Draco Malfoy Must Die

Chapter 7 - Christmas is All Around

When Hermione followed Harry into the Room of Requirement at 7pm on Saturday evening she expected it to look like the DA room had the year before. But it had changed rather a lot. It was smaller, with a large round wooden table at its centre and a blackboard on one wall. The walls were wooden panelled, and there was a glass chandelier above the table.

Hermione must have been frowning, because Harry asked, "What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just…this is sort of how I imagined the Titanic would look," Hermione said offhandedly.

"I was just thinking of a nice comfortable meeting room," Harry said casually as he sat down in one of the comfortable leather chairs around the table. Hermione sat down next to him, and they waited for the others to arrive.

They all came in together, and Susan smirked when she saw the room, "Nice taste Hermione."

Hermione laughed, "Thanks, but it wasn't me. It was Harry."

"I never knew your taste was this good Potter," Daphne remarked as she slid into one of the seats.

Lilly laughed as she sat down next to Harry, "Of course his taste is good. His first girlfriend was a Ravenclaw."

Harry smiled slightly, "Right then. Down to business."

"You don't hang around, do you?" Daphne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Ah he was like that in the DA too," Susan said, "he likes to get straight to work."

"That is what we're here for," Hermione said as she stood up, and grabbed a bit of chalk, "so here is what we know. Dumbledore is the target, and Draco Malfoy is the assassin."

She transferred this information onto the board, "Now we need to work out the plan, and the murder weapon."

Lilly laughed, "Just like Cluedo."

"Exactly," Hermione said eagerly, "if we can find out what the murder weapon will be, and where the murder is supposed to happen we can prevent it."

"What on earth is Cluedo?" Susan asked, she was a half-blood but had been raised by her pure-blood Aunt.

"I second that," Daphne said, because of course she was a pure-blood.

"It's a muggle game," Harry said, "and I think the aim of the game is to be the first person to solve a murder."

"Yep," Lilly said, "in this case we know its Draco Malfoy, but we don't know with what or where."

"You do realise this is making no sense to us, right?" Daphne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We need to figure out what Draco is trying to kill Dumbledore with, and where he plans to do it," Hermione repeated, "so I think Katie Bell has a lot to do with that."

She jotted on the board, "Katie Bell - accidental victim - necklace."

"That necklace was cursed," Harry said, "and when Katie touched it she was meant to die, but she was wearing gloves and she let go of it fast enough that she was spared death."

"So the necklace was meant for Dumbledore, that makes sense," Lilly said, "but why did Katie have it in the first place?"

"She was taking it to Dumbledore, obviously," Daphne said.

"Doesn't that mean she's working with Draco?" Susan asked.

"No. It means Draco has learned a new trick; the Imperius Curse," Daphne said darkly.

"Of course he knows it," Hermione said irritably, "his Father probably taught him it."

"But if Katie was imperius-ed to take the necklace to Dumbledore why would she touch it? The fact she did screwed up Draco's plan to curse Dumbledore," Lilly pointed out.

"Well, I never said he was any good at using the Imperius Curse," Daphne said with a shrug.

"No, Lilly's right. It doesn't add up," Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Well we can hardly just wander up to Malfoy and ask him what his Imperius cursing skills are like," Harry said sarcastically, "so we're going to have to work it out for ourselves. We were there Hermione, so let's think about it. Where was Katie before she got cursed?"

"Hogsmeade," Hermione replied, "she was in the Three Broomsticks right before walking up to the school."

"And she accidentally touched the necklace when she was arguing with Leanne," Harry said, "but she was wearing gloves, and that's why she didn't die. Right?"

Hermione nodded, "I know where you are going with this. You don't think she knew what was in that package which means she was probably imperiused."

"So Malfoy had to put her under the Imperius curse in the Three Broomsticks," Harry said with a nod, "and told her to deliver the necklace to Dumbledore."

"So Draco didn't want her to get hurt. It just didn't go to plan," Susan chipped in.

"That explains why he was so funny after it," Daphne said, "he must have felt guilty."

"And he's probably grateful that she's in St. Mungo's, because when she gets back if she remembers she'll tell someone that it was Draco who cursed her," Lilly said.

