CHAPTER 14

Three days passed, and the 'kiss' seemed to have been forgotten altogether, so it seemed to Hermione for Draco. To her, it consumed her every thought, even in sleep she dreamt of it.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She muttered to herself as she got up to pace around the kitchen.

She had to stop thinking about if or else she would go crazy, but how could she when with that one kiss he had already shattered most of her sanity?

Bust just as she was about to sit back down in frustration the phone rang.

"Hello?"

There was no answer.

"Hello?"

Again there was no answer from the other line.

Already feeling frustrated she yelled into the phone, "If you're going to call someone and not say anything, why bother calling them in the first place?"

"Because I wanted to see you get mad."

Hermione gasped and then glared down at the phone. "I hate you."

"Yes, I can see that."

She turned around and dropped the phone when she found Draco standing there with a grin on his face. Her glare turned deadly as she bent down to pick up the phone receiver to slam it down before walking past him. His laughter could be heard from behind as she made her way up and into her room, slamming the door behind her. She wanted to scream and yell and maybe even hit him once or twice just to get all her pent up frustrations out.

"I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!" She said under her breath repeatedly, she stopped herself from getting violent when the phone in her room rang.

"Hello!" She had not meant to yell.

"Hermione?"

"Lacy?"

"Yeah, you okay?"

Hermione took in a deep breath before speaking, "I just found out that I hate your brother."

"What?"

"I hate his smirk and the way he always finds it amusing when I get mad. I hate how he raises that one eyebrow just to get me irritated. I hate when he chuckles at my frowns. I hate when he wakes up before I do and calls me lazy. I hate it when he comes home late at night without calling. I hate it when he watches me in silence. I hate it when he talks. I hate it when he ignores me. And I hate it when he smokes inside the house and calls me Tinkerbelle."

Hermione stopped talking and then sighed.

"But I answer every time he calls me Tinkerbelle, and he always makes me smile after I yell at him for smoking because he pouts. When he ignores me I know he's feeling frustrated and when he talks it always seems to bring some laughter into our conversations. And when he comes home late, he's always up early the next morning to make breakfast. When he's not teasing me I miss it, and when he smirks I know he's feeling happy about something. The more I try to hate those things about him, the more they make me smile just thinking about them. Have I gone crazy?"

There was a short silence from the other side and then laughter.

"Hermione, I think you're just confirming your love for Drake, even if he doesn't deserve it."

Hermione sighed, yes, she knew she loved him and that was what was wrong.

"You okay Hermione?"

"Yeah."

"I'll call later when you and Drake settle things."

"Wait—Lacy?"

There was no answer from the other line.

Sighing again, Hermione hung up the phone and lay back onto her bed.

"Tinkerbelle?" Draco's voice came from outside of her door.

"Go away!" She said and buried her head under the pillow.

So what if she was acting childish, she thought, she was not the one ignoring things about their relationship.

"Tinkerbelle."

She heard the rattling of the knob and then footsteps walking away. When she was sure he was not coming back she came out from under the pillow and stared up at the white ceiling. Caught up in her thoughts she did not her the slow turn of the key of the opening of the door.

"Are you sulking Tinkerbelle?"

Gasping she sat up from bed and stared at him, mouth opening and closing without words coming out. Draco walked into the room, coming toward her.

"What do you want?"

"To apologize for pulling that joke on you downstairs."

"Okay. You're done, you can leave now."

"You are sulking." He said with a smile and came to sit beside her on the bed.

"No I am not." She said and turned away from him, trying to keep herself from smiling.

Draco chuckled softly and moved closer to her, leaning his face into the curve of neck. "I'm sorry." He whispered into her ear, making her stiffen.

What was he doing?

"Forgive me?" He asked, resting his head on her shoulder.

Hermione tried to suck in a breath to keep her nerves calm.

"Are you still mad?" He asked moving closer to her.

Hermione jumped up and away from him. "Y-you—your forgiven."

Draco gave her a smug smile and sat back on her bed. "And before I forget, we're invited to attend the Winter Ball on the twenty-fourth of December."

"Winter Ball?"

Draco nodded, "I wasn't sure if we should go, but Declan mentioned something about having to be there since the family always attends."

Hermione nodded.

"Tinkerbelle—"

"Yes?"

