Once again I really have to apologise for leaving this for so long. I have been really busy with Uni work and obviously Christmas, but I promise I haven't given up on this so no matter how slow updates become there will always be more. Thanks so much for all the reviews, they are really awesome. Hope you enjoy this chapter, not really sure about it, not much happens, but I promise the next chapter won't be as boring. Thanks so much to everyone who has stuck with this and carries on reading, means so much to me. :)

Narcissa allowed herself a moment of pride having yet again outdone her last Christmas party. Every year she began her plans with the certainty that nothing could surpass what she had already done, but every year she proved herself wrong. She was even more surprised to find that 'outdoing' herself meant holding back a little, opting for the understated Christmas décor that spoke of a small family Christmas spent in front of the fire. The fact that anything so traditional and simplistic could alight such delight on the faces of her guests was something she had not expected, especially not guests of their calibre.

Everyone knew the Malfoy's did Christmas, it was an indisputable fact among the upper echelon of their society. Christmas held no special meaning for Narcissa specifically, being much like any other time of year in her household, but when all the other witches had begun commandeering holidays for their lavish and incredibly exclusive parties, she had gone straight for the holiday jugular and claimed the seasonal celebration that they'd all been tip-toeing around. Of course, there had been complaints, Christmas being a time of year for family and visitations from distant cousins who could not, under any circumstance, be left to their own devices on such a 'special day'. Narcissa's replies to all of these had been 'the more the merrier' a sickly-sweet smile curving her lips to keep herself from hexing their fake concern right off their snotty faces. She'd got her own back though, practically wriggling with glee when said distant cousins gushed over what they described as the best Christmas they'd ever experienced, wondering if they could possibly come again.

Years on and she was looking over a sea of people all gathered because the news of her parties had spread and become the 'must attend' of the season. There were people who were vying for invitations as soon as the new year came around, desperate to be considered as one of the elites, suitable enough to attend such a grand event.

"Narcissa my dear, absolutely riveting. Every year you leave me spellbound." Talia Zabini stated, opening her arms wide as she gracefully swept forward and kissed both Narcissa's cheeks, her sweet perfume floating delicately in the air around them. It was her own recipe, a secret concoction that the beautiful woman would never reveal. Narcissa would have been inclined to believe that something in the scent was designed to enthral all that smelt it if it weren't for the fact that Talia was devastatingly gorgeous: dark flawless skin, sharp green eyes and lips plump and pouty. Her every move was of such grace and poise that it seemed as though she were dancing, twirling through crowds as though every space were a ballroom and every sound music. Everyone loved her, and those that didn't were soon brought round by mere seconds of conversation.

"Such wonderful touches and so subtle this year." Talia gushed, receiving approving looks from huddles of guests, before they went back to their conversations, no doubt turning to the topic of how beautifully turned out Mrs Zabini always managed to be, even after the tragic losses she had faced in her life.

Narcissa, though she would never admit lest she be subject to the scorn of her peers, was one of the few people that knew Talia was very little of what she purported to be, hiding secrets and shame as though they were nothing more than pesky flecks of dust coating the delicate perfection that was her life. The only reason she was privy to such scandalous knowledge, however, was because Talia did not pretend around her, the persona of the perfect woman that she had cultivated slipping off her as easily as if it were made of water.

Talia slipped her arm through Narcissa's, an act that Narcissa knew was purely for show. She was proved correct when they made it to the gardens and a quick peruse of the surroundings showed that they were both alone. Talia stepped away from Narcissa as though she were made of fire, turning her gaze to the garden with a distasteful sneer.

"I wonder if you've heard the latest?" She asked, her voice losing its usual charm and betraying the boredom the woman felt at anything that didn't remotely revolve around her.

"Enlighten me."

"Mary Runeth talking of hosting a Christmas Party of her own."

"Oh really?"

"Hmm, how a hog like her could conceive of such an idea is beyond me."

"I thought you didn't care for these pitiful social gatherings," Narcissa answered frostily. Talia grinned widely, raking her gaze over Narcissa as if she were a curious specimen that she had stumbled across.

"Oh, I don't but they are just the grandest places to meet new people. Rich people. I cannot imagine that any such individuals would attend anything that Mary Runeth put on."

