Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.

Note: Last chapter for the night. Maybe. Maybe one more after this. I was hoping to get a certain part so I'll see where I am after posting this one. I apologize for the million errors, I've neglected on proof reading though I tried my best to catch as many as I could. Hope you guys are liking this!

The Holidays are Near!

A few days passed of a normal life, doing homework, hanging with my boyfriend and Abby, ignoring Draco. Things really felt like they were improving.

"Hey" I said as I saw Matt heading in the opposite direction one night.

"Long time no see…" Matt said replied cheerfully.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Little adventure, wanna come?" he asked, his crystal eyes dancing.

"Alright, sure" I said following him up a staircase.

"It's really nice that you come up every day…" I said to Matt as we stood over his unconscious sister. He nodded but didn't say anything, only continued staring, as if thinking really hard.

"It's nice to have some company for once" he replied looking down at her. I nodded. When I had realized where we were going I had every desire—and right—to turn around, but I didn't, I couldn't. Not only would I feel awful but I also wanted to see if she was still in the same conditions as before.

"Is she getting better?" I asked, but he just shrugged. "Are you staying here for Christmas then?" I asked.

"I dunno yet, my parents want me home but I don't feel right leaving Courtney here by herself, but we'll see" he said. "Alright, well, we should get going, not much else to do if she's unconscious. Besides, it's getting late" I wanted to mention that wasn't even eight but figured he knew what he was saying and had his reasons. He thanked Madame Pomfrey and we headed out.

"I know this is a really weird question to ask you, but, that day you attempted to hit on me, did you actually think about it?" I almost stumbled as he said it. I hadn't given that incident much thought since it happened.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean, did you just say it to say it, or did you think about it? How we'd be together? Picture us together?" I bit my lip, this sounded an awful lot like what Fred had seen, or rather, forced to see.

"No, I kinda just said it. I was really hurt by what Fred said and…I don't know, you were there" I said, though I honestly felt bad about my words, because they did indeed sound like Draco's conversation.

"I have" he said as we neared the common room.

"Have what?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Pictured us…I've told you that, I can still picture—"

"Matt, please, we don't need to talk about it, it's not gonna happen" I told him as we stopped on top of a staircase.

"I know, but it doesn't hurt to think about it" Matt said with a shrug. I shifted on my feet for a second but was careful not to say anything. "Sorry, that wasn't fair…" he said after a minute passed.

"It's okay, but um, I'm gonna head back to the common room, I gotta put my head in a few books before break. I'll see you around" I said with a sweet smile as I waved at him before going down the rest of the stairs and following a group of Gryffindors inside.

"Hey Abby" I said as I entered the room, Abby happily chatting with the twins. "What's up?" I asked trying to get Fred to move over but since he made no effort I resorted to sitting on his lap, though he pretended to not notice.

"My mum gave me permission to stay here for break! A few of my friends are having this wicked Christmas party here and they want to stay. And it's gonna be so cool. The twins were just telling me" she said.

"Don't you wanna go home?" I asked but she shook her head.

"It's not as fun as here" she said, I didn't doubt.

"Will you be at the Weasley? I want to send you a Christmas present" she said as I blushed.

"It's okay, you don't have" I replied but she waved her hand at me.

"I can and I will" she said as I put my hands up in defeat.

"Besides, it's fine, Matt's staying, he'll look after you" Fred said as I nodded. I was glad the twins could see Matt's brotherly charm too.

"Good, and I think Charity is going home, thank goodness" she said with a roll of the eyes. We laughed and decided to play a few games of Exploding Snap.

Eventually the day we pulled in King's Cross. I had promised Abby I would write her every other day and promised myself Fred and I would get a little gift. Even if was just some office poster for their store. I was careful to make minimum interaction with Matt, though I did give him a hug goodbye. Part of me wished I would've controlled myself better around him. If I was smart I would've been more insistent with squashing any potential ideas he had. What if Professor Madison ever decided to get into his head? What if she used those ideas to get him against us? I shook my head at the thought. Matt wouldn't turn against us. He couldn't. We were friends. Besides I was almost positive Abby would murder the next person who came between me and Fred. Mrs. Weasley's tight embrace pulled me from my thoughts. I was even more excited to see her; she'd keep me under a watchful eye. She'd make sure I wouldn't stray from her son.

"How are you dear?" she asked kindly, as Fred picked up my luggage.

"Mum, mum, George and I are going to go the Burrow, with Melinda we'll see you there." Fred said trying to get his mom's attention as she now hugged Ginny. "Tam, you sure?" he asked giving me a hopeful look. I shook my head.

