Narcissa frowned down at the table, wondering what was taking her cookies so long. She knew she'd remembered to set the timer on the oven (just like Viva had shown her last week), and it should have gone off by now… Actually, to be exact, it should have gone off three minutes ago. The fact that it hadn't just annoyed her; muggles baked every day, as did the house elves, so she ought to be able to do it to…right? Right.

With a soft sigh she stood up and pushed her chair back under the table, as was her habit after her childhood. Even in her privileged family, manners such as that had been expected. Her steps on the floor were quiet, her feet bare, and her hair pulled back into a sloppy bun. In short, she wasn't expecting any company, so it was a surprise to see the door to the kitchen swing open as an elf slid past her to enter it and to see someone standing in there with their back to her.

She was about to slip to the side when the person turned around with a cookie sheet in their hand and she looked up again, catching the visitor's face this time. "Severus!"

"Afternoon, Narcissa." He gave her a slight smile and moved toward the oven, pulling the door open and sliding the cookie sheet onto it. After he set the timer, he leaned back against the counter. "Your timer was about to go off when I came in, so I thought that I would save you the trouble. I hope you don't mind."

"No, not at all." Her cheeks were warm, which she hoped she could pass off as being heated from the kitchen, but the truth of the matter was that he looked different in just his white oxford. "I wasn't expecting anyone today or I would have waited to bake." And would look presentable…

He shrugged slightly. "I didn't think I would be coming."

"I sense a 'but' there."

"I needed a break from Igor. He's been badgering me all week." He closed his eyes for a moment. "And I wanted to see you."

"Ah. Well… Here I am." She took a couple steps closer to him.

"And Lucius?"

"Off being festive with someone from the Ministry. He won't be back until tonight. The divorce is final now anyway." She took another couple steps before he reached for her hand and pulled her against him.

"Good." He kissed her gently, pulling back just long enough to whisper in her ear. "Your baking may have to wait."

a/n;

This is my first entry for the Harry Potter Christmas Collection Competition. To follow will be 30 other entries, so stay tuned!
Prompt used: 8 (word)- festive