Feeling quite warm and knowing I would be in for the night I grabbed a sports bra and short shorts to sleep in. I also knew that after that serious of a conversation and our snog session it would be impossible to wind down and go to bed. So, I grabbed my silk robe and a stack of essays and began grading. Just as I sat down, I heard an owl at my bedroom window.

I got back up to let the familiar owl flutter in. Grabbing a treat from the jar on my wardrobe, I exchanged it for the letter tied to its tiny brown foot. Relieved of duty Errol fluttered back through the window. Anxious to get back to my task, I opened it quickly.

"Dearest Hermione,

You are as much family as any of my other children and it would be downright cruel to deprive a mother of seeing one of children on Christmas and I know you would never do that. Therefore, we look forward to seeing you for Christmas Eve dinner. Rest assured my youngest son is not invited. However, any guest you bring will be welcomed with open arms.

Looking forward to seeing you.

Love,

Molly"

I shook my head at the parchment. Molly Weasley certainly had her own way of getting what she wants. I hadn't given the thought of Christmas plans much thought. I made a mental note to discuss it with Draco tomorrow and went back to begin my work.

I was nearly finished when there was a knock at my door. Glancing at the clock I saw it was just after midnight and my curiosity as to who the visitor could be as well as the importance of said visit had me rushing to the door. I opened it quickly and saw a panicked Draco with a letter in his hand.

"Draco! Is everything ok? It's after midnight." While Draco and I have been together much later, he had never knocked this late.

He tried to form an answer but his eyes raked over my body. "It can wait."

Without warning his mouth descended on mine. My earlier worry was forgotten as the heat of the kiss settled to my bones. I was vaguely aware that we were moving until my legs hit the back of the bed and I fell backwards. Draco's reflexes were fast and he caught me, gently laying me down.

My skin was on fire under his touch and the ability to think seemed to have left me. All I was able to do was focus on the intense pleasure coursing through my body. My clothing left a significant amount of skin exposed and, much to my pleasure, Draco took full advantage.

His strong hands were gentle on my skin as they sought out the locations that elicited the positive response he was hoping for. When his mouth grazed a particularly sensitive spot on my clavicle my back arched and a desperate moan escaped my throat. I was aching for more and Draco seemed to sense it.

"Please let me take care of you tonight."

There was a pleading need in his voice and I just didn't have the restraint to say no. Not trusting my voice, I shook my head yes. The smile that graced his face could have outshone the sun.

His mouth trailed along my skin as his hand began to caress my breasts. We had yet to go beyond intense snog sessions and I hadn't realized how much I had been craving his touch until it was there. My back arched into his hand and as much as I was enjoying the sensation, I was eager for him to move south.

He got my hint and ever so slowly his hand trailed down my torso and to the waist of my shorts. My stomach clenched in anticipation as he slowly ran his finger across my waistband.

"Please Draco." The tension building inside me was becoming unbearable. I reached out to touch him and he moved my hand away.

"Just you tonight." A growl escaped him as his hand finally reached its intended target. "Merlin. So wet."

Words seemed to be difficult for him, but I didn't have the energy to spare that much thought. As his fingers explored my thick folds I quickly began to spin into pure ecstasy. As his fingers entered me, I was nearly overwhelmed with pleasure and it didn't take long for me to reach release. Clearly, I was more worked up than I had realized.

As I came back down my eye lids fluttered open to see Draco watching me with a look of smug satisfaction. Without saying a word, he removed his hand and brought his fingers to his mouth to taste.

His eyes closed. "Every bit as sweet as I expected."

I threw an arm over my eyes in embarrassment and let out a small giggle. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"I can't believe we haven't done that sooner." Gently he kissed my jaw. "I love you."

"I love you too Draco."

As we laid there for several minutes, my thoughts began to collect once again. "Did you rush in here just for this, or was there an actual reason you came knocking so late?"

He seemed to remember himself. "I promise this isn't why I came by, though I certainly enjoyed myself." A smug smile tugged at his lips before fading into a look of worry. He got up and retrieved from the floor the letter he had dropped while I pulled my shorts back on and secured my robe. I recognized the handwriting instantly and wondered how bad the contents would be.

"I received this when I got back from patrolling." He handed me the letter and I read it quickly.

