AUTHOR'S NOTE Sorry for the delay, but I've had people here and haven't had a lot of time to post. But I'm back for the time being *grin*

Thanks as always to Emica and Lauren for keeping me in line.

DISCLAIMER I don't own Draco or Hogwarts or anything. I do own Michelle and her family and Miranda.

Michelle was only in the hospital wing for an hour or so that night, but it was enough. After that, she walked on eggshells around Draco, careful not to incite his anger. Their relationship roughly returned to what it had been.

The snow came early and the entire student body grew more anxious for the winter holiday. A sign-up sheet went up for any student wishing to stay in the castle over the holidays, but Michelle and Diana had been planning to go home all fall.

Surprisingly, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle all signed up to stay the winter. Although she was curious, Michelle decided against asking why.

Everyone gathered excitedly on the train platform the day winter holiday began. Snow was lightly falling on the students as they eagerly awaited the train. Those who chose to remain at Hogwarts had joined their classmates to see them off at the Hogsmeade Station.

Draco had come to see her off. He still didn't tell her why he wasn't going home, but she suspected that it had something to do with the Heir of Slytherin mystery.

The train's whistle blew, signifying the time to board. Michelle turned to Draco. "Happy Christmas, Draco," she said with a smile.

He grabbed her wrist and kissed her roughly on the cheek. "Happy Christmas. Be a good girl." He leaned closer to her as his grip on her wrist tightened painfully. "Or else," he whispered.

Michelle nodded, a little frightened of his tone of voice. "I will."

He patted her cheek. "Good."

"Michelle, come on!" Miranda leaned out of the door to the train.

"I have to – " Michelle started.

"Go. Stay away from the filthy Muggles! Good-bye, Michelle." Draco sent her toward the train.

"Good-bye," she said, but Draco had already left the platform. She hurried onto the train and found the compartment that Miranda had claimed.

"You and Draco are adorable!" she exclaimed as soon as Michelle sat down.

With a small smile, Michelle only said thanks. Miranda started prattling on about a third year named Miles who had "captured her heart." But Michelle couldn't listen.

Draco's words tumbled through her head. "Be a good girl." "Stay away from the filthy Muggles!"

'Muggles aren't really filthy…are they?' she asked herself. She thought of her mother. Her sweet mother had always been wonderful to her. Taken care of her when she was sick, played board games with her, supported her in primary school. But she was a Muggle. That couldn't possibly make her bad…could it?

She noticed that Miranda had given up talking to her and was gazing out the window. 'No harm in getting her opinion.'

"Miranda?"

"Hmm?"

"I want your opinion on something."

"Sure. What is it?"

Michelle stalled for a minute. How should she put it?

"Bloody hell Michelle, what is it?"

"What is your opinion of Muggles?"

Miranda was surprised by the question. Truth be told, she'd never thought about them at all. "I'm not sure. I've never really been around them. There hasn't been a Muggle in my family for over five generations!" she stated proudly.

"Oh." Michelle didn't need any more. The proud tone in Miranda's voice told her all she needed to know. Miranda had already adopted the predominant Slytherin opinion: Muggles were, for the most part, inferior to witches and wizards.

"Why?" Miranda asked.

"Oh, just curious. You know, us back on our way to the Muggle world."

Miranda nodded. "Such a shame we can't do magic away from school. What fun that would be!"

"Uh-huh," Michelle replied absently. She was quiet for most of the way back to London, hoping to somehow escape to her family without Slytherins seeing her.

No one in her house knew anything about her family. She didn't dare reveal that her mother was a Muggle. And the fact that her father and sister were Gryffindors wouldn't go over well either. No, it was definitely best to keep it all secret.

The train ride seemed longer going home. When the bright red train pulled into Platform 9 ¾, Michelle said a hasty good-bye to Miranda and ran for her luggage. She dragged the bag and Moona's carrier by herself to the gateway back to King's Cross Station and reentered the Muggle world.

Since her mother was a Muggle and couldn't pass through the barrier, Michelle's parents waited between Platforms 9 and 10 for their daughters. Diana was already through waiting for Michelle.

Marie hugged her younger daughter the minute she was through the barrier. Michelle realized just how much she had missed her mother.

The rest of the family reunion, however, went rapidly downhill. Diana refused to look at Michelle. John greeted his second daughter with nothing more than a muttered "Welcome home." And the two proud Gryffindors started walking toward the exit of the station.

Marie put a comforting arm around her daughter. "Don't worry," she whispered. "It won't last long." Michelle tried to smile, but failed miserably.

Suddenly this holiday didn't seem so happy after all.

Scholcomp25 Thanks! I'm glad you like it.

Preciousonee This story will be something like 22 chapters when it's done, so don't worry. There will be more for a while!

H'tari I feel bad for Percy…except in book five. I really hate him in book five. But before then we love Percy!