Is "I Love you" enough?

Authors Note: I apologise but time flew and ya-da, ya-da, I must be THE most hated writer on fanfiction for not living up to my promises…BUT…exams are over now and I have an ENTIRE summer to write loads and loads and I just hope that you don't flame me at every chance you get!

Ta-dah…read on…

Na na,

Na na na na na…

Dean was trying his best to set Hermione and Seamus up but everything had been going bad. Now, on Christmas day, he had a feeling his plan was actually going to work. He had swapped the book Seamus had given Hermione for a delicate silver chain that had "I Love You" inscribed on it. And the broom kit Hermione had given Seamus for a map of a new wizard housing estate with a massive house circled with a heart next to it. He was lying in bed, too sick with anticipation to get up and open his own presents. Everyone else in their dorm had gone home for the holidays. He heard Seamus groan and then mutter something like "Good morning…ha, good morning my eye!"

What in Merlin's name is his dream about?

Dean flung a pillow at Seamus' head, waking him with a start.

"What's a matter?"

"Eh, it's Christmas, Seamus. Get up! It's time for presents!"

"Yes, I love presents" Seamus rolled over, trying to free himself from the sheets and as a result rolled out of his be onto the cold floor.

I miss you,

I miss you bad so bad.

He stood up immediately, shivering. But he headed over to the pile of presents at the bottom of his bed. Dean just 'accio'ed his to his bed. Seamus started unwrapping his presents like a maniac, the way he always did. Dean unwrapped his presents slowly, watching Seamus out of the corer of his eye.

Seamus unwrapped his last present and then froze. Dean knew why. He'd just opened 'Hermiones' present.

"Something wring Seamus?" No reply, "Hello? Anybody in there?" Seamus didn't respond his mouth was opening and closing like a fish. Dean climbed out of bed and took the present out of Seamus' hand.

"Think she's trying to tell you something mate?!"

Really fast paced, footsteps were coming up the stairs. Then, suddenly Hermione barged into their dorm. Dean was preparing for an "I Love You" festival but not for what actually happened.

"Seamus? You're present is…"

"…so is yours" Seamus finished, speaking properly for the first time that morning.

They stared at each other and then both, at the same time said, "Huh?" Seamus spoke first.

I don't forget you,

Oh, It's so sad.

"I gave you a book!"

"No Seamus, you gave me chain saying "I Love You" on it. I gave you a broom kit"

"No Hermione, you gave me this" He thrust the brochure into her hands. Her eyes widened when she saw it.

"Why would I give you that? I don't like you that way, never mind the house"

"Yeah, I don't love you so why would I give you a chain saying that I did?"

Dean was looking back and forth between them.

Shit! This is not how I imagined it. But he does love her…I know he does…or…I thought he did...But she loves him…she's got to…"

Hermione's eyes darkened a little.

"Maybe you sent it to the wrong person?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means what I mean it to mean. Maybe you meant this for Ginny"

"No I didn't!"

"Then you meant it for Paravati!"

"I didn't mean it for anyone as I didn't send that!"

"Sure"

I hope you can hear me,

I remember it clearly…

"No need to be sarcastic"

"I wasn't being sarcastic"

"So sorry Hermione, I forgot, you don't show emotions. You're like this controlled robot or something"

"Ah, same old Seamus"

"What does that mean?" Seamus' eyes widened in anger.

"It means that you're still the same goofy, mean, grotesque and unpopular kid as you were in first year"

"Yeah well, you're still the same, ugly, stuck-up, fat and unwanted person as you were in first year"

"At least we cleared that up. Now if you don't mind, I have to go and eat Christmas breakfast"

"Mind you don't forget there are other people here to eat too. I'll be shocked if there's some juice left on all four tables"

Hermione turned on her heel and ran down the stairs, dropping the brochure as she did so. Dean turned and looked at Seamus.

"Where did that come from? You guys are best friends! Closer than you and me! And I thought you liked her?"

The day, you slipped away,

Was the day, I found it won't be the same.

"Yeah, well, you thought wrong…again" Seamus got off the floor and went in for a shower. Leaving Dean more than a little confused at what had just happened and how everything about his plan had gone pear shaped and how he'd just ruined a friendship too.

Hermione ran out of Gryffindor tower and rounded corners at top speed, practically flying through the castle, a blur of movement there one minute, gone the next. No one knew who it was as she was so fast. But one person had an inkling he knew who it was. And followed, jogging to keep her insight. He ran outside into the snow and the -5 temperature, shivering and all the time wondering if he should even be following this person. What if it isn't even the person he thought it was? Either way he kept on running after her.

Hermione stopped at the black lake behind a giant tree. She slid down its bark, panting and gasping for air, thoughts whirling through her mind.

What just happened? I thought we were great friends. Why did I say those things? Why did he say those things? Who interfered with our presents for each other? I'd gotten him a great broom kit!

