The doorbell rang and Draco heard Lyra's feet run down the stairs to answer the door.
"She's back! She's back!" she squealed with excitement.
Draco looked over from the kitchen just in time to see Hermione pick up Lyra and give her a hug, her bags discarded on the floor and the front door wide open.
"Alright, Lyra. Let her come inside so she can shut the door and not let all of winter in the house."
Hermione set Lyra down and smiled sheepishly as she closed the door. "Sorry."
Draco waved her off. "All good. Make yourself comfortable. I'm just finishing up in the kitchen then I'll be right out."
Lyra dragged Hermione over to the couch and the only indication he knew the witch heard him was the subtle nod and smile she aimed in his direction.
He finished plating the cookies Lyra insisted they make and when he entered the living room again, he found Lyra sitting on the floor with half a dozen wrapped packages around her.
"What's all this?" he asked.
"Presents! From Miss Hermione!" Lyra said excitedly. "But I had to wait for you to open them, so can I open them now?"
Draco set the plate of cookies on one of the side tables and sat down next to Hermione. "Sure, go ahead, Princess."
Lyra grinned and tore through the wrappings.
"You didn't have to get her anything," he said, leaning closer to the witch. She smelled of honeysuckle and lavender, a combination of scents he'd recently come to favor.
Hermione's eyes were on Lyra, a soft smile on her face. "I wanted to." She turned her head and glanced at him, a soft pink blush bloomed across her cheeks. "I have a gift for you as well." She picked up a silver box with green ribbon from the floor near her feet and handed it to him.
"You also didn't have to get me anything," he said as he untied the bow. When he lifted the lid of the box, a large grin formed on his face. "I take it back. This I'll take."
Inside the box was a large variety of sweets from Sugarplum's Sweets Shop, with an abundance of his favorite, Cauldron Cakes.
"I figured I'd bring back a bit of London for you."
Draco opened up one of the Cauldron Cakes and bit into it, enjoying the gooey, chocolatey center. He closed his eyes briefly as he hummed approvingly. "I appreciate it. Truly. Thank you. Usually the sweets my mother sends in her care packages are for Lyra."
Hermione chuckled. "I see you've been pushed aside now that you've given her a grandchild."
"Well, now that I have you to give me sweets, I suppose it's alright."
The blush on Granger's face deepened and she turned her attention back to Lyra, who was currently unwrapping her third present.
Draco finished off his treat as he took stock of his daughters gifts—a stuffed, purple dragon that warmed when hugged, a box of sweets similar to his own but smaller, some hair bows and headbands, a necklace and earring set in her birthstone, a snow globe that featured Hogwarts, and of course, books.
"What do you say to Miss Hermione?" Draco prompted when Lyra had finished opening everything.
Lyra threw her arms around Hermione's neck. "Thank you! I love my gifts."
"You're welcome, sweetie."
"We have something for you too!" She pulled out a red bag from under the tree.
"I picked it out all by myself," Lyra grinned as Hermione extracted the white tissue paper from the bag. She smiled when she extracted a pair of dark purple, leather gloves.
Hermione tried them on, finding them to be a perfect fit. "They're beautiful! And so soft too."
"I may have also charmed them to keep your hands warm and dry, no matter how cold and wet it gets." Draco hadn't been able to resist adding his own touch. Just because they lived in a Muggle town didn't mean they couldn't take advantage of some of the perks of magic.
"That's very sweet of you, thank you." Hermione leaned over and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. The widening of her eyes told him that she was just as surprised by the action as well.
He dipped his head in a nod. "Any time. We made some chocolate chip cookies before you came over. Lyra was hoping to watch a Christmas movie." He picked up the plate next to him and offered it to her.
Lyra, who had busied herself with flipping through one of her new books, looked up. "We're going to watch the Grinch movie. Not the cartoon one, but the real life one!"
