Draco Malfoy's holiday break had been dreadful beyond belief, but it was no surprise to him. It wasn't that he didn't have siblings, and he didn't even think it was his parents. The house never felt like a home despite growing up in Malfoy Manor since birth. It was always cold, way too massive for three people, and the new house elf was annoying and incompetent, in his opinion.

The one thing he absolutely despised, however, was those meetings.

The Dark Army chose the Manor to be their regular meeting place. The dining room was practical as it was lavishly furnished; perfect for the growing group as well as quenching the Dark Lord's desire to remain prestigious at all times as well as making it known that the notorious Malfoy family was loyal to him.

But Draco knew better.

He knew his mother would never join and neither would he. The two had an unspoken agreement on the topic; they would stay neutral. Meanwhile, Lucius was thrust into a top position under Voldemort's rule.

In short, Draco wanted to escape. He hated what was happening only feet from his room, and it scared him when he heard Voldemort constantly talk about recruiting younger people... mere Hogwarts students.

Draco Malfoy was on that list. At the top, actually- something that once again heeded to all the frills and bell whistles that accompanied being the son of the Dark Lord's right hand man.

He wasn't his father- he seemed not to get much say in that. 

His least favourite day so far had been Christmas. He was spoiled and he knew it. His parents would usually treat him to many things and he was excited to see his new belongings, although this year he really wanted simple school things and more money. But this Christmas was oddly sparse. He received two books and various clothing items.

His mother had given him a sad smile upon waking him up at five that morning, following it by saying, "It's not much sweetheart but it's been hard to keep things normal...you understand, right? I could always take you shopping, it'd get us out of the house-"

"It's fine just forget it. Why are we up so early?"

Narcissa merely said nothing, giving him another weak glance before gathering the contents of Christmas and neatly stacking it- presumably for the house elves to collect and put in his room.

Of course he didn't need a verbal answer; a meeting was happening on Christmas.

Even his holiday was taken away.

So as the days passed all he could wish for was to escape back to Hogwarts and hope that nobody knew about his break.

Rumors were mere whispers now, but in the next year he couldn't imagine how many people would start to suspect Draco as a Death Eater.

Again, he promised himself he would never do such a thing. He hated the damn group.

His friends didn't write him, but it made sense considering Crabbe and Goyle could barely hold a quill, Damien was no longer a friend, he blocked Pansy's post a long time ago, and Blaise's mother's paranoia was so bad that she checked every letter and barely let any leave the house.

But there was one person that did write him. It took him aback despite making sense with that plucky personality of hers.

Dear Draco,

Hey! I hope your Christmas was good! I'm sorry to hear your break hasn't been the best and that your parents haven't been around much lately. I only have one question: why didn't they take you with on their trip abroad? You being an only child...it would make sense you would go with them instead of being shut in the house by yourself, bored out of your mind. Where did you say they went again? Norway? Regardless, it has to be awful being alone that long.

Anyway, I was going to send your Christmas gift in the post but I decided against it. I've heard of things getting stolen recently and didn't want to risk it. Also, I had an idea...do you want to meet up sometime soon? I know you keep saying you're bored and all.

If not, it's completely okay! Just let me know. I know we aren't the closest, but it breaks my heart hearing how alone you've been for a while. I'll even allow you to make fun of me if we hang out.

I hope all is well and gets better. Write back soon!

Merry Christmas,

Mia :)

The letter and its contents made him feel as though someone had taken his heart in a firm grasp and squeezed- he couldn't help the small smile that graced his face upon reading it.

That warm sensation quickly turned to ice. He couldn't believe she had gotten him a gift! He felt awful for not getting her something in return. The more he thought about it... he really didn't know much about her but she knew a ton about him.

He felt especially bad at the half-assed lie of his parents staying abroad without him, but he was ashamed of the harsh truth.

As for meeting her, he wasn't sure if he would. His mother was odd about him going out alone. Not only that, but something felt nervous in him upon the prospect of meeting with her. And what if he was seen with the odd girl...a Hufflepuff? His reputation could be sullied.

Then again, he really was bored out of his mind and the girl never failed to intrigue him.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea?

~._.~

"You're crazy if you think he's going to come!" exclaimed Melanie from beside Mia. The girl continued to ignore her friend, too occupied trying to pinpoint a certain Slytherin.

Katarina sighed. "Let the girl dream little!"

Every break Mia's mother, Amie, allowed her two best friends to spend a few nights at their house. Despite the secrecy they tried to keep up, Amie knew how important it was for her daughter to have friends. She tried to make life as normal as possible for the girl- and sleepovers just so happened to be a part of it.

But what Amie didn't know was that her daughter had set up plans to meet Draco Malfoy, the boy from a noble dark family.

