Chapter 19 is here!!! Yay for me and my beta! And for emb56 giving me the idea for Hermione's Christmas present to Draco- if not for her, I would still have horrible writer's block and you would not be reading this right now!
Please, please, please leave me some more reviews! I really haven't been getting a lot compared to the massive hits I've been getting...
Oh, random question: Are there any boys reading this? Because I'm pretty sure I've only seen reviews from girls- although it's hard to determine by some of the profile names... IDK random but I'm curious...
This chapter begins Christmas morning(midnight). To recap: the last chapter ended on Nov. 1st with Draco asking Hermione to spend Christmas Holiday with him.
The clock struck twelve as the couple entered the house. She giggled against his chest as he led her to sit on the love seat. He pulled his wand from under his dress robes and lit the fire, lighting the room. The light flickered across her face, showing off her subtle beauty. He brushed his lips against her ear. "So do I get to wish you a Happy Christmas yet?" His lips trailed a line of kisses along her jaw line.
Her fingers ghosted through his hair. "Draco…" She moaned in that way only young women in love have when they're irrevocably and uncontrollably in love. If a love potion could be made audible, he was sure that it would sound like this.
He smiled against her neck. "Am I allowed to wish you Happy Christmas yet? It is after midnight…" She nodded against him and he pulled away. "Good. Tottie!" A house elf appeared with a small silver box in its hands. Draco took the box and placed it in Hermione's lap. "Close your eyes."
Hermione felt a cool metal chain snake around her neck. She expected to feel a weight in the front, but instead felt nothing. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked down. A small Snitch was attached to the front of the necklace, and instead of hanging like a regular necklace, it fluttered just above her skin.
"It's the one I caught for you. I made it smaller and put it on a chain so you can keep it with you always."
"But won't it-"
"No, it won't fly away. The weight of the chain holds it down." He watched her face, a smile playing across his lips; she was staring in awe at the Snitch. "Do you like it?"
His words startled her from her amazement. "It's… Draco, it's…" She shook her head, unable to come up with words to describe how she felt. "I love it!"
"I'm glad you like it." He kissed her cheek and lifted the Snitch with a finger. "I mean, I did catch it for you. It only seemed fitting for you to have it."
"It's perfect. Thank you." She turned to look behind them. "Oh, can you call Tottie back? I don't think it's fair to make you wait for your gift, when you've already given me mine."
"Tottie, come here- please."
The elf reappeared with a tray of eggnog and ginger newts. "Is Master wanting something else from Tottie?"
"Oh, actually I do." Hermione raised a hand hesitantly, still uncomfortable having someone serve her, even if they did seem to get immense satisfaction from their job. "Could you please get the gold box from my room? The one on the dressing table…"
"Yes, Miss, of course." With two pops, the elf disappeared and reappeared. "Here it is, Miss. Can Tottie be doing anything else for Master's Miss?" Seeing she couldn't, Tottie then disappeared again, leaving them alone.
Hermione blushed and handed Draco the box. Her hands now empty, she found her fingers lacing together tightly. She wanted desperately to snatch back the package, if only to spare herself the pain of him not liking it. But, she was the Gryffindor Heiress, and heiresses of anything didn't behave like that, that much she knew. Besides, Draco loved her. Even if he hated it, he wouldn't make fun of her for it; it was a stupid fear to have. It's just Draco. He'll love it… I hope…? She bit her bottom lip.
Draco slid a finger under the gold paper and tore it away, exposing a velvet ring box. He opened the lid to reveal a simple, silver ring. He looked up to see Hermione watching him. She nodded back to the ring and he looked again. He no longer saw a ring, but a silver snake with emerald eyes. Surprised, he reached out a finger to touch it. The snake slithered its way onto his index finger, across the back of his hand, and finally rested on his thumb. It shaped itself back into the circular shape of a ring, never fully reforming into a solid band. Even though the snake continued to move, all Draco felt was a normal ring on his thumb.
"It also has a protection charm." He looked up to see Hermione speaking to him. "The charm is my way of thanking you for protecting me. I want you to be safe too."
