A/n- Deathly Hallows was AMAZING! See end A/n for more of my opinion!

Disclaimer: I own… my creativeness?

Summary: The lead up, the big night, and the cozy morning. Calm before storms. Stuff about Horcruxs have been altered to fit this story; I was going to have Horcruxes in this anyway and was going to have 7 random things but I'm using the ones from DH, even if I'm not going by DH it seemed smarter to use those Horcruxes. LONG CHAPTER!

The Other Side of Fate

It was with a staggering fervor that Ginny took on the roll, not unlike her mother, to be the Gryffindor's official 'den mother'. It was a natural choice, if anyone had to choose between her and any other number of underclassmen; and she shouldered the responsibility with silent ferocity.

A week before Christmas and Ginny sat down next to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco one morning, and was practically beaming. Harry looked at her strangely.

No one had really heard of her plans for the Holidays, only her and other people- two other girls. But that morning, she seemed close to spilling her plans.

Before any of them could open their mouths, the flurry of the morning post distracted their attentions. Owls; not the normal number of owls either. It was like an army of owls had swooped through the windows, nearly all heading to the Gryffindor table. As letters dropped around her, Ginny picked up a piece of toast, got up again, and left, still smiling.

Draco raised and eyebrow and picked up a letter that had dropped next to him. Draco Malfoy it read in loopy red-gold writing. He peered over at Hermione's whose envelope was the same; Hermione J. Granger.

"She's mental." Ron muttered as he opened his own note. "All this for a party!" Harry unfolded his in the same motion everyone else did. Draco skimmed the words silently as Harry narrated.

"You are hereby invited to the Gryffindor Christmas eve Party to be held from six to eleven in the Gryffindor Common Room. Hors d'oeuvres and drink will be provided. No formal dress is required, but the hostesses would like to remind all who attend to try and not look like trolls. Hope to see you there, your lovely party planner, Ginny M. Weasley."

Ron rolled his eyes but Harry only laughed, shaking his head.

"Is she serious?" Draco questioned aloud and Ron nodded at his plate. Harry stifled a rather loud yawn and Hermione glared at him.

"Why so tired Harry?" But the three boys in the group already knew the answer to that question, as Hermione did.

"Don't know what you're talking bout." He stifled; Hermione looked a little less then impressed.

Draco forked a pancake, unwilling to place himself in the middle of another one of the two's rows. Ron ignored them all completely as Hermione started balking. Draco sighed.

It was secret knowledge among the four that Harry had been flitting out at night with the Headmaster to look for the Horcruxes. That, compounded with the amount his scar had been aching, Harry had been looking like the walking dead then for nearly a week.

Hermione was insistent that she, Ron, and Draco help with the search. But Harry was adamant about them staying put and when he did need them, he'd ask- and he did.

Malfoy recalled nearly three week's worth of sneaking up to either the Tower or the Room of Requirement in order to ponder over Horcruxs. Every time he got in the door, he was quizzed to see if he was the real Draco and questioned if anyone had been following him.

Draco would relate some bit of personal story- usually about Hermione just to see Ron's face- and then answer no, no one had followed him, no one had said anything since Blaise's little laugh riot.

Sitting under lit lamps, the group had composed a list of five known Horcruxes:

Riddle's Diary; destroyed by Harry in their second year.

Marvolo Gaunt's ring; cracked by Dumbledore with the use of Gryffindor's sword.

Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem; destroyed by Harry with the sword. After Harry he had realized that there would most likely be a Horcrux for every House, Hermione, researching Rowena Ravenclaw's history, produced a picture of her wearing the Diadem. It had been familiar to Ron, relating that he had walked into the Room of Requirement while he tried to hide his brother's joke things when Filtch had nearly caught him. Ron had hid Fred and George's things on a dresser under which the Diadem had been resting.

Helga Hufflepuff's Cup; acquired then destroyed by Dumbeldore after he learned from an unknown source that Bellatrixkept the object at Gringotts. The Headmaster had bewitched a Goblin to get it for him.

There were three left, two if Harry and the old man played their cards right- Dumbledore knew about one more- a locket that belonged to Salazar Slytherin. It was this that Harry and the Headmaster pondered over for the last few days, up till nearly one in the morning trying to figure where it would be hidden.

