There's More To You Than You Let On

Chapter 15; The Nightmare Before Christmas

On Christmas Eve morning, Hermione woke up early due to a sudden need to vomit. Since she was up, she went downstairs to help Narcissa and Ginny finish decorating and preparing for dinner with the Weasleys. Ginny had owled Hermione a few days prior that Harry and Ronald came home surprisingly. She said that they insisted on coming to spend Christmas at Malfoy Manor with the rest of the Weasleys and that they'd be on their best behavior. Narcissa allowed Ginny to come stay at the Manor for the rest of the holidays so she wouldn't have to stay with Ron and Harry. Hermione was nervous about how the night would go, it was all she could think about.

She was hanging streamers with magic when Draco ran down the stairs, panic struck. "Oh thank Merlin," He sighed at the sight of Hermione.

"What?" Hermione asked worried. He didn't respond and glided over to her. He pulled her into his chest before leaning down and pressing his lips deeply and passionately against hers. When they pulled away he hugged her tightly. "Are you going to tell me why you're acting like this?" Hermione asked.

"I've gotten so used to waking up with you that when you weren't in bed with me this morning I thought it was all a dream," He mumbled. "Scared me half to death."

"Aww," Hermione smiled before lifting on her toes to kiss him again. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," He smiled back. There was a bright flash making Hermione and Draco look to the side. Standing there, was Narcissa holding a camera and a new wizard polaroid photo.

"I think you might run out of room on the fireplace mantel," Draco joked making Hermione giggle.

"Oh, these aren't going on the mantel," Narcissa smirked.

"Where are they going then, mother?" He asked.

"They're going in the photo album to show the baby when they're older," She hummed, winking at Hermione before walking out of the room. Hermione blushed deeply and glanced up at Draco to see him looking down at her suspiciously. She just smiled and kissed him, making him forget the whole thing.

As time drew nearer to evening, Hermione became more nervous. She was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace when Draco walked in. "If you pace any faster you'll blow the fire out," He chuckled making her sigh and stop. She looked over at him with an anxious face. "What's wrong?" He asked, walking over to her.

"I'm.... I'm just nervous," She admitted. "Ronald and Harry are coming and the rest of the Weasleys and and I don't want them to get violent and try to start a fight... especially in front of Teddy-" she was rambling until Draco placed his lips on hers. She melted into the kiss, suddenly feeling better. She wrapped her arms around his neck, making the kiss deeper. He hugged her hips closer to his body before slowly and reluctantly pulling away. They rested their foreheads against each other.

"Everything's going to be fine," He whispered. She nodded before resting her head on his shoulder. There was suddenly another bright flash from one of Narcissa's cameras. She smiled at them before walking out of the room without saying a word. Draco and Hermione shared a glance before laughing. To calm Hermione down a bit more Draco suggested reading together on the couch.

It was now almost 5 o'clock when they had finished reading. The Weasleys would be arriving at any minute so the two went to change, along with Ginny and Narcissa.

Draco wore a black button up dress shirt and black dress pants with a Slytherin green tie. Hermione wore Slytherin green dress that would match the style of Ginny's Gryffindor red dress. Hermione wore natural makeup and silver heals that were the same as Ginny's. She straightened her hair so it was long and no longer frizzy. Ginny wore dark red makeup and her hair in thin curls. Hermione and her had gone to Diagon Alley a few days before, in order to buy their dresses for dinner. Narcissa was wearing a Slytherin green long dress with a slit on the side. She wore natural makeup and her hair up in a low bun.