Ok here's the next chapter. I'm not really happy with it, but after re-writing it nearly five times i decided to just post it so i could move onto the chapters that i really want to write (the christmas break) Not much Dramione interaction in this one, but there will be more and more as they grow closer.

Disclaimer: i own nothing to do with Harry Potter!!!

This chapter just basically fills in the gaps about some things and paves the way for the next five or so chapters (yes this story will be that long you have been warned lol) i'll be surprised if this chapter is finished within 25 chapters, i'm not sure though alot is yet to happen!!

Chapter Twelve: Christmas Countdown

Sunday night found Draco sitting in the Slytherin common room watching half heartedly as Blaise and Theo played a game of chess. His mind however was on the upcoming Christmas break with his parents and Hermione. The chess game finally ended with Blaise being the victor.

"Hey Draco, what's up?" Blaise asked as he repaired his chess set and packed them away in their case.

"Nothing Blaise, just thinking about Christmas break"

"Worried about it? Now that Hermione's going to be there?" Theo asked.

"No, excited actually, this is the first time that I've actually looked forward to going home for Christmas"

"It should be fun, just enjoy yourself" Theo advised.

"What are you doing for Christmas Theo? Since your parents are in Azkaban are you going to stay here or head home?" Draco asked.

"Neither, I'm spending Christmas with my girlfriend and her family" Theo answered candidly. Blaise and Draco both sat up in surprise.

"You have a girlfriend?" Blaise asked disbelievingly.

"Sure do, we've been together for nearly five months now"

"Who is it? Anyone we know?" Draco queried.

"Lavender Brown from Gryffindor"

"WHAT?!" Blaise and Draco shouted. Then lowered their voices when the other Slytherin's glanced at them strangely.

"How come nobody knows about this?" Blaise demanded. Theo shrugged.

"Lav was worried about how our houses would react, so we decided to keep it a secret until we were ready to come out. But after the acceptance of Draco and Hermione's friendship we decided to not keep it a secret any longer. Its not like we're going to advertise it or anything, we're just going to act how we normally do, just in public as well" Theo replied easily.

"Five months? Did you get together over summer?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, I was feeling pretty lonely and decided to head over to Spain. She was there with her parents holidaying, we met up, started talking, then one thing led to another" Theo replied. Draco looked pensive for a moment then turned to Theo.

"How did you know that you wanted to be more than friends with her?" Theo shared a knowing look with Blaise.

"Just a feeling really. I could talk to her about anything and knew that she wouldn't judge me, I was always happy just to lay eyes on her, and whenever we touched, just something simple like holding hands, I just felt complete" Theo shrugged noncommittally, "Its hard to explain, but to put it bluntly I just knew" Draco nodded then changed the subject.

"What about you Blaise, what are you doing for Christmas?"

"I'm heading over to Italy to visit the rellies there, don't know how long I'm staying with them, depends on what happens, might end up back here before the end of break" Blaise answered with a shrug. Draco nodded then stood.

"Well I'm heading to bed, we've got double potions first thing in the morning"

"Alright mate" Blaise and Theo answered as Draco climbed the stairs to his dorm.

Draco and Blaise were heading to breakfast the following morning when the remaining three Slytherin sixth year girls, Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass and Sally-Anne Perks hurried up to them.

"Draco is it true?" Daphne asked excitedly. Draco heaved a long suffering sigh, thinking that Daphne was about to ask him about another rumor concerning himself and Hermione.

"Is what true?"

"Theo Nott was just caught kissing Lavender Brown in the Entrance Hall! People are saying that they're dating!" Sally-Anne piped up. Relieved that someone else was the focus of the gossip mongers, Draco shrugged nonchalantly.

"Oh that! Yeah, those two have been together since mid-summer" then he and Blaise continued on their way, leaving the three shocked girls in their wake.

"You know, for a minute there I thought they were going to ask about another rumor concerning you and Hermione" Blaise commented.

"So did I" Draco replied as they stepped into the Great Hall. Silence fell upon them as they entered, Draco and Blaise glanced at each other in confusion then looked around the dining hall.

"What's going on?" Draco whispered. Blaise noticed all the apprehensive faces on their fellow students, then his eyes finally landed on the cause.

"Theo and his girlfriend are both sitting at the Slytherin table, I'm guessing that everyone is waiting to see what our reaction is"

"The stupidity of some people, after my friendship with Granger you would think that they would realize that we don't have a problem with Gryffindors anymore" Draco mumbled as they made their way over to their house table and took their seats opposite Theo and Lavender.

"Hey Theo, Hey Lav, how's everyone taking it?" Draco asked as he placed some bacon on his plate. Lavender looked startled for a moment then she smiled brightly.

