Disclaimer: The Harry Potter franchise and the songs included in this fic (Close to You by the Carpenters and Silent Night) are not mine. This story was written for fun and no money was obtained from it.

AN: This chapter has a mild sexual scene. Hence the rating M.

Tea Time

Chapter 3

by Sapphire Snowflake

o0o

They apparated to her flat where Hermione showed Draco the sitting room. It was a modest one, except for the velvety L-shaped sofa. "Do you sleep here?" Draco teased when he saw the number of throw pillows and the fleece blanket folded neatly on one side of the sofa.

"I like to be comfortable when I read. And I might've accidentally fallen asleep while reading," she meekly said and proceeded to prepare cups of tea to hide her embarrassment.

She handed him his tea and sat close to him, their knees almost touching. They watched the fire crackling on the fireplace in silence, enjoying the moment and the bittersweet taste of tea.

It was Draco who first broke the silence. "Are you planning to spend Christmas Day with your family?" He placed his teacup on the side table.

"Tomorrow? In the afternoon probably."

"I see."

"I reserved my Christmas Eve and morning for you," she shyly said as she placed tendrils of her hair behind her ears. Draco caught her hand before it dropped to her side and placed a kiss on it. He looked up to see her brown eyes staring intently at his. He gingerly reached for the teacup in her other hand and placed it right beside his. And then he kissed her.

It was unlike any kiss she had experienced before. It was sensual and exploratory; his lips giving small nips on her lower lip before his tongue peeked out and teased the seam as if asking for permission. He moaned when she opened her lips slightly and let her tongue meet his. She slowly leaned backwards, with Draco following her as he nipped his way across her jaw and down to her neck.

"Mmm."

"Ticklish?" He murmured against her ear before his tongue darted out to trace her outer earlobe.

"A bit," she confessed and threaded her fingers through his hair.

"You smell amazing." Draco groaned when she shifted such that he was now situated right between her legs. Her fingers slipped under his shirt and proceeded to trace circles on his back. "What are you thinking about?" he asked as he nuzzled his nose on her neck.

"You."

"Anything naughty?"

She laughed, "No, you prat…"

"Hmmm…" He leaned back and sat gently on her legs to stare at her.

"You? What are you thinking about?"

"How beautiful you are. Intelligent. Sexy. Perfect."

She sat up and cupped his jaw, "You give me too much credit." He leaned down to kiss her just as her hands drifted to the buttons of his shirt and proceeded to pop them out of their holes.

"I give credit where credit is due." He played with the edges of her blouse before pulling it off her, leaving her in just her beige lace bra. "So fucking beautiful." He leaned down to kiss her again as he reached behind her to unclasp her bra. He moved south and flicked her pebbled nipple with his tongue.

"Unnh." She tugged his shirt.

His lips enclosed around her nipples and sucked. Hard.

"Ahh!" He felt her pull at his shirt more urgently. He released her with a pop and let her remove his shirt off him before her nimble hands glided down from his neck, to his chest and down to the buttons of his trousers.

"I want to feel you, Draco. All of you," she whispered. They slowly divested all of their clothing with neither of them breaking eye contact. They laid side by side on the sofa and continued peppering kisses all over each other. Draco's lips mapped every contour of Hermione's body from her plump lips, to the dips of her collarbone, the underside of her breasts and down to the back of her knees as Hermione moaned in ecstasy. Hermione's hands also joined in the exploration and smoothed across his arms, tugged his nipples, and then wrapped itself around his hardening member. His hand caught her wrist and stopped her from tugging. He pulled both her hands and pinned them at the sides of her head and kissed her deeply. She could feel his desire nestling right between hers.

"Please, Draco," she moaned as she thrusted her hips up.

"Fuck." He slid inside her fully in one thrust. "You feel so good." He breathed deeply to stop himself from coming prematurely before thrusting a few more times. "So warm. And wet." In and out he went, their moans and gasps filling the room.

He could feel her tightening around him. They stared straight at each other eyes as they climbed to their peaks. Some of her wild hair was plastered across her forehead and her cheeks with sweat, and Draco thought she never looked as beautiful as she did at that moment.

"Draco. Draco. Draco!" She chanted before she cupped his face and pulled him down for a desperate kiss as she came.

"I love you. Gods, I love you so much, Hermione," he gasped as he joined her.

o0o

Draco woke up to the beeping of Hermione's alarm clock. They moved to her bedroom to sleep more comfortably after more snogging. The empty space beside him still felt warm. "Hermione?" He called out as he swiped his fringe away from his eyes. Blinking to adjust to the sunlight entering the room, he groggily pulled on his boxers and went downstairs to the kitchen.

There was a pot of tea and two sets of teacups on the dining table. "She must've gone to the bakery to buy some scones," he muttered to himself as he poured hot tea on his cup. She had told him on multiple occasions how much she liked eating scones for breakfast.

It was when he took the first sip that he noticed a neatly folded paper under the other cup in front of him. He reached out and opened it to see Hermione's handwriting.

Draco,

A few months ago, I made my peace with the fact that I would probably not be reaching my 25th birthday. I decided not to further wallow in sorrow and stop wasting what little time I have left on researching for how to reverse the curse. I took a month-long vacation to see the world, and experience as much as possible the things that life has to offer. I spent time with my family and friends and let them know how much I love them. I thought that was enough to feel that I've lived my life to the fullest. I was so convinced that I was ready, whenever the curse wants to take me.

Until you asked me for dinner.

It took me by surprise to be honest. At first, I thought you'd known about my condition and took pity on me. But then you did these little things that made me aware of a kind of love I've never known before. It was fun. It was painful. It was warm and encompassing. It was beautiful. It was perfect. You are perfect.

And as I watched you sleep last night, with your hair sticking all over your face and drool drying on the corner of your mouth, I thought, ah, I guess I wasn't ready afterall. I find myself wishing that I'd be able to give you even a fraction of what you gave to me.

Thank you, Draco. See you in my 1002nd lifetime.

Love,

Hermione

The tea has gone cold.

o0o

o0o

AN: Started with a perfectly warm cup of tea and ended with a cold one. I like to be symbolic that way. Kidding! I hope you enjoyed reading it, despite the end. I'd like to know your thoughts.

Inspirations for this story: Hotarubi no Mori e. Would you love someone if you know it won't last? This was written for the SD Yuletide Fest and my prompt is Hermione dies.