Day 5:

"Dumbledore!" The sound of Hagrid's deep bellowing voice from the grounds came early in the morning. "McGonnagal. Someone?!" Draco yawned, not sure what Hagrid was yapping about now. When everyone was trying to sleep, he was making sure they all woke up.

Draco walked over to the window and looked out to see Hagrid surrounded by fire, but more amazing than that, although that was pretty amazing in and of itself, was that the fire was forming words that were meant for Malfoy himself. He just smiled as he read. "Seven more days until Christmas Malfoy." Draco's face lit up. He couldn't believe the perfectness of the situation.

It was obvious that the person had planned this out just right for him. Hagrid was always up early in the morning, feeding his mutt and getting things ready for the day. On his way to the castle, nearly the same time every morning, he walked the same path. Usually it was while everyone was asleep though. Someone had awoken just to give Draco the gift of watching the giant scared by an obvious trick. The fire was burning in a perfect fashion away from the Giant, who obviously was too scared to notice.

Draco shook his head and rolled his eyes. He actually found himself laughing. Goyle walked over and looked over Draco's shoulder and started laughing as well. "Well Malfoy, finally someone at your level. Perfect. I have to meet the person who got you to brighten up so much lately. Your person obviously knows you pretty well."

"It seems so. I guess I won't know how well til the 12th day. I mean, they said they'd reveal themselves, but who knows if I'll even like the result. It could be someone as horrid as Pansy… or worse, Granger."

Suddenly there was shouting and spells at the fire, which fizzled to a small flame that flittered off towards the school. Draco frowned. In a moment the fire was gone and the Christmas gift that made him smile was gone. Hagrid just looked towards the school and shrugged. Obviously he'd been asked something by McGonnagal as she made her way over.

Screams from down in the Commons caused Draco to turn. Suddenly from under the door a flame and Draco raised an eye in suspicion as a little flame dragon flew at him and around him, landing at his feet and burned to ashes. A tiny glitter of silver from the ashes caught his eye. He reached down and swept the ash and caught himself. A dragon ring with emerald eyes lay in the ash. "Ironic." Draco caught himself smiling an even bigger smile than before.

Goyle looked at the ring in awe. "Ooh, someone with taste and money too. Perfect for you Malfoy. That should help narrow down your choices. Pureblood most likely, so I think we can admit Granger is out."

Draco grinned and nodded. "That's true." He already had his mind turning. So many Slytherin choiced. A few from other houses. But who knew him well enough to know he'd like something like this? He bit his lip and shook his head. "I have no clue." He placed the ring on his finger. "But hopefully they'll give me some hint as I wear this today."

"Smart idea Malfoy." Goyle looked at the ring on his friends hand. "Although it makes you look taken."

Draco shrugged. "Maybe I am. Depends on how the rest of this 12 days goes, does it not? Otherwise, it's just a nice trinket from an admirer."

Goyle nodded. "That is true. I am going to go get ready for class."

Draco nodded. "I think I will too."

Harry found himself yawning as he made his way to class. He couldn't sleep well the night before in expectation for the gift he'd prepared for the morning. He just hoped Draco liked it. Today he'd make sure to not even try paying attention to Malfoy as they had classes together. He didn't want to look at his hand and see if Draco was wearing the ring or worse, wasn't wearing it. What if Malfoy disliked it? As much as Harry was sure Draco was pompous enough to want to wear a ring that was his namesake. However, if not, Harry didn't want to know that he'd messed up. It would ruin his confidence for future days gifts.

Hermione looked at him. "Hey, you okay? I heard you didn't sleep well."

"I am fine." Harry smiled lightly. "Just a little tired. I'll be fine. Just gotta stay awake through McGonnagal's lesson. Then I can nap before Potions."

"Just make sure to sleep some before Potions. God knows how Snape would react to you yawning during his class. He'd probably think he was boring you and then we'd lose points."

Harry frowned. "Wouldn't want to lose us points."

Hermione grinned. "After class."

After class took a lot more out of Harry than he thought. He found himself struggling to keep himself awake and couldn't wait til class was over. Hermione noticed his struggling and was feeling bad for her friend. "Whatever kept you up, make sure you take care of it. You need sleep Harry."

"I know Mione. It won't happen again. I think I might miss Snape's lesson though today. He's going to take points." Hermione shook her head and crossed her arms.

"Really Harry? You're going to let Snape take points because you were irresponsible enough to..."

