Christmas at Hogwarts

Of course, the new visitors couldn't all stay at the school without creating confusion and attracting unwanted attention, so Dumbledore suggested that they stay at Grimmauld place, with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix.

Cole as usual, wasn't happy about this arrangement. "I've come all this way and now we're going to be separated again?" he asked, gesturing to Phoebe. "I came to make sure she was safe".

"She is as safe as she can be within these walls Cole Turner," answered the headmaster, smiling. "And she's a powerful witch in case you've forgotten? She'll be fine. And you're only a Portkey ride away".

Cole decided it was best not to ask what a Portkey was, and it probably wasn't a good idea to argue.

"I think we should have a little meeting," said Buffy, "to explain everything before they leave. You know, about the order…"

"Understandable," nodded Dumbledore. "They need to know what they're getting involved with. But I'm glad you're all here, I've heard so much about everything you've all done, and I must say the more people we have on our side the better. The war has started already and we're running out of time".

There was a silence at these grave words.

"Whose plan was it to come here again?" muttered Gunn as Dumbledore led the teachers out of the hall.

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Dawn stood listening at the closed doors, eyes wide at what she was hearing. She was about to go in to say hello to Tara and Spike, not caring that she wasn't supposed to be there, when she heard a noise behind her. "Whose there?" she called out, raising her wand that she always carried with her, she added "Lumos".

A white light filled the corridor, and she almost dropped her wand. "What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"I followed you," Draco whispered. "I need to talk to you. It's important Dawn".

She frowned at the desperate sound in his voice, not like Malfoy at all. "What's going on?" she asked him.

"I thought I'd talk to you because I know the others won't listen. Harry, Ron, Hermione….they're all against me, Granger won't even pretend to listen after what I said to her at Hogsmeade…."

"So they should be. You haven't exactly played nice all these years have you?" she told him, still in a whisper.

"You can talk to them," he continued as if she hadn't spoken. "Make them listen and understand what I'm…"

The sound of movement behind the doors made Dawn jump. "Not now or we'll get in trouble," she told him, making a run for it. "Later".

Draco hesitated a moment before following her. He thought that he might not have a chance to talk to her later, either he'd loose his nerve and change his mind about talking, or his family would find out he'd been having doubts, and he'd be dead before the end of the year.

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Buffy didn't have to worry about the student's safety for a while because it was soon the Christmas holidays. She was still trying to convince Albus to stop them coming back the following term though, even though she'd had no success.

Harry was staying at the castle like always, not minding that Ron and Hermione would be going back to the Burrow to support Mr and Mrs Weasley while Charlie was still missing.

"Don't worry Ron," Harry told his friend reassuringly. "I'm sure the Order will find him soon, they've probably got everyone working on it…."

"And after what Dawn told us, they've got extra help," added Hermione, trying to sound upbeat, although the look she secretly gave Harry said otherwise. Harry understood…it wasn't going to be a great Christmas at the Weasleys.

Ron did his best to smile, but it didn't work very well.

"Harry…are you sure you don't mind us…" Hermione started again as she picked up her bags.

"No…go for it," Harry answered her. "I completely understand. Besides….it's not like I'm on my own," he added.

This time Ron did smile, and Harry was glad. "Yeah, I forgot. Dawn's here…hey…you guys have got the whole place to yourselves…."

"Shut it mate," Harry said jokingly.

"Oh, Harry, it's the perfect opportunity," said hermione, holding Ron's hand lightly. "You like her, she likes you….."

"Would you guys drop it and get going already…." he said, starting to get embarrassed.

"We're just saying, this place needs a bit of cheering up and you…"

"You guys were going to leave without saying goodbye?" asked Dawn, coming into the room from upstairs.

"Course not!" they both said at the same time, looking guilty.

Dawn looked around at the group. "Ok, what did I miss?" she asked.

"Nothing…" Harry started.

"We were just saying, you guys are on your own now…" said Hermione as she turned to walk out of the common room.

"No we're not," said Dawn. "I just found out…Malfoys staying too. And…he wanted to talk to all of you. Especially Harry".

Harry groaned. "Great…just what I needed".

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It was Christmas day andThe Great Hall was as usual, decorated brilliantly, even more impressive then Harry could ever remember. There were the usual twelve Christmas trees, the enchanted ceiling had snow falling from it, because the first snowfall had started out side. Harry would never forget the excited look on Dawns face when she had seen it, it reminded him of when he'd first seen Hogwarts. There were candles and tinsel and silver and gold balloons everywhere.

