Time and Again
Author's Note: Bah. I'm barely hanging on to this story's continuity so let me know if you see anything too strange. Next chapter should be up in about a week. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
And to whoever it was who reviewed and said the chapters weren't short. Well, this is what I like to call a decently sized one. And no that doesn't mean I just made the Ron/Hermione bit twice as long. If anything the Harry/Tom bit's twice as long... and full of goodness.
Chapter 9 - Christmas
December 1944
Since the blow up after the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw game (after which the other sixth year boys had set all of Harry's things on fire, including his bed), Harry had become closer friends with Abe, Mihail and Etienne. It had caused a division in the dorm, and in the Tower. Abe was adamant that he would never again speak to the other boys. It reminded Harry of all the times he and Ron had gotten into long arguments over things.
It wasn't all bad, though. After a long discussion with the Headmaster and their head of house, a second sixth year Gryffindor boys dorm had been formed. Dippet hadn't been quite convinced that the fire wasn't in some way Harry's fault, but did agree that perhaps having eight boys share a room was a little too volatile.
But with the division of the boys came what Harry thought must have been Hogwarts' greatest ever prank war. It was on the scale of what the Weasley twins, Ginny, Ron and Harry might have accomplished against the Marauders in their heyday if such a thing were possible. It wasn't safe to sit down unless you cast a long string of spells over your seat, and you had to do that quickly because it wasn't safe to stand in any space for too long.
Unfortunately Harry bore the brunt of the curses, being wandless. He had to rely a lot on Etienne, who was the best of his three allies with a wand. He could help plan pranks, but couldn't help in carrying them out. It made him long for the Marauders' Map and for the twins and Ron and even Ginny. Every day his homesickness took on a new form. Even the pranking, which should have been more distracting than anything, just made him long to leave. Even all the time spent in the hospital wing that was so like his own didn't detract from his homesickness.
Thankfully, more people seemed to be on Harry's side than the others'. If he got caught up one of the girls was likely to get him down, and Elise would give detentions to Lev, Tony and Greg as often as she could, and reward anyone helping Harry with points. Eventually the pranks subsided, though, as it became more and more obvious how one-sided the argument was, and as the third-party casualty list grew.
Tom Riddle, Harry found, was easier to get along with when the school was hot with temper. He didn't take either side, taking points and assigning detentions whenever he saw fit. Luckily he hadn't seen fit to punish Harry with some imagined offence or other, it would have drawn even more attention to him from the teachers than he'd already gained. They saw him as the root of the problem, the instigator, and because of it he was fairly certain he wasn't going to be allowed to have a wand any time soon, no matter how much he complained that it was hampering his study. They certainly weren't going to let him have one during the height of the prank war. One wand could make a large difference.
Unfortunately, when the boys had set fire to Harry's trunk (which he didn't otherwise care about), they'd also set fire to the letters that Harry had composed to Ron and Hermione. He wanted to set fire to all of their personal things after that. He wanted to scream. He wanted to tell every single one of them exactly who he was. But he restrained himself.
He just sat down one day and wrote another letter. An honest letter to Ron and Hermione because they were the only ones he could share himself with. And sharing himself entailed sharing his whole self.
Dear Ron and Hermione,
There's no plainer way to say it than this: I'm gay. (Yes Ron that does mean I'm sexually attracted to boys, but not to you so don't worry about that.) I hate the fact that I have to tell you this in a letter you may never read. I regret not telling you in person because now you may never know, but I was just coming to terms with it myself. I wasn't ready then, but I am ready now.
Unfortunately, I only became ready after I got here in the past. That's the way the world works, I guess. When you have almost nothing of your old life to hold onto, and no way of getting back to it, it really puts everything into perspective. My sexuality is the one thing I regret not sharing, so there it is.
Hermione, of course, has probably worked out that there's a specific reason why I'm telling you both this now. It's 1944 and I'm sharing Hogwarts with war refugees and Tom Riddle himself. He, of course, isn't willing to believe that I'm a regular old evacuee, so tries to corner me at every moment. Rumours got out that we were involved (crazy, right?) and I came out to everyone here. It just doesn't seem fair that they know and you don't. They have no right to that knowledge, but you guys do. I just hope nothing about our relationship changes because of it.
