AN: Yay! You continued! :) So I forgot to write it in the previous chapters but I do not own any of the characters, sorry.
Sometimes it was hard to believe how fast the seasons changed at school. When the children started, it was still warm. Soon after the kids arrived the leaves began to change from emerald to gold and then to crimson. Eventually, the cool wind blew the leaves from the trees and brought the colder weather in from the north.
As the seasons changed, Hermione and Draco did not. Draco seemed to avoid Hermione and Hermione seemed to not mind. She secretly wondered why the Slytherin did everything to avoid her, but she convinced herself that it didn't matter. Occationally, they would see each other in the halls and each gave a polite smile but nothing more.
Hermione was soon to learn that Professor Malfoy's teaching was almost as infamous as his predecessor. Working at the library she often heard the children complain about the homework load that the Slytherin gave them. She laughed at the thought that he was becoming his godfather.
Soon the autumn turned colder and the wind grew more bitter. It wasn't long before the sky turned more grey and snow began to fall in sheets onto the ground and the frozen lake.
The Hogwarts' grounds were nothing less of beautiful. The building looked more magical than ever under the blankets of white. Hermione found herself entranced by the beauty of the lake and the other surroundings. She ran her hand through her thick unruly curls and smiled at the wind. She used to hate the way her hair would friz up from the breeze but she had grown used to it through the years. Zipping up her jumper futher, she maveled at the way the wind was able to get through her clothing. Normally, she would go back inside, but she found herself entranced by the beauty around her. It was after dinner and most of the children were in their rooms. She sighed and leaned agains the outside wall.
"Granger, you're out late," said a familiar voice. Hermione turned to see Draco coming her way.
"Malfoy," she said watching as the blond came closer to her. She couldn't hold back the fact that she was surprised to find herself talking to him. He must have wanted something. "How are you?"
"Alright," he said. "Aren't you a bit cold out here?"
"A bit," she laughed, "but it's nice to be outside sometimes. You know I miss walking around, sometimes."
"Would you like to take a walk," Draco said suddenly. Hermione widened her eyes.
"Umm, sure," she said striding up to him. Together, they walked down from the school and towards the forest. After the war there wasn't much that either of them feared. The forest was still dark, as it always was, but it was no longer as frightening as it used to be. To Hermione it was just a forest full of happy memories.
"So, how did you get the job of librarian," Draco asked breaking through Hermione's thoughts of another time.
"Well, after the war, I went on and studied just about anything I could," she gave a slight smile. "Many places had offered jobs to me. Don't tell Harry, but some people even wanted me to be an Auror, but I sorta wanted to go someplace..."
"Familiar," the Slytherin finished for her. She looked up at him with a hint of a smile.
"Yeah," Hermione paused, "and you?"
"I..." he trailed off and looked down at his hands. She was surprised how quiet he had become. "After Azkaban...I wasn't really sure where to go..."
Draco watched Hermione's comforting brown eyes with wonder. He wanted so badly to tell her everything that had happened but what would she think?
"I suppose Minerva reached out to you as well," she said after a while sensing that the subject made him uncomfortable.
"She did," he replied. "And I'm glad she did as well," Draco showed her a hint of a smile. "Otherwise I'd still be hiding away, someplace at the Manor..." He trailed off once again and mentally cursed himself for mentioning the Manor. Surely, Hermione, of all people, did not want to hear anything about that wretched place. To his surprise the small girl gave a bit of a giggle-snort.
"Well, McGonagall certainly wouldn't have that!" Hermione looked down at the snow that covered the ground and wondered about the white-haired boy next to her. She found it strange and somewhat concerning that he visually cringed at the words of his house. She wondered if he still lived there or not. She wanted to ask but she told herself that it was a conversation for another day. "Do you have plans for Christmas?" Hermione asked hoping to find a lighter note but instantly realized that it was a horrible question. She knew that Lucius and Narcissa were still in Azkaban and he had no other family. His aunt along with his godfather were dead.
"No, I don't," Draco answered simply. "Do you?"
"Umm," she wasn't ready for the question to be turned on her.
Dun dun duuuun! Do you think Hermione has plans for christmas? Please review!