Thanks for the reviews and such, guys! And thanks for bearing with the OOC-ness and the lack of any real angst...it's odd for me too, hah. Anyway, here's the next part! Enjoy :)

[Three-December 22]

When Hermione wakes up she's a little surprised to find herself alone. Draco isn't anywhere in the bedroom and he isn't in the bathroom. Yesterday he refused to leave the room without her because he didn't want to spend time with her family alone, despite the fact that he was never very good at wanting to be anywhere near her. At first she's a little worried – did he leave? He could've left in the middle of the night; could've disapparated straight home and left her stranded here to explain to her parents why he was gone. What would she tell them? The truth? Perhaps she could stretch the truth a little bit more and just say that he got called into work and couldn't say no – he is supposed to be a doctor.

All of her worries, however, come to a complete halt when she sees his suitcase still sitting on the floor next to the dresser. She breathes a sigh of relief for the fact that she doesn't have to scramble for another lie. Wherever he is, he's probably just fine, she decides.

Moments later, after crawling out of bed, opening the curtains to let in some natural light and changing in the bathroom – just in case Draco picked that exact moment to walk in – she walks downstairs to find Caroline alone in the kitchen.

"Morning!" Her cousin chirps.

"Morning," Hermione smiles politely. "Where is everyone?" She asks as she starts to prepare herself two slices of bread with peanut butter.

"The oldies went into town to get some groceries and supplies and things," Caroline replies. "Mum's terrified we're going to run out of food."

On cue, Draco walks in through the back door followed by Tyler. Both of them wearing jackets and covered in snow. "I'm starving!" Tyler announces.

Caroline giggles. "And she might just be right," she adds, offering her boyfriend a plate she'd prepared for him.

Draco comes up behind Hermione, looking over her shoulder. "What, I don't get a plate too?" he teases.

"I just got down here. What were guys doing?"

"Shoveling."

Hermione snorts. "Shoveling? You? Since when do you shovel?"

"Hey, I shovel," he says defensively. "I just don't shovel very often because I don't have to."

She rolls her eyes. The second she finishes spreading the peanut butter evenly over one slice, he snatches it off the plate. "Hey!" she protests.

"Thanks, luv," he winks.

"You – that's not fair! You can't just steal my food!"

"I believe I just did," he replies cheekily.

She's about to argue some more when she notices that both Caroline and Tyler are watching them. Instead she just swats his arm in silence, ignoring his triumphant grin.

"So Tyler and I were talking about going skiing after lunch," Caroline says, changing the subject. "Do you guys want to come?"

Hermione looks Draco, who shrugs indifferently. She, on the other hand, is hesitant. "I-I dunno..."

"Aw, c'mon! Why not?" Caroline whines.

"You know I'm not very good."

Her cousin pouts.

"I dunno, I think we should go," Draco says casually.

She snaps her gaze towards him, eyebrows raised.

"You're always talking about how much you like the snow. We should go out and enjoy it."

She glares at him, making sure that neither Caroline nor Tyler can see her. Of course he would use this little tid-bit of information against her – information she once told him in the middle of one of their many work fights.

"I'm actually pretty good, so don't worry," he says, sounding like the sweet, perfect boyfriend he isn't. "I won't let you fall."

She doesn't believe a word, but rather than make herself look like an idiot, she agrees to go.

X

The second she does up the last strap securing her foot into her ski, she regrets ever agreeing to join Tyler and Caroline on the hill. Sure it's a private hill and it isn't even that big, and yes she likes snow, but it still feels like there's a rock in the pit of her stomach. She pushes herself to her feet within the small hut at the top of the hill and looks towards the doorway at Draco, who's watching her expectantly. Thank goodness Caroline and Tyler have gone ahead.

"Ready?" Draco asks her.

"No. Are you really any good?" She asks, cursing herself for sounding like a small, frightened child. Especially in front of him.

He scoffs. "Of course not. I've never skied a day in my life."

"Wha-" she starts, her mouth falling open in a baffled 'O' shape. "You – why'd you say you were good?!"

He shrugs indifferently, pushing the door to the outside open for her. "I'm trying to impress your cousin, remember? Besides, just because I'm not any good, doesn't mean I can't pretend to be."

She narrows her gaze, setting her hands on her hips. "You're using magic."

"Just a little spell..."

"Well I want to use it!"

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you already told them you're crap at it, you can't just magically be good at it," he says obviously. And then, realizing his choice of words he adds: "So to speak."

"Dammit," she mutters.

