A/N: Thanks for the reviews!! I may not update for the next couple of weeks, I have exams coming up and I am so not prepared. Anywho here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter no one would have died in any of the books!

Chapter 24 – Eventful Holiday

Hermione sat up and stretched, looking over at Ginny's alarm clock she realised it was 5:30pm and she had to be down for Christmas dinner at six. She jumped out of bed and hurried into the washroom.

After washing her face and brushing her teeth she tamed her hair and grabbed an outfit out of her trunk. She pulled on a pair of blue jeans with a gold and red striped sweater. A spray of perfume and a bit of lip-gloss, then she hurried downstairs.

When she got down she was pulled into a tight hug from Ginny followed by Harry and Ron.

"Hermione the boys didn't tell me you were coming," said Ginny as they made their way into the kitchen.

"I decided to surprise you," she explained, then added in a whisper so only Ginny could hear, "I'll tell you more later." Ginny nodded quickly and seated herself across from Hermione.

"So how was your holiday so far?" Hermione asked as she helped herself to mashed potatoes.

"Alright, we played some quidditch and yeah that's basically it," replied Harry.

"What 'bout you Herm'onie?" asked Ron through a mouth full of turkey.

"Oh mine was alright, I got a lot of studying done."

The rest of the meal went by without incident. After many helpings of bread pudding Harry, Hermione and the rest of the Weasley's bid goodnight to Sirius, Bill, Fleur, Remus and Tonks and headed up to bed.

"So Hermione what was it you wanted to tell me last night, I forgot to ask you," asked Ginny who was sitting on her bed as Hermione sorted out her textbooks.

"Well, I wasn't really planning to come here, but I got trapped in a cottage with Draco and then…"

"Whoa, slow down. You got trapped in a cottage with Draco Malfoy!"

"Well yes."

"Did you kiss? Oh you're blushing! You did kiss."

"Don't get so excited, nothing is going to come out of it"

"Don't let my idiot brother get in the way!"

"No, it's not him. Well I found out some interesting thing about him when we were there," said Hermione as she continued to recount her time at the cottage.

"That's good though, keep out of this bet. You don't want the Dolohov family after you."

"Hey, you two want to play a quick game of quidditch? Fred and George are playing too so we can play three on three," asked Ron as he and Harry entered the room.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun we'll meet you out there in a minute.

"Mum, I'm home," called Draco as he got out of the fireplace. He summoned a house elf to tend to his trunk before searching for his mother. At last he found her in her parlour chatting with a lady he didn't know.

"Oh Draco what a lovely surprise, I thought you were staying with Blaise until New Years," said Narcissa as she embraced her son. "Elizabeth this is my son Draco."

"It's a pleasure," she said. He nodded his head and excused himself quickly. After hurrying to his room, he lay back on his bed and sighed. Must she have a guest over now! I really need to discuss this bet with her before I see father.

After deciding he needed a distraction to pass his time he found his Nimbus 2001 and went out flying. He returned to the house more than an hour later to find it was once again deserted. This time he found his mother in her study.

"Hello mum"

"Draco darling, I was looking for you. I wanted to talk to you right after Elizabeth left, but you had already gone."

"I wanted to talk to you also, what do you know about this bet?"

"I'm so sorry, but there isn't away out of it. Your father refuses to try and get Antoine to accept something else in your place, but I doubt he would anyway," she said sadly. Draco banged his fist onto her desk upsetting a bottle of ink.

"Will father be home for Christmas?"

"No, it's just the two of us, but he will be home on New Years Eve. We are going to spend it with the Dolohov family," she answered stiffly, obviously not liking her husband's plans.

"Great, that's just great," he said sarcastically.

"I know you don't want to go out with them, but you must try and keep your temper. I don't want to be there either, but you know what they can do to us if we cause trouble. I can invite Severus, if you would like," She offered trying to make it better.

"Yeah, can you invite him that'd be great?"

Please R&R!!