After their very competitive game, the group came in for an early dinner and sat around after, enjoying each others company. Hermione looked around the room.
Mr Weasley had been given a muggle clothes dryer at work which he had promptly brought home for the holidays. Now he and Draco were tinkering and poking their heads inside it, deep in conversation over how to get it working.
Blaise was doing the dishes despite Mrs Weasley telling him it could be done with magic. Ron was sat on the lounge, arms crossed and frowning at Ginny who was sat on the armchair across from him, however was reading a magazine and appeared not to even notice Ron sitting beside her. Hermione could see Harry sitting alone on a chair outside watching the sunset over the hill.
'Be careful, you guys' Hermione called to Draco and Mr Weasley. 'If you keep your head in the dryer too long, it will shrink.' Draco, who was currently on his hands and knees, head inside the machine, whipped it out so fast he smacked his head on the way out. Hermione giggled to herself as she closed the door behind her and made her way to Harry.

'Luna went home to see her dad.' Hermione told Harry as she sat down on the chair next to him.
'Oh good. It was nice to see her. A shame her father couldn't join us.' He replied somewhat absentmindedly.
'I think he's embarrassed.' Hermione admitted. 'You know, for betraying you?'
'Oh he mustn't. I can barely imagine the fear he felt. Anyway, that feels like a long time ago. He shouldn't be alone on Christmas.'
'Harry, what has gotten into you today? Are you ok?' Hermione asked him.
'I wasn't.' He admitted. 'Can you keep a secret?' He asked and Hermione groaned and rolled her eyes.
'What?' She finally said.
'Well, I thought this Christmas might be difficult, so I brought my Drought of Peace to take if things got too awkward for Ginny. I didn't think I'd really use it but then Blaise showed up... I thought I was going to smack him again. But then I remembered the potion.' Hermione gasped,
'Harry, you didn't?' She asked, already knowing the answer.
'Hermione look at me!' He told her. 'Of course I did! I really didn't want to ruin anything for Ginny, she loves Christmas! and let's be honest, you and I have brewed worse! At least this time it was under supervised guidance so I knew it was safe!'
'Well... How do you feel?' Hermione asked him.
'I've never felt this calm!' He admitted. 'Nothing phased me! It's starting to wear off now, but I don't think I could have survived today without it. I don't know how Ron did it.' Harry began.
'Oh, don't you start.' Hermione replied hotly, 'I didn't ask Draco to come here!'
'I'm serious, Hermione.' Harry said looking right at her.
'That was hard today. Even with the potion.' They both sat in silence for a few moments.
'Can you believe I just played a friendly game of Quidditch with Slytherins? With Draco as my... teammate?' Harry laughed.
'Forget Draco as your teammate. I played Quidditch! What has this world come to?' Hermione replied sarcastically. They both looked at each other and laughed.
'Thank you, Harry.' Hermione said earnestly.
'Always.' Harry told her and she knew potion or not, he meant this.

As they came inside, Mrs Weasley rushed to their side.
'Are you cold?' She asked as she pointed her wand at their new sweaters which had been warming by the fire place. She continued talking as the clothing made its way to them. 'Are you hungry? Should I make another pot of soup?' She said as the enchanted pot on the stove began stirring itself.
'You made that up about my head shrinking in the dryer, didn't you?!' Draco called to Hermione across the room. Hermione only smile in response.
'Honestly Mrs Weasley, we're fine!' Harry told her.
We did eat dinner with the rest of you, remember?' Hermione added as Mrs Weasley sat them down and placed big bowls of soup in front of them anyway.
'I think I've done it!' Announced Arthur Weasley from the lounge room. Harry walked over to him as Hermione knelt on her chair and stretched for a better view.
'Has anyone got an item of clothing they can lend me?' Arthur asked as Harry took off one of his gloves and handed it over.
'Ahh, perfect!' Mr Weasley said inspecting it closely and dipping it in his glass of water. Mr. Weasley then threw the glove into the machine and mumbling something under his breath as it turned on.
'Bloody hell...' He breathed excitedly. They left the machine going for awhile longer as they all waited excitedly, Hermione and Harry turning back to their soup, a little uninterested.
'It must be time to see our results!' Draco said, unable to hide his enthusiasm over this home project. He stood next to Mr Weasley who was knelt on the floor level with the circular door. He tapped the machine which slowly stopped the whirring sound before there was silence as everyone watched with baited breath.
'Alright, here goes...' Mr. Weasley said as he slowly opened the door and reached his hand inside. He began to scrunch his face up in confusion. Draco was jumping on the balls of his feet, peering around Mr Weasley, trying to see into the machine.
'What is it? Did it work?' Ron asked from the couch as his dad pulled the glove out. However, it appeared to have shrunk and was now smaller than his palm. Silence fell over the room again as Mr Weasley delicately picked it up, holding the tip of the pointing finger and looking at it at eye level. Finally Hermione spoke up, an air of indignation in her voice,
'I told you things shrink in there!' She smirked as Draco's smile quickly vanished and he grabbed the sides of his head with both hands and took two giant steps backwards, away from the machine. His jaw dropped open in shock and he was unable to speak, becoming more confused as Hermione and Harry began to laugh.
'I'm so sorry.' Hermione told Draco as she reached out and pulled his hands away from his face with one hand while she rested her other hand against his cheek. Draco moved his hand over hers which was cupping his cheek and glared down at her, shaking his head but the smile on his face gave him away.
'Wow! Payback will be worse, you goose!' He promised, laughing as he went to sit besides Ron on the couch.
Hermione could hear Ron huffing and sighing loudly in the lounge room. She looked at Harry who gave a sympathetic smile as he shrug his shoulders.
'I'm going to bed!' Ron finally announced as he stood up.
'Goodnight, Ron.' Hermione called across the rooms. Ron did not respond or look her way and Hermione told herself he couldn't hear her despite witnessing him have a conversation with his mother from the same distance Hermione went and sat in Rons recently vacated seat and rested her head on Dracos shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, connecting them back again around his side as Draco turned and kissed her softly on the head.
'What's the matter, Goose?' He asked her. Hermione felt herself falling asleep, the smell of peppermint soothing her.
'Just Ron, I guess.' She told him with her eyes closed. 'I know he's a prat, but he's one of my best friend to.'
'Don't you worry, he'll come around.' Draco whispered into the top of her head.
'How do you know?' She asked turning now to look at him. Draco looked at her for a moment and smiled.
'Because who can ever stay mad at you?' He asked her.