"Oh! I haven't seen that one, but I hear it's good." Hermione took a cookie and bit into it. "Should I order us some pizza?"
Draco waved her off. "Food's already taken care of," he reassured. "Lyra, why don't you take your things to your room so we can clean up and start the movie when the food gets here?"
As Lyra set to her task, Draco and Hermione picked up the wrapping paper from the floor.
A text-message notification sounded and Hermione pulled out her mobile to check it. Her brows furrowed slightly as she read the message.
"Everything alright?"
Hermione nodded as she stowed her phone back in her pocket. "Yes, everything is fine. That was just Rachel. She was letting me know that everyone from work is planning on getting together for New Year's Eve at The Barnacle."
"Sounds like fun," Draco commented. "I've been there a few times. Nice atmosphere. And the music is pretty good too. Are you planning on going?"
"I think so." She glanced at him then looked away shyly. "I was wondering… that is, if you didn't have plans already, if you... If you'd like to go… with me."
Draco studied her for a moment before a smile formed on his lips. "Why Hermione Granger… are you asking me out on a date?"
The witch blushed furiously. "We can go as friends, if you like. I only meant I'd like it if you came along. But I understand if you already have plans, or can't go because it's last minute, or—"
He chuckled, amused at her rambling. "Emma's parents offered to take Lyra for New Year's, if I needed them too. At the time I didn't have plans, so I declined, but it looks like I'll have to take them up on their offer after all."
Hermione's shoulders sagged in relief. "Really? You'll go?"
"Yes," he couldn't help grinning. "And even though you asked me, I'll pick you up at your place. Does around nine sound good?"
"Nine sounds great".
Draco walked over to Hermione. "And as far as it being a date, or just as friends," he said quietly. "Why don't we just see where the night takes us? No pressure or expectations."
Hermione looked up at him, her eyes wide. "I like that plan."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Food!" cheered Lyra as she came back downstairs, pulling Draco's attention away from Hermione.
"I'll get it," he said, reaching for his wallet. "Lyra, why don't you get the movie queued up? Hermione, if you wouldn't mind grabbing some forks and napkins?"
After he paid for the food, he turned around to find Hermione staring at him quizzically.
"You called me Hermione. Not Miss Hermione…not Granger. Just... Hermione."
"Well, that is your name." He gave her a wink as he walked past her.
"Also, that's not pizza," she said, motioning to the bags in his hand. "That smells more like Chinese food."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "You mentioned before that you and your parents always had Chinese food on Christmas night. I know it's a few days past, but I was hoping since you were celebrating with us tonight, that you wouldn't mind?"
Her eyes softened as she nodded. "That's perfectly alright."
The three of them sat on the floor, a container of food in front of each of them, and they tucked into their meal as the movie started.
Hermione showed off by expertly eating her food without dropping a single grain of rice, and while Draco was skilled with chopsticks, he still found himself fumbling every now and again.
Lyra attempted to use chopsticks but eventually switched to silverware when most of her food ended up back in the take-out container or on the floor.
"If we had a puppy, he'd clean up this mess for us," she said out loud.
Hermione eyed him over Lyra's head and shrugged as if saying She's got a point before going back to her food.
When their bellies were full, Draco and Hermione returned to the couch while Lyra stayed on the floor to color. Even though there was plenty of room to sit, he found he didn't quite mind when Hermione relaxed and leaned into him slightly. He breathed in her scent once more and relished in the warmth from where their arms brushed against each other. He knew that if he shifted his arm slightly, he'd be able to hold her hand and his fingers itched to thread themselves between hers.
He wouldn't—at least not yet—and the only thing he could think of for the rest of the night was how New Year's Eve couldn't come soon enough.
A/N: Finally, these two are getting their act together! Hope you all enjoyed this chapter (another small one, sorry! I promise next chapter will be over 2k!) See you next week where Draco and Hermione go on their very first date!... hopefully it goes well! xoxoHufflepuffMommy