"I'll see you there" I told him as he left.

The car ride was anything but exciting but I was thankful for that. Hermione went home with her parents, at least for the night and most of the next day. Melinda would be writing home as far as I knew, but I didn't think she had any plans to go there. Normally I would visit the Manor—and maybe I still would—but at the moment the only place I felt completely safe was The Burrow.

"Tammie, you and Melinda can sleep in Ginny's room tonight since Hermione won't be joining us. Tomorrow though, we'll have to see if we can fit all your girls in there again. Though, I suppose if you lot help me, we can fix up Charlie and Bill's old room." Mrs. Weasley said as we brought in the bags.

"You took ages to get here" Fred joked as he appeared at the bottom of the stairs to help with the bags. Mrs. Weasley waved a hand at him and made her way into the kitchen. "You're stuff is already in Ginny's room, this fell out" he said pulling out a small money bag. "It's weird, I don't remember your initials being DM…" he joked as he threw me the bag.

"It's Draco's" I said as I followed him up the stairs.

"What does he want you to do with it?" Fred asked, though I had a sinking feeling he either guessed or peeked inside.

"Didn't you look?" I asked but he raised his eyebrows.

"Me? Invade one's privacy? Why. I. Never…" his fake over-innocent voice made me laugh. "Okay, so I did peek, but I didn't read it. I don't have be the Minster to figure it out…" he added, in a much more serious tone. "The question is, whatever he wants you to do, are you going to do it?" I shrugged. I didn't want to, at least part of me didn't want. The other point saw no point in not doing it. Either way I was still going to be in trouble with Melinda if—when—this backfired.

"It's just a Christmas present" I said trying to sound casual.

"Right, just like it was just a birthday present?" he said as I shook my head. "They don't belong together Tam, he's bad" Fred said gently.

"You make it sound like he's a wounded dragon" I replied.

"More like a fake wounded dragon. If you get close enough he'll set you on fire" Fred countered. I shook my head. "Tam; Draco…like dragons, aren't good to be around. The less time you spend around him, the better. Same for Melinda, she's happy, can't you see that?"

"Dragons are seriously misunderstood creatures…" I said, trying to sound like I was half joking.

"He's not a dragon, he's like a dragon, dangerous" Fred said as we finally reached the top step. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you something" he said dropping the suitcase into Ron's room. I tensed and started to back up. "No, nothing bad…" I twitched, I hated how he knew the thing he wanted to say most I considered bad. "I just think it's best if we don't involve ourselves with Melinda or George or Draco, just for this week. It's Christmas, I don't want any trouble this week, so please…" he walked closer, gently shaking me. "Please can we not involve ourselves?" I had no problem with it, as long as nothing happened.

"Okay" I said giving him a light kiss.

"Thank goodness…I was worried you'd say no and I'd have to cry and beg like Draco since that's the only way to get your attention." I glared at him, but he didn't seem to notice as he kissed me again, this time making my stomach do a flip. I shivered and he laughed.

"Ginny and I are off to do a bit of shopping, Ron and Harry have gone to Diagon Alley as well. Behave yourselves; we won't be gone that long" Mrs. Weasley said as we heard the door shut.

"Does your mum know that you and George are here? Like, do you think it actually registered?" I asked Fred who merely shrugged as he grinned.

"I think she assumes you two will keep us in line" he said as we headed to Ginny's room. "The most I can do is keep you occupied" I teased.

Halfway through our playful interaction I thought I heard voices. "Hey, did you hear that?" I asked Fred but he purposely ignored me as he dove in for another kiss. I would've let myself forget about the first sound had I not heard another one. "Didn't you hear that?" I asked Fred who pulled back for a minute to give me an annoyed look.

"If you're not enjoying yourself please tell me" he said sarcastically. "Or, if you have better things to do I'm sure I could entertain myself." I ignored him as I listened around for the sound again.

"It must have been the wind…" I finally said leaning into him. A few minutes later, I was certain I heard voices, this time, much closer, as in maybe a floor below us. I pulled away from Fred once more.

"For the love of all things magic!" he shouted. "What do you hear? Because it just seems like you don't want to—" I covered his mouth to listen. That was Melinda's voice. I jumped up, and left the room, Fred grumbling as he followed. I stopped at the twins's door; it never closed properly since last summer when Mrs. Weasley caught me and Fred making out on his bed.

"I think it's occupied…" Fred said sarcastically as he looked at the door.

"Hush up will you?" I hissed at him as I leaned in close.