(A few days later......)

"What took you so long?" asked Draco as she wheeled into the common room.

"Saying goodbye to Hermione," she sighed. "Wish I could've stayed longer so I could have hung out with her more."

"So how's Potty and Weasel?" She sneered at him.

"Potter and Weasley are just fine." He smirked and shook his head.

"Forgot they were your friends." he muttered. "Look, if you care about your two boyfriends so much, then why don't you just stay with them?" Sarah stared at him for a minute.

"Draco, are you okay?"

"Oh, so it's my first name now. What are you playing at?"

Sarah was in shock. Malfoy had never acted like this before and it was starting to scare her. She hated to look oblivious, staring down the barrel of a friendship ender, but she was completely clueless.

"What?"

"I know all about it. You and Potter and freakin' Weasley, you're a cute love triangle aren't you?"

Her eyes widened. Of all the things she expected to hear from Malfoy, this was definitely not one of them.
"No!" she cried. "I'm not in love with either of them. They're just friends."

"Sure," muttered Draco.

"I'm serious! Draco, please listen to me. What's wrong?"

"I dunno. Just seeing you hanging out with them so much and always talking to them, it just made me....." He stopped and looked away, almost as if he were embarrassed.

"Made you what?"

"Jealous!" he shouted. She just sat there and stared.

"What? Jealous of them?"

"They've got everything. A family, real friends, and now... and now you." He sighed and pointed to himself. "Look at me."

"Draco, they don't have me," she said, feeling a small stab of pity. "Where were they when I took my first steps? Were they the ones who stood up to Bud or warned me about it? Draco, they weren't even there the minute I was shot." Her voice was going soft and tears were forming in her eyes. "They're my friends. Nothing more."

"Is that how you see me then?"

"I....." she was struggling for the right words to say. Draco stood there and waited impatiently and finally shook his head.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He started to walk off when Sarah spoke up again.

"Draco, what is your problem?" He stopped and looked at her. "We have been through too much together. And I have had things I've felt around you that I don't feel around anyone else. You saved my life and my dad's and you think I only look at you as a friend?!" He stared at her for the longest time and she ran a finger under her eyelashes, brushing the tears away. "Draco, it's Christmas eve. Do we have to be fighting now?" Draco paused and then turned and looked at her. "I care about you okay? I do like you..... a lot." Draco was silent and just stared at her. "In fact, besides my dad you were the only reason I wanted to come back." She brushed a stray tear from her face and shook her head. Draco walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder.

"No, don't worry about it. I shouldn't have yelled at you. It's just you seem so happy around them."

"Because they're my friends. They make me happy. But when I'm with you, I feel... different. You make me feel like I'm fine the way I am.... even if I am a filthy muggle." She stood up and walked up next to him.

"You aren't a filthy muggle," he said softly. He reached up and brushed her cheek softly. "You're a pretty muggle." They both snickered a little.

"Gee, thanks," she teased.

"So," he said as he sat down on the couch. "You like me a lot, huh?" There was a hint of his old pride in his voice, but she ignored it. Her cheeks turned a light scarlet color.

"Yeah, I guess." He patted down the seat to him and she sat down, leaned over and resting her head on his shoulder. He smiled and put his arm around her.

"How much do you like me?"

"I dunno," she laughed. "A lot."

"That's not an answer."

"It's valid for me." She sat up and looked at him.

"Well," he said softly. "This is how much I like you." He leaned in and kissed her forehead, and cheeks. "And this," he said staring into her eyes. "This is how much I love you." He moved in and pressed his lips to hers. She slipped her arms under his and placed her hands onto his back, embracing him tightly. He reached his hands up and allowed his fingers to get tangled in her black hair which was incredibly silky to the touch. She moaned and he pulled away quickly and stared at her.

"Whoa," he breathed. Sarah looked away, biting her lip and tried to compose herself.

"Listen," she whispered, looking back at him. "I have never kissed anyone before, ever. And if I'm doing it wrong...."

"No," he said softly, smiling a little. "You did it just right."

"Well," she said, blushing a lot. "Thanks. That was.... educational." He laughed and hugged her warmly.

"I can never sleep on Christmas eve," he muttered.

"Me neither," she said softly. "Pretty sad, huh? I mean I'm seventeen for crying out loud." Draco laughed.

"We can stay up if you want. Better than laying in bed wide awake all night." She eyed him suspiciously, but smiled.

"Alright, but don't try anything." He held up his hands.

"Do I ever?" He paused for a moment and shook his head. "Alright, don't answer that."

She nodded and stood up to get to her room. As she headed for the stairs, her foot tripped on the first one and she fell, catching herself by her hands. Draco turned when he heard the sound and laughed. Sarah turned red and stood up, brushing herself off.

"I'm okay," she called, and continued to her room. She couldn't stop smiling as she hurried around getting dressed. She put on a pair of black sweat pants and a black spaghetti strapped shirt, and threw on a black hooded sweatshirt on top to keep warm and headed back out. Draco was sitting on the sofa in a long dark green T-shirt and a pair of grey pants. She hurried into the sofa and back into Draco's arms, resting her head on his chest as he placed a strong, loving arm around her and they sat beside the fire.

"Don't fall asleep," said Draco softly. Sarah nodded then giggled. "What?"

"You've got to be the only boy I know who doesn't sleep in his boxers." Draco raised an eyebrow.

"That was random," he muttered.

"Sorry," she said, shaking her head. "First boyfriend jitters." He nodded with a smirk.

"I just decided to be modest." He suddenly looked at her suspiciously. "Why?"

"Oh," she said catching on quickly. "No, I didn't mean it in that way."

"Just checking," he laughed.

"So," she whispered. "You must've had a lot of girlfriends."

"Nah," he admitted honestly. "I mean I like girls, don't get me wrong. I'm just trying to find the right one. What about you?"

"Oh, I don't date girls," she said. He rolled his eyes and snickered. "But I have never really ever had a crush before." His jaw dropped.

"You've got to be kidding!" said Draco.

"Nope. I've just been so... enclosed in my own world. I guess it was about time I was popped out of my shell."

"Well," he said folding his arms over his chest arrogantly. "For your first crush I'm not that bad, am I?" She chuckled, shaking her head.

"You'll work."