A/N: Hi everyone! So here's another chapter up. The songs used here are "You're the Inspiration" by Chicago and "Amazed" by Lonestar :) I hope you like it! It's starting to get a little more intense!
"NO!"
Draco shot up, his wand in his grip, the tip pointing at the wall across from him. He was panting heavily and sweat was trickling down his forehead and neck. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to remember the dream… Father… The Girl… Brown hair… Voldemort… Hermione! His eyes flew open and he cast a hex at the wall, causing a small piece of it to crumble. He had never had such a vivid dream in his life; it was unnerving. As the dream slowly began to fade in to the background of his memories, his breathing slowed and his heartbeat returned to a normal pace. Gulping, he opened his door and padded silently to Hermione's room. Draco stood in front of the door and whispered, "Homenum Revelio". The white outline of Hermione's sleeping form flashed briefly before it quickly dissipated. He sighed in relief, knowing that she was okay, and crawled back in to bed, feeling slightly more relaxed.
Draco tossed and turned the entire night, his head throbbing and a twisted feeling in his stomach. He couldn't explain it, but he felt like something bad was about to happen – and soon. Even so, nothing will happen to her… Not if I can help it.
Hermione woke on Saturday morning with a smile on her face. Stretching and turning on to her side, she saw shimmering rays of sunlight coming through her window. Pushing herself out of bed, she looked down at the Hogwarts Grounds and saw owls flying high in the sky and the snow glittering down below in the light. Today is going to be a good day, she thought as she walked over to peer at her clock. Seeing that it read 9:15, she swore silently and rushed to get ready to meet her friends in the Great Hall.
A 5-minute shower later, she cast a drying spell on her hair and tied it up in a messy bun before donning her favourite gray, baggy sweatpants, skin-tight tank top, denim jacket and plain trainers. Pulling her bedroom door open, she saw Draco reading on the couch by the fire. It had been a while since they had much time alone together; she savoured the moment, letting her eyes travel slowly over his body, starting at his worn brown leather shoes. His long, lean legs were wrapped in faded blue rocker jeans, set low on his hips. His strong shoulders and muscled chest were hidden behind a white collared shirt, rolled up at the sleeves. As her gaze reached his handsome face, she saw him staring intently at her, one perfect eyebrow raised and a small smirk on his lips as he understood how she was admiring his body. Hermione blushed deeply and cleared her throat before walking down the stairs.
"Good morning, Dr-"
She didn't know when, or how quickly, he had moved, but suddenly she was silenced by his lips on hers.
She was momentarily surprised before she moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. He sat back on the couch, pulling her down to him so she was straddling his lap while her hands traveled up to tangle themselves in his soft, silky hair. Hermione passed her tongue over Draco's lips before his began to explore the inside of her mouth. Draco's hands moved down the curve of her back to settle on her full, round behind, and he groaned in to her mouth as she moved ever so slightly, grinding in to his erection.
Hermione pulled back and looked down. Upon seeing the sizable bulge in his pants, she placed her palm against it and grinned slyly at him, asking, "For me?"
He growled in approval and whispered, with a feral smile, "Only you."
Draco's eyes burned with desire as he pulled her back down, his lips crashing against hers.
"Draco. Darling. I. Have. To. Go!" Hermione managed in between kisses.
"No you don't," Draco said as he moved to place kisses along her collarbone.
"Draco!" she breathed, attempting, halfheartedly, to push him away.
Draco groaned, resting his head in the crook of her neck in an attempt to slow his breathing. "Fine."
Hermione laughed breathlessly as she made to get up off of his lap. Draco moved his head to lightly graze his teeth against her neck, followed by a slow and sensual lick. As she shivered with desire, he chuckled, "Later tonight, you're all mine."
Hermione looked at him, her eyes meeting his before she whispered, "I am yours… and not just for tonight."
Draco smiled at her, pulling her down for one last kiss. "Have a good time, my love. I'll see you later. I'll be the handsome blonde in black suit," he added with a wink.
Hermione smiled back at him, recalling how shocked she'd been when the boys had told her they preferred muggle formal attire to dress robes. She lightly kissed his forehead before she walked towards the entrance.
"Oh, and, Hermione?"
She turned and looked at him, questioningly.
"Good morning to you, too."
