It's been four years . . .since I first wrote this. How time flies. I plan on completing this story this year. That's my resolution for the new year. Time to move on. But not quite yet . . .

Chapter Thirty: Surprise

Christmas with the Malfoys was definitely unlike anything Hermione had ever experienced. Everywhere she looked, there were house-elves scurrying from room to room. On Christmas Eve the entire manor was a flurry of activity. Hermione emerged from her room to find Draco waiting outside her door.

"I was just about to call you down. We're having breakfast early since there's a lot to be done."

"When are the guests supposed to be coming?" Hermione asked as she followed Draco to the dining room.

"At seven but Mother wants us all ready and downstairs at six," he said. "And make sure you're not even a minute late. Mother hates when things don't go her way, especially right before a party."

"Sounds like someone I know," Hermione muttered.

Unfortunately, Draco heard her but to her surprise he just winked at her over his shoulder. Hermione almost stumbled in her descent. Draco had been acting stranger and stranger since that day at the pond. He smiled more, especially in her direction. It was as though he was hiding some kind of secret. Hermione wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Was he planning something? Was that why he was being so nice to her?

"Oh there you are, Draco. Good, you brought Hermione too. Quickly, sit down and eat. There's a lot to do today," said Narcissa, when they entered the dining room.

"Do you need any help?" Hermione offered. She took a seat next to Draco.

"No, no, dear. I appreciate your asking but the house-elves will see to carrying out the preparations. As I will be overseeing them, why don't you and Draco spend some time alone?"

Hermione was still stuck on what Narcissa had said about the house-elves to answer. It was Draco who told his mother that he would be delighted to show Hermione around the Manor and familiarize her to her surroundings.

"I can hardly believe you haven't remembered the layout of the Manor," Narcissa laughed.

"Don't worry. By the time we're done, she'll have committed every detail to memory," assured Draco.

But Hermione barely heard any of the conversation. She couldn't help but think about the house-elves who couldn't catch a break-not even on Christmas Eve. They deserved a break. Hermione opened her mouth to say as much when Draco caught her glance and delivered a swift pinch to her arm.

"Oww, what was that for?" Hermione scowled.

"Just wanted to make sure you weren't dozing off."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at his glib reply. Somehow she got the feeling Draco had known what she was going to say and stopped her before she could. If he didn't want her to say anything to Narcissa, then so be it, but he was going to get an earful.

After breakfast concluded, Narcissa dashed off to her husband's study. He had declined breakfast and she wanted to make sure he was fine. Hermione and Draco were left alone at the big dining table, staring at their plates.

"Why didn't you want me to say anything?"

Draco rolled his eyes at Hermione. "Well that should be obvious."

"No, it's not so maybe you should explain. What's wrong with giving the house-elves a vacation? They've been laboring away since we've arrived and I doubt they'll catch a break anytime soon."

"You don't understand. Christmas is Mother's time of year. She needs to have everything perfect and I don't want you to go along and ruin that."

"Ruin it? I don't see how my trying to better your house-elves' situation can ruin anything."

"For one thing, I doubt she'd do what you suggest. Even if she did, Father wouldn't stand for it and he's already antagonized by your presence," Draco stated carelessly. Too late, he realized what he'd just said. His eyes widened and he tried to take but what he said.

"I didn't know that," Hermione said, her voice small. "Maybe inviting me here was a bad idea."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"You just said that he doesn't like me being here."

"Yes, but what I meant was that he felt uncomfortable," Draco remedied.

"And that makes it better? Is that why he wasn't at breakfast?"

"You give yourself too much credit, Granger. He just doesn't want to be around all of Mother's Christmas zeal."

"So I don't make him uncomfortable?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Oh you do," Draco admitted, blatantly. "But he's always been unnerved by you. It contradicts everything he believes about Muggle-borns."

"I suppose that makes sense, I guess," Hermione stated, uncertainly.

"Now, how about that tour I promised you?" Draco said, quickly changing the subject.

Hermione frowned, aware of what he was doing, but she didn't mount any objections. If Lucius Malfoy still didn't like her, there was nothing more that she could do about it. But Malfoy mentioned something about a promise.

"You promised me a tour?"

Draco stared at her for a second. "Yes, at breakfast. Don't you remember?"

