#HPNYEkissyface

[dresupi]

too much talking

Pairing:  Draco Malfoy/Hermione Granger For:  @naarna Prompt:  January 5 -  Kiss where we forget we're in public Rating:  T Word Count:  1028

[Ao3 Link]

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Hermione fanned herself with her napkin, trying to think of a way to escape what had amounted to one of the most awkward weddings of both the current year and the next.  Whoever thought it wise to advise Lavender Weasley nee Brown that a New Year's Eve wedding followed by an midnight reception, was certainly having a laugh now.  

Everyone was drunk or drinking.  Well, except Hermione.  Not for lack of trying, mind you.  She just hadn't been able to get to the bar yet.  Except maybe not the bottomless champagne flutes.  Champagne did things to her head.

She sighed heavily and looked around for Harry and Ginny, spotting them back at the head table.  The latter was asleep in her cake, and the former was trying to stay awake.  

It was only just nearing midnight and they'd all been in the reception hall for nearly an hour with no end in sight.  

The bride and groom were attempting to find the bottom of those bottomless champagne flutes, as were a number of their guests.  

Hermione wondered if it would be considered rude to leave before midnight.  She had a number of things she'd rather be doing.  

Such as sleeping.  

But with another long sigh, she stayed put.  Ron was her friend.  This was his wedding. And even though she hadn't been invited to the ceremony, only the reception, she knew he wanted her here.  

Champagne might not be such a horrible idea, now that she was thinking about it.  It wouldn't be so terrible to ring in the new year as a sad singleton at her ex-boyfriend's wedding if she had a hearty champagne buzz to take the edge off.  

But there was a rather large group of people around the bar.  She'd have to elbow her way through and likely talk to someone about this thing or another.  And the only people she really wanted to talk to were Ginny and Harry.  

She was just about to rise from her chair and walk up to the head table to do just that when someone tapped her shoulder.  

"Drink, Granger?  You look like you could use one."  

She looked to the owner of the very familiar voice and smiled.  "You have no idea, Malfoy."  

She accepted his offering of one of the self-refilling champagne flutes and settled in for a bit, gesturing to the chair on her left.  

He picked up the place setting, frowning at the name on it before discreetly changing it to his own.  

"Wow.  The bride really didn't want you here, did she?"  He asked, chuckling.  "I don't even know whose name I just erased."  

"They haven't shown up, you needn't have bothered."  

"Eh…" he shrugged, taking a sip from his glass.  "I'm already settled.  I don't want to be forced to leave."  

"I doubt anyone could really force you to do anything."  

"I wouldn't want to make a scene at a Weasley wedding.  I might not be invited to any of the others."  He smirked.  "I couldn't stand it if I were cut out of half of next year's social engagements."  

Hermione sniffed, trying to hide a laugh.  There were an awful lot of Weasley weddings to attend in the year forthcoming.  Ginny and Harry's was fast approaching.  As were George's and Percy's.  

"Where is your date?" she asked. "I thought I saw you come in with Pansy Parkinson?"  

"I arrived with her. She's not my date."  

"You understand my confusion, surely."  

He smiled thoughtfully.  "I thought I'd simply go stag."  

"Ah yes.  A noble thing for a man, a sad thing for a woman."  

"Lamenting the one the got away, Granger?" Draco looked over at the happy couple and Hermione shook her head.  

"Hardly.  Just wondering just how tipsy I can get before midnight."  

"Well, there are only about a couple or so minutes until midnight.  Even with a refillable champagne flute, that's a mighty goal indeed."  

"All is lost, then…" she said, laughing a bit.  "I'm doomed to be a sad singleton for yet another year."  

"I'm not sure how drinking would have helped you in that endeavor, but yes.  It appears that way."  

"If I were drunk, I wouldn't care about my single status, you see."  

"Ah…Well.  There is always the obvious option that both of us are skirting around…"  

"You could kiss me at midnight?" Hermione asked.  

He made a face.  "What?  No.  I thought we could simply leave and shag each other rotten in every room of your flat."  

She rolled her eyes.  "Maybe later."  

"Fine.  I suppose if shagging is off the table, I could kiss you."    

"Never said shagging was off the table.  In fact, if it was on the table, I'd be up for it."  

"This table?  I think that goes against my desire to not make a scene at a Weasley wedding, but if you're up for it…"  

Rolling her eyes, she made to stand.  The countdown till midnight was beginning.  

Draco slid his arm around her waist, swiftly pulling her into his arms.  "Not so fast, Granger.  I believe there was talk of a kiss?"  

"I believe there's been enough talk of a kiss…" she murmured.  "Too much talk." 

He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.  It was firm yet soft, just how she preferred to be kissed.  It would only figure that Draco Malfoy was the one to get it right.  

She made a small sound in her throat that she'd deny making later, but for now, she didn't mind, because he was holding her so tightly and kissing her just so.

