CHAPTER 8: New Beginnings

Draco POV

Draco was running out of time, and he was starting to panic. Over one week had already flown past him and he was yet to see Hermione outside of class again. How was he supposed to apologise in the way he wanted to with Weaselbee and Potter hovering around?

He'd gone to the kitchens every night this past week to see if Hermione would show. Dark circles under Draco's eyes were now permanent facial features due to these escapades. But Hermione never showed, and he realised he was wasting his time. Why would Hermione want to go back to the kitchens?

The library was now Hermione's haven and Draco often saw her there, but she was never alone. Whether it was Potter or one of the Weasley's or another Gryffindor, she was always with someone. Even in the halls, she never walked by herself, she was careful about that. Draco felt hopeless. Until one day, the Gods and stars and angels smiled down on him, and he awoke to the horrible Christmas tradition of mistletoe. With more than one cringeworthy memory with Pansy under the plant, Draco had learnt to hate mistletoe. Now, it was his saviour.

Hogwarts mistletoe was charmed so that if two people of different genders and families walked underneath it at the same time, they'd be stuck in a circle of about two metres wide. The victims would have to kiss in order to break the charm, or wait thirty minutes for the charm to fade.

Draco's cunning plan was to 'accidentally' get stuck under some mistletoe with Hermione. She'd either have to kiss him to get away from him, or listen to him speak for thirty minutes. Whatever the outcome, Draco was happy in the knowledge that he tried.

The issue was getting Hermione under it first. She was skilled at avoiding mistletoe, Draco wasn't quite sure how she did it. There were three mistletoe points on the way to their DADA class alone, which Draco could see no way around. Regardless, there was mistletoe hanging above the doors to the Great Hall, and that was where Draco would capture her.

Feeling like his plan was solid, Draco strode to the hall with confidence, eager to get the day started. He leant against the stone wall casually and settled in for a short wait. Hermione was usually quite early to breakfast and he'd woken up earlier to accommodate this. In his position, he had a good view of the stairs the Gryffindors came down every day, so he felt confident he wouldn't miss her in the swarm of students. One by one, in pairs and in groups, Gryffindor's walked past Draco and were snagged by the mistletoe. Cheers erupted when snogs occurred and tantrums were held - it was in the midst of a particularly loud yell between a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw when Draco realised he'd forgotten that the mistletoe may be occupied by the time he and Hermione walked under it, but never mind that now. Soon enough students noticed the trap and walked around the barrier, but not everyone was so observant.

What seemed like hours later, Hermione finally turned up (late) to breakfast. She was with Weaselbee and Potter, of course, but Draco had prepared for that. With a subtle wave of his wand, Hermione's book bag split. Draco watched with glee as all her books spilled out onto the floor. Her two partners in crime immediately went to her aid, but Hermione waved them off.

"Stupid bag," Hermione grumbled. "You guys go on. Breakfast is nearly over. I'll be there in a minute."

With a few more reassurances, Hermione watched the boys pass under the mistletoe with no troubles before repairing her bag and beginning to load it back up again. Draco leapt into action, coming up behind Hermione and picking up one of her books. Draco deftly stepped into Hermione's line of sight. Immediately, a scowl graced her face.

"Give it back, Malfoy," she said quietly. Adamantly refusing to make eye contact, Hermione's hand reached out blindly. Draco reluctantly handed over the book.
"Pity about the bag," he said gleefully, making Hermione mutter underneath her breath. "Sorry, what was that?"
Hermione glared at Draco, standing quickly. "I said, no thanks to you, I'm sure."

Draco grinned at her, falling into step beside her. They were nearing the mistletoe with every step, and Draco felt like his heart was in his throat. Would it be too suspicious if he made conversation?

"What exactly do you want?" Hermione demanded. "Come to mess around with me some more?"
Draco winced at her harsh tone. "No," he said quietly, though a nagging part of his mind said otherwise. "I just wanted to apologise."

To Draco's utter relief, they had made it to the mistletoe - jut barely - when Hermione stopped dead in her tracks.

"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I don't think I did," Hermione snapped. "I thought I heard you say you wanted to apologise, but that would never happen."
"Well it's happening," Draco said shortly.
"Well I don't want to hear it!"