"It- it's amazing! The snake… I've never seen anything like it! Where did you find it!?"
Hermione blushed. "Well, actually… I made it myself…" She bit her bottom lip. Well, that wasn't entirely right. She'd found a snake novelty ring in an owl order catalog and, with a bit of transfiguration, some charm work, and a rune or two, it'd become what it was. But it was close enough to the truth and, if he wanted to see her notes on how to do it, well, there were better times for that.
Marry her! Draco blinked in amazement at his girlfriend. "I- wow- I don't know what to say! Hermione, you're incredible!"
She brushed her hand along his cheek and gently pulled him closer. Their lips touched and breathes mingled. "I love you Draco."
Hermione opened her eyes to the soft light of the spa room. She had grown used to being pampered in preparation to the parties she had attended, but today was different. She smiled over at Narcissa Malfoy, who was currently having her hair colored. Tonight was the Malfoy Party and Hermione was helping Mrs. Malfoy play 'Hostess.' Hermione was nervous about the upcoming night. Over the past few weeks, Hermione had been thrust into the spotlight of every party, but tonight she was voluntarily stepping into the spotlight at Narcissa's side. I must be crazy to be doing this.
"Have you been enjoying yourself dear?"
Hermione looked up, shocked that Narcissa was addressing her. Usually, Narcissa spoke to the employees of whatever spa or dress shop they were in, not to Hermione. "I- oh yes, I am. Thank you Mrs. Malfoy."
"Please call me Narcissa." The older woman closed her eyes, looking regal and poised as she was being pampered. "Has Draco been treating you well?"
"Yes, he's been wonderful! We've been having so much fun together! And his gift was just… well look!"
Narcissa leaned over the space separating the two. "Ah, a Snitch… Do you play Quidditch dear?"
Hermione blushed. "No, I'm actually terrified of flying." Narcissa cocked an eyebrow. "This is the Snitch Draco caught during the Gryffindor/Slytherin Match."
"Oh, so he won that this year… That's impressive; I hear that Potter is a very talented Seeker."
"Yes, they both flew spectacularly. After the match was over was when… well, it was when Draco first confessed his feelings for me." Hermione bit her lip and smiled. "He said he caught it for me…"
"Interesting…" Hermione looked up to see what Narcissa meant, personally certain that the older woman wasn't interested in the least and was only humoring her. "I mean it is interesting that he caught it for you, therefore causing your House to lose the match."
"Well, I don't really care about Quidditch… and now this necklace is like having a part of him with me." She touched the Snitch absentmindedly.
Narcissa smiled coyly. "You're a strange girl, Hermione Granger… I never know what to expect from you." She grinned. "I must say that I believe my son has made a good choice; you're the type of girl I would love to see him marry one day."
Hermione's heart raced. Did Draco's mother just say she approved of me!? For as long as she'd been living in the Wizarding World, she'd never been quite sure if people had truly accepted her, or merely tolerated her because she was best friends with the Boy-Who-Lived. Even with Mrs. Weasley, one of the most accepting people she'd ever known, she could never be clear if she liked Hermione for herself or only tolerated her strange, bookish, Muggle ways for her children's sake. Coming from Mrs. Malfoy, this approval was like balm to a torn and uncertain soul. "I- I… Thank you."
"I should be thanking you. I've never seen my son so happy. You do know that you are the first woman he has ever brought home to meet me, correct?"
"No… I had no idea about that. I- I must say that I am honored."
"You should be, Hermione." Narcissa's tone was one that the younger girl didn't know whether to take as 'Pureblood Humor' or something entirely more serious. "I was the first woman Lucius brought home too."
What do you think? Love it? Hate it? LET ME KNOW BY LEAVING A REVIEW!!!
Oh and something funny... (at least I think so) I asked my beta for name ideas for the house elf and she came up with 'Totty' which totally reminded me of one of my sorority's chants ('Hottie Tottie') so I just HAD to change the spelling to 'Tottie' -Yeah I'm weird, but it made me smile :-D ***I heart my sisters!!!
