For the first time during break, she woke for breakfast. Olivia cleared her a spot at the end of the table, and Hermione obliged her request, cutting off any chance to sit next to Draco. This time, it was not just the morning after a spontaneous kiss from a challenge. It was about much more - an unspoken desire, a slow, smoldering physical need that pulled at her whenever she was near him. It was the day before Christmas Eve, there was still a bit of baking and wrapping to be done, and Hermione hoped she could concentrate on either of the tasks more than she'd be remembering the night before. As ideas of cookies and cakes, pies and puddings, filled her head, she found herself thinking less and less about Draco Malfoy - until he caught her eye across the Great Hall, of course. At that moment, her palms became sweaty, her breathing shallow, and it was all Hermione could do not to shout out loud. The oddity of the situation was definitely getting to her now - she could not connect the idea of past-Draco and present-Draco, and she admittedly had no idea what was to become of future-Draco. That afternoon in the room of requirement, Hermione was guarded. She sensed someone watching her yesterday while watching her eat cookie dough, and though she hated it, she was becoming quite paranoid. Someone was going to tell Harry and Ron, and they would throw an absolute fit, she was sure of it...
That night in the room of requirement, everyone was finishing their wrapping. Nobody wanted to leave it until the last minute and everyone was terribly excited for Christmas - especially Hermione and Draco. While he worked on wrapping all of his gifts - he claimed to be just over halfway done, which astounded everyone - Hermione made another few batches of cookies and a set of mince pies, also working on some cocoa. She watched him curiously from across the room. For Draco Malfoy, a smile at all - one that wasn't a self-satisfied smirk - was unusual. Up until a week ago, she'd loathed his very existence. Slytherin, her least favorite house, was automatically associated with Draco, her least favorite person besides You-Know-Who himself. He'd tormented her and made fun of her and her friends.
But these past few days, she hadn't seen him without a wide smile plastered across his face. It was a nice change.
Again, Hermione was baking while Draco was just finishing his wrapping. He was working on a particularly complicated set of presents - hers. Not knowing exactly what to get Hermione, he'd not made a decision at all, and gotten her everything that had caught his eye. She probably wouldn't be particularly happy with this, but at the time he did not care - he wanted to show her his appreciation for everything she'd been doing. He watched again as she mixed brownie batter in a large metal bowl, and his pulse quickened in anticipation. Once again, she scooped a finger around the rim of the bowl, glancing over her shoulder to see that no one was watching. Not noticing Draco, as he was hiding behind a rather large pile of gifts, she brought the batter to her mouth and sucked it off the tip.
He scowled, setting his coat on top of his lap and turning to face the other direction for the time being. Not while there are others around, not while there are others around...
Long after everyone else had left, Draco and Hermione were the only two people in the room.
"Alone again, Granger. Tut tut, we get ourselves into some strange situations."
"I suppose so." She shot a sidelong glance at him, batting her eyelashes slightly. She knew what he was inferring, and she wasn't going to let him at her that easily. "But as I really must be up to bed, you'll soon be the only person here."
He set his jaw. He had, in all honesty, been hoping that they could stay in the room together, alone for a while. Not that he was necessarily wanting to do anything, but it wasn't impossible... he cursed under his breath. "Tired, Hermione?"
"Exhausted. And it's not even Christmas Eve, there's SO much to do tomorrow... I've also got to write to Harry and Ron before bed. They wrote me back this morning and they'll worry if I'm not prompt as usual."
"I see. I was hoping that we could spend a little time... alone. I mean, it's not like everyone else here doesn't already know we've been... spending time together. And I'd like to... talk. And maybe, well, just... spend some more time alone. If you catch my drift."
"Oh." She blushed. Of course she wanted to spend alone time with him as well, but she didn't think he might say anything about it outright. "Well, Draco," She took a few steps to him, setting her hands on his shoulders and letting them run down to his chest. "You know I'd love to stay down here with you as well for a while. But it's not like we're going to run out of time, right? All the time in the world." She smiled and left the last question off, the one where she wanted to ask him whether or not he'd be wanting to talk to and be with her after break, as well.
"R-right." He turned his head away. So much for that plan. It was silent for a few moments.
"Draco?"
He composed himself, smiling back down at her.
"Yes?"
"I'll see you straightaway in the morning. I'll even show up for breakfast."
"That's better then." He turned his head down, and she went on her toes to kiss him goodnight. The possibility that it might become a regular thing between them scared and excited them both.
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