[twenty nine]

"It's our day together."

Draco was sulking on the bed as he watched Hermione pack the last of her things into her trunk. He had finished all his packing the day before and was currently sulking that Hermione chose to spend their last day together shoving clothes into her bags.

Hermione let out a small laugh "I'll see you over the break. You promised to go to the Weasley's Christmas eve dinner, remember?"

"That's not the same." Draco huffed "After that, the next time I'll see you is on New Year's."

"Which is a mere week away from Christmas." Hermione pressed a tender kiss on the knot on his forehead "I'll miss you too."

"You'll write to me?" Draco asked hopefully

Hermione laughed and wrapped her arms around him, maybe packing can wait until later "Everyday, if you want."

"If you so as much as miss a day, Granger—" Draco threatened

"You'll have my head, I know." Hermione giggled "Come on, maybe we can sneak a date on this last day."

"A ?" Draco perked up, he was liking the idea more and more by the second

"Yes, come on. Grab a coat." Hermione said as she got hers from the chair

Draco grinned as he did what he was told "Where are we going, Granger?"

"Just around the castle grounds." Hermione shrugged. They left their room to see their friends having snacks in the common room "We're just going for a romantic stroll."

Draco echoed, his lips curving into a smirk "This should be a first."

"You mean you've never gone for a walk with someone you fancied?" Hermione shook her head

"A walk to the bed, sure." Blaise snickered from his seat on the couch

"Are you part of this conversation, Zabini?" Draco glared

"I am now." He shrugged innocently

"You mean have?" Draco narrowed his eyes at Hermione, suddenly jealous ""

"With , idiot." Ron interjected as he fixed himself a sandwich

"Was I speaking to you, Weasley?" Draco groaned and grabbed Hermione's hand, leading her out "Come on, Granger, before anybody else decides to interrupt our conversation."

Hermione giggled "Slow down, Malfoy."

As soon as they left the common room, Draco grinned at Hermione "As annoying as that was, I'll actually miss bickering with them."

Hermione laughed and took Draco's hand, intertwining her fingers with his "Don't let them hear you say that."

"." Draco chuckled

They made their way down the stairs and out of the castle, casually walking together. The snow was thick on the ground and the winter air made Hermione's nose red "Didn't realize it would be this cold, huh?" Draco teased after noticing "Come here." He pulled her closer to his body, wrapping an arm around her as they walked

"Where should we go?" Hermione asked just as they got past the courtyard

"Anywhere our feet will take us." Draco shrugged

They continue to walk, finding themselves on the route to the Quidditch pitch. "Harry's proposing to Ginny on Christmas." Hermione said quietly "I helped him pick out a ring the other day."

"I guessed as much. He's been looking at her with extra goop these past few days." Draco chuckled "Blaise is going to be happy."

"What do you mean?" Hermione gasped ""

Draco laughed loudly and shook his head "Blaise has some weird crush on her in a celebrity kind of way. He'll never love anybody else like he loves Pansy, don't worry."

Hermione rolled her eyes "No wonder he's like Ginny's sidekick."

"Now, don't let him hear you say that." Draco laughed again

"." Hermione echoed Draco's word earlier with a smile "The ring he got her was very expensive."

Draco made a face that could only be an expression of approval "I'd be offended for Ginny if it weren't."

Hermione frowned "Do me a favor and don't splurge too much on my ring. You already know the answer's yes."

Draco looked offended "You're mad if you think I'll be getting you something less than what you deserve."

"You sound like Harry." Hermione rolled her eyes "I don't really care about the ring, Draco. I mean that."

"I know you do, but let's just say I'll be doing it for myself, too, alright?" Draco said "I'm , I can't give my fiancée some cheap ring. That would be ."

Hermione rolled her eyes "Glad to know your proposal is in my best interest." she said sarcastically

Draco laughed and pressed a kiss on her temple as they walked "I can't wait to see what cheesy lines Potter's going to say during his proposal. Weasley's going to be in tears, no doubt."

Hermione was silent for a moment before wondering outloud "Do have some cheesy lines to say for your proposal?"

"Now, why would I tell you my secrets just like that?" Draco raised a brow at her

"I was just curious! You don't seem the type." Hermione defended in a fit of giggles "Draco Malfoy? Cheesy?"

Draco scowled at her, was she underestimating his talent for romance? "Ask me to propose to you and you'll find out."

"Alright," Hermione said, calling his bluff "propose to me."

All of a sudden, Draco knelt down in front of her, delicately holding her hands in his "Draco Malfoy what the bloody hell are you doing?" Hermione demanded

"Proposing. You asked, didn't you?" Draco raised a brow as he made a move to reach for something that Hermione could only assume was a ring "I aim to please, Granger."

"Get up, right now." Hermione demanded ""

Thinking that Draco was reaching for a ring, she was surprised to find him with a snowball on his palms "Marry me, Granger?" He said with a very cheeky smile

Hermione laughed and reached down to take the snowball from his palm "Only if you can catch me." She whispered and without a second's hesitance, threw the snowball into Draco's chest, running away in a fit of giggles.

"You're going to regret that, Hermione Granger!!" Draco exclaimed and chased after her, maneuvering away from her shots of snowball

With Draco's long strides and Hermione's constant reaching for piles of snow, he caught up to her just before they reached the Quidditch pitch. Hermione squealed in protest as Draco wrapped his arms around her "I caught you." He grinned triumphantly

"You caught me." Hermione giggled "Guess I have to marry you now, huh?"

"Looks like it, Granger." Draco smirked before kissing her softly on the lips "Though, not until you really want to."