Since the ball was on a Friday, it was now Monday and Lavender and Pansy hadn't gotten any better. This necessarily was not a bad thing for Ophelia and Hermione, as everyone was still laughing about the incident and probably would be for a while. Everyone also hated the two girls after what they did at the ball. How could people like them want to ruin two really great girls' lives by trying to steal their men? Everyone was disgusted and it was one of those times that brought everyone together and there was nothing bad happening. It was currently Monday morning at breakfast and Draco no longer sat at the Slytherin table. Instead, his friends Theodore and Blaise joined them at the Gryffindor table. People were realizing that it was perfectly okay to sit at other tables with their friends. Over the past few months, all the houses tables were mix-matched. Slytherins were sitting at other tables and everyone was getting along perfectly. Everyone had even decided to disassociate themselves from Lavender and Pansy because of their little stunt.  The two girls are going to be in for a shock when they got back from the hospital wing. 

It was currently a few weeks before winter break and the new group of friends was excited. Ophelia already knew what kind of gift she was going to get Draco. She was going to get him something related to Quidditch or of their house. Ophelia is thinking about writing to his mother to ask what Draco would like. Ophelia smiled as she played with her necklace Draco gave her. She sighed as she works on her potions essay that was assigned earlier today in the Library. Ophelia has found herself spending more time in there so she could spend more time with her Gryffindor friends. Ophelia loves to be around Hermione especially. When the two girls put their brains together they are unstoppable. 

Ophelia sighed and rubbed her face. She wasn't having a hard time writing this essay, but it was starting to become time-consuming. She laid her head down on top of her arms and closed her eyes for a few minutes. This usually helps Ophelia take a few minutes to relax and clear her mind to get back in focus. Without her knowledge, her friends and boyfriend had been hiding in the kitchen with the elves creating the biggest surprise for her. Draco has been waiting for this day for months. He made Ophelia seem he forgot her special day. Ophelia's birthday is next weekend, also the beginning of winter break. Draco, Harry, Hermione, Ronald, Theo, and Blaise were all planning a huge birthday party for Ophelia. They were going to invite the families of all the friends, but be wary of Draco's father. They all knew the situation and Ophelia was the one Voldemort wanted alive. They all agreed to never let anything happen to her, whether it was from death eaters and Voldemort to Pansy and Lavender.   

The group had decided that the planners for Ophelia's big day would be Hermione and Draco, as they knew the most about Ophelia than the others. Draco said that the color scheme should be Slytherin colors. He thought it only made sense. Hermione decided to agree with him because one, there was no point arguing with him, and two there wasn't any point in making the party about the Gryffindor friends because they liked their colors better. Of course, Harry and Ronald disagreed, but Ginny put some sense into them. Ophelia was not a Gryffindor and it only made sense to use the colors: silver, green, grey, and black. The girls decided that they would take Ophelia shopping for a dress for her birthday, but they were having trouble finding an excuse to take her out to Diagon Alley. Draco decided that he would owl his mother for her opinion and to see if she could possibly help us. Draco sent the letter out not too long ago, so they were expecting a response from Narcissa in about a day at least. 

Also for the party, the group decided that they would ask Molly Weasley to cook. Ronald, Harry, and Hermione have all talked to the Weasley's about Ophelia and the Slytherin group. They seem to be fine with the group as long as Draco and anyone else who had been rude to them before apologized sometime before the party. Draco was fine with it and Blaise decided he will as well if he had done anything wrong to them, he just can't remember. 

For the party, Draco's job is to get the decorations ready. Hermione and Ginny's job is to take Ophelia dress shopping because they will be having a dinner party at the Weasley's home that next weekend. It is a Christmas dinner party, but it is also for Ophelia. Mrs. Weasley's job is to make the food, dinner, and dessert. Blaise is the one escorting Ophelia to the Weasley's. Once everything is needed for the party, everyone except for Blaise and Ophelia will be at the party helping set up and cook. All Draco has to do now is get Ophelia to discreetly tell him what her favorite food and desserts are. 

Draco was walking around the school. He knew for sure Ophelia was in the Library at the moment working on homework. He made his way to the library and just as he thought, Ophelia had her head buried in books. He saw her rub her face in frustration and he knew she needed him at that moment. He carefully walked up to her while her head was on top of her books. He rubbed her back softly and Ophelia smiled. 

"Draco. Hello darling." Ophelia sighed as Draco took a seat next to her. Ophelia smiled toward her boyfriend and put her head on his shoulder. Draco started to rub her arms and put his chin on top of her head.

"How's your day going, beautiful?" Ophelia smiled at the nickname.

"It was going by fine, but I'm struggling to pay attention to my homework." Ophelia sighed and Draco decided he was going to try and help his girlfriend.

