Disclaimer: Unfortunately, my name isn't J. K. Rowling...which means that I own nothing. While you guys read, I'll go cry in a corner about the fact that I didn't create this marvelous world and these amazing characters.

The next day, I wrapped the gifts I intended for Draco, Astoria and Blaise and brought them down to the kitchen where the house elves were. Since I knew the house elves put the students presents in their common rooms the night before Christmas, I asked a house elf to put these in the Slytherin common room for me when the other presents were delivered. I had to give special instructions about the gift for Blaise since he would be leaving tomorrow morning but the house elf assured me that he would get the gift to Blaise.

"Thank you so much," I said, waving to the elves as I left.

"It is our pleasure," squeaked one elf.

"Are you sure it's not too much? I could just give them the gifts myself."

The house elf waved me away. "We will do it."

I smiled happily and trouped back upstairs to get ready for the evening.

Adrian met me at exactly seven thirty in the Entrance Hall that night. He looked very handsome with his usually untamed hair actually styled while he was dressed in black dress robes with dark blue around the cuffs to signify his connection to Ravenclaw. Like Adrian, I had put a lot of effort into my appearance for the night.

Luckily for me, I had packed a couple of my dresses in my trunk and I dug out one of my favourite ones for the party. It was a simple simmering emerald green coloured dress that went marvellously with my red hair. It was tight to extenuate my slender curves and it fell to about my knees. It had a v-neck that exposed some cleavage while the fabric was ruched to add dimension to the dress.

I had paired the dress with emerald high heels and gold bangles and I did up my makeup as sexy as I could and I curled my hair with my wand until it hung in loose waves. I spritzed on my favourite perfume and then I trotted downstairs to meet Adrian.

"You look amazing," he said, his eyes popping a little.

"Thank you," I said, twirling for him. "My mom would kill me if she saw me in this dress."

"Has Ron seen you in it?"

I shook my head. "He's still not really talking to me. He does when he has to but he's still kind of cold towards me."

He proffered his arm. "Well, let's be on our way pretty lady."

I took Arian's offered arm and let him guide me up the stairs to Slughorn's office. The door was closed when we approached but I could hear music spilling out through the cracks in the door. Adrian grinned at me before pushing open the door and walking us in.

Whether it had been built that way, or because he had used magical trickery to make it so, Slughorn's office was much larger than the usual teacher's study. The ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson and gold hangings, so that it looked as though we were all inside a vast tent. The room was crowded and stuffy and bathed in the red light cast by an ornate golden lamp dangling from the center of the ceiling in which real fairies were fluttering, each a brilliant speck of light. Loud singing accompanied by what sounded like mandolins issued from a distant corner; a haze of pipe smoke hung over several elderly warlocks deep in conversation, and a number of house-elves were negotiating their way squeakily through the forest of knees, obscured by the heavy silver platters of food they were bearing, so that they looked like little roving tables.

"Miss Weasley!" boomed Slughorn, bearing upon Adrian and I. "Come in, come in."

Slughorn was wearing a tasseled velvet hat to match his smoking jacket. Patting his belly, he seemed to finally notice Adrian.

"Ho! And who might you be young man?"

Adrian smiled. "I'm Adrian Helling. I'm a friend of Ginny's."

"Well welcome to the party Mr Helling! You two feel free to roam and converse," said Slughorn, gesturing to the stuffy crowd.

He waddled off, leaving Adrian and I standing by the door.

"Do you want a drink?" asked Adrian.

"Sure."

We snatched drinks from a roving platter manned by a house elf and then we strolled along the room. The night seemed to move quickly as we talked with Hermione for a bit as she hid from Cormac McLaggen. We also saw Luna and Harry for a bit but Adrian and I mostly talked with each other since it was a nice time to catch up with each other.

"So how's it been going with your Slytherin friends," he teased.

"Great," I said, smiling teasingly back. "I bought Astoria, Blaise and Draco Christmas gifts."

Adrian's eyebrows shot up. "You bought Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini Christmas gifts?"

"Yeah, why not? They're my friends and I buy gifts for my friends."

"So what did you buy me?" he asked eagerly.

