A/N - Thank you all for the support, reviews and faves.

Chapter 19 St. Valentine's and Vine Dresses Day

On Valentine's Day, Hermione dropped in to see Draco during his waking hours since Durmstrang didn't have classes but events leading into a long weekend. When she entered, Luna stood talking to Draco about Nargles and good luck amongst a plethora of Valentine's cards and school books. Draco nodded towards Hermione and returned his attention towards Luna. "Thank you for this." He held a pin of a four leaf clover. "I'll wear it for luck. I appreciate your concern."

"You're welcome," she replied in a soprano rather airy voice. Almost skipping past Hermione, she gave a sly glance back towards Draco. "Hello Hermione, have fun."

"Thanks," she replied sheepishly.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" Draco greeted Hermione with a smile and in return she kissed him. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," he replied. After a quick glance to make sure they were alone, he patted the bed for her to climb in. "I have a very special day planned for you."

Being very gentle of his condition, she lay next to him and cuddled. "Draco, you're still recovering so you need your rest."

"Not likely," he replied. "Starting this afternoon, I have special plans for you and don't forget the dance."

"No matter what I say, you won't take no for an answer, will you?" Draco shook his head. "Draco, we need to talk about this tournament. I think someone is after you not me." She ran a finger down his chest. "I'm worried."

"I'll be extra careful but your bodyguards stay." Slowly, his lips caressed hers. "I can't let anything happen to you."

"But Draco, someone's plotting against you." Desperately, she clutched his hand in hers and held it against her chest. "This might be related to your parents' death."

"I know." Closing his eyes, Draco sighed. "During the next challenge, which I'm sure someone will try to sabotage, you're going to see a different side of Draco Malfoy. I'm changing the rules."

"You're not going to hurt anyone, are you?"

"Not if they do what I tell them," he answered. "Everything will be fine." Lovingly, he brushed away some honey colored strands of hair from her face and kissed her tenderly.

"I trust you."

Moments later, the pensieve tattoo moved to his arm. "Once I graduate, this will reveal certain of my father's memories to me regarding their deaths. When that happens, there are things that I must do.: things that you may not like." A concerned look crossed Hermione's face. "Until then, my parents wanted me to not think about it but simply enjoy life." He pushed their clasped hands against his chest. "Help me fulfill that wish."

With those dreamy grey eyes holding her in their gaze and the most kissable lips ever in a slight smile, her resolve to discuss the events that happened, dissolved, just like all her other resolutions. "I'll do anything you want," she whispered.

"Those are dangerous words to say to someone like me." In moments, he kissed her deeply, pulling her against him with one arm, while his other hand slid up the outside of her thigh beneath her skirt. Hermione throbbed with desire.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger!" When the nurse walked in, Hermione hopped off the bed.

Unfazed, Draco winked at Hermione. "I'll see you this afternoon at three."

Immediately, Hermione, along with Trifon, bodyguard for that day, rushed to find Bianca in her room. "Bianca, I need your help. Draco insists on taking me to the dance even though he's recuperating. I didn't think we would be going so I didn't buy a dress or anything."

"Don't worry. Vittoro sent me a selection of red dresses for tonight since I didn't want to be too far away from Draco; all things considered." Bianca pointed to a rack of red gowns. "We can pick one for you and have it altered in plenty of time."

"Red!" Hermione exclaimed. "I don't wear red!"

"You do tonight."

Amongst the plethora of red gowns, all slinky but one, Bianca chose a slinky one which showed some mid-drift with it crossing wide straps, leaving Hermione to chose the strapless one with gathers over a crinoline skirt. When Hermione took the dress into Bianca's bathroom to change, she discovered the extent of Draco's legerdemain. He removed my dainties! It's just too embarrassing. I'll pretend it didn't happen and continue with my dress fitting. In the mirror, Hermione could see the bonings uplifting results so she came back into the bedroom to show Bianca whose dress also revealed a lot. "Bianca, I think we're showing too much cleavage."

"Let's get Trifon's opinion." Bianca opened the door and ushered him in from the hallway. "What do you think?" With a flirtatious smile directed at him, she gestured to each of their chests.

After a close inspection, he grinned roguishly. Even though he couldn't speak much English, he uttered one word, "More."

After she picked her dress, Hermione returned to her room to peruse her activities sheet for Durmstrang.

February 14th – Vine Dresses' Day and Valentine's Day: The vines are pruned and sprinkled with wine. Valentine's Day Dance celebrated with an abundant spread, involving also many wishes for a plentiful harvest.

I know nothing about pruning roses and don't understand why they sprinkle wine on them but I do know this part of my day will be casual. Hermione looked at the gift she had for Draco. I wonder what Draco has in store for me.

At three in the afternoon, Hermione joined Draco in the infirmary before his foray out. "What are you wearing!"

