Disclaimer: They belong to me! MINE, MINE, ALL MINE! Nah...Stephanie belongs to me and thats about it and the oh-so-wonderful characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

AN: I really appreciate all your reviews and support so far, and hope that you will continue to love this story as much as you say you do.

Chapter 20: Bonding Over Special Gifts

Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco stood outside the portrait of the Gryffindor common room. The dance had ended about thirty minutes ago, and all of the males were either busy walking their dates back to the common room, or off snogging their brains out, which was exactly what Ron would rather be doing with his date right now, if it wasn't for Malfoy.

"What exactly is going on here?" he demanded, staring at his sister in disgust, who was now holding hands with Draco Malfoy, of all people. Hermione stood beside her boyfriend with her arms crossed and her eyes rolling. She was tired of telling Ron to stay out of Ginny's personal life, but she was also curious as to what exactly was going on between the two.

"We...well.." the younger red-head stammered, "Draco and I..are...to-together."

"YOU'RE WHAT?" Ron and Hermione screamed in unison.

"We're together, Weasley, as in dating," Draco stated in a bored tone.

"Thank you for sounding so bloody estactic about it," Ginny replied sarcastically.

"Sorry, love," he apologized. "But I really don't feel like listening to your dimwitted brother and his bookworm."

"Hey!" Ron and Hermione yelled in defense. The brunette continued on, "I would like to think of myself as someone who likes to study alot and achieve what I'm capable of." Ron nodded his head in agreement at his girlfriend's words.

"So, basically you want me to put it into nicer terms," Draco drawled, rolling his eyes.

"Well yes, it wouldn't hurt," she muttered.

"Okay," Ron broke in, "I still want to know why my sister is with the ferret ,here." He pointed his finger at Draco in an accusing way.

"We are together, Ron. End of story," Ginny said firmly.

"Why?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Well I...we...BECAUSE!" she sputtered angrily.

"You don't even know?" Ron asked in amazement.

"Maybe it isn't any of your fucking business!" Ginny cried in frustration.

'I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas, it seems like the first day of the term. It's going to be a really different Christmas this year. There will be loads of people here for the holidays, since fourth years and up stayed for the dance.'

"Granger."

'I wonder what Ron got me for Christmas.'

"Granger." Startled, Hermione turned to Draco.

"How long will this shit go on?" he asked, tilting his head towards the two arguing red-heads.

"It might take a while," she said, taking a seat on the ground near the portrait.

"So, this happens alot then?"

Hermione sighed. "You have no idea. Besides, you get used to it after the first fifty arguments."

"Fifty? Is that all?" asked Draco, somewhat amused.

"Actually, there have probably been alot more, but those are the only ones I've witnessed since Ron and I got involved."

Draco grimaced. "I don't need to know about your love life with Weasley."

"Funny you should say that, seeing as how you are obviously involved with the youngest Weasley herself," she retorted.

"Shouldn't Potter be back by now?" he asked, ignoring her last statement.

"I don't know, but I cannot believe he went with.." Hermione trailed off at thelook on Draco's face.

"Well, I can't believe that Stephanie went with Potter of all people," he finished for her.

"And I can't believe that a Malfoy and a Weasley went together either." She smirked.

Again, Draco ignored her. "Does it usually last this LONG?" he asked, getting annoyed.

"Afraid so. You might as well take a seat." Hermione patted the space next to her.

"I am not sitting on that floor, it will mess up my robes," he said in disgust. "And I am not sitting next to you either," he added.

"Fine by me," Hermione shrugged. "I was just being polite."

"Did you have an okay time?" Harry asked Stephanie as they walked towards the Slytherin Tower.

"It was a hell of alot better than most of the dances I've been to," she answered.

"Why's that?"

"Well, ever since my fourth year, it's been the same every dance. My date would usually get drunk of his ass, make a complete fool out of himself, and then want sex at the end of the night," Stephanie replied wryly.

"I don't think you have to worry about me doing that anytime soon." Harry laughed.

"I know." She smiled. "That's why I like you."

"Oh, so you do like me?" Harry asked, grinning in spite of himself.

