Chapter 8: A Christmas Tree
The next few days were unlike anything Draco had ever experienced before. Christmases had been rarely celebrated when he was growing up and if they were, they were stuffy formal affairs in which he was only there to get more presents. But in the Granger house it was different. The holiday was actually celebrated here.
It had all started the day after they'd gotten there. That morning they all got bundled up in warm clothes, though Draco had no idea what they were planning, and loaded into the car for a drive out to the country.
"Hermione, where are we going?"
"To get a Christmas tree, of course!" she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Can't you just have it delivered to you?"
She stared at him as if he were being sacrilegious. "But this is part of the fun!"
He quirked an eyebrow at her reaction.
She laughed. "Just trust me, it is."
Hermione and her mother began singing Christmas carols and after some playful coaxing Draco and Robert joined in. They finally reached the tree farm and piled out of the car. Robert picked up a hacksaw and a piece of burlap from the attendant then they set out on their search for the perfect tree.
Draco thought it would be an easy task—all the trees looked the same to him—but Hermione and her mother proved differently.
Half an hour later…
"What about this one, Hermione?" her mother asked.
The girl considered it then shook her head. "Nah. Too skinny. Needs to be fluffier. I like this one over here."
"Precious, we don't have a tall enough ceiling for that one," her father pointed out.
"I know, but I can always hope."
They headed farther back into the property, the men hanging back a bit from the women. Draco leaned over to Robert and asked, "So what was wrong with that last tree?"
Robert laughed. "It wasn't fluffy enough. Didn't you hear her?"
Draco shook his head. "All these trees look the same to me."
"Me too, but it's like some unwritten rule that you have to get the tree that's the farthest possible from the car."
"Yeah, I guess."
Ten minutes later, nearing the very back of the lot, Hermione exclaimed, "I found it! This one's perfect!" She stood proudly in front of the "perfect tree" and grinned.
Draco had to admit, this one was nice and he silently promised himself never to doubt her tree-picking judgment again. Robert made fast work of cutting it down and yelled, "Timber!" as it fell. Then they carted it back to the front of the property, paid for it, and strapped it to the roof of the car.
Once they got the tree home and in its stand Judith put some Christmas music on their old record player and moved to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate. The other three set to work decorating the tree. After the lights and garland were on, Hermione handed Draco a box of homemade ornaments. "Just put them on wherever you'd like."
He nodded and set to work. It wasn't until he found a very weird ornament that he stopped. It was a piece of pink glittery plastic with a wire looping around the front and two wires sticking out the sides, a string attaching them together. "What in the name of Merlin is this?"
Hermione looked at what he was holding and blushed. "Um, that's" she made a grab for it, but Draco pulled it away. "My old retainer" Another grab, which he eluded playfully. "From the fourth grade. I, um" she grabbed for it again but he was still too quick for her. "Decided to decorate it with glitter and stuff when I didn't have to wear it anymore."
Draco was still dodging her so finally she just reached over and poked him in the ribs. He squirmed and let out a laugh. Hermione's eyes lit up and she poked him again, a mischievous smile lighting her face.
"N-now, Hermione…" Draco said, trying to get away from her poking fingers without actually looking like he was.
"Yes, Draco?" she asked sweetly.
He held out the retainer as a peace offering, which she accepted, but still kept on coming.
"You never told me you were ticklish, Draco," Hermione said impishly.
"I-I'm not," he denied.
"You, sir, are a terrible liar."
"I am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
The Grangers watched the teens' antics from the door and shared a knowing smile. Their daughter had indeed found a keeper.
a/n: hey all! this is actually a reposted chapter cuz there were little teeny things that were bugging me that I fixed and such. so, hope you enjoy, read chapter nine, and leave me lots and lots of fun reviews. bbye!
