Sloane's excitement for the party at Cam and Maddy's was only slightly dampened by her mother's equal enthusiasm. Though Fiona Bixby did not often press upon her daughter the more feminine parts of life, apparently a Christmas party was all it took. A new dress, her hair pinned tightly against her head, and though she hadn't been stuffed in a corset, the dress was uncomfortably tight. How did women breathe in these things? Thankfully, as her mother had put it, her "figure didn't require it yet." Sloane highly suspected that she would never truly need one.

Fortunately the dress was at least a pretty blue and though the hem wasn't dropped all of the way to the floor, it was longer than she was used to. This was what growing up was like apparently, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Give her robes and a braid any day. The stiff dresses and updos could stay away if she had her way.

A party was a party however, and it was likely to be fun, so Sloane had begrudgingly and with minimal complaint, let her mother dress her up like a doll. The hair would certainly be the first to go, of that she was sure. Fortunately it was just her friends and their family members (she assumed anyway) and so that was why she wasn't stressing it too much.

They'd arrived right behind someone else and after she'd greeted Cam and Maddy's parents, she'd meandered away to see who she could find first. She chuckled at his greeting, despite his request not to. "I think you look dashing." Sloane offered with an apologetic smile.

Sloane tried to ignore the fact that he hadn't returned the compliment. She was not the girl who got hung up on things like that and she refused to start tonight. It wasn't like the look was staying or anything. By the end of the night her hair would be loose and wild and the dress would go back in the closet until she could be persuaded to wear it again, which would be a long while from now.

The chuckle that followed his loud announcement was unavoidable. His secondary comment was also as amusing, but lost on her, as she'd never been to their other home. It must have been convenient that it was the same on the inside. With a glance over her shoulder, though she was avoiding making eye contact with anyone directly, she noticed that nobody was paying them any attention. Her parents had been just as eager to attend as she had, looking forward to socializing as much as she'd been.

"It's cozy," Sloane commented, a little breathlessly, noting the quidditch memorabilia tucked in the most unexpected of places. It was very much like her own home and that made her go a little fuzzy inside. "How was the move then?" 

Sloane was too lost in the moment, too at ease in the comfort of it being just the two of them in positively forever, that she hadn't noticed where they were going until he paused at the door. She was too caught up in taking in the house trying to memorize the bits and piece that stood out as they meandered, her hand tight in his, that when she realized it was his bedroom they'd stopped at, Sloane actually balked for a second. It was a bold move, one she appreciated certainly, but their track record didn't exactly speak to success here.

Still they were already here and the tour had probably bought them ten minutes, max, so hopefully nobody (but Sisse or Alice) would be any the wiser. Moving away from the door, she looked around, hoping that at least she was out of view were anyone to walk by. It seemed like a separate part of the house though, so hopefully they were safe for a few minutes. Gently she ran her fingertips over a few things as she poked around.

"It's very you," She chuckled, casting a look over her shoulder at him. And it was, the Puddlemere support, Gryffindor odds and ends. Very much what she would have expected if she'd stopped to think about what his room would look like before tonight.

Sloane had gotten caught up in looking around, trying to take it all in, just as she had in the hallway, but this was far more personal. Risky, but personal. The click of the door behind her barely registered, but it was both a terrible and wonderful idea and she wouldn't even know which way to lean. It had been positively forever since they had gotten any time alone especially after she had come back from the hospital. However they also tended to get caught in situations like this.

Best they be quick then. His voice brought her out of her reverie and she looked at him with a soft smile. The small box caught her by surprise. Briefly she'd though about saving their exchange for school. Though they were always surrounded by people there, nobody really questioned them sitting together or exchanging presents. Her parents on the other hand would have a complete interrogation, especially when it was something personal. She had however managed to hide it in the pockets of her skirts tonight, the only benefit of this ridiculous get up.

Not to mention Sloane had agonized on what to get for Cameron this year. It was a weird line they walked right now and she didn't want to do the wrong thing. She had settled on something practical, in a handsome new quill, but she'd also taken the time to painstakingly (for her) embroider a tiny golden snitch on a new handkerchief. It hadn't come out like anything she was sure any of the other girls could do, but she was pretty proud of it.

"I wasn't sure we'd get time, but I brought yours too." She chuckled as she pulled the solitary long box from her pocket.

Thankfully this time the charm for her bracelet, which adorned her wrist at the moment, would have no exchange of harried letters or a flurry of emotions to go along with it. Smiling easily as he tugged on her hair, Sloane wished the rest of it could follow, but one loose tendril would have to do for now. The little heart-shaped charm brightened her smile, and she was thankful they'd had the moment to do this in private. "It's perfect." She assured him, looking up at him fondly. He had it easy, adding charms to her bracelet whenever he needed to, but she'd had to put some serious thought into his gifts every time.

"I hope you like it," She echoed as she held out the box containing her gifts for him. The quill was a pretty blue, her mum had mentioned it was almost the same color as her eyes, which had propelled Sloane to choose that one, but it also was supposed to be neat and prevent blots and spots while writing. She had no idea of what use he would have for a handkerchief either, but it was apparently something on the traditional side for a lady to give to a suitor. Sloane honestly didn't know, but it had been mentioned in her presence at one point or another. She still carried around the one that had come with her charm bracelet.

Waiting him out while he attached the charm to her bracelet, Sloane smiled fondly. It fit perfectly in with the others and though nobody else would know the sentimentality behind it, she would. It was all she needed really.

"Yes, Mother said as much." Sloane breathed out softly and felt the color creeping into her cheeks. Only he could do that to her and damn him for it. He genuinely seemed to like it— and said as much, so she was going to take it at face value. He folded it, correctly at that, and tucked it into his pocket.

Sloane slipped one hand from his and reached up to gently run her fingers along the edge before moving her hand up to his cheek. "Happy Christmas, Cam." She sighed as she pushed up to her toes to kiss him softly.

Sloane stepped forward easily enough, not as though she had a choice, but the sudden stop nearly had her tripping. She was too focused on finally having him at her fingertips that she could be easily swayed in any direction. With her arms around his neck, she smiled into the kiss as she realized she was now the one looking down.

"Well this is an interesting perspective change." The further impropriety of their current position sat in the back of her mind, registered and ignored, as in the moment it was perfectly comfortable. They were already breaking a lot of rules, it couldn't get any worse, she supposed. It also couldn't last forever. Sloane was painfully aware of how long they'd been gone and how they were going to feasibly say the tour lasted.

"It has been ages." She lamented in a breathless sort of whisper and who knew when they'd get this time again. It pulled her lips into a slight frown just thinking about it. It didn't suit the flush on her cheeks nor the moment, so she tried to pull herself out of it and enjoy the moment they did have.

---

His wandering hands almost gave her pause, but she realized she didn't altogether mind. She'd started to lean in before he tugged her forward, her own hands sliding around to frame his face gently. Clearly it was a good perspective change and he knew that. The height different was laughable when they were both standing. Now, even though she was taller, it wasn't by much at all. This was a good compromise.

It was dangerous though, they could get too caught up and lose track of time. She was already starting to get fuzzy, to lean in a little too far. One of them had to stop. Leaning back just a little, barely a breath away, she locked her eyes on his. "Cam," She started and it came out almost as a sigh, but didn't know what else to say.