¿Mixed Chemistry?

Chapter

The correspondence between the two former adversaries continued. Draco couldn’t wait to get his daily Ministry mail. He looked for the familiar penmanship that he could pick out anywhere. He was getting used to Hermione’s muggle repartee, although he was still trying to figure out some of the muggle sayings she used.

It was the Christmas holidays. The first semester term came to a feverish close. Even with that, Hermione was able to keep up with the post with Draco.

Dear Draco,
Happy holidays! Hope this letter finds you in good spirits. The first academic term has finally ended. Juan and I have survived.
The twins are really excited about going up to the Potters for Christmas Eve.

She paused, biting on the end of her gel pen. Harry had told her that he had invited Draco and his girlfriend Roxanne to their annual Christmas Eve festivities.

. . . Juan can’t make it; as much as he wanted to spend some time up in England, he has to cater to familial obligations. Anyways,

Hermione hesitated again. Harry hadn’t mentioned whether or not Draco had accepted his invitation. She chewed on her lower lip before putting her pen again to the parchment:

hope to see you there.
Love,
Your friend Hermione

She folded the parchment and placed it into an envelope. She placed the pre-addressed envelope into the outgoing mail in the school’s office before leaving for the winter holidays. She nodded at the school secretary who had wished her a “happy holidays.”

* * *

“Look, Draco, I’m not going to the Potters,” she wrinkled her nose at the mention of the half blood, “Especially on Christmas Eve.”

Draco shoved his hands into the pockets of his grey Versace suit. He looked into Roxanne’s eyes as she ran her hand over his chest. “Besides,” the blonde haired model said kissing her boyfriend on the mouth, “we have your parents’ party at the manor.”

“Still, Harry was gracious enough to invite us,” Draco said placing his palm over her hand.

She pulled her hand out with a huff as she headed out of her bedroom. “Then you go,” she said looking back at him.

“Roxanne,” he said, as she pulled out her wand, ready to apparate. “I’ll meet you at the manor.”

She rolled her eyes at him and then disappeared with a crack. He shut his eyes for a moment. Happy Christmas to you, too, he thought to himself. He blew out his breath as he tapped his trouser pocket. He removed his wand from his jacket pocket, concentrated on the Potter residence, and then apparated as well.

* * *

“You made it,” Harry said welcoming his guest. “Where’s Roxanne?”

“Uh, she couldn’t make it,” Draco said as Harry patted him on his back.

“Well, everybody’s already here,” Harry said. “The appetizers are pretty good. Wouldn’t want to spoil your dinner at the Manor.”

“Ha ha very funny, Harry,” he smiled at his scarred friend.

“Come on,” the bespectacled young man ushered him in as the guests welcomed him. Harry’s boy grabbed a hold of the blonde wizard’s leg as the two-year old boy from Spain did the same with his other leg. He just smiled at the older guests and shrugged. It was a nice feeling of family, Draco thought as he returned the smile of the dark brown haired mother of twins that stood next to the fireplace.

Mrs. Weasley kissed the young man on the cheek as she brought in the turkey from the kitchen. “Dinner is served,” the Weasley matron said smiling.

The guests clapped. They made their way to the dinner table. “You know, you don’t have to eat any of ma’s homemade dinner,” Harry baited Draco.

Draco just mussed up Harry’s hair as the guests took their seats around the table. Hermione had settled the kids into seats around the “kiddie” table with the help of Harry and Draco. Harry took his seat next to Ginny. The only two available seats left were right next to each other. Draco took a deep breath. He smiled at Hermione as he pulled her chair out for her. She smiled at him as she took her seat. Harry and Ginny hid smiles.

After dinner, the kids gathered around the Christmas tree while the adults chatted. Draco hung on Hermione’s every word the whole night. It was a quarter of nine when Harry suggested they sort out the presents. Ginny nodded.

“It’s a bit early, don’t you think, Harry?” Draco said as Reyna slipped her hand into one of his palms. Draco took in a breath.

“Aw come on, Draco,” Harry said as he pulled his daughter Gwen onto his lap. “We wouldn’t want you to miss the rest of the festivities at Malfoy Manor.”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” Draco said, flushing a little. He pulled the small red bag out of his trouser pocket and knelt down on one knee as he placed it onto the floor. With a flick of his wand, the small velvet bag grew larger and larger. He smiled. The other guests clapped.

