A/N: This is one of my favourite drabbles that I've written so far! I love this one to pieces and I don't really know why. I hope you like it as much as I do! ^w^

I want to say that I am so, so, SO sorry about the long wait between drabbles. Funnily enough, the holidays are the times I find I have least time to write, and over the last month, I've barely been on the internet at all. Again, I'm very sorry, and it looks like there might be another wait coming your way. I'm a bit clogged up until the end of August...

Also, just quickly, I'd like to take a moment for some more shameless self-advertising. I've just uploaded a Charlie X Draco fic, "First Time" onto my blog ("setaripendragon . wordpress . com"), and I doubt I'll be putting it up here as it 'violates the terms and conditions', seeing as it has sex in it. *bites back rant*

Word count: 479

Draco settled into his seat on the Hogwarts Express, watching miserably through the window as Hogsmeade disappeared into the distance. He had been allowed to return to Hogwarts to redo his last year, under certain conditions, anyway. He was definitely grateful for the second chance, but he really didn't want to go home for Christmas.

He spent the whole first half of the journey brooding about how awful his parents would be. His mother would fuss and touch him as if to reassure herself he was still there, and still ok. His father would avoid talking to him, looking sad and apologetic, and drown himself in alcohol. He didn't want to go home to that. Even the building was less welcoming than it should be. The Dark Lord had left his mark on the place in Draco's memories, and he no longer felt safe there.

The compartment door was opened by the lady who pushed the lunch trolley, but Draco was too depressed even for sweets, and waved her off before she'd even asked if he wanted anything. He was just sinking back into his brooding when the compartment door opened yet again and Blaise, Pansy and Theo piled in.

"Stop moping, Draco." Pansy said briskly, throwing a Chocolate Frog at his face, which he fumbled with before grabbing hold of. He glared at Pansy, who completely ignored him and sat primly opposite him. "Go on, eat your frog." Pansy encouraged, waving her hand at him.

Petulantly, Draco opened the packet and grabbed the frog before it could leap away. He bit off its head viciously, feeling a little better once he'd eaten it. Absently, he plucked the card out. He wasn't too interested in it, but he looked anyway.

He flipped the card over and felt his stomach do something very odd. Charlie Weasley's likeness was gazing up at him, grinning. Charlie winked at him, then slid his hand very deliberately into the front pocket of his tight dragon-leather trousers. Draco swallowed, and flipped the card over to read what it said.

'Charlie Weasley

The second eldest Weasley child was assigned to bring in foreign wizards to help the Order of the Phoenix during the Second Rising of Voldemort. He works in Romania on the Dragon Reserve there, and has worked there since he left Hogwarts, where he played seeker for Gryffindor.'

Draco turned the card back over and smiled a little when Charlie grinned at him. He didn't see Pansy, Theo and Blaise exchanging looks. "Who did you get then?" Pansy asked casually, prodding Draco with her toes.

Draco's expression immediately became indifferent. "Charlie Weasley." He drawled with a small sneer. This time, he saw the look Pansy and Blaise exchanged. "What?" He snapped harshly.

Pansy beamed at him. "Nothing! Nothing! Hey, did I tell you Blaise has a new girlfriend?" She asked eagerly, changing the subject.