A/N: Here's another chapter – as by now, I'm pretty sure you've noticed ;) Warning: not much happens in this chapter – I'm just introducing the characters a bit. Nevertheless, enjoy :D

-------------------------------------------------------MERRY CHRISTMAS-----------------------------------------------------

Hermione woke up bright and early, jumping out of bed. She almost regretted it when the heap of presents that was at the foot of her bed fell onto the floor. Sighing, she went to pick it up, her back facing the door. At that moment, her door banged open, connecting with her behind, causing the presents that she had collected to topple out of her hands and back to the floor. She rubbed her behind, wincing.

She whirled around to glare at her intruder, her hands on her hips. Her eyes flashed. "What don't you understand about the word privacy, Malfoy?"

Draco Malfoy ignored her comment and offered her a sheet of parchment. Hermione didn't notice how his gaze slid briefly to her big pile of presents and then back to her. He said in an emotionless tone, "McGonagall just owled this to me. She said we are to meet in her office this evening regarding Head duties for the holiday." He waited for her to take the sheet of paper from his hand.

Hermione blew at a piece of strand hair that kept falling into her eyes. "And I suppose it didn't occur to you to slip this piece of paper under my door? You had to deliver it yourself? Is this your idea of a Christmas present, Malfoy?" Nonetheless, she took the parchment from him, reading through it briefly.

Draco straightened at her words and walked out, not caring to answer her questions. It was only after he had left when Hermione realize the impact her words might have had on him. Did his family usually do something on Christmas? Perhaps that's why he was staying at the castle for Christmas – most of his family were either in prison, or worse ... dead.

Hermione shuddered, and bent down to retrieve the presents, the bruise on her behind forgotten.

She sat on the edge of her bed, opening her presents. The first one she opened was wrapped in bright red paper. A soft maroon garment fell out onto her lap. She held it up, and discovered it was a hand-knitted jersey from Mrs Weasley. Hermione smiled when she noticed the image of the parchment and quill on the front.

The second one – a book by the feel of it – was from Ron. Curiosity triggered, Hermione unwrapped the present. Ron giving her a book? How ... extraordinary. She giggled when she saw the title of the book, The Male Species for Dummies. Wondering where Ron would've picked up a Muggle book from, she shoved it aside and opened her other presents, revealing an array of things: a state-of-the-art quill set from Harry, clothes from Ginny, and assorted delectable items from Honeydukes from her other friends.

Smiling, she made her way to the bathroom, waving her wand so that her room tidied itself up, and all the wrapping was deposited in the rubbish bin, and her presents arranged themselves neatly on her table.

Ten minutes later, she was out of the bathroom and making her way out of the common room that she and Draco shared as Head Girl and Head Boy. She would've missed him if he hadn't coughed slightly. He was sitting on the couch in front of the fire, a book in his hand.

"Aren't you going to do anything today?" she regretted the words the moment they were out of her mouth and silently cursed herself.

Not looking up from his book, he said, "Like what? Having snow fights with my friends? Friends that aren't even there? Or perhaps walking out into Hogsmeade having people stare at me with pointed fingers? No, I'll rather pass. Now, if you'll excuse me..." and he got up, gathering his books, and walked straight to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. If he didn't want anyone to pry or worry, why would he even care to shed any light on his situation at all? He certainly enlightened her with more information than required. Sighing, she hopped out of the portrait making her way to Gryffindor tower.

Upon her arrival, she was greeted by a whirlwind of hugs from Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati. "Merry Christmas!" they chorused.

Hermione laughed and returned the festive greeting. "Thanks for the presents! I love the clothes, Ginny! And the chocolates? I'll have to hide those from Ron!" The girls laughed at this. "Speaking of," Hermione said, "where is he? And Harry?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's a Saturday morning, Hermione. Where do you think? And also, half the boys played Exploding Snap last night – a very loud one might I add – that carried straight into the morning. "

Lavender and Parvati nodded in disapproval.

Ginny, noticing this, snorted. "Oh, come off it Lavender. You enjoyed watching your love interest playing such an ... exciting game."

Hermione's face furrowed in confusion. "I beg your pardon, but did you just say 'love interest'? Who?"

