Thanks to everyone who's been reviewing and reading and putting me on their favorites list:

redrose2310:  I hope this chapter manages to answer your question in some fashion.  I agree:  Fights are mucho fun.

Black_Night:  You can hunt me down all you like but you'll have to get past my sister first.  She's already to hurt me if I don't update and I have to live with her.  It sometimes scares me to go to sleep at night.  j/k  Thanks for the enthusiastic response.

And to everyone else:  You comments have a way of brightening up my day. Keep 'em coming.

~Kiara

DISCLAIMER: I am not JK Rowling and the world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. I wish it did, but it doesn't. I am making no money off this trifle of a story.

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Dressing early before any of the other Slytherins were up, Draco sat down in the common room, writing out a long letter to his father explaining his problems in Potions with a strong emphasis on his drive and need to do better.  He was determined to argue his case not only to the best of his ability but to the point where he had hit all the right buttons and forced his father to give in.  Nothing Lucius Malfoy could say would keep Draco away from Harry and Hogwarts this Christmas.  Draco had himself prepared for a fight and there was no way he'd let himself lose.

He headed out of the common room and began to wander in the direction of the owlery.  A silent prayer was on his lips, Draco hoping more than anything that he wouldn't get caught wandering the school this early in the morning, especially when he was begging to stay at school for Christmas.  When he arrived, he approached his eagle owl and he stroked the feathers as he tied the letter to its leg.  Watching it set off, Draco watched into the distance until he could no longer see it and then he headed back toward the common room.

Draco didn't want to get his hopes up but he thought he had written a bloody convincing letter and he hoped his father would see it the same way.  He headed back to the Slytherin common room and once he arrived, he sat by the fire with his thoughts centered solely on Harry.  If Lucius didn't go for Draco's request, he was prepared to go against his father and stay anyway.  Being with Harry on their first Christmas was important to Draco and he wasn't about to miss it just because his father was a royal jackass.

Meanwhile, in Gryffindor, Harry was also up early, dressed in his school robes and prepared for the school day that waited ahead of him.  His thoughts, however, were on the upcoming trip to Hogsmeade for Christmas shopping and what it was going to be like spending Christmas with Draco.  Staring into the fire kept his attention and he never noticed Ron walking into the common room until he sat down next to him.

"Up so early?" asked Ron.

"Couldn't sleep," Harry replied.  "And you?"

"The same.  I keep thinking about what that git, Malfoy, said about Hermione yesterday.  You should have let me hit him, Harry.  I wanted to kill him."  Ron's face was beginning to tinge red and coming awful close to the color of his flaming hair.  "The nerve of him," Ron muttered.  "And poor Hermione.  Did you see how embarrassed Malfoy made her when he said that?  I really could have killed him."

"That's why I didn't let you hit him," replied Harry.  "Believe me, I wanted to hit him myself.  You'd've tried to kill him and then Crabbe and Goyle would've been using you for target practice."

"I wish I would've made him cry," Ron snapped.  "And then Hermione actually defended him later on like I was the bad guy just because I managed to bring tears to that cold, heartless bastard's eyes.  Poor Malfoy.  Who knew he had real feelings?  I wish he would've cried and everyone could tease him for the spineless coward he really is.  He better get what's coming to him.  I can't stand him, Harry.  I love Hermione.  Malfoy had no right to say those things."

"I know, Ron," answered Harry.  "You don't need to tell me that.  I was about ready to kill Malfoy myself when he said that but he isn't worth getting into trouble over.  He's just not worth it.  I agree with Hermione in that he didn't mean what he said yesterday but I agree with you when you say that he had no right."

"Whether he meant it or not, he still said it," Ron replied.  "And Hermione actually defends him just because his eyes teared.  Big deal.  Malfoy deserved a lot worse than a few unshed tears.  After everything he's done to us, Malfoy deserves some serious hexes and curses to be put on him.  The Unforgivables in particular.  You saw what he did to my cauldron.  And now I'm failing Potions because once we got the first half right, Malfoy didn't mix the second part long enough.  I knew what I was doing.  All the problems come from Malfoy and you know my family can't afford to buy me a new cauldron."

"I'd buy you a new one," Harry started.

"No," Ron interrupted.

"But I know you'd never accept it," Harry finished and Ron grinned at him.  "I'm glad you're talking to me more again.  I missed just sitting around and talking, even if our topic of conversation is centered on Malfoy."

"Me talk to you?" Ron replied.  "You're the one who's been off drifting in your own little dream world and hasn't been talking much to anyone about anything.  Not that Malfoy is my favorite topic of conversation, either, but it's better than nothing.  I missed hanging out with you.  Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with Hermione but I need to get away from my girlfriend every now and then.  There is still only so much of Hermione I can take, even if I am dating her.  She goes on and on about classes and books and grades."  Harry broke Ron's rant with laughter and Ron scowled at him.  "I'm not joking, Harry.  It's awful.  You know what she said to me after Potions yesterday?  She told me that was going to hurt my grade and I should have tried harder to get along with Malfoy."

