Author's Note: 2 of 6!

Prompts: (weather) frosty/icy/(feeling) hungover

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise!

Coffee

It was such a beautiful morning, just as winter should be according to Hermione. The air was fresh and crisp with just a bite of winter nipping the air. She burrowed further into her big wooly scarf and pulled the matching hat down over her ears, her fingers thick and clumsy beneath the gloves.

The clouds overhead were a fluffy white but some held the tinge of grey that promised snow later. She sighed happily watching her breath crystalize in the air in front of her. She loved winter, both inside and out. She felt like such a child again when she got to build snowmen or have snowball fights, especially magical ones, but also when she was snuggled at home in front of the fire with a good book and a hot drink.

The thought of something hot and chocolatey snagged in Hermione's mind and her eyes lit up. She knew her favourite little coffee shop was just around the corner and a hot chocolate and some cake would be just the thing to perk her right up on her long journey home.

With her decision firmly made she sped up rounding the corner at record speed headed for the cosy little shop.

And came to a shuddering stop.

He was there again. Sat hunched over on a step of some apartment building as he had been every morning for the past week. At first Hermione hadn't wanted to believe it was him, she couldn't fathom why he was here of all places in such a muggle part of town but if the platinum hair hadn't confirmed it then the rest of his face had.

Draco Malfoy.

She drew closer and he stirred as if sensing her presence. Other pedestrians flowed around them as if oblivious to the two young people. He looked up and Hermione had to resist flinching as his grey eyes clashed against hers.

He looked so worn out, so miserable, so haunted. He was obviously hungover and Hermione wasn't surprised to see an empty whiskey bottle at his side.

It was the war, or his father, or both. No man this young should look this haunted.

He opened his mouth, as he had every time he saw her, but no sound came out. This was no surprise either. Hermione didn't know what he wanted to say to her, or whether he would ever find the courage but the broken look simply returned to his eyes and he let his head droop forward again breaking their eye contact.

Hermione sighed, disappointed. She knew there was nothing she could do to help him, not until he conquered whatever inner demons were tormenting his soul. With a last sad glance she turned and started towards the shop again.

"I'm sorry." It was so quiet Hermione thought she had imagined it but she froze instantly on the spot. Hope filled her heart as she spun around to find him looking at her again. His mouth was trembling, an indication that he really had spoken, and tears pricked his eyes. "Hermione I'm so, so sorry."

She smiled, softly at first but soon it was a beam of light. At first he looked shocked and then confused but Hermione ignored all this and strode over to him. She extended her hand and looked at him expectantly.

"Come on!" she insisted when he just stared dumbly at her olive branch. "I want hot chocolate."

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Much Love, MaryandMerlin x