Hermione sighed, "Then that means we really are working to a time limit," she said as wrote on the board after Katie's name "deliverer of cursed necklace to Dumbledore - attempt failed."

"Okay, so if his attempt with the necklace failed that means he's planning something else doesn't it?" Susan asked.

"I'd assume so," Hermione said, "and I'd also assume it's something sneaky that won't directly involve him."

"Poison?" Daphne suggested.

"Or worse," Harry said with a frown.

"What do you mean, or worse?" Lilly asked anxiously.

"Some days I've been looking for him on my map and he's not there," Harry said.

"He can't just disappear off of the map Harry," Hermione said, "unless he's leaving the school."

"But he can't leave the school when we aren't on Hogsmeade days, can he?" Susan asked.

"Not unless he knows about the secret passages," Harry said, "there are 7 that lead out of the school. One is underneath the Whomping Willow so even if he does know it's there which I doubt, he'll have no idea how to get into it."

"But you do?" Lilly asked in amusement.

Harry smiled and said, "Possibly. There's one behind a mirror on the fourth floor, but it's caved in. There's one underneath the statue of Gregory the Smarmy and three others. I'm pretty sure Filch knows about al four so I doubt Malfoy would be able to use them to disappear as often as he does."

"What about the one eyed witch?" Hermione asked, "Filch doesn't know about that."

"Yes, but without the map I would never have guessed the password. There is no way Malfoy could guess it," Harry pointed out.

"Well if he's not leaving the school where is he disappearing to?" Susan asked.

"Maybe he's going somewhere that the people who made your map didn't know about," Daphne suggested.

"Every location in this school is on the map," Harry said.

"Apart from the Chamber of Secrets, and all of the underground chambers beneath the school," Hermione pointed out.

"That's really a place?" Susan asked in disbelief.

"Oh shit, you weren't supposed to know about that," Harry said sheepishly.

"I knew anyway, it's a well-kept secret in Slytherin that we know it exists," Daphne said, "but you don't actually know where it is, do you?"

"I do, but I can't tell you," Harry said, "and yes Hermione it's not on the map, but there's no way Malfoy can know where it is and even if he does he can't get in, you know that."

"Why can't he get in?" Susan asked.

"Can't tell you that either," Harry replied sheepishly.

"It's top secret," Hermione joked, and only Lilly got the reference to James Bond and laughed.

"Hang on a minute," Lilly said, "top secret….Harry get your map out!"

"Why?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Just trust me," Lilly said.

Feeling rather confused Harry got his map out and opened it up after saying the password. Lilly leant across him and laid it out on the table.

"We aren't on the map right now," Lilly said after a brief examination.

"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed, hitting herself in the head, "how could I be so stupid? The Room of Requirement is unplottable! It won't show up on the map!"

"Does she always do that when she fails to figure something?" Daphne asked, cocking her head at Hermione who had hit herself pretty hard.

"Uh yeah. But how can he know about the Room of Requirement-"Harry began to say, but then it hit him, "Dammit! He was on the Inquisitorial Squad last year. He was here when Cho gave us up."

"And that's why you should never trust a Ravenclaw," Susan joked with a glance at Lilly.

"Come on, who can lie under Veritaserum?" Lilly said.

"Hey, don't fight," Harry said shortly, "if Malfoy is coming to the Room of Requirement we need to find out why."

"And how do we do that? We can follow him here but we can't follow him in," Hermione pointed out.

"Unless he invites one of us in," Lilly said.

"So we're back to square one," Hermione sighed, "gaining his trust."

"Well, there is another option," Harry said, "but I doubt any of us are at all skilled in the art of Legilimency."

Daphne smirked, "Well, it's funny you should say that."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at her, "You can do it?"

"I can, but not that well," Daphne admitted, "and anyway, there's no way it will work. You said Snape couldn't even get past him which means he obviously knows Occlumency and I'm not good enough to get past his defence if Snape can't."

"So we are back to square one then," Lilly said, with a pointed look at Hermione.

"Great," Hermione sighed.

"Look for now you focus on getting back in his good books Hermione, and I'll follow him to here under the cloak, I might get a glimpse of what the room looks like if I'm quick," Harry said.

"What do you want us to do?" Susan asked.

"Just keep your eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary," Harry said, "especially you Daphne since you share a common room with him."