Unfortunately half of the boys here haven't taken kindly to the fact that I'm gay, so I've become something of a target, and without a wand (since Riddle stole mine) there's not much I can do to protect myself. But I'm used to people saying things about me behind my back and there are a bunch of people willing to reverse any spells. I'm not entirely alone even if it feels that way sometimes because I can't be entirely honest with anyone.
You might be wondering why Voldemort never recognised me since I met him here, but the burns I got from falling into Riddle's cauldron when I arrived here are doing a good job of disguising me. I'll take a little disfiguration over being recognised any day. Seeing so much of him, I'm starting to really understand why he is who he is. Not that I condone it or anything. But I've always been able to see myself in him and lately I'm seeing more. I just hope I can figure out some way to make him less interested in me. I suppose that's too much to ask for. My life's been entwined with his ever since I was born. I'm not sure I can stay away from him.
The teachers distrust me because of my unorthodox arrival, but I can't fault them for that. This is a war that no one can deny. Other than that I'm fine.
I hope that I'm back home with you two soon. You have no idea how much I miss you and everyone and everything. Please don't worry about me. I'll be back before you know it. We'll see if you do a better job of recognising me than Voldemort did.
Love always,
Harry.
This time he didn't put the letter in his trunk. He kept it in his robe pocket, vowing that he'd take it with him and give it to Ron and Hermione himself.
x x x
"I would like to speak with you alone," Etienne said to Harry one afternoon. Harry looked around and the pair of them went into the nearest empty classroom.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked the boy who was quickly becoming his closest friend here. Harry was reminded of Hermione and how it was only after their encounter with the troll that they became friends. It had taken some time for Harry to get to trust Etienne and the rest of his new dormmates, but he hadn't regretted it yet.
"I saw you with Riddle again this morning," said Etienne.
Harry was confused. Etienne was on his side, wasn't he? "And?" he asked.
"I think there's something you should know."
Harry frowned and sat down on a desk. "I'm listening."
Etienne wrung his hands and looked away. Harry grew more concerned. Etienne didn't usually let his emotions show so obviously. He took a deep breath and began speaking. "I think you're getting in over your head."
"With Riddle?" What had they said that morning? As Harry recalled they'd had the usual argument about not wanting to talk, then Riddle had tried to get Harry to tell him something.
"Yes," Etienne said. "I'm not sure you realise what he's capable of."
"Oh I know," laughed Harry bitterly. "Murder at the very least."
Etienne paused. "I don't know what he's done to you, but you have to stop whatever revenge plan you've got cooked up. Stay away from him. He's too dangerous."
"Why?" Harry wondered. Etienne was too concerned. There had to be more to the story. "What did he do to you?" he asked once again.
For a long moment Etienne didn't answer. Finally he spoke. "It wasn't him; it was Grindelwald. And he didn't do it to me. It was my aunt."
Harry didn't say anything, urging Etienne to go on silently.
"They went to school together. And in their later years she developed a crush on him. It was more than just a crush, actually. It was an obsession. She had to be near him. Had to touch him." Etienne scowled. "He knew. He'd kiss her or sleep with her. Then he'd ignore her. It was all a game to him." Etienne sighed. "Eventually she lost reality. She insisted that he loved her. And then she got pregnant with his baby."
Harry couldn't contain his surprise, though it was the natural result of intercourse.
Etienne kept going. "That didn't sit well with him. The thought of his flesh and blood growing within my aunt's womb disgusted him. He didn't just want her to get rid of the baby. He told her to kill herself. And she did it."
The story was dark and depressing. Harry reached over and hugged Etienne. "Grindelwald has to be stopped." He felt another rush of anger against this time's Dumbledore. Why didn't he get over himself and just defeat Grindelwald?
Etienne tore himself away from Harry. "You do not understand. I did not tell you so that you would avenge her. I am warning you. I do not want that to happen to you."
Harry would have laughed if Etienne wasn't so deadly serious. "I'm not in love with Tom Riddle. There's a fat chance of that ever happening."
Etienne looked at Harry. So closely that Harry wanted to squirm away. "I think it is too late for you," he said. "I can only pray that Riddle is not as bad as he appears."
Harry frowned, not liking the idea one bit. "I don't like Riddle." So why did he feel like he was denying some part of himself every time he said it?
x x x
Harry wasn't just sure if it was because of Etienne's accusation, but he found himself increasingly aware of Riddle and himself, and their interactions. There was no way Harry could deny Riddle's attractiveness. That was part of what made him so evil. Except for what seemed to be an increasing minority of students, most people in the school were utterly enchanted by him. Riddle had this following of girls who giggled and tried to catch his attention wherever he went. And he didn't always ignore them. Like a good politician he remembered their names and treated them with respect, and made sure never to get too close.
