"It's colder than I though it would be," Hermione commented next to him. "I'll cast a Warming Shield-
"Don't," he hushed her in a blank tone. "I had forgotten what the wind feels like."
She frowned at his comment and bobbed her head in understanding, keeping her Lumos low enough to guide their way and hopefully just be mistaken for a glimmer of snow, should anyone glance out of one of the castle's windows. They reached a small frozen inlet of water, and they paused underneath the fragile skeleton of a weeping willow to eye the reflections of stars freckled across the lake's icy surface.
"It's funny," Hermione muttered into the navy night. "I planned getting you here meticulously, but I never thought about what we could do once we were outside."
"Must you plan everything?" he questioned.
"Not everything. There are a couple of things that I've intended to do, but never gotten round to."
"Like what?"
She tilted her head and contemplated his question, her eyes landing on the frozen lake. "I always wanted to go ice skating."
"You've never been ice skating?" he repeated, giving her a look of slight surprise. "You seem like the type would enjoy that kind of thing."
"I think I would," she nodded. "Can you ice skate?"
"Of course."
Hermione swallowed back the lump in her throat and lifted her chin. "Would you teach me?"
"You're joking, right?" he scoffed, but the taunt melted in his mouth when he noted her pleading look. His pebble-grey eyes studied her intently, and his lip twitched before he rolled his eyes in surrender. "Fine," he said, heading towards the edge of the lake. "I suppose it could be amusing to watch you fall. What about all the creatures in the lake though?"
"They get put into a hibernation state when it freezes like this," she explained, following him, and reciting a quick transfiguration spell to turn their shoes into skates. "Draco, are you…
She trailed off as he took to the ice with an effortless grace and skill that made her chest flutter for a reason she couldn't comprehend. Feeling completely inadequate, she hesitantly placed one skate onto the ice and cringed at the odd and unbalanced feeling that stole her nerve.
"Draco," she called, bringing her foot back to the land. "I've changed my mind-
"Come on, Granger," he goaded, easily coasting across the frozen surface. "What happened to all that Gryffindor courage bollocks?"
"I don't like it," she told him. "I don't like not being in control and-
"This was your idea," he reminded her.
"Well, then can you help me?" she requested, gesturing that she wanted him to come back to her side. "Just…give me a hand or something-
"If you would just get on the ice-
"Please, Draco," she tried, catching his eyes to let him know she was serious.
"For Merlin's sake," he sighed, making his way over to her and stretching out his hand. "Come on then, Granger."
"Don't be a prick and push me or anything," the witch warned, taking his offered hand and bracing herself as she settled her skate on the lake again. She wobbled, and Draco instinctively provided his other hand for her balance as she hastily placed her other skate on the ice, feeling her nails through his multiple layers as she clung to him desperately. "I don't like this."
"I can see that," he smirked mockingly as she wavered on her unstable legs. "Get a grip, Granger. It's a piece of piss once you get going-
"Cocky prat-
"Just move your skates in diagonal lines," he instructed, slowly gliding backwards and pulling her with him. "You'll get the hang of it-
"I swear, Draco," she whispered, in a tone that was apparently meant to be threatening. "If you let go of my hands-
"I won't let go," he assured her absently, catching her as she stumbled. "Bloody hell, you really do have no coordination. Now I think of it, you were crap on a broom too."
"Merlin forbid I have a handicap," she replied, allowing him to essentially drag her across the ice. "Everyone has a weakness."
Draco faltered at that comment but managed to keep them both steady as he mulled over her words. In the back of his brain, he had half-expected that her influence over him would wither once he had escaped her isolated dorm, but watching her now; specks of snow trapped between the strands of her hair, a blossom-blush warming her features, and trusting him like it was the easiest thing in the world, she was just as alluring out here as she was in their room.
He'd expected to revert back to his old ways
To be swarmed by his previous opinions
To hate her again, as he should.
But…
She had somehow become his weakness.
"I think I've got it now," Hermione said, her voice rich with concentration. "Let go of one of my hands-
"Forgive me," Draco blurted suddenly, halting them where they were and grasping her upper arms. His breathing became laboured as he watched the shock swirl in her Autumn-shaded eyes, and he resisted that ever-present urge to kiss her slightly parted lips as he waited for her response. "Forgive me," he repeated, quieter this time.
For everything I have ever done, and everything I will inevitably do to hurt you in the future.
Blame it on that sentimental rush that Christmas apparently inflicted on the unsuspecting, or the acceptance that his attraction to her existed beyond the walls of her dorm, or even that he wanted to repay her for reminding him how the wind felt, but he needed this one moment of clarity before they returned to the castle. She was the only aspect in his dark existence that was close to pure and good, and he wanted to savour her before he, or the realities of War, destroyed this dose of peace.
"I think I forgave you weeks ago," she told him with a sad smile, leaning up to snatch his lips and seal her promise. She felt tears slip past her lashes as she broke their kiss and rested her forehead against his, clenching her eyes shut to conceal the true level of her affection. "Merry Christmas, Draco."
Just a Perfect Day.
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else.
Someone good.
.
.
.
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