Malfoy turned when he could hear footsteps coming up the spiral metal staircase. Hermione looked up to him once she reached the wooden platform of the Astronomy tower. He was taken back by how she was dressed in a delicate powder pink laced dress that stopped right above her knees. Her pink necklace that crested just above her collarbone shimmered in the moonlight. Her hair was slightly wavey and pinned back in some places with bobby pins. She fumbled with something behind her back. "I knew I would find you here." She spoke softly as she walked over to where he stood.
Every time she wanted to find him, she didn't have to search long. He had truly isolated himself from everyone even those he had once called friends. Hermione felt like she was the only one he talked to.
Even in class, he was silent.
"You are going to the Slug Party?" He spoke as he looked back over the courtyard below.
"Yes, but I thought I would come up to see you." She looked out with him. The cold breeze blew her auburn locks gently.
"Why? I think you would have a bit more fun down there than up here." His voice was soft as he looked back up to her.
"After tonight's party we will be going home for the holidays, I just wanted to see you before we went home." Her honey eyes locked onto his pale grey eyes. She made an effort to see him. She was even taking time out from a festive party.
"You shouldn't be up here dressed like that, you are going to make yourself sick and who will I compete against in class if you are still sick after the holidays?" He smirked.
"I'll go back down in a minute, but I wanted to give you something." She smiled kindly as she pulled a wrapped gift from behind her.
Malfoy tilted his head to the side slightly. "Why would you give me a gift?"
"Because it's almost Christmas." She spoke softly.
He reached out and took the present that was wrapped in old The Daily Prophet paper with a thin rope that was tied into a bow. "What if I didn't get you something?" He reached and patted her head with the gift.
She ducked, but the gift still made contact with the top of her head. "It's ok, it's really nothing, I just wrote my father asking if he could send something and he did."
"It's a muggle thing?" He asked curiously.
"No, I mean… Just open it." She spoke excitedly.
Malfoy frowned slightly, he unwrapped the item to find it to be a book that looked a little worn out, some of the pages of the brown hardcover book were torn, but still legible as he flipped through the pages. "Greek mythology?" He asked curiously.
Hermione nodded as she smiled kindly. "Yes, I asked my father if he could find me a copy of the book he used to get the stories from that he used to tell me when I was younger. I just thought you might like it. I know it's a little old, but they don't have any newer copies. It's ok if you don't want it, I would under-."
Malfoy tapped the top of her head again gently with the old book. "What's that term people use it's the thought that counts." He spoke as he smirked slightly. "It'll be interesting to see if the stories I learned are the same as in this muggle book."
She rubbed her head slightly, "I was a bit worried that you might not enjoy it."
"Don't underestimate this God of Death." He spoke calmly as he walked over to the spiral staircase and sat the book gently on the railing. "I really didn't expect you to give me something." He fiddled around in his pocket now.
She tilted her head curiously as she watched him now. "I just thought you might like it for winter break."
He pulled a small, wrapped package out, he held it out to her. It was tiny in his hand. She stepped over. "It's not a lot, but I think you would like it."
Hermione reached over and took the small, brown-wrapped package. She opened it carefully with a surprised look on her face as she looked up at him. "Why, this looks expensive." She spoke barely above a whisper. She held up a small silver necklace with a red stone that shimmered slightly in the pale light. The shape resembled a pomegranate seed. The mixture of dark crimson with a lighter scarlet gave the illusion that it was edible.
"I promise it wasn't too out of pocket, I know you wouldn't be one to wear anything that was too fancy. That's why I chose the silver instead of the gold." He smiled kindly.
He was right, it wasn't anything that looked fancy, if anyone saw it, they would assume it was possibly costume jewelry. It wasn't a diamond, an emerald, or a sapphire, it was just a piece of glass blown to look like a seed. The necklace was silver, not gold. He knew her style would be subtle and not flashy, just like the necklace she wore now for the Slug Party. "Are you sure you want to give me something like this?"
"I promise, it didn't cost me much. I thought you would like the sentiment behind it." He watched her now as she moved the glass seed between her thumb and index finger carefully.
"I do appreciate this Malfoy." Her voice was filled with happiness as she smiled at him kindly. "This is the first piece of jewelry I've gotten from a boy."
"And all I got was a used book." He chuckled as he joked a bit. "Do you accept this seed from me truly?"
She did feel a little guilty for giving him a used book now considering he gave her a piece of jewelry. "I do, but if I had known you were giving me something like this, I wouldn't have given you an old book."
