Hermione sat quietly at the end of a long table, gently prodding her food with a silver fork. The other occupants of the table ignored her as they exchanged beautifully wrapped gifts. Albus Dumbledore laughed jovially, startling Hermione out of her silent reverie. She looked up and found a single pair of stormy grey eyes watching her. Grimacing, she looked away.

Eventually Hermione excused herself from the table and trudged out into the snow. It was mid-afternoon and thick, fluffy snow was swirling down from the sky. She smiled faintly before turning toward the lake. As she walked she contemplated her current isolation. It was her first year at Hogwarts and she had made very few friends. Ron and Harry were visiting the Burrow, an invitation she had not been offered. Smiling sadly, Hermione sat down in the snow. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not notice the pale boy sit down next to her.

"Granger," said the boy quietly, startling Hermione.

"What is it Malfoy?" asked Hermione, brushing snow off of her gloves.

"Draco," replied the boy.

"What?"

"My name is Draco."

"Oh," replied Hermione, her face pink.

"What's so interesting about the lake?" asked Draco suddenly.

"It's pretty," said Hermione, shrugging.

"Your pretty," murmured Draco, turning his face away from the girl beside him.

Hermione lowered her head, her cheeks burning. No one had ever called her pretty before.

"Here," whispered Draco, holding up a small rectangular gift.

Frowning in confusion, Hermione took it. Hesitantly she began to unwrap it, careful not to tear the thin paper.

Draco watched as Hermione unwrapped his gift, smiling slightly.

"Oh," exclaimed Hermione as a worn book was revealed. Smiling, she opened it and gently ran her fingers over the pages.

"Do you like it?" asked Draco tentatively.

"Like it?" breathed Hermione, looking up at Draco. He looked extremely nervous. "I love it."

Sighing in relief, Draco laid back in the snow. With a gentle thud, Hermione landed next to him, clutching her gift to her chest.

"I didn't get you anything," she whispered, frowning.

"It's alright," replied Draco, smiling.

Without a second thought Hermione leant over and pressed her lips to Draco's cheek.

"There," she whispered, "Now I gave you something."

Draco didn't respond, simply reached out and slid his hand into hers.

They lay there in the snow for a while until finally Draco turned to Hermione.

"Merry Christmas," he whispered.