Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N: Sorry for the lack of update last week. I had an insanely busy weekend and just got back from another one. But, thankfully, I finished this chapter early and sent it off to my beta where it was awaiting me in my inbox when I got back. So thank you so much Vincent for all your hard work to make this chapter shine! I hope you all like this chapter and I'll be up to my regular updates in no time. I just need to get used to school and how quickly my weekends are filling up.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Jessica's Guide aren't mine. If they were, I would be up to my eyeballs in money and ego.

Enjoy!

-

Winter Song

"This is my winter song to you.
The storm is coming soon,
it rolls in from the sea

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?"
- Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson (Winter Song)

Why does life always throw you curveballs that you could never anticipate?

When I was seven, my aunt got me a stack of freshly purchased books for my birthday - that was a happy surprise. A year later my grandfather died. That wasn't nearly as cheerful or cause for any internal celebration. In these past four months alone, I've found out I'm a witch and became the girlfriend of Drake Malloy, the guy I've been pining over for little under a year. Those, more than anything, were cause for a shock as strong as lightning. After experiencing two life changing events like that I thought that any other surprise life threw at me I would be fully prepared for. I was wrong.

The mumbles of voices as I came down the steps were of little concern to me as I adjusted the large sweater I had changed into atop my right shoulder. I was only inches from the door when the sound of my name stopped me in my tracks - the only word my ears, as well as everyone else's in the world, were specially tuned to.

"We know you better than you know yourself more times than not. And I'm saying that there's something about Hermione that's changing you."

The voice belonged to Ginny. Her matter-of-fact tone and girlish attributes when she pronounced the words gave her away.

"Changing me?" Harry's voice perked up. Of course he would be down here and changed already.

"She's like your better half. She ripped your head off about your promiscuous adventures and you took it to heart. She made you speechless. Not to mention that you light up whenever you see her."

I blushed at that. Did he really light up whenever I entered a room? That seemed like something only books talked about.

"Whatever feelings I have for Hermione don't matter. I'm here to protect her and nothing else."

What? The internal voice inside me yelled. I then felt a heavy, yet somewhat pleasant, jump in my lower stomach. I unconsciously put a hand over it and looked down. I knew that feeling.

"Besides," He added with a noticeably clipped tone. "She has a boyfriend."

That's right! The voice perked up. Drake. Oh, Gods. I haven't even thought about him in the past day. The jumping in my stomach was quickly replaced by a sickly feeling.

"Bummer." Ron piped up, alerting me that he was part of the conversation as well. "I bet he's a prick."

Harry laughed dryly. "You have no idea."

I scoffed. The nerve of him was enough to make me want to sprint over and punch him. Only Harry could make my feelings roller coaster like this; make me go from happy to enraged in the span of a few seconds. Well, I concluded, I had better reveal myself sooner rather than later before he says something else that will send me closer over the edge.

I took the first few steps cautiously, testing the ground ahead of me. The three of them seemed off in their own little world and I let out a breath. Maybe they wouldn't think I had been listening.

"Hello." I said as cheerily as I could manage. No one jerked in surprise, which I found rather odd seeing as I just interrupted dead silence. Then I reminded myself that these three had lived in the Wizarding World their whole lives and had been dealing with the return of Voldemort for a few years. Nothing should startle them.

The only seat available was next to Harry on the loveseat and I sat down slowly. Ginny handed me a steaming mug filled with the rich scent of coco with a wink. I found this rather odd, but passed it off as nothing. Ginny was just odd in general, so why should this action tell me otherwise?

We all stayed in silence for a while. It was Ron who dared to be the first to speak. "So… Harry tells me you have a boyfriend?"

I heard Harry groan from beside me. I felt heat rise up in my cheeks. Ron was one of those people who spoke before they thought and it always lead to the displeasure of at least one other person in the room. It was the second time he had said something that didn't please Harry. First, with his colorful past, and now with his inquiry about Drake. I figured I could just tell him and save us from anything too awkward. Besides, it wasn't as if I was hiding anything.

"Yeah. His name is Drake Malloy."

Ron's brow furrowed. "Drake Malloy?"

I head Harry mutter something under his breath but I was too focused on Ron to pay it any mind. I nodded and the lines in the redhead's forehead deepened.

"That sure sounds familiar." Ginny said softly, looking directly at Harry. I followed her gaze just in time to see Harry bury his head into the palms of his hands.