She shook her head before clambering out of the portrait hole; Draco continued to gaze in the direction in which she'd left, even after the door closed.
"So, Mi, would you care to let us in on the fun you were having this morning?"
Hermione's concentration, that was currently fixed on transfiguring a pair of old trainers into strappy, dusty-rose coloured heels, broke, as her gaze shot up and her mouth opened, sputtering, "W-What? How- Y- How?"
Ginny, Luna and Pansy all broke in to raucous laughter as they watched their ordinarily extremely articulate friend babble incoherently.
"Come off it, you really thought we wouldn't notice when you, Hermione Granger, met us late in the great hall looking thoroughly snogged?"
Hermione blushed and glared darkly at her friends, muttering, "Never you mind."
Pansy flopped on to Hermione's bed and held her hand in her hands. "Hermione… Can I ask you something? Have you two had sex yet?"
This caused Hermione to blush even more as Ginny and Luna turned curiously towards her, their eyebrows raised in wait.
"Well… We've done stuff, but we haven't done… that yet."
"Is it because you're not ready?"
Hermione shook her head and hid in her lap, mumbling something, muffled by her position.
"It's because what?" Luna asked.
Hermione peeked over her arms and whispered, "It's because I'm… a virgin."
"Oh. So… Is Draco not the one for you, then?" Pansy asked, tilting her head sideways.
"No!" Hermione exclaimed as she stood up. "I mean, yes, he is, I love him, it's just… We never got the chance to really talk about it, and, well, there's only so much one can learn from books, and I'm just so inexperienced. I act like I'm confident, but really, I'm just so scared he'll think I'm absolutely ridiculous-"
"Hermione," Luna said, stopping her mid-ramble. "Did you ever think to ask him if he was a virgin as well?"
Hermione's brow wrinkled in confusion. "No, of course not."
"Why not? Did it ever occur to you that he very well might be? Why did you jump to the conclusion that he would think you ridiculous for being one?"
"Because… He… I don't know," she finished, lamely.
"Hermione, I may not be as close to Draco as Blaise is, but I really don't think it's happened for him yet. He may not let people know it, but he really is the romantic, "wait for the one" type, " Pansy said, a small, reassuring smile on her face.
"You sure it's not just because he's an arrogant, picky Pureblood?" Hermione said, spitefully, not truly meaning it.
Ginny placed a comforting hand on Hermione's as she looked in to her eyes. "Hermione, it's a wonderful feeling to give yourself to someone so completely, knowing you love them and they love you. I know you may think you're really "inexperienced", but for all you know, he could be just as nervous as you."
"But-" Hermione started, nervously searching for more reassurance. Ginny searched her eyes briefly before interrupting her.
"Mi, the only question you need to answer now is: Can you see a future with him?"
Hermione remained silent for a moment as she recalled the thoughts that came in to her head the night Draco told her he loved her. She smiled, her eyes glossing over, before she whispered, "Yes. He's everything I've ever wanted and more."
Ginny, Luna and Pansy all shared broad smiles at the sight of their friend so in love. "Well, that solves it, doesn't it?"
Hermione's smile widened as she looked at her friends. "You're absolutely right. Gods, what would I do without you three?"
The girls laughed as they hugged before Hermione broke from it and shook her hands. "Okay! Time to get back to work! Ginny, I added rhinestones to your heels here and here. How high d'you want them?"
Ginny leapt up and gazed excitedly at her new shoes. "Maybe 3 inches or so? Blaise is so bloody tall!"
Pansy nodded her head understandingly. "Neville, too! Mi, could you make mine a similar height as well?"
Hermione nodded, happy that her fears had been dealt with, and set to finishing Ginny's pastel heels before starting on Pansy's thick-banded black ones, all the while daydreaming of what it would be like to give herself over to her Draco, in every way.
"Are the boys all getting ready together as well?" Luna asked as she applied some earthy brown eye shadow.
"I think so," Ginny replied, sitting in front of the mirror, magically curling her red locks. "Speaking of getting ready, Mi, when are you going to show us which dress you ended up buying?!"
Hermione sighed in mocking exasperation before she smiled at her friends. "After we're done with shoe making and putting our faces on, I promise you that you three will be the first ones to see!"
