Christmas was coming soon. Draco, in his somewhat brilliant attempts to make Harry miserable, came up to our table one day while Harry and Ron were playing wizard's chess, and I was reading.

"So who's staying at Hogwarts unwanted while the rest of us are going home to be welcomed?" Draco asked, looking straight at Harry.

I had had enough. I slammed my book shut, grabbed Draco's hand, and dragged him out of the Great Hall. He looked at me stunned at first, and then he smiled slyly. I couldn't help but smile as well.

"Draco, if you want me to still like you, then stop making fun of Harry. He's been through enough, all right?" I said.

Draco nodded, and stroked my cheek. "I'll do it because you told me to."

I smiled. So I could get my way if I wanted it. Now, I hadn't gotten over Oliver yet, but nothing was happening there, and Harry and Ron were my best friends, so I couldn't even think about that.

"Draco, look, Hermione, Ron, and Harry are my friends, and if that bothers you, then maybe I shouldn't have even dragged you out here."

Draco smiled. "Look, Lana, if they're your friends then that's your affair, but Potter and I don't like each other, in fact we hate each other."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know that."

"So, if you still want to try this, then you're going to have to realize that your friends and my friends can't be friends with each other."

"All, right, we'll give it a try. On one condition."

Draco smiled. "And what's that?"

"You tell me what's up with Pansy."

Draco laughed. "She follows me around. Fancies me."

I laughed too. "Fancies you? Who would do a thing like that?"

Draco pushed me lightly, and then smiled.

"So how about we meet here tonight at 9:30?" He asked me.

"But I would have to sneak out then." I protested. "We'd get into trouble."

"You went with Potter for the duel remember?"

I nodded. "I did. All right then. But no setting me up. I don't like Filch. He scares me."

Draco laughed, and then I headed back into the room, where Ron and Harry were laughing about something, stopping when I sat back down and picked up my book.

"What?" I asked.

"Malfoy actually blushed. He totally fancies you." Ron said.

I blushed. "Whatever."

"I agree with Ron. You almost have Draco whipped." Harry hinted.

"Hey, now…I'm not going to do your dirty work for you. I would never just string him along and then crush him when you wanted me to. That's just rude." I told them.

Hermione came up. "What's rude?" She asked me.

"They want me to get Draco to like me, and then use him for their benefit." I explained.

Hermione shook her head. "Not important you two. But Lana, I took your advice this morning, and looked in the library, but I couldn't find what I was looking for."

"Oh. Well, how long until you leave to go home?" I asked her.

"I leave tomorrow." She said.

I nodded. "Well, I think that maybe we should spend some time with you, Hermione, and Harry, Ron, and I can look over the break."

Hermione smiled. "I like that idea."

****

After hanging out with Hermione I looked at the clock, and realized that it was 9:15. I had to get out of the Dorm if I was to meet up with Draco. I pulled on my shoes, and headed out. I ended up on the third floor on the right wing, which was of course, forbidden. Well, the entirety of the third floor was forbidden.

Draco stepped out of the shadows, and smiled.

"So you actually came." He said.

I nodded. "Yeah. I said I would."

"Well, I was hoping we could talk about your Christmas plans." He said slowly.

I smiled slightly. "I'm staying here. My parents cancelled my plans, and won't tell me why. They'll be back for the second week of break though; too bad Christmas is the day before they get back. My sister even got sent to be with the Weasleys for a bit. Dumbledore seems to think that I should stay here with Matty though."

Draco was blushing now. "Well, maybe you could come and meet my parents. I asked if I could invite you and they said that it would be just fine."

I blushed. "Draco, I don't know what to say. I mean…I guess I should ask Dumbledore about it. He is my guardian right now. But only for the first week."

Draco smiled. "Just tell me tomorrow morning."

"I will." I promised.

We parted and I got into the Commons and I slowly tried to creep up the stairs.

"Where were you?" A familiar voice asked.

My heart skipped a beat, and I turned around.

"Well, Oliver, I was out taking a walk. I'm sad that I can't play Quidditch for a while. Nerves, you know." I said.

It came out a lot more steadily and true then it had sounded in my head. I smiled at him, and he returned it. I felt horrible. I was lying to Oliver Wood of all people. I wanted to take it back. Of course, I had taken a walk, and it was nerves. Then why did I feel like such a horrible person?

"Oh, well I was just sitting up thinking about what I'm going to do." Oliver told me.

I sat down next to him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, my parents cancelled my plans at the last moment. I was trying to figure out what to do. I mean, Alicia is going away, and now no one will be here." He said.