"Its been mixed actually, some people think it's a prank, others don't care and then there's a few that don't know what to think" she replied.

"Well you managed to switch the attention off Draco and Hermione for a while" Blaise grinned, indicating the shocked faces of all the other students "Pass the sausages, Theo" he added.

"Yes I must admit that most of those rumors were far fetched" Lavender giggled.

"Understatement!" Draco grumbled as he took a mouthful of pumpkin juice. Millicent Bulstrode rushed up to the table and plonked herself down next to Lavender.

"Hey Brown, now that you've gone public about dating a Slytherin could you do me a favor and set me up with Longbottom?" the dark haired girl asked. Draco coughed and sprayed pumpkin juice everywhere, Blaise started choking on the piece of sausage that he had just placed in his mouth, while Theo and Lavender just stared at her in open mouthed shock. Millicent glanced at them all innocently, "What? He's cute!"

Up at the head table, a shocked McGonagall was absentmindedly slapping a choking Snape on the back while Flitwick picked himself up off the floor where he had fallen after hearing Millicent's request to Lavender. Dumbledore sat smiling with that annoying twinkle in his blue eyes shining brightly.

"Oh come now Severus, its not that bad" he commented to the potions professor.

"But, Longbottom?!" Snape managed to gasp out between choking coughs.

Meanwhile over at the Gryffindor table, Seamus and Dean were trying to revive an unconscious Neville, who had fainted dead away. While the other Gryffindors looked on, their eyes moving quickly between the slowly rousing Neville and the Slytherin girl who wanted him.

Potions that day was amusing to say the least. Draco, Blaise, Theo and Lavender walked in to see Neville sitting between Dean and Seamus with a frightened look on his face as he kept shooting wary glances at Millicent, who was staring at him with a smile. Snape ended all thoughts as he stormed into the classroom. He sent a disgusted sneer at Millicent before waving his wand. The instructions appeared on the board.

"You know what to do! Begin!" he snapped, then retreated to his desk and refused to look at any of his students. During the two hour lesson, Draco worked on his potion, but often found his thoughts straying to the upcoming Christmas break and all the new activities that he and his parents would try this year. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he nearly ruined his potion. Luckily Blaise, who had noticed Draco's far away look, elbowed him sharply and snapped him out of his trance before it was too late.

"Draco mate, where were you?" Blaise whispered.

"Just thinking about Christmas" Draco replied.

"Again? Hell man, don't think about it so much, you'll have a great time"

"Its not that, I'm just looking forward to it, that's all"

"So you've mentioned many times, but by the mood Snape's in, I wouldn't push him today, he's likely to take points off even you if you stuff this potion up" Blaise advised before he returned to his own potion and continued it. Draco sighed and concentrated on his potion. When potions ended, Neville was the first to jump out of his seat and bolt out the door, clearly trying to escape before Millicent managed to corner him. Draco was about to walk into Charms with the Ravenclaws, when Hermione caught up to him and took hold of his arm. Draco glanced at her sideways.

"What's up Granger?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing, you looked out of it in potions, I just wanted to check that you were ok" Hermione replied. Draco smirked softly.

"Yeah I'm fine, I just spaced out thinking about the Christmas break that's all" Hermione's brows furrowed.

"Dreading it?" she asked quietly. Draco knew her well enough by now, to know that she feared that he didn't want her at his home for Christmas. Shaking his head he changed his smirk to a small smile.

"No, on the contrary, I'm actually looking forward to it for the first time that I can remember" Hermione smiled brightly and let go of his arm.

"I'd better get to Herbology before the gossips change their focus back to us, its great having a reprieve" Draco chuckled slightly.

"Yeah, Millicent sure knows how to grab the spotlight" Hermione giggled.

"Poor Neville is petrified that she will corner him under some of Dumbledore's enchanted mistletoe" Draco grinned cheekily.

"I'll pass the idea onto her" Hermione's face showed horror.

"Malfoy! Don't you dare!" Draco just winked at her before turning and entering the charms classroom.

For the rest of the week, Draco found himself counting down the hours until it was time to leave for the train that would take them home for Christmas. Finally it was Friday night and he was busy packing his trunk ready to board the Hogwarts Express the following morning. The week had slowly seemed to crawl by, although Thursday had produced some amusing moments. Millicent had finally managed to capture Neville under the mistletoe, the poor Gryffindor was literally shaking in his boots as the large Slytherin girl had bestowed a lingering kiss on his lips. Draco had had a front row seat to the scene and had howled with laughter as Neville bolted up to the Gryffindor tower as soon as he was released from Millicent's clutches. Draco had managed to avoid been caught, though Blaise had accidentally walked under a sprig of the annoying plant at the same time as Ginny Weasley had. The resulting drama that chaste kiss had caused with Ron had nearly sent Blaise to the hospital wing. Luckily, Harry and Hermione had stopped the red head from doing more than giving Blaise a split lip which had been healed later by Madam Pomfrey. Blaise and Theo walked into the dorm room as Draco closed his trunk and flopped onto his bed.

