Exactly twelve days before Christmas, the castle was filled with its customary twenty-foot-high Christmas trees and a sense of excitement was palpable in the air. There hadn't been any snow yet, which wasn't unusual for December. The snow usually came to the Highland mountains at the end of January or February, sometimes even as late as March or April. Yet in its place, there was a bitter, cutting wind that blew through nearly every corridor of the draughty castle. Many of the first years were walking around with bright red noses and Madame Pomfrey had been inundated with many of them complaining of colds and as a result the potion to cure colds that we had made in class a few weeks prior was being put to good use. Those of us who had been at the castle longer knew all the tricks of the trade of avoiding such colds and many people were seen performing heat charms here and there to keep themselves continually warm and dry. Yet none of that seemed to dampen the Christmas spirit. The sound of constant laughter and excitement filled the air. It was almost infectious. Almost.
As soon as December hit, all of my friends started talking about their plans for Christmas. Keen to make this year special after the events of the past year. Usually, I would do whatever Harry and Ron were doing. Whether at the castle or at the Weasley's we had always spent the holidays together. This year was different. At the beginning of December, Ginny had started dropping subtle hints about having a quiet Christmas and Christmas being a time for family. It wasn't long before I realised what she was saying. The Weasley's wanted to be alone this Christmas, just family, no one else. Even Harry, who Mrs Weasley looked on as a son had decided that this year, he would let them be alone. He had been invited to stay with Andromeda and Teddy and wanting to be there for his Godson, he had accepted.
Everyone just assumed that I would be going home. To my parents. I didn't correct them. Correcting them would mean admitting the truth and I still wasn't ready to see the pity on their faces. I still wasn't ready to explain why I hadn't told them to truth before. Whenever someone brought up the topic of Christmas, I painted my fake smile on and tried to pretend that I was just as excited as they were for the break, but the closer we came to the actual holidays, the harder it became. On more than one occasion I had to excuse myself from the table so that they couldn't see the tears stinging my eyes. Because whatever happened, whether I stayed in the castle or went home, once again I would be alone.
During those days and weeks, I could feel myself slipping back into the solitary dark depths that had engulfed me through those long, lonely summer months. The only thing that seemed to stop me sinking completely, the only thing keeping my head above water and in the light, was Draco. We continued to meet in the kitchens after our weekend detentions and for those few hours, as simply talked, everything else in my life seemed to fall away until it was just him and me and that dark empty feeling inside of me disappeared.
But those few hours often felt like a dream. I saw Draco every single day. Or at least I saw a version of Draco every day. The Draco I saw in potions class, in the corridors or in the great hall was not the same Draco who sat across from me for those few short hours only once a week, not only listening intently to every word that I said, but actually looking like he cared what I was saying. As much as I knew why he kept his distance during the week, seeing the alternate side of his personality when I knew what else he could be always left me feeling nothing short of disconcerted.
It was a week before the start of the Christmas holidays and Ginny and I were working in the library, trying to complete as much of our assignments as we could before the holidays arrived. Not that it really mattered if I finished them before the holidays or not, but it was nice to have a distraction. Harry and Ron had said that they might join us, but I think we all knew that wasn't likely to happen.
We had been working over an hour when I put down my quill to roll my neck in an attempt to ease some of the stiffness. I reached up to rub the back of my neck when I saw that flash of white- blonde hair that I had become so attuned to. But as I turned to look, it wasn't the genuine smile or the soft grey eyes that I was used to seeing. In their place was the other Draco; the one with the clenched jaw, the hard scowl and the cold eyes that sent a couple of first years scurrying when he strode towards them.
My quiet sigh of disapproval must have alerted Ginny, as she rolled her eyes before her face settled into a look of disgust.
'He's a complete arse,' she muttered, before returning to the books spread out around her.
Unfortunately, I couldn't disagree with her and it did nothing to salve the feeling of disquiet in my stomach. My eyes followed him to the restricted section at the back of the library before I put down my quill, making a decision.
'I'll be back in a minute,' I said to Ginny, although she barely even lifted her head as I stood up and rounded the table.
Trying not to be too obvious, I took a detour before making my way towards the restricted section. Walking down the middle aisles, I peered down the empty aisles off to side when I was suddenly pulled into one and a familiar hard body pressed up against me. I barely had time to gasp before his lips found mine.
'Do you know how long I've wanted to do that for?' he breathed against my skin when we finally came up for air. He dipped his head to my ear and his lips immediately started trailing a line of kisses. 'Fucking forever.'