"Yeah." Ron agreed.

"Well I can't say that you know him." I said, tearing my eyes away from Harry. "He's a Muggle."

"Hm." Ginny said noncommittally. Her face was contorted to one of deep thought. Looking over at Ron, I saw he was sporting a similar look, but his made him look more like he was constipated than in a reverie of any kind.

"How long have the two of you been, erm, together?" Ron asked, saving me the embarrassment of giggling at his face by relaxing his features and focusing his attention back toward me.

"Almost two months." I replied. "But I've known him since he transferred last January."

Ginny's head snapped over to me. "Last January?"

"Uh, yes?" I said with a hint of question at the end.

"And where did Drake transfer from?" She asked slowly.

"Some boarding school in Scotland," I replied. "He didn't tell me a name, though - said it wasn't worth talking about."

Her head went back over to Harry, whose face had gone white. "Harry! Why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell us what?" Ron asked.

"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about the mission for confidentiality reasons, you know that." Harry said coolly.

"You could have at least mentioned this part!" Ginny said in a harsh voice.

"What part?" Ron's voice was getting more anger-ridden with every syllable.

"No, I couldn't have, Ginny."

"If this is because of your stupid pride-"

"It isn't stupid; I know I can handle this on my own!"

"Then how come she doesn't know?!" Ginny screeched.

Harry was silent after that. I couldn't tell if it was because he was speechless (something I doubted, seeing as Ginny told me I was the only one capable of rendering him so) or didn't have a proper response. My eyes flickered between the two of them. If they were arguing about what I think they're arguing about…

"Doesn't. Know. What." Ron said heatedly. His aggravation of not being tuned into the conversation finally shone through his voice.

Ginny turned her neck to her brother, her eyes flickering to me for only a moment before speaking. I knew what she was going to say as soon as her mouth opened. "Hermione's dating Draco Malfoy."

"WHAT?!"

"My reaction exactly." Harry said with a cool amusement.

"Shut up, you." Ginny said without looking back at him.

All eyes then shifted to me. I wish I could humor them with a response, but I was speechless. Draco Malfoy. That was the name Harry had called Drake when he first saw him. I had heard Harry say it numerous times but the name being emitted by Ginny was surreal. I had thought for sure that Harry had been making up this alter ego of Drake's. I mean, who had a name like Draco Malfoy anyway?

The silence was deafening. They were all waiting for me to say something, Harry especially. I dared a look at him and saw his face was grim. I had expected him to have an "I told you so" smirk or knowing glint in his eye at least. But no, he was looking at me as if he was sorry. It took me a moment to realize what for. He was sorry I had to find out this way. He wanted me to find out on my own, knowing that I could now protect myself if anything went wrong. It was like Ginny said - his pride was getting the better of him.

A sigh emitted from Ginny's mouth and let me see she knew I wasn't going to speak for at least a few more minutes. Instead of waiting, she initiated the conversation once more. "You could have easily shown her a picture or a memory in a pensieve before she agreed to go out with him."

"I know." Harry replied smoothly.

She gave him a look. "Well then why didn't you?"

He shrugged. "I figured he would mess up on his own."

"She could be in love with him by now!" Ginny said heatedly.

"She's not." Harry said, looking over at me.

Ginny followed his gaze. I averted my eyes from the two of them. "How do you know that?"

"I just do."

He sounded so certain, so sure of himself. It made me want to slap him. But, in his defense, he was right. Sure, I liked Drake - Draco - a lot, but that doesn't mean that I'm in love with him. Not that I even knew what love feels like in the first place. Besides, if I were to fall in love with another that would mean Harry and I's bond would be transferred. I'm sure I would have noticed if a magical bond transference were to take place.

The question came tumbling out of my mouth quicker than I could stop them. "Who is he?"

"Who, Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

I nodded.

She shifted her eyes over at Harry, but he didn't look like he would be speaking up anytime soon. With a single sigh, she began to speak. "He goes - went to school with us at Hogwarts. His father is one of Voldemort's followers and he's been in the line to be one since birth. He comes from a long line of Pureblood Slytherin assholes who think they're Gods because they're fans of inbreeding." She scoffed. "Last January after winter holidays, he mysteriously disappeared from classes. There were a lot of different reasons people came up with but-"

"Dumbledore said he had a very bad case of the Wizard Flu." Harry interrupted. I jerked my head over to him. His worn features had been replaced with colored cheeks and narrowed eyes. "But we all knew he had quit Hogwarts and was finally following in his father's footsteps."