The next few hours were filled with gossip, snacking and laughter. Once the girls had finished their hair, they sat back to admire what they'd done. Ginny had decided on a middle parting and large, romantic curls, complete with black eyeliner, gold eye shadow and light pink lipstick.
Luna left her waves relatively natural, scattering small jewels throughout them, and parted her hair slightly to the side, admiring them as they cascaded gently down her back. Her periwinkle blue eyes shone as she had the slightest hint of deep brown around them, and her nude lipstick made them even more bright.
Pansy went with an elegant up-do, pulling her mahogany coloured hair in to a French twist. She fastened her style with a sapphire encrusted hairpiece and completed her look with a sultry, smoky eye and peach lipstick; her amber eyes vivid and seductive.
Hermione, who had just finished transfiguring some old flip-flops into Luna's silver, open-toed kitten heels, began applying her make-up as Ginny finished her hair. She decided on subtle eyes, nothing more than eyeliner and mascara, and dramatic lips, applying rich, crimson lipstick to them. Ginny had applied a smoothing Charm to Hermione's ordinarily wild curls, giving them a sleeker appearance. Her hair was pulled half up, and her fringe was pulled to the side with small diamond pins, held magically in place.
When it was time for the girls to get dressed, Hermione got her pair of shower shoes and transfigured them into matte gold mary-jane heels. She pulled on her dress, carefully, and stepped out of the bathroom to show her friends; their reactions were priceless.
Ginny, Luna and Pansy all gaped at Hermione as she stood in the doorway to the bathroom. She donned a gold dress with a low V-shaped neckline and an empire waist. Thin gold straps circled her shoulders, and the bust was covered in small pieces of yellow topaz. The long, floor-length skirt looked like liquid gold as it flowed around her curvy figure. Her lightly tanned skin seemed to shine with the gleam of the dress, and the daring slit that reached the top of her thigh made her look all the more womanly.
"Ho-"
"-ly"
"Shit!"
"Gods, Mi! Even I feel like ravishing you right now!"
"Ginny!"
"Well, it's true! Look at yourself!"
"Draco won't be able to keep his hands off of you!"
"You really do look like Gryffindor's Princess, Mi."
Hermione blushed deeply and smiled at her friends. "Thank you… So you don't think it's too much?"
"Circe, no!"
Hermione smiled and turned to look at her reflection. She had never thought of herself as exceptionally beautiful, what, with her plain coloured hair and eyes, but as she looked at herself in the mirror, she felt, for the first time in a while, quite pretty. Yes, she thought, tonight is definitely going to be a good night.
When it was time to go meet the boys, Ginny applied comfort Charms to their heels and maintenance Charms to their make-up and hair.
"This way, we will have no dripping mascara, frazzled hair or smeared lipstick!"
"Gin, you're a genius."
"I know!"
"Girls, are you ready yet?" they heard Harry calling from downstairs.
"Yeah! I want to see my saucy little redhead!"
"Blaise!"
"What!?"
"Take your time, ladies, don't worry!"
Hermione and Ginny giggled as Luna said, "Neville is such a gentleman." Pansy blushed, but her eyes seemed to sparkle, proudly.
Pansy then turned to her friends and said, excitedly, "Ready?"
The other three nodded in agreement and proceeded to walk down the stairs one by one.
Draco, Blaise, Harry and Neville were all waiting at the bottom of the stairs in the Heads common room.
"What's taking them so long?" Blaise asked, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"Calm down, B."
"I haven't seen Gin all day! I want to see my girl!"
"And you think we don't want to see ours?" Harry said, running his hand through his jet-black hair. "Gah, do I look okay?"
"Merlin, Potter, you're starting to sound like Pans!" Blaise joked, nudging him in the ribs.
"I don't care! … That much. Come on, Blaise, this is our last Ball. I want to make it special for Luna!"
Blaise seemed to freeze at the realization before he turned anxiously to Draco and asked, "Do I look okay?!"
The other boys laughed as Blaise proceeded to check his reflection in a flower vase.
"I'm guessing Ronald Bilius is with Lavender right now?"
"Yeah, she wanted to get ready with the Patil twins, and somehow managed to convince him to spend the afternoon with Seamus and Dean. She has him wrapped around her little finger!"
"Of course she does."