"Dear Mr. Malfoy,

It has come to my attention that you are of importance to Hermione. As we are the only family she has left (a responsibility we do not take lightly) you are of importance to us as well.

I am writing to personally invite you to dinner at my home this Christmas Eve.

It is not my business to share Hermione's past, but this time last year, and the months leading up to her appointment at Hogwarts, she was in a very dark place. When I saw the two of you together in Hogsmeade there was a light in her eyes I haven't seen since before the war. I can only assume you are the source of that light. We would never do anything to jeopardize that happiness for Hermione.

Our families do not have a pleasant history. I want to make clear that I understand your situation and I do not hold you responsible for your father's actions. Your presence will be welcomed in our home with warmth.

It also needs mentioning that Arthur and I do not condone my youngest son's behavior and he will not be welcomed in our home this holiday.

I'm looking forward to getting to know the man who makes our Hermione so happy. See you at Christmas.

Molly Weasley"

Draco had begun to pace while I read and I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him. The letter was genuine and I thought it was a step above what was necessary of Mrs. Weasley to do. The thoughtfulness and kind words touched me deeply. I also realized why it completely freaked Draco out. His family wouldn't know warmth if it bit them on the ass and then throw in the complication of it being my ex-boyfriend's parent's home for our first holiday together and I understood why he came running here.

"Her intentions are as pure as she writes."

He ran a hand nervously through his hair. "We haven't talked about holiday plans. Do you want to go?"

I knew I had to be honest with him. "I have no qualms with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Or most of their children for that fact. She's right, they are the only family I have at this point. They have taken me in repeatedly since the summer after first year and with a small exception around the Tri-Wizard tournament when Molly thought I was hurting Harry; they have shown me nothing but kindness and love. They value family above all else and the fact that she has acknowledged Ron's behavior to the point of cutting him out of the holidays so that I can attend speaks volumes of how much she cares for me and I wouldn't feel good rejecting her invitation."

Running a hand over his face, I could tell he was thinking through what I had said. "How does Christmas Eve normally work for the Weasley's?"

Not the question I had expected, but ok. "Oh, well everyone comes over for dinner. Mrs. Weasley is a fabulous cook. We eat way too much food and catch up on what has happened since the last time we've all been together. With so many kids out of the house it's the only time of year that everyone is usually together. Charlie has even been coming home from Romania each year since the war. After dinner we drink spiked hot chocolate, listen to music and sit in front of the fire talking until late at night. In the morning Mrs. Weasley cooks up a breakfast fit for an army and when everyone is done we head to the sitting room to open gifts. It's not too long after that that it starts to break up. Bill and Fleur and their little girl head to spend time with her family. Percy heads over to Audrey's family's and Fred and George usually have to get back to the shop."

When I finished, he paused for a moment to take in the information. The silence was just about to become uncomfortable when he finally spoke.

"Ok."

"Ok? You'll come with me?" I honestly hadn't expected him to agree to go and assumed we might me up on Christmas day.

He took my hands in his. "This is important to you and that makes it important to me. It's our first Christmas as a couple and I don't want to spend it apart. However," I knew that sneaky Slytherin was going to have some sort of catch. "You come with me after and we spend the rest of the holidays at my estate in France."

My mouth dropped. Surely, he wasn't going to give in that easily? "Deal!"

His signature smirk broke out across his face and the earlier tension was gone.

"You know, I wasn't expecting you tonight, but I'm glad you came by. It's definitely been an interesting end to the evening." I glanced at the clock which was now approaching 2am. "Or start to the day I suppose. I am quite tired though." I hesitated a bit before I asked my next question. "It's already so late, would you like to stay?"

The question was silly. He just lived down the hall. It's not like it would be a major inconvenience to get back to his own bed, but something had shifted today and I wasn't ready for him to go.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'd like that."

We readied for bed. Draco transfigured his pair of slacks into silk pajama bottoms and decided to forgo a shirt. I discarded my robe and we climbed under the covers. I had to suppress the urge to giggle as we got comfortable. It's not that we hadn't cuddled before, but doing so in bed with limited clothing was more intimate and apparently my way to deal with it was to turn into a giggling school girl.

Once we were settled, my head was laid on Draco's chest and his arm held me close to him. The closeness of him enveloped my senses. His small, his touch, the even sound of his breathing. It didn't take long for me to fall into a comfortable slumber.