It didn't happen overnight, but Harry and Draco quickly became close friends. After that night in Hogsmead, they started hanging out after class. Eventually, the two became inseparable. To anyone who didn't know better, it would have looked as though they had been friends for a very long time.

Harry felt like he could confide in Draco about just about anything. They often stayed up much later than they expected because they had been having a conversation too good to end. It turns out they had a lot more in common than they would have admitted to during the previous years they had known each other. Harry had even started sneaking Draco into the Gryffindor common room when everyone else had gone to bed so they could keep hanging out without getting in trouble with Filch for being in the corridors at night.

Ron was not taking this new friendship with Draco well. While they had been friendly at the beginning of the year, once Harry started hanging out with Draco more frequently, he was much colder towards the Slytherin. Harry felt a little guilty that he had been spending so much time with Draco, since it was obviously making Ron jealous, so he had started making a conscious effort to set aside time to hang out with Ron. They'd usually go out to the quidditch pitch, but occasionally Harry and Hermione would take turns playing Ron at chess.

After one of these chess matches, the three of them went down to the great hall for dinner. Ron was in a great mood after having beaten both Harry and Hermione. He always did, but they were getting better the more they played him, and Ron loved the challenge.

Once they had seated them selves at the Gryffindor table and Harry waved to Draco from across the Hall, they noticed that Professor McGonagall was standing up at the front of the room. Once everyone had noticed and had quieted down to listen, she began to speak.

"Good evening students" she said primly, but with a small smile. "The other staff members and I have some rather exciting news for you. We have decided that a celebration is in order, to celebrate the defeat of He Who Must Not Be Named. After all this tragedy, we all deserve a little excitement, so on New Year Eve, there will be a ball held in the Great Hall." She paused while until the excited whispers had died down.

"For those of you old enough to remember the Yull Ball during the Triwizard Tournament a few years ago, it will be quite similar to that. That means everybody has to wear dress robes and you will all be taking dancing lessons. Yes, even those of you who took them last time, it couldn't hurt to have a little refresher."

Harry groaned inwardly. He hated dancing. Ron however was still surprisingly cheerful.

"Oh man! A ball! And this time I won't have to wear those ridiculous dress robes I had last time, since Harry made the twins buy me new ones with his Triwizard winnings!" He said excitedly.

"And this time," he continued, putting his arm around Hermione and pulling her closer "I get to go with the prettiest girl in Hogwarts!"

"Oh Ron" Hermione said, blushing "it took you years, but you've finally figured out that I'm a girl!"

"Ha ha. I always knew you were a girl, I was just too shy to ask you to the ball when I had the chance" Ron replied, remembering the unfortunate incident at the Yull ball when Hermione had gone with Victor Krum, causing Ron insane amounts of jealousy.

"Well, I'm glad you two are so excited" Harry said glumly "who am I gonna go with?"

"Oh Harry, you don't have to go with anyone if you don't want to. You're not a Champion this year so you don't need to dance at all if you don't want to" Hermione reassured him. "Besides, I'm sure there are plenty of girls who would love to go to the ball with the savior of the wizarding world."

"That's actually what I'm afraid of" Harry replied. "I don't want to go with someone who's going to hero-worship me. That's just too weird."

"How about you, Malfoy? Who are you bringing?" Ron shouted to the approaching boy. He was clearly intent on discussing it since this time around he had someone to go with that he would actually have a good time with.

"I have no idea" Draco replied truthfully "I'm not really fussed about it though. There's no one I particularly want to go with. I might just go stag, you know."

"I think that's what I'll do too" said Harry, quite cheered up already. "Why should we hang out with someone who we barely know when we'll have much more fun hanging out with each other."

"Good point Harry" Draco said, smiling.

Ron was in such a good mood, even he didn't object to Harry and Draco spending even more time together.

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October passed quickly and November turned into December. The leaves turned bright shades of yellow, red and orange, before falling and littering the Hogwarts grounds. The lake began to freeze over and before long the students saw the first snowfall of the year. They had to wear hats, mitts and scarves whenever they went outside, not only to protect against the wind, but incase of impromptu snowball fights.

Almost everyone was looking forward to the Christmas break. Hermione was going to her parents' house. Apparently they were having some sort of large party with all of her extended family. Harry and Ron were going back to the Burrow. All of Ron's brothers were going to be there, including Bill's wife Fleur and their new baby boy.

Draco, however, had no where to go. He had no family to go home to. He honestly didn't know whether to expect any presents. He had never been moresorry for taunting Harry about staying at Hogwarts for Christmas in their first year. He resigned himself to his loneliest Christmas ever.

"Why don't you come with me to the Burrow?" Harry asked him for the thousandth time.

"No, Harry, it would be imposing." Draco explained. "Besides, I haven't exactly been pleasant to the Weasleys in the past. They wouldn't want me there."

"Don't be silly. Ron likes you. I'm sure the other Weasleys would warm up to you." Harry said.

"No. Thanks anyway Harry, you know I would love to but it would make me really uncomfortable to force my way in like that" Draco explained.

Harry opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. They had been through this many times before. Finally, he settled on "But I'll miss you!"

Draco laughed. "You're such a goof sometimes. It'll be what, a week? You won't have any time to miss me."

"But I'm so used to seeing you every day. It's gonna be weird." Harry explained.

"Don't worry; you'll have Ron and his multitude of brothers." Draco said.

"Haha, true. It'll be nice to spend some more time with Ron. Plus there's never a dull moment when the Weasley twins are around." Harry said, comforted slightly.

"Exactly" Draco sighed, wishing he could comfort himself as easily.

AN: So what do you think? I promise the actual lovey stuff is coming up, I just need to build up to it. I'm actually quite impressed with myself, I haven't gotten bored with this story. Haha.