After a few seconds of silence, Draco exclaimed, "Ah! Wait!" and left to the kitchen. A few moments later, he returned with 4 different blooms in hand; Harry's white stephanotis blossom for Luna, Neville's red-violet cymbidium orchid for Pansy, Blaise's hot pink ranunculus flower for Ginny and his own lilac-tipped amaryllis belladonna for Hermione.
"I owe you one, mate!" Neville exclaimed, twirling the flower in his hand.
Draco simply laughed in return and brushed a knuckle over the silky petals of his flower.
"Okay," Blaise said, standing up. "I can't wait any longer!"
"Me neither," Harry replied before he called up the stairs. "Girls, are you ready yet?"
"Yeah!" Blaise continued. "I want to see my saucy little redhead!"
"Blaise!" Draco exclaimed, slapping a hand to his face.
"What!?" he replied, his eyebrows raised in mock innocence.
Neville shook his head, chuckling, before he called up, "Take your time, ladies, don't worry!"
Blaise and Harry shot him annoying glares when, finally, Hermione's door opened.
Pansy came out first, stepping gracefully down the stairs and up to where Neville was now standing, his mouth hanging open. She smiled up at him, her eyebrow raised suggestively as she looked him up and down before she said, "My, don't you look dashing?" Neville managed to find his voice as he held the flower up to her and whispered, huskily, "Not nearly as breathtaking as you."
Pansy's smile grew as she carefully placed the flower in to the top of her French twist and leant forward, touching her forehead to Neville's and sticking her hand in his waistcoat pocket. As the two lost themselves in each other, Draco, Blaise and Harry turned away, amusedly, before they turned their attention towards Luna, who was now gliding down to her black-haired boyfriend. Harry inhaled sharply at the sight of his lover, and met her halfway, reaching a hand up to caress the side of her face.
"You're beautiful," he said, smiling at her as he placed the delicate white flowers behind her ear, charming them to hold in place.
Luna ran her hand through his tousled hair and giggled when he tried to smooth it down, bashfully. "Don't," she said, pulling his hand in to hers. "I love it, just like this."
Blaise was about to make a snide comment at Harry's expense when a head of flaming red hair came in to view. His eyes grew wide and his voice caught in his throat at the sight of Ginny; she was a vision in pink. She stopped on the last stair and raised an eyebrow at him, asking, "This sexy enough for you?"
Blaise managed to pull himself out of his shock and grinned, mischievously, at her. He walked towards her with his arms open as Ginny leapt into them, laughing, and whispered a series of naughty things he was going to do to her once he got her outof the dress.
Their not-so-private exchange was lost on Draco as his full attention was on his beauty, his Hermione who was now stepped carefully down the stairs, not wanting to trip, her fiery eyes boring in to his. Draco's eyes moved up and down her body, taking in every inch of her. A goofy grin appeared on his face when she slyly stuck her leg out of the slit of the dress. His gaze landed on her face; her full lips looked luscious in red, and her skin seemed to glow. Her hair looked alive with magic as it danced around her, and the mix between a smile and a smirk on her face was enough to ruin him completely. He silently held up his flower before her, tapped it to shrink it, and placed it at the back of her hair.
Draco took a step back to look at her, and raised a hand to her neck, brushing the pad of his thumb against her lips. Hermione raised an eyebrow questioningly at him, as he had yet to speak, and he responded, quietly, "There are no words to describe how magnificent you are."
Hermione laughed and replied, "Are there actions?"
Grinning, Draco nuzzled his nose against hers before he captured her lips with his. His other arm snaked around her waist, and pulled her flush against him, causing her to gasp in to his mouth. He chuckled as he licked her lips with his tongue, and then ran his tongue against hers. A small cough from behind them caused them to break apart, and Hermione blushed when she realized they weren't the only ones in the room.
Blaise raised a dark eyebrow and asked, laughter threatening to bubble up, "Ready to go?"
Draco smiled at him before turning to wink at Hermione, holding his arm out, as he escorted them to the Great Hall.
By the time the group had reached the Great Hall, the Ball had already begun. Hermione, Luna, Pansy and Ginny turned heads as soon as they walked in. The girls received many jealous glares from the females and admiring stares from the males, causing their own boyfriends to scowl and tighten their holds on their waists.
