The First Year

Chapter Seven

Harry Potter and Early Christmas Presents

Christmas, only a few days away, was the only thing that made Draco feel excited nowadays. It wasn't the present or the songs - it was the almost electric atmosphere which seemed even more magical this year, making people happy and energetic.

Well, everyone except Severus Snape. Draco noticed right away that the detestation of everything and everyone was still present in Professor Snape's voice.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Malfoy?"

"I wish to stay here at Hogwarts, but my Master is going home, sir."

"I see." Snape rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So you wish to have someone for company, is that it?"

Draco bowed his head, humbly. "Yes, sir."

"I shall appoint someone to you. Come and see me tomorrow morning."

Draco nodded. "Thank you, sir." He left the dungeons, feeling much better. He didn't need help anymore, even though Michael sometimes fussed around him like a mother hen. He didn't want to be alone, so he used his blindness as an excuse.

As he neared the Great Hall, his thoughts ventured to Professor Snape. Draco really liked the old man and found it easy to talk to him, but still the man seemed distant. Sighing, he walked towards the Slytherin table where someone grabbed him by his arm.

"Come here, Drake. You've got to hear this." Pansy dragged him onto a seat and started to tell him some gossip about a certain Gryffindor.

***

"So what?" Draco asked, raising his brow.

"What do you mean, so what?" Pansy exclaimed. "Drake, this is revolutionary!"

"No, it isn’t." He kept his cool, but he felt an urge to roll his eyes.

"Boys! Why did I even bother telling you," Pansy wondered, leaving the table.

"You should have seen her earlier when she got the ‘precious’ information." Blaise Zabini poked his ribs gently to get his attention. "She was ecstatic. Poor girl has no life what so ever."

Draco grunted disapprovingly, standing up as well. "You should consider thinking about what you say in front of me about my friend," he said, exiting the Great Hall.

Zabini was probably laughing at him right now but he couldn't say what he really wanted just in case Michael heard him.

The information Pansy had given him was affecting him more than he let anyone know. Could he rely on Pansy to tell the truth? If she had heard wrong?

Actually, it made sense but he wanted to know for sure. He should ask Potter, but how? He couldn't find him without someone helping him and he didn't want to let anyone know about how curious he was.

Suddenly someone bumped into him, making him fall onto his arse.

"Watch where you are going!" an angry female voice shouted above him.

"Sorry. I didn't notice--"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Here, take my hand," she said as soon as she recognized him.

Draco held his hand out, feeling a warm delicate hand taking his.

"Thanks, miss...?"

"Hermione Granger."

"Thank you, Miss Granger."

"Don't be silly. You can call me Hermione."

And that was what Draco did, from that day on.

***

Draco could not believe that he was friends with a Muggleborn witch. She had told him that she had only been rude to him because he was wearing Slytherin colours.

Since they didn't have any classes because of Christmas, they had gone to the library, discussing just about everything that came into their minds. He had almost asked her about Harry but had decided to leave it for now.

Mow he was on his way to meet Professor Snape. The students were leaving for home today and he hoped that at least one of them would be staying behind.

He knocked on Snape's door, which opened to reveal a very angry-looking Potions' Master, although Draco could not see the expression on his face.

"Come in, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Snape almost barked, letting Draco know his current mood. "Sit."

Draco didn't want to know what had caused his professor to be this angry, so he sat down quietly.

"I only found one student besides you who is not going home for Christmas."

"Sir?" Draco asked, waiting eagerly to find out who it was.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but you will be spending your holiday with Mr. Potter."

Draco almost wanted to jump with joy. Now he had an opportunity to ask about the gossip. "Oh, I'll move to the Gryffindor Tower as soon as possible."

"It has already been done."

"Thank you, sir." Draco stood to leave.

"One more thing, Mr. Malfoy." Snape's voice stopped him on his tracks.

"You must come to tell me immediately if he offends you in any way."

"I will, sir."

Draco was humming as he walked to his room. This Christmas was going to be an interesting one. Who would have thought that he was going to spend it with none other than the Boy-Who-Lived.