Sunday, December 20, 1998
Hermione stepped into The Great Hall in the morning and spotted Draco sitting alone at the Slytherin table, eating breakfast while reading the Daily Prophet. She bit her bottom lip and was about to walk over to the Gryffindor table to eat alone when he looked up from the paper, meeting her eyes. He immediately waved her over to join him, causing her to smile.
She walked over and sat down across from the wizard, seeing her empty goblet suddenly fill with pumpkin juice.
"Good Morning." He said as he set the Daily Prophet on the table before taking a bite of some buttered toast.
"Good Morning, Draco." She replied, not missing the smile that appeared on his lips.
"I was wondering…" He said after swallowing his bite. "if erm…if you might want to go into Hogsmeade with me today. I just thought that perhaps a change of scenery would be nice."
She nodded, smiling as she smeared some jam on a piece of toast. "I agree. After breakfast, I'll go grab my coat and we can go."
He nodded and took another bite of his toast.
When they finished their breakfast, the pair made their way back to the 8th Year Common Room to grab their coats before leaving the castle. They strolled down toward the village, through the snow, conversing comfortably.
"Did she return safely then?" He asked at the mention of Hermione's cinnamon-colored Barn Owl, Cassia.
The brunette furrowed her brow, nodding, "She did." She muttered, realizing only then that she had seen the bird soaring through the sky toward the Owlery that morning, but had still not heard anything from Viktor.
"Is everything all right?" He asked, seeing the confused and concerned expression on her face.
She nodded, "Yes, I just…I haven't heard from…someone. I thought they would have written back by now, but they haven't."
Draco nodded, looking down at the ground. "Perhaps they'll write soon."
"Perhaps." She murmured as they walked over to the entrance of The Three Broomsticks.
Draco held open the door for her before following her inside the warm pub.
"What would you like?" he asked. "I'll pay."
"You don't have to do that, Draco."
"I know." He said, meeting her toffee eyes. "But I want to." He added.
With a smile and a slight blush, Hermione replied, "Just a Butterbeer please. I'll erm…I'll go find us a table."
He nodded before turning toward Madam Rosmerta.
Hermione made her way through the nearly empty pub and chose a table near the front window. She took her coat off and hung it on the back of one of the chairs before sitting down.
Draco brought over two pints of Butterbeer and set them on the table. He slipped off his own coat, hanging it on the back of his chair before sitting down across from Hermione with a quiet exhale.
"Have you gotten anyone gifts, or are you diverting from Christmas entirely this year?" He asked before taking a sip, foam sticking to his top lip.
She laughed as he licked it off, "I've erm…I've got to get Gin something. I haven't yet and she got me a gift, though she truly shouldn't have." She said, muttering the last bit of her sentence.
He smirked, and nodded, "Well, I could help you shop for a gift for her. How good of a gift did she get you?"
Hermione huffed and shook her head, blushing. "There's no way to really gauge that."
"I am beyond curious now." He smirked.
"I'm sure that you are but I'm not telling you what she got me." She laughed before taking a sip of her Butterbeer.
He chuckled and nodded, "Fine. But as for getting her a gift. Would you like some help?"
She shrugged and nodded, "Sure. You're both into Quidditch and seeing as I'm not exactly full of Quidditch intellect, I could use your help."
He grinned and nodded, "It'd be my pleasure."
She smiled and took another sip, feeling warmth bloom in her chest but doubting that it was due entirely to the Butterbeer.
When they finished their Butterbeers, Hermione and Draco pulled their coats back on and made their way to Spintwitches Sporting Needs to look for a gift for the youngest Weasley.
"So, she's the Seeker…" He muttered thoughtfully while looking through the sections of Quidditch supplies.
"Yes, but she also plays Chaser at times, which is what she prefers." Hermione noted.
"Really?" He said, looking over at the witch. "I didn't know that. She's a brilliant Chaser. I had heard the Holyhead Harpies are looking for a new Seeker and two new Chasers. Is she aware of that?"
"Oh yes." Hermione laughed, "She hasn't stopped talking about it since the news came out."
He chuckled and nodded to the Chaser section, "Well, what's your price range?"
Hermione shrugged, "I don't really have one. Anything is fine. Why?"
"Well, if you're serious about that, a new broom is always the way to go."
The brunette nodded, considering his suggestion. "All right. Which kind of broom?"
