A/N: Sorry i didn't update as quickly as i thought, but i got busy! lol. Last chapter was kind of a in between sort out the story chapter, but this ones right back on track! This chapter is great, but the next one's going to be even better! Day of the ball and a breakthrough for some of our characters. Wont tell you what/who though, as it'll ruin the story! Reviews were much appritiated for last chapter, btw. I got some really nice comments, which i am entierly thankfull for. One reviewer said they think i should be a writer, which im going to work towards as soon as i finish this story! I also got my first negative review for the last chapter :( I know the last chapter was messy though, so i wont take it to heart. Enough of my rambling, go read this chapter! What are you waiting for? Angel

Chapter 31: Christmas messages

Harry woke up on Tuesday morning with a smile on his face. He leapt out of bed with vigor, and hummed a made up tune in his head as he looked for his school uniform. It was only when Ron made a growling noise that Harry realized he was singing out load, so he changed swiftly and sped from the dormitory.

'You're in a good mood this morning.' Ginny cheered, as Harry paced through the common room.

'Nope, I'm in a fantastic mood!' Harry exclaimed, making a particularly small first year jump.

Harry arrived in the Great Hall at just the right time. A small group of girls had just vacated the Gryffindor table and left a seat right next to Erin, which Harry gladly took.

'Nice to see you up and about today.' Harry said in greeting, picking up some toast, and Erin returned it with a smile. 'Ball tomorrow.'

'I know.' Erin replied, stabbing drearily at her fried egg. 'How could I forget?'

Harry was about to reply with something comforting, when he spotted something unusual. There was someone sitting at the Slytherin table who wasn't a Slytherin. Someone who, if Ron found them there, was likely to get into a blazing row.

'Hermione.' Harry said softly, tapping her on the shoulder. 'Can I have a word?'

'Sure.' Hermione replied airily, causing Pansy to give her a characteristic scowl. 'Will you excuse me, Draco?'

Harry took Hermione to one side.

'You know Ron's going to flip.' Harry stated, crossing his arms.

'I'm quite aware of that.' Hermione said loftily. 'Let him flip.'

'Do you have to do Ball planning in the middle of the Slytherin table?' Harry asked almost pleadingly.

'If you hadn't noticed, the ball's tomorrow.' Hermione said patronizingly, throwing a look towards her notes again.

'I know,' Harry whined, 'but can't you do you're planning in the library or something. Somewhere where Ron wont know.'

'No.' Hermione said harshly. 'Draco's in the middle of his breakfast… Let Ron get mad at me, see if I care.'

'But Hermione…'

'I think Ron needs to get all his anger issues and feelings out in the open, so maybe he can figure out what's annoying him so much.' Hermione argued. 'We can't spend our whole lives contemplating our every action, and avoid a perfectly acceptable situation, just incase Ron blows up.'

Harry nodded his head solemnly, yet somehow having the feeling that Hermione was getting at something deeper then Ron's 'anger issues.'

Harry wandered aimlessly back to Gryffindor table, and took his seat next to Erin again. Watching Hermione and Draco from a distance, Harry could see why Ron was getting so mad. There was a certain comfort between the pair, the kind of comfort Harry felt when sitting alone with Ginny, which must have unsettled in Ron's head the feelings which he didn't have for Hermione.

A few moments before the bell was due to go, the lazy marauders strolled into the Great Hall causing commotion, catastrophe and most of all, laughter.

'Morning all!' Dean cheered, as he threw a small red object into the air, which went bang and showered the hall with holiday glitter.

'Merry Christmas all!' Seamus sang, dragging forward a big green sack. 'Mooneyclaus has come to town!'

'Merry Christmas.' Ron added, searching innocently around the hall for Hermione, Harry assumed.

Seamus was now taking stripy candy canes from his bag, and golden ginger bread men, and scattering them to all the students with his wand.

Ron gave up his search and began to use a nifty charm to glue mistletoe to the walls.

'Not enough of that stuff around.' Seamus grinned, pointing to a piece of mistletoe which Ron was pinning to the arched doorway.

'Hey, let me help!' Harry shouted, and the whole hall seemed to turn his way.

'Prongs!' The other three marauders chorused, as Harry ran forward.

