Christmas break. Everyone, including my friends, went away to their families. My parents sent an owl about an unexpected trip they were going to, so I wouldn't be able to spend my Christmas with them. The castle was almost empty; just a few students were staying. All the Slytherins went away and I had no one to at least have fun with, or did I? Draco was the only one staying and I have a feeling that this Christmas stay at Hogwarts would be the most memorable in all the years I have studied here. Right after Hogwarts Express left, me and Draco collectively decided to go to Hogsmeade to buy presents for our friends, although it did come across as odd that Draco would gift things willingly. I did mention this to him, and he was very offended about it.

I didn't have much money on me, so my last resort was to buy wool to knit cute stuffed animals for my friends to send out. I decided to make one for Draco too; just out of appreciation for not being an ass for a whole semester. Never did I think that I, out of all people, would want to make a Christmas gift for Draco. Sure, if someone put their wand on my head, I would do it. So, to make it an unexpected surprise for him too, I decided not to tell him about what I will be buying or giving gifts to.

When I and Draco finished buying all the stuff we needed for the presents, we decided to walk around Hogsmeade and buy some snacks from stands. We came across one stand which was full of muggle-inspired snacks. Both of us were intrigued by the candy they called candy canes which were supposedly nothing but sugar and not firecrackers when you bit into them as they sold in Diagon Alley.

"How much are these?" I asked politely smiling at the woman who was selling them.

"2 Knuts, sweety," she answered smiling "3 if you buy two; I don't charge extra for couples as bonnie as you."

Draco looked at me with a suggestive smirk on his face. He was trying to hold in a laugh because of how red my face got at the assumption the lady made.

"Oh, you got it wrong, we are just friends," I said scratching my head awkwardly, "We will take two, let me just get my purse."

Draco chuckled, "Don't, I'll pay," he said reaching his hand out to the woman giving her 5 Knuts, "Thank you."

Draco took the candy cane from the stand, gave one to me, and started walking toward the Shrieking Shack's pathway. I opened my candy cane and started eating it. I must have been too happy about the sweet snack because as soon as I looked at Draco, he was smiling at me.

"What's so amusing to you?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," he shrugged licking his own candy cane, "just you eating stupid candy like a kid is funny,"

"Hey, it's not stupid candy, it's a work of art," I said pointing my candy cane at him threateningly, "Why are we going to the Shrieking Shack? Isn't it haunted or something?"

"Who said we are going there?" Draco looked at me with a grimace on his face, "I just know a place where we can sit and relax before going back to school."

"Okay, captain, lead the way."

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"Draco, this place is bloody creepy," I said turning my head around to avoid any threat approaching.

"You said to lead the way, I lead the way," Draco answered crossing his arms, "Don't complain."

How could I not complain, though? This place was in the middle of the woods 50 meters away from the haunted shack, all surrounded by trees covered in the whitest snow which made everything dark here, and a singular stone bench in the middle. The entrance to this place was a wooden braided arc which was just a bit more than Draco's height. To say it was a place where you could relax was a mistake.

"Oh, come on, I think it's pretty lovely here." Draco sighed looking up, "I always come here alone, suppose not everyone's taste's as good as mine."

He then looked at me with a mocking facial expression.

"Why do you come here alone, though?" I looked at him back.

"To practice my Patronus, it's really beautiful in the dark." Draco answered looking at his wand which was now in his hand, "Care for me to demonstrate?"

I nodded to which he stood up. I wonder if I said no, would he do it anyway? I'd say it's pretty expected of him to show off his skills. He focused, closed his eyes, and waved his wand. From the wand came pretty blue lights which were followed by an animal, which seemed like a dragon. The lights of the dragon illuminated the small area we were in: the snow was shining like glitter. Then the dragon started flying around, occasionally jumping from one place to another. It started coming toward me and started spinning around my head. Then it looked at me for a few seconds before it disappeared.

I looked at Draco to see him put his wand away and cross his arms pridefully as if challenging me to do the same.

"You want me to do it now, huh?" I asked taking my wand out and pointing it at him.

Last year, I decided to join Harry's Dumbledore's Army club by Luna's request. I didn't go there much, because of the upcoming exams and such. Thankfully, I learned how to use the spell of Patronus out of the few that I actually mastered.

I thought of the happiest memory that I could picture at the moment and said, "Expecto Patronum."

Out of my wand took off Y/P (your Patronus) and went toward Draco. It jumped around Draco and then went up as I commanded it to. Then, with a smooth wave of my wand, I made my Patronus divide into butterflies which started flying around the area, illuminating it with light. One of them went up to Draco and sat on his nose, suddenly making him jump by making a small boom and disappearing.

"Didn't take you for one who is scared of butterflies, Malfoy," I said chuckling.

"Didn't take you for actually being good at using a wand, L/N," Draco mimicked my voice, "But I must say, that was pretty cool."

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After we came back, I ate dinner quickly and went to my dorm to start knitting as I had very little time left. I stayed up until 3 so I could finish all the presents and put them into packaging. I decided to send out owls early in the morning, so the presents would get to my friends as soon as possible. I didn't plan that for Draco's present, as I would give it to him in the evening anyway. I had to celebrate Christmas with somebody at least, besides he would for sure be there.

