Christmas at the manor

"So how do we get to the manor?" I asked Draco as we waved goodbye to Harry and Ginny. Blaise, who was holding Scorpius smirked.

"Mother sent a car." Blaise replied simply wondering out of the station. I looked between both boys confused.

"Wait, you're coming with us Blaise?" I asked baffled, was Blaise staying at the manor too? Not that I had any issue with him staying but I thought one of them might have mentioned something before this moment.

"You do know we're neighbours don't you Hermione?" Draco said smirking as I stared at them shocked. How had I not thought of that they'd grown up together it was only natural they lived close to each other but then again I guess I'd never thought of Draco as having neighbours living in that great big, cold manor.

"I … I didn't actually" I replied quietly as Blaise led us to the car and Draco chuckled next to me wrapping an arm around my waist.

"You're cute when you don't know things" He whispered in my ear causing me to blush deeply whilst Blaise was strapping Scorpius into the car. The journey to the manor was fairly quiet, I watched the roads fly by as Draco and Blaise muttered to each other discussing the various Christmas plans, apparently Christmas was a big deal for them this year. After what seemed like an eternity in the car we reached the daunting iron gates of Malfoy Manor and waved goodbye to Blaise who was coming over for Dinner the following day anyway. Taking a deep breath I took in the surroundings and couldn't help but note how different the manor felt. The gardens were warm and inviting despite the bare trees coated in a winter's frost. The house itself had lost its darkness that had terrified me last time we had been dragged here, despite its appearance I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, as if my heart was telling me to be cautious.

"It's not too much for you is it?" Draco said softly, his voice full of concern. Glancing over at him I couldn't help but smile at Scorpius' big blue eyes blinking back at me from Draco's hip.

"It's ok, it looks so different." I replied trying to cover the slight reservations in my voice as we made our way up the driveway.

"Mother's been working hard on it, she didn't want any memories of the war, or my father for that matter." Draco replied bluntly showing me how much he hated the place too, or at least the memories of what it had become.

"Well she's done a wonderful job, do you not decorate for Christmas?" I added gesturing towards the distinct lack of decorations on and around the house.

"Oh we do, tradition is we do it on the day I get back from Hogwarts." Draco replied casually smirking as he saw the excitement in my eyes.

"I've never decorated before, my parents had always had it done by the time I got back but since they never came back from Australia following the war I guess I should've known that this year I'd have to decorate one way or another." I explained wondering what my Parent's Christmas would look like over in Australia, certainly warmer than here. I couldn't help but wonder if they remembered anything to do with me or if the charm had been stronger than I'd initially intended it to be.

"Well, I'm sure you've got a good eye for it Miss Granger" Narcissa's voice made me snap back to reality. She was smiling warmly from the doorstep and gave Draco a knowing look as he looked a little relieved to see her.

"Thank you Mrs Malfoy, I was just saying what a wonderful difference you've made to the manor." I said feeling a bubble of nerves exploding in my stomach.

"Please, call me Narcissa. Oh and here's the most gorgeous little boy in the whole world my little grandson." She cooed over at Scorpius who giggled back. It was so strange to see the warm exchange from her but also unsurprising, she had after all risked her whole life to save Harry and get Draco away from the battle.

"Mother, it's wonderful to see you" Draco said calmly giving her a deep hug, they held the hug for a moment and pulled apart Draco slowly untangling Scorpius' hand from his mother's hair.

"Come on then, let's not catch a cold out here." Narcissa said at last gesturing for us all to head inside.

The entrance hall now had wooden flooring and a large picture of Narcissa, Draco and a sleeping Scorpius hung proudly on the wall. The staircase curved around a large, currently undecorated Christmas tree in a typical fairy-tale kind of way. It was hard to believe that this was the house I'd been tortured in all less than a year ago.

"It's stunning Narcissa." I said glancing around in awe, there was no response until I saw Draco and Narcissa muttering before Narcissa smiled widely and pulled away from Draco.

