AN: I have so many people to thank.
First, dhr twitter for encouraging me to write my random ideas.
Second, to photon08 who beta'd for me one day and now regularly has to deal with me popping up in her inbox asking for her amazing skills once again. Always super thankful for you 3
Third, to my new betas as well! Thank you to excludednarrative and saintcorvus for wanting to look at my random little idea and helping to make it even better!
Fourth, to Anna, _LaVieEnRose2 on Twitter, for the title. It's perfect.
And finally, to my friend TheFrenchPress who catches me working at all odd hours and is the best cheerleader and who had first *and* final eyes on this piece.
Seriously, you all make me a better writer. Thank you.
Okay, enough from me. Enjoy!
Hermione stood outside the door to the Burrow with Draco next to her, decked in winter robes and fuzzy hats. Hands tucked inside coat pockets to fight the bitter chill.
"It'll be all right, you know," she told him.
"If you say so, Granger."
She turned to him. "They'll love you because I love you." She watched his eyes soften. "And if they don't, we'll just, I don't know, hex them all. All right?"
His mouth turned up at the corner and he nodded.
Hermione knocked on the door.
It swung open.
Ron's smile fell into surprise as he looked at them.
"Blimey, you actually brought him."
"Of course I did, Ronald. He is my boyfriend." Hermione grabbed Draco's hand and raised her eyebrow at Ron.
He blinked hard, remembering his manners. "Of course. Right. Come in."
They stepped through the doorway, shrugging off their cloaks.
"Your room is set up for your stay," Ron said. "Third floor. Mum's glad to have everyone here for the celebrations, so-"
"Hermione!"
They turned to see Molly Weasley barging through a crowd of people who had situated themselves around the doorway two rooms down in order to peer at the much anticipated newcomers. Molly approached with a smile, eager to greet Hermione. She went straight up to her, cupping Hermione's cheeks in her hands and kissing one side then the other.
"Oh my sweet! Happy Christmas. We're so glad you could join us. We've missed you terribly, you know."
Hermione smiled guiltily through the woman's hands. She hadn't spent much time with the Weasleys since she and Ron broke up almost a year ago.
"Sorry, Molly. But we're here now." She looked at Draco with anticipation.
Molly's smile faltered. "Yes, well. Excellent. So glad you could join us," she said to the blond, but her tone held none of the cheer it had moments before.
Draco removed the bottle of wine he had tucked under his arm and presented it to Molly.
"I brought you a bottle of wine from my family's vineyard. Thank you for hosting the holidays and extending the invitation to both of us, Mrs. Weasley." He bowed his head slightly to the matriarch.
Draco's good breeding was impeccable. Not even Molly Weasley would shake him, Hermione knew. Well, she hoped.
Molly hesitated, looking at the bottle as if it might explode before taking it. "Oh, well thank you Draco, that was uh—very thoughtful. Come in, come in." She held the bottle by its neck as she led them into the kitchen, absent-mindedly placing it on the edge of the counter.
Hermione wandlessly nudged it further back so it wouldn't fall.
"Look who's arrived, everyone," she shouted as they walked through the kitchen and into the living room, as if the entire party had not had their faces crammed in the doorway moments before as they watched the duo arrive.
"'Mione!" said Harry, jumping up to give her a heartfelt hug. "Happy Christmas."
Her heart felt fuller. Harry was the closest thing to a brother she had, and his support meant the world to her. "Happy Christmas, Harry."
He stepped back and assessed Draco, tilting his head as if considering something before seeming to come to a decision.
"Happy Christmas, Draco," and he stuck his hand out, waiting for Draco to shake it in return.
Draco stared at it for a moment, and Hermione wondered if he was remembering the time he'd tried to shake Harry's hand years before. But then he took it, slowly and surely, looking at Harry without a trace of fear. "Happy Christmas, Potter."
"It's Harry," the other boy said, rolling his eyes. "You'll get there. Come on, we were all just discussing Charlie's new dragon sanctuary."
And he led them into the room, where they found two seats together.
Though it was incredibly, painfully awkward for the first two hours, by the time everyone had settled down to Christmas dinner, Hermione was pleased to see the Weasleys were making an effort with Draco.
"So what do you do now, Malfoy?" Ginny asked.
"I've set up several charity funds to help rebuild homes destroyed by Death Eaters during the war. We especially focus on helping Muggleborns get back on their feet."
"I am impressed," said Fleur in a heavy French accent. "You could 'ave run to ze vineyards and 'idden in France instead. I 'ave seen your chateau in ze papers and it is plenty big enough to start over."
Draco folded his hands in front of his plate. "I didn't want to run from my father's sins. I— I wanted to atone for them. And for my own poor decisions."
