This chapter is proudly written by Avadne and anniePADFOOT, who have temporarily replaced the wonderful Adriane1. Don't worry it's probably just for this chapter and the next. We've followed the plan Adriane1 set for us.

Sorry about the whole difference thing. Adriane1's writing style is totally different to Avadne's, and Avadne's is different still to anniePADFOOT's, so it's all mixed. We tried… so please don't throw tomatoes at us…

That being said, you all better review and tell us how we did. Personally, I, anniePADFOOT, am pessimistically convinced that this is a disaster…so prove us wrong and review.

Chapter 12

Hermione's POV

I was quite shaken up after the whole 'killing Lucius Malfoy' thing, but Draco assured me I'd be fine, and we portkey-ed back to our residence just to have some down time. I wasn't really willing to go and find new people to recruit at the moment… since the Nadia disaster, it hadn't been faring too well.

Christmas was nearing at an alarming rate and even though I would have liked to spend it with Draco and my friends, I knew I had made some earlier promises that got in the way of that. So I searched for Tonks, and found her a few minutes later.

"Tonks, do you think, you know, with Christmas coming up and all..." I was eager to get home for Christmas, actually.

I wasn't pleased with my parents, even if they had apologies and all… and of course, Hanna would be there. But I had promised Hale I would come back, even if for one night, so I figured I might as well.

"I think I know where you're getting at, Hermione; you guys are all free to go home for the holidays. Am I right?" Tonks tapped her nose intuitively and I smiled and nodded.

"Here's the Portkey; to activate it, just touch it while saying where you want to get to. You can leave whenever you want, just let us know. And try to stay in contact, even a brief letter every 2 days or something, just to let us know you're ok," Tonks explained, handing me an innocent looking candy wrapper.

I took it gratefully and told Tonks about my plan to leave, when, where, what and all that and assured her I'd write.

Then, I met up with Harry and Ron to find out what they were doing for the holidays; it turned out they had talked to Tonks too, and were both going back to the Burrow. They invited me to come too, but I told them I already had plans.

They were leaving later that day, and both handed me a present each, which I thankfully took and promised to open them later.

I had gotten them presents too and raced back to my room to get them. Harry opened his to find a Foe Glass; I figured that he'd be into dark detectors like Moody had, and he already had a sneakoscope.

Harry thanked me numerous times before I got to give Ron his present; a brand new pair of Quidditch gloves, which he seemed very happy with. Then we hugged each other good bye and left.

There were only 2 days until Christmas, so I planned carefully; I'd spent the rest of today with Draco and tomorrow, get to my real house and see mum and dad… and unfortunately, Hanna too.

I easily found Draco in his room, apparently brooding.

"Hey," I said quietly.

"Hi… come in. Take a seat," he offered.

"Do you know what you're doing for Christmas?" I asked.

I felt a twinge of guilt, because it was me that took his father away. Christmas was a family holiday after all…

"I was originally going to stay here; hell would freeze over before I spent quality time with my father," Draco began.

This eased my guilt slightly, but only slightly.

"But now I'm going home to mother… I'm going to spy on her for the Order; she knows father is dead, but she doesn't know I've switched sides. I'll snoop around a bit, see if maybe she could be persuaded to change sides," Draco finished.

"Oh. That's good; do you think she'll do it?" I asked, genuinely curious.

I didn't know much about Narcissa Malfoy. The only encounter we had was at the Quidditch World Cup in 4th year and I distinctly remember she had a haughty expression, as if thinking, what possessed me to mingle with these people. But that's about it.

"I'm leaving tonight at midnight; it will be the easiest time to sneak in. But I wanted to give you your gift first," Draco announced.

I could feel myself blushing.

"Wait, me first," I had, of course, gotten Draco a present.

I handed the small package silently to Draco and watched as he unwrapped it and observed it carefully. It was a leather cord pendant with a dragon's tooth at the end of it.

"It's a dragon's tooth; I thought it would be appropriate, considering your name and all…" I trailed off hesitantly.

Draco was the star constellation, the Dragon, so I thought it quite fitting. I had gotten the pendant at the shop Nadia took me to; I shuddered at the memory of my ex-friend.

Draco was beaming at me however.

"It's great, thanks Hermione," he placed a gentle kiss on my cheek before handing me a roughly wrapped package.

I took it and carefully opened it to find inside, a small, round mirror with a wooden frame.

"I've got one like it too; if you ever need to talk to me, just say my name while looking at your reflection," Draco explained.

I immediately wanted to test this, of course, so I took the mirror and held it up to my face, staring at the reflection.

"Draco Malfoy."

Draco's reflection appeared instead of mine, and there was a smug smirk on his face.

"Cool, isn't it?"

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