Christmas Collection Challenge. Prompt: (object) Mistletoe

First Kiss

It wasn't long after dinner that Draco and Harry turned up to see the rest of the family. Andromeda greeted Harry and her nephew, asking after them, but left shortly after, to see her sister for the evening.

"Nice bracelet," Harry said, taking Hermione's hand rather than greeting her. "Christmas Present?"

"It's on her left wrist, it could be a courting gift," Draco pointed out.

Harry grinned. "Is it?" he asked.

"That is none of your business, Harry Potter," Hermione said, pulling her hand away and blushing.

"It so is," Harry replied, completely amused. "Are you courting our favourite Werewolf, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded her head. "I'd be stupid not to," she murmured. "He's sweet, kind, handsome... just the way he looks at me sends shivers through my body. Plus..."

"Plus the crush you've had on him since you were... fifteen?" Harry added.

"Shut up," she hissed, looking around, satisfied that Remus was distracted in a conversation with Andromeda. "He doesn't know about that, and you weren't supposed to either!"

"Much better choice than Weasley," Draco offered, his eyes flicking over to Remus for a moment. "Though it's not hard to find someone better than -"

"Harry, Draco, glad you could join us," Sirius said, bursting into the middle of the conversation. "Go and hang your winter-robes up, it's too hot in here to keep them on. I know Teddy is dying to see you both - and spend time with you."

"Where is he?" Harry asked, looking around.

"He had an accident with his chocolate pudding, He's been sent into the bedroom to change back into his pyjamas," Sirius said. He pulled a face. "I know - a Lupin that didn't get all the chocolate in his mouth. Shocking."

Hermione used Sirius' distraction to go into the bedroom, where she found Teddy pulling on his trousers.

"Look, Aunty Hermione, I got dressed all by myself," he said, spotting her.

Hermione could only smile. "Take your top off, Teddy. It's inside out. I'll fix it for you."

The small boy finished putting his bottoms on, before taking off the top. He handed it to Hermione, and stood patiently in his vest as she fixed the top the right way, before pulling it over his head.

"You know, it's quickly becoming one of my favourite sights," Remus said, causing Hermione to spin around.

"What is?" she asked.

"Watching you and Teddy. The way you truly care for him," Remus said, offering Hermione his arm.

She took it as Teddy pushed his feet into a pair of oversized monster slippers.

"Teddy, Harry's here," Remus said.

"Where?" Teddy shouted, before bolting from the room. Remus and Hermione followed at a slower pace, before Remus stopped in the middle of the hallway.

Hermione could feel her heart pounding against her chest, as Remus stepped closer to her. "Merry Christmas, Hermione," he murmured, his gaze moving up. She followed it, having only a second to realise that there was Mistletoe above her head, before Remus' lips were on hers.

She hesitated for only a moment, out of surprise, before her hands wound around his neck. His lips were softer than she expected, and she could barely think with the way they gently moved against hers, before gently tugging at her bottom lip.

Remus' arms wrapped tightly around her body, pulling her close. He paused for a second, allowing her brain to catch up, before taking her lips again. The second kiss was just as soft, but more intense with the way he pressed her against the wall, not allowing her an inch of control in the kiss. Her lips parted, as his tongue seeked entrance.

It wasn't like other kisses she had experienced, where the man was too eager to shove his tongue into her mouth, in an attempt to choke her. Remus' tongue barely moved into her mouth during the kiss, just enough to leave her aching for much more.

Finally, to Hermione's disappointment, he pulled back, and she was vaguely aware of his hand slipping off her arse, unaware of just when it had rested there.

"Merry Christmas, Remus," she whispered in reply.

He grinned. "I can't tell you how long I've waited to do that."

"And I've waited longer for it to happen," Hermione replied. "I hope that we do that again."

Remus nodded. "Certainly, we are courting after all, I expect us to be doing that a lot."

"Just that?" Hermione asked.

Remus raised his eyebrows and smirked in a very Sirius-like manner. "No, we'll be doing whatever you're comfortable and willing to do," he replied. "There is no rush of course -"

"I understand," Hermione replied softly. "I know you wouldn't rush me into anything that I wasn't ready for, but for a few nights now, I've dreamt about falling asleep beside you... just falling asleep next to you." She bit her lip, feeling nervous under Remus' intense amber stare, and wondered whether it was too soon to even think about falling asleep in Remus' bed.

