Here you go! I worked on this instead of my other Dramione fanfiction especially because people seem to like this one :P

"HARRY!" Hermione squealed as she saw her bespectacled best friend.

Relief washed over Draco when he saw Potter and Weasley and his red haired family. He was so relieved that even he could have gone and hugged Potter.

On second thoughts….. Maybe not.

Anyway, after squealing Scar-head's name, Hermione flung herself on Potter. Draco couldn't help grimace. Then he felt himself tense up when she squealed and give a tight hug to Weasley. Nobody noticed his scowl as they greeted each other. Suddenly Weasley noticed him. He gaped at him.

"What's he doing here?" Ron bellowed, pointing at Malfoy accusingly. Everyone turned their attention to Malfoy and frowned. The Weasley twins clenched their fists. Ginny was pulling out her wand. Harry gave a look at Hermione then at Lupin.

Hermione quickly went to Draco's side. "Guys, there's being a change in a plans. Draco's staying with us. He's actually….. in the Order."

There was a short silence of shock, and then an outburst of protests came from the Weasley kids. "Quiet!" Mr. Weasley yelled. "I'm sure Remus will explain." He said calmly.

"Yes, why don't you guys put your trunks to your rooms? Then come on down." Tonks said awkwardly. With glares, Fred, George, Ginny and Ron trudged upstairs. Harry lingered a bit and turned to Malfoy. What the bloody hell does he want now? Malfoy thought.

"So, you're serious? You're against Voldermort now? You're in the Order?" Harry asked.

"Yes, yes and yes. You got a problem with that, Potter?"

"If you, by any chance, are cooking up some kind of a scheme….."

"Harry! Don't be ridiculous!" Hermione snapped.

"No, Hermione." Draco ushered Hermione to cool down. He turned to Potter, looking straight in to his eyes. "Don't worry Potter. If you want me to prove where my loyalties are, I will." There was a slight smirk in his voice that used to belong to the Malfoy Hermione knew a year ago.

Harry looked at Malfoy for a moment. "Alright then." He said, and a slight smile formed in his lips. He turned to Hermione. "Wanna help me choose a room?" he grinned.

Hermione smiled back. "Oh, yeah." It was a usual routine that Hermione chose rooms for Harry. Harry carried his trunk and struggled with Hedwigs Cage. Rolling his eyes, Draco took the cage from him. Though surprised, Harry gave a nod and a smirk.

They made their way upstairs. Draco suddenly wished that he hadn't taken the cage. The bloody owl was struggling like hell, trying to nip some part of him.

"Merlin! What's wrong with your bloody bird, Potter?"

"He doesn't like strangers."

"What a snob." Malfoy bit back the other insults he was going to say. Hermione won't be happy if he heard them.

Harry ignored it. He still couldn't see which part of Malfoy had attracted Hermione who was pretty sensible.

"Here's your room." Hermione pointed.

"How come he gets a room nearer to yours?" Draco asked bitterly.

"I've known her longer, that's why." Harry laughed as he pulled his trunk in to the room.

Hermione giggled. Draco scowled but couldn't help the smile he was fighting off. Hermione's giggles always made him smile. Always. He kept the bloody cage and stood as far as he could from the berserk bird.

"So what have you guys been doing?" Harry asked.

"Actually we were going to decorate the living room and the tree Lupin and Draco brought." Hermione said brightly.

"Well, more the merrier, right?"

"Definitely!"

At that moment Ron appeared to the room. He didn't care if Malfoy had being nice to Hermione, helping her with homework or if he had joined spew or some way to win her affection, he wasn't going to see that ferret during his Christmas vacation, hanging around Hermione and … and… what the hell had Hermione meant by "he's in the Order?" That git was a bloody SLYTHERIN. His father was a Foul Death Eater. And he might as well be one too. How in the frigging pants of Merlin did he know about the Order? It was supposed to be a FREAKING SECRET SOCIETY CREATED BY DUMBLEDORE.

"Alright." Ron seethed. "What the bloody hell is going on? What's the ferret doing here? He's a death eater! His father is and so is he! Hermione, what's wrong with you? Have you gone extremely stupid all of a sudden?" he ranted.

"Oi! Watch what you're saying." Malfoy growled taking his wand out. The twins and Ginny then came to their room.

"Calm down." Hermione said. "Ron, you don't know the whole story why….."

"Then what are you waiting for? Tell me cause I don't know a freaking thing."

