I wanted to write something cracky and fun. Um, yeah. That didn't work out so well, so here's my offering to spread some DG cheer this season.

Soundtrack: Sakura Nagashi – Utada Hikaru

Through the Looking Glass

She sits hunched over on the step with one knee curled against her chest. Her hair is unbound, spilling in red waves around her. The colour is so vibrant when placed against the black of her robe. Maybe that's what drew him to her in the first place—that vibrant splash amongst all the mundane—though he pauses when notices the cigarette clutched between her fingers. That is a new addition.

"Never pegged you as a smoker," he observes.

She takes a drag on the cigarette and exhales. "Haven't you heard? It's great for your health."

Draco raises his eyebrow. Her sarcasm is like a wall of stone, trying to shove him away. "Something got your knickers in a twist, Weasley?"

She actually looks at him then. "What's it to you?"

"Call it simple curiosity." He shrugs. "You don't seem yourself."

A snort escapes her lips. "As if you know me."

He shifts on his feet, feeling a bit off balance. The barb hits home. He doesn't know her. Not really. All he has of her are snapshots and glimpses: memories from their time at school, from the little encounters since their graduation, yet it's all just brushes of contact on a vast plain. Her smiles have never been for him. Her laughter is something he has only heard from afar. He's teased her—even held her trapped in his arms once when he was part of the Inquisitorial Squad—but that's about it. Draco's not even sure why he's fascinated by this woman.

She's just a stupid Weasley, really. It's not like she's anything special.

He exhales and takes a seat next to her on the step. A part of him asks why he's still here. She's made it clear she doesn't want to talk to him. It's not like he needs to stay. There are plenty of women who would fight for his attention. Not like this Weasley bint who can't even give him the time of day.

"So, what's eating at you?" he asks.

Weasley lets out a small huff. "Nosy bastard," she mutters under her breath.

Draco almost smiles. That is more like her. Spunky, rude. It's sad how relieved he feels.

"Well?" he prompts.

"I'm not going to have a heart-to-heart with you, Malfoy, so piss off!"

He laughs. Inwardly, he wonders if he's a masochist. This woman doesn't care about him at all. It's so obvious that she wants him to leave.

"Humour me, Weasley." He leans back on his palms, gazing up at the grey sky. "It's Christmas Eve. People shouldn't be alone on Christmas Eve."

She's silent. The cigarette in her hand is burning out; she's not even bothering to smoke it now.

"Did something happen with your family?" he asks when it becomes clear she's not going to say anything.

"Geez, are you going to start fishing now?"

His mouth does curve into a smile this time. "I'm a nosy bastard," he reminds her. "Besides, can you blame me? It's not every day I find Ginny Weasley sitting on some steps like the clichéd, angst-ridden bad girl from a teenage novel. You're even smoking."

Her eyes narrow. "Wanna say that again, bastard?"

He just smiles. "Would it help?"

She blinks, taken off guard by his words.

"I just want to see the spark back in your eyes," he admits. "Frankly, you look pathetic."

Her expression is far from impressed. "Wow, Malfoy, you really know how to flatter a girl."

"It still worked, didn't it?"

His voice is soft. She stares at the dwindling cigarette in her hands.

Draco sighs and gets back to his feet. "Come on."

He holds out his hand to her. Weasley glowers and tells him to sod off. It seems she is still determined to stay in her little emo shell of angst. That makes him impatient.

"Don't make me pick you up," he threatens.

"You wouldn't," she says, yet there is a hint of something in her eyes—maybe curiosity. She's intrigued.

He leans down and takes the cigarette from her fingers, stubbing it out on the concrete. "I never say things I don't mean, Weasley. Either stand up on your own or I'm going to haul your pathetic arse over my shoulder and carry you to the Disapparation point myself."

She raises her eyebrow. "That's called kidnapping, idiot. You sure you wanna go there?"

He holds her gaze. "Are you coming or not?"

Weasley stares at him for a long moment. Finally, she sighs and gets to her feet. "You're so weird."

It's hardly a compliment, but her words still make his mouth twitch into a smile. They walk side-by-side down the street, bumping shoulders like old friends. Except they're not friends. Not really. Still, the silence between them is comfortable.

He thinks he might know her better than she realises.

So, some words about this one-shot. I've written so many stories where Ginny is the one who gets Draco to snap out of his brooding. I thought it would be interesting to flip that situation on its head and have Draco be the nosy, "ima cheer u up" one. Hence, the title 'Through the Looking Glass'. Not sure how well it worked, but I hope you liked it all the same.

Happy holidays!