A chill ran over them as they stepped out into the cold night air causing Hermione to shiver.
"Would you like me to conjure you a coat madam?" Draco said in his best sarcastic gentleman voice.
Hermione simply rolled her eyes and kept walking. They walked for awhile in silence, circling the lake and surprisingly enjoying each others company. The lake was like glass and the moon reflected perfectly in it. Away from the school all was still and the only sound to be heard was their footsteps on the grass.
Peacefulness is one of those sweet luxuries one gives up upon attending Hogwarts, yet tonight all seemed peaceful and neither wanted to give that up. Neither waned to ruin the night that had so far seemed so perfect.
"What are you thinking?" Hermione asked Draco, not above a whisper.
He didn't answer right away but stared down at his feet contemplating in his head. " I'm not sure I should tell you" he turned his head to the side to look at her and she looked back.
"Why not?"
"well….for starters I'm not quite sure how you'd take it, you know? Tonight's been a blast and I just don't want to ruin it"
"Then let's not. I have an idea. Let's head back to our room."
Draco raised his eyes at this statement, a mischievous grin spreading widely across his face.
"I didn't mean it like that!" She blushed fiercely, "But come on let's go"
O0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0
When they entered the common room a fire was already blazing, casting shadows along the walls.
"I'll be right back, I havta change" Hermione said walking up the stairs to her room.
Draco was once again pacing the room thinking to himself as he waited for Hermione to finish changing. He had no clue what tonight would lead to, but he knew one thing – he was hardly prepared for it. Looking up when he heard the door, he was once again shocked at Hermione.
She wore long black pants with a black wifebeater and she had all her hair shoved into a black beanie. Her black lipstick and eyeliner added to the effect and she looked rather foreboding.
Draco gaped at her as she casually walked down the stairs, hands in her pockets, her face a blank mask. Walking right past him and out the portrait hole, only looking back once as if to tell him to follow, she made her way down the corridor.
Draco had to run a little to catch up with her, she was walking rather quickly.
"Where the hell are we going?" he asked
"You'll see" was all he got for an answer. So he silently followed her through endless tunnels and secret passageways, stopping occasionally to listen to approaching people then hurriedly moving on. At last they came to a room full of portraits and Hermione marched right up to a painting of a bowl of fruit. She stared at it for a moment then looked at Draco and smiled misteriously. Draco finally came to the conclusion then that she was completely out of her mind.
"Look, Hermione" he began slowly, " I like fruit just as much as the next person – eat it everyday. And as much as I admire paintings and all, you didn't havta get all dressed up and drag me down here just to look at it. Though I appreciate it, don't get me wrong, but maybe we should go see Madame Pomfrey - "
"I'm not insane!" She yelled at him shocked, " How could you think that!"
"hmm, I dunno, it prolly had something to do with the picture of fruit or - "
"Tickle the pear"
"excuse me?"
" You havta tickle the pear"
"Yup, ok, I'm taking you to go see Madame Pomfrey" Grabbing her arm he started pulling her away from the pictures. Hermione started to laugh, only furthering his belief she was insane.
"You honestly mean to tell me you haven't found that secret passage way yet? I thought you knew all of them!" She continued to laugh at him, "Watch" Slipping her arm out of his grasp she walked back over to the picture and with one finger reached up and tickled it. Immediately it began to squirm and giggle, Draco rubbed his eyes thinking himself to be dreaming. Who knows – maybe crazy is catching.
A door appeared, Hermione yanked it open and dragged the still dazed Malfoy behind her. As soon as they stepped through houselves came from all directions holding trays of sweets and leftovers from that evenings dinner as well as many more sweets that one could not describe or imagine.
Hermione stood off to the side talking with a house elf who kept nodding, at last Hermione smiled and pattered it on the head before making her way back to Draco who looked like a giddy little school boy. It seemed he was in quite the predicament, with so many choices he didn't know which sweet to pick first.
"Can I conjure you a bucket for your drool Malfoy?"
Draco looked up at Hermione's comment, he seemed to consider making a comment, but then decided against it, turning back to the trays of sweets. Hermione rolled her eyes, " Well come on, my work here is done".
With great effort Hermione Dragged the still-staring-at-sweets Draco out of the kitchen. Only when they were out of the portrait room did he seem to regain his senses.
"OK, so what was the point of that little field trip?"
A smirk pulled on the corner of her mouth, "Oh, you'll see"
"Blimey, I hate surprises" He muttered under his breath, but Hermione heard it anyway.
"OH, and why is that?"
"Well let's see, the last time someone threw me a surprise I woke with me and my room covered in whip cream."
"oh, that's horrid" she said in a mock concerned tone, " Who would be so evil as to play a prank on you, with you bein' so nice and all."
Draco side glanced at Hermione and shook his head, this girl was something else.
At last they were at their dormitory door, Hermione stopped and motioned for Draco to go in first.
"oh, no! Ladies first I insist" draco said bowing and sweeping his hand towered the door.
Hermione rolled her eyes and stepped in through the door, Draco quickly followed, his eyes darting everywhere looking for some trap to spring on him. Hermione simply walked over and sat herself down on the giant sofa that lay in front of the fire. Draco cautiously sat down next to her.