It was true that Mary Runeth came from a much lesser family, full of half-breeds and witches and wizards that had attempted to make their fortune through desperate means such as trading with muggles. Mary had somehow managed to marry well though, securing herself a fortune and a place at the best parties. Her husband's father would have turned over in his grave and cursed Mary if he had known how far his son had sunk. Frederick and Mary Runeth were now invited to the best of the social gatherings out of respect and honour for the Runeth name, that they all agreed had been dirtied by the individuals they chose to associate with.

"Not unless they have an unhealth obsession with muggles and the Willet Pipe."

"Willet Pipe, now there's something I haven't heard in many years, Mary, Mary, Mary, you are full of surprises." Something about the way Talia spoke sent a chill through Narcissa, the woman's eyes glinting with unchecked malice.

"Not Mary, Frederick."

"Now that is a surprise. No doubt puffing over poor life choices."

The Willet Pipe had been popular among diviners who wished to unlock hidden parts of their magic by puffing away at a herb called Mephusa. For years practitioners had sworn by its power to improve visions and make spells more potent, however, research into such claims found them to be entirely fabricated. Though it did indeed react with magic, it in no way improved or enhanced anything, in fact, it was argued that it did the opposite, making spellcasting far more erratic and unpredictable. There were some however that argued for Mephusa's case, stating that no amount of research could ever truly comprehend the wonders of the herb. Frederick Runeth was among such witches and wizards, dabbling quite heavily in the herb, starting off most gatherings as a rather twitchy and jumpy large man and finishing them up as a stark raving dribbling idiot.

"He still argues its purposes for divination." Narcissa shrugged, though she'd had several conversations mulling over Fredericks addiction to the willet pipe, she did not feel comfortable confiding as such with Talia, the woman seeming to be calculating as she absorbed the new information.

"I wonder if he foresaw what he was to become when he married that…" she gestured dismissively inside.

Narcissa knew that Talia had been circling Frederick as a potential replacement husband when Mary had come along, rosy cheeked and comely. Issues with her late husbands Will had sent her out of the country for many weeks, tracking down long-lost relatives that suspiciously never made the trip back to England, by the time she'd returned Mary and Frederick had married and were expecting their first child.

"I shouldn't have thought so, with how far back that little habit started I'd imagine he'd have done something about it had he known." Talia nodded once, picking a petal from a blooming rose in front of her and letting it drop to the floor. Narcissa smiled broadly, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from telling the woman exactly what she thought of her.

"Interesting…I have been hearing other things."

"Oh yes?" Narcissa cleared her throat, watching another petal follow its companion to the floor. It wasn't much of a problem, she could quickly cast a spell and the bloom would be back to its former glory, it was simply the blatant disregard Talia had for something that she had taken time over, pride in. From the way she smirked at her actions, Narcissa knew that Talia was aware of the effect her actions were having and she was loving it.

"Just mutterings really but they have made me wonder…"

"What about?"

"About the Dark Lord." There was a darkness in Talia's voice when she said his name. She had never been very good at following anyone's orders and when The Dark Lord had risen up, she had ignored him just as she ignored everyone who she felt was beneath her. She had not held back in her judgements, calling them all hypocrites for following someone that was so filthy himself. Her main argument was that he had come to the wizarding world late, any magic that he performed would be a watered-down bastardised version of what it should be. Narcissa had argued with her over and over about such things to no avail and when the smoke had settled on The Dark Lords brief and ultimately fruitless reign, Talia had been there, a small secret smile always in the corner of her mouth whispering 'I told you so' over and over.

"Gosh, that subject has been done to death don't you think. All the whisperings in the world can't change what happened."

"Hmm, yes you're right, but this is new."

Narcissa felt the cold creeping around her heart again, the warmth of her decorations and the mutter of her family and friends could do nothing to stop it. They all felt far away from her, a distance that kept growing and stretching and like everything else in her life, she felt powerless to stop it. Narcissa swallowed.

"I'm not sure how anyone could have anything new to say on the matter, it was put to bed years ago."

"Oh Cissy, don't lie to me, you are so exceedingly bad at it." Narcissa narrowed her eyes at the woman as she picked another petal and let it fall. The small pile growing at her feet adding to the insult of using her silly nickname. It was demeaning and patronising when it left Talia's lips and made her back straighten with indignation.

