Chapter 22: A Very Malfoy Christmas

Hermione felt light entering the room as her eyes flickered open. She glanced around, not quite sure where she was. Until she saw him. Draco Malfoy, asleep next to her. She sat up in a panic, noticing she was wearing his shirt from the night before, only now it was wrinkled and buttoned completely wrong. "Draco!" She whispered as loud as she could. He didn't seem to hear her.

This time she shoved his arm, "Draco!" That got him.

He smiled up at her, "Good morning." His voice was hoarse.

Hermione shook her head, "How much did we have to drink last night?"

Draco sighed and sat up. "Granger, it's no big deal."

Hermione nearly laughed, "No big deal? This cannot happen. I can't believe I let this happen." Her voice had panic in it, and her eyes stung with impending tears. "Malfoy, I'm starting to think this is a horrible mistake." As she sat there with her knees pulled to her chest, she remembered the night before. She remembered Ellie catching them, and the relief that Hermione had that it was only Ellie, and not her daughter. She remembered the book that Draco had given her as a Christmas present, and that he had seemingly discovered her weakness for books. Not that it was a well kept secret, mind you. Then she remembered that she was seemingly okay with their intimacy the night before. He was kind, and gentle with her. So very different from the boy of their childhood.

Draco stared at the woman beside him. Finally he spoke, "Granger, we're both adults, and last night, we both agreed to this. There is no need to panic."

Hermione nodded slowly. She wasn't sure why she felt so incredibly vulnerable. "I know. All of this has just happened so quickly." She scoffed, "I just panicked, I'm sorry." She gave a genuine smile, "Happy Christmas, Draco."

He kissed her gently and smiled back, "I'm going to get us some coffee."

Draco left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. He noticed that the painting on the wall read the time as being eight am. Evangeline was surely awake. Noticing his daughter's bedroom door closed, he hoped the girls were at the very least still in the room. Sneaking around in his own home felt strange, like he was fifteen years old again.

Once he reached the kitchen, where breakfast was served, he heard laughter. He wouldn't be able to sneak away two mugs of coffee now. "Good morning, ladies." he greeted as he saw his mother, daughter, and his girlfriend's daughter sitting at the small table. Strange. Hermione Granger was, for all intents and purposes, his girlfriend. He liked that.

"Dad! You're awake! I need to open presents, now!" Evangeline demanded, then she cringed, "Gross, Dad! Put on a shirt!"

Draco stared at his daughter, "Happy Christmas to you too!" winking at Evangeline, he kissed his mother's cheek, "Happy Christmas, Mother. And Shyla, of course. I believe your mother will be here in a while to pick you up. The party went quite late last night. Which reminds me!" He grinned, "Mother, Blaise gives his best wishes! He was hoping you would have joined us last night!"

Narcissa glared at Draco, "Precisely why I stayed in my room last night. Those friends of yours. The are lovely people when society requires it of them, but you get alcohol in them, and they become as crazed as a rabid pack of baboons."

Draco let out a hearty laugh. She was right. He had been surprised that Hermione had been able to sleep when she did. Considering Zabini and Nott had begun arguing and swearing loudly. All because Blaise suggested that scotch may be better than fire whiskey. Shaking his head at the nonsense of the night before, Draco continued to the cupboard that held the coffee mugs. "Evangeline, before presents, I really need a cup of coffee, and a shower. But I promise, after that, we will." He grabbed the largest mug he could and removed it. He chuckled, "Hey, Evangeline, do you still think I am the 'beary best daddy'?" The mug he held had a picture of a large teddy bear with a giant heart.

Evangeline glared at him, "Dad, I was four."

Shyla laughed, snorting in attempt to keep her orange juice from coming out her nose. "Seriously, Eva? That is the funniest thing I have ever seen!"

Evangeline scowled at Shyla, "Shut up, Granger!"

Draco laughed, and filled the mug with fresh coffee. As he turned to leave the kitchen, Narcissa stopped him dead in his tracks, "Draco, we will be visiting your father tomorrow."

Draco turned, his teeth clenched, "Mother-"

"Draco, no excuses. Evangeline, I expect you to also be there." Narcissa snapped.

"Fine." Draco snapped back, leaving the kitchen.

Shyla looked at Eva carefully, "Where's your grandfather?"

Eva glared at Shyla, "None of your business."

Draco returned to his bedroom to find that Hermione had already changed back into the dress she wore the night before. "Draco, I can't find my shoes anywhere!"

