The Last Christmas Keeperoliver Chapter 7

Once Hermione was home after her encounter with the two children she met today, she began to think back on the young girls talk. She talked like a three or four year most of the time, but she talked like an eleven year old at other times, and that confused her. She wanted to talk to her mum about it, but didn't know how to approach the subject.

She would like to have talked with them some more, but, it doesn't look like she would ever see them again.

TLC-}

Luna was concerned about her talk with Hermione. "Harry, don't you think I should have told Hermione the truth bout me? I felt like an idiot talking like a baby. I think I may have slipped a couple of times while talking to her."

"Did she say anything about it Sis. She didn't look like she thought anything about it while we were there. And where did that thing with the hair come from?"

"I just thought I would do a little magic to impress her. Nothing much, and she didn't even realize it was magic. Neither did Sally. It was simple, really. I just used a charm for moist heat to manage her hair, and form it the way I thought it should look."

"Well you certainly impressed the Secretary. She was glowing after seeing what you did for her appearance. You could probably open a shop up right now and make a killing with the ladies. You might want to tone it down a bit. If too many people hear about it, you won't be able to go outside and not be hit with a request to fix someones hair."

"I know it was silly of me to do it, but I needed something to break the ice with Hermione, and her hair was a good way to start. I wasn't expecting the secretary to want me to do hers also. Not to change the subject, but do you think Sirius will be able to get us in school with Hermione?"

"Knowing dad, he will. He can sweet talk a baby to give him it's bottle. I wish there was a way to get you and Ginny to go to school the same time we do. I also wonder if maybe Draco and Neville would want to go?"

"Do you think you could skip a year before you go to school, then we could all go together?"

"What about Hermione though? She wouldn't skip a year of eduction. She is looking forward to going to school."

"Well then what about testing Ginny and I for early admission?"

"That may work. I will have to talk to mum and your mum to see what they think. There has to some way for all of us to go together."

TLC-}

Harry got his mum, Selena and Molly to test Ginny and Luna for school, and they passed the test, allowing them to enter school a year early.

That was two years ago, and now they were in their third year. The group got along so well, that they seen together all the time. They even had some of the other students join their group. There were other groups as well, and not all of them were good. One of the groups was led by Piers Polkiss. He was bigger than the other students, and bullied them for their lunch money. He didn't fear any one, except for Harry's group. He tried on several occasions to bully them, but he always ended up with the short stick somehow.

One such occasion was when he found Hermione alone after leaving the Girls lav. Him and his friends cornered her, and started to threaten her if she didn't give them her money. It just so happened that Ginny and Luna walked out of the Lav at that time, and Luna wiggled her fingers, and Piers pants fell down to his ankles, causing him to trip and fall into his friends. Hermione was able to make her escape , and join her friends.

She looked to Luna and Ginny, "I wonder what caused his pants to fall. Not that I minded, it was just lucky they did. Some things that happen with us seem so strange, like it was someone watching over, protecting us?"

Ginny smiled in return, "Maybe there is someone watching over us. I don't mind having a little help when it is needed. Do you, Hermione?"

"If you want to know the truth, no, I don't mind at all. It makes me feel special, like having a personal body guard."

Luna giggled at this, and wiggled her fingers, "Maybe it's magic that is helping us when we need it."

Ginny giggled as well, "Or maybe voodoo."

Hermione laughed at this, and made her own comment, "I like the magic part better than the voodoo thought. Just thinking of voodoo dolls and pins sends shivers down my spine. Then there's the snakes. Yuck Ginny, now you got me feeling all yucky. Thanks a lot."

Ginny laughed, "Happy to be of service there Hermione."

They walked back to the classroom together hand in hand laughing.

When Harry and Draco learned what Piers had done, they made sure that the girls would never walk alone again. Either Harry, Draco, Ron or Neville would be with them.

One of the girls that joined their group was Susan Bones. Susan was different than the other girls who joined, and Harry knew why. She knew she was a witch, but didn't know about anyone else being magical. For some reason, she took to the others right from the start, and it helped her cover up the fact that she knew magic. She didn't have to use it. In the past she had to stop a boy from teasing her with a spell, and it got her in trouble with her mum and dad. She was told not to use magic around muggles, it was forbidden, and her Aunt would find out. Being in charge of the MLE in the ministry, Amelia was even more strict with her niece, than with other children.

