A/N: So this is the last backlogged chapter. I might have hit a bit of writer's block, but I promise I will try to get the next one out in a timely manner. Same as usual. I own nothing, but please read and review!
Chapter 22: Yule Have a Good Time
They didn't speak or interact. Draco moped about but avoided her like the plague. He wasn't a masochist. Much to others disbelief. Her presence made him feel safe, but he wasn't. Not when there were so many that lived to torture him. He had already been targeted in the halls a dozen or more times, and he refused to return to the Slytherin common room. His days were spent in solitude for the most part. Thankfully most of the school would be leaving within a matter of days now. Maybe she would be gone, too.
Hermione did not approve of his new behavior. However, there was nothing she could do for him if he refused to be around her. She had heard rumors that he was being targeted in the hallways, but she could never find him on her rounds. She missed his company terribly. Wait. Did she really just think that? Well, yes… They had become friends. But his odd behavior triggered something within her. She put on a brave face each day, but when she was alone, she missed him like crazy. She always asked Blaise about his well-being, but since Draco wasn't around, she never knew if what Blaise reported was correct or not.
The holidays were quickly upon them. Hermione left to spend time at the Burrow. She was excited to spend more time with her friends, but Ron wasn't any better. He had already tried to get her to sleep with him more than once, and he seemed to be in a worse state of drunkenness. He had yelled at her again about Malfoy and smacked her across the face for her lip when she told him they had not been speaking to one another.
Christmas day came and went. Hermione received many presents from her friends, but snuck away towards the middle of the day to send something to Draco. It wasn't much, but she had slipped into the Muggle community near the Burrow and bought him a set of pens and paper and some chocolate. She attached a small note: "Happy Yule. I don't know what happened between us, but I wanted to wish you a happy Christmas and Boxing Day. I hope these find you well. P.S. The gift is the muggle equivalent of a self-inking quill and parchment. Missing you, Hermione." Hopefully he would not reject her owl.
Draco had been even more miserable. In his past, he would have been at home with his mother celebrating and preparing for the annual New Year Ball his mother hosted, well every year until He returned. Once Voldemort returned, his home turned into a lair of darkness. Those Boxing Days were spent hiding from the serpent that slithered around the halls without its master. His mother would have one of the elves deliver his presents to his room, but dinner was mandatory. He shuttered just remembering those dark days.
At least he was away from the darkness, but he was all alone. The one person that he wanted to see the most was with her surrogate family away from him. He had received her owl and died a little more inside. Why would she still get him something, even if it was so small. Bloody bleeding heart. But her letter said she missed him. Merlin he missed her too. Her gift touched him. She actually thought about him and wanted to gift him something. He should have gotten her something, but contacting her would hurt too much. She would never feel the same.
Hermione didn't expect him to send anything, especially since he had been standoffish before she left. She spent most of Boxing Day alone contemplating the changes within her life. She thought she would be with Ron forever, but his actions were extremely concerning. She loved him but was her love enough to stay with him? And her parents. She missed them so much. They would be here if she hadn't wiped herself from their memories. Good Godric she missed them. She felt even more alone this year since Harry and Ginny were attached at the hip and spending "quality time" together. And Ron just drowned his sorrows in alcohol. Hopefully the New Year would bring in some change and calm. They had not made plans for the ringing in of the New Year yet, but she imagined it would be a somber affair with every one remembering the loved ones that wouldn't be there with them due to the war.