A/N:

**Many points to Cassie Claire, who started me writing this story in the first place. Love her stuff, can't wait for DV Chapter 11 (hint hint) Thanks also for the use of "world revolves around Harry" comment.

**Points to D for proofreading and pointing out my subtle plot-flaws. Read her stories: she writes as DraconiaSummers.

** ::admits to stealing "mile wide" line from Monty Python:: Thanks, and remember, "It's just a bunny!"

**To all readers: enjoy! For all those who like long, drawn out speeches by Draco, this is for you. And many, many points to all who review with constructive criticism…

Disclaimer:

I own Draco AND Harry ::grins evilly:: MWAHAHA

::wakes up::

Drat! JK's still in control of it all.

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A Long December

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Honestly, she was sixteen years old. Was she supposed to be able to keep her cool when the most handsome boy she'd ever seen had just walked into the shop?

The cold blast of air he'd brought with him into the store passed over her and she shivered. As he stepped through the doorway, he looked up at her briefly. Something looked familiar in his silver eyes, but she wasn't sure what it was. She quickly looked down, trying not stare at this strange, enticing creature.

The Boy With The Silver Eyes smiled to himself and moved in between the rows of books.

I've still got it. There's not a witch alive that could resist me. He chuckled softly. Even Her.

He genuinely had had no idea that she would be there, much less work there. He had had no idea that he would ever see her outside the walls of Hogwarts.

Much less in his favorite shop at Hogsmeade.

She looked up as soon as she felt Silver Eyes' gaze leave her and watched him maneuver expertly through the shelves. He walked with a catlike grace that tugged at her memory, but she couldn't remember who he reminded her of. Who is he?

He examined the shelf in front of him, lingering over the booking his hand for a few minutes before deciding, after all, to purchase it. It was the least he could do for the old boy.

He smirked to himself as he imagined Her expression when she realized who he was. He erased the sneer from his face as he came out from behind a row of staggeringly thick books; he didn't want to give the game away too early.

She had been daydreaming and didn't notice Silver Eyes lingering a few feet away from the counter.

She had taken this job the previous summer because she wanted to stay in the magical world for an entire year, for once. She wanted to leave behind all things Muggle for awhile. It was getting more and more difficult for her to stomach her parents' complaints that her magic was separating her from the family.

It wasn't as if she was through forever with Muggles and never wanted to see another as long as she lived. She wasn't a Malfoy for God's sake. She still loved the dear old determination of the Muggles and sharing quiet Muggle jokes with Harry, but she was tired of her parents and their awful judgmental comments about witches and wizards. It wasn't her fault that she was a witch. God, she just couldn't win. At school, people teased her for not being a pure-blood, as they called witches and wizards who were born into wizarding families. At home, her parents ragged on her for being a witch.

But she loved the wizarding world so much more than she had ever loved the Muggle world.

She'd stayed at the Tipsy Scale, Hogsmeade's least expensive inn, that summer, and cherished every moment. Now, during the Christmas holidays, she stayed at Hogwarts. Her Transfiguration professor granted her a pass to work. She secretly thought that Professor McGonagall knew about her differences with her parents and was allowing her to make her own way this year. As a sixth year, she was surprised that McGonagall made such allowances for her. Usually those privileges were reserved for seventh years. She was sure that McGonagall knew of her bank account at Gringotts, where she was saving up enough to be free of her parents forever. She wondered at McGonagall's letting that go without comment, but then McGonagall had always respected her privacy; maybe it wasn't so farfetched an idea after all.

She loved her job; she'd loved it that summer, she loved it now. But she wanted to get back to Hogwarts. Tonight, she, Ginny, Parvati, and Lavendar were planning a girls night of popcorn and Teen Witch Weekly surveys like, "Love Potion #9: How To Know If He Really Loves You." She and Gin had been talked into it by the other two; it wasn't really their thing, but they needed time away from Harry and Ron. Even she admitted that.

At the same time, she was reluctant to leave. This was her favorite shop in Hogsmeade. And they were getting the updated Hogwarts: A History in soon.

Silver Eyes' sudden appearance at the counter made her start.

She looked up into Silver Eyes' face. He did look so familiar. It irked her that she couldn't recall his name.

They stood looking at each other for a few moments; she, trying to figure out his name and he, knowing full well who she was, relished the thought of the look on her face when she recognized him.

She took the book in his hand from him with a slight smile.

He never took his eyes off her. He was waiting for her to exclaim, "I know you!"

She flushed under his attentive gaze.

She looked at the book she'd taken from him while she rang it up.

