A/N: Merry Christmas and Happy New Years (Yes, I know I'm two weeks late, but better late than never!). I have finally finished this chapter and have a question for you all - would you prefer the wait and have 7000 word chapters, or do you want more frequent updates and smaller chapters (about half the length)? I realise that I probably could have split this chapter into two, so I'll let you decide.

Things are getting a little bit more interesting now...but I wanted to also include a bit of light fluff in this chapter in honour of the holiday season.

Enjoy, and please don't forget to leave a review!

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The slight touch of a finger tracing circles on her bare ribs is what woke Hermione up from a pleasant dream. She stirred, stretching lazily across the length of her bed and the hand stopped its movement.

"Good morning," a low voice whispered huskily. She peered through one eyelid and felt a genuine smile grace her lips. Draco had propped himself up on one elbow, the blankets draped over him from the hips down, exposing his bare chest. His long hair was loose and fell over his shoulders, illuminated by the morning sun pouring through the windows. He smiled as well and reached up to tuck some of Hermione's bushy hair behind her ear. "My, your hair is glorious in the morning."

"Gloriously untamed and wild," she murmured. "And an absolute nightmare to deal with."

"Hmm, I think I love it."

"Could you imagine if I was a muggle and had to deal with this crazy mane in the morning without magic?" she asked, laughing slightly. "Or worse, if I were a squib and I knew that there were magical options available and I couldn't do anything about it myself?"

She felt Draco stiffen slightly next to her and she peered up at him curiously.

"What?" she asked. "What is it?"

"Can't say," he grunted, and tried relaxing again, but she could still see the strain etched into his face.

"Was it something I said?"

"Sort of," he answered, dropping a kiss onto her forehead. "It just made me remember something and I can't say what."

"Ahh…a work thing?"

He smiled again. "Precisely."

"I get it." Hermione shuffled herself closer to him and snuggled her face into his chest. She could feel him sigh in relief. "How did you sleep?"

He gave a small snort. "Best night sleep I've ever had."

"You know what," Hermione said, pulling back and gazing into his eyes. "Me too."

"There's just something about you," he said, running his hand up and down her arm. "Something I have never felt with anyone else."

"Like you're the puzzle piece this jigsaw has been missing."

He chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, something like that."

Hermione mimicked him, drawing a finger up his arm and down his torso, caressing his collarbone and chest. She had touched him so much since the previous night and she felt like it was a craving she would never fulfill. She leant forward and kissed the skin that she could reach, and he broke out in a wave of goosebumps.

"Hey," she said quietly, lifting her hand to stroke his hair. "I've just realized your hair is different. It's…it's your old colour."

It wasn't the dirty blonde she had gotten used to anymore, but a shining platinum again. It made him look younger, but she figured that was probably because she associated that colour with the Draco she knew from school.

"Oh, my concealment charm has faded," he answered, briefly looking to where her hand touched him. "I have to do it every morning to hide the hair…it's kind of a recognisable colour."

"Hmm, I think I love it," she repeated his words, feeling brazen. He snorted again, this time in mirth. "I have to do it as well…the concealment charm. But I do it on my scars."

"How did you get this one?" he asked, rubbing his hand over her ribs again where a purplish jagged line ran, discolouring her skin. It wasn't quite a scar, but more like a blemish. "Is it a birthmark?"

Hermione glanced down at it and grimaced. She wasn't a fan of that particular mark. "No, it was from a curse."

"What?" Draco's eyes met hers in alarm. "When? Who?"

"Fifth year, when we went to the Department of Mysteries." She readjusted herself to get more comfortable. "Apparently it was one of Dolohov's specialties. No idea what curse it was actually. Luckily, he was rendered speechless, or I would have been killed."

Draco growled low in the back of his throat.

"As it was, it did a number on me. Thank Merlin for Madam Pomfrey, she saved my life." She sighed. "It still twinges every so often, even now. I hate it. I could feel the dark magic in me, and it still makes me want to retch."

"I'm so sorry that happened to you," Draco whispered and leant his head to rest on hers. "I should have done something. Anything. I was such a fucking coward."

"Don't say that," Hermione said, moving her hand to his face. "You did what you had to. You wanted to survive. You wanted to protect your parents. I wanted the same. It's just…we did it a bit differently."

"Yeah, you did it the right way." She decided to let that comment pass and instead touched a finger lightly to a scar she had just noticed on his shoulder.

