She rose from bed, the cold stone on her feet made her shiver. After a quick shower and a drying charm on her hair, Hermione dressed and headed down to breakfast. The small number of students that were left had half shown up, and as Hermione glanced around the table, an all-too-familiar pale hand waved her down. Draco. His blue eyes were actually shining this morning, he looked happier than she'd ever seen him. She obliged, sitting on his left and quickly helping herself to some food. She hadn't been eating well the past few days, and yesterday's drama wasn't helping much either...
"So, about when are we heading out for the tree, again?"
"What is with you, Draco? Normally you can't stand being within ten meters of anything cheerful, the past 24 hours you can't get enough of it!"
He smirked. "Just trying to have a fun holiday, that's all."
Hermione was flustered. Not only did she feel ridiculous now for calling him out, she felt ridiculous for assuming that Draco was unpleasant enough to enjoy something as common as Christmas. She shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth to shut herself up, she blushed and he laughed. These were going to be very interesting times.
Back in the dormitories, Hermione put on her thick coat and snow boots. A layer of snow at least a foot deep had fallen over Hogwarts in the past few days, and Hermione was not going to take any chances against the cold or getting sick. She paused at a mirror to smooth down her hair, then stopped. Who did she have to impress? Spinning away quickly, she trudged down the stairs to find Olivia and Avery already talking about trees. Hermione surprised them by jumping into the conversation.
"Personally, I like my trees to be slightly tall, but very full. And there must be a bottom tall enough so that presents can actually go under the tree." Startled, they turned to her and laughed. They sat and talked for a few minutes about Christmases at home before heading down to Lunch. Not taking any risks, she sat between the two of them, trading traditions and memories of past Holidays. A few others joined in the chat, but Draco stayed strangely silent. Curious to the reason, Hermione mentally took note to ask him about it later. As soon as lunch finished, those who 'had no spirit!' as Olivia said, went back up to their dormitories or to the Library to relax. The rest of the group prepared to brave the cold. Hagrid walked in, snow already tangled into his dark beard and hair.
"Alright then, you lot. 'S everyone ready to go find a tree? Strange thing it is, your little plans, our Hermione here is bound to make it fun though. Alright, let's head ou' then!" They followed the half-giant out to the Forbidden Forest, which actually looked sort of magical coated in snow. Draco caught up to Hermione quickly, starting conversation as easily as if they were old friends.
"So then, do you always pick out your own tree? Is it always real?"
Skeptically, she answered him. "Yes, it's always real, and I always pick the tree at home. My parents are gone for the Holidays, or I'd be with them..."
"Ah. Well, even getting stuck here for the break is better than what I have at home."
Shocked, Hermione shot him a look. "But you have everything... I'm sure Christmas is perfectly acceptable at Malfor Manor."
He shook his head. "Nah. I'd love to say it was though, I've always enjoyed the concept of Christmas... the presents not quite as much as the pleasantries between everyone."
"What do you mean, the concept of?"
Draco seemed to pause and think for a moment before speaking this time. "Well... you see... I've never had a real Christmas." He flushed red and turned away.
"What do you mean, never had a real Christmas?!"
"Well, I haven't. My parents aren't big on festive occasions... I more often than not spend my time in my room or in the study, fending off boredom. They don't even put up a tree. There are presents, sure, but they seem to act like that's the only thing to it." He looked at her, embarrassed.
"Oh Draco... that's terrible. No wonder you've been like you have, Christmas is the best time of year!"
"Hey, girl, watch your tongue!"
"Oh, you know I don't mean it that way, I simply mean that you haven't always been... nice, as you've been to me lately. But Draco, you know what this means, don't you? We're going to have to up the stakes here, we're going to have to throw you a real Christmas celebration! Oh, now there are so many more things to plan, this is exciting, and... oh."
Not noticing that they'd become separated from the group, Hermione had suddenly looked up to find out why it was so quiet. Instead, however, of seeing a few silent students walking just head of them, she saw the most perfect tree she'd ever seen. Almost eight feet tall, at least four feet across, and - if she wasn't going crazy - smelling even more strongly than the other trees around them. Dark green with not a spot of brown, and a perfectly long top branch for a tree topper... it took her breath away. Pulling her eyes away from the tree only long enough to find the others, she saw only Draco. And that's when she really felt it. His face, lit up as she'd never seen it before, turned up to spot the top of the tree. His breath fell from his mouth in foggy swirls, shaking as if he couldn't contain himself. As suddenly as she'd seen it, he looked down at her. "We have to find the others. It's perfect." He unwound his scarf from his neck, threw it over the tree, and began calling names to find their group. As soon as they heard an answer, he grabbed her hand - much to her shock - and raced off in that direction. Running along beside Malfoy, his hand keeping her own warm, Hermione smiled. Yes, this was strange, and definitely out of character for Malfoy - but it was almost like magic, all the same.
