Author's Note:

Hey Guys! I'll keep this short considering I don't have much to say, except that I would extremely love it if you guys would review! I want to know what you think could be better, and what you already love. What speaks out to you?

I was really hoping that the New Years and Christmas chapters would align with real life, but its probably going to be another week or two before the seasons are in place with the one's in the story.

One last thing! Pretty please go follow my friend Daughter of the west wind who just got her account the other day and is writing a fic off of The Selection Series which is already really great. Okay! That's all, go about your business.

Hope you enjoy! This is the longest chapter I've ever written for Insufferable.

CHAPTER TEN

Hoodwink

Breakfast the next morning was a jumble of nerves. While I had decided not to worry about it the night before, I was starting to realize how hopeless this was. How would it possibly work? The two of us, as opposite houses as they come, only two classes every once and awhile together, and both of us supposed to utterly hate the other one.

But through all the anxiety, fear, and hopelessness, I couldn't help but feel butterflies dance around inside of me when I thought of how it felt when he kissed me, and all that it signified. Yes he could be annoying, and as far as he was concerned with kindness, there was a long way to go, but I liked being the one to tear down the walls he had built up.

I poked at the cinnamon role on my plate, silently chucking to myself.

I had always thought the theatrical idea of a lovesick girl was very silly. Humming to herself, a stupid smile on her lips, and of course the occasional lovesick sigh, it was all so ridicules. However, at some times I would tune out and just think about him, and afterwards I would wonder if I been smiling to just myself.

It felt strange to have this big of a secret on my mind. Besides from the time turner in my third year, I had never NOT told anything this serious to Harry and Ron. But shouldn't they support my disicions whatever they might be? One day this hatred between the three of them would have to end, they would have to mature and get over it.

I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn't just the boys that we had to keep the secret from. Gryffendor may be my house, but there were still many that would never stand for our relationship; not to mention I shuddered everytime I tried to imagine the things that the Slytherin's would say and do to Draco.

My thoughts were stirred by the arrival of hundreds of owls streaming out into the great hall, showering letters to their owners and setting down the occasional package.

A letter dropped on my plate from a plain school barn owl, and flew off out into the sunshine.

"Who's the letter from?" Ron asked, leaning in closer. Ginny also gazed at the envelop in my hands.

"I don't know yet." I said, ripping open the seal. Without taking time to read the actual short note, I looked at who it was from, and quickly started to fold it up again, when I saw the initials scribbled at the bottom. "Just a reminder from my parents," I said in reply to the questioning looks I received when my head went up. I tucked the letter into my bag to read when I wasn't surrounded by people.

My thoughts were troubled throughout the day, but a sense of freedom and peace came over me when I returned to my room after dinner. I hadn't gotten the chance to see Draco all day so I was very eager to see what he had written.

Darling,

I quite like the sound of that. 'Darling'. It sounds like a silly pet name that two people in a relationship use. And I suppose we are.

What would you call this little letter? A love note, perhaps? Maybe it is, but I'll let you be the judge of that.

I wanted to let you know that I've been thinking about you. Your face clouds my thoughts of homework and more important things, which I do curse you for. This raw emotion is the most confusing I've ever confronted, but it stays all the same.

That's all I wish to say. Nothing more, nothing less, for the time being. I hope I have succeeded in this new form of writing, yet I can't say that I have high hopes. I know that there is at least, a stupid smile on your lips which I wish I could be there to see.

From, (love? Love from? I don't know.)

D. M.

The stupid smile stayed for the rest of the night. I had never imagined having a relationship like this. I assumed if I ever had a special someone send me a love letter, it would go in depth to explain how far they would go to be with me, and how unfailing their love was. I never thought that Draco Malfoy would send me a letter cursing me for distracting him, and yet, it was the romantic thing I had ever been given.

It wasn't love. Not yet anyway, but what it was was new. We both knew this experience was unfamiliar to the other, and that made everything all the more wonderful.

I sighed and began humming a song that used to come on the muggle radio years ago.

I didn't, in fact, dream of him that night, because it was silly to dream about something like a fantasy when it was already reality.

"Crookshanks!" I yelped, as I chased my large cat around the common room. Crookshanks was running after a mysterious cat that had appeared, and I was furiously trying to get him to stop it.

My housemates watches as this all played out in front of them, one or two of them trying to grab a tail or ear every time a feline got close to them.

This new grey cat had just appeared from behind a table, but I didn't have the time to guess how it had gotten in. The point was, Crookshanks was very much wanting to meet her, and I didn't suppose that would end well.

"Stop! Get back here right now!" I yelled.

It was then the small grey cat came running right into my arms, so that I could scoop her up and away from danger. Crookshanks tried to claw up my leg, but I pushed him down, before he could get to her.

"Hey sweetie, what's your name?" I asked to the purring cat. When I scratched her neck, I discovered a thin pale pink ribbon tied around it, and a small metal tag attached. "Are you Florence's kitty?!" I asked surprised. On the tag was written Florence's full name, along with her house and dorm room. "Well, let's get you back to her! I wonder how you got through the portrait in the first place..."

I walked down the tower steps, out into the hallway, and began heading towards the general area of the Slytherin's housing.

"This is a perdicament." I said aloud. I stood before the door, but had no idea how to enter. No Slytherins were around, but even if there were some, who would possibly let me into- Oh, I was an idiot.