Hermione attempted to stride forward, but after a mere two steps she hit the barrier. She let out a frustrated cry and Draco hid his smirk. His plan was successful.

"Doesn't look like you have much of a choice," he said cheerfully. "Everyone else, however…"

With a glare at the gathered onlookers, Draco cast a silencing spell, but not before nastily telling them to bugger off. A few brave kids lingered, but Hermione ignored them and so did he.

"Well go on then," Hermione said bluntly. "You clearly have a speech ready. You wouldn't be a Slytherin if you didn't, and I hardly think us being here is a coincidence."
"It's not," Draco agreed, once more patting himself on the back for a well-executed plan. "I want to say I'm sorry."
Hermione waited a beat. "That's it?" She laughed derisively. "You can do better than that, Malfoy."
Draco scowled. "I'm sorry for hurting you. I know that what you felt… Well, I know it hurt to hear me say those things."
"Be specific," she commanded.

Draco briefly wondered if Hermione's forgiveness was worth all of this, but he gritted his teeth and did as she asked.

"I hurt you by telling you we would never work. I hurt you by kissing you. I hurt you by loving you. I hurt you every time we met in the kitchens."
A single tear fell down Hermione's cheek, and she wiped it away hurriedly. "I hate you," she whispered.
"I know you do," Draco said, trying to act like that didn't sting. "I want to make it up to you."
"Don't bother," Hermione said with a shake of her head. "I think it would be best if you just left me alone."

Her voice had dropped to a whisper by the end of her sentence, and Draco's stomach dropped with it. It occurred to him in that moment how accustomed he'd become to having Hermione in his life, and beyond that, how much he'd enjoyed it. This past week alone had been horrible without her, and now that he'd had a taste of her, he didn't want to let her go.

"I don't want that," he said suddenly, and Hermione shrugged.
"We can't always get what we want."
"Why not? What if I gave you what you wanted?"
"I would really appreciate it," Hermione replied quickly, but Draco shook his head.
"No, not leaving you alone. What you wanted a week ago."

Hermione remained silent, staring at her feet. Draco pressed forward, sensing her resolve weakening.

"I know you felt something for me last week," he continued. "I hope you still do. And you know I felt something last week. Not much has changed for me." Except for the growing need to have her around, which only slightly unsettled him. "I can give you what you wanted."
"You hear yourself, right?" Hermione interrupted. "You do realise that what you're saying to me is, hey, we have a mutual attraction, and I'm willing to give us a shot?" Draco nodded silently. "You understand why I'm reluctant to believe you, don't you? Whatever happened to Voldemort and your parents and light versus dark?"
"I don't know, we'll deal with it," Draco said, growing impatient. "Look, I haven't really thought this through, okay? I just know how I feel and what I want and it's you, so what do you say, Granger?"
"I say that I still hate you," Hermione reminded him, "And know that if you're pulling my leg, I'll murder you before Harry and Ron get the chance."

It took Draco a moment to realise that Hermione had agreed to be together, and the moment he realised it was when he felt her lips on his. They were soft and warm and Draco barely got a chance to enjoy them before she pulled away and she stepped out of the mistletoe barrier. Draco followed her, glaring at the onlookers who remained. They were watching intensely, some with their mouths hanging open, and as a body they turned and ran to spread gossip over what they'd just witnessed. Hermione sighed from beside Draco.

"The entirety of Gryffindor will know before I return to the tower for my free period," she mumbled. Draco shrugged and made his way to the Great Hall, his stomach gurgling in anticipation. A hand enclosed around his and tugged him back.
"Wait! Where are you going? Class starts in fifteen minutes!"
"To breakfast…?" Draco replied, confused. "I'm starving and I want to eat."

Hermione looked highly strung and it occurred to Draco that she didn't want to go and face the music. A little frustration ran through his blood - after all he went through to have her, now she wants to keep them a secret?

"What's the matter, Granger? You scared?"

Hermione's eyes flashed with fierceness, immediately riled up as Gryffindor's so easily are. With a look of determination, she grabbed Draco's hand, and together they stepped into the Great Hall.