A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks to all my reviews/alerts/favourites!

LyndahJune – Thank you for your enthusiasm! I really enjoy your reviews :D

Mahna Mahna – Thank you! I would love to see your cliff-hanger dance! Oh, and I have one of those too :D it's fun! And thank you for telling me my writing has improved, it's nice to get that sort of feedback :D but why can't I write a damn English Essay? WHY?

PenguinSplash – Thank you for your honesty, which is all I ask for in a review! I actually agree with you; after I uploaded that chapter I realised it was too dramatic teehee

Thfourteenth – Thank you! I'm also excited :D I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Okay, I'm gonna have to dedicate this chapter to my amazing little sister Lalalupin. She has read and reviewed nearly all of my chapters, and she has supported me from the beginning :D love ya sis! (add cheesy aws NOW!)

Chapter 14

On Christmas morning, everyone woke up to a bright, cold day. Hermione looked out of the window of Ginny's room and smiled at the sight. The land around the Burrow was completely covered in pristine snow. She knew that sometime during the day, everyone would be out there, attacking each other with snow. She couldn't wait.

"Hermione! Come on! Presents! And FOOD!" Ron bellowed as he ran down the stairs. Hermione laughed to herself as she hurriedly got dressed into jeans and one of Draco's big sweatshirts. She put on her Gryffindor slippers and hurried down the stairs. As she got there, everyone had just gathered around the huge tree in the middle of the living room.

"Merry Christmas!" she beamed.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" came the chorused reply.

Hermione spotted Draco in amongst the red, and made her way over to him. Because there wasn't much room anywhere else, Hermione found herself on Draco's lap again. Not that either of them minded.

"Right. Presents." Mrs Weasley declared. She used her wand to send a parcel to each person sitting in the room, stating that they were from herself and Mr Weasley. Draco was shocked when a present threw itself at him. He looked over at Mrs Weasley, who smiled and nodded. Draco grinned in return, hoping to convey his thanks later. Everyone ripped into their gifts, laughter and merriment surrounding the large gathering. Draco opened his slowly, wondering what it could be. Pausing, he looked around and saw everyone with the famous Weasley Jumper, all with personalised features. Draco went back to his and pulled out an emerald green knitted jumper with a silver dragon stitched on the front. He took a moment to look at it, remembering the times he had teased Ron about these jumpers. He never realised how jealous he actually was. He had never received a present that had been created with this much warmth and love. He looked up and saw Hermione smiling at him, as if reading his mind. She leaned down and pecked him quickly on the lips, then rested her forehead on his.

"Okay! These ones are from Fred and George. Please be careful!" Mrs Weasley cautioned.

Draco and Hermione hesitated, looking around at everyone. The group were looking warily at their packages, then at the twins, who were sitting there trying to smile innocently. Carefully, Harry peeled back his wrapping paper, then smiled in relief.

"It's okay!"

With this declaration, everyone ripped into their gifts. Hermione had received a lovely silk scarf and a pair of earrings. Draco received a book. It looked homemade. Draco read the title and burst out laughing, the first genuine laugh many of the people assembled had ever heard.

"Look, How the Brothers murdered their Sister's ex-boyfriend. A guide to getting away with Murder!" Draco chuckled.

Everyone burst out laughing, looking at the twins' hand drawings on the cover on the cover of the book of what looked like a bunch of red headed people chasing after a blonde haired man.

"Fred! George!" Hermione groaned.

"Hey, it's okay, Hermione! It's hilarious." Draco soothed.

"Well, can't say that we aren't relieved." Fred breathed.

"Yea, we thought that you might hex us at least!" George added.

"Okay, now," Mrs Weasley interrupted, "I think we should each hand out presents to our partners."

Everyone gathered their specific gifts, and the couples spread out a little for privacy.

Hermione and Draco curled up next to each other on the floor, leaning up against the wall.

"Um, do you want to go first?" Draco asked nervously.

Hermione nodded, then thrust a package into her boyfriend's hands. "It's not much," she said, blushing.

Curious, Draco opened his gift. He smiled, a big heartfelt smile. It was a large photograph that showed him and Hermione, cuddled together, smiling at the camera and standing by the lake. Every now and then, Draco would kiss Hermione's forehead, and she would look up at him and smile. The real Draco watched in wonder. It was amazing. He turned it over and saw a note.

Draco,

I cannot express in words how much you mean to me.

Ever since you came into my life, in our first year, you have plagued my thoughts and dreams. At first they were not happy thoughts, but now, you are mine. You protect me, and hold me tight, like you're the only person who can.

Draco, I love you.

Hermione

Draco looked at the words, stunned. She loved him. SHE LOVED HIM! He looked over at Hermione, and saw she was watching him intently, biting her lip. Draco leaned over and caught her in a passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into his chest. Draco poured his heart and soul into the kiss.