Susan knew there was something about her friends, that was different, but couldn't quite place it. Then one week end, Harry asked the group of friends over for a get together, and maybe play some games. He didn't ask every one from the group over, but he included her in on the invite, which she was pleased to accept. In all, eight people would be there, Harry, Luna, Ginny, Hermione , Herself, Neville, Draco, and Ron. She was happy that Neville was going to be there, as she liked his shyness. It made him look mysterious. Draco and Ron were egotistical. They were so full of them selves. She liked them, but sometimes they made her so angry, she could just spit flames. Harry was a different character all together. He just didn't seem to fit in with this school thing for some reason. Like he was smarter than even the teachers. His grades were always second only to Hermione's. Susan felt that he was holding back to make Hermione feel better. Then there was the way that Polkiss always shied away when Harry walked near him. She never saw Polkiss back down from anyone, except for Harry. It didn't stop him from trying to bully the others in their group, but, somehow the tables were always turned on him and his gang.

Others in the group didn't feel right either. Luna was the first that came to mind. She was funny, delightful, mischievous, and friendly. What was strange was the way she saw things in a different light. She never spoke ill of anyone, but, in the two times she saw Luna mad, she was frightening. She thought one time one of Piers friends was going fry under her blazing eyes, when he tripped a first year on purpose. Then she let loose with her tirade of colorful words that had the bully crawling away. Funny now that she thinks about it, but scary at the moment it happened.

Ginny's temper was one for the books. She never wanted to get Ginny mad at her, for any reason. She was loyally fierce, competitive, strong of mind and body, and smart to boot. Not Hermione smart, but smart none the less. For some reason, Ginny took to Susan from the start. She liked the friendship she shared with the other red headed female of the group.

Susan was dropped of at #12, and looked up at the home, and shuddered. The place looked spooky. All Susan could think of was the muggle tele show called the Adamms Family. She started to walk toward the house, when she heard someone call her name. She turned and saw every one in the park across the street.

When she got to them, Harry told her how they just used this address for school purposes. They actually lived thirty miles away. They then went to the car that Sirius owned, and piled in. The ride was quicker than Susan would have imagined, and when she got out, she saw Harry's home, and loved what she saw. It was more than a cottage. The brick walls were covered with Ivy, and the path to the door was lined with flowers. Two large rose bushes covered the windows.

Once inside, she was even more amazed at the comfortable feeling the house shared with it's occupants.

It was large, but not extravagantly so.

They were led to the kitchen, and they took a seat to be comfortable while Harry served them something to drink. Then he said something that made her look up sharply, "I know this is going to sound strange, but there are two here that need to know something about this group, and I think one of them already knows what I am about to say is true. Don't you Susan?" he turned to her as he said this.

She looked taken back, "What are you talking about Harry? I have no idea what you are about to say."

He smiled back at her, "No you don't, but once I say it, you will agree with it. Now the one who has no idea what I will be talking about is you Hermione."

Now it was Hermione's turn to look confused. "OK Harry, what are you talking about? You are starting to scare me with all this secrecy."

"It is time I told you both about who we really are. Like I said, Susan is already aware of it. Susan, what can you tell me of wands?"

Susan's eyes became the size of her saucer under her tea cup. "A wand? What would I know of wands. Harry?"

"Because you will own one in four years. Yes Susan, I know you are a witch, as is Ginny, Luna, and Hermione."

Hermione almost fell out of her chair. "What the bloody hell are you talking about Harry? Why are you insulting me like this?"

"I am not insulting you Hermione. I am telling you the truth. Haven't you ever done anything you couldn't explain? Say you wanted something so bad that it just ended up in your hands? Or some one making you so mad you wanted something to happen to him or her?"

Hermione blushed at this, as both of these things happened to her. She wanted to cry at the way Harry was treating her. But then Luna did something that caused her to understand what he was talking about. Luna took her spoon, and changed it to a handkerchief, and handed it to Hermione. She did this with out a wand.

Susan was taken back by this gesture, wandless controlled magic was hard to do, and she did it easily.