"Alright," Daphne said, "is that the meeting adjourned then?"

"Yeah, I think so," Harry said, "we'll meet every week unless you need to call an emergency meeting. Hermione will show you how to do it with your coins, I'll see you all later."

He got up and left, and Daphne frowned, "What's up with him today?"

"I think he's just touchy because with all of this he's feeling like the war is getting closer," Hermione said as she got to her feet, "he's feeling closer to his inevitable demise."

"Is he ever just happy?" Daphne asked.

"Not really," Hermione answered honestly, "he pretends he is sometimes, but he had a really bad childhood. And then he discovered this world only to be hunted ever since by Voldemort. I don't think he ever feels like he can escape that."

"That's a horrible way to live," Lilly sighed.

"It's just depressing," Daphne drawled.

"Yes well you would think that," Hermione said as she grabbed the door handle, "because you only care about yourself so I can see why you find it hard to have sympathy for anyone else. I'll see you next week, heat your coins up in the fire to call us to an emergency meeting."

Before she could get a response from Daphne, Hermione left and jogged to catch up with Harry on his way to Gryffindor tower.


"You really can do better than her you know."

"What?"

"Daphne," Hermione said as she looked up at Harry. They were working comfortably together in the Gryffindor common room. It was Monday, and the following day was Christmas Eve so Hermione had agreed to Harry's plans to do no work over the next few days. That did mean that today Hermione was giving him a push to do some of his homework.

"Hermione-"

"No, Harry. She's a really selfish person," Hermione said honestly, "and you are the most selfless person I know. You can do better."

"Hermione, you're never this pushy about my relationships," Harry said in exasperation.

"I just think there are people out there who are better for you," Hermione said calmly.

"Like who, Hermione?" Harry asked, looking up at her in amusement.

Hermione leant forward, "Well, Lilly for a start-"

"She has the same name as my Mother," Harry said in a slightly horrified tone of voice.

"Technically her name is Lillian, and your Mother was just Lily-"

"It's still the same name!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "You can't let a little thing like a name get in the way of a possible-"

"A little thing like the fact she has the same name as my Mother?" Harry asked in disbelief, "that's like me going out with Ginny who's almost a carbon copy of my Mother!"

Hermione's face fell, and Harry shook his head at her, "So she's another of the ones you think are better for me then?"

"Well she is funny, and laidback and-"

"Ron's little sister who reminds me of my Mother," Harry finished, "and are you actually getting upset about the fact that I'm not liking your choices of girl for me?"

"They're good choices!" Hermione exclaimed, "what about Susan? And don't say she looks like your Mother! You can't just never date redheads because your Mother was a redhead!"

"Well she has…assets-" Harry began.

"Yeah, I bet I know what advantages you're talking about," Hermione said with a disapproving look at her best friend.

"You can't get pissed off at me for not liking two of your choices and then liking another one for the wrong reasons," Harry teased.

"I can," Hermione challenged, "and if you're so picky, then I'll just set you up with a guy instead. I hear Theodore Nott swings-"

"I don't want to hear anymore of that, thank you!" Harry exclaimed, "Just because you got caught coming out of a broom cupboard with Daphne doesn't mean I have to with Theodore Nott."

Hermione shot him a glare, "We were talking."

"Yeah, whatever you say," Harry said in amusement, "and you are distracting me from my essay by the way."

"Oh shut up," Hermione said irritably, "what's your type anyway?"

"I don't have a type-"

"Everyone has a type. Do you find me attractive?"

"I think of you like a sister!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yes, but if push came to shove and you were going to die a virgin you would sleep with me right?" Hermione asked bluntly.

"What has gotten into you since you became friends with those girls?" Harry asked, partly stunned and partly amazed.

"Stop avoiding the question," Hermione said shortly.

"I suppose so," Harry said awkwardly.

"Right, and Lilly? If she didn't have the same name as your Mother," Hermione added.

"Attractive…I like her eyes, " Harry said simply.

"Susan?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, and Hermione glared at him, "and don't mention her assets!"

"In all seriousness she's a pretty girl," Harry said honestly.

"And Daphne?"

Harry rolled his eyes, "She's gorgeous isn't she?"

"So you like blondes then," Hermione snorted.

