Hi all and sorry for the delay, but my computer crashed and i had to reformat the hard drive, luckily i had saved all my stories on another partition but after reformatting, i got a trojan and had to reformat 3 more times in order to get rid of the blasted thing.

This is only a short chapter, but one i'm sure everyone has been waiting for.

The next chapter will be the evening one.

To all those who have reviewed and are patiently awaiting the updates, thankyou for your support and contiued patience in awaiting for my updates, i'm not sure how long it will be before the next update come out as i'm pretty bust at the moment and barely have time to sit in front of my computer and type. I will endeavor to get it out as soon as possible though. I have found a couple of other stories on a disk that i had saved and forgotten about, so if i can't get my thinking cap on and get the next chapter of this out, i may edit those stories and uplaod them, one is a LOOOOOONG oneshot, and the other is a 2 chapter song ficlet. Keep an eye out for them, but they may not appear for a while as they need some serious editing thanks to my pc who mucked them all up when i ripped them back onto my hard drive. I have not forgotten about the sequel to Dumbledores Games, but that has been put on hold while i get this story rolling again, it will eventually be put back up again.

Disclaimer: i own nothing to do with Harry Potter:

Thankyou again to all my readers.

Chapter Nineteen: A Malfoy Christmas: Afternoon

Once everyone had put their gifts away in their rooms, the males headed towards the sitting room to play a couple of games of chess, while Hermione and Narcissa excused themselves to check on lunch and to wish the elves a Merry Christmas.

Snape was reading the book that Hermione gave him while Blaise was going through all the documents that he had received from Lucius and Narcissa. Draco and Lucius were playing chess and once again Draco was beating his father soundly.

"Checkmate" Draco declared as he once again beat his father.

"Merlin, for a while I thought that I may have a chance at beating you this time" Lucius grumped as he sat back in his chair.

"Maybe next time dad" Draco replied as he stretched.

"I'll beat you one of these days" Lucius stated with a smirk. Draco shook his head then glanced around the room.

"Mum and Mia have been in the kitchens for a long time, should we go fetch them so that we can all do something together?" Draco asked.

"Sounds like a plan Draco" Blaise agreed as he put the documents aside and rose to his feet. Snape put his book aside and rose at the same time as Lucius. Draco stood and began to make his way to the kitchens, the others followed expecting to see Narcissa and Hermione in among all the activity in the kitchen.

"Er…where are they?" Blaise asked curiously upon seeing only the house elves in the kitchen.

"I don't know, they said they were just coming to the kitchens to check on Christmas lunch and to wish the elves a Merry Christmas" Draco replied. Tippy, having heard them ran up smiling.

"Miss Cissa and Miss Mia are walking outsides Master Draco"

"Thanks Tippy, we'll head out there and see if we can find them" Draco answered the elf with a smile.

"Okays Master Draco, lunch be readys in an hour"

"Thanks Tippy" Draco called as the four of them grabbed their cloaks and headed out into the grounds behind the manor, looking for Hermione and Narcissa.

Stepping out onto the pristine grounds, the men took a moment to admire the winter wonderland that the thick coating of freshly fallen snow had created out of the Malfoy gardens. Moving forwards they began to look around for any sign of the two women.

"Do you see them?" Lucius asked as his eyes scanned the white landscape searching for his wife and houseguest.

"No dad, there's not even a footprint to tell us which way they went" Draco answered, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"They can't have gone too far, they must be around here some………" Blaise stopped mid sentence when something smacked into his chest and sent him flying to the ground sprawled on his back.

"What the?!" Draco exclaimed as he glanced down at his friend.

"What the hell hit me?" Blaise groaned as he looked up at Draco.

"I don't know, I didn't see it!" Draco replied as he and Lucius bent down to help Blaise to his feet. Suddenly something smacked Lucius on his rear and he snapped up in shock looking affronted.

"Bull's-eye!" Narcissa's voice rang out.

"Wha…?" Draco began to turn but wasn't quick enough as a snowball hit him on his backside and sent him tumbling into the snow next to Blaise.