Harry continued, "You see Hermione, Luna is not afraid to know the truth. Neither should you. What you knew before, is all about to change. Mum, dad, you can come in now."

Lily and Sirius walked in, with smiles on their faces. There was someone else with them that Susan knew. Minerva McGonagall, deputy headmistress of Hogwarts. Now she knew for a fact that Harry was telling them the truth.

Minerva introduced herself to Hermione, and told her that what Harry said was true. To prove her point, Minerva changed into her cat Animagus form, and jumped up into her lap. Hermione laughed at this, no longer afraid of what Harry had told her. She stroked Minerva's back for a minute before the cat jumped off of her lap and changed back.

Lily then pulled her wand out, and handed it to Hermione. "Hermione, I want you to hold this wand, and concentrate on needing light to read in the dark. Then I want you to say Lumos. OK! Good, now go ahead and try."

Hermione held the wand out and concentrated on needing light. "Lumos." and the wand tip glowed a bright white casting a light on the table her arms rested on. She brought the tip of the wand up to her face to see what caused to glow, but saw no bulb, and felt no heat. It was as if the wood itself was the light. "How do you put it out?"

"Just say NOX, it will go out."

"NOX!" and the tip quit glowing. All she saw was the wood tip. Hermione stared at the tip for a minute, then started to hand the wand back to Lily, when she called out, "Lumos!" once more, and the tip glowed as bright as before. Then "NOX!" and the glow stopped. "Sorry, I just had to prove to myself that it was me in fact doing this."

Lily laughed at her comment, "Don't worry yourself about it Hermione. You'll get used to it."

"Is that all it can do? I saw Luna change a spoon into a handkerchief before you came in, but, she didn't have a wand."

"Really now. Is this true Miss Lovegood?" Minerva asked.

Rather than say anything, Luna just changed the handkerchief back into the spoon. "It's true Miss McGonagall."

"Is there anyone else who can do this?"

Harry looked around, "I don't know about Susan, but all the rest of us can. Except for Hermione that is."

"Miss Bones, can you do wandless magic?"

Susan took the spoon that Luna just had and tried to change it, but failed. "No Professor."

"Draco, Neville, Ron and Ginny, you are all capable of wandless magic?"

Draco concentrated on the cup in front of him and raised it up to his lip magically and took a sip, then put it back down.

Neville took his saucer and broke it. The he looked at it, and it repaired itself. He was put in his place though. Lily looked at him with a stern expression, "You're lucky that worked young man."

Neville blushed, but smiled, "Yes Lily."

Ron put his hands behind his head and raised him and his chair up off the ground. He started to lower himself down, when he was stopped, then he was spun around so fast, he fell off his chair. He drunkenly got up Dizzy from the spin. He looked over at Ginny who was admiring her fingernails. "Ginny."

"What Ronald?"

Ron just laughed, "Show off."

"I have no idea what you are talking about Ron."

Minerva laughed at the brother and sister, "Very impressive, what about you Harry?"

"OH, I'm not into showing off like others around here." He had to protect himself from the five spoons that began to attack him. The shield he raised stopped the blows they were trying to inflict on him.

Susan and Hermione were laughing at the six friends of theirs.

"Well, I must say, this has been an enlightening afternoon. I have something to look forward to in four years. Because of this show you put on, all of you will be receiving your letters at that time." Looking at Ginny and Luna she said, "All of you."

Ginny and Luna clapped their hands together and then slapped each others hands congratulating each other. The group would stay together for the next eleven years, at least.

Minerva took her leave, and the group with Lily and Sirius had lunch, talking over what just took place.

When Lily told Molly what happened, she became so excited, she came through the floo, and pulled her youngest into a hug that turned Ginny's face purple, "Mum, suffocating here." she gasped out.

Molly slackened her grip, but did not break it. "My little baby will be going with everyone else to school. I'm so proud of you all."

Harry, Ron, Draco and Neville got up and backed away from the table, before they got the Ginny treatment. They all knew the grip of Molly's hugs.

Unfortunately, Susan and Hermione didn't until that moment. Their eyes bulged out from the squeeze that was put on them. When they were released, they both sucked in large amounts of air to catch their breaths. Susan glared over in the boys direction and vowed they would pay for this. Molly then took Ginny and Ron home, and Susan used the floo and went home herself. Draco and Neville stayed there for the evening.

