"Ginny, Malfoy invited me to his house for Christmas."

"Ok that's wonderful Hermione."

"It is?" I was very confused. "How is spending the Christmas Holidays with someone you hate supposed to be wonderful?"

"It just is, ok Hermione." She had a pained smile. "Just go and enjoy yourself."

"But I don't really want to go," I argued.

"Too bad Hermione. You are going to spend Christmas with Draco Malfoy, no arguments."

And that conversation is how I find myself in Hogsmeade Station, waiting, with Draco Malfoy.

"Do you think the train is coming soon Malfoy?" I asked him timidly.

"If you're asking if you have enough time to go and see your little friends, I think you will be fine." He seemed to sigh as he let out these words. And how old did he think I was anyway? Two? Three? At that moment I saw Neville and Luna walk by.

"Luna!" I called out to her at the top of my voice. She turned around and smiled at me. I rushed through the crowd to get to her.

"Hello Hermione," she said. "How are things going with you?"

"Alright I guess." I replied back. "I'm going to go spend the Christmas Holidays with Draco Malfoy. Oh the fun."

"But it will be fun," Luna said calmly. "There is always a party of some sort, I love parties, and I expect you will be the guest of honor. Just watch out for nargles." Neville and I both giggled at this comment and after assuring Luna I would watch out for nargles I asked them what they would be doing over the Christmas Holidays. This time it was Neville who answered.

"My grandmother is having us over. She's been so proud to show me off after how well I performed at the Battle of Hogwarts. And now I have a lovely girlfriend to go along with the package." He laughed and pulled Luna in for a tight hug. Then he looked her in the eyes and gave her a small kiss. They then looked back at me smiling.

"So how are things going with Malfoy?" Neville asked me.

"Not wonderfully, but I'm not dead yet am I?" I joked trying to win a laugh. They both obliged.

"I suppose that's good to hear." Luna said. "I'm so sorry to hear about what happened with Ron and Harry. I bet Ginny is very upset. I do love Ginny. I hope you are giving her the support she needs."

"Don't worry Luna. I am." I reassured her. "Neville. How's the dorm every night without Harry and Ron sneaking out and losing us more house points?" I joked. His face turned red and he mumbled something under his breath. "What was that you said Neville? I didn't quite catch it."

"I haven't been in the Gryffindor dorms. I've been in a special one in Ravenclaw with Luna here." He was blushing very hard.

"Well that makes sense considering —" but Neville was still going.

"Dean and Seamus got to be too much for me. I think some nights they forgot I was there if you get what I mean." Let's just say his face could have been mistaken for a tomato by this point.

"Oh so they've fully come out? Good for them. Not many witches or wizards ever fully embrace it. Take Dumbledore for example."

"Hermione. They haven't really told everyone, or anyone really, but everyone knows. It's sort of hard to miss with them snogging whenever they are within two feet of each other." He pointed over to a corner and sure enough I saw Dean and Seamus pressed so closely together they could have been mistaken for only one person if you were to give them only a quick glance.

"Lovely." I said. "Now —"

"The only way I convinced McGonagall to let me have a room in Ravenclaw with Luna here is when I told her I didn't think I could stand another night of hearing how beautiful Seamus's eyes are or how —"

"I think we get the idea Neville," Luna said politely to cut him off. "Train is here. You'd better find your Draco Malfoy, Hermione." They waved goodbye and left me to find Malfoy.

The train ride was mostly uneventful considering I didn't really want to talk to Draco Malfoy and he didn't really want to talk to me. Also, no Slytherin wanted to join us because of me, and no Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff wanted to sit with Malfoy. I don't blame them. If the beginning of this year hadn't happened I wouldn't even consider sitting in a compartment with him. So mostly I read quietly and Malfoy tried to show off his fortune by buying all the treats on the Food Trolly which he then ate when I told him he didn't want any. Against my better judgement I let him try an undetectable stretching charm on his stomach. This is obviously a spell that is not meant to be used for that which would explain the puke all over the floor of the compartment. Once I had cleaned it all up Malfoy tried speaking with me again.

"Granger? Hermione Granger?" He tried. "Hello, anyone home?"

"What is it that you want Malfoy?" I replied feircly.

"I just thought that you should know that mother doesn't know you are coming, and we need to act as though we are completely and utterly in love with each other during our stay." He said it in a maddeningly nonchalant way.

"What do you mean Malfoy?" I said angered.

"Well, it's either that or you get to go back to the burrow with your darling Weasley." Ok so maybe he had a point. But how the heck — in love with Draco Malfoy? The idea was preposterous!

The train pulled into Hogsmeade Station with a lurch. Malfoy grabbed our things and lead me off the train to a spot where we could disapperate to Malfoy Manor. Once we arrived in the yard I followed him up the lawn to the house. Above the door on the way into the house there was a piece of hanging mistletoe. I saw it and griminced.

"Well Granger, we had better practice don't you think?" He said smugly. He leaned in for a kiss, but I pushed him away.

"Uh uh uh don't you know anything?" I pointed out the mistletoe and in a serious tone said, "you have to watch out for nargles."