He smirks. "That's why you weren't in Slytherin – you're just not cunning enough."

She opens her mouth to protest but Caroline's voice interrupts her, coming up behind Draco with her own boyfriend in tow. "Are you two done your flirting yet? The snow is beginning to melt out here," she jokes.

Draco laughs, telling her it was a "good one" as he cocks his head for Hermione to come forward. She frowns, maneuvering her way towards them. "Ready to shine, dear Granger?" He murmurs in her ear as she waddles by him.

"I hate you," she mutters back.

X

What feels like three hours later, Hermione finally decides to give up. Alone, feet sore and all-around uncomfortable, she falls awkwardly to her knees before changing her position so she can unbuckle her skis.

"What are you doing?"

She peers up at an amused, albeit confused looking Draco Malfoy, whose arms are crossed over his chest with a ski pole in each hand. "I don't want to do this anymore. I'm going back to the cottage."

He sighs. "Granger, c'mon. We've only been out for half an hour."

"And I've gotten absolutely nowhere!" She complains, throwing her arms up in frustration. "I told you I wasn't any good, I can't even get the damn ski off my foot."

He smirks, extending his hand to her. "Give me your hand."

"What? Why?" She asks skeptically.

"Just give me your hand."

She looks weary.

He raises his eyebrows. "And you call yourself a Gryffindor? Where's your courage? Your bravery?"

Her gaze narrows at him. "I left it in the hut at the top of the hill," she replies dryly.

He rolls his eyes. "Just give me your damn hand, for Merlin's sake."

Grudgingly, she does as she's told and slips her hand in his before he quickly pulls her to her feet.

"Okay steady...just stand still for a minute," he tells her, moving so that he's standing behind her.

"I'm going to fall-"

"You're not going to fall."

"I'm so going to fall."

"I won't let you fall. We're gonna go slow."

"We?"

They start moving down the hill, him behind her with his hands firmly placed on her hips to keep her in place. "See? Not so bad."

He lets go and she stays on her feet for a few more feet without him, using her poles to guide her. A few moments later she loses her footing and lands with a thud on her rump.

Draco laughs as he comes to a stop next to her and joins her on the ground in the snow.

She glares sideways at him. "You said you weren't going to let me fall."

"I didn't. You fell on your own," he points out.

Hermione rolls her eyes, finally unbuckling the straps on her skis to free her feet. Instead of responding, however, she takes a fist full of snow in gloved-hand and throws it at him. The wind sends the snowflakes flying into his face, which sparks a retaliation from him – which then ignites a full-fledged war.

And if only for a little while, they both forget where they are and what they're doing.

X

After taking a hot shower to warm herself up, Hermione makes her way back downstairs to join the rest of her family – and Draco. On the way, however, she's distracted by the sound of her cousin's voice coming from within the room she's sharing with Tyler. The door is open just a crack and so, curious, she presses herself against the wall to eavesdrop.

"I mean, they haven't even kissed once," Caroline whispers – and Hermione knows exactly who she's talking about.

"Maybe they aren't big fans of PDA like you are," Tyler points out logically – this is why she kind of likes the bloke: he's smart.

"It isn't PDA, we're her family."

"Then maybe she's just shy. You did say he's the first guy she's ever brought home, right?"

"I guess. I just think it's weird that they don't show any affection – I mean you'd think, with them being oh-so-in love and all fluffy and passionate they'd be all over each other. They're bloody well engaged for heaven's sake, we should be telling them to keep their hands to themselves!"

Having heard enough of Caroline's complaints – like it's any of her business anyways – she continues on her way downstairs. She finds Draco in the kitchen with her mother. They're cooking, she notices – and she takes a moment to watch as her mum instructs him to add "just a pinch" of salt to the pot of stew on the stove. He does so, enthusiastically, and even stirs the pot with her mother's favourite wooden spoon. He's the first one to notice her and he clears his throat awkwardly, trying to play it cool as he sets the spoon back down and steps away from the stove.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asks softly.

"Am I in trouble?" he wonders wearily, to which she shakes her head. "Then yes."

She pulls him the sleeve of his sweater down the hall and into the bathroom.

"Didn't take you for a bathroom quickie kind of girl, fiancé."

"Shut up," she mutters, rolling her eyes. "This is serious."

"Okay."

"I just heard Caroline and Tyler talking about us and she was complaining about our lack of...affection for one another. She thinks we lack passion-"

"-We have plenty of passion-"

"-The relationship kind, and she was complaining about the fact that we haven't even kissed."

"And?"