"No," she frowned. "I just go around kissing guys that I don't like."

Harry stopped. "Wait...that was sarcasm, wasn't it?"

"I guess..." she shifted uncomfortably, "look Harry," he smiled at the use of his first name, "there are things that you don't know about me, things that I'm not so proud of..."

"What kind of things?" he asked warily as they reached the portrait.

"Is it okay if I don't tell you? It's just, well, um-" she stammered, searching for the right words.

"Its okay," Harry assured softly. "I get it. You aren't ready for me to know that much about you and I can understand that."

"Thanks." Stephanie grinned, "You know, one day you're going to make someone really happy."

"Thanks." Harry could feel the nervousness growing in the pit of his stomach. "You know, I never thought that I would have a civilized conversation with a Slytherin, much less go on a date with one. But, you're really different and you showed me that all Slytherins aren't that bad after all and it's...well it's.."

"Are you trying to ask me out on another date?" Stephanie smiled, showing her pearly whites.

"Yes," he breathed in relief.

"I think that would be really cool," she replied calmly, but on the inside was screaming with excitement.

"Really?" Harry asked surprised. "I mean, that's great! We should do something for Christmas maybe, or New Years?.."

"New Years sounds great."

"Brilliant," he said, hiding his growing excitement rather well.

"Right. So, I'll owl you or something," Stephanie replied smoothly.

"Sure." Harry grinned. "I guess I'd better be off...it's almost curfew."

"Yeah, okay. Speaking of curfew, I wonder where my dear cousin is. Oh yeah, probably off snogging my best friend." Stephanie snorted.

"Ugh...don't really want that mental image," he shuddered.

"I think I can do something to erase it," Stephanie teased, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Oh, really?" Harry smiled as she placed her lips on his lightly. His eyes opened in shock at the feel of her tongue slipping inside his mouth, but he quickly relaxed, a feeling of serenity completely taking over.

Around three minutes later, Stephanie pulled away, breathing in deeply. "That was really, really nice," she gasped.

"I agree. We shouldn't wait so long next time," Harry said, emerald eyes sparkling.

"There's going to be a next time?" she asked, raising her left eyebrow.

"Well, I hope so."

"Chill." She pushed him on the shoulder lightly. "I was just joking."

"Right, I knew that," he said hurriedly.

"Isn't curfew in like ten minutes?"

"Damn, I forgot! I mean, I was kind of busy."

She laughed. "Well, duh...now get going lover boy." Stephanie gave him a chaste kiss, spun around whispering the password, and glided into her common room.

"Loverboy? I think I could get used to that," he said to himself, smiling inwardly.

"Finally. I didn't think that you two would ever stop your bloody arguing," Draco scoffed, leaning lazily against the wall.

"Once again, Hermione saved the day...shutting Ron up with her mouth," Ginny said, running a hand through her long hair. "Sorry about this whole thing, but that's the Weasleys for you...we have really bad tempers."

"I should probably make a note of that for later on," he stated wryly.

Ginny giggled. "Probably. So, um, about what happened tonight..." she trailed off awkwardly.

"What about it?" he asked calmly.

"Oh, no, don't even think about it," she scolded.

"What?" he asked, innocently.

"That calm thing you do. It makes you look like you don't care, but inside you really do." Ginny replied, annoyed.

Draco smirked. "I'm beginning to think that you know me a little to well."

"Now you're trying to change the subject," he opened his mouth to say something else, but she continued, "and I won't let you do it," she paused. "Tonight was...weird, but amazing, and I don't know how you feel about it." Ginny stared into his ice blue eyes.

'Damn! This woman was going to turn him into a bloody poofter.' "You know that I'm not good with this kind of thing," Draco said helplessly.

"Huh, you could've fooled me. I thought you were supposed to be the almighty Slytherin sex god or something." Ginny said, anger rising within her. "You know, maybe this wasn't a good idea after all."

"What do you want me to say?" He threw up his hands in frustration.

"Well, oh, I don't know, maybe a 'Ginny, I had a great time' wouldn't hurt," said Ginny, sarcastically.

Draco nodded slowly. "Okay then. Ginny, I had a great time."

