DISCLAIMER: Refer to previous chapter.
Chapter Twelve: Firm Conditions
October went and so did November, with December arriving with cold wind and frequent rain. Quidditch matches continued through it all with Slytherin and Gryffindor competing for top position. Their match ended with Gryffindor catching the snitch, the total score being: Gryffindor 160 and Slytherin 160. With the tie came the tie for the top spot. Ravenclaw was coming in second and Hufflepuff forth. Both teams had their final match once the wild winter weather had passed, in early February. Tensions between both houses was at its highest point ever but Slytherin steered clear of Gryffindor with their team captain dating the Gryffindor Head Girl and Gryffindor steered clear of Slytherin for the same reason.
"I wish she wasn't dating him," grumbled Ron as he shot one of the Slytherin's a foul look, "Then I could at least hit one of them!"
"How long have they been dating now?" asked Harry, pecking Ginny on the lips as they passed under mistletoe- after their break both had decided that they were perfect together and couldn't imagine themselves with anyone else.
"Two months," replied Ginny entwining her fingers with Harry, "During that time they have sneaked out flying, I caught them getting rather frisky in a broom cupboard and Hermione got her first Exceeds Expectations for Transfiguration instead of the normal Outstanding."
"I know… but she didn't care," said Harry, "She would normally ask to rewrite the essay for a better mark."
"Shush, she's coming," hissed Ron as Hermione walked in with melting snowflakes in her hair with Draco.
The pair parted ways and Hermione walked over grinning.
"Hey," she said, "Oh the snow is really falling now. I think we might be in for a blizzard."
"Yeah they predicted that in the paper today," said Ginny serving her self some shepherds pie, "Didn't you check the weather section?"
"I haven't read the paper in weeks."
Ginny casted Harry a raised eyebrow look as Hermione placed hot chicken and baked vegetables on her plate and poured her self a glass of hot chocolate.
"So, are you coming to The Burrow this Christmas?" asked Ron looking at Hermione curiously, "Mum wants to know how many she needs to prepare for."
"Oh, didn't I tell you all?" said Hermione looking surprised with herself, "I'm going to Draco's. He asked me and I said yes."
"What about your parents? Did you tell them?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And they are going to France again. They trust me."
"Do they know you are sleeping with him?" hissed Ginny.
"Parents don't need to know everything. Do you tell your mother about everything you and Harry get up too?"
"Harry and I haven't even gone that far anyway. I probably would tell her… when my brother's weren't around."
"Why not when I'm around?" asked Ron.
"Because I am your little sister and how would you react if I told you I had sex with Harry?"
"Miss Granger," came McGonagall's sharp crisp voice causing Ginny's eyes to go wide and her ears to match her hair, "A word please?"
Hermione nodded and stood, following Professor McGonagall into the Entrance Hall, "Yes Professor?"
"Miss Granger, how have things been lately? In your life?" asked McGonagall.
Hermione frowned. Did McGonagall just want to have a friendly chat with her – in private? "Things have been good, Professor. Why?"
"Well some of your Professors are concerned. Your grades have dropped from your normal Outstanding to Exceeds Expectations. And your behaviour of late is drawing concern."
"I've done nothing wrong."
"That I am aware of but you have turned up to class late twice in the past month. Now Professor Sinclair and Professor Flitwick will let it slide once, seeing as you are punctual most times but they will not allow it any longer. Miss Granger, you still have exceptional marks but you still have many months left before school ends. I don't want to see you lose your way as you have a bright future ahead of you in whatever career path you choose to pursue."
Hermione nodded, "It won't happen, Professor."
"I hope so. Do not let anything come between you and your goals. You have a lifetime to fall in love and create a family."
Professor McGonagall smiled and left leaving Hermione standing in the Entrance Hall by her self. She took a deep breath and walked back into the Great Hall as if nothing had been said to create slight doubts in her mind. She sat beside Ginny and chatted with her friends like nothing was wrong, but from across the hall, Draco could tell she was putting up an act.
HD
"So what did McGonagall want with you?" asked Draco exiting the bathroom dressed in long black pants as he dried his hair with a towel.
Hermione looked up from her essay at him, "Just talking about my grades."
"What about them?"
"They've gone down from Outstanding to Exceeds Expectations and about my tardiness during the month."
"You'll bounce back up. You always do," replied Draco tossing the towel into the basket and shutting the bathroom door behind him before walking over to the lounge.
"This is senior year. I need my marks to be perfect to get into a medicine career. I can't mess anything up."