My breath stuttered at the feel of his lips against the sensitive area of skin. While Draco and I had kissed, usually just a kiss goodbye when we parted from meeting in the kitchen, this was something more; something new. I found myself giving in to him, giving in to the sensation; my hand reaching out behind me in an effort to steady my suddenly weak knees, gripping the hard wood of the bookcases behind me. As my hand knocked against a book, tipping it to the side with a gentle thud, I was suddenly wrenched from the passion induced stupor that I was so close to submitting to. 'We shouldn't be doing this,' I gasped as his lips reached the base of my throat.
'Yes,' he nodded, his voice a soft purr, rumbling against my skin. 'Yes, we should.'
'Draco,' I pleaded, pressing one hand against his shoulder. I heard a soft sigh as he straightened and stepped away.
'Hermione, we shouldn't have to hide this.'
I didn't like seeing the glimpse hurt in his eyes. Hurt that I knew I had put there and so I closed the space between us, putting one reassuring hand against his chest as I tried to explain. 'I like that this is just ours. It's not just Harry and Ron,' I added when he raised that solitary brow at me. 'It's everyone. If the whole school knew about us, can you imagine what they would be saying?'
'I already told you. I don't care about them. Why do you?'
He stood hard and unyielding beneath my touch, the bobbing of his throat as he swallowed deeply, the only sign to show that he wasn't completely unaffected. I knew what he wanted. I knew what it meant that I wanted to keep things a secret, what he would be thinking, but Ginny's reaction only moments before was still fresh in my mind.
'It's not that simple, Draco. You know as soon people find out about us; they will start interfering. They'll start judging. You are the only good thing I have in my life just now. I just want that to last for a little while longer before everyone else starts to complicate things.'
It was a few ling moments before he let out a long, relenting sigh. 'Fine. But only for a little while,' he added, the hard glint remaining in his eye, warning me that he wouldn't be patient forever. 'I want to be able to do this,' he reached his arms around my back, pulling me flush against him, 'whenever I want.'
'I promise, Draco. Soon.'
The stiffness all but evaporated beneath my fingers and the hard line of his mouth twisted into that smile that did something strange, deep inside by belly. 'Anyway, since you followed me into the restricted section of the library trying to seduce me, I was- '
My head reared back in indignation; the rest of my body kept firmly in place by the iron band of his arms still wrapped around me. 'I was not trying to seduce you!'
He titled his head to the side. 'You weren't'
'No!' I pushed myself out of his arms.
'Really?' he asked, giving a shrug of his shoulders. 'Pity. I quite fancied being seduced. Then why did you follow me here?'
'I was... I just… I needed a book for my arithmancy homework,' I finished lamely.
'Mmm,' he said nodding his head, as he looked around the aisle that we were standing in. 'And you thought you'd find an arithmancy textbook in the section for deadly diseases?' He raised one perfectly arched eyebrow at me, telling me he saw right through my lie.
'Well, I… I mean…'
'Do you know I don't think I've ever seen you quite so lost for words.'
With a huff of annoyance at that self-satisfied expression, I folded my arms across my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. 'You know sometimes I really don't like you.'
'Yes, you do,' he contracted immediately, with that cocky smile I loved so much that I couldn't find it within myself to argue. 'Anyway, since you're here, I was thinking that we should celebrate our final detention.'
'What did you have in mind?' I asked, relieved that we had moved on from a conversation that still had my cheeks burning in mortification.
'Well obviously nothing public,' he said giving me a pointed look that had me rolling my eyes in response. 'So, I was thinking that since Saturday is the day of the Hogsmeade trip, the castle will be quiet and as we have our last detention that morning, we could use it as an excuse to celebrate. The room of requirement would give us some privacy.'
'That sounds perfect,' I said sincerely.
'Do you know how to get to the room of requirement?' he asked quite seriously.
'Puh- lease,' I said rolling me eyes. I mean come on; how many times had I been inside there?
'Oh yeah I forgot, you were a rebel who knows all of the castle's secrets,' he teased.
'Well, I wouldn't say I know all of them,' I answered coyly, 'but I definitely know more than you do.'
'Okay then Miss Know It All,' he said grabbing my hand so that I was walking beside him, 'you'll just have to start sharing.'