"Blame Malfoy," Harry said.  "If it was his fault then there's nothing you can do about it.  Don't listen to what Hermione's saying.  She may be your girlfriend but she's still Hermione Granger and Hermione Granger obsesses over grades."  Harry stopped, thinking that this was similar to the point Draco had been making when he said that even if he was with Harry, he was still a Malfoy.  He sighed.

"See," Ron answered, "this is why I need you around because when it's just me and Hermione, she's the one who's always right.  I can't catch a break with her, Harry, but I still adore her."

"I know what you mean," Harry whispered, almost to himself, thinking of Draco.

~*~

Days passed, one after another with classes during the day, meetings between Draco and Harry at night as they snuck around and tried to hide their relationship.  Every night would end with a goodnight kiss between Harry and Draco under the invisibility cloak before Harry would return to Gryffindor and retire to the dormitories.  Ron had noticed and privately brought it up with Harry one day.  Harry had shrugged, told Ron that he needed alone time, and would be fine on his own.  He promised to be careful and that at least seemed to temporarily ease Ron's mind.

As for Ron and Harry, they had been closer in the past few days than they had the entire fifth year thus far.  They spent more time together laughing, talking, and just hanging out, giving Ron a well deserved break from his time with Hermione.  She seemed to be grateful to not have Ron around all the time, either, giving her some girl time.  It was a nice and welcomed change of pace for all parties concerned.

Harry spent the trip to Hogsmeade on his own, sending away anyone who came near him while he was out buying everyone's gifts for Christmas.  Twice Harry had to send Ron away to keep him from seeing what Harry was selecting and it took Harry threatening to peek at Ron's gifts to get him away.  As he wandered through Hogsmeade, he could see Draco wandering as well with Crabbe and Goyle looming over either side of him.  They exchanged glances, locking eyes for a few brief seconds before moving on his way to Honeydukes.

It had been a little over a week since Harry and Draco first got together and Harry woke up every morning with sheer elation running through his veins.  He dressed and wandered down to the common room where Hermione and Ron were already waiting for him.  The three walked out of the portrait hole and headed toward the Great Hall for their breakfast.  They sat down, Harry facing the Slytherin table as usual so he could watch Draco during their morning meal.

When mail arrived, Harry didn't receive anything so he snatched Ron's copy of the Daily Prophet and began to look over it.  Headlines were the same old thing as usual and it became dull very fast.  Setting it aside, Harry looked up to see Draco reading over a piece of parchment, an unreadable look across his face.  Draco stood up abruptly, quick caught Harry's eye, and walked out of the Great Hall.  With no other options, Harry excused himself and followed Draco out in the same direction.

Turning the corner to head outside, Harry stopped short to see Draco already standing there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.  A smirk tugged at his lips and he grasped Harry by the wrists, pulling him into the nearest empty classroom and shoving the door closed.  "I knew if I stalked out of there that you'd come after me.  You're so predictable," Draco said as he turned to face Harry and wrap his arms around Harry's waist.  He caught Harry's lips with his own in a long, sweet kiss before Draco pulled away.  "Guess what?" he said, almost a teasing in his tone.

"What?" replied Harry.  "Is something wrong?  You were slinking out of there like something awful happened."

"I got a response from my father," Draco started, "and I can stay here for Christmas.  The only catch is that I'm actually going to have to do schoolwork because he wants Snape to owl him with my progress.  That won't matter, though, because I'll still get to spend Christmas day with you."

"That's perfect," replied Harry, pulling his body closer into Draco's and kissing him.  "Ron's going to be staying here for Christmas, too, but if I spend the morning with him opening presents, I'm sure I can sneak away and spend the afternoon and evening with you.  We can meet in one of the classrooms.  No one will be there."

"Okay," Draco said, pressing their foreheads together.  "How about we meet after lunch on Christmas day to exchange gifts and be together?  McGonagall's classroom?"

"Sounds good," Harry answered and he placed a final kiss on Draco's lips before saying goodbye and heading off for Divination.

~*~

Harry sat up in bed, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes as he looked around at the mostly empty dormitory.  From his bed, Harry could see the snow falling outside and he slipped out of bed to sit by the window and stare at the grounds blanketed in white.  Turning from the window, Harry pushed aside the scarlet curtains and plopped himself on the end of Ron's bed.  Grabbing him by the shoulders, Harry shook him awake.  "Happy Christmas, Ron," he practically shouted causing Ron to jump and he sat up, rubbing at his eyes.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," he mumbled, slipping out of bed.  He didn't bother to change and they both decided to open their presents in the common room, still in their pajamas.  Fred, George, and Ginny were already there, Harry and the Weasleys being the only Gryffindors to stay behind this year.  As he sat down before his presents, his thoughts drifted to Draco, one of those Slytherins who stayed at Hogwarts.  Most of his time so far had been spent with Snape, going over the good fortune potion but Harry figured he must get lonely with only a first and third year student to keep him company

Harry tore at his presents, everyone getting the infamous Weasley sweaters, Harry's being green again while Ron almost screamed a maroon.  He got a new telescope from Sirius, socks from Dobby, a few trick wands from Fred and George, a poem from Ginny, a Quidditch t-shirt from Ron, and a jar of baby food came from the Dursleys.  "What did you get from Hermione?" Harry asked as Ron was digging through his presents.