"Thank you Hermione, I was just explaining to Draco all the decorating we've got to do today." She smirked and instantly I knew where her son got it from. She wasn't wrong either, we spent the whole day decorating different aspects of the house. Draco was set the task of the outside lights as Narcissa and I decorated the various trees dotted around the house and hung tinsel around banisters and picture frames. It well and truly looked like Christmas had exploded onto the house as we levitated the golden star to sit upon the top of the biggest tree in the entrance hall. Darkness had long since fallen but the house felt brighter than ever. Narcissa and I easily held conversations and we never felt a moment of awkwardness. She explained that while she put up with her husband's ideals for a long time once those ideals started to risk the life of her child, she could no longer agree to them. She said she had been aware that Draco had been a spy during the war and that's why she saved Harry to make sure Draco was safe. She told me many stories of Draco as he grew up, many of which Draco got embarrassed at, and we discussed little Scorpius for hours.

It was midnight by the time I retired to my room which was opposite from Draco's and next to Scorpius'. Biding goodnight to Narcissa, Draco walked me to my room giving me a soft kiss that ended far too quickly before checking in on a sleeping Scorpius and heading back to his room.

That night I was once more woken by a terrible nightmare that slipped from my mind the moment Draco shook me awake. I could tell these nightmares made him worry but they were natural, going through a war did that to someone. I could tell Draco was tired as we sat at breakfast the next morning and he couldn't stop yawning in between spoon feeding Scorpius who was also throwing a major tantrum.

"Not to worry he'll love Nanny Daycare today as you two go shopping, Violet's coming over as well." Narcissa as she stroked Scorpius' hair causing him to calm slightly. It seemed as though everyone knew the plan better than I did but in many ways it was nice for me to just go with the flow of it all.

Over the next few days Draco and I were inseparable. We brought Scorpius a little racing broom that hovered just off the ground and a little lion teddy that changed into a dragon when you squeezed it. We made Christmas cookies, and mince pies. We drank mulled wine and had Violet and Blaise over every night for dinner. It was such a perfect way to spend the holiday I could hardly imagine spending it any other way. Draco was ever the gentleman, he checked on me constantly to see if I was ok and always asked if it was ok before he kissed me. I had to admit I was falling further and further. It was nice to be in this freefall.

Before we knew it Christmas day had arrived. Scorpius loved his presents, and their wrapping presents and spent the whole day screaming the word brm brm.

Draco had made Narcissa a photobook of the family which brought a tear to her eye and I gave her a silk scarf with a beautiful design on that she thanked me multiple times for. Blaise gave me a new copy of Hogwarts a history which made me laugh since I'd told him I'd lost mine during the war. I'd given Blaise some fudge, chocolate fudge and a broom cleaning kit for the new broom that his mother had given him. Draco gave me a beautiful necklace with pearl, ruby and sapphire stones on the front and a little picture of Scorpius in the middle. There was a ring with the matching stones which Draco reassured me was simply a beautiful addition to the necklace. It was stunning.

After a little too much dinner, a hint too much wine and a trifle too much pudding I wished everyone a happy Christmas and made my way upstairs checking in on Scorpius who had been put to bed a couple of hours earlier. Slowly closing Scorpius' door I gasped seeing Draco leaning against my bedroom door.

"I just wanted to say Happy Christmas" Draco said quietly our noses inches apart. I felt his breath catch in his throat as I kissed him and pulled him closer.

"Happy Christmas Draco" I muttered as I pulled him with me into my room.

**NEXT MORNING

"I could wake up like this everyday" Draco muttered from behind me as his fingers stroked the hair from my forehead. I couldn't help but smile at how perfect it all felt, everything just fit into place with him.

"I've had the best Christmas Draco" I replied enjoying just being with him, knowing what a good person he was.

"Me too, Scorp loved it too" He muttered thoughtfully. I could feel the nerves building in me as knew what I was going to say, there was no better moment than right now.

"I think I love you Draco Malfoy." I said softly feeling Draco freeze slightly as if registering the words as they left my mouth. Had I said it too soon? Had I scared him?

"There's something I need to tell you." Draco said after a few seconds his voice holding a hint of sadness. Of course here I was telling him I loved him when the last girl he'd loved, Scorpius' mother had died.

"It's ok if you don't want to say it back Draco, I know you went through a lot with the muggle girl you told me about. I completely understand if…"

"You're his mother Hermione, He's your son."

Hope you've enjoyed the chapter guys! Bit of a rushed one but we had to build to the big reveal! Please Review and stay safe! xoxo