"See, you can't even say...wait, what?" She stopped in surprise.

"I said that I had a good time," he replied again.

"That's good. I think." She grinned, "You know, if I have this kind of affect on you already, I can't wait to see what I can do to you later on."

"You're becoming a very devious person. Are you sure that you weren't supposed to be in Slytherin?" Draco asked, placing his hands on her tiny waist.

"Hmm, no...I think that I just learn from the best," Ginny said, touching her nose with his.

"I am the best, aren't I?" He smirked.

"Don't be so arro.." Draco cut her off with his mouth.

"Using Hermione's method now, are we?" she asked, gulping.

"I really don't want to think about Granger at a time like this," Draco drawled. "You're ruining the moment."

"We have moments?" asked Ginny teasingly.

"What? No." Draco scoffed. "What I meant to say was, you're ruining the mood."

"Uh, okay. Does that mean that you don't want to kiss me anymore?" Ginny pouted.

"Hell no. What are you? Crazy?" he cried.

"Funny," Ginny looked thoughtful, "my brother asked me the same question a few minutes ago."

"But that's the fun of it right? Two crazy teenagers seizing the moment." Draco moved his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

Ginny put her hand up to his forehead. "No, no fever. I'm beginning to think you really are insane.

"Ha, bloody, ha. But we really should seize the moment," he replied seductively.

"I thought we didn't have moments," she teased again.

He sighed in frustration. "I give up."

"Well thank's for trying so hard." She giggled at his glare. "Draco," her tone turned serious.

"What?" he asked, gazing into her bright brown eyes.

"Were you telling me the truth when you said that you wanted to be together?" Ginny bit her lip nervously and it made Draco want to take her right then and there.

"I was," he answered honestly.

"Aren't you worried about what your father would say? Or how about what everyone else thinks?" Ginny worried, unsure of the situation herself.

"No, I'm not," Draco stated firmly. Guilt clouded his mind at the thought of the bet, but soon that wouldn't matter anymore, the first time he saw Blaise, he would tell him that the bet was off. This girl was the only thing in his life that made him happy and he wouldn't let anyone, or anything, stand in the way of that.

"Okay," she replied, smiling happily. Ron, and anyone else, that thought this was a bad idea could go walk off the astronomy tower for all she cared. This guy might be a Malfoy, but he was the only guy who had made her feel this way. Plus there was the fact that he was really sexy.

"What are you two doing out here?" Harry asked as he walked up.

"Well, my dear brother had a hissy fit because of what happened tonight in the Great Hall, so we just now got to spend some alone time." She eyed him in curiousity. "What are you so bloody happy about?"

"No reason," Harry grinned.

"Oh no," Draco groaned. "Potter, you better stop snogging my fucking cousin, or I will break your..." Ginny elbowed him. "What?" he asked her, annoyed.

"Don't say that." She glared at him, then smiled at Harry. "Besides, I think it's very sweet and I'm very happy for you and Stephanie."

"Thank you, Ginny." Harry grinned at Malfoy and he scowled. "Although, I'm not for sure if we're actually together," Harry added thoughtfully.

"I for one, hope she turns out to hate you," Draco replied, smirking.

"Sorry, Malfoy, you're still here? I didn't even notice you," Harry said sweetly. "Absolutely nothing, not even you, can ruin this night for me."

"Okay, whatever, Potter. Now go away, because it's my turn to snog my girlfriend," Draco said, grinning at the disgusted look on Potter's face.

"Again with the disturbing mental images," Harry muttered. "I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight, Gin." He nodded grimly at Malfoy, and entered the deserted common room.

"Night, Harry!" Ginny called back. "So, I'm your girlfriend now?" she asked, grinning evilly at the boy next to her.

"Oh, bloody-" Ginny cut him off with her lips and he happily obliged.

"Wake up, wake up, wake up! It's Christmas!" Hermione's shrill voice echoed through the boys' seventh year dormitory. Ginny laughed at the excited look on her friend's face and followed her into the room.

"GoawayMione," Ron grumbled, face down in the pillow.

"Where are Dean and Neville?" Ginny asked curiously as she jumped up and down on Harry's bed.

