A/N- This chapter is a little more shorter than the last few, sorry about that. But I think the next one is going to be pretty lengthy, I'm not sure yet but I'm just guessing since there will be a lot going on.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, highly shocking.

Close

Draco trailed Hermione down the stairs, watching the brunette in front of him. He held back a smirk and combed his hair with his fingers. He followed her to the couch and they both sat down. Hermione smiled at him. "That was nice," he said.

"It was," she grabbed his hand and entwined their fingers together. Draco watched their hands; her skin was an olive color against his pale hand.

"You know," he said looking at her. "I have something for you." Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"A present?" Draco nodded slowly. Hermione reached out with her other hand and brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. "I thought we agreed not to get anything for each other."

"What was that then?" He teased. Hermione blushed, looking down.

"That was," she bit her bottom lip. "A welcome back present."

"Oh yeah?" He smirked. "I should leave more."

"Draco," she dropped his hand. "What is it?"

"Hold on," he got up from his spot on the couch and walked over to his bags that were placed in a chair. He rifled through them and pulled out two slips of paper. Hermione watched him. "Here they are." He handed one to her and she took it, carefully observing the slip. She looked back up at him.

"A ticket?" She asked. Draco nodded. "What's it for?"

"A fair, I figured we could get off the grounds for a while and go." Hermione smiled.

"That sounds fun," she looked over the ticket again. "It's on New Years Eve." She said.

"Yeah, we can watch the fireworks there." he sat down next to her.

"Will they let us leave?" She asked him. Draco nodded.

"Don't worry about that," he told her.

"Okay," Hermione bit her lip, trying to hide back a smile. "I love it, I really do. I think it's perfect."

"Good," Draco said.

"Is it in a tent?" Draco nodded,

"Yeah,"

"Where did you get the tickets?"

"My family and I get these tickets every year, this is my ticket and you've got one of my parents."

"Will they be mad?"

"They probably won't even notice they are gone. My dad's friend runs the place so we get them free. Haven't actually gone in years. I don't know why he even sends them to us anymore."

"Well I can't wait." Hermione put her hands on his chest and pulled him in for a kiss.

As they continued kissing, they set their tickets aside and Hermione slowly eased her way on top of him. As they did this, they didn't hear the footsteps creeping up behind them. The unknown person watched them, his blood pressure rising. He grabbed at his wand and whisked it out. He slowly drew it to Draco's head and applied a light pressure to it. Draco swatted at it, but he kept it up, pressing harder. "What the hell?" Draco looked up and Hermione followed his gaze. Hermione quickly drew herself off of Draco and stumbled back on the couch.

"Ron, what are you doing?" She asked.

"No, the what the hell is he doing in here?" Draco glared at Ron as Hermione got up from the couch and slowly headed over to Ron.

"Ron, I let him in here. Just put your wand down." Ron looked at her and she stopped walking. He slowly lowered his arm and once he did Draco pushed himself off of the couch and got away from him.

"He shouldn't be in here," Ron warned her. "He's a Slytherin."

"Ron," Hermione frowned. "Please, just let this go. He's fine."

"No!" Ron snapped at her and Draco stepped in front of him.

"Don't talk to her like that."

"You stay out of this," he pointed a warning finger at him. "And you should not have brought him in here." Draco took a step closer to Ron.

"She can do what she wants."

"Cleary," Ron's face became one of his famous smug looks. Hermione sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"Where's Harry?" She tried.

"I don't know," he frowned at her.

"Okay," Hermione whispered.

"I'm leaving and when I get back he better not be here."

"You better get use to it." Draco threatened. Ron scoffed and began to walk out of the room.

"Merry Christmas Ron!" Hermione called to him.

"Yeah whatever," he said as the picture frame closed shut. Draco looked at Hermione, her frown deepening.

"Come here," he took her in his arms and she laid her head down on his chest.

"I don't know why he has to be like this." She blew out a breath. Draco sighed and ran a hand down her hair.

"Not sure, but if he ever sticks his wand to me like that again, I'm snapping it."

"Oh god," Hermione chuckled into his shirt.

"Let's stop talking about Ron." Draco said. Hermione looked up at him. "Let's go get something to eat." She nodded,

"Okay," and grabbed his hand and they both headed out.

"Where've you been?" Hermione was surprised to see Harry sit down next to her. She watched as he looked over nervously at Draco.

"With um Dumbledore." He averted his eyes from him.

"Discussing what?"

"Let's talk about this later," he shifted uncomfortably in his seat and looked back at Draco. "What are you doing here?"

"Decided that I rather be here than with my parents." He took a sip of his drink. Harry looked at the few Slytherin sitting at there own table and frowned.

"I don't think they like you sitting here." Draco took a glance at them and shrugged.