Winding her arms around his neck she relaxed into his embrace, not stopping even when everyone around them started yelling 'Happy New Year!'  

She didn't even mind when Draco's hand slid down to squeeze her arse, but it certainly seemed to snap him out of it.  He ended the kiss abruptly.  

"Bloody hell, Granger…" he murmured brusquely, straightening up and righting her as well.  "You'd drive a man insane, kissing like that in public."  

She snickered just a little, reaching for his hand and leading him out of the ballroom.  "Just imagine how I kiss in private."  

[dresupi]

settle down inside my love

Pairing:  Bill Weasley/Hermione Granger For:  @phoenix-173 Prompt:  December 30 -  "Kiss me so my ex thinks I’ve moved on..." Rating:  T Word Count:  1236 [Ao3 Link]

Other Tags:  Past Relationship(s), Past Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Past Hermione Granger/Viktor Krum - Freeform, Past Bill Weasley/Fleur Delacour - Freeform, Minor Harry Potter/Ginny Weasley, Minor Fleur Delacour/Viktor Krum, Minor Lavender Brown/Ron Weasley, Not Epilogue Compliant, Fake/Pretend Relationship, New Year's Eve, New Year's Kiss, Kissing, Fade to Black, Implied Sexual Content, Flirting, Banter, Snark

Hermione's evening was only getting worse as the clock ticked closer to midnight.  And it wasn't exactly something she was going to record in the annals of smashing evenings to begin with.    

To start, she'd come alone to Ginny and Harry's New Year's Eve party.  While this wasn't new territory she was treading upon, it was made all the worse because Ron was there as well, with Lavender. And while she certainly didn't begrudge her friend for moving on from their failed relationship, it stung just a little more when she was so very alone.

Ginny told her it was a normal reaction, but that didn't make her feel any better.

She was just getting used to the idea that she was to be the singleton in her group of friends, but then there was a flutter of activity and a whisper of hushed voices as Fleur Delacour arrived.  Or made her entrance, Hermione supposed she should say. Fleur wasn't the type to simply 'arrive'.  This time, she made her entrance on the arm of Viktor Krum, no less.  

Two of her exes in one night.  Both sporting lovely arm candy and looking so much more like they'd moved on than she did.  

She certainly wasn't  harbouring any lingering feelings or resentment for either Ron or Viktor… but it would have been nice to have a man to hang off of.  

She'd spent the last few years getting her bearings in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.  And while one couldn't exactly bring their career to a New Year's Eve party, she didn't regret any of the decisions had had gotten her here. 

Still, though.

She reached for her glass of wine, taking a longer sip than was strictly necessary and gulping it down.  

"I'll refresh that for you…" a low voice said.  She looked up into the deep blue eyes of Bill Weasley and suddenly realized that there was at least one person in this room knew what she was going through.  

"Hello, Bill…" she said, handing over her glass as he summoned more wine with a flick of his wand.  "How are things?"  

"About as well as yours are, I'd assume…" he said, nodding towards Krum and Fleur.  "Fancy granting me a truly depressing favor?"  

"Anything for you," she replied.  

"Pretend to be my companion for the evening… just until Fleur and Krum leave?  I was the one who ended things, but I don't think I could stomach any of her 'pauvre Beel' nonsense tonight…"  

Hermione met his gaze and nodded once.  "Only if you'll grant me the same safety net. I've two former paramours here, you see."  

He sniffed out a short laugh.  "One of whom is my brother.  This plan is already falling apart… wouldn't he have noticed we weren't together before tonight?"  

Hermione shot him a look and they both laughed.  The odds of Ron noticing anything like that were slim to none.  She and Bill could have been snogging three feet from Ron and he wouldn't have noticed a thing.  The only one who would notice and was in attendance tonight was Ginny.  And she was smooth as silk.  She'd roll with whatever punches were thrown her way.  Worry wasn't even a blip in Hermione's mind.  

Bill's hand reached over to cover hers.  "Midnight's only a few minutes away, you won't mind kissing me, will you?"  He ran his hand over his face, smirking slightly.  "The facial hair is a bit daunting, I'm told.  

Hermione actually fancied facial hair on a man, but felt it wasn't prudent to share that little bit of information with him at that precise moment.  Instead, she shrugged.  "I'm sure I'll manage.  Not my first snog, Bill."  

"We're snogging now?  I thought it was a single kiss?"  

"We have to snog if we're going to sell this story," Hermione reminded him.  

"Ah.  Yes.  I understand completely.  Snogging sounds lovely, anyway."  He laced his fingers with hers and squeezed her hand, coughing slightly.  

She looked up just in time to smile at Viktor and Fleur as they approached them. 

"Hello there…" she said warmly, tugging Bill's hand behind her until he rested it on the small of her back.  "Fancy seeing the two of you here!"  

She accepted a small hug and cheek kiss from Fleur.  And Viktor of course kissed her hand in greeting.  

