Hey, guys! sorry for the late update. I was a wee bit busy. Thank you for your reviews!
Weasley and Hermione turned around startled. Weasley slowly let his arms rest back by his sides.
"Draco!" Hermione said with a wide smile, trying not to stare at his well toned chest.
"Bloody hell, put on a shirt, Malfoy!" Ron said scowling, annoyed that his moment with Hermione was spoiled. But he couldn't help noticing the black Dark Mark branded on his arm. Ron visibly shuddered.
"I didn't expect anybody to be awake, Weasley." He said sitting beside Hermione and putting a protective arm around her. To his delight he felt Hermione rest her head on his shoulder.
"Urgh. Hermione how can you be so comfortable around him like that?" Ron muttered. Then he paled a little. "You ….. You didn't do….. Do it…. with him, did you?" Ron stuttered staring at Hermione, starting to get red in the face. Draco didn't know if it was because of anger or embarrassment. He felt himself blushing but suddenly felt fascinated by the thought of it.
"What? Oh, no. Of course not! Don't be ridiculous." Hermione said straightening up from her former position. Draco felt disappointed. And hurt. Why should it be ridiculous?
"How come you're awake?" Draco asked, pointing his question at Weasley. He noticed always that Weasley and Potter used to arrive for breakfast in the Great Hall a lot later, often looking groggy.
"I dunno. You got a problem with it?" Weasley scowled.
"You just didn't seem like a morning person." Draco sneered.
Ron didn't say anything, but he turned a bit red.
"Almost forgot what I came here for." Draco said as he got up and headed off to the kitchen, feeling his thirst again. He gave a lopsided smile to Hermione and left. Don't be ridiculous. Hermione's voice whispered in Draco's head.
Hermione watched him go. He looked so beautiful. Incredibly, irresistibly beautiful. He made her breath hitch whenever she saw him and the places he touched tingled wonderfully.
"You really have it bad for him, huh?" Ron mused.
"Who wouldn't?" Hermione asked sighing.
"Me, Harry, Fred and George wouldn't." Ron joked. Then he seriously said. "Ginny wouldn't. And I doubt Parvati or Padma or Lav…"
"But I do." Hermione said and gave a light punch on his arm. "Deal with it."
"I definitely will deal with it if he breaks your heart."
"Don't worry, he'll never do that." Hermione scolded. Then she smiled. "But I'll keep that in mind that I have protective friends out there."
Ron yawned. "I think I'll go and lie down. Give him a Body-bind Curse for me."
Hermione laughed. "Never."
When Draco came back to the living room he was glad to see that Weasley had left. He sat himself beside Hermione.
"What did Weasley want?" Draco asked remembering the adoring hug.
"He couldn't sleep."
"He couldn't sleep? Oh, that's so like Weasley." Draco said sarcastically.
"Well, what makes you think you know anything about Ron? And anyway, what are you doing here then?" Hermione asked, not meaning to sound irritated.
Draco looked at her surprised, by her tone. "I couldn't sleep ….without you beside me." He said after a while. Maybe she didn't want him here. Maybe she'd rather be with Weasley.
Hermione blushed. "I guess I couldn't sleep too…. Without you." Draco couldn't help his triumphant smirk play on his lips. Seeing the smirk, Hermione playfully punched his arm.
"Don't take it in to your egoistic head."
Draco chuckled along with Hermione. A comfortable silence grew between them as Draco watched the fire and Hermione read her book, even though none of the words meant anything to her. She was more aware of the half naked boy who sat next to her that she had grown to love.
"What were you guys talking about?" Draco suddenly asked.
"Becoming a bit overprotective, are we?" Hermione asked slyly.
"I'm just asking." Draco argued.
"Well, if you really wanted to know, we were talking about Christmas, Snape, you—"
"Me? What about me?"
"Oh, the same old stuff. The stuff I talk to you about Ron."
"Okay….. What else?"
"Hmmmm…. We talked about Moody, and then Lavender before you came."
"Brown? What's with her?"
"Ron and Lavender, they broke up."
"The one he claimed that understood him?"
Hermione blushed. Draco had definitely been listening to the whole conversation that night, when Hermione had discovered Ron and Lavender in there furious snogging session. "Well, there comes a time…."
"I don't care the time that came, serve that git right." Draco said fiercely.
"How could you say such a thing like that?" Hermione suddenly felt angry, "What if we broke up and people said something like that to you?"
That came like a huge slap to Draco. He blinked. Break up? Would that happen? No. He wouldn't, ever, ever, let that happen. It was too painful to think not to be able to see the brown bushy curls and the chocolate brown eyes again. Not to be able to feel the smooth soft lips and the sweet smile. Then why did she say it? Had she considered…?
Hermione felt the silence between them like a slice of ice. So cold.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Draco. That would never happen." She said softly, grasping his giant hand in to her small ones. His were balled in to fists. His eyes had grown moist. "Merlin, Draco. I'm sorry. I would never let that happen, okay? I love you."
He said nothing. Suddenly Hermione felt alarmed. What the bloody hell had she done? "Draco, look at me." She pleaded.
He looked at her, wondering if she really loved him. Why should she? He had being perfectly horrible, cruel and evil towards her the past few years. But she didn't know that she was the most important person he had ever had.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it would happen. It'll never happen. I love you, okay?"
