After many painful weeks of extra homework, Christmas was finally just around the corner. With only one week left, everything began to grow grim.

"What's wrong, Angie?" Draco asked me as I failed to laugh at one of his jokes.

"Christmas," I said cryptically.

"What could possibly be wrong with Christmas?" he asked.

"The whole family thing, you know, mine being of Slytherin descent and all that?"

"Well, you can spend it with me... you know, if you want."

"Really?" I asked, my mind already zooming through the letters I would have to write to my parents, asking if it would be Ok to spend Christmas away this year, already changing the clothes I intended to pack.

"Of course, if you don't mind Christmas a la Malfoy," he said. "I don't know how much you'd like my parents..." I shook my head.

"Nonsense, they raised you, didn't they? I'll try to be civil for the sake of that. But, are sure it wouldn't put you out?" Please say no, please say no.

"No, of course not! I need the moral support." I smiled.

"Thanks."

Finally I could breathe again. I wrote to my parents, asking them for permission to stay with Draco for Christmas. The reply was less than what I wanted. I was allowed to stay with him, but only on the condition that they met him first. The first night of the Christmas holidays, my mother would be making us dinner. That was kind of the opposite of what I wanted, to see my parents even sooner.

We arrived outside my apartment in London on a freezing Friday evening, having just come from the train station. My mother rushed us in, giving both me and Draco a hug. My father lingered behind her, hugging me and eyeing Draco, accepting his respectful handshake.

"Good to meet you, boy," he said.

We walked in and went directly to the dinner table, sitting down with growling stomachs. Chocolate frogs were not a good substitute for lunch, I found.

My mother walked out proudly and sat, she then pulled out her wand and, with a flourish, dinner appeared at the table. I suppressed a gasp. It was still hard to believe that my family were wizards.

I tucked in immediately, spooning myself practically everything on the table while my mother politely offered to serve Draco. He acted very respectfully, accepting a taste of everything and thanking her profusely. I was impressed by him charms. This was not the same boy who called me squib girl and teased my every day.

"So, Draco, how has our Angie been doing in school?" asked my mother. She sounded just as proud as she did in her lessons.

"She's getting on brilliantly, Mrs Wint, got me out of a few fixes I can tell you," he winked at her and she giggled. I was impressed.

"Does that mean you aren't studious then, boy? Do you rely on my daughter for your work?" asked my father disapprovingly. I had never seen this side of him before. Then again, I had never brought a boy home before.

"Da-ad!" I whined.

"No, Angie, it's fine. The man's quick, I admire that. However, sir, no. I'm doing a lot of work towards my OWLs at the end of the year. Angie is just very capable in helping me, you have raised a clever girl."

"Smooth," I muttered. My father just glowered into his plate.

"Well, well, Howard," my mother said, "Let's not grill the boy, shall we? More mashed potatoes Draco?"

"No, thank you Mrs Wint, but I am quite full and tired. Would it be Ok if we retired for the night?"

My parents looked uncomfortably from one to the other.

"But... where would you stay?"

"At Malfoy Manor," I interjected, seeing that they weren't happy with the idea of me and Draco sharing my bedroom.

"We'll have separate rooms on opposite sides of the house, I promise," said Draco, clasping my mother's hand. "I'll take care of your daughter, sir," he said to my father, and then we stood and bid them goodbye.

"Well done," I said as the elevator doors shut.

"Thank you," Draco smiled cheekily.

"Thank you, for not making me stay there tonight."

"It wasn't all that painful," he said reproachingly.

"You clearly didn't see my dad glaring at you."

"It was fun watching him squirm,"

"Hey!" I said, pushing him out of the elevator doors as he chuckled, stumbling forward into the night. We retrieved out brooms and- with a quick anti-muggle defense spell- we were off.