She and Bill slipped into the personae of two people in a fledgling relationship.  It wasn't all acting on her part.  Standing this close to Bill and resting her head on his shoulder and whatnot was a relatively new development in their otherwise platonic relationship.  

"You do not mind if we remain here to toast the new year with you?" Viktor asked, holding his mug of ale up to mime a toast.  

"Not at all," Hermione replied.  

Bill pulled her closer as the countdown began, raising his eyebrows once to indicate that the moment was upon them. She appreciated the warning, but he really needn't have bothered.  

"Still time to back out, 'Mione…" he whispered in her ear.  

She shook her head.  "I would never back out on you, Bill."  

A chorus of 'Happy New Year's' rang out around them and she stepped that much closer to him.  He tilted his head down, his hand moving through her curls and catching a bit in one of the more unruly ones.  

"Sorry…" she mumbled.  She really should have taken the time to put her hair up.  Or at least braid it.

He chuckled in response. "I adore your hair, Hermione…" he murmured just before his lips touched hers.  

It was softer than she'd been expecting.  Or perhaps he was going easy on her because of his beard.  It scratched at her lips and chin, she tilted her head to better find his mouth, her hands sliding up his chest to cup his jaw on either side of his face.  

The cheers were dying down, as should their kiss, but for whatever reason, he kept kissing her.  And she him.  

The only thing that did stop them was the nervous cough from their immediate right.  

Hermione blushed a little at the realization that they were decidedly not alone.

Their lips popped upon releasing and she scrambled for her wine glass.  She giggled nervously.  "Sorry about that…"  

Viktor's lips were pressed together to contain his mirth as Fleur toasted the new year.  

Hermione's eyes kept traveling back to Bill's face, lingering on his lips.

He leaned down once Fleur and Viktor had moved on to mingle with someone else.  "Want to… get out of here?  We could go get a coffee, if you'd like… I'm sure there's somewhere open that sells it."  

"Or we could go back to my place and shag each other rotten because that's what I'd rather do…" she said bluntly, causing Bill to choke as they walked towards the front door.  

"I was… attempting to phrase it a bit more delicately than that…" he said, laughing a bit as they made their way out of Potters' home.  Hermione would send an owl to Ginny in the morning explaining most of everything.  

"I'm a fan of being blunt.  I've misunderstood what I thought to be delicate phrasing before…" she explained, a hot flush coming to her cheeks at the admission.  

Bill squeezed her hand.  "Bluntness should be a virtue.  Because thank Merlin I know exactly what you're thinking…"  

"Not exactly…" she said with a small smile.  

"Sickle for your thoughts, Hermione?"

She giggled.  "I'm trying to remember which knickers I wore tonight…"

"I'll be sure to let you know," he said with a smirk.  

"Good, good.  Inquiring minds and all that."  

[dresupi]

definitely something

Pairing:  Fred Weasley/Hermione Granger For:  @probablyunnecessary Prompt:  December 27- Someone left up the holiday decorations and they’re caught under the mistletoe. Rating:  T Word Count:  1308

[Read it on Ao3]

There had once been a time when Hermione wouldn't ever have thought she could feel out of place in the Burrow.  Not around so many people who loved her.  And certainly not during the New Year celebration.

But ever since she and Ron had ended things earlier that year, she'd had an increasingly difficult time coming by for a visit.  It was strange.  Ron hadn't even been living here for the duration of their relationship.  But they'd had dinner here on Sundays as a couple, and therefore, for the past three years, it had sort of become synonymous with her identity as Ron's girlfriend.  At least, in her own head.  

Hermione felt no ill will from the family members, nor was any borne on her part.  She still worked amicably and side-by-side with Bill at Gringott's.  She and Ginny still had monthly lunch dates to catch up.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley still remained as bright and lovely as ever.  Even Ron and she were on good terms.  Their break-up wasn't even a sad or upsetting ordeal at all.  Both of them had simply realized, nearly simultaneously, that their romance had fizzled down to a friendship.  There hadn't ever been a ring or promises of a future, so there was simply no hurt or pain involved with the split.  

Hermione was a clever witch, some might say the cleverest, so she was well aware that whatever shift that had occurred was her own doing and certainly not one of the Weasleys'.  

And yet still, here she sat, stiffly on one of the high back dining chairs, feeling sorely out of place as Mrs. Weasley's knitting needles clacked out another tiny baby blanket for yet another grandchild on the way.  

Ginny and Harry's this time.  They'd announced their happy news over the Yuletide holiday and to be quite frank, Hermione was very excited for them.  Ginny was to be taking some time off from the Harpies to accommodate the pregnancy and birth.  Harry was fit to be tied, grinning at his wife every chance he got.  

It still warmed Hermione's heart to see them together. And she'd never tell either of them this, but it was gazing at their happy faces one evening that made her realize just how little of a spark she and Ron had.  