"I know."
"So when I am doing homework, no more fooling around, okay?" said Hermione, "And I can't be late for class either."
"Alright."
Hermione sighed and turned back to the potions essay. Draco grabbed the Evening Prophet and flipped to the sports section. Both were silent for an hour and a half with Hermione completing her essay and moving on to the revision questions for Transfiguration. Draco turned the page and began reading before gasping out loud.
Hermione looked up and saw his mouth hanging open and eyes wide.
"What is it?"
"Scouts for the England Quidditch team are on the look out for a junior team. Players have to be between the ages of 17 to 19. If they give you a position you get a good salary and a scholarship to the University of Magic in London!"
"Well, write to them. Get them to come and see you play in the final."
Draco stood up nodding and grinned at Hermione, "Yeah… yeah I will."
He rushed over to her, kissed her on the cheek, and entered his room. Hermione smiled pleased that Draco might get to live his dream. She turned back to her work, frowning at a question before writing out a paragraph long answer.
HD
A week passed with the last day of term arriving. The next day everyone would be on their way home for Christmas Holidays. Draco sent away his letter to the English Quidditch team scouts and waited impatiently for the reply.
"So, Harry, are you having the scout come and see you?" asked Hermione as her, Ron and Harry headed to Potions for the last class of the day.
"No. I just want to study Law Enforcement," replied Harry, "But I just don't know if I could be an Auror after everything."
"Well, why not Quidditch? You enjoy it, don't you?"
"Yeah. I love it. I guess I will see what happens. The University has a Quidditch teams anyway and scouts always come and check the players out."
Hermione gave a nod as they entered the classroom. She waved goodbye to her friends and took her seat beside Draco greeting him with the normal kiss.
"How was Charms?" asked Draco sliding his hand into her's.
"I got my assignment back."
"What'd you get?"
"An outstanding. Flitwick was happy and hoped that my grades would stay up."
"Did you get the holiday homework?"
Hermione nodded, "I just need to borrow out all the required books for each assignment tonight and make sure I pack them-"
"Hermione, people call it the Malfoy Manor for a reason. We have a room full of books. I know there are textbooks. I use them for the holiday homework myself. So don't worry."
"Are you sure? I need to get good grades. I can't slip again."
"I promise. It will be… the second room you'll see."
Hermione frowned, "Why second?"
"Well I have to show you the bedroom," replied Draco with a smirk.
Hermione shook her head smiling and focused her attention on Professor Slughorn as he began the day's lesson. While Hermione paid complete attention to the task at hand, Draco fell into a sleepy stupor, pretending to pay attention.
He seriously couldn't wait to leave school. He had it all planned. He would go to University and study Law whilst being a top Quidditch player. Hermione would be by his side as she studied her medicine. They would live off campus at the Manor and marry in their third year. After graduating, both would obtain work and then start their very own family. It was all planned. They would have three or four children… maybe even five.
"… twenty-seven. Are you listening?" said Hermione nudging him in the side.
Draco looked at her in confusion, "What?"
"Page twenty-seven. Read the chapter and answer the questions. If we finish the ten questions, Professor Slughorn said we wouldn't have any holiday homework."
"Oh right."
Draco flipped to the page and began reading. He went to take Hermione's hand again but she was resting her head in it as she read with a frown of concentration. Something told Draco that most of their holidays would be spent studying in silence.
HD
"I'll be right back, I promise," said Hermione kissing Draco on the lips before she left their compartment to go find her Gryffindor pals.
Draco sighed and looked out the window with a bored look. He grabbed his packet of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and tipped a few into his hands before putting every single one into his mouth at once. Instantly he was hit with a mixed taste of blueberry, raspberry, salt, sardine and soap. With a great challenge, he swallowed and drowned the taste down with a drink of Bubbling Lemonade. The drink fizzed loudly in his mouth and all the way down before silencing as it entered his stomach.
A knock at the door caught his attention and Draco opened the door being welcomed to the smiling faces of Pansy and Millicent.
"We saw Hermione sitting with her Gryffindor friends," said Pansy chucking him a chocolate frog wrapper as her and Millicent entered, "So we thought you might be in need of company."
"If it isn't homework, it's reading. If it isn't reading it's her friends," sighed Draco, "I'm just a quick kiss in the morning and at night."
"Well she told me she needs to work at getting her marks back to their normal standards."
"Does that require her to spend four hours with her friends and reading?"
"Sounds like jealousy."
"She's my girlfriend," said Draco, "I just want some time with her."