After sending the gifts to Luna and Leila, I took my coat in case I'd decide to go outside and went to the Great Hall to have some breakfast. There were no students on the Slytherin table and Draco wasn't seen anywhere. I guess, he wants to have some privacy to himself, I can respect that. I took a sandwich from the table and went outside. Might as well visit Hagrid, haven't seen him since this school year. Most Slytherins dislike Hagrid greatly because of Draco talking mad bullshit about him, so it's safe to say that me and Leila are the only ones who appreciate him.

It was snowing pretty heavily, so I used the opportunity to eat the snowflakes knowing full well that it wasn't clean. But yet again, can't blame me. I went onto the bridge connecting the castle with Hagrid's house. I looked down to admire the view but there was nothing to see as the fog covered everything. I sighed with disappointment and continued going. As I got to the end of the bridge, I saw smoke coming from Hagrid's house's chimney, which only meant that he was there. I got excited and started skipping my way to his house. I knocked on the door three times until he opened it.

"Oh, Y/N!" Hagrid exclaimed as he saw me, "Come in, or you will get cold."

"Hello to you too," I laughed and sat down on one of the sofas in the room next to sleeping Fang, "hey there Fang."

In response, the dog did nothing but look at me with a tired expression and went back to sleep.

"What brings you here, Y/N?" Hagrid asked sitting in the sofa in front of me.

"Nothing really, just wanted to drop by and say hello," I smiled, "Also, Merry Christmas!"

I pulled out a scarf I knitted from the left wool and gave it to Hagrid. Though, it seems like I forgot about him being a giant. I made it for a normal sized human which was a bit awkward.

"Thank you, Y/N, I will give this to Fang," Hagrid laughed seeing that it was too short for him, "Merry Christmas."

I nodded smiling and started staring at my hands. Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind of the night at Slughorn's when I eavesdropped Snape's and Malfoy's conversation. Maybe Hagrid would know something about it, after all, he is close with Dumbledore. Taking into account that Hagrid wouldn't know about what Malfoy was up to, I decided to ask him about Snape.

"Hey Hagrid," I started, "Do you know anything about Professor Snape?"

"Oh, Snape," Hagrid furrowed his eyebrows and put his hand on his chin thinking, "He is a good lad, Dumbledore trusts him, so I trust him too."

"Yeah, I know," I said, "But is there something shady about Snape that I wouldn't know? Like him being a bad person or something about him in the past?"

After a minute of thinking and deciding whether he should say something or not Hagrid looked at me.

"Can't think of anything, really," Hagrid replied, "Although, I heard he used to work for the one who shall not be named back in the day. But I'd guess something happened that Dumbledore can trust him now fully."

"So, Snape was a Death Eater?" I asked surprised at the newfound information.

"Well, it's bold to say 'was'," Hagrid answered, "Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater. Y/N, I don't know why you are asking me about Professor Snape out of all people, but I am very sure Dumbledore wouldn't trust him with no rhyme or reason."

I sighed, "I suppose you are right."

"Do you have something on your mind, Y/N?" Hagrid asked worriedly.

"No, Hagrid, just curious," I whispered looking back at my hands. All of this was starting to make sense, but yet again, I didn't want to believe anything.

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After dinner, during which McGonagall wished us Merry Christmas, I went down to the Slytherin common room. Draco wasn't present at dinner which made me worry. I haven't seen him all day, so it would be great if now I'd see him in the common room. And so, when I entered, I was very delighted to see him just sitting there alone reading a book by himself. He must have been too concentrated on whatever he was reading because he didn't even notice me. To surprise him, I went behind him and hurriedly closed his eyes with my hands.

"Guess who it is?" I asked laughing.

"Hm, I don't know, maybe the dinghead whom I haven't seen the whole day." Draco replied with a chuckle.

I took off my hands off his face and went to face him, "How have you been?" I asked with a joyful tone.

"Could be better," he shrugged, "Haven't seen you all day, did you go to Hogsmeade?"

"No, I was just walking around the castle, then visited Hagrid," I answered sitting next to him, then remembering that I had a present ready for him I jumped back on my feet, "Actually, speaking of Hogsmeade, let me go get something from my dorm."

I went up and opened my drawer of textbooks and such, took the silver box in which was Draco's present, put the wish note I wrote in it, and went back downstairs.

"I am back, Draco," I said and sat back down on the couch next to him holding the silver box in front of his face smiling, "This is for you."

"Actually, this one is for you too," Draco said shyly and took out a small black box from his jacket's pocket.

We exchanged boxes and he started opening the one that I gave him. I looked at him to see his surprised reaction when he saw the present, but instead, he laughed.

"A snake plushie for the Slytherin's greatest student," Draco said admiring my present, "Now open yours."

I started unwrapping the small black box he gave me revealing a little bag with a little note next to it.

"Thanks for helping me sleep for a whole semester, very much appreciated." I read out loud looking at him with a smirk, "So you know how to thank people too? Very royal of you, Malfoy."

Then I opened a bag and saw the same ring he has been wearing for months on his index finger with a chain next to it. I took it out to examine it with a big smile on my lips.

"Didn't know what to give you, so I figured you'd like this because you are staring at it a lot," Draco said with a serious tone, "also the chain is for you to wear it as a necklace in case the ring won't fit."

"Thank you so much, I will cherish it," I said looking at him smiling. I wanted to give him a hug for the gift but then again, something held me back.

"Merry Christmas, Draco."

Draco then looked at me with a softened facial expression and a small smile on his lips.

"Merry Christmas, Y/N."

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a/n: this was the longest chapter oml, chapters like this won't happen again 👺