"It's the thought that counts." He spoke softly as he leaned in and kissed her left cheek, careful of the faint blush she wore on her cheeks. He didn't want to smear her soft bubble gum pink lipstick. He took a step back, "You should head to the Slug Party it's too cold for you to be up here in the open. I'll see you before I leave for home tomorrow."
Hermione nodded as she placed the wrapped paper into her pocket. "Thank you for the gift." She spoke softly. She was blushing from the kiss on her cheek. He was always gentle with her when they talked. He listened to her, and she listened to him. She knew he wasn't going to be open about everything, but it was something, to know that he was comfortable with her. "I'll hold you to it." She smiled at him kindly as she turned and headed down the metal steps again down to the hallway. He watched her leave from the top of the platform and waited until she was gone before he walked back over to the railing.
She looked at the little glass red glass seed in her right palm. She was surprised that he thought of her and gave her something that was significant to their first true conversation. The first conversation that he tried to comfort her, the first conversation where she realized to whom the new parchment paper and spearmint scent belonged to.
"Hermione! There you are, you're a slippery little minx aren't you." She turned to see Cormac coming from one of the side hallways. He was dressed in his black robe and white buttoned-up shirt with a red and golden orange tie. He stopped right in front of her.
Hermione frowned, but chuckled and played it off. "Sorry, I just wanted to get a little air before the party." She clasped the little glass seed in her hand and tucked her hand behind her back.
"Well, while we are out, we can take it a little slow and talk." He smirked as he walked beside her.
"Talk?" She mumbled out as she looked ahead.
"Yes, did you see that save I did in the last practice match? I bet I was stunning." He smiled as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Oh, yeah. That was something alright." She spoke once more avoiding eye contact.
"Yeah, you can say I'm a bit of a player if you catch my drift." He chuckled.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She only asked Cormac a while ago to go to the Slug Party to upset Ron, but now she was feeling a bit of regret. She rather spend her time with Malfoy freezing in the Astronomy tower than listen to Cormac talk about himself. "Do you have any other interests? Something we might share in common?" She finally spoke out.
"Well, I know you like to watch me play quidditch." He smiled, and stopped just short of the entrance to the party. She stopped when he stopped in front of her.
Hermione was internally screaming. He was all about himself there was nothing else he wanted to talk about. "Maybe I just enjoy the game." She started to fiddle with the seed behind her back.
"Hmm, what is that you have there?" Cormac spoke and moved his hand taking hold of the silver necklace and the seed slipped from her hand. He held up the necklace a bit confused. "The hell is this supposed to be? A warped piece of glass?"
Hermione tried to reach for the necklace back only to have Cormac hold it above her. "Give that back it isn't yours!"
"It's not, but why would you try to hide it from me?" He spoke coyly.
"I don't have to give you an answer." She growled out under her breath.
"Did another boy give it to you? Is that why you are getting so feisty my little minx." He smirked and pointed up to the mistletoe just above them. She could feel her body burn with anger as he spoke. "Give me a little kiss and I'll give it back to you."
Hermione's face was bright red from being provoked. "Fine lean down just a little bit and close your eyes." She put on a playful smile.
Cormac leaned down as he still smirked. "Such an obedient woman you are." He closed his dark brown eyes.
Her smile faded as she pressed her lips tight. She clenched her right fist and hit him as hard as she could. She made contact with his face. He let go of the necklace, she quickly grabbed the necklace back before it hit the cobblestone floor. She felt blood hit her cheek and looked down to see a bit of blood hit her dress. He grabbed his nose and looked up at her. "You little bitch!" He groaned out under his breath as he tried to stop the bleeding using part of his black robe.
"The boy who gave this to me is a lot more respectful than you will ever be." She shook her hand trying to get the feeling back in it after she had hit Cormac in the face as hard as she could. "I'm already spoken for by someone I don't need going to prison."
He clutched his nose still trying to get the bleeding to stop. "You invited me, I'm your date, why would you invite me and not him." He growled out.
She held her hand before she took off away from him scurrying off to the party and hoping to duck out. Hoping he wouldn't come in after her. Cormac watched her leave now as he headed off down the hallway towards one of the bathrooms. Her hair was a bit undone now as she slipped into the classroom where the party was being held in. She moved and hid behind some of the curtains hoping to keep out of sight.
"Hermione where have you been?" She watched as Harry moved behind the curtains. "Why do you have blood on your dress and your face?" She looked around as she tried to keep an eye on her surroundings. The large red lanterns, the tables, and the guests gave her little to no vision beyond a certain point.
"It's not mine." She spoke as she felt Harry use his sleeve to try to wipe some of the blood from her cheek.
"Then whose is it?" He spoke confused.
"Cormac." She mumbled out.
"Cormac? Hermione is that who you invited to the Slug Party?" He asked a little unsure.