"Very well, what is it you have heard?"

For once Talia seemed startled; her eyes widening as she drew back slightly. Quickly though she schooled her features, drawling out her question lazily.

"He is back is he not?"

"What difference does it make to you?"

"Answer the question, Cissy." Narcissa sighed heavily, linking her fingers in front of her.

"And if he is?"

"How did this happen?" Talia hissed, crushing the blossom in her hand.

"How is not important, where did you hear this?"

"Well let's just say even the most complicated of knots can be undone if you have the right tools," Narcissa commented, turning to look into the ballroom.

"Do I want to know who?"

"Oh, it's obvious really. So lonely, so willing to please."

"Marcus." Narcissa shook her head sadly, Theodore's father was a weak man, weak for so many things.

"Hmm yes, so it would seem."

"And the new wizard? What of him?"

"Well obviously that is all going ahead, he's a very rich man and a woman of my tastes, well I have certain standards."

"You're playing a dangerous game."

"All the best games are, but that is not why I am so interested. The boy…the supposedly famous one…"

"Harry Potter."

"Yes him, he attends my sons' school does he not?" Narcissa nodded, unsure as to where Talia was going with her trail of thought. It was true that Talia was fiercely protective of her son, showing some modicum of care for the boy, which wasn't much of a statement considering the woman didn't care much for anyone else.

"I will not have my son's life in jeopardy because of some spiteful, hypocritical wizard holding a grudge."

"Tis more than that, I assure you."

"Whatever it is it needs to be undone. What about Draco, he will be in the middle of all this. Holding meetings here under this roof while your son is just a few rooms away."

"How dare you question my care for my son." Narcissa spat, "everything I have done, everything I have sacrificed has been to keep him safe from harm. You cannot possibly know what it is like, picking and choosing your men while I stand by mine and watch as he makes the same mistakes over and over."

"If it were me, he would make that mistake but once," Talia said darkly and Narcissa laughed bitterly.

"I do not have that option, unlike you I love my husband, in my own way."

"Love is such a fleeting thing, but your son is real."

"What will you do?"

"I don't know yet, there is so much to consider. I care little for the petty arguments of lesser witches and wizards, but my son…he would never forgive me if I took him away from here."

"I would not do anything rash."

"No, you do not believe in doing much ever, do you?" Talia adjusted her dress, moving back towards the ballroom, "if I were you, my dear, I would take matters into my own hands. Men are such…fools." Narcissa watched her leave, her perfume lingering in the air making her feel a little sick.

"I feel like this is possibly one of your worst ideas," Draco commented, watching as Theo took off his suit jacket and hung it over the balcony, undoing the top buttons of his shirt with determination.

"I'm inclined to agree with Drake here, what exactly are you hoping to achieve?"

"Honour for the lady in my life and proof of my loyalty to my friend."

"Ah well, now you've explained it makes perfect sense." Blaise took a sip of his drink.

"Really?"

"No, you're an idiot." He replied calmly, rolling his eyes when Theo opened his arm wide and looked at Draco.

"Now come on mate, hit me."

"Much as that's tempting, I feel like I've got better things to do."

"Come on I kissed your girlfriend and…you know?"

"No, we don't, and we don't want to know." Blaise clarified, and Draco nodded in agreement.

"I broke the wizarding code of mately conduct and I must atone."

"I told you he shouldn't have had that extra drink." Blaise shook his head.

"I don't think that's a thing, Nott."

"It absolutely is a thing."

"Malfoy is right, its really not and you need to stop being such a…"

"What in Merlin's name are you guys doing?"

All three turned to look at Pansy as she and Daphne stepped out onto the balcony; both wearing floor length ballgowns and holding matching flutes of champagne. It was a given that all the children of the most well-to-do wizards would look there best, even if, like Pansy, they felt like an idiot whilst doing it.

"You can ask Nott that one?" Draco shrugged, resting against the balcony next to Blaise, who had turned his back on the little congregation and was glaring out at the forest surrounding Malfoy Manor.

"What are you up to now, Nott," Pansy asked, her hands, one hand on her hip, eyebrow raised in a disapproving glare.