“Look, Mommy,” Manny said pointing, “Como Santa.”

She kissed the young man on the top of his head. “Yes, dear, just like Santa,” she said looking at Draco as a smile crept onto her lips.

Draco doled out all the presents that were in the sack. He had pulled out gift baskets for the adults. Each of the four children present received a toy.

“Wow, Mommy, look a gold ball,” Manny said, showing the ball to his mother.

“It’s a replica snitch,” Draco said with a grin. “He can practice. He could be the next best seeker, right Harry.”

The shy brown haired girl hugged the smallish brown stuffed bear. She smiled her thank you to the blonde wizard. He smiled back.

The rest of the presents were exchanged. Harry and Ginny made a pile for Hermione to bring home. Harry did the same for Draco as he placed his presents into the bag that enlarged earlier.

The grandfather clock signaled the 9 o’clock hour. Draco sighed. Harry handed over the bag with a shrug. “I guess I should be heading home,” Draco said looking directly at Hermione. He took another breath. He turned to Molly Weasley, kissed her on the cheek and then shook Arthur Weasley’s hand before taking his leave.

“Looks like it’s an early night for me,” Draco said as he shrunk the red bag and replaced it into his pocket.

“Okay, kids,” Hermione said. “Let’s hug Mr. Malfoy goodbye and wish him a Happy Christmas.”

The four little children almost gang tackled the blonde wizard to the ground. The adults began to laugh. Draco just smiled up at the brown haired instigator. Hermione smiled back at him.

“I’ll walk with you to the foyer,” Hermione said after Draco could untangle himself from the four children. He nodded.

Draco followed her so closely that when she turned she bumped into his chest almost dropping the plainly wrapped present in her hand. Draco placed his hands around her waist to keep her balance. She took in a breath.

“I got you something,” she said as she gave him the package.

Draco lifted his eyebrows. He smiled at her as he was about to open the gift.

He felt her fingers on his hands. “You should go,” Hermione said. “You’ll probably make the dessert course.”

He nodded. He placed the small thin package into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Happy Christmas, Hermione,” he said as he squeezed her hand, fighting the urge to kiss her goodbye. With that, he nodded to her and then vanished with a pop.

* * *

Draco had reached the Manor in time for the chef elf’s famous chocolate cake. He smiled to himself. She was right.

The festivities at the Malfoy Manor were far more formal than that of the party he had just left. He wished he were back at the Potters’ residence. Roxanne had given him the evil eye the whole night; obviously, she was upset at him electing to attend a party thrown by the boy-who-lived rather than to be at her side at his own mother’s annual Christmas Eve party.

He had mingled for two hours at Roxanne’s side. There was no real conversation to which he paid any attention. All he did was nod and smile. He took one last sip from his wine glass as the party started to dwindle down. He kissed his girlfriend’s cheek, whispering that he was going to turn in into her ear. She nodded at him. She continued her conversation with the other couple as he left the poor souls to listen to her.

He headed up to his room as the clock struck a quarter of twelve. He pulled out the small red bag and enlarged it again. He pulled out all the presents as he sat on his bed, removing his tie. He hadn’t been so happy opening Christmas presents since he was a child.

He smiled as he opened his gifts. Harry and Ginny had gotten him a muggle MP3 player that he had seen Harry use at the office. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had given him an emerald green knitted sweater that fit him quite nicely. He lay back onto his bed as his eyes started to close. It had been a long day. He touched his hands to his chest.

He felt the outline of the thin box. He sat straight up. Hermione’s present, he said to himself as he pulled out the plainly wrapped gift. He slapped his forehead as he also removed the small box in his trouser pocket.

He unwrapped the thin box and smiled. He pulled out the dark green silk tie that Hermione had given him and then looked at the beautiful tiepin. He stood up and walked to his mirror. He quickly pulled the tie around his neck and tied it. He smiled at the half ass job. He clipped the tiepin to the tie and his shirt. He sighed.

He looked back at his bed at the red jewelry box. He opened it up and looked at its contents. He quickly closed the box, grabbed his wand and then apparated.