He stood up and took a couple steps towards her. He wanted to say something, but changed his mind and shook his head. "Nothing. I'll be in my study if you need anything."

Hermione nodded and watched quietly as he left her.

What was he doing to her? She thought. One minute he was distant and cool toward her, the other he was smiling and teasing her. Did he know what he was doing to her? The throbbing of the heart and the deceit, she wondered if he was feeling anything, or if it was all just a game, a lie and an illusion to him, like it was at the beginning for her.

The weeks passed and November turned into December.

Hermione had closed the bookshop for the holidays, deciding to take a short 'vacation' off for herself. Looking out of the window she stared off into the distant, watching the snowfall. It had been snowing the whole day, and it did not seem as if it would be stopping anytime soon.

"Tinkerbelle?"

She looked away from the window to see Draco standing in the doorway watching her.

"What is it?" She asked.

Draco had stayed home due to the snow, working in his study instead. "It's getting late; you should get some sleep soon. We have the ball to attend tomorrow."

Hermione nodded, and as if on cue, she yawned.

"Goodnight."

"Night."

Draco watched as Hermione made her way up the stairs and toward her bedroom. Waiting for the soft click of the door he walked over to where Hermione had been sitting before, looking out of the window. The lush green hills that lead to the open sea were now covered in a thick blanket of snow glistening in the night. He stood by the window and stared out of it, wondering how long he would keep denying feelings he thought was long ago dead.

It was early the next day when Hermione received a call from Draco.

"Tinkerbelle."

"Draco?"

"I won't be coming home to pick you up for the ball; I'm having a driver come pick you up. He'll be there about six, so be ready by then."

"Oh." She was a little disappointed, but hid it behind her cheerful voice. "I'll see you at the ball then."

"See you." He said and hung up.

Hermione sighed, she had wanted them to go together, it being their first public appearance and all, but some wishes just could not be. So, trying not to mope about it, she picked up the phone and called home.

"Granger Residence."

She sucked in a deep breath when she heard the voice, "Bradley."

"Hermione."

There was a silent pause.

"How are you?" She asked.

"Fine."

"Umm—is mum home?"

"No, her and Aunt Maddy just left the house for the salon."

"Oh."

"You're going to the Winter Ball." He said.

"How—"

"I got an invitation too, but turned it down."

"Oh."

"Hermione, about the other day—"

"It's okay."

She heard him sigh on the other line.

"I won't ask anymore, but you know you have your family here to support you if anything happens right?"

"Yes. Thanks Bradley."

"Yeah."

"Love you."

"Ah, don't get all mushy about it now."

Hermione blinked away her tears, sniffling, "I won't"

"Good. Talk to you soon."

"Bye."

Before she hung up, the tears she had tried to blink away fell slowly down her cheeks. Yes, she always had her family to go to in the end, and that was what mattered to her.

Right at six the door bell rang, and true to Draco's words a driver was waiting for her. Bundled in her long coat she hurried inside the limo, trying to keep her nerves in check. She almost felt like Cinderella when the limo stopped and the side door opened for her. The driver helped her out with a smile, and as she returned his smile she looked up and around herself to see the elegantly dressed men and women who had just arrived. Looking about her she searched for Draco, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She had run into someone while searching for Draco, in a hurry she bent down to retrieve the small bag that the other woman had dropped. "There you go."

When she looked up to see the other woman, she had to stop herself from gaping at her, this she thought, must be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She was not wearing a coat; her only barrier against the cold was a fur wrap. She wore a burgundy colored dress that went with her honey eyes and stood almost a head taller than her. The other woman did not seem pleased, but accepted her bag and left without a word.

"That was rude." Hermione muttered as she turned around and ran into a brick wall.

"Who was rude?"

Hermione stared up at the brick wall and blinked. "Bradley?"

"Hello to you too."

"What are you doing here? Didn't you say—"

"Yeah well, I changed my mind."

Hermione laughed and hugged him, "It's good to see a familiar face."

"Yes, but where's Malfoy?"

"He said he would be here waiting for me."

Bradley frowned, but wiped off the frown when she looked up at him curiously. "Let's get inside, it's freezing out here."

Hermione nodded, and taking his arm they headed inside.

Before they entered the ballroom a beautiful young woman pried Bradley away from her, leaving her to stand alone in the hallway, leading to the ballroom. She was going to kill Draco when she found him, she thought as she took off her coat handing it to the coat man.