"I don't know," Harry piped, irritable at being awoken from the wonderful dream that consisted of Stephanie and a little red bikini. "Ginny, would you stop jumping on my damned bed?"

She grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, I think I ate to much chocolate. So, who's ready to open up presents?" she asked, appearing very hyper.

Ron hurriedly pulled a shirt over his head and all grumpiness disappeared at the mention of opening presents. "Wait.." he stopped shortly and looked at the end of his bed in confusion. "Where are my presents?"

"Oh. I figured since we were all staying here this year, that we should open them up, downstairs," his sister said, pushing Harry out of bed who resounded with an 'oomph.'

"You took all of our presents downstairs?" Ron asked wide-eyed.

"Pssh, no! I got Dobby to take them down for me," she grinned.

"Ginny!" Hermione stared at her disapprovingly.

"Don't worry, he didn't hurt himself, if that's what you're worried about," Ginny replied and Ron snickered behind his hand.

"Are we going to go downstairs or stand here arguing all day?" asked Harry in annoyance, still irritated that he had been awoken from a very good dream.

Ron slapped him on the back and smiled. "Potter, remove the stick from up your ass and enjoy this lovely Christmas day."

"Oh shut up, Ron. You're just happy because you get to stuff your face all day," Harry remarked grinning.

"Yeah, food," he sighed in contempt, "the best thing about the holidays."

Hermione shook her head and led them into the common room. "Presents!" she squealed in delight and Ginny joined her.

"Oh shit!" Harry cried in alarm, and the other three looked up in surprise at his choice of words.

"What is it?" Ginny asked him worriedly.

"I didn't get Stephanie anything for Christmas," he replied, dropping his face in his hands.

Ginny jumped up from her unopened presents. "I didn't get Draco anything either!" Ron grimaced at the sound of that name coming from his sister's lips.

"Like you need to get that git anything," he retorted and then smiled happily. "Maybe you should tell him that for the last two months you were temporarily insane AND that he should just forget everything that happened between the two of you." He faltered at the glares he received from the only two females in the room. "Or not."

"Very funny, Ron," Ginny told him, hands on her hips.

"Don't do that, you look like mum," he said, frightened.

"Oh, I have an idea," said Hermione, breaking into their conversation before another argument could come into play. Turning to Harry, who was still in the same position he had been five minutes ago, she asked, "Harry, you do have your invisibility cloak, don't you?" He looked up, giving her a quizzical stare.

"Yes, why?" He asked her.

"Umm...hello? Secret passage to Honeydukes?"

Realization crossed Harry's face. "Hermione, you're a genius!" he complimented, picking her up and twirling her around. She beamed at her friend.

"Hey, none of that!" Ron said, pulling his girlfriend into his lap. "I'm the only one allowed to do that."

"Chill, Ron, she's like a sister," Harry stated and then turned to Ginny who was looking at him in amusement. "What? What is that look for?" he asked her.

"You're starting to act like Stephanie...it's actually kind of scary," she informed.

Her name instantly reminded Harry of their so-called crisis. "Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" he asked her.

"Oh, that would be great! But, how are both of us going to fit under the cloak?" Ginny asked.

"We'll manage," he replied and turned to his two best friends who were currently snogging. "Cut it out you two!" Hermione jumped away with a blush.

"Okay." Ginny clapped. "Lets start opening some presents."

"Hello!" Stephanie greeted cheerfully, sitting next to her cousin, who resided in front of the toasty fire.

"What are you so bloody cheerful about?" Draco asked, raising his perfectly sculpted eyebrow. It was so cold in here, his hands felt frozen, and here she was acting all giddy.

"No reason in particular," she shrugged. "Just had a really good time last night is all."

"With a Potter no less. What would my father say?" he tutted.

"I don't really give a shit, but lets see.. What would he say about his only son consorting with the families number one enemy of all time?" asked Stephanie, sarcastically. Draco smirked.

"I don't really give a shit either," he spat as if he had swallowed something foul.

"When did this change of heart occur?"

"Around the time I realized that being with a Weasley wasn't so bad."

"You say that like its a bad thing," she said, confused.