Groups of students were dancing, eating and laughing with one another, and the DJs, Michael Corner and Anthony Goldstein, were playing a mix of muggle and wizarding music. The hall, as Ginny had predicted, was decorated beautifully. White Christmas trees stood in every corner and hundreds of faeries lit up the space. Baubles, bubbles and snowflakes floated in the air, and royal blue ivy crept up the walls. Mistletoe sprouted from random areas, trapping couples in the process.
"Care to dance?" Draco asked Hermione, holding his hand out with a smile on his face.
The duo made their way to the dance floor, followed by their friends, and was soon joined by Ron and Lavender.
While the group danced, happiness seemed to radiate from them. Over the course of the next hour and a half, they danced in every way possible; they switched partners, danced in a group, and, of course, spent a large amount of time with their significant others.
As it neared 10:00, the group sat down at a nearby table while the boys went to get drinks.
"Michael and Anthony are doing a fantastic job of DJ-ing!"
"Yeah, they were a brilliant choice, Mi!"
"Actually," Hermione giggled, "Draco was the one to choose them."
"I was the one to choose what?
The boys returned, a mix of butterbeer, water, and pumpkin juice teetering in their arms.
"The music!"
"Oh, yeah," he replied, giving them a smug smile.
"Well, you chose well," Ginny complimented, after rolling her eyes with a small grin on her face.
Draco cast a glance at Harry, who nodded, and grinned at Blaise. Neville and Ron, who had been watching the entire exchange, smiled as they all stood silently, holding their hands out for their dates.
The girls took their hands, giving them questioning stares.
"Draco? What's going on?"
Ron cleared his throat and turned to the women, "We sort of have a surprise for you."
"Just follow us."
"Don't worry, we'll be back in time for the end of the Ball!"
They were ushered out by the boys and dragged across the castle to the Room of Requirement. Neville walked in front of the door three times before it revealed itself.
"Give us a minute, ladies!"
And with that, they disappeared in to the room. Luna, Ginny, Lavender, Pansy and Hermione stood, confused, staring questioningly at each other.
"What was that all about?"
"I haven't the faintest idea, Luna. Ginny, did Blaise mention anything to you?"
"Not at all! Did Draco?"
"Nope, and there's no way Ron would have said anything-"
"Hey!"
"Sorry, Lav, but you know it's true."
"Ugh. You're right."
The girls continued to talk to each other in hushed tones when, suddenly, Draco popped his head out of the door.
"Coming?" he grinned and pushed the door open for them.
The girls crept slowly towards the doorway and entered the room; what met their eyes was completely unexpected.
A stage was set up at the far end of the room where Draco was plugging in his guitar and adjusting the microphone. Next to him, Harry was doing the same with his bass, Blaise with his rhythmic guitar, Neville at the set of keyboards, and Ron behind the drum kit.
"What is this!" Lavender exclaimed, admiring the room.
"Well," Draco started. "It was sort of Neville's idea."
"Yeah," Harry continued. "We wanted to do something special for you girls-"
"-so we, well, mostly Draco, wrote two songs for you!" Blaise finished, a wide grin splitting his face.
"The first song is… ehem… well, a collaboration of mine and Draco's," Harry said, edging nervously towards the microphone.
"Don't worry, he sings it brilliantly," Draco said, winking at Luna.
"We hope you like it."
The girls remained speechless as Neville began playing a simple chord progression intro.
What really blew them away was Harry's singing; none of them knew he had such a voice!
"Every time our eyes meet,
This feeling inside me,
Is almost more than I can take."
Hermione, whose mouth had been hanging open in shock, broke in to a huge smile. His voice is so… American country! She thought, laughing inwardly. She turned to Luna, who had her hands clutched at her chest, gazing at Harry in adoration.
"Baby when you touch me,
I can feel how much you love me,
And it just blows me away.
I've never been this close to anyone,
Or anything.
I can hear your thoughts,
I can see your dreams.
I don't know how you do what you do,
I'm so in love with you,
It just keeps getting better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
With you by my side,
Forever and ever.
Every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you."
Harry, who was slowly starting to gain more confidence, sang every word of the chorus with his eyes fixed on Luna. The emerald green seemed to shine as he saw her periwinkle blue eyes welling up with tears.
"The smell of your skin,
The taste of your kiss,
The way you whisper in the dark.
Your hair all around me,
Baby you surround me,
And touch every place in my heart.
Oh it feels like the first time,
Every time.
