Chapter 1:

Hogwarts' halls were thoroughly decked in the days leading up to Christmas, thanks to the efforts of Hogwarts' first group of "eighth years"—a mismatched group of students from three of the four Houses who had decided to return to either continue their education or repeat the seventh year they'd been forced to endure in the midst of War. It was imperative they sat for NEWT's to get the positions within the Ministry that they all sought, so Headmistress McGonagall had kindly offered to take in this ragamuffin team of eighteen year olds for one more year.

There weren't many of them, only seven—Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Luna Lovegood, and (much to Hermione's chagrin) Draco Malfoy. The first three months that they'd been back had been awkward, these students from different Houses, backgrounds and affiliations during the War all now sharing one Common Room. They each had a small private bedroom, but when a former Slytherin came across a former Gryffindor, their personalities were bound to clash. There was four Slytherins, outnumbering the two Gryffindors and one Ravenclaw. Everyone, save Malfoy, got along fairly well. He generally kept to himself, speaking only when spoken to and never offering input into any conversation.

It seemed to Hermione that Malfoy was embarrassed, ashamed or even irritated that he was back in Hogwarts for another school year. The Ministry had made it part of his probation and he needed to sit for the NEWTs if he was going to attend university and apprentice in any of Britain's apothecaries. Harry had testified on his behalf, regaling the Wizengamot with the tale of how Draco refused to identify him in Malfoy Manor. That testimony had saved Draco Malfoy's arse, and he knew it. He'd shown gratitude toward Potter by remaining civil with his Muggleborn best friend. Civil…indifferent…same thing.

Hermione was just grateful that Malfoy had stopped insulting her on a daily basis. She tried her best to avoid him as well, the memory of the Easter holiday spent writhing in pain on his home's floor as his deranged aunt carved into her arm putting a damper on any really conversation Hermione would ever have with the blonde wizard.

Today, however, was December 1st, and McGonagall had tasked the eighth years with decorating the Great Hall and the main corridors leading to classrooms. Hermione, ever the leader, was doling out areas that needed decorating to each of her fellow classmates. Theo and Pansy were to take the garland and hang it around the perimeter of the Great Hall. Neville and Luna were tasked with stringing lights onto the twelve trees Hagrid had dragged in. Blaise was assembling centerpieces for all of the tables. Hermione and Draco were paired together to decorate the trees after they were strung with lights.

Draco had his wand out, wrapping elegant red and green ribbons around the trees, his face a mask of indifference. Hermione was placing ornaments onto the branches the Muggle way. She would have to use magic to reach the top, but for now placing the baubles on by hand reminded her of her childhood and it was comforting. She hadn't decided yet to restore her parents' memories, but she could relive the memories in her few peaceful moments at Hogwarts. Or so she thought. "Really, Granger? Are you a witch or not? You're taking forever."

Malfoy's voice was impatient and agitated. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Must you be such an arrogant wizard all the time? Try placing a few by hand and you'll feel the satisfaction of hard work."

She handed him a tray of baubles and took a large silver and green one. "Like this," she began, putting the hook onto a branch and wrapping the hook around the branch so it wouldn't fall.

Draco sighed and gave in to her requests. His nimble fingers retrieved a gold and red ornament and placed it in the tree just as she had instructed. She smiled at him and he scowled in return. She rolled her eyes one more. He was so insufferable, she wondered why he even bothered to come into the Great Hall to help. She could hear the voices and laughs of the other eighth years as they decorated, the Yuletide spirit overtaking them all. Hermione wished she hadn't opted for Draco as her partner.

She figured she would at least try. "Are you spending Christmas at…the Manor?" she asked him, uneasy mentioning his home.

"It is my home," was his curt reply.

He humored Hermione, though, and continued placing the ornaments on all of the trees by hand. "We typically spent Christmas in a cottage along the seaside…but now I'll go back to the Burrow."

Draco looked at her, one eyebrow raised, his face quizzical. "Did your parents…"

She shook her head. "No. They're alive. But it's complicated."

Hermione could have sworn she saw his face soften for just a moment before it hardened into his usual contemptuous façade. "That's unfortunate. But, I'm sure Weasel will be thrilled to see you." There was an edge to his tone as he said it.