"They'll just have to deal with it." Draco looked at Harry. "What's with you Potter? Look a bit flushed." Hermione looked at Harry and her nurturing instincts took in as a hand flew up to his head.

"Are you sick?"

"I'm fine," Harry moved his head away from her hand and got up from the table. "You know maybe I'll just eat later."

"Harry," Hermione looked at him worryingly.

"Don't worry about it," he informed her. "See you… both later." He gave them a tight closed mouth smile and headed out of the Great Hall. Hermione looked over at Draco.

"What do you think it is?"

"Probably whatever that old man told him." Draco said. Hermione thought about it. She really wanted to know what was going on with him.

"Let's talk about something else." She looked up just as Neville Longbottom passed them. "Neville!" She called to him. Neville looked at Hermione and smiled, and then his gaze traveled over to Draco. Neville looked back uncomfortably at Hermione.

"Uh hi," he said.

"Why aren't you at home?"

"Needed to do some things here." He told her.

"Well sit down," Hermione nodded at the spot next to Draco. Neville looked at it and back at the direction he was headed.

"I would but um I need to go do something." He rambled.

"Oh okay," Hermione looked hurt. "Well Merry Christmas," she called to him.

"Yeah you too," he said back, leaving them. Draco looked over at Hermione.

"Please don't tell me that Longbottom got you upset." Hermione looked down at her food and picked at her bread.

"Maybe a little," she felt a cold hand on hers and met Draco's gray eyes.

"It will take time."

"I know," she frowned. "I wish time would just hurry up."

Draco kissed Hermione goodbye as they made their separate ways to their common rooms. They had spent the whole day together and Draco was exhausted. He had brought his belongings back to his room earlier, only being reminded of his horrible fight with his parents. He needed to think things through. He needed to protect himself.

Draco rounded a corner and got bumped back a few feet. "Shit," he looked at the person in front of him. "Oh you," he rolled his eyes. Ron threw him a look.

"Get out of my way,"

"Your way?" Draco stepped up to him. "I'd watch it if I were you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron said.

"I know what happened." Draco saw a sudden change in Ron's eyes but he quickly put his defenses back up.

"Get out of my face." He said, walking around Draco.

"What the hell is your problem man?" Draco said.

"You can't be seriously asking that?" Ron turned to him. "You've ruined everything for me. You've brainwashed Hermione into liking you-"

"Is that what you tell yourself at night, Weasley?" Draco challenged.

"I'm supposed to be with her." He said.

"Then you shouldn't have broken up with her. What did she stop putting out?" Draco teased. "Because I'm not having that problem."

"Fuck you!" Ron shoved him back. Draco stared at him and slowly shook his head.

"I've been looking for an excuse to do this for a long time." He pulled out his wand and pointed it at Ron.

"You can't do anything. If Hermione finds out you are screwed."

"Wanna test that theory?" Draco tilted his head.

"What are you doing?" Draco snapped his head around and found Harry heading up to them.

"Stay out of this Potter," he directed his attention back to Ron. "This has to do with me and Weasley."

"Don't think so," Harry stopped at Draco's side. "Don't do anything, you'll only be hurting not only Ron but Hermione too. Then eventually yourself." Draco looked at him.

"You always like this?" He asked.

"Yes," Harry said. Draco looked back at Ron and dropped his arm.

"You got lucky this time. Good thing Potter is always here to save the day." He said sarcastically as he threw them both one last look. "I'm out of here." Ron and Harry watched him leave and once he was out of sight Harry turned to Ron.

"What was that about?"

"I caught him in the Gryffindor common room."

"Hermione let him in there?" Ron nodded,

"Yep,"

"And that's what this fight was for?" Ron looked down, not wanting to meet Harry's eyes. Eventually he found them again and said slowly,

"He knows that I kissed Hermione."

"You did what?"

"I kissed her last night." Ron sighed, walking over to the wall and leaning on it.

"Why?" Harry studied his best friend.

"I don't know," he shook his head. "I thought she would leave him for me."

"I think she really does care for him Ron."

"I know,"

"You know what that means," Harry caught Ron's eyes. "We have to be nice to him or we will lose her."

"I'm not trusting that git!" Ron spat. "You do, do that a lot, don't you?" Ron smirked.

"Ron," Harry stared at him. "I never said trust." Ron cocked an eyebrow.

"Then what do you mean?"

"You know the old saying," Harry looked down the seemed to be dimmer corridor Draco had just been. "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

A/N- You guys, I hate to say this but I think this story is getting closer to the end. I predict only a few more chapters. That could change but for now I'm just letting you know in case that happens. The next chapter will be the fair! So please review, and tell me what you thought or any predictions or questions you might have!

Brittany