AN - told you i would update soon didnt i? hehe. Thanks for all the reviews i got for the last chapter, and please please keep them coming, i just dont feel like writing when i dont know if anyone liked my story or not. Chapter 10 is halfway done, ill post it when i get some good reviews i guess. Love you all, and i hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 9 - Something Unexpected
To my dear Draco,
I hope all is going well at school this year and you're getting good grades! Remember we must uphold the Malfoy name! How is your Head Boy role going? Do you enjoy it? Are they putting too much stress on you? I heard it is a lot of work, don't strain yourself!
I hope everyone's treating you right after your father was put into Azkaban; you just tell me if anyone is giving you trouble okay? And don't give me that look, I am your mother and I care about you!
I am fine, better than usual now that your father has stopped looking over my shoulder wherever I go. In fact I met quite a lovely couple at the county club about two months ago. They were simply darling to me and we got on so well, then I found out that they were Muggles! And to make it even more delightful they have a daughter at Hogwarts in the same year as you! They showed me a picture of her, she sounds quite fabulous and very attractive also! To think that ordinary Muggles could be so knowledgeable of the Wizarding world! Your father never told me Muggles could be such charming people. Their daughter's name is Hermione Granger. Do you know her? Well I'm sure if you don't you will get to know her soon!
Unfortunately I have to be the giver of bad news sweetheart. The girls at the country club have organised an official women-only Christmas cruise and as the secretary I simply must attend! But here is the bad part Draco dear, you are not able to attend as it is exclusive to women members only. I am so sorry we won't be together for Christmas! But I am sure I will see you before the next school term starts back again, so do not worry about that!
And seeing as this is Christmas and the time for family and friends, I have decided that you simply can't be alone for such a festive holiday! The mansion does get incredibly lonely for only one person, trust me, I know! So, in an extremely lovely act of kindness I might add, Mr and Mrs Granger have informed me that they would be delighted to accommodate you over Christmas at their household! Their house is just as substantial as ours you know, and from what I hear they come from a long line of very successful Muggles, and they have assured me that their daughter will keep you well occupied!
I am worried about you Draco. You have not been yourself since your father left but please listen to me. Lucius, however still family as he may be, taught you to forever follow in his footsteps. I could not live knowing my only son walked down the path he chose, I couldn't bear to lose you too. You do not deserve that life Draco; I have raised you for something better. Please listen to me and not your father; I have always wanted a happier life for you than what I had to go through.
I will see you after Christmas, have a lovely time at the Granger's, and make sure you are polite to them at all times!
With all my love,
Mother.
Stormy grey eyes stared down at the parchment, deciding to re-read the letter; sure he had misread it the first time.
Dear Hermione,
How are you lovely? I know I didn't reply to your last letter as quickly as perhaps you would have liked, but the clinic really has been outrageously busy and I haven't had any spare time on my hands. How is your year as Head girl! We are so proud of you! Remember you completely deserved that position and now all your hard work and dedication to your school has paid off. Make sure you don't strain yourself Hermione dear, we all know how hard you work but that doesn't mean you ONLY work! Make sure Harry gets you out and about, take a break, get a boyfriend for Christ's sake! You deserve a bit of a rest! You will always do well in school no matter what you know that, and we will always be proud of you for whatever score you get. Sometimes your mother and I worry that you're not enjoying yourself as much as you could be at that school. You have so many friends and so little time left to have fun! Please, trust us and have a little time off before your exams ok?
We wish we could spend more time with you over the year, you're growing up so fast and we're afraid we will miss the precious time we have with you left! When you left us for the first time to go to Hogwarts we were so proud of you, and we still are, but you were so eager and naive back then. Every holiday we see you as a new person, a new woman. Soon you will leave us forever but we hope you will always come back to us, no matter how much of a successful witch you will turn out to be!
I also have to tell you of some exciting news. We know how lonely you sometimes get over the Christmas break, being an only child and without your friends, but we have fixed all that for you so you can be entertained all holidays! Around 2 months ago we met a truly delightful woman at the country club we often like to visit, and we became close family friends. She is simply a delightful person and wonderful company for my wife when I go on business trips for the clinic. Sadly we have not seen or heard of her husband so we assume he has passed. So unfortunate too, for her son. Yes, she does have a son! And what makes it even more extraordinary is that he goes to your school, in your very year! AND she says that he is Head boy too! His name is Draco Malfoy, do you know him well? I trust you know him somewhat because he is head boy. Well if you don't know him, now is the perfect chance! As I said, your mother and I have exciting news, and that is…that this son Draco Malfoy will be accompanying us for Christmas break! Isn't that exciting?!? A friend with you ALL Christmas!
His mother is going away on a cruise that she cannot get out of, and when she told us of this we were only to happy to take him in and make him a temporary member of the family over Christmas, as it would be simply horrible to be alone at such a festive time don't you think?
