The day of Christmas Eve had finally come, bringing with it the subtle chime of excitement throughout the entire Manor. You had found yourself in quite good spirits all morning and afternoon, as the whole household seemed to light up in the merriment.
Distant chiming could be heard delicately twinkling down the halls, silvers and golds adorned the bannisters, spiced apples and warm ciders could be smelt from every room.
You sat cozy and wrapped up snuggly in a cable knitted blanket, sipping up a hot cup of Vanilla and Honey tea by the fire. The clouds looming about the skies hid the setting sun over the mountains, creating a mystical grey shroud through the windows.
Softly, you heard foot steps coming in upon the floor, stopping only before you had looked up to see who it was.
"Looks like you win" Draco shifted into the room, walking closer to you as he held a 10 galleon note between his two fingers.
"Win?" You looked to him as if he had two heads, "What for?"
"It's Christmas Eve" He chuckled, amusedly looking back down at the note while fidgeting with it in his hands, "Scorpius is having a sugar crash snooze upstairs...There isn't a single unopened wrapper left to find in the room"
You both shared a humbled laugh amongst yourselves, "I wouldn't consider it an official winning...keep it"
"You know, I can't remember the last time I ever set foot in that old Pub down the Wicks..." he looked back up to you
"You've ever drank there?" You inquired, putting down you hot cup
"Only to accompany my father, meeting an acquaintance"
"We never even set foot in the place" you shrugged, looking down at your tea
"Is that right?" He countered
"Well, I did want to at least see what the inside looked like" you pondered out loud
"How about it then?" His brow raised with intrigue
You were surprised, "On Christmas Eve?"
"Why not! How about instead I owe you a drink, I wouldn't mind having a pint and taking a look around the lights" Draco suggested, putting a hand in his pocket
"Are you entirely sure that you're the sort to be found in such an establishment Mr. Malfoy?" You mockingly feigned a regal posture, lifting your chin higher
Draco grinned, puffing his chest out proudly, "You're awful hesitant Miss Crowe...I do suppose someone who can only handle a cap of cocoa..."
You rolled your eyes up at him, teasing your mercilessly as you knew he would, "It was a long day! Give me a break, not even"
"Well" he smiled, "if youd feel so inclined to redeem yourself"
You looked to him hard with consideration, There was no way you were going to let him have the satisfaction of holding that over you for god know how long.
"Grab your coat"
"Aho!" Draco reeled I'm surprise, "That's the spirit!"
"We'll see about that" you side eyed him, "You're On"
"I'm shaking" he teased, "I'll call the driver, meet me in the foyer in 5"
You scoffed back in a mocking tone, leading yourself out the door to grab your coat. Walking down the hall, you were looking quite forward to actually get to go out and have a drink with someone you didn't feel so on show around.
Now you only hoped you wouldn't decide to fall asleep on the ride up there.
...
The little village of Wicksburn had fallen into the cool shadows of night, a few windows glowing from the inside had shown themselves off in the distance as the car came to a slow roll on the cobblestones.
"Brace yourself" Draco looked to you, placing a hand on the door handle
He stepped out as he opened the car door, extending a hand back inside the cab, "Miss Crowe"
"Tssh" you took it sheepishly, smirking off to the side as he helped you step out of the car.
The two of you walked up to the doors of the pub, you could already see the patrons moving about through the dusty windows, noises and music moving about.
Draco held the door open, as playful as he could be it seemed, you had to admit that the man never lost his manners.
The inside of the Tavern atmosphere was low-lighted and quaint, so late in the evening it would seem the crowd would have been thinner in your mind. To your surprise, there were quite a few witches and wizards enjoying themselves by the fires or gathered around tables with tankards.
"Quite a show of folks tonight I see" Draco began to remove his jacket, "Shall we?"
"Evenin there folks!" A red nosed brawny man stood at the bar, "What'll it be?"
"Whiskey, straight please" Draco directed, hanging his coat up
"Vodka Cranberry for me, Please" you followed up to the bar
A rowdy commotion came from across the room, a thundering group of broad and burly wizards were huddled around a table watching eagerly.
"What's going on over ther?" You asked, looking to Draco inquisitively
"Oh" Draco took his glass from the counter, "Looks like the locals are up to a game of Ruples"
"Ruples?" You'd never even heard of a hung called 'Ruples'
"You see there, each player has a set of three 'Ruple' stones" Draco began, "They're clear now, but once the players shake and throw them to the tables, they'll change colors. See how they have small cubby's carved out in the tables in front of them? They're covered by the shields, so the other player can't see their lot. Red equals 1 point, Blue is 2 points, Purple equals 3. The player who's Ruples add up the most points wins the draw"
"Is that what the locals do for fun in these parts then" you looked to him
"Up here, it's practically a lifestyle" he murmured, taking his glass from the counter
"Oiy! Look what we've got here" one of the scruffy looking men motioned towards the two of you
"Ahaha, some fresh finery from the looks of it" a heavyset wizard with a bushy beard looked up, "How 'bout it pockets, you look like your load could be lightened"
The wizards about the table laughed about as they slapped one another on their backs.