"Can it really be a good thing, Steph?" She recoiled slightly at the use of her nickname. The only time he ever said that, was when he became serious, and that was hardly ever.

"It can and it will," she stated firmly. "Being with Harry last night only confirmed that I was meant to be someone good and not some random Death Eater."

Draco grimaced. "You mean someone like me." She shook her head.

"No, you're not like the rest of them and you know it. I think being with Ginny made you realize that too." She smiled at the thought of her best friend. "She does that alot nowadays, bringing out the best in people."

"Yeah, I know," Draco replied with a grin of his own.

"And now I think that we should stop with this sappy shit before we ruin our well known Slytherin reputation," she added.

"Right." He stood up. "I need to go talk to Blaise," he handed her a green wrapped box, "oh and here's...well...it's a bloody present," Draco grumbled.

"Oh, your present is by your bed and wait! Didn't I just say enough with the sappy stuff?" she called behind him.

"Yeah, fine by me," he shouted from the stairs. Last night had definitely changed things for him, and he knew that everything wouldn't feel right until he broke off this bet. "Blaise!" he shouted, pulling the curtains back from his friend's bed.

"What?" Blaise asked, looking up from his brand new quidditch book.

"I want to call off the bet," he said in a rush.

Blaise gave him a knowing look and shrugged, "Okay, sure."

"What?" asked Draco, in shock. "You're going to let me call off the bet? Just like that?"

"Uhh...yeah."

Pause. "Why?"

"Because you obviously like this chick, and I'm not about to stand in the way of it. I know how that can be, having someone or something standing in the way of what you want," he replied seriously, thoughts lingering elsewhere.

"Uhh... okay," Draco said, wondering what in the hell Blaise meant.

While Ron was thanking his girlfriend for the Chudley Cannons packet, and Hermione was squealing with happiness over the bracelet that had I Will Love You Forever engraved in the silver, Ginny and Harry were at loss for what they should buy for their respective half.

"Anything?" Ginny asked him, biting her lip.

He shook his head, "Nothing. What about you, do you know what you're going to get...Malfoy?" He still wasn't totally comfortable referring to Draco, but in time he could get used to it.

"No, but at least money isn't a big issue anymore since dad got moved up as the assistant to Minister of Magic. We pretty much get what we need now," she replied and Harry couldn't help but feel happy for the whole Weasley family. On Halloween, when the attack on Diagon Alley occured, Fudge totally sided with Dumbledore after he was attacked by Death Eaters in The Hanged Man. A few days later, he made it a known fact to the public that indeed there was a war going on and Voldemort was back again.

"Do you know what Stephanie would want?" He focused on the problem at hand.

Ginny looked thoughtful. "She likes animals."

"Animals?" Harry asked doubtful, "She doesn't seem like.."

"An animal-loving person," she finished for him. "I know. She seems more of...well, to put it point blank, a downright bitch to other people, but you love her when you get to know her," Ginny explained.

"Right," he paused. "Does she have a cat or something?"

"Nope..ohhh!" Ginny squealed. "You should get her a black kitten!"

Harry grinned. "Okay, I think I'll do that then."

"Okay, now you have to help me with Draco's present," she said, smirking.

"I don't know what that git doesn't have." He stopped at the angry look Ginny gave him. "What? Gin, you can't expect me, Ron, or Hermione to be his friend after hating each other for the past six years."

"I know that, Harry." She sighed in defeat. "But you're supposed to be the sweet guy," Ginny complained.

"Fine, I'll try to be nice to him, but only because you helped me out with Stephanie."

"Thank you very much." She gave him a quick hug. "Now we better get going, because I don't want to meet up with Draco and not have a present."

After two hours of searching for the perfect one, Harry found a pure black kitten with eyes so similar to his own that it was uncanny. Adding kitty treats and a fluffy red sleeping pillow, Harry paid for the items and made his way across the street to the Three Broomsticks, where he was to meet Ginny after they had finished their shopping.

"Oh, it's so cute," Ginny cooed at the kitten as he placed it on the table in front of her.

Harry shook his head at the attention the poor guy was receiving. "So, what did you get Malfoy?" he asked.

