Disclaimer: ... ? If I'm JKR, then I obviously have amnesia. I mean, what the heck am I doing in the US? And why don't I have gazillions of dollars (pounds)?

Christmas at #12 Grimauld Place

Having already sent their trunks ahead, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny apparated from King's Cross Station to the entry hall of Harry's house. The hall was dusty and the wall hangings and rugs were faded with use. Ginny and Ron immediately made for the kitchen to see their mother, leaving Harry and Hermione standing in the dimly lit hall.

Harry put his hand on Hermione's shoulder, "Are you okay, Hermione? You've seemed very tired lately."

Hermione managed a weak smile, "I'm fine Harry. It's just all those semester tests, and preparing for NEWTs this spring. No worries. I am tired, though. I'm going to take a nap." She threw an appreciative smile over her shoulder as she disappeared up the stairs.

Nice going, Potter, thought Harry, as he moved into the kitchen. Harry was nervous about seeing Molly after what had come about with her only daughter. Harry wasn't sure what was going on with him and Ginny. Of one thing he was certain: she was important to him.

Ron, Ginny, and Molly were seated around the kitchen table, drinking tea. Upon seeing Harry, Molly jumped up and hugged Harry with all her might. "Now Harry, you must sit and have some tea. You look tired. Are you feeling okay? Where's Hermione?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley, really. Hermione went for a nap," Harry grinned, appreciating the attentions of his best friend's mother for what felt like the millionth time. He sat next to Ginny at the table, very conscious of how close he was to her. Ron was oblivious, as usual, but Harry caught Molly gazing interestedly at the two of them.

"Well, she's not the only one." Molly continued, "Professor Dumbledore arrived with Draco Malfoy about half an hour ago. He went for a nap as well. He looked very ill. A nap should do him some good, don't you think?"

Harry and Ginny exchanged uneasy glances. Under the watchful eye of Molly Weasley, a glance was all there was time for. Each had the same thought: Both under the same roof, reliving the same memory. This was going to be an interesting holiday.

"When's Dad supposed to be back from work?" asked Ron. He had an agenda to keep.

"Not until late this evening I'm afraid. With things escalating as they are, he's working longer and longer hours. He's working seven days a week, and barely has time to sleep," Molly worried.

Ron was determined to find some time with his father before the end of the holiday.

Conversation was strained between Draco and the occupants of #12 Grimauld Place for the first week of the Christmas holiday. No one knew exactly how to talk to him, especially since it seemed Draco was on his best behavior. Polite small talk was the norm for any discussion that included Draco; only Harry was able to joke with him. That is, until Fred and George showed up a few days before Christmas.

"Oi, Oi, Weasleys! Your favorite twins are here!" called George from the entry hall. He and Fred rounded the corner into the living room to discover Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco. "Ugh," Fred snorted, annoyed. "I forgot Malfoy was going to be here." George agreed, "Ruins my holiday." The twins threw a disgusted look at Harry, as if it was entirely his fault, and went in search of their mother.

Ron shrugged a half-hearted apology in the direction of Draco, but Draco didn't mind. At least someone's treating me normally. This could be an interesting holiday after all.

Dinner progressed uneventfully, though Arthur was not back yet. Conversation focused on different members of the Order and theories about what they were doing. Molly was not contributing to this conversation, but smiled pleasantly and kept refilling everyone's plates. "Second helping on potatoes there, Draco? Would you like another butterbeer, George?"

When she asked George this question, his head snapped up guiltily. "Uh, no, Mum. I'm fine, thanks," he responded, flashing Molly an awkward grin. Everyone knew Fred and George were up to something by the way they kept whispering throughout dinner.

With a flick of her wand, Molly began clearing the dishes. Draco pushed back on his chair to leave and said politely, "Thanks for dinner, Mrs. Weasley." Then Draco immediately fell face forward onto the floor with a loud thump. Fred and George snickered not so quietly, and everyone else turned to see what happened to Draco.

Harry looked to his left and saw Draco lying on his stomach, chin resting in one hand, and the other drumming fingers on the floor. "They tied my shoelaces together," Draco said simply, meeting Harry's eyes. (Just wait.) he said silently.

Draco sat up, fixed his shoelaces, and shot Fred and George his trademark sneer. Draco left the room without saying anything else to anyone, leaving Molly shouting at her sons. "Fred and George Weasley! How dare you! That boy is a guest in this house, as are you, may I remind you! This is Harry's house and… Oh dear Lord! What's wrong with your eyebrows?"

Draco smirked as he climbed the stairs.

Harry had been watching the numerous shades of pink coloring Molly's face, but at this last statement, turned to see Fred and George brushing away at their ever-growing eyebrows. Their ginger eyebrows were now dangling in their pudding. "I don't know, Mum," said Fred. "Maybe Malfoy did it," said George helplessly.