Riddle didn't exactly have any friends, but Harry sometimes saw him talking to a group of mostly Slytherin boys. Harry could be pretty sure that they would become his first group of Death Eaters. Harry didn't want to get anywhere near them. But most of the time Riddle was alone. The only person he deliberately sought out was Harry. What was it that attracted him to Harry? It seemed it didn't matter what time they were in or how old either of them were, they just couldn't keep away from each other.
Harry was beginning to acknowledge that it was as much his fault as Riddle's when they interacted. That had never been clearer than during the debacle at the Department of Mysteries at the end of his fifth year. Harry didn't think he'd ever be able to forgive himself or Voldemort for Sirius' death. That was why Harry knew he had to stay away from Tom Marvolo Riddle.
But no matter how many times he told himself that, Harry caught himself watching Riddle whenever he saw him. He couldn't help noticing the way the light reflected off Riddle's skin, or the way the tendons in his neck moved. His skin was so pale and Harry just wanted to mar it with a love bite. He wanted to know just how pale the skin under his shirt was, and Harry found himself fixated upon Riddle's long slender fingers more often than not.
It was always the simplest things that set Harry off. Riddle would just have to point to someone while assigning detention. Or bring his fork up to his mouth. Or turn a door handle. He wanted to suck each digit into his mouth and watch to see if the expressions on Riddle's face would change. He wanted more than that. He wanted to feel those fingers where only his had gone before... and where even he had never dared intrude.
It worried Harry. He knew, beyond what Etienne had related about his aunt, that Tom Riddle would try to kill him more than once, and, well, Riddle was fifty years older than he was. Riddle could never find out about Harry feeli- thoughts. Riddle would certainly never be able to reciprocate. Harry couldn't let Riddle have anything more on him than he already did.
Harry had been in the past for a couple of months now, and Riddle had never gone more than three days without talking to him. Harry hated that he knew. Hated that he'd noticed. Because of that, Harry was torn between confusion and anticipation when he ran into Riddle a week after he'd spoken with Etienne.
"Hello Evan," greeted Riddle.
Was it Harry's imagination or did his voice sound breathier? "Yes, Riddle?"
"I've been thinking over the past week."
Being so near Riddle was agitating Harry. With a week of non-contact, he'd grown unused to talking to the Slytherin. "Just spit it out," said Harry.
Riddle darted a look left and right to make sure that no one was watching them, then quickly pressed a kiss to Harry's mouth. Before Harry even know what was happening, one of Riddle's elegant hands was tangled in his hair, the other was cupping Harry's arse, lifting him slightly so that he had no need to bend down. Then Riddle's tongue began probing Harry's mouth and the spell was broken.
Harry shoved him away, wincing as a hair or two went with Riddle. He crossed his arms over his chest and took a couple of steps away. Tom Riddle, the soon-to-be-murderer of his parents had just kissed him. Harry tried to get his breathing under control and failed. He was on the verge of a panic attack.
Why had Riddle done this now? Because Harry had come out and he'd wanted to before? Because everyone already thought they were together? Because he thought that since Harry was gay he was automatically attracted to Riddle? The only way Harry could think to play it was that Riddle wanted to use him somehow.
But Riddle had kissed him like he meant it. Harry knew now better than he ever had before, just how easily Riddle would become Voldemort, the most feared dark wizard of all. Harry had every reason to hate him, yet couldn't help but think that he would be ensnared if he stayed here much longer. He hated himself for his weakness. The weakness that would see him asking why rather than just walking away.
"What the hell was that?" asked Harry.
"A kiss of course," stated Riddle looking far too pleased with himself for someone who'd just been rejected. He clearly thought it would only be temporary. "I suppose you're familiar with them from your own time."
"Of course I know what a bloody kiss is," said Harry. "And why did you feel the need to kiss me?" Harry squeezed himself tighter so he was more hugging himself than crossing his arms.
"I've been wanting to do that since you landed in my cauldron and I got the most glorious view of your arse."
Instinctively Harry's hands flew to it, to defend it from Riddle's lechery. That was all it was. Lust. Harry couldn't control the blood that rushed to his cheeks at the thought of Riddle finding that particular body part of his attractive.
"Why now?" he asked.