Hermione placed her hand gently on Draco's shoulder. "I think you're doing a wonderful job."
He smiled at her through the fringe of his bangs.
"I, for one, am glad to see the children caught up in the war moving on to improve their lives. Well done, Draco." Arthur Weasley raised a glass.
Draco blinked in surprise. "Thank you, sir."
"Shall we get more wine, Mum?" George asked. Of all the Weasleys, he hadn't looked at Draco once. Hermione was sure he blamed Draco somehow for Fred's death. There was nothing she could say.
"Oh yes, let's," said Ginny. "Didn't Malfoy bring something?"
Hermione mouthed a silent "thank you" at Ginny. At least she was gaining one ally.
Molly grimaced but grabbed the bottle from the counter. She looked at it and tsked her tongue. "Oh no, this will never do. It's elf-made wine, dears, we all know how Hermione feels about that. Unless you've changed your stance on house elf enslavement, love?" Her voice went up at the end, but Hermione wasn't fooled. She wanted to hex the woman where she stood.
"Actually, it's ethically made elven wine. Draco has turned his family business into a truly fair work environment with wages and everything. It's the only elf-made wine I would drink."
From the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Draco smile down at his plate.
"Well then," Molly said, and set about enchanting the bottle to pour into everyone's glasses.
"To new beginnings," Arthur toasted.
"To old friends," added Harry.
"And to second chances," finished Draco.
They all turned towards a sudden scraping noise to see George pushing back from the table.
"Sorry you lot but I'm not ready for this. Not when some of us aren't here to get a second chance. Happy Christmas, Hermione."
He headed towards the stairs.
"George!" Molly called.
"Leave him be," Arthur said. "Christmas is always hard for him." He turned to Draco. "This is not your fault, son. I've met your father. It would have taken a damn strong wizard to escape his clutches after sixteen years of the same hateful teachings. What matters is you came out the other side trying to make good."
Hermione wasn't so sure that was as comforting as Arthur had meant it to be.
"Let's do games in the living room," Ginny said.
There was a consensus of agreement and everyone followed the youngest Weasley into the next room.
Hermione and Draco hung back.
"We can leave," she said, arms crossed, rocking on her heels.
"No." He shook his head. "It's fine. I can handle their quips. They can hate me if they'd like." He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose. "You're still coming home with me at the end of the night."
Hermione curled into Draco's body and kissed a spot near his collarbone. She didn't need to see his chest to map his scars.
"We agreed to stay here tonight, remember?"
"How could I forget," he deadpanned and she laughed.
"I love you, Draco."
"I love you, too, Granger. Now come on," he swatted her on the bum. "Let's go spend time with your family."
She grinned, her mood lifted by his love and the promise of his arms around her later. "Go on, I just want to grab my tea first."
He nodded, heading into the living room.
Hermione retrieved her tea, getting a bit lost in thought as she did. She was so thankful that Draco was willing to spend the holiday with the only family she had, but she was also so angry at them for not seeing who he was now.
"Hermione?"
She turned to see Ron standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.
"You all right? Mum sent me to check on you."
"Fine. Just making tea. Got carried away with my thoughts."
Half his mouth pulled up in a smile. "I remember."
She blushed, uncomfortable discussing the past with her ex. "Thank you for trying with Draco," she said, redirecting.
He shrugged. "It's fine. Either he will be around for a long time, so it's better to get used to the ferret now, or he won't, and we'll talk then."
"Ron—"
"I just want you happy, 'Mione."
"I am happy."
There was silence as they both looked at the floor.
"Come on. Mum will just come check on you herself if we don't hurry."
Hermione grabbed her tea and followed Ron out through the doorway.
Where they both got stuck.
As if glued to the floor.
Hermione looked up. Mistletoe. "Oh no."
"Bloody fucking hell," she heard Ron say.
They both turned to see Molly surreptitiously putting away her wand.
"Molly, this is highly inappropriate."
The woman just waved her hand dismissively. "Oh come on. It's just a kiss between two lifelong friends. It's not as if you don't have practice."
"Molly!"
"Mum!" They shouted together.
Ron turned to face the other direction as much as he could while still fixed to the same spot, crossed his arms and whispered, "I didn't want to kiss you like this ."
She whispered angrily, "I didn't want to kiss you at all ! I have a boyfriend, Ronald!"
He shrugged. "You know she'll never let us out of here until we do it." Grinning at her, "Come on. What's the harm in one kiss?"
"It is elderberry mistletoe Ronald! You know we won't get out of this with a peck."
"What? Afraid your boyfriend can't handle seeing it?"
She looked at Draco. He was still as stone, but she could see the jealousy flaring in his eyes.
"Oh go on then!" Molly called.