I wanna spend the whole night
In your eyes."
Hermione could see Draco mouthing the words with Harry while he sang, and when he caught her eye, he gave her a dazzling smile. She couldn't help but notice how amazing he looked, his hair falling lightly in front of his eyes as he gazed lovingly at her.
"I don't know how you do what you do,
I'm so in love with you,
It just keeps getting better.
I wanna spend the rest of my life,
With you by my side,
Forever and ever.
Every little thing that you do,
Baby, I'm amazed by you."
Harry jumped off the stage and pulled Luna into his arms. Hermione, who had never seen Luna so emotional in her life, starting to tear up in happiness as she heard them whispered "I love you"s to each other. She felt Ginny grasp her hand and turned to see her best friend tearing up as well. Pansy laid a hand on her heart as Lavender tilted her head to lean on Pansy's shoulder.
After a few minutes, Luna jumped back. "Oh! You still have another song! I'm so sorry! Go, go, go."
Harry laughed and kissed her on the nose before climbing back on to the stage.
"Harry, that was amazing!" Hermione exclaimed, giving him her most sincere smile.
"Thanks, Mi," he replied, smiling at the witch who was like his sister.
"Okay," Draco started. "This one is a little more upbeat, not much, but some." The girls giggled at that comment.
"The lads wrote a line or two themselves in this one, so they'll be sure to let you know when."
Neville, again, brought the song in, and was soon joined by the rest of the boys. Then, Draco stood up to the microphone.
"You know our love was meant to be,
The kind of love that lasts forever.
And I want you here with me,
From tonight until the end of time."
Hermione laughed as, when Draco sang the last two lines, Neville pointed to himself before winking at Pansy, causing her to throw her head back in laughter before she blew a kiss back to him.
"You should know,
Everywhere I go,
You're always on my mind,
In my heart,
In my soul."
Ginny laughed as Blaise nodded his head, acknowledging those words had been his contribution to the song, and she pulled a, teasingly, nauseous face before placing a hand over her heart, and then pointing to him.
"Baby,
You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me saying,
No one needs you more than I need you."
Draco's stormy grey eyes never left Hermione's deep brown ones as he sang the words that, she guessed, he had written. It seemed as if he was trying to pass as much of his sincerity and love for her through that one look. Because of how light and giddy she was feeling, she knew it was working.
"And I know, yes I know that it's plain to see
We're so in love when we're together."
Lavender giggled, covering her mouth with one hand as Ron bellowed from the back, "THAT WAS FOR YOU, LAV!"
Draco snorted a little at Ron's tactlessness before he continued.
"Now I know,
That I need you here with me.
From tonight until the end of time
You should know,
Everywhere I go
You're always on my mind
You're in my heart
In my soul
You're the meaning in my life,
You're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life,
You're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me saying,
No one needs you more than I need you
Woahhhh"
Hermione sighed, happily, at the perfect harmony Draco and Harry created. As Draco continued to play his guitar, he smiled, roguishly, at her.
"Wanna have you near me,
I wanna have you hear me saying,
No one needs you more than I need you
You're the meaning in my life
You're the inspiration,
You bring feeling to my life
You're the inspiration
Till the end of time."
The girls erupted in applause when they had finished, and the boys were met with bone-crushing hugs after they descended the stage.
Draco looked in to Hermione's eyes and asked, tentatively, "Did you like it?"
Hermione pulled him down to her, kissing him with such passion; he felt his knees go a little weak. She released him, breathing heavily, and replied, "I love you so much."
Hermione thought for a moment and turned to look deeply in to his eyes. "And… I want to love you in every way possible."
"Do you not already?"
"No… not… every way," she said, blushing and looking down. Draco's brow was furrowed in confusion before it dawned on him. Not in every way… OH! Not in… Merlin, is she serious?
He looked down at her in surprise before he placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up towards his. "You want to love me in that way?"
She nodded, her blush deepening. "That is, unless you don't think it's a good idea, then I understa-"
She was silenced for the second time that day by Draco's mouth on hers; he kissed her with such raw vulnerability.
Draco pulled away from her to rest his forehead on hers for an instant before he gave her a breathtaking smile and said, "You may love me, but not nearly as much as I love you, my little sparrow. And like I said before, I will give you my all."