Retracing their steps and finding the tree was not difficult. The other students marveled at the majestic tree they'd discovered, and Hagrid helped them take it down and pull it into the castle. Up in the room of requirement, he set it up in a base and lead them all down to get decorations from an old classroom being used as Holiday storage. Boxes of ornaments, garlands, and wreaths were brought up into the room, each student carrying one larger than the last, until they were all satisfied with their treasures. Immediately, boxes were pulled open and things were sorted out. While students mixed houses to help - some untangling lights, some delicately unwrapping ornaments, some already putting garlands and strands of lights around the room - Hermione stood back and surveyed the actions. No sooner had she let out a sigh of relief than Draco came to stand by her side, his arms folded.
"Nice Job, Hermione... If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time I've actually seen all four houses actually working together on something..."
"Thank you very much, Draco. And no, you're not mistaken, I was just thinking the same thing myself. But come on, let's get working... we aren't getting much done standing around..." and with that, she set off to help untangle lights. Draco set off to hang things on the walls, glancing at her all the time.
Three Hours Later
The ornaments had all been hung, as had some stockings with everyone's names on them that Olivia had skillfully charmed to shimmer when the glow of the fire hit them at every angle. A couple of Ravenclaws had set the task of making cocoa for everyone and succeeded, warm mugs now in everyone's hands. There were lights wrapped around the tree and around the room itself, making the whole place seem to twinkle from every direction. As they all sat down to rest, Avery popped up. "Wait just a mo'! We've forgotten the most important part!" With a flick of his wand, a bright gold star lifted itself out of the box and onto the center table. There were tiny lights set at every point. Everyone stared at it, and then at each other, wondering who would do the honors. Draco stood up.
"Hermione should do it... she's the one who's been planning this whole thing..." everyone clapped and agreed.
"Oh no, really... I've always done it by hand at home, it wouldn't feel right doing it by magic..." she picked up the star and prepared to levitate it onto the straight top branch.
"Then don't do it by magic!" Draco rolled his eyes. Hermione shook her head.
"And how do you expect me to do it by hand here? We don't have a stool or anything..." she turned away from Draco, towards the other students. "We could always lift someone else up to do it, but...oh!" Because she'd had her back turned, Draco took the opportunity to sneak up behind her. She'd gasped when he'd grabbed her waist, his strong hands easily lifting her up over his head to sit on his shoulders.
"Or, Granger, you could just put the star up. You deserve it." A second year girl took her camera out to take a photograph while Hermione, supported by Draco of all people, set the star atop the tree. The flash went off, and everyone cheered. Draco reached up to grab her around the waist again and pulled her over his head, back in front of him. She turned right around and, in a moment of good spirits, wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him. He stood for a moment, stunned, before resting his hands on her back and taking a step closer. Another flash went off and they quickly stepped back, each flushing as red as the stockings hung beside them.
Hermione Granger could not will herself to sleep that night. Even after a full dinner, sitting a few seats down from Draco Malfoy, she could not believe that she'd actually hugged him. This had to be some sort of wicked, strange magic. He'd lifted her so easily, and held her steady while she placed the star on the tree, and... her thoughts ran away with her. Draco Malfoy! A boy she'd despised throughout her years here, and he'd changed her entire set of opinions on him in just two short days... she must write to Harry and Ron at once, but... maybe she shouldn't mention the Draco bit just yet. Something told her that while he had made her smile and while he had good notions about the whole thing, the boys might not approve. Sighing, she rolled over and finally drifted off to sleep.
But Draco Malfoy could not sleep either. He'd never had a real Christmas before, and somehow, in just a matter of 24 hours, Hermione had managed to make him happier around the Holidays than he'd ever been. It wasn't even Christmas yet, there was still about an entire week to go, but in the past day, she'd become something more than an acquaintance. She'd become the most unlikely friend he'd ever had. Two sides of his brain warred in his head as he attempted to ignore them both and sleep.
She's friends with the Potter and the Weasel, she can't be trusted...
But she's not like them. She's warm, and caring, and...
Get a hold of yourself, mate! It's Granger, the mudblood, the
She's nothing like that! And if it's taking Hermione for me to realize that everything my parents have taught me about right and wrong, pureblood or not, is wrong, then so be it.
Suit yourself, but there's no going back if anyone finds out about this...
And so what if they do? Am I not allowed to be friends with her? Am I not allowed to have a good holiday with her?
If that's what you call it.
And what's that supposed to mean?
That, mate, is for you to find out on your own...
Fine, whatever that means... but I still believe I'll have a real Christmas this year because of her.
And as the two sides argued, Draco sleeplessly tossed and turned, unsure of what to believe. Minutes later, he decided to not decide at all. His parents wrongdoings should not be treated as such, and yet Hermione's alliances should be ignored as well. Draco was going to do this right, and have a Happy Christmas with Hermione and the other students, even if it meant ignoring every thing he'd ever been taught.
No comments:
Post a Comment