The boy whose father was thick as thieves with Daniel Travers; the very man that ruined Mia's and Amie's lives.

Mia, of course knowing this, intentionally didn't tell her mother and said that the group of girls were just going to have a day of fun in Diagon Alley. If the boy didn't show, it worked out and she would be with her friends. If he did, she would break off from them and give him some time.

"I have a feeling he's coming...he couldn't stop writing about how dreadful his break has been," Mia defended, giving a hopeful look to her friends.

"I wonder why you even bother-"

"Oh Merlin! It's him!" Katarina squealed, jumping as she pointed at the boy. Grey eyes widened upon seeing the group and the blonde's face suddenly seemed irreversibly pinched before it was quickly being schooled into a look of complete nonchalance.

The girl held out her hand. "Alright, you owe me three Galleons!"

"Y-you bet on him showing up?!"

Melanie grumbled. "I shouldn't have."

"Hey, Smith," said Draco awkwardly, "You didn't erm, mention any friends coming-"

"We were just about to leave...if you hurt her, we'll kill you," said Melanie darkly before pulling Kat with her.

Mia and Draco were left in slightly-awkward silence. She smiled weakly and shrugged. "Sorry, she can be a bit...yanno...anyway, here's your gift, I hope you like it!"

He took the bag from her hands and opened it, eyes squinting as if to make sense of the thing. In his hands he held a scarf of dark green and yellow. "I already have-"

"Try it on and I promise it'll be worth it," she said expectantly. He sighed and put it around the exposed column of his throat. Heat from the woven material instantly made contact with his skin, flooding throughout his entire body.

"It's enchanted, so it's always instantly warm! I know you're always cold, you shiver whenever you're outside."

"Thanks...but what about the colors?"

She gave a sheepish smile. "Well, I went to get some yarn and they were sold out of white and making it all one color would be too dull. I thought the yellow and green would be cool, it kinda pushes house unity, right? I knitted it myself, so I know it doesn't look perfect but-"

"Mia," he cut her off softly, "thank you, honestly... nobody has ever gotten me a gift beside my parents. I really do appreciate it."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." he trailed off, feeling awful that he didn't get her anything. He did try, honestly, but he just couldn't figure out what would be perfect for her. He had to improvise. "It's been hard to get out lately, so I didn't get anything for you...my gift is to pay for anything we do today."

The girl's eyes lit up. "Wait...so you're saying I could have twenty boxes of fudge flies and you'll pay?!"

"Well, erm, that's a bit much-"

"Let's go! This is gonna be the best day ever!" she exclaimed with a smile, grabbing his hand as they ran into Diagon Alley. 

And the whole day was just as joyful as that, especially for Draco. At first he was wary of meeting her, but he knew within two minutes of their trip that it was worth it. It was the perfect contrast to the darkness that flooded him within his house that was no longer a home.

In fact, he felt more at home with Mia than he ever did at the Manor...but he wasn't ready to admit that yet.

The feelings he got from her were foreign to him. And he didn't think it was love because their class difference was too great and the possibility of them being together...no, it could never be. But being friends was a safe zone. She was bright and fun, the complete opposite of his dark and insensitive self. But together, he was the best version of himself.

He felt weightless.

He smiled. He laughed. He stopped looking out for other purebloods in fear of being seen with the odd girl. He just lived for the first time in his life, the only other time being when they pulled that prank in the beginning of term.

As they sat in the Leaky Cauldron for dinner, he started to come off of his high. He felt safe in a snug leather booth in the back of the large pub. Mia sat across from him, taking off her heavy coat and Hufflepuff scarf. Her hair still tumbled out of her knit hat, sprinkled with the winter snow.

Her eyes met his and she smiled, "Enjoying the view?"

"In your dreams."

"Yes, because every night I dream of you staring at me," she laughed as he rolled his eyes. "So, you seem like you had a good day."

"I guess it exceeded expectations-"

Mia gave an exaggerated gasp. "What?! Draco Lucius Malfoy actually enjoyed my company?! I thought I'd never live to see the day!"

"Hello, can I get you two anything?" the waitress asked, approaching the table.

"Two butterbeers."

The waitress nodded and walked away. The two sat in silence for a moment before Mia began to speak, if a bit hesitantly.

"Hey, Draco...can I ask you something?"

A curt nod.

 "The world is changing, we all know that....how do you feel about everything? Do you believe Voldemort's back?"

"I believe he's back. I don't want to talk about it," he said coldly. He knew damn well the monster was back. He had even heard the thing's voice from down the hall of his own house. Scratchy, empty, yet somehow arrogant beyond belief. He dared a glance at Mia and upon seeing her dejected expression, he decided to give in. "I know Potter wouldn't lie about something like that, I can't imagine why anyone would argue."

