The Reason for the Season
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
9
Views:
15,082
Reviews:
66
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female › Draco/Hermione
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
9
Views:
15,082
Reviews:
66
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I own nothing HP related and I make no money from this, I just like to meddle with my fav. Characters :)
The Reason for the Season
The Reason for the Season:
Chapter One: You Don't Have To Be Alone
Hermione had just checked off a decent amount of items on her Christmas shopping list. It was the first of December, the first day of her favorite season. Even during the war, the importance of this time of the year was never forgotten amongst the fighting and darkness.
She had a lot to do before the 25th, but she was happy to be so busy. It helped keep her mind off the nagging voice that reminded her that she would be alone on Christmas and New Years, again.
She knew she had no reason to be gloomy; she had her beautiful godchildren, a loving family, a fulfilling job and a warm, comfortable home.
‘You have nothing to be sad about,’ she constantly told herself.
She backed her way through the door at the Leaky Cauldron, her arms heavy with gifts and decorations. Her mind was buzzing as she planned the next couple of weeks.
Once the warm air hit her, she sighed, hoping her bones would defrost soon. She shuffled over to her favorite booth; it had a beautiful view of Diagon Ally, sparkling with the new decoration, but was close enough to the fireplace to warm her cold feet.
She unloaded her arms, shucked off her thick cloak, hanging it up on the hook outside the booth, and stretched her abused limbs. Her cream cashmere sweater had kept her warm enough, but her jeans and boots had done little to keep the chill from seeping in.
She slid onto the worn leather bench and gazed out the window and waited for Tom to wander over to take her order. She had not noticed the pair of silver-blue eyes watching her from across the room.
*****************
Draco had been pondering about life. He had left work to have lunch away from the office. His secretary was humming carols and hanging holly all over the place. He had hoped to escape, but the whole bloody Wizarding world seemed to be draped in Christmas cheer.
He sat and tried to remember one happy Christmas from his childhood. He remembered his mother ordering around the elves to get the manor ready for the annual ball. He remembered the piles of presents at the end of his bed on Christmas morning, but breakfast was the usual quiet affair.
Dinner was always immaculate but there was never much festive cheer. He hadn’t really enjoyed the party. His father was usually off making deals and his mother was floating around, the perfect hostess to all her guest.
Things had changed when his father was sentenced to Azkaban. His mother didn’t have to play the perfect wife, so for the three years following his father sentencing, Christmas had been quiet and just the two of them.
They had been the happiest Christmases he could remember, but then his mother fell ill. It had been four years ago yesterday since his mother had died. His father was on house arrest and had chosen to live in one of the holiday homes in Italy, which was fine with Draco. But he had spent the last four Christmas’s alone, minus a short visit from his Godfather and his house elves.
Christmas had held little joy before, but now it wrenched his heart. He sat at the table in the far corner, staring blankly at the menu. Then she entered.
It had been seven long years since the war had ended, and nearly two years since he had seen Hermione Granger in person. She was all he had remembered, but there was something more. She had a glow around her, her smile, which was for nothing and no one in particular, was welcoming.
He hadn’t told a soul, save his mother, that the had fancied the muggle-born witch through most of his years at Hogwarts, and to be honest he had never really let go of his school boy fancy.
He watched her; she talked briefly with Tom who laughed at something she had said. She returned to watching the busy streets, still smiling. Slowing, she turned her head slightly toward the corner. Draco quickly covered his face with his menu, hoping to hide the fact that he had been staring.
************
Hermione felt eyes on her. She turned to look around the room. She noticed a man, sitting in the dark corner, quickly duck behind his menu. If it wasn’t for the shocking blonde hair peeking out from behind the upside down menu, she would never had known the wizard.
Draco Malfoy had been caught.
Hermione couldn’t help but notice how lonely he seemed all the way across the room. He had tucked himself away from the world.
‘No one should be lonely this time of year.’ She thought. She knew he had suffered much, and had kept to himself more often then not. Hermione decided she would take a chance and ask Malfoy to have lunch with her.
He looked up in surprise to see Hermione making her way to him. He watched in utter astonishment when she reached out and plucked the menu from his hands and turned it around so it was now right side up.
“That might make it easier to read.” She said with a smile at the shocked wizard.
“Yes...uh...thank you.” He stuttered.
“It may also be easier where there is a bit more light, would you like to share my booth?” she asked a little worried he would turned her offer down.
“Ah...that would be nice.” Draco said, a little confused himself as the words passed his lips. It was worth it though, just to see her smile at him.
“Excellent!” She said as she reached for his cloak and led him across the room. He couldn’t remember anyone being that happy about his presence before.
****************
Lunch ended up being a two-hour affair. They caught up with each other lives, the conversation flowing easily, which shocked the both of them.
Draco listened as she told about the work she was doing at the War Orphanage. Many children had been left orphaned or their parents were unable to take care of them, having suffered at the hands of the death eaters.
As a healer, she spent time looking after the children, one little girl in particular, Adina, was seven and had not spoken a word in her whole life. She had been a mere few months old when her parents were killed, but she seemed to never make a sound.
Draco explained about taking over the family investments and helping to finance small business owners who had lost everything in the war.
By the time lunch was over, Hermione had invited Draco over for what she called “Cookie Baking Day”. It was, apparently, a tradition on the first Saturday of December. Draco agreed to come. When they parted on the street, he watched her walk away. A genuine smile graced his face for the first time in a long while.
