Roommates

Seventeen

The next few days went by quickly and soon it was Christmas morning. House-Elves came to wake up Hermione and laid out some clothes for her to wear as they put her breakfast tray on her bed.

"Merry Christmas, Lyttie," Hermione told the toga-wearing Elf.

"Merry Christmas, Miss," Lyttie squeaked back.

Hermione rummaged around in the nightstand's drawer. "I made something for you, Lyttie," she said. "Here." She held out a small cake. "Blaise and I made it last night with some of the other House-Elves. I hope you like it."

"Miss didn't have to make anything for Lyttie," Lyttie told her, smiling. A tiny tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. "But Miss is very kind."

"Well, you've been really nice to me while I've been here, so I figured that it would be nice to give you something," Hermione told her smiling. "Thanks for breakfast."

Lyttie smiled back and left the bedroom, shooing the House-Elves that had been tiding the room out before her. She closed the door softly and Hermione started to eat.

Once she was done, she got out of bed and walked over to her closet. Opening it, she stared blankly at her clothes until she decided what she wanted to wear. She pulled out a pair of dark red robes with a green over robe and a pair of black high heels reserved for important occasions. She looked at herself in the mirror from all angles and made minor adjustments to things. When she was satisfied with her clothing, she sat down at the vanity, put on a bit of makeup, opened the small jewelry box she brought with her and put on the ring Blaise had given her along with a silver locket her parents had given her.

After that, she read for a while before giving into temptation completely and going to knock on Blaise's door. When he called to her "Come in," and she opened the door, she was surprised to see him actually out of bed and dressed. Blaise was wearing a set of dark blue dress robes, and his hair was hanging around his head, with a few strands in his eyes.

What surprised Hermione even more was that Draco Malfoy was sitting across from Blaise, in similar dress robes that were black. Draco and Blaise were currently occupied with throwing a ball back and forth, arguing about something.

"They are so better than Italy," Draco was saying heatedly. "If they weren't, how did they demolish them in the '67 tournament?"

"Oh, come off it, Draco," Blaise replied. "Everyone knows that the French team is into some sort of drug. Dreamspice, maybe. And they only beat Italy that year because the team was completely wasted that day."

"Be that as it may," Draco said, ignoring the suggestion that his team was on drugs, "they still beat Italy."

"And Italy's beat them in every tourney since then," Blaise retorted.

Draco glared at him. "So. Granger. Who's your favorite national Quidditch team?"

Hermione blinked for a moment. "Are you actually asking me something, Malfoy? In a civil way, I mean."

"Don't get used to it," Draco warned. "And just answer the question."

"I don't really like Quidditch at all," Hermione said. Blaise and Draco blinked at her, mouths open in astonishment. "Sorry. But if I had to pick a team, I'd say England."

"I still can't believe you're dating her," Draco mumbled. "You could've had so many others..."

"Like who?" Blaise asked. "Pansy? Millie? I think not."

"Padma Patil's panting over you," Draco informed him.

"No," Blaise said firmly. He smiled at Hermione, who blushed. "I like Hermione. Why would I want to date anyone else?"

"You've been 'dating' her for a grand total of three days," Draco retorted.

"Yeah, well, at least I don't get into perpetual arguments with her over nothing," Blaise said. "And at least she doesn't have six brothers who would tear me limb from limb if they knew I was dating her."

Draco made a face at him. "Yeah, well, we'll see about that," he said, standing up. "What now?"

"Uh, Blaise," Hermione said, "I was just wondering if your family opens presents at all. Because I think mine might have been delivered downstairs and I don't know if I should open them yet..."

Blaise jumped up. "Of course!" he said. "Presents. I completely forgot. So sorry, Hermione. C'mon, let's go."

They ran downstairs, Blaise and Draco arguing about relationships with Hermione inserting the occasional comment. Blaise led them to a large room that had a fifteen-foot Christmas tree at the end farthest from the door.

Blaise's parents, Lilithe and her husband, the elder Malfoys, Zel and Eduardo and June and her 'friend' were already there, chatting with strained politeness while they opened a few gifts.

"Merry Christmas, everyone," Blaise said cheerfully, settling onto a couch with Hermione as a House-Elf brought them their gifts.

"Merry Christmas," the others responded, equally cheerful as they rooted through the piles in front of them for the most promising packages.

Hermione picked up her first present and saw that it was from her parents. She unwrapped it to find a sweater she had seen during the summer, but hadn't been able to buy, due to lack of funds. Her present from Harry was the limited edition of the re-release of Hogwarts: A History. Ron gave her a writing desk filled with parchment, ink bottles and ten new quills.

After she had finished opening everything, she looked back down and saw there was one package left. A tiny box in red wrapping paper tied with a silver bow. She looked over at Blaise, who was trying not to smile.

"Blaise..." she said, untying the bow carefully and unwrapping the paper so that none of it tore. "You didn't have to.... Oh my. It's- It's-" she looked at him, openmouthed. "It's beautiful." Inside the box was a silver chain on which hung a silver star with tiny diamonds imbedded in it. Blaise reached over and put the necklace on her.

"Of course I did," he said. "I saw it, and it reminded me of you."

"But..." Hermione said. "Where did you get it?"

He tweaked her nose. "That's for me to know and you to wonder about, Gryff."

"This is all very cute," Draco drawled, "but I want to see if Blaise got me a gift."

"What do you think, Draco?" Blaise retorted.

Draco glared at him. "Humph," he said. "I'm going to see if June got me one." He walked off, and Blaise went back to looking at Hermione, who was holding a large rectangular box in her hands, grinning at him. "Here," she said, pushing it at him.

"What's this?" he asked, accepting it and starting to tear off the paper. He pulled the top off the box to reveal a very large and thick dark blue sweater. "A sweater?"

Hermione grinned. "Not just a sweater. A Weasley sweater. I wrote Mrs. Weasley and asked her to tell me how to make one for you. She thought it would be a challenge for me, since I'm not much of a knitter and sent me the directions. I really, really hope it's all right. What d'you think? What d'you think?" She looked at him eagerly.

Blaise took off his over robe and pulled the sweater on over his shirt. "I love it," he said. "Merry Christmas." He kissed her on the cheek as the House-Elves called everyone to an early dinner.