Ok here's the next chapter, lol i told you it wouldn't take long before i had it written.
Disclaimer: i own nothing to do with Harry Potter.
The next chapter that i post will mainly centre on Draco and his thoughts.
Chapter Eleven: Christmas Plans
It had been two weeks since Pansy's suspension. Hermione and Draco had had to put up with whispers and rumors of all kinds ranging from Hermione using a potion on Draco and his parents in order for them to accept her. To Draco accidentally getting Hermione pregnant and now his parents were forcing them to marry in order to secure the Malfoy heir. Both just shook their heads in wonder at the stupidity that some of their fellow classmates displayed when trying to explain away the unexplainable. After facing the Bogart in DADA, Draco hadn't had another nightmare, and was looking forward to his first Christmas at Malfoy Manor without the charade. Lucius and Narcissa had returned to Malfoy Manor a week after Pansy's suspension to begin the preparations for Christmas. James and Lily, along with Remus and Sirius had left as well, all heading to the abandoned Potter Estate to ready it for Harry's first Christmas with his parents (well that he could remember anyway). James hadn't been to the abandoned mansion since he and Lily had married, but since their house at Godric's Hollow had been destroyed and Voldemort was no longer a threat, they had decided to make his parents house their new home. Ron and Ginny were excited, since their father had been elected the new Minister of Magic, their financial woes had subsided and both were looking forward to spending Christmas in Romania with Charlie. Hermione was looking forward to spending the Christmas holidays with her parents, the previous three years she and Ron had stayed at Hogwarts with Harry to keep him company, even though Harry had been living with Sirius for the past two years, he still stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas, claiming it was tradition for the three of them to spend Christmas together.
Sitting at the Gryffindor table the morning of the last Hogsmeade weekend before the break Hermione smiled as Ginny complained to her about the lack of cute guys in her year.
"I'm serious Mione, there are no cute guys in fifth year, and the ones that are cute are prats"
"Well why don't you set your eyes on someone from another year then?" Hermione asked simply as she scooped up a forkful of scrambled eggs.
"Like who?" Ginny asked in her usual blunt manner.
"Well what do you want in a guy? And don't say he has to be good looking because that would just infer that you're shallow"
"I just want someone that likes me and treats me right, nothing more, nothing less" Ginny sighed as she stabbed at her sausage.
"Ginny you will find that the right guy will come to you if you just be patient, that way you can be swept off your feet" Hermione smiled.
"Kind of like you huh?" Ginny asked pointedly. Hermione's eyes showed her confusion.
"Er…care to elaborate Gin, I'm not sure I follow"
"I'm talking about how you and a certain platinum blonde have become awfully close over the last few weeks" Ginny grinned. Hermione sighed heavily.
"Not you too Gin, please tell me that you haven't bought into all those stupid rumors circulating the school"
"Have you heard the newest one?" Ginny asked cheekily. Hermione grimaced and shook her head.
"Probably not, how new is it?"
"I only heard it this morning on the way to breakfast" Ginny replied.
"Oh, its that new! Alright hit me with it" Hermione stated as she took a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"Apparently you and Malfoy have been secretly married since fifth year and his parents are beginning to get impatient for grandchildren, that's why they stayed here so long, to try to convince the two of you to hurry and produce an heir" Ginny whispered. Hermione spat her pumpkin juice out as she absorbed what Ginny had just told her.
"Are you bloody serious?" she gasped as she began to mop up her pumpkin juice. Ginny nodded sagely.
"I'm afraid so"
"Merlin, these people really need to get a life!" Hermione groaned as she used her wand to clean up the rest of the pumpkin juice.
"Who needs to get a life?" a male voice asked. Hermione and Ginny snapped their heads up, startled, having not heard anyone approach. Draco cocked his head slightly, and smirked at them. Hermione recovered and answered his question.
"The people who have nothing better to do than to continue to start new and even more unbelievable rumors about the two of us" Draco nodded in understanding.
"Yes I heard one of the new ones this morning"
"Is it the same one that Ginny just told me?"
"I don't know, was it the one where my father cast the Imperius on you because I have been so love sick over you, that he couldn't stand it anymore and finally gave in?" Hermione burst out laughing, shaking her head.
"No, Ginny just told me that apparently you and I have been secretly married since fifth year and the reason Lucius and Narcissa were here for so long, was to convince us to finally produce an heir, seems they are getting impatient with waiting for grandchildren" Draco burst into laughter.
"I hadn't heard that one yet, Blaise will have a field day with it when I tell him" Hermione scowled.
"Blaise had better not be encouraging these rumors" Draco shrugged,
"You know Blaise"
"Yeah I do, that's why I said it" Hermione replied with a small smile.
"The rumors will stop soon, though I must admit I prefer them to the alternative" Draco stated as he took a seat opposite the two girls.
