Christmas Eve came quickly, the days blurring together as she helped Astoria and Daphne plan for the wedding. Nights were spent sleepless in the laboratory until Draco would come and retrieve her, forcing her to sleep. Though she had made progress, it was slow. Each time she analyzed the blood under a microscope, very few of the cells had been affected by her counter curse. With each iteration, there was more advancement, but not enough. It wasn't enough until it was fully successful.

Hermione had finished wrapping gifts and set them under the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the sitting room. Several ornaments hung with different pictures of the Greengrass sisters and Draco throughout the years. There were even a few of Narcissa that were tucked away in various spots. The ceiling of the sitting room was incredibly tall, and Hermione calculated that the tree had to be nearly four meters tall.

They'd all sit around the tree tonight and exchange gifts after supper, and then the next day, Daphne and Theodore would be married while George and the rest of his misfits took hold of Hogwarts. It was a nearly flawless plan that she, Draco, and George had concocted. All they would need to do is execute it exactly as instructed, minimizing damage and casualties to the Order.

Astoria insisted on handing the gifts to everyone, despite looking exhausted. After the first few, it seemed like she could barely lift even the smallest boxes on her own. Twinkle brought a chair for her to sit in and held the boxes up for her so she could read who they were addressed to. Then the house elf would happily walk over to the recipient and hand them the gift, making Astoria incredibly happy. They sat on the floor on plush cushions and rugs by the fireplace, sipping on mulled wine as Astoria made each person take turns opening their presents.

"This one's for you, Daph. From yours truly," Astoria beamed as Twinkle brought the small, long box to her. It had been the fifth gift from Astoria to her sister. Hermione had gotten an equal number as well. They had been mainly new articles of clothing and books, but the most expensive seemed to be an enchanted typewriter for her to take notes with while she did her research. Though the gifts were labeled from both Astoria and Draco, Hermione knew they were picked out by the witch. From Theodore, she received a plush otter toy that she thought was exceptionally cute and Daphne had gotten her new stationery items for her workshop.

Daphne delicately unwrapped the box, revealing an ornate letter opener in the shape of a snake. The eyes were small rubies, and the scales glinted a beautiful silver in the light of the fire.

"I love it, Tori," Daphne hugged her sister.

"It's for when you have your own law practice and receive a bunch of letters from people wanting to hire you," Astoria replied, not being able to hold back a smile.

Hermione felt a little silly when she had gotten gifts for everyone. It was difficult to shop for people who seemingly had everything they could ever want, so she procured muggle items they likely had never seen before that she thought they'd find amusing. Theodore was given a model dragon that he could assemble and paint, Daphne received a Polaroid camera that Hermione had enchanted so it wouldn't run out of film, and Astoria was gifted a vintage sewing machine. They were enamored with their new trinkets, reading over the packaging carefully, asking plenty of questions on how to use each item.

As the pile of gifts were dwindling, Hermione noticed that Draco hadn't received anything but a few packages of socks Astoria and Daphne had wrapped for him to open and a box of cigars from Theodore. He had explicitly told everyone else not to get him anything, but she couldn't help herself, so she waited impatiently until the last box sat under the tree.

"From Hermione to Draco," Astoria smirked as Twinkle trotted the box over to them.

"I told you not to get me anything, Granger," Draco said, thanking the house elf with a nod.

Hermione smiled, "I know, it's just something small and silly."

And it was just something small and silly, a kids toy, but she thought he'd like it. It was a small space themed projector sold at gift shops or novelty stores. Of course, she enchanted the batteries to last a while, given she didn't think they had anything extra lying around the manor. When he opened the box, he examined it closely, flipping the switch to turn it on. Overhead, stars faintly appeared across the sitting room, and everyone watched as they rotated slowly.

"It's much more impressive in the dark," Hermione noted, seeing how it struggled to compete with the glow of the fireplace.

"It's nice," Draco said, looking high up at the ceiling. "Thank you, baby." He kissed her temple softly and turned off the projector. Wrapping his arm around her, he gave her a light squeeze and slipped a small box into her lap as the other three chatted about the plan for tomorrow and when people would start arriving. Hermione opened it, revealing a silver ring with a large emerald stone in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds on each side.