"He was trying to make you fall in love with him, wasn't he?" Ginny asked.

"I guess so." I said quietly. "But that still doesn't - I mean, Drake can't be…"

"He always has been, Hermione. I just didn't prove it to you quickly enough." Harry said.

"I have proof." Ron said. We all turned to look at him. He had been relatively quiet throughout this whole ordeal so his words were like a cool breeze. "If you want it, that is."

I nodded before I could stop myself. My gut knew what they are saying is true, but I have spent so much time denying it, seeing proof could only make it better - lessen the blow. When Ron got up, I began to shiver in what I assumed to be anticipation.

"Was it because of your pride?" I asked Harry.

He shifted in his seat. "Partly." I heard Ginny mumble something that sounded like "Knew it." under her breath, but Harry pressed on. "But I also wanted to see him mess up."

"Harry!" I scolded.

"It's not like that." He said in defense. I arched an eyebrow. "Okay maybe a little. But it was mostly because I wanted to see if he was going to be as big of a fuck up as his dad is when it comes to Death Eater business."

This was news to me. "So you were risking my safety so you could prove that he would suck at his mission?"

"I didn't prove anything." He said in a defeated tone. "He was doing his job perfectly."

"Then why didn't you stop him?" I asked, getting increasingly angry.

"Because I didn't want to hurt you!" He said quickly.

My eyes locked with his and I saw them shining with an unfamiliar gleam. Before I could say anything in response, he threw himself off of the loveseat and made a beeline for the stairs. I watched him leave with a frown etched upon my face.

"Wow." Ginny breathed.

I looked over at her. "What?"

She blinked rapidly and shook her head before turning to me. "Nothing. Oh, hello Ron."

I turned and saw Ron taking up his former seat with a picture clutched in his right hand. My stomach lurched in my throat. He twirled the photo in his hands for a moment before speaking. "Colin Creevey gave me this photo right before winter holidays last year. It was taken when he was putting together a scrapbook for his parents as a thank-you gift for letting him come to Hogwarts. He didn't want a picture of Malfoy in there so I took it off his hands hoping it was something embarrassing. Turns out it was just a candid, but I couldn't find Colin to return it and he put an anti-destruction charm on it so I just stuffed it at the bottom of my trunk. I forgot it was down there until now."

When he was finished, he held out the photo to me and I took it gingerly. A part of me still didn't want to see it but an even bigger part knew it was the right thing to do. I needed proof so my mind could process what was finally becoming clear. I flipped it over and my breath caught.

At first, I didn't recognize him at all. He was sneering, his hair was longer, and instead of his normal jeans and t-shirt, he was wearing a gray wool pullover and striped tie with a crest stitched into it. But, underneath all those things, he was still Drake Malloy. No, he was Draco Malfoy.

"Is it him?" Ginny asked softly.

"Yes." I responded in a similar manner.

"I'm sorry, Hermione." She said with honest sympathy.

"It's - it's okay." I stammered, feeling the reaction that had been suppressed inside my psyche begin to break through.

"You sure?"

I looked over at her. "Yeah. But I think I'm going to head up to my room for a bit."

I made a move to return the picture, but Ron held up a hand in protest. "You keep it. I don't want to hold onto that thing another day."

I resisted the urge to throw it at his face anyway, but managed a nod. I turned to leave and heard Ginny call out a goodbye just as I reached the doorway. I increased my speed and jogged up the stairs, the picture clutched tightly in my hand. I could feel the tears well up in my eyes as I arrived at the second floor. I switched gears to a sprint to reach my room just in time for the first tear to fall.

The door clicked shut behind me as I went over to my bed and laid face-down into its warm depths. At first, the tears that fell were of grief, as most tears start out. Then, they quickly turned to ones of anger. Anger at myself for being so ignorant when it came to the truth, anger at Harry for doing all the wrong things to help only himself, but most of all, anger at Draco for pulling this stunt. And to think - if Harry hadn't come along, I would have actually stood a chance at falling in love with him. But Harry did come along, and with him there, Draco never stood a chance. But I'll think about that later.

My crying subdued when half my water weight leaked out of my eye sockets. Only then did I let the exhaustion of the day pull me into unconsciousness.