They'd been sparking just fine at the beginning.  But as it ebbed, they had eased into a monotony that fell flat.  Hermione, of course, understood that passion never lasted, but she knew a couple needed something to build upon once it had fizzled. And that was what had been lacking.  She and Ron had no foundation to speak of.  They'd built their relationship from a school crush and it never really developed past that.  

And now, once again, gazing at Harry and Ginny, she wished for something half as lovely.  Half as lasting.  

Or just… something would be nice.

Ginny slid a steaming mug towards her hand, jarring her from her thoughts.  "Earth to Hermione," she giggled, reaching over to squeeze her hand.  "Sickle for your thoughts?"

"Might need a bit more than a sickle for Hermione's thoughts," Fred teased, making a rather large show of leaning across her lap to snag one of the mugs from the tray his mother had just set down on the end of the table.  He achieved his goal, straightening up to his full height, only to plop down on the edge of the chair that Hermione was sitting in.  

She scooted over automatically to accommodate him, much to Mrs. Weasley's chagin, since she had already enchanted a dishtowel to flick at him for his lack of manners.

Fred was like a cat in that he always seemed to pick out the most prickly person in the room and then throw himself upon their lap.  

"Oh, come off it, Mum.  'Mione doesn't mind…"  He slid his arm around her shoulders and squeezed, filling her with warmth at the action.  "Do you, love?"  

It was a good thing she was so used to him, or a nickname like that might send her into a blush of frankly crimson proportions.  It was no secret (thanks to Ginny) that she'd always harboured a fondness for Fred Weasley.  And it was no surprise that he sought to embarrass her at every turn because of it.

It was simply something she'd grown used to.  

Hermione smiled and shook her head, hoping like hell that she wasn't blushing as much as she felt like she was. She picked up the mug and brought it closer for a sniff.  As if perhaps the warm liquid in the mug might be to blame for her frankly childish reaction to Fred's teasing.  The warm aroma of cinnamon spice and pumpkin wafted up from the mug and she hummed in delight.  Mrs. Weasley's punch was both the best part of the New Year and spiked to the brim with butter-rum.  

Butter-rum could definitely explain the rapid rise of colour in her cheeks.  She took a quick sip before answering.  (His arm hadn't moved.  Don't think she hadn't noticed that.)

"I don't mind at all, Fred," she answered truthfully. The look on his face was worth the bluntness of her reply.  

Oh, she thought smugly to herself.  Here's something.  

There were a scant fifty seconds till the new year when everyone gathered around the clock in the family room to countdown.  

Hermione remained in the doorway, sipping on her third mug of rum punch.  

Her cheeks had blushed plenty that evening.  Most of the occurrences having to do with Fred.  

She was certain he'd never given her this much attention before, but that might also be the rum punch.  

He slid in beside her, checking her shoulder with his.  "Don't be glum. The new year's bound to be better than this one."  

She shrugged.  "I dunno about that, Fred.  I don't even have someone to kiss at midnight.  Although… I did kiss someone last year and here I am…"  She took another sip of her punch.  

Grinning, Fred elbowed her softly, pointing up above their heads to the sprig of green hanging in the doorframe.  "Looks like your luck is changing, 'Mione.  That's mistletoe.  If you kiss me at midnight, under the mistletoe, that's double the good luck.  You're practically guaranteed to have a better year than this last one."  

Her belly swooped at the thought of kissing Fred.

Hermione pressed her lips together, looking up at the mistletoe and then over at Fred.  "Is that so?"  

"It is," he nodded.  "It is very so."  

"I suppose it'd be double the bad luck if I didn't…" she mused, smiling.  

"Like you mule-kicked a mirror from beneath a ladder."  

That was the moment that Mr. Weasley began the ten second countdown.

"Ten!  Nine!  Eight!"

"Guess I'd better kiss someone then…" she teased, surprised to find him still standing so close.  Her head brushed against his shoulder and neither of them moved away.  

Ginny turned back towards them, an amused expression on her face.  "You'd better bloody well kiss her, Fred.  Or I will and you'll be stuck with Harry."  

Hermione licked her lips, biting back a chuckle when Fred took the mug from her hand and slipped his arm around her waist.  "As gorgeous as I find Harry, he's spoken for.   I think I'd rather kiss you anyway, Hermione."  

She was blushing again.  And she couldn't really blame it on the punch anymore. 

"I'd also rather if you kissed me, Fred."  

She didn't really hear the end of the countdown.  He kissed her before they reached 'one!'.  Hermione didn't mind, though.  It was definitely something.  A very pleasing something.

Kissing Fred beneath the mistletoe to ring in the New Year proved to be one of the best decisions she'd ever made.  

A new tradition if there ever was one.  