When they broke apart, panting slightly, Draco looked into her beautiful brown eyes and said, "I love you."

Hermione stared back in shock. The she leaped into his arms again, hugging him tight. "I love you." She whispered back.

They stayed like that until Draco shifted slightly to give his girlfriend her present.

She opened it excitedly. She opened a long, narrow box and pulled out a locket. She opened it, curious, and looked at the photos in side. On the left side was a photo of her, Ron, Harry and Ginny, all grinning and waving at the camera. On the right side was a photo of Draco and Hermione hugging.

Hermione was stunned. Then she turned to Draco and held it out to him, wordlessly asking him to put it on her. He did, his hands gentle. Then he kissed her neck. Hermione looked in the box again and pulled out a matching ring, which she put on the middle finger of her right hand. If fit perfectly. Hermione looked at Draco and they smiled at each other.

Everyone looked like they had finished opening presents, but Draco stood up. "Umm. I just wanted to thank everyone for accepting me. I know that I haven't been the nicest person to any of you –"

"Hear hear!" Ron and Harry mumbled.

"Right, anyway, I thought I would do something that was meaningful for you, as a family." With that, he pulled his wand and something small out of his pocket. Using his wand, he enlarged the small thing until it was quite huge. He turned it around to face the group. Draco looked kind of embarrassed, as well as nervous.

Everyone sat in shock. Draco was holding an incredible sketch of everyone. Sitting at the front was Mr and Mrs Weasley, smiling and holding hands. Ginny stood on their left, with Harry next to her. Ron stood to their right, with Katie next to him. Directly behind Mr and Mrs Weasley stood the twins, with their respective partners on each side. On their left stood Bill and Fleur, and on their right, Percy, Penelope, Charlie and Ellie. Next to Fleur stood Hermione, but there was a gap next to her.

"Draco. This. Is... Astonishing!" Mrs Weasley breathed, tears in her eyes. Everyone snapped out of their shock and agreed quickly.

Mr Weasley cleared his throat, "Draco, where are you in this magnificent portrait?"

Draco looked shocked. "Oh, uh, I thought, just, family, you know?" He stumbled.

Mrs Weasley looked horrified. "You better put yourself in that picture young man! You're family now too!"

Draco nodded numbly, not expecting this reaction.

Hermione beamed at him with tears in her eyes.

Draco couldn't have been happier.

The rest of the day passed with an enormous lunch thanks to Mrs Weasley, followed by spending the afternoon outside in the snow, as Hermione predicted. By dinner, many of the Weasley's other guests had arrived, with Mrs Weasley showing of her new family portrait proudly. After another huge dinner, where a marquee was set up outside, with heating spells, everyone returned indoors to wind down. Mr and Mrs Weasley were saying goodbye to their guests, Harry and Ginny were talking quietly, sitting on the couch together. Bill and Fleur were talking to Percy, Penelope, Charlie and Ellie. Fred, George, Ron, Angelina, Alicia and Katie were playing a game of Exploding Snap. Hermione and Draco were sitting on the ground where they were that morning. Hermione was lying down with her head on Draco's lap. She was nearly asleep, Draco playing gently with her hair. It was silent for a while. Hermione tensed suddenly, sitting up.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Draco asked, forehead creased in concern.

Hermione looked around wildly. Suddenly, she slumped back down. Draco managed to catch her head before she knocked it.

Then she screamed. It was unlike anything he had heard before. But it was over in a heartbeat. Harry and Ginny jumped over the couch in a second, throwing themselves to where Hermione was. She was now convulsing silently on the ground, her eyes rolling in the back of her head, mouth open. Everyone was in shock. Draco was bellowing in shock. Lupin and Tonks came barrelling back into the room, closely followed by Mr Weasley, and Mrs Weasley who was holding baby Teddy.

"Move!" Lupin yelled.

Everyone backed away, except for Draco, who was watching his girlfriend in horror. Lupin and Tonks pulled their wands out, and began mumbling incantations under their breath. Hermione twitched harder, thrashing on the ground, now whimpering. Lupin and Tonks continued. Slowly, Hermione started to calm down. Then, suddenly, she fell limp.

"Is she okay?" Draco asked hoarsely.

Lupin shrugged. "We need to get her into bed, then we will get a MediWitch to come examine her. Tonks levitated Hermione up, and everyone backed away when she turned around. She headed up the stairs, followed by Mrs Weasley, who had given the baby to Ginny, Fleur, Penelope and Draco.

Harry turned to the people left in the room. "What the fuck is THAT?"

They all turned to see where he was looking. On the family portrait, there was what looked like claw marks where Hermione and Draco stood.

They all looked at each other, horrified.

A/N: Please review! How was it? Was Christmas okay? Who attacked Hermione and how? PLEASE REVIEW!