Draco was forced from his musings when Hermione stop mid-sentence, Potter's hand snapping up to his brow. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"Harry?" Hermione ventured. She looked stricken. "I didn't mean to- sorry Harry." The boy's eyes were a tad glazed, unfocused. After nearly ten seconds, he snapped back and stared at her.

"Sorry?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged glances but Draco leaned in.

"You saw him, did you, Potter?" The greed in his voice was unchecked, gaining a nasty look from Hermione. Draco ignored it as Harry nodded.

"He's- not happy, but then, gleeful? It's… something unpleasant has happened or something and he's happy about it?" There was a pause. "Murderously happy. He was standing…"

Draco tuned out the rest, a chill rippling up his spine. He couldn't stand the way Potter talked so casually over the Dark Lord, as if he had nothing to be frightened of, as if he was just another ordinary wizard. Bedsides, the fact the boy's scar acted like a Death Eater Ariel was strange in itself.

Malfoy glanced at Hermione; her mouth was hanging open slightly. He felt guilt drench him. Ever since this Horcrux business, they hadn't had hardly enough time alone together. Draco stroked her bare arm under the table, his hand reaching into the sleeve of her cloak.

Ron sighed across the table.

"It'll be weird, you know, not going home for Christmas." He was looking down at his plate. A breath of relief flooded Draco. That's right; he wouldn't have to go home. Brilliant!

In a crawlspace at the back of Draco's mind a little voice reminded him about the letter from his father, but he pushed away the thought, unwilling to think of such things when the Holidays were so close.

"I'll miss mum's pudding." He heard the Weasel simper. Laughing lightly, Harry shook his head.

.o.o.o.o.

It was five-thirty Christmas Eve and the last of the students heading home for the Holidays were packing their trunks and making their way down to the Great Hall.

Not all students, but most.

Standing up from his bed, Draco felt his head rush uncomfortably. He put his arm out and caught his bedpost as a lurching feeling, not unlike apparition, struck up in his stomach- nauseating.

A small grunt from the doorway focused his attention and he looked up to the dorm doorway. He saw a rather tall, bulky mass silhouetted against the firelight in the Common Room.

"Goyle."

The boy slouched in the doorframe. "You're not going home?" It was a stupid question. Draco let his hand fall back beside him and nodded, his wand twirling in his other hand. Goyle stared at the Hawthorn shaft, not really frightened, but he didn't move a muscle; Draco pulled the wand to his scalp and started magically combing through his hair. He could hear the other boy begin to breathe again.

"Knew you weren't." Was the boy's sullen reply. Draco rolled his eyes and nodded again. "Go'en to tell you to give my regards to your father." Draco looked at him oddly. "But, seeing as I'm going to see him myself thought better of it." Malfoy whirled around.

"My father?" He said in a rush. Goyle nodded and the pale boy glared suspiciously. "Why are you telling me this?"

The Goyle looked extremely uncomfortable. "I- er… You see, we're go'en to the Manor, eh?" Draco's eyes widened. "All 'em Deatheaters are going to the Malfoy Manor; You-Know-Who's keep'en everyone there as a kind of base."

Malfoy blinked. "My home?" Goyle nodded and a kind of rage seethed its way into Draco's veins. "I don't believe it." But he did, he knew he did and Goyle knew he did. It was just the kind of thing his father would do, lay down in front of the Dark Lord and let him walk right over into the Manor.

Didn't his father know Dark Lord didn't love him? Not as much as he did Lestrange anyway… well, that was a different kind of love and Draco couldn't really call that love either. Whatever his father did was not putting him into the Lord's good graces- it was merely a trick to use his father.

Wonder what his mother thought of it.

Ah, idea.

"Goyle." Draco motioned him over as he sat back on his bed; the other boy kind of lurched forward. Draco reached down and tapped his bedside drawer with his wand, the lock clicking open. He handed his father's letter to Goyle as the boy stood awkwardly next to the bed.

"Read it."

Draco watched the boy's face change from something akin to embarrassment to utter confusion.

"But you were-"

"I know, with you when Katie got cursed."

"But then, who-"

Shaking his head, Malfoy took the letter back. "I don't know, but I know how I can try and find out…" He looked up at Goyle who instinctively shook his head.

"I came to tell ya that I wouldn't snoop through your sock drawer Malfoy, not cuz I wanted to help you figure out what the Dark Lord's plannen."

Malfoy closed the drawer with a particularly loud snap, glowering. "Fine. Forget I mentioned it."