Na na,

Na na na na na,

Hermione heard soft footsteps coming nearer and nearer. She turned and saw Draco Malfoy standing over her. Her eyes widened and fear rippled through her body.

Can I trust him? Is he Harry or Malfoy? Why's he here?

He was shivering really badly. But then a small smile appeared on his face.

"Why, of all places and reasons, did you decide to come out here? Do you not realise how cold it is?"

Hermione, only now realising the coldness of the day wrapped her arms around herself, for a few moments neither of them spoke. Draco played with his nails, as though he didn't know where to look and Hermione gazed aimlessly into the Black Lake.

"What happened?" Draco asked, looking intensely at Hermione.

"How can I trust you, I don't know whether you're you or Harry from one minute to the next. And what about Ginny? I was there too you know"

"The whole Ginny situation has nothing to do with you. What happened?" Draco asked again, his gaze intensifying.

"Seamus…presents…I love you and a house…big fight…" Hermione muttered to herself, but the wind carried it up to Draco.

I didn't get around to kiss you,

Goodbye on the hand.

"Who said "I love you", you or Seamus?"

"Neither of us, our presents had been changed. Then we had a big fight"

"What about?"

"Each other"

Draco remembered that Hermione had only come out of the Hospital Wing yesterday and sat down next to her.

"What was said?" Draco spoke to himself but Hermione heard. She turned and looked him straight in the eye.

"Draco am I ugly, fat, stuck-up and unwanted?" Tears blurring her vision as she said it, she wiped them away furiously.

Draco was stunned to silence for a few minutes. But then he answered, with the deepest sincerity in his soft voice.

"Hermione, you are not stuck-up, you're the kindest person I know. In first year you tried to be kind to me. Nobody had done that before or has since. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on and ever will again. Everyone else is always, going to be second best. You are NOT fat. Infact, you're too skinny. You need to eat. You're malnourished or something. And as for being unwanted, you may not be everyone's cup of tea, Pansy Parkinson for example, but honestly, who is she? A teenager, who, God love her resembles a pig more than a human! And if that was no help, you Hermione, are the most wanted person right here" Draco said as he brought her hand up to his chest, to where she could feel his heart beating. He wiped away her tears and drew her closer, for warmth but mainly because he wanted her to be there, laying in his arms, on Christmas morning, their hearts beating in time.

I wish that I could see you again,

I know that I can't…

After a few minutes though, neither of them could stand the cold much longer so the headed back towards the castle. It was a lot warmer inside and they could now leave go of each other, but they didn't.

Draco brought Hermione into the Great Hall and made jokes as they ate breakfast. Afterwards, he led her up to her Heads dorm. He made to turn back, towards the Slytherin common room, but Hermione gently tugged on his hand, leading him past Merlin and up the stairs into her common room, where, thankfully, a fire was blazing. He sat down on a big fluffy rug, leaning his back against a chair, directly infront of the fire. Hermione sat down, in between his legs and he wrapped his arms around her playing with her hair.

"Draco?" Hermione turned her head to look at him.

"Yes Hermione?"

Her reply was to lean in and kiss him softly on the lips, he responded after getting over the shock of it. Her kiss was ever so slow at the beginning, tantalisingly slow for Draco. But Hermione then quickened, it became a fiery and passionate kiss. She ran her hands through his hair and he held onto her face and neck. It lasted for a minute or two and then Hermione slowed it down again, slower than it was at the start until, eventually it stopped and they were both left gasping for air.

I hope you can hear me,

I remember it clearly…

She leaned back against him and softly whispered, "Merry Christmas". He let out a small laugh and replied, "Same to you. Oh, and Hermione, the whole thing with Ginny, it was to make you jealous. Ginny means nothing. Like I said while ago, everyone else is second best when it comes to you". Her eyes drooped closed and she then fell asleep in his arms, the troubles of what'd happened a mere two hours ago were long gone from her mind and the proof was the small smile on her face.

Draco found himself realising, that without himself even knowing it, he had fallen in love, with none other than, Hermione Jane Granger. She was the Head Girl, the know-it-all Granger he had despised for the last six years. And here he was, a Malfoy, in love with a muggle born. And he was the happiest he'd ever been in his entire life.

Funny how things turned out…

This is NOT the final chapter. There will be one more, maybe two, it's not definite yet. The song is Slipped away – Avril Lavigne. I hoped everyone enjoyed it! And I apologise profusely at how long it took, I was getting braces, big family fights happened, studying of tests (which, by the way will finish on the 15th of June which is only two weeks and a few days away) Now I may not update until then, but please be reassured by the fact that it may have taken me months to nearly finish a story…but I will finish it! Also, I've a lot of new fics planned for the summer and I will give my utmost attention to them! Watch this space!

Thanks a lot to my reviewers: Ellemay, MiKaYGiRl and b-ballgurl2. Thanks ever so much for sticking with me and the story as it unfolded!

Lots of Love,

FireboltPheonix

xxxxx-xxxxx

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