"Hey Dray, everything ready?" Blaise asked as he jumped onto his bed and reclined against his pillows.

"Yeah, pretty much" Draco answered as he placed his arms behind his head.

"Great, so is Hermione riding with us?"

"No, she told me that she would meet me when the train gets to Kings Cross"

"What about Lav, Theo?" Blaise asked the dirty blond.

"She's riding with her friends, then, like Draco, I'm meeting her when the train gets to the station" Theo answered.

"Have you met her parents before?" Draco asked curiously.

"Yeah, when we first started meeting up over summer, I went to dinner a couple of times with them. I get on really well with both of them, its great, they treat me like a member of their family" Theo answered with a smile. Draco and Blaise contemplated Theo's words for a moment. Both boys were still unused to seeing Theo so open and happy, still remembering what he was like before everything happened.

"Do you ever feel weirded out at how much has happened since school started?" Draco asked suddenly.

"How do you mean Draco?" Blaise replied.

"Well, for example, when school started I still believed that my parents were cold and evil, I was still a spoilt, prejudiced prat and I never, for the life of me, thought that I would owe my life to Hermione Granger. And yet now, Granger and I are friends of some sort, I found out that my parents actually love me and love each other, Dad changed his views about the whole muggleborn versus pureblood debate, and both of them often tell me how proud of me they are etc" Draco explained quietly. Blaise and Theo nodded in understanding.

"I get what you're saying Dray. Who would have ever guessed that we would be civil to Harry and Ron, much less friends with Hermione" Blaise agreed.

"Its just that so much has happened since the beginning of school, that sometimes I almost feel as if it's a dream and at any moment I'll wake up and find that it will all go back to where my parents are cold and heartless, that I'm constantly fighting with the Golden Trio, and dreading the fact that when I graduate my father will force me to marry Parkinson" Draco sighed.

"Its understandable that you feel that way Draco, but on the other hand, has anything happened over the past few weeks since the attack that you wish hadn't?" Theo asked. Draco thought about it for a while then hesitantly shook his head.

"No, not really. I mean sure, I could have done without the all consuming fear that I developed towards Manticores, but on the other hand, it was that fear that brought me closer to my parents, and Granger as well. To look back at it now, I find it hard to believe that I used to insult her and ridicule her on a daily basis"

"Its amazing how that attack on you and Harry changed the whole outlook of the school as well" Blaise commented.

"How so?" Draco asked.

"Well, Theo and Lav came out as a couple, a Gryffindor and a Slytherin and yet nobody was angry! You and Hermione are friends, and yet everyone accepted it. Sure there were rumors about the two of you, but it was still accepted. Before the attack, none of that would have happened" Blaise replied.

"You make a good point Blaise, even after Harry defeated Voldemort. Prejudice still ran rampant in this school, it wasn't until Harry interfered and Hermione donated her blood, that people began to get along, regardless of which house they were in" Theo pointed out.

"It will be interesting to see what happens when Quidditch starts though. Since the season was postponed because of the attack, how bad do you think the rivalry will be?" Blaise asked.

"I honestly don't believe that it will be that bad" Draco stated.

"Really?" Blaise asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, it will be more of a friendly rivalry and ribbing, than insults and maliciousness. Well that's what I think anyway" Draco shrugged.

"You could be right Dray, only time will tell" Blaise replied. Draco nodded, then rose from his bed and stripped down to his boxers and t-shirt.

"Well its late and I'm going to sleep, night!" he said with a yawn as he climbed between his sheets and closed the curtains around his bed to block out the light from the lit torches that were still burning.

"G'night!" Theo and Blaise returned, as they both got ready for bed. Soon the only sound in the dorm was the crackling of the fire and the occasional light snore from the three occupants.

Well there it is! as i said not my best chapter, personally i believe its the worst chapter i've written (out of all my stories) but hey i'm my own worst critic lmao. Read and review, the next chapters will come quickly because they're the ones that i've been longing to write for ages, i already know what's going to heppen in them, some will be slightly mushy as Draco and Hermione get closer, one in particular will be amusing and entertaining.

Thankyou to all my reviewers i do really really appreciate every single one of you that have read and reviewed not just this story but all of them. You give me the motivation and encouragement to continue and for that i thank you all

angelrider93