"The Slytherins didn't give you a hard time did they?"
"No, surprisingly enough they seemed to have expected it, its strange really"
"Well Gryffindor were acting like they knew all along that we would finally call a truce, honestly who could have ever seen that coming?" Draco chuckled at Hermione's exasperated expression. Ginny however was looking between the two as if they both had two heads. Where the two of them really that oblivious to what was obvious to the rest of the school?
"Anyway Granger, I came over here because Mum and Dad owled me last night, they'll be in Hogsmeade today and wanted to know if you'd join us for lunch, said they needed to talk to you about something or other"
"Sure Malfoy, when and where?"
"I'm meeting them outside Madam Pudifoots at twelve"
"Alright, I'll be there" Draco nodded and stood up from his seat.
"I'll catch you later Granger" then he headed back to Blaise and Theo who were still sitting at the Slytherin table. Ginny shook her head at the total and utter blindness of the two, before turning to Hermione.
"I forgot to ask, where are Harry and Ron? Ever since the Pansy incident they haven't left your side"
"And I finally had enough of it and told them both to back off last night, I'm quite capable of protecting myself and I didn't appreciate then hovering over me and following me like a pair of wolves" Hermione grumped.
"So now they're…"
"So now they're upstairs sulking like a couple of boys who have just been banned from participating in their favorite pastime" Hermione finished.
"Its only because they care about you Mione, and they feel guilty that they let you leave without them after Harry warned you that Parkinson might try something" Ginny pointed out. Hermione sighed.
"I know Gin, but they are both going way too far with it, I'm not some porcelain doll that needs to be wrapped in tissue paper and protected from the world" Ginny nodded in understanding having been on the receiving end of Harry and Ron's brand of protection on several occasions.
"Yes it seems to be that they believe that because we are women we have no idea on how to protect ourselves. Never mind the fact that you and I can whip their butts at any time in a duel" Hermione laughed at Ginny's blunt comment. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a tawny gray owl. Hermione smiled happily as she recognized her mother's owl. Feeding it a bit of bacon from her plate, she quickly untied the letter from its leg and broke the seal. Her amber eyes scanned the letter, their light dimming at every line read. By the time she had finished the letter, Hermione's shoulders had slumped and the excitement had left her eyes. Ginny, who had watched her reaction curiously, placed a hand on the older girls shoulder in concern.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione turned and sent a small smile to her friend.
"Yes, everything is fine, its just that I have to stay here for Christmas again that's all"
"What? Why?"
"My parents have to go to a convention in Brazil, at first they thought that they could take me along but they just received news that they couldn't"
"Oh I'm sorry Mione, you were really looking forward to spending Christmas with them"
"Its alright, I'll just use the break to finish off all the homework I have fallen behind in"
"Are you sure? I could ask mum and dad if you can come to Romania with us" Ginny offered.
"No, its ok Gin"
"Well if you're sure"
"I'm positive"
"Alright then" Ginny consented dubiously.
"I'll be fine Gin, trust me" Hermione reassured her friend with a smile, "Come on, lets go and grab the two sulking wonders and head to Hogsmeade, if I'm going to meet the Malfoy's for lunch, I had better spend the morning with Harry and Ron" Ginny nodded and smiled back at Hermione. Both stood from their seats and left the Great Hall in search of the two missing members of the Golden Trio.
Just past twelve o'clock, found Draco waiting with his parents outside Madam Pudifoots for Hermione to arrive.
"Draco she did say that she would join us, didn't she?" Narcissa asked again.
"Yes Mum" Draco sighed. Lucius opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted when Hermione hurried up to them, panting and out of breath.
"Sorry I'm late, Harry and Ron wouldn't let me leave without first giving me the Spanish inquisition" she apologized as soon as she got her breath.
"Its alright Hermione dear, how are you?" Narcissa replied as she gave Hermione a gentle hug.
"I'm fine Thankyou, and yourself?" Hermione answered as she returned the embrace.
"Oh just wonderful" Narcissa smiled.
"Shall we head to lunch?" Lucius asked with a small smile at Hermione as he held his arm out for her to take. Hermione took it without hesitation, though she did have a perplexed look on her face. Narcissa took Draco's proffered arm and followed her husband and Hermione into the small restaurant. Lucius led them to a private table at the back of the restaurant, and, always the gentleman, held Hermione's chair out for her as she took her seat. Draco followed suit, holding out a chair for his mother before taking his seat next to Hermione. After they had ordered and their lunch arrived, the four of them talked about school and what had been happening since Lucius and Narcissa had returned to the Manor. Both of the elder Malfoy's laughed in amusement as Draco and Hermione told them about the rumors that had been circulating the halls of Hogwarts.
