The Given Choices

*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Fourteen *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The girl's dormitory was quiet except for the sound of a trunk closing. On top of Hermione's bed, laid her heavy, black cloak, which always kept her warm during the winter days, if she needed to go outside. A pair of black leather gloves with gold and silvers threads that made a celtic design along the cuff were a Christmas present from her grandmother last year; the gift was very precious to her since she had past away that Spring.

Hermione was finishing buttoning her teal sweater set as she heard the sound of a clearing of a throat. When she turned to find out who it was, Harry stood against the door jam with his hand tucked into his pockets. He looked up to her face once and then around the room as he spoke, "Ginny helped me to get up here. I just want to apologize for my over-reacting to- well, everything."

Without a word, she motioned her hand for him to come into the room. The rest of the house was already heading towards dinner but she was on her way out for a special meeting. Her once boyfriend and best friend took a seat at the desk by her bed. He kept playing with his hands as he continued, "I've had a lot of time to think and several talks with Ron and Ginny, even Zabini. He confronted me this morning in the halls. Anyway, I was wrong to assume that you were lying about what happened between you and Malfoy up in the tower that night. I should've believed you but I was still very upset or maybe disturbed by the news about Bellatrix."

"Harry-" she started but he raised his hand to stop her.

"Please let me finish, Mione," he whispered and waited till she nodded as she sat on the edge of her bed. Her hands idly played with the edges of her long, plaid skirt of the colors: teal, white, and black. Harry got to his feet and began to pace as he started to speak again. "I know what I did was wrong. I didn't even think about how hard the news had to be for you. The only thoughts were about Sirius and me. That was wrong of me and I should've been there for you when you needed me. In a way, it was my fault that you went to ferret-face to begin with."

Hermione was very close to make a comment about his needless name-calling but decided it was better to bite her tongue as he went on with his apology.

"I've missed you, Mione; a lot. Everyday, I wanted to tell you something or ask how you were doing. But I was being self-centered and stubborn. Can you forgive me, Hermione?" he asked as he stepped in front of her and looked down at her. At the corners of his emerald eyes, there was a sign that he was on the verge of tears.

He must be meaning all he is saying and not just saying it to appease me. With a slight smile, she stood and opened her arms to give him a hug. Being in Harry's arms felt good, yet not as good as it had been. Things between them had changed permanently and she had a feeling that Harry could feel that as well. Hermione hoped that she would always be his best friend but it was going to take a lot of work to get return to that, if that was even possible. Her heart was changing. It was changing without him and even if he was there.

She felt his hands move smoothly down her back as he whispered, "Thank you. I am sorry that I hurt you, Mione. I know that it is out of the question to ask for our relationship back. But can we go back to being friends again?"

She pulled back slightly but stayed in her friend's arms. After giving him a very thoughtful look, Hermione smiled as she stated, "Well, I guess. But you better get me one good Christmas present, mister!"

Harry's laughter made her smile even brighter, for she hadn't heard it in so long. It was the first of December and it had been over a month since their hugs fight. In his gentle eyes, there was still love there for her but with time she hoped it would go back to being the kind of love between two friends. The sound of Crookshanks hoping on the bed brought them out of their thoughts.

He stepped to the side and offered his hand as he asked, "May I escort you to dinner?"

With a worried look, she looked to her bedside table and saw that she had two minutes to be downstairs for her meeting. Hermione turned to grab her cloak and gloves from off the bed. As she pulled his hand, she replied, "Actually, I need to be somewhere. But if you can walk fast, you can walk me as far as the Great Hall where I leave you to get to your supper."

"Aren't you eating?"

She laughed as she pulled him through the common room and out the portrait hole. They both walked very quickly down several staircases and they found themselves to be almost out of breath at the door of the Great Hall. The sound of talking and clinking of plates told them that dinner had already started. With a bright smile, Hermione waved goodbye to Harry as she pulled her cloak over her shoulders and headed down the corridor.

Once out of Harry's sight, she started to move faster to make it to her distention of the east entrance with only being a couple minutes late. Both gloves were securely on when she reached to the single wooden door. With a heavy pull, Hermione opened the door and stepped out onto the top steps.

It was already dark and there was barely a layer of snow on the ground. The tips of the green grass could still be seen, if one looked close enough. But what had her complete attention was what was on the bottom of the steps. Earlier that morning, she received on an owl to meet her that night at this location for a 'Prefects meeting.' Of course, it was a meeting for just her and the man, who held his hand out to take hers as she got to the bottom step.

Draco Malfoy had finally asked her out for their first date. Since it was Friday night and both free of all duties for the evening, he asked her to meet him and to wear something warm. That sexy smirk was on his lips as he kissed her hand and began to lead her out to the courtyard.

With her hand tucked in his, she checked out his extremely handsome outfit. His black cloak did not have the Slytherin emblem on it but what looked to be his family crest. As they quietly walked along the path, she was able to see that he was dressed in nice black pants that were tucked into the tops of his dragon's hide boots. The color of dark gray jumper was seen through the opening of the top of his cloak.

Hermione felt the tips of fingers that held her hand at the crook of his arm as they dipped just under the edge of her sweater and meet her skin. The comfortable silence continued as they walked on and he led her to where the stables where. In front of the large wooden structure, a carriage appeared ready for them to board. He leaned over to whisper in her ear with his warm breath, "I thought it would be nice to have a private carriage ride around the grounds."

