The last three weeks before Christmas break flew by. Most of their days had been spent studying, preparing for the end of the term. Their weekend nights had been spent drinking, but not nearly as heavily as they had been. So far nothing had changed between Hermione and Draco, their friendship was as strong as ever, but nothing more. It was a relief to Hermione who was not sure what had been happening between them and was not ready to put their friendship at risk. Was their more between them? Possibly. Was she ready to put it all on the line? Absolutely not.
It was early Tuesday morning and they were scheduled to leave by floo to her parent's house later that evening. The look on McGonagall's face was priceless when she told her that Malfoy would be joining her for break. She was sure she had heard the rumors that were flying around, despite nothing actually happening between them. Ginny tried to squash them as the popped up, but Hogwarts was one hell of a rumor mill.
"You excited for break?" Hermione asked as they made their way down to the great hall for breakfast.
"I'm excited to not be here for two weeks," Draco laughed. His humor masking any nervous that were lurking just below the surface.
"Me too," she smiled back at him. "I'm so excited to see my parents, and they are so looking forward to meeting you!" Her excitement was audible which made Draco smile a sheepish smile.
Silence lingered between them for a moment as they continued walking before Draco finally found the nerve to say what he was thinking.
"Granger, I've got to be honest with you." He said seriously, stopping her in the hallway.
"What is it?" her concern was clear in her precise words.
"I've never really met any muggles before," he blurted out after a few moments. His face flushed slightly as he spoke before returning to its normal pale shade.
"Really?" she asked before she had time to think about what she was saying, "I mean I guess that actually makes total sense." She paused before adding, "You don't have to worry though," to reassure him. She placed her hand on his shoulder trying to be as comforting as she could. "My parents might be muggles, but they know all about our world and have met other wizarding families. They did their research just like I did when we found out I was a witch. They just can't use magic."
Malfoy nodded back to her, a timid smile flashed across his lips.
"It's going to be fine," she smiled back at him, giving his shoulder a small squeeze before continuing down the corridors with him.
Of course, Malfoy had never met muggles before, it was still so strange to her, but it made perfect sense. Him coming on break with her confirmed to her how much he had really changed since the war, or how much he was trying to change. Either way, she was proud of the person he was becoming.
"At least you will get a good laugh when I inevitably make a fool of myself," his humor now doing a poor job of hiding his nerves.
"Draco Malfoy, make a fool of himself? Never," she laughed unable to suppress her laughter with her sarcasm.
Draco shot a smug look back at her as they continued to the great hall, the smell of breakfast wafting through the air as they got closer to the great hall.
"Mione!" the familiar voice called down the corridor.
The pair looked around to find Ginny sprinting over to them.
"Ginny!" Hermione called back. "What's up?"
"Mum wanted me to make sure you know that you can come over anytime during the holiday."
"Of course, she did. I'll try to make it over there at some point during the break. Any word if the boys will make it back?"
"Last I heard they were up north in Scandinavia somewhere. We probably won't see them until after the new year." Ginny's face was unable to hide the disappointment. Two years of Harry being mostly absent was starting to take a toll on her.
"I'm sorry Gin," she said empathetically giving her a tight hug.
"It's ok, I should be used to it by now. At least I don't have to listen to the wireless to make sure he is still alive."
"Thank Merlin for that," Hermione smiled back to her.
"Well I've got to get packing, the train will be leaving soon," Ginny said as started back towards Gryffindor common room.
"Bye Ginny! Happy Christmas!" Hermione called as Ginny started to leave.
"Happy Christmas!" Ginny called back before disappearing into the bustle of students getting ready to leave for break.
Draco watched Hermione quietly as the continued on their way to breakfast. It took a while before Hermione noticed his gaze locked on her. She looked at him questioningly for a moment and when he didn't say anything she got a little worried.
"Is everything ok?" she asked, growing more concerned.
"Yea, just," he paused clearly trying to find the best words to describe what was going on in his head. "It is difficult. That's all."
As close as they had gotten this term his honesty continued to amaze her. Everything about their friendship amazed her.
"It won't be like this forever, it will get easier," her words were honest and thoughtful. Her sweet smile brought a small smile to Draco's lips.
"I hope you are right, though you do seem to always be right. Let's hope this isn't the one-time Miss Know-It-All is wrong," he added slyly, sounding more like himself again.
Breakfast passed quickly as the pair chatted away casually. Hermione was careful to not bring up the holiday break as it was clearly causing Draco a lot of anxiety. She knew he would be fine and might even have a good time if he let himself, but it was a big step for him. Maybe it was too big of a step for him. There was only one way to find out though.