I elbowed him. "You'll see on Christmas morning."

Just then, I saw a disturbance at the door involving Filch who was dragging a tall blonde haired boy into the room. I realized it was Draco and without thinking, I pushed through the crowd to where Filch and Draco were now standing with Slughorn and Snape. As I stopped just by Slughorn, I noticed Harry also hanging back listening to the conversation.

"Professor Slughorn," wheezed Filch, his jowls aquiver and the maniacal light of mischief detection in his bulging eyes. "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

I watched as Draco pulled himself free from Filch's grip, looking furious.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

"No, I'm not!" said Filch, a statement at the complete odds with the glee on his face. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the Headmaster say that night-time prowling is out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn, waving his hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay, Draco."

Filch's expression of outraged disappointment was perfectly predictable; but why did Draco look almost equally unhappy to me? I also noticed that Snape was looking at Draco as though he was both angry and a little afraid.

Before I could really register what I had seen, Filch had turned and shuffled away, muttering under his breath; Draco had composed his face into a smile and was thanking Slughorn for his generosity, and Snape's face was smoothly inscrutable again.

"It's nothing, nothing," said Slughorn, waving away Draco's thanks. "I did know your grandfather, after all…"

"He always spoke very highly of you, sir," said Draco. "Said you were the best potion maker he'd ever known…"

Once Draco was done sucking up to Slughorn, he turned and caught my eye. I moved forward before anyone else could intercept him and pulled him to the side.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I just couldn't stay away from you," he said. In the flickering candlelight, the dark circles under his eyes were more evident than ever.

"Did you really come to gatecrash?"

"If I want to come to a party, I will," he said indignantly.

I raised my eyebrows. "Don't get snippy with me!"

Draco ran his hands over his face. "Sorry Weasley."

I was taken aback. "You apologized. Why? You never apologize."

Draco grinned tiredly. "Sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter." I twirled in front of him. "What do you think? Do you like the dress?"

Before Draco could answer, Snape— accompanied by Slughorn—approached us. I could see Harry hanging around in the back again and my anger started to rise at his nosiness.

"I'd like a word with you, Draco," said Snape.

"Now, Severus," said Slughorn, hiccupping. "It's Christmas, don't be too hard—"

"I'm his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or otherwise, to be," said Snape curtly. "Follow me, Draco."

Draco shot me a look before following Snape out the door. Once they were gone, Slughorn waddled off and I was left alone by the wall. I watched as a torn look came over Harry's face and then he turned to Luna who was behind him, having a conversation with Professor Trelawney.

"I'll be back in a bit, Luna—er—bathroom."

"All right," she said cheerfully.

Harry slipped out the door as I shook my head. He purposely put himself into sticky situations and no way was I going to help him if he needed it.

I went back through the crowd until I found Adrian almost where I left him. He was talking with Cormac McLaggen but Cormac walked away before I reached Adrian.

"What did McLaggen want?" I asked.

"Oh, hey Ginny. He was just asking where Hermione went."

"Hermione managed to evade him again?"

"Yeah. So what was going on over there with Filch and Malfoy?"

I shrugged. "Draco was caught gatecrashing and Slughorn let him stay. But for some reason, Snape seemed really angry and pulled Draco away from the party. I think Harry is spying on Draco because he left right after Snape and Draco did."

"Why would Harry be spying on Malfoy?"

"I don't know," I said, getting a little worried about why Harry would feel the need to spy on Draco. "But if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find out."

I slipped out of the party after thanking Adrian for accompanying me and strolled down the corridor. I had no idea where Snape and Draco had gone so I walked down the corridor, listening for a moment at each door for voices.

Suddenly, the last door at the end of the corridor burst open and Draco came striding out. He looked up and saw me standing in the middle of the seemingly empty corridor. I had a feeling that Harry was crouched somewhere in this corridor under his Invisibility Cloak.

I stood still as he walked towards me. When he got close enough, he gestured for me to walk with him. I fell into step beside him and we walked past the door of Slughorn's office, around the distant corner, up a staircase and into an empty classroom.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

I put my hands on my hips but I felt too much like my mum so I crossed them over my chest instead. "Liar. What's going on with you?"

