Chapter 13

Winter had well and truly taken hold of the castle. Snow lay in thick blankets across the grounds and ice had formed at the edges of the Great Lake. Harsh winds whipped through corridors with missing windows and Flitwick had gathered a group of prefects that trooped around to put up the Christmas decorations.

In what Blaise thought of as true Hogwarts Slytherin tradition, he insisted on throwing a lavish Christmas party on the last day of term.

The stress level in the eighth years common room had reached new heights with the undeniable approach of their NEWT level exams at the end of the year. All the teachers had added to this by piling them with homework to be completed over the holidays.

Blaise was throwing the party with a view in mind that it might be their last chance to really let loose before the countdown until their final exams would begin. For that reason, he had not held back in the slightest.

When Hermione walked into the common room that night she had to admit, perhaps against her better judgement, that she was impressed. The room was decked out in some of the most stunning Christmas decorations she had seen, Hermione even thought that some of them put Flitwick's charm work to shame.

The party already in full swing by the time Hermione arrived. She had been finishing off some work in the library, trying to make sure she had taken out all of the books she wanted for the holidays. She was spending the Christmas holidays with Harry at the Weasley's and knew she wouldn't get as much studying done as she would like but wanted to be prepared all the same.

Walking into a common room full of very tipsy people whilst she was still hauling around a huge stack of books was not Hermione's idea of a good time. She battled her way through the common room, trying to politely refuse the drinks that got thrust towards her by well-meaning partiers.

"Need a hand?" Hermione heard the voice as she felt the weight of the books get lifted out of her arms.

"Thanks." Hermione said, relieved. She glanced up at Draco and smiled. "I probably could have made the journey though." She added, as they crossed the final few steps to the Gryffindor dorms.

"Even so, what kind of gentleman would that make me if I saw someone struggling and I didn't help." Draco smiled and handed the books back to Hermione. "Are you coming back to join the party?"

Hermione nodded. "I'm just going to finish packing."

"I'll get you a drink." Draco said. He watched Hermione disappear into the dorms before he turned back round to face the party.

Draco was in no mood for a party. He had flat out refused to help Blaise's violently determined efforts, and so far, Draco had done his best to avoid the drink and most of the conversation.

Since the afternoon Draco had spent with Hermione the other week he had decidedly thrown himself into his studies. He was well aware that soon he would be required to decide what it was that he wanted to do after Hogwarts, and he knew that there wouldn't be any room for a Malfoy to screw up in the current climate. Draco was pretending that this new vigour was in no way connected to the fact that he couldn't spend the time he wanted with Hermione.

"Mate!" Blaise grabbed Draco by the arm and pulled him into the conversation he was having with a slightly terrorised looking Terry Boot. Blaise was already drunk, and Draco pulled his arm away the moment Blaise's grip loosened enough.

Draco dodged Blaise's flailing arms and went off to pour two drinks. He sat down in a chair in the corner of the room and waited for Hermione to reappear.

Hermione reappeared only about 10 minutes later. She had changed into a festive jumper, which detailed a Christmas tree that had been charmed so that the fairy lights twinkled on and off in patterns and the fairy that sat at the top routinely fluttered her wings and preened.

Draco gave her a moment to see if she would decide to go and join her friends. When she wasn't immediately surrounded by Weasley's or other admirers, Draco walked over to her and held out her drink with a smile.

She took it, eyed him suspiciously, and took a small sip. "Mmm, pumpkin fizz." She smiled in delight and took a longer drink from the goblet. "No alcohol?" She questioned.

"I wasn't drinking." Draco replied. "I can get you something else if you'd like something stronger?" Draco made to take back the goblet, but Hermione shook her head.

"No, no, this is just what I wanted."

"Let's sit." Draco led Hermione back over to the sofa he had been sat at previously. With an afterthought, Draco cast a mild quieting charm that muffled some of the sounds coming from the rest of the party.

"I know why I'm not in the mood, but I've never seen Draco Malfoy not enjoy a Hogwarts party." Hermione raised her eyes and settled into the sofa.

Draco sighed. "I'm not a huge fan of Christmas parties." He gave a dry chuckle. "My mother takes the entertaining season very seriously. I'll be dragged to half a dozen different parties before Christmas, I don't particularly want to have any more than strictly necessary."

"Is that what Christmas is like as a Malfoy then?" Hermione asked.

"As a pure blood certainly." Draco replied. "It's all very political and smarmy if you ask me. Since I turned of age I have no excuse not to go." Draco paused and then said in a rush. "And with my father gone, I'll be expected to do all the politics talking."