"To what Hermione? To try to give my person an amazing 12 days gift?! Something that lets me be myself but can't get me into trouble? And who knows if they even like it?! I shouldn't have stayed up all night. I get it. I just wanted to make this 12 days worth something." Harry could feel himself shaking some.

Hermione frowned. "How important is this to you? Do you like the person?"

Harry frowned and shrugged. "I don't know. I think so."

"You think so?" Hermione asked and held a hand out, putting it on his shoulder. "I want you to be happy Harry. That's what this is all about."

"I thought it was about interhouse unity."

"That's just Dumbledore's way of saying love." Hermione said with a laugh. They were nearing their Commons now and Hermione hugged him. "Go get some sleep. I'll wake you for care of Magical Creatures later."

Harry nodded and smiled at her. "Thank you Hermione."

She grinned. "You know I love you Harry. I want to see the smile I've seen lately. You've been really excited about this gifting and I don't want to take that away from you."

"I know Mione. Thank you." He said with a smile. He hugged her tight. He turned towards his Dorms and made his way to his bed. He found himself stunned by 5 small gifts wrapped on his bed. A note lay on top. "This event causes a real fuss among the muggleborns, but the only sensible thing they say within that damnable song is "Five golden rings." Enjoy yours and hopefully I will see you wear them from now on." Harry looked at the small boxes. Five boxes for five rings. He grinned. Someone had thought about the 12 days in a similar fashion. He'd gotten Draco a ring and now he had some too. He sat down and took the first gift in his hands and ripped open the paper.

Inside the first box was the jewelry box that held a ring that caused Harry to be breathless. A simple gold band with an Emerald lay in a satin-laiden box. The next box he opened held a golden an ancient looking border surrounding a gorgeous oversized, but perfect obsidian stone. The third golden ring was gold on the outside, perfectly round and had a ruby center surrounding the entire ring. The fourth ring had a golden band that overlapped another, with the sapphire surrounded by a lot of smaller sapphires. As Harry felt along the last box, he was smiling. He loved the rings. The last one, as he opened it, had the gold forming a unity band on the top with a diamond center.

In awe, Harry laid them out on his dresser, trying to decide which one he should wear when he went to sleep. All of them were decent anytime rings. Someone knew he'd need something that could be worn at anytime and had done well. He decided on the Emerald one since that was the only one that would decently match Draco's if he chose to wore his. And if he didn't, he'd at least have a really nice ring that matched his eyes. He'd wear all of them over the following days though. He laid down and closed his eyes, dreams flowing to the blonde haired boy who often came to his dreams.

Unfortunately for him, those dreams were interrupted later that day by a redhead. "Harry, time to go to class." Harry scrunched his eyes together and groaned, rolling on his side. "Fine, fine."

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Ron looked at the side table beside Harry's bed. "Nice rings. Your gift for day 5?" He asked. Harry nodded and looked at the one he'd put on and smiled. "Someone who has good taste obviously."

Harry laughed and nodded. "I agree. Let's head to class. Whoever got me the ring will want to see it around. Let's see if it's some Hufflepuff."

"Oh gods." Ron laughed. "Please no. Please not a Hufflepuff!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "As much as I hate to, I agree with you."

The two smiled and made their way to class. Today was almost over, but he was excited to do his next days gift. He just needed to make it perfect.

Draco was disappointed that Harry had missed Potions class earlier in the evening. He'd been really hoping to see if Harry had liked the rings as much as he'd liked putting the set together. Especially the Obsidian one, which had been passed down from his grandfather. His father could never know that he'd given up an heirloom like that. But if anything, Draco felt like Harry was more family to him than his father, or his grandfather was. He'd never really felt the need to eliminate potential partners by blood status. In his mind, Harry would make the perfect spouse eventually, if they survived the war.

Draco felt a shiver run through his spine. He didn't want to think about the what-if's. He wanted to think about the next 7 days of the 12 days of Christmas and about the smile he'd seen on Harry's face not even a few days earlier. Harry was enjoying the gifts. He just hoped Harry would continue to. He had a lot of ideas and only so many days, so he hoped that he would eventually have reason to gift Harry again, even if it had to be in secret. Draco sighed. "What's wrong Drakey?" Pansy asked, looking her friend over.

"I am just thinking about things." Draco said, being as vague as possible. "Let's get to class."

"Thank God it's not with the Gryffindor's." Pansy said with a slight hint of disgust in her tone. "Although the know-it-all Ravenclaws aren't too much better."

Draco rolled his eyes. "You'd only be happy if it was just Slytherins Pans."

"Damned right." She said and the two laughed, heading into the classroom.