Harry didn't deny it, and Hermione just laughed as she grabbed her books and said, "Well I'm going to the library. Do you need me to get you anything?"

"How about a book on how to get your irritating female best friend to stop trying to set you up?" Harry joked.

"I'll see what I can do," Hermione said in amusement as she left the common room.


Hermione couldn't help but snigger at the conversation she had just had with Harry as she walked down the grand staircase, and somewhere between the 6th and 5th floor Draco Malfoy's voice asked, "What are you laughing at, Granger?"

Hermione rolled her eyes as he fell into step with her, "None of your business, Malfoy. Are you following me now?"

"No, I have better things to do with my time," Draco drawled.

"So Lilly said," Hermione said matter of factly.

"She told you about our conversation?" Draco asked in surprise.

"Yes, we are friends," Hermione said.

"Did she tell you about all of it?" Draco asked, his face paling slightly.

"No, why?" Hermione lied, she knew of course he was worried that Lilly had told her that Draco had said he only dated Lilly because she reminded him of her.

"No reason," Draco said with a shake of his head, "anyway, in case you didn't know you've pissed Daphne Greengrass off."

"Oh, I'm well aware of that," Hermione said calmly, "but how do you know that?"

"I had to listen to her rant to anyone in the Slytherin common room who would listen that you were a bitch," Draco said with a smirk.

"I thought you two were the only Slytherins staying."

"Exactly."

"Hmm, well the feeling is mutual I can assure you that," Hermione said coolly.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her, "From broom cupboards to hating each other?"

"Sounds similar to your relationship with Harry," Hermione retorted.

"Amusing, but inaccurate," Draco said matter of factly, "I wouldn't touch Potter with a ten foot pole."

"Your ex-girlfriend would."

"Which one?" Draco asked.

Hermione glared at him, "Daphne definitely, and possibly Lilly. But anyway, I thought you weren't talking to me anymore Malfoy. Something about me getting killed if you did?"

"It's Christmas," Draco said with a wave of his hand, "I need to extend the hand of friendship, even to muggle-borns."

Hermione stopped, and Draco frowned as he stopped too, "What?" he asked.

"Did you just call me a respectable name instead of a Mudblood?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

Draco paused and thought about this for a moment, "I think I might have done. But then again, it is Christmas."

"I wish it could be Christmas every day."

"Well as honoured as I am that you like me that much Granger-"

"It's a Muggle Christmas song, Malfoy. Don't let your head get too inflated," Hermione said as they turned the corner onto the corridor where the library was, "by the way, are you actually going to the library or are you just stalking me?"

"I have better things to do than stalk you Granger, but that is coincidentally why I want to talk to you," Draco said, stopping when they reached the doors to the library.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "What do you want?"

"I would very much appreciate it if you could ask Potter to stop following me around everywhere I go. He clearly hasn't mastered the art of masking charms, and he has this distinctive smell of broom polish and owl shit about him, so I know it's him," Draco said matter of factly, "it's incredibly irritating and I'm certain he watched me piss yesterday."

"You are vulgar and disgusting," Hermione said.

"And your best friend who hangs around invisible in bathrooms and watches guys piss isn't?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'll pass your message on Malfoy."

"Thank you Granger," Draco said as he turned to leave.

"Just to clarify then, you're not talking to me unless you want something?" Hermione asked in amusement.

"Pretty much," Draco said, "see you around, Granger."

Hermione watched him leave with a shake of her head, and then looked into a spot which seemed to contain nothing but air, "Harry. Have you been following me from the Gryffindor common room?"

"No…" Harry's disembodied voice said.

"That is an invasion of bloody privacy! And were you really watching Malfoy in the bathroom?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"There might have been a secret passage in there!" Harry said.

"Really Harry? Is that the best you can come up with?" Hermione asked in amusement.

"No really, I realised halfway through how weird it was and I left," Harry said.

Hermione snorted in amusement, and said, "I'm going to the library. See you later, why don't you go and see if Malfoy's in a bathroom anywhere?"

"Fuck off Hermione."


On Christmas day Harry was woken up by a hyper-active Hermione jumping on his bed.

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed as he pulled his covers up around himself, "you can't just come barging into my bedroom anymore!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "Why not?"

