A/N: This drabble was written for Fairest of the Rare's 2017 Christmas advent and will be featured sometime during the month of December.

Disclaimer: All canon characters, plots, and situations from the Harry Potter series belongs to JK Rowling. I am not profiting from this work.


Hermione walked briskly home from a long day of work. Usually, she would apparate, but she loved the feel of the cold, crisp hair against her face. It was a short walk from the ministry to her home in Muggle London. She and Harry had chosen it precisely because they enjoyed the best of both worlds — magical and muggle.

Upon entering their shared home, she saw that boxes upon boxes of Christmas decorations filled their living room. Walking further into the room, she saw her boyfriend sitting cross-legged on the floor attempting to put together a fake tree.

She laughed at the sight. Harry turned around a grinned at her, his glasses hanging dangerously off the tip of his nose. Throwing her winter coat over the back of the sofa, she joined him on the floor.

"You know, I've been thinking," she said, picking up several branches inspecting the metal ends that stuck out. "Maybe we should try out a real tree this year."

Harry stopped what he was doing and looked at her in disbelief.

"What?" she asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Erm," he said, cracking his knuckles. A habit she noticed he had when he was unsure of himself. "I just thought you wanted to keep this one because it was your parents' tree."

"I'm not saying we should completely get rid of it. It does have a sentimental value to me, especially since it's been around since my childhood. But I think we should start some new traditions, just for us."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded and leaned into him, dropping her head on his shoulder.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered, planting a light kiss on the top of her head.

"I love you too, Harry," she whispered back, lacing her fingers through his. She didn't know what she would do without Harry. They had both been through so much over the years, but they had found peace in each other.

They spent the rest of the night decorating their home, dancing and belting out their favorite Christmas carols. Hermione was finally learning to live and let go, and the tree was only the beginning.