"You have the holidays."
"Yeah, Hermione plans on doing homework."
"Draco… Hermione cares about you… but she has friends and schoolwork to worry about. Homework is hectic this year. The exams are in May. That's five months away… things are going to get harder and more stressful as they get closer. Soon she will be consumed by studying but I bet she won't forget you."
"Seems like she already has."
Millicent nudged Pansy in the side and gestured to the door. All three looked up and saw Hermione standing there silently. She shook her head and turned away, storming down the corridor.
"Oh shit!" cried Draco standing and chasing after her, "Hermione! Wait!"
Hermione kept walking in a hurry squeezing past students as she glanced in every compartment for somewhere empty to hide in. Draco shoved students out of his way, gaining on Hermione with every step.
"Hermione, please, wait," begged Draco finally catching her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? I was failing slowly Draco! I always put my studying first… I'm sorry that you don't like it but that is the way it is! And they are my friends! I went to see them to say goodbye in case I never got the chance to when we arrived!"
"I just miss spending time with you."
"In what way?"
"What?"
"Whenever we do spend time together we never talk. We always wind up having sex!" cried Hermione earning looks from surrounding students "Is that the only part of the relationship you miss? Huh? The sex?"
"No! I miss everything! I was hoping the holidays would let us talk together alone!"
"And we can do that. I only have three assignments. That would only take a day or two away from our break. We have six days together Draco. Would losing two to homework really be that horrible?"
Hermione pushed past him and headed back to the compartment. Draco sighed knowing he had major repairing to do. He quickly found the trolley and brought Hermione's favourite chocolate – chocolate balls with caramel centres. He headed back to the compartment and found her working away on one of her essays. She looked up at him in annoyance before turning back to her work.
Draco shut the door and placed the packet on the table, "A peace offering with my apology. I'm a horny jerk… I know."
"You're not a jerk… horny but not a jerk."
"So you accept my apology?"
"But there are firm condition's," said Hermione looking at him.
"Okay."
"Tomorrow we do our homework. Get it all out of the way. The next day we spend it together – talking. We will not have sex until Christmas night."
"That's four days away."
"I know. I can manage."
"Yeah… well, so can I. But can I kiss you?"
"Only small kisses. No making out or feeling up."
Draco's mouth fell open, "What about now?"
Hermione smiled, "We can get started on that homework."
HD
Draco opened the front door and let Hermione in. Her eyes widened as she looked around the white room with crème marble floor.
"And this is only the entry room?"
"Yeah."
"My lounge room is the size of this… maybe even smaller.'
Draco smiled and clicked his fingers, "I know you hate House Elves but I treat them fine."
Two House Elves appeared dressed in black togas with the Malfoy crest.
"Poss, Hammy, this is Hermione. She is a special guest. Can you please take my belongings to my room and Hermione's to the room across from mine," said Draco.
"Yes Master Draco," both answered with a bow.
Hermione looked a little uncertain as she watched the two carry their things up the staircase that wound up against the wall of the circular room.
"Follow me," said Draco leading her to two glass double doors. They walked through into a room with sandstone pavers and a water fountain at the middle. All around were huge plants and colourful flowers, even a small dining area.
"Draco… this is gorgeous," said Hermione running up to him and slipping her hand into his.
"My mother spent hours in here maintaining it or walking around it with her friends. I made sure the House Elves took care of it."
Hermione smiled before they walked through another set of double doors into a hall with wooden floors and crème painted walls. All around were family pictures of the generations of Malfoy's.
"To your right is the sitting room, the left is the dining room," said Draco gesturing to each room as they walked down the hall, "Next to the sitting room is the library and across from it is the office. And this here," he said pushing open a heavy door, "Is the ballroom."
Hermione walked into a high ceiling room with white marble floor. The walls were painted a sky blue with white edging. At the centre of the room was a huge candle lit chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
"This is huge," said Hermione, "I feel so under dressed in here."
Draco walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his head on her shoulder, "Well I think you look perfect."
Hermione smiled, "So, can we go have a look at my room?"
"Sure."
They walked back through the manor to the entrance room and headed upstairs. The hallway looked as magnificent as the first one Hermione seen. They walked down the hall a bit with Draco pointing out his favourite paintings or statues along the way.
"And that is my room," he said pointing to a closed door before walked over to the one across from it, "And this is your room."
He pushed open the door revealing a white-carpeted room with soft blue coloured walls. A huge bed sat in front of wall length windows with a teal like coloured quilt and pillows. A closed door led to the bathroom. A desk sat across from the doorway where Hermione and Draco stood with a large wardrobe against the wall to the right of the door.