"Because!" Harry spluttered with a red face.

"Because what?" Hermione asked cluelessly.

Harry glared at her, "Jesus Christ, because of puberty!"

Hermione frowned, and then jumped off his bed in horror, "Harry!"

"You asked!" Harry muttered.

"Merry Christmas to you too," Hermione said with a shake of her head, "there are spells to fix that little problems of yours by the way, I'll teach you."

"How do you know that?" Harry asked in a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

"I read a lot," Hermione said in amusement, "there are presents in the common room, I'll wait downstairs for your dilemma to sort it itself out."

"Just get out and quit winding me up," Harry said in exasperation.

Hermione got up and left, sniggering as she did so.


A little while and lots of presents later, Harry and Hermione were on their way to the great hall. They had both been sent a Weasley jumper, and some cakes from Mrs Weasley and had even got small presents from Ron which they hoped were peace offerings as they were both missing the redhead during the festive season.

They were arguing, well bickering, as they approached the hall.

"I didn't invade your privacy, I always come into your dorm-"

"Yeah exactly, you should never come into my dorm. I can't come into your dorm so it's hardly fair you get to come into mine!"

"You could come into mine. You just have to fly up the stairs instead of walk on them, it's a pressure thing-"

"It's Christmas Hermione, I don't want a fight or a lect-ARGH!"

"Harry are you okay!" Hermione exclaimed, he had just walked headfirst into thin air and bounced back as if he had hit a barrier. They were in the doorway of the Great Hall, and as Hermione glanced around she noticed there was a shimmering barrier all around them.

"I'm fine," Harry said, rubbing his nose as he got up and looked at the barrier, "what the hell is that?"

"It's a magical barrier," Susan's chirpy voice said, "look up."

They did, and above them was mistletoe. Harry frowned in confusion, and Hermione groaned, "Susan!"

"It's Christmas, be festive and have a little kiss!"

"I'm not kissing Hermione!"

"Am I really that bad?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"No, I just mean because you're like my sister," Harry said quickly.

"Well that barrier won't disappear until you kiss, so get on with it," Susan said with a wicked laugh.

Hermione rolled her eyes and gave Harry a peck on the cheek, and with a soft whoosh the barrier disappeared, "See that wasn't so bad was it?" she said to him as she stalked ahead to the large circular table in the centre of the great hall.

"What's up with you two?" Susan asked in amusement, it was late morning so they were having their Christmas lunch as they often did at Hogwarts.

"She invaded my privacy and came into my dorm this morning," Harry grumbled.

"What were you doing that made you so grumpy about it?" Susan asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nothing!" Harry said, horrified at the thought of Hermione walking in on him doing something other than awaking from a dream.

Susan sniggered, "Merlin Potter, you're so innocent," she teased as they sat down at the circular table. Daphne was glaring daggers at both Harry and Hermione, neither of them had talked to her since the meeting a few days ago. Draco was sitting next to her, and he looked positively miserable. Hermione caught his eye, and he looked away instantly. She sighed and muttered to Harry, "Merry bloody Christmas."


After Christmas lunch it began to snow, the ground was already covered in snow from the previous days blizzards, but it was quite calm and pleasant now so as everyone got up to leave the great hall Harry said, "Whose up for a snowball fight then?"

Susan grinned, "I'm up for it!"

Lilly smiled and said, "Yeah, I'll come along too."

Hermione chuckled, "If it keeps you amused," she said, turning around to where Draco was walking a little way behind them. She paused for a moment.

"Go ask him if he wants to join us," Daphne said, reading Hermione easily.

"So you're coming then?" Harry asked.

"If you'll stop ignoring me, sure," Daphne said a little irritably.

"Look, it's Christmas. Let's put any past arguments behind us for today and have fun," Hermione suggested as she glanced at Daphne, "I'm sorry for what I said the other day."

"Forgiven, you were right. I am a selfish bitch," Daphne shrugged, "but if you want to be my friend you just have to accept that. Now, go and talk to Draco, I can tell you want to."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the blonde, but turned around and walked towards Draco anyway, "Merry Christmas," she said brightly as she fell into step with him.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Do I look merry to you?"

"Merlin, you're turning into Snape," Hermione said under her breath, "why so miserable all of the time Malfoy? Come on, we're having a snowball fight. It will be fun."

