Christmas (Cracker) Chemistry (гет)

“Christmas Crackers?” Malfoy asks, holding one up, then looks at her with a surprisingly warm expression. “Cute.”
Hermione fights a blush. They’re no ordinary Christmas Crackers. She had George and the staff at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes whip up a special surprise for the Ministry—except she explicitly requested they be red and green, not gold and silver.
It’s not that big of a deal. She’ll get over it. Tomorrow.
Malfoy busies himself by helping to distribute several tubes on each table without request. It’s easy, working with him in a silent tandem. They’ve done it a few times on shared projects, holing up in her office or his, and quickly fall into an easy rhythm. Every time she sneaks a glance, he’s conveniently looking elsewhere.
At the final table, he shakes one close to his ear. “So what’s inside? They’re light.”
She hurries over to him. There’s few enough people around that the surprise won't be ruined if she gives him a peek, and the prototypes were perfect.
“We’ll have to be quick.”
A sly smile pulls at his lips, and he holds one end towards her. “On three?”
 
Written for D/Hr Advent 2024.