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[dresupi]

Just in Time

Pairing:  Newt Scamander/Tina Goldstein For:  @ravens-and-writings Prompt:  December 26 - Long Distance Relationship, arrives just in the nick of time to ring in the new year Rating:  T Word Count:  1499  [Ao3 Link]

Tina knew in her heart that superstitions and old wives' tales weren't anything to base one's life around.  

Having someone to kiss and embrace and with whom to ring in the new year wasn't necessarily a promise of a fruitful relationship.  Just as having no one by your side wasn't a promise otherwise.  

That was what she continued to tell herself as she sipped from the glass of wine she'd poured earlier in the evening.  

She wasn't even certain luck was something she needed to worry about.  She had an excellent balance of good and bad in her life and none of it had to do with luck.  Unless one counted how she'd come to be in her present position, then she supposed luck might start to have firmer footing.

Regardless of luck, good or bad, Tina knew that nothing could be done for her present predicament.  She watched the clock tick down towards midnight and she listened to her sister's soft voice as Queenie whispered sweet nothings to her Jacob in the kitchen, wishing she could have just a little bit more of the kosher wine they kept for special occasions.  

But alcohol wasn't the answer either.  

Newt would be here if it were at all possible, of that she was certain.  It was merely the last in a long list of poor luck that put the lid on what Tina might call the best year of her life, littered with some of the worst luck known to man or woman or beast.  

1927 had been full of ups and downs, although Tina had to admit, they were mostly ups.  

She and Newt had gotten closer through their written correspondence and two weekend visits that still made her blush crimson whenever she thought about them.  So close that she was almost hoping that Newt's New Year's visit would bring about the next step in their relationship.  

Tina wasn't an old-fashioned woman by any measure of the term, but everything about their relationship made her believe that a proposal wasn't long away.  Marriage, or otherwise.  Like she said, she wasn't old-fashioned. And she knew that Newt's lifestyle might not allow for a wife or children.  But she loved him enough that she didn't care about any of that.  So long as he wished to love her and her alone, that was enough for Tina. Nothing about their courtship had been traditional.  From the way they met to the very few nights they'd spent together, they were destined to create their own normal.

But it didn't appear any of those hopes would come to fruition.  Not this year at least.  Newt had promised in his emergency owl that he'd try to come by in a few days.  But a few days would be well into 1928 and Tina had so hoped to begin the year with him by her side.

She glanced over at the sofa cushion beside her.  Empty.  If he were here, he'd be holding her hand, sending her nervous smiles at every coo and giggle from Queenie and Jacob's general direction.  He'd be squeezing her hand and pressing furtive kisses to the back of it whenever the thought crossed his mind.   

She swallowed the rest of her wine and stood to pour another glass.  If she had to be alone, but not alone, she might as well embrace it.  

He couldn't believe his good luck.  It was as if the planets had aligned and given him this one simple chance to ring in the new year with Tina.  With whom he'd very much like to ring in the rest of his new years.  

His hand ventured down to his pocket, slipping inside and closing around the tiny wooden box he had tucked there.  He put some more spring into his step as he made his way down the wet and snowy sidewalk towards his brother's flat.  

His case was snugly clutched in one hand, bouncing slightly against his leg as he walked just a bit faster than he normally did.  He didn't want to waste one second more than he had to.  He only had so many.

Or so few.    

Rapping on Theseus' door, he waited impatiently, reaching for his watch to check the time.  Four-eighteen a.m.  It was early.  Rather early.    

Or late, depending on how one chose to look at it.  He supposed for him it was late.  For his brother and his wife?  Likely early.  But he'd contacted Theseus long before he'd begun his rushed journey from his office at the ministry across town.  

It was already January first here in London, but it wasn't quite yet in America.  And Newt had a beautiful woman to surprise.  He'd be flooing from his brother's parlour to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, leaving with just enough time to run to the Goldstein sisters' apartment.

It was his brother who answered the door, smiling in that exhaustedly happy sort of way he always seemed to have lately.  

"Newt.  Right on time.  Happy New Year."  

"Same to you, Theseus…"  Newt stepped inside, kicking the snow and slush off his boots before stepping into the foyer.  "And how was yours and Leta's evening?"  

"Ran rather late… Leta's only just gone to bed.  And yourself? How was work?"  

"I had a birth that ran long," he replied.  "Successful.  Mother and child are resting well…" he patted the side of his case.  "Shouldn't need anything until I get back tomorrow.  Just double her normal feed."  

Theseus nodded once and gingerly took the case from him.  "Mind if I fix that lock, Newton?  It's been bothering me every single time I see it…"  

Newt shrugged.  "If you must."  

"I must," his brother assured him.  "Even if you need to stay longer…"  

He shook his head.  "Don't tempt me… there are things I'll need to attend to.  I can't simply run away to New York."  

"Isn't that what you're doing anyway?"  

"I'm running to New York.  There is a difference."  Newt smirked and walked down the hallway towards the parlour.  "Floo in the same place?"