I don't think Draco knows of this plan yet so be sure to tell him! Although his mother may have owled him, I do not know. So it is up to you to tell him the good news! Make sure you get him a Christmas present before term ends too! Wouldn't want him feeling left out!
Make sure you get off the train together; we will wait for you outside at Kings Cross, unless you want to apparate home. Anyway see you soon, mum sends her love!
Dad
Hermione stared at the letter clutched in her right hand. She grasped her bedstead and breathed in deeply. This could not be happening. She read the letter again. The same, horrifying words stared back at her in inky black, unblinkingly taunting her.
Hermione moaned and fell back onto the bed with a small 'thud'. Surely her parents were joking. Did they really expect her to go through the ENTIRE Christmas break with Draco Malfoy?
Given the circumstances of a few weeks ago, Hermione was completely Uncomfortable with going anywhere near her roommate at the moment, let alone have to share her house with him. She began to panic with confused anger. She had to owl her parent right away as say that there must be a big mistake, because there was just no way in hell that she would agree to this.
She clenched the letter in her first, and, forgetting the late hour at which it was, marched over to her door and swung it open. She was going to walk straight up to Malfoy's door and knock until he opened, and then would he be in trouble. She would yell at him so loudly that even the very corners of the astronomy tower would hea-
She stopped, and looked up suddenly as she heard another door creaking open. Malfoy stepped out of the door opposite her, looking just as irritated, and also carrying a long piece of parchment. She stared for a second as he walked up to her and shoved the piece of paper in her face.
'Care to explain this?!?' he hissed, brandishing a hand around and motioning for her to read it. She scanned a few words here and there and threw it back to him, her spirits dropping by the second. 'Look at mine!!!' and she too, brandished a piece of parchment in his face so that he grabbed it. She watched as his eyes grew narrower as they dropped lower down the letter quickly and he quickly handed it back to her.
'You have to send an owl to your mum saying you can't go' Hermione said, very fast. 'Say that we had a change of plans and are going to Mongolia or something. I am not spending my Christmas with you!'
'I've already tried but she said that she talked to your parents yesterday and I have no excuses! I'm not stupid Granger! Do you think I want to spend Christmas with you? Of all people?!? Why don't you talk to your parents and tell them to back out!'
Hermione snarled at him and stamped her foot slightly. 'My parents aren't going to back out now!! We leave for break tomorrow! It's too late to tell them to change!'
'But you have to do SOMETHING!' Malfoy moaned, banging a hand on his door.
'I already told you, I CAN'T' Hermione said irritably. 'Why don't YOU'
'For the last time I can't!!' Malfoy yelled. 'Weren't you listening Granger??'
She slid down her door and landed with a thud on the ground beneath her, her head in her hands. Malfoy got down and laid his back against his door too, grimacing to nobody in particular, and scuffing the ground with his shoe. Hermione glared at him and mumbled; 'this is all your fault.'
Malfoy raised his eyebrows and spluttered indignantly. 'It so isn't!'
Hermione examined her fingers for a moment before mumbling again. 'So is'
Malfoy kicked her shoe with his foot, glaring back at her. 'Is not'
Hermione rolled her eyes at their childish game, and promptly poked her tongue out at him, before getting up and walking back into her room, shutting the door in his face.
Steam bustled from the large steam engine and controllers walked briskly up and down Hogsmeade station with their professional looking uniforms, calling for final entry to the train. Hermione hitched Tiran's cage up so it was more secure underneath her arm and stepped finally found a spare compartment at the end of the train. She followed Ginny into the carriage and sat down next to Ron. Harry, Neville, Lavender and Parvati entered and found seats around her.
She crossed her legs comfortably up on the seat and Ron yawned and stretched his arms behind his head to lean on. 'I am SO glad it's break' Ron exclaimed, scratching his head absentmindedly. 'No school, no nothing, thank god'
Hermione rolled her eyes and pulled out a book, propping it on one knee. 'It's not nothing, Ron' She stated reproachfully. 'We still have homework' –'optional work Hermione' – 'and our NEWTS are coming up very soon' – 'we have two terms Hermione!' – 'and there is no reason to slack off Ronald!'
Ron chuckled at her and shook his head, turning his attention to the window. It was cloudy and gloomy, and grey black clouds parted the sun from their view. Ginny wrinkled her nose at the outside of the glass and its darkening sky. 'What nice weather!' she said sarcastically. 'I hope its not raining when we get to Kings Cross…'
It seemed she spoke too soon, as just at that moment large droplets of water began to cascade off the trains roof and patter on the window before being swept away by the wind. She threw her hands up, giving up.
As they rocked slightly every now and then as the train tuckered along, they entertained themselves by playing truth or dare, exploding snap or forcing Ron to eat a sickly green, every flavour bean. Hermione was just starting to feel cheerful and relaxed, when there was a lapse in conversation and Neville said 'No idea how you're going to survive the Christmas break with Malfoy, Hermione' He shook his head in disbelief and there was a chorus of murmurs in agreeance with Neville. 'It's so unfair' Ginny moaned sympathetically. 'I wish you could come to our house like Harry, but I suppose your parents wanted you to spend Christmas with them…'
Hermione looked out the window and sighed, and decided to show everyone she could be positive about the situation. 'Maybe he won't be that bad.' She said in a light-hearted voice. 'I mean, maybe he's only like that around his stupid Slytherin cronies. I bet he'll calm down once he's away from the school.'
