A/N: Although I don't think there is much point in giving any excuses for why it's been so long, I'm going to give them anyway. I HAVE been busy, life took over in a number of ways. But I won't bore you with the list. And then when life calmed down again (in the last 3 or so weeks) it had been so long since I'd written that when I tried, it either didn't seem to fit, seemed too different, or I just plain didn't think anyone would like it. So, Apology number 1: I really am sorry for taking so long, I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Hopefully soon I will have some form of routine again. But I'd rather produce something that fits and is halfway decent, yet takes ages to write, than rush it and give you an utter piece of crap. As a part of this apology, this chapter is almost three and a half thousands words long. So I hope that counts for something! Apology number 2: My writing has probably changed in the last few months and you might not like it. I am really sorry about that… Please do let me know if you don't like this chapter. I try to take on board everyone's advice and ideas, so you are helping!

And finally – thank you. Thank you so much for your patience and loyalty to this story. If you haven't abandoned reading it due to my horrendous life management skills, then thank you. You truly are loyal!

Much love, Mistwood xx.

Chapter 21:

Panic struck me, the sound of her scream sending an electric charge down my spine. At first I froze, then adrenaline hit me and I pulled my legs forward as fast as could towards where the bushes had rustled, where the scream came from.

Another piercing scream cut through the cold air as I plunged into the shrubbery, my wand raised, a curse on the tip of my tongue. I pulled myself through the scratchy twigs, leaves and branches, frantically searching for any sign of a distinct mass of brown hair as one more scream rang through the forestry.

"Hermione!" I yelled "Where are you!"

Silence.

I continued walking in the direction that I thought the screams had come from, the silence shrouding me with fear - like suffocation. The bush became sparser and it was much easier to walk through. Soon the environment eventuated into trees rather than just clustered shrubbery and I could see more than a foot in front of me.

My eyes searched my surroundings quickly - falling on a small, still, body strewn on the ground.

I felt my heart falter and my throat constrict.

I ran over to her, not really able to feel my legs as I had become completely numb.

No. No. Nononononono!

I collapsed at her side. "Hermione!" my voice wavered.

She lay on her front, her arms and legs sprawled, her hair spread out in a mass.

I reached out tentatively and rolled her over.

He placed his hands on my waist and shoulder, rolling me over so I was face up.

I lasted about 20 seconds before I could no longer hold on and felt my stony expression stretch as I burst into laughter.

As I came 'alive' again, his face contorted with a mixture of expressions, finally settling on an entanglement of shock and confusion.

I lifted myself to a sitting position, still laughing as I said pointedly "Can't scare you, huh?"

He just stared at me with an expression I didn't quite recognise.

Then slowly, he rose to a standing position, before turning and walking back in the direction of the road.

"Oh come on Draco - it was just a joke!" I called to his retreating back as I swiftly got up and followed after him.

He pushed through the bush savagely, his pace quickened so much that by the time I had arrived at the road, he was already so far away that I had to run to try and catch up.

"Draco!" I breathed as I finally caught up with him. "Stop!" I said, grabbing his arm and turning him to face me whilst I clutched at the stitch in my side with my other hand.

The look on his face bore a resemblance that I could not mistake. A contemptuous glare that was only ever reserved for three people. A look that took me straight back to the days of our enmity.

"I-" my voice broke "I'm sorry… I didn't realise… I was just-"

"Joking?" he interrupted smoothly.

"I-" my voice faltered.

"I thought you were DEAD Granger!" he said, his voicing rising.

"Well that was the point…-"

"WHY would you do that!"

"To prove a point-"

"Always having to show people up aren't you Granger? Little Miss Know-It-All has to 'prove' herself all the time, even if it means joking about something like DEATH. Death is not a joke, death is not funny. I would have thought that YOU of all people would know that!"

I felt my jaw open and close a few times as I tried to find a way to respond. I felt like I was back in Hogwarts getting scorned by Professor McGonagall. Then his expression changed dramatically. The rage disappeared and anguish took over.

"I thought I had lost you." He said quietly as his gaze dropped to the ground.