"Well… where should I start…?"

"Why is he here?" Ron demanded.

"And what do you mean he's in the Order?" Ginny piped up.

"And what is it that we here that you're with him?" George asked.

"That sounds extremely mental. We first thought that Ron had officially gone mad." Fred said.

"And then we found out it was true when Ginny told the same thing." George said.

"She's a bit more sensible." Fred chimed in, ignoring Ron's glares.

"So we came to the shocking conclusion that you had being putting yourself in to the sneaky dragon's jaws" George explained.

"So it made us….." Fred started to explain but Ron cut him off.

"ANYWAY, you can start what the hell all this is about. And Harry! Why aren't you saying anything? You're the one who kept saying Malfoy was a Death Eater!"

"Ron, He…." Harry started to say, then gestured to Hermione to explain. Hermione sighed and repeated all the stuff she had told Lupin, Tonks and Moody.

Draco could almost count how many breaths Hermione took in the silence that followed after she told them. Weasley was clenching and unclenching his fist staring at Malfoy. He's gonna loose it, that weasel. Draco thought.

"Can I see the Dark Mark?" Fred asked.

The others gaped at him.

"It's not a laughing matter!" Ginny scolded.

"Who said it was? I just wanna see it."

Everyone turned to Malfoy. Draco gritted his teeth. So he was now an exhibit.

"No, stop." Hermione said, walking towards Draco and linking her arm around his. Ron winced at the contact. "He's not proud of it, you know. He hates it and it haunts him. Don't be an ass."

"No, Hemione… it's okay." Malfoy said in a gentle voice that the others were surprised. They hadn't know the Malfoy of this kind existed. "They should see how horrible it is."

Malfoy gently rolled up his sleeve. The others gasped at the sight of it. They had never seen it up close. It was black and deep in to the pale skin that it contrasted.

"Sick." Fred and George breathed out.

"He's already one of them….. Can't you see? Do you actually think that, he's – he's— " Ron sputtered. "Hermione, he's tricking you….."

"Look, Weasley. I don't really care what you think. I'm in the Order. I'm gonna kill the Dark Lord even if it takes no wand but my bare hands and what you think isn't gonna stop me." Malfoy growled.

"How rich, that coming out from you." Ginny said.

"I. Wasn't. Talking. To. You." Malfoy snapped.

"I swear, you….." Ron looked like he didn't know what to do. He couldn't admit that Malfoy had suddenly turned to a good guy. He wasn't that stupid to trust him. But he knew that if Malfoy hadn't gone to Dumbledore, it would have been disaster. He sighed to calm himself down.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Look I'm going. You guys can discuss whatever the hell you guys wanna discuss." He made his way to the door.

"Okay, Fine…. You're in the Order." Ron finally said to Malfoy. Malfoy stopped and looked at Ron. Then Ron took a menacing step towards Draco. "But, if you break Hermione's heart I swear I'll make you eat real slugs this time and make you a ferret permanently." He growled.

"Ron!" Hermione cried.

"Break her heart? Like you did?" Malfoy snapped, sudden anger taking over him.

Ron went red. "Well, you were worse. You made Hermione's life hell."

"And you didn't? Didn't bother to think how much she was miserable because of you, did you? Of course not. You were busy with that slut of a Brown, while I saw what you did to her."

"Shut up. I didn't go around calling her a you-know-what like you did and wished her to die….."

Malfoy had already seen red then. He balled his fist and was about to aim a punch at Ron when Hermione shrieked.

"STOP!"

Everyone looked at Hermione. Her eyes were full of tears. "Look at you two. You should be ashamed of yourself focusing on the past instead of the future." She said and shouldered past them with a sob.

Draco swore. Great, he had done it again.

Harry started to follow Hermione, being the best friend who always was there for Hermione when she was upset, but Draco stopped.

"I'll go Potter. I messed up." He muttered and sighed. "Sorry, Weasley. For your information, I would never break Hermione's heart." He said sincerely and left.

The rest were speechless. Had Malfoy just apologized? Had it just took the blame?

"Wow, he really does love her." Sighed Ginny, receiving a look from her brothers.

Draco came to Hermione's room to see her standing by the window wiping her tears.

"Hermione….." Draco feebly said, as Hermione turned to look at him with red eyes. It killed him inside to see her like that. He went up to her and took both her hands. "I'm sorry. I lost it. I was acting like a bloody immature git. It won't happen again."

