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“Are you coming?” Draco was impatient, he’d had a very long day and he was more than ready to unwind.
“Yes, yes, just a minute — not like it's going anywhere!” His wife’s amused tone did nothing to ease up the tension that had his shoulders reaching his ears.
“Mione! It's just tea, what’s taking you so long” he was not opposed to a little whining to speed things up. It had been a while since they had been able to do this, what with the house being full over Christmas.
Hermione pushed the door open with her hip, carrying in a tray while another floated in behind her. Her hair might have more streaks of grey, but the curls were still sentient as ever. A veritable force on nature unto their own, writhing this way and that, the silver catching moonlight, reflecting a glowing halo over his wife’s head.
“What is all this then?” his voice was warm, and he craned his neck, leaning forward to peek into the laden trays curiously as she set both trays to hover to the side until she tucked herself snugly under the covers.
“Just some snacks with hot chocolate, we haven't had any time to ourselves this month, and I know that makes you very grumpy.”
Hermione giggled, nose scrunching up in delight when he poked her in the ribs. “Grumpier? I'm a perfectly delightful person, our family will attest to it.” Draco sounded affronted, one hand over his sternum.
“Yes, you've grown grumpier with age, and the past week you all but chased everyone off.” she tugged on the arm closest to her, pulling it over her shoulders before she settled against him. With a wave of her wand, the trays moved to hover a few inches over their laps, and the lights blinked out.
“If I was less than welcoming, it was because those pests had overstayed their welcome by 8 days. I had plans with the love of my life, and they were obstructing.” huffing, he pulled her closer to his side, nibbling on her ear. Draco then grabbed a handful of popcorn, and the warm mug off the tray.
A soft sigh of contentment escaped, “And what grand plans did you have to cancel?” she blew a raspberry against his bare shoulder, the skin more papery against her lips than it had been during the early days of their tumultuous relationship. “Admit it, you were pleased as punch, having your fan club nipping at your ankles all day and night like a litter of cruppies.”
“I had to give up a week of this to those rascals,” Draco smiled fondly, “But it was good to see them all here in one place for longer.” He picked out the ice cream-flavoured beans from the bowl of Bertie Bott’s, dropping them into her waiting palm.
He was glad to have his children and grandchildren over the holidays, and by some stroke of good fortune, they had all been able to stay a week longer than planned. It wasn't often that it happened now that their two oldest granddaughters were off to Hogwarts. However, he also very much enjoyed the alone time with his wife.
They might be in their sixties, but they hadn't slowed down by any means. In fact, there seemed to be more to do, with all the philanthropy and advisory adjacent tasks on their plates. And they both enjoyed it all, having their lives filled with work they loved to be part of, even if it meant time to completely relax was something of a rarity.
“Right, shall we dive in? Or do you need more time to catch up old man?” Hermione ribbed, turning on the telly.
“Who you calling old man? You're older than me, witch.” with a playful shove of his shoulder, Draco relaxed as the opening credits played, sinking into the repose that came with watching his favourite wizard on screen. He exhaled deeply, grateful for all the moments that brought him here, as the speakers echoed in the background ‘— kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name... Merlin.’