* * *

Hermione repositioned the small brown stuffed bear under her daughter’s arm. She kissed both her sleeping children on the forehead before turning off the lights and heading out into the living room.

She had quickly shrugged out of her evening gown and into her Yankee jersey and shorts even before getting the kids ready for bed. They had left the Potter residence an hour before midnight and two hours after Draco had left for the party at Malfoy Manor.

She yawned as she entered the candle lit living room. She gasped as the figure turned.

“The cookies are quite nice,” the blonde wizard said as he dusted his fingers after finishing off one of the home baked chocolate chip cookies. “I’d probably stay away from the milk, though. It looks as if it’s starting to curdle.”

She laughed as he closed the distance between the two of them. “What are you doing here?” she asked, unconsciously crossing her arms over her chest.

“I was in the neighborhood,” he smiled at her.

She touched the corner of his mouth, brushing away cookie crumbs. She took in a sharp breath quickly pulling her hand away from his face.

If the candle light had been a bit brighter, Draco would have noticed her turning rather crimson. Hermione finally regained her composure. “I hope you weren’t as messy at your mum and dad’s tonight.”

He laughed. “You were right. I did make Krank’s dessert course.”

They both laughed. It was Draco’s turn to touch her face, pushing aside a strand of hair from her eyes. He watched her take a deep breath.

“So, why are you really here?” she asked again softly.

“I, um,” it was Draco’s turn to flush, “I forgot to give you your present earlier.”

He opened up the jewelry box and pulled out the locket. He handed her the piece. He held his breath.

He uttered the lighting spell lumos. The room brightened a little. He took another breath as he watched her turn the titanium locket hanging from the thin sterling silver rope chain.

It was as if he held that breath for a long time. He finally saw the corners of her mouth turn upward into a smile.

“It’s beautiful, Draco,” she said admiring the intricate designs around the edges of the pendant. She ran a finger over the inscription, reading it silently to herself:

To my Gryffindor Lioness
From your Slytherin Prat

She smiled up at him again. He took another gulp of air. “You’re not that much of a prat, anymore, Draco.”

She unclasped the chain and turned her back to him. “Do you mind?” she asked, turning her head back at him and holding up the ends of the chain.

“Not at all,” he said, a little hesitantly. He grasped both ends of the chain as Hermione lifted her hair, exposing the back of her neck. He breathed in. Usually sure handed, Draco took two tries to join the clasp before laying it gently against the back of her neck. He shut his eyes, imagining himself kissing the spot where her neck met her shoulder. He took in another breath as she allowed her hair to fall back onto her shoulders and onto Draco’s fingers.

“Thanks,” she said as she turned to face him.

“Uh, yeah,” he stammered. He made a motion to touch the locket and then quickly pulled his hand back. She took in a breath. He took a breath, himself, “It opens up.”

She pried the locket open. She nodded at him verifying what he had said.

“It’s empty,” he said, stating the obvious. “I figured you could put your own pictures in there.

“I mean, whatever photos you want . . . in there,” he said pointing down at the locket. His usual pallid face was turning a shade of pink as she smiled up at him. She closed the locket.

“The old Draco would have placed a picture of himself in there, maybe when he won the House Quidditch Cup during our 7th year,” he smirked at her.

All she did was smile back, which disarmed him slightly. “Well, I’m glad you’re not the old Draco,” she said, straightening the familiar forest green tie.

“I figured I’d try it on,” he said looking down at her hands.

The clock in the downtown square struck twelve midnight. She slowly let go of his tie. She looked up at him. She fidgeted with the locket.

“It’s getting late, Draco,” she said as she took a step back. “Christmas is here.”

He breathed in. He looked into her eyes that seemed to tell him she wanted him to stay. He gulped. He, himself wanted to as well. She took another step back. “Wish your parents . . . and Roxanne a ‘Happy Christmas’ for me, will you, Draco,” she said softly, not being able to look into his eyes.

He himself looked down averting her eyesight as well. It was his cue to leave. He took out his wand to apparate. “Happy Christmas, Hermione,” he said leaning in to her. He gently kissed her cheek. She held her breath. She watched him apparate.

She walked slowly over to the desk as she nervously bit her lower lip. She sighed. She snuffed out all the candles with a wave of her wand before going to sleep on the floor in her bedroom between the two sleeping children.