Hey everyone. I just wanna say I'm so sorry it's been so long since I last updated. No, this story is not abandoned, and now that I've gotten over some bumps in life I'll be updating regularly. This chapter is a bit short, and sort of a filler before we get to some action next chapter between Harry and Quirrill. Hopefully you enjoy.

Chapter 10: Christmas

Harry awoke Christmas morning to the knowledge that he probably wouldn't have the standard Weasley jumper this year. He woke alone in the Slytherin dorms save for Theodore Nott who continued sleeping soundly. Harry shook his head in amusement. He rose from his bed and spelled his clothes on, heading downstairs to the common room.

There weren't many other students there, and everyone Harry knew save Hermione had gone home for Christmas. He looked toward the large tree in the center of the room and sighed as he saw the other students eyeing his pile of presents enviously. There were quite a few. Each year people throughout the magical world try to send Harry gifts to thank him for defeating the Dark Lord as a baby. Usually he just collected them all up and donated them to wizarding second hand shops so someone else could get them for their own family. He was still baffled by the idea that people actually wanted to give him presents. He was, after all, just Harry.

Harry spotted a few packages though that surprised him this year and he managed to tear them open eagerly. Dumbledore's gift of Harry's father's cloak made Harry frown. He had epected this, yes, but it didn't bring Harry pleasant memories of his past timeline. A Deathly Hallow he'd had all along and he hadn't even known it. He would put this to better use this time around, that was for sure. The other gifts he grinned at, a present from Hermione and one from Malfoy. Hermione had sent back her books on wizarding traditions that she had borrowed from him and finished, as well as some classic muggle literature. The boy-who-lived had never gotten the chance to read many actual novels and he was looking forward to the opportunity. The H.G. Wells collection looked especially intriguing. His final gift was from Draco, and Harry was immediately taken aback upon opening it. There was a book titled An Introduction to Healing: Theory and Spells, as well as a wand holster that looked the perfect size for his forearm with a note attached:

Harry,

Happy Christmas. I hope this day finds you well. Seeing as you are the only heir to House Potter I assume you have the funds to buy anything you desire for the holidays, so I thought a more practical gift might be better. Let's just say I've seen the signs before and I hope that these should help should you need any assistance during the summer hols next year. I won't mention the matter again if you'd prefer, but just know that the wand holster also acts as a portkey to my family home if you say, "Malfoy Manor" while clutching it with your other hand, in case of an emergency.

Warmest Regards,

Draco Malfoy

Harry let out a true smile. He couldn't believe how different this time around was going. Draco Malfoy was not only a sort of friend to him, but was concerned about his safety. Harry frowned a bit when reading the part about 'the signs.' He hadn't known he was being so obvious. He would have to make more of an effort to figure out a way out of the Dursley's house before the next summer hols. He certainly didn't want to have to use the portkey portion of his gift if he didn't have to. Harry's head turned up to look at the clock. Best get down to breakfast!

Hermione and he had discussed Norbert over breakfast, after thanking each other for their gifts of course (Hermione had absolutely gushed over being given some thorough books on wizarding traditions), and they had agreed it might actually be best to just let Hagrid keep him and raise the creature in the forest. Harry wasn't sure exactly what that would change but anything he could do differently, he wanted to do. He had decided to do a bit of light reading over the afternoon and then take a nighttime walk with his cloak that night after curfew. There was one thing he wanted to see before the chance was gone.

Harry slipped out from under his cloak upon entering the room and having the door shut quietly behind him. He stepped forward, eyeing the mirror in the middle of the room with trepidation. He wondered if he would see his parents again, like the last time.

He sat down in front of the mirror, eyes trained on the image reflected back at him. He saw himself, and then the background began to shift and meld into new shapes. He saw a sea of faces that looked so... alive. Remus, Tonks, Sirius, Dumbledore. Everyone he had lost stood behind him, smiling down at him. Hermione was there next to him, as well as Draco, and the Weasleys were there as well, all alive close to the back. He was surprised Ginny wasn't up front with Harry himself, but he shook the thought away.

