A/N: Written for the tth 'Fic-for-all'

Pairing: Conner/ Hermione Granger

Disclaimer: I own naught

Timeline: Post Angel finale and what would be book seven in hp meaning that Hermione is seventeen and Conner would be eighteen.

GOTTA LOVE THAT MISTLETOE

Crack!

Hermione Granger opened her eyes with mixed emotions. True she hadn't splinched herself (again), but the first sensation she felt was falling through the winter air and for one to actually realise that they're falling then they must be falling quite a long way.

Her mind went blank. She must have known loads of spells to either stop her falling or cushion her landing, she was one of the brightest students that Hogwarts had ever seen after all, but at that moment she could only brace herself for the impact.

When it came she was pleasantly surprised. No broken bones, no twisted limbs and no pierced skin. It felt kind of squelchy though, and it stunk of rotting eggs mixed with vinegar. Hermione wrinkled her nose at what she had landed in- the large wheelie bin outside one of London's most exclusive night clubs. That's right, Hermione Granger was rebelling…in a club…in muggle London. Harry and Ron really had had a bad influence on her, not that they realised what she was doing that Christmas Eve, but it was still their fault if she got caught.

She peeled an old banana skin off her shoulder disgustedly. Maybe she should have rethought apperating without a licence or a very clear idea of where she was heading. At least it was a secluded alley way, there shouldn't be anyone to see her clamouring out of an oversized waste basket.

How wrong she was.

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Conner Stanford-Angel had gone to Europe, England to be more precise. He'd found out about 'that thing' when his family had discovered that he had super strength. His so-called- family who had lied to him for years, well, not really. They'd just lied about the years of memories that had been stuffed in his brain.

Before he'd known the truth, he'd joked about going as far away as possible to college to get away from the 'family' but now he actually did that. He needed to find out who, or what, he really was and he couldn't do that with the people who'd been paid the big bucks by Wolfram and Hart to take him in.

The downside to moving continent was that when he was attacked, he had no one who knew the truth to back him up. Like now for example.

It was Christmas Eve, but apparently evil blood sucking demons don't take holidays. He was supposed to be at 'The Caritas Club', the only place to be to see in Christmas day, but no, he was being chased down the streets by five of the afore-mentioned blood sucking demons. Wasn't Christmas great?

He gained a few more feet on the demons as he rounded the corner and dashed past the club he was supposed to be partying in. There was an alley way right next to the club, so he dived in and flattened himself against the wall. The demons ran right past and Conner was safe.

That was when he noticed the girl climbing out of the dumpster.

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Hermione froze. She'd been caught and by a very cute guy at that.

Conner watched as the girl, still half in and half out, turned bright red. "Hi."

"Hi." Hermione cringed, wishing that she was back at home tucked up in bed like her parents thought she was. "I err, fell in."

"You fell in the dumpster?" Conner said sceptically.

Hermione pulled herself up to her full height and looked him in the eye defiantly. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes."

She wasn't the know-it-all little girl anymore; facing Voldemort had changed her a lot. Now she had a firm belief in taking each day as it came and making the most of it, she'd even accepted that there were more important things in life than grades!

Conner smirked, she had fire…he liked it. She was a pretty little thing too, or would be once she'd had a shower and changed her clothes.

With as much dignity as she could muster, Hermione finished climbing free of the bin, giving Conner a flash of her lacy red French knickers and making his smirk wider. "What are you doing down a dark alley at night anyway?" She said accusingly.

He smirk momentarily faltered. "Monsters chased me in."

"Will they chase you out?" She asked, hoping he'd get the hint and leave so that she could magically clean herself up.

"Do you really want them to?" He flirted.

"Yes." Hermione said firmly.

Conner looked disappointed. "Fine. See you around, dumpster girl."

"Bye." Hermione said curtly watching him leave the alley.

The moment he was out of sight, she pulled out her wand and uttered the charm to clean her clothes. Now, on to the party. But she didn't get there.

Conner hadn't really left. He'd rounded the corner and jumped up onto the fire escape platform that ran around the edge of the building with the idea of making sure she got home okay. But what he'd seen had chased those thoughts from his mind. He'd seen her do magic and old instincts crept back to him. He jumped off the platform before the girl could leave the alley and pinned her to the wall.

"What are you?"

Hermione gaped in surprise. She'd seen him leave, but apparently he'd come back and seen her do magic. The Ministry would kill her for this. "W-What are you talking about? Get off me!"

"No. I saw you do magic. Are you a demon?" Step one: identify the treat, step two: kill it.

Hermione struggled uselessly. "No! What are you?"

"Me? I'm human."

"Well so am I! Let me go!"

Conner didn't have to think. He remembered his old life, the one with Holtz and Angel and he knew what magic smelt like. This girl reeked of it, but it smelt pure and good, like Willow's mostly had. He released her but kept his eyes trained on her.