Both the boys fell silent, Draco glowering at the floor and Goyle unsure if he was suppose to leave or not.

"Erm, I suppose, I could keep an ear open…" He said finally. Beneath a mask of calm cool collectiveness, Draco smiled mirthlessly; he always got what he wanted. Manipulation.

"Thanks Goyle." He nodded as he stood up, slowly, and clasped a hand on the boy's shoulder. His fellow Slytherin smiled nervously and then kind of jumped in surprise.

"I'm going to miss the train."

Malfoy stared at him.

"I'll see you later." Goyle said, rushing out of the dorm, his trunk outside in the Common Room. Draco grinned and buttoned up the rest of his shirt; not wanting to wear wizard's robes for the party.

Giving himself a good look in the dusty Slytherin mirror a few minutes lator, Malfoy walked out only to stop short.

Blaise Zabini was carrying his trunk to the Common Room door. They both stopped and stared. Balise was the first to speak.

"Been having a good chat with Gregory, were we?"

Draco glared. "You missed the train." He said flatly, coolly. "Left nearly ten minutes ago." Zabini smiled.

"Oh, I'm not going on the train, I'm meeting mother in Hogsmead."

There was a joke imbedded there about which new husband his mother would be bringing along, but Draco said nothing. To provoke Blaise now would be foolish.

"Trip to Hogsmead- should be fun Zabini."

The other boy sneered, casting away Malfoy's kindness. "Oh, we're just having dinner there before we move along to the Malfoy Manor." Draco tried to look surprised but his lack of anger was caught and Blaise narrowed his eyes, his grin growing.

The Stone Snake slid to the side and just as Blaise walked out, he looked back.

"I think I've persuaded your father to let me have your old room."

Malfoy couldn't see his face as Zabini continued.

"I'll be sure to read your Diary, Draco…"

His voice was thankfully silenced by the Snake which locked back into place. Malfoy let out a breath and unclenched his fists; half-moon divits from his nails created shadows along his palms.

Fifteen minutes later and he stood in front of the Gryffindor portrait hole, rather loud noises issuing from behind the frame.

His fist reached out to rap on the wood but he had to jump back in surprise as the picture swung open and someone- no, two people- scurried out of it. He could hear Ginny's voice from beyond.

"Another tray- make it two! And if you can bribe some Firewhisky out of 'em I'll give you a tip!"

The two First Years sprinted down the staircase towards the Kitchens; Draco having thrust a palm between frame and wall to keep the portrait open. He watched them, bemused, as he hauled himself into the Common Room.

The noise practically threw him off his feet.

Draco's mouth promptly fell open.

Looking up, he saw it was snowing- right there in the room- large flakes that, when having almost reached the heads of students, disappeared. The usual Gryffindor tables, chairs, and rugs had been pushed back against the wall and someone very talented- he had an inkling who- had preformed a charm that expanded the tower and configured the old furniture.

Now, a long continuous red couch lined the walls on either side of the portrait hole, snaking their way around the room like overlarge parentheses that were separated by the Fat Lady and the staircase to the dorm.

There was a dance floor in the middle of the room, a circular dance floor. Draco couldn't fathom this as he weaved between crowds of not only Gryffindors but a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. He, however, was the only Slytherin.

Finally, between the dance floor and the overlarge couches sat little iron tables with little iron chairs on which students sat and conversed. Underfoot House-elves laden with trays of food and drink scurried and green and red pixies busied through the air and the Gryffindor fire raged under a handsomely decorated hearth. An immense magically modified phonograph played some hit song.

As Malfoy stared up at the walkway between the two dorms- marveling at the read holly and mistletoe that hung there- someone shrieked his name in delight and hugged him round the middle.

"Ginny." He said, startled. "How are you holding up?"

The girl laughed and as she stepped away, Malfoy eyed her, smiling. She was wearing what seemed a hybrid between a dress and wizard's robes and shinning ruby red. At his question, she huffed a frown.

"I sent some of my helpers back down to the kitchens and the pixies have tried to escape- twice- but other then that? Thanks for coming by the way! Ron didn't even say a word against it. Perhaps he's coming around!"

"Doubtful." Draco snorted. Ginny shrugged and pulled him along, shoving something crystal and filled with liquid into his hands. Draco cringed when they passed the megaphone; over the heads of the crowd he could see that most of the available seating was taken, some having resorted to sit on the steps up to the dorms.