"Well, Sirius will be glad to get his usual bed back," Remus finally murmured. "That sounds like a perfect idea... if you're sure you want to share, that is."

"You're asking me whether I want to fall asleep with your arms around me," Hermione replied, more bravely now. "Why wouldn't I want that? It sounds perfect! Not that I'm complaining, but I thought we were going to talk?"

"We will talk tonight," Remus confirmed. "But how could I resist you a moment longer?"

Remus took her hand, this time looking quite smug as they walked back to the living room.

...oOo...

Harry smiled at the jumper he received, and Draco thanked Hermione for the first-edition book on potions. When Harry pulled the book out from the folds of the jumper, he began to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Draco demanded, trying to see the book he was holding. He pulled it from Harry's hands, and looked at the title.

'How To Deal With a High-Maintenance Girlfriend: For Dummies'

His gaze moved to Hermione. "Is this meant to be a joke? Because I am certainly not high-maintenance, and I am not the girl."

"You are the girl," Harry muttered. "You spend the most time on your hair."

Draco looked at Harry in betrayal before flouncing from the room.

Hermione smiled as Harry handed over a present. She ripped the paper off, examining the book.

"It's more of a quiz book really. There's a set of runes to solve each day. Three-hundred and sixty five puzzles. I got you the hard edition so it would present as a challenge."

"It looks like a lot of fun," Hermione replied, eagerly, wanting to get started on the first puzzle already!

"Only you would say that," Harry replied. "But I knew that you would, that's why I got it for you."

"Thank you." She kissed Harry on the cheek and hugged him.

"No, you can't kiss Aunty Hermione," Teddy wailed. "Because she likes to kiss my daddy. I saw them in the hallway!"

"What did you see in the hallway?" Harry asked, eager to get the gossip.

"They were kissing and it was gross," Teddy whispered. "But it means they are going to get married. I covered my eyes when they kissed. So you're not allowed to kiss her. You have to marry Draco instead! Not Aunty Hermione!"

Harry turned his gaze to Hermione. "Snogging in the hallway, Hermione?" he asked. "Couldn't keep your hands to yourself until this evening?"

Hermione glared at Harry.

"Daddy's hand was on her bum!"

"Come on Teddy, let's go and find some chocolate," Remus said, taking his son's hand and not looking the least bit embarrassed, leaving a red-faced Hermione to face Harry.

"Fine, yes, we kissed," she snapped, getting annoyed at the grin on his face. "Tell me, how was dinner with Lucius Malfoy?"

The grin faded. "I was scared for a time that he would try and poison me, or transfigure me into one of the hundreds of peacocks in his garden. I want to go back and check if they used to be people, because they looked so sad. I swear if they could talk, they would have asked for my help."

"That's creepy," Hermione muttered.

"I think when he saw me and Draco kiss, he almost had a fit. Especially when Draco mentioned us living together in the future."

Hermione nodded, worry quickly taking over her at the thought of Harry moving out, leaving her living alone. She hated living alone, it was too quiet and she would get lost in her thoughts and her books with no distractions.

Once, that would have sounded nice, but now it sounded dull and boring.

An arm slipped around her waist, and Remus pressed a glass of wine into her hands. She leaned against him, enjoying his touch.

"I know I'm teasing you a lot," Harry said, looking between them. "But I am actually happy for you both. I like this, I like how you're smiling right now."

Draco returned to the room. "Sirius called me a queen!" he exclaimed, clearly hurt by the word.

"It's the hair," Sirius said, following Draco into the room.

"It's not queen hair," Draco whined. "Tell him, Potter."

Harry held his hands up. "Sorry, but you're on your own when it comes to Sirius."

Draco sniffed. "Some boyfriend you are!"

"It's more princess hair," Hermione added. "Can't you just see him in a beautiful dress, in a little castle, waiting for his prince to come along?"

"At least I take care of my hair," Draco muttered. "You're just jealous of how perfect it is."

"Princess Draco," Sirius said, a delighted grin on his face.

Draco turned to Harry. "Remind me why we're here for Christmas evening?"

"Games," Teddy said, pointing to a bookcase with a stack of games on top. "We have to play games now."

Review please :)

1644 words

Lucky Hermione :p