"Nice dress Pans, makes you look like a girl." Theo quipped, laughing when Pansy's face began to turn red, the champagne in the flute beginning to shake as she tried to control her anger.

"Stop changing the subject, babe. What's going on here?"

Blaise mouthed the word Babe to Draco, his mouth wrinkling in disgust. He was pretty sure that pet name hadn't reared its ugly head when they had briefly been together, then again, the amount of attention he gave it, anything could have slipped him by.

"Just trying to do by right by my friends." He mumbled sheepishly, shooting Draco a guilty look as Daphne wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss against his cheek.

"I've told you, I'm fine. You really need to stop embarrassing yourself and I'm honestly not sure your face could have taken the damage my fist would have done to it."

There was a moment of silence broken rather suddenly by the combined laughter of his friends.

"I fail to see what is so amusing," Draco said drily, a small smile curling on his lips.

"You forget…your nose got rearranged by Potty and the Weasel Twins." Blaise wheezed between laughter, gripping onto the stone dragon adorning the balcony to keep himself on his feet. Draco went to point out that it was one Weasel twin but bit his tongue, not wanting to add fuel to the fire.

"Oh and the Mudblood." Theo pointed out. Draco's smile dropped instantly, anger bubbling in his gut. He knew that it was mightily hypocritical of him to get so wound up about a name that he had used frequently. But now he knew what how the name made her feel, what exactly it meant to her, and now he cared.

"What?" Daphne exclaimed, looking between her boyfriend and the blonde.

"Oh, hadn't you heard, Draco got hit by the mudblood-know-it-all. Girls got a mean left hook." Draco clenched his jaw forcing himself to remain calm as he placed his tumbler on the balcony.

"You know what, I change my mind, I think I will hit you."

"What?" Theo shrieked, his eyes widening a little.

"Backing out already?" Draco mocked, quickly removing his jacket, flinging it at Blaise who only just about caught it before the extremely expensive material ended up on the floor.

"Err, mate…I don't think that's a good idea." He mumbled after him, trying to grip the blonde's arm.

"Come one, hitting Nott is always a good idea."

"I object, wholeheartedly." Theo quipped from behind Daphne, who had turned to glare at Draco, looking so ferocious that he almost took a step back.

"What is this about, Malfoy?"

"You heard the idiot, mately wizarding code…"

"Wizarding code of mately conduct." Theo clarified.

"You hear him?" Draco gestured towards him in exasperation.

"Well if you're going to say something at least say it right."

"Nott, will you shut up?" Pansy shrieked, clopping forward moodily in her heals. "Seriously Draco, what is this about?"

"Simple, Nott is right, I'm owed my vengeance." He shrugged, already the anger was dissipating, and he realised what a thoroughly bad idea his whole show had been. He didn't hit people, that wasn't his thing. He supposed he could blame the Firewhiskey for his rash decisions, he had cracked the bottle open significantly earlier than normal, owed to the arrival of his Great Aunt Alliatrice who insisted on following him round and telling him all about her stuffed magical creature collection. He honestly never wished a day to go sooner, the only thing keeping him remotely sane was the thought of seeing Granger at the end of it. Seeing Granger and absolutely continuing from where they'd left off.

"Vengeance for what exactly?"

"Am I missing something, or is the answer to that so blatantly obvious it's almost embarrassing?" Blaise queried, glancing between Draco and Pansy. He didn't want it to but jealously burned in his gut, because they were so close. Something secret passing between them. He'd seen it in the corridor at Hogwarts - yet another time when Pansy had inserted herself into Draco's affairs – and there it was again, so obvious it made him feel a little sick.

"Blaise has a point Pans, what in Merlin's name are you jabbering about?" Pansy scowled when Draco raised his eyebrows to her, she could see the glimmer of victory in his eyes when she shrugged, stepping back and conceding.

"Too much champagne, but the point still stands, hitting Theo is a bad idea."

"Thankyou Pans and may I say you look particularly ravishing in purple."

"On second thoughts, have at him." Pansy drooled, and Theo gulped, relaxing a little when Draco was already taking his place next to Blaise, fishing the jacket from his friends' hands.

