Title: Untitled

Author: Metallicafangirl

Hogwarts in winter looked like an elaborate gingerbread house with too much icing, but on the whole, it was beautiful. Hagrid's hut looked like a smaller gingerbread house, and even the Forbidden Forest looked festive with all the snow. The castle was nearly empty, save for teachers and a few students who chose to stay over Christmas holidays. Not many did, since spending holidays with family was tradition, and those who didn't have anywhere to go were usually invited to friend's houses.

Hermione Granger though, had chosen to stay. She had a lot to do which required her staying at school, and she really wanted to experience Christmas at Hogwarts properly before she graduated. And, in the middle of a war, Hogwarts was the safest place for her.

It was well past lunch time, and Hermione was taking a walk. Sitting around all day with nothing to do but read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (A present from a well-meaning relative) was enough to drive her crazy. Most of the other students had opted to stay inside on this remarkably cold day. In fact, besides a far-off Hagrid, she was the only one about.

The only one except...

One.

Someone who, seemingly without intention, drove her up the wall. Someone who, with black hair and green eyes, managed to annoy her so severely that she was liable to snap at any moment. Someone who, despite the cosmetic resemblance to her best friend, was as far from a friend as it was possible to get. Someone who, against all reason, had chosen to build a snowman just beside the lake.

Blaise Zabini, in his black winter cape and green-and-silver Slytherin scarf, ceratinly fit into the landscape. The cold have given his usually pale cheeks a healthy shade of colour, and he was wearing a determined and concentrated expression which would have been adorable on anyone else. On the tallest, meanest looking and most stereotypically Slytherin boy at Hogwarts though, it looked a little out of place. He was patting the snow into place little by little, and slowly, a rather complicated-looking snowman was taking shape.

It had the standard head-body combination of large snowballs, but they were shaped to be a bit more realistic. From her viewpoint, it rather resembled the painting of Phineas Nigellus she'd seen once. On the other hand, if she leaned to the left and closed one eye, it looked like Snape on a bad day. Could be either, really. She didn't really want to find out; it would mean talking to him, and he was likely to bite her head off.

Unfortunately, the only way to Hagrid's cabin, which was where she was heading for tea, was through him. And he was wearing his scary serious expression, while he tried to fit a nose onto the snowman. She'd learned to recognise that look a few weeks previous, during Potion's class. He'd been wearing the serious expression and working, and she'd acidentally disturbed him. Before she had time to react, he'd given her the coldest glare she'd ever been on the receiving end of, and told her in calm (frightening) tones to mind her own business.

There was nothing to it but walk right past him and hope he didn't notice. She walked quickly, and looked straight at Hagrid's little hut, ignoring him. Therefore, she did not see him turn around when she came and scoop up another handful of snow, and, still wearing that serious, thoughtful expression, make a snowball of it and throw it at her. The snowball hit the side of her head, and she spun around, snow in her hair.

Slytherins should be shot! was all she could think as she scooped up some snow herself and lobbed it back at him. It certainly wasn't her normal behaviour, but the look on Blaise's face was too priceless to miss out on. She'd nailed him right on the forehead. Snow dripped down the side of his face, making him looked a bit like a drowned rat. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but no sound came out. Finally, he came back to his senses.

"This," He stated calmly, "Is war."

All she had time for was a squeak, before another snowball headed her way. She ducked it an ran for safety. Unfortunately, she chose the wrong direction and rushed off towards the lake. Discovering it halfway, she spun around, and realised she couldn't go that way either. She had to stand and fight. Fortunately, spending some winters with the Weasley boys had taught her how to make snowballs in a hurry.

Blaise got one in the chest, creating a rather fetching white spot on his black robes and one in the knee, which made him stumble, before he reached her. The force of his tackle, which would have been illegal had it been a Muggle hockey game, sent them both sprawling into a snowdrift. The veritable explosion of snow that followed could be seen even from the castle.

Vision returned to Hermione and gave her a perfectly clear view of Blaise's green eyes, some inches from her own. The powder snow which iced the castle had settled on his hair, making him look as if he'd gone into a molt; half of it was black and half of it was white.

"Peace?" She asked, trying not to stare at him. This close up, he wasn't too bad looking, and that peculiar half-smile he was wearing suited him.

"Peace," He agreed, "But, I will need some sort of proof that you'll keep that peace."

"Right. What do you want, a written contract?" She tried to look superior, but didn't really succeed.

"No. Those are boring," His smile turned wicked, "I prefer to seal my contracts differently."

Hermione was about to ask how, but never got the chance. Blaise's lips descended on her own, and silenced her quite effectively.

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