"Draco's here!" Ginny quipped as she led him over to Ron who sat on the long red couch in the corner. He looked better then he had at the Yule Ball- no frills.

"Hello Weasel!" Malfoy managed over the noise. Ron looked confused, obviously he couldn't hear him, but nodded anyway at the somewhat loaded greeting.

Ron motioned them to sit down but only Draco did, pulling up a miraculously empty chair.

"Can't sit; I can only stay for a moment Ron." Ginny said as she leaned on the back of Draco's chair. Ron squinted at her.

"Ginny, this is insane; I don't even know half these people! How are you possibly getting the money for this?"

Draco noticed with quiet pleasure the twinkling Christmas lights floating above their heads.

"Didn't they tell you?" The girl looked genuinely concerned.

Ron looked startled.

"I've become an On-location Consultant for Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!"

A spluttering distracted Draco from his musings as he saw the Weasel spit out what looked lke Butterbear down his front.

"You what?!"

Ginny looked completely innocent; a reluctant grin spreading across Malfoy's face.

"Anyway, Ron, I've got to go see if those first years are back." The red head pushed away from the chair.

"Ginny!"

"See you Draco, hope you have a good time!"

"Ginny!!"

But the girl was deaf to her brother's calls as she dissapeared into the crowd. Ron looked utterly defeated and slumped back against the wall. Malfoy grinned and Ron returned it, weakly.

"So, where's-"

"Hey guys." Ron and Draco swivvled around to see Harry slump down next to them. He looked tired as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Any luck?" Ron murmured. Harry shook his head.

Yet another wasted evening with Dumbledore. Draco leaned back in his chair and tried to ignore the looks he was receiving from the other students. He glowered; it seemed to help, less people stared.

Malfoy pulled at his shirt collar and unbuttoned the top loop. Nerviouly, he sipped at the drink Ginny had given him and gave a small start. Unless he was imagining it, this was real Whisky- not Firewhisky. Draco let out a small chuckle, half listening to the Weird Sisiter's music playing and half waiting anxiously for Hermione whom he haddnt seen but assumed to be getting ready.

How much time did women really need?

"Draco!"

Malfoy looked up and met Harry and Ron's eyes; they were looking over his shoulder. Draco turned and a smiled.

Hermione squeezed through a pair of tipsy seventh years to them. Malfoy tried to act casual but his hands were really rather warm at the sight of her; her hair was pulled back with a thin hairband, a black velvet skirt hung just below her knees, and a shirt he'd never quite seen the likes of before- it was black but not black at the same time for little bursts of green and red and gold continiously erupted upon its surface.

Malfoy stood up and took Hermione's hand, kissing her gently upon the lips.

"You smell like alchohol." She whispered against him. Draco grinned.

"Not my fault!" He said defensivly as he enchanted a chair for her. "The mini-Weasle was the one!"

Ron gave a huffing little noise. "Hermione, did she ever tell you she was in cahoots with Fred and George!?" Hermione blinked at him.

"You mean Weasley' Wizard Wheezes?"

Ron threw up his hands and looked dumbfounded.

Harry laughed.

.o.o.o.o.

Ten thirty, it was ten thirty, and Draco didn't think he could stand on his own two feet ever again. Four hours and it was perhaps the fifth time he had sat down to take a break as the music pumped around him.

Hermione, having kicked off her shoes like the rest of the girls in the first fourty-five minutes- why they even wore shoes if they were going to take them off anyway was besides Draco- had made a quick movement towards the girl's bathroom and Draco took the oportunity to sit.

Craning his neck, he could see Harry and Ginny dancing a little closer then Wonder Boy's best friend would have liked.

Malfoy flexed his fingers and the horrors of the Dark Lord, the war, Horcrxes, even his Father seemed to be so far away.

That was Ginny's plan, wanst it?

He licked his lips.

He could still feel Hermione's weight against his hip, could still feel her breath against his shoulder.

Getting up, Draco skirted the mass of people to the steps to the dorms, follwing in Hermione's wake. Carefully he crept up the staircase, hiding partly in the shadows, waiting.

He heard the dormitory door creak back open, saw Hermione fan out the wrinkles in her skirt. As she walked closer, Malfoy jumped out of the dark and grabbed her around the waist.

