Author's Note: Okay! I have managed to churn out another 5 because I am so fantastically wonderful and I am hoping to get a few more done tonight! This one and the next chapter are linked, it's fairly obvious to be honest but I thought I should just point it out. I hope you enjoy!

Prompts: (weather)blizzard/heavy snow/(word) good will

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise!

Trapped

Eventually after 5 straight minutes of uphill battle through the thick snow and blizzarding conditions Hermione admitted defeat. There was no way she was making it back to her flat in this sort of weather.

She stopped struggling for a moment and looked around scanning the barren street for any sort of safe haven. It seemed that everyone else had been a lot smarter than the brightest witch of her age and decided to stay at home.

Through the blinding snow she could see a warm glow coming from the corner just ahead of her and she remembered passing a small but quaint little café on her way to the shops. She could take refuge in the warm and wait for the storm to pass.

Renewed with energy and the warm image of a steaming hot chocolate decorated with little marshmallows she battled on slowly gaining step by step until she stood in front of the shop. She opened the door and a gust of freezing air pushed her over the threshold as a little bell rang and the door slammed shut against the weather behind her.

She sighed in pure joy as the warmth spread across her freezing body and she made her way to a comfy looking seat, shedding layers as she did so. She spread her wet clothes out to dry, grabbed her purse, turned to the counter and stopped dead.

"Malfoy?"

The blonde Slytherin stood frozen behind the counter. His eyes were wide a mixture of shock and fear. "Granger?"

"You work here?" she asked moving towards him ignoring the way he automatically took a step back. "In a muggle café?" he was even wearing an apron a coffee filter dangling forgotten in one hand.

He sneered, automatically back on the defensive as if it hadn't been five years since the war and they were back in school. "What's it to you?"

"Careful Malfoy, or I'll call your manager," she taunted right back. They were completely alone in this shop.

"Muggles were the only ones who would hire me Granger," he said by way of explanation. "In case you had forgotten which side I was on in the war. A muggle life is a nice clean start, I'm not the idiot I used to be."

"Evidently," Hermione mused. "Well, in the spirit of goodwill to all men, it is Christmas after all. Why don't you and I have a fresh start?"

"Really?"

She nodded and held out a hand smiling at him. "Hi, I'm Hermione Granger nice to meet you. Can I have a hot chocolate with caramel syrup and all the trimmings please?"

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Much Love, MaryandMerlin x