Riddle shrugged. "The furore's died down. Now seemed as good a time as any."
"And what about how you said you weren't like that?"
"It's important to keep everyone guessing." Oh was that all?
"Right," said Harry, trying to regain some dignity. "Well in future, I'd appreciate it if you kept those thoughts- and your body parts- to yourself." He emphasised the point by finally getting to put one foot in front of the other, walking away still clutching his behind.
"I love it when you walk away," Riddle called after him.
Harry ran away after that, ducking around the nearest corner. More than ever Harry wished he could go home to a Voldemort who wanted to kill him. He could deal with that one.
x x x
It was winter break before long, and Harry managed to avoid Riddle. It was almost as if the other boy was giving him space, which was a puzzle in itself. One Harry didn't want to dwell to much on.
Among other things Harry didn't want to dwell on was the fact that he'd be spending winter break at Hogwarts, instead of at the Burrow with the Weasleys as he'd thought he might get to this year. Instead he, Etienne and Mihail had to make the most of their situation as Abe and the other sixth year boys all went home. He gave them all the same excuse about it being too dangerous.
The three remaining tried to do as many Christmas traditions as they were used to. They went out and got a tree together and decorated it with parchment decorations that Etienne charmed to sparkle and change colours. Harry wished he could learn that charm, but he was still wandless. He doubted that would ever be changing... not unless he could somehow use Riddle's supposed affections to get it back.
As the last Hogsmeade weekend before Christmas passed Harry by, he realised just how much of his existence was provisional to Dippet's whims. Harry didn't have access to his own vault of course, and they didn't give him any sort of allowance so he was penniless. For the first time since he turned eleven he was entirely relying upon the generosity of other people. So for the first time since he turned eleven, he was unable to buy Christmas presents.
If Dippet had seemed more sympathetic Harry would have explained the situation to him, but the headmaster seemed to care little for him. Harry couldn't really blame him. After all he had a roof over his head, clothes, a bed to sleep in, food to eat and the opportunity to learn, all for free. Why should he be given anything more than the necessities?
Harry was the most homesick he'd ever been. It didn't help that Mihail, Etienne and seemingly every other student who was staying over the break all seemed homesick as well. Harry wanted to make some huge gesture, but he knew the best he should have been able to accomplish was little presents for his dormmates. Harry knew the war would be over soon, but no one else had that luxury. He wished someone did. He had no idea when his own war in the future would end and he wished he did.
The day before Christmas Harry had his problem solved. A chance walk down the seventh floor corridor and Harry found himself trying the Room of Requirement. As he paced he begged for presents for his friends. When Harry went inside, the Room was decorated for a party. There was no food, but cheery carols were playing and taking pride of place was a gigantic Christmas tree, ten times larger than the one his roommates had found. Underneath it several brightly coloured packages. Harry read the labels and besides the ones for Etienne, Mihail and Abe, there were ones for Ron and Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna, Dean and Seamus, the rest of the Weasleys, Lupin and Tonks and Hagrid and Dumbledore. His entire Christmas list. Harry almost broke down right there. He did cry a little, he couldn't help himself. He only hoped that these presents would find their way to their intended recipients. Harry wished he could deliver them himself, but the Room's magic didn't extend that far.
Then a glint of silver caught Harry's eye. It was one more present that he'd missed in his initial inspection. It was a small silver wrapped box tied with a green bow addressed to Tom Riddle. Harry didn't think he'd wanted to give a present to him, but there it was all the same, twinkling merrily away and daring him to deny its existence. Harry's cheeks reddened in mortification. Riddle could never know that Harry had wanted to give him a present. He didn't have feelings for Riddle. No matter how good that kiss was.
Harry gathered the presents for his roommates, and tucked the extra one into his robe pocket. He couldn't leave it in here where it might get sent to its destination. Harry went straight to the Owlery to post Abe's present. He wondered if he lived in the Burrow. Harry didn't know, but he knew the owl would know regardless of how it was addressed.
As Harry made his way back to Gryffindor tower he ran into Riddle. Harry should have expected that because with fewer people in the castle, he saw Riddle more often. Most of the time Harry could easily escape from him, but the brightly wrapped presents he was holding attracted more attention. Harry reddened cheeks he tried to tell himself were from cold. He had no explanation for the tightening of his groin so he ignored that action. One of these days Harry was going to push Riddle into a boiling cauldron and see where that got him.