"A bunch of sweets," he answered, and then tearing off the paper, "and Hogwarts, A History?"

"She gave me Hogwarts, A History, too," Harry commented.  "No sweets though."

"Well, I am her boyfriend," Ron answered opening up a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.  "What's this?" he said, tearing off the paper and opening up the box to extract a brand new pewter cauldron.

"That's nice!" Fred exclaimed and he walked over with George to examine the cauldron.  "Brand new, too.  Looks expensive.  Who would go and buy you a brand new cauldron?"

"You didn't, did you?" Ron asked Harry, and he shook his head.  Ron began searching, coming up short.  "Nothing.  No card, no note.  Just a cauldron and I needed one, too, after Malfoy went and ruined my old one."

"Wish we could've been there to see that," George remarked but Harry wasn't paying attention to them anymore as realization began to dawn on him.

"Draco," he whispered to himself, smiling.

They finished opening presents and after eating breakfast and lunch in a mostly empty Great Hall, Harry dressed in a pair of his jeans and a green sweater he just got from Hagrid that hugged his torso.  He pulled his cloak on over his clothing and wandered away from Gryffindor where the Weasley siblings were wrapped up in one of Fred and George's new trick candies.  He carried a small package in his hand as he approached Professor McGonagall's empty classroom.

Kicking open the door and shutting it lightly behind him, Harry saw Draco sitting there already, his head resting against the desk.  "Happy Christmas, Draco," Harry said, his voice soft, and Draco looked up to see Harry walking toward him with a small box in hand.  Holding it out to Draco, he said, "This is for you."

Draco's hand shook as he took the box out of Harry's hand and placed it aside.  "I'm sorry," he muttered.  "I was looking so hard but I couldn't seem to find anything to give you.  I couldn't find a present that seemed appropriate and now you got me something and I feel just awful."  Burying his face in his hands, Draco shrouded his eyes with his palms, avoiding having to look at Harry.  The skin of Draco's face, Harry noticed, was paler than usual and Draco had dark circles under his eyes.

"It's okay," Harry answered, sitting down next to Draco and angling their bodies so that they were facing each other.

"No, it's not," replied Draco.  "I just kept thinking until my brain was ready to explode but I couldn't come up with anything that was good enough for you.  I promise I'll make it up to you, Harry, but you were just too special to buy a material object for."

A grin broke out on Harry's face at the words.  "I mean it, Draco.  It's okay.  Here," he said, sliding the box to Draco, "open it up."  As Draco picked up the box and unwrapped it, Harry said, "And thank you for buying Ron the cauldron.  That was sweet of you."

"I told you I would, but you're welcome," Draco answered, embarrassed smile on his face as he opened the box lid.  Lying inside was a silver band, a dragon engraved onto the ring.  Picking it up out of the box, he slid it on the ring finger of his right hand.  "You're right," he whispered.  "I am the girl.  You bought me jewelry and I love it.  Now I really feel guilty.  Thank you."  His eyes rolled up to meet Harry's and his eyelids fell shut when Harry covered Draco's mouth with his own.

Tongues swirled together, battling for space in the small, hot caverns of their mouths.  Lips meshed together, soft pink flesh pushed against soft pink flesh in the most delicate fashion.  Their kiss lacked hunger and need but the passion and intensity was not only overwhelming, but also numbing.  Harry was convinced he had lost all feeling in his body except for where Draco's lips were touching his and the tingles that skirted up and down his spine.  His heart was pounding, lungs aching for oxygen as he dove further into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Draco and pulling him closer.  Harry's fingers brushed over the base of Draco's neck and worked their way up to reach the nape before sliding into his hair.

Draco moaned into the kiss, his hands placed on either side of Harry's waist and their bodies as close as possible when sitting in chairs at the desk.  Harry's left knee was situated into the 'v' Draco's legs created, snugly fitting along side his thigh.  The denim of Harry's jeans rubbed against the material of Draco's jeans in a sweet, intoxicating friction.  He brought up a hand to rub his thumb along Harry's cheek and jaw line in lazy strokes.  Draco's heart sped up in palpations when Harry leaned into his touch.

"Harry?  Are you - Oh my God!" they heard and Draco quick pulled back from Harry, turning his head just long enough to see Ron in the doorway, back to them and chanting something that sounded like  "my eyes" in a panicked tone.

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