Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me.

Author's Note: So the dance will probably be in the next chapter or so. I have to explain about winter break and all, so the next chapter will most likely be about the dance. Also, people have said how the miss Hermione and Draco flirting, so there is a bit of that in this chapter.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Hermione woke up about an hour before the carriages were to leave for the train. She showered quickly, and changed into tight jeans, a white sweater, and sneakers. She brushed out her hair, and left it down. She loved that her hair was so long, because it kept her neck warm during the colder seasons.

Hermione grabbed her shoulder bag and a tan, corduroy jacket, and walked to the Gryffindor Tower. Ginny had told Hermione the password at the beginning of the year, so Hermione entered without knocking. Ginny, Ron, and Harry were standing around in the common room, their trunks piled in the corner. Hermione went to stand with them, and after a few minutes, they started walking to the front of the school.

"I'll miss you guys," Hermione said. "Don't forget about me."

"How could we?" Ron said. "We'll be expecting Christmas presents in a few days."

"You're so funny," Hermione said sarcastically. She pulled him into a hug, then moved onto Harry. "I'll see you later, okay?" she said, a little shy.

Harry smiled, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Have fun," he said into her hair.

Hermione moved onto Ginny, who had tears in her eyes. "Stop it," Hermione said, pulling her into a hug.

"Send as many letters as possible," Ginny said.

Hermione watched the trio walk over to a carriage, and waved goodbye. She waited a few more minutes, watching students leave, then turned to go back into the school.

And smacked into Draco's chest.

"Oh! Sorry!" Draco said, grabbing Hermione's arms to steady her. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just, um, wasn't paying attention, I guess."

"It's okay," Hermione said, smiling. She slipped her arm into his. "You can walk me to breakfast. Blaise told me he's skipping it today, because he wants to sleep in, so we can spend some time together."

They walked down the corridor together, talking about this and that. "So, are we going to sit at your table, or mine?" Draco asked.

"We could always eat at, like, Hufflepuff, or something," Hermione kidded. "You know, stir things up a little."

They entered the Great hall, which was nearly empty. Hermione led Draco over to the Gryffindor table. "Is this okay with you?" she asked, worried.

"Oh, sure," Draco said. He put his hand on the table, then pulled it up quickly, like it had burned. He shook his hand, his face in pain.

"Oh, my god, what happened?" Hermione asked, rushing over to his side.

He put his hand in front of her face, which was blemish free, and smiled. Hermione smacked him on the arm, and sat down, pulling him along with her.

Even though only a few people were eating, all the tables were filled with their normal amount of food. Hermione loaded her plate, and dug in. She sensed someone watching her, and looked up to see Draco studying her, a smile playing on his face.

"What?" she asked, wiping her mouth with her napkin.

"Nothing," he said, taking a sip of his juice. "It's just...it's been awhile since I've eaten food with a girl who actually, like, ate."

"Yeah, that's not as much of a compliment as you'd like to think," Hermione said, smiling. "So, what are your plans for vacation? We have two weeks off, and all of Hogwarts at our disposal."

"I dunno," Draco said, shrugging. "I've got a bit of homework and reading to catch up on. I'm always up for a snowball fight, though."

"Really?" Hermione said, smirking. "Well, apparently, you don't know that I am the best snowball fight player in all of Gryffindor. Some sixth years started a petition last year, forcing me to stop playing, 'cause everyone kept losing."

"Really?" Draco said. "Then I think it's time we gather a bunch of students, head outside, and see if you can put your snowball skills where your mouth is."

"Bring it," she said.

Draco stood up, cupped his hands over his mouth, and turned to the students. "Anyone in here want to have a snowball fight, follow us outside, and we'll get started!"

Cheers resounded through the room, and Draco grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her up. "Let's do this," he said, his face close to hers.

They rushed out of the Great Hall, about ten or fifty students following behind them. Once they reached an exit, Draco turned to the students. "Every man, or woman, to themselves," he said, his voice raised. "Give it all you've got, until you pass out." He pulled the doors open, and everyone pushed their way out.

Hermione ran out and gathered a bunch of snow. She looked around for someone to hit, and didn't see Draco standing near her. Suddenly, she was hit with a cold snowball. She shrieked, then threw her snowball at him, hitting him square in the chest. She ran away quickly, barely dodging the snowball Draco threw after her.

The fight continued for about twenty more minutes. Hermione was really as good as she said, but no one was giving up. Hermione was surprised at how skilled Draco was. He hit her more often than not, and Hermione wasn't sure if she was going to be able to keep up any longer.

Hermione was sneaking up behind Draco, a snowball freezing her hand, a smirk on her face. He had snuck away from everyone else, looking for her most likely. Suddenly, she threw the snowball, hitting him in the neck. He cried out and turned around, a crazed yet not totally psycho look on his face. He grabbed Hermione's arms, and pulled her towards him.

Draco lost his balance on a tree branch, and the two stumbled down a hill that wasn't visible earlier. Draco protected Hermione as much as possible, but she was laughing, like she was enjoying it. The hill ended, and Hermione found herself on her back, Draco on top, everything pressing onto her.

A smile lit up Draco's face, with a hint of a smirk. "I always assumed you'd like it on top," he said, his face close to hers.

"Shut up," Hermione said. She reached up, and brushed some of the snow out of his hair. Draco's smile faded, and his eyes darkened. Hermione knew that look. She had seen it countless times. "Dra--"

She didn't get his name out, because his lips were pressing against hers. She resisted for about a second, then opened her mouth a bit. He took this as an invitation, and slipped his tongue in. He lightly touched hers with his, and tangled his hands in her hair. She moaned involuntarily underneath him, squirming a bit.

Draco moved his mouth away from hers, and began kissing her cheek, jaw, neck. She closed her eyes, and breathed in deep. She put her arms around his waist, feeling his muscles through his thick jacket. Draco began kissing her ear, nibbling on the lobe. That was one of Hermione's tickle spots, and she giggled out loud. He moved his legs around so he was straddling her, and sat up a bit.

"God, your so beautiful," he said, his voice thick. Hermione grabbed him by the neck, and pulled him back down to her.

Suddenly, Hermione pushed him off of her. Draco thought that she was going to get up, but, instead, she pushed him on his back, and swung her legs over him.

"You're right," she said, smirking. "I do like it on top." She forced her lips on his, almost bruising, but Draco didn't care. He couldn't believe they were making out again, but he wasn't about to stop her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and they moved down to her bum. He squeezed lightly, and Hermione deepened the kiss.

She felt something hard pressing into her, and pushed her hips against his harder. She loved teasing him, and knew that it drove him crazy.

"Gods, Hermione," he said, pulling away a bit. "You have really got to stop doing that."

"Quiet, I'm trying to kiss you," Hermione said, leaning back in for more.