Draco sat at the table, grinning and laughing with all of his friends. In all things, they tended to stick together. So that made the idea of this '12 days of Christmas' more amusing in his eyes. The students as a whole had liked and voted on the idea of gifting their fellow classmates. Dumbledore of course had been overjoyed by the idea of an all-school event that could bring the houses together in unity. "A splendid idea indeed!" Draco believed the proper term Dumbledore had used was.

So tonight the houses would be getting their names from the same Goblet that had provided the names for the Triwizard tournament. It was slightly ironic that the cup that had brought so much harm to the school was supposed to set off this momentous new tradition. Tradition, of course, because now that Dumbledore had gotten his mind on an idea like that, he'd never let it go. Ever.

Draco looked over at his friends who were waiting beside him. They'd lined up for the names over an hour ago. Soon they'd catch a piece of paper that would give them the name of another student to gift. Dumbledore said that he'd make sure everyone was gifted… as if he could enforce such a thing. But then again, he'd set it up based on compatibility. Perhaps for some interhouse loving. Draco grinned at the thought. So long as he didn't get Pansy, there was a chance. Not that he thought he was that compatible with Pansy.

"Yo Goyle, you're probably going to get a Weasle." Crabbe said to his friend with a grin.

Goyle stared daggers at his friends. "As long as I don't get a bushy-haired know-it-all, I'll be fine. Unlike you." He said with a sharp-tongues whit that only Slytherins could pull off.

Draco just rolled his eyes and closed out his friends bantering over who they'd least like to get. He was afraid of saying anything that might reveal who he hoped to get. The three had been so mean to the 'Golden Trio' over the past years. But in reality, Draco'd always had a crush on one of them. It scared him, to think that he might have to gift that person when he could barely tell them 'I like you', let alone that they might be compatible in any sort of way. In a way he hoped that he wouldn't get Harry's name, because that would make things much easier. Luckily for him the names were kept private. The only person who ever needed to know was the person who they got on day 12.

Whoever Draco got would likely be spoiled. However, what could anyone who got him get him something he would want? Draco was picky, that was for sure. He decided fate would decide. He'd just try to suffer through it either way.

Harry caught himself staring at a blonde haired boy and only stopped long enough to talk to his friends when they noticed him staring off into space. "What's gotten into you mate? You're staring at the Slytherins again. It's not very appealing."

"Sorry." Harry laughed it off. "Just thinking about who I might get. Hoping to dear Merlin that I don't get a Slytherin. Hell, I'd take a Hufflepuff over some Slytherin."

"Doesn't help that you don't date Mate." Ron said with a grin. "Perhaps this will give you the name of some girl to fancy."

"Yeah, maybe." Harry said and felt himself grow cold. He'd never tell his friend that he didn't fancy girls. He hadn't ever found an attraction to anyone other than a certain boy who'd gotten his attention in the first year. Unfortunately, that boy had made some very bad decisions in his life and had made some enemies among Harry's friends. Therefore Harry would never speak his wishes to anyone. Harry was nearly positive he'd get Draco, since that was the only person who'd ever held his attention. He was a seeker, he was brilliant, and he'd always been able to keep up to Harry and his gang. But that didn't mean that Draco would get him. In fact, Harry was certain the blonde would get anyone other than him. Draco despised him. Harry sighed and went back to listening to Ron and Hermione chatting.

"You'll probably get Luna." Hermione said to Ron, grinning. "I mean, you do both love the outdoors. You both have an interest in abnormal things. It would fit."

"And you'll get Crabbe." Ron said and smirked brightly. "Heaven knows how that would go. You and one of Draco's lackeys."

Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione responded. "I would never get one of those dolts. I have taste, unlike you Ronald."

Those two had been like that all year, antagonizing each other. Harry was honestly getting sick of it. "Just kiss already." Harry said, shutting both of them up as they looked at him with wide eyes. "It's obvious to me that you guys will get each other."

