A/N: ah! You guys we are absolutely LOVING the reviews. You're making the story all worth the while. So for this chapter we'd like to recommend a song, 'Can't Help Falling' - Ingrid Michaelson - ENJOY!
Suddenly, the Great Hall appeared before them. It was rather empty but flocked with Christmas trees and lights. The ceiling was charmed as it was every year to appear as if snow was falling.
"This was Christmas Day. The day after the Slug Club Christmas Party." Draco explained knowingly, with a smile.
There were small groups of students scattered amongst the four tables. One particularly bushy-haired girl was sitting alone toward the end of the Gryffindor table with her nose in a hefty book and a hardly nibbled sandwich on a plate beside her.
The four Slytherins viewing the memory stepped toward Hermione's figure and watched her closely from across the table.
Moments later Draco Malfoy entered the Great Hall. He saw Hermione, paused for a moment, visibly nervous, and presumably trying to talk himself out of his next move, before pointing himself toward the Gryffindor table, striding up to it and sliding in beside her.
"Aw, ickle Draco is so nervous!" The elder Theo taunted mockingly.
"Shut it!" Both Malfoy's said in unison.
Finally realizing another presence standing before her, "Oh you scared me, Malfoy!" Hermione said with a jump.
"Well, I know I said I'd send for you but you were looking rather lonely now so I reckoned I would grace you with my presence."
At this both Theo's cracked up with laughter.
"Oh is that right?" She muttered with a small smile curling into her lips.
"Yeah...thanks for that save last night...so where are the other two-thirds of our Golden Trio? Potter and Weasel off in a broom closet somewhere?"
"I'll have to remember that one." Whispered the younger Draco with a smirk.
She looked up from her book before snapping it closed and gently laying it upon the table.
"Actually, Harry and Ron; they both went home for Christmas."
"And why didn't you?"
"Well my mum and dad went on a last minute holiday as a Christmas gift from my grandparents." she said with a grin as she thought about how much fun her parents would be having in Majorca. "I would spend Christmas with the Weasley's...but it's rather loud and I need to prepare for exams."
"What exams?" Draco asked tentatively.
"N.E.W.T.s of course!"
"Granger..." He chuckled, "you do know this is sixth year, correct?" He released his breath before saying "What am I saying, of course you do!" scooping up three small sandwiches and taking a bite of the first one.
"Well, Malfoy, a lot rides on these tests. Some of us would like a decent job after Hogwarts." She spouted defensively.
"As would I. That's why I've been studying for mine as well. One mustn't assume things, Miss Granger. It's unbecoming." He said with a tsk of his tongue.
A deep blush invaded her cheeks before mumbling a simple "Sorry." She paused and took a deep but subtle breath before adding "Maybe we should study together...Y-You know... Com-Compare notes." When he didn't immediately respond she hurriedly added "Since we're both still here over Christmas and all."
"That's a great idea." he said simply, inwardly chuckling over how nervous she had become.
"Right. Want to meet at the library tonight?" She was stunned he agreed.
"Sure. Seven o'clock." he said as she slipped out from the bench, gathering her belongings.
She stopped before walking away and turned toward him. "By the way, Happy Christmas, Malfoy!"
Before he knew what he was saying, he inwardly jumped with surprise, "Call me Draco. Happy Christmas to you too, Hermione." He smirked.
Once again she blushed heavily. She then flashed him an unsure smile before exiting the Great Hall. Draco stayed seated at the Gryffindor table for a few moments more. Was he friends with Hermione Granger now? "Merlin what have I gotten myself into..." He grumbled before standing up and exiting the Great Hall himself, all eyes on Hermione Granger's unlikely lunch date.
The four visitors looked at each other before the memory faded away. Things had definitely changed already between Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger.
The younger Draco sneered. No, there's no way he would've just walked over to her on earth would he even humour himself with th elikes of that mudblood?
Before they knew it the Great Hall was gone, they whirled into the next memory.
Ever since their lunch together, showing their kindness toward one another, the two of them spent every waking moment with each other. It wasn't titled, but it was known; Hermione was his girl, and he was crazy about her. And she was crazy about him. Although only days had passed, they hadn't said it, but they were falling for each other. Falling in love.
Hermione and Draco hardly ever agreed on anything, really they rarely agreed on anything at all. They had their fair share of arguments, publicly and privately; despite their difference they were crazy about each other. They had shared a passion that was something rare and beautiful. A love that most would envy, and that, the most did.
The two would sit together in their shared classes. Draco would bring her hot cocoa to the library whenever she studied late. A lot of the Slytherins' made fun of him for being 'whipped' but he didn't care. If anything he'd hex them with a pig tail or slugs to the mouth.
Hermione Granger was the one for him. Who would've thought?
"Hello lovely." Draco said as he swiped Hermione from the corridor into the shadowed corner he was waiting for her at.
"Oh! Draco!" She yelped. "How many times do I have to te-" He smothered her lips with his own before she could finish the sentence. Finally escaping his lips, she tapped his chest, "tell you to not scare me?" - "Ah, but you look so cute when you're scared." "You're such a sadist." She replied. "Only for you, sweetheart." He kissed her once more. "So-" kiss "what-" kiss
"are our" kiss kiss kiss "plans for tonight?"
"I was thinking that maybe we go to Hogsmeade and watch the fireworks. What do you say?" Draco said as he was leaning in for another kiss. "Yes. That sounds great."
"Good, I'll meet you at the One Eyed Witch?"
"Perfect." Kiss
Older Theo chuckled, "Oi, mate. Hardly let the woman breathe with all that kissing."
"Her lips were like... A petal of a rose."
Draco stood against the wall, one foot planted on the ground and the other on the stone behind him. His hands were shoved into his cloak pockets, and he was staring at his shoes. "Ahem." His head perched at the velvet sound. Hermione was approaching him, reaching out for his hands. "You look beautiful." He said with a smirk. She smiled in response, "Why, thank you." - "Shall we?"
As they were about to descend on their journey, Theo was running up behind them. "Ello lovebirds. You off to Hogsmead?" Hermione laughed, "Yes, would you like to join us?" Without looking to Draco, he stood beside her shaking his head 'no' to his friend. Theo grinned boldly and said "I'd love to!"
Hermione stepped around the men and into the passage way. Draco growled at Theo, "Arse."
"Ha! I remember that." I don't think my coming got in your way of anything though." Draco responded with a light grunt.
XXX
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT!" The crowd began to cheer out for the countdown of the New Year. Witches and wizards around were shooting confetti and sparks from their wands into the air.
Draco watched as Hermione called out the numbers with everyone. So genuine, so pure. Gods, she was beautiful.
"FIVE, FOUR!" Draco bent down to pick up a piece of confetti that was sitting at their feet.
"Orchideous Rose." He incanted into the palm of his hand, and a white rose appeared.
"TWO, ONE!" The fireworks performed above them. Hermione's eyes were flowing with red and gold, as the sparks shot across the sky.
Theo had been jumping up and down, hooting and hollering, all while shooting out his own confetti into the crowd.
Laughing, Hermione turned to Draco, with a smile widened from ear to ear, shaking her head. He held out the rose, instantly distracting her from her surroundings.
Mouthing a silent 'Ah!' She took the rose and leaned in for a kiss, but only to be met with a soft "Happy New Year."
She crinkled her face with a smile, "What?" She yelled over the shouting of the crowd.
The blond licked his lips for an attempt to say it again. "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" He shouted. She tugged him into a hug, tousling his hair beneath her fingers. "Happy New Year, Draco."