Over the next few days, I actually found myself smiling, knowing that I had something to look forward to. When Saturday came, I was so excited that even the others noticed my good mood but I managed to convince them that I was just happy that my detentions were finally coming to an end. Mid- morning, I set off to the Headmistresses office for the final time. The work was fairly tedious but even that couldn't kill my excitement. Professor McGonagall wanted me to write and address her Christmas cards for all of the other wizarding schools. I was sure that most of my handwriting wasn't even legible because my hand was shaking so much with nervous anticipation.
At the end of the detention, I was ready to bolt out of the door when Professor McGonagall stopped me to give me the 'she hoped I had learned my lesson speech. I did my best to look contrite all the while wishing that she could hurry up so that I could go and meet Draco.
By the time she had finished, I knew that I was going to be late. I had to make my way down the tower stairs, along the Gargoyle corridor, through the castle and up the seven flights of stairs to the room of requirement. By the time I finally made it, not only was I out of breath and flushed, but I was also over fifteen minutes late.
I took a minute to catch by breath and smooth my hair out of my face before I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I needed, opening them when I heard the door appeared in front of me.
Whether it was his requirement or mine, the room had provided us with the perfect setting for a romantic first date. The room was small and cosy. A single settee sat in front of a roaring fire; a soft fluffy rug spread out before it. The room was filled with the soft glow of candles, creating a romantic, intimate atmosphere. I stopped at the threshold of the room, suddenly unable to take a step further as I realised that this would be the first time that I would be truly alone with Draco Malfoy. In the library there had always been other people, in the kitchens there had always been elves, but here, we were completely and utterly alone, and I felt strangely nervous.
I took comfort from the fact that I was fairly sure that Draco was feeling the same way that I was. In the seconds before he saw me, he had been pacing the length of the room in nervous agitation. It was only the relieved smile and the soft greeting that he gave me, that removed my fears, unsticking my feet and moving me further into the room.
'Hey, how was your detention?' I asked him, wandering over to sit on the settee, leaning forward slightly, appreciating the warmth of the fire.
'Ugh, total waste of time. Clean all the potion cauldrons by hand. I mean what do these people think we have magic for?'
I giggled slightly at his look of his outrage, which brought his glare sliding over to me. I had to bite my lip to keep the smile from my face.
'Why? What were you doing?' he asked, coming to sit down beside me, although staying at the opposite end of the couch.'
'Writing Professor McGonagall's Christmas cards,' I admitted with a sheepish grin.
'Of course, you were.' He rolled his eyes. 'Of course, you'd get the easy job. You are the favourite you know. You can do no wrong,' he said trying to keep his voice light, although I could sense the bitterness that lay underneath.
'If that were true, I wouldn't have gotten detention in the first place, would I?' I pointed out.
He looked at me out of the corner of his eyes. 'Yeah, but you bloody well deserved one.'
'I know,' I conceded, putting my hands up in agreement laughing as I did. We lapsed into silence and I thought about all the things that had changed since that day. Back then I had been in such a bad place. I had acted so irrationally in a way that I now felt completely ashamed of. Something which I realised I had never actually said to Draco. 'I am sorry you know. I'm sorry that we ended up in detention. I'm sorry for what I did. I know it was my fault. I was having a shockingly bad day and you were just there at the wrong time to get the full brunt of it.'
'Well, I'm not sorry,' he said, meeting my confused gaze directly. 'I'm not sorry,' he clarified, 'because if you hadn't cursed me and given me bat wings, then I wouldn't have been able to spend all of that time with you and we wouldn't be here now.' His eyes slid to mine, a slow grin reappearing on his lips. 'You do however owe me for the cauldrons though. Malfoy's do not clean. '
I couldn't help the half scoff, half laugh that escaped my lips at his admission. He may have been a spoiled brat but at least he was an honest, spoiled brat. 'Deal,' I agreed, 'I'll buy you a brilliant Christmas present to make up for it.'
His eyes twinkled with amusement. 'It's a deal. Are you hungry?' he asked, catching me off guard at the sudden change of subject.
I nodded suddenly realising just how hungry I actually was.
'Okay, good, because I brought some food.' He reached behind him and pulling out a picnic basket. 'I went to the kitchens before I came here and got some supplies.'
'Those house elves are going to hate me for showing you that place.'
'How many times, Hermione,' he said with a spectacular roll of the eyes, 'they are happy to help. Oh, and Binky says hi by the way.'
I sat watching, in increasing bemusement as he pulled an endless supply of food out from the basket. He had sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, crisps, sausage rolls, crackers, pate, and all sorts of other delicious treats. He had enough food to feed at least ten people. Finally, he pulled out some bottles of butterbeer.