"I disagree Harry." Hermione said with a frown. "I haven't ever had one ounce of feeling for Ron, other than respect. He's a very good friend. Like you. Unless you're saying there's also a chance I could get you, Harry?"

"There's always a chance I suppose." Harry said, but he doubted it. But it seemed to pacify her. She had to think about everything as if it was a puzzle that couldn't be solved without doing the edges first. Everything had to fit into place. What if it didn't? Harry was worried about getting the names now.

Dumbledore went to the front with the Goblet and placed it onto the podium. He looked forward and smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. "Welcome, welcome to the first year of the '12 days of Christmas'. Today we begin a tradition that hopefully will be fun and enjoyable. The idea is to get someone a gift or gifts for each of the 12 days. On day 12 you will then reveal yourself to the person. Before then, nobody can know who you received. Once you have read off your name, the paper will burn and a spell will be placed upon you which will make it so you cannot reveal yourself, in print, speech or other ways you may try to think of." A few groans were heard, but it did make it more amusing. "And now, to get your names. Step forward one by one and you will get your name. Then you may return to your dorms to plan away. Trips to Hogsmeade will be allowed for the next 12 days as you need to get your gifts. Just ask a professor to floo there and they should allow it so long as it's a valid reason."

Harry grinned. This would make the gifting much easier. He'd need to go just to get ideas.

The line began to move slowly, but quicker as people noticed that it was simply a matter of looking at the name before running off. Nothing else. Draco caught his paper and looked, not surprised, but pleased as he read his name. But oh, what to get Potter?

Harry and his friends were quite a bit later in the line, but when Harry got his name, he just noted it, trying to keep emotion off of his face. He didn't want to look too excited or disappointed as some people had. He'd gotten Malfoy. And he was very happy about it. He'd had a crush on Malfoy since third year. Now that it was the 6th year, he only had a year and a half left to prove himself before they'd be out of school and Draco would make his decision for the better or the worse. Harry was worried Draco would choose his father's side. And that thought scared the hell out of him. Harry made his way towards the line that was forming to go to Hogsmeade.

Draco had made his way up to the Slytherin commons. His friends and him were joking lightly about names they could have drawn, which means that they couldn't be the person, but it was amusing in it's own way.

"I think Malfoy got Potter." Blaise said, a knowing grin on his face.

"Bugger off Zabini." Draco said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, no refusal Draco-poo?" Pansy said, grinning slightly. "Oooh, it's either Potter or someone worse yet."

Crabbe looked at Draco. "Is it true Draco? Did you get Potter?"

"So what if I did?" He asked with a scowl. "I don't plan to give him anything."

"Oooh, Malfoy. Apparently Potter is your compatibility partner!"

"Sod off Goyle." Draco said with a growl, throwing a pillow at Goyle in the process.

"Whatcha gonna give you giftee then Malfoy?" Pansy asked, watching carefully. "I mean, you have to give him something."

"Probably the chocolate frog Crabbe gave me yesterday. I mean, it's just sitting there gathering dust." Draco put his feet up. "And a note to be given to him after breakfast saying he won't be getting anything else."

"Aren't you worried he'll figure out it's from you?"

"If we're that compatible, Pansy. Then he'll already know, right?"

"I just hope your gifter is someone wealthier than the Weasel."

"Bullocks, I didn't even think of that!" Malfoy said, cringing at the thought. "Not that it matters. I'll just go buy myself some nice things at Hogsmeade tomorrow."

"Sounds like a good plan." Pansy said with a smile. "Perhaps you could get me something nice too?"

Malfoy shrugged. "Maybe."

Harry made his way through another shop, frowning, not sure what he could get Malfoy that he didn't already have. He'd have to think long and hard on some gifts. Others, he already had. It was obvious that he'd get Malfoy some quidditch stuff, because it was a given that Malfoy and him both liked them, therefore he could choose something worthy of Malfoy, or so he hoped.

As he walked through the shop he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. Ah, his day one gift.