'I've got an idea.' Harry explained, and summoned his broomstick to him with a smile. As it floated mystically into the Great Hall, students around him spoke in ewe, before Harry jumped atop it, and flew upwards.

It was odd for Harry being so close to the ceiling of the Great Hall, which today showed a frosty blue sky. Somehow he had the urge to fly up into the clouds above, but had the feeling that he might hit his head.

Harry flew sideways to the largest banner which he could find. It was black, hung over the teachers table and wore the school emblem, but not for long…

'Have a cracking Christmas and a naughty new year, from the Marauders.' Seamus recited, picturing the poster in his head. 'You took the words right out of my mouth!'

'That was just brilliant, Prongs. In a league of its own.' Dean grinned. 'Nice contribution.'

'Yeah, and that sealing charm!' Seamus added. 'Now our Christmas greeting will be hanging above the teachers heads forever!'

'In red, green and gold.' Dean grinned, and the boys burst out laughing.

'Have any of you seen Hermione?' Ron asked, searching frantically round the classroom with his eyes.

'No mate.' Seamus said, shaking his head plainly. 'You two are going through a rough patch, aren't you?'

'Just dump her if she's being a pain, and come back to being single and free like the rest of us!' Dean suggested with passion. 'We always said we didn't need long term girlfriends, you were the one who changed that!'

'Ron doesn't have to make that kind of decision now.' Harry said before Ron could start. 'Maybe this thing will work itself out.'

'It has too.' Ron mumbled inaudibly. Harry knew he was right. After Christmas when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny left and their other selves came back, all the things which uncharacteristically changed could cause a great deal of drama and dilemma to the real occupants of this world. Hermione and Ron had to stay just that.

'Good morning class.' McGonagall said, addressing the students sternly. 'Today, in recognition of Mr Potters wonderful transfigured art work at breakfast this morning, we will be creating Christmas banners.'

'Rock on!' Seamus cheered into the silence, and several students laughed.

'Exactly my point, Mr Finnegan.' McGonagall smiled fondly. 'So turn to page 342 and work your way through…'

After Transfiguration the Marauders had Potions, which was just as enjoyable as the last lesson. Instead of brewing a potion to cure hiccups, as they had planned to do, Sirius decided to set an unscheduled task.

'This lesson we're all going to be brewing muggle beer!' Sirius announced, with bright enthusiasm.

'Alright!' Dean exclaimed, punching a fist into the air.

Five mugs of toxic beer later, (somewhere Sirius made a mistake in the instructions) Harry tumbled quite happily out of class.

'Now that's Christmas spirit!' Seamus beamed.

'Harry!' Sirius called from the doorway. 'Just reminding you that your parents will meet you at the station on Friday. I've been asked to try to remind you on the train trip home as well, so you don't accidentally forget and end up flying home again and getting spotted by muggles, like you did last year.'

Sirius gave Harry an admiring grin, which Harry returned. Flying from the station and getting seen by muggles? That's something he'd never do…

The rest of the morning was filled with nothingness for Harry. He did nothing purposeful unless you count spreading Christmas cheer, with the help of Peeves of course. Peeves was great fun. He even taught the Marauders a very crude version of Jingle bells, as they set up the exploding gift boxes outside the Slytherin common room.

It was during lunchtime, when the Marauders were evaluating the morning's hard work, that Ron again realized that he hadn't seen Hermione.

'So where is she?' Ron questioned, looking up and down the Gryffindor table from his seat.

'She's probably just out and about doing ball things.' Harry said, chancing a sideways look at the Slytherin table. Hermione was there.

'But how many things can there be to do?' Ron stressed, pouring himself some pumpkin juice. 'She's already assigned all the prefects jobs. Tomorrow she's got all day off while we work.'

'I'm sure she's just busy.' Harry said, picking at his quiche.

'Busy with him.' Ron growled, brutally dismantling his pasty.

'Look, she's going to the ball with you.' Harry sighed. 'What more do you want?'

'I want her away from him.' Ron spat, with pure hatred. 'He needs to keep his filthy…Hermione!'

Ron sprung from his seat like an electric pulse had just been charged through him, and marched to the Slytherin table.

'Good afternoon, Ron.' Hermione said in a delicate tone.

