A/N Sorry it took so long to update but exams and work got in the way

Chapter 8

It was the first day of the Christmas holidays and Hermione woke up to find Draco's strong arms wrapped around her. She felt Draco move behind her and then his lips on her shoulder.

"Good morning" he said and she turned to face him.

"Good morning" she said and smiled, thoughts of the previous nights filling her head. But then she remembered what day it was and he smile faded.

"What's wrong?" Draco said concerned.

"Nothing it's just you're going away today and I'm going to miss you" She said looking into his grey eyes that were soft with the love he felt for her.

"I know I'm going to miss you a lot too" He said and he kissed her. The kissing kept up for half an hour or so until both of them decided it was time to get dressed.

Hermione came down the stairs to the common room and saw Draco waiting for her.
"Here's your present" He said giving her a glittering silver bag with stars that really twinkled.

"Thank you" Hermione said and she gave him her present which was wrapped in green tissue paper with a silver ribbon on it. He smiled at the colours of his house which were his favourite. He out the present in his bag and smiled at Hermione before realising that he wasn't going to see her for three weeks and a sudden ache went through his heart. He pulled her towards him and kissed her passionately.

"I'm going to miss you so much and I will write everyday" He said into her hair when they broke apart.

"I know" Hermione said her arms wrapped tightly around him.

"I love you" He said.

"I love you too" She said and he kissed her once more.

Hermione saw Draco to the entrance hall where she hugged him one last time before he disappeared from view through the doors.

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The first week passed and Hermione spent a lot of her time with Harry and the Weasleys in Gryffindor tower because Mr and Mrs Weasley had gone to visit the second eldest brother Charlie in Romania. Hermione found herself having a really good time with the snowball fights and toasting marshmallows on the fire and generally being with her friends since she hadn't spent an awful lot of time with them since she had been with Draco. Draco was as good as his word and wrote almost everyday and Hermione always replied.

Christmas Day arrived and they all opened their presents under the tree in the Gryffindor common room. Hermione got a new book about witches being burnt in the 15th century from Harry, a selection of Honeydukes sweets from Ron, from Ginny a lovely new red t-shirt and the usual jumper and cakes from Mrs Weasley. Apart from the presents form her parents Hermione also got a beautiful necklace with a small diamond in the shape of a heart on it from Draco.

She couldn't help noticing that Ron kept giving it jealous looks all throughout lunch and when they got back in the common room Harry and Ron took her aside and said.

"Hermione you know Draco is going to hurt you"

"No he's not. He's not like that" Hermione said.

"Yes he is he's been insulting you and hating you for the past few years" Harry said

"I know but he's different now. He's not his father" Hermione said angrily.

"HE'S STILL A MALFOY" Ron shouted finally losing his temper

"SO? HE'S DIFFERENT NOW. HE'S GROWN UP. ANYWAY IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHO I SEE SO KEEP OUT OF IT." Hermione shouted back and stormed out of the portrait hole leaving Harry and Ron standing there.

"So, time to put phase one into action?" Ron said to Harry. Harry nodded

"Yes, we must tell Seamus and Dean" he said.

Hermione was furious, how dare they start sticking their noses into her business? She didn't like fighting with Harry and Ron but they could be so immature sometimes and it annoyed her to no end. She sank down onto one of the sofas in front of the fire and eventually fell asleep watching the flames.

The rest of the Christmas holiday passed without event. Harry and Ron avoided Hermione as much as possible while she spent most of the time either doing their mountain of holiday homework or talking with Ginny in her common room. Hermione was reading a book on the Goblin Rebellion of 1667 as background for History of Magic when the portrait opened and to her surprise Draco walked through it.

As soon as she saw him she closed her book and got up off the sofa while Draco walked towards her and pulled her into a tight hug. He was holding her so tightly that Hermione wondered whether she was ever going to be released.

"I missed you" she said when he had loosened his grip on her.

"I missed you too, so much" Draco said into her hair. They broke apart and Draco planted a loving kiss on her lips.

"Anyway what are you doing here?" Hermione asked. Draco hadn't been due back for two days. Draco thought about avoiding the question but decided not to. He was too tired to make up stories.

"My father and I didn't exactly get along this Christmas. He found out about you and got really angry when I said that I wouldn't stop seeing you and even angrier when I said that I loved you. My mother who was much more accepting said it was a good idea that I return early." Draco said his arms still around Hermione's waist.

"Oh ok. I'm sorry about your father" Hermione said. But Draco shook his head.

"Don't be, I hate him. I don't care what he thinks anymore. Besides it means that I get to see you more" He said and pulled her back towards his chest and kissed her, never once loosening his hold on her.