"It's so wicked, don't you think?"

He gave a sigh, resting his chin on his fist and looking down at the table as her bright eyes were too hard to meet.

"It is...I bloody hate him and the group, I really do. I know everyone thinks I'm 'vile and cruel', I've been called things like that since my first day at school. And maybe I am, I'm an asshole, all Slytherins are. That doesn't mean that I agree with mass genocide of people who are a bit different. I may not like them as much but what the Dark Lord does...he's wrong."

"Would you ever-"

"No, never. Just because my father was convinced into it doesn't mean I will be. They killed Cedric and hundreds others just for fun. I...I draw the line, y'know, I have standards...and..."

"Feelings?" finished Mia with a soft smile. Draco's eyes snapped to meet hers, swimming with oceans of kindness and understanding. "I know you do, no matter what anyone else says. You just have problems showing it. I think you should try...people would love to see that, especially me."

The boy let a chuckle escape his mouth despite it all. In that moment, he finally felt like someone understood him...even though she didn't know the whole story, she had faith.

Someone had honest, kind faith in Draco Malfoy. Faith that he was a good person.

He gazed at her as his heart began to swell with some emotion that made him feel as though all he wanted to do was show his feelings despite having no idea what they were. He started to move his hand across the table, wanted to feel the soft warm skin of her palm against his.

As his fingers were about to touch hers, the waitress came back and slammed the foaming butterbeers on the table.

"Sorry 'bout that, its been real busy tonight! What can I get for you two?"

A blush rose to Mia's cheeks and her eyes flitted from Draco to the waitress. "I, erm...large soup of the day? It looks interesting."

"Sure and for you?"

"Same," he mumbled quickly, putting his hands in his lap and swallowing the biting embarrassment in his throat. He had no idea what just happened.

The waitress thanked them and walked away. Mia gave a smile and changed the topic. "So...are you ready to return to Umbridge in a few days?"

~._.~

The three girls were back in the Smith household yet again. Mia smiled as she sat in the living room with the others, not able to stop thinking about the end of her day with Draco.

"Hey," she had said, grabbing the boy's arm as he was about to leave. "I just wanted to say I'm really proud of you for being different than what your father has forced you to be. I know it's hard, really, I do."

He smirked, trying to cover up his deep gratitude. "Oh really? How could you possibly know?"

"Just trust that I do...maybe I'll tell you someday," she joked. She walked to the boy and gave him a hug. "Stay true to yourself, alright? Promise?"

"I-I promise," he responded despite his heart being in his throat.

Mia couldn't help but wonder why she felt so happy in his embrace. It was short but surprisingly strong. She also was shocked what different side of the boy she had seen... someone... warmer.

She was pulled from her thoughts as her mother's voice rang out, "So what did you girls do today?"

The three all blurted out a different answer causing the woman's kind eyes to become narrowed. Her gaze rested upon Mia. "Excuse me girls...I need to speak with my daughter."

Melanie and Katarina cast their friend a scared glance before running to her bedroom. They both knew Amie Smith that be a stickler- especially about "male acquaintances."

Mia crossed her arms as she waited for the wrath. "So, Mia, I'm going to ask you once and you're going to tell me the truth...were you with the girls today?"

"N-no, not for the whole day, but-"

"Who were you with?" she asked harshly. "Tell me...now."

The girl closed her eyes and sighed.

"Draco."

"T-the Malfoy?!" hissed Amie. "Mia, what the hell are you thinking? His father will turn us in! And that boy is trouble-"

"No he's not! You don't know him!"

She let out a laugh. "Yes I do. It's a cycle of pureblood toxicity, the same one I pulled you out of-"

"He's different."

"I said the same thing about your father." The mother's gaze was harsher than her hushed tone. "You are forbidden to see him-"

"I-I go to school with him!"

"Then maybe you shouldn't go to that damn school."

The words hit Mia like a semi truck, her eyes going wide. "No...you can't, it's my home."'

"This is your home, I am your home. And you're going to lose that in a blink of an eye if you keep acting foolish, do you understand me? You will lose me and yourself."

"Yes, I understand," she said quietly. Defeat filled her heart as she stared at the tiled floor.

"If I find out you're running around with that Malfoy boy you will be pulled from Hogwarts. Melanie and Katarina will tell me the truth if they actually care for you." Mia stayed silent as her mother's surreal words rang in her ears. The woman pulled her into a sudden embrace.

"You know I do this out of love, right?" She whispered against the top of Mia's head.

The girl only nodded in response. 

~._.~

Hello! Sorry updates have been sporadic in this book. I am still trying to. find a regular rhythm of posting and a definite plan for this book.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Question of the chapter

~What did you think of their 'platonic date'? Did you like it?~

Love to all,

~Lumos