'Oh, hi Ron.' Draco smiled at the red heads fiery face. 'I'm glad you came over. I thought that maybe we could go out flying later, Hermione thought it would be a good idea…'

'Over my dead body!' Ron exclaimed.

'If you insist!' Hermione replied sinisterly.

'Maybe I should go…'

'SIT!' Ron and Hermione chorused at Draco.

'Hey.' Harry said firmly as he approached. 'I think you two need to cool off.'

'Oh stop trying to be such a relationship guru!' Hermione strained, reaching the end of her tether.

'Yeah, because your not very good at it!' Ron insulted, throwing daggers at Harry.

'Now what is your problem, Ronald?' Hermione blazed a little more civially. 'Why does it bother you so much that I'm spending time with Draco?'

'It's not that you're spending time with him, it's why…' Ron explained, the flush on his face deepening.

'We have work Ron, work!' Hermione insisted, talking down to him.

'Work you have to do sitting at his house table,' Ron asked, 'or in the astronomy tower, the back of the library…the rose gardens, for Merlin's sake!'

'I didn't know there were rose gardens.' Blaise mumbled from across the table.

'Exactly!' Ron stressed, waving his arms about drastically.

'But Draco chose all those places…' Hermione thought aloud. 'I don't understand.'

'Seems pretty obvious to me.' Pansy muttered, and was followed by sniggers.

'Look, I think me and Draco need to have a little chat,' Ron said threateningly, through gritted teeth, 'wizard to wizard.'

Draco paled slightly at the idea. Silence fell.

'No.' Hermione said forcefully, taking a step closer to Ron and hiding Draco from view protectively. 'I'm afraid me Draco have things to do later. In fact, we're busy right up until the ball. You'll have to wait until after.'

'Fine.' Ron said, the word getting stuck coldly in his throat.

Gradually the Slytherin's began to fumble away, mumbling like soft thunder. Draco quickly packed his parchment up, before Hermione led him out of the hall by her hand, almost as if she was protecting a small child.

Ron sat on the empty wooden table, and broke.

Harry sauntered over, watching Ron wrap his face in his hands.

'Don't worry.' Harry said, comfortingly. 'It's only Hermione. Give her a few hours and she'll be back to normal.'

'That was brilliant!' Seamus cheered, as he and Dean ran over. 'You really told them!'

'I reckon Blaise will be asking you to join his 'I hate Malfoys' club soon!' Dean chuckled. 'But still, that was impressive. I wouldn't have stood up to you, the way you were gritting your teeth. You looked like you were about to snap his head off and chuck it at someone!'

'Tempting.' Ron said, with a scratchy voice.

'Come on.' Harry mused. 'Lessons have started. We've got Snape, so I suggest we make a move.'

'Since when did you care about being late for lessons?' Dean asked.

'Since I don't want detention through the ball…' Harry explained, pulling Ron to his feet. 'Now come on!'

The afternoon lessons went slowly, and there was no sign of Hermione and Draco, yet this didn't seem to improve Ron's mood at all. Ron simply sat stewing for hours over the lunch time meeting, not listening to a word any teacher said. When Snape asked him what you would get if you brewed pixies blood with choligaw's root, he said quite indignantly: 'seven.'

'It's just no good.' Ron growled on the way out of their last lesson. 'I can't get it out of my head. The way she speaks to him and protects him…why does she protect him?'

'Probably because no-one else will.' Harry said surely, and Ron shook his head. 'You know what Hermione's like. She bought that monster of a cat Crookshanks because she thought he was lonely and rejected…she has a club to support house elves, the creatures which nobody seems to care about… She always looks after the less fortunate. Draco has no parents and a brother and sister to bring up. Hermione just wants to make things better for him. You know he could definitely do with a friend.'

'A friend, but not a girlfriend.' Ron stated. 'If you ask me he's pushing his luck.'

'Hermione wont let anything happen.' Harry said as they descended the stairs. 'I'm sure she knows what she's doing. She's not so naïve that she wouldn't notice if someone liked her.'

Ron mumbled something inaudible as the boys rounded the corner.

'Hermione's just…Hermione.' Harry said, trying to convince Ron.