"It's beautiful, Draco," she murmured softly, not wanting to bring attention to them. The way it caught the light of the fireplace was vibrant, looking almost like a forest fire in the deep green stone.

"You don't have to wear it or anything, I just thought since you like that necklace so much that you'd like a ring. It's gaudy, I know. My mother always had really extravagant taste," he mumbled back, the others still talking loudly among themselves.

"It's your mother's?" she asked, an anxiousness overcoming her. "I really can't accept this. It's…"

"Like I said, you don't have to wear it, but it's yours. She wouldn't have wanted it to sit in a box forever," he said, pulling it from the case and slipping it over her finger. "Looks like it fits perfectly. I think she really would have loved you."

The ring did fit perfectly around her finger, but it felt heavy, like the weight of everything Draco had been holding onto for so long was inside of it. They both looked at her hand for a moment, before his fingers laced in between hers and rested onto her lap. She tried not to think too deeply into the meaning of the things he gave her anymore, what they were was much too complicated to try to analyze. It was hard to deny that it was starting to feel real to Hermione now, she couldn't stop daydreaming of a life after the war with him. Before, she couldn't wait to rid this world of him. But now, she thought she might burn it all down just for him.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Astoria asked with a sly smile on her face.

"Nothing, Tori," Draco replied. "Just talking."

Astoria stood slowly, bracing herself against the arm of the chair, catching her breath for a moment. Draco was instantly at her side, holding her upright. Exhaustion seemed like it was overcoming her more frequently as of late. As much as she tried to stay active, it was catching up with her. Her cheeks were more hollow, her hair had thinned dramatically, and her clothes fit loosely on her body. The past few weeks had been so hectic, Hermione hadn't realized how much she had changed until Draco was standing next to her, making her look so fragile beside him.

"Big day tomorrow," Astoria said, holding back a cough. "Happy Christmas, everyone. I do really love all of you."

Hermione waited for Draco to put Astoria to bed to return to their room. Really, the projector was just a small gift, because the one she had planned for him she knew he would enjoy much, much more. After the bachelorette party, the women went to the adult store to buy a variety of things Daphne had wanted to consummate her marriage to Theodore. Hermione, under the fog of champagne, purchased a few items as well. So she sat on the floor at the edge of the bed, wearing nothing but red lace lingerie and a leather collar around her neck attached to a simple, metal chain. For Christmas, she was going to give him exactly what he wanted. Her.

Nervousness was gnawing away at her as she waited, wondering if she looked too ridiculous and if it was a mistake for her to be in the position she was. But it melted away when the door opened and she saw his eyes. The way he looked at her made every ounce of doubt in her head disappear. It was hungry, desperate, and lustful the way his silver eyes bore into her flesh, nearly frozen in the doorway.

"Fuck," he said sharply. "I thought I had been a naughty boy this year, but it looks like I've been very, very good if this is my gift."

Hermione blushed, and she began to crawl on her hands and knees towards him, never breaking eye contact. Draco shut the door behind him, and as she sat up on her knees, he leaned down to kiss her cheek, his hand reaching for the metal chain. He wrapped it around his hand a few times before pulling gently on it, bringing her closer to him.

"Have you been a good girl?" he asked, his tone low and raspy, like he was breathless looking at her.

"Yes, I've been a good girl," she replied. "Really good."

Draco slipped his thumb into her mouth, and she sucked on it, letting more of his fingers slide into her mouth. "Take my cock out," he commanded her.

He was fully erect as she fumbled his pants open, pulling out his thick length, stroking it with both hands as she wrapped her lips around the tip. Draco groaned, his hand still holding tightly onto the chain, occasionally pulling on it, causing her to lose her breath for a few seconds. After his cock was covered in her spit, he walked her on all fours over to the bed, tugging on the chain, taking his time.

Lifting her up on the bed, he faced her away from him, pressing her head into the mattress while her ass was pushed upwards. She felt his cold spit drip onto her ass, slowly sliding down between her slit, making her body shiver. Draco pulled the chain between her lips, rubbing the metal against her clit.