~~~~~~
A/N: Just a cute fic for the holiday season, more to come and all chapter titles will be carols :D
Hope you enjoyed it!
xoxo Sarah
Chapter One: You Don't Have To Be Alone
Hermione had just checked off a decent amount of items on her Christmas shopping list. It was the first of December, the first day of her favorite season. Even during the war, the importance of this time of the year was never forgotten amongst the fighting and darkness.
She had a lot to do before the 25th, but she was happy to be so busy. It helped keep her mind off the nagging voice that reminded her that she would be alone on Christmas and New Years, again.
She knew she had no reason to be gloomy; she had her beautiful godchildren, a loving family, a fulfilling job and a warm, comfortable home.
‘You have nothing to be sad about,’ she constantly told herself.
She backed her way through the door at the Leaky Cauldron, her arms heavy with gifts and decorations. Her mind was buzzing as she planned the next couple of weeks.
Once the warm air hit her, she sighed, hoping her bones would defrost soon. She shuffled over to her favorite booth; it had a beautiful view of Diagon Ally, sparkling with the new decoration, but was close enough to the fireplace to warm her cold feet.
She unloaded her arms, shucked off her thick cloak, hanging it up on the hook outside the booth, and stretched her abused limbs. Her cream cashmere sweater had kept her warm enough, but her jeans and boots had done little to keep the chill from seeping in.
She slid onto the worn leather bench and gazed out the window and waited for Tom to wander over to take her order. She had not noticed the pair of silver-blue eyes watching her from across the room.
*****************
Draco had been pondering about life. He had left work to have lunch away from the office. His secretary was humming carols and hanging holly all over the place. He had hoped to escape, but the whole bloody Wizarding world seemed to be draped in Christmas cheer.
He sat and tried to remember one happy Christmas from his childhood. He remembered his mother ordering around the elves to get the manor ready for the annual ball. He remembered the piles of presents at the end of his bed on Christmas morning, but breakfast was the usual quiet affair.
Dinner was always immaculate but there was never much festive cheer. He hadn’t really enjoyed the party. His father was usually off making deals and his mother was floating around, the perfect hostess to all her guest.
Things had changed when his father was sentenced to Azkaban. His mother didn’t have to play the perfect wife, so for the three years following his father sentencing, Christmas had been quiet and just the two of them.
They had been the happiest Christmases he could remember, but then his mother fell ill. It had been four years ago yesterday since his mother had died. His father was on house arrest and had chosen to live in one of the holiday homes in Italy, which was fine with Draco. But he had spent the last four Christmas’s alone, minus a short visit from his Godfather and his house elves.
Christmas had held little joy before, but now it wrenched his heart. He sat at the table in the far corner, staring blankly at the menu. Then she entered.
It had been seven long years since the war had ended, and nearly two years since he had seen Hermione Granger in person. She was all he had remembered, but there was something more. She had a glow around her, her smile, which was for nothing and no one in particular, was welcoming.
He hadn’t told a soul, save his mother, that the had fancied the muggle-born witch through most of his years at Hogwarts, and to be honest he had never really let go of his school boy fancy.
He watched her; she talked briefly with Tom who laughed at something she had said. She returned to watching the busy streets, still smiling. Slowing, she turned her head slightly toward the corner. Draco quickly covered his face with his menu, hoping to hide the fact that he had been staring.
************
Hermione felt eyes on her. She turned to look around the room. She noticed a man, sitting in the dark corner, quickly duck behind his menu. If it wasn’t for the shocking blonde hair peeking out from behind the upside down menu, she would never had known the wizard.
Draco Malfoy had been caught.
Hermione couldn’t help but notice how lonely he seemed all the way across the room. He had tucked himself away from the world.
‘No one should be lonely this time of year.’ She thought. She knew he had suffered much, and had kept to himself more often then not. Hermione decided she would take a chance and ask Malfoy to have lunch with her.
He looked up in surprise to see Hermione making her way to him. He watched in utter astonishment when she reached out and plucked the menu from his hands and turned it around so it was now right side up.
“That might make it easier to read.” She said with a smile at the shocked wizard.
“Yes...uh...thank you.” He stuttered.
“It may also be easier where there is a bit more light, would you like to share my booth?” she asked a little worried he would turned her offer down.
“Ah...that would be nice.” Draco said, a little confused himself as the words passed his lips. It was worth it though, just to see her smile at him.
“Excellent!” She said as she reached for his cloak and led him across the room. He couldn’t remember anyone being that happy about his presence before.
****************
Lunch ended up being a two-hour affair. They caught up with each other lives, the conversation flowing easily, which shocked the both of them.
Draco listened as she told about the work she was doing at the War Orphanage. Many children had been left orphaned or their parents were unable to take care of them, having suffered at the hands of the death eaters.
As a healer, she spent time looking after the children, one little girl in particular, Adina, was seven and had not spoken a word in her whole life. She had been a mere few months old when her parents were killed, but she seemed to never make a sound.
Draco explained about taking over the family investments and helping to finance small business owners who had lost everything in the war.
By the time lunch was over, Hermione had invited Draco over for what she called “Cookie Baking Day”. It was, apparently, a tradition on the first Saturday of December. Draco agreed to come. When they parted on the street, he watched her walk away. A genuine smile graced his face for the first time in a long while.
~~~~~~
A/N: Just a cute fic for the holiday season, more to come and all chapter titles will be carols :D
Hope you enjoyed it!
xoxo Sarah