"You look like you're about to murder someone." Came a voice behind her.

Hermione turned around and scowled at Draco.

"I was just thinking about murdering my husband for making me come to this ball alone."

Draco grinned, one raised eyebrow, "Is that so?"

He gave her a look, from head to toe, taking in her long snow glittered dress and soft fall of curls behind her back before coming back to meet her eyes.

"What?" She asked, looking down at herself. Lacy had been the one to choose the dress a week back when they went out for a shopping trip together.

Draco smiled and leaned in to whisper into her ear, "You look stunning."

Hermione blushed, "Well, thank you."

He stood back and took her hand, entwining their fingers together before leading them toward the music.

On their way there, she took some time to look him over. He was the one who was stunning in his black and white tux, his hair a little ruffled by the cold wind and his eyes sparkling mischief. She wondered if he knew that he turned every head, commanded everyone to see him when he walked into that ballroom.

Once within they were greeted and looked over and then greeted again by new people. Hermione recognized a few faces from the family social calls, but otherwise she was stranger to almost everyone else, and they were curious about her.

"If you don't mind, Drake, I'd like to take Tinkerbelle around for a dance."

Hermione turned to see Declan, a wicked smile on his face as he greeted them. Hermione smiled at him, letting him take one of her hands into his.

"Just don't try to romance her while you're dancing." Draco said with a knowing grin.

"Do I ever?" Declan asked, all innocence before her gave Hermione a wink and whisked her off onto the dance floor.

"How are you and my brother getting along?" Declan asked once they were swaying slowly to the music.

"Fine," She said as she gazed up at him, admiring the face that looked so much like Draco's yet different.

"And he was thinking of hiding the most beautiful lady here tonight at home this evening."

Hermione laughed, "He said you convinced him to come."

Declan shook his head, "No, I just told him that someone from the family always attends, and since our parents couldn't then once of us had to."

"Oh?"

"Yes, but I guess all of us showed up."

"All of you?"

"You and Drake are here. Keith is he somewhere; hiding from the crowd I'm sure. John showed up with mum and dad, and Lacy is, I believe, speaking daggers into your brother."

Hermione turned her head to see where Declan was staring, and sure enough Lacy was frowning up at Bradley.

"So I guess we're all here."

Hermione laughed again, feeling more relaxed than before.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Declan raised his eyebrow at his brother, but only grinned at Hermione before setting her hand into his brother's.

"I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Keith."

Hermione nodded, trying not to smile. He did not look as if he was enjoying himself with the tie and suit.

"Had to cut in, mum was about to make me dance with one of her 'friends' if you get what I mean."

This time Hermione could not help it and smiled up at him.

"We didn't get to talk the last time we met." She said.

"Yes, we didn't. You putting up with Drake okay?"

Hermione nodded, wondering if by any chance they were all going to ask her the same questions. But just before she or Keith had anything else to say to one another there was tap on Keith's shoulder and soon enough she was whisked away by the youngest brother.

"Beautiful evening, isn't it?" John asked.

"Yes, it is."

"Your brother seems to have gotten on my sister's bad side."

Hermione smiled, "I think Bradley likes to get on everyone's bad side."

John raised one eyebrow at her and then smiled the first smile she had ever seen him with.

They danced to the rest of the song without being disturbed and as it ended John led her back to where Draco stood speaking with a group.

Lightly she touched the sleeve of his arm, bringing him to look down at her. He smiled and took her hand in his before turning back to the conversation at hand.

"Are you going to introduce the lovely lady Draco?" One finally asked.

"Gentlemen, my wife, Hermione Jean Granger-Malfoy."

There were some curious glances, but they greeted her with friendly smiles.

"You're Bradley Granger's sister?"

Hermione nodded, "My brother is here somewhere."

They nodded and with a few more exchanges of words left her and Draco.

"Hungry?"

"Not really. Your parents are here."

"Yes, I saw them. You danced with Keith and John."

"Yes."

"Let's find the family and get a table."

Hermione agreed with a smile and began to run when Draco's hand tightened on hers, his body went stiff and his eyes cold.

"Draco?" She asked, but he was not seeing her. She followed his gaze to something behind her and felt her whole body become rigid.

It was the woman she had bumped into earlier with the honey eyes and burgundy dress.

AN: Hope you enjoy it!