The Hogwarts train was making its way through a winter wonderland back to King's Cross station. A soft blanket of white snow covered the grounds as far as the eye could see. The lakes were frozen solid and families could be seen donning ice skates and dragging sleds up nearby slopes. The windows of the train were trimmed with ice and snow.
Inside, the students were comfortably warm, playing games and snacking on pumpkin pastries and bertie botts every flavored beans. In a cart to themselves sat Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Luna Lovegood. While conversation had ensued early on during the ride, it had significantly dwindled. Hermione was knitting more elf-sized hats for S.P.E.W. Luna was mesmerized by an article in the quibbler detailing a newly invented spell that would make unicorns talk. And Ginny was staring out the window with her pygmy puff in her lap.
So much had happened during the past few months. The war ended only seven months ago, and yet it seemed like an eternity. So much had changed and the chaos of rebuilding the wizarding community from a state of fear and devastation had taken it's toll on everyone. No one was innocent anymore. The majority of her own classmates had been her comrades in battle and everyone had lost someone.
The train ride home for the holidays was typically a happy time; one filled with joyful anticipation for family reunions and festivities. This trip held the old anticipation mixed with sadness and anxiety. It was their first Christmas without Fred….but she couldn't think about that. Not here. Her friends were wonderful and supportive. Especially Hermione, whom she had the opportunity of becoming closer to since she alone returned for her final year at Hogwarts. They had their seventh year classes together. So it wasn't for fear of her friends seeing her upset that kept Ginny from her feelings. They were nearing King's Cross and she didn't want her family to see her for the first time in months with a tear streaked face.
"We're nearly there." Hermione said, putting her knitting away in a bag and pulling Crookshanks onto her lap. Crookshanks had stayed with the Weasleys during the war, but Hermione was happy to have him with her once more.
"That went by much faster than usual." Ginny remarked, standing to stretch.
"It's because the trains have been charmed with an essence from dragons to make them go faster. It was all over the last issue of the quibbler." Luna said matter-of-factly. No one so much as stifled a giggle. Luna was always unique, believing in things that seemed outlandish. But that was just a part of the optimistic, sweet and honest friend they had come to treasure. Hermione still challenged her ideas from time to time, but this was not one of them.
"Are they here? Do you see them?" Ginny asked, her nose pressed to the icy window as the train pulled into the station.
"There's no use trying to look out now. It's started snowing again." Hermione said, pulling her trunk from the overhead rack.
"Let's not go without seeing each other over break." Ginny said to Luna; Hermione would be spending the majority of the time at the Burrow.
"No, of course not. We can meet at this great little pub in town. Harry and your brothers are welcome too, of course. A lot of the old crowd gets together there. It's no three broomsticks, but it's very cozy all the same." Luna suggested.
The three of them descended the steps of the train, said their last goodbyes, then went in search of their families. The snow was falling quicker and sticking to the wooden deck in awkward clumps. Hermione quickly cast an enchantment on the luggage to make it float behind them so they would not have to struggle with it against the icy wood. The crowds were thick and it was difficult to squeeze through. They had all but given up on finding the Weasleys when a familiar voice spoke up from behind them.
"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you two!" Ginny spun around with a grin on her face.
"George!" She yelled with delight, launching herself onto him with a big hug. "I missed you!"
"Jeeze, Ginny. I've only got one good ear! D'you want to make me completely deaf?" Despite his words, George had a teasing tone as he patted her on the back. "You alright there, Hermione?"
"Yes; crookshanks is just a little heavy is all. I think I need to switch him to a healthier diet." Hermione said, struggling with her squirming cat. It wasn't common for Crookshanks to enjoy being held.
"We better get you two loaded up. Wait till you see what Dad's done." George said with a wink.
Ginny smiled. George was like a ghost for months after Fred's death. He still had frequent bad days; so she was always overjoyed to see her brother in good spirits.
"Speaking of, where is everyone?" Hermione asked, looking around for the rest of the Weasley clan.
"Hermione! You wound me. Is my presence not enough?" George asked with an expression of false hurt.
"Oh, you know what I mean!" Hermione fussed, turning a deep shade of red.
"Well, mum is still preparing the house. With the family growing, she's worried about where to put everyone. I don't see why though; it's not that much different from any other year. Everyone else had work. In fact, Ron and Harry send their apologies. They would have come themselves if they weren't so tied up with training at the moment." George explained.
"You saw them recently? They've sounded really busy lately." Ginny was surprised.
"Yeah, I went to London to see Percy for a bit and happened to catch them at the Ministry. They get some time off for Christmas starting tomorrow." George said, stopping in front a burgundy minivan.
"Oh not again." Hermione was bemused.
"Oh yes again. He was so happy to get his hands on it." George's laugh was so good to hear as he loaded their luggage in the trunk. "Well, pile in my dears. We mustn't keep mother waiting!"
