Charms

Hermione and Draco were sitting in one of the small study rooms off the library. He looked up at her.

"You're so beautiful..." She blushed and looked down at his softly spoken words. "Come here."

She obeyed, walking across to where he was sprawled out on the couch. He took her into his arms, stroking her hair. She smiled, and leant forward so that their foreheads were touching. Draco tilted his head up so that he could capture her lips in a gentle kiss. As he pulled away, he shot her a quick grin, before she reached down and began to kiss him intensely. He could feel moans working their way up her chest, just as she could feel them moving up his. Slowly, he slid his hands down her sides to the hem of her shirt underneath her open robes as Hermione settled more snugly onto his lap. Her hands wove into his silver-blond hair, holding him to her as she arched into his touch. He placed his mouth on her graceful neck, sucking gently as his hands slid up to her breasts. As their hands undid their school shirts, Draco could feel himself begin to harden even more as he gave his love a long kiss. When he broke away, he could see Hermione sitting upon him, topless, looking incredibly ravished. He pushed the material of her bra aside and rubbed two cool fingers over her nipple, causing it to peak. He broke away from her mouth and began kissing down her jaw-line to her ear. Nibbling it softly caused her to thrust her hips up at the unexpected shiver that ran down her body. She slowly ground herself down onto him. His eyes briefly rolling up from the sensations she was causing, he slowly snuck his hand up her skirt, drawing soft patterns on her thighs as his hands moved closer to their destination. She gently reached down and danced her nimble fingers over his crotch before moving to his zipper. Wanting her to be as needy as him, he moved his fingers to the edge of her panties, only to discover they weren't there...

**********

Draco awoke to find his sheets soaking wet. "Ugh...it was all a dream?" he wondered. As he peeled the sheets off his body and stood up on unsteady legs, he cursed his mind. **Stupid fucking dreams. I wish they'd come true...** And the dreams were getting worse. Ever since his whole "Woo-her-with-Christmas-gifts-until-she-loves-you" idea started, his urges were harder and harder to control. Everytime he sent her another gift, or saw either his Arithmancy or Potions notes, or even just seeing her across the Great Hall, the feeling of unrequited love welled up inside him.

Suddenly he shook his head, as if to clear it of his folly.

**I'm all sticky... I wonder why** snorted Draco to himself. Still muttering, Draco moved off to have a shower. "First, shower. Then, coffee. Must...have...coffee." Oh, how he hated mornings without coffee.

**********

Harry looked up from his copy of The Daily Prophet as Hermione and Ginny walked arm-in-arm into the Great Hall.

"Good morning beautiful," he remarked as he kissed Ginny on the cheek. Hermione sat down in the closer free seat, which happened to be on the other side of Harry, opposite Neville. She gave Neville a shy smile, which he returned with a confident grin.

*~ His relationship with Hannah is really doing him some good. ~* mused Hermione. Although he was still terrified during Potions, the aptitude he had shown in fourth year for Herbology had increased with his self-confidence. Turning her thoughts to her breakfast, Hermione placed a few slices of French Toast on her plate, and delicately dribbling maple syrup (A.N.: for all the Canadians on S.S. Leather and Libraries) ontop. The flash of gold on her wrists as she put the maple syrup bottle back on the table caught Harry's eye.
"What are they, Hermione?"

"Huh?" It had been so long since Harry had spoken to her without Hermione having to initiate the conversation. *~ Id' almost forgotten what his voice sounds like...~*

"What's on your wrist?"

Hermione rolled up her sleeve to show him: five golden bracelets, all perfectly matched in shape. One was encrusted with small rubies, another diamond, while the other three were plain. They were delicate, and elegantly feminine.

"Where did you get those?" Of all the replies Harry was expecting Hermione to say, blushing a typical Weasley red and dropping her eyes into her lap was one of the last. Harry let the warm fuzzy feelings that came with drinking Chocolate Butterbeer take over.

"Ms. Granger, is there something you're not telling your old pal Harry?" he asked with a grin.

"Well..." *~ Oh, to heck with it. In for a knut, in for a galleon.~* Still speaking rather quietly, Hermione replied quickly. "I have been receiving Twelve Days of Christmas gifts."
"Twelve days?"

"But with a twist...it's been so much fun Harry. First, I got 25 roses, 24 red and one white; then I go a pair of turtledove earrings; then three books; then this little thing called a 'Concentus'; and today-"

"-Five golden rings," broke in Harry.

"Exactly! But bracelets instead. And look at the inscription." Hermione was so pleased that Harry was once again paying genuine attention to her that she gently slipped one of the bracelets off, revealing the shining writing inside.

Hermione, my one true love,

Five golden bracelets for a witch

Who deserves so much more.

Harry had to admit, whoever was sending the gifts had good taste.

**********

"Right, now I want you all to split into your pairs," stated Professor Vector as she finished the notes on Power Cities and Jobs. "Using the notes that I have given you today, find the suitable occupations and places to live for all the people on your charts. I'll see you next week."