"Oh, no. Draco, you don't have to apologize. I'm sorry I started crying. It was stupid…"

"No, it wasn't. And you shouldn't be apologizing. I started it. Well, not only me but Weasley as well, but anyway, Hermione, I'm gonna try not to let this happen again."

Hermione looked up at him and smiled. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I know."

Draco hugged her, reminding himself how lucky he was. He nuzzled his face against her soft hair. Who knew the bushy hair was actually really, really soft?

Hermione could hear his steady heart beat against his chest. She gripped him tight against her. Somehow he made her feel safe. He made her feel awfully special. And the way he looked at her, it was like she was his light. He had no idea how much Hermione was afraid for him.

They swayed on the spot, as if they were dancing to some music they only could hear. Hermione looked up and Draco leaned in.

"Hermione?" before their lips met Ginny's voice came from the door. They turned to see the youngest Weasley smiling faintly at them. "Come downstairs. We have some decorations to do, remember?" She paused. "You too, Malfoy." She said.

When they went downstairs, the rest were already there, goofing around with the Christmas decorations. As soon as Harry and Ron saw Hermione they rushed towards her. Deciding to let them say whatever they want, Draco went over to the box of decorations. He knew that though how much he detested Potter and Weasel, they were part of Hermione's life. He had to put up with them. Draco Malfoy was going to try being in neutral terms. It was hard, seeing now that Weasley was standing a bit too close to Hermione for Draco's liking. But he trusted Hermione. So even though jealousy or anger crept in him, he was not going to show. For Hermione.

Meanwhile Ron gave a hearty apology to Hermione.

"I'm sorry Hermione. I just… can't trust him that quickly."

"It's okay, Ron. Just give an effort. Take your time but give an effort. Till then, be nice."

Ron sighed. "Alright. Since you say so." He said with a smile.

Hermione looked around. Remus, Tonks, Mr and Mrs Weasley were not in the living room. She figured they must be in the kitchen talking the latest news. She watched Fred and George twirling colourful ribbons on the ceiling with their wands.

"Guys! That's not fun, doing with wands. It's much more fun decorating without magic." Hermione called out.

"What? You mean, in the muggle way?" Fred said, gasping dramatically.

"No way, Hermione. It's tiresome." George said.

"I don't think you've ever tried. C'mon guys! Lets do it!" Hermione said brightly, not giving a hint of tears that had being in her eyes a few minutes ago.

Everyone groaned but they tossed their wands on the couch. Fred and George grabbed a bunch of colourful balloons and started to blow them up.

"Oi, smarty-pants! How do we stick them without wands?" George asked from Hermione.

"Oh, I guess you can use the wands for just that."

Draco looked at the a string of bells that lay in front of him. He wasn't sure what to do. He still felt out of place, the interloper in the group, the odd one out.

"Wanna decorate the tree with me?" Hermione asked from behind him.

"Okay." Draco said with a smirk.

Hermione woke up suddenly. She squinted to see the darkness in her room. She checked the time. It was 4:26 in the morning. She groaned. Why had she woken up at this time? Deciding to stay awake and read a book till dawn, Hermione got up and got dressed. She grabbed a book and went downstairs. She dropped by the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea. Casting a light in the fire, she sat in front of it.

She didn't know how many minutes went by when she felt a presence. She turned around to assure herself she was imagining. She wasn't.

"Hey, I couldn't sleep." Ron said, ruffling his hair.

"That's a first. Me too." Hermione said smiling, patting next to her. Ron came and sat and looked at her book.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"You decided to read a text book?"

"Well, isn't it a good idea?"

"You're mental. It's a holiday. Take a break from anything related to school, Hermione."

"Whatever, Ron." She sipped from her tea.

"Hey, c'mon. Let's see what we got for Christmas."

"Oh my god. Today's Christmas. I forgot!"

Ron laughed. "You're supposed to be smart."

Hermione chuckled. "It's weird. It just slipped out of my mind."

"Merry Christmas, Scatter brain." Ron teased.

"Merry Christmas, you … you…. Orangutan!"

Ron guffawed. "Did you just call me an Orangutan?"

"Why, yes. I suppose I did."

"C'mon. Look, the presents are already here." Ron said looking towards the Christmas tree hidden in the shadows. There was a big dark pile under it. Wizard mail did well. "Merlin's beard! Look at that lot." Ron said with glee.

"Lets' just wait till the others wake up Ron. That's more like Christmas. Doing things together."

