It didn't take long for things to become normal once he'd agreed to be friends with Granger. In the past three and a half weeks they'd fallen into a routine that they couldn't seem to get out of, but Draco was pleased with the fact that there was something constant about each of his days. And the fact that Granger was starting to get a little more normal was helpful as well, though she was starting to sleep a bit longer which was confusing. It was good, Draco couldn't argue with that, because it meant she was sleeping a little more, but now he didn't know exactly when to wake up in the early hours of the morning. She was starting to look a little better because of that though, not as tired, but Draco just kept getting up at midnight so he still looked like he hadn't slept in days. He had, but only for a few hours at a time. It was starting to take its toll, but until he was certain Granger could sleep through the night he wasn't going to stop getting up.

They sat together in Arithmancy, that much had stayed the same, though Granger came over and worked at the same table as him in Potions on Wednesdays. It had caused a lot of stares the first time it had happened which kept Draco frustrated, but Granger didn't seem to be bothered by it too much. She just worked away, ignoring the stares and occasionally saying something to him about the potion they were brewing. The following Wednesday she'd done the same thing and while less people had stared, those that did started to glare at him. And the Wednesday after that, Draco had been told to leave her alone. Though there really wasn't much he could do to stop her; Granger wanted to be his friend for some reason that Draco couldn't even begin to understand, and what confused him even more was that he wanted her to be. Every now and then he would walk her to class or to the great hall for a meal, but that was the extent of what Draco did around other people. He didn't go up and start conversations with her, which Granger had done two or three times to him, and he never smiled at her even though Granger smiled at him at least once a day. Most of the time she rolled her eyes as he told her his reasoning, that others would hate it if they understood what was going on, and she often told him to ignore the other people. Which, he would retaliate most days, was a good lesson for her to learn.

Though in the short time they had been friends, Granger had definitely broken his rule about not telling everybody. She made it fairly clear that something had changed between them, even if others didn't know what that was. The only thing that kept Draco from getting too frustrated with her was the fact that she was at least acting more like herself now. She was starting to go back to the same annoying Granger he'd always hated, even though at times she was quite obviously changed, but at least he didn't hate her. In fact, when she started acting more like herself he would almost smile, because he figured that meant she was getting better.

Nearly a month had passed since their situation changed, and Draco was beginning to dread the holidays more than ever. For starters, that night was Abbott's absolutely ridiculous party that he'd heard about nonstop since McGonagall had agreed to it, and Draco was forced to go along with the other delegates. Granger wasn't too pleased about that either, but she complained about it more than he did. The next day he would be going home for three weeks; Christmas was one away and on the twenty-eighth his father would be going to trial at the Ministry. Draco still hadn't decided if he was going to actually go, though letters from his mother had become more and more frequent, begging him to come and vouch for his father. And that was something he definitely didn't want to do.

Then again, awkwardly sitting with Boot in the common room wasn't something he wanted to do either. But Abbott had dragged Granger into the bathroom before they'd seen the two, and when he and Boot had entered the common room they'd been able to hear the rising argument from the bathroom. Apparently Abbott wanted to do something to Granger's hair that Granger didn't want, but they'd been in there for about hour now. At least the yelling had subsided after a while, though every now and then Abbott would yell for Granger to sit down. It made Draco rather glad, listening to them fighting, that he didn't have to deal with things like that.

Granger and Abbott finally came out about fifteen minutes before they were supposed to be in the great hall for Abbott's stupid party to start. Boot smiled and stood up when he saw the two girls, but Draco sat in his chair for a moment. Abbott looked normal and a bit pretty, he guessed, in a dress that looked a little to fancy for the party, but then again he would guess most girls would want to look like she did. Granger, on the other hand, looked incredibly irritated. If it weren't for her expression he would say that she looked elegant, but he figured that would annoy her.

Boot and Abbott left first with a cautious look at Granger, and she sighed heavily and rolled her eyes. "Hannah wanted to do my hair," she said, frowning.

"So that was what the arguing was about?"

"You heard that?"

"Well you were both screaming pretty loud,"

"Oh, well, yes,"

Draco nodded, unsure of what to say before nodding to the door. "Shall we then?"

"Are you sure we can't just avoid the great hall?"