Draco tugged the hem of his pink sweater with red hearts. "This is Bianca's Valentine's Day present to me." As Tarooj swooped next to them, Draco grabbed her by the waist and jerked her against him. "Only a real wizard can wear pink."

"So I can feel," she mused. After a sound snogging, she ran her hand along his chest.

The moment they stepped onto Tarooj, Directrice Morel entered the infirmary. "You shouldn't be up so soon. You have two more days. Besides, no strenuous activity," she added.

"I know." Casually, he draped his arm around Hermione's shoulders. "I'll make sure she does all the work."

While Hermione buried her face that now matched the hearts on Draco's sweater in his laughing chest, Tarooj swooped away.

During the brief flight into the woods, Hermione hugged Draco tightly, carefully avoiding his wounds. I almost lost him. "Promise to be more careful. I can't lose you." I can't imagine not being with him anymore. Have I fallen head over heels in love with him?

"I'm fine, no tears." Draco brushed a couple of tears from her eyes.

Looking into Draco's eyes, Hermione saw the look: the look that made nothing else matter. "Draco, I love you."

"I love you too." Then he pulled her close into a kiss so passionate, she swore her toes tingled. Only a bump from Tarooj's landing brought he back from dreamland. "I brought you out here to show you how much I love you."

Deep in the woods, in an area surrounded by warm mist, Tarooj landed amongst several rose bushes. "This way," he said taking her hand. Draco led her towards one of them. From a leather pack, he removed a small shaker and sprinkled wine on the rose bush next to them. "This ensures a bountiful harvest. Every season, Durmstrang cultivates some of the wild roses that grow in the gnomes' territory. We don't really know why such unique roses grow out here and the gnomes won't tell.

"This year I found the perfect rose." Draco plucked a white rose with a peach base and red tips. "Mark Overby said that love is much like a wild rose, beautiful and calm, but willing to draw blood in its defense. That describes the love I feel for you." He then placed the rose into a small vial with ever grow fertilizer and presented it to her. "This particular breed of rose is now named Hermione."

Her bottom lip trembled as she looked at the most meaningful Valentine's present ever. "I love you so much." Now tears of joy flowed freely.

Enthusiastically, she kissed the best boyfriend ever over and over until he looked slightly weak but excited. "If we keep going, my love won't be calm much longer."

"It's difficult not to snog the best boyfriend ever," she replied between kisses.

"In my condition, you might kill me." Around them, several high pitched giggles emanated from the flora. "We're giving the gnomes a show."

"They can watch all they want." She handed him a tiny box. "This is my present to you." From within the box, Draco removed a silver dragon necklace surrounded by raised roses delicately carved out of metal. "I designed it and had a jeweler custom make it. I wanted it to be unique and wonderful, just like you."

"I'm honored." After a thank you kiss, he put it around his neck. After several more kisses, they flew back to Durmstrang for that evening's festivities.

That evening, in the dining hall, they joined the rest of the Quidditch team to enjoy a St. Trifon Zarezan's feast that had an informal yet jovial feel to it. Vines wrapped around every pole and table leg in the hall while several clusters of grapes scattered on the tables. Colorful burlap sacks lined the tables along with glasses of wine and grape juice. At his podium, Karkaroff raised his glass to toast with everyone following suit. "Zu einer freigebigen ernte! To a bountiful harvest!"

After the toast, everyone sat to enjoy their meal. Once they did, the burlap sacks opened to reveal roasted chicken and bread surrounded by vine leaves. "I'm sick of hospital food." Without hesitation, Draco grabbed a fork and attacked the bird.

Nayden stared at Draco's sweater and muttered, "Gepeitscht." Whipped.

"Am not," Draco replied. "Besides, I give this sweater style."

Through a very thick German accent, Nayden spoke to Hermione, one of the few times he did. "Do you why he is on the Quidditch team?"

Leisurely, Hermione ran her hand down Draco's forearm and kissed his cheek. "Because he's the best seeker ever," she answered.

The entire team snickered while Nayden puffed up. "He is the second best seeker on the team. He covers whichever position I tell him to but that is his best one." Pointing at the sweater, Nayden rolled his eyes. "No, he is on the team for the same reason he wears that sweater." As he wolfed down more food, Draco shrugged at Nayden's comment. "He does anything and everything he can to attract attention." With Nayden's declaration, Draco nodded in agreement. "While the other team watches him, we win."

Inadvertently, Hermione giggled and resumed her meal.

"For dessert, let's go sit with my friends or do you want to sit with Bianca and Pierre."

"Your friends," Draco replied. "Sitting next to the guy diddling my sister puts me in a mood to strangle someone."

During dessert, they joined her friends for very stilted conversation until Draco and Harry launched into a lively but endless conversation about Quidditch. Blah, blah, blah blah was all Hermione and Ginny heard. After they finished the freshly picked grapes, Luna ended that conversation when she saw how neglectful their boyfriends became. "So do you two want to make out with me?" Though startled at first, both witches saw Luna's wink towards them.

