Draco's hand slipped into hers, and Hermione gripped it back with confidence she didn't have two weeks prior.

But it was all they did. Holding hands was intimate for Hermione. It so happened that holding hands was also coiling her feelings into a taut spring inside her, and she was ready for it to be released.

They ate together at the cafe almost every day following their second date. That date had been absolutely enthralling for her. She always loved the carnival as a child, so that was what she chose when Draco had asked her to decide. Especially when his choice had ended so poorly.

Hermione got to know him through his interactions with muggles outside of the little cafe. She found that he was more competitive than even Harry.

She often fell asleep now with her eyes on the plushie he had won her – a little bunny with pink ears and a pink nose. Holding hands had been her reaction when he pressed the stuffed toy into her hands with a proud but gentle smile. It wasn't a kiss, it wasn't a hug. He warmed to her touch anyway, and his smile turned into a grin.

They decided to spend most of the holidays apart. Unsurprising, seeing as they were only now getting along and Hermione was still throwing caution to the wind. She would become nervous when their silences stretched on for seconds too long, worried it might lull them back to inescapable awkwardness.

Hermione was pleasantly surprised when a present turned up via owl as her mother and father busied themselves around the kitchen table, bickering but otherwise amicable.

The delicate floral wrapping tied by a pearlescent ribbon contained a book. She grinned so wide, she split her lip. Selecting a present for Hermione proved to be simple. Selecting a present for Draco? Hermione felt embarrassed to have sent him a personal carrot cake.

It must have been okay because he responded with an invitation to a New Year's Eve ball hosted by Theodore Nott Jr. at his lakeside cottage.

Her stomach flipped when she realised she would be bringing in the new year with him. She would essentially be spending the night with him if she chose to. Nerves immediately webbed out to her fingers and toes, and they tingled in protest.

The day of the party had Hermione the most nervous she had been in recent times, and that was considering she had presented proposals to the Wizengamot in November. She couldn't eat anything. Ginny sat behind her, braiding her hair away from her face.

"You and Draco," Ginny teased. "I'd have never guessed."

"He's nice." Hermione smacked Ginny's hand away from tickling her ear. Ginny giggled.

"Nice," Ginny repeated. "I bet he's a good kisser."

"Gin!" Hermione covered her face. "I wouldn't know," her voice was muffled by her palms as she felt Ginny's fingers pause mid-braid. "I haven't kissed him yet."

"Seriously?" Hermione watched Ginny shake her head slightly in the reflection. "Kids these days."

"Well, I still don't know how I feel-" Hermione started.

"Bullshit." Ginny slid a golden bead onto the end of her braid and tied it off. "You like him."

"I just think he's changed," Hermione retorted.

"Why are you dating him then?" Ginny rolled her eyes, a smile on her face like she knew something Hermione didn't.

"Because," Hermione said slowly, thinking quickly, "I wanted to see if I like him?"

"You're blushing just thinking about it. You like him." Ginny deadpanned.

"I feel like there's something he isn't telling me." Hermione yawned. She found the gentle tugs on her scalp relaxing, reminiscent of the Sunday mornings spent between her mother's knees as they watched television and braided her hair.

"Ooh," Ginny began another braid. "A mysterious man."

Hermione sighed, knowing she would get nowhere with Ginny concerning Draco Malfoy. She didn't even know what she wanted from him. But Ginny was right. Hermione suspected that she actually liked Draco. This conflicted with the version of him in her head that had bullied her through their Hogwarts years. The only thing that consoled her was that everyone was different then. Harry used to be angry all the time, and now he was just a shithead best friend. Ginny had once been fierce and intimidating, now she was fierce, intimidating, and a shithead best friend.

Hermione wore a slouchy white sweater interwoven with gold tinsel with a burnt orange corduroy overall, straps off and hanging at her hips. She sighed at herself and swallowed the desire to change yet again.

"You're all set." Ginny grabbed her shoulders and pivoted her away from her mirror. "And tell me what kind of kisser he is ."

"Gin-" Ginny placed a hand over her mouth – which, thankfully, Hermione hadn't put any lipstick on.

"Listen, it's okay if he's sloppy. Harry was too when we started. But he learned, yea?" Ginny grinned as Hermione wrenched her hand away by her wrist.

"Ginny, seriously-" Hermione's cheeks were hurting from blushing so much, but her facial muscles were working overtime to also glare at her best friend.

"Merlin's beard, you haven't kissed anyone in months! Years even. Do you need to practise?" Ginny puckered her lips and shut her eyes. Hermione yanked her out of her front door.

"Tell your mum and dad I say hi?" Hermione wrestled Ginny into a hug. Ginny finally melted against her and hugged her back.

"Yea, I will." Ginny tucked a braid behind Hermione's ear. Most of it was free-flowing behind her, but her fringe and the puffiest bit framing her face were all tamed and elegant.

"Try not to shag where your parents will find you," Hermione kissed Ginny's cheek. "Give them one year without scarring them."

Ginny rolled her eyes, smirking, unabashed. "What can I say? Harry and I like to bring in the new year-"

"-with a bang," Hermione finished for her. She blushed for Ginny, because honestly...

Harry and Ginny, and everyone else, had started living their lives immediately after the end of the war. Hermione returned to Hogwarts, where she avoided Draco Malfoy and everyone else who hadn't been her friend before.

For Harry and Ginny, living their lives meant having all the sex they possibly could.

"Happy New Year," Ginny squeezed her hand. They both twisted on the spot and disapparated.