'Hermione's kind, caring and beautiful, which is why I don't trust him.' Ron said honestly. 'That Viktor Krum's already had his dirty hands over her, but from now on, people need to watch their step.'

'You sound like an overprotective brother,' Harry smiled, 'either that or you're jealous.'

'Shut up Harry…' Ron grunted.

'Sorry Ron, but as I've already taken up the space of protective older brother,' Harry mused, 'I'd say that makes you the jealous one.'

'Protective older brother? You're almost a year younger than her! You don't know anything Harry.' Ron complained, shaking his head somewhat mournfully.

'Really?' Harry asked, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.

'Really, trust me!' Ron ordered, shaking off Harry's hand. 'Why should I get jealous? I have no reason. I just don't think Draco's good enough for her.'

'And neither is Viktor Krum?' Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. 'Even though he's a rich, gentlemanly Quidditch player.'

'No, he's not good enough.'

'What about Seamus?'

'No way.'

'Dean?'

'After what he did to Erin?'

'Right…me?'

Ron stopped and looked Harry squarely in the eyes.

'Harry.' He said as if he was trying his hardest to squeeze the words out. 'Of-Of course you're g-good enough.'

'So I have your full permission to ask Hermione out?' Harry smirked.

'Err…yes.' Ron said, then exhaled loudly.

'That killed you didn't it?'

'Oh yeah.'

As Harry and Ron paced down the stairs which came out into the Entrance Hall, they spotted Hermione standing outside alone. Just as Ron opened his mouth to shout a warm greeting to her, Draco stepped out of the Great Hall by her side.

Ron stood dead still as Draco smiled and said something of a goodbye to Hermione, before giving her a kiss on the cheek. Hermione smiled and wandered off innocently towards Gryffindor Tower.

'That's it!' Ron huffed, his eyes as dark as the night. 'He's dead!'

Ron stomped loudly down the stairs with his once gigantic feet, then raged to Draco's side with his hands balled into tight white fists.

'What do you think you're doing?' Ron raged, signaling to the direction which Hermione had just left in.

'What?' Malfoy asked softly, his pale face looking even paler and pinched then usual.

'Hermione!' Ron explained. 'What right do you have to kiss her?'

'I was just saying goodbye…'

'Well don't!' Ron shouted, and a few people poked their heads around the Great Hall's doors.

'I didn't mean to upset you.' Draco said stated, his face balmy in discomfort as he backed away a little.

'Upset me!' Ron laughed sourly. 'I'm angry not upset, ferret boy!'

'What are you talking about?' Draco asked, looking suddenly confused. 'Ferret boy? I'd think of a better insult if I were you, Weasel.'

That was it. Ron hit Draco round the head and students poured to the scene.

'Leave him alone!' A popular Hufflepuff girl yelled.

'What did he ever do to you?' A girl Harry recognized as Misty, shouted.

Harry jumped out of his reverie and pushed his way through the crowds.

'Come on Ron.' He said gruffly, putting a hand on his best friends shoulder. 'Lets go.'

'NO.' Ron said glaring at Harry. 'I'm not finished.'

'And neither am I.' Draco said slowly, cupping his bruised chin, before he swung into Ron's stomach. The red head keeled slightly over, looking winded, before recovering and shoving Draco to the floor.

'Ron!' Ginny shouted frantically. 'Someone get him out of here!'

'Oi Ron!' Seamus cheered. 'Kick him in the coco pops!'

Draco tripped Ron to the floor, and before anyone could anticipate it, they were rolling around, punches flying everywhere.

'Go Weasley!' Blasie shouted. 'Bet you wish you'd let me finish him off now!'

'He's pretty strong.' Pansy said from behind him.

'Look…Ron…' Harry said clutching onto his wand in his pocket, but panic had risen over him. He didn't know what to do.

'Boys!' A gentle voice gasped, and the crowd parted so that Hermione could make her way through.

'Hermione.' Both Draco and Ron chorused, as they sprang apart and scrambled to their feet.

'Draco, I asked you to avoid any arguments that might occur.' Hermione said sadly. 'And I thought'd you'd know better then to solve your problems with violence, Ron.'

Both boys stood wearily with their arms tied guiltily behind their backs, and their heads bowed as to avoid her icy gaze.

'Hermione.' Harry hushed over the silence. 'Shall we…?'