Several tables were pushed together with all sorts of delicious looking food on them, everything down to the smallest detail was perfect. Harry sat down beside Dawn and was about to start eating, when Dumbldore cleared his throat.

Harry looked up to see that Draco had turned up…without the usual appearance of his bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle.

"You can sit down, Draco, you're perfectly welcome here".

Draco looked startled at this, and also looked like he disagreed with Dumbldore about being welcome. His not the only one who thinks that way, thought Harry darkly, and he nearly choked on his water when Draco chose the empty seat beside him. He looked at Dawn helplessly, who mouthed the words "Told You," silently to him.

"I have tried to keep my promise that you are all safe within hogwarts that I made at the start of the year," Dumbledore began. "But I'm afraid it has been just as dark as last year, as you three know" he looked pointedly at Harry and the others.

Buffy was about to say this wasn't a great start to a Christmas feast, when he continued.

"But I'm hoping to make the best of a bad situation with a bit of festive cheer," he gestured around them.

Snape looked like he wanted to be anywhere else, and Piper smiled at the thought of where Paige could orb him. Maybe Timbuktu She also couldn't believe it was Christmas already.

"It won't make up for everything that's happened, but maybe it will help you to forget…if just for a little while…you might be happy". Dumbledore paused slightly and looked at Harry and Draco. "And maybe, while you're trying to forget the past, maybe start with trying to sort out past grudges and disagreements also?"

Harry and Draco shared a surprised look before going back to ignoring each other.

"Well, all that said, let's begin!" Dumbledore finished.

"Finally," muttered Buffy, but she smiled as she said it.

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"Ok, what do you want that's so important?" said Harry that evening in the corridor outside Gryffindor tower. Dawn stood by his side.

"I need your help," he said simply.

Harry stared at him for a moment, in shock. "I'm sorry…what did you just say?"

"I don't really need to repeat myself, do I Harry?"

Harry was even more shocked. Draco had called him Harry..not Potter. He'd spoken to him just like anyone of his friends would…no hostility at all.

"Listen…I've got information you'll find useful. At the beginning of this year, my father came to visit us and I overheard him talking to my mother. I heard some of the creatures You know who's got in his army. Also, his been asking me to play spy all year. He knows who the new teachers are".

"What?" cried Dawn. "Then it's…this has all been for nothing. If your father knows then so does vol…you know who. And if that's happened…why should we even think of helping you?"

"Listen to me ok? Here me out. Right, I did tell them all that stuff. It looks hopeless, but doesn't the fact that I know I made a mistake count? I don't know…when I heard about Ron's brother….I …"

"Felt guilty?" suggested Harry, coldly.

"Right," Draco took a deep breath. "And I'm not going to hold back information from you again. There's something else. Ron's other brother….Percy…I heard from my mother…"

"Hold it," said Harry. "Why should we believe anything you say? How do we know you're not going to run back to daddy and tell him everything?"

"You'll have to trust me won't you?" he answered them. "Remember what Dumbledore said?"

Harry was about to argue, but something stopped him. He was tired of arguing, tired of all of it. He had so much to worry about….as well as trying to sneak away from the castle to find voldemort….but that could all wait.

"Ok," he said wearily. "Tell us everything".

They both listened gravely as Draco told him all about Percy.

"We should…" began Dawn.

"Tell the others, I know. But we can do that in a couple of days," he answered her. "It's Christmas, and I for one, actually want at least one day where I can pretend to be normal without anything to worry about".

Harry paused before he turned to walk away. "Draco…you don't know where his hiding do you? Voldemort I mean?"

Draco flinched at the name and shook his head. "No. I haven't heard from my father in weeks…not since I sent that letter explaining about Buffy and everyone. For all I know, his been caught and sent to Askaban by now. I was supposed to send a letter to the daily prophet as well, you know, to cause a panic…but I didn't.

"That's something I guess". Harry sighed. "The less people that know what's going on the better. And we can only hope your father has been caught before he had the chance to tell his master everything," for a moment he felt pity at the hurt look on Draco's face.

"I never really liked him, my father," said Draco softly. "I was always trying to impress him….make him proud of me. Nothing was ever good enough".

"At least you knew your father Draco," was all Harry said in reply. "Good night".

Dawn and Harry entered the gryffindor tower in silence, both trying to process everything that had happened.

Dawn looked up suddenly and laughed softly. "There's something I didn't notice before," she said, pointing.

"What's that?" he answered absently.

"Mistletoe".

TBC

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