We stood there for what felt like forever, but was probably only two minutes.

He turned away from me and continued walking down the road "Come on."

I followed as shock pulsed through me – I couldn't believe his reaction! It was ridiculous! Why would he get so upset over something so trivial? I mean, sure, maybe my acting skills had been a little too believable – but yelling like that? Getting SO angry over it?

I couldn't understand.

Twenty minutes passed of eerie silence. It felt unnatural. Silence between us had never been uncomfortable since we'd become friends – and now that it was, it didn't feel right.

His voice broke the silence, making me jump.

"I'm sorry." He said tonelessly.

"…It's ok." I responded tentatively "But why'd you get so upset…?"

"I- I thought you were dead. I guess my natural impulse to react with is anger. My first thought when I saw you lying there was of who I was going to have to hex into oblivion for doing it to you."

That was slightly shocking.

"I'm sorry – I only meant to scare you. I didn't think you would actually get upset by it… I expected you to - well…" I drifted off, deciding it was probably better not to finish my sentence.

"You expected me to what?" he said as he eyed me suspiciously.

"Er… Well, I sort of thought you would freak out and run for it."

He looked confused "Why would I run…?"

"Um… because whatever or whoever 'killed' me could have gone for you too?"

He stared at me for a few second as if I was mental "You were trying to scare me through causing fear of losing my own life, not through fear of losing yours?"

I gave a quick nod, and a he looked at me incredulously so I added, "Well, it's what I'm used to! Can you really blame me? The Malfoy I grew up knowing only ever seemed to care for himself. The first sight of danger and you would flee – the perils of others never crossed your mind."

His expression turned angry again and he opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him "I know – you've changed now. You're different. I guess I just hadn't expected you to care because it was me."

"Because it was you? That's insane!" His expression softened and stepped closer, cradling my face with his hands "Hermione – you're the person that I care about most."

My breath caught it my chest.

There's the second shock of the day…

He leaned in a planted a small kiss on my lips before pulling back and looking at his watch. "Anyway, we can talk about this emotional crap later. We have parents to pick up."

We apparated into town, meeting up with my parents outside of a small café. We all hopped in my parents' car and started the drive back to Malfoy's place, following his directions. I wondered how he knew the roads so well, considering he wouldn't have needed to drive them…

Most of the ride Malfoy and my parents spent talking, laughing and sharing stories –Dad was currently explaining what very little he knew about the mechanics of cars and how they worked.

I sat and quietly contemplated what had happened. So Malfoy cared about me a whole lot more than I had expected… I wasn't really sure how to deal with that. Once I had gotten over the initial shock, I started to worry. What did he expect of me? I hadn't actually properly thought of how our friendship had changed and where it could possibly lead. What if I wasn't good enough to make him happy?

Thoughts spun round in my head, but soon enough, we were there.

I quickly shoved the worries to the back of my mind. I'm happy at the moment, why ruin that with negative thoughts? I'll continue as we are and let the chips fall where they may. What else can I do?

Not everything in my life needs a clearly defined plan. Not everything needs to have a reason. Isn't that what I was trying to change about myself? To become more spontaneous? Well this will be one way of doing that.

Hermione was rather quiet on the journey back to my place… I hope I hadn't ruined anything between us because of my little outburst.
The truth is, I care about her more than I had ever anticipated.

Not just because I used to hate her, but even when we were initially becoming friends – I never ever expected for it to become like this… I'd never cared for anyone this much except Mother. But this is completely different, obviously. I never thought it possible for me to come to the point where I actually felt pain when I saw her supposedly dead body. It wasn't just emotional… It was almost tangible – physical. As if my very core was being shredded.

ARGH. I sound so STUPID.

What am I thinking? I feel like I'm going mental.

It's just that this is all so new to me, and I almost don't know how to handle it.

I led the Grangers through the gate, onto our property and up to the front door. Mrs Granger was telling Hermione how she loved old cottages such as these and she had always wanted to live in one, though it was not practical due to her profession as a Dentist.

