Disclaimer: Do I really have to go through this again? It hasn’t changed since chapter 1, and it never will, sadly.
A/N: Thank you to my lovely reviewers, though there has been an apparent lull in reviews, but those who keep reviewing are the ones keeping this story alive, so if you want it to keep going then you have to let me know! Anyway, on with the story!
***
Hermione felt sleepy and very content, though she couldn’t quite figure out why. She opened her eyes against the glare of the bright morning sunlight and looked around for the source of her happiness, and was not at all surprised when she saw Draco’s sleeping face beside her, and the memories of the night before, of how they had been so intimately connected, came flooding back, causing her to smile lightly.
She turned to face Draco whose lips were slightly parted, blonde hair strewn all over the place, eyes closed gently in a peaceful sleep. She lifted a hand and stroked the hair off of his face carefully, trying not to disturb him. His eyelids fluttered and after a minute his grey eyes were visible, framed by long lashes as he looked lovingly at Hermione.
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” he murmured, leaning over and kissing her lips softly. They parted lips with a smile and disentangled themselves from the sheets and each other. Hermione rolled out of bed and onto her feet, stretching as she went. She saw Draco watching her and she felt the heat rise to her cheeks, though she knew it was pointless to feel embarrassed.
The nearest item of clothing was his crisp white shirt which was far too big for her, so she pulled that on and buttoned it up, watching him as he pulled on a pair of emerald pajama pants.
“You’re ridiculously sexy,” she said with a grin, and he smirked at her.
“I was just thinking the same thing about you,” he laughed, and she joined in. “Presents?” he asked, pointing to the stacks of wrapped gifts which had been delivered during the night, and Hermione squealed.
They both got down on their knees and scooted towards the piles, acting like a child would on Christmas Day as opposed to the eighteen-year-old students they were.
Hermione opened her presents first, delighted at what was contained beneath the wrapping. Harry had bought her a mixed collection of sweets from Honeydukes, including sugar quills which were her favourites, and a new, handsome looking quill. Ginny had given her a wand maintenance kit, and Mrs Weasely had given her a batch of homemade fudge and a parcel of mince pies. Her parents, who had been located and whose memories had been retrieved six weeks after the war had ended, had sent her a copy of a book which she was very excited about, but Draco saw no reason behind her excitement.
“Really? Is 1984 all that good to get excited about? I’ve never even heard of it,” he said, checking out the cover.
“It’s a muggle book, so you wouldn’t have heard of it, but I lost my copy when I was on the Underground a few years ago, but never got around to buying a new one,” Hermione explained, and Draco shrugged as he handed the book back to her. “Open your presents,” she urged, and he obliged.
The first package was from Blaise, and it contained a new Slytherin scarf and an emerald quill which Hermione admired jealously. The second package was, much to his surprise, from Harry. He found that it had a mixed collection of sweets similar to Hermione’s, and he smiled, pleased with himself that he had remembered to send Harry something small for the celebration as well.
The last present was a simple piece of parchment which was rolled up and tied with a simple silver bow. Eyebrow raised, he undid the bow and read what the parchment held.
Draco-
I’m so sorry for everything that you have been subjected to in your lifetime under your father’s rule, and I am so sorry that I did nothing to stop him. I know that my words will never be enough to make you forgive me entirely, but I want you to know that I loved you from the moment you were born, and I will always love you, no matter what has happened.
I want you to know that you are the light in my life, and that, although I have already said it I feel it needs to be repeated, I love you dearly.
Your mother,
Narcissa
Draco swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat and blinked back tears. A photograph had fallen out of the letter, and picking it up, he saw himself as a baby in his mother’s arms, smiling as she danced with him. They were outside in the grounds of Malfoy Manor, and she looked younger than he could ever remember seeing her. Her face was not marked by the age lines which were yet to form, her smile was wide, and her hair was long, shining in the sun.
“Draco,” Hermione whispered, and he looked up smiling sadly at her.
“It’s from my mother, written before she died,” he said, looking back down at the parchment. This time a burst of happiness shot through his veins, and the tears in his eyes vanished, the smile across his face becoming wider. His mother had loved him, and she had not forgotten him, and that was all he needed to know to put a smile on his face. “I still haven’t given you your present,” he said suddenly, and got up quickly.
Hermione looked at him with curiosity. She had gotten him a present, but she knew it would be nowhere near as grand as whatever it was he got her, and she was not disappointed. She stood up, using the bed for support, and he came over to her with a long box in his hand. She carefully peeled off the delicate wrapping paper as Draco nearly jumped up and down in anticipation at her reaction, taking a painfully long amount of time.
Finally, when she herself could not bear the wait any longer, she ripped off the remaining paper and was presented with a sleek, black box. When she opened it, her gasp was loud, and Draco’s face was jubilant.
The necklace was a delicate gold chain with a stunning locket in the center. The locket was a simple circle with ornate detailing, and the opening featured two tiny jewels, one an emerald and the other a ruby.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, struggling to catch her breath as her fingers traced over the detailing.
