Draco arrived at detention at 8:30 sharp. He waited outside Filches office for 10 minutes before he came along.

"Well come on then I ain't got all day!" Was all he said, as he summoned Draco to follow him.

Draco was taken down to the Great Hall. It was empty, apart from the House tables. He had no idea what he was doing down here.

"Erm....Filch I-"

"You will clean EACH table in turn and once you are done, move the tables to the side of the room and you can clean the floor."

"WHAT! But that could take all night......I can't possibly-"

"I don't give a rats arse whether it takes you all of tonight, and all of tomorrow. If you weren't doing it I sure as hell would be."

"But....why? This whole room is only going to get dirty again as soon as breakfast arrives tomorrow morning."

"Well then....you'll just have to come back tomorrow night and do it again won't you?"

"WHAT!"

"The floor stuff is over there. And you can clean the tables with what ever you find in that box"- he pointed to a large wooden box on the floor. "Goodnight Mr. Malfoy...happy cleaning"

By 1 am Draco had finally cleaned each of the tables and had now started on the floor. After trying in vain to move the large wooden tables and discovering it was impossible, he resulted in working around them- which just pissed him off even more.

By 1:57, Draco was sitting at the Hufflepuff table- something he would never be seen doing if it weren't for the fact that he was completely alone right now, and he had conjured him self up a drink. He was gusling down a pint of butterbear when he heard a voice. He almost spat out his butterbear onto his clean floor.

"Good..." Dumbledore looked at his watch... ".....morning ,Mr. Malfoy.....I trust you are taking good care of my floors."

Draco huffed and placed his goblet on the table as Dumbledore took up the seat next to him.

"Yeah......its clean and I was just about to polish it..."

"Oh poppycock......it doesn't need to be polished.....it will only get dirty again in the morning when the students come filling in for breakfast. I can honestly say I have no idea why Argus wanted you to clean this place now of all times.......I expect it was so he didn't have to do it when it came to the Yule ball." Dumbledore conjured up his own drink- steamy lemon tea- and drank it slowly.

"Is that why he wanted me to clean it?"

"I expect so." Dumbledore took another swig of his drink. "That old fool needs a talking to I think." Draco laughed.

"Now....Mr. Malfoy.....I have been having words with Severus.... and he tells me that you are having a few....problems....is there anything you would like to discuss with me?"

Draco was expecting this. 'Good old Snape...gassing about my problems in the staff room no doubt'

"Well how much has he told?" Draco queried.

"Oh not a lot. I don't want you thinking that Severus is talking about you behind your back" 'thank god'. "He merely told me that you had a few things on your mind and that perhaps it would be a good idea for me to talk to you about them"

"Well......I guess....there have been some things I needed to talk to you about..."

"Ah.....would you like to share...?"

"Well.....actually....I think it may be a good idea for me to get it off my chest."

"Fire away young Mr. Malfoy"

"Well......ok...here goes..... You must know that my father is a Death Eater."

"Yes"

"Well.....ever since I was young he has told me stories of how when I turn 18 he and I will join forces and become two of the most powerful and loyal Death Eaters this wizarding world has ever seen. And when I was a child, I only ever dreamt that I could be like my father. As powerful as he is....as respected....and I only ever wanted him to be proud of me...." Draco paused.

"Go on...." Dumbledore encouraged.

"And now......I don't want any of that anymore." Draco was wringing his sweaty hands together.

"I see. Well Mr. Malfoy. I am quite aware that your father is a powerful man....and that he is also inline with, shall we say, one of the most powerful wizards, of the age. However, if you mean to tell me that you do not want to be in league with your father OR Voldemort, and that you would rather join the light side....I will ofcourse, be there for you everystep of the way...and make sure that your father can do you no harm." Dumbledore smiled.

"Thank you sir" Draco smiled back, feeling much better now that he had old Dumbledore.

"Anytime. Now....what time is it....it must be well past 2 and I think I am just about ready for my bed." Dumbledore finished off his lemon tea and made his cup vanish. "Now...Mr. Malfoy...I think it is WELL past your bed time....and I think this room is the cleanest I have ever seen it. So, if you would be so kind as to run along off to bed, I will clear the rest away for you. But don't tell Argus."

Draco laughed. "I won't sir. G'night."

"Night Draco"

Draco left the Great Hall, and crossed the Entrance Hall to the stairs that led to the dungeons. It was true. He was very tired. He wasn't quite sure he would even make it out of bed the next day. He was practically asleep when he got as far as the common room. Fortunately, he made it up to his dorm before he completely blacked out. He flopped onto his bed with out taking his clothes off, and pulled the blanket up to his chin. With in seconds, he was asleep.

