Author's Note: Okay so I am currently 5 days behind! I need to make that time up like yesterday so I am going to try and bash these out quickly whilst still making them interesting! woo! Okay for this first one I am going to combine it to make it nice with the other challenges but it will probably just be Christmas themed ones for today. So, Christmas Challenge, School of Prompts, Transfiguration Assignment.

Prompts: (title) Home Alone/(dialogue) "Haven't you heard of peace on earth and goodwill to all men?" "No."

Word Count: 525

Assignment: Write about something changing and becoming completely different.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognise and I don't know if that is really the name of his owl, Wiki told me.

Home Alone

Hermione took in a deep breath and let it out allowing a big smile to crawl across her face as she basked in the peace and the silence. It was the last Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas and everyone had left the castle for the little shopping town determined to get all of their presents sorted. Hermione had already bought everything she needed by November and they were all currently neatly wrapped under her bed.

Her first order of the day was a trip up to the owlry and Hermione was currently trekking there. The castle was quite gloomy, thick clouds covered the sun and any light that might have broken through was quickly swallowed by the thick snowfall. Hermione shivered glad for the thick hat and scarf she had donned with her robes, knowing it was going to be very cold once she started to climb.

It didn't take long before she was out in the open at the top of the tower and snowflakes fell gently around her, at least it wasn't a windy day too. Roll of parchment clutched tightly in her hand Hermione headed for the open door but paused when she heard a voice.

"They don't see it Bubo, they don't know," the voice sighed with a mixture of tender affection and heart breaking sadness. Hermione peeked around the door trying to get a look at this lonely individual.

When Hermione saw Draco Malfoy sat on the steps next to a majestic eagle owl she kept looking, sure that such soft words couldn't have come from his normally vile mouth. There was no one else in the owlry. Looking back at the lone Slytherin Hermione watched as he stroked the owl with his knuckle earning an affectionate squawk.

"My father thinks I'm a waste of space, my friends only fear my empty threats and everyone else thinks I'm evil. But you know, don't you Bubo, you know I'm just lost."

He sighed and Hermione felt her heart break, she had never seen him look so small and so broken. It was a completely new Draco, one she wouldn't mind seeing more of, but it was obvious this was a side of himself he wasn't comfortable sharing.

Deciding that even Malfoy deserved his private moments Hermione turned to leave but the treacherous ice coating the ground caused her to slip, landing on her bottom with a squeak and a thud.

"Who's there!" Draco demanded shooting to his feet embarrassed and annoyed that someone could have heard him. He strode to the door and looked down at the sprawled form of Hermione Granger. "Granger!" he hissed, "how long were you stood there?"

"I just got here Malfoy, if you hadn't noticed the stairs are rather slippy."

She struggled to get up as he glared at her trying to assess whether she was lying or not. "Merlin Malfoy either move or help me up. It's Christmas! Haven't you heard of peace on earth and goodwill to all men?"

With a huff Draco reached down and pulled her up before piercing her with a glare and shouldering his way down the stairs. "No."

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Much love, MaryandMerlin x