"As always," Theseus replied, smiling a little as Newt reached for the floo powder.  

"M.A.C.U.S.A, Department of Magical Law Enforcement,"  Newt said clearly before throwing the powder.

With a scant thirty seconds until the new year began, the last thing Tina was expecting was a knock on the door.  

But that's precisely what happened.  

Inhaling deeply, she rose from the couch and crossed the floor, wondering who on earth could be calling at this time of night.  She shot a quick glance in Queenie's direction, who hurriedly tugged Jacob from the kitchen and into one of the back rooms.  

If it was Mrs. Esposito, they definitely couldn't let her see Jacob here.

Tina opened the door and all the air left her lungs. Not Mrs. Esposito.  Not in the slightest.

"Newt…" she murmured, reaching out to brush her fingers over his coat.  As if he weren't real.  He couldn't be real.  Not here in front of her and real.  It wasn't possible.  

"Tina…" he replied, just as softly.  

She glanced around his shoulder and tugged him into the apartment.  "What are you doing here?  I thought one of your creatures was giving birth!"  

"The nundus?  Yes.  It's finished.  Both mother and offspring are doing well," he said with a laugh.  "So I thought I'd floo over for the new year…" he glanced towards the clock just as it struck twelve.  "Looks like I made it just in time."  

Tina's heart fluttered and she leaned forward to kiss him.  Their lips met in a flurry of movement.  His arms snaked around her waist to hold her close as she tilted her head to better meet him.  His lips were cool from being outside, but Tina didn't care.  

He was here.  And she didn't care how he'd gotten here.  

"Wait…" she broke off the kiss, pulling back.  "What do you mean, 'you thought you'd floo over'?  The international floo network's been shut down since June."  

"MACUSA has an open channel to my brother's parlour that he let me use," Newt said.  "All on the up and up, I swear."  

Tina pressed her lips together.  "I'm sure it's not supposed to be used for personal reasons."

He held out his hands.  "Arrest me."  

"You know I won't."  

He smirked, reaching into his pocket instead.  "Happy New Year, Tina."  

"Happy New Year, Newt...oh…"  Her eyes widened as he produced a small wooden box from his pocket.  "Is that...?"  

Popping it open, he nodded.  "It is.  Will you...?"

The ring glittered even in the dim light, she suspected it had been enchanted in some way.  "Oh Newt… it's beautiful…"  

"To match the woman who would be wearing it," he replied.  "Tina, will you?"  

"Newt, of course I will."  

"Then it truly will be a happy new year, won't it?"

She grinned, nodding and holding out her hand so he could slip the ring on.  "It really will."

Newtina Tag:  

@katiehavok, @mcgregorswench, @evolution-of-magic, @localanimenerd

Want to be on my tag list?  Sign up [here].

[dresupi]

practise makes perfect

Pairing:  George Weasley/Hermione Granger For:  @tinymerlady Prompt:   Maybe we should practice kiss a little? So we look legit at midnight. Rating:  T Word Count:  1288 [Ao3 Link]

Hermione was greeted at the door to Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes by a rather spastic George Weasley.  And given that George wasn't exactly the most subdued individual, it really was rather spastic.  He motioned for her to head back to the office, so she did just that, setting her purse down on the edge of the desk since there weren't any chairs that she could see.

"So… you're on board with kissing me at midnight for the new year, then?"  George asked, practically jumping up and down as he entered the room and closed the door behind him..  

They'd been owling each other off and on for the entire morning, basically since receiving their invitations to Seamus and Dean's New Year's Eve party.  

He'd answered her last owl, requesting her presence at the shop at her earliest convenience, so she came by on her lunch hour.      

"Yes.  As I already replied, I think it's a brilliant idea.  I'm not seeing anyone, and you're not either… it'll keep the gossip at bay at least until mid-January.  I dunno why we didn't think to do this for Christmas as well…"  

"Well, I was thinking…" he began, crossing his arms in front of him.

"A dangerous pastime, I'm told," said Hermione with a grin.

"Oh quite, it's downright perilous for me, I'd wager," George continued without missing a single beat.  "But regardless, I was thinking. That we should practise.  So our kiss will look… realistic.  Legitimate…" He nodded once to punctuate, as if he'd had the most wonderful idea in the world.

Hermione felt her cheeks heat up in what she was certain was a blush..  "I think it'll be fine, George.  It's just a peck on the lips, after all."  

"To you, maybe.  But it's in front of all of our friends.  We might need to work on the logistics. I wouldn't want either of us to look like we're fumbling..." He trailed off slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching in a way that made her think he was having her on.  

"Oh, it's your first kiss, is it?" she simpered, knowing full well that at twenty-five years old, George had done plenty of kissing.  

As had she, but that was neither here nor there.

He shot her a look.  "It's my first kiss with you. Do you tilt to the left or the right? Hands on your waist, or no?"  

