Christmas Day
6:15am
Draco was the first to wake, he couldn't quite believe it was today, for the past couple of days he was able to kid himself that it wasn't real. Now he couldn't.
He looked down at the girl curled up in his arms.
'Hermione' He whispered
Hermione didn't move. Draco paused for a moment to watch the graceful rise and fall of her chest. He let himself lower his head to smell her hair and trace his fingers over her face. She looked like a perfect little doll with her rosy cheeks and glossy curls. Draco wrapped her in his arms and hugged her tightly, at least for now, he was going to keep her safe. Draco watched her arms automatically fold around him and silently wept.
7:30am
Hermione's nose twitched, her fingers stretched and her whole body started to wriggle in Draco's arms. Her eyes flew open and locked with Draco's, then very slowly the corners of her mouth crept up and her eyes started to twinkle, she let out a child like giggle and jumped out of Draco's arms to leap up and down on the bed squealing and laughing.
After giving Draco a kiss on the mouth she skipped in to the bathroom singing Christmas carols.
8:00am
Hermione ran in to her bedroom and came back with a sack of presents, Draco was sat on his bed and had already emptied his sack and he was looking at his gifts wishing he cared what was underneath the wrapping. Hermione ran back in and dumped her sack by Draco's pile and went to snuggle beside him.
8:30am
The couple sat back to admire their presents, Hermione was reading the blurb of a book she received when Draco turned to her, took the book out of her hands and moved her face to look at him. Hermione frowned at the serious expression on Draco's face.
'Will you promise me something?' Draco asked
'Depends what it is' Hermione said playfully
'I'm being serious' Hermione was tempted to mock the stern tone to Draco's voice but something told her not to.
'Promise me, no matter what happens. Never ever forget how much I love you' Draco couldn't hide the desperate tone to his voice.
Hermione simply nodded and, confused, let him hold her.
9:30am
The Great hall looked amazing. Tinsel and trees were placed tastefully round the room and the whole hall was a bubble of excitement, everybody, students and teachers had huge grins plastered on their faces and even the Slytherins and Griffindors were being civil.
There was one person that was not smiling. Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table gazing in to space, occasionally coming out of his daze to smile at a concerned looking Hermione.
Hermione was sat in between Ron and Ginny, she had greeted Harry and was being civil, it was Christmas after all.
Breakfast was full of excited chatter about presents, the Christmas ball later on and the fantastic food that was on the table.
Dumbledoor gave a merry Christmas speech and told them that they were free to enjoy their day until five o'clock when the ball would begin. Each house would be receiving party packs and buffets at one o'clock in their common rooms and students were free to go in to each other's common rooms.
12:00
Draco stared at the silver lake, the school grounds were deserted, it was far too cold to be outside but Draco couldn't feel it. The floor was a thick sheet of white snow, the trees looked like they had been coated in icing. Draco breathed deeply, trying desperately to keep himself together, he knew that if he let himself go now he wouldn't be able to go through with it.
Draco felt a warm hand on his shoulder, he smiled feeling Hermione's warm breath on his neck as she kissed him softly.
'Hey' She said sitting next to him and shivering, 'what are you doing out here its freezing?'
'I just, I don't know, I just needed to think' Hermione looked worried
'Everything's ok with us isn't it Draco?'
Draco looked at her, cupped her face with his hands and kissed her so passionately Hermione felt like she was about to pass out.
'Of course it is' Draco said with such sincerity that he almost believed it himself.
Hermione smiled fondly at him and got out her wand, she conjured up a small fire in front of where they were sitting and a warm blanket to wrap around themselves. The couple snuggled up together and warmed up by the fire, they sat like that for a good three hours before the sun that had been dark all day disappeared completely. Hand in hand they walked back up to the castle.
4:00pm
Hermione stood in her own room staring at the gown hanging off her wardrobe. Her dress was so beautiful, it was a deep purple, almost black, with black net underneath, neckline was a heart shape, lined with tiny black frill, the back plunged down and stopped at the bottom of her back.
Hermione looked outside and gave a shiver, it was pitch black outside and all she could see was the snow spiralling and twirling around in the air catching in the moonlight.
She wrapped her towel tighter around her body and went to sit at her dresser. Slowly, she inspected her face, she had been lucky, there were no blemishes to speak of and being in love had given her a natural glow that she would never be able to fake.
She whispered a drying spell on her golden brown hair and her locks instantly fell from the clip at the back of her head and fell about her shoulders in lose ringlets.
