Chapter 7

Hermione had only just sat down with a mug of hot chocolate and a movie ready in the DVD player when her phone rang. Lifting the receiver to her ear, she hardly let the "Hello" pass her lips before a familiar voice demanded that she come over.

"Marcus, I'm busy," she lied.

"No, she's not," she heard Theo yell in the background.

"I don't think I'm okay with the four of you knowing how to work a telephone," she decided, turning on the television to queue up the movie. It was her mother's favorite Christmas movie - It's a Wonderful Life - and she'd watched it alone every year since losing her parents.

Marcus ignored her comment. "We just put up our tree," he told her, sounding as happy as a small child. "I thought you might like to come over and help us decorate."

She glanced towards the empty left-hand corner near the front windows. It was the place her parents had always designated for their Christmas tree when she was younger. She hadn't once put up a tree or a single stitch of holiday decoration since moving into her flat. "I don't know," she wavered tiredly, wanting to do nothing but watch her movie and think about the life she could have had if not for the war.

"It'll be fun," he replied. "We'll put on some carols, Adrian will put too much rum in the eggnog, Theo and Draco will argue over if the lights or garland go on first."

"And what will you do?" she wondered.

"Hang back and watch them with you," he told her confidently. "So, what do you say? Will you come over?"

She had already pushed the play button, watching the opening credits roll on her screen. The black and white picture suddenly seemed more depressing than it had in years' past. Marcus was presenting her with the opportunity to start a new holiday tradition. She wondered if she was getting ahead of herself as she paused the movie and turned off the television. "Is there anything I can bring?" she asked, slipping her feet into a pair of boots.

"Nothing I can think of, just yourself," he replied. "See you soon."

Hermione disconnected the call as she wound her scarf around her neck. There was something about decorating a Christmas tree that filled her with a joy she hadn't felt in years. After pulling on her coat and grabbing her keys, she exited her flat to join the Slytherins.

The fight was already in progress when she arrived. Marcus could only laugh as he let her in and helped her out of her heavy, winter coat. "Who usually wins?" she asked as he led her into the living room.

"Well, the first year we had a little bout of accidental magic which rendered Theo unconscious, thus giving Draco the lights victory," he explained. "The next year, Theo put the tinsel on before any of us were awake. The last two years they've fought about it, but in the end, Adrian and I step in to sort it out. Maybe this year we should let you decide."

Theo and Draco stopped arguing just long enough to greet her before Adrian appeared with a tray of eggnog. When she had a small cup in hand, Draco stopped her hand to moving toward her mouth. "You don't want to drink that," he cautioned. "It's only about one-eighth eggnog."

Nodding, she set down the cup and offered him an appreciative smile. "I never much liked tinsel," she whispered. With a triumphant smile, Draco announced that there should be no tinsel on the tree, per Hermione's wishes. She blushed a deep scarlet when the green eyes of Theodore Nott glowered at her. "Sorry," she murmured, offering him a smile.

Theo took a seat beside Adrian on the sofa as Draco and Marcus strung the multicolored lights, asking Hermione to point out any spots they may have missed. With the lights completed, Marcus opened a large container filled with ornaments. One by one, each roommate claimed an ornament and hung it on the tree. Theo reached for a second when he noticed Hermione watching. "Not planning to help?" he asked, handing her a blue bauble. With a small nudge, he moved her towards the tree. She surveyed the branches for the best spot, and spotting the perfect one, hung the ornament.

"What's got you in such a happy mood?" Marcus asked when he noticed the grin she wore. "Didn't sample the eggnog, did you?"

Hermione shook her head, but her smile never slipped from her face. "I didn't realize how much I've missed this," she replied, watching as her new friends continued to decorate their tree. "I must admit I've been a bit of a Scrooge these last few years."

With his arm around her shoulders, Hermione leaned into Marcus's side as the decorating continued. "What are you plans for Christmas?" he wondered.

Her shoulders rose only slightly before dropping back down. "I usually visit my parents," she said sadly. "I had headstones made for them and planted at the local cemetery since there were no bodies. Then I usually just go home and read or watch some television."

Draco, she noticed, had turned away from the tree and had given her his full attention. "What if we all had dinner here?" he suggested, not bothering to apologize for eavesdropping.

"That could be fun," Hermione agreed. "But what about your families? You don't do anything with them for the holidays?"

Theo chuckled mirthlessly as he spun a small, round, green ornament around on its string. "My father still hopes the Dark Lord will rise up victorious once more," he replied. "Flint's father isn't much different from mine. Draco's parents might still love him, but he hasn't spoken to them in years. And then there's Ade, who turned his back on his family's beliefs to come live in the muggle word."

"The short answer would have been no," Adrian cut in, glaring pointedly as his friend ended his diatribe. "When I was a kid, Christmas was the one day of the year that my mother would allow me to spend the entire day in my pajamas."

"We did that too," Hermione shared. "My mum and dad would wake up every morning that we had the tree up to find me asleep under it. I would sneak down in the middle of the night, turn the tree lights on, and just stare up at them until I fell asleep."

Marcus, who had remained silent since the conversation began, saw the joy in the young woman's brown eyes as she shared her family's Christmas traditions. "We can do that here," he suggested, interrupting her as she told them about the cinnamon rolls her mother made every year for breakfast. Hermione immediately shut her mouth and stared quizzically at the man by her side. "You could sleep over here on Christmas Eve, and we'll do all the things we did when we were younger. We'll even let you sleep under the tree if you'd like."

"Or you could take my old bed," Theo offered. "Bring earplugs."

Hermione chuckled when Draco punched Theo's shoulder, letting him know he wasn't happy about his dig. "How about I think about it and get back to you," she replied.

Draco nodded in agreement, hoping her answer would be yes.