"Anything that was Potters idea is not my idea of fun," Draco said dryly.

"Oh come on," Hermione said with a grin, "I'll stop bugging you all of the time if you come."

Draco scoffed, "I don't believe that for a second. It's in your nature to bug people, Granger."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, "I'm starting to think you're scared of something. Like snow, or Harry."

"Scared of Potter?" Draco asked in disbelief, "He wishes. I just have more important things to do than throw frozen water around."

"What are these more important things, Malfoy? You mention them every single time we talk," Hermione said matter of factly.

"Well, since my Father is in prison somebody has to run the Malfoy estate," Draco said with a glare in Hermione's direction, "then again you would know all about that since it's your fault he's in prison in the first place."

"Yes, I know. I'm such a shit person for getting your Father arrested for torturing people, and killing Muggles and trying to kill a group of kids the same age as his son," Hermione said sarcastically, "you're right, I should have just let him get away with it."

"You think you're so witty don't you Granger?" Draco asked irritably.

"Well yes, as a matter of fact I do," Hermione retorted, "now, are you going to join our snowball fight or what?"

"All right I'll join in with your bloody snowball fight if you just piss off and leave me al-"

"Malfoy, watch!"

But, it was too late. Draco walked into the invisible barrier before he had a chance to heed Hermione's words. She had seen the soft shimmering light of the barrier and stopped before she hit it.

As Draco rubbed his face irritably he glared at her, "Seriously?"

"What? I didn't do it!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Nope, it was me this time," Daphne smirked from the entrance hall, "and I modified Susan's barrier. A kiss on the cheek won't do it for this one to drop, it's got to be on the lips."

"I'm going to kill you Daphne," Hermione muttered as she glared at the blonde.

"Get in line," Draco said with a deathly glare at Daphne.

"You'll have to kiss first to get out of there, and by then I'll be long gone," Daphne grinned, "asta la vista mother-"

"MISS GREENGRASS, LANGUAGE!" McGonagall barked from within the hall.

"Sorry Professor McGonagall," Daphne said sheepishly as she darted out of the entrance hall into the white grounds.

"I actually have to touch you, Granger," Draco said distastefully.

"Well I'm not exactly thrilled about kissing a ferret, I'm not into bestiality," Hermione retorted.

Draco glared at her, "Then I'll wait here until Greengrass comes back and takes the barrier down."

Hermione was honestly a little hurt as she said, "Wow Malfoy, am I really that repulsive to you? I thought it was just a muggle-born thing, but you dated Lilly. So it clearly is just me."

"Stop trying to back me into a corner, Granger."

"I'm not," Hermione said honestly, "but I really don't understand what I ever did to you to make you hate me so much."

"You didn't do anything," Draco said, looking at the ground, "I just can't be around you, we've been over this."

"But that's bullshit, because you didn't even know about that until recently. What about in 1st year, or 2nd year?" Hermione asked, "You have been horrible to me since…well since I became friends with Harry."

Draco watched her in amusement, and she then said, "It was because I became friends with Harry, wasn't it? That's why you didn't like me."

"Look," Draco said, "We'll talk about this somewhere else. Let's just do this quickly and get it over with, okay?"

"Agreed," Hermione said, and now she had his permission she leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the lips. The barrier dropped, and they walked out into the entrance hall as if nothing had ever happened.

"Yes, it was because of Potter I didn't like you," Draco said as they walked out into the grounds which were freezing and covered completely in snow, "and Weasley. My family and Weasley's hate each other anyway."

"And your problem with Harry was that he embarrassed you when he didn't become your friend," Hermione guessed.

Draco nodded reluctantly, "He's a Potter, half-blood or not, and his family were famous for their magical strength. I did want to be his friend."

"And when he became friends with me, a mudblood at that, you were even more embarrassed because he didn't want to be friends with you and you're a pure-blood," Hermione said slightly sarcastically.

"You really shouldn't call yourself that," Draco said darkly.

"Why not?" Hermione asked, "You call me it all the time, so why shouldn't I call myself it? That's what I am after all, isn't it? A filthy little mudblood."

"No, you aren't!" Draco snapped.

