Twelve

Hermione welcomed him with a smile and a kiss on his cheek, flushing when she spotted the present he was carrying under one arm.

"You didn't have to do that," she said, gesturing at the red-and-silver wrapped gift.

Draco grinned cheekily. "Oh. Well, I'll just take it back with me when I leave, then."

She took the bottle of wine he'd carried in his other hand and slapped his arm. "Don't be a prat."

"I'll just put it underneath your tree for the moment. Might as well serve as decoration while it's here."

Her rooms were decorated with what seemed to be all the leftovers from the Great Hall, a massive bow of holly over her fireplace, red, green and gold tinsel decorating the bookshelves that lined the walls, and a small tree, decorated in red and green, in a corner. He placed his present underneath the tree. Then he sat down on the sofa, with the an air of confidence he did not quite feel. He rubbed his clammy palms over his trousers and took a deep breath to steady his nerves while she poured two glasses of wine.

The conversation flowed quite easily between them after the first few sips of wine loosened him up, and it continued to flow through dinner and more drinks. She'd sat down on the sofa with him, but seemed to be getting closer every time she shifted. Somewhere between the turkey and the Christmas pudding, he'd quite lost track of what they were talking about, although he somehow managed to hold his side of the conversation. He'd become too distracted by her knee, covered by a wine-red velvet skirt, suddenly pressing against his.

Pressing quite insistently.

When her hands, never quite still in a conversation, suddenly clasped his arm while she emphasised a point in whatever story she was telling him, something in his brain seemed to spark and his magic started thrumming in his veins.

"Draco? You're not listening." She smiled nervously.

"I'm sorry. I was distracted." He tried desperately to regain his calm.

"What were you thinking of?" Her eyes gleamed with suppressed laughter as she leaned a little closer still. The scent of freesias and roses surrounded him and it became even more difficult to think straight.

I was thinking how beautiful you are tonight.

I was thinking that I really really want to kiss you.

I was hoping this moment never ends.

"Well, I was distracted by the silver of that present. I think it's time it went back to my rooms, since you didn't want it."

She jumped up with a gasp and had crossed the few feet between the sofa and the tree before he'd even realised she had let go of him. She held the present in her arms with a defiant look.

"It would be very rude not to accept your present," she said, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Draco shifted in his seat until he felt a little more comfortable. He made a theatrical wave with one arm and inclined his head with an indulgent smile.

"Well, if you insist," he said, with mock-condescension.

She glared at him, then sat down in front of the tree and began unwrapping the present. Draco pressed his lips together and forgot to breathe, dread slowly choking him. It had been a bad idea. She loved books. He should have gotten her a book. Not this. Not…

"Oh Draco…" She smiled up at him, hugging it close. It was a black dragonhide satchel with a magnificent lion in gold embroidery stalking around the bottom, playfully swatting at her fingers where they held the leather.

He could feel his cheeks flush. "I'd noticed the strap of your bag kept breaking last term," he said, looking away. "I thought you'd like a new one. It came with a Featherlight Charm, so hopefully it will not suffer quite so much from all the books you always carry around."

"It's perfect," she said, getting up from the floor and walking back over to him. She sat down next to him, entwining her hand with his. "Thank you, Draco."

He forced himself to look at her and lost himself in her eyes, warm, brown eyes with golden flecks, surrounded by the finest of lashes. She smiled, her eyes dipping to his lips and back up to catch his gaze. He licked his lips and swallowed with difficulty.

"Hermione…"

At that moment, the little clock on the mantlepiece began to strike.

"It's midnight," she whispered as the last of the chimes faded into silence. "Merry Christmas, Draco."

Before he had a chance to respond, she leaned closer and pressed her lips against his. She kissed him, soft, teasing, insistent, sending sparks through his spine with sweet little licks and nips at his lower lip, until he opened up for her and their tongues met in a playful battle that left him breathless and wanting more. She kissed him. She kissed him and it was like breathing for the first time after staying under water for too long. He never wanted it to stop.

They panted when they broke apart. He stared at her and stared at her, wanting to take in every detail, her lips, reddened and plump from their kiss, he eyes dark and sparkling with lust, her hair in disarray, soft and silky under his touch.

"Stay tonight," she breathed.

"Isn't that going a bit fast?" he asked, his mind finally catching up with his body. He didn't want to say no but he knew he should.

"We can talk about that tomorrow," she said, moving closer until she settled on his lap, her hands tracing lines over his robes, leaving trails of fire in their wake. His hands settled naturally at her waist and he marvelled at the feel of her, in his hands, inhis lap, fitting so perfectly she must have been made for him. It almost distracttd him from what she was saying. "We probably should take things slow, get to know each other, go on a few dates... But tonight, I want you. Tomorrow we'll think about what this means. Tonight..." She nipped at his ear and trailed kisses over his jaw and he forgot his objections and he forgot how to move, how to breathe, how to be, and it was brilliant.

"Sweet Morgana, I'll stay for however long you want me to," he whispered, more to himself than to her. But she heard anyway, cupped his face in her hands and beamed at him.

"That may well be for a very long time, Mr. Malfoy."

AN: Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favourites. Happy holidays, dear readers! I'll see you on the other side...