Christmas carols are not for the vigilant ones (1)

I had mixed emotions when standing in front of the Malfoy manor since the last time I was here, I didn't have a particularly good experience. But here I was, trying to shrug off the bad memories and move on with my life as the lover of the boy who hated me for over 7 years.

Not that I said it out loud, it sounded nothing but absurd. To which, I shook my head and smiled sarcastically.

When the cold, bone penetrating wind blew, I finally put the hood on my thick winter jacket up and knocked. It was surprising how the gate was open, and I was free to walk in. Something changed about this place, it was quieter than I remembered as the infrastructure stood in solidarity and buried within the dead silence.

I heard the sound of footsteps coming from the other side of the door and my nervousness began to rise. This was the first time in a long while that I got to meet Malfoy outside school, outside the comfort zone that I had learned to know. It was strange and felt as if something had just become real, yet I couldn't tell what it was.

What I didn't expect was, all my anxiety and worries faded the moment I saw him. He was standing there, in his casual clothes with his pale blonde hair tousled, in a way I had never seen him before. It was hard to describe how I felt, but all I could say was that he felt real.

Most of the past years, I had only seen him in school, under the light where he was projected as a villain, where our roles were defined by others' perceptions and trapped in the confined space of the castle.

And at this moment when I saw him, I felt free. Free from the world, free from prejudices and it was only us that mattered.

"Hey," He greeted me with a smile as he slightly turned away to let me in, "How was your trip?"

"Not too bad," I smiled back and shrugged, "You know how I don't think I'll ever come to love apparition."

"All I can say is that you'll be just fine," He gently patted on my back before closing the door, "Welcome to my house."

"Thank you?" I curled my lips, trying to hold back my smile, 'Why do you sound so formal all of a sudden?"

"Well," He took over my jack from me, "Though I don't like to think about, I have to take into account that last time you were here, you didn't really have a pleasant time."

"Didn't really have a pleasant time?" I laughed dryly, "That sure is a way to put it."

"And that's why I'd like to thank you for joining me on Christmas eve here," He said sincerely as he showed me the way to the living area.

"No problem," I said quietly as I followed him, "I'd love to spend some quality time with you."

He stopped, turned around and squinted. Then a cunning smile climbed on his thin lips as he pulled me close to him and wrapped his arms around me, which caught me off guard.

"How sly, Hermione," He whispered into my ears, "You and your little mind tricks."

"I have no idea what you are on about," I blushed, but didn't push him away, "I'm not playing any tricks. I'm simply just stating how I feel."

"Sure, if you say so," He kissed me on the cheek and pulled away, looking into my eyes with a grin.

That was when I know, this grey-eyed devil could read my mind better than I could.

Sitting next to the fireplace after the sun went down, we resorted to talking as if we were on the observatory. Only instead of the breeze, it was the warm fire with the crackling sound of the burning firewood. For the past week, I had been wondering how I fell in love with Malfoy, and now it started to come clearer and clearer as time went on.

Did he change? I wasn't sure. But what I knew, was that out of some kind of miracle, we both decided to open our hearts to each other.

"Are you still going to Weasley's place?" He asked in dismay.

"Yes, and don't sound so annoyed," I laughed, "You can at least try to stop hating them."

"Well, I suppose I can give the girl a pass, but Ron Weasley," He crossed his arms, "Even if I manage to let go of the years of grudge we had towards each other, I certainly cannot simply forgive how he's been treating you."

"I must say, Malfoy," I moved closer to him, "It's still kind of hard for me to get my head wrap around the fact that you are nice to me now."

"You are still going to call me Malfoy after everything that's happened?" He rose his eyebrow.

"Oh dear," I smiled and moved even closer to him before I kissed him, "Now, Draco, would you come to Ginny's place with me?"