Ginny wiggled her eyebrows mischievously. "Wouldn't you like to know." And before Hermione could make any more objections, Ginny skipped out of the Common Room.

Hermione shook her head and then said to her other friends, "Right, well, I'm heading up to wake the boys up. Have a nice Christmas!" She bounded up the stairs that led to Ron and Harry's room.

"Alohomora," she whispered, pointing her wand at the locked door when it didn't open 'manually'. She wondered why the boys had locked their room door. The door gently slid open, a slight creaking noise escaping from the hinges. Hermione softly closed the door behind her and tiptoed inside. She giggled at Ron's ballerina pose on his bed, and picked up one of the parcels at the bottom of his bed and whirled it at his head. Thunk.

"NO! I DON'T WANT SPIDERS!" Ron yelled as he got up with a start, clutching the sheets close to his chest. Bewildered, he looked around him and spotted Hermione doubled over in laughter.

"You-" Hermione said, gasping for breath, "-are absolutely hilarious, Ronald, do you know that?"

Ron grumbled incoherently.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"I said," Ron muttered irritably, "why do you always have to wake me up like that? Why don't you do that to Harry? It's bloody annoying."

"Well," Hermione said teasingly, "Harry's reactions aren't as half-good as yours. And I had no idea that you still had a fear for spiders – even after the War!"

"Shut it, Hermione," Ron said touchily.

Hermione knew when not to overstep the line. She said brightly, "Why don't you open your presents, Ronald?"

Ron looked at her, confused. "Presents for what?"

Hermione threw her hands in the air, and sat next to him on the bed. "For Christmas, Ron!"

Ron's eyebrows shot up, and a grin spread across his face. "Oh! Right!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Merry Christmas."

Ron ignored her sarcasm. "Oy," he said to Harry's sleeping figure. "Wake up," he said as he tossed a present at Harry to jolt him awake. Unfortunately, he missed. Ron cursed, and was about to pick up another present, when Harry said, "Good thing I didn't make you Chaser. Your aim is pathetic." Even though Harry's back was facing them, they could still hear the amusement in Harry's voice.

Hermione laughed. "We didn't know you were awake, Harry!"

Harry rolled over to face them, grabbing his glasses from the pedestal next to him. "I've been awake since the time Hermione unlocked the door. I didn't want to interrupt your bickering."

Hermione sighed. "Merry Christmas, Harry."

Harry grinned. "Merry Christmas, Hermione." He bent forward to get his presents, and leaned back against his headboard, and started unwrapping his gifts. Ron was almost done with his.

Something Harry had said triggered something in Hermione's memory. "Harry, why is it that the door to this room is locked?"

Ron had just opened another gift of his – a large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans – and was munching through its contents, when he decided to answer Hermione's question. "Becaw o' Lahender," he said around a mouthful of beans, blushing slightly.

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "Because of Lavender?" she clarified. Ron nodded. Hermione looked between Harry and Ron. "Care to explain?"

Ron was about to explain further when Hermione held up a hand. "I rather you not, Ronald," she said, wiping bits of food off her hand-knitted jersey. "You're getting beans all over me." Ron shrugged.

"The thing is," Harry began, a smile on his face, "you know that...problem we had in sixth year?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "We had many problems in sixth year, Harry. Could you be more specific?"

Harry shifted so that he was facing her. He hadn't unwrapped all his presents yet. "Does the term 'Won-Won' ring a bell somewhere?"

Comprehension dawned upon Hermione, and she recalled what Ginny had said. Her mouth dropped open, and she whipped her head around to face Ron. "Lavender is infatuated with you? Again?"

Ron placed his hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "No need to sound surprised, Hermione. It's pretty understandable. I mean, I did help defeat Voldemort, you know." He sniffed haughtily.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "As did half the school, and you don't find Lavender falling head over heels for Neville."

Ron said, swallowing down the last bean in the last packet, "Well, point is, it's bloody annoying. She tried following Harry and me up here around two o' clock this morning!" Ron shook his head, as if he still couldn't believe it.

Harry nodded. "Which explains the locked door," he told Hermione.