Hermione was slightly taken aback as she looked him in the eye, "Then what am I, Draco?"

He didn't take his gaze away from hers, "You're too good for me, that's what Granger. That's why I'm staying away from you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione asked in exasperation.

"Exactly what it sounds like," Draco said darkly, "whatever you seem to see in me is wrong. I'm not a good person, Granger and you are. So get yourself out of my mess while you can."

"What mess, Draco?" Hermione asked with a frown.

"Would you stop asking me questions? Just stay away okay! Do you know how hard it is for me to make you stay away at all the time? I - Granger, what are you doing?" Draco stopped mid-rant as Hermione stooped to the ground.

"Don't you fucking dare," He said, as Hermione scooped some snow up in her hands.

Hermione smirked at him, "I'm a Gryffindor, Malfoy," she said as she threw the snowball at his head, and hit him on the cheek.

"Did you listen to anything I just said?" Draco asked irritably.

"Yes, but I am choosing to ignore it. You can't make choices for me, I am not a child so you can push me away all you want but I'll keep coming back," Hermione said matter of factly.

"Really? You're not a child? Because you're acting like one right now with your stupid snowball fight," Draco said dryly.

"Oh come on, live a little," Hermione teased.

Draco shot her a glare, and then mischief sparkled in his eyes as he pulled his wand from his pocket and with one swish brought all of the snow from the tree they were standing under down on Hermione's head, "Bloody Muggle-borns don't have the first clue about how to have a good snowball fight," he said playfully.

"I can't believe you just did that!" Hermione shuddered as she shook the snow off of herself.

"You started it," Draco combatted.

Hermione smirked and pulled her wand from her soaked jacket pocket and with a single spell threw him into a snowdrift that had been formed while Hagrid cleared a path from his hut to the school.

When Draco emerged spluttering from the huge pile of snow he said, "This is getting personal now Granger," as he built himself a snow wall to hide behind.

Hermione copied him, but built hers thicker and higher, "I can do anything better than you Malfoy. I'm smarter, remember?"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night Granger," Draco called from his snow fort.

The next thing Hermione knew a giant ball of snow was launched at her, but she avoided it and transfigured a stick on the ground into a snow machine gun which she loaded with snowballs. She grinned as she began to fire it at Draco's pretty weak snow wall, she could tell it had collapsed when he shrieked as a snowball hit his neck and slid down his back.

However when she peered over her wall she couldn't believe her eyes. Draco had built a mini-castle, and attached to the top was an ice-canon, "Are you trying to bloody kill me Malfoy?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

"You're a Witch, you can use Protego!" Draco called, and she could hear the amusement in his voice.

Hermione did, and if she hadn't she would have been very cold as Draco's giant ball of ice missed her and smashed a hole in the ice of the lake.

"Okay, maybe that was a little dangerous. Sorry, Granger," Draco's voice said sheepishly from his snow castle.

"What the hell was that?" Harry asked as he appeared behind Hermione.

"Never seen a snowball fight, Potter?" Draco jeered.

Harry took cover in Hermione's fort and yelled, "You smashed a hole in the lake, Malfoy!"

"It was an accident," Hermione pointed out in amusement.

"You're defending your opponent?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow as he helped her strengthen her fort.

Hermione smirked and said, "Doesn't mean I won't kick his arse. You on my side or what?"

Harry grinned, and from across no-man's land they heard a new voice enter the fore, "Two against two is fairer than two against one."

"Oh come on Daphne, you're not seriously going to help him?" Susan's voice asked as she yelped, and jumped into Harry and Hermione's snow fort soaking wet.

"They have a snow cannon!"

"We have a snow machine gun," Hermione pointed out with a smirk.

"And we can make more," Harry said when he found more sticks on the ground.

"Well you can't," Lilly said as she entered the now very crowded snow fort, "I've seen you in Transfiguration."

"Are there four of you in there?" Draco asked in disbelief.

"No," Hermione lied.

"You bloody cheats!" Draco exclaimed.

"Well the light side always wins Malfoy, even if the dark side do have cookies," Harry called.

"What the fuck are you talking about Potter?"

"Muggle reference!" Lilly called in amusement.

"Bloody muggle-borns!" Draco cursed.