"And my mum was wondering the same thing yesterday!"

"Well what'd you say?"

She shrugs, tucking her damp hair behind her ears. "I said we were still getting used to our relationship being out in the open."

He blinks. "Then I fail to see the problem."

"The problem is that now that Caroline has noticed, she's going to push and push and push until she gets what she wants. She's going to start asking questions and we'll either have to come up with a very convincing lie or..." she trails off, swallowing the growing lump in her throat.

He cocks an eyebrow. "Or?"

"Or we need to kick it up a notch. We have to start acting like a couple."

He smirks. "You just want me to kiss you."

"Draco be serious," she snaps, rolling her eyes. "I didn't even think about this stuff – the hand-holding and the cuddly stuff." She pauses, looking away from him in deep thought. "Maybe we should just tell them all the truth," she sighs.

"And why would you want that?"

"I don't, but you must. I mean you probably think that the thought of you having to touch me-"

"-don't even attempt to say anything about your blood status," he says rather harshly, narrowing his gaze at her.

"I wasn't going to. I just meant that we can barely stand to be in the same room together for the most part and that-"

"I dunno, I think we've managed pretty well here. Besides, it's kind of fun," he admits with a nonchalant shrug.

She blinks in surprise. "So...so you don't mind?"

"Not at all. In fact I'm even better at kissing than I am at acting," he replies smugly.

"O-okay."

He winks at her playfully. "C'mon, this should be fun."

When she opens the door and walks back out into the hall she comes face-to-face with Caroline, who stops in her tracks as Draco follows suite. "Oh, hey Caroline," he greets her casually. He then turns his attention to Hermione and leans down to press his lips hard against her cheek. "Thanks again, love," he murmurs, before leaving her alone with her cousin.

Caroline arches a questioning eyebrow so Hermione just smiles and follows Draco back into the kitchen.

X

All afternoon they've been playing the part of a happy, newly engaged couple. Being flirty. Planting kisses on each other's cheeks.

With everyone gathered in the living room to watch a Christmas movie, they're currently sharing the same lazy-boy chair. The chair had been the only thing left in the room and he'd immediately sat down and pulled her onto his lap by the arm.

Now, for comfort more than anything, she's absentmindedly cuddled herself into his chest.

As the credits begin to roll, everyone gets up to stretch their limbs and get some refreshments. Hermione yawns, unraveling herself from Draco's body as she claims she's going to bed. Draco, absentmindedly watching her stretch her arms up – noticing the way her shirt lifts, showing a bit of her bare, flat stomach – says he's going to join her.

She smiles at him and then at her family as she bids them a good night. Draco echoes her and then follows her across the living room towards the stairs.

"Guys!" Caroline calls as she walks back into the room. "Look up."

They both do as they're told, looking up from the spot where they've stopped to see a mistletoe twig hanging from the ceiling, which hadn't been there earlier in the day. Hermione freezes, tearing her gaze away from the romantic plant to look at Draco – who's already staring at her. For the first time in, well, years, she can't read the expression on his face.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Kiss!" Caroline pushes.

He nods his head ever-so slightly – as though to tell her to follow his lead. She nods back. His eyes glued to hers, he raises his hands slowly, tentatively. He cups one around the back of her neck and the other cups her cheek. He hears her breath hitch in her throat and his gaze falls to her lips as he leans in.

He kisses her slowly at first, carefully, hesitantly – like a teenager kissing the girl of his dreams for the first time. It heats up quickly as his arms wrap themselves around her waist and hers curl around his neck. He deepens it, pushing his tongue past her lips as he pulls her flush against him in an effort to be as close to her as he can get. And they both forget, if only for a while, that her family is in the very same room.

They only part for air, panting heavily, and by then it's too late to continue because everyone is staring. Hermione clears her throat, disentangling herself from him once more. She turns to her family, offering an awkward "good night" with an equally awkward wave before rushing up the stairs.

Only when he hears her footsteps on the staircase, does Draco snap out of his daze. He too offers an awkward wave before escaping for the stairs.

X

They're quiet as they prepare themselves for bed once more, silently taking the pillows off the bed and placing them on the floor at the foot.

Only when they've crawled into bed does he break the silence. "I think that convinced them," he whispers, staring up at the ceiling. He's afraid to look at her; afraid he'll want to kiss her again. Afraid he will kiss her again.

"Yeah, I think so too," she whispers back.

"Good night." He rolls away from her onto his side, tucking his arms under his pillow.

She chances a glance in his direction, staring at the back of his head. "Good night, Draco."