a/n; I wanted to write a cute, fluffy Christmas piece. This is what I came up with. Firefly, I hope you enjoy!* This is set at no particular time, just after Hogwarts. Literally just a light piece that I needed to get out. Merry Christmas, folks.
It was snowing.
Hermione turned from the window and pulled at the sleeves on her jumper. It was cold near the front of the manor, a side effect of the constant comings and goings of guests. They never seemed to slow until near midnight, but she'd heard one of the house elves state earlier that tonight there were orders to flush out everyone who was not family by nine. She glanced at her wrist, at the watch that Harry had given her for her birthday. It read eight-thirty and she could still hear voices in the drawing room.
"Ah, Bindi wonders if you is ready to go, miss. Master Draco says to hurry." The elf was standing just to her right, practically against her. No wonder she'd thought she was alone. "Bindi does not want you to be cold."
Hermione frowned, confused. "I'll just grab my coat, Bindi."
"Yes, miss." The elf nodded and bowed. "You is to meet Master Draco at the back door."
The witch started walking, pulled her wand from her pocket, and summoned the jacket and a scarf; if Draco was already ready to go, he'd be insufferable after a longer wait. The clothing caught her just as she reached the door - left open, she noted with an exasperated sigh - and she slipped them on hurriedly. If the front had been cold, it had nothing on this.
"Draco? Where are you, for Merlin's sake?" She pulled on gloves as she shut the door behind her. The jingling of bells made her turn her head left, toward the gardens. A moment later, she could see the horses, their breaths large puffs of smoke in the frigid air. They were a matched pair, both as black as night with nary a speck of white on either of them. The sleigh they pulled was as bright as the snow itself, decorated with sprigs of holly. As the team came to a stop in front of her, she smiled - they were beautiful.
"Ready to get in?" Draco's voice was quiet in her ear. How had he managed to sneak up on her?
She nodded against him and took his hand, pulling him toward the sleigh. This certainly hadn't been what she planned on when she'd told the wizard she wanted to do something festive but she wasn't going to complain, and after she settled down against the bench she smiled over at him as he slipped his arm around her.
"Let me know if you get cold," he murmured as a snowflake settled on her nose.
The Malfoy property was large enough for them to be out for a while.