People who fix teeth. Hermione had explained the whole concept to me, and although I understood it, it seemed completely irrational. An entire Profession designed to care for Muggle's teeth… When we Wizards could just use potions and spells on ourselves and all was fixed. Obviously they weren't magical and therefore had to improvise, but the whole thing seemed odd and impractical to me. I guess I just wasn't desensitised to Muggle ways enough yet.

We stepped into the cottage and I shut the door behind us, the abrupt change of temperature causing a sharp twinge against the skin of my face and hands when the soft warm air (thanks to the fire) engulfed us.

"Draco?" called Mother before appearing from the kitchen door, "Oh marvellous, you're here! Mr. and Mrs. Granger, it's lovely to meet you!" she rushed up to each, shaking their hands and kissing Mrs. Granger's cheek. "Oh you are freezing! Do come and sit in front of the fire – this way!" and she led the couple into the lounge and onto the couch.

Then came the blabbering.

Hermione and I trailed in after the three, and took up seats in the corner of the room at the chairs in front of the bookcase.

I groaned as I sat down, "Your parents are going to go insane listening to her yap on all day."

Hermione was twisted around in her chair as she watched our parents, "I don't know about that," she laughed quietly, "I think they'll get along just fine."

I turned and observed the three.

And she was right. As always.
The Grangers were laughing and talking with Mother as if they were all old friends.

We were soon all seated at the table, this time all talking together. We spoke about the House Elves, Mother's pet sheep, the conversion rate between Pounds and Galleons, Father, and even some of the war.
We ate roast. Everything roast. Roast lamb, roast chicken, roast stuffing, roast potatoes, roast pumpkins, roast carrots. We had Yorkshire pudding, peas, gravy, pumpkin juice and wine.

I had to admit, Mother's cooking had improved one hundred fold since her house arrest.

Once lunch and dessert were finished, Mother took the Grangers into the back part of the house to introduce them to the House Elves (at Mr. Granger's request) as they were extremely intrigued by the idea of meeting magical creatures.

"Ugh," groaned Hermione, "I'm stuffed! I can't understand how it's physically possible to eat so much food when it's only going to make you feel horrible and bloated afterwards!"

"Fatty," I laughed as I stood up and stretched.

She jabbed me in the stomach painfully and I winced, "You can talk, tubbalubs." She said with a grin.

"Ha-ha," I said sarcastically as I rubbed my full stomach. After eating as much as I did, I wouldn't be surprised if I sprouted a beer gut over-night.

"Whatcha wanna do now tubsy?"

I ignored the insult and replied, "How about a walk? There's a place I'd like to show you."

After what seemed to be about 10 minutes of strenuous hiking through the cluster of trees that edged the meadow on Draco's property, following a small path that wound through it, I spoke up, "How much longer? And where are we going anyway?

"There's a small brook up ahead, it's sort of pretty. Enchanting. It's a good place to sit and talk in privacy since Mother doesn't know about it. At least I don't think she does."

I stopped in my tracks and burst out with laughter, "Pretty? Enchanting?" I said exasperatedly before continuing in an exaggeratedly feminine voice, "Helloooo, my name is Draco Malfoy. Creeks are enchanting pretty things aren't they? I also love tea parties, frolicking with ponies and listening to Celestina Warbeck."

His face tinged pink and I laughed even more.

"Shut up, what's so funny about me saying something is pretty?"

I cracked up again and had to regain composure before continuing, "First of all, 'pretty' isn't a word that you hear most guys saying. Second of all, it's you we're talking about. Hearing you say something like that is funny. It's just so out of the ordinary. It's like hearing a 5 year old using a big word in a very adult-like manner."

Seeing that he was still offended by my reaction I smiled cheekily and stepped closer to him, "and cute."

He turned around and kept walking.

I wasn't really pissed off at her; I just wanted an excuse to make her work for my attention.

We continued the journey to the brook in silence and when we arrived I sat down on the smooth giant rock about the size of a park bench. She joined me but I avoided her eyes and pretended to be very interested in the rippling water. She shuffled close and spoke in a sarcastic pouty baby voice, "Did I hurt Drakie's feelings? Oh noooo. Widdle Drakie-pie feels inferior to the Mudblood!"

