Arthur Weasley's eyes were almost shut, but he managed to snap them open. The Order had decided that he should guard the door to the Department of Mysteries in case Voldemort attempted to retrieve the prophecy about him and Harry.

They'd definitely underestimated his capability to stay awake.

Suddenly, there was a hiss, but Arthur's eyes overpowered his ears. The next thing he knew, he was crying out in pain.

Miles away, Harry Potter awoke with a jolt.

"Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked, rubbing his eyes.

Harry was shaking so badly, Ron had to enlist the help of Professor McGonagall to drag Harry out of bed to Dumbledore's office.

The first thing Dumbledore asked after sending for the other Weasley children and after Harry described his dream was where Harry was in the dream.

"Were you standing next to the victim or looking down on the scene?"

"Neither," Harry said, "I- it was like- Professor, will you please just tell me what's happening?"

Dumbledore turned to a portrait in his office. "Everard, Arthur was on guard duty tonight. Visit your portrait in the Ministry and make sure he is found by the right people." Turning to the next portrait, he said, " Phineas, you must go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place and tell them that Arthur Weasley is gravely injured, and his children will be arriving there soon by Portkey."

Everard was back and he reported, "We got him, Albus. It was close, but I think he'll make it. What's more, the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."

"Oh, thank heavens. Dilys, go to your portrait at St. Mungo's and report back when Arthur is admitted. I must-"

"Look at me!" Harry yelled. "What's happening to me?"

"You wished to see me, Headmaster?"

Harry knew that voice, that unmistakable voice.

Dumbledore said, "Severus, I afraid we can't wait, not even until the morning. Otherwise, we will be vulnerable."


Three evenings later, Draco was rushing back to the common room after dinner when he bumped into Potter who was...also heading towards the dungeons.

"What are you doing down here?" Draco asked.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I have Remedial Potions with Snape." Potter glared before pushing past Draco.

Remedial potions? Draco thought. You mean Occlumency. How did you mess up this time?

The following morning, Draco went to the library right after breakfast. He sent Granger a message with his fake Sickle telling her to meet him there immediately. When she got there, he asked her to explain why Potter was learning Occlumency.

"I'm surprised he told you," Granger said.

"He didn't; I figured it out. Remedial potions? Really?"

"Anyway, Arthur Weasley was attacked by Nagini in the Department of Mysteries."

"What was he doing there?"

"We're not sure, but Ginny told me she heard Dumbledore mention that he was guarding it. And later, one of the portraits said that Voldemort didn't get something."

"Get what?"

"I was hoping you'd know. Some sort of a weapon, I think. At least, that's all I could find out this summer while eavesdropping on the Order. Did Voldemort mention anything?"

"Nope. I could ask my parents about it when I go home this break."

"Okay, and speaking of...Draco, stay safe."

Draco frowned. "Well, of course I'm going to stay safe."

"No, I mean, you live with Voldemort, for crying out loud!"

"I'd like to think it's Voldemort that lives with me, it being my house and all.."

"Anyway, just be careful. It's not normal, none of this."

"Then you be careful, too. At least Voldemort thinks I'm on his side. He knows you're not."

Apparently Granger couldn't keep waiting because she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed the bubble juice out of him.

"Okay," Draco said, taken aback. He awkwardly hugged back. When Granger pulled away, Draco said, "You do realize the train leaves in two days?"

"I'm just ahead of the clock, then," she said, grinning. "See you later."

Draco decided to go back to his common room. It was a Friday, so it was the last day of classes before break. He might as well spend his last couple of days at Hogwarts in peace.

Christmas Eve arrived on Sunday, and the students lined up to get onto the Hogwarts Express. Draco sat with his friends and they would all be going to Malfoy Manor, save for Adrian, whose family's allegiance was not yet clear.

On the other end of the train were the Gryffindors, and Hermione was on her own in meeting with Moody to safely transport her to Grimmauld Place because the Weasley children and Harry had been Portkeyed there ahead of time, courtesy of Dumbledore. Hermione had stayed behind to not miss class.

