That night, Lili was standing with Hannah Abbot and Ernie Macmillan in a hallway. She was listening but not engaging, just letting the pair talk.

"So anyway, I told Justin to hide up in our dormitory," Ernie explained. "I mean to say, if Potter's marked him down as his next victim, it's best he keep a low profile for a while."

"But why would he want to attack Justin?" Hannah asked.

"Justin let it slip to Potter that he was Muggle-born."

"And you definitely think Potter's the Heir of Slytherin?"

"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone know that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself Serpent-tongue. Remember was was written on the wall: Enemies of the Heir Beware. Potter had some sort of run-in with Filch. Next thing we know, Filch's cat's attacked. That first-year Creevy's been annoying Potter. Then Creevy's attacked."

"He always seems so nice, though. And after all, he is the one who made You-Know-Who disappear."

"That's probably why You-Know-Who wanted to kill him in the first place. Didn't want another Dark Lord competing with him." Lili sighed, rolling her eyes. Ernie glared at her. "And what do you think, Miss  Malfoy?"

"I think that Potter's innocent. I also think that my brother is innocent and that the Heir is probably someone from outside of the school."

"And how would they get in?"

"I don't know. But Hogwarts is huge, Ernie. They could easily hide and then do things when they need to. I just think that no one is thinking about this right." She turned around and walked away.

--

At Christmastime, Lili was glad to be staying at Hogwarts. Draco didn't want to go home, so she was able to stay with him. She stood shaking in the snow, having not worn warm clothes outside to see Cedric off.

"Cold, Lil?" He asked.

"Yeah, I kinda thought the snow would be warmer," She giggled. Cedric smiled and took his robes off, draping them over Lili's shoulder.

"Keep this until I get back, okay?"

"Okay. Have fun."

Lili watched him go, then felt a presence beside her. She looked to see it was George. "Staying at school for the holidays, Lili?"

"Yeah. Draco doesn't want to go home so I have to stay at school. Works in my favour though. I don't really want to go home for another non-Christmas."

"Non-Christmas?"

"We've never celebrated Christmas. Not the Malfoys and not the Blacks. Most of us are in Azkaban, honestly. But we just don't do anything for it. I've never actually gotten a Christmas present?"

"Really? Not even a scarf?"

"Not even a scarf. Draco normally gets something though. He's the favourite, I'm not. Sometimes I wonder if I would be the favourite if I was born first, but I don't think that would be the case."

"Well then," George wrapped Lili in a hug, making her blush deeply. "I guess I'll have to get you your first ever Christmas present, won't I?"

--

Lili walked to the Hufflepuff common room, feeling small in Cedric's robes. She sat on her bed, then noticed that there was a folded up piece of paper on her pillow. It smelled...familiar. She picked it up and opened it.

'I have a present for you. Meet me in the Astronomy Tower. G.'

Lili felt herself melt. He'd gotten her a present. Her first ever present. Lili knew that if Cedric was here, he wouldn't leave her alone. She decided to leave immediately, guessing that it must have been left much earlier for her to not see him.

--

"George?" Lili called out, walking up the steps to the Tower. "George? You up here?"

"Got my note, I see?" George was sitting on the ground, a wrapped present in front of him. Lili blushed.

"Yes. It was very nice. Is...is that for me?"

"Mmhmm." He pushed the present forward. "Open it."

Lili gave him a look and then sat down across from him, taking the wrapping apart to reveal a box. Taking the lid off the box, Lili found a headband. She looked up at him and smiled.

"You're always wearing headbands to keep your hair out of your face. I thought the black one was a little bit out of place so when I found that one, I thought of you."

Lili leaned forward and kissed George on the cheek, not noticing the blush that crossed the boy's cheek. She took her black headband out and slipped the new one on, moving around to display it for George.

"How do I look?"

"Stunning."

They both sat and blushed.