"What about you?" Hermione asked. It was hard to see under the black lined tattoo of a dragon in flight. "How did you get this?"

"From a mission a few years ago," he said, glancing down at the scar in question. "Apprehended the guy I was hunting, disarmed him and everything. Then he pulled a bloody cursed knife on me."

Hermione winced in sympathy. "Ouch."

"It's part of the reason why I insisted we incorporate hand-to-hand combat in training," he explained. "If I had known everything we know now back then, that scar might never have happened."

"If only we all had the power for foresight," Hermione murmured.

Draco huffed and pointed to another very thin, barely visible scar that ran diagonally across his chest. "If I had the power of foresight, I would have never gone into that bathroom or gotten into that duel with Potter. Prick almost killed me."

"And you almost tortured him," Hermione reminded him. He thought she would scold him, but her tone was light, and she raised her eyebrows expectantly at him.

Draco shrugged nonchalantly and lowered his head bashfully, eager to deter the conversation away from that particular can of worms. "What other scars do you have that need covering up?"

"Just this one," she said quietly, raising her arm to show him the pale spiky lettering that spelt out 'mudblood'. "Courtesy of your Aunt."

He winced and dragged a finger over it. "This is my biggest regret. Calling you this, being related to the person who put it on you."

"Well…your words didn't scar me. And it wasn't you who put this on me," she whispered, her knuckles briefly caressing his chin to have him look at her. "You are not your family."

"I don't know how to tell you just how much I appreciate you being in my life," he said, moving his head back to kiss her fingers. "And for not exposing me the moment you saw me, for giving me the second chance that I would have never given you ten years ago."

She rested her face against his, just taking a moment to breathe deeply.

"Are you sure that's it?" he asked, suddenly getting a cheeky look in his eye. "There aren't any other scars you're trying to hide?"

He began to over-dramatically examine her, lifting her arm up and dropping it back down with a thud. Prodding her in all her sensitive places, causing her to emit a shriek of giggles as he found her most ticklish spots.

"Draco! Stop!" she cried out through her snorts and squeaks. He had a devilish grin, seeping with pleasure at his new discovery of her. She squirmed under his hands until she could no longer take it and remembering her training, swiftly swung her leg up and maneuvered herself so that one of her legs wrapped around his shoulder and neck and interlocked with her other, successfully trapping him in place.

"Ooh, I quite like this," Draco declared, before burying his face into her lap. She gasped with a squeak of surprise and released her leg lock. Draco lowered her backwards, sneaking his arm under her other leg so they were both resting over his shoulders as he went to work on nipping, sucking, and licking her. Hermione's mind went blank, and all she could focus on was the feel of Draco's warm, moist mouth on her and the jolts of cold she felt as his breath hit her. Her hips convulsed eagerly, and she impulsively reached down to entangle her fingers in his hair. This was a new experience for her, Ron had never pleasured her in such a fashion. It wasn't that he was a bad lover, but he was an impatient one. He never took the time to explore her body in way that would ultimately satisfy only her. She had never felt such a rush of passion flood through her like this before.

His hands kneaded her thighs, and her back arched as the pressure inside her began to build expectantly. She felt her head spin as she panted, her body racing towards release.

There was a knock on her front door. Draco pulled away, unsure if he heard right, and Hermione whimpered, feeling her release fade. He shook his head sharply and rumbled a deep, "No!"

He returned his mouth to her, his tongue darting out, more insistently this time, to meet her most delicate pink flesh. Her sense of delirium and euphoria returned at once, and her hips thrusted to meet his mouth once more. His left hand released her thigh, stretching upwards to rub her breast, tweaking her nipple until it stood firm. The knocking intensified, and it just fueled Draco to keep going faster. Hermione's short gasps of air quickened, building in momentum until finally, finally, she reached her utmost tipping point and fell over the edge. A tidal wave of absolute bliss tore through her body and she shoved a fist into her mouth to stop herself from crying out. She felt Draco grin against her then pull back, easing her legs off from his shoulders and onto the mattress as she tried to regain her senses.

There was still someone knocking at the door. Hermione let one last long breath out and rolled out of bed to find her dressing gown. Her legs felt a little wobbly as she pulled her hair back into a messy bun, most of her curls so wild that they failed to remain restrained.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Hold your horses."