"You guys are crazy, you know that?" Daphne turned to each of them, her eyes wide and accusing.

"You have dated and are dating two of us, the two wrong one's I might add, which means you've got very little room to point your wand."

"Zabini, are you flirting with my girlfriend?"

"I shouldn't have thought you'd have minded all that much, Nott." Pansy cut in, grinning maliciously as Theo turned red, wrapping his arms around Daphne and burying his burning face in her shoulder, muttering something unintelligible back.

"Sorry, Nott didn't quite catch that, I am not fluent in hypocrite."

"But she can throw her voice mighty far from that high road she's always taking." Pansy sneered at him half-heartedly, desperately trying not to show that what he had said hurt her a little.

"What are you guys doing out here anyway, its freezing." Daphne murmured to Theo, blatantly ignoring the others.

"It got stuffy inside, all those people, all that…urgh." Blaise groaned.

"Did you know that my husband can enlarge his cock with a simple spell, he gets all hard and whacks me round the face with it. Done wonders for our sex life." Theo crowed in a high-pitched squawk, pressing his hand against his chest. Daphne hit his arm but threw her head back and laughed.

"It's not that bad." Pansy frowned, taking a gulp of champagne.

"Oh, come on, everything is just one big game of wand measuring." Blaise groaned.

"Good job you don't get involved then Zabini." Blaise frowned at Draco, who shot him a cheeky grin.

"Your dad is the worst for it." Blaise countered, and Draco opened his arms, shrugging dramatically.

"He's always been the same. You got anything, done anything, own anything, he's got it, done and owned it ten times better than you."

"Sounds like someone else I know."

"I am nothing like my father." Draco bit out, rounding on Blaise, who quickly stepped away.

"Jokes mate, jokes."

"Very funny." Draco countered sarcastically.

"Has anyone seen Crabbe or Goyle this Christmas?" Pansy asked and the Slytherins all looked between them, shrugging when no one said anything.

"I'm sure they were invited," Draco commented. He felt a little bad, the two great oafs hadn't even crossed his mind, not when there were much better much more beautiful things to think of.

"Probably not enough food here." Blaise shrugged.

"That's cruel." Daphne pointed out, chuckling a little.

"Cruel but true."

"Don't you think those guys have been a little distant recently?" Pansy queried, her little finger tapping the stem of the champagne flute, the crystal ringing slightly with each hit.

"Oh don't start on someone else, Crabbe and Goyle are fine, leave well alone Pans," Draco muttered, shaking his head.

"Okay, speaking of other things, so Pansy can calm down, aren't we usually a good way down a bottle of Luden's Promise by now?" Theo dropped in, wiggling about his empty tumbler and grinning at Draco.

"Usually, but Mrs Malfoy has normally put on her grand display by now and we've snuck away."

Daphne was right, in all the years that his mother had thrown her parties there was always a display that had gradually got more and more elaborate, to the point that they all could have strutted past the party-goers naked and no one would have batted an eyelid. By the time the grand displays finished then everyone would be suitably pickled and not notice that their young sprogs, who'd they'd spent the entire morning boasting about, were, in fact, three sheets to the wind and were struggling to stand.

"There's got to be something…"

A cheer rose up as Theo said this and they all glanced towards the Manor. Obviously whatever festive display Narcissa had planned had begun, much to the delight of all gathered. As if on cue, Lucy and Terry Runeth stepped out onto the balcony, matching scowls on their faces. It was customary for the twins to spend Christmas with their Aunt and Uncle while their parents continued their work rehabilitating Giants who were quickly being overrun by the expanding population of muggles. In spite of their rather annoying habit of constantly explaining how their school was far superior to Hogwarts, they weren't all that bad to spend time with.

"Narcissa finally doing a strip tease."

"Nott, I'm warning you," Draco muttered coldly.

"Come on mate it's only a matter of time. One of these years…"

"I am going to Avada your ass."

"I wish. Gnomes, fucking gnomes." Terry shook his head, wrinkling his heavily freckled nose.

"What?" Pansy trotted across the balcony in her large heels to peer through the glass door.

"Travelling troop apparently, act out famous muggle stories about Christmas."

"How quaint." Daphne sniffed.