"Got him!" Hermione crowed triumphantly as she and Narcissa high five'd each other. Snape was smirking in amusement but had to duck quickly when a barrage of magically aimed snowballs began raining down on them from the direction of Narcissa and Hermione's snow fort. Scrambling quickly the four men bolted for cover. Lucius and Draco ended up behind one of the marble garden benches, while Blaise and Snape found themselves cowering behind a statue. Gleeful laughter rang out over the yard as Hermione and Narcissa celebrated their success. Lucius peered over the bench to find his wife grinning at him cheekily.

"This means war Cissa!" He shouted.

"Bring it on baby!" Narcissa retorted as she and Hermione sent another barrage of snowballs towards the two hiding places.

"Quick Draco, begin to make some snowballs while I strengthen our so called fort" Lucius ordered as he used his wand to cover the bench in a mountain of snow to absorb the impact of any snowballs aimed at them. Draco hastily used his wand to compact all the fresh snow into balls, glancing over at Blaise he saw that his fellow Slytherin was doing the same job as himself while Snape constructed a fort.

"DUCK!" Snape called out as more snowballs came from Hermione and Narcissa. Draco and Lucius ducked and waited for the barrage to end before sending their own artillery towards the two women. A duo of feminine shrieks indicated that their aim had been true and at least one of their snowballs had hit Hermione and Narcissa. What followed was a snowball war that lasted near on forty five minutes as snowballs flew from every direction. Laughter, shouts, shrieks and banter were exchanged between the three teams as the gardens began to look like a war zone.

Draco was concentrating so hard on avoiding all the snowballs that his mother was sending towards them, that he didn't notice Hermione sneaking up behind him, a small snowball in her hands, quick as a flash, Hermione pounced, shoving the snowball down the back of his robes. Draco froze as the cold snow hit his warm skin, his momentary shock allowing her to brace her hands on his shoulders and leap frog over him and the bench, it also forced more of the cold snow into contact with his back. Hermione landed safely and took off across the garden, her laughter ringing out across the grounds. Shaken out of his daze by the sound of Hermione's laughter, Draco shot to his feet and vaulted over the bench.

"MIA! I'll get you for that! Get back here woman!" he shouted as he took off after the brunette.

"Gotta catch me first Draco!" Hermione called back as she bounded over the snow. Lucius chuckled as he watched his son chase the Gryffindor. Hermione was fleet of foot, but Draco's longer legs were allowing him to gain ground. So caught up in watching the two teenagers, Lucius didn't notice Narcissa until it was too late and a snowball was shoved down his back.

"Ahhhhhhh! That's cold!" Lucius yelled as his wife laughed and took off in the opposite direction to Hermione.

"Catch me if you can Lucius!" Narcissa taunted as she ran across the snow. Lucius leaped to his feet and took off after his wife. He reached her quickly and scooped her up in his arms, falling into the snow as he did so, Narcissa landing on top of him and laughing gaily.

"Got you now witch!" Lucius smirked as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

"So you do, what do you plan to do with me?" Narcissa asked impishly. Instead of replying, Lucius pulled her head down and kissed her soundly, distracting her while his other hand grabbed a handful of snow which he shoved down her robes.

"Eeek! Merlin Lucius! That's freezing!" Narcissa squealed as she wriggled, trying to escape.

"Revenge is sweet my dear!" Lucius replied huskily as he drew her down for a second more passionate kiss. They pulled away from each other when they heard Hermione shriek. Turning their heads they saw Draco catch her and tackle her down into the snow, both teenagers laughing as they went down.

"I Believe that Draco may just receive a girlfriend for Christmas" Blaise commented as he and Snape approached the elder Malfoy couple.

"Here's hoping so" Narcissa smiled as she rose to her feet then helped Lucius to rise from the snow.

Draco, oblivious to what was happening with his parents, caught up to Hermione and tackled her to the ground. Hermione shrieked then her laughter took over, Draco's joining her as they fell into a huge snowdrift, Draco landing on top.

"Oof! Draco you're heavy" Hermione gasped as she stared up into Draco's molten silver eyes. Draco didn't reply, instead he lowered his head and captured her lips with his. Hermione responded instantly, eagerly reciprocating when Draco deepened the kiss. When they parted Hermione smiled up at him softly as she caressed his cheek gently with the back of her hand. Draco's gaze turned serious as he stared down at her, Hermione's brows furrowed as nervousness began to creep into the depths of his eyes.