After breakfast, they went back to their rooms to start getting ready to leave. She wanted to pack as lightly as possible but knew it would look suspicious if she left for two weeks with only her bookbag. After all, undetectable extension charms were still very illegal. Her bookbag and clutch had to continue to remain a closely guarded secret. It did not take her too long to get what she would need over the holiday safely packed away in her trunk. As usual, anything that didn't fit went into her bookbag or her clutch as well as the presents she had for her parents and Draco. She had ordered presents for Weasley's and had them set to be delivered to The Burrow.
The afternoon passed quickly and the next thing she knew she was meeting Draco on the landing between their rooms. She smiled brightly when she saw him, unable to contain how excited she was. She knew he was nervous, but he was going to do just fine and she knew it.
"Ready?" She asked excitedly.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Granger," Draco smiled back to her.
Her grin only grew as they headed down to the same fireplace they arrived in for the start of term. There was no way she could have ever predicted how this term would have turned out. Never in her wildest dreams would her and Malfoy ever be friends, let alone very close friends who were spending the holiday break together. It never ceased to astound her, and she had a feeling it always would. There was no way that she would ever get used to being friends with Draco Malfoy, no matter how long that would last. She hoped that it would last. She really did enjoy Malfoy's company.
They finally arrived at the room where the fireplace was located, and McGonagall was waiting patiently for them. The look on her face was priceless when she saw the pair of them walk in, chatting contently.
"Granger, Malfoy, are you ready?" she asked as they got closer.
"Absolutely," Hermione excitedly replied with a happy smile painted across her lips.
"I will send your bags after you," McGonagall stated as motioned to the empty fireplace.
Hermione and Draco stood inside the large fireplace. In one hand she had the floo powder, in the other, she carefully took Draco's hand. Before they had time to think about the closeness of their skin she threw the powder at the ground and precisely stated her address. With a blazing green flash, they were ripped through the floo network. Hermione held onto Draco's hand tightly, so they would not get separated and end up in different fireplaces. The next moment they were landing in her parent's fireplace.
Last time she was in her childhood home there was a very real chance that she would never be back here again and an even more realistic chance that her parents would never remember who she was. It took all of her effort to not tear up. She had seen and talked to her parents since the end of the war but coming home for the first time brought all of the emotions back to the surface. It was like Malfoy could tell because he gently squeezed her hand before letting go so they could greet her parents.
"Hermione!" Mrs. Granger squealed in delight as she ran over to the fireplace from the kitchen.
"Mom!" Hermione called happily running into her open arms and into one of the biggest hugs she had ever received.
Her dad wrapped his arms around Hermione and her mom before they all finally let go of each other. The smile that stretched across Hermione's lips was unyielding. There was no hiding how happy she was, her eyes glassy from the happy tears she fought back.
"You must be Draco," her Dad finally said holding his hand out.
Draco cautiously approached reaching out his own hand and firmly shaking Mr. Grangers.
"Yes sir, thank you for inviting me," he replied politely, his upper-class upbringing showing clearly.
"We're glad to have you," Mrs. Granger smiled next to her husband.
Their bags arrived a moment later in a flash of green flames. Crookshanks meowing from his carrier.
"Crooks!" Mrs. Granger called happily as she went over to the fireplace, scooping the large ginger cat from his carrier. "It is so good to see you," she said embracing the fluffy cat before setting him down on the floor.
It was smiles all around as Hermione sent their trunks upstairs to their rooms. So far so good, Draco's impeccable manners had kicked in and he was doing well making small talk with her parents. Crooks had already disappeared as he left to explore the house that it had been so long since he had been in. The house was decorated for Christmas just like it had always been. It was almost as if nothing had ever changed and at the same time, it was so clear how much everything had changed. It was a quiet observation that Hermione noted over the course of the evening. Draco had changed, and she had changed, and things were just different now… but it was a nice different.
Their first evening went off without a hitch. Dinner was spectacular and full of laughs and wine. Watching Draco laugh from across the table, the ease painted across his face was not something she expected to see tonight. It certainly was not something she would ever think she could be fixated with, but that is exactly where she found herself. Watching him enjoying these small moments, in her home, with her muggle parents. Draco even helped her mom with the dishes after dinner, his well-practiced domestic magic making short work of the cleaning. They stayed up late, wrapped in separate blankets on the couch with talking with her parents until her parents retired for the evening, leaving them to finally be alone since they arrived at Hermione's cozy childhood home.
"Thanks for inviting me," Draco finally said softly after a few moments of shared silence.
"Thanks for coming," Hermione grinned before she finished the last of the hot chocolate she had been nursing.
They lingered in the quiet, the fire roaring in the fireplace across the room from them. Her heart rushed a little despite the comforting silence that sat between them. That was new. Their eyes finally met, lingering for maybe just a moment longer than normal.