"That's what Mrs Malfoy said when she introduced them," Lucy commented, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder and smiling shyly at Blaise who nodded at her uncomfortably.

The twins didn't actually look anything alike, in fact, many drunken conversations had strayed into the territory of whether or not the two were actually even related. Lucy had delicate pretty features, whereas Terry's features seemed to be squashed across his face. Lucy was petite, standing only a little over five foot, whereas a Terry was large, his limbs thick and gangly. One of the possible explanations that had been batted about, after Terry had fallen into his obligatory catatonic state, was that Lucy's mother had got a little too friendly with one of the giants and Terry had been the outcome. Lucy neither confirmed nor denied these accusations but the look on her face when anyone ever called them twins was more than telling.

"Where does your mother get these ideas, they are utterly fabulous." Theo gushed, a grin spreading across his face.

"Beats me. Honestly though, gnomes. I dread to think what it will be next year."

"There's always a strip…"

"Nott!"

"Probably ask your Uncle to do a presentation on the joys of the Willet," Pansy called over her shoulder, grinning at Terry before pressing her nose back against the glass. "Oh Merlin, the costumes are atrocious, you've got to see this." Blaise shrugged and sidled his way over, casually slipping his arm around her waist as he looked over her shoulder.

Pansy jumped slightly, flushing as she felt the warmth of his arm sinking through her dress. She still had no idea how she felt about it all, wanting to sink into his embrace at the same time as wanting to shrink away and keep their friendship just as it always had been because she knew that was safe.

"Ah and what joys, what utter joys. Speaking of such joys?" Theo turned to Terry who tapped his pocket and winked. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is all the invitation I need, shall we adjourn to the study."

"Sure, but you guys are breathing that crap out the window."

Draco had never really enjoyed the Willet Pipe, finding its effects on his magic far too unpredictable for his liking, as such most years had been spent with Blaise getting wonderfully pissed on Luden's promise while the others babbled a bunch of crap at them about other worlds and the wonders of their magic. It wasn't too bad, and Draco had always been of the mind that if his friends were going to get high in his house while their relatives were only a few rooms a way, it always paid to have a couple of people on watch.

"Do you think that the odourless thing was always a feature or did other individuals such as ourselves add that little number?" Theo asked, examining the pipe as he hung his head out the window to take another long puff.

"What in Merlin's name are you babbling on about." Pansy giggled, watching her magic spark on her fingertips. She casually touched Terry's face, clapping her hands in delight when he jumped away, groaning in his sleep and turning over to carry on snoring.

"Every year," Draco commented to Blaise, nodding at the dribbling form of Terry. Though the drug seemed not to agree with him, he still insisted on partaking of it every year. One puff and he was out for the count, missing the entire evening. Terry did report however having the best sleep of his life which Draco supposed was worth something.

"Merlin. What a guy, what a wizard." Lucy sighed, grasping Blaise's arm and looking up at him dreamily, "don't you think that Merlin was amazing?" Blaise cringed slightly, trying to tug his arm free.

"He's alright I guess."

"Alright? Alright?"

"He's got nothing on Salazar." Pansy sniffed matter-of-factly, scowling at Lucy arm who was blinking owlishly at her, her eyes all glassy. Pansy had never been too fond of Lucy Runeth, the dark-haired girl always muscling close to Blaise, always near him.

"You cannot mean that Salazar was just a Hogwarts thing, Merlin is a magic thing."

"So is Salazar." Pansy defended.

"You know what I mean."

"I don't think even you know what you mean Runeth." At Draco's words, Lucy fell into a fit of giggles, landing on the floor with a thump.

The full effects of the Willet Pipe were never actually fully documented, the herb apparently interacting with magic in such a strange way that anything could happen, but mostly Draco found that his friends acted like utter idiots. He cast a glance at Blaise who rolled his eyes, lifting his empty glass so that Draco could once again fill it with Luden's promise. The pair of them would get happily sozzled and rip into their friends once they'd sobered up like they did every year.

"There's something wrong with my dad," Theo muttered, falling into one of the armchairs, a deep sigh leaving him.

"What do you mean?" Daphne crawled up in Theo's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and burrowing her face into his neck, apparently oblivious to company.

"I don't know he seems, its like he's up too something, sneaking around, drinking more than usual."