She walked to the front door and swung it open, only to meet a wide-eyed and positively mischievous looking Jess awaiting her on the other side. Without even a greeting, she pushed past Hermione into her apartment and started ranting.

"I figured it all out. I mean, I think I did. It was just so obvious this morning after I had given it much thought and yeah, I think I figured it out."

"Good morning to you too, Jess," Hermione said, slamming the door shut and following Jess into the lounge, crossing her arms in bemusement. "I have no idea what you're going on about."

"You and Damien, of course!" She cried out excitedly. Then she seemed to take notice of Hermione's hair, her flushed face, and her dressing gown, and her jaw dropped. She mouthed enthusiastically. "Is he here? Right now? Did he find you?"

Draco cleared his throat as he entered the room. "Did I hear my name?"

He had put on his pants from the night before, now perfectly dry, and was in the act of pulling on his t-shirt as he walked through the doorway, allowing both girls a glimpse of his well-toned abs before they disappeared behind the fabric.

Jess jumped and squealed with delight. "Ohhh, he is here. Sooo…how was your night then?"

Hermione blushed deeply but refused to look coy about it. "Very nice, thank you, and yours?"

"Enlightening," Jess said, a gleam in her eyes. "I think I might like Spain."

Draco snorted as he made his way to the couch and fell into it. "You ended up trying the cuisine then?"

"Mmm, yes, more than once, very satisfying." Jess grinned. "Anyway, halfway through another course this morning, it suddenly came to me."

"Did it just?" Hermione laughed, as Draco said, "I bet it did!" and Jess rolled her eyes at the two of them.

"Yes, but no, but also yes…kind of?" She waved her hands impatiently. "But that's not what I meant, I meant about you two. I figured you out."

"Please, share some of this enlightenment with us," Draco drawled, leaning forward, and resting his hands on his knees.

"Wait," Hermione threw up a hand, stopping Jess just as she had taken in a huge breath. "I'm going to need coffee for this. Just give me a few minutes. You guys want anything?"

"Desperately," replied Draco.

"Ooh, yes please," Jess agreed.

Hermione busied herself in the kitchen, waving her wand and muttering, quickly returning with three steaming mugs of coffee and a platter containing a jug of milk, a jar of sugar, crackers, dip, cheese, and fruit. She placed the tray on the coffee table and sunk into the chair besides Draco. She added milk and sugar to her coffee and took a long sip before placing her mug back down and looking up expectantly at Jess, who was copying her movements. Draco immediately reached for a handful of apple slices and began munching on them happily.

"Alright, I think I'm ready to hear what you've come up with now," Hermione said, folding her arms once more and leaning back.

Jess swallowed her mouthful of coffee and stood back, pausing slightly to build the suspension up. "You guys knew each other before."

"Before what?" Draco asked, suddenly looking interested, an apple slice frozen halfway to his mouth.

"Before training, of course," Jess replied. She seemed to be bursting with the knowledge inside of her. "Everybody knows that you spent time as a kid overseas. My bet is that you two knew each other then. You were in England at the same time. You knew each other as kids."

"How…the hell…" Hermione gaped at her, then said under her breath, "well technically, it was Scotland."

"And what makes you think you're right?" Draco asked, looking dumbfounded. "What clues were there that gave you that idea?"

"Well, there was the immediate chemistry for starters," Jess said, half shrugging. "Almost too immediate, no one becomes that comfortable with another person that quickly unless they are either staggeringly drunk, or they've previously met. Then there are all those snide little in-jokes you two have, making each other snicker thinking that no one notices."

"No one but you notices, Jess," Hermione pointed out.

"Yeah, you literally notice too much," Draco quipped, shaking his head in disbelief. "If they don't hire you as an analyst, I'm going to have words with the Director."

Jess beamed at him. "It's an annoying talent I have. Anyway, there were also a few red flags about you that I've picked up on."

"Red flags?" Hermione asked worriedly. "What do you mean, red flags?"

"Things about his past that don't add up, the stories people tell don't quite match, almost like they were fabricated." Jess pulled a frustrated face. "Like you didn't actually exist until just before you started with the agency."

"What?" Draco shared a concerned glance with Hermione.

"And that got me thinking that if Hermione knew you when you were a kid, but no one else here did. If she knew your past, your history, your story…then maybe you didn't grow up here at all." Jess started to pace as she rambled. "Which led me to think that something must have happened. Something bad. And you moved here and had to re-invent yourself. You had to go into hiding, with a new name, and a new face. Which is why your hair colour is currently much, much blonder than I remember from yesterday."