The couples all returned to the Great Hall a few minutes later, and, had anyone been looking closely enough, would have noticed they all looked thoroughly snogged. As the clock read 11:30, Lavender, Ginny, Pansy and Luna all pulled their boyfriends on to the floor to dance. Draco, on the other hand, asked Hermione to stay with him for a moment.
"Yes, Draco?"
He reached in to his pocket and pulled out a long velvet box.
"Happy Christmas, my love."
Hermione's mouth fell open in surprise. "But it's still early!"
Draco chuckled and handed her the box, saying, "I want this one to be the first you open… Besides, who knows if you'll still be here on Christmas day."
"Draco," she started, her expression sad.
Draco held up a hand to stop her. "Let's not talk about it for now. Just open it, please?"
Hermione nodded and, very slowly, lifted the lid; she gasped at what she saw.
Inside was a gold bracelet, shaped like a snake. Draco took it out of the box and slipped it on to her wrist where it coiled around twice, before the head and tail clasped together. Hermione looked at it closer and saw a small sparrow engraved on its head fluttering about, and around the band, the words 'D+H Forever'.
"Draco, I love it," she said, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
He smiled at her and bent to kiss her as a tall, willowy girl entered the Great Hall, her maroon eyes narrowed. The girl slunk across the hall towards them and drew her wand out of her pocket.
"Shall we take this upstairs, my darling?" Hermione asked, a playful smile on her face.
"Disgusting Mudblood," the girl thought as she slipped behind a pillar.
"I would like nothing more," the girl heard the Malfoy boy reply.
"Traitor!" the girl thought again as she pulled out her wand and screamed, "Confringo!"
The windows of the Great Hall shattered, raining down shards of glass on to the unsuspecting students. Screams echoed through the hall as a vulture swooped in, followed by a bat and a crow. Hermione and Draco broke apart suddenly, in time to see the three animagi transform mid-air in to Lucius Malfoy, Rodolphus Lestrange and Bellatrix Lestrange.
"We're heeeeeeeeeeere!" Bellatrix screeched as she laughed and gave a heart-stopping shriek.
"Accio handbag!" Hermione yelled, as she whirled around in search of Harry and Ron.
The three Death Eaters began firing curses and hexes at the students, all of whom were running in different directions. One girl from Hufflepuff could be seen bleeding profusely from the improper use of the gouging spell, and 3 students from Gryffindor were currently being crucio'd.
Draco grabbed on to Hermione's wrist and began to pull her towards the doors of the Great Hall.
"Where's Dumbledore?!" he shouted.
"I don't know!" she replied, her dress straps slipping down in her effort to move faster.
"Find the Mudblood! She's all we need!" Draco heard his father yell. His eyes widened and his heart began to beat faster as he pulled out his wand to protect her.
Hermione's bag flew to her hand just as Harry and Ron appeared from the crowd.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled. "We have to get out of here, now! We have to leave!"
Harry reached out to grab her hand when, all of a sudden, a figure appeared behind her. "Good evening, Miss Granger."
She whirled around only to be hit in the face by Lucius Malfoy.
A sickening crack could be heard at the sound of her broken nose. Slightly dazed, she bent her arm behind her to reach for her wand that she had tucked in to the back of her dress, when she felt herself being pulled away by a cloud of black smoke.
"HERMIONE!" Draco roared as he ran after her, firing all the curses he knew at his father, to no avail. Harry and Ron were right behind him when the Lestranges appeared from behind the Heads Table and used the body-binding curse on the three.
"Ickle blood traitor Draco wants to save his Mudblood girlfriend!" Bellatrix laughed maniacally as she walked towards his stiff figure. "The pathetic redhead and the Potter boy, as well!"
"Don't worry," Rodolphus continued. "They can have her body back once the Dark Lord is finished with her!"
"LET'S GO!" Lucius yelled over his shoulder, a still screaming Hermione in his clutches.
Hermione threw her bag down to her friends below and yelled, her eyes full of tears "Use it well!"
She could see Draco's tortured eyes as he struggled against the magic that held him.
"Draco, I love y-"
And she was gone.
Draco shot up as soon as the spell that held the three boys down was lifted, tears now freely streaming down his face, but it was too late.
Sinking to his knees, he screamed.
To anyone that heard it, it sounded almost inhuman.