As Malfoy had predicted, they were to work in pairs for the rest of the year. Pairs that they could choose. So, with a roll of her eyes at Murphy, she had Wingardium Leviosa'ed her desk over to beside his, and gotten down to work. Once again, the Slytherin had proved himself very knowledgeable, and almost...pleasant to be around.
For Arithmancy this year, each person was given the birth-dates of 10 people, including themselves. Their overall grade would be determined on how accurately their charts were filled out, and if their own diary entries matched their predictions ("Compulsory diaries, yes, I know a drag, but just put in the simple stuff: I had a bad day, I received some unexpected money, etc. I am in no way interested in your love lives or other random teenage babbling, I just want to know if your calculations can actually be applied to the real world," was Professor Vector's lecture when Kevin, from Ravenclaw, had complained).

Now, as pairs, they had to combine their lists of people, and try and construct deeper meanings. And figure out where these people should live and work...

"Next thing I know, she'll be telling us what kind of foods our people should eat is determined by Arithmancy," muttered Malfoy.

Hermione snickered. "Haven't you read through the rest of the textbook yet?"

Malfoy looked at her funnily. "No..."

"That IS one of the things that we look at this year."

"Well, my list better have Chocolate Butterbeer on it, or I'm going to be pissed," **And whipped cream...** Frantically trying to repress images from his dream a few days ago, Draco quickly turned his thoughts to snakes. "When's your study period?" he asked.

"After Transfiguration, which is straight after lunch."

"I have Herbology after lunch, then I have study too. Why don't we get together and get a head start on this?" suggested Draco.

With a quick grin and a nod of assent *~ Better than moping about in the Gryffindor Common Room while the others play Quidditch ~*, Hermione set off for the Gryffindor tower to drop off her books.

**********

"Hermione, Harry and I are going to see Hagrid. Do you want to come?" Hermione looked up from where she was taking her Transfiguration text out of her bag to see Ron standing by the doorway of the Girls' Dorm, broomstick in one hand while Harry was leaning against the wall behind him.

"Oh, thanks guys, but...I kinda have plans."

"Plans?" queried Harry, stepping forward.

"Plans," agreed Hermione, not really wanting to tell them much more. She didn't think they'd take it well. *~ Taking an interest in my jewelry does not automatically make you my new best friend...again. It takes a Mountain Troll to do that. ~* she snickered to herself, remembering how the boys now standing before her had first become her friends.

"What kind of plans?" Ron said as he stepped into the cheery dorm.

"Study plans. You know, that thing were there are two people, and they help each other learn?" *~ You'd think all they do is play with their broomsticks...oh wait, that is all they do. ~*
"What are you studying?"
"Who with?" Harry and Ron spoke simultaneously.

Finally finding her Potions book *~ Damn subject. Damn teacher. Damn book. Why can I never find you? ~*, Hermione faced Harry as she replied "Potions and Arithmancy, but I was hoping to study for the Herbology test tomorrow that Professor Sprout just told us, since I think he'll probably have it too."

"Hermione, who are you studying with? Some nerd from Ravenclaw?" repeated Ron, annoyed that Hermione had ignored his question.

"Ravenclaws aren't all nerds, Ron," muttered Harry. Hermione gave him a quick grin as Ron's face got even redder. "You are dating one..."

Hermione sighed. "Boys, it won't look good if you're caught fighting in the Girls' Dorm. I'm studying with Malfoy, alright?"

"Malfoy!?!?" came the enraged yells of both boys.

"Yeah...so? We're partners in both Potions and Arithmancy. We have a project to do. Do you have a problem with that?" returned Hermione, rather scathingly. "Other than asking about my jewelry this morning Harry, neither you or Ron have spoken to me in three weeks! Am I supposed to just sit around and do nothing while a chance to improve my grades passes me by?"

Practically foaming at the lips, Harry and Ron proceeded to tell Hermione exactly why she should do just that: wait around until they needed her again.

**********

You hold me inside your iris like a terminal stain on life

You condescend to my primal brain and twist me around like a knife

Draco stepped in the room that he had arranged to meet Hermione in. He could hear the music in his head, and it was very angry, and very dark. **Yet more music I never thought she would listen to.** Looking around the room, Draco realised **It's almost exactly the same as the one in my dream...** only instead of Hermione looking sexily innocent, reading a book while her school skirt slid further up her legs, she was curled on the sofa, her body shaking uncontrollably as she cried.

Can't begin to explain

The feelings I have restrained

Don't ask me how I am

Because you're too busy planning your epitaph

Let me tell you...

"Granger?" he whispered as he moved over to the couch. She looked up at him, eyes red with tears.

"Draco...they don't want me..."

"Potty and the Weasel?"

*Sob* "One and the same."

**Oh no...and just when she was starting to look better too.**

DON'T - try to be the ONE - person

Who has STAYED - just to say

They never left me!