Draco swore out loud and glanced up at his platinum locks. He still hadn't remembered to recast his concealment charm. Hermione's eyes grew round as Jess spoke and she clutched at her chest trying to control her panic and breathing.

"So, the real reason why I'm here guys," Jess finally stopped pacing and faced them. "I need you to obliviate me."

She sounded almost stunned to be saying the words out loud.

"Obliviate you?" Hermione repeated. This conversation did not take the turn she was expecting at all.

Jess nodded. "It's the only way to protect you both. Not only do I know what I figured out, but now I also know that you two are intimately involved. If I get into the agency, I assume that they're going to get inside my head. They'll learn what I know. I…I can't do that to you guys, I like you too much."

"You're willingly going to let someone erase your memory?" Draco asked, now resting his chin on his interlocked fingers as he considered her. "To protect us?"

She shook her head in the negative. "Not erase, modify. One of your specialties, I hear."

If possible, Draco paled further. "Where did you hear that?"

"Is that your special skillset?" Hermione asked, staring at him doubtfully. "Memory charms?"

"Don't make me sound like Lockhart, that's not what I do."

"What's a Lockhart?" Jess asked confused. They ignored her.

"Well, what is it that you do then?"

"I discovered a way of modifying a memory to the point where the scene remains, but elements are forgotten. So I can make Jess remember that she was at Morgana's last night, but not that she was there with you. She will remember everything with Amaris but will no longer remember your participation in that conversation."

"Fascinating." Hermione knew her jaw had slackened as he spoke and hastily shut it. "So, you'll just make Jess forget that she had figured anything out without it looking suspicious?"

"And also take away the impulse to try and figure anything out when it concerns us."

"Oh good," Jess interjected. "I was worried about that. I have such a curious nature that I was going to suggest that you obliviate me every month because if I figured it out once, I'll probably figure it out again."

"And you're ok with this?" Hermione asked incredulously.

Jess nodded, a little too eagerly. "You have been nothing but nice to me, and I like to think that we've become friends. Friends support friends, and I think you two are just perfect for each other. I don't want to get in the way of that."

"I'll go get my wand," Draco said, standing up and finally eating his last apple slice. "No point in delaying."

"Jess," Hermione said once they were alone. "Thank you."

Jess came forwarded and clasped Hermione's hands, her eyes wide with sincerity. "You are worth it. And I want you to know that I'm going to miss how close we've become. With Damien, if that even is his name, modifying my memory, it's going to take away all of our conversations together. I'll just remember you as one of the other trainee's and that's it."

She let go of Hermione and stood back as Draco entered the room.

"Shall we do this?"

"Wait," Jess said. "If you're going to be modifying my memory anyway…could you tell me if I was right? Can you tell me how you met? I'm dying to know."

Hermione and Draco shared a glance and shrugged. "I suppose there's no harm if I just remove it straight away."

"Where to start?" Hermione asked.

Draco smirked. "That's easy. It all starts with Hogwarts."

.

Half an hour later, they had given a thorough overview to Jess, who sat in stunned silence.

"So…you were a death eater," she said, pointing to Draco who nodded. "And you are a muggle born?"

"Yep."

"And you hated each other?"

"I didn't know any better," Draco said defensively.

"And then you thought he died?"

Hermione nodded.

"So how did you become friends here?"

"She gave me a second chance."

"And he proved he had changed."

They gave each other a small smile and Jess let out a small, "aww!"

"If only we could tell Potter about us," Draco laughed. "I would pay to be a fly on that wall."

"I think Ron would have a better reaction. Who would have thought we both ended up with Slytherin's?"

"Maybe we should go to his wedding together."

"I think they would have a bigger reaction that you were alive then, not that we were together."

"Ooh, double shock, he might have a heart attack. We should definitely do it."

"Draco," Hermione said warningly.

Jess started to laugh. It bubbled up inside of her, as she silently shook, until she could no longer hold it in. "I've never seen you two like this, it's adorable."

"It's the only time you'll ever see it," Draco said, and the mood instantly fell. "Shall we get on with it then?"

Jess gave a sad smile and nodded firmly. She sat down on the couch next to Hermione. "Let's do this. Oh, just one thing, I hope you two have a Merry Christmas."