"Yes, he decided to try and kiss me under the mistletoe, I said no, he persisted and I kind of hit him." She looked out through the sheer curtains as people mingled.
"Hit? It looks like you probably punched him in the face like you did Malfoy in our third year." Harry chuckled.
She couldn't exactly tell Harry about the necklace or who she had been sneaking around to see within the castle walls. "Yeah." She chuckled before she stopped when she saw Cormac enter the room. "I got to go." Hermione slipped away as she watched Cormac walk over to where Harry stood. She slipped behind the chocolate fountain and tried to stay out of sight. She watched as Professor Snape entered the room next in search of Harry. She could see Cormac get sick as Professor Snape started to scold him before he walked out of the hiding spot and talked to Harry who seemed to be asking him questions.
She jumped when she heard Filch enter the room dragging Malfoy behind him into the party claiming how he found him searching a room above them. That he was crashing the party. Malfoy caught sight of her, and then saw the blood on her dress. She shook her head to show that it wasn't hers. Professor Snape watched Malfoy and Hermione's quick glances before he started to speak to Malfoy, but Cormac looked at her before he spoke up. "Him, that's the guy that gave you the necklace?" Malfoy smirked as Professor Snape led him out of the classroom roughly.
Harry and Ginn looked at Cormac confused. "What necklace? Who gave you a necklace Hermione?" Ginny spoke as she took a step forward towards Hermione.
"I think I should be going. I'm not feeling that well. I think it was the dragon tartar." Hermione took a step back as she hurried off out of the classroom without a word the door slamming behind her leaving a confused party behind.
She wandered out and stopped short in the hallway when she could hear Malfoy and Snape start to talk. She hid on the other side of the wall out of sight, but she could still hear everything between the two.
"I swore to protect you." Professor Snape snapped at Malfoy as he pushed him up against a wall in the hallway. "I made the Unbreakable Vow."
"I don't need protection," Malfoy spoke out through gritted teeth. "I was chosen for this. Out of all others. Me. And I won't fail him."
Hermione placed her swollen hand over her mouth as she placed her back against the wall she was using to stay out of sight. The cold cobblestone against her exposed back caused a shiver to run down her body. She lowered her head as she continued to listen.
"You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you." Professor Snape whispered back.
"No! I was chosen. This is my moment." Malfoy snapped back.
Hermione closed her eyes tightly. She didn't understand the conversation she had just wandered into in the open hallway. What were they talking about? Who chose Malfoy and what did they want him to do? What made it so Professor Snape had to take an Unbreakable Vow to ensure that Malfoy was protected?
She could hear Professor Snape's heavy footsteps as he took off down the hallway away from Malfoy. Everything was quiet for a few moments before she could hear faint steps approach her. She opened her eyes to see Malfoy frowning as he looked at her. "How much of that did you hear?"
Hermione looked at him sadly. "I-I don't know." She finally whispered out.
Malfoy looked away for a moment before he reached down picking up her hand that was still red and faintly swollen. "You got into a fight?" He was trying to change the subject as he pulled out his wand and tapped it lightly on her hand.
She could feel a warm sensation run over her fingers as the redness faded. "I won." She spoke softly.
"With the way you punch, I believe that. Cormac's face looked a lot worse than mine when you hit me and smacked my head against the stone." He frowned slightly. "Why did you hit him? Was he trying to do something?"
"He took the necklace from me and told me he wouldn't return it to me unless I kissed him under the mistletoe." She looked away. "I told him I would and when he leaned down and closed his eyes, I punched him and got my necklace back."
"And the look he gave me? You care to explain that?" He tilted his head to the side a little curious now as he tried to get her to look at him.
"I-I told him that the boy who gave it to me was more respectful than him and that I'm already spoken for by someone I don't need going to prison." Her honey eyes finally looked up to him a little unsure of her words as she spoke to him.
She watched his cold grey eyes soften as he let them close for a moment. "You are already spoken for by someone you don't need going to prison?" He asked finally as he looked back down at her.
Hermione frowned. Maybe she was misunderstanding their conversations, maybe the seed was just a gift and nothing more. "I think maybe I didn't under.-" Malfoy leaned down tilting her chin up. He placed his lips against her. She froze in place as she let her eyes close.
She could feel his hand slide a couple of her loose bangs behind her ear. He broke the kiss and leaned down next to her ear. His warm breath teased her bare neck. "I guess you better make sure that this God of Death doesn't end up in prison." He whispered. Hermione opened her brown eyes. He could see how much she cared for him. He could see it in her wide eyes, that she was on his side. That he wondered if he was ever truly lost when she had never been found.