            January dwindled into a blanket of snow, which quickly slickened to ice under February’s wrathful cold. Lucius chased one lead on a genie lamp to the next, all while Hermione did as much research as possible into the ghost experiment. Soon, though, they were both itching for it to be done with. Or perhaps she was the one itching. They weren’t ignoring the kiss, per say. Just...skirting around it. A stray touch on her back as he passed behind her through the shelves. A flirtatious comment from herself, when she caught him wearing the same button-up as the night they went dancing. It was fun, and surprisingly easy, and the warmth of their relationship kept her blazing all through the dead of winter.