Hermione was practically purring for him, begging for him to enter her. She gasped as she felt the head of his cock push into her as he pulled the chain back, forcing her on her hands and knees on the mattress. The leather around her throat left her gasping for air, making her even more aroused as he pushed himself to the hilt, fully nestled inside. She was dripping, and shaking with each tug of the chain and thrust into her. Every time she wanted to fall forward, the tension of the chain in his hand kept her head from hitting the mattress.

"Is this what you want, slut?" he barked, letting his grip loose for a second for her to answer.

"Yes," she managed to choke out. Her head was spinning, and she wanted more. So much more. She knew he had fed recently, and wanted so badly to feel his teeth inside her. Though he told her he wouldn't bite her again, she noticed he was more curious about tasting her. When they kissed, she'd slide her tongue against his fangs to create a small cut and sometimes, he'd nick her lip just for a drop. "I want you to bite me."

The chain fully pulled back, and she was forced upright, her back against his cold chest chest. His icy tongue licked at her shoulder, and she felt a sharp pain before she began to spill blood. Hermione whimpered as he sucked at the skin that had been punctured, drinking from her slowly.

She couldn't hold on any longer, her body melting against him. The tug of the leather wrapped around her throat, his cock buried deep inside, and the feeling of blood rushing away. His wet lips pressed against her ear. "Did you just cum on my cock? What did I say about telling me when you cum?"

"I'm… sorry," she mumbled, still dizzy coming down from the high.

"You'd better do it again and tell me, whore," he growled in her ear, his lips returning to her bleeding shoulder. She came several more times, and each time she gasped out that she was cumming. Cumming for him.

After they had both reached multiple climaxes, they fell onto the bed. Draco removed the collar from around her throat, and let it clatter to the floor. He kissed her lips greedily, and she tasted herself on him. They were both covered in her blood, it was in his white hair and smeared across her back, but it didn't matter. He was full, and she was satisfied.

They both laid there breathlessly for a few minutes in the dark, not saying a word to one another. Draco reached over to the side table, flipping the switch on the toy projector. It made small mechanical noises as the lights rotated slowly, filling the room with small specks of light and blurred images of different galaxies. Hermione found it humorous how cheaply made it was, but Draco seemed to be captivated by the lights.

With her head on his chest, she listened to his slow heartbeat thump away in his chest. It slowed even further when he began to fall asleep. She looked up and watched as his eyes fluttered, trying to stay open to look at the stars.

"Get some rest, Draco. We've got a long day tomorrow," she whispered, spinning the ring around her finger.

"Happy Christmas, Granger," he sleepily replied.

"Happy Christmas, Draco."

—

"Daphne, calm down," Hermione urged, watching as the usually put together witch frantically paced her bedroom. Daphne looked beautiful in her gown, the bishop sleeves billowing with every step she took, making her look ethereal. Her silvery, blonde hair was pinned up into her long veil, trailing behind her as she moved about the space.

"He's going to realize one day that he deserves better than me and he'll leave me," she said as if she were being pragmatic and level headed. Guests had arrived and the ceremony was supposed to begin fifteen minutes ago, but Hermione could see that Daphne was spiraling into a mess of her own thoughts as they did her makeup and fixed her hair. Self doubt, insecurity, and fear. Even the most beautiful witches were subjected to it.

"Daph," Astoria calmly called, sitting on the bed wearing a deep emerald dress, her own hair up and braided, flowers adorning her head to mask how thin it had gotten. "When has Teddy ever led you to believe that you aren't good enough for him?"

Daphne stopped, tapping her heel, thinking deeply. "Well, never. But he'll have to come to his senses one day, won't he?"

Hermione went to her side, turning her to face the full length mirror. "Look at how stunning you are. On top of that, you're bloody brilliant. Teddy is as lucky to have you as you are to have him. I've heard him talk about you on and on. He loves you."

A knock came at the bedroom door, and Draco poked his head through to assess the situation. "Everything okay here? Haven't gotten cold feet, have we, Daph?"