"Seriously Granger, this is really great," Draco finally broke the silence. "Your parents are really great."
"I told you that you would be okay," she grinned as she nudged his shoulder playfully.
"I guess you were right… this time," Draco smirked, nudging her back.
"Oh yeah, just this once," Hermione retorted sarcastically.
"One day, one time, you are going to be wrong, and I am going to be there to witness 'The Brightest Witch of her Age' not know everything." Draco laughed playfully.
"Well don't hold your breath," she playfully shot back before the gravity of what really said sank in. One day, in the future, their future. She let her eyes linger for a moment too long as he was overthinking what he had just said and quiet slowly fell between them.
"Did you finish your drink?" Draco asked, quickly changing the subject and breaking the brief silence and lingering eye contact.
"Oh, yes," Hermione said quickly her eyes quickly darting away from him and on to her empty cup. Anywhere but his silvery eyes.
Draco quickly pulled his wand out, flourishing it with a well-practiced hand, sending both of their empty mugs into the Granger's kitchen sink.
"Thanks," she smiled sweetly.
"No problem," he smiled back.
"I think I'm going to head up and get ready for bed," Hermione said softly as she unwrapped her cozy throw from around her. "Your room is up the stairs, the last door at the end of the hall, next to the stairs up to my room. Just knock if you need anything."
"Will do, Night Granger."
"Night Draco," she said sweetly as she turned and headed up the stairs to her childhood bedroom.
She took her time getting ready for bed, deciding to take a bath and relax before changing into her PJs. Her mind was racing, overthinking absolutely everything that happened since arriving home. Maybe it was easier to dismiss the little things, when they were at school, that were now sending her head into a spiral. She sunk into the hot, bubbly water, leaning her head back as she tried to relax and not think for just a moment. Trying to get one moment of silence in her mind was proving to be impossible, whenever she closed her eyes she saw Draco's staring back at her. How bad could it be to just give in to whatever she was feeling? Even if she did not know what that feeling was.
Hermione had no idea how long she had been in there when she heard a faint knock on her bedroom door. The sound quickly snapped her into the present and out of her own head.
"Just a moment!" She called as she quickly stepped out of the tub and into the waiting plush robe. She flourished her wand, sending a towel across the bathroom, wrapping her damp, curly hair up neatly on her head.
She threw the door open, shocked to see Draco standing there with two steaming mugs. Clearly, the shock was mutual as Draco's face turned a light shade of pink, prompting Hermione to pull her robe tighter before crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm sorry," he quickly managed to get out. "I couldn't sleep so I whipped up some more of your Mom's cocoa, which is really great, and was hoping you were still up." His words were unsteady which was unlike him.
"It's fine, I was just in the bath. Come on in," she said moving to let him through the door. "Give me just a moment, let me change really quick," she added before disappearing back to the bathroom with her pajamas in hand.
Hermione quickly emerged from the bathroom with a pair of maroon sweatpants and black jumper that looked like it was two sizes too big, slipping delicately off one shoulder. Her untamed, curly hair was clipped back out of her face, it was just long enough to clip back.
Draco held out one of the mugs to her, still standing right where she left him in the middle of her bedroom. Why was he acting so strange?
"Is everything ok?" she said sweetly, taking the mug with both hands.
"Yeah, just couldn't sleep, as I said."
"Right, of course." She spoke as the gears clearly turned behind her dark eyes. "Follow me," she said as she walked past him and over to the built-in seating under the large bay window on the far side of the room. Standing on the seat cushion with her bare feet she unclipped the latch on the large double window, pushing the window open to the chilly night air. It had not snowed this far south yet, but it was still very cold. That did not stop Hermione from carefully stepping out onto the shingles of the roof and sitting down in front of the open window. She waited for Draco who was cautiously following her lead out onto the roof.
"This is my favorite spot to sit," she said quietly, looking up at the stars, gripping her warm mug with both hands. It was probably too cold to be sitting out here, but she did not care. She had waited so long to sit out here again.
"I can see why," Draco said as he sat close to her, but not too close. "Even if it is bloody cold," he laughed taking a drink. He was still wearing his clothes from earlier, or he hand changed back into them.
"I guess it probably is a little cold to be out here, I just really missed this."
"I'll stay out here as long as you want to, or until I freeze I death, whatever happens first," he said slyly, finally acting much more like himself.
Hermione flourished her wand sending a large fleece blanket flying out from off her bed, dropping it on Draco's lap.
"There now you might not freeze to death," she grinned back at him.
Draco grinned slyly at her as he used his own wand to wrap the blanket around them.
"Now both of us might not freeze to death," he said as he moved closer to her, wrapping the blanket tighter around them.