~*~

"WAKE UP, HERMIONE! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

I groaned into my pillow and mentally cursed Ginny for being a morning person. It had been a week since I had found out the truth about Draco. In that time, Harry and I only spoke when necessary, ergo at meals and when Ron and Ginny forced the two of us to go out with them. It wasn't as if we were mad at each other, which would be juvenile. No, it was because now that the recent dirty laundry had been aired, we had no idea how to act around each other.

Slipping out of bed, I sleepily padded to my door and opened it to see Ginny grinning manically on the other side. I gave her a look through hooded eyes. "What time is it?"

"Five-thirty sharp." She replied brightly.

I didn't repress a groan. "Seriously?"

"Oh come on. The quicker you get out of bed, the quicker you get your presents." She then proceeded to take my hand and drag me out of the confines of my room. I didn't have the energy to stop her, so I simply followed. The trip down the stairs was what ultimately woke me up. I almost toppled on top of Ginny on the second step down and that moment of free falling was the burst of adrenaline I needed to open my eyes wide and brace myself against the railing.

We reached the living room with my hand still grasped in Ginny's. The Christmas tree in the corner was covered with a beautiful layer of tinsel, twinkling lights, and a few magical ornaments that changed both color and shape every few minutes. A pile of presents up to my hips was stuffed underneath and around the fresh pine, completing the picture. It was like something you would see on a cheesy Christmas card from your distant relatives that you never really talk to.

Ginny let go of my hand at once and skipped over to the right side of the tree, where she had two stacks of presents waiting. "I already sorted out mine and yours when I got up."

"When did you get up?"

"Four." She said. "I can't sleep when I know there's a whole stack of gifts waiting for me downstairs."

I rolled my eyes. "Is there at least food out to wake me up?"

She shook her head. "We eat after we open gifts."

I sighed. "Where is everyone else, then?"

"Oh, I sent Mum to wake them all up." She said with a wave of her hand.

As if on cue, a voice louder than anything I had ever heard wailed from upstairs. "YOU GET YOUR BUTT DOWNSTAIRS RONALD WEASLEY OR I SWEAR I WILL BURN YOUR BUM WITH THE HEAT OF MY WAND!"

Ginny snorted. "It only takes her trying to get Ron up to wake the whole house."

I chuckled. With the promise of the others arriving soon, I looked down to my pile of presents to see it stacked full of more than I was anticipating. They were all wrapped in an assortment of ways, each with a specific touch. Just the sight of them alone was enough to make me excited. I could see now why Ginny was so uppity when she woke me up.

Molly was the first to enter the room, a satisfied smile on her face. After her was Ron looking as if he just had a tussle with a lion; his hair and clothes in disarray. Harry soon followed looking much the same, his glasses being the only thing properly proportioned. The rest of the house filed in after them, each sporting tired looks similar to mine, the only exception being Tonks, who was wearing a wide grin.

Harry and Ron began sorting through the presents, handing everyone their designated gift. They were done in two minutes and soon after they took seats next to Ginny and I, everyone began tearing through their wrappings like it was a contest to see who could finish first. I grabbed a random present off the top of my pile and joined in. The tag said it was from Molly and Arthur. I tore it open hastily and saw the smooth fabric of clothing waiting to be worn. Unfolding the garment, I discovered it was a sweater, hand-knit by the looks of it. I ran my hand over the soft fabric and looked over at Molly, who was giving me a smile. I returned the gesture and turned it around. Against the deep purple body was a large "H" stitched in with light gray. I hurriedly put it on over my pajamas and reveled in its warmth. This must have been what Molly had wanted my measurements for it fit perfectly.

The next present was one from my parents who had sent it over with Harry. It was the complete works of Jane Austen encased in a beautiful black velvet box. I made a mental note to give them both a very long hug when I saw them tonight at dinner.

Ron and Ginny each got me a gift to my surprise. From Ron, a bag of sweets I had never heard of that I was very eager to try before my parents discovered them; from Ginny, a silver bracelet with a single charm on it in the shape of a star that changed colors whenever you pressed the tip of your finger to its back. I thanked them both enthusiastically and told them to open my presents before I moved on.

Ginny smiled widely when she saw the assortment of chocolates. "Muggle chocolate? Oh, thank you so much, Hermione! I've wanted to try these for ages."

"You're welcome."

Ron opened his gift and furrowed his brow. I had also bought him candy, but it wasn't one so easily as distinguishable. He held up the package and examined it carefully before turning to me. "What are these? Licorice wands?"

