're a fool or very brazen; and I know Hermione Granger can't be the former."

Hermione swallowed, having decided that since there was no way of getting away from this—and she found that she didn't want to—she might as well try turning the tables. "So what if it is the latter?" she whispered.

Draco was completely unprepared for what she did next. He felt himself being pushed back until he was almost lying down, and then in the next moment he felt the ticklish sensation of Hermione's curls brushing against his cheek. It appeared that two could play as this game.

"Suppose this is what I want from you, Draco Malfoy?" she said in a low hiss that...sounded so Slytherin that Draco almost questioned whether he'd heard right.

"Suppose I ask you to be patient instead?" Draco baited, even while he reached up his hands and clenched them around her hips. Hermione blinked, surprised at the action, but she didn't make any move to shrug him off.

"I'm not patient," she said.

Draco snorted. "After months of putting up with Potter and Weasley, especially in close quarters, I'd say you are."

"In some things, perhaps," Hermione amended, leaning down until her nose almost brushed his. "In other things, not so much."

Draco relaxed, a lazy smile on his face and a sudden mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "You like this, don't you?"

Hermione blinked, pausing a breath away from kissing him. "What?"

"Being in control."

"Control-freak" was one of the many complimentary names she had been called before in her lifetime, and yet...Draco was clearly referring to something else.

"So what if I do?" she asked, pecking his lips lightly and then pulling back just before he could return the kiss.

"Well, we'll have to change that," Draco murmured. Then, so fast that Hermione barely had time to react, he had pushed her off him until she was the one lying down and he leaned over her, trapping her with his body in a purely predatory fashion. The moment Hermione opened her lips in a surprised gasp, his mouth covered hers, literally taking her breath away even as he ravaged her mouth again. Merlin, it was too much! Hermione actually squirmed under his touch, and would have reached over to caress him if only he didn't have her arms pinned to her sides. She felt him ease his grip from where he held her shoulders, but she was under no illusion that she wasn't trapped right now.

And boy, did he look cocky once he finally pulled back and gave them both some air.

"You'll have to let me take the lead sometimes," he whispered—though whether as a threat or a promise, Hermione didn't know. All that she did know was that if he didn't do...if he wanted to do something...he had better do it soon before she really lost it!

"Draco...please..."

Just then, the old grandfather clock down the hallway sounded, twelve chimes that echoed throughout the house. Even Draco realized the irony of his timing, and paused just long enough for Hermione to lift up her head and quickly give him a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Then again, perhaps patience is best, for now. Merry Christmas, Draco," she whispered.

And although he had never said it to anyone in his life before, since his family wasn't in the habit of celebrating Christmas, Draco found himself replying, "Merry Christmas, Hermione."

A/N: AAAAND we're back! Renewed greetings to everyone who's patiently waited through this mini-hiatus! I'm refreshed and ready after two weeks' rest to continue the story, and I'd like to extend thanks to everyone for their well wishes!

Ahem, and now, some notes on this chapter, because there are quite a few this time.

First of all, the whole wand situation with Harry and Hermione. To be honest, I have no idea how well Harry did or didn't work with Hermione's wand, since Rowling never made specific reference to it, but I decided to go the path of having it not work out well for him, just to add a bit of danger to their already dangerous situation. Besides which, Harry and Hermione's personalities have quite a few key differences as well, so it's only natural for a wand that works so well for Hermione to not work out well for Harry, right? Obviously, since in the original story Harry worked well with Draco's wand later on in the final battle, I'll be shifting this rule for him later on, but as it is right now, that's the direction I'm taking.

Second point of interest is with regards to the Christmas gifts, which I've gotten a few comments on regarding what people might think they'd be. For this, I'd kind of like to apologize for not making them fluffy and romantic, although I was REALLY close to doing that, trust me. In the end though, I decided that both Hermione and Draco had a practical need for other things, and that giving them to each other, while not romantic, would ultimately be more appreciated, so I decided to go with that. Hopefully the heavy fluff afterwards in this chapter makes up for it though? Maybe? Um...chocolate frog, anyway?

AND lastly, just a note or two on what readers can expect in the upcoming chapters. Basically, for maybe 2-3 chapters, I'll be dealing with, again, familiar territory from the books—namely, to list a big one, Ron's return. *gulps* I know, I know, a lot of Dramione fans have probably enjoyed having him out of the picture for a while, but unfortunately, he IS kind of necessary for saving Harry's life in the near future and all, so...yeah. And while I won't be rewriting that scene (because it is, of course, perfectly written by Rowling already), I will be...erm...making a "few" changes to Hermione's reaction to his return. Ahem, but we'll wait and see that soon, shall we? As for what happens after that, there's actually quite a blank period between the end of December and the beginning of March in Deathly Hallows, so we'll have more fanfiction/fluff moments there.

Hope you enjoyed, and please, as always, review, follow, and favourite!