"How thoughtful," she smiled playfully.
"Don't get used to it," he fired back failing to sound smug.
"I think I already am," she grinned back, as tough as Draco was trying to be he had really turned into such a caring person. At least with her.
"I'm going to have to change that, can't have anyone thinking I've gone soft," he shot back slyly before he pulled the blanket off her and throwing it around himself.
Hermione could not help but laugh at his over dramatic display.
"Give it back," she said through the laughter as she tried to pull a corner of the blanket away from him.
"I thought you weren't cold anyway?" Draco said as he peeked out from under the blanket at her.
"Well now I am! Give – it – back," she squealed as she kept trying to pry the blanket from his strong grip.
"Fine," Draco said rolling his eyes as he emerged from under the cover of the thick blanket. "I guess I will be nice this one time," his words dripped with sarcasm.
Hermione smirked at him as the wrapped the blanket back around her shoulders.
"Now on a more serious note," she said before taking a sip of her cocoa. "Is everything alright, for real?"
His face said it all before he could even open his mouth. There was something clearly weighing on him tonight.
"It's just a lot, like a lot a lot," Draco said as he struggled to put what he was feeling into words. "I know now the values that I grew up being taught were wrong, but it's really startling just how wrong my parents were."
Hermione let out an involuntary sigh, she really felt for him. He was basically brainwashed from the time he was born to believe some very prejudice beliefs and now his whole world had been flipped. She reached her hand out for him giving him a comforting squeeze.
"For what it's worth, I think you are handling everything remarkably well." Her smile was met by his which only caused hers to grow across her lips.
"For real though your parents are really wonderful. I just can't believe I could have been raised to believe something so bad about entire groups of people who turn out, are really just so incredibly wonderful."
"They are pretty wonderful parents," she gleamed up at him.
He grinned back at her, more clearly turning right behind his eyes. She knew that this was going to be a lot for him, but she was so impressed by how well he was taking everything.
They casually chatted under the stars, keeping their conversation light and fun. Before either one of them knew it they were sitting shoulder to shoulder, huddled under the blanket. Their now empty mugs of cocoa banished down to the kitchen. His silver eyes gleamed even more in the dark, with only the stars and distance street lights to illuminate his fair features. Maybe he was a little handsome, especially in this light. A shiver ran through Hermione as her mind race, enough of one for Draco to notice.
"Come here," he said as he picked up his arm nearest her, inviting her to come closer.
"If you insist," she said as she scooted into his side, his warm arm gently wrapping around her before he pulled the blanket tighter around him.
He was so warm in contrast to the winter chill outside. She was so comfortable in his arms, she felt so safe, but that did not stop her heart from racing. Was she being foolish trying to deny what she had been so strongly feeling all day? Or was she crazy for feeling any of this? There was only one way to find out, she knew that, but it also could ruin all of this if these feelings were not reciprocated in some way. Cautiously she began to give in to what she was feeling so strong and moved closer to him, throwing her legs over his so she could be closer to him. At least this she could blame on the cold for that. Draco held her tighter when she moved closer, and she laid her head on his chest, breathing him in for a moment. Savoring this quiet, shockingly sober, moment.
The silence sat comfortably between them for a long time, much longer than it normally did when they were sober. Hermione finally moved her head from his chest and looked up at him. He looked back at her, doing a great job of hiding whatever he was thinking. His free hand carefully came up and moved an escaped stranding of kinky curly hair out of her face and tucked it gently behind her ear. Their eyes locked, as his hand lingered, his thumb softly brushing her jawline. She was like a deer frozen in the headlights of an oncoming car. Had they been looking at each other for too long? Should she do something? What on earth was she supposed to do?! Before her mind could spiral anymore Draco leaned down and planted his lips softly on hers.
With that gentle kiss, Hermione melted in a way she was not sure she could. It was not a long kiss, but it was perfect. Most importantly, the things she had been feeling were not crazy.
"Come on Granger, let's get you in out of the cold," Draco finally said casually enough.
She moved her legs so he could get to his feet before offering her his hand to help stand up. He kept hold of her hand, leading her back through the window into the warmth of her room and down from the built-in bench seat beneath the window. He really was quite the gentlemen.
They stood their face to face for a moment before he reached down and planted one more soft, spark inducing, kiss on her lips.
"Goodnight Granger," he said softly as he pulled away from her lips.
"Good night Draco," she managed to get out without her words trembling like she was.
"I'll see you in the morning," he said stopping before he closed the door and head down to the guest room.
Hermione flopped down on her bed, head spinning as she started to immediately overthink everything that had happened today. She reached up and touched her still tingling lips softly and grinned. There was definitely something more between them.