"That boy has been nothing but nice since he came into this house. Don't try blaming this on him! It was probably one of those skiving snack boxes you two sell," Molly said reproachfully. She shuffled the twins out of the dining room to see if she could find a cure.

Harry looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione. The four that remained seated exploded into laughter. Ginny wiped a tear from her eye, "Looks as if Fred and George have met their match. I have to hand it to Draco; I didn't hear him jinx them. Did you think it was coming, Harry?"

"Well, actually…" The other three glanced at him, surprised. "Well, we can speak Synaesthetically, you know," Harry defended.

"Well," Ginny said impatiently, "What did he say?"

"He said 'Just wait'. I didn't hear the jinx," Harry explained quickly.

"Well, it isn't quite right, is it?" asked Ron. "I mean, Fred and George were only joking around. There was no need for Draco to go and jinx them."

Hermione shot Ron an unbelieving look, "Of course they deserved it. They know full well that Draco's on our side now, and look what they go and do. And not two hours after they arrived."

"It's just years of pent up aggression, isn't it?" Ron answered, in a huff. "Draco's tormented us for years; Fred and George were just getting back at him for that. And I don't know why you are constantly defending him. It seems he can take care of himself, Hermione. He doesn't need you!"

That's where you are wrong, Ron Weasley, thought Hermione.

Hermione offered a weak explanation of fatigue, and headed for her bedroom early that evening. Hermione was tired, but she really wanted to check on Draco, as he hadn't been seen since the shoelace incident. She stopped outside the door to the boys' room. Surprisingly, the door was open, and she peered in.

Draco was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, and staring blankly at the wall. Hermione, standing in the doorway, searched his face for any trace of what he was thinking, but found him impossible to read. He's really good at keeping up his guard, even when he's alone. Hermione was suddenly overcome with sadness for this boy that no one understood.

"Hey," she said softly, causing Draco to blink. He looked up at Hermione, who was leaning against the doorframe. Hermione was glad to notice his face soften; he seemed glad to see her. "What are you doing up here all by yourself?"

"Thinking," was Draco's impassive response. Hermione smiled; about to give up and head to her own room, when Draco patted the floor next to him, indicating she should sit with him.

"Thinking about what?" she asked, gently, sitting next to him on the floor. "You're not upset about Fred and George, are you?"

Draco shook his head, "No, I'm thinking about this year. Everything that's happened so far. I still can't believe I'm here," Draco responded. "I honestly thought I was doomed to follow my father's footsteps, and now…" He waved his hand, palm up, as if he was astonished at the evidence around him.

"Now you're here, you're safe, and you're with friends," Hermione finished.

"I'm still in disbelief."

"Don't you believe there are good people out there who want to help?" Hermione asked, meaning much more than she was saying. She wanted to talk about the dreams, but was unsure about how to broach the subject.

"I knew there were good people, but I never thought they – you – would help me," Draco confessed, quietly. Draco's reaction to ordinary kindness pulled at Hermione's heart. Has he never known the kindness of friends? No, he said Harry had been his first real friend.

"Why wouldn't we, Draco?"

"I don't know, I just didn't expect it to be like this," Draco wasn't used to expressing his thoughts, but with Hermione it seemed easy. Well… easier. He wanted to tell her how surprised he was to be treated as an equal by people he once considered enemies. He wanted to tell her how much their friendship really meant to him. He wanted to tell her about his nightmares. But he wouldn't. He couldn't. He didn't know how.

And Hermione didn't press him to explain. She just nodded, waiting patiently to see if he had anything to add. When he didn't, Hermione made a small confession of her own.

"I'm still amazed at the number of people willing to join the Order. These people believe with all their soul that they can and will defeat Voldemort, and are willing to risk their lives to save others. Knowing that there are good people in the world, people like this…" Hermione trailed off. I can't say it. It sounds so sappy.

"It gives you hope," Draco finished for her. Hermione, blushing at his correct conclusion, nodded as she stood. "Are you leaving?" Draco asked, standing as well.

"Yes. I'm a little tired. I haven't been sleeping well lately," Hermione admitted, heading for the door.

Draco ran his hand through his hair, as he watched her leave the room. "Who has?"

A/N: Reviews! Reviews! I got me some wonderful reviews! -- does happy dance-- I'd like to thank you guys for being so tremendous! so amazing! so fabulous! so marvelous! -- raises glass -- Cheers to:

Karone Sakura: Good luck on the job, dah-ling!

Elemental Dragon: Muchas Gracias! Funny is what I was going for there :)

Psycho Demon Witch: Thanks! I've been working pretty hard on this fic.

Lady Lily3: You are so kind :)

lstkitty: Thanks for being so great and adding to the faves, it totally makes my day!

Festis: Hope this one is up to par :)

A/N once more: So there's another chappie down. Had to get some Fred and George in there somewhere, because, as George says they're "everyone's favorite twins". So... hit that nice shiny review button, why-dontcha?