"Well, what's the homework darling?" Draco asked while scooting closer to her.

"Divination." Draco chuckled and looked at her paper.

"Ah, never liked that one. What do you have to do?"

"Write a two paged paper on whatever is on the sheet." Draco nodded and sighed.

"Well, maybe in order to get you to concentrate more, we need to have you do something else for a little bit. Take a break." Ophelia thought about it for a moment and gave a small smile.

"I suppose a break wouldn't hurt. What did you have in mind." Draco smiled and stood.

"Let's go on a walk around the grounds, then maybe you can get back to doing your homework love." Ophelia blushed at the nickname and stood, gathering her things in the process.

"Alright darling, sounds great." Ophelia put everything in her bag then walked out with Draco. Draco and Ophelia held hands as they made their way around the grounds. Their first stop was the black lake. They sat on the grass and Ophelia put her head on Draco's shoulder, sighing in content. Draco knew this was his chance to ask Ophelia what her favorite food and desserts were.

"Hey, Ophelia?" Ophelia hummed in response. 

"I can't remember if you told me or not? But what's your favorite food?" Ophelia smiled and looked up at him.

"Beef Stroganoff with rice instead of the noodles. Why do you ask?" Draco had to think of something quick.

"Ugh. I owe the twins five galleons each. I told them I thought your favorite food was spaghetti with marinara sauce, but they said you might like something else. And if I was wrong, I had to pay them five galleons each, but if they were wrong they paid me five galleons each." Draco was sweating from how nervous he was. He was afraid that Ophelia might catch onto his lie. Instead, Ophelia gave him a small chuckle. 

"Why did they even bet on my favorite food?" Draco's eyes went wide as he thought of an excuse.

"Well, they're the twins? What don't they bet on." Ophelia shrugged and hummed her reply. Ophelia bought the lie. Now that that was over, he just had to figure out her favorite dessert. He thought it was chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. He swore that's what she liked.

"Hey, Ophelia?" Another hum came from Ophelia.

"By any chance, is your favorite dessert chocolate cake with cream cheese icing?" Ophelia chuckled.

"Yes. Let me guess, another bet?" Draco mumbled a victorious yes but cleared his throat.

"Yes, but I was right this time. So it evens out." Draco kissed her forehead and they stared out at the lake. After about a half-hour it was time for dinner. The couple made their way back to the castle and sat with their friends. Hermione leaned toward Draco when Ophelia wasn't listening.

"So, what were her answers?" Draco looked back at Ophelia to make sure she wasn't listening when he spoke.

"Beef stroganoff with rice instead of noodles, and chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. She also loves mint chocolate chip ice cream." Hermione thanked me quickly as Ophelia had turned to look at me. We smiled at one another and finished dinner. We all parted for the night, and Ophelia and I were holding hands on our way to the common room. Ophelia and Draco headed to his bedroom for the night. Draco let her get changed first in his room, and once she was ready he entered. He smiled at her and kissed her head as she got into bed. Draco quickly got changed into new boxers and night shorts. As they got settled into bed, Ophelia laid on Draco's chest and Draco wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her head one last time before speaking.

"Goodnight, my darling." Ophelia smiled and hugged Draco.

"Goodnight, my love." They then fell into a deep sleep.

Narcissa Malfoy had received a letter in handwriting she didn't recognize. And because of that, Lucius didn't bother opening it. Narcissa entered her tea room and opened the letter.

'Dear Mrs. Malfoy,

You are cordially invited to the birthday dinner for Ophelia Zabini at the Weasley household. The date will be on Saturday the 25th of December at 4:00 pm. 

You may make a small dish if you desire to. Dinner will be Beef Stroganoff with Rice, and dessert will be Chocolate Cake with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger.' 

Narcissa smiled at the invitation. Obviously Lucius would not be attending as he hates the Weasley's. Narcissa decided she would speak to an old friend to lie for her for that evening. 

Mrs. and Mr. Zabini also received a letter in an unknown handwriting. 

'Dear Mr. and Mrs. Zabini,

You are cordially invited to the birthday dinner for Ophelia Zabini at the Weasley household. The date will be on Saturday the 25th of December at 4:00 pm.

You may make a small dish if you desire to. Dinner will be Beef Stroganoff with Rice, and dessert will be Chocolate Cake with Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger.' 

The couple smiled at the invitation and obviously knew they were going to go. It was their daughter's birthday after all. The other families were also given an invitation, and they decided that there was going to be a tent put up outside the Weasley household just for the occasion. They would enchant the area to be heated and make sure the decorations were all set. Everyone knew red or green was Ophelia's favorite colors, so it fits well with the Christmas theme. Everything was getting set up on time and being perfected.

What could possibly go wrong?