"Can't say I've played for quite some time gentlemen, You'll forgive me for being a spectator tonight" Draco politely declined
"Well come on then" you said "We can't come all this way out and not have a bit of fun then" you called his sense of spontaneity out, "Alright, I'll try my luck!"
"Ooh, Lookit what we have here then" The heavy bearded man looked around to his brood, "Lads give the lady a seat"
Draco looked over the bunch nervously for you, "Im not sure you want to be mixing up with these guys...They'll eat you alive"
"Oh what's the harm in one round" you weren't intimidated by the men, but you had to admit everyone standing about put you more on your edge
"My Lady", one of the men motioned you into the empty chair
You nodded to him politely, taking a seat before the table, "Thank You, Kind Sir"
"I reckon you know how the game goes, eh missy?" He leaned in, giving you a quizzical eye
You shrugged, not trying to lead on an air of cluelessness, "I get the general gist of it"
"Good enough!" He announced to the room, "The games 3 Gem Cast, On my word toss em' in the ditch!"
You looked across to a red haired wizard seated before you, his skin was freckled with a grains of hair upon his chin. He showed his teeth your way giddily as he took the gems into his fists.
You took up the three clear stones into your own hands, as you followed the motions of the player in front of you. You shook them about before you heard the tall bushy man call out
"CAST!"
The red haired brute looked up, menacingly snickering across towards you as he looked side to side to his comrades, "3 Galleons"
You weren't going to let a little show for face stir you now, not with everyone watching. As you looked down, you kept your lip straight and chin locked. There, you saw 2 Purple, 1 Blue.
"I see your 3 and raise you" you arched a brow towards him, motioning for him to make the next move
His face drew itself into one of hard pressed Steel, never breaking eye contact as he reached towards the wooden shielding before him, "Pull"
You both pulled back the rounded cups to reveal your draws, anxiously you looked across the table to see what would determine your standing.
There, in his cubby, there stood 2 Purple and 1 Red.
"8 BEATS YOUR 7!" One of the tawnier wizards belted out, the rest of the group laughing riotously about the table
"10 Galleons to the Fair Lady!" The bushy bearded wizard clapped with enthusiasm
"Beginners luck" the red haired player scoffed, a sore loss made him bitter
"Shall we go again?" Your confidence brimming, "I think I rather find myself liking this game"
"Another round for the boys!" The red hairy wizard stomped in agreement
It felt relieving and like a breath of air to be able to enjoy yourself so freely with a group of decent fun loving wizards. The casual homeyness of the little village knit together a night of cheerful festivities, meeting hardworking witches and wizards just humbly basking themselves in the company of one another.
Draco even gathered up the stamina to roll up his sleeves to a round or two, much to your surprise despite his reluctance. His defined forearms before the table made him almost one with some of the other laborers around him.
His cheeks grew rosier after a couple pints, his hair was not so tucked and groomed, even his laughter was filling the room with an air of difference that settled in You.
His handsome features were dimly lit, and in his carefree state, you saw a man simply as he was. A man.
You felt your chest flip itself into your stomach and back again, each time you caught yourself looking upon him.
It wasn't as though the drinks had gone thoroughly to your head, Draco was slowly but surely a comfortable figure of familiarity at this point in time. Though, when he wasn't busy keeping up appearances, and genuinely letting himself show through, you couldn't help but notice that desire to just be away from the protocol and expectations of your lives.
He was someone truly relatable, with good humors and a brightness that shown through his eyes. He was a caring, considerate father as well as a fun companion when he wanted to be.
You felt your stomach become heated as you looked down at your glass, you caught yourself smiling aimlessly as you felt yourself begin to blush.
"Oh no..." you thought to yourself
You looked back up, Draco was vigorously shaking two clasped fists before the table, howling with the other men for the luck of the cast. As he threw the gems down, you noticed his loosened collar had given way to a couple buttons exposing his chest beneath.
He caught your glance, and smiled your way warmly before you nervously looked back down to the table.
"Don't catch feelings (Y/N)" you thought to yourself, "Stop it"
You heard a roar of cheering suddenly come from the table, as Draco's entire side stood in cheer, fist threw towards the air victoriously as you looked back up.
Draco was grinning from ear to ear, he looked back over to you proudly, "I think I've still got it!"
You held your glass up, giving a half felt laugh towards him in praise, still overcoming the realizations of your own thoughts.
"I guess he does..." you lifted your glass to take a small sip, "...I guess he does"