Draco frowned. "Shit, that's two days away. I completely forgot."

"I'm not surprised, you have been a bit of a mess for the last few days."

"I'm obliviating you now, especially that bit."

Jess' eyes crinkled as she grinned and waved to Hermione. "See you on the other side."

Hermione watched as Draco performed the spell. His wand hand waved slowly in a figure eight, as a silver strand of magic connected the tip of his wand to Jess' head. His other hand was doing some sort of complicated typing movement, almost like he was swiping a smart phone, deciding which memories to keep. It took him twenty minutes to thoroughly go through it all, and Jess' eyes were closed the entire time. At last, he stepped back, the silver strand extracted, and Jess stood up, eyes still closed, and immediately apparated away. Draco breathed a deep sigh.

"Well, that's done."

"I didn't expect us to pour out our entire history to someone this morning," Hermione said, pulling her legs up onto the couch to get comfier. "But it was kind of therapeutic in a way."

"We've certainly come a long way from our days at Hogwarts."

"We're going to have to tighten your story. So no one else becomes mildly curious and figures you out."

Draco made an agreeable noise in the back of his throat and stood there a while, his face turned stony in concentration, and his arms tightly folded, almost hugging himself.

Hermione reached a hand out to him. "C'mere."

Draco blinked, and his body melted as he slowly unfolded his arms and the tension left him. He dropped his wand onto the coffee table and crawled onto the couch, fitting himself quite comfortably between her legs and his mouth immediately found hers. He tasted like apple, coffee, and something musky that she realised must have come from her. She pulled back and broke the kiss.

"What are your plans for Christmas?" she asked him. He pulled a face and readjusted himself so that he was lying next to her on the couch, hugging her close to him.

"I don't do anything for it. Sometimes I go down to the local charity event and help serve food for some company, but I just normally treat it like any other day off."

"Wanna spend it with me?" she whispered. His silver eyes found hers, warm like honey, and he melted into a smile.

"More than anything."

.

As it was nearing lunch, Hermione decided to quickly pop down to the local grocery store to get some provisions for the house. She had packed her milk, eggs, cereal, bread, butter and snacks in her small purple, beaded handbag, whose undetectable extension charm was still going strong, and headed back up to her apartment where she had left Draco. He had said he was going home to grab a few of his own supplies to get him through the next few days, things like clothes and soap, and would meet her back there.

When she unlocked her door and pushed it open, it was as if she had entered a Christmas Wonderland. The sounds of cheerful Christmas carols floated towards her from the kitchen. Her jaw dropped as she walked further into the apartment, closing the door on her way through. Fairy lights, tinsel, holly, tiny little elf decorations. The apartment was transformed into the very epitome of festivity. Draco stood in the corner of the lounge room, next to a six-foot Christmas tree, carefully placing colourful, glittery baubles on the plastic leaved branches. Hermione laughed at the sight. He was wearing a dark blue singlet, patterned with jolly little bare-chested Santa's sitting on a beach under a palm tree. A fluffy red Santa's hat sat atop of his now returned dark-blonde hair. He turned at the sound of her laugh and grinned.

"Damn, I wanted to have it finished before you got back."

"I never knew you to be so into Christmas." Hermione couldn't stop the smile that was plastered on her face. She walked over to his side and gazed up at him affectionately. Still holding a bauble up, he leant sideways and kissed her.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh, you certainly managed that!" She laughed again and looked at the Christmas tree to appraise his work.

Draco could see the dazzling reflection of the fairy lights glimmer in the orbs her eyes and felt entranced by them. "God you're beautiful. Christmas is a great colour on you."

Hermione blushed and nodded towards the kitchen. "I'm just going to chuck this stuff in the fridge."

She returned only moments later and helped him arrange the last of the decorations onto the tree.

"Will you do the honours?" Draco asked, holding out a sparkling golden star to her. She shook her head in the negative.

"No, you've done all the hard work, I think you should get to put the star on top."

She watched him smile like a small child as he reached over to place the ornament on the tree. He was an inch taller than the tree, so it wasn't a struggle for him, but he still stepped back afterwards looking very chuffed, as if he had just completed a difficult task. He wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders, and she leaned into him as they watched the lights flash and the tinsel gleam.

"This is going to be the best Christmas ever," she sighed contentedly. Draco let his head fall on top of hers and silently agreed.