"You two are unbelievable," she said, shaking her head.

Ron looked puzzled. "Oh yeah? How do you figure that?"

Hermione sighed. "I'm sure she knows how to unlock a locked door using magic, Ron."

"Well at least she'll get the idea that she's not supposed to be up here," he said, indignantly. "Which brings us back to ... Why are you here?"

"To wish you a merry Christmas, of course!"

Harry smiled. "Maybe we should head down to Hogsmeade again? It should be fun."

Hermione grimaced. "Sorry, Harry. I've got castle patrol with Malfoy the whole day. Students are acting quite wild."

She saw their crestfallen faces. "But we could have some fun in the morning! I'm sure he won't mind."

Ron rolled his eyes. "That git is not the boss of you, Hermione."

"Yes, but –"

"Why don't you wait for Ron and I to get ready, and we'll meet you down in the Great Hall?" Harry interrupted – he could feel the argument that was about to brew between Hermione and Ron.

Hermione stood up. "Fine," she said. She walked to their door, and just as she was about to open it, she turned around and said teasingly, "Hope you liked my presents!" She knew they had forgotten to open hers.

Ron and Harry's eyes widened as they realized this. "I completely forgot, Hermione!" they said together. They rushed to open the present that she gave them: the latest broom servicing kit.

Ron grinned. "This is fantastic, Hermione! I lost my old one!"

And from Harry, "And my old one is finished. Thanks a lot, Hermione!"

Hermione shook her head, wondering what on earth it was about Quidditch that made her friends sound pathetically mad. "You're welcome," she intoned, and left the room, leaving them to marvel over the fact that their broom servicing kits won't ever run out.

She hurried down to the Great Hall, and was just about to open the big doors, when someone else opened it from the inside. The door slid open, hitting Hermione roughly on the shoulder.

"Ow!" she complained, rubbing her shoulder. She looked up to confront her assailant and found herself staring into emotionless silver eyes. She sighed in annoyance. "Malfoy, what is it with you and doors?"

And, in typical Draco Malfoy fashion, he chose not to reply and graciously swept passed her. His actions caused a bomb to start ticking in Hermione's head. She called out to him, her hand holding onto the door to keep it from closing, "And why is it that you refuse to talk to me?"

Malfoy kept on walking. Hermione let the door go, so that it slid back into its place, and rushed after him. She grabbed his arm, aiming to turn him around to face her. "Hey, I'm talking to you."

Malfoy stiffened at the contact. "Granger," he said quietly. "Get your hands off me."

The venom that seeped through his voice startled Hermione. She let go of his arm immediately. She said, her voice still strong and clear, "I would just like to know why you don't talk. I mean, Head duties ... that's perfectly fine. But we need to communicate with each other effectively so that things can run smoothly."

Malfoy turned around to face her. His height was quite intimidating to Hermione, so she had to step back so that she could look at him properly. "Are you quite done with your little tirade?" he asked.

Hermione wanted to shake her head no, but chose not to say anything. She crossed her arms over her chest instead.

Draco replied, "I don't want to talk about anything else, Granger. I don't want ..." he trailed off, his eyes burning slightly. Hermione found little falsehood in his words. The burning left his eyes, and non-emotion slid back into place. "I just don't want to. Good morning." And he swept off again.

Hermione was a little puzzled, but she ignored her puzzlement and called out to him again, "Listen, I won't be able to assist with patrols this morning. I promised Harry and Ron that we'd do something. For Christmas. Is that alright?"

Malfoy turned around, and looked at her, a sneer on his face. "What is it to me that you made promises? Go play with your friends, Granger."

His voice was filled with such contempt that Hermione just nodded, choosing not to reply, and turned her back on him.

She would enjoy her morning with Harry and Ron. It didn't matter if Draco Malfoy seemed as if his soul had been sucked out of him. Yes, a "merry" Christmas indeed.

------------------------------------------------------to be continued----------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Hope that wasn't too uneventful. I'm trying not to rush into the plot too quickly. I'm trying to make events unfold gradually. So even though you might be a little confused about what's happening with Draco, your confusion will disappear in the chapters soon to come!

Please review! Tell me what you think :D