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“Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me. As it does for all, who truly believe.”
Hermione sighed as the credits rolled, snuggling further back into Harry.
“We should make this a tradition,” she mused. “Watch the Polar Express before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.”
Harry hummed. “It would be a nice tradition.”
They watched the credits play for a while and Hermione felt her eyelids grow heavy. She was starting to doze off when Harry shifted behind her with a grunt.
“We should go to bed now.”
“Mhmm,” Hermione agreed, closing her eyes and scooting back more.
“‘Mione, c’mooon, let’s go to bed.”
Hermione grumbled and tugged the blanket up. “Don’t wanna. Warm here.”
“Hermionee...” Harry said exasperatedly. “The movie’s done and it’s getting late. Get up.”
“Don’t wanna,” she repeated. “Too comfy.”
“Miooneee...”
“Let’s just sleep on the couch,” she huffed. “I don’t wanna move.”
“The bed’s comfier. And there are actual pillows, and a nice, thick blanket.”
“Don’t wanna,” she repeated petulantly. “It’s warm here and I’m comfortable.”
“Hermione. Get off the couch, let’s go to bed.”
“Noooo...”
“I’ll make you hot chocolate if you get up.”
Hermione cracked an eye open and craned her head to look at him. “Are you bribing me with hot chocolate?”
“Yes,” Harry said unashamedly. “Peppermint hot chocolate, with the tiny marshmallows.”
“And extra whipped cream?”
Harry rolled his eyes. “Yes, with extra whipped cream.”
“‘Kay. No more than five minutes making it. I need warmth, it’s winter.”
“Five minutes,” Harry agreed, smirking.
Hermione rolled away from him and got to her feet, shivering slightly as she walked down the hall to the bedroom. She wrapped herself in the heavy blanket as she waited - she didn’t have to wait long (they did have magic, after all) before he bumped the door open with his hip, carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. Her eyes immediately picked out the mug with the taller pile of whipped cream, dotted with tiny peppermint flakes, and she brightened.
“You did get the marshmallows, right?”
“ Yes , ‘Mione, settle back, I don’t want to spill these on the sheets, they’ll stain.”
He set the mugs carefully on the nightstand and Hermione waited impatiently for him to settle himself under the covers before leaning over him and snatching her mug. She cradled it delicately, inhaling the sweet smell. She took a small sip of the drink and let out a little moan of contentment.
“You’re a godsend, Harry, truly.”
“I know,” he said smugly, taking a drink from his own mug.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“Prat,” she huffed.
“Love you too,” he said, grinning shamelessly as he leaned over to flick a bit of whipped cream off of her nose.
Hermione grinned back and made a show of slurping up the rest of the cream, making sure to get some more on her nose. Harry accepted the challenge cheerfully and leaned over again, this time kissing the tip of her nose after swiping off the cream. She giggled and took another drink, eyes widening as she peered into the mug.
“You gave me extra marshmallows too!”
“I promised, didn’t I?”
“Hmmm… you didn’t, actually, just extra whipped cream.”
“Ah, well, accept the extra marshmallows as a token of my utter love and devotion to you,” Harry sighed dramatically. “Only the best fluffy goodness for my lady.”
Hermione scoffed and nudged his shoulder. “Prat.”
“You love me anyways.”
Hermione pretended to think about it. “Only for the heavenly cooking. That’s the only reason I’m still keeping you around.”
“ Now who’s the prat?” Harry demanded, feigning hurt.
Hermione chuckled. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”