“Open it,” Draco murmured, and she did so, revealing a very simple engraving in the middle.
Forever
With shaking hands, she lifted the necklace from the box, and Draco took it from her and placed it around her neck with ease.
“Beautiful,” he whispered, kissing the back of her neck where the clasp connected and sending a shiver up her spine.
“Do you want your present?” she asked, regaining her composure and turning around to face Draco who smiled and nodded in response.
“Yes, please.”
She darted out of the room and returned with an envelope in hand. She gave it to him without saying a word, and he opened it carefully and pulled out a photograph. It had been taken by Ginny on a Hogsmede visit a few weeks prior, and they were standing before a backdrop of orange trees, Draco’s arm around her waist and Hermione looking up at his face with a look of complete adoration. He would turn to look at her occasionally and they would share a brief kiss before breaking apart, and they would both wave up at him.
“Turn it over,” Hermione said quietly, and he obliged.
I know it isn’t much, and it most certainly will be less than what you will give me, but I wanted to give you something that you would remember me with forever, no matter what happened. I love you more than you know.
Hermione.
“You think this is less than what I gave you?” he asked, looking up at her with his familiar eyebrow quirk.
“Well it certainly isn’t any fancy gold necklace,” she said, and he grinned.
“No, it isn’t, but it is much more. Merry Christmas, Hermione,” he said and pulled her close to him. Once again he was shocked at how perfectly they seemed to fit together, but all thoughts of logic escaped him when she pressed her lips to his and the oh so incredibly warmth spread through his body.
***
“Merry Christmas, Hermione!” Ginny said loudly, flinging herself into Hermione’s arms as soon as she stepped into the Great Hall, Draco a half a step behind her.
“Merry Christmas, Gin. Thanks for the present,” she said automatically, and Ginny responded with a smile. “How was the ball?”
“Oh, it was okay, but we didn’t really stay for long,” Ginny shrugged, casting a look over at Harry who waved at her and Hermione. “Where are you sitting today?”
“I’m not sure. What do you think, Draco?” she asked, and Draco looked around the hall quickly. Blaise was sitting by himself, looking rather sour as Pansy Parkinson sat beside him, rambling on about nothing in particular. “Would you mind if I stole Hermione and we sat at the Slytherin table for lunch today? I feel we should probably rescue Blaise,” Draco chuckled.
“No, that’s fine. See you later!” Ginny said, and headed back to Harry happily.
Draco pulled Hermione to the Slytherin table and sat across from Blaise and Pansy, who immediately stopped talking at the sight of Hermione and Draco.
“Merry Christmas Blaise, Pansy,” Draco said with a curt nod towards the latter.
“Merry Christmas, mate,” Blaise replied, looking slightly more cheerful after the arrival of his best friend. “How are you, Hermione?”
“Fine, thank you. Merry Christmas,” she said, flashing him a smile.
“What is she doing here?” Pansy sneered, and Draco rolled his eyes at her.
“Hermione is here with me, as my girlfriend, and I would appreciate it if you did not talk to her in that tone, Pansy,” Draco said, his voice cold.
Pansy let out a great harrumph and looked down at her plate, shoving the food around on it angrily.
“You two weren’t at the ball last night,” Blaise remarked, noticing how Hermione’s cheeks flushed at the comment.
“No, no we weren’t,” Draco said, trying to disguise the small smile on his face as memories of the night prior flooded back.
“Care to tell me where you were?” Blaise asked, smirking as he looked at the couple.
“We were in our common room, sharing a quiet night in, if that’s alright with you,” Draco said, but his tone which was now considerably lighter betrayed the firmness of his words.
“Sure, sure,” Blaise said, winking at Hermione who choked on her soup at the gesture. Draco patted her on the back until she recovered and shot a glare at Blaise who just grinned in reply.
***
“D’you think he knows?” Hermione asked sheepishly as they left the Great Hall a while later, their hands clasped tightly together.
The rest of the lunch had passed without any more suggestive comments, but Hermione had still felt far too embarrassed to look Blaise in the eye.
“Who, Blaise? Of course he know,” Draco said with a little sigh.
“Did you tell him?” Hermione asked, her tone sharper.
Draco’s eyes widened. “Tell him? Why would I tell him the most intimate details of the amazing night that I shared with the woman I love? What kind of man do you take me for?” he asked, his tone playful.
“It’s just…you know…embarrassing!” Hermione said. “What if he tells someone, and it spreads around?”
“He won’t tell anyone if he ever wants to be able to eat through his mouth again,” Draco said menacingly, and Hermione smiled, satisfied with his response. “Do you want to go and see Ginny and Harry?”
“Ooh, yes!” Hermione squealed, pulling Draco along with her to the Gryffindor common room gleefully.
***
A/N: Here you go. It isn’t the greatest chapter, and I thought it started much better than how it ended, but it’s better than not having an update at all! As usual, please R&R, and constructive criticism is always welcome.
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