poison ✞ dramione

part forty one

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it was christmas day and hermione woke in high spirits. she threw the blanket off of her, she threw on the jumper mrs weasley made for her and proceeded to wake ginny up.

"waz happenin'?" ginny grumbled, wiping at her brown eyes. "who disappeared?"

hermione rolled her eyes. "wake up, you little shit! it's christmas!"

ginny's eyes widened. "oh fuck," she muttered, jumping out of bed. "mums going to kill me, 'mione."

hermione cringed at the nickname but ginny didn't notice. "stop being so dramatic, gin. it doesn't suit you."

"suits draco though," ginny joked, pulling her own jumper on.

as ginny pulled her red hair back into a ponytail, hermione scoffed. "draco's so dramatic he'd make a paper cut seem like a fatal stab wound."

ginny chuckled, nodding along. "how's he spending christmas, anyway?"

hermione shrugged, picking at a loose thread on ginny's thick quilt. "alone, probably. he had to go back to the manor so it'd be easier for kings to watch him."

ginny nodded slowly, pulling hermione off her bed. "i feel bad for him. why didn't you invite draco over?"

hermione raised an eyebrow at ginny in disbelief. "are you seriously asking why? i did tell you about my talk with bill right?"

ginny winced, nodding. "yes, i remember. i just—pansy is on holiday with daph and her sister and theo is visiting family in ireland. draco has no one."

"he has a pet tiger," hermione said offhandedly as they both descended the stairs carefully. "her names sierra."

ginny gasped. "no fucking way."

hermione nodded. "she's an albino tiger."

"who's an albino tiger?" ron cut in, smiling warmly at his best friend and sister.

hermione smiled and hugged him. ron has gotten significantly better and dealing with freds' death was much easier now. he wasn't going to return to hogwarts though.

"don't you worry about that," hermione told him, pulling away. "and merry christmas!"

"merry christmas to you too," ron replied, turning to ginny. he hugged her and whispered the same message into her ear.

after celebrations, breakfast and present-openings, it was twelve and hermione was turning a small silver and green box in her hand.

"what's that?" ron asked, joining her on the small settee.

hermione smiled and held it up for him to see. "a present i still have to deliver."

"oh? for who?" ron asked, taking the small box out of her hand.

"be careful," hermione said, taking the box out of ron's hands. "and it doesn't matter who it's for. i'm just wondering if i should send it off in the owl post or deliver it in person."

ron paused. "it's for malfoy, isn't it?"

hermione froze. "how'd you know?"

ron chuckled at her question. "harry told me," he admitted. "and i completely understand why you didn't tell me but from what i've heard, the snake isn't so bad."

"what have you heard?" hermione asked cautiously, sliding the box into her pocket.

ron's smile turned sad. "enough," he murmured, eyes so soft hermione didn't need him to confirm it. he knew about draco's dad. harry told him. "and that he makes great pancakes."