AN: Characters still belong to JK Rowling

Chapter Ten - Halloween

The first few months of term had passed, but not without incident. During the first week of term Crabbe and Goyle had cornered Draco and as usual did their talking with their fists. Professor Snape had intervened and they ended up on detention, while Draco ended up in the Hospital wing.

Many Slytherin's seemed to have made it their mission to make Draco's life hard and uncomfortable. Draco guessed that many were acting on the advice of their parents, or because their parents were now in Azkaban or dead.

"I guess I owe you an apology" he said to Harry one evening when studying in the library, with Harry, Hermione and Ron. The boys raised their heads to look at him, "well I pretty much made your life hell for the last 6 years of school, and I guess I'm getting a taste of my own medicine, and its not pleasant".

"Apology accepted" Harry answered, everyone turned to look at Ron, who just grunted.

When they got back to their Common Room, Hermione threw her arms around Draco and gave him a hug, "thank you" she whispered in his ear.

"What for?" he asked as she pulled away.

"Apologising. I know it wasn't easy for you".

Draco smiled, and said "true, but I guess they are the closest things I have to friends now, besides you and Blaise".

Hermione smiled and said "Don't you forget it. Good night Draco" before she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, and headed up the stairs to bed.

Draco stood there for a few minutes slightly stunned. He would say that he and Hermione were friends, and in many ways he did see her as his closest friend, maybe that was why her kiss gave him a warm safe feeling. He walked over to the sofa and sat down watching the flames in the fire. He thought back to the many evenings they had spent studying or reading together. Body contact was not uncommon, they hugged, and since that first night Hermione had stretched her legs out across his lap it had become their usual way to sit.

He'd never had a female friend before. Pansy was more of an annoyance than a friend. But then as he thought, other than Blaise he'd never really had a friend before. Draco shook his head and went to bed. He knew he was analysing things too much.

Several weeks had past since Hermione has kissed Draco's cheek, and not a lot had changed. They still spent lots of time together, and could often be found curled up on the sofa reading, but neither had mentioned it.

Draco had decided that he was obviously over-analysing things and that it was best to just enjoy his friendship with Hermione. While Hermione had found herself wanting to do it again, but was nervous about Draco's response. The first time she had done it, it was pure instinct and she didn't even realise what she had done until she was half way up the stairs. She knew she felt more comfortable and more herself with Draco than she had with anyone, and right now that was enough.

Halloween was approaching and the school had been decorated accordingly. On the day, students were allowed to dress up for a party. There was lots of excitement about costumes and who was going to wear what, and who was going with who. The prefects, along with the Head Boy and Girl, were in charge of decorations, and had been given the afternoon off to prepare the Grand Hall.

Draco was hanging a giant spider on a giant web in the far corner of the room, when all of a sudden the spider fell backwards, landing on top of Draco as he fell backwards and cracked his head off the floor.

Hermione had been watching, having a quiet giggle to herself as she thought of Ron's reaction to that particular decoration, when she saw Draco fall backwards. His head bounced of the ground as he hit it.

"Draco" she screamed as she ran towards him.

Everyone else in the hall had stopped what they were doing and were also heading for Draco, who hadn't moved. Hannah Abbott when running to find a teacher, while the others pulled the spider off Draco and Hermione tried to assess his injuries.

Hannah returned with Professor Dumbledore, who immediately levitated Draco to the Hospital Wing, telling the others to stay put until he returned, and when he did he wanted answers.

"So can anyone tell me what happened?" he asked.

"Well a spider fell on Draco" said Theodore Nott, and Dumbledore eyed him suspiciously

"Yes Mr Nott I gathered that. If anyone remembers anything please come and see me, now lets get these decorations finished" he answered.

With Dumbledore's help the room was decorated in record time, and he dismissed the prefects and Hermione so that they could go and get ready for the party. Hermione was intending to head to the Hospital Wing to check on Draco when Ginny caught her arm.

"Can we talk?"

"Now?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to tell you something, before I go to Dumbledore".

Hermione looked at Ginny, slightly confused, "What do you mean?"

"Well I think Nott did something to the spider. Draco appeared to be having trouble levitating it and then he got it so far up before it swung back and hit him. Someone else had to have been controlling it" Ginny explained.

"That doesn't mean it was Nott" Hermione answered.

"Yeah but when I looked around the room after Draco fell, I'm sure he was smiling" Ginny replied.

Hermione looked at Ginny, not knowing what to believe. She knew there were Slytherin's who hated Draco, and true they hadn't made his life easy, but since Crabbe and Goyle, there had been no violence, why now, and why would a prefect risk it.

Ginny could see her friend having an internal debate. "Hermione" she said "go see Draco and get ready. I'm going to see Dumbledore and then I'll meet you at the party. If its nothing then Dumbledore will find out, but if Nott did do it then Dumbledore needs to know".

Hermione nodded, hugged Ginny and headed to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey was standing over Draco's bed, with Professor Snape standing at the bottom of the bed. Draco appeared to be sitting up and talking. She tentatively made her way toward the bed.

"Ms Granger" Professor Snape greeted her, "Mr Malfoy is about to be discharged, and is able to go to the party this evening, but will need someone to keep an eye on him".

"I'm fine" Draco murmured.

Snape ignored him and kept talking, "while Madame Pomfrey has healed him, it was still a large bang to his head, and there are no guarantees with the anti-concussion potion".

