A/N: Hi All! A thank you to Shrotyy653, LLybers6, maits18, decadenceofmysoul, jlove34, Toyan Granger-Nott, jacpin2002, takingflight4, renowned-warrior, and Deaffairy25 for commenting on the last chapter. Your words make my day brighter!

Im sorry that this chapter is a little late, but to my credit, I'm in California so this chapter is technically still posted on Thursday (^-^).

For those of you who are also reading To Be Happy, I will be posting that wither tomorrow or late Saturday depending on when I finish up reading it over.

As always, enjoy!

Chapter 8

December 1995, Winter Hols— 6th year

Hermione watched her friends leave for the Winter Holidays. She waved at Harry as he made his way down the cobblestone walkway away from Hogwarts. A strong gust of wind chilled her to the bone, forcing Hermione to step back into the safety of the castle for protection.

She made her way back to Gryffindor Tower, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. Almost everyone had gone home, the looming war pulling families to be together. Hermione wished she could see her parents, but she couldn't.

Hermione's shoulders sagged. She hoped everyone had a great Christmas, even if she was alone.

On the bright side, however, the library would be empty until the other students came back from their break.

Hermione climbed the movie stairs and whispered the password to the Fat Lady before slipping in. She pulled off her scarf, the elaborate heating charms aiding the lit fireplace warming the room.

As she had expected, the common room was deserted.

Hermione shrugged off her coat, balled it up, and threw it on the couch. She used it as a pillow when she plopped down on the ratty cushions, stretching out before she buried her face in the comfortable fabric of her coat.

Right before Hermione drifted off to sleep, there was a sharp knock on the door, jarring the young witch. She shot up blinked away any sleepiness. There was another knock on the common room door, this time louder and more aggressive. Hermione let her body fall right back down onto the cushions, but the knocking wouldn't stop.

Hermione huffed, marching to the door and ripping it open.

"Merlin, What do you—" Hermione started, freezing when she came face to face with Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Miss. Granger," Dumbledore said, a glint in his eye, "I was hoping that I could have a word with you."

Hermione nodded dumbly, moving aside to let the older wizard in. "Of course, Headmaster," she whispered.

Dumbledore walked in his eyes on Hermione with an almost predatory gaze. Dumbledore sat on the armchair by the fireplace.

"I wanted to ask why you had stayed behind for the holiday," the Headmaster began, "I had assumed that you would have wanted to spend time with your patents."

Hermione froze, she didn't dare sit, electing to stand by the end of the couch, farthest from Dumbledore. "My parents, sir?" Hermione asked. Her palms began to sweat. Why did he want to know about her parents… Did he know what she had done?

"Yes, Miss. Granger," The older wizard peered at her from above his half-moon shaped glasses.

Hermione swallowed thickly. She felt her mind tingled, it was subtle, but it was there.

"My parents are abroad, sir," It wasn't a complete lie, but her stomach still turned with guilt, "They won't be back until after the Holiday."

Dumbledore hummed deep in his throat.

Hermione's mind tingled again.

"Tell me about Draco Malfoy."

Hermione looked away, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. "There isn't much to tell," Hermione said honestly, "we study together."

Dumbledore raised a brow, "Studying?"

Hermione nodded, the tingling in her head becoming a throbbing pain. A sweat broke out on her forehead, the dim light of the fireplace suddenly an intrusive bright one.

The elderly Headmaster suddenly rose, a smile that unsettled Hermione plastered on his face. He gave her a nod and a "Thank you" before he walked towards the common room door. "And Miss. Granger, don't forget that I know everything that goes on in this castle." He disappeared out of the door, his dramatic robes pulling behind him.

Hermione's knees gave out, and she used the arm of the couch to support her as she eased herself onto the floor. She pressed her hand against her eyes, willing the pain to go away.

She spent an undetermined amount of time on the floor, breathing through the thumping in her head.

What was that? She thought to herself.

Hermione's stomach turned, and she ran to the loo, emptying her stomach into the porcelain bowl of the toilet.

She needed to talk to Harry when they had a moment.

Hermione eventually cleaned herself up and decided that she would get dinner and bring it back to the tower to eat.

It wasn't like many other students had stayed, and since Hermione had the common room all to herself, she would take advantage as much as she could.

The corridors, Hermione noticed, were cold, an air of darkness handing over her head.

Someone was watching her.

Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, going more and more uncomfortable with every passing moment. Her steps picked up, and by the time she had reached the Great Hall, she had broken out into a run, almost crashing into Professor McGonagall, who just shot a stern look at her.

Hermione mumbled her apology and walked into the large room. The tables that were missing the large feast she was used to were mostly void of people. Hermione spotted two Hufflepuff first years, three Ravenclaws of different years, and no Gryffindors.

Hermione piled up her plate, still standing, so she could take food back to the tower and enjoy her night of silent reading. She focussed on the different foods on the table, deciding to take more so she could sleep in and miss breakfast.

Hermione's head snapped up when she saw something move in her peripheral vision. Her eyes connected with Draco Malfoy's, who stiffened on his way to the Slytherin table.

So he was here too.

Hermione gave him a small nod, stuffed her pocket with an apple, then almost ran out of the Great Hall with purpose.

The darkness from before no longer followed her.