'I thought we should make this a proper celebration,' he said as he poured the butterbeer into two glasses and passed me one. 'Here's to freedom.' He raised his glass in toast and I gently clinked my glass against his, taking a sip of the frothy drink, enjoying as the sweet liquid slid down my throat and warmed my insides. He settled back against the couch, resting his head against the comfy cushions.
'So do you do this often?' He glanced over at me, giving me a questioning look. 'All of this.' I held my glass and gestured around the room. 'Do you do this for all of your first dates?' My tone was light, teasing, merely inquiring. Inside I was anything but.
'Oh yeah,' he answered completely dead pan. 'Every single one. There were at least three a week for a while there. It was hard juggling it all what with quidditch and homework, but I made it work.'
His tone was serious, but the amused glint in his eye told me he was joking. Even still, I couldn't help the expression that settled on my face I sat up straight, leaning slightly away from him.
'Oh, come on.' He mimicked my action and sat up. 'You know I'm joking.'
I did know it, but it didn't stop me from giving him a reproachful look.
He simply huffed. 'You are the only girl I have ever brought here. First date or otherwise. And if it makes you feel better, I've never actually had a first date before.'
'Really?' Surprise filled my tone.
'Really.'
I leaned back into the comfort of the couch and edged ever so slightly closer to him, my edginess melting away, as a warm feeling spread through me at his answer. 'Right, well you said that I was to come today so that I could get to know you better.' I leaned forward to take a pumpkin pasty. 'What did you have in mind?'
He pondered my question for a moment, as he stuffed a sandwich into his mouth. 'How about we ask each other questions? And please can we steer clear of the serious stuff.'
'Deal,' I agreed, more than happy to follow that stipulation. Bringing my legs up onto the couch, I crossed them in front of me and turned to face him. 'I'll go first. What's your favourite book?'
'Oh, no!' he groaned, a pained look appearing on his face, 'I should have known you would ask me that first.'
'What? What's the problem?' I said genuinely confused. It was a fairly easy question as far I was concerned.
'Okay,' he said sitting up and turning around to face me, looking as if he was preparing to give some really bad news. 'Please don't judge me.' He took a large intake of breath before quickly saying, 'I don't have a favourite book,' as if saying it quickly would lessen the impact.
He paused to judge my reaction and I couldn't help but let out an involuntary gasp as my eyes widened and my jaw dropped.
'No way! How can you not have a favourite book? I mean, how?' I asked genuinely shocked.
'I just don't. I don't read that often but when I do, I read a book and I can like it, but once I've read it, it's done. I don't need to read it again.'
'But don't you sometimes just get so lost in a book, that the second you finish it you want to go back and read it again to pick up on all the nuances that you missed the first time?'
'Would you judge me of I said no?'
'Yes,' I replied with a seriousness that made him laugh.
'Right, so dare I even ask what your favourite book is?'
'I have a few and it really depends on what sort of mood I'm in, but my favourite is one I used to read as a child. It's called 'Beauty and the Beast'.'
'Never heard of it,' he shrugged. 'What's it about?'
'Well it's a muggle book so I'm not surprised that you haven't heard of it. It's about a prince who is really cruel and selfish. He gets cursed for his actions and is turned into a beast. He's given a magical rose with the stipulation that he has to find someone to love him, truly love him in his beast form before the last petal falls or he will forever be cursed to remain as a beast. Then this guy comes and takes a rose from the beasts garden for his daughter and the beast catches him and imprisons him and tells him to bring his daughter to the castle in his place or he'll keep him there forever.' I stopped suddenly, blushing as I realised that I had been rambling about a book again, although when I looked up, he didn't look bored at all. In fact he was looking at me strangely intensely, as if he was memorising every word.
'I know it's silly and technically it's a children's story, but it's always been one of my favourites,' I said, trying to justify my choice. I knew he would think that it was just a stupid muggle story about magic, but he surprised me by asking, 'So how does it end?'
I look at him sceptically, wondering if he is just humouring me, or if he was actually interested, but he seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was saying, so I kept going.
'Well, the girl goes to the castle and she hates the beast at the start, but over time they get to know each other, and they become friends. He falls in love with her and asks her to marry him, but she keeps saying no. Then her dad gets sick and because the beast loves her, he lets her go and tells her that she is not his prisoner anymore. Later on, she goes back to the castle and finds the beast dying and just before the last petal falls, she tells the beast that she loves him and he turns back into a human.