Aggravated, complicated, someone say it

God, I never learn...

Draco gently shushed her. She reached over and touched the Concentus mid song so that Draco could hear it, though because of the charm on it, he already could.

He smiled a small smile at her, and shifted her into his arms on the couch.

You keep me hidden behind a curtain

An audible human display

You feed me orchids to give me courage

And keep me in line with disdain

Can't begin to explain

The feelings I have restrained

Don't ask me how I am

Because you're too busy planning your epitaph

Let me tell you...

She buried her head in the crook of his neck, and her hands in his hair, and clung on for dear life. Draco was too worried about how she was going to survive emotionally now that The Boy Who Lived and His Sidekick had decided to go public with their dislike of her.

DON'T - try to be the ONE - person

Who has STAYED - just to say

They never left me!

Aggravated, complicated, someone say it

God, I never learn...

I have nothing left for you...

You left me with nothing

I have nothing left for you

You left me with NOTHING!!

Her gently stroked her back, and rocked gently, trying to ease her pain. He knew that she didn't need words to confuse her. He just held her, staring at the fire, glad to be there for her, even if it never came to anything more than this.

I live at arm's length and die a little,

Between your constants by day

I want my soul back before it's over,

I can't even wish you away

Can't begin to explain

The feelings I have restrained

Don't ask me how I am

Because you're too busy planning your epitaph

Let me tell you

DON'T - try to be the ONE - person

Who has STAYED - just to say

They never left me!

Aggravated, complicated, someone say it

God, I never learn...

I NEVER LEARN!!

**She called me Draco...**

**********

After a nice, long, healthy crying jag, Hermione felt much better.

"You want out of here?" asked Draco as Hermione cast a quick glamour spell on herself so she no longer looked like she had been crying for the past half hour. *~Which I have been...never mind...~*

"Yeah...going outside would be good."

Although it was still bitterly cold outside, today it wasn't raining, snowing, hailing...you get the idea. Draco and Hermione went their separate ways to get their Winter Cloaks and put their books away, Hermione grateful at not bumping into Harry or Ron.

*~Divination, I think. I hope the insect tells them they'll die of auto-erotic asphyxiation...~* thought Hermione darkly to herself. Smiling slightly at the thought of the headlines that would come if The Boy Who Lived died in such a Muggle manner, Hermione reached the Entrance Hall where Draco was waiting. With a curious look at her smile, Draco held the door open for Hermione, and led the way to the magical herb garden. At Hermione's curious look at the plants around her, which hadn't been killed in the horrible weather, Draco explained.
"Looks like we're about even in the 'stuff I know that she doesn't know' competition. This is Professor Sprout's outdoor nursery, for all the plants that she is growing for reasons other than lessons. I come here often getting stuff for Snape. Obviously, it's enchanted so the blasted things can't die!" Draco snarled as a Creeping Mundolo Pansy tried to grab his hair, causing him to have to move out of the way very, very fast. Creeping Mundolos resembled the Muggle Pansy flower, but were incredibly hard to remove from you once they sunk their teeth into you.

"Stupid Pansy..." he muttered, sending Hermione into giggles. He thought about what he had just said, and started to smile himself. "Well, that's actually one of the reasons I brought you here, I thought we could study for tomorrow's test...you do have it, right?"
"Yes. I was hoping the same thing, but back in the Library. My winter cloak isn't that warm, since my mum had no idea this winter was going to be like this..."

A quick warming spell later, Draco and Hermione were walking through the garden, stopping at the different plants.

"Right, how should we remember this one, Granger?" as Draco as they stopped infront of a bright orange Mons igneus.

"Isn't it obvious?" snorted Hermione. "Ron. It's explosive, and used in mind-control potions."

With a nod of agreement **Damn right it reminds me of Weasley**, they moved to the next plant. It was a bizarre shape, twisted and black. It had flecks of white all over the stem, and the bright green petals looked like the skeleton fingers of a hand.

"A Morsmordre," whispered Hermione, "I didn't even know the school had one of these."

"Incredibly rare...they best survive in grave yards. They only survive 5 years outside of a graveyard. This one is pretty old...it should be ready to die any time soon."

As it was the last flower in the row, and the pale winter light darkening with the thickening of the approaching clouds, they decided to head in. Just as they were about to climb the school's steps, they heard a crack, like lightening. Spinning around, they managed to see the Morsmordre slowly split in two, an almost blinding white light spilling out. As the light cleared, they could see a cloud of green smoke materialise and float towards the Hogsmeade graveyard.

Knowing that they had witnessed something most people didn't even know about, the two former enemies smiled at each other and moved into the school.

*~ I feel so much better now...I'm so glad he is there for me to talk to. I can't call him my enemy, not any more. I wonder if I could call him a friend? ~*

**She looks more cheerful...cold, but cheerful. I wonder if now I could be considered a friend...**

**********

fin.