"Well, not much change there then." Blaise shrugged, and Theo laughed humourlessly, the smile on his face dropping quickly.

"I wish it were the same as usual but…it's something else, he seems…blah, I don't know, it's hardly worth mentioning really, I don't know why I did."

Draco stared across the room at his friend, thinking back to the memories that Snape had shown him and shivering violently. Both his dad and Theo's had been there, they had watched while that poor wizard had killed his family and they had done nothing. He wondered whether, now that it had all started again, the memories had come back, shaking off the past and dancing through their minds as if they had only happened seconds ago.

"Voices, I hear voices." Lucy muttered, from her place on the floor, her brow furrowing, "they come closer, deep and muttering."

"There is something wrong with you, Rune…" Draco began, cut off by Blaise who had his ear to the door.

"Shit, shit, shit, people coming down the hall." He waved his arm and Pansy instantly doused the pipe, shutting up the window and jumping into a seat doing her best to act casual.

"Someone do something with Terry." Draco hissed, watching with amusement as Pansy tried to drag him off the floor and onto the seat next to her. The sight was amusing, and Draco found himself biting back laughter as the young witch ended up in a sprawling heap over the comatose wizard.

"Bloodie hell, Pans…" Blaise shook his head, moving silently across the room to help her up, putting his hand over her mouth when she burst into hysterics.

"Who is it?" Theo whispered, gently shoving Daphne off his lap to move and stand next to Draco, placing his ear against the door. The voices were muffled, two men arguing in hushed tones.

"You speak as though you know the will of the Dark Lord, but you gave up the path just like me." Theo jumped away from the door as he recognised his father's voice, looking at Draco with wide eyes. Draco shrugged, unsure of what to do or say, but he had an idea of who Theo's father was talking to before the man even spoke and when he did, Draco closed his eyes against the reality of it.

"The Dark Lord has appointed me…" Lucius spat.

"You have appointed yourself. You go after the boy and his friends because you think that's what the Dark Lord wants." Draco felt sick, his stomach tying itself in knots at the realisation that his father was planning something that would ultimately put Hermione in danger.

"It is what he wants. You were there, you saw." The silence that followed was cold and Draco shivered in its chill. He had no idea what they were on about, but he had his suspicions, gnawing, painful suspicions that he didn't want to acknowledge, but they were there non the less.

"I wish I hadn't, the boy…" Marcus' voice broke and Theo tensed at Draco's side.

"Do not speak of that here."

"Then where?"

"Nowhere, what's done is done and we must follow. You remember what happens to those that don't." Draco gulped at his father's words, hearing the fear and knowing exactly it was there.

"Are you even sure that your plan will work?" Marcus scoffed. Draco knew that such a question would put his father's back right up. If there was anything that he hated it was being questioned by those he deemed lesser than himself and he had seen Marcus Nott as lesser than himself for some time.

"You worry about your part in it and leave the rest to me." Their footsteps faded away and Draco sighed, rubbing his hand across his forehead.

"What is it?" Daphne whispered, glancing away from Blaise and Pansy who had begun whispering furiously, their heads almost touching as they muttered angrily at one another.

"Nothing just my father and someone else," Draco mumbled, receiving a gratified look from Theo as he took a deep breath and plastered his usual grin across his face, stomping back towards Daphne as if he hadn't just heard evidence of his father being in league with the Dark Lord.

"Boring stuff really, what's wrong with these two?" Theo asked, sitting back down and yanking Daphne onto his lap, eyeing up Blaise and Pansy as though they were some strange specimen.

"Stay out of this Nott," Blaise growled, rounding back on Pansy, whose bottom lip was wobbling. She quickly turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, pushing past Draco as though he wasn't there. To his shock, he noticed that Pansy was crying, something that the young witch didn't really do, ever.

"What in Merlin's name happened?" Draco asked, wondering if maybe he should have been listening in on their conversation rather than the one between his father and Marcus.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," Blaise shouted, storming after her after and slamming the door behind him.

"By Salazar what crawled up his arse?" Draco mumbled, staring at the dark wooden door as if it would begin to talk and explain all the mysteries going on around him. Not surprisingly it remained silent.