'It's just a fairy-tale, but I always liked it,' I told him, feeling the need to justify myself. 'What?' I asked eventually when he still didn't stay anything and continued to stare at me.
'Nothing,' he said slowly, but the look on his face told a different story. I didn't know what he was thinking but his eyes were softly appraising me, drinking in my features. His gaze was so intense that I started to feel uncomfortable, so I eventually said, 'Your turn,' just to break the silence.
'Hmm?' he asked in question.
'To ask a question,' I prompted, finding it strange that I had to remind him what game we were playing, when it was his suggestion.
'Oh right. Okay so, em, favourite subject at school?'
'Seriously? That's what you're going with.'
'Okay, okay, em,' he thought for a long moment, before his eyes lit up. 'Ooh I've got a good one. Did we say that the other had to promise to give an answer?' His tone was serious, but I could see the mischief in his eyes.
'No,' I said warily, not liking that look in his eyes.
'But will you promise to give me an answer to this question?' he inquired, giving me a such a hopeful grin that I couldn't help thinking that I would promise to tell him anything. 'It depends,' I replied warily, wondering what was on his mind.
'Okay,' he nodded, and a slow grin appeared, tugging the corners of his mouth upwards as he asked the question that was on his mind. 'Why did you need to make Polyjuice Potion in second year and how did involve me?'
'Oh, no!' I groaned, putting my head in my hands, feeling shame and dread pour over me.
'Come on, please.' He was looking at me with large puppy dog eyes and I could feel myself caving even though everything inside of me told me not to.
'Well, that's actually two questions,' I pointed out, stalling for time, which earned me a raised eyebrow in reply.
'Okay,' I sighed, preparing myself for his reaction. I knew how proud he was. He would not take being tricked by Harry and Ron lightly, even if it had been six years before. I pointed one finger at him warningly, 'but please don't get mad. It was a long time ago.'
The intrigue and curiosity in his grey eyes deepened but he waited patiently, knowing that he had won and I that I would tell him everything. I took a deep breath before I began, steadying my nerves.
'It was second year, and you remember all of that stuff was going on with the Chamber of Secrets,' I asked, and he nodded silently in agreement, his eyes turning wary at the unexpected start to the story. 'Well, everyone was blaming Harry, thinking that he was Slytherin's heir and he wanted to prove that it wasn't him and the person that he thought it was, was…'
'Me,' he stated in a voice that had me wincing in guilt.
'Just to clarify,' I interjected, 'I didn't think it was you. I actually didn't think you had the brains to pull it off.' I inwardly winced again at my choice of words, thinking how much better they had sounded in my head.
'Oh, that makes me feel so much better.' His jaw was hard, and a line of tension had settled on his shoulders. 'So, let me get this straight, they thought I was out to kill people and you thought I was too stupid to pull it off. Great! So where does Polyjuice potion come into it?'
I knew that I shouldn't have told him about what we had done and yet I had no choice to continue despite knowing that the worst was still to come. 'Well like I said, Harry wanted to prove that it was you and so he wanted to get a confession out of you or at least get some information. He knew you would never admit it to us, but he thought you might admit it to…' I steeled myself, wincing as I said it, 'Crabbe and Goyle.'
I waited as his eyes widened with realisation and when he finally spoke it was through gritted teeth. 'You became Crabbe and Goyle. To try and trick me into admitting that I was murdering people. When?' he thundered, his eyes darkening with the flashes with rage.
'You promised not to get mad,' I reminded him. 'And it was Christmas Day.'
He fell back against the couch, running his hands through his hair, clearly thinking back. 'Well, that makes a lot of sense. No wonder they were acting bizarre.'
I sat in perfect silence, giving him time to process, hoping that he wasn't as angry as the tension in his body suggested.
'Wait a minute,' he asked suddenly, whirling around to face me, 'where did you come into all of this?'
'Hmm?' I asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
'I presume,' he said in a low voice, although I hear the effort that it took him to keep a steady tone, 'that it was Potter and Weasley who became Crabbe and Goyle, so where did you come into all?'
'I made the potion,' I answered, deliberately missing out the part where I had turned into a cat. Not my finest hour. 'I stole some of Professor Snape's supplies from the cupboard and we made it in the girl's toilet, you know moaning Myrtle's one. That way no one would disturb us.'