"You might as well get it over with," Ginny agreed with a grimace. "Sorry Hermione."
Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes and shoving the teacup out for someone to hold. Ginny grabbed it.
"Fine."
She grabbed Ron's neck and pulled him down to her for a long kiss.
She did not expect him to pull her flush against his body and run his tongue along her lips, seeking permission.
Something between the spell from the mistletoe, the familiarity, and the desire to be done with this allowed her to open her mouth and kiss him as she used to.
After a few more seconds she felt the spell release from her feet and immediately pushed away, walking towards the couch where Draco sat as someone in the corner whooped.
She fit herself on the loveseat next to him, shoulders and knees touching but both sitting ramrod straight and not looking at each other.
"That was a hell of a kiss, Hermione," said Bill Weasley, and she added one more name to her list of traitors.
Angry and feeling petulant, she turned to Draco and attempted to grab him for a kiss, but he recoiled — slowly and definitively removing her from his space.
"Not particularly a fan of public displays of affection myself," he said to no one in particular, still staring at the floor.
Hermione's cheeks burned with humiliation and she laughed uncomfortably.
"All right I think I've put on enough of a show. Should we move on to the games?"
She tried to reach for Draco's hand but his fists were balled tight as stone.
—
The evening was unseasonably warm, so they decided to do gifts outside by the fire pit. Draco excused himself to their guest room to retrieve the gifts he and Hermione had brought. Hermione followed.
He was silent as they walked up the stairs. She knew he was angry. Would he want to leave? Refuse to see the Weasleys again? Break up with her? Draco's pride would not permit being humiliated.
He stepped off the landing at the second floor and entered a door quickly. Hermione followed.
"Draco, we're on the third floor. This is—"
His mouth was on her immediately, pushing her against the wall. Her hands tangled in his hair as his ran up the sides of her torso, teasing her breasts.
She moaned into his mouth.
"Draco," she tried to say around his kiss. "This is Ron's room. We're upstairs."
She felt him smirk. "I'm aware."
His mouth attached to the side of her neck, sucking and biting a line of little marks down to her collarbone. Hermione felt her knickers dampen as his tongue laved her skin and his hands hiked up her skirt. Fingers drifting over her stomach to the green lace bra she'd worn under her red dress, knee pressing between her thighs. Hermione grabbed him round the neck and started rolling her hips, riding his thigh.
"Draco," she breathed. "I'm—I'm—"
"Don't you dare come yet, Hermione." But his hands squeezing her breasts weren't helping her cause. "I want you wrapped around me when you explode."
She moaned a high-pitched sound and tried to find friction on his leg, but he pulled it away.
"You haven't earned it yet, have you?" he growled. "You think I should let you come after that little display downstairs?"
Hermione's brain felt fuzzy. What was he talking about? And then it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head.
She had kissed Ron. Heavily.
Her hands flew up to her mouth. "I'm so sorry."
"Oh I'm sure you are, my little slut," he said, ripping her off the wall and spinning her so her chest was pushed against the wood, using his knee to spread her legs further apart and pulling her hips so her back arched and her arse stuck out. He flipped her skirt up and pulled her green lace knickers down. "But you still want your punishment, don't you?"
She nodded emphatically, her mouth dry. "Yes," she begged. "Please. Please, Draco."
"Use your words, Hermione."
She ducked her face into her arm, embarrassed.
"I need to be punished, sir."
"What did my pet do?"
"I kissed Ron, sir."
"What should I do to you now?"
"Please spank me!"
And his hand came down hard across her arse. Hermione cried out. Draco smacked her back and forth one side then the other till her cheeks were red and he could see her slit glistening.
"You're dripping. I'm not sure how much of a punishment this is for you." He pulled her knickers up so hard her swollen clit ached against the lace.
Hermione whimpered with her face buried against her arm.
He leant around her, one arm on either side but just far enough back that his body wasn't touching her, and whispered in her ear. "Do you know how fucking embarrassing it was watching Weasley touch what's mine?"
"I'm sorry…"
"For what?"
"For bringing you here just for them to treat you poorly."
"I don't give a hippogriff's arse how they treat me, Hermione. I cannot stand the way they treat you ."
She sucked in a breath.
"First these people try to make you feel bad about who you date. Then they imply that dating me has changed your values. And then they think they can convince you you have a better option in the red-headed flobberworm from just one kiss?"
He nipped at her earlobe.
"You're mine and he needs to keep his filthy paws off you."
He spun her back around and lifted her over his shoulder. The air left her body in a huff as he walked them across the room and tossed her onto the only bed available.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
But she could guess as he crawled over her body, pupils blown wide with desire and rage.
"I'm going to fuck you on his bed so all night he can smell you and want you and know he'll never get to have you again."