"Pans, where in Merlin's name are you going?" Blaise shouted after her, running to catch up with the Brunette, who lowered her head at his word and tried to increase her speed, gritting her teeth when the heels she wore hindered her progress. She sighed in exasperation when she felt his hand around the top of her arm drawing her to a stop.

"Away from you…you…" She groaned, covering her eyes with both her hands, refusing to look at him. He had started all of this, asking her why she was avoiding him, avoiding the kiss right where everyone could listen in and hear. He was the one that had called her a coward for running away from feelings all the time. He was the one that had told her that while she clung onto their friendship, they could never have one, not anymore.

"Why would you say that to me?" She sniffed, finally lowering her hands, watching as his jaw clenched and he looked away from her, stepping back as though her very presence was painful.

"Because it's true Pans, I don't want to be your friend." Pansy felt as though the breath had been knocked out of her.

"You don't get to decide that, it's not fair."

"You know what's not fair, is feeling this way every day and not being able to do anything about it. I'm sick of pretending Pans."

"You might have been pretending but I wasn't, you're my friend, my best friend. You always have been and this…this wasn't what I was expecting, or what I wanted." Blaise flinched, drawing back even more. Pansy felt bad when she watched his dark eyes fill with pain.

"That's your decision?" Blaise asked coldly, and Pansy gulped. She knew this was the right choice, would be good for both of them, but something inside wanted to throw caution to the wind and tell him that she was being an idiot. Instead, she gulped, pushing down all her doubts and meeting his gaze levelly.

"It has to be, we are friends Blaise. I need you to be my friend."

"Very well." With a nod, he walked away, and Pansy felt as though her heart were being torn out with every step. This had to be the right decision, it was safe, it was what she knew and there was less chance of either of them getting hurt. But if she were honest with herself it already hurt, far too much.

Hermione nibbled her bottom lip as she glanced around her home, the lounge newly lit up with Christmas lights and the fire crackling in the hearth. She had managed to sneak away a little earlier to prepare for Malfoy's arrival, rather embarrassingly throwing herself into making things as cosy and Christmassy as possible. She'd dug out some hot chocolate which was all spooned into cups ready for some warm milk, had piled the sofa with all the blankets she could find, hung tinsel and baubles from various surfaces and then stood back to admire her work, flushing when she thought of Draco arriving and what that would mean.

She had thought of him all day, barely able to enjoy the festivities as her mind wandered back to him over and over again, her heart racing in her chest as she relieved how he made her feel. Quickly shaking her head, she moved back to the kitchen to check once again that everything was in order and remind herself what Ginny had told her. The redhead had both squealed with excitement and cautioned her against moving further with Malfoy unless they had spoken seriously about what it all meant. The conversation was by all intents and purposes confusing, with Ginny throwing all sorts of mixed signals about how she truly felt about the turn of events.

Hermione understood her friend's reticence, she had her own uncertainties. It wasn't as though Draco had been consistent in all the time, they had been experiencing the memories. Then there was the issue of their friends; Harry and Ron would in no way be happy to learn that she had feelings for their longtime enemy and she knew without a doubt that Draco's friends would have more than a few things to say about their relationship. The more she thought about it the more it seemed impossible and Ginny's warnings made sense. How could they possibly make anything between them work when there was already so much working against them, even without the whole problem with his father seemingly in league with the Dark Lord once again.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, and her heart hammered in her chest. It was him, she was certain of it and all at once she became incredibly nervous. She had no idea how to act around him anymore, how to behave. Doubts and fears circled her mind, of him having decided against it, having slept on their whole short tryst and realised he still found her disgusting and could go no further. All thoughts, however, left her mind when she opened the door and he stood in front of her, clearing his throat nervously and holding a bottle of Firewhiskey over the threshold as if they were no more than mere acquaintances. Realising that he was just as nervous as she was made her feel strangely confident. With a grin she took the bottle from his hands and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.

"Merry Christmas, Malfoy," she whispered, smiling when he buried his nose in her neck, breathing her in, his shoulders relaxing with every exhale.

"Merry Christmas, Granger" With those words she felt as though all her worries would remain just that, finding no basis in reality, because she was certain that nothing so wonderful as being in his arms could ever be wrong.