Draco didn't wake up again until well past mid day. He looked around the room and saw that it was empty, and all the beds were made- for a change. He sat up and rubbed his sleepy eyes. He remembered the events of last night and began to feel tired again. He fell back onto his pillows and closed his eyes. He was on the brink of sleep when the door to his dorm flew open and Blaise came storming in.

"That little shit."

Draco moaned and pulled the cover over his head.

"Drake....you awake man....."

"No!"

"O good. Listen....Snape is on the war path. I don't know why but he just yelled at me for asking if I could get away with out doing this weeks homework"

Draco rolled his eyes under the cover and sat up.

"Blaise.....HOW many years have we had Snape for huh...?"

"Too many...I don't know.......7.."

"Yes....and how many times have you asked to get away with not doing your homework and he has said yes..?"

"Never"

"Then WHY the fuck do you bother asking him? No wonder he's in a mood. You ask him EVERY week.!"

"Yeah but I figure......he's gotta break at some point right...!"

"Arghh. You are hopeless." Draco lay back down again.

"Yeah...hey...you getting up today.....?"

"I wasn't planning on it...." Draco kept his eyes shut as he spoke.

"Ok...it's just........its like 3:30 and you're still in bed"

"3:30!! WHY didn't you say so?" Draco jumped out of bed, grabbed some clean clothes from his wardrobe and fled the room.

"Ok...."

Draco ran out of the common room, saying a quick hello-goodbye to Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and Tanya, who all sat on the sofa talking...and ran up to the Prefects bathroom. He was in need of a bath. A long...hot bath.

He reached the door and muttered the password. "Pine fresh" and walked in.

Once inside the room, he heard two 'gasps'. He looked at the pool size bath and saw Ginny and Luna, in bikinis, having a relaxing soak.

Draco blinked once, twice, three times. He then smirked. "Ah ladies, is there room or another?"

"Get Lost Malfoy!" Luna yelled.

"Ah on the contrary Miss Lovegood. YOU get lost. I believe this is the PREFECTS bathroom, and, last time I checked, YOU were NOT prefect." He smirked. At this point, Draco had begun to undo his trousers. Luna was mesmerized by this, and couldn't take her eyes off his hands, as they began to unzip his silk like trousers. Ginny on the other hand, jumped up.

"Erm...perhaps we should go." The smirk disappeared for Malfoy's face. He was having such fun teasing Luna.

"Owww, but we're just getting started." He whined. "Its not everyday I get two LOVELY ladies alone in a bath tub together....no no wait.....no that happened last week....my mistake....!" His smirk was back. He took off his trousers and pulled his jumper and shirt over his head, so he was clad in only his Silk Green boxers. "Oh don't worry, I'll leave them on" He pointed at his boxers, at seeing Luna and Ginny's faces showing nothing but shock. "Unless you say otherwise!" He teased.

Luna gulped. Ginny blushed. Draco walked towards the bath and carefully got in. His fine muscle covered body began to disappear under the water as he lowered himself in. Years of Quidditch practice had done wonders for him. He swam a few lengths, and Ginny watched as the water ran over the gorgeous muscles in his back. He swam back to the side of the pool/bath and rested himself in between both girls. He put his arms on the side of the pool and splashed the water with his fingers.

"So ladies. How are we all enjoying are bath time today? I must say I'm having a GREAT time." He smirked AGAIN.

Luna opened her mouth and closed it again. She looked like a fish Draco decided. He looked to Ginny, who was bright red.

"Well..erm.....it's..ok......Draco......" Was all she managed.

"Oh good good." He leaned out of the bath and retrieved the soap. "Mind if I wash myself?" He asked sweetly, batting his eyelids.

Luna and Ginny could only shake their heads. Draco was a picture. A thing of Beauty that they just wanted to sit and watch.

Draco knew he was sexy. He knew he was gods' gift to women. If his years at Hogwarts had taught him anything it was that he had a gift with the ladies.

He finished washing and rinsed off. He then swam around for a bit longer- well aware of the stares he was getting for his audience, then swam to the side. He dragged himself out of the bath painfully slow and he was sure he heard two whimpers coming from Ginny and Luna. He smiled to himself. Grabbing a towel from the towel rack he hung it around his shoulders, then, turned to Ginny and Luna, who were almost drooling. "Well...it has been an honour to share a bath with you two FINE ladies. I hope we can do this again some time." He turned to the door, picked up his clothes, and, before walking out he flashed them his best smile, and they melted. As he shut the door, he could have sworn he heard them screech and sigh. Oh it was good being Draco Malfoy.

He padded down to the dungeons with wet feet- No doubt Filch would be mad- he passed through the door to the common room and sat down on the sofa next to Blaise – who was doing his potions homework. Draco smiled at them all.