5:15pm
After what seemed like hours and hours of getting ready Hermione finally stood in front of the mirror complete. Her make up was natural with a small hint of eyeliner on her top eyelids that made her eyes look huge. Her hair was up in a bun with soft curls falling from it and wisps of hair naturally framing her face. Her dress fitted perfectly, it flattered her wonderfully, Hermione was admiring her self for one last minute when she heard a gentle knocking at her door, it was Draco.
He tried not to choke on his words as he saw her, all the prepping himself he had done to make this slightly easier had gone out of the window, all he could do was stare at the angel in front of him.
'Good evening Mr Malfoy' Hermione smiled
'Good evening to you too Miss Granger' Hermione giggled as Draco bowed.
'Hmmm' he said critically walking around her and looking at her
Hermione got instantly self-conscious and worried, 'what? Do you not like it?'
'Something seems to be missing' Draco grinned as he pulled out a crème box from him pocket. 'I got you something'
Hermione stepped closer to Draco as he opened the box, she peered in and gasped with pleasure.
It was stunning, on a delicate silver chain was a beautiful pendant with diamonds that glistened in the light.
Hermione smiled as Draco gently put the necklace around her neck and kissed the back of it once it was fastened.
Draco smiled proudly at her, 'come on, we can't be late' Draco said taking her hand and leading her out of her room.
'By the way' Draco whispered before they entered the great hall, 'you look amazing tonight'
11:30pm
Hermione had the best night of her life, her smile never once left her face. With every second that passed Draco became more and more devastated, looking at her was killing him, her perfect smile that wouldn't go away was making his insides burn. And worse of all was the necklace, he wondered how it could look so beautiful on her when it represented such evil.
Hermione felt a familiar hand on the small of her back, she looked up and smiled at her lover.
'Come on' He whispered softly in to her ear, 'I want to you to myself now'
Hermione willingly followed him up to their room, giggling and chatting away, if she had not been so bubbly and happy about the ball then she might have noticed the darkness to Draco's eyes and the fact that he was shaking like a leaf.
11:40pm
Draco looked down at the girl that stood before him.
'Draco are you ok?' Hermione stroked his face with her hand, 'you look awfully peaky'
Draco wrapped his finger around hers and pulled her in to a hug, ' I'm fine, don't worry about me I'm just a bit sleepy.'
He stepped out of her arms and took her upstairs to his room.
11:50
Somehow Draco pulled himself away from Hermione's soft lips to look at the clock.
Ten minutes left.
He went back to kissing her but couldn't help but to hear the constant ticking of the clock.
11:55
He picked her up off the bed and stood holding her as tight as he could without hurting her.
Silently he prayed.
If he could just love her enough,
Hold her tight enough,
He could keep her from harm.
11:57
'Hermione' Draco said softly, 'I love you so much'
'I love you too' She looked up at him and kissed him lightly on the mouth, breaking his heart.
11:59
Tick, tick, tick
Draco was sure the clock was getting louder.
Tick, tick, tick
Shut up shut up shut up he thought desperately.
Tick, tick, tick
He looked down at her.
Tick, tick, tick
Her perfect hair.
Tick, tick, tick
She looked up at him and smiled lovingly
Tick, tick, tick
He looked at her face, savouring every bit of it,
Tick, tick, tick
Her eyes.
Tick, tick, tick
Her nose
Tick, tick, tick
Her mouth
Tick, tick, tick
Her jaw
Tick, tick, tick
Draco felt sick
Tick, tick, tick
Time was running out
Tick, tick, tick
He was losing her
Tick, tick, tick
There was nothing he could do now
Tick, tick, tick
It was over
Tick, tick, tick
'Hermione?'
Tick, tick, tick
'Yeah?'
Tick, tick, tick
'Don't forget'
Tick, tick, tick
'You promised to never forget'
Tick,
'Don't ever forget'
Tick.
'No matter what'
Tick
…
The lights went out and the room went black.
Draco could only just see the frown on Hermione's face.
Look away goddamnit Draco look awayA cold rush of wind flew in to the room and Hermione looked at Draco inquisitively
Draco look at the floor, look away Draco, don't look at her.
He couldn't take his eyes of her face. She knew, of course she knew. Hermione frowned accusingly, and all he could do was nod.
'Draco what's happening?'
'I'm so sorry Hermione'
Hermione felt her heart cave in.
As death eaters filled the room she fell to her knees.
Throwing away his broken heart, Draco smiled at his father as he walked towards them.
'Good evening father'
'Well done son'
A cliffhanger? Now why in the world would I do that? Hmm maybe its so that you lot will review?
Haha I am so cruel
Review and I promise it wont be long…