Lilly grinned as she and Susan made two new snow weapons and began to bombard Draco and Daphne's ice castle with them. From their shrieks they guessed that at least a few of the snowballs had gotten through the walls.

As the mini castle crumbled Hermione grinned at Lilly and Daphne, "Girl power rules!"

"Hey, what the hell am I? A bloody statue!" Harry asked in amusement.

"Well in fairness, you are pretty feminine," Susan said.

"Well fuck you, I'm starting my own team," Harry said as he got up.

Daphne laughed from across the way, "You'll never last on your own Potter."

"Just bloody watch me," Harry said with a grin as he left the snow fort, and set up his own little snow castle in between the current two bashed and beaten ones. This distraction had given Draco and Daphne time to build up their castle again, and all three 'armies' were ready to fight once more.

Hermione, Susan and Lilly and Daphne and Draco began to bombard each other with a variety of new weapons, including a catapult, and a grenade launcher. The latter had pretty much destroyed the Slytherin castle, but as they were rebuilding it Hermione frowned, "Harry has been really quiet since he left."

"Probably because he can't transfigure anything into a weapon!" Daphne called in amusement.

Moments after her words were uttered there was a roar from the direction of Harry's castle, and it shook the ground so much that it destroyed the Slytherin castle and Hermione's fort. They looked in the direction of Harry's castle in bemusement and couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the walls collapse and Harry emerge on what appeared to be a 12 foot tall ice giant.

"You made a bloody ice Gollum!" Hermione shrieked in disbelief, "How the hell did you do that?"

Harry grinned, as his ice Gollum roared and said something that sounded like, 'smash'.

"Okay Potter, we surrender!" Draco said quickly as he backed away from the huge chunk of ice.

"Really Malfoy? Already?" Hermione asked in disbelief.

Draco raised his eyebrow at her, "Do you want to fight that thing?"

"He has a valid point," Lilly said, "we surrender too!"

Harry laughed loudly as his ice giant took a giant chunk out of the remainder of Draco and Daphne's ice castle, and Daphne screamed loudly.

"What on earth do you think you are doing Mr. Potter?"

Harry glanced to the doorway where McGonagall was watching, and appeared to be fuming.

"Practicing my Transfiguration, Professor," Harry said matter of factly.

"Dismantle that thing immediately! You are scaring the first years!" McGonagall said angrily.

"Sorry Professor," Harry said sheepishly as he jumped down into the soft snow and aimed his wand at the Gollum's chest, "Reducto!"

Everyone gaped as the ice giant erupted and fell down on their heads in the form of very fine snow.

"When did Harry get that powerful?" Susan asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I thought he just got lucky every year, or that someone saved him by a fluke," Daphne remarked.

"No, his name isn't Frodo," Lilly said under her breath.

"Who is Frodo?" Draco asked.

"Muggle reference, Malfoy," Hermione said as she stared at Harry in awe.

"A word please Potter, and who started this foolish fight?" McGonagall asked as she surveyed them all.

Hermione bit her lip, "I did Professor."

"You too then Miss Granger," McGonagall said, so with a guilty look about her she and Harry followed McGonagall into the school.

Draco was frowning, and Susan asked, "What's up with you?"

"He feels bad for getting Hermione into trouble," Daphne teased, "and hes pissed Potter made him look bad in front of her."

Draco scoffed, "He didn't make me look bad. That was nothing."

"That was a bloody impressive bit of magic, admit it," Lilly said.

"I'll admit nothing," Draco said stubbornly, "and I didn't get Granger into trouble. She did start it."

"And you didn't walk away," Daphne pointed out.

"What is this, the Spanish inquisition?" Draco asked irritably.

"Oh my god, Draco, that was a Muggle reference!" Lilly exclaimed.

Draco shot her an amused smirk, "I do read books, Lillian."

Lilly picked up a remnant of the ice castle and shoved it down his back. He cursed loudly, and she said, "Call me Lillian again, go on, try it."

"I'm good thanks," Draco said with a shudder.

Daphne sniggered, "Aren't you glad Hermione isn't here to see you get owned by a girl?"

Draco glared at her, "I'm leaving, and when you see Granger tell her this was not fun."

"We'll tell her you had a great time then!" Susan called after Draco as he walked away in the direction of the school.

TBC :)