"Why are you so happy?" Tanya asked, almost as if she was disgusted at the thought of seeing Draco so happy.

"Oh....nothing....I'm just looking forward to Christmas"

"Yeah...well....aren't we all......" Pansy muttered. "Right...I'm off....I have detention with McGonagal, oh joy of joys." She got up and left.

"Oh..that reminds me......I have detention with Pomfrey...cleaning the storage cupboard...see ya later...." And Tanya left too. Crabbe and Goyle left soon after, and Blaise and Draco were the only two left.

Draco smiled. He was happy. He had made amends with Ginny, told Dumbledore about his father, and he was looking forward to Christmas. He was snapped out of his thoughts by non other than Blaise....

"Draco....what is the different between monkswood and wolfsbane...?"

The next morning brought the start to the last week of school before the Christmas Holidays. The Yule ball was in less than a week and every one seemed in high spirits.

The week went by quite nicely. Not with out the usual remarks from Draco, Ron and Harry however.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY FERRET FACE!"

"WELL WHY DON'T YOU STAND ASIDE PEASANT BOY SO I CAN PASS!"

"YOU'RE FORGETTING YOUR PLACE MAFLOY. WHY DON'T YOU MOVE FOR US!"

Yup. All in all the week was pretty normal. Ginny and Draco didn't speak to each other. It would have been all too obvious if they were to talk in a corridor somewhere. No. It was best this way.

AND just like normal, the 7th years got a huge amount of holiday homework from Snape and McGonagal.

"Bloody Snape. Can't he leave us alone for just ONE MEASLEY SECOND?!" Seamus fumed after their last Potions lesson on Friday.

"Seam...I'd worry for Snapes health if he didn't give us homework to do over the holidays." Harry replied.

By Saturday, half the population of the school- the girls- were in hysterics, worrying about the upcoming Yule ball the next day. Fortunately this Saturday was a Hogsmeade weekend, so everyone was able to get some new dress robes for the occasion.

"I don't get it!" Ron said as he sat in the room of requirement on Saturday morning- it was now in the form of a 1940's diner- "Why do girls make such a fuss about this whole Yule ball thing? I mean us boys don't"

"Oh.....so I suppose that was just an act you pulled last time then?" Harry voiced.

"Huh?"

"....when you swore you wouldn't leave the dorn until you made your dress robes look more 'manly'" Harry began to laugh.

"Shut up Har. If I'd gone wearing that ...THING I could have passed as a girl" Harry was now rolling on the floor in hysterics.

By mid way through Saturday, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Lavender and Pavati had all brought them selves new dress robes. Hermione had gotten herself a nice beige one, Ginny, baby pink, Luna, lilac, and Pavati and Lavender had both gotten matching blue.

Pansy Parkinson and Tanya McGrandals had also been shopping. Pansy had gotten a Royal blue dress robe, while Tanya had gotten a white one to match her long blond/white locks.

Even a few boys could be seen buying new clothes for the occasion. Draco and Blaise had gone to the most expensive clothes shop around, although they wouldn't tell anyone what they had gotten. Both Harry and Ron weren't at all bothered, and decided to go in what ever they found in their trunk.

By the evening everyone had worn them selves out and were ready for bed. The Gryffindors were finally allowed back in their common room after the work to renew it had been finished- much to the boys dismay- and they snuggled back down into their newly furnished accommodation.

"Oh its so nice to be home" Hermione voiced as she snuggled further into her boyfriends shoulder.

"Yeah...but I do miss the room of requirement." Ron smirked.

"Oh I don't" Lavender piped in. "All that waking up and not knowing how the room was going to look next. I couldn't keep up with it."

"Me neither" Pavati agreed.

Ginny, who was sitting in the armchair, which looked far to big for her as she snuggled against the pillows, let out a wide, noisy yawn.

Hermione laughed. "You look ready for bed young lady"

"hmmm? Oh yeah...I think I'll hit the sack" she got up and walked towards the staircase.

Seamus watched her and jumped up from his pace on the floor where he was playing chess with Harry. He ran after Ginny.

"Hey Ginny?"

Ginny turned. "Erm...yes?"

"I was wondering....I mean if you're not.... I mean if you don't...well erm.....would you.......wouldyougototheyuleballwithme?" Seamus looked at his feet as a blush crept in.

Ginny smiled. 'How sweet' "Ofcourse I will."

Seamus's head snapped up. "Really?!"

"Ha..yeah...."

"Wow..thanks...." Seamus wrapped his arms around Ginny and lifted her up. He swung her round.

"Hey...erm...Seamus....you can put me down now......"

"Oh...sorry.." Seamus put her down and brushed her off.

"Thanks." He said again. It was clear form his face that he was so pleased.

"Anytime"