He stared at her blankly, "I think they're still down in the parlor."

She frowned, "Is everything okay?"

"Yup." Draco grumbled, setting the mug of coffee on the bed side table.

Hermione coaxed Draco to sit on the bed next to her, "What happened?"

He sighed, "I have to go see my dearest father tomorrow." He wasn't even sure why he was telling her.

Hermione's heart clenched, "Draco..." She rested her chin on his shoulder and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I don't know why she still sees him. He left her with the pain of cleaning up his mess and his mistakes, yet she still visits him twice a year. The day after Christmas, and his birthday. Even from Azkaban, he controls her life." Draco explained quietly.

"Is there anything I can do?" Hermione offered.

Draco shook his head and smiled at the brunette, "No, this is something I need to take care of. But hey, I brought you coffee."

"My hero." Hermione teased as she picked up the mug she let out a girlish "aww!" She pointed to the bear on the mug, "Draco!"

"Hey, I'm a great dad!"

"A beary great dad!"

Draco took the mug from her and held it high, "Apparently you're awake enough that you don't need coffee!"

Hermione instinctively pulled out her wand and aimed it at Draco, "Hand over the coffee, ferret."

Draco tsk-ed and shook his head, "Threat is no way to get what you want."

Hermione scoffed, "Oh really, mister my-father-will-hear-of-this."

"Cold." Draco smirked.

"Hung over." Hermione growled. She jabbed her wand lightly into his stomach.

"Play nice." Draco teased. Hermione sighed and stood on her tip toes in order to kiss him softly. He caved at her touch and lowered the mug, "Not fair."

"Completely fair." Hermione smiled as she took the mug of fresh coffee. She breathed in the scent before taking a long drink. "By chance, were the girls still sleeping?"

"Not a chance." Draco laughed, "I told Shyla that you would be stopping by in a little bit to pick her up."

Hermione nodded, "Thanks. I guess that means I need to go home and get changed."

"Hermione?" Draco asked, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I have no regrets about last night."

"Draco, what are we going to do about Ellie?" Hermione sighed, "I'm not ready to be public, I've told you this."

He pulled her close, playing with a lock of her hair, "I trust Ellie. She won't tell anyone, not until we're ready. Just give it time, okay?"

She nodded and rested her forehead against his chest. "I should go."

Draco watched silently as Hermione Granger left through his personal fireplace. At one time, it had been his only escape from a dark past. He had never gone far, nor for too long. For if his absence had been noticed by the wrong people, it could have led to certain death. Later in life, it was used as an escape from something he viewed as the biggest mistake of his life. He never regretted the love that he had for Evangeline, that was not it. It was that he did the "right thing," as so many others called it.

It was the choice that kept him up at night. The choice to marry the women that he had no feelings for. It wasn't that there were negative feelings, it was that there were absolutely no feelings. At some points he learned to care for her, and others, he absolutely despised the women. Right now, the only feelings he had regarding Talia Sprout Malfoy was that she was currently missing Christmas with their daughter. Talia wasn't visiting her sister. That was a lie. She was with her boyfriend. Draco didn't care enough to want her for himself. He hadn't cared in years that she was seeing other men. Yet, the moment he showed interest in somebody other than herself, she became irate. Though, not irate enough to stick around for the holidays.

Draco sighed, and ruffled his hair as he entered his personal bathroom. He had fallen for Hermione so many years ago, but the thought that his feelings had never died left him confused. Their time together was short, and filled with the stress of impending battles, but she kept him going. It made no sense at the time, and still, he couldn't make sense of what drew him to her.

Hermione stood in her shower, allowing the hot water to steam the bathroom. She hadn't intended to allow for herself to become so close to Draco. But to be fair, she hadn't intended the same thing to happen so far in the past either. Hermione's stomach tightened as she thought of the consequences of her choices when she was so young. She had a secret, that if she didn't reveal soon, it could potentially destroy her happiness.

Yet, the thought of saying it aloud scared her. When she was younger, she may have considered her fear to not be very Gryffindor-like, but age and experience taught her that the houses of Hogwarts were much more fluid than initially assumed. But, one thing that Hermione knew for certain, she had never stopped loving the blonde haired man that surprised her in every way possible. He deserved to know the truth.

A/N: Yay! New chapter! This chapter was a little shorter, but I liked where it ended, and I didn't want to push it. :) Working on the next chapter now. Thanks for reading, everyone! I appreciate all of your kind words in reviews.

~PurplePygmypuff