I wanted to shout that I would be there, but I had promised Draco that I would ask Dumbledore to go with him this break. I was at a loss of what to do now too. 5th year, I reminded myself. A 5th year that had a girlfriend. I just smiled in the end.

"Well, I'm not sure what I'm doing either. Chelsea and I were going to spend Christmas with our mother and father, but something came up at the last minute and I can't go and see them. They wouldn't tell me what exactly either. It was just really important." I admitted. "I could be going with a friend, or staying here like Dumbledore suggested. Something very strange is going on."

Oliver smiled at me. "It's easy to talk to you."

I blushed. "Right back at ya."

"So no hard feelings or issues between us?" Oliver asked.

I was confused.

"I heard you and Hermione a while back."

"Oh. Trust me, Oliver, I'm 11, and I'll get over it." I hugged him, and then went up to the Dorm. Alicia was standing there, smiling at me.

"You know what, you're something else." She said.

I smiled. "Whatever you say. Thank you."

****

The next morning, I woke up bright and early and ran down the hall to Dumbledore's office.

"Walk, Miss Langston." Professor McGonagall said from her classroom.

I slowed down a bit, after smiling at her, and then I found my Uncle, on his way to his room.

"Uncle Albus!" I called.

He turned around and smiled. "Lana!" He said.

He led me up to his office, and then he handed me a Jelly Bean. I popped it into my mouth, and then spit it back out onto my hand.

"YUCK! What is this?" I asked.

Uncle Albus laughed. "It was a Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean."

I nodded. "Well, it tasted like grass."

I scratched my tongue with my fingers, and then looked at my Uncle. He smiled, and spoke first.

"You came to ask me something."

I nodded. "Can I spend Christmas with Draco and his family? Just the first week since my parents are gone?" I asked. "Then I would go and spend the second week with my parents, and my sister."

I had decided beforehand not to skirt around the issue.

"Well, I don't trust Draco, but I trust you." He told me.

"Thank you." I said. "So may I?"

He smiled and nodded. Wait! He had nodded! I beamed and jumped up, hugging the old man.

"Thank you, Uncle Albus! Thank you! I promise, I'll send owls with messages a lot. I will have great manners, and I'll watch my mouth!" I said.

I ran out, and listened to him laugh his hearty laugh. When I got down the staircase, I ran right into…Hermione.

She smiled. "You seem happy."

I nodded. "I'm going somewhere this break."

She frowned. "I thought you guys were going to look up Nicolas Flamel."

I shrugged. "Well, I was invited to go somewhere else, and I kind of forgot. Anyways, without you, how do you think that I will get them to help look it up?"

Hermione laughed. "You're right. Well, you should go pack. I'll help you."

****

After I was packed, I went to go find Draco. I was in my traveling robes, and I bumped into him outside of the portrait while he was grabbing his things.

"Lana!" He beamed.

"Hi. Dumbledore said that it was all right, and so I already packed, and I just came to tell you that I could come. It's short notice I know—"

Draco set his fingers on my lips. "Lana, just get your things, and I'll meet you out front at the train."

I smiled, and went back to my Dorm. The only rest that I was going to have was on the train to meet Draco's parents. I grabbed by belongings, and as I was going out of the portrait, Ron and Harry showed up.

"Where are you going, Lana?" Ron asked.

I blushed. I couldn't lie to them, they were my friends. I took a deep breath, and smiled.

"I'm going away for the Holiday." I said slowly.

They laughed.

"We can see that." Harry said.

"We thought that you were only going away for the second week." Ron said.

I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to lie, and I refused to lie, but I didn't want to tell them the truth either. To my surprise and pleasure, Hermione showed up. She handed me a letter.

"Guys, she's going to miss the train. Now go, Lana, and have a good time." She said.

"Thanks, Hermione." I hugged her, and then Ron and Harry, in that order.

I hurried down the hall and out to the train station. I hugged Dumbledore goodbye again, and he promised me that he would send an owl to my parents telling them where I was going to be. I smiled, and then turned around to see Draco waving at me.

"I'll send an owl the moment that I get there." I told Dumbledore.

"You do that." He said. "And don't forget to send me a few letters to tell me how things are going. I might even send an owl of my own. And Scott seems a little uneasy about this—he trusts Mr. Malfoy, but he loves you and he cares."

I smiled. "Just don't tell Harry and Ron."

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, That would be an interesting conversation. 'Lana went to spend the first week of the Christmas Holidays with your arch rival.' I see how that would go over."

I laughed. "Thanks, Uncle Albus."

I boarded with Draco, and we found a car in the back of the train. As soon as I sat down, I smiled. I was finally resting. I had been running around the school all day long. I finally looked over at Draco, who was smiling at me.