TLC-}

Another year passed, and the group was closer than ever as they got together every weekend. Susan and Hermione had learned a few spells wandlessly.

Piers was still up to his old tricks, but now he was stood up to by the rest of the school, and it became tough for him to scare any of the students. He didn't bother any of Harry's friends, as he always ended up regretting it for some reason.

Harry thought of his cousin, and wondered why Piers was here often. His old memory of this group was of Dudley and Piers playing Get Harry. Something must have happened to cause him to move.

One weekend with the group, Harry decided to call Dudley to see what happened. When he asked Dudley about it, he received a large laugh from the other end of the connection.

"You wouldn't believe it Harry, but he thought that I would join his group of thugs and rule the school. I beat him and his friends up so bad, they had to move. His parents called me a ruffian, for beating up their precious child. When they called the authorities to complain, the answer they got was the kicker. They told them it was about time someone stood up to the brat. They were gone within a week. Is he there with you now?"

"Yes, and he hasn't changed one bit. Now though, the students are banding together and not putting up with his crap. Hey listen Duds, we need to get together one of these weekends and do something together. Maybe take in a movie, go bowling or go kick Piers arse. You know something fun."

Dudley laughed at his cousin and his sense of humor. "I would like that Harry. How's red doing?"

"Which one, there are three of them now?"

"Three? All girls?"

"Na, one guy, Ron. Ginny and Susan are the girls."

"Susan? Is she new?"

"We've known her for quite a while now. She is great though Dudley. Feisty as Ginny, Smart as Hermione, almost. Sneaky as Draco. Strong as Neville, and I think she likes him too. As cunning as Ron. And as devious as me. In other words, perfect. Plus her aunt is head of the MLE in the Ministry. This helps when we get in trouble with under age magic."

"So Draco and Neville are still with you. I pity the school where you are going Cuz. It must be a mess. Hey listen, I got to go. I gt soccer practice in about half an hour. Say hello to them all, and tell Susan I look forward to meeting her, and Tell Hermione the same."

"I will D. have a good practice, and hope you make the starters."

"IN the bag Cuz. See ya." and Dudley hung up.

"Susan, Hermione, my cousin told me to tell you hi, and he can't wait to meet you. Draco, Neville, he told me to tell you to stay out of trouble. Ron he told me to tell you to make sure they do. Luna and Ginny he told me to ask you when you were going out on a date with him."

Luna looked to Ginny and she looked back at Harry, "Why would he ask that? I didn't know he was interested?"

Ginny looked up and said, "I'm not, thank you. I have another five or six years to go before I think about dating. Mum would scalp me if she even though I was thinking of boys right now, or for the next who knows how long."

Ron couldn't hold it back, "Come on Gin, you know mum would be OK with it, if the right guy asked you out."

"Ron shut it if you know what is good for you."

"But you know it's true."

It took Ron fifteen minutes to get his lips to open back up and his mouth to work properly.

Ginny just huffed as she cast the spell that locked Ron's lips and jaw in place.

TLC-}

Harry got up one morning, and made his way to the bathroom, where he saw his mum leaning over the toilet vomiting yesterdays dinner. "Mum, are you OK?"

Lily tried to look up, but the moment she did, she was back over the toilet again. Rather than try to look up, she spoke over the bowl, which caused an echo in the room. "I'm sorry Harry. I have been meaning to tell you this. You're going to be a brother."

"You mean I'm going to have a sister?"

"It's possible it could be a boy Harry. Don't you want a brother?"

"Well, ya, that would be fine I guess, but, a sister would be better."

"Why?"

"Too many boys in the family, and not enough girls."

"Well, what ever the out come, he or she will be loved. Go tell your dad I need him would you sweetheart."

"Sure mum."

Sirius ran into the room just as Lily let loose with another volley. That got Sirius going, and he joined her at the bowl. "Yuck, I know I didn't eat anything that tasted this bad going down."

Without looking up Lily just said "Tell me about it. I swear, things are leaving me, I never even knew I ate."

It took a bit, but finally they were both able to get up, and maybe go a while before they revisited the throne room.