"She's having a meltdown. Blabbing on about how Teddy is making a mistake and deserves better than her," Astoria sighed.

Draco entered the room, wearing a black suit that hugged his figure perfectly, probably costing as much as Hermione had saved in the tiny safe at 12 Grimmauld Place. He made his way to Daphne, who was glaring at her own reflection. "Daphne, a very handsome man who loves you very much is waiting for you down there. Best not make him wait," he told her, giving her arm a slight squeeze of reassurance.

"You're always honest with me Draco." Her shoulders fell at her sides and she took a deep breath. "Is he making a mistake by marrying me?"

"Daphne Greengrass, the only mistake he's made is not taking dance lessons before tonight."

–

Hermione took a seat next to Millicent among the sea of guests and reassured her that Daphne was okay. It was packed full of people who were murmuring, questioning why there was a delay. Draco stood at Theodore's side, under an archway of flowers and Astoria stood across from them, smiling brightly at the two men. After a few moments, soft music began to play, and Daphne made her way down the aisle. When Theodore caught sight of her, heavy tears rolled down his smiling cheeks, and Hermione had to stop herself from breaking out into tears with him.

They exchanged vows to each other in such a beautiful fashion that Hermione nearly forgot there was a war raging on. In a matter of hours, Hogwarts would be under fire. She almost felt guilty for ruining a beautiful night between two people she had grown to care so deeply for. But she had to remember why she was here and what she had to do. And she knew Daphne and Theodore wanted the war to end just as badly as she wanted it to.

As everyone cheered for the newlywed couple, the room began to rearrange itself and tables of food and drink appeared between the chairs. Astoria and Draco gave speeches, they toasted with champagne, and everyone began to drink the night away. At the head of the ballroom, Theodore and Daphne sat at a long table facing the rest of the guests. On Theodore's side, his mother was whispering to him, her brow furrowed, seemingly unhappy with her meal, and on the opposite end next to Daphne, Astoria and Draco giggled as they drank.

Occasionally, Hermione would catch Draco looking at her while she engaged in riveting conversations with Millicent and the other book club women about the latest town gossip or about their most recent reads. However, as time went on, and she noted the time on the clock, she began to get more antsy. Her knee would bounce under the table, and fingers would tap against her champagne flute.

"Ah, it seems the mudblood gets a good seat at the reception," Bellatrix hissed as she walked through the tables to make her way to the newlyweds. "It seems I got stuck in the back."

"Hermione is here with us because of book club, Bella," Millie said politely. "You should really think of joining. We're starting a new one soon."

"Sounds terribly drab, darling," she replied curtly, turning towards the front of the room. But as her shoulders spun forward, Hermione saw her eyes dart towards the ring sitting on her finger. A look of shock clouded over Bellatrix's face as she turned back towards her, staring at the hand that was loosely wrapped around the stem of the champagne glass. "Now, where did you get that? Another gift from my nephew, I'm presuming?"

"I thought I told you to stay away from the mudblood, Bella," Draco's voice sternly hissed as he towered over the witch. Most would have frozen in fear, but Bellatrix seemed unfazed.

"I was just asking where she got Cissy's ring? Did she steal it from under your nose? Or perhaps you're decorating your toys now," she bit back.

Draco huffed, "It's none of your business what I do with my belongings. So I suggest you move along now and give your best to Daphne."

"You little…" Bellatrix began to yell before she paused and looked at the Dark Mark on her arm.

Suddenly, a commotion began among the guests before the sounds of several cracks of Apparations were audible. Death Eaters began to quickly leave the manor, not even standing up from their seats before rushing away. Confusion began to spread among those who had no idea what was occurring, and the chatter became almost unbearably loud. Bellatrix gave Hermione one final glare before disappearing away, leaving an empty space between herself and Draco. She wished she could have reached out to him before he left, but he simply gave her a nod before departing.

Turning her attention back to the front of the room, she saw Theodore kiss Daphne once before he vanished from sight. She scanned the room to find Astoria, who was no longer at the head table. Just as she caught a glimpse of the crown of flowers in a braid of chocolate colored hair, Astoria collapsed onto the marble floor.