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Christmas Eve- part 2...

Ginny sipped the coffee and continued to write in her journal. It had been a habit all those years ago and it was all too easy for her to fall into the rythem again. She looked at the bottom of the mug and sighed. Empty.

SHe laid the ball point pen in the book and closed it over it. Then, taking her mug, she headed to the common room where she could access the kitchens via a dumbwaiter. Even on Christmas eve, at nine at night, at least one of the elves was gaurenteed to be working.

She stepped out of her room, leaving the door open enough she wouldn't have to risk the squeak when she wanted to goback in. She tiptoed down the stairs in her flannel pajama bottoms and tank top, her red satin robe fitted loosely about her. SHe started toward the dumbwaiter. A flash of light caught her eye and she turned to see what it was. A small fire burned in the hearth and before it sat Draco Malfoy. GInny set the mug down and crossed the room to him, noticing he was crying.

"Malfoy..." She began.

He looked over at her. "Ginny." he chuckled, though it sounded forced. "Check it out, big brave Malfoy crying over Christmas like a little girl."

Ginny knelt by him. "It's ok. The holidays get me down too."

Draco stared at her. "What? You?"

Ginny smiled ruefully. "They always remind me of what I lost during that war."

"But only one person in your family died." Draco said, confused.

Ginny smiled sadly, also staring into the fire now. "I wasn't talking about friends or family. I lost hope. I lost purpose. I lost my drive. I was killing people left and right. I didn't care. I didn't care if I lived or died. I just wanted it to end."

Draco looked at this girl. He enver imagined some one might have suffered that same feeling. "What did you do?"

Ginny smiled. It was a cold smile. "I saw something that made me care."

"Potter." Draco guessed.

"No. Voldermort."

Draco looked confused. "Why did he make you care?"

Ginny shook her head. "It's not important."

"Oh, no you don't. You've got me good and interested. Now, you tell me why."

Ginny looked at him. "Alright. But then you tell me why the holidays upset you."

"Deal," Draco said, holding out one hand. She reached over and shook it.

For a moment Ginny stared at the fire, absorbed in her thoughts. "I was lost, wandering around, when he found me. He looked down at me with such contempt and loathing. He blamed me. He raised his wand and I prepared for death. But he just just touched my arm and sneered." Ginny looked down at her left arm where a silver scar ran from elbow to wrist. "He was trying to mark me. I fought it. Damn near took off my own arm trying to get it off. But I did. When I looked up, he was walking away. I was furious. He tried to brand me like a possession, like he had already won me. So... I lifted my wand and performed the worst curse I've ever done."

"The Killing Curse." Draco guessed.

Ginny smiled sadly and shook her head. "Have you ever heard of the Tres Nomre spell?" she asked.

Draco shook his head. "Can't say that I have."

"Not surprising. I found it in a book when I was looking up an extra credit project for Binns. It hasn't been used in eight centuries because of the tricky nature of the spell. It's not even taught anymore because its been known to kill the weilder."

"Thanks for the lesson. What does it do?"

"You know the saying, 'by the power of three times three'? This spell takes that to the extreme. When the recipriant of the spell casts any spell the spell is returned by three. The only spell this is void against is the Killing Curse."

Draco stared at Ginny. "You mean you performed a spell that hasn't been done in eight centuries and is probably illegal in several countries, because you found it in a book?"

Ginny smiled again. "Yeah."

"Wow. Remind me never to piss you off."

Ginny laid on her stomach, propping herself up on her elbows. "Alright your turn. Spill."

Draco sighed and, having followed suit, rested his chin on his folded arms. "Christmas. What does that mean to you, Ginny?"

Ginny shrugged. "Time with my family."

Draco smiled sadly. "For me it was all a battle to see who I would favor more that year. Mom and Dad fought all the time. The only people I met my age were people my parents had designated worthy of my attention. I had no choice who I hung with. If my father found I was talking to someone he didn't approve of, I was locked in my room and the other person was informed that to be seen with me was hazardous to thier health. My mother was a slave in the house, a pretty concubine done up to impress who cried herself to sleep every night. When I was little, I used to dream I would be her knight in shining armor to save her from him. But someone beat me to it during the battle. I'd love to meet him and shake his hand. Last year I spent Christmas with my mother. It was the first time I've ever seen her truly happy."

Draco trailed off into silence. Ginny rested her head on his shoulder. "Draco, did your mother ever tell you bed time stories?"

Draco shook his head. "If my father had found out, he might have done something regrettable."

Ginny stared into the fire for a few silent moments.

"Every Weasley down in Weasleyville liked Christmas a lot," She began.

Draco looked at her, amused. (Needless to say, Malfoy's never heard How the Grinch Stole Xmas)

"But the Malfoy," She grinned down at him. "Who lived just north of Weasleyville, did not.

The Malfoy hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season.

Now please don't ask why, no one quite knows the reason.

It could be he wasn't that brave

It could be a dragon walked over his grave.

But I think the thing that really made it tick,

Was that his late father was quite the prick.

What ever the reason, his father or his shaking knees,

The Malfoy stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Weasleys..."

(A/N: Check it out five new chapters. sorry about the wait. Hope you like!)