"No, I don't. I was probably distracted."

"By my dashing good looks?" Draco asked hopefully.

"Keep dreaming," Hermione snorted.

"Oh, I will." Draco gave Hermione a wink and pushed away from the table. "Follow my lead."

Hermione stared at his back as she followed him out of the dining room and through a door down the hall. That was Draco's second wink today. Something must be wrong with him. As Draco led her into room after room, Hermione's thoughts drifted to that day at the pond. They hadn't talked about that moment they'd had but it had been different from anything that had happened between them before. Not even when he'd kissed her had she felt that way. He'd acted as if nothing had changed but Hermione couldn't deny there'd been a shift in their relationship.

"Thinking about me?" Draco asked, interrupting Hermione's thoughts.

Immediately, Hermione's face turned red. How did he know? But when she glanced at him he was laughing at her. She rolled her eyes. That was it, Hermione decided, she was not going to spare another thought for him. Obviously, she was imagining thing. Draco didn't feel anything for her. That moment at the lake must have been a fluke. Reassured by her sound thinking, Hermione followed Draco upstairs.

By the time Hermione was dressed in a velvety green dress, it was 5:53. She rushed downstairs, carefully maneuvering her dress so that she didn't step on the hem. At the landing, Hermione looked around. No one was in sight. For a second, she wondered if she'd heard Draco say the wrong time. Or did he do this deliberately? He had been acting strange and Narcissa had never mentioned anything about arriving early. Just as she was about to march back upstairs and ask Draco just what he was up to, Hermione saw Narcissa approaching.

"You look ravishing," Narcissa stated, eying her approvingly. "But much too early. No doubt this was the doing of Draco."

"I had a feeling," Hermione admitted. "Do you know where he is?"

"I saw him going outside, probably to the garden. Merlin only knows what he's doing outside. The guests are going to arrive soon!"

Narcissa looked as though she was ready to hex everything in sight. Draco wasn't kidding when he said his mom really got into the holidays. Hermione decided to step in before Narcissa had a breakdown.

"I'll go look for him," Hermione said.

"Thank you. I'll be in my dressing room if you need anything."

It took Hermione awhile to find the proper exit in the direction of the gardens. She wondered if there was a map of the Manor somewhere. There were so many doors, windows that looked like doors, and revolving bookshelves it was a wonder that she even made it outside. It was cold outside and Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep warm. Her breath escaped in small, white puffs. She followed the stone path, remembering her wedding day when she followed the path to the archway where Draco stood . . . her husband. It was vexing how many times she had to remind herself of that fact. It was easy to forget they were married but that was the way she and Draco preferred it.

By the time Hermione came to the end of the path where the archway once stood, she was shivering. Where was Draco? She looked around the fragrant garden.

"Draco?" she called out, walking towards a shape that looked like Draco.

Startled, he spun around. His face looked guilty and he quickly hid a pouch behind his back.

"I didn't hear you coming," he said.

"What're you doing out here?"

"I was thinking about something."

"In the dark?" Hermione asked skeptically.

Draco shrugged. "I think best in the dark."

"You're strange," Hermione smiled.

"You look beautiful."

The statement took Hermione by surprise. An awkward silence descended upon them. Draco fidgeted uncomfortably, one hand still behind his back. His brows were creased, as though he was going through some inner struggle with himself.

"I have something for you," he blurted.

"Oh?" There was nothing else that could relay Hermione's surprise as much as that one-syllable utterance.

"I . . . I'm not sure if you'll like it but I didn't know what else to get you."

Hermione wasn't sure what to say as Draco brought out a pouch from behind him and held it out to her. Inside, there were two sickles. She stared at the coins, uncertain what to make of them. She looked up at Draco and waited for him to say something.

"I know it's not the best gift but if you don't like it, I have another-"

It took Hermione a few moments to realize what the two sickles were. She barely listened as Draco rambled on. She reached into the pouch and retrieved the sickles. A huge smile spread across her face as she looked back up at Draco.

"It seemed to mean a lot to you," he was saying. He was too busy looking everywhere else to notice Hermione's expression.

"Draco?"

"Like I said, I have another gift upstairs-"

"Thank you."

And before he could say anything else, she took a step forward and kissed him.