ocean eyes (dramione)

Chapter 28

It was cold outside. The Weasley brothers were having a snowball fight with Harry, and Hermione and I were sitting by the window, watching them. Our hands were linked together and I didn't even know it. Ginny and Luna were downstairs. Luna said she was going to educate Ginny about Crumple-Horned Snorcacks. Ginny looked amused, but didn't really mind, and allowed Luna to drag her into the kitchen anyway.

"Hermione?" I asked tentatively. She looked around, stunningly beautiful as always. She was huddled up in her Christmas jumper, and her curls were cascading down her back. I felt a smile dance across my face, just looking at her.

"Mmm?" She asked absent-mindedly, admiring the bracelet on her wrist again. She hadn't taken it off all day. I was glad she liked it. It was like a piece of me was with her all the time, this way. I hadn't touched my photo, either - it was still tucked inside my pocket safely.

"I was just wondering if...if I could...maybe see you, next Christmas, rather than - than be at home?"

Hermione smiled softly. I guess she understood that I would rather be anywhere else than home right now. But home had always been a dark, dingy, empty manor hall for me, and when it wasn't empty, it was full of death eaters. So home had never really been - well - home.

"You can come to my house whenever you want," she grinned. "I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind. I just don't think..."

"What?" I asked at once, doubt pooling in my stomach again.

Hermione chewed her lip anxiously, staring out of the window. Finally, she met my eyes, and said, "Well, your parents probably hate me! And I bet...I bet they'd try to break us up, if ever they met me. Because I'm a...a mudblood." Hermione spat the word distastefully and looked away, brushing her eyes on her sleeve. I took her arm gently and pulled her closer to me.

"I don't care," I said firmly. "It doesn't matter if they like you or not. Because we're never going to see them again. You're never going to see them again." Hermione hesitated, then nodded, the colour coming back to her pale cheeks. She kissed me softly and I savoured the moment with a sigh.

The door slammed open and in came Ron and Harry, talking loudly, dripping wet and covered in snow. Hermione sped away from me faster than lightning, and I attempted to sit casually against the wall, despite the fact that my stomach was churning as I looked up at them.

"Malfoy, were you just snogging Hermione?" Asked Ron, eyebrows as high as I'd ever seen them. Hermione flushed.

"Ron, it was just a kiss," grumbled Hermione. "And you really need to get over yourself. It's no big deal."

"I think Ron and you have a different idea of a big deal, Hermione," answered Harry, flopping down onto Ginny's bed and rubbing his eyes. He sat up, and said, in a low voice, "Ginny and Luna, eh? Who knew?"

I chuckled. "I think they're good for each other," I said reasonably. Hermione nodded.

"Better a Lovegood than a Malfoy, I say," joked Ron. Hermione smacked his arm with her book. Ron rolled his eyes.

"Watch it," I warned, narrowing my eyes at him. Ron held up his hands, looking affronted. He raised an eyebrow at both Hermione and me.

"Fine, fine," he said, laying down on the bed. "But when you two get married --"

"Ron!" Hermione scolded quickly, cheeks flushing. I quickly come to her rescue.

"I thought that being an auror meant you actually grew up a bit, Weasley," I mused loudly. Hermione giggled behind her red cheeks. Even Harry laughed.

"You thought wrong, Malfoy," answered Ron casually, taking a swig from a bottle of Firewhisky he'd charmed into his hand.

Ginny and Luna burst in at that moment, grinning avidly at us all. They sat down at the foot of Ginny's bed, on which Harry was reclined, looking pink-faced and sufficiently flushed.

"Truth or dare?" Asked Ginny wickedly.

"I'm in," I said at once, smirking. Ginny brought up Firewhisky for all of us and we took a bottle each. Soon the dare landed on Harry, who started to blush red.

"Harry, truth or dare?" Ron grinned.

"Truth," he said simply.

"Bo-ring!" I shouted loudly. "Go on. Dare." Harry rolled his eyes, and reluctantly, nodded. There was a loud cheer from Ginny and Ron, and I realised pretty quickly that it must be a Weasley trait to get drunk fast.

"Harry, I dare youuuu," slurred Ron, pointing lazily at his friend, "To kiss Luna."

Luna smiled dreamily. "Ooh," she said interestedly. Harry went dark pink, but moved awkwardly towards Luna and kissed her cheek affectionately. Luna smiled and Ginny narrowed her eyes, obviously totally drunk.

"Don't...steal Lu," she said drunkenly, taking a gulp of Firewhisky from what I was sure was her second bottle. Harry grinned wickedly.

The dare landed next on Hermione, who had no say in the matter - Ginny picked out a dare for her this time.

"Hermione...I dare youuu to sit on Draco's lap." Ron spat out a gushing waterfall of Firewhisky and Luna snorted loudly as she covered her mouth embarrassedly. Ginny grinned broadly, light dancing in her eyes. Hermione locked eyes with me and we both laughed nervously as she edged towards me and positioned herself comfortably on my crossed legs, leaning her head on my shoulder. It wasn't really as bad as she made out.

After several more dares which resulted in Mrs Weasley finally coming upstairs and telling us all to go to bed, we decided to call it a night. Harry and Ron retreated to their own rooms, Ginny and Luna got into their beds and Hermione and I snuggled up beside on another on our respective mattresses on the floor.

"That was brilliant," Hermione whispered, her cheeks flushed. She cast her eyes over to Ginny, who was snoring loudly. "She'll sleep well tonight." I grinned and looked over to her. One arm was hanging over the edge of the bed and holding Luna's firmly while they both snored, one considerably louder than the other.

Hey guys! I've decided this is probably actually going to go on for way longer than 30 chapters because I'm really enjoying this story and where it's headed! Thank you for all the support - almost 400 reads is crazy! Voting and reading means so much :) new update coming shortly!