"What do you think?" asked Draco.
"It's perfect," smiled Hermione looking at Draco, "You picked the perfect room."
"Well you deserve perfect," replied Draco, "Anyway, I will let you get settled I have to unpack a few things myself and sort through any mail that may have come."
Hermione nodded and Draco left, heading into his stale smelling room. The stale stench smelt strongly of his old habits. Almost gagging, Draco walked over to the window and yanked the heavy green curtains back and opened the windows letting in a cool winter breeze. He walked over to his bed and lifted his pillows up, reaching into the covers and pulling out a packet of drugs.
"Cleaning out?" asked Hermione standing at the doorway, "I kind of guessed you would have drugs and alcohol stashed around the room."
"It's so tempting… but I know I will never touch it again," said Draco tossing the packet onto his bed as he founds four more lots in different pillows, two in his bedside table, bottles of alcohol in his desk draw's, and behind books on his bookcase.
He clicked his fingers and Poss appeared.
"Yes Master Draco?"
"Poss, throw all this out. I don't want any alcohol to remain in this house."
"Yes Master Draco," said Poss before calling Hammy to help her take everything away.
Hermione smiled and walked around to Draco wrapping her arms around him and kissing him gently, "You know I am proud of you."
Draco smiled and nodded, "So I should get unpacking."
Hermione nodded and left the room back to her own. Sighing, Draco shut his bedroom door and looked over at his walk in wardrobe. He opened his trunk and carried the clothes over and hung them up before looking down at a black box. He knelt down and lifted the lid off looking at the bottle of fire whiskey and a stash of cash he used to keep in case he badly needed to get his hands on some drugs. He put the lid back on and put the box back in place before changing into his black pants, a white shirt, and dark blue jumper. He couldn't let his weakness get to him. Hermione would hate him for it and knew he would not be able to face her if she went back to hating him.
HD
"I could live in here," said Hermione looking at the library later that night, "Leave me with an eternity supply of water and food and all these books… I wouldn't need anything else."
"Not even me?" said Draco in mock shock.
Hermione casted him a grin before walking over to a shelf of books about charms, "Well I might need you but it would depend really."
"On what?"
"How desperate I am to need your company over books."
Draco chuckled, "I'll leave you here okay. I have to go and check the mail in the office."
Hermione nodded vaguely as she sat at a table with her parchment, ink, and quills to take notes for the next days work. Draco shut the door behind him and smiled. It was like they were already at university, living at the Manor and studying for assignments. It was picture perfect and nothing could ruin the holidays.
He walked into the office and headed to a cabinet, opening the top draw. Inside was a red round case. He pulled it out from beside a green one and opened it. Inside sat a silver ring with a square cut diamond. The family heirloom – a promise ring.
Draco smiled knowing it was the perfect Christmas present he could offer. His promise to be there for her no matter what. He put it back in the draw and shut it before heading to the desk and looking at the stack of mail.
He sat in his father's old chair and picked up the top letter. A bill for his parent's health check up from two months ago. Draco pulled out the chequebook and wrote the price in, signed it and slipped it into a envelope to be sent away once he'd gone through the rest.
Two hours later he finished and had the mail sent away to its recipients. Leaving the room Hammy informed him dinner was ready and that Hermione was waiting for him. Draco hurried to the dining room and walked in looking at Hermione apologetically.
"Sorry. I had more mail then I imagined," said Draco kissing her on the cheek.
"I understand. I got carried away with studying anyway," replied Hermione, "I've got more then enough information for the Charms essay. That won't take me long to finish and I have mostly done the Arithmancy one on the train today. It might only take half of tomorrow to do everything."
"I have a days work to do."
"Oh, I'll help you. You should know that," said Hermione smiling at him tenderly.
"I do. So what do you want for dinner on Christmas night?"
"Well… I don't really know. I am normally always either at home, Hogwarts or the Weasley's. But a traditional meal would be lovely."
"Then traditional it will be."
Hermione smiled and looked down at her meal of pork chops and roasted potatoes, carrots along with beans, some peas and a side of applesauce. This holiday would turn out perfectly. Hermione hoped it did anyway. She looked up at Draco and smiled before they both started their meals in a comfortable silence.
A/N: So will everything work out perfectly in the end? Or will something cause everything to just fall apart? Only I know the outcome. Review if you want to know.
Until next time…
Love yas!
Love Coz!