"Don't call him that, Malfoy. His family has been through a lot since May…" her voice trailed off as she fought back a sob over Fred's death.

"Who's hasn't?" he asked bitterly, giving her a severe look, an ornament in his hand in mid-air.

Hermione bit her tongue. Of course, Lucius had been imprisoned in Azkaban for ten years for his role in the War. Narcissa was on house arrest. She remembered reading it all in the Daily Prophet. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I didn't realize."

He shrugged in a nonchalant manner. Hermione placed her hand on his arm and looked up at him. "I really am sorry, Malfoy. We are grateful for what you did for us at Easter, and we are sorry that we couldn't lessen the burden for all of your family."

Malfoy only nodded once. His face was a steely mask and she knew better than to continue speaking to him. She wished she could figure out what was going on beneath his hardened exterior. He couldn't possibly be so harsh, could he? After a period of time, he raised his wand and the rest of the ornaments wrapped the upper parts of the trees they could not reach. They stood back and admired their work, and despite himself, he did feel more accomplished having done the majority by hand.

Headmistress McGonagall came in at that point carrying what looked like a smaller condensed version of the Goblet of Fire. The eighth years gathered around where she was setting the chalice up on the platform where the professors sat. "What is that, professor?" Theo asked curiously.

"In an effort to unify the Houses and get into the holiday spirit, we are going to have a gift exchange," she replied, wiping a spot of sweat from her brow. "If anyone would like to participate, they can place their slip into the chalice and in one week's time, we will draw the names."

"Is it going to be secretive?" it was Draco who asked this, much to everyone else's surprise.

The Headmistress smiled. "If the sender so wishes. The idea is to create unity however, so it would be the sender's responsibility to get to know their match well enough to buy or make a gift."

Draco nodded, his face stoic and untelling. The others seemed intrigued. "Will it be limited to our years?" Neville asked.

"Well…there's only seven of you, so you'll be lumped in with the seventh years," Minerva replied. "I'm going to announce this during the feast this evening. You all can go back to your dorms now. Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy, if you would, I'd like to have a word."

The others left, whispering amongst themselves like a bunch of third years, excited at the prospect of receiving a gift from someone they'd pay no mind to any other day. McGonagall turned to the two who remained and sighed. "The other professors and I also thought it would be wise to have a Yule Ball this year…try to raise spirits some after such a difficult year."

This information made Draco sit back against the Ravenclaw table and cross his arms over his chest. Hermione raised an eyebrow. McGonagall continued. "As Head Boy and Girl, I had a favor to ask of you both."

Draco narrowed his eyes and Hermione put a hand to her hip, already aware of what was going to be asked of them. "It would be a nice presentation if the Head Boy from Slytherin House and the Head Girl from Gryffindor House could be seen conversing and dancing with one another."

Hermione looked at Malfoy and saw that his jaw was clenched and his arms remained crossed over his chest. "If that's what you think is best, Headmistress," he replied, his tone unreadable.

Hermione looked at him incredulously. Why was he sucking up and agreeing to accompany her to a ball? Their interaction whilst decorating trees was the first time they'd had any type of conversation since they'd been back at school. They weren't exactly on friendly terms—even their night patrols were served in silence.

McGonagall smiled at him and searched Hermione's face for an answer. She looked between the blond wizard and the elderly woman and simply nodded her consent. The elder witch smiled widely. "I appreciate the efforts the both of you have put forth this year to unify our school after such a…rocky end to last year. It's imperative to come together in times of difficulty and times of rebirth."

Hermione nodded and Draco sat up from the table. "Well, if we are quite done here, I've got an essay to compose for tomorrow's charms class?"

The Headmistress waved her hand as an informal dismissal and whispered to Hermione as the young woman turned to leave. "He'll come around, Miss Granger. He's fought different battles than the rest of us, but battles just the same."

Those words rang in Hermione's ears as she entered the Common Room to study before the evening feast.

o-o-o

The entire school was aflutter with the upcoming ball and gift exchange. The instructions were to bring the gift into the Great Hall the morning of the Yule ball, and then take their intended gifts back to their rooms at the end of the ball. Hermione had pulled a seventh year Ravenclaw's name and she had many pleasant conversations with him in the three weeks leading up to the Ball. He had a penchant for potions, so Hermione had bought him a new, engraved cauldron filled with his favorite chocolate frogs for the gift exchange.