By the time they finished, Draco was carrying a long wooden box that contained the latest and finest broom available on the market.
"Thank you for your help…and for carrying it." She said as they made their way back to The Three Broomsticks for another round of Butterbeers.
"You're quite welcome. I'm glad that I could help." Draco said, looking over at her with a smile.
Hermione smiled, discovering just how much she liked the color of his eyes.
As they sipped their Butterbeers and chatted, Madam Rosmerta strutted over with an envelope, "Mister Malfoy…" she said.
He turned and nodded, "Yes?"
"You've received this letter from the castle." She said, handing over the envelope.
Draco furrowed his brow and thanked her before breaking the official Hogwarts seal and opening the envelope. He pulled out a letter and unfolded it.
Hermione watched as his slate-grey eyes scanned over the letter, a vertical line of concentration formed between his furrowed brows.
"I'm sorry, Hermione." He said before looking up from the letter, "But I've got to return to the castle. Would you like me to take the broom to the Common Room for you? I don't mind at all."
"Oh…" Hermione said, surprised by his sudden imminent departure, "Okay, sure. I'd appreciate that. I'll return to the castle in a bit. I hope everything is all right."
He swallowed and nodded but didn't say anything as he stood up, picking up the letter and the broom box.
"Draco, is there anything I can do?" She asked, feeling concerned.
He smiled, though it didn't quite meet his eyes, and shook his head, "No, but thank you. Truly. I'll see you in a while." He replied.
It appeared that he wanted to say more but he didn't before he walked out of the pub. Hermione sighed and took another sip of her Butterbeer.
She thought for a moment before making a decision and standing up. She stopped by the bar and asked Madam Rosmerta if she could purchase a bottle of Firewhisky.
Rosmerta nodded, "Of course, dear, but only because you're an 8th year." She said, summoning the bottle.
Hermione paid and thanked her before walking out of the pub while slipping the bottle into her bag.
She looked around the street before making her way toward Tomes and Scrolls. Hermione entered the bookshop and began looking through the small muggle section in the far back corner of the shop. She was grateful to find a book matching her needs.
She noticed a section of gift-wrapping supplies, and walked over, picking out some red, green, and gold wrapping parchment, as well as some gold ribbon.
Nodding in approval, she took all the items up to the counter and purchased them before slowly making her way back up to the castle. When she walked back into the Common Room, she found Draco sitting at a table, writing with a quill.
He didn't appear to notice her entrance causing her to furrow her brow in concern.
She spotted the broom box near her usual chair and set her bag, shopping bag, and coat beside it before walking over to him, "Hey…" She said quietly.
Draco looked up, meeting her eyes, "Hey." He sighed.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, feeling even more concerned.
He sighed and rubbed his face, "My erm…my grandfather…he passed away. My father's father, that is." He explained.
"Draco, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." He said quickly. "That man was a bloody bastard, but now I'm forced to see my family…my entire family…tomorrow, at the Will and Testament reading."
She nodded, "Should I offer my condolences about that at least?" she asked.
He smiled and nodded, "Please."
She smiled before saying, "I've purchased a new bottle of Firewhisky, and I think you might could use a glass."
The wizard smiled and nodded, "Thank you. I certainly could."
Hermione walked over and grabbed the bottle from her bag before summoning two glasses from her dormitory.
The two of them sat up for a while talking and drinking a bit before bidding one another goodnight.
"Thank you, Hermione." He said sincerely.
She nodded, "You're welcome. Goodnight, Draco." She smiled.
He nodded, "Goodnight." He replied in a tone that made her blush as she walked up to her dormitory.
She set her shopping bag on the small table that was in the room and pulled out the book she had bought in Hogsmeade. Taking her time so that it looked nice, she wrapped it in the parchment she had purchased before using her wand to charm some of the ribbon into an elegant bow.
She smiled at the parcel and set it aside before looking at the large broom box. Exhaling, she shook her head, and simply charmed the wrapping parchment to wrap itself around the box before making one more, larger bow.
"There." She said, before glancing over at her bedside table where the crude gift Ginny had given was hidden in her drawer. She bit her bottom lip as slate-grey eyes came to mind but quickly shook her head.
She got changed for bed and climbed into the four-poster bed before exhaling. She spared one more thoughtful glance at the bedside table drawer before stubbornly shaking her head and rolling over to go to sleep.