"Wh-" But her lips were silenced for a moment. Draco felt her quick and rapid heartbeat slow against his chest.

"Didn't mean to scare you." He whispred, his voice a slight hoarse from yelling over the music. Hermione pursed her lips, eyes wide and shining.

"Yes you did, don't lie." She smiled.

"Perhaps we could just stay here?" Draco leaned agains one of the stone walls, the staircase concieling them as long as they didn't walk towards the dorm doors who's hallway opened over the party.

Hermione rolled her eyes but sat gingerly upon the ground across from him; Malfoy slid down the wall.

"My feet are killing me."

Worlessly, Draco placed her heels in his lap. She was wearing stocking, how quaintly beautiful.

"I love you, Hermione." He said quietly, suddenly. Draco looked up to see Hermione's soft brown eyes watching him, an expression of frailty on her face. "I'll protect you from The Dark- from You Know- from Voldemort." He watched her wince- he winced too- but there gaze still held firm.

"I love you too, Draco." She scooted over to sit next to him, her legs partly hanging in his lap, her side against his chest. Malfoy felt his heart quicken.

"I- uh-" He wanted to say something sweet and endearing. His mind wouldn't admit it, but he wanted to be the hero, like Potter, just for once, even if the heroism was over something personal and not… well… evil.

Sweet and endearing.

But nothing would come- perhaps he wasn't the sweet and endearing type. But Hermione knew, she knew his love and devotion. She smiled up at him.

"Would you like to go back to the party?"

Draco shook his head softly and they sat, until eleven, wrapped up in eachother.

But the half hour ticked by with an alarmingly rapid clip. It seemed like only the second kiss and Ginny was winding down the music, the radio dying. Her magically magnified voice echoing round the Common Room.

"Thank you! Thank you all for coming! As head of this little party, I'd like to thank Luna and Lavender for helping me get this little thing together, to Hermione who helped with the- well, lets see- all the enchantments! "

Draco and Hermione slowly desended the steps back into the brightly lit group. Everyone smiled at bushy haired girl, who blushed.

"I hope this has diverted, even if for one night, your attention away from any troubling matters- I hope you have a good time." She paused. "Now, everyone who is still going home for Christmas, McGonigal has arranged a window of a half an hour of Floo Networking in her office. She would like me to remind eveyone who is leaving to gather their things and meet her outside her office in approximatly ten minutes. Thank you all again!"

Malfoy leaned against the wall as numerious students squeezed past to gather their things; other studnets from other houses filed out the portrait hole, Ginny at the door hugging friends and waving to those who exited.

"I should get going." Malfoy murmured as he helped transfigure the chairs back to their original shape. Ron and Harry had helped the House-elves carry the extra trays back to the Kitchens. Ginny was bottling the pixies, having been relieved of her duty as hostess when everyone was finally gone.

"Are any one the Slytherins even staying this year?"

Draco shrugged, sent slightly off balance as the room squeezed back to its small, round shape. "Might be nice to have it to myself for a change, but I think a few seventh years are staying." Hermione lowered her wand and looked at him.

They hadn't discussed Draco return to the Manor for Christmas- or the lack of him doing so.

"I'm sorry you won't be able to see your parents."

Malfoy grinned good-naturedly, his eyes squinting with a smile- something not usually seen. "I'm sure they're getting along alright without me." He knew Hermione could hear the edge in his voice.

His father could rot for all he cared; Draco was worried about his mother. His mother with the Dark Lord, Blaise, Deatheaters- oh he bet she nearly had a heart attack when it was announced they'd all be staying there. She probably helped the help clean or something idiotic like that.

A little laugh bubbled up from Draco's tired lungs.

He felt Hermione's hand on his arm; turning him around to look at her. Silently, she threaded her other hand through his hair.

"You are very brave." She murmured. Draco grinned, trying on his best dashing smile. Hermione stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

After a minute or so a voice floated down from the dorms.

"You know, you might want to lay off it a little, if my brother sees you he'll go mental."

Hermione's look was sour and Draco chuckled. "Ginny, you should know I don't give a damn what the Weasel thinks."

A shrill laugh echoed around the room. "He says the same thing! Only he uses the term 'ferret'."

"I really should be going." Draco said again, smiling as the portrait hole opened and the two boys clamored in. Hermione nodded and Malfoy bid goodnight to the four, stepping down from the Fat Lady, swinging it shut.