"I would if I wasn't sure McGonagall was going to throw an absolute fit if we didn't,"

Granger sighed again and walked into the corridor. Draco followed her, beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable. "It looks nice, whatever Abbott did to it,"

She looked at him and frowned again. "Don't tell her that. Promise me, otherwise she might try to do it again,"

"Why would I tell her?"

"I don't know, why would you tell me it looks nice?"

"I just thought that maybe you'd want to know so you wouldn't look so angry,"

Granger rolled her eyes again and Draco decided it might be wise to keep his mouth shut. He didn't like Granger as much when she was angry, mainly because it meant that she was likely to snap at him. "If I wanted to do something with my hair, I would have gone to get ready with Ginny,"

Draco shrugged and kept his silence as they continued to walk to the great hall. Granger gradually began to look calmer as they got closer, though she fidgeted with her smoothed hair and frowned every now and then. Draco stayed behind at the doors and watched as Granger frowned at him before she walked into the party. It was going to be a crowded mess, quite simply, and he needed another minute or so before he went into a room full of people who hated him. Besides, he knew that Granger would probably go off and find Potter and hang around him most of the night, so he would be alone. She'd been getting closer with Potter again, which Draco knew made her happy and it pleased him as well. Potter still regarded him coolly but he was definitely better than most.

Professor McGonagall came up behind him and cleared her throat. "Are you going in, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Possibly. Soon, maybe, I don't know," he answered, narrowing his eyes at the door.

"I would advise you go in soon; Miss Abbott will not be pleased if you're not there,"

"As if I actually give a damn what Abbott wants,"

"Language, Mr. Malfoy,"

"Whatever,"

"You are expected to go in, you know that, right? It was agreed upon in the last meeting. You all are supposed to use the opportunity to-"

"Speak with members of other houses and try and find out more about what's causing problems. I know. But no one in there really wants to talk to me, so it's rather pointless,"

"I expect Miss Granger would be willing to speak to you,"

"Excuse me?"

"Is it wrong to assume that you and Miss Granger are friends?" she asked, offering Draco a rare smile that made him frown. "I had hoped something like this would happen,"

"What?" Draco asked, not really caring that he was beginning to sound a bit stupid. McGonagall didn't answer, she just walked into the great hall with a grim look on her face. It was obvious how much she wanted to avoid Abbott's party but she couldn't, nor could he. And with that thought, he slipped through the doors after her.

Draco spent the majority of his night leaning against the wall with a frown on his face. Other students were milling about and talking excitedly, so it was definitely different than the usual feast. Draco preferred the feast though, as there was less of a chance of someone coming up to him. Three fourth years had already come up and tried to start a fight, but Draco had managed to keep his cool. He knew that Granger wouldn't be thrilled if he got angry with them, so he ignored most of what they were saying. He could see Weasley glaring at him, but that was normal. And he'd quickly spotted Granger talking with Potter mostly, though every now and then she would be dragged into a conversation by someone. Boot and Abbott seemed to be in constant conversation too, so maybe the plan was actually going to work. A bit. Draco didn't care enough to think too hard about it.

As the night dragged on and Draco got more and more bored with the loud chatter of the hall and the laughs that kept erupting from different areas, he kept edging closer to the door. He knew he would be able to slip out unnoticed, as there wasn't anyone paying attention to him, and he was ready to go back to the common room and go to bed. He'd have to be up early anyway and he was ready for sleep. However that was the moment that Granger chose to look at him and smile slightly. She said something to Longbottom and Lovegood, who she'd been speaking with, and began to make her way through the crowd. At the very least she looked happier than she had when they'd left the common room. "Shall we?" she asked when she reached him.

"Shall we what?" he asked, frowning at her.

"Well I figure if we leave now, no one's really going to notice,"

"Yes, that's a great idea Granger. Let's go back to the common room and have McGonagall storm in and catch us skipping the end of the party,"

Granger rolled her eyes and smiled at him; she seemed like she was in a pretty good mood now. "I never said we should go to the common room, Malfoy,"

It began to sound like a better idea than it originally had. "Where do you suggest we go then?"

"Kitchens, maybe? It sounds like a good time for hot chocolate,"

Draco raised an eyebrow and watched Granger reach out to grab his hand. He almost protested, but as she pulled him out of the hall he decided it was his best escape. She let go of his hand as soon as they were out of the great hall and Draco shoved his hands into his pockets, following her down a flight of stairs. "How do you know where the kitchens are?"