Hermione licked her lips, entranced. "Draco, we can't. We can't do this in someone else's bed. What if we get caught?"
"Then it'll be an encore to your show ."
And he was on her like a jaguar, his hands pinning her wrists to the pillow on either side of her head, his weight on her pelvis as he rolled his hips into her clit. She moaned at the sensation.
His mouth on hers, he pushed her dress up and ripped her knickers, dropping them to the side of the bed.
"Oh!" Her surprise mingled with a sensual level of fear as a possessive growl came from his throat.
He stroked two fingers through her folds and she wiggled, searching for more. "Please, Draco."
"You sure you want me touching you Hermione? You looked awfully cozy with Ronald ."
"Just you, I only want you," she panted, grabbing the front of his shirt and sloppily trying to undo the buttons.
"Like this?" he asked, slipping two fingers deep inside her, and a loud moan echoed through the room.
" Fuck , yes, more."
He pumped inside her lazily. "Why should I give you more? You think I enjoy watching you make out with your ex? You want to watch me fuck Pansy?"
Hermione's cheeks burned as she squeezed on his fingers. She shook her head silently.
"No, I didn't think so. You don't like the idea of me touching anyone else like this, do you?" He curled his fingers, stroking her ridges and pulling her up towards his body by her pussy.
"No, sir," she managed, trying not to come without permission.
"So why the fuck would I want to watch him drool over you. You don't realize he wants you that badly, do you? No idea how enticing you are. I guarantee, Granger, he jerks off every night thinking about getting his dick inside you again," and he shoved his fingers deeper, stretching her, pulling at the entrance in the way he knew felt better than anything.
"I don't want anyone else, I swear, please Draco, please fuck me, I need to come."
He stilled his hand and grabbed her face, turning it towards his. "Look at me."
She stopped writhing, sensing the seriousness of his tone.
"I don't want you ever kissing him again. Mistletoe or not. I'll hex his mother myself next time she tries to force you to do something like that against your will. Understand?"
Hermione smiled, nodding at his possessive protection.
"Good girl." He kissed her, then pulled his fingers out and stood to remove his own trousers.
She watched him, mind blank, body ready.
He knelt on the bed in front of her in just an open shirt and looked reverently down at her body. His hand trailed up through her wet slit.
"I'd like to fuck you now."
"Yes please."
He leaned over her, kissing her slowly, and slid deep into her. She groaned at the fullness.
"Move, Draco, please ."
He snapped his hips as his finger danced around her clit, punctuating words of praise with kisses.
"My beautiful girl. Taking me so well. So fucking tight for me."
He took her breast into his mouth, sucking hard before moving back up to her neck.
"You feel so good on my cock."
Angling his hips to hit the sweet spot.
"That's right, come for me Hermione, show me this is the only cock you need."
Hermione screamed as the release flew through her.
"Oh fuck." Draco pumped faster and harder and spilled into her, kissing her as the last of his cum entered her body.
He kissed her nose. "Good girl."
He pulled out, watching the stream of cum leak from her slit. He grabbed the torn knickers and wiped his seed from her thighs.
"Feeling better?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," he said. "Please never make me visit here again."
"I think once was enough. But it'll be a shame for them not to get to know you more."
"They can get to know me after the wedding. That way they can stop trying to help you work your way through the entire sibling list."
Hermione gasped. "Charlie was one time! And Ron doesn't know."
"I know, and it is only because I love you that I keep your secret. I would treasure watching the fallout of him realizing his brother got there first."
She slapped him on the arm. "I'm not a piece of meat, Draco."
He buried his nose in her hair. "No, you're not. You're my witch. Which is why I'd like them to respect you and respect us."
She sighed. "Hang on— after the wedding?"
He shrugged. "Isn't it obvious?"
"What?"
"That we're it."
Her face softened as she looked at him. "Yes. I think so too."
He kissed her. "Good then. We'll date another year, I'll whisk you to Paris, wine and dine you, propose on the Siene, we'll get married at that church you love in Italy, and then come back here for another Weasley dinner."
She tried to keep her countenance neutral and hide the extent of her happiness at that thought, but she failed. "Sounds perfect."
He stood and pulled her up, dressing himself as she used the mirror on the wall to pull back her even-wilder curls.
"Damn, I'll have to run upstairs for another pair of knickers."
"You could go without."
"I don't much fancy them all seeing a wet spot on my dress when you start leaking out of me. I'll meet you downstairs." She kissed him and ran off.
Draco finished buttoning his shirt and took her torn knickers in hand, pocketing them as he headed for the door.
Then stopped.
Turned back around—
And shoved them under the pillow.
He gave the bed a two finger salute and left laughing, slamming the door closed behind him.
