New Beginnings

Taste of Home

Hermione went to bed early that night. When she emerged Sunday morning, her eyes red and swollen, she found the apartment transformed.

Christmas lights crisscrossed the ceiling, with delicately carved snowflakes hanging from them. Reindeer-patterned blankets and squishy polar bear pillows covered the sofa. Green and gold tinsel adorned every surface, wrapped around the chair legs and draped across the front of the breakfast bar.

Draco was snoring on the sofa, glitter on his cheeks and pieces of tinsel in his hair. His arm was loosely slung over a giant snowman cushion. Hermione smiled, watching the way the sunlight played across his face.

A frown creased his forehead, and Draco started thrashing in his sleep. The snowman tumbled to the floor as a whimper escaped his lips. Hermione gently shook his arm, his skin clammy under her hand.

'No,' he groaned. 'Don't...'

'Hey,' Hermione shook him again. 'Wake up, it's ok.'

Draco sat up, suddenly. Hermione lurched backwards, tripping over a new red rug. His hand shot out and caught her, his eyes wild and breathing ragged.

'You ok?'

'Yeah,' he gasped. 'Just a bad dream.'

'Did you do all this?' Hermione gestured around room.

'Oh. Yeah,' Draco's ears turned a pale pink. 'Go big or go home, right?'

'It looks great. I love it!'

'Thanks. Um, I'm gonna go shower.'

'I'll make breakfast. And Draco?'

'Yeah?' He paused, hand on his door.

'Thanks.'

*****

'You got any plans for today?' Draco asked, buttering his toast.

'I was thinking of going to the cinema then out for lunch. What to come along?'

'Sure. What's a cinema?'

*****

The speakers rose to a crescendo, the sound rumbling through them. Draco jumped, spilling some popcorn onto the sticky floor. His eyes grew wide, lit up by the giant screen.

'It's just like watching a DVD back home, only...a lot bigger!' Hermione laughed, patting his arm.

Draco nodded dumbly, his fingers clutching the worn armrest. Hermione shoved a fistful of popcorn into his open mouth, giggling mischievously.

'Don't forget to put these on,' she grinned, handing him a pair of 3D glasses.

'Why do I need these again?'

'You'll see,' she smiled mysteriously, moving the popcorn to the safety of her own lap.

*****

Draco ducked as a 3D object spun out from the screen. He instinctively reached for his wand, which Hermione quickly confiscated.

'What magic is this?!' He hissed, his eyes not leaving the screen.

'Science!'

*****

Draco squinted as they stepped out into the street.