They all climbed into the car. Ginny fumbled with the muggle radio while George drove to a more secluded spot. There, he pushed the button for the invisibility booster and in moments they were in the air. Ginny was thrilled, but Hermione looked a little green from her place in the back seat. She had never really adjusted to flying. Crookshanks had an absolute fit, and in a rare moment, he wouldn't remove himself from Hermione's lap.
Within a few minutes they landed in front of the burrow, where Mrs. Weasley came running from the kitchen.
"George Weasley! You did NOT fly that car from the train station!" She scolded as Crookshanks bolted from the car, happily landing in the yard. George mustered a guilty expression and she chuckled. "You could at least try to be a little more ashamed of yourself." She said, slightly defeated as she pulled the girls in for welcoming hugs.
"I prefer to put my energy into things more worthwhile." George waved his hand, retreating into the house; the luggage floating behind him.
"He seems to be doing so much better." Ginny said, the relief clear on her face.
"He has good days and bad days, dear. But this does seem to be a good streak for him. I think he might reopen the shop soon." Mrs. Weasley replied with a hopeful voice. "How are you, Hermione?"
"Oh, I am doing well; it's been great being back in school. It beats last years activities, anyway." Hermione shrugged.
"You girls must be famished. They feed you nothing but junk on that train. Come inside. I've made dinner and Arthur just got home." With her arms around both girls, she lead them inside the kitchen.
Arthur Weasley was a tall, balding man. He looked older, a little more worn and tired. He smiled, none the less, happy to see his daughter and the young woman who had been in the family since her younger school days. "Ginny, Hermione, you girls look beautiful. How was the train?" he asked as Ginny planted a kiss on his cheek and Hermione settled in the chair next to him.
"Oh you know, long. A little dull. The scenery was beautiful though." Hermione answered.
"Ah yes. The winter was my favorite time to travel as a kid. The world gets a little more quiet- thank you, molly." He said as she placed a dinner plate in front of him. "So, how is school going for you two?"
"Awful. The workload is insane." Ginny grumbled.
"They're just trying to prepare us for N.E.W.T.s." Hermione reminded her.
"Yes, well if it wasn't for Hermione helping me study, I'd have fallen behind by now," Ginny smiled at her.
"I can't imagine it's very easy when you're captain of the quidditch team too." George said, taking a big bite of chicken.
"I love being captain. We're having an amazing season this year. We've only played against Hufflepuff so far, but we won that match. Ravenclaw is the threat this year though." Ginny said grimly.
"It's actually very impressive. They have it down to a science. They've calculated every play down to specific angles based on the statistical likelihood of how the other team will play and respond." Hermione added
"I didn't think you were one for sports." George said.
"I'm not. The Ravenclaw team is just interesting to watch." She shrugged.
"Well, they are a challenge. That's for sure. They've won their match against Slytherin. If we can manage to beat them this year and win the cup, I'm trying out for the Holyhead Harpies next summer." Ginny had a gleam in her eyes.
"Oh no you're not. Quidditch is not a stable career. You certainly can't do it forever, and at some point you might want to settle down and have children." Mrs. Weasley told her.
"Oh mum, that won't be for ages." Ginny groaned. "Besides, there's good money in quidditch."
"If you make it big and stay on for a few seasons!" Her mother reminded her. Ginny opened her mouth to argue but they were interrupted by the sound of the front door. Percy walked through the door, his windblown hair covered in snow.
"It's getting pretty bad out there." Percy said, brushing the snow off his jacket. "Oh, Ginny, Hermione….I didn't know you were coming home today. I would've tried to leave work early."
"You wouldn't have, and now you don't have to feel guilty about it." Ginny teased him as she greeted him with a slightly awkward hug. Percy sat down between George and Mrs. Weasley.
"How are things at the ministry?" Hermione asked.
"Things are actually getting a lot better. I don't agree with all of his methods, but Kingsley has proven to be great for getting everything in order. It's awful trying to get in and out though. There are extra security measures still in place." Percy answered rubbing his tired eyes.
"Still? What for?" Ginny asked.
"They're still doing trials for death eaters and people suspected of being death eaters. Some of them are fairly resigned now that Voldemort is dead, but there was an incident a few weeks ago." Arthur explained.
"An incident? I haven't read anything in the paper about that." Hermione said.
"Yes, well people are still nervous. The war wasn't even a year ago. They don't want to cause a panic by reporting things that don't seem necessary." Percy told her.
"If you ask me, people have a right to know." Mrs. Weasley grumbled.
"They have a great lead on the man and no one even got hurt." Arthur assured her.
"What happened?" Ginny asked.
"They were bringing in a known death eater. He fought the Aurors who detained him and stole a wand before he got away. They're keeping a lookout for him now, but I imagine he'll be keeping a low profile in the meantime." Arthur explained.