Disclaimer: I do not own the plot, the world, the characters, or any other aspect of the series Harry Potter written by J.K. Rowling. I do copy exact words from "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and I admit I do not own the text.

This plotline was original but it falls in line with the plot line of the sixth book.

Chapter Eleven

Happy Belated Christmas

Sophia was confident that she wasn't to blame for the accident. Plus, she hadn't really done anything hurtful to Pansy or Millicent, like the Cruciatus Curse. She thought she had explained her case well.

Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape told her she was free to go, and she was happy to. She left the room hearing Flitwick and Snape bickering and having a bit of a row. There had been two bathroom incidents in a span of two months, but what did Sophia care? She had taken care of Pansy and Millicent and was excited to tell Draco of the news. She wanted to know what he had to say about 'Pansy The Prat'.

Draco was not Pansy's. And he wasn't Sophia's either. She wanted to get that point clearly across to Pansy, and she was unsure of whether she succeeded or not. She figured Pansy didn't understand because she attacked Sophia. (And ended up stupefied, heh.)

"Wow. Is it true, did Pansy really jump you like that?" Draco asked concerned yet amused at the same time.

"Yup. She really is awful Draco. I don't know how you ever put up with her at the Yule Ball…" Sophia shivered.

"Ha, well she isn't that bad. Well, I mean she doesn't go around shooting the Cruciatus Curse at me."

"But she's there so why not use her," Sophia stated bluntly.

"I never said that!" Draco shouted, blushing.

"Ha, whatever." Sophia continued writing and the scratching of the quill substituted for the conversation.

"So what exactly did she say?" Draco wondered.

"She told me to stay away from you, like you were some piece of her property." This was it, what was he going to say to that!

Dammit. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"I told her you were a human being and that you belonged to no one, not her, not me."

There we go. She got his attention now. He peeked up over his book to look at her.

"Why are you so nice to people?" he sneered.

"Excuse me? Why am I so nice? Why are you so cold-hearted? You hate everyone." He smiled. Why did he like her telling him he was nasty? What was wrong with this guy? "You've got problems, Draco."

"If you say so."

"So what is the problem you've been trying to fix?"

"You can't trick me, Dune," he said with a smirk.

"Dammit." She chuckled at her defeat. She tried getting it out of him but it was no use. He wasn't going to give anything up.

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A week later, Sophia sat on her bed playing with her brown leather satchel. She kept things in the bag that were important to her and things that she wanted to keep close to her. She had placed the bottle of polyjuice potion in the bag along with a couple of sickles and galleons. She kept a phoenix feather in the bag also. Her Aunt had tied it around Sophia's stocking on Christmas Day about seven years ago, when Sophia was ten years old. Her parents weren't aware of the importance and rarity of the gift, but Sophia understood why they didn't. She couldn't expect them too understand. After all, they were Muggles.

It was an hour before dinner and Sophia wanted to watch the sun set on the Black Lake. She took her brown satchel and walked leisurely to the same tree she always sat under. The nights were becoming less chilly because of the approaching summer weather, and Sophia soaked in the warmth. Unfortunately, the sun wasn't setting just yet and wouldn't be until dinnertime.

"Oh well…" Sophia sighed. "It's still beautiful." She soaked in the serenity, and felt the stillness of the evening all around her. She recollected all the memories of her sixth year at Hogwarts. She had accomplished so much, and wondered what her seventh year would be like. She decided that her goal for next year will be to improve her Quidditch skills, or else Ravenclaw will never win the Quidditch Cup!

Sophia cherished this spot and this tree. It brought her into a peaceful state, and she needed that after what had happened this past year. Most of the stress had come from Draco. It wasn't exactly all his fault, and Sophia was glad she befriended him. That was another goal of hers for next year, to help make Draco a better person. At first he won't see eye to eye with her, but she'll make him.

What was that?

A soft note…

And another…and another…

Making a chain of notes…a melody.

She spun her head around to look in the direction that the song was playing. It was the most beautiful sound Sophia had ever heard.

It was coming from Draco.

Draco sings?

No. From his hands.

What's making the noise?

He came closer to her, and smiled. He held out his right hand, and Sophia's hand fell underneath it. He let a golden locket fall into her palm. She gawked at it and its beauty. The music was enchanting.

"I knew you'd like it." Sophia stood up to get closer to him.

"It's…it's, oh Merlin! Why did you get this?" Sophia studied his face to see if this was all a joke. His face was completely innocent. He embraced her and Sophia's doubts were melting away.

"Happy Belated Christmas," he breathed in her ear.

"I…thank you…" she trailed off. "You look bett—" the words got caught in her throat. She choked and he rubbed her back.

"I look better, I know. My health has improved."

"You still look tired," she managed to get out.

"Yea." Then, out of the blue, he kissed her.

His lips touched hers, and they were lost in a snog. Sophia felt as though nothing else in the world could be better than this moment. When their lips had finally parted Sophia asked with a daze,

"What was that for?"

"I did it." Sophia instantly knew what those words meant. She cried out in joy and jumped on him. He stumbled backwards but recovered his balance.

"YES! SEE? I TOLD YOU DRACO, DIDN'T I? I KNEW YOU COULD! YES! YES! YES!" she cheered gleefully. He beamed at her and replied,

"Yes Sophia. It's all because of you."

"Because of me?" He nodded yes. "All I did was—"

"—Frighten me." Sophia burst out laughing and said she was sorry for scaring him. She didn't think she could be that intimidating. She told him that it was all a joke of course. "No. I'm serious. You really did scare me Sophia." This time there was no laughter coming from her. She shook her head to grasp what he was saying. "You told me that giving up was pitiful and pathetic. And I realized you were right. I would just be worthless and weak if I had surrendered." He held her head in his hands and told her, "You helped me, and I didn't think I needed help. I was wrong. And I'm frustrated about that. But if it was you who helped me, than that makes me less annoyed with myself. Because I like you."

A tear trickled down her rouged cheeks. "It's all because of you." He kissed her again.

"Draco…why can't you be like this all the time?" she whimpered.

He snorted and answered, "What do you mean?"

"You really are nice, Draco. Why do you have to pretend to be rotten?" He spoke no reply to her question, only held her in his arms.

After a few minutes of silence he said, "Come on, we'll be late for dinner." He took his finger and wiped a tear from her cheek, and she dabbed her eyes with her sleeves. They walked up to the castle entrance hand in hand. "Be careful, alright?" Sophia looked up at him in confusion. "Just be cautious, that's all." His face was stern and sincere, but Sophia didn't take him seriously.

"Okaaay…" Sophia giggled. He stared ahead, silent, his eyes moving back and forth. "What's wrong? You seem nervous."

"What? Oh. No, I'm not. Just tired, I guess." Sophia didn't fully believe that though. At least he didn't snap at her like he usually would have.

"So do you like the locket?" he asked, changing the subject, as she was observing the initials S.J.D. on the back of the locket.

"I love it. But why did you have to add the middle initial?"

"I overheard some friend of yours call you by it. Why, what's wrong with Jamie?" Sophia stuck her tongue out at the sound of her middle name. He laughed and added, "What about the song?"

"It's absolutely wonderful. And I really mean it. I will never forget that sound."

And she never would.