Work Text:
Happy Christmas, Hermione
He had said nothing but three words to me all year
Three words I had not realised I needed to hear
He spoke evenly and was not at all a confession
But his grey eyes betrayed his stoic expression
What were once cold, unfeeling, and void of all notion
Were now silvery depths overwhelmed with emotion
Pain and longing and something else I dare not speak
As he sent shivers through me and made me feel weak
It’s as if he poured everything he felt into that one look
But that precious split-second moment was all it took
I knew it then what he had been trying to say
And in within those three words it became clear as day
Stolen glances, silent study sessions as small as it seemed
With the man who most thought was still unredeemed
I saw another side to him as we worked together as a team
But most importantly, above all, I wanted him to feel seen
“Happy Christmas to you too, Draco,” is what I had said
He responded with a soft smile and a nod of the head
He boarded the Hogwarts Express and too soon departed
But I knew that it was only by distance we parted
Eighth year autumn term was over and done with and he surprised me the most
Whatever the new year brings,
forgiveness, acceptance, understanding
will be first and foremost.