She shrugged.  "I'm certain it's just like kissing anyone else, George."  

"First of all, my kisses are like snowflakes, Hermione.  None of them are the same.  And secondly… " he sputtered for a moment.  "It's you."

"And it's you," she replied, slowly.  "I think we'll be fine without practising, George."  

He sighed heavily.  "Mione… I feel like I'm being very… obvious.  But then I look at you and I think maybe I'm not?"

Her face reddened considerably at the implication in his words.  She'd honestly never thought in her life that George would have feelings for her, but here he was, admitting to them.  She'd have to approach this delicately...  "George…"  

"Hermione?"  

"I thought this was just… just a sort of… something to trick our friends into thinking we weren't lonely singletons for the New Year…"  

"It is!  But this isn't just anyone.  It's you.  And it's me. And I dunno about you, but I'm like catnip.  To the ladies, you see. I wouldn't want to give you any ideas as to my intentions..."

Realization dawned on her and she reached out to swat George's arm.  "George Weasley. You're ridiculous."  

"I'm sure you're correct, but why this time, specifically?"  

"You think I'm just going to fall in love with you after fake-kissing you once at midnight for the New Year?"  

"Or I suppose I could always fall for you, stranger things have happened."  

She rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, pulling him closer.  "You're impossible."  

"Easy, woman!" He said, smirking.  "You'll rip my shirt from my chest if you don't watch out!"  

"You're the one who wanted to practise!"  

"I'll come willingly, Granger, no need to yank!"

Her eyes searched his before she slid her hand firmly behind his head, tugging him down, and closer.  He went with no resistance whatsoever.  He grunted slightly when their lips met, but slowly melted into the kiss.  

Hermione too, was feeling a touch of weakness in the general area of her knees as he tilted his head to the left, parting his lips and really kissing her. This was so much more than a peck on the lips.

Merlin's beard, he was a good kisser.  Maybe there was something to his warning after all.  

The soft sound she made in the back of her throat made his fingers hitch slightly where they were grasping her hip.  He pulled her closer and she went, melding herself to the front of him, her hand tangling in the lapels of his shirt.        

She ran her fingers through his hair and George broke off the kiss abruptly by stepping out of the embrace. His lips were parted, eyes dark, as he ran his hand directly over where hers just had been.  

"Bloody hell, Hermione…"  

She was still clutching his lapel, so she tugged lightly.  "George…"  

"Hmm?"  He was still trying to compose himself and Hermione thought that perhaps she liked the way he looked sans composing..  

"Why'd you stop?  I think you were right.  I think we need more practise."  

His eyebrows raised.  "Don't tempt me.  I think that was plenty."  

"Tempt you?" She hopped up on his desk, crossing one leg over the other.  "Oh, I'm too bookish to tempt anyone, George Weasley."  

"Too bookish?  You're a right lush bird, Hermione.  Don't sit there and smirk at me like you don't know it.  Too bookish?" he scoffed. "You could literally and figuratively charm the pants off me any day of the week.  Except right now, because this is a shared office.  And if we continue to 'practise', I'm going to offend my brother."

"I thought you were worried about me falling for you," she said.  "Stranger things have happened than you falling for me, after all…"    

"Come off it. I've already fallen for you, years ago.  Never got back up either.  Figured you hadn't a clue about that. Turns out I was right." He jammed his hands in his pockets and shrugged, but he wasn't exactly the picture of nonchalance.    

She gripped the edge of his desk and leaned forward.  "Pull the other one."  

"Can't really say you're too bookish, then can you?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye. "If you didn't see the rather large torch I've been carrying for you."

"Didn't read about a torch  in any of my books, I can tell you that…"  

"Obviously, you never looked in the margins of my sixth year potions book…"    

She chuckled and uncrossed her legs, hopping down off his desk.  "I didn't fancy a nooner anyway, George… I still have half a day of work to finish."  

"A nooner?  Wishful thinking…" he teased.  

"Was it, though?"  

He shook his head.  "Maybe on my part as well…"  He kept his hands in his pockets and dipped down to kiss her once more.  "What time are you finished?"  

"Half past six."  

He groaned about that, but nodded.  "Alright.  I'll meet you outside Gringotts at half past six."  

"I was right, then, was I?" she asked, haughtily staring up at him.  "We need more practise?"  

"'Need' being the operative word, Granger.  'Need' is very… apropos."  

"That's a five-sickle word, Weasley," she said, nodding in approval.  

"Learned from the best," he countered.  "See you after work, Mione."  

She leaned up and kissed his lips once more, delighting in the hitch in his breath.  "See you then."

Check out the rest of my New Year’s Kiss Fics on my [Master List]!

[dresupi]

ten minutes

Pairing:  Hermione Granger/Sirius Black For:  @webuiltthiscityonescargot Prompt:  January 7 - Okay dude, I said you could kiss me at midnight, I didn't say you could slide your tongue down my throat. Word Count:  507 Rating:  T (Not rated on Ao3, could go up if I continue)

[Ao3 Link]

Check out the rest of my New Year's Eve Kiss Prompts on my [Master List]!  I'm posting one a day until January 8!

