Draco sighed, looking at the Gryffindor Portrait. The Fat Lady raised a eyebrow at the boy, "And why exactly do you want to go in?" She asked dramatically. The boy checked over his shoulder, to make sure no one was coming.

He huffed, "I already told you!" He caught himself growing angrier and paused. Collecting himself, he continued, "I have to get this to Hermione Granger." Draco pulled out a small box and showed the woman.

"And you think I'd trust a Slytherin? It's probably a stink bomb! I don't want my house stinky!" The Fat Lady continued ranting on and on. Draco ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sighed, tuning the woman out. He heard footsteps coming down the corridor, following by two people talking. Draco ducked out of sight, behind a wall, waiting to see who it was.

Longbottom and Looney... This might actually work, he thought to himself.

He walked out once more and carefully approached the pair.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Neville spat at him. Draco noticed how much the Gryffindor boy had grown. He was now about the same height as himself, maybe a bit taller, which made Draco's current situation a bit more concerning.

"So you stayed over Holiday, figures." Draco snapped, replying to Neville's rudeness.

"Be nice." Luna said in a sing-song-voice, twirling her blonde hair around her finger.

Neville looked at him pointedly, waiting for some kind of conflict.

"Right well... I was just taking a stroll over here and..." Draco looked at them for a moment, trying to think of a way to turn this conversation in his favor. He needed something from them... which wasn't going to be easy considering their past. "I um... I like your earrings Lovegood."

"Why thank you! Their beatroots! Rather fun don't you think?" The girl beamed, taking one out of her ear to show him properly.

Neville just sighed watching the exchange. "Seriously, what do you really want?" He looked to Draco. He wasn't rude in the way he spoke, if anything just tired and not in the mood to be bothered. Draco remembered when Neville would run away from being so nervous. My, how things have changed.

"Look Longbottom, I'm going to level with you." Draco sighed deeply for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. "I need to get this to Granger, and seeing as I'm not a Gryffindor, I can't get in to put it somewhere she'd see it." Draco explained, his voice drained.

"Why would you want to give something to Hermione?" The brown hair boy narrowed his eyes.

"For Christmas, of course!" Luna exclaimed brightly. "Right Draco?"

Draco was surprised at her use of first names, but chose not to comment on it, knowing it was Loony Lovegood. "Actually, that's correct." He nodded.

"I still don't understand why you'd want to be genuine to the person you claimed to hate." Neville raised an eyebrow. "How about this, you show me so I know it's not a prank. If it isn't, I'll make sure it gets to her." He nodded once, waiting for a reply from Draco.

The Slytherin sighed, looking down at the small box in his hands. Draco Malfoy was not a sentimental person. Or at least, he never had been in the past. He didn't like the idea of anyone except Hermione seeing it. But he knew, none of it would matter soon.

Draco nodded and opened the box, showing the duo.

"That'll keep the Wrackspurts away!" Luna beamed. "How thoughtful of him..." She whispered to Neville.

Neville looked at him curiously, "Alright, I'll bring it to her. But for the record, this may be the weirdest thing I've ever seen. You of all people giving this to 'Mione for Christmas."

Draco cringed when he used her nickname. He hated that so many people knew her so much better than he did. He had to admit, he was jealous. But he had to keep reminding himself. It didn't matter. Not anymore.

"Thanks." Draco carefully handed the box over hesitantly.

Neville nodded to him again, "Don't worry, putting our past behind us, it's in good hands. I'll make sure she gets it."

He always was kindhearted. Bloody Gryffindors.

"Well, I better be off then. Thanks to the both of you." Draco thanked them, and then turned on his heal, heading down the hallway to where his stuff was sitting. He grabbed his bag in one hand, broom in the other, and headed for the Astronomy Tower.

-*-

Hermione wiped away another tear and she dragged herself back to Gryffindor Tower. She pushed her frizzy hair behind her ears as she approached the portrait. "Goldfinch." She muttered to the lady.

"Well there you are! You missed all the hubbub!" The woman exclaimed loudly as the portrait swung open. Hermione ignored her and walked through the portrait hole as The Fat Lady continued to go on and on.

"Mione!" Hermione snapped her head to her left to see Neville sitting on the couch with Luna. "There you are, I've been waiting for ages." He explained as he walked over to her.

"What?" She sniffled, "Why?"

"Because I promised this would safely get to you." Neville handed a small dark blue box to her with a small smile. "Are you okay?" He questioned as he got close enough to see her puffy eyes.

"Yes, I'm alright. Just the Holidays and all without parents I suppose, has me in a rather awful mood." She lied, taking the box from the boy. "Who's it from then?" She questioned.

"I think it's best if you just go up and open it." He nodded at her.

"Right... Well, thank you Neville."

"Of course." He smiled and watched her begin walking up the stairs, "And Hermione," she turned to look at him. "It gets easier, but it takes... a long time." He said truthfully. She nodded at him with a sad smile, and continued up to her room.

Hermione sat down on her bed, studying the small box in her hands. It was a plain, navy blue box, no bigger than both her fists put together. She curiously opened the small package, on top of whatever was inside was a small note, folded neatly. She took the note out and below was a beautiful necklace. It was a very plain, small gold locket with a tiny red gem on it. Hermione let out a small gasp at the sight of it. She loved how small and quaint it was, sensible, just how she liked her jewelry.

Hermione placed the note on the bed and took the necklace from the box. She carefully tried to open the locket, but it wouldn't give. She frowned in confusion, but put it on anyway. Hermione grabbed the small note and opened it.

Hermione's eyes threatened to spill over with tears yet again. She didn't need a signature to know that writing. His writing. Her hand flew to the locket, fiddling with it mindlessly. Neville made sure she got it... from Draco? Hermione shot out of bed and ran out of her Dormitory.

"Neville?" She called as she quickly walked down the stairs.

Neville looked up, in sudden panic, at hearing his name, "What? What's wrong?" he stood from where he sat with Luna when he saw Hermione looking for him.

"Draco gave you this?" She asked, holding the empty box in her hand.

"Y-yes... Only an hour or two ago... Why was there something wrong with it?" He stuttered, wondering if he hadn't helped the Slytherin.

"No! No it's wonderful." She looked down at the small necklace around her neck. "But do you know where he went after he gave this to you?" Her eyes were wide with curiosity.

"No... I do-"

"The Astronomy Tower I suppose." Luna chimed in, walking over to the duo.

"How do you know?" Neville questioned in shock, "We came here right after talking to him and-"

"Neville Longbottom if there's one thing you should have learned by now its that you should never underestimate me." Luna said in a stern voice, though her 'stern voice' really wasn't very stern.

"She's got a point," Hermione agreed, "but why would he go there?"

"Because he was leaving Hogwarts." Luna said simply, as if it was no big deal.

"What?" Neville practically yelled.

"Please, you both have to keep this between us, no one can know, or he'll be sent.... away." Hermione spoke nervously.

"Don't worry Hermione, your secret is safe with us," Neville smiled, "especially if you don't tell anyone that Luna has been hanging out in the Gryffindor Common room over the Holidays."

Hermione smiled, "Deal. Now... I've got a Slytherin to find."