Christmas at Rosier Park

Chapter Six: All I want is the Real You.

The dinner with Harry involved an emergency meeting with the whole gang.

“So Malfoy has been hiding, in front of all of us, for seven years?” Ron tried to understand everything Hermione and Harry had just laid out on the table.

“Yes, the question is why he did it.” Hermione said

“Well it is not really that big of a mystery Mione, he was the sole surviving heir of one of the most hated families in wizard Britain, and he doesn’t exactly blend in.”

“They why not just move out of Britain, why the glamour spells and dead relative's identity?”

“I wouldn’t want to leave forever, this is home after all.” Harry said.

“Be he lost everything but the land,” Hermione countered, “Why not sell the land and just disappear into the world?”

“Mione love, you are asking the wrong people.” Ginny reached out and grasped her friend's hand.

“I know, but how does one go around posing such questions?” she asked her friend with a quirked eyebrow.

“I am sure you can think of something,” Ginny said with a knowing mischievous smile.

**

Moloch paced, as was becoming a habit for him, debating the pros and cons are lifting his glamour and letting Hermione see who he really was.

Pro: He would not be lying anymore

Con: She would probably scream
Hit and or curse him
And worst of all….
Leave forever

Not the best prospects for this idea. He sat down on the edge of his mattress and dropped his head into his hands. He had to let her get into his heart and make him feel again. Merlin everything would be so much easier if he were hollow.

He forced himself to crawl under the sheets and close his eyes.

The only problem was, when his drew his pillow close, he imagined a certain soft witch curled up at his side, her warm body would fit perfect against his larger one. His heart ached.

Oh to be hollow again…

When he woke he wondered into the on suite bathroom. A glance in the mirror made him stop. He was sporting blonde highlights in his darkened hair.

Well that was not right.

Draco recast the spell but felt it was not nearly as strong as it should be.

He was probably just too stressed about everything

He stripped down and stepped into the showered letting the hot water wash over a body not his own.

**

Hermione arrived prepared to execute a very elaborate plan, but it was quickly forgotten when she looked up the stairs and saw Moloch, umm Draco, wander out in nothing but towel slung low around his waist.

“Oh hello Hermione, sorry I an running a bit behind schedule this morning.”

“Ahh, ahem, that is a fine, I will just wait for you in the parlor shall I, I’d like to ask you something?” Hermione less-than-gracefully backed up into a pillar before spinning around and heading into the parlor.

When Draco finally arrived in the parlor Hermione was staring out the large glass doors.

“Sorry about that,” he said causing her to turn around, a blush creeping up her neck and blooming in her cheeks, as if he had just caught her doing something naughty.

If Draco could have read minds, he would have hardened considerably in a certain place at the mental images Hermione had the two of them starring in.

“No, that’s fine.”

“So you wanted to speak to me?” He asked a bit concerned.

“Yes I well…”

“Yes?”

“I had this whole thing planes out and, oh sod it all!” and with that uncharacteristic outburst Hermione reached out for Moloch/Draco and pulled him in close, kissing him.

Draco was not about to argue, and wrapped his arms around her body and gladly kissed her back.

When Hermione pulled back she saw those silver eyes looking at her and the streaks of platinum in his dark locks.

“All I want for Christmas is the real you, Draco Malfoy.” She said running her hands over his shoulders.

Draco blinked a couple of times, had his witch just called him Draco?

“Hermione?”

“I have had suspicions for a while, finally, with a little help, I pieced it all together.’

“I am so sorry,” was the only thing he could think to say.

“This needs to go,” she said as she ran her fingers through his hair.

With a sigh he dropped the glamour and stood before her wearing a face she knew very well indeed.

“Much better, who knew I preferred blondes?” she asked with a smile.

“I really don’t understand what is going on right now Hermione?” Draco said letting out a rattled breath.

“I know you have your reason for hiding, but you don’t have to hide from me- not any more.”

“But,” he tried but her lips silenced his.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his true form, melding their bodies together as one.

Though utterly confused, and slightly terrified that it was a dream, Draco refused to let this moment to pass without giving himself over to it.

Her small fingers tugged his collared shirt from his slacks and slipped her hands inside to stroke the smooth skin of his chest.

Hermione felt the growl rumble through his chest as his hands cupped her rounded bottom and lifted her closer.

He backed them up until he felt his legs hit the chaise lounge next to their tree.

Draco sat and Hermione perched herself on his lap, never letting their lips part for more than necessary.

He pulled the pin from her hair and let the soft curls fall into his hands. Hermione moved her lips down his jaw to his neck nipping at the sensitive skin there. Her dainty fingers were working the long row of buttons of his shirt.

Draco was losing his reserve, and with a quick dip had her laid out beneath him.

“You are a wicked little witch.” He whispered into her ear.

“But good enough to get what I wanted for Christmas early this year,” she countered, and with a little swivel of her hips had him groaning.

“Merlin Hermione” he nearly whimpered.

She smiled again and started to kiss him again. Draco slid her jumper up high to tickle the smooth skin of her soft belly.

“Mmmm, that feels good Draco,” she said taking his lower lip between her teeth.

“I am so happy to hear you call me Draco.” He confided nuzzling her cheek.

Just as he was about to kiss her again, Farren popped into the room.

“Oh excuse me!” He squeaked in surprise to find his master and the miss so intimately wrapped around each other, put his ears gave a happy little wiggle at the sight.

“That is quite alright Farren, what is it that you need?” Draco asked pulling his and Hermione’s clothes back into place.

“Ms. Crossland just flooed and asked me to send a message onto Miss Hermione.”

“Of course Farren, what did she say?”

“That she wants Miss to get all the paperwork you’ve started in by tomorrow night, she will not have you working over the Christmas hols.”

“Thank you Farren.”

“You is welcome Miss.” Said the little elf before it popped away again.

Hermione gave a sigh and turned to look at Draco, brushing his fringe back from his eyes. “Guess that means I should get to work.”

“To be continued my sweet.” Draco promised with a kiss.

A few hours later Draco went into the attic to fetch Hermione for tea.

“Hermione, where are you sweet?” he asked

“Back left Draco, come look what I found!”

When he finally made it to her, she was kneeling over a large mahogany chest and the name Isadora was carved on the top amongst swirling vines, birds and blooming flowers.

A feeling of dread washed over Draco as he looked at the old hope chest.

He started to shout 'No' as Hermione opened the lid but it was too late. A blinding light filled the attic.

When he could see again he reached for Hermione, only to find her slumped over the open chest, still as death.

***
A/n Almost done with this tale, hope everyone has a happy and healthy holiday season!