"What?" I asked.

"You're just so cute." He said.

I blushed. "Well thanks, you are too."

I reached into my pockets, and found the note that Hermione had given me. I took it out and smiled. Draco looked at me.

"What is that?" He asked.

"It's just a note from Hermione." I smiled.

Draco leaned back on the seat. He was looking at me funny.

"Draco, Hermione is my friend."

Draco nodded. "I know that. Take a moment and read it to yourself. While you do that, I'll take the time to find the note Pansy wanted me to give to you."

I froze. "Pansy wanted you to give me a note?"

Draco nodded.

I opened Hermione's letter, and smiled.

Dear Lana,

I know where you're going, but don't worry,

I won't tell Harry or Ron. I'll be sure to send

You an owl sometime, but now I need to come up with

Some story for you. I don't want to see the looks

On their faces when they find out where you were.

But let's not think about that now. You have fun, and

Tell me all about it when you get back.

Love Hermione

I folded the note back up and as I put it back into my pocket, Draco handed me the note from Pansy. He smiled at me, and then I opened Pansy's note and swallowed.

Lana,

So you have stolen Draco's heart? Well,

I don't know how long that will last. Draco and

I are both from Slytherin, and you're some

No good, lousy, Gryffindor, who just happens

To be related to Albus Dumbledore. Well,

When you get back, watch yourself.

Pansy

I sighed, and folded the note back up and handed it to Draco. He tried to get my attention. I smiled, and then he held it up to me.

"Go ahead." I told him. "Read it."

After Draco had read it, he tried to give it to me, but I refused to take it. He nodded, and stuck it into his pocket.

"Well, Pansy won't do anything to you while I'm around."

"Thanks." I smiled.

I decided to forget about Pansy's threats, and Hermione's knowledge of my little trip, and focus my attention on having a good time.

"Thank you so much for inviting me on your trip. Harry, Ron, and I were just going to sit around and look up things for the first week." I admitted.

Draco laughed. "Well, we're going to hang out at home. Father wrote and said that there would be snow, and I'm looking forward to it. Especially since you're coming too." He blushed.

I smiled. "Well, I love snow, so this will be awesome. I also took the liberty of having Dumbledore send presents to your family. I was up all last night thinking about it, just in case. My parents are a lot wealthier than I had thought, and so I had a brainstorm of ideas. It is just you and your mother and father right?"

Draco laughed and nodded.

"Good, because I hope that I came up with the perfect thing for all of you. Anything else that I need to know about?" I asked him.

Draco smiled. "That's very thoughtful."

"Well, I'm looking forward to actually doing something, and I'm determined to be the best guest that I can be."

"You'll have your own room."

I smiled. "Awesome."

Just as I was going to ask Draco something else, the door swung open. It was Pansy, of all people.

"So, Lana, having a nice time?" She asked.

I had forgotten that we had to wait for the train stop to get picked up by Draco's parents, which I must admit, I was nervous about.

I smiled and nodded. "Who wouldn't have a nice time with Draco?"

Draco smirked, and Pansy just set her hands on her hips.

"You know, Pansy, you're interrupting a private conversation." Draco said.

I was shocked, and Pansy was too. She pouted, and when Draco just ignored it, she left, slamming the car door behind her.

"I'm impressed. You just told off your biggest fan." I told him.

Draco faked a hurt look. "I thought that you were my biggest fan."

I blushed. "I can't beat Pansy in the Draco Fan Club."

Draco laughed. "I guess that's true."

After a moment of awkward silence, Draco stood up and excused himself from the car. He had to use the Little Boy's Room. After he left, Hermione snuck in. I smiled, and hugged her.

"So did you read my note?" She asked.

I nodded. "Thanks so much. I'm just dreading the day that they find out."

Hermione smiled. "I won't let them find out. You and I can come up with a good enough story. I mean it's not like they'll ever find out anyways."

I laughed. "True. So what did you tell them?"

"I told them that you had to get home right away, and then I excused myself." Hermione blushed. "Then they followed me and I said that your Great Aunt died and you had to go spend time with your Great Uncle."

I laughed. "That is beautiful. Only problem is keeping it like that. I'm going to have to act all sad and stuff, and then Dumbledore. I hope he'll just keep a straight face when it comes up in conversations."

Hermione laughed, and then Draco walked in on us, and smiled. Hermione was flabbergasted, but smiled back and left the car.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"Well, she's just not used to you being so nice." I told him.

Draco smiled, and sat next to me instead of across from me the whole way to the next Train Station.

Note: This is not a Draco story, but he does have a significant part in the first two volumes.