Christmas Day

Ah, Christmas. A day full of fun filled merriment and of course, presents. If only I could really enjoy it. Now don't get me wrong, I love having free time to hang out with family and friends, but it just isn't the same when you're Jewish. You never get to have those moments of decorating the tree or believing that Santa Claus is real. I must say, though, that it was nice waking up to presents by my bed this morning. Allie got me a mint condition CD of this wizarding group from Italy that I've never heard of, but they sound good. Taylor got me a menorah as an inside joke. She also got me some chocolate that I shared. I got some cool stuff from Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny and some other people I don't even know as well. The only problem with everything is that no one, besides Allie and Taylor, remembered that I'M JEWISH! All I hear is "Happy Christmas!" here and "Merry Christmas, Rachel!" there. At first it was fine and I just politely corrected anyone who said that to me. But now it's already lunchtime and no one seems to be getting my drift.

"I don't understand how people don't get I'm Jewish," I declare to Allie and Taylor. "I mean…just look at my name for example, Rachel Cohen. It's not exactly the most Christian or Catholic name, now is it?" They both give me a sympathetic look.

"I guess it's just not common for Jews to come to Hogwarts," Allie tries to explain.

"I can see that," I reply. "I swear the next person to wish me a 'Happy Christmas' is going to get it!"

I promise that the next thing that happens is purely by miracle. Who happens to come up to me but Pansy Parkinson, with Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bulstrode by her side. Draco and his gang aren't too far behind.

"Happy Christmas, Rachel," she says mockingly.

"That's it!" I scream as I rise from the table. Everyone stops what they are doing to look at me.

"I'M JEWISH! JEWISH! GET IT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE? HAVE NONE OF YOU MET A JEW BEFORE? WELL HERE I AM AND I WANT SOME HANUKAH DECORATIONS! WHERE'S MY MENORAH AND DREDALS FOR MERLIN'S SAKE? NOT EVERYONE IS CHRISTIAN OR CATHOLIC IN THIS WORLD!" I start to feel myself shaking and notice that I am making glasses explode and candles flame with my raw anger and power. That's kind of cool. Everyone stares at me to see what is going to be my next move.

"Oh and by the way, Parkinson, Happy Christmas to you too," I say before punching her in her pug nose. She cries out in pain as I sweep my things up and storm out of the Great Hall. I hear everyone cheer and clap for me as I leave. I get a smirk on my face that could rival Draco's.

"That was bloody brilliant! It's about time some one made some changes around here," I hear someone exclaim behind me. I turn around to see Draco staring at me with a strange look in his eyes. I am rendered speechless, for once. He makes his way towards me and says, "How did you do that? I mean… break all those glasses and everything?"

"I don't know exactly. I think it has something to do with raw power."

"Brilliant. I wish I could do that. Oh and thanks for finally punching Pansy. I've been wanting to do that for a while, but I couldn't since she's a girl and all."

"But what about the other night...and the kissing?" I babble as he keeps coming closer.

"We both know that was just a ploy to get you jealous and it worked, didn't it?" He says pulling me close to him.

"Mmmhmmm," I sigh, but not before remembering what happened to us before. "Wait, how come you don't mind that I'm Jewish, but you would care if I was muggle born?"

"Well you see, while I was growing up, my family and I had many different religious friends. We even have a part of our family that's Jewish, if you can believe that," he and I both laugh at that. He becomes suddenly more serious and pushes me back a little so I can look him straight in the eye.

"It wasn't until I came to Hogwarts that I really interacted with anyone that wasn't pureblood. My whole family line is pureblood and that's what I grew up knowing was right. I learned from my father that anyone else who wasn't pureblood wasn't as good as us. Basically I have been brainwashed since I was born. It wasn't until you came along and opened my eyes did I realize this and see how truly dimwitted I must have been to actually believe my father."

"I'm so glad you have finally come around, Draco," I explain as I pull him close again.

"So am I, Rachel. So am I," he sighs.

We stand there embraced in each other, just listening to each other's heartbeats, for what seems like forever, but what is truly only a couple of minutes. I finally break the silence.

"You're not just fooling with me to get me to go out with you, are you?"

"Look into my eyes. Would I ever do something like that to you?'

I look into his molten silver eyes and what I find in there surprises me. I find truth, trust, compassion, but most of all lust. He really is telling the truth.

"I believe you, Draco."

"Great because now I can finally do this…"

He bends down and softly caresses his lips against mine. Fireworks immediately explode between us. We both close our eyes and moan into the kiss, for this is what we've both been waiting for a long time. The kiss then becomes more passionate as we both let go of our pent up feelings for one another. He grabs my hip with his left hand and pulls me as close as humanly possible, while his right hand caresses my back. My left hand follows his right one with the back caresses, but my right hand goes into his platinum hair. It's just as baby soft as I imagined it to be. Neither of us wants to break this lust filled kiss, but he pulls back reluctantly, needing to take a breath. I smile and open my eyes to see a beaming Draco standing in front of me.

"Wow!" is all I can say.

"Yeah! That was great!"

"Brilliant! You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that." I say as I pull him back to give him another kiss.

"How long?" He says between our kisses.

"Since the first day I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup."

"Really? Wow. I can't say that far back, but definitely ever since you ran into me in the hallway, literally."

"Oh right. I almost forgot about that. Sorry about that," I blush.

"Don't be. I'm glad that happened or else I would have never really gotten to know you," he says before kissing me again. Each kiss gives me more and more butterflies in my stomach.

"Hey Draco," I say in between our kisses.

"Hmmm…"

"What time is it?"

"It's nearly 2 o'clock, why?"

"Damn it!" I declare as I stop kissing him. "I told Allie and Taylor that I would meet them in the common room at 1:30. They must be wondering where I am. I have to go."

"Do you have to?" He whines very un-characteristically.

"Yes, sad to say. But how about we get together later tonight in the potions room…around 9? I can give you my present then."

"All right. Sounds good. I bought you a present as well, you know, just in case."

"Goodbye Draco."

"Bye Rae."

"Oh before I go, Happy Christmas, Draco," I say as I give him a kiss.

"Happy Hanukah, Rae," he smiles at me before turning to head to the Slytherin common room.

I skip all the way back to the Gryffindor common room with a huge smile on my face. Maybe Christmas isn't so bad after all!