Slightly shocked at her choice of words, my head snapped up to look at her and she smirked.

I'd never seen Hermione smirk until a few months after we started hanging out – it was slightly disconcerting how much influence I seemed to have had on her.

I turned away again and soon felt a gentle kiss against my neck. I closed my eyes. Another kiss on my jaw. It took all my will power not to pounce on her right there. I'm not sure why I kept pretending to be mad – I think it's because part of me liked her initiating the affection. I liked the attention – as sad as it sounds.

Another kiss on my earlobe, a tingling sensation coursed through me. Then she trailed her finger around my lips, tracing the outline, causing me to open my eyes. She was biting her lip, all evidence of a smirk gone - her gaze soon lifting from my lips to my eyes.

I looked up to his now open eyes - but not for long.

He grabbed my face and pulled me to him, locking his soft lips onto mine and pulling me into a passionate kiss. I wanted it to last forever – this blissful, enchanting feeling that he cast over me whenever we embraced like this. But sure enough, our human necessities took the toll and we needed to stop to get some air. We pulled back simultaneously, breathing heavily, little puffs of mist emanating from our mouths each time we exhaled.

"Ha! I knew I could win you over." I said, grinning mischievously.

Draco's eyebrows raised as he replied sarcastically, "Oh really?"

And with that he picked me up jogged towards the small river, and dropped me. Straight into the shallow, icy cold water.

I screamed and splashed around in an attempt to right myself, surprised by the depth of the water. My thick coat didn't protect me for long, as I was soon completely soaked.

After much spluttering and splashing, I managed to uncoordinatedly stand up. Shivering, dripping, and - from what I can imagine - looking like a very angry drowned cat. I glared at a head of laughing blonde hair.

"Merry Christmas!" He said with a wink.

I charged.

He cackled with laughter and ran back up the path. I raced towards him as fast as my heavily soaked clothes would allow me.

"You. Will. PAY!"

I raced through the through the meadow, laughing manically, causing me to receive many startled stares from the sheep. As I ran into the house I turned to see her awkwardly running a few metres behind me, and then before I knew it I was on the floor.

I rolled over on the rug that I had tripped on and saw Hermione, somewhat resembling a very angry Grindylow, standing over me with her wand pointed at my face. Her angry expression soon switched to an evil grin - and then she pounced.

She landed straight on top of me, almost knocking the wind out of my chest. She wrapped her arms around my body, rolling us from side to side.

At first I was bewildered – her revenge was to hug me? And then as the freezing water soaked through my clothes, I realised what she was doing.

"Ha! Now we're both soaked and freezing." She said as she stood up, cheeks tinged pink from the running.

"Well I think you did that simply to get me to take my shirt off," I said as headed into the lounge and casually removed the now damp piece of clothing, placing it on the armchair of the couch in front of the fireplace.

"Pfft," she scoffed as she followed me, "Keep telling yourself that, ferret."

I chuckled and sat down with my legs crossed in front of the fire and added another log of wood. She followed suit, taking off her wet jacket and sitting down next to me as I got out my wand and reignited the dying embers.

"I wonder where our parents are…" she mumbled as she yawned.

"Probably yacking in the kitchen."

"As parents do," she said with a shiver as she hugged her knees tightly to her chest to try and warm up.

I watched her, and for some reason, I couldn't help but smile.

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Wind from a nearby brewing storm gave a low, continuous whistle into the chimney. Draco and Hermione both stared into the large fireplace, watching the orange flames dance around the logs of wood, listening to the crackling and whistling as it warmed them, the sound of a clock tic-toking somewhere in the distance.

A/N: The last piece was a bit of a new thing wasn't it? But I felt it necessary. Another fault I noticed with this chapter is it wasn't very Christmasy… I love Christmas and Christmasy things so I'm quite disappointed in myself about that :/ But don't worry! It's not over yet!

Also, any ideas for a chapter name?

Please review and let me know what you think xx.