On Christmas morning, the couple awoke to a sharp tapping sound at the window. Hermione sat up and rubbed at her eyes, seeing the flapping of dark brown wings against the windowpane.

"Oh, it's an owl," she said to Draco, who hadn't moved, and slipped out of bed to let it in. It hooted its thanks as it glided through and down onto her bedside table. Hermione unwrapped the letter from its leg and held a finger up. "Just wait here a moment, I'll get you some treats and water."

The owl looked exhausted and it was no wonder, Hermione thought as she opened the letter to find it had come from Harry and Ginny. She delivered a small bowl of water and owl treats to the owl and sat on the bed to read the letter.

"Whozit from?" Draco asked, slightly muffled against the pillow.

"Just Harry and Ginny," she replied, before flattening the missive on the bed in front of her to read it.

Dear Hermione,

Happy Christmas!

We wish you were here with us. We know that your Christmas is bound to suck without us.

Ginny, you can't write that! I'm sure her Christmas will be fine. She is with her parents after all.

You know you can just tell me that, I'm literally standing right next to you. She doesn't need to read that.

I thought it was important that she knew I was on her side.

You're Harry Potter, her best friend. She already knows that.

Hermione snorted in mirth as she read, visualizing in her mind her two friends standing at their kitchen counter. One dark head and one red, bent over in unison, furiously fighting over who got to write on the parchment. The sheet of paper being wrenched back and forth between them. She felt a sudden unexpected pang of what could have been described homesickness, but she didn't feel it for London, she felt it for her friends.

Anyway. We hope you have an enjoyable holiday season with your parents and that you come back to England soon because we all really, really miss you. Especially Lily.

Merlins balls, especially Lily. She just keeps pointing at your photo and just screams 'Mi, Mi, Mi!"

We're currently using it to encourage her to walk – she finally took her first steps only last week! We've enclosed some photos of all the kids so you can see just how quickly they're growing. We're all missing you here. Molly is going mad with Ron's wedding plans, you should remember from previous Weasley weddings how she can get.

Way to rub it in, Harry.

What? What did I say?

Maybe not the best idea to remind her that my idiot brother is getting married and it isn't to her.

Oh. Right. Sorry, Hermione.

Gosh, men can be so stupid. Speaking of men, have you shagged that co-worker of yours yet? I'm still hanging out for more gossip.

Shagging who? Hermione, what is she talking about?

It's secret girls business. So shush you.

Write about it in your own letter then! This is meant to be a nice Happy Christmas message!

Fine, maybe I will. Seriously, Hermione, I need details and photos – stat!

And I need the exact opposite. Although, I wouldn't mind a phone call again. I really miss-

Merlin, Harry, I think she got the point that you miss her!

And I'm not ashamed of that!

We should probably stop writing now.

Good idea.

Merry Christmas, Hermione. We'll see you in the new year. Celebrate and be happy.

Say hello to your mum and dad for us too.

Take care! Love,

Harry and Ginny

Hermione sat back once she finished reading and stared at the small collection of moving photographs that came with it, unable to stop the grin. Lily Luna was nearing 11 months old, a thick head of red hair already covering her scalp, taking her first staggering, unsure steps. Albus and James, playing gobstones on their front steps. The younger two chasing James around the yard as he rode his toy broomstick. Gosh, they were growing so quickly.

"Remind me to call them a bit later," she murmured to Draco who moaned sleepily in acknowledgement. He then opened one eye and looked up at her, a smile pulling at his lips, and he sighed serenely. Hermione noticed and narrowed her eyes at him, "What is it?"

"Merry Christmas, beautiful," he said, maneuvering himself so that he could wrap his arms around her middle. She laughed and collected up the letter and photographs, placing them into the top drawer of her bedside table. The owl gave one more hoot as it finished its snacks and took flight, leaving through the same window it had arrived in. Hermione turned and wriggled down a bit.

"It will be a Merry Christmas for you in a minute," she replied sultrily. "I didn't know what to buy you…so I thought I might return the favour from the other morning instead."

Draco looked puzzled at her, until Hermione had wriggled down far enough that he realised she wasn't lying back down for a cuddle. She continued going south, ducking her head under the sheets, but not before she grinned impishly at him. "Oh…" Draco said, before feeling hot breath against his lower belly. "Oooh!"

.

