I am so sorry guys, but do you want ecuses or the next chapter?

Draco was awakened early the next morning by the tapping of a beak on his window. He recognized the owl immediately; it belonged to his family, and jumped up to let it in. He knew the letter attached to its leg was from his father. He could see quite clearly in the morning sun the special seal that was only used by his father. Typically it meant that the contents of the letter was extremely important, for that seal enchanted the letter so that only one of Malfoy blood could read what was written inside. To anyone else who happened to stumble upon the letter, it would appear to be nothing more then a blank piece of parchment.

Draco quickly untied the letter. Once he had gotten it off, the owl gave him a short, awkward bow and flew off to the owlery for a few moments of rest before heading back to the Malfoy Manor.

He watched the owl fly off before he set the letter down on his desk and stared at it in distaste. He hated getting this kind of letter from his father, they never held any kind of goods news. Of course, nothing about his father was good news. Just the thought of him left a bad taste in Draco's mouth. For a moment Draco debated not opening the letter, burning it or something. Then he could simply say that he'd never gotten it. But of course, that wouldn't work. His father would know he had gotten it, and if his father believed him he would certainty kill the owl who had delivered it. Draco didn't want that however, that owl had been with the family since Draco was fairly young, and it had always been one of Draco's favourties. He'd never shown it of course, he hadn't even named it. Ever since he was little his father had frowned upon caring for, or even naming such unimportant things. Once when he was four Draco had gotten a wonderful teddy bear which he'd loved very much. He'd named it snuggles, and had taken to caring it around with him, as many four year olds do with their favourite toys. When his father had noticed this, he immediately destroyed the bear, leaving it ripped apart, and had placed a spell on it making it impossible to fix with magic. Draco really didn't want to witness the same thing happening to that owl.

He still had the destroyed pieces of his teddy bear, his mother had rescued it for him, however she couldn't override his fathers spell, and so the teddy had remained in pieces.

Draco picked up the letter and opened it, fearing what he would see inside. But what he read wasn't half as horrible as he had anticipated. He could hardly believe that the letter was really, but there it was, written in his father's perfect handwriting:

Draco,

As you are well aware Christmas break is approaching, however this year will be different from our typical routine. I will be on a business trip to France for your entire break, and your Mother has decided to join me. You do not need to join us on this trip, although you may if you wish. You may stay at the manor on your own during your break; your mother does not wish you to stay at school. However that fool Dumbledore has set rules forbidding underage students from being home alone during the school year due to the events of the past few years. (A/N- Voldemort's rising, just to clarify.) Since you are not yet eighteen I have no ability to change his mind. However, he needn't know you are to return to an empty house. I am expected your prompt answer to this letter.

Sincerely, Lucius Malfoy.

'How does one answer such a letter?' pondered Draco while reaching for a piece of paper and a quill. And he couldn't help but wonder what his father's motive was. Of course his father saw it to be in bad taste to leave your child at school during a break like a common person. But there must be more to his father's motives then his twisted views on social etiquette. A desire to put one past Dumbledore perhaps. Either way, this was far too good of an opportunity to pass up, so he began to scribble:

Father,

I would be glad to go home for Christmas break; it will be enjoyable to leave the school for a while. As for Dumbledore, I will be certain to conceal that there is anything out of the ordinary about this trip. Please pass my thanks on to Mother for her latest box of sweets, they were very much enjoyed.

Draco Malfoy.

He stamped the letter with the same seal as his father used, knowing that would appease him. As if on cute the family owl once again flew through the window ready to take his response back to his father.

"He's got you trained up good hasn't he," Draco mumbled to the owl as he tied the letter to its leg. Then after giving the owl a treat which it gobbled up he carried it to the window, and it flew off.

Draco shut the window and looked at his alarm clock. He groaned, it was far too late now to go back to sleep. His selfish side broke through then, and he grinned to himself. Why should he be the only one up, Hermione should be up to share this moment with him. Maybe then he could ask her the question that had been forming in his mind since he'd read his fathers letter.

He opened his door, and was almost disappointed to find Hermione already up, and buried beneath a pile of books. He'd been looking forward to waking her up. It seemed she'd been up for quite some time too, judging by the pile of finished homework sitting by her elbow.

"For goodness sakes Hermione," Draco exclaimed, coming up behind her. "It's nine o'clock on a Sunday morning, why are you up?"

"Oh, sorry Draco, did I wake you?" Hermione said, barely even looking up at him.

"No, but why on earth are you working so hard at this hour."

"Oh, well, I've been sort of letting my homework slip for the last little while, and I figured it would be a good day to catch up on some of it. Besides, nine o'clock is hardly that early, I've been up since seven."

"You're only catching up on some of it?" Draco exclaimed, snatching up the pile. "It looks like you've already finished more then we've gotten so far this month."

"Please, I've barely even finished half of what I set out to do today. I've still got Charms and Transfiguration to finish not to mention that dreadful essay for Potions. Not that you'd be worried over that I suppose, when was the last time you actually put effort into anything you did for Potions," Hermione said, raising her eyebrows at Draco.

"What exactly are you saying?" Draco asked.

"Well, I'm only stating that it seems you never do any work for potions, and yet you manage to have the highest mark in the class."

"Maybe it just comes naturally to me," Draco protested.

"Nothing taught by Snape could ever come naturally to anyone."

"Why, I do believe that I've just been insulted." And he walked over to the couch to sit down in a huff.

Hermione just shook her head and sighed. She didn't have time to sooth his feelings this morning. So she picked up her pen and continued scribbling about the uses of wormwood for Professor Sprout.

Draco watched her work from his spot on the couch. He wasn't actually insulted, she was quite right; he rarely put any effort into his potions homework, he didn't have to. Snape would never fail him. Hell, he could murder someone during potions, and Snape would do nothing more then take points away from Gryffindor. Draco was focused on Hermione waiting for her to turn around and apologies, as he knew she would.

A few moments later Hermione sighed and threw down her pen, she had just finished her essay (ten centimeters longer then they were told to make it of course.) but now she was feeling guilty. She shouldn't have snapped at him like that, it was hardly his fault Snape made things so easy for him. She could feel his eyes burning into her back, so she turned around to apologize.

When she opened her mouth and began to speak, "Look Draco I..." she saw something gold fly at her and hit her square in the face.

Ok guys, I am so sorry this took so long for me to write. I have been so busy lately. And I'm sorry if this chapter wasn't very good, but it was written quickly on a shortage of ideas. The next one will be better I promise. Tell me what you think anyways.