Chapter 12: The Awkward Moment When…
Preparations for Christmas were in full swing. Hagrid was seen dragging a tall tree through the grounds which would be decorated by the house-elves. Students were buzzing throughout the school putting up decorations and adding a touch of personal magic to the festivities. Keeping up with the holiday mood, professors had given minimum or no homework, much to Hermione's disappointment. Draco had been given a room along the same corridor as Professor Snape's quarters. However, Gryffindors insisted that he spend Christmas with them. And so Draco's arms were stuffed with decorations. He was standing behind Hermione, who was putting them up. His thoughts wandered from one thing to another. Hermione stepped back to admire the effects and accidentally stepped on Draco's feet. Draco quickly stepped back and fell backwards, strewing the decorations everywhere. Everyone burst out laughing. Hermione helped him up. It was difficult to say whose face was redder. In an effort to clear the air Draco said, "The decorations are really good." "Thanks" Hermione said and turned away. Draco dusted off his clothes and exited the Common Room as fast as he could without running.
Draco made his way to the snow covered grounds. Very few people were there because the air had become extremely chilly. Draco pulled out his gloves from his jacket's pocket and put them on. He found an empty bench and sat down. Now he was absolutely sure that Hermione also had feelings for him. But being a guy, he had to make the first move. He closed his eyes and tried to think up something. The Christmas Party in the Great Hall will also feature a wrock band. He had asked his mother to owl him something good to wear. "A dance? Yeah, that would be a good start" he muttered to himself. "Or how about your dead body?" came Ron's voice. Draco opened his eyes and there stood Ron, his wand pointing at Draco's heart. Draco looked calmly at Ron's beetroot red face. "Ron…" Draco began. Ron cut him off. "Save it Malfoy. So, this is what your plan was all along wasn't it?" Ron was gradually inching towards him. "Look she's not your girl. And we both have feelings for each other in case you're too blind to notice". "She's just confused, that's all. She doesn't know-""Know what?" came Hermione's venomous voice. Ron's eyes flicked to hers. "Know what Ron? I'm not a kid anymore. If you can't accept that then I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince you." Draco felt someone pull his sleeve. It was Harry. They quietly left. They could hear Hermione screaming at Ron. The screams gradually became fainter. "Let her get off some steam. Ron has been a prat and he knows it." Draco nodded and left Harry. He went to his room and flopped on the bed.
Hermione was furious. Harry had to disarm her in case she cursed Ron. Wandless, Hermione was punching every inch of Ron. She eventually left him and stormed off. She didn't register where she was going. Her feet seem to have a mind of her own. Blinded with tears, she bumped into someone. "Sorry" she said without looking up and was about to go when a hand held her arm. She looked up, her face wet with tears. It was Professor Snape, concern etched in his face. "Umm…sorry Professor." "Miss Granger is their any particular reason why you have washed your face at this hour in this weather because I can see it's giving you a cold." A small smile escaped Hermione's lips. "Ron be mean" Hermione said sounding like a small child. "I figured that much out. Come inside" Professor Snape said, holding the door open for her. She went inside and welcomed the warm, cozy room. She sat down in an armchair. A butterbeer floated in front of her. She held the mug in her hands and took a sip. She looked up as Professor Snape seated himself in the sofa opposite to her. "Thank you, Professor". "Now, I do not indulge in harboring students in my room for long so you better get straight to the point." Hermione told him everything. "You people just want your little useless lives to be melodramatic. Do I have to spell out what you should be doing now instead of wasting my time?" Hermione smiled at him and said "No, sir. I know exactly what to do." "Then what, may I ask, are you still doing here Miss Granger?" "I was just leaving sir." Hermione got up and left.
Draco felt himself tilt and then he hit the floor. "Get up, it's Christmas" came many excited voices. He rubbed sleep out of his eyes and saw a hand in front of him. He took it and was pulled to his feet. "Sorry 'bout that" Neville said. At the foot of his bed was a small mountain of presents. He sat down and started unwrapping the nearest one. Mrs. Weasley had given him a grey sweater with a picture of his favorite Quidditch team. Harry had given him a T-shirt which flashed slogans. Hermione had given him a beautiful emerald-green robe. He also received a large box of chocolates, Wizard Wheezes products, a model of a Dragon and many other presents. His mother had owled him his dress robes which were worthy of a king. "Merry Christmas, Draco" Harry said and hugged him. "Merry Christmas Harry" Draco said with tears in his eyes. "Hey" Seamus said "Professor Mcgonagall wants all students to be in the Great Hall by 7 pm sharp". Everyone cheered.
Come evening and everyone had started dressing up. Students slowly began to make their way to the Great Hall. The atmosphere was charged with excitement. The Professors had outdone themselves. The Great Hall was superbly decorated with lights, holly, wreaths and candles. There was a light scent of flowers in the air. The Christmas tree stood in a corner majestically decorated by the house elves. Instead of the usual four long tables, there were small round tables of four. In the middle was the dance floor. Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and waited until the chatter died away. "Let the feast begin." Draco, Hermione, Harry and Ginny sat at one table. There were menu cards next to each plate. They said the names of the items they wanted and it appeared on their plates. Draco was wearing silver and green colored dress robes. Harry was wearing black. Ginny was wearing a maroon flowing dress and Hermione was wearing a lilac colored gown. After the feast the wrock band came on stage and broke into a dance number. Harry and Ginny were dating and they immediately went to the dance floor. Very few people were left seated. After a couple of heated numbers, the band started playing a slow song. Most of the people got off the dance floor. "So…would you like to dance with me?" Draco asked Hermione, holding out his hand. Hermione took it and they danced. After the dance, they went off for a walk.
Draco kept his gaze down. He was conscious of the fact that Hermione was looking at him every now and then. They were walking along a corridor. Hermione stopped suddenly. Draco had gone a couple of paces ahead before he realized that Hermione was no longer at his side. He turned and saw that Hermione was looking up. He walked towards her and looked up. They were standing beneath mistletoe. Their gaze met. Draco's heartbeat accelerated. Hermione went pink. They leaned in. Their lips were very close…" "Don't" came Luna's voice and they jumped apart. Draco felt a rush of anger. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Only when he felt his anger was under control did he open his eyes. "Luna" Hermione said. "Don't you know there're infested with nargles?" "What the hell are nargles?" Draco said. "There're tiny but very mischievous. They buzz in your ears and make your brain go all fuzzy. Father has been trying to get the Ministry to abolish these." Luna said staring at the mistletoe. "Luna can you tell us which mistletoe is not infested?" Hermione asked. "Well if you would follow me." They followed Luna all over the castle. Every time they came across a mistletoe, Luna would look at it in concentration and then shake her head. Draco was getting frustrated. They came back to the Great Hall. "There" said Luna pointing "that's not infested." She was pointing at the mistletoe hanging bang in the middle of the dance floor. Draco and Hermione looked at each other. There was a slow song playing but it was nearing its end. So Hermione and Draco danced to the middle of the dance floor, under the mistletoe. They stopped, silver-green eyes staring into the chocolate brown ones. They were unaware of the fact that the band had finished the song and the entire school was standing in a circle around them. They leaned in. Draco tilted his head slightly and wrapped his arms around Hermione. They closed their eyes and kissed, relishing the taste of the other's lips. Minutes passed by. They finally broke apart. Hermione buried her face in Draco's shoulder. Draco was grinning widely. Then, everyone broke into applause. Hermione pushed Draco away and looked wildly around. She fled from the Hall. People were converging in on Draco but he too made his escape to his room.
If you liked it you know what to do. And Merry Christmas everyone!