I said sharply, "you don't look happy to see me."

Draco led me back into the school to see my friends again, just so they knew of my return. As I passed through the halls, I kept my hand clutched to the boy leading me through the crowd, ignoring the stares I received.

'She's back', or 'didn't she get expelled?' was usually the topic of conversation, but I found it easy to ignore it all when I saw three familiar faces. Hermione was the first to run up to me, wrapping me in a hug and scolding me for not returning her letters—she didn't know my mail was being watched.

Then it was Ron, who I'd seen over the summer, but this time he treated me like a friend again. Maybe it was because I wasn't so stone-cold and reserved like I was at the Burrow.

And then it was....Harry.

The raven-haired boy, who lingered behind nervously, clutching at the straps of his bag as he leaned against the side of the gate. I hadn't spoken to him since Cedric died, and...we had been fighting then.

That's why he didn't know if he was allowed to welcome me back. He had pushed me away beforehand.

"It's fifth year," I said, sticking out my hand, "all is forgiven."

Harry looked at me hesitantly, before placing his hand in mine and giving it a firm shake. There was a pause, where we just stared at each other awkwardly, but then I saw something glaze over his eyes.

It was like melting ice; a hardened shell dissolving until I could see the familiar green-specks of the eyes I had grown up with.

"Welcome back, [y/n]," he smiled, before pulling me in for a hug.

I smiled, remembering better times when we'd hug like this. Normally it was after we escaped a life-threatening situation, but this situation was perfectly fine. I had found my friend again.

"Okay, enough of this," Draco said, yanking Potter away by the collar, "no need to take up the hallway."

Hermione giggled from afar, watching as Harry was thrown out of the hug, "jealous already, Malfoy?"

"When it involves her?" The blond hissed, narrowing his eyes, "always."

I rolled my eyes in amusement, grabbing the boy's hand to make him less inclined to beat Harry up. But....seeing them like this, communicating in a friendly manner, it was enough to make me cry. They finally did as I asked! They became friends, even as dysfunctional as it was proving to be.

"Let's go, love," Draco stated, starting to drag me off, "I have so many things to show you."

As I was led away from the trio behind us, Ron let out a bewildered shout, "but what about Hogsmeade?!"

"Hogsmeade can wait!"

The first place I was kidnapped to was the library.

Which was an incredible surprise, considering the entire time before all this mess, it was the one place he complained about the most. Remember the day of the Yule Ball? He was throwing a hissy fit in the corridor because I wanted to do research about Moody instead of fooling around.

"I read this one!" Draco stated, tossing a book into my hands, "boring, but had a brilliant sub-plot."

So...basically he was just showing me all the books he read over the past year. I was glad he seemed so excited.

"And this one as well!" He noted.

Very excited.

"This one too."

Incredibly excited.

"These five as well, oh! And also this, and that, and Ooooooooooo I remember this one. Featured a dashingly handsome blond hero, so I gave it a ten out of ten."

I chuckled to myself, trying to balance the pile of works in my hands. Most of them were romance novels, which I found amusing, but I couldn't dwell on it forever since the boy was still throwing books all over me.

"I take it you like to read now?" I smirked, dodging a suspicious glance from Pince.

Draco was still picking things out from the shelves.

"No, absolutely not," he said, tossing me another book, "I only read for you, and now that you're back, I won't be reading anymore."

I narrowed my eyes, "Draco..."

"I'm joking love, I'll read with you at any time."

∞ ϟ

The second place he took me to was the kitchens.

I was completely, and utterly confused, because it wasn't nearly close to dinner time, and I wasn't feeling particularly hungry. Needless to say, the next thing I knew, I was being plopped onto a stool while Draco fumbled around the counter.

There was something strangely familiar about seeing him like this; with his rolled up sleeves, and messy hair, but I pushed the thought away when I heard him mutter something under his breath.

"Uhhh...." he hissed to himself, "dammit, was it broth first?"

Oh! He was making chicken soup. He paid the house elves a sickle each to let him use the kitchen for an hour, and I suppose this where he was supposed to prove to me that he had followed his third rule.

So I sat there, the smells of rosemary and spices engulfing the room in warmth, while I watched the boy dance around the kitchen like a chef at rush-hour.

The soup was done half-an-hour later.

"I made it," he said, pushing a small clay bowl towards me, "without my wand."

I gave him a proud grin, "can I taste it now?"

"Yes, yes, go ahead, but be careful. It's hot."

As I picked up my spoon, I dipped it into the steaming bowl of creamy broth, blowing lightly to cool it down. Then I tasted it promptly.......ugh.

"Draco, darling," I winced, trying to ignore the slush sliding down my throat, "that's horrible."

Something about it was completely chilled, like a lump of fat in a glass of water. I felt my stomach convulse slightly, and I tried to hold in a gag for the sake of his pride.

"I think I'm going to be sick," I mumbled, placing my hand over my mouth.

As soon as Draco saw me lurch forward, he immediately grabbed my hand and accioed a bucket in front of me, pushing my hair behind my ears so it didn't fall over my face as I hurled the contents of the soup out of my body.

Whatever....whatever was in that soup did not agree with me, and was now at the bottom of a bucket.

"Shhhh, you're okay love," he assured, rubbing my back gently, "just breathe."

I glanced away from the mess, pulling out my wand to magick it away.

"Darling, what the hell was in that soup?" I mumbled, standing onto my feet.

The look of horror that spread onto the boy's face was enough to make me laugh a little. He clearly just remembered something very important.

"I forgot to cook the chicken!" He exclaimed, smacking himself with the palm of his hand, "dammit, love, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay!"

"I've been practicing it all months, and it was always perfect, but I got really nervous with you sitting there, and I...I must have forgotten?"

I chuckled, "I can tell."

"I'm going to redo it then," he said, scurrying back towards the counter sheepishly, "just set that bowl on fire or something, you don't need to eat it."

I smiled to myself, watching as he rolled his sleeves up again and went back to work.

The third place he took me to was....I actually don't know.

Right now I'm currently stumbling blindfolded down a hallway, holding onto Draco for dear life. He said he had one last surprise to show me, which Hermione, Ron, and Harry had helped plan, but that didn't make me feel any less worried.

"Where are we going?" I questioned, feeling my foot stub against a stone column.

Draco pulled me towards the left, "it's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises!"

"Well it's not bad, love, I'm right here with you."

"If you say so..."

We walked for a few more minutes, Draco rambling on and on about how he managed to brew a veritaserum over the summer, and I tried my best to listen intently without worrying that I'd fall down the stairs.

Thankfully we came to a stop.

I was about to question where we were, but then I heard the familiar sound of rumbling trickle through my ears, and a small gust of wind brushed against the exposed skin on my face.

"Full circle, hm?" I noted, letting myself get led inside, "I was wondering when we'd be back."

Draco didn't say anything, but instead pushed the blindfold off of my eyes, letting me come face to face with the surprise he had been waiting for me to see.

And it was, indeed, a surprise.

The Room of Requirement was modeled into an exact replica of the Yule Ball, with it's christmas trees, wreaths, ice sculptures, and snowflakes surrounding the space in spirit. In the center was a dancing space, and to the corner was a record player, silently waiting to play some music.

"I don't suppose you'll want to dance with me now?" Draco smiled, holding out his hand.

I glanced at him, trying to suppress the growing smile on my face. I wouldn't be able to speak if I let it. Placing my hand in his, I felt a tingle of electricity shoot from his fingers and into mine.

"Shall we?" I smirked.

And then the music started to play.