Harry stared at her incredulously. 'Hermione,' He said, with an air of explaining something to someone who had never heard of it before. 'This is Malfoy we are talking about. Draco Malfoy, prince of Slytherin. Corny, fake, arrogant and irritating thinks-he's-God's-gift-to-earth ferret boy. Son of Lucius Malfoy, the Death eater, who is currently in prison. People like that do not change.'
Hermione gave him a scathing look. 'Harry, haven't I always told you not to judge a book by its cover? Malfoy might just be full of it at school, you never know.' But her brain was secretly telling her that no amount of searching through Malfoy's pages would find anything worth reading.
'Hermione,' Harry said, sighing. Malfoy has had 6 years to show us who he is. I think that is enough time to know that he is a Malfoy through and through. End of story.'
Hermione bit her lip and looked away from them altogether and out the stormy, rain covered window, deciding that the littler she talked about the subject, the easier it would be for everyone.
As the train slowed down and finally came to a stop at Kings Cross Station, there was a hurried rush to get off. Hermione shuffled out behind Harry, fighting against the great tide of students eager to get out, dragging her trunk without much success. When she finally reached a door that led out onto the station, she headed for it gratefully and tried to hang onto her trunk as it clunked and clanged heavily down the stairs. Tiran hooted at her in an irritated sort of way and she lifted him off her trunk so he was no longer rustling around in a disgruntled fashion.
She looked around her for a head of platinum blond hair poking out of the crowd. She saw nothing. Tutting to herself at his lack of arrival, she pushed her trunk, although moving at a very slow pace, towards the barrier dividing Platform 9 ¾ and Kings Cross station, all the while looking around her for a sight of Malfoy.
On her way she said a quick goodbye to Harry, Ron, and the others from her carriage on the train. Ginny gave her a swift hug before whispering 'good luck!', and hurrying off to a calling Mrs Weasley on the other side of the station.
Hermione was beginning to get really annoyed now. Why was he not here? She specifically told him to meet her on the Platform and they would go and catch a taxi together to meet her parents at home. Why was it so hard for him to understand!!
She gave up searching for him and decided that he must be waiting for her outside at Kings cross. She took one last look behind her before briskly walking through the barrier and out to Kings Cross.
No one second glanced at the girl that had just appeared out of a brick wall, holding an owl and a trunk she couldn't carry. Hermione looked around her wildly but Malfoy was no where to be seen, and she accidenlty let her trunk slip and hit her toes in the process of looking for him. Hissing with pain, she walked out of the station and met a huge gust of wind that threatened to blow Tiran's cage clean out of her hands. Steadying herself, she left the undercover of the entrance, only to meet large quantities of large, wet, rain. Cursing, she held a hand over her head in vain, and tried to run to the edge of the road as quickly as possible. Her trunk slowed the process considerably and by the time she reached the curb her hair was already dripping and she shivered under her thin blue top.
The rain was freezing as it hit her skin in great dollops and in order to warm herself up she clasped her arms around herself as she heard her teeth clattering. She blinked water off her eyelids and looked around, having dropped her trunk beside her. She knew she couldn't leave without taking Malfoy with her, but, outside in the pouring and freezing rain with nothing but a skirt and short sleeved top on to keep her warm, she was seriously considering leaving without him.
The rain seemed to only get heavier as she checked her watch, but she couldn't see the time through the rain. She was really, really cold now. She was now soaked to the bone and unable to feel her fingers, but through the rain she noticed a yellow taxi pulling up at the curb, stopping right in front of her. Frowning at this slightly unusual behaviour, she suddenly felt someone standing right beside her and she looked up to see Malfoy standing in the rain, looking just as sopping wet. He pulled out his wand discreetly and muttered a few words, and as he did, Hermione suddenly felt blissfully warm, like the sun had suddenly shone brightly on her body and a giant heat wave. She looked down, saw her clothes were no longer wet, and watched in astonishment as Malfoy opened the back door of the taxi and ushered her in, not looking at her, droplets falling off his hair and onto the ground continuously. He picked up what she had thought was her unmoveable trunk with ease and placed it in the boot of the car, before walking around the other side and sitting in the next seat.
Hermione stared in wonder at him, and mumbled the address to the driver who promptly drove off into the rain, windscreen wipers moving ferociously.
He didn't meet her eye, but stared promptly out the dark window to the busy streets around them. But she could see in the reflection of the glass, two pairs of strong grey eyes. Eyes that, many years ago had portrayed to her as cold and cruel, but now, revealed a hidden beauty she had never seen before.
the plot thickens...mwahahaha...do you want more? then review!!