Fiercely Stubborn Hearts

Chapter 12

The next week passed quickly for Hermione. For once in her life, she was genuinely confident about her test-taking abilities and was relatively unstressed throughout the week, spending her nights lounging by the fireplace with Draco. They talked and laughed and bickered playfully, becoming closer and closer. Pansy left with Blaise that Thursday, saying goodbye before walking with her boyfriend down to the Apparition station in Hogsmeade. The rest of the students left the next day, save three or four lower years.

The first thing Hermione did that Friday was go to the Room of Requirement, which instantly provided her with all of the music she could wish for. She and Draco spent the entire night dancing to every album and every song, celebrating being alone. They relaxed on the couch after a few hours, eating finger food that the house elves had brought up to them instead of dinner.

Talking and laughing, they made their way back to Draco's room, falling back onto the bed together.

"So," Draco said, looking over at Hermione. "We've been left alone. What are we going to do first?"

"First?" she hummed, turning over and leaning on her elbows. "First, we're going to sleep. And then tomorrow... tomorrow we could go ice skating."

He nodded, "That sounds nice. The Black Lake looked frozen solid, didn't it?"

She grimaced, "Oh, I hope not. The giant squid would not be happy."

He laughed, shaking his head, " No, I suppose not. When are you leaving for Potter's again?"

Hermione gave him a look, "Oh, stop calling him that! You two got along great during lunch, you can call him Harry!"

He bit his lip, making her gulp a little, "You're sure?"

She nodded, a little smile on her face, "Of course. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"So, when are you leaving for Harry's, then?"

She smiled, "Next Saturday. Christmas Eve."

"Well, in that case..." he said, getting up and going to his desk. "I'll give you your present now."

"My- my present? Draco, you didn't have to!"

He pulled a wrapped present out of his desk, "But I did."

"I'd wait to give it to you, but seeing as you'll be gone... I'll give it to you now."

She looked at him, "Well, you'll have to wait at least until tomorrow to get yours. I haven't wrapped it yet."

"That's alright."

He set it in front of her and hopped onto the bed, criss-crossing his legs and watching her.

She looked at him, "You really didn't have to."

He shook his head, smiling, "I already did."

That fluttering feeling reappeared in her stomach and she bit her lip and reached forward, taking the rectangular present, "Alright."

"Go ahead," he urged her.

She grabbed the curled ribbon and pulled it off carefully, then undid the tape on it meticulously. She set aside the square of paper before looking at the small book in her hands. It was brand new. She looked carefully at the shimmering gold title, and turned it side to side, watching it glisten in the light. The Laws of Death and Love.

Hermione looked up, "I've never heard of this before."

He shook his head, "You wouldn't have. It's a book written by a wizard that was intended to go with the Tales of Beedle the Bard. They denied his book because they had already reached what was the supposed lucky number, three, and believed that what they had in the Tales was enough. They thought it may not be appropriate for children. Obviously, the Tales of Beedle the Bard rose in popularity, but when The Laws of Death and Love was found and published years later, it still didn't rise to any particular fame, but I found I enjoyed it as a child. I thought you might as well."