"What is it Draco?"

"Will you be my girlfriend Mia?" he asked softly, his fear and nervousness coming through in his tone. Smiling brightly, Hermione pulled his head down to meet hers.

"Yes" she whispered just before their lips met in a deep kiss.

Lunch was a cheery affair, wizarding bonbons were broken, even Lucius and Snape deigning to wear one of the funny hats, stories and jokes were told and laughter could be heard throughout the entire Manor.

"Mia would you like to take a walk with me?" Draco asked as everyone finished their lunch.

"Of course" Hermione answered, rising to her feet. Lucius and Narcissa shared a smile as they watched their son and his new girlfriend leave the dining room.

"Its about time Draco got the courage up to ask Hermione out" Blaise commented as soon as Draco and Hermione were out of earshot. The two teenagers had told them all about their new relationship status over lunch.

"Yes, its going to be a story to tell anyone who asks them how they got together" Narcissa smiled.

"Oh yes I can see it now, 'I asked her out after she nailed my rear end with a snowball, then shoved another down my back, I chased her down and tackled her into the snow and wouldn't let her up until she agreed to be with me' a fine story that would make" Lucius commented laughing.

Draco and Hermione walked hand in hand through the snow covered grounds. Both were silent as they each contemplated the other. Hermione was the one to break the companionable silence.

"Do you find this awkward at all?" she asked tentatively. Draco turned to look at her, noticing that she was just making idle conversation.

"No, not at all, we've just progressed in our relationship, I believe that for the whole of the holidays we've been acting almost like a couple, we've just become official now, that's all. Why? Do you feel awkward?" he replied. Hermione shook her head.

"No, that's why I asked, it just feels natural, like we've always been this way"

"Yes it does" Draco agreed as he unclasped his hand from hers and placed his arm around her waist as they continued to walk.

"What do you think everyone's reaction at school will be?" Hermione asked as they reached a gazebo. Draco sat down in a comfortable lawn chair and pulled Hermione gently into his lap before he answered.

"If the rumors are anything to go by, they probably expected it and won't say much about it at all"

"That's true, everybody seemed to see what we were so oblivious to" Hermione smiled. Draco grinned and kissed her gently.

"For being the two smartest students in our year, we certainly were a bit on the dumb side weren't we" he smirked when he pulled away. Hermione blushed.

"The important thing is that we did see it and are together now" Hermione smiled as she leaned in for another kiss. When they broke apart Draco grinned up at Hermione and wrapped his arms tighter around her. Noticing the gleam in his silver eyes, Hermione raised her eyebrow at her boyfriend curiously.

"What?" Draco smirked at her question and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before replying.

"I think Blaise has a thing for Ginny Weasley"

"Draco!" Hermione exclaimed and slapped his arm lightly.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Just because you now have a girlfriend, doesn't mean that you have to start setting all your friends up"

"I'm not setting all my friends up, just Blaise" Draco defended himself.

"Blaise is your only single friend" Hermione pointed out smugly. Draco opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again when he realized that she was right.

"Alright but maybe I want him to have someone, and since he keeps blushing whenever Ginny's name is mentioned, or he kept changing the subject when I asked him about it last night, I think that maybe he might like her" Hermione was silent as she contemplated his words.

"Well, Ginny did tell me that she wanted to find a guy that would be right for her" she admitted reluctantly.

"Hey Mia, I'm not suggesting that we matchmake or anything like that, but if we hang out with them both and sparks fly…" Draco trailed off, knowing that Hermione would get his meaning.

"Alright, but if nothing happens, we'll leave them alone alright!" Hermione agreed.

"Alright" Draco conceded before leaning in and covering her mouth with his. With all their other kisses, Draco had yet to deepen the kiss as much as he wanted to, this time however, he softly ran the tip of his tongue across her bottom lip, silently asking for entry. Hermione granted it, and he slid his tongue smoothly into her mouth, tangling with hers and deepening the kiss to the level he had wanted to since she had first kissed him all those weeks ago to shock him out of his fear.

Alright so there it is, they finally an official couple. no flames, i'm critical enough of my work as it is. thanyou and i hope you enjoy.