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Draco Malfoy stood, smirking over his creation, a light chuckle escaping his lips.
He heard the crunch of footsteps approaching in the snow behind him and braced himself.
“Malfoy!” Hermione gasped, and whacked him sharply in the bicep.
“Fucking- Ouch Granger!” He hissed, shooting her a glare.
“Is that what I think it is?” She demanded, crossing her arms over her lumpy puffer jacket as she stared down in the snow at his handy work.
His glare quickly transformed into a haughty smirk as he followed her gaze. “What? I think I captured his likeness rather well.” Draco said fondly, tilting his head as if he were appraising a piece of fine art.
They stood side by side staring down at a crudely constructed little snowman that faintly resembled Harry Potter. Round glasses sat askew atop a carrot nose. Twigs had been delicately arranged to emulate Harry's famous lightning bolt scar. Sharp stones had been pushed into an ugly grimace on the poor creatures crumbling face, where a knitted Gryffindor scarf struggled to hold everything together.
“Did you transfigure the scarf and glasses just now? This is really quite impressive work.” Hermione said as she knelt down to admire the delicate knitting of the scarf; she was never one to ignore good magic when she saw it.
“No. I Accio’ed them right off Potter’s smug face as I was leaving The Three Broomsticks.” Draco laughed and recounted his recent memory of Harry’s indignation as his garments flew away from him; how Harry shouted and gave chase as the Slytherins at the front bar whooped and jeered. Draco had easily outrun both Potter and Weasley, losing them amongst the throngs of shoppers in Hogsmeade before making his way to his meeting point with Hermione, before they embarked on their date.
The subject of such date now stood, blinking up at him in shock. Her mouth opened then closed before she found her words.
“You are an insufferable prat.” Hermione sighed, already exasperated before their date had even begun. She went to push him in the shoulder; instead he took her by her mittened wrists and spun her around into a light embrace, kissing her on the crown. Her hair smelled like Gardenias.
“You know, I thought you two were just starting to get along.” She mumbled into his chest as she pulled herself upright by the lapels of his winter coat. “I can’t help but feel this is going to be a huge setback.” She frowned up at him.
“I was just about to make a snow weasel before you interrupted.” He said, grinning down at her, his grey eyes alight with mischief. Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
“Wait, what is this?” She said suddenly, eyeing a patch of red material that peeked above the neckline of his coat.
“What- Oh, nothing.” Draco said a bit too quickly, taking a brisk step back.
Hermione tightened her grip on his lapel as he struggled to free himself.
“Show me.” She said, looking up at him imploringly.
Draco stopped resisting and sighed.
“What do I get?” He hummed, looking down his nose at her with a hint of intrigue.
“Hmm.” Hermione’s mouth twisted in thought, “I shall return Harry’s scarf and glasses on your behalf. That may save you from an immediate rebuttal… perhaps.”
“Pfft, I wasn’t going to return them anyway.” He shrugged.
Hermione scowled, and reconsidered.
“Okay then, I’ll make you a batch of my spiced Christmas cookies… The ones you kept stealing from me last year.”
“A whole batch?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow skeptically.
“Yes, as long as you promise to share with Theo.”
“Mmm, you’re not the one with the bargaining power here, Granger.”
“But I promised Theo-“
“I don’t share.”
They stood, eyeing each other with a feigned distrust. Hermione leaned back, placing her hands on her hips. Her eyes traveled down to his neckline, then back up to his face. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Okay.” She said slowly. “One batch of Christmas cookies, in exchange for a glimpse at what you’re hiding under your coat.” She raised an eyebrow suggestively.
“A bit leary, aren't you Granger?” Draco purred.
“Go on, then.” She shoved him playfully.
Draco’s posture stiffened. He hesitated before fumbling with the first button at his collar.
“No laughing.” He added, his eyes flicking back to her.
“That wasn’t part of the deal.” Hermione said, emulating his usual smirk. She wore it well, he thought.
Draco paused at the fourth button and bit his lip in contemplation, wondering if he could still back out of this.
“Hey, you can’t back out of our deal now.” Hermione insisted, catching his hesitation. She reached forward impatiently, undoing the last of his buttons. Draco squared his shoulders and took a deep breath as she pulled open his coat and gasped.
“Oh. Oh!” She exclaimed softly, bringing her hands to her mouth. “This is so incredibly- sweet!” Draco was wearing a Gryffindor-red knit jumper, his chest adorned with a fuzzy lion face, its small beaded eyes glinting back at her. This was probably the most colour he’d worn since he was a child. He avoided her gaze, his sharp cheekbones now tinted with a subtle blush.
Draco exhaled. “Yes well… I thought you might like it.” He said nonchalantly. “Don’t get used to it though, this is a one-off occasion, red really isn’t my colour.”
“I think it suits you.” She smiled, and stepped into him, raising a mittened hand she tilted his jaw gently towards her, their lips pressed into a gentle kiss. Her other hand moved from his lapel to rest across his chest, and he was sure she’d feel his rapid heartbeat even between all their accumulated layers. His eyes fluttered closed as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him. He met her kisses confidently and unhurried, like he was savouring every one of them. They stood together, locked in a tight embrace relishing in their languid kisses and caresses until the snow beneath their feet began to melt.
Hermione pulled away so she could bury her face in his fuzzy new knitwear. She snaked her arms around his waist and under his coat relishing the warmth of his body. She breathed him in. Draco knew she was taking in the festive spritz of cinnamon and clove cologne he’d recently purchased, thinking that she’d quite like it. His suspicion was correct as she nuzzled deeper into him. Theo and Blaise had tormented him relentlessly, telling him he smelt like an old Christmas tree, loudly contemplating how he’d gotten so soft. He sighed into Hermione, relieved they hadn’t discovered his sweater.
“Happy Christmas, Hermione.” He said resting his cheek on top of her head.
“Happy Christmas, Draco.” She replied, beaming up at him.