Draco also crossed his arms as he faced me. "Remember our little deal?"

I scowled. "Meaning?"

"That you can't expect me to tell you everything that is happening in my life."

"I just want to know if you're okay!"

"I'm fine Weasley."

"Whatever," I said, turning on my heels. Draco suddenly grabbed my wrist and spun me back around.

"I never got to tell you what I think of that dress."

I let my anger go for a moment as I spun on the spot again for him. "So?"

"You look stunningly beautiful Weasley."

I blushed and stared down at my knotted fingers. "Thank you."

Draco raised my face gently with his fingers under my chin until we locked eyes. He brushed back my hair and I shivered as his lips whispered against my skin as he breathed into my ear, "As for that dress…I want to rip it right off of you. I think you'd look better out of it."

I jerked back; my eyes wide and my cheeks flushed. He grinned roguishly down at me before pressing a kiss to my cheek and then striding out of the room without looking back.

The next morning, I used the Floo Network to get to The Burrow with Ron and Harry. Mum immediately gathered each of us into a hug and then insisted that we all looked peaky and made us each a stack of pancakes.

After breakfast, I dragged my trunk into my room and took a quick shower. I changed into jeans and a thin sweater before bounding down into the kitchen. Mum and I passed the day mostly by catching each other up about what was happening both inside and outside Hogwarts.

"So are Bill and Fleur coming?" I asked.

Mum made a clucking noise at the mention of Fleur. "Yes, they'll be here tomorrow, along with Fred and George. I've also convinced Remus to join us and he should be arriving either tomorrow or the day after."

"That's nice for Remus. I guess he doesn't have anywhere to spend Christmas?"

"Not since Sirius," said mum, her voice hushing at the mention of Sirius. "He used to spend it alone until we found out about Sirius but now that Sirius is gone, he's all alone again."

Fred and George arrived in the morning and I was looking forward to when they decided to torment Ron since I was still angry at him. I got my wish later that afternoon. Harry and Ron had been delegated to peeling parsnips for mum in the kitchen while I had had enough sense to hide outside until she was done dolling out chores.

I sat at the table, enjoying the freedom from chores while I wrote letters to Florence and Evanna while Harry and Ron had a hushed conversation at the sink as they peeled the parsnips.

"Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock—," said Harry loudly.

"I beg your pardon?" said Fred's voice as the twins entered the kitchen. "Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them."

"I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time," said Ron grumpily. "And then I'll be able to do it by magic!"

"But meanwhile," said George, sitting down beside me at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it. "We can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a— whoops-a-daisy!"

"You made me do that!" said Ron angrily, sucking his now cut thumb. "You wait, when I'm seventeen—"

"I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills," yawned Fred.

"And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald," said George. "What is this we hear from Ginny about you and a young lady called— unless out information is faulty— Lavender Brown?"

"Hey!" I said, straightening up. "Don't pull me into this."

Ron turned pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts. "Mind your own business."

"What a snappy retort," said Fred. "I really don't know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was…how did it happen?"

"What d'you mean?"

"Did she have an accident or something?"

"What?"

"Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!"

Mum entered the kitchen just in time to see Ron throw the sprout knife at Fred, who had turned it into a paper airplane with one lazy flick of his wand.

"Ronald!" she said furiously. "Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!"

"I won't," mumbled Ron.

"Fred, George, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two."

"No problem," said George.

"Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic and if Fleur shares with you, Ginny—"

"What!" I yelled, slamming my hand on the table.

"That'll make your Christmas, won't it?" said Fred, knocking is shoulder against mine.

"—everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway," said mum, sounding slightly harassed.

"Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?" asked Fred.

Mum turned away before answering. "No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry."

"Or he's the world's biggest prat," said Fred, as mum left the kitchen. "One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George."

"What are you two up to?" asked Ron. "Can't you help us with these sprouts? You could just use your wand and then we'll be free too!"