Skipping up the steps again, I wandered around the hallway, hoping to maybe come in contact with him.

"Hermione!" Draco called surprised.

I twirled around to see him rounding the corner. "Ah! Draco, there you are! I was looking for you." I smiled.

"Oh, were you?" He grinned with a taunting voice. "Why do you have Alister's cat?" He puzzled, changing the subject.

"Yes! It's her cat. That's why I need you. What's the password for your common room?" I asked airily.

"And why should I tell you that?" He replied mischievously.

I rolled my eyes. "So I can return the cat, you idiot. This fur ball wandered into Gryffendor Tower without being noticed." I said, looking at the cat.

"Wish I could figure out how to do that." He mumbled playfully.

"Just tell me your password, Dear." I sighed, emphasizing the last word.

"I will if you tell me yours... And! You have to tell me when it changes."

"Fine. It's currently 'coconut pines'" I laughed.

Draco made a face. "'Coconut pines'? Your password is 'coconut pines'?"

"Yes, it is. Now yours?"

"Well, Slytherin has a little more practical phrases, apparently. Ours is 'snake blood'."

"Thank you. Are you coming in?" I asked.

"No I'm not. I just had to walk down this way. See you later?" He said.

"Yeah. See you." I replied.

We were being a little too careless, but I risked it anyway. Leaning my face upward, I kissed him on his soft lips, probably qualifying for more then just a 'quick peck'. I turned back down the steps again, and quietly said, "snake blood," hoping no one was inside I didn't want to run into.

The dark common room was almost completely empty, except for some guy crashed on the couch, and two girls that I saw a glimpse of right before they walked into what I supposed were the dormitories. My eyes wandered over the green and silver room, everything dank and unpleasant. I stopped looking when I spotted the very person I hoped to see, sitting neatly in a chair by the fire, sipping a dark red liquid and reading a book.

"Esme!" I cried.

Florence looked up at the sound of my voice. "Hermione? What in the world are you doing down here?" She quickly put the book aside and stood up, strands of her caramel hair around her worried face. Her expression changed when she noticed the cat in my arms. "Hoodwink! There you are!"

I hurried to meet her in the middle as she picked up her pet and snuggled her face close.

Hoodwink quickly jumped out of her arms and went sprinting off behind a table in the corner.

Florence turned back to me, "how did you get in here? I mean, thanks for returning Hoodwink, but, well, did you use some type of spell?"

"I-I-um.." Maybe I hadn't thought my plan through that well. "I heard someone else in the hallway saying it, and then I just repeated it." I finished with a slight shrug.

"Here, sit down," my friend said in reference to the other chair next to hers.

"Oh, it's alright. I should probably get going anyway..."

"No, I insist you stay. How is everything going?" She asked with a smile.

"Great, I mean, amazing. It's fine, just fine. Don't act like it's been years on end since I've seen you." I joked.

Florence smiled again. "You seem happy, Hermione. I'm glad."

"Really? Well, yeah, I guess I've been in a good mood. How about you?" I said, really wishing she changed the subject from what it was about to turn into.

"I'm good. It was a lot of fun last Saturday, the snowball fight and all, Christmas break is sure to be fun."

"Are you staying here?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes, I am. I usually go home, but to be honest I've seen enough of my parents recently. I want a break from trying to make them proud of their muggle-born daughter every letter and visit."

"I guess everyone needs a bit of a break sometimes." I gleamed. "I think that-" but I was cut off.

"Okay, Hermione, tell me! I'm dying to know and you just keep ignoring the fact that obviously something has happened!"

I was a bit stunned at Florence's outburst. "Nothing's changed! I just... Oh, all right. I'm- well, I'm- I kissed Draco." I blurted out.

There was a hint of a pause.

"Well, I can't say I was expecting that." She said, her tea cup still hovering between her lap and her mouth. "Oh, tell me everything! You kissed him? Or did he kiss you? Was it both of you? Where and when was this?" She continued to plaster me with questions until I finally told her everything. Especially the part when I explained how it was more then just kissing now.

We talked for at least half-of-an-hour about it, me trying to answer every question, no matter how awkward or strange.

Our talk got cut short when a specific Slytherin walked in the door. Suddenly, he opened the doorway and stopped to turn his head when when he saw us drinking our red colored tea (which I found out later was called 'black tea').

Florence began giggling in a way she normally didn't, and I saw Draco look between us both with a disoriented face. "What?" He growled slightly, "what is it?"

I joined her in laughter and had to set down my cup so that I didn't spill it all over the floor. "Nothing, it's nothing," I said in between stifled laughs.

Draco continued to ask what was happening, until I finally excused myself from the Slytherin common room and said goodbye to Florence.

"You told her?!" He whispered. "Yes, but she's trust worthy. She won't tell anyone in your house or mine, I promise. Esme is my friend, it's not like I could just-not tell her about... Well..."

I looked up to him with the strength I could muster. "This is going to be hard, you can't deny it, but we can make this work. Are you staying at Hogwarts for Christmas? I'm the only girl in Gryffendor staying..."

"Well, I am now." Draco said, clearing his throat. He kissed me again, and I finally left him standing in the hallway by himself, with sudden excitement running rapidly through me.

Stay Awesome (and don't forget to leave a reveiw!)

~ ThePondFamily3