"Who are you?" He tried.

"Hermione Granger." She replied crossly rubbing her arms where he had held her.

"I'm Conner. What are you doing here?" He asked, still watching her cautiously.

"Well I was going to Caritas for a party. I was going to have a dance. I was going to have fun, but I can tell you there hasn't been much of that so far." She glanced over at the wheelie bin still standing there.

Conner's smirk returned to his face. He'd decided that she wasn't evil, just magical. "I was going to Caritas too, do you wanna go together?"

"Go together? You watch me climb out of a dustbin without offering to help, you pin me up against the wall and interrogate me and then you ask for a date?" Hermione shrugged. "Okay."

"Really? Okay then, let's go!" He offered his hand to the brunette and they exited the alley to go to the club next to it. Conner led her past the queue that seemed to last forever and to the doorman. "Conner Angel?"

The doorman scanned the list and allowed the couple through, despite the protests from those who had been waiting. Hermione was relieved to see that he didn't check for id. She had created a fake muggle passport that made her a year older, but wasn't too keen on actually using it if it wasn't necessary. Hermione had changed, but not quite that much.

"How did you get on the list? I was told it was virtually impossible."

"I know the owner." Conner revealed. He'd met Lorne shortly after he'd moved to England following the apocalypse in LA and he'd instantly liked the honest demon.

They looked around Caritas 3 in wonder. Lorne had really gone all out for the holidays. There was a ten foot tree gaudily decorated in one corner and banners and tinsel hung from the walls. The DJ that had come in (karaoke was now only three nights a week) looked human, but was wearing a Santa hat and had more tinsel draped around his neck as did most of the bar staff.

"Wanna dance?" Conner asked, flashing a cheeky smile at his date.

"Um, sure."

He led her onto the dance floor just as the upbeat number began to finish. Conner pulled a slightly reluctant Hermione into his arms as the music slowed.

"Okay fellas, make this a Christmas to remember!" the DJ said to the dancing couples.

All around Hermione and Conner, people started making out. When Hermione realised this, she grew a bit uncomfortable. Not that she'd have minded kissing Conner….

Conner was wondering if Hermione was likely to slap him if he kissed her. It was probably quite likely, but would it be worth it?

Hermione felt his breath on her ear and looked up to him. Her breath caught in her throat as he brushed a stray hair from her face. This was it, she thought, he was going to kiss her.

Conner lowered his head but was jolted out of the mood before their lips met as a mix of some Christmassy song started thudding in the background. He sighed in frustration. "Do you wanna get a drink?"

She followed him over to the long bar and sat on one of the stools there.

"What are you drinking?"

"Um Coke please." She said blushing slightly.

He looked at her curiously. "You don't want something a bit stronger? It is Christmas, after all."

"No, no, cokes fine." She said nervously.

He frowned, but then realisation dawned. "You're underage, aren't you?"

"Shh! I'm eighteen in February." Hermione revealed.

"Why didn't you say so?"

Hermione gave him a look. "Why do you think?"

He looked a bit confused. "Oh, because I know Lorne? I doubt if he'd care as long as you're not drinking- his clientele are a bit unusual, the cops tend to stay away."

Hermione smiled, relieved. That is until Conner continued with his speech.

"But the bouncers…there're supposed to keep people like you out. If I were to tell them then you'd be in big trouble."

"Conner!" Hermione whinged.

"Okay, okay. I won't tell anyone. But I don't know how you can make it up to me." He grinned mischievously.

Hermione smirked inwardly. Muggle guys were more fun definitely. Wizards tended to be more traditional and less flirty, or so she'd found. "I'm sure we could work something out."

He moved towards the brunette still sitting on the stool. He cupped her cheek in his hand and-

"What can I get you?"

Conner clucked in frustration, glaring at the barman. That was the second time in ten minutes he'd been interrupted. A green skinned demon caught his attention.

"Lorne!" Conner called out.

"Hey if it isn't the Miracle Child! Glad you could make it kid! And who's the lovely lady?"

Hermione started as she saw the green demon. "H-Hermione G-Granger."

"Great to meet you sweet cheeks. Love the aura."

"The what?"

"Your aura- it's throbbing with energy."

"Is that good?"

Lorne looked between the two teens smugly. "I'd have to say so." He looked up above where they were standing and pointed up.

Conner and Hermione followed his gaze and groaned. Mistletoe.

Lorne grinned at them. "It's the rules guys."

Conner turned to Hermione. "Do you mind?"

"No, I mean if it's the rules…"

He kissed her lightly, but when he went to pull back she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him in closer in a moment of boldness he wasn't expecting.

They parted when the need for oxygen forced them to, Hermione smiling lightly but Conner with a big grin on his face.

"I love Christmas!"

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!