Silence descended around the room and Ginny poked her head out from around the staircase.

"Ron…" Hermione said in a sweet voice.

"No." He said flatly, as if expecting some request unbefitting to him.

"Ro-on." She said even more sweetly, grinning at him.

"What?"

Ginny leaned out and caught Harry's eye as he walked over. She gave him a clueless look and the boy shook his head, rolling his eyes, smiling. Watching Harry, she didn't hear Hermione's question, only Ron's abrupt answer.

"No."

"Oh, Ron!"

"No. No. NO. I will not have my morning ruined by having to stare at... that! No! No! NO! I simply won't have it!"

.o.o.o.o.

"Hello Potter."

Harry had pushed back the Fat Lady to see Malfoy standing in the corridor, morning sunlight streaming down through the tall Hogwarts windows. It was nearly seven- thirty. Harry yawned and blinked tiredly at him, moving aside to let him enter, a package under the Slytherin's arm.

"Assuming…" Draco held up a little note. "That the 'xoxoxo's weren't from you, where is Hermione?" He had been surprised- pleasantly at least- to find the little letter on his bedside table that morning.

The picture swung shut and Harry followed him into the warm Common Room, a Christmas tree erected near the fire, sparkling. "You're lucky; Ron was adamant about you not 'ruining his Christmas morning.'."

Malfoy laughed something between a scoff and a strange high-pitched giggle. "Ah, the Weasel… Ferret and the Weasel- isn't there a children's story about that or something? A song?" Harry looked bewildered. "Never mind." Draco placed his single package under the tree and was slightly taken aback when he noticed more then one gift already under there donned his name.

"Ah-" He started, but was cut off when Harry bid good morning to Ron and Ginny- already arguing- as they walked down the stairs, Hermione following with a tray of hot chocolate from the House-elves.

"Good morning!" Hermione beamed at them as they sat around the fire.

"Are you four the only ones staying in Gryffindor?" Draco asked astonished, taking a cup and kissing Hermione good morning. The goblet felt as if it seared his hands in a strangely pleasant way.

Ginny nodded then stopped and shook her head. "Well, a couple others are staying but they already left to meet friends from other Houses." Malfoy nodded as Ginny seated herself next to the tree- picking up a package and handing them out one by one.

Harry smiled at the red head, an action unnoticed by Ron but certainly noticed by Draco. He watched them, bemused.

Harry was unwrapping his gift from Ginny as Draco was given a package wrapped in butcher paper and baring his name. He looked at Hermione who was sitting next to him in the overlarge armchair as if asking if it was from her. She shook her head.

Ginny was laughing over a pair of socks she got from Luna- ones that had what looked like dangling radishes on the heels. Ron glanced at Malfoy and groaned. Draco blinked.

"Oh god, Mum sent Malfoy a package."

"This is from your mother, Wesley?" Malfoy ripped at the packaging whilst Harry grinned at Ginny, a gold wand holder from the girl in his lap.

Sitting in Draco's hands was something black and soft. He held it up and a knit sweater unfolded in his arms. In the center of the black knit was a large and ornate silver D.

Ron groaned and Malfoy cracked a smile.

"This mean I'm in the official club?" He laughed, sliding the warm cloth over his head. "Ah, your mother is amazing." He murmured, "This fits." Ginny snickered as she passed out more gifts.

With a sinking feeling he saw four more neatly wrapped packages with his name on it and remembered he had only brought one, for Hermione, and nothing else.

Malfoy bit his lip as Ginny handed him her present- it was a small snow globe with a miniature broom whizzing around inside, snow falling onto a fake quiddich pitch. Another package: Dumbledore had given Draco a whole bag of Acid Pops.

As he turned the candy over in his hand, Hermione squealed as she hugged Ginny, a shinny new enchanted School Planner in her hands.

"Oiy, Malfoy." Harry tossed a package over and it landed in Malfoy's lap.

To: Draco Malfoy

Harry Potter

His own parents hadn't sent him anything and yet he had received gifts from Ginny, Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, Hermione- the last one he would open-, and now Potter.

"This isn't-" He started, but Harry waved him off.

"Don't. It's stupid anyway. Hermione didn't tell me you were kicked off the Slytherin Quiddich team." At Potter's words, Ron looked stunned, as did Ginny. Intrigued, Draco tore off the midnight blue wrapping paper. "Sorry mate didn't know you weren't playing anymore."

