Author's Note: Oki Doke! Here we go with another 31 chapter collection (or single chapter if you're reading separately for Hogwarts Writing Club) but either way this is a combination of challenges including Hogwarts Writing Club, School of Prompts, Assignments and the new Christmas Prompts Challenge.

Prompt: Sky

Pairing: Dramione

Character: Hermione

Assignment: History of Magic Assignment 10 - write about someone visiting a shop in Hogsmeade (Scrivenshaft's)

Christmas Prompts: 3. (word) Family/ 18. (object) Christmas Card

Shopping

Hermione strolled happily along the snowy main street of Hogsmeade, glad in equal parts for the escape from the library and the peace from Harry and Ron. The two boys in question had gotten themselves detention meaning that she got to go all by herself.

Hermione tipped her head back and laughed, grinning at the sky. She felt the cold, frozen sting of snow as it pattered on her face but she welcomed it. It felt like freedom and it carried none of the stresses of life. Snow was clean and pure and she welcomed the opportunity to wipe her own slate clean.

She carried on, tramping her way across the hard packed snow. She revelled in the quiet butter beer that she enjoyed. Licking the froth off the top of her lips without having Ron squirm at how disgusting she was. Hermione snorted quietly to herself at the irony of that statement after having spent six years watching him shove every item of food imaginable into his mouth all at the same time.

"Laughing to yourself there Granger? Always knew you had a screw loose," drawled Draco Malfoy coming to a stop in front of her table. For once he wasn't flanked by his goons. She sighed, lamenting her peace and quiet and looked up at him scathingly.

"I hadn't realised you cared Malfoy," she commented calmly.

"I don't!" he declared seeming to realise that he sounded like a petulant child. "Where are your idiots?" he demanded trying to change the subject and avoid his embarrassment.

"They have detention," she replied seeing no reason why she should lie to him. Hermione stood and began to gather her coat and various shopping bags. "Not that I see why you are bothered Malfoy, it just means that you can't torment them. Now, excuse me. I have better things to do than look at your ugly face." And she swept away brushing past him and his startled face.

"I didn't realise you were a liar Granger!" he called when she reached the door but rather than deign him with an answer Hermione simply snorted and left the pub.

Because it the heart of winter and Christmas was right around the corner the nights were getting darker quicker and as Hermione made it out onto the street dusk was falling fast. She didn't really want to be walking back to the castle too late and she knew that it was nearly Dinner time. Her stomach grumbled in agreement.

There was only one more stop Hermione had to make before she left for Hogwarts and she had left it to the very end because she knew that early in the day the shop would be packed. Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop boasted a wide range of not only quills but also parchment and cards for all occasions. Right now Hermione needed a Christmas card for her family and she knew that her muggle relatives loved the magical cards.

The shop was warm and smelled deliciously of paper, quills and ink. It was weird but the smell always comforted her. It was safe and familiar.

"Merlin Granger, anyone would think this stuff made you high!" Malfoy exclaimed appearing from between the shelves. How he had beaten her to the shop when she had left him behind in the Three Broomsticks she didn't know but hot embarrassment stung her cheeks.

"Are you stalking me?" she demanded furiously.

"Of course not! Why would I demean myself like that?" he asked incredulously giving her a funny look as he moved further into the shop. "Merlin, Granger. You're so self-important."

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Much Love, MaryandMerlin x