Draco felt mightily content after the morning's activities that he didn't even mind a little bit that he would be spending the day with a group of strangers. Hermione convinced him to apparate with her to Phillip Island to meet her parents for lunch, which they held at a local park so they could invite a few local families to celebrate with them. There were many retirees on the island, some of whom had family that lived too far away who either couldn't afford to travel, or didn't have the interest to do it, and this event was something that Wendell and Monica prided themselves on hosting every year so that no one would feel lonely at Christmas. They had to introduce Hermione to everyone as their niece, since no one knew they had a daughter, and Draco was introduced as her friend, Damo. They were welcomed with opened arms, quite literally, and hugged by all who were willing. Hermione had a constant smile on her face, and she seemed to be glowing in the warm summer sun. Draco could hardly keep his eyes off her. She was wearing a cream-coloured sun dress, patterned with frangipani flowers, and wore her hair, which had been tamed magically that morning, loose around her shoulders, reflecting hues of honey and caramel. But it was the joy emanating from her features that he found the most beautiful.

The day was spent in the shade, a cooling sea breeze twisting through the group, as they ate, drank, joked and enjoyed all what Christmas had to offer. Sometime in the afternoon, some of the older gentlemen picked up some instruments they had with them – a ukulele, a fiddle, and a harmonica. They began to play jaunty tunes to the group, and Hermione pulled Wendell up from his seat to dance with him.

The pure delight and love shared between the two as they danced was not missed by Draco who felt a thrill of pride knowing that if he hadn't intervened, Wendell may not have made it to see this Christmas, to share these memories with his daughter.

"You should go cut in," Monica said to him, once she had noticed him there and came to stand next to him, joining in watching her husband and daughter together. Draco started and looked at his feet bashfully.

"I'm not one for dancing, really," he mumbled.

"Tosh, I can tell you're a dancer," Monica said and gave him a little nudge with her elbow. "Go on, she'll love it."

Draco watched them for a few seconds more before Monica's nudges became a little too forceful. "Ow! Ok, ok, I'm going!" He rubbed his arm and stared at her reproachfully. "Geez, now I know where Hermione gets it from."

That made Monica laugh and the echoes of her mirth followed him as he walked over to tap Wendell on the shoulder. The couple paused in their movement and Hermione's eyes were crinkled attractively from her wide smile. Draco cleared his throat.

"May I cut in?"

Wendell passed his daughters hands over to his and boomed a great laugh. "Be my guest, Damo, I have no idea what I'm doing."

Hermione was swept into Draco's arms who immediately twirled her around. He snaked his arm around her waist and they began to sway with the music. Draco had years and years of training, from waltzes to foxtrot, rumba to tango, but Damien didn't. So Draco had to improvise the kind of dancing someone who was unskilled would do and Hermione couldn't catch her breath she was laughing so much. He swung his hips, grabbed her hand to spin her under his arm, dipped her low, then pulled her up again. The movements were fast, but completely out of time with the music being played, but that didn't stop the older couples around them from clapping and cheering them on, some of them even coming out to join in.

"Oh no," Hermione said in Draco's ear after a few moments. "Don't look now, but Mum has her new polaroid out again."

Wendell had gifted a brand-new polaroid camera to Monica that morning and she had taken every opportunity to use it, proudly showing it off to Hermione and Draco as soon as they arrived and offered to take a photo of them. Hermione immediately declined, much to both Monica's and Draco's surprise. It wasn't until later that she hastily explained to him that a photo of them together could be used as evidence of their intimacy and could be a potential danger to his position and identity. It made sense to him, but he still felt a pang of regret. Monica had no idea about this, however, and Draco made up the excuse that he was camera shy. She instead began to sneak around and try to take a photo of him while he wasn't paying attention. He knew what she was up to though, and thought it was quite funny.

He immediately spun her around and she wasn't expecting it. She squealed and broke into laughter, leaning over the arm holding her at the waist. Her cackle was contagious, and he laughed along with her, leaning his head down to rest his forehead on the side of hers.

"Sorry," he grinned. "Thought I'd hide my face."

Hermione straightened and could see her mother now waving a strip of film in her hand, processing the picture. "Good plan, I think she finally snapped one of us."

Monica came rushing over, the polaroid in her hand. "Oh you two are just beautiful. This is for you, honey, Merry Christmas."