She entered the house and made her way to the room she'd stayed in earlier that year. She hadn't seen any of the others since she'd arrived so she reckoned they were in the kitchen. Instead of joining them, she just flopped onto her bed and closed her eyes. The hug with Draco ran through her mind over and over again. Hermione forced her eyes open. She had to stay focused on the important things, like the fact that Christmas was tomorrow and she needed to wrap her presents...and get Draco one! This was going to be a long break.

On Christmas Day, Arthur Weasley was back, and presents were everywhere. As Ron opened a big box to reveal yet another Weasley sweater ("Just what he wanted, actually," Hermione said), Sirius pulled Harry into the Black family tree room.

"Nasty brat," Kreacher commented, "standing there as bold as brass…Harry Potter, the boy who stopped the Dark Lord…friend of Mudbloods and blood-traitors alike…if my poor mistress-"

"Kreacher!" Sirius scolded. "That's enough of your bile. Get out!"

Taking his command literally, Kreacher did get out. Right when he did, he stumbled into Draco Malfoy.


On Christmas Eve, Voldemort asked a special favor of Draco and he was "excited".

"I'm going to drown myself in tears," Draco said to his friends.

"What do you mean?" Pansy asked.

"I'm so sick of pretending to be psyched for all of these tasks that I'm going to sweat right through my eyes, and those are called tears."

He was met with blank looks.

"Tough crowd."

"We are the sons of Death Eaters," Blaise remarked.

"And daughter," Pansy added in.

"Let's forget about all this for a second," Theo said. "What are we going to do for Christmas? You know, once Draco does this top secret thing he's not going to tell us about."

"We'll most likely be stuck here the whole break, but I bet you guys got me presents," Draco said. "Wait, isn't Voldemort supposed to leave tomorrow? He's found his own place or something."

"Where?" Blaise asked.

"I don't think he would tell us."

Just then, Narcissa called them down for dinner.

"You guys go ahead," Draco said. "I'll be right there."

Once his friends were gone, Draco went over the events of the past hour. Voldemort wanted him to go down to Knockturn Alley to collect a few things. He'd told Draco that the list of items would be provided at breakfast the next morning. Draco thought that he might as well stop to buy Granger a gift. Even if Draco didn't have feelings for her the way she did for him, and he never bought presents for people on Christmas, he could still cheer her up a bit. To be honest, Draco could use a little cheering up himself.

After breakfast the next day, Draco bade his friends goodbye and Flooed to Knockturn Alley. He would never love Flooing. When he got there, he remembered the Christmas of his first year. He'd gotten, what, new robes and pumpkin juice? Oh, and the lists-requirements and resolutions or something like that. He chuckled. That reminded him of the horrible parties his parents used to have.

Surprisingly, he hadn't seen his father until that morning, and Lucius was behaving strangely. He seemed cold and bored, but that was probably because Voldemort was there. Draco was relieved that Voldemort was leaving. It was uncomfortable to live with him.

Twenty minutes later, Draco walked out of Flourish & Blotts with Granger's new gift. He had everything Voldemort needed stowed away in his bag. He was about to find the nearest Floo when he crashed into some house-elf muttering stuff about blood traitors.

The creature looked up at him and said, "He looks like Master Narcissa."

"I, sorry, how do you know my mom?"

"New master doesn't like blood traitors, does he? Kreacher tried to apparate to the Malfoys, and this one was closest. One more try should do it." The house-elf grabbed Draco and disapparated.

They ended up in Draco's large dining room, despite the security measures because Draco was with the elf.

Voldemort was having a Death Eater meeting without him.

"What's going on here?" Voldemort demanded.

"Merry Christmas?" Draco said, shrugging.

A/N: Finally, after one month, I've got this done! It's funny how I finished the Christmas chapter on Christmas Eve. Anyway, hope you enjoy it, and Merry Christmas!