"No, I don't think we can do that," said Fred seriously. "It's very character building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for Muggles and Squibs—"

"—and if you want people to help you, Ron," added George, throwing the paper airplane at him. "I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvelous—almost like real magic…"

On the night of Christmas Eve, our family and our guests gathered in the living room with snacks and mugs of hot chocolate. I had spent most of the previous day decorating the living room and I was pleased with the result as I sat back in an armchair.

We were all supposed to be listening to a Christmas broadcast by mum's favorite singer, Celestina Warbeck, whose voice was warbling out of the large wooden wireless set. Fleur, who seemed to find Celestina very dull, was talking loudly in the corner so that a scowling mum kept pointing her wand at the volume control, so that Celestina grew louder and louder.

Under the cover of a particularly jazzy number called "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love," Fred and George invited me to start a game of Exploding Snap. I noticed that Ron kept shooting Bill and Fleur covert looks, as though hoping to pick up tips. Meanwhile, Lupin, who was thinner and more ragged-looking than ever, was sitting beside the fire, staring into its depths as though he could not hear Celestina's voice.

"We danced to this when we were eighteen!" said mum, wiping her eyes on her knitting. "Do you remember, Arthur?"

"Mphf?" said dad, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling. "Oh yes ... marvelous tune..."

After Fred, George and I finished a couple games of Exploding Snap; Fleur chose to start imitating Celestina singing "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love," which was taken by everyone, once we had glimpsed mum's expression, to be the cue to go to bed.

Christmas morning, I woke up to a pile of gifts at the end of my bed. Peering around my room, I was glad to see Fleur's bed was empty. I figured she was probably with Bill and I laughed to myself at how much fun Fred and George were probably having with Fleur in their room.

I sat cross-legged on my floor and proceeded to rip open my gifts. From Florence I got a new pair of grey wool gloves; from Evanna I got a super large package of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans; from Adrian I got a self-correcting quill; from Luna I got a rainbow scarf; from Nicholas I got a package of assorted candy; from Hermione I got a day planner much like the ones she had given Ron and Harry before; from Ron I had a new pair of Chaser gloves; from Fred and George I got a package of merchandise from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes; from Bill I got a charm bracelet with a broomstick and the Quidditch balls for charms; from mum and dad I got a new scarlet Weasley jumper with a golden 'G' embroidered on the front; Charlie had sent me a book about Quidditch and Tonks had given me a miniature broomstick that zoomed around the room.

I thought that was it for my gifts when I spotted three other gifts I had overlooked. I grabbed the package wrapped in emerald green and read that it was from Blaise. I ripped it open to find a brown leather bound journal. My mind instantly jumped to when I was eleven when I had been possessed by Lord Voldemort. I was about to throw the journal across the room when I noticed a note peeking out. I quickly unfolded it and almost laughed to myself.

Weasley,

I swear this book doesn't write back so don't chuck it across the room or into a lake. It was hard to find a normal book in Diagon Ally so enjoy.

Blaise

I put the book with the rest of my gifts and reached for the one that said it was from Astoria. Astoria had given me golden earrings with diamonds that I figured were real and a green and silver Slytherin scarf.

I put those aside and grabbed the last gift. It was small and it had a small scroll of parchment stuck to it. I unrolled the scroll and read the neatly curling handwriting.

Weasley,

This was expensive, but worth it. It is unbreakable. Nothing— not spells or throwing it against the wall— will break it. I hope you like it since I put so much effort into this so you better appreciate it. I don't normally put this much effort into gifts for others. You better feel special.

Draco

I rolled my eyes and tore open the bright gold wrapping. Underneath was a plain black box that I slowly pried open. In the box, cushioned in red velvet, was a delicate looking—but very detailed—glass figure of a dragon. I gingerly pulled it out of the box and inspected it.

It only took me a moment to make the connection between this figure of a dragon and Draco, whose name was Latin for dragon. I smiled ruefully as I tucked the glass dragon back into the velvet box and placed it with my other gifts.

Draco somehow seemed to have picked the most perfect gift anyone could have ever given me.

Review! Reading reviews from you guys always makes my day :)

Anyways, this was a fast update since I write like a maniac when I'm really in the mood. Sorry, if you think the story is going a little slowly but I promise it is going to pick up soon. Thanks for sticking with me :)