"Since our boyfriends are neglectful, I'm game." Just as Hermione said that, Draco's neck snapped around and all conversation stopped.

As Draco stared, his eyebrows raised. "Well, I'm waiting for the show." Beneath the table, he clasped her hand. "I get it, no more neglecting you." Until it was time to get ready for the dance, he gave Hermione his full attention.

Together, as Hermione and Ginny, one crimson rose and the other pink, entered the ballroom, they gazed in awe at all the multi-colored roses and green vines covering the marble columns while spinning lamps created pink, red and white heart-shaped lights throughout. When warm lips met her cheek, she turned to see Draco in his finest dress robes, making her melt. Hesitantly, she touched the red tips of his hair. "Love it," she remarked.

"You look stunning." Then he removed a small black pouch. "These are yours."

"I can't believe you ….did that." No doubt the squishy pouch contained her dainties. "I didn't even realize you did it."

"I have nimble fingers." Tucking her hand in his arm, he escorted her to the dance floor. "You'll appreciate it later."

Not only did Hermione blush from being twirled across the dance floor by the handsome wizard at her side, she blushed from wondering how nimble those fingers were.

The twinkle in Draco's as he gazed upon her and she upon him, the whispers of both subtle and passionate promises, and the delicate scent of perfume mixed with robust cologne made hours of dancing race by.

Several hours into the dance, Hermione noticed Draco's pale forehead glistening in the candlelight so she insisted they sit. Directrice Morel rushed over. "I told you to stay in bed for an entire week." She handed him a glass of water. Now Professor Snape and Draco's teammates joined them.

Once he gulped down one glass, Draco finished another. "I'm fine, just thirsty." Everyone stared at him for a bit. "Show's over. I'm fine." After everyone departed, he looked directly at Hermione. "Sorry to cut the evening short but I want to go to my room now." Politely, he tucked her hand in his arm as they left.

Once they got to the spiral stairs, Nayden and Arnost joined them. "You did not fool me." Nayden took one of Draco's arms and motioned for Arnost to take the other.

Together they helped Draco climb the stairs until they reached his room. "Thanks guys."

"Yes, thank you." She wrapped her arm around his waist. "I'll help him now."

When they entered his room, he sat a moment and then headed straight towards his bedroom. Because Draco didn't even attempt a goodnight kiss, Hermione knew he felt horrible. "Draco, can I get you anything?"

"A cup of tea, sweetened with honey and a touch of lemon."

As she prepared the tea, she heard him readying for bed. When she brought him a cup of tea, he relaxed against fluffy pillows while a crackling fireplace warmed the room. "Thank you," he replied. After a few swallowed, he gazed at her, appreciating everything the red dress had to offer. "Some date, I should be seducing you now."

Using a dampened washcloth, Hermione dabbed his face. "You've been the best Valentine's date ever." She kissed him softly. "Now, I'm taking care of the best boyfriend ever who saved my life." Hermione shifted in her sore dancing feet and tugged at the combs in her hair. "But, do you mind if I take my shoes off and let my hair down first?"

"Be my guest," he muttered. Stretching towards his nightstand, he almost missed the saucer as he set his cup down. "You can change if you want or head out. I'll be fine."

"I'm staying with you tonight to make sure you're alright." Looking at his pale visage, Hermione trailed kisses from his forehead to lips which only slightly responded. "Can I borrow some clothes?"

"Top," he muttered.

"Top drawer," Hermione finished. Looking over, she saw he dozed off. In the top drawer, she found silk pajamas. After changing into one of his pajama tops, she laid her dress across the chair. When she turned, she noticed Draco watching her through bleary eyes. "You've been watching the entire time?"

"Of course, I'm a dark wizard." Even half awake, he managed a disarming smile. "Hermione, would you consider spending Easter break with me? I usually head home that morning so I arrive late enough to avoid church." He gave her a devilish wink. "That day and the next is a big celebration. Then I'm going to Zakynthos to enjoy the warm waters." Yawning and now slurring, he looked her in the eye. "Platonic of course, you'll have your own room."

"Of course," she replied. A faint smile crossed his lips before he fell into a sound sleep.

As Hermione gazed at the alabaster and crimson haired sleeping angel, whose chest rose and fell beneath her chin, she knew beyond anything that no one else would ever capture her heart like he did. Graduation neared, the time for his revenge for his parents' death. Instead of looking forward to her future, Hermione felt the sword of Damocles swinging above her head. Please don't let that make our love star-crossed. A tear fell atop his chest. Even if he walked away from his revenge unscathed, she wondered how she would react to it. How far would his actions go? Would she be horrified or would she think him justified in his actions? All she had was the present and she was taking it. My Dragon, at Easter, I won't need my own room.

A/N Did you like the Durmstrang Vine Dresses celebration?

Side note - If you like Star Trek 2009, please see my story Divergence in Convergeance for spice and intrigue. Lots of OC's there.