A slightly shaky but still holding on wifi-connection! And I'm officially in New Zealand. Now that the jet-lag is finally under control I thought I'd post another chapter. Love to hear your thoughts on this and the previous one- whatever will happen after the holidays?

I start my new job on Monday so may not have another chapter up until after then, but rest assured it's written and ready to go as soon as I have a minute!

-H

"Hey, Granger!" Hermione jumped at the sound of her name and spun around to see Ginny waving her across the Entrance Hall. She walked over, trying to slow her heartrate that had rocketed, she had become so accustomed to Draco calling her by her surname that she thought of him whenever someone referred to her by it; it was immensely distracting. Then again, Hermione had been permanently distracted since Slughorn's Christmas Party, it had been over twenty-four hours and she was now heading home for the holidays, but all she could think about was how it had felt when Draco had pressed her against the wall and kissed her; the contrast between his body heat and the cold stone behind her back made her shiver even now, and whenever she got caught up thinking about it, about him, she found herself wishing that it would happen again. A scary desire now that she knew… what? That Snape believed Draco had a "mission" for Voldemort, that he was- what? A Death Eater? The thought was unbearable.
She reached Ginny's side and met her concerned questions with a smile and a wave, "I'm fine."
"You're not fine," she muttered, Ron and Lavender were saying a passionate goodbye a few feet away and Harry was lingering awkwardly with Neville. "What happened at Slughorn's Party? Did McLaggen do or say something?"
"What?" She had almost forgotten about McLaggen, "What, no! No he wasn't exactly a gentleman, in fact he was a downright pig, but he didn't hurt me if that's what you mean. I left early and I… I'm just looking forward to having some space over the holidays. I think I need it."
"And what about when you get home?" Ginny pressed softly.
Hermione drew a steadying breath, Ginny was the only person she had confided in about the concerning letters she'd been receiving from her parents, and it had taken her friend finding her crying in her dormitory for her to open up; the sad truth was that her grandmother was very ill, and this Christmas might be the last she would get to spend with her. She had considered telling both Ron and Harry for some moral support before now, but Harry was so distracted with Dumbledore's lessons and stalking Draco on the Maurader's Map, plus he was still dealing with Sirius' death… and Ron… She let Ginny give her a gentle hug as they prepared to head for the train, "I'm okay- I know that it might not be the best Christmas, but at least I can go home and spend it with my family."
"If you need anything-"
"I'll write, I promise."
Together they had towards the carriages that would take them to the platform. Lavender had thankfully stayed behind to say goodbye to Parvati, so Ron was alone when he clambered in after her. "You uhm- looking forward to Christmas?" he asked Hermione.
She gave him a bright smile and lied, ignoring Ginny's frown. While she still hadn't quite forgiven Ron for his treatment of her feelings, and no one was comfortable watching him make out with Lavender, she was no longer overcome with a sickening sense of jealousy whenever she saw them together. Unfortunately that was entirely due to Draco… who she had not seen even a whisper of since he'd rushed off and left her in that corridor.

They settled themselves into a compartment on the train and Harry challenged Ron to a game of exploding snap. Hermione distracted herself by letting Crookshanks out of his basket and cuddling him close to her chest, he got a little annoyed when the trolley Witch came by and several hyper first years came rushing down to buy sweets, making a dreadful noise. "Shh, Crookshanks, not long to go now," she cooed, scratching him behind the ear.
He began to purr contentedly again and she glanced up to see a familiar face pass their compartment, only he got temporarily stuck by the snack trolley, and ended up having to linger. Their eyes met through the glass and Hermione could not have been more grateful that Ron and Harry were distracted, she didn't think she could handle it if the rest of the train ride was taken over by talk of what she and Harry had overheard; in the corridor Draco was very obviously trying not to look her way, and failing miserably.
Their gazes met a second time and Hermione wished she were able to get up and just speak to him, she had no idea what was going through his mind as his eyes were dark and unreadable, did he regret kissing her? Had it been replaying in his mind the same way it had for her? Her uncertainty must have shown on her face, because he turned and snapped at the first years who immediately scattered out of his way and he stormed off. When Hermione looked back to Crookshanks to compose herself she realised she was being watched; Ginny's eyebrows raised curiously but she simply ignored her unasked question and turned to the boys, "Okay, now Ron has no eyebrows, who wants to play me?"