Malfoy stared. They were a pair of Quiddich goggles, leather so dark it was almost black, yet tan where silver pins holding in the glass were located. Down both sides of the head straps was silver lettering spelling out Draco Malfoy.

Malfoy ran a finger over the glass and saw no imprint on the lenses- it was bewitched- streak proof. He turned them over and over.

"Merlin, Potter." He looked up to see Harry smiling at him.

"Like I said, I didn't know you weren't playing till our match last week. Saw Zabini and…" He trailed off and shrugged, but Malfoy shook his head.

"I don't care, Potter, this is-" Draco shook his head again. Harry laughed. Hermione placed a hand on Draco's as if feeling his guilt; even though Draco's pile of gifts were noticeably smaller, he still felt a swell of pride at the things he received.

"My turn!" Hermione said excitedly as to break the tension. Ginny passed the package Draco had brought to her. Malfoy looked away from Harry, a small patch of pink flushing his pale cheeks.

The paper was so beautiful that Hermione folded it off the spongy gift with deliberate care. The wrapping had reminded Draco of her when he bought it- pale sunset orange with clouds of white and streaks of blue moving realistically upon them.

It reminded him of the sunset they had watched when they took their first drink of Butterbeer as friends. It felt so long ago.

"Oh." Hermione pulled out a scarf that sparkled in the morning light. Ginny made a similar noise and scooted over, feeling the silk. It was the color dusky gold with orange and purple flashes embedded deep within the cloth, the ends tied off in large soft baubles.

"It's spider's silk."Ginny commented.

"Wrong." Draco grinned. "It is an infused cloth of Abraxan hand Graphorn hair within enchanted cloth. It's extremely durable and is constantly warm." Harry looked confused.

"What's an Abraxan and Graphorn, anyway?"

Malfoy watched as Hermione stood to wrap it around her as she spoke. "Abraxans are kind of horse-like creatures, a bit like palominos. You've seen them, Harry; they pull the carriages from Beauxbatons! And Graphorns are horned beasts whose horns are used in potions. Their hide is said to be even more spell-repellent than dragon's!" She looked wide-eyed at Draco who donned a smug little smile.

Not cheap, that was, but the look on her face made his heart swell. She swooped down to kiss him.

"Here; here Draco." Hermione pushed her present into his lap as she scooted closer. Ron got up and flicked his wand at all the discarded wrapping paper as it crumpled and flew into a large ball. As directed it over to the Common Room door; he began to do the same with the ribbon- Malfoy unwrapped his gift.

A shiny leather book cover winked up at him, yet, the lettering was the only real shine; the rest of the book looked old and weathered- extremely old- and even the title was fading.

Light to Dark: A Witch and Wizard's Guide to Shifting the Dark Arts into White Magic by Dale Jarvey

Malfoy touched the book and it shuttered.

"It recognizes its owner." Hermione beamed at him. "You'll be the only one who can open it now."

Malfoy squinted at the title. Dark Arts. Is that what she thought of him? He peered at Hermione who looked so innocent, so hopeful, and his momentary displeasure melted away.

She wanted to help him, how could he undermine that?

Hermione brightened as Draco lapsed into gracious laughter, embracing her.

"You are an amazing which." He murmured into her hair. Hermione blushed. "Thank you, all, you've made my Christmas." He said to the room when he let go to look around. He even smiled at Ron, who, weakly grinned back- sheepish.

Out of the corner of his silver-blue eyes, Draco saw Hermione whipping away glimmering tears of happiness. Harry smiled and Ginny fiddled with her hot chocolate, beaming down at the cup.

Draco sighed, feeling utterly content.

Nothing could spoil this soaring feeling in his heart, nothing.

A/n- WOW! Long!

Okay, so I finished Deathly Hallows on Sunday and it was AMAZING! The only part I liked less then the rest was the epilogue- it seemed a little fanfic'esk- the names were a little cheesy and it seemed rushed but HEY if I was J. K. Rowling and had written 7 darkly intense books like Harry Potter I would want a little frivolity at the end too so I feel I can embrace the epilogue with a little more understanding then if it was at the end of something else.

Anyway, next chapter up next Sunday! Hope the longness of this made up for the lateness!! (it was 17 pages on Word)

Review if you loved it, liked it, hated it!

Review!!!