I shrugged. "I can't say. I've never tried those. I picked these up in the imported foods section of the candy shop, though. They're made in the States and are quite good, if you ask me."

He turned the package over and read the label. "Red Vines?"

"They're delicious, I promise." I said sincerely.

He quickly opened the package and took out one of the red strings of candy. He bit off a bit of one end and his face lit up. "These are like the best things I've ever tasted!"

"I'm glad you like them." I said with a smile.

He quickly finished the piece and I turned back to my gifts. One in particular stood out to me, the metallic blue of the wrappings shining through the rest. It was thin and wrapped with a white silk bow. I reached for it and turned the package over to see who it was from. It came as no surprise at all when I saw from: Harry engraved in ink on the back. I smiled to myself and carefully unwrapped it. When I tossed the paper to the side, I raised a hand to cover my gaping mouth.

It was the picture Harry found the night we went into the attic.

Except it wasn't just the photo anymore; he had framed it in ornate silver and had our names engraved in cursive writing on the top and bottom. Hermione Jane Granger, Harry James Potter. It was beautiful. I looked over to Harry to see his eyes already on me. He was smiling.

"Thank you." I said softly.

"You're welcome." He responded. "Look on the back."

I turned the frame over and saw a slip of paper with Harry's neat handwriting. This ticket is good for one book from Flourish & Blott's courtesy of Harry Potter. I let out a breath of laughter. He really didn't forget his promises. I turned back over to Harry to thank him once more and saw him looking down with an expression of wonder. He brought up the mystery object he was so enamored with and I was surprised to see my drawing in his hands. Indeed, it was my present to him, framed and signed, but I didn't think it would be that impressive. He looked at me and jerked his head towards the doorway. I took his invitation and excused myself.

We met in the entrance hall just outside the living room. When I turned around to face him, he immediately pulled me into his arms. My body didn't respond at first, seeing as we hadn't been on speaking terms the past few days, but instinct took over and I wrapped my arms around him, returning his embrace. He pulled away after a moment and leaned in swiftly, placing his lips on my cheek for a brief kiss. I blushed and we disengaged from each other.

"I just wanted to… thank you properly, I guess." He said nervously.

"Gratitude accepted." I said with a shy smile. "Thank you again for the beautiful gift."

I leaned my back against the wall as he answered. "Thank you for the drawing. It was way more than I deserved."

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "It was nothing. Just some sketch you asked me to do…"

"It came from your heart." He replied in a voice that warmed my senses. "And no one deserves a piece of that. It's too precious to give away."

"Harry…" I said, the back of my nose prickling with new forming tears.

He shook his head. "Draco is a snake. The fact that you were willingly giving into him killed me, even if I knew it was my own decision to keep it going. I just want to apologize for that - for letting you associate with that. I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."

"I could never hate you." I said quietly. "I could never hate someone who has a place in my heart, whether they feel they deserve it or not."

His eyes darkened as he placed one hand against the wall, right next to my face. "Hermione." He whispered.

"Harry..." I whispered back.

"Hermione!" A shrill voice called from the other room. Harry flinched. "Your parents are here!"

"My parents?" I asked softly to myself. "They're not supposed to be here until dinner."

Harry removed his hand from the wall and backed away a few steps. I missed him being so close to me as soon as he pulled away. "You'd better go greet them, then."

"Harry-"

"Go on." He said with a smile. "You're mum's probably going spare."

I nodded. "Right. You coming?"

He shook his head. "Nah. I think I'll help Molly with breakfast."

"Alright." I said, turning to leave.

"Hermione." Harry said, stopping me in my tracks.

"Yes?"

"Erm… don't let your mum suffocate you."

"I'll try not to." I said with a laugh.

We both headed off in different directions and as soon as I reentered the living room, my mum launched herself into my arms. I hugged her back as best I could and rested my head on her shoulder, her hair brushing against my cheek. I opened my eyes to see my dad looking at the two of us appreciatively and just before I pulled away from my mother's embrace, I caught a wisp of black hair walking in the opposite direction. I didn't realize my heart had been pounding hard against my chest in the entrance hall until now, because when it started up again after seeing a glimpse of Harry, it was almost habitual.

It's amazing how quickly things can change. I thought Draco was the one for me, but it turns out I had been overlooking what was right in front of me. And after we returned home, I was going to tell Draco exactly that. Harry Potter has always had a place in my heart, I'll say, but you never will.

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