Ginny frowned and opened up the green pouch sitting next to her. "I don't know if he'll like it, but I couldn't think of anything that he didn't have already, and I figured this might be good for him."

"Okay...what is it?"

Handing him the pouch, he opened it, eyes widening in surprise. "Wow Gin, I think you went a little overboard, don't you?"

"You don't think he'll like it?" she asked with a frown.

"I'm sure he will, what's not to like?" Harry said, looking at the item in his hand with shock.

"I really hope so," said Ginny. She had searched for something good, something she thought Draco could use, and she had definitely found it.

"You do know what this does, don't you?" Harry asked.

Ginny's gaze turned to the necklace in his hands. Bearing a dark blue stone and hanging from a silver chain, it seemed to illuminate in a certain light. "It protects him from every harmful curse, except the Unforgivables," she said, carefully placing it back in the pouch. Ginny knew that Draco was a Death Eater and she also knew that deep down, he truly didn't want to be one. If this necklace could somehow save his life, or even help him in the slightest, then that would be one of the greatest gifts she could possibly give to him.

"Right," he stopped. "Are you sure you want to give him something like that?"

"What is that supposed to mean, Harry?" she asked angrily.

"I'm just trying to be careful and think about this rationally," he pointed out.

"Well don't," she huffed, "because I'm sure that I'll get this from Ron and Hermione when they find out." She sighed wearily. "I'm sorry for blowing up like that, but...I just know that somehow he can prove everyone wrong and he will. And I want to trust him, no, I do trust him."

"Okay." He gave her an encouraging smile. "Besides, if Stephanie thinks of him the same way AND he's related to her, then he can't be that bad."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. So, when are you going to give her the kitten?"

"Probably on New Years," replied Harry, an idea of what the night would be like already planted in his head.

"I think that's when I'm going to give this to Draco. Will you do me a favor, Harry?" she asked seriously.

"What would that be?" Harry asked warily.

"Don't tell Ron or Hermione about this. I mean, I'll tell them if they ask, but right now I really don't feel like having to explain myself to them."

"Sure, no problem," Harry replied. Although he still had his doubts about Draco, Ginny had become somewhat of a sister to him in the past few weeks alone, and he wouldn't betray her trust.

"Thanks," she said, smiling at him gratefully. 'Yep, everything was fine so far.'

"So our dear Malfoy has decided to make a Weasley fall in love with him?" Voldemort asked in a scathing voice.

The person in front of him smiled evilly. "Yes, my Lord. It was some bet that was placed between he and Zabini. He probably had in mind that it would greatly please you."

"I'm sure he was thinking of how disgraced and upset the Weasley family would become if their youngest daughter turned from them, because of a Malfoy," Lucius spoke up.

Voldemort appeared thoughtful. "Indeed, your son is doing a wonderful job of following in your footsteps, just like you said he would. I would love to see how Ginny Weasley has grown over the years." He turned back to the spy in question. "Tell me, do you have any information on Potter?"

"I do. Lucius's niece, Stephanie, practically has Potter wrapped around her fucking finger."

"Interesting, how so?" Lucius looked up in surprise as well.

"He seems quite taken with her. They attended the dance together, as did Draco and that foul Weasley."

"He did what?" Lucius roared.

"Now, now Lucius," Voldemort said calmly. "It is only for show and I rather like this idea. It seems your whole family is smart and certainly worthy of the Slytherin name."

"Thank you, my Lord." He bowed.

"Your niece doesn't bear the Dark Mark, does she?"

"No."

"Then it will have to be soon." He smiled demonically, thoughts playing in his deranged mind. "Before you know it, I will have ripped out the throats of Potter's loved ones, leaving him so alone that he won't even possess the strengh to fight me when the time comes." He turned to Lucius. "I think we should begin with the Weasleys, don't you?"

DO NOT SCREAM AT ME! I had to bring Voldemort in sometime, because the sequel will be based on THE WAR b/w GOOD & EVIL and of course the romance that comes with it.

Pretty please, with your favorite candy on top, gimme lots and lots of reviews,

Love,

LILYK