Draco smiled at her. She was so sweet, so caring. And why shouldn't he believe her?
"I—"
Hermione's lips captured his before he could complete what he wanted to say. They were soft and gentle. Caressing. Draco moved his arms around her waist and pulled her on to his lap. He felt his skin aflame when he felt Hermione run her hands on his chest. He slipped his hand in to her shirt, feeling her cool skin. Hermione arched her back. Draco gave a throaty growl as their slow, gentle kiss turned in to something more heated. His hand went further up, up, up until he found his fingers touching a strip of clothing obstructing his contact to her skin. He fingered it and his fingers moved on to its own accord as it unclasped the bra. Hermione gave a tiny gasp. She was clutching Malfoy's soft hair.
Don't be ridiculous. Hermione's voice whispered in Draco's head.
Suddenly Draco's lips became unresponsive and his hand that had moved so close to her chest slid down and placed itself back on her waist, on top of her shirt. He withdrew from the kiss.
Hermione looked at him puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"I heard a noise….." Draco lied.
"Oh, if the others found us like this they'll flip." Hermione said with a giggle before she got off from his lap.
"Yeah, and probably crucio me." Draco joked, though he still felt a bit dazed.
"Why don't you go and get dressed? Then it'll be less awkward if someone found us."
"Ah, okay. Don't go anywhere." He said, winking. He got up and went off. He stopped a bit and looked back at Hermione. She was clasping her bra back in to place, with a blush on her face. But her eyes were shining. What if they had just went on?
Don't be ridiculous. Hermione's voice whispered in Draco's head.
Harry was woken up by the yells of Ron and the Weasley twins. He groped for his glasses and put them on. He rubbed his eyes before he wondered why they were prancing around like monkeys. Had Voldermort decided to be Santa this year? He couldn't help wondering, feeling amused.
"Ah! At last! I thought you'll never wake up." Ron bellowed in Harry's ears.
"Hey, how come you're up before me? That's unreal." Harry said chuckling.
After getting dressed Harry and the others went downstairs. The rest were awake, cradling mugs of hot chocolate in their hands. He noticed Hermione sitting on an armchair, looking sort of flushed. By her feet, Malfoy sat on the floor, cross legged. He gave a slight nod to Harry in greeting.
"Merry Christmas, Harry dear!" Mrs. Weasley squealed, pulling Harry in to a motherly hug.
"Where's Lupin?" Harry asked looking around. He noticed that he was missing and so was Tonks.
"I'm sorry, Harry. They had to leave for something urgent. They told me to tell wish you a Merry Christmas." Mr. Weasley said.
Harry looked disappointed. But then he smiled. At least the rest were here. Even if the rest included Malfoy. An improved Malfoy.
"C'mon, Mom! Harry's up now. Let's check our presents." Ginny said impatiently.
"Aw, alright."
Everyone hurried towards the presents. Draco wasn't feeling that hopeful. From whom was he supposed to get presents? He didn't have friends. His parents must be mad at him. He only had Hermione. He looked at the girl beside him who was searching for her presents in the pile.
"Oh, hey, Malfoy. You got a present!" one of the Weasley twins said as he tossed a package at Draco's direction.
Surprised Malfoy caught the gift. He tentatively opened it. He pulled the gift out to find a new magnificent black cloak with a note inside it. Merry Christmas, Son. We'll be there for you always. Love, Dad and mom.
Malfoy grinned.
"Who's it from?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Mom and Dad." Malfoy was so happy he forgot to be rude. The others glanced at each other. Mr. Weasley quickly went over to Malfoy.
"I'm sorry, we need to check it." He said.
"What do you mean check it?" Draco asked bewildered. Hermione gently placed her hand on his arm.
"We need to check if it's safe, Draco. We have to make sure that there are no curses when you wear it." Hermione explained gently.
Draco' face twisted angrily. "What the bloody hell do you mean, curses? You think my parents—"
"No, not your parents, you bloody git. Your bloody aunt, that's who, or you father's death eater friends. We need to be safe." Harry snapped.
Every one was quiet. They looked at each other and then at Malfoy. Malfoy stared at the beautiful cloak, the proof that he hadn't been forgotten by his family, wondering if it held something dangerous in its depth.
"Fine." He muttered as he stuffed it back in to the package and handed it to Mr. Weasley, glaring at him.
The others went back to opening their presents.
"Oh, Thank you Ron! I love it!" Hermione squealed, hugging some book Weasley had given.
"Of course you'll love it. I know you." Ron said winking.
Malfoy scowled and looked away. He started searching. He saw Hermione give Weasley a hug. Then Potter gave Hermione a hug for her present to him. He had got some Quiddich supplies. Draco looked away.
"You look green. Jealous much?" The Weasley-girl came and teased.
"Shut up." Malfoy scowled.
"Anyway, there was another gift for you." she said holding out a small box.
"Surprise, surprise." Malfoy muttered as he took the box. He slowly started to open it. When he glanced up he saw Weaslette watching him. "Bloody hell. What do you want? Go away."
"I want to see what you got."
"That's none of your damn business."
"Look, it maybe something from Hermione. I wanna see what she gave you."
Hearing this, Draco started unwrapping the tightly wrapped box faster. When he finally took the lid off, a silver watch gleamed at him.
"Wow." He said. He took the little note stuck in the box.
Merry Christmas. Hope you like it. Aunt Bella
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