"I went there a few times with Harry and Ron," she said, shrugging. There was more silence that actually wasn't too awkward as they walked into the kitchens. Granger looked guilty as she asked the house elves where she could make a drink, and they immediately began asking what it was she wanted. Granger obviously wanted to do it herself though so she argued with a small house elf for about five minutes before the house elf relented. "I don't like making them do things for me," she explained quietly. "Especially not after-"

Granger stopped quickly, shook her head, and continued making her hot chocolate. "After what?" Draco asked, slightly curious. It wasn't often that Granger just stopped talking, and it looked like something was bothering her.

"Well, I..." she looked at him guiltily then, which made Draco frown. He had a feeling he knew where the conversation was heading, as it wasn't often that Granger looked at him guiltily, but he couldn't just take back his question. "Dobby, the house elf who rescued us from your house last year, he died doing it. I hate thinking he died only because I couldn't get myself out of what was happening, but it started before that," Granger said quickly, noticing the expression on his face. "I tried to start an organization, S.P.E.W. a few years ago, but it didn't work. It was supposed to give house elves rights but, well, it kind of fell apart,"

"Granger I-"

"Listen, let's just not talk about it okay? I'd rather not think about what happened right before I go off to Australia for a week,"

"You're going where?"

"Australia," she shrugged, holding up a mug and offering it to him. "Shall we go sit outside and drink this?"

He nodded stiffly and followed her out of the kitchens, frowning. "Why are you going to Australia?"

"I have things to do there,"

"What things?"

"Malfoy that's another thing I don't really want to talk about,"

"Well then why bring it up?"

"I don't know, to give a reason as to why I don't want to think about something horrible? I'm going to be alone down there and I definitely don't need to be thinking about the war,"

"You think about the war no matter what you do, Granger,"

Granger narrowed her eyes at him as they walked outside of the castle. "Can we not fight tonight? I'm not in the mood,"

"You've been in a foul mood all night-"

"I was perfectly fine up until a few minutes ago,"

"You looked like you were about to murder someone walking out of the common room earlier,"

"Well you didn't have to keep pushing about my plans-"

"Oh that was not pushing, Granger-"

"Yes it was!"

"Well maybe if you weren't so secretive about everything then I wouldn't have to push!"

"Oh I'm secretive? How about you tell me what you're doing over vacation? I mean, if you want to share secrets, Malfoy, why don't you go first?"

For a split second he considered telling her about what he was still debating involving his father, but then it would seem like she'd win and he didn't really feel like sharing anyway. "Because, Granger, I asked you first," he retorted weakly, making her roll her eyes.

"And you say I'm-"

"Didn't you say you didn't want to fight? Because I'm really not in the mood for that either,"

"Malfoy-" He shoved his cup into her hands and walked away, hearing a hiss escape her lips. He realized that some of the hot chocolate must have spilt on her, and for a moment he felt bad, but he really just wanted to get away from her. "I'm going to find my parents," she said loudly. Draco turned around rather quickly to see her holding the two drinks far away from her body and looking down at the stain on the dress she was wearing.

"What?"

"That's what I'm going to Australia for, to find my parents,"

"Why don't you know where your parents are?"

"I-" she hesitated and Draco frowned.

"You don't have to actually tell me, you know," he said quietly. "It's up to you,"

"No, I think... I think we should be honest with each other. It'll make us better friends,"

"All right,"

"I wiped their memories," she said, glaring at the ground. "Before the war started. I'd told them all about Harry and Ron and I thought it was safer... and I made sure they went out of the country. I thought it would be easy to find them once everything was over, but so far I've had no luck,"

"That doesn't sound...pleasant," he said, unsure of what else he really could say. He never would have been able to tell Granger something like that, so she obviously trusted him more than he trusted her. Even if it was only a little bit.

"It's not," she said.

Draco walked back to her and took his cup back, noting that it was half empty. A thick silence followed her words and for a while Draco was willing to let it, though after a while it became uncomfortable. It seemed like Granger was waiting for him to say something but he wasn't sure what, so he went with the first thing that came to his mind. "I'm going to my father's trial over the holiday," he said quickly, knowing that if he paused for too long he wouldn't tell her anything else. But for some reason he wanted the words to come out. "If I don't vouch for him he's going to go to Azkaban. Mother thinks that if I do he has a chance. I don't... I don't know what I'm going to do, Granger,"

She dropped her cup.