Potions I Highly Doubt You Will Be Able To Complete by Severus Snape.

She laughed softly.

Silver Eyes narrowed them. "Find that amusing, do you, Granger? You would."

His eyes hadn't given him away, nor had his cat-like grace. But his voice and the smirk that accompanied his words definitely did.

"Malfoy?! " she gasped. She was so taken aback that she nearly dropped Snape's book.

"Careful, there, Granger," warned Malfoy, not unkindly. He reached out to take the book from her and she let him.

"But-- how?" she sputtered.

Malfoy had been gone the entire first terms, to most everyone's relief, Pansy Parkinson and Snape's excepted. The Slytherins said he was in a student-exchange program in America, but everyone knows that you can't trust a word that comes out of a Slytherin's mouth. So, various stories flew around the castle, each more outrageous than the next, as to Malfoy's whereabouts.

Well, she certainly knew where he was now, didn't she?

"Oh, calm down, Granger. I realize that my return must have a tremendous impact on you, but do try to compose yourself, for decency's sake." His smirk deepened.

She straightened up. "Malfoy, don't be such a prick. Oh, hold on, you probably don't know how to be normal," she snapped.

A slow grin spread across Malfoy's face. "Nice to know the old rivalry's still alive, Granger," he remarked, handing her the money for his book.

She took it. "Rivalry?! God, Malfoy, you have a gift for understatement."

Malfoy actually laughed. "That's not my only gift, Granger," he drawled.

Hermione blushed. Is he flirting with me? she thought.

Am I flirting with her? he thought.

"I wouldn't call your blatant hatred of Harry and everything to do with him," she gestured to herself, "a rivalry." Her tone was harsh, but she came to the realization that he hadn't really said an unkind word to her yet.

Malfoy looked disgustedly at her. "Everything's always about Potter, isn't it?" he sighed dramatically. "I wasn't talking about Potter, if you can believe it. I don't care about Potter. But you—you and I have always had something, Granger. We've always been the best in our class. Always wanting to be better than best. We've shared that. That kind of ambition, Granger, is a bond. Our bond is our rivalry. And it has nothing to do with Potter. It's something all our own. And I'm flattered to be held up there with you."

For once in her life, Hermione Anne Granger had nothing to say. He was right, of course, but she had never really thought about it in that light. They were considered the best by their classmates, but since Malfoy was THE BEST in Slytherin and Hermione was THE BEST in Gryffindor, they were never put together. But apparently, Malfoy no longer cared about their differences. He was actually attempting to be civil.

"Look, Granger, I learned a few things while I was away. Being away from my father," she noticed he no longer used the worshipful tone he normally reserved for his father, "I got to experience life for myself. I was finally able to live without someone else's opinions being considered my own. I learned who the real Draco Malfoy was." He paused.

Hermione looked at him oddly. Malfoy pouring his heart out to her was certainly not something she expected, although she had to admit it was nice to see him being human.

Malfoy barged in on Hermione's thoughts. "Anyway, my point is, and I do have a point," he smiled slightly, "that I learned a lot in America. First thing that comes to mind is that prejudice is a bitch. I'm not exactly used to being discriminated against…" Malfoy looked slightly put out.

Hermione stifled a giggle. However much he tried to act normal, he was still his old arrogant self underneath it. But now it seemed more like an endearing quirk than a vicious streak a mile wide.

"But in America, I was. And I know now what it feels like to be hated for something you can't change. Like where you're born or who your parents are. And get ready, here comes my point: I'm sorry."

Hermione's jaw dropped. She gave her head a little shake. Did Draco Malfoy just apologize? To me?

But, apparently, Malfoy wasn't through yet. "I'm sorry for all those times I called you a Mudblood and the time I made your teeth grow and the time…"

"OK, OK, Malfoy, I get the idea," she said, raising her hand. She gave him his change.

He accepted it and put the little bronze coins into his pocket. Hermione couldn't help but know how well cut his clothes were. Dark green corduroy with a light beige sweater and black overcoat. Even in Muggle clothes, Malfoy was impeccably dressed.

"What are you saying, Malfoy?" she asked, not unkindly.

"I'm saying you're one of the smartest witches at Hogwarts and I was wrong to have judged you by your parents."

Hermione smiled at him, fully. She knew that people judged him by his father, including herself, so it was easier for her to say, "Apology accepted, Malfoy."

He winked at her. "The name's Draco..." he said.

He turned and walked from the shop without another word.

Typical.

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It's been a Long December

And there's reason to believe

Maybe this year will be better than the last -Counting Crows