"Oh, the stories that young minds can create these days" Narcissa commented when Hermione spoke of the rumor that Ginny had informed her of that morning. "I will admit that I would love grandchildren, but not for a few years yet at least" Lucius who was still chuckling at the rumor that he had cast the Imperious on Hermione, grinned at his wife.
"A few years Cissa?"
"Of course Lucius, I'm too young to be a grandmother yet" Narcissa replied impishly. Hermione smiled at the interaction of the family that she had come to admire and care for over the short time that she had gotten to know them. Since the subject of the conversation was making her slightly uncomfortable, she decided to change the subject.
"Draco mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about something" she commented, using Draco's given name, as had become habit when with his parents.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot" Narcissa exclaimed. "We need your help and advice"
"With what?" Hermione inquired, intrigued.
"Well, normally for Christmas we follow Malfoy family tradition and simply hold a ball for all our friends, we have a traditional Christmas lunch and then the rest of the day is spent preparing for the ball. This year we want to have a more family orientated Christmas since this is the first time that we will be able to do so, and we were hoping that you could give us some ideas about what to do. We really have no idea on how other families spend their Christmases since both Lucius's and my families did the same thing" Hermione nodded in understanding then thought about what she and her parents normally did.
"Well I can start by telling you what my family normally does for Christmas, you can see what appeals to you from that and then I'll let you know what some other traditions are"
"That sounds perfect" Narcissa smiled.
"Alright, well on Christmas eve, my mum and I usually bake sugar cookies, most often resulting in a flour fight between the two of us until dad comes in to break it up. In the evening my parents and I set up the Christmas tree in our living room, we decorate it together and then dad puts the star on the top. After that we normally just sit and chat about things while drinking hot chocolate until we all head to bed. Christmas morning we gather around the tree in our pajamas and open our presents together before eating a relaxed breakfast in the living room"
"That sound nice" Narcissa commented softly.
"After breakfast we all get dressed, then mum heads into the kitchen to start making lunch, she won't let dad and I help her, so we normally head out to the backyard to build snowmen and make snow angels. Mum calls us in for lunch and we have the traditional Christmas lunch with turkey, baked ham and all the trimmings, we have crackers and eggnog as well as Christmas pudding with brandy custard and ice-cream. Sometimes we have family over but more often than not its just the three of us. After lunch we relax for a while before going back outside for the traditional Granger snowball fight"
"What happens after that?" Draco asked, he had remained silent throughout Hermione's description and was surprised at how much fun she seemed to have with her parents, he was looking forward to doing some of the things she mentioned with his own.
"Then its just each to their own for the rest of the day really, sometimes we head to friends places to join them for dinner, but usually we just eat what's left over from lunch and sit around and talk, mum and I usually end up laughing as dad tries to assemble some present he received without the benefit of reading the instructions" Hermione giggled as she remembered the time her father attempted to put his new computer desk together.
"That sounds wonderful, is that what you will be doing this Christmas?" Narcissa asked with a smile. Hermione's smile faded and she shook her head.
"No, my parents will be in Brazil at a convention this Christmas, originally I was going to go with them, but I received a letter from my mother this morning letting me know that they couldn't take me with them, so I'll be staying at Hogwarts again this year" Narcissa frowned.
"Again?" Lucius asked, speaking for the first time. Hermione nodded.
"Yes, it will be the fourth in a row that I'll spend at Hogwarts" Hermione replied sadly, then she smiled brightly.
"But that's ok, like I told Ginny, I'll just use it to catch up on all my homework"
"You're not going to your friends places instead?" Narcissa asked. Hermione shook her head.
"No, the Weasleys are heading to Romania to spend Christmas with Charlie, and this is Harry's first Christmas with his parents" Draco saw his parents exchange a look but said nothing. They finished their lunch, discussing what else the Malfoy's could incorporate into their Christmas and before Hermione knew it, it was time to head back to Hogwarts. As they exited Madam Pudifoots, Hermione thanked Lucius and Narcissa for the lunch then headed off to meet up with her friends.
Draco watched Hermione walk towards her friends and greet them cheerfully, he had to admit she was doing a good job of hiding her sadness at having to stay at Hogwarts alone. Turning to his parents he saw the pensive and thoughtful expressions on their faces and grinned.
"Go ahead and invite her" Lucius and Narcissa turned to their son.
"Pardon?"
"I can see you want to, go ahead and invite her to the Manor for Christmas"
"You wouldn't mind?" Narcissa asked curiously.
"Not at all, this will be the first Christmas where we will all be doing something that we are unfamiliar with, having her there with us would probably make it a lot less awkward. Her natural exuberance will help us ease into creating new traditions" Lucius and Narcissa smiled at their son with pride, marveling at how his interaction with Hermione had changed his spoilt brat persona somewhat.