She sighed in relief.

Hermione climbed the moving stares, careful to balance her full plate of food. She whispered the password to the Fat Lady, who gave a slight bow, and the portrait popped open. Hermione set her plate on the table in front of the lit fireplace. She settled on the ground, taking small forkfuls of food while she thumbed through her charms text.

Hermione cast a stasis charm on the rest of her dinner, covering it with a napkin before she pushed the plate away. She stretched out on the floor, stretching her legs. She let her head back onto the cushions of the couch, and she tries to let go of the tension in her shoulders.

Her eyes drifted to the Christmas tree in the corner of the room.

Merlin, it made her miss her parents.

Granted, she knew that it was what was best, to remover herself from their lives temporarily, though it was sooner than she would have liked to do it.

She would find them again, and after the war was over, she would find them and resource her memories.

Her heart twisted in her chest. She would tell Harry and Ron about what she had done later; they didn't need to be burdened, not now anyway.

A sob wrenched in her chest, unwanted and unbidden tears pooling in her eyes. What had she gotten herself into? Where would she go in the summer?

She supposed that she could tell Molly about the situation, and maybe the older witch would allow her to stay in her home until the next school year.

A knock at the door jolts Hermione for the second time today.

Dumbledore's words echoed in her head.

Wiped her face and stood, giving herself a small talking too before she walked to the door.

"Who is it?" She asked, just loud enough that she would be heard through the door.

"It's me." Malfoy. Hermione's skin broke out in gooseflesh.

Hermine opened the door and was face to face with the blond wizard. He was dressed much more casually than Hermione had ever seen him. They were still wizarding robes, but they weren't the suits she was accustomed to seeing him in.

"I didn't know that you were staying over the holiday," Malfoy said, something swimming in his eyes.

Hermione gave a weak shrug, "You never asked."

The two stood awkwardly in the doorway; the Fat Lady's snores the only sound, a soft blush reddening Hermione's already slightly red face.

"Do you want to come in?" Hermine gestured into the common room.

Malfoy gave a short but quick nod. He stepped into the common room, looking around from his spot by the door. Hermione assumed that it was different than what he had expected. She remembered Harry's description of the Slytherin common room still gave her shivers.

"Have a seat, Malfoy," Hermione said. She walked to the couch and sat on the worn cushions.

Malfoy followed suit, sitting stiffly, his back straight as a board. Hermione considered him, and she could tell that her attention made him want to squirm. The way that the firelight hit Malfoy's skin almost made him statuesque, the hollowness in his eyes and cheeks disappearing in the glow.

How had she not noticed how handsome he was?

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Hermione asked softly, her voice holding no accusations and only a little hope.

Malfoy blushed, the ends of his ears trudging a lovely shade of red, "I had some work that I needed to do," he said, "so I chose it would be better to stay."

"Thank you for sharing, but we both know that that's not what I meant," Hermione said, her lip quirking up ever so slightly.

Malfoy's blush deepened, "I didn't want to be alone," he whispered. Malfoy looked up to Hermione through his lashes, and Hermione's heart fluttered.

"I'm glad you're here," Hermione breathed.

Malfoy's head snapped towards her, his eyes burrowing into hers. He leaned closer to her, "truly?" he asked, eyes bright.

Hermione nodded, her eyes shifting from Malfoy's eyes to his lips.

Malfoy glanced up, and Hermione watched his Adam's apple bob. Hermione's eyes followed his line of sight.

A lone mistletoe was growing over their heads. Hermione felt her insides burn. She looked back down to see Malfoy already looking at her.

"You don't have to," Malfoy said, "If—if you don't want too."

Hermione inched closer, "We won't be able to move if we don't— and I don't not want too."

Malfoy closed the gap between them, his lips moving against hers. Hermione had kissed before, there were Viktor and a muggle boy she knew back home, but this kiss felt different, she swore she could feel it in her toes.

Malfoy's kisses were hesitant and light. Hermione deepened the kiss, twisting her fingers in his soft hair, and when she heard Malfoy gasp, she was emboldened to deepen it once more. Malfoy's hand made its way into Hermione's hair, cupping the nape of her neck to angle her head.

Hermione was the one to break away first, her lips tingling in the aftermath. Malfoy gave a shy smile, his kiss swollen lips pressed together.

"Can you stay tonight?" Hermione asked, and when Malfoy's eyes widened, the brunette stuttered out an explanation, "we— we don't have to do anything, just sleep… I don't want to be alone."

Malfoy nodded, "Just sleep."

Hermione swirled her wand in the air and summoned blankets to spread themselves in front of the fire. After all, it was too cold in the dorm rooms, she repeated to herself. After a few well placed cushioning charms, Hermione excused herself to her room to change. When she returned, Malfoy had transfigured his clothes into nightwear. Hermione slipped under the blanked first, inviting Malfoy to slip in beside her.

The fire was in embers now, and Malfoy had curled to his side, inches away from Hermione. His eyes started to droop, and Hermione could see in the dim light that the shadows under his eyes pronounced exponentially.

Hermione pushed herself closer to the wizard, the warmth from his skin, warming hers.

Just as she let sleep take her, she felt the same darkness hang over her once again.

What have I gotten myself into? Was her final thought before she fell asleep.