He held her hand as he helped her into the covered carriage. The ground by her feet she noticed a small wicker basket about the size of her foot. Draco got into the carriage and sat next to her as his arm reached across the back of the seat behind her neck. A warm charm was called for as the carriage began to move.

It was very cozy in the carriage with him right next to her and Hermione took his other hand in both of her gloved hands. She woven her fingers around his as she asked, "Are we just going to take a lovely ride around the castle or do you have more planned?"

"I have some ideas," he replied but leaned over and huskily whispered into her ear, "But I am open to suggestions."

When he pulled away, he moved his eyebrows in a suggestive, flirty manner that made her mouth open. Hermione released one of her hands to lightly smack him on the shoulder and then scolded, "Behave you. Or your hands will be tied together for the remainder of the trip."

"Please!"

With a slight blush on her checks, Hermione shook her head as he chuckled and reached over across her to get the basket. The basket laid on his lap as he used his wand to enlarge it to three times its other size. Once the lids of the top were open, the most delicious smells filled the air. Draco handed her a covered cup with a slit in the top for her to sip the liquid.

After a filling dinner of warm sandwiches and small cups of soup, they sat back and enjoyed the view of the ride as the carriage took them to the other side of the lake. One of her hands was intertwined with his as she sipped on her fresh cup of hot cocoa. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder as he switched which hand was holding hers and let the other one pull her closer against his body. She smiled as she cuddled against him and asked, "What was your childhood like, Draco?"

He raised an eyebrow to the odd question and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. What would you like to know?"

"Well, I tell you some about mine and then see if you can find something to tell me," she replied and he nodded his head in agreement. Her eyes drifted back to the sheet of snow as she began to talk again. "Let's see. I started reading at the age of three. Every night since I can remember, mother or father tucked me in every night and read to me. My favorite was fairy tales about a princess who would out smart someone, whether it be an evil relative or an enemy. I loved books-"

He chuckled as he interrupted, "You still do."

Her eyes rolled at his comment but she then continued. "I think I loved books because it made me feel good to tell my parents when they got home about all I learned. Even though, I knew they loved me. I always wanted to have their undivided attention whenever they were home. Both worked outside the home but they always tried to create traditions to make remember spending time with them.

"Like the first snow fall, my parents would always bundle me up and take a walk around the block. Once we reached our home again, we'd have hot tea and make cookies. When I was not at school, I was at my grandmother's house, who died the summer before I started at Hogwarts; but I always wished I could've spent more time with my parents. But their private practice took up more and more time. Sometimes on Saturdays, I'd take books with me to read as I just sat in their offices while they worked. So, what about you? What was it like growing up a Malfoy?"

"Well, my mother stayed home and ran the manor. For the longest time, I did not know what my father even did. I all knew was that I was not allowed into his study because that was he did his business. Mother was and still is more into being a social butterfly than a mother. Whenever I went home, there was always a nanny for me till I was twelve. Until father decided I was enough to behave myself with no one in the house," the blond replied as his fingers lightly traced patterns on the back on her hand and on her waist.

Hermione turned her head to him as he looked out over the grounds as he continued. "I guess you could say that I was always trying to get my father's attention or approval. Every day, I'd ride my broom and try to get better at it. But I was always getting bored for being alone for so long. Usually, once or twice a week, Blaise's mother would stop by and we'd go off to get into mischief."

"Now, why doesn't that surprise me?"

He looked down at her warm smile as his fingers traced the side of her jaw. Then the carriage stopped at the side of the lake near the greenhouses. Slowly Draco got up and stepped out onto the ground. With her hand in his, he helped her down and lead her to the glass houses, which Professor Sprout kept warm during the cold months for her more delicate specimen. They walked down the rows of plants and each would take turns stating facts about something that they thought the other might not know.

Hand-in-hand, Draco and Hermione talked on and on about a wide variety of things until he suddenly came to a halt. He was looking up at the sky through glass as the brighter stars could just be seen through the mist-covered glass. A particular star twinkled and then a shooting star went straight passed it. He whispered, "Make a wish, Hermione."

With her eyes closed, she made a silent wish to be happy and to fall in love with who ever it was meant to be with. Then a warm pair of lips pressed against hers and kissed her so softly. Both of her hands went to rest on his chest as he used one of his into her curly hair to bring her closer to him.

After a few good minutes of getting to know each other's lips, she pulled back from him and looked up into his silver eyes. As Hermione's eyes reached his, she hoped that she might find something there. Something that told her that he was feeling something for her as she was starting to fall hard for him. Her worries and self-doubts came crashing upon her, even though she couldn't translate what his eyes were saying. All she knew was that she didn't want to be hurt and especially by a young man that seemed to make it his goal just last year.

A single tear ran down the side of her cheek as she pushed away from him and ran to the door. He was following her and she raised her hand to stop him and stated, "I just came from a relationship with my best friend and it broke my heart. I am not ready to give my heart to you; just so you can break it again."

Without another word, she ran from the greenhouse back up to the castle. To her luck, no one saw her as she made her way to Myrtle's bathroom for a good long cry.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~***~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*