Draco breathed out and then glanced sideways at Hermione. He relaxed slightly when he saw she merely looked pensive rather than angry.

"Politics is so corrupt." Hermione muttered and then spoke more clearly. "When I got my letter, when they explained what I was and the world I would be entering, you think of it as being so perfect, you know?" She looked at Draco to make sure he was following her.

"Of course, I learnt everything I could from books, and naturally the history books all make it seem so simple and straightforward and they all talked about how the wizarding world was just so much more advanced than the 'primitive' muggles.

"Having grown up in the muggle world, I knew it was hardly primitive, but you assume that if these books considered muggles to be so backwards and ignorant that you must be entering a world that's far beyond your imagination and comprehension. You assume that the authors of these history books are right. And honestly? That's all total trash. Muggles might not know magic and might be ignorant in that regard, but when it comes to things like politics, government, society, prejudice – muggles are on a par with wizards. We have absolutely no superiority."

"Oh." Draco said. He wasn't sure how to respond. His natural instinct, or at least what his father had always told him, was that of course wizards were superior, but Draco respected Hermione's intelligence enough to know that she was probably right. Alas, Draco realised, he didn't have any real knowledge or information to create any kind of counter-argument.

"Oh well." Hermione sighed and then put on a slightly forced smile. "No point worrying about it right now. Tell me, if you don't like the parties, what do you enjoy about Christmas?"

Draco was slightly taken aback by the question but began to tell her about Christmas at Malfoy manner. The wild decorations and the Christmas traditions that his mother always enforced upon them. Soon Hermione's smile became more genuine, and as Draco regaled stories of Christmas' as a child, she began to laugh.

The rest of the evening passed in much of the same way for Draco and Hermione. In their little quiet bubble in the corner of the common room, they went back and forth sharing stories of Christmas, and then as the evening wore on, general stories of their different childhoods, and Draco found that quite often there were a lot of similarities despite the two different worlds that they had both grown up in.

For Hermione, she found it a lot easier to understand the life choices that Draco had made over the years now that she understood his upbringing better. He'd had a considerably lonely childhood, as both an only-child and with absent parents, it was understandable that Draco craved his parents' attention and pride.

Around two in the morning their conversation died down, being punctuated by bigger and bigger yawns, and they slowly became aware that most of the party had died down, with only a few hardy partiers left lazing on the comfortable chairs, having slurred conversations. Hermione and Draco both wished each other a Merry Christmas and made their separate ways to bed, but both went with a renewed understanding and appreciation of the other.

…

Dear Hermione,

Merry Christmas!

I've so far survived through to Christmas Day, with what felt like a record breaking five parties in the past week – not counting infinite luncheons with some very important (and often incredibly dull) ladies.

Only a week until New Years and so far, I think Mother has signed me up for a total of four more events. Luckily the end is in sight now. I never thought I would be so excited to return to Hogwarts, but I really miss the company of my peers. I even miss Slughorn's potions classes. God, I think I miss Blaise's snoring.

I hope you're having a much better time at the Weasley's (even if I think that is an oxymoron in itself) and that you haven't been subjected to any unwanted party-going.

I've enclosed your Christmas gift – its only something small. To say thanks for keeping me sane this year and to a new friendship.

Always yours,

Draco

Accompanying the letter was a small package containing a meticulously wrapped butterfly pin, that was studded with topaz. A small note in Draco's handwriting fell out of the package.

Topaz – for increased mental clarity. The old witch told me it would help with concentration for studying. Use when Weasley is being particularly annoying.

…

Dear Draco,

What can I say? I've only been subjected to one party so far, and I quite enjoyed myself. I guess you win!

I hope you and your mother had a lovely Christmas. Mine was definitely fun, although I haven't gotten nearly as much studying done this vacation as I had hoped. I will be hitting the library hard when we return to Hogwarts. Fancy a study partner?

Thank you for the pin – it is both beautiful and practical! I've already used it to help my concentration – a house full of Weasley's is not a quiet place.

I've enclosed your Christmas gift – all I ask is you give it a chance. Do it for a friend?

I have to say I'm ready to return to the castle too. I hope you (try) and enjoy New Years without too much political schmoozing.

Yours,

Hermione

Draco unwrapped the brown paper and pulled out a novel. The cover read 'Nineteen-Eighty-Four' by someone called George Orwell. Draco had never heard of him, and highly suspected Hermione had given him a muggle book. With a small smile, Draco leant back and opened the book.