Hermione was sitting with her friends, reassuring both Harry and Ron that she would be fine at Hogwarts for Christmas and refusing their offers to remain with her, when Professor McGonagall appeared beside her.
"Miss Granger, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office" Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion, but she rose to her feet and followed the Transfiguration professor out of the Great Hall and towards the stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to the Headmasters office.
"Professor, do you know what this is in relation to?" Hermione asked as they reached the statue.
"No, Miss Granger, only that he has something to talk to you about…Candy Canes!" McGonagall replied and the Gargoyle moved aside for the worried girl to step onto the revolving staircase. Hermione knocked on the door and when she heard Dumbledore's voice bid her to enter she opened it and walked into the office. She was surprised to see Lucius and Narcissa both sitting in the office, but after seeing the smiling face of the Hogwarts headmaster and the Malfoy's, Hermione relaxed and greeted them all affectionately.
"Miss Granger, I'm sorry to call you away from your dinner but Lucius and Narcissa wanted to speak to you privately, away from prying eyes and gossiping mouths" Dumbledore addressed the young girl.
"That's ok Professor, I'd finished eating anyway" Hermione replied.
"Ah good, good. Please have a seat Miss Granger, would you care for a Lemon drop?"
"No Thankyou" Hermione politely declined, then she turned towards Narcissa as the woman spoke.
"Hermione, after our chat today in Hogsmeade and hearing about your Christmas plans, Lucius and I would like to invite you to join us for Christmas at Malfoy Manor" Hermione was gob smacked to say the least, she glanced at Lucius, he smiled and nodded in agreement.
"I…I don't know what to say, I'm flattered that you would invite me, but wouldn't Draco and yourselves prefer to spend your first Christmas without your façade alone?"
"Draco is all for the idea actually, he believes, like us that trying new things might make it awkward and that your natural exuberance would help us to enjoy it more. But more to the point, we want you to spend Christmas with us simply because we care about you and want you there. Please say that you will come, we would all be delighted and thrilled if you did" Narcissa watched with baited breath as a smile gradually appeared on Hermione's full lips.
"I'd love to, Thankyou for inviting me" Narcissa jumped up and hugged Hermione tightly.
"Oh that's wonderful, Lucius and I will pick you and Draco up from the station on Saturday evening, then we'll have dinner before heading to the Manor"
"Thankyou, I look forward to it" Hermione smiled at them again then left the office, a bounce in her step that hadn't been there since she had received the letter from her parents that morning.
Hermione was still smiling brightly when she walked through the portrait hole and into the Gryffindor common room.
"Hermione, what did Dumbledore want?" Harry asked as she took her usual seat near the fire.
"Lucius and Narcissa just wanted to talk to me privately that's all" Hermione answered as she relaxed back into the chair.
"What did they want?" Ron asked bluntly. Hermione frowned at Ron's tone, but then smiled brightly again.
"They invited me to spend Christmas with them at Malfoy Manor" seeing her smile, Harry instantly knew that she had accepted the invitation. Ron, who was not as observant however, spoke without thinking.
"Well obviously you declined, who would want to spend Christmas with all the pomp and ceremony that they are sure to indulge in, bloody boring really. If you ask me it's a good thing you declined, you'd have more fun here studying in the library" Ron finished, ignoring both Ginny's and Harry's attempts to shut him up. Hermione's eyes flashed with anger as she glared at her red headed friend.
"Well I didn't ask you Ronald! And for your information I said yes!" and with that she stomped out of the common room and up to her dorms.
"Smooth move, dumbass!" Ginny snapped as she glared at her brother.
"What did I say?" Ron asked bewildered.
"You just put your huge foot in your mouth once again, I'm surprised that you didn't choke!" Ginny retorted, then she flounced off to join Hermione in her room. Ron turned to Harry.
"Did I really do that?"
"Yeah, yeah, you did mate" Harry replied quietly. He wasn't altogether happy about Hermione's relationship with the Malfoy's, but he knew that as her friend, it was his job to support her decisions, not to beat her down about them. Ron sighed heavily.
"Sometimes I can't help it, I try but its hard to see her getting close to someone else"
"Is it because it's Malfoy, or just that she's getting close to someone in general?" Harry asked gently.
"In general, but it just makes it worse that its Malfoy. I know that she will never feel the same way as I do, but its still not an easy thing to swallow"
"I know mate, but you have to really, if you want to remain friends and not alienate her completely"
"I know" Ron admitted, then he turned to Harry "When do you think they will finally realize what is obvious to the rest of us?"
"Who knows, one day" Harry answered with a shrug, before he and Ron returned to the chess game that they had abandoned when Hermione had walked in.
Well there it is, don't worry just one more chapter before they head off to Malfoy Manor for Christmas, then watch the action begin to pour off the page :D
Please read and Review, no flames though lol i beat myslef up enough about my writing as it is!