He leaned forward, resting his elbows against his knees. 'Fuck sake. I'm half torn with being impressed and bloody furious.'
'It was a long time ago, Draco. We were young and we were stupid. The risks we took and the things that we got ourselves involved in were ridiculous.' I gave him a minute to process before I finally implored, 'Please don't be mad at me.'
He turned to face me, sitting back up. 'I'm not mad. At least not too mad,' he amended, 'besides revenge is sweet and I can bide me time,' he said giving me an evil smirk that would have me running for the door if it wasn't for the mischievous glint in his eye.
'Anyway, what are you doing for Christmas?' he asked, as he filled up my glass with more butterbeer. He was clearly trying to change the topic of conversation. Bring back the light, easy conversation we had had before my dark confession. Only he didn't know that he had just picked the one topic of conversation that could not do that. The warmth that had previously settled over me instantly vanished as I was reminded of the pain that question brought me.
'I don't know yet,' I shrugged, hoping to avoid answering the question.
'Don't you usually go to the Weasleys,' he asked in surprise, taking a swig of his own butterbeer.
'Yep,' I answered, ignoring the pang of pain in my chest.
'But you're not going this year?' he pressed, clearly oblivious to my distress.
'No.' The pain was rising in my chest again and I bit the inside of my cheek hard to try and distract me from the swirling mass of emotions inside of me. Trying hard not to let them show on my face.
'So, are you going to stay at the castle? With Potter?' he said, still unable to say Harry's name without spitting it out.
'No.' I leaned forward, hiding my face behind my hair and started to tidy up the food on the table, wrapping it back up in the containers and placing them back into the picnic basket. 'Harry's actually going to stay with your aunt Andromeda, so he can be with Teddy, his godson.'
After a momentary pause I felt the couch shift beside me as he too leaned forward. I could feel his appraising look trace over my face as he finally asked, 'so who are you spending Christmas with?'
My hands stilled in front of me and I balled them into fists to stop them shaking. I didn't answer him. I couldn't. I could already feel the threatening tingle start to prickle my eyes and so I turned my face away from him. I didn't want him to see me cry. I didn't want his pity.
'Hermione, who are you spending Christmas with?' he asked gently, peering around to try and see my face more clearly. When I tried to turn away, he reached out and gently caught my chin, turning my face so that I had no choice to look at him. 'Hermione, who?' he pressed.
My lip trembled as I fought to stop my face crumbling. 'No one,' I admitted, my voice barely more than a whisper. 'I don't have anyone to spend Christmas with. My family don't want to see me at Christmas and my friends all have other plans,' I said my voice cracking with emotion, as the first tears spilled from my eyes.
His strong arms immediately wrapped around me and I buried my head in his shoulder soaking his t-shirt with my tears. He brought one hand up to stroke my hair and I immediately felt soothed at the comforting motion.
'Do they know? Potter and Weasley?' I shook my head against his shoulder.
'Hermione I'm sure that they would be more than happy to let you spend Christmas with them if you just said to them.'
'It's fine. They all have plans and I don't want to spoil it for them. Besides it's just another day, right? It doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.'
He sat in silence for a moment, thinking over my answer, when suddenly he blurted out, 'I'll spend Christmas with you.'
I couldn't help but shoot daggers at him, unimpressed with his pity offer.
'Seriously,' he shrugged with a small smile, 'I'll spend Christmas with you.'
'Draco, don't be ridiculous.' I stood up wanting some distance between us. 'You've got your family to go home to.'
He followed me in standing up, resting his hands on my shoulders. 'Yes, but I would rather spend Christmas with you.'
'Draco, I don't want your pity.' I shrugged away and out of his hold.
'It's not pity,' he argued, 'I'm actually being very selfish. Being here means that I get to spend two weeks completely alone with you. And anyway, I've decided, I'm staying here and if you don't stay at the castle it means that I will be here completely alone, and you can't do that to me.'
'Draco,' I started, ready to tell him how ridiculous he was being.
'Hermione,' he interrupted. 'Just say yes. Stop trying to be a martyr.'
I did try to resist, but looking at him, seeing him so sincere, there was only really one thing that I could possibly say in reply.
'Only if you're sure.'
'I'm sure,' he said looking genuinely happy. 'Now remember, you have to buy me an extra special Christmas present and I have very high standards.'
He threw his head back in laughter at my answering glare; a glare that didn't last very long, as I soon found myself smiling up at him, wondering when Draco Malfoy has become my knight in shining armour.