Hermione nodded, "I'll keep an eye on him Professor" she replied, smiling at Draco who looked ready to explode.

Madam Pomfrey allowed him to leave and they made their way back to the Common Room. Upon entering the room, the pair sat down on the sofa.

"Please do not mother me all night, I don't need it" he said, looking at her, "I've been though worse, and can handle it".

Hermione looked down, this was the first time since they'd become friends that she felt he was pushing her away, and it hurt. She'd been scared when she saw him unconscious on the floor. He'd been hurt and there was nothing she could do, and now he wouldn't let her do anything. Over the past few months, Hermione had realised that pushing Draco was not the way to get an answer, so she took a deep breath, raised her head and said "fine, I'm going to get ready" before standing up and heading to her room.

Draco remained on the sofa, wishing that the pain reliever potion would kick in just a little more. He figured he needed to go and get ready too, so he stood and headed to his room. As he passed Hermione's room he thought about knocking, but he kept going to his room. He knew she'd want to look after him, especially after what Snape said, but he could manage on his own. He had for the past year or so, and he would in the future, he didn't need anyone, and he knew better than to rely on people.

Draco had finished getting into his pirate costume he returned to the sofa, resting for a minute as he knew it was going to be a long night. All of a sudden there was a knock on the door, and the portrait opened to allow Dumbledore in.

"Ah Mr Malfoy, I was wondering if I could have a word" he said.

"Certainly Professor" Draco replied.

"I was wondering if you could tell me what you think happened this afternoon".

"Well I was hanging the spider on the web and then it suddenly came back and hit me. It was weird, I'd had a bit of trouble with the levitation but I just thought that was just due to all of the spells being done around the place".

Dumbledore nodded, "well its come to my attention that a counter spell may have been used, and that was why you were having problems".

"Nott" Draco said, without waiting for Dumbledore to finish.

"May I ask why you think that?"

"Well his father died during the final battle and I know he's been mouthing off about making me pay. I guess I should have seen it coming" Draco replied.

Dumbledore nodded, "well he will be dealt with. Now I suggest you enjoy the party with Ms Granger, who can stop eavesdropping and join us"

Hermione moved out from the shadows at the top of the stairs and walked down towards Draco and Dumbledore. Draco's breath caught in his throat as he looked up at her. She was dressed in a full length white strapless dress, that was tight fitting around her top, with the skirt cascading to the floor. Her hair was in loose curls, with a tiara sitting on top of her head. It was only as she reached the bottom of the stairs that he noticed the wings on her back. She was a fairy, a beautifully stunning fairy.

"Well I shall see you both at the party" Dumbledore said, smiling as he left.

"Wow Hermione you look..you look amazing". Draco stuttered.

"Thank you Draco, shall we go" Hermione said in a cool manner, before turning and heading to the door.

Draco sighed and followed her, maybe she wasn't going to mother him after all.

They arrived at the party and Hermione made her way straight over to the table with Ginny, Harry, Ron, Luna and Neville. Draco followed, and as the pair arrived, everyone asked Draco how he was. Draco thanked them for their good wishes and explained that he was fine.

The party was in full swing, and Draco found himself sitting with Ginny. "Did Dumbledore come and see you?" she asked.

Draco nodded, "did you see something?" he asked. Ginny then told Draco what she had told Dumbledore. He could feel his anger rising, he should have known Nott would do something. He started scanning the room.

"He's not here" Ginny told him, "I haven't seen him all night"

Draco sighed, realising it was probably a good thing, and then she caught his eye again. Hermione dancing with Luna, Neville and Harry. The light was glistening off her, and then he realised that she must have been wearing glitter or something on her body. She was breathtaking. He was so caught up watching her, he didn't notice Ginny smiling beside him.

It was late when Draco and Hermione made it back to their room. Hermione kicked off her shoes and removed her wings, before sitting down on the sofa. Draco sat down next to her, waiting for her to stretch her legs out, but she didn't.

"Hermione" he said hesitantly "what's wrong?" knowing she was going to tell him it was him.

"Nothing" she replied, before standing "I'm going to bed"

He could hear the emotion in her voice, she was hurt. She sounded like she did when she returned from Australia. He reached up and grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving. She turned to look at him, and he could see the tears in her eyes.

"Talk to me please" he asked quietly

She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, "now you want to talk?" she answered, "earlier you couldn't get rid of me fast enough. You can cope on your own remember".

There was a sharpness in her tone that cut him. It was him that had upset her. He stood up, still gently holding her arm, she could have easily broken the grip if she wanted to. "I'm sorry" he whispered "I'm not used to having someone to let in".

Hermione looked into his eyes, she could hear the honesty in his words, and see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Dance with me" he whispered

She looked at him again, "dance with me. I didn't get my dance tonight".

Hermione smiled, "we need music" she said.

Draco let go of her grabbed his wand and pointed it at her i-pod and muttered a spell. He hadn't been sure of the muggle invention when she had first brought it into the Common Room, but now it was just what he needed.

Wonderful Tonight by Damage started playing and Draco took Hermione in his arms and together they started swaying to the music, letting the words wash over them.

When the song finished, Hermione looked up at Draco, her arms wrapped around his neck, with his around her waist, and together they leaned into each other as their lips met for their first kiss.

AN: For those of you who don't know Damage are/were a British R&B group and their version of Wonderful Tonight is my personal favourite :)

Let me know what you think and I'll try and bring you the Christmas chapter before Christmas :)