AN: Draco/Hermione fic. Aiming for a fluffy if slightly cracky story. I am unsure what the average chapter length will be at this time. I am going to try and do all 12 days though!

School had been very strange after the war, all the 7th years had returned to go through their final year properly. Those that survived anyway. Or were not imprisoned. The entire school hierarchy had shifted, which left Hermione in a very strange life.

Before she could tell that Draco was interested in her, and she him. Two kindred souls on opposite sides of the war. He had always pushed her to keep on trying, pushed her to put the extra effort in instead of just being marginally better than others.

Now though the feelings were still there, but Hermione was now extremely popular and desired as a war hero and Draco was an outcast for being a Death Eater. She really didn't like the popularity, she preferred being left alone to her books with only Harry and Ron for company with the random Luna, Neville, and others to displace the monotony. Honestly, she still didn't care what people thought anymore than she did before she went and became a soldier.. Really there was nothing keeping her from Draco but himself now that it was all behind them. Blind in his self-pity had left her to be the only one to take action and break the stalemate.

"Harry," She called out to her friend deciding to recruit his help.

"What is wrong Mione?" He asked seeing her face slightly scrunched in thought once he came over from his exploding snap game.

"Nothing is wrong exactly, I actually think I may need your help.. I am sick of skirting around the issue of my romantic life….or the total lack of it.. I don't want to be with someone just because I am now a war hero. None of them want me for me, just the title that comes along with marrying me." She said morosely.

"Okay...so...what are you going to do?" He asked unsure trying to see how he could help.

"I am going to take advantage of the holiday season and finally make a move. I am going to do the 12 days of Christmas, work my way into Draco's heart and stop acting like we are children. I am getting sick of this game Harry. We have danced around this issue long enough and nothing but the twisted societal conventions are limiting us anymore." Hermione said looking at him sadly.

"Seems like a good plan. Wait…" Harry said looking at her confused, "Draco? As in Draco Malfoy? The great bouncing ferret?" He question with a puzzled look falling over his face.

Hermione let out a soft sigh, "Harry….I feel…" She tried to start off before ending it with a sigh. "No one challenges me. I tried so hard to feel something deeper for Ronald, but it felt wrong. I feel like everyone would bore me. Draco...he always challenges me. I am never bored. There is so many reasons…" Hermione said trailing off in thought.

Harry let out a sigh, "I will try to understand for you. I know everything wasn't how it appeared but you are going to have to understand I am going to have look past a lot with him. Trying to kill us, calling you a mudblood, bullying us…" Harry trailed off as he started thinking over how the situation would have to be handled.

"I need your emotional support...but I also wanted to let you in on my plan." Hermione said an excited look on her face normally only drawn out by the prospect of a rare-edition of a book.

"How can I possibly help you?" Harry asked confused.

"I have this idea….there is 12 days of Christmas right? Well I am going to twist it to my own needs. Gift a day that matches up to the song as best as I can. On Christmas I will make my final move." Hermione said pulling out her list she had started on. Harry pulled the list over and looked it over.

"Some of these are bloody brilliant connections. The missing ones I am don't know how to make them work. Like the leaping lords. That is going to be a challenge." Harry said mulling over her list. Harry handed the list back to her, "Wait here, I will be right back." He said before running up the stairs leaving a confused Hermione behind. He shortly appeared back down with a pouch in his hand that he tossed on her lap. "I can't be of too much help besides being supportive, let me help you fund your seduction attempt instead. Not like it is that much for me." Harry said with a smile.

"Don't call it seduction. It is more like…."Hermione said trying to find the word before letting out a sigh, "Fine, it is seduction. I would fight you on the money thing but I know you would find a way around that." She said tossing the pouch in her hand lightly.

"Go tomorrow, look around, and find what you want to get him. Money is no problem. Thinking more on it, watching Malfoy become tied to you and knowing how commanding you can be….it will actually be amusing." Harry said thoughtfully with a smile.

Hermione contemplated what she could find before sleeping for the night. The next day she took advantage of her adult-student status and went to Diagon Alley and started looking through the shops.

She mulled over how many different things she could do for 'partridge in a pear tree', while being in the wizarding world she could actually purchase a small tree and partridge, but she didn't feel like it was good enough. Finally she ducked into the owlery remembering that Draco's only owl was his fathers who now was constantly monitored and looked around. Finally she looked around for the perfect good before a smile broke out on her face. And the gift even came with it's own delivery system.

That night she spent planning the message she wanted to give him to send out in the morning for his first day of Christmas.

The next day Draco went down to the Great Hall for breakfast, tactfully avoiding the larger groups out of comfort. He looked up to see an unknown small owl flying towards him with a letter in its claws.. Draco stared wary at it as it landed in front of him before taking the message and opening it.

"Dear Draco,

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A partridge in a pear tree.

Or more accurately a burrowing owl that likes prickly pears. ~Said true love"

Draco looked at the letter, "True love?" He muttered confused before glancing around to see if anyone was looking over besides curious glances. Seeing none he looked back at the letter. "This should be interesting." He said under his breath looking at his apparent gift. "Now just need to hope it isn't Pansy...though already it seems too clever for her."

Hermione watched on carefully at his confusion, appreciation, worry, and acceptance. Harry watched carefully as well, "An owl? How did you get an owl of a partridge?" Harry asked quietly.

"He needed one, it is a bird, and this type has a slight preference towards prickly pears. I thought it worked." She said with a shrug eating.

"It does work. Clever. Tomorrow you have two turtle doves though. Now this should be interesting to top for that." Harry said with chuckle. Hermione just grinned anticipating the following days leaving Draco to feed his new pet idly. Hermione has planning to do on turtle doves.