"You're right. It'll be creepy opening presents alone and in the dark."

"Yeah."

"Snape probably have those kinds of Christmas."

"Ron!"

"Well, you know him. Like some over grown barmy bat. He adores the dark. He's always in black. You don't see him anywhere bright and cheery unless he's in the great hall or outside during spring. And even when he goes outside, he always go out in the evening. Hermione, I swear, he must be a vampire!"

Hermione laughed. She couldn't help it. Ron was SO funny. "Have you being hanging out with Luna lately?"

"What? No. I'm serious. Snape is up to something."

"Stop it, Ron. We've being thinking so since we came to Hogwarts. That he was up to something dark and twisted. But he's not. We've already concluded that."

"I dunno, Hermione. I don't usually find Slytherins trusting."

Hermione said nothing to this. She knew Ron was talking about Malfoy. She knew it was hard for Ron to trust him, to believe that Draco truly loved Hermione. All she could do was hope that Ron would someday see what she saw in Draco.

Draco tossed and turned. He flipped his pillow to find a cooler spot. He sighed. The time was 3: 53 in the morning. Why couldn't he fall asleep? He was too tired to be awake but he was too awake to fall asleep. He wished he could hold on to something, or someone, as he lay on the bed like the night before. Hermione. He couldn't sleep because she wasn't beside him. Well, he couldn't wake her up and drag her here in to his bed. Draco lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

He thought of the fun he had had decorating the tree with Hermione. They had put everything they could think of on to the tree. Even scooped some snow from the windows and sprinkled on the tree. Draco had ignored the presence of the others and had fun. Potter and the Girl-weasel had joined them later. They had tried not to glare at him like they usually did, though Weaslette hadn't been that successful. Draco also couldn't help smirk sometimes when Potter couldn't put a crystal ball by the very top of the tree. They seemed to have a disagreed truce.

Then Hermione had got hold of the large star to put on the very top of the tree. She wasn't tall enough, but before she could grab a chair, Draco had gone up to her and carried her high. Hermione giggled and placed the star right where it was supposed to be. She then slid down against Draco, feeling his flaming gaze on her. They were so close that Draco got a sudden urge to kiss her in front of all the bloody Gryffindors. But he stopped himself when they started leaning in and just settled with a smile which accompanied with an unwanted blush.

Then they had lunch which was pretty awkward. Draco noticed the change of the quality of the food. It was a lot better than what he had during breakfast. He had to admit that Mrs. Weasley was a great cook. He stayed silent through out the lunch, listening to what the others were talking. Hermione was beside him, talking with Ron who had annoyingly sat next to Hermione. They laughed, giggled, chatted along with Potter. Jealousy bubbled inside Draco but he pushed it away. He slid his hand in to hers under the table. She was surprised to feel his hand fiercely gripping her hand out of nowhere but she gave a gentle smile and resumed on to what she was telling Ron, her hand still on Draco's.

Weasley had being annoying that evening. He kept sitting next to Hermione, kept taking every chance he could to talk to her. Draco would grit his teeth and bear with it. Right then he felt like swinging his fist right in to weasleys face. Potter noticed his face and had ushered Ron for some Wizard chess. Suddenly Draco liked Potter from the rest of Hermione's friends.

Draco checked the time. 4:45. Almost an hour had gone. Draco felt thirsty. He got off from bed and without bothering to put on his shirt, he went downstairs. But as he came, he heard someone talking. Who the hell was up at this time? He grinned when he heard Hermone's voice. Then he frowned. Hermione couldn't be possibly talking to herself. He peeked in the living room and his face hardened. Weasley. Draco fumed. He watched them sitting side by side in front of the fire.

"Aw, Ron. I'm… I don't know what to say….. I'm really sorry." Draco heard Hermione sigh.

"Yeah, well… I guess it didn't seem perfect as I thought." Weasley said failingly trying to act as it wasn't a big deal.

"Don't worry Ron. I know you're gonna get what you're looking for. For some one like you it will always turn out the best." Draco watched Hermione wrap her arms around Weasley in to a hug.

Draco clenched his fist. Calm down, calm down. Hermione loves you, Hermione loves you, Hermione loves you. He chanted to himself. It's only a friendly gesture. Just as a friend. She doesn't have feeling for him. Not at all.

He watched Weasley return the hug and he couldn't help thinking than Weasley was holding on to her for too long. He stepped in to the living room.

"Hey." He announced his presence.

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