Chapter Fourteen
Crashing Waves
Two piles of homework were done. Hermione had the rest of the day free. She picked up her wand flinging the door shut, the lock clicking. She pulled out Witch Weekly's magazine from the bottom drawer of her desk.
November had passed in a haze, and December came crashing when she realized that she didn't have any gifts for anyone. She panicked when she didn't know how she was going to manage going shopping. There wasn't anything in the Muggle shops that she could get anyone, aside from Mr. Weasley, and her parents of course.
A pain echoed in her heart when she thought of her parents. They would be okay, they didn't know they had a daughter, Hermione signed the forms last month. They now lived in Australia completely unaware of who they were. She considered herself an orphan.
She refocused her mind. Presents, she had to find presents. She contacted Dumbledore a week ago asking if he could send her a catalog of some sort to do her shopping, and he sent her a stack of various magazines, and catalogs. She looked at the bottom of the magazines watching for advertisements to stores.
What Hermione worried about most was Draco. She was used to shopping for Harry, and Ron. They appreciated sweets, and Quidditch supplies. What did you get for someone that had everything? Then, she saw it. A set of four books about each of the Hogwarts founders, and... Yes, she could order separately. Draco would love a book about the founder of his house Salazar Slytherin. She ripped the form out, and took a quill from the top drawer, and began to order. Once completed she set placed it inside an envelope. He was going to love it.
In two hours, and over fifty magazines, and catalogs she found everyone gifts. She found Harry a set of supplies for his Firebolt, and Ron a book on his favorite Quidditch team the Chudley Canons. A new pair of Quidditch gloves for Ginny. As for Ron's parents she would simply stop by one of the Muggle shops near her later that day.
Hermione gathered her homework, and the envelopes in her arms, and carried them downstairs to the coffee table. Draco was there slumped on the couch, his feet on the table, the Dailey Prophet in hand.
"You're finally done?"
She sneered at him. "Yes. I have to triple check them. What if I made a mistake?"
He shook his head in wonder. "You never make mistakes."
"Doubtful," she muttered sitting. Automatically he put his arm around her shoulders, and she leaned against him.
He sat the paper down. "What're you doing for the rest of the day?"
"I'm going to do some shopping. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley should be easy to find gifts for."
"Ah, the muggle lovers."
She
furrowed her brows. "And what do you call yourself?"
"A
muggleborn
lover. There's a difference."
"Funny," she said, and he gave her a peck on the lips to melt her anger. It worked like every other time. "Oh," she said suddenly sitting up.
"What," he asked alarmed.
"I forgot to write Harry back!"
He groaned as she ran up to her room. At her desk she pulled his letter to her, and re-read to refresh her memory.
Hermione,
I don't want to give out too much information here, but I think we're close, you may be able to come home soon! Not before Christmas, but it's likely you won't be there for much longer. We're making a lot of progress.
Dumbledore told us about your parents. I'm really sorry, Hermione. Don't worry, we'll get them back. Like I said, it won't be long. I'm just sorry that you have to spend the holidays with Malfoy. We tried to talk Dumbledore into letting you come here, but he wouldn't have it. Like we would let anything happen to you.
And yes, for the millionth time, we are studying, and there's no point in telling you we're keeping notes, because you know we're not.
I can only assume that you, and Malfoy are keeping to these "rules" you told us about. You never mention him. Ron will be disappointed. He was looking for a reason to curse him.
Harry
Hermione smiled dully. She didn't mention Draco because she was afraid if she did Harry would see right through it. She didn't know if she could write with the same disgust about him that she used to have. She sighed, and moved her quill over a clean sheet of parchment.
Harry,
You're making progress, that's wonderful! It'll be so nice to be back in school, I know I'm falling behind. Just be careful.
I would love to write more, but I'm terribly busy. Christmas is coming soon, and I still have so much more to do.
With Love, Hermione
Hermione folded the letter, and slid it in an envelope. She jogged downstairs where Malfoy still sat with the newspaper. She dropped the letter with the rest.
Draco threw the paper on the table. "Why don't you stop writing them?"
Hermione folded her arms over her chest, and waited for him to elaborate. There was no reason she should stop writing her friends.
"You
know when we go back to school they're not going to accept us.
Wouldn't it be better to stop writing, and get it over with?"
"Have
you stopped writing Crabb, and Goyle?"
"Don't have to. Haven't heard from them once while I've been here. I did receive a letter from my father informing me that I'm no longer in his will. I'm sure right now I'm hated more by the Slytherin's than Potter."
"So they know... About us?"
"No, my father would never tell anyone that I was dating a mud-" He clamped his mouth shut, staring at her unchanging expression, then tried again. "Muggle. He would consider it a blemish on our good name. As far as he's concerned, he doesn't have a son."
She felt bad for him. He had nothing. No friends, no family. All because of her. "Draco I -"
"Don't dare say sorry," he retorted. "I knew what I was going to happen."
She stood there awkwardly. "I don't know what to say..."
"Don't say anything. Come here."
Hesitantly she sat next to him. He curled an arm around her waist, and kissed her cheek. "It'll be okay."
"I know."
"...Would you mind if I ask you what your parents might think of me. You know, if they met me."
Hermione thought about it. She wasn't going to lie to him, she wanted to give him an honest answer. "I think they would like you. They would find you... Perfect for me."
She could feel his smile on her cheek. His lips lingered upwards finding her earlobe. He nibbled gently. She giggled, and he nipped at her neck. His fingers tangled themselves in her hair pulling her towards him his mouth on hers. The kisses grew more urgent, his tongue slipping past hers. Gradually she was leaning back until she was lying on the couch. Her hands felt his sides, she bunched his shirt in her hands using it to pull him downwards with her.
Draco's hand landed beside her head trying to keep his light weight from crushing her. He stroked her stomach lifting her blouse past her naval, his fingers brushing over the bare skin. He leaned down, kissing it, and returned to her lips, her chin. He undid the buttons of her top until he was able to place a kiss on her chest. He stopped, and looked into her caramel eyes.
"We don't have to do this," he said his voice husky.
"I know."
"If you say no, then that's it, we won't go any further. I won't love you any less you know that, don't you?"
Hermione smiled, and thought about it though her head was fuzzy. Would she regret it afterwards? No, she wouldn't. She trusted, and loved him. That's what mattered. He gave it all up for her. Now she was ready too. Her friends, her reputation, even this part of her she was giving him.
She kissed his lips. "Be gentle?"
He nodded. "Of course."
Hermione recalled the first time they snogged. It was like waves crashing over her. Those waves were more like drops of water compared to what they shared that night. It was a private moment that would remain between them. It wasn't something to be shared, but it was blissful. And they did it, many more times.