A/N: What did I tell you? Constant updates, much wowe. If you like what you're reading, don't forget to show this starving author some love. I accept faves and comments or shining reviews x)

Harry filled the two in carefully, leaving out any sensitive information but knowing that it was going to blow up in his face sooner or later. He told them about his secret meetings with Draco, who came to him wanting a crackdown on this Selgentar personality and telling them what he's recently learnt: that the professor will be joining the Malfoy's for Christmas.

"Hang on," Hermione said. Harry held his breath thinking here it comes but all she said was, "so the both of you have been meeting up in the dead of night..." She suddenly burst into a peal of laughter, "I never thought I would live to hear 'Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy meeting secretly at night'."

Harry smiled grimly at this whereas Ron's face was just grim.

"What I want to know is, why Harry?"

"Well, isn't it obvious? Now Harry I know you've always shied away from the hero title but Draco doesn't have anyone else to turn to who's beat You-Know-Who on multiple occasions and if Selgentar is as misguided as you say she is, then, Harry's the best person to talk to." As Hermione grew animated, Ron and Harry shared a look that said vastly different things.

Ron's was a can-you-believe-this? Whereas Harry's was one of pure relief, knowing that the real reason Draco came to him was, and he couldn't believe he was giving life to this thought, that Draco didn't want to risk put Hermione under Voldemort's scrutiny. As if that cold hearted snake could have such noble thoughts. As though he could care about his friend enough to the extent of exerting extra effort over making sure she stayed out of trouble's sight. The thought made him sick to his stomach.

Hermione continued her tirade, glowing with the prospect of uniting the houses and giving life to a hollow ache growing in Harry. She really was quite charming when she was blindly passionate about things she believed in. Even that horrifying S.P.E.W project where she couldn't see the damage she was doing. But that was part of it-

"Harry," He saw her lips shaping his name and he glanced up to her concerned look, "you look positively knackered, off to bed the both of you. We've got the entire Christmas to catch up. But isn't this exciting, Ron, with you, that makes three Gryffindors who are friends with a Slytherin!"

The next look that Ron gave Harry was unmistakable: bloody hell, how did we arrive at this conclusion?

They spent the next day holed up in the common room and speaking freely, since most of everyone's gone home. Hermione nibbled on a treacle tart that Ron's mother had sent everyone; it was odd not spending Christmas with the Weasleys but Hermione was dead set on "staying away from distractions - oh we can't afford to be distracted with the N.E. so near" and the boys had been unwittingly talked into staying.

Mrs. Weasley hid her disappointment with copious praise for her initiative but had sneaked in a few hints which were largely overlooked.

"Okay, so what are we going to do about Professor Selgentar?" Ron broke their merry gathering and grabbed his parcel of pie off the table. Upon seeing that there was none left, he peeked at Hermione's but Harry gave him a slice nonchalantly.

"Suppose we wait to see what Draco comes back with," Harry said, mouth filled with sticky treacle.

Ron choked on a bit of his, "Draco?" Hermione quickly shot him a look and he adjusted the tone of his voice and he said in a less patronizing manner, "I don't suppose I could point out that he..." Hermione's withering look grew more intense and he continued weakly, "... that he is one of them?"

"I trusted Scabbers, and look where that got me." He added quickly.

"Are you really comparing him to your imposter of a rat?" Hermione said darkly.

"Can't deny that he's one, a rat I mean." Ron said, swallowing with a flourish and chucking the wrapper into his hamper, but it fell short, nestling by Hermione. She grabbed it and threw it with the growing pile.

"People change, Ron, I'm sure Scabbers taught you that." She said stubbornly.

"Right, well I guess it is pretty hard for you accept that- that he's a real boy!" Harry said, referencing some obscure muggle fairytale to Ron's confusion, "Nevermind, it's just something about a puppet coming to life-" which did nothing for Ron's growing questions, "but for now you'll have to trust us and decide for yourself when school starts."

Ron blanched at that and muttered under his breath, "I won't hold your breath if I were you."

"If you're done muttering about Draco, let's start with Transfiguration," Hermione conjured a book from seemingly nowhere and set it on the table, "or maybe Ancient Runes, I'm horribly behind..."

"And I'm off! Err- Harry's promised to practice Quidditch with me." Ron said quickly, standing up and causing bits of crust and wrappings to fall to the ground.

"I did?" Harry asked quizzically which got him a half-hearted kick on his upper thigh. "Oh- That's right, I did. Let me just," he tried to get up but he couldn't feel his legs from sitting crossed legged for too long, Ron grabbed his arm and dragged him to his feet and practically carried him out of the room.

Hermione watched them go with an amused expression. One mention of homework or revision always has them running out the door, but she was determined that they wouldn't neglect their schoolwork. It was why they had forgone their winter holidays, after all.

She was waiting with blank parchments when they came through the portrait after lunch, "I've decided that we'll finish up whatever outstanding work we have and begin on next week's modules. Holiday's the perfect time to play catch up, don't you think?"

"Sure," Ron said deflating to the floor and looking at his taller pile of parchments, going a little green at the prospect of having to spend the rest of the holidays with Hermione watching over his every move. "Almost wished Draco was back so he could your pet project."

"For your information, Draco is an excellent student and he doesn't leave his work till the last minute to complete them."

"Oh, yeah? I bet he pays his nasty little followers to do them for him. Have you ever see him working in the library?" Ron persisted with an eyebrow raised.

This gave pause to Hermione who thought about it and said, "As a matter of fact, no... But he does-"

"Makes you wonder what they are doing in the library, doesn't it?" Ron gave Harry a little nudge and he agreed with a laugh, covering up the sinking feeling in his stomach especially when Hermione pinked and hit Ron over the head with the book she was holding.

The rest of the holidays passed without incident, except that Harry couldn't stop looking at Hermione in a new light. Clearly, she was attractive in her own way, Viktor Krum certainly found her fascinating. While it wasn't clear whether Draco did, it was apparent that there was something about her or that particular Slytherin would not have wormed his way into a friendship with her.

Harry found his feelings confused and in turmoil. He often reprimanded himself when he caught himself daydreaming about the way she said certain words. But he's learnt to convince himself that he sees her more like a sister, and allowed himself a longer leash. He's always known she was brave and brilliant, with a compassionate heart to boot, but it's like he's seeing her properly for the first time. Before he knew it, he began thinking about how her lips would taste, and that was when Christmas ended.

The day Draco returned should have been just like any other, but now that Hermione didn't have to keep her friendship with him a secret from her two best friends, they could see that she was more excited than she should be.

"I wonder what he's found out, aren't you two excited?" She asked as they made their way to the library together.

"I've been more excited watching rain race down a window." Ron murmured whereas Harry kept his mouth shut, telling himself that he enthusiasm meant nothing and that he should be looking forward to whatever news he was bringing.

They entered the library and found the front deserted, but Hermione made her way to the back as though she knew exactly where she was going and led the way. There was a growing rock at the pit of Harry's stomach that weighed him down with every light step she took. The two boys followed behind her and Harry could see the exact moment Draco noticed her because his face lit up like a Christmas tree and it was everything he could do not to yell at him to wipe that look off his face and maybe punch him viciously.

He also saw the moment Draco's eyes fell on Ron, because that Christmas tree went dark immediately and barked, "Oh... Look what the cat dragged in. Is it a homeless red haired- ah, a Weasley, then."