Author's Note - If anyone would like a specific chapter dedicated to anything, i.e. someone, something, someplace? please tell me and I shall try to do what you want! I just don't know if people like what's going on, or if you want a different focus... If you've read thus far, Thank you! And I know no-one usually reads these things... I know I don't! ;P

Chapter twenty-five.

After Lupin's rather exciting Duelling club, the hospital wing was full of hurt, transfigured and misshapen students, leaving Alice with her hands full and three English wizards and two witches with time without the strange foreigner.

Neville and Hannah had come up for drinks after supper in their commons and they were now discussing the upcoming Christmas holidays. Neville and Hannah had really hit it off and were now shyly courting. When Draco had pointed out that they were going to get married anyway, Neville had replied that it made them feel so much more secure in their relationship and not as if they were marrying strangers. Besides, Hannah really liked the romance of it.

"So, what are you all doing for Christmas?" Neville asked casually, Hannah curled up by his side, her head resting on his shoulder as she cradled a glass of wine.

"Burrow."

"Home."

"Family get-together... again."

The three looked at each other.

"What do you mean, 'Home'?" Draco argued.

"I mean, I want to spend it with my family. You know, my parents and sister?"

"Who is going to be getting married and will be spending it with her fiancé and your parents will likely want some alone time, what with the kids finally out of the house!"

"I'm not a kid!"

"Prove it!"

"Hey, calm down you two!" Harry soothed. Hermione and Draco turned their glare to him. Harry sighed, he was not used to being the voice of reason and it looked like he wasn't good at it either.

"What about you?" Hermione cried.

"What about me?" Harry looked shocked.

"Alice has given up her whole life in Australia and New Zealand to come here and you want to go to the Burrow for Christmas?" Hermione shrieked, remembering the girl's words.

"Ye-Yeah?' Harry stammered, 'So?"

"So? Take her back to Australia or New Zealand or wherever for Christmas! You wanted to know what she thinks about you? Not much if you deny her the chance to see her family again!"

"But the Weasley's have been my family since I was eleven-"

"Which means they'll understand that you have to do this! It's just for a couple of weeks! Not a lifetime!' Hermione heaved a frustrated sigh, 'Sorry Harry, I didn't mean to - I mean, it is only fair that you spend Christmas with them-"

Draco interrupted her while Neville and Hannah looked on with amusement, "Granger, do you want to go to Australia for Christmas?"

"Wait –What?"

"Well, since you are so adamant that Harry can give up his 'family' for a couple of weeks, I thought you might like to join him and visit my family down in Australia."

"Uh…"

"Yeah, go on Hermione. You do it and I will." Harry said smugly.

Neville joined in, "That sounds like a great idea. Christmas in Australia. That would be an experience!" He sighed wistfully and Hannah nodded, closing her eyes and snuggling closer.

"Yeah, from what I've heard from Alice, its quite an event!" Hannah said excitedly.

Hermione grinned, "Well, come with us!"

The two on the couch shot up.

"Really?"

"You mean that 'Mione?"

Hermione nodded, "Yeah, if that's okay with you Draco?"

He smiled charmingly and in that moment Hermione understood why he could have girls trip over their feet for him. When he smiled like that, he could charm the pants off of anyone.

"Of course, and if I know Alice, she's probably notified everyone for a possible influx of numbers!"

Neville and Hannah turned and smiled at each other before turning to the others.

"We'd be delighted!"

Hermione squealed in joy and Hannah joined her.

"So, who'll be there?" Harry asked as Neville drew in closer to the two males, leaving the females to discuss potential presents and what clothes would be needed.

Draco smiled, "Well, obviously you lot. Alice's mates from her old school and work. My mum and Uncle Sev. Aunty Kate and Uncle Jake. Actually, Aunty Kate is Alice's older sister and she always cooks superb dishes. She's the main reason most people come actually! Her food! Uhmm… Remus and Tonks with little Teddy will be coming this year too, I think." Draco mused.

"What about her parents?" Harry asked, interestedly.

Draco and Neville looked at each other, pained, "Uh…they can't make it. They're in St. Mungo's." Draco explained.

"Oh. Did they get hurt fighting in this war too?"

Neville frowned, "Mate, her parents have been in their about the same amount of time as mine. And by the same witch."

Draco cleared his throat, "When I was being born and the war was, you know, starting initially, my mum panicked and Alice's parents came over to help her. My Aunt Bellatrix…well, she didn't know much about the other side of the family and thought they were just extorting information out of my mum. Needless to say… When Neville's parents are good again, so are Alice's."

Harry sighed and ran his hands through his hair, "And to think that when I first crushed on her, I knew practically nothing. I am so close to falling in love." He whispered. Neville and Draco shot surprised looks at each other before deciding that now was time for some fun.

"Oh, yeah,' Draco drawled casually and cleared his throat, 'And, ah, why do you like her?"

Harry, still in a world of his own, hardly comprehended that he hadn't thought it but was being asked it and he said wistfully, "Her eyes. And her smile. I thought I was the only guy in the world when she smiled at me like that."

Neville nodded solemnly, "A practised nurse's smile. Their mantra was 'always smile' because when you're dying or hurt, you don't want to see a grim face. I've heard some gruesome tales from her. One was a young Canadian boy that was hexed so bad that they couldn't help him, just comfort him, his guts were spilling out and turning green, but he just laid there and smiled up at Alice. He asked if he would get to see his mum, so Alice smiled her smile and told him "Of course" and he smiled back and quietly died. Right there. Alice later found out from his mates that his mum had died when he was fifteen. So, they always smiled, 'coz it might be the last thing the poor blighters would see."

Harry paled, "So she smiled like that in case I'd die? Aw, great!"

Draco sniggered, "Yeah, she'd probably like it better if you were a corpse anyway!"

Harry glared and threw a cushion at a giggling Draco and Neville.

"What about you Draco? Why do you like Hermione?" Harry asked smugly in retaliation.

Draco sat up and smoothed his jacket, in a almost primly away. "What do you mean? I don't like Granger." His eyes barely flickered towards her, but that was enough for the others to catch the lie.

Neville and Harry hooted and high-fived, "He's got it bad too!" Neville crowed as Harry cackled evilly. Draco sat there with a blush barely distinguishable on his face.