Other Hermione Ship Tag:  

@snipandsnail , @carefulsparrow , @thestanceyg

Want to be on my tag list?  [Sign up here]!

There were still cheers resounding throughout the room, shouts of 'Happy New Year' rang out all around them.  And all Hermione could focus on was that Sirius Black was a much better kisser than she'd given him credit for.  And she'd given him credit as being amazing.

Even if he did use a bit more tongue than she'd been expecting.  

She broke off the kiss, breathless as her fingers curled into the shoulders of his velvet dress robes.  "I don't recall agreeing to a snog…" she teased, licking her lips before taking a step away from him.  

"I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable, love."  He winked in a way that implied he knew exactly how much he hadn't.  

"Not in the bad sort of way, no…" she replied, smoothing her hands down the front of her gown.

"Tell me, Hermione, what does the good sort of uncomfortable feel like?"  

"It feels like I'd like to feel it again," she said quietly, hoping like hell that no one else was listening in on this conversation.  She had a feeling Harry's head would explode if he knew.  And Mrs. Weasley would likely box Sirius' ears if she found out.  

But neither of those things made Hermione want it any less.  

"All you have to do is ask, darling…" he drawled, leaning back in to capture her lips once more.  His hand moved up behind her head, stroking along the nape of her neck.  She wanted nothing more than to press herself against him.  To soak up the warmth he was offering.  

She whimpered a little, just the tiniest bit in the back of her throat as she ended the kiss and moved out of his embrace.  "Not here."  

There was a sparkle in his eyes that usually spelled out trouble, and she supposed this time it wasn't any different.  This was trouble.  This, that she was proposing?  Trouble.  

No long term issues other than strained relationships stood to ensue, but she couldn't help but feel like sneaking around with Sirius Black would be dangerous.  There were a millions reasons why she shouldn't be pursuing him.  

Maybe that was what drove her to do it after all.

"My place?  Or yours?" he asked, his fingers slipping into hers and squeezing tightly.  It was a miracle that no one else had noticed the tension building between them.  It was explosive.  Likely to ignite two steps behind whatever closed door they agreed upon.  

Her belly swooped, making her stumble a bit as she began to walk away.  "Mine," she replied.  "I'll see you at mine.  Ten minutes."  

He smirked in such a way that made her want to leap onto him right here, right now.  Except that surely wasn't proper.  

Not that anything else she wanted to do to him was proper anyway.  

No, she had all manner of improper things she'd like to do to Sirius Black.  If ever there was a need for her love of list making, it was now.  

"I'll see you at yours, Hermione.  Ten minutes."  

[dresupi]

Holiday prompts

Heya, I’m gonna do something different for Holiday prompts this year.  

Instead of doing 6ss, which I am taking a long, well-deserved break from, I’m going to have a form for you to sign up for a holiday gift fic from me.

I’ll be doing 25 Days of Darcyland from December 1-25, and New Years Eve Kiss Prompts (from December 26-January 8) for the Harry Potter fandom.

There will be 25 slots for Darcyland and 14 slots for Harry Potter.  And yes, you can sign up for both!  <3  

I’ll be posting the Darcyland signups tomorrow morning (October 17)(which will give me plenty of time to write the things during November)  And the Harry Potter signups will happen on November 20.  

The different thing that’s going to happen is... you won’t know what day or what prompt I’ll be writing for you.  All you will know is the ship, because you picked it.  

I have the prompt lists.  And I’m keeping them a secret.  ;)  

All I will tell you is that none of the Holiday prompts are anything remotely religious, they’re all very secular.  Some are movie quotes, some are holiday songs, and some are just some cute scenarios I want to write.  <3  Some lend well to smut, and others don’t.  I’ll have a spot on the form for you to choose whether you want smut or not.  (Just because you say yes, doesn’t mean you’ll be getting it.  It just means you’re open.)

Anywho, Darcylanders, keep an eye out for signups happening tomorrow, the tag will be #25daysofdarcy if you want to track it.  <3  

My HP peeps, cool your jets until November 20, I’ll be posting reminders as the date gets closer!  <3  The tag for that will be #HPNYEKissyface if you want to track it.  <3

Love you goobers, have a good one!  <3 

[dresupi]

Harry Potter New Year’s Eve Kiss Prompts

Heya, I’m going to open my HP New Year’s prompts in a couple of hours... I know I said I’d wait til November 20, but I want to make sure I have enough time to write them in November, since I’ll be posting all through December and taking a little break from writing.  <3  

So two hours from now, around 2 pm my time  [Click here to find out what time that is for you]

I’ll have an official post with a link to the gdoc posting at that time, so stay tuned!