'Leave it.' She said in a gritty voice on the urge of tears. 'I've had enough.'

And with that, Hermione began to walk away.

'Hermione!' Ron called, his voice echoing through the hall. 'I'm only protecting you!'

'Well I don't need protecting.' She called back.

'But he's got a thing for you!' Ron yelled, and the crowd tensed. 'Hermione!'

She carried on walking, and as soon as she was out of sight, Ron jumped on Draco again. This time, over the jeering, Harry found that both parties were groaning with pain. Harry signaled for Dean and Seamus to get closer, just as Ron got Draco into a headlock.

'Tell me the truth.' Ron demanded. 'Do you like Hermione?'

'Yes.' Draco said in a raspy voice, as he tried to get his breath back.

'You fancy her?' Ron questioned thunderly.

'Yes!' Draco yelled. 'Now let me go!'

'Have you asked her to the ball?' Ron persisted, and the crowd was making a riot.

'No.' Draco answered.

'Tell me the truth!' Ron ordered, holding Draco tighter.

'I am! I haven't asked her.' Draco said, breathing faster. 'I've got a date, and anyway, she's far too in love with you to care about me.'

Ron dropped Draco half out of shock, and half out of ignorance.

'Fine.' Ron said blandly. 'I'm done.'

'All over!' Seamus shouted, signaling to the crowd.

'Nothing to see!' Dean called, dismissing the other side of the group.

Draco wiped wet blood from eye brow, before hobbling away in the direction of the dungeons. Daisy followed his path despondently, before turning to Ron.

'You really have some nerve!' Daisy said, pointing dangerously at Ron and the crime scene. 'Of course he's already got a date! You would have found that out if you'd only asked sooner! I asked him to the ball weeks ago, and he said he was already going with someone.'

'Why would you fancy him?' Ron questioned, wiping away the sweat.

'Because he's sweet and romantic, and actually very cute!' Daisy whined, before stomping away.

Ron massaged his aching arm, before turning to the other silent Marauders, and saying simply: 'That went well.'

Harry left Ron at the bottom of the girls staircase, some forty minutes later. Ron was convinced that he was going to stay there until Hermione stopped ignoring his shouting, and came down to talk to him. Harry knew he'd probably only last about 10 minutes alone, but he'd enjoy the peace and quite while he could.

Harry threw on his jumbled mismatched pajamas, and hung out of the window to take a long swig of winter night air. He liked to watch the tranquil grounds of Hogwarts, as they calmed him somewhat, but he found that he often forgot to in the evenings.

He couldn't really remember what had put him into the habit of gushing out of the window, for he didn't do it at his Hogwarts. He supposed it was something to do with the grounds here. The grass always looked so soft, and the trees appeared to be in gentle slumber.

Something caught Harry's eye by the edge of the forest. Something Harry hadn't seen for sometime. And someone Harry hadn't seen for sometime.

An angel robed in pure white rode on the back of a perfect white unicorn. They were difficult to miss, even though it was dark, as their white attire almost glowed. Harry didn't even question their purpose for a moment, but merely watched them as they galloped into the trees.

He stayed watching for a while, trying to remember the last time he'd seen that girl before. Harry knew all to well that unicorns roamed the grounds of the forest, but this particular girl he didn't see so often. He wondered if she was possibly a ghost. Yet she looked so solid.

Harry sat for hours, awaiting her departure. Hours and hours. If she was a human, she couldn't survive out in the cold for too long. It was a windy winters night. She couldn't be too much longer…

As the sun began to rise, filtering the sky with light beams, Harry tiredly scanned the forest. She was nowhere in sight. Maybe she'd made it past him. There was no way of knowing.

Just as Harry was about to give up, a figure trotting through the trees caught his gaze. It was a unicorn. A white unicorn spotted with glitter, and a long golden mane and tail. From what Harry knew, this told him that she was verging on adulthood. He knew it was a she, as she was so beautiful.

The unicorn leapt through the gardens effortlessly, and skimmed the edge of the lake before floating out of sight. Harry sighed, collapsing onto his bed. He wished he had her energy.

Reviews would be nice right now! Next chapter we make a breakthrough, but i cant post it untill ive heard your opinions on this chapter! So review!