The photo was a small square print, Draco's hair had hidden most of face, but the side of his wide grin could be seen through the loose strands. Only his tanned and tattooed muscular arm could be seen otherwise. Monica had captured Hermione perfectly though, right at the moment she had burst out laughing, her eyes crinkled and her mouth wide. He had always found muggle photography strange in the way it was still and thought that it would miss the emotion of the moment. Staring down at the photo, he realised in that moment that he had been mistaken. He could feel the happiness pour out of the image and it made his heart skip a beat to know that she was happy because of him. It was an utterly perfect memento of the day they had shared.

.

Harry Potter had celebrated Christmas with the extended family of Weasleys, within the Burrow that was blanketed under a thick layer of snow. Ron's infidelity had become a taboo topic and Molly had given a stern look to anyone who even mentioned Hermione, to avoid the subsequent reasoning of her departure. Millie had come along, feeling much out of place, her belly beginning to swell, and Molly tried to welcome her as warmly as she could. There was an underlying tension underneath every word though and Harry knew she was trying so hard to be kind. Millie was carrying her grandchild, after all, and she was excited to see Ron finally married, even if it wasn't to whom she had thought it would be.

The following week was spent in a blur of relaxation, board games with the kids by the fireplace, and warm, woolen socks. He had managed to secure the entire week off from work and was looking forward to greeting the New Year with his kids for the first time in three years. Ginny had been nagging him about being at home more, and he was making an attempt to do so. His missions often came without much warning, and he would occasionally have to disappear for weeks at a time, often missing some important event, which he hated to do. His children were often considered spoiled, but he figured he and Ginny were just overcompensating from their own childhoods where they had little. He didn't care what anyone else said though. Those kids were worth it.

His late evening musings were put on hold when he heard a shriek of delight emit from his kitchen in the next room. He placed his tumbler of Firewhiskey on the occasional table next to his armchair and stood, wondering what on earth Ginny had found so riveting.

"Ohhh look at her, Harry…Harry!" Ginny's voice called through the door frame. Harry pushed his glasses up his nose as he walked into the kitchen, peering at his wife skeptically.

"What is it?"

"Look, just look!" She was holding a bottle in one hand and a letter in the other. She thrust the piece of parchment and a small square picture at him and then bounced on the balls of her feet excitedly, her fingers tightly gripping around the bottle in anticipation.

Dear Harry, Ginny and my adorable nephews and niece,

Wishing you all a deliciously warm Christmas from sunny, hot Australia! Thank you for your letter on Christmas morning, it gave me such a laugh and made me miss you both all the more.

I have finished my training with the Ministry here and I'm waiting to find out if they will offer me a position in one of their departments or not, although I am quite confident I will be employed soon enough.

As for Ginny's question (sorry Harry!), I have enclosed a photograph that my mother snapped on Christmas Day of the coworker and I in question. I'll let you figure the rest out.

Missing you both so much, I will try to visit you in the New Year, I swear! I've been having too much fun down here. You should see my tan, I'm quite brown now.

Hope it's not too cold where you are.

Lots of love,

Hermione

P.S – Any chance you can send us a bottle of Fire whiskey or two? You can't get it anywhere here! I've also included a bottle of the stuff they give us instead, you might find it to your taste, Harry!

Harry read the letter through twice, smiling to himself at seeing Hermione's familiar scrawl, then looked at the photo. His his eyes went round and his fingers rigid against the glossy paper. Hermione looked ecstatic and beautiful, as usual, but the blond hair, jawline and arm of the man froze him in place. There was no way…she would tell him, wouldn't she? He thought wildly, staring at the photo. But then…maybe it isn't him…she would never be with someone like that.

"Ginny, love, what was that name of the coworker?" Harry asked, finally tearing his eyes up off the photo and seeking his wife's gaze.

"His name is Damo or Damien or something," Ginny gushed. "Oh and he looks fit too, doesn't she look so happy with him?"

Harry felt a lump in his throat and swallowed thickly. "Do you know the last name? Was it Damien Thorne at all?"

"I couldn't say," Ginny replied, and stopped smiling. "Why, what is it?"

Harry didn't say anything for a few moments, then changed the subject abruptly. "Quidditch World cup is being held in Australia in April, isn't it?"

"You know it is, you follow the World Cup closer than anyone else. Australia vs Spain, isn't it? Why?"

Harry paused again, looking down at the photos. "Think your contacts in the Harpies could get us tickets? I think we might need to go visit Hermione…and Damien."