Patrols with Malfoy had remained silent every night, so it startled Hermione when his cool drawl broke through the still night air. "What color are you wearing to the ball, Granger?" he asked, pushing his hands into his trouser pockets.

The question caught her off guard and she was totally unprepared for it. She knew, of course, what she'd be wearing already—she'd bought it the first weekend after the Yule ball was announced. "What business is that of yours?" she asked, deciding to serve him back his usual coldness.

He rolled his eyes. "Come off it, Granger. I want to make sure we match properly if we're going to be seen together."

Hermione lifted her chin defiantly. "It's not like we want to be seen together."

"What color is the damn dress?" he asked, irritated with her elusive attitude.

She clenched her jaw and finally answered him. "It's emerald green."

He snorted in a decidedly un-Malfoy manner. "You'd sully your image in Slytherin house colors?" he asked.

"I'll be celebrating in festive holiday colors, Malfoy," she said, climbing through the portrait hall to go into their respective rooms.

"Calm yourself, witch. I'm only teasing you," he said before he went into his room.

Conversation two was just as brief as their first. It made Hermione frustrated enough to let out a groan as she went to bed. He had to be so contrary all of the time—it was exhausting.

o-o-o

Hermione slid the butterfly comb into her thick hair, pinning a pile of curls to the side of her head so that they cascaded over one shoulder. She was looking forward to the ball, even if she would be tied to Malfoy all night. She was determined not to let him drag her down. This was her final year at Hogwarts and she intended to relish every moment of her first normal school year.

The dress she had selected was made of silk and lace. It was long, flaring out at her knees into a mermaid shape. The top had a sweetheart neckline and the straps hugged her shoulders, allowing the back of the dress to open up into a deep dip. It wasn't the most modest dress, but she had felt beautiful in it as she twirled in the fitting room of Madame Malkins. She wore silver strappy sandals and as she looked into the mirror, she wished she had thought about accessories. Her neck was dreadfully bare as she pulled simple diamond studs into her ears.

She gave herself a once over as she dabbed at the corner of her mouth, straightening the light lipstick line there. She was as good as she was going to get, she decided. She sighed and descended the stairs from her room into the Common Room, where she was to meet Malfoy.

When she stepped through the door, his back was to her. The soft click of her heels drew his attention and he turned around to face her. He was wearing all black, save for the green and silver tie complete with an emerald and pewter tiepin. His hair was brushed and styled to the side in the handsome adult way he'd kept his hair. Hermione surveyed his face closely, waiting for the derisive comments to come. But he swallowed hard, his eyes doing a subtle once over that left knots in Hermione's stomach. He had a small box I his hand and when she approached he opened it, revealing a wintry corsage of holly and berries that smelled of cinnamon. He pulled it out and she held her arm out to him, confused as to why he'd taken the time to buy her anything.

He slid the corsage onto her arm and she felt it magically form to the curve of her wrist. He looked at her neck thoughtfully, and pulled a slim box from his pockets. "I thought this would look nice…if you didn't have anything to match the dress," he explained and cracked open the box.

Inside was a simple, elegant white gold necklace with a small teardrop shaped emerald. Hermione gasped. "Malfoy, I can't take this. It's expensive."

He waved his hand dismissively. "We may not have chosen each other as dates for this ball, but you are my date. And I would do the same for anyone else I brought."

Hermione ran a single finger over the soft velvet of the box, the delicate stone. Malfoy lifted it out of the box and motioned with a spin of his finger for her to turn around so he could put it on her. She lifted her curls and he slid the necklace around her neck. The feel of his fingers brushing her skin as he clasped it raised gooseflesh on her skin. He brought the backs of his knuckles down over the bare skin of her back, so subtle it could have been an accidental brush as he withdrew his hand.

She turned around to face him, carefully placing her curls back over her shoulder. Draco smiled then, a small handsome smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Who would have thought Gryffindor's princess could look so lovely in Slytherin's colors?"

The compliment took her aback and she swallowed hard and cleared her throat.
"Right, well, we should head down."

o-o-o

A/N: This is meant to be fluffy, lighthearted multichapter story. My other stories are so angsty, it will be fun to just write some lighthearted Christmas cheer.

Please review. I'd love to hear back from you!