Hermione hugged Draco. It was a surprise to herself and to him. But his arms closed in around her back, strumming softly. She pressed herself to him, enjoying his warmth. He was solid against her, even through his jumper.

"Hi," she smiled up at him, feeling a blush forming on her cheeks.

"Hi," Draco smiled back, his eyes dipping to her lips. Hermione's diaphragm refused to allow any more air into her lungs, and she glanced away.

"Shall we?" He extended his hand, and Hermione took it.

And finally took in her surroundings. The cottage was a mansion with vines climbing the walls. Glass and more glass shone out towards the still, black water of the lake. Hermione was certain there was magic there, in the forest around them, in the depths beneath them. She could feel it like the buzz of electricity in the air.

Once they entered through the double doors, both glass framed in ornate silver, Hermione felt the peace shatter.

Chaos.

Draco's hand came around her waist as he pulled her close. Hermione recognised so many Slytherins, she almost turned around and left. But then she saw the Patil twins, Katie Bell, Luna?

"Did Theo invite all of Hogwarts?" Hermione tiptoed to speak into Draco's ear. Draco chuckled and shrugged.

"Come on, let's say hi to the host and find someplace that isn't," Draco gestured at everything, "this."

Sparklers were spiralling without any signs of giving up. Smoke hazed the rooms as they pushed through; Hermione thought it was from the sparklers, but it was scented like vanilla bean and strawberries. She found the men inhaling from a hookah in a corner, puffing vapour into the air around them.

Stale beer, spilt whiskey, and too many perfumes and colognes mingled with the heat of the room and the mixture of people's sweaty bodies. Hermione had never been to anything like this, not even when Gryffindor celebrated their Quidditch victories.

She would rather be in a library, surrounded by very silent books and the occasional rustling of paper when she turned a page.

"Hermione Granger!" Theo was already drunk. He pulled Hermione into a hug while a man with blond curls clung to his shoulders, his eyes practically hearts. "Draco has told me so much about you."

"He has?" Hermione looked up at Draco, whose face bore a shadow of a smile. His eyes darted to hers, and his smile widened.

"Of course, I've told him about my disastrous attempt at a first date," Draco's eyes flickered back to Theo, who nodded sluggishly. "I'll see you for the countdown, you idiot. Don't drink anything else."

"Who said I was drinking anything?" Theo lifted an empty glass. Draco chuckled, rolling his eyes a little. "Tell Blaise to find me and-" He looked at his blond-haired companion expectantly.

"Greyson," the man smirked.

"Tell Blaise to find Greyson and I later," Theo wrapped his arm around the man's waist and shimmied away, laughing into Greyson's blond curls.

Draco shook his head and gently placed his hand on Hermione's lower back. She leaned into it, enjoying the warmth of his palm through her jumper. He ducked his lips to her ear, and she sucked in a breath, tasting his citrusy cologne in her throat.

"Come on, Granger," Draco murmured, the tenor of it sending a shiver through her from her ear to her toes. "I have someplace I think you'd enjoy more than here."

Two ornate doors, carved and coated in dark, glossy varnish, stood along a long hallway. Hermione traced the smooth wood of one while Draco turned the golden doorknob of the other.

"Come on, Granger," Draco smiled as he sidled through the opening. "The door isn't the best part."

Hermione took his hand and followed him in. A gasp escaped her lips as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Towers and towers – shelves actually – of books rose to the ceiling on dark wood shelves. The outer wall was lined with windows; Hermione imagined that during the day, light would flood into every corner as the sun rose before it disappeared over the hilltops in the distance.

"Can we stay here?" Hermione whispered, even though they were alone. Draco smiled at her, pulling her to his side and pressing a kiss to her hair. She wondered what his lips felt like.

Their first kiss needed to be her decision. There were many opportunities for him to close the distance, but he didn't. Many times when his eyes fell on her lips, she could sense him wanting to. But he didn't kiss her.

"There's a couch," Draco gestured beyond the shelves. "We can sit and read for as long as you want."

"This is the best party ever," Hermione almost jumped up and down on the spot but used that energy to propel herself towards the lines and lines of spines. Her fingers met every ridge, bringing a smile to her face. The smell of leather and wood made her drowsy with delight.

The ornate couch almost swallowed her as she sank into it. Draco grinned down at her, a heavy book in his hand as he delicately placed himself beside her. Hermione tipped over into him and laughed, battling to sit up straight.

With one swift, easy movement, Draco hooked under her knees and pulled her legs onto his lap.

Hermione's skin flushed, but Draco simply opened his book and began to read.

Hermione watched him for a while, entranced. The small candle he had lit shed enough light to illuminate the pages and space between them.

The noise from the party grew in volume as the night went on. Hermione wasn't even hungry, but Draco had disappeared for snacks and drinks anyway. She was worried he wouldn't resettle under her knees, but he did.

"Granger," Draco said gently like he had more than once. She blinked up at him. "It's almost time to rejoin the party."

She began to sit up, but Draco held her legs in place. They could hear everyone stirring beyond the walls, scrambling together to bring in the new year together.

Hermione couldn't breathe. His face was just inches away. Draco's eyes darted to her lips.

"Ten!"

"We're missing it," Hermione whispered, moving closer.

"Eight!"

"I'd rather be here," Draco's eyes locked onto hers.

"Six!"

"Me too," Hermione could feel his breath on her lips now.

"Four!"

"Happy New Year's, Granger," Draco's hair tickled her forehead.

"Two!"

"Happy New Ye-" Her words became lost in his mouth.

Draco Malfoy kissed her like he had been waiting for her his entire life.