This was what he so desperately desired, what he truly wanted most. He nodded to himself. Things would be different. No one would die. Harry would put a stop to it all. He stood then, throwing his cloak back on and heading back to the dorms. This had been what he had needed to spur him into action. After the holiday break ended Harry would have to tackle the stone and his nemesis. Harry would most certainly be looking into owl ordering some extra books on a variety of subjects tonight before dinner if he was going to go in alone this time. He wouldn't risk anyone else again, and he needed to be prepared.

The holiday having come to an end, Harry had already finished his new book on healing from Draco, and he had received his expedited order of books from Flourish and Blotts on strategy and dueling techniques and gotten through quite a bit of those as well. He had taken on the Dark Lord at the height of his return, he could certainly handle the half-parasite that was Quirrell. It was the first day back of classes and Harry was just exiting potions class with Draco and Hermione. Blaise and Theo were talking and walking behind them.

"Harry I really don't understand why you don't just go up to Professor Snape and ask him about your essay!" Hermione moved to block Harry from passing but Draco pulled the other boy around her.

Draco looked over at Hermione, "You know perfectly well why. Professor Snape may be our head of house and my Godfather but he still isn't the nicest man in Hogwarts."

"But Harry's essay was better than mine and I got an E while he only got an A. It's complete nonsense!" Hermione's face was beginning to turn red from frustration. How could they not see the injustice?

Harry sighed, "Hermione, Professor Snape has his reasons for giving me the grade he did. They might not be good reasons, but I don't want to get into them now. I'm just going to keep doing my best so that he doesn't have any excuse to mark me down any further."

Hermione nodded tightly before letting it go. She would have to investigate on her own into why Professor Snape was so wrongly grading Harry. "Either way, I spoke to my parents over the break." Here Hermione began to wring her hands nervoulsy while they walked, "I told them about you all, about us being friends. They... well they really want to meet you both. I was told I could invite you to go on holiday with us this summer to Italy. They would pay for everything of course. I mean obviously if you don't want to go I completely understand, I figured you wouldn't want to anyway you see and-"

Harry stopped abruptly and Hermione turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "'Mione, I would love to go. I've never been out of the country before and spending time with you over the summer sounds much better than with the Dursleys."

Draco looked nervous, about asking his father to spend the summer with a muggle-born like Hermione, Harry guessed, but responded nonetheless, "That sounds amazing, Miss Granger. I would be honored to accompany you. My family has a small villa in Italy so I know some of the great local spots we could visit."

Hermione beamed at them both. "I'm so glad! I can't wait, I'll owl them tomorrow to let them know." She ran off, presumably to write the letter, and Harry turned to Draco expectantly.

"So what are you going to tell your father? I know all about Lucius Malfoy's infamous hatred of all things muggle and muggle-born. How are you going to convince him to let you spend part of the summer with Hermione?" Harry frowned. He wondered if Malfoy senior could be changed this time around too. Draco was certainly making progress without a real enemy to go up against, aside from the occasional tiff with Ron of course. Harry still wasn't sure how he felt about that.

"I'm sure I'll figure something out. I'm sure if I tell him the great Harry Potter is coming along he'll be fine with it. If worst comes to worst I'll just convince him to take us to our villa in Italy and then just meet up with you and Miss Granger each day. Considering how busy he is, I doubt he'd suspect a thing." Here Draco frowned, and Harry thought he saw true disappointment on the other boy's face. He knew Lucius wasn't the best father but could sheer lack of time for his son be the major reason why Draco strived so hard to be so much more like his father?

Harry patted Draco's back once and then ran ahead, looking back at the other boy, "Come on, let's get going Draco! We've got a Herbology lesson to get to!"

Thanks so much for reading everyone and a happy belated mother's day to you all. The next chapter is already done as well so that should be up within the week. I hope you all enjoy and then after next chapter we will be having some developments and real changes finally. Whoo!