"What do you want?" Harry asked tiredly, hoping Riddle couldn't see the obvious bulge his present was making in Harry's pocket.
"I'm just saying hello," said Riddle. "Are those Christmas presents?"
Harry looked at Riddle as though he was an idiot for asking.
Riddle had the decency to look a little embarrassed. Harry wondered why. "Just the two?" asked Riddle. Harry could see that he was trying to read the labels from where he was. Harry wasn't sure whether he'd succeeded.
"Yes," said Harry. He wished he'd had a wand so that he'd have been able to shrink the presents so that Riddle wouldn't see them.
"And none for me," said Riddle.
"Sorry," said Harry.
"Yes," said Riddle, obviously jealous. "You will be."
Harry hoped Riddle hadn't actually been able to read the name tags. He didn't want Mihail and Etienne to be the subject of Riddle's irrational jealousy. He'd likely try to enact his revenge or something.
Riddle shoved past Harry. He was surprised he hadn't done anything more than that. It could only spell disaster for later.
x x x
On Christmas Day, Harry, Mihail and Etienne awoke with more joy in their hearts than they'd had when they'd gone to bed. The house elves had piled all their presents under their tree and Etienne took charge, handing them out. They each had one from Abe and from each other. Etienne and Mihail also had presents from their families. Mihail had one from his girlfriend, Sherman, that Etienne teased him about. They were both polite enough not to mention the fact that Harry's family hadn't sent him anything. Instead they focused on the presents Harry had gotten for them.
Etienne's present was a silver quill and inkwell set. It looked rather grandiose but was still functional. Like Etienne himself. "I've never seen anything like it before," said Etienne. There was a question in his eyes, but Harry didn't reveal his secret.
For Mihail the room had provided a charmed model of a dragonfly made of gold with ruby wings. It fluttered about and followed him around. Mihail smiled and thanked Harry. Mihail had wanted a real pet, but the Room gave as close as it was able.
From Etienne, Harry received a bag of Bertie Bott's Beans and a spinning top that whistled or blew bubbles or flashed depending on which way you spun it. From Mihail were some sugar quills and edible inks. Besides being flavoured, the inks were good for making notes on your hand or arm as they stayed in place until you licked them off, with no risk of poisoning. From Abe Harry got a a deck of exploding snap cards in a decorative case.
Harry appreciated all of his presents, but figured it was highly unlikely that he'd be able to take them with him back to the future. Luckily half the stuff was edible and could therefore be enjoyed while he was still trapped in the past.
The meals the Hogwarts elves served were suitably festive. The entire castle's mood seemed to lift as the day progressed. Everyone, it seemed, but Tom Riddle. Today the tables in the Great Hall were smaller and not arranged by house, and Riddle sat by himself, staring at Harry the entire time out of the corner of his eye. Harry wondered if he'd received any presents at all and for the first time in a while he pitied Tom Riddle.
Harry couldn't remember having transferred Riddle's present from yesterday's robes to today's (he wore robes every day now as he hadn't been given any muggle clothing), but he could feel the little box's weight in his pocket, far heavier than it had any right to be. Harry half-wondered what was in it. The rest of him had a pretty good idea, but denial seemed to be a good place to be right now. The idea terrified him. He didn't want to feel that way for Riddle. And he certainly didn't want Riddle to know.
But after lunch, Harry sent Mihail and Etienne on without him and found himself approaching Riddle. The taller boy eyed him suspiciously.
"What?" he asked.
"Uh, merry Christmas," said Harry, not knowing what else to say.
"For you, maybe," said Riddle. "I saw you over there with those Gryffindors."
Harry couldn't help but think that Riddle sounded like a petulant child. Harry stuck his hands in his pockets and fingered the box. Just because he was over here didn't mean that he had to give it to Riddle. "The day is what you make of it," said Harry. "I could have moped around about being stuck here instead of with my real friends, but I didn't."
"Is that what you think I'm doing? Moping?"
"Yes," said Harry.
"Fine," said Riddle. "Merry Christmas."
A grin stretched across Harry's face. It was absurd, really, but coming from Riddle the words actually meant something. Harry's smile widened when he realised that Riddle was actually smiling back. A change of expression really did make Riddle ten times more attractive. It really wasn't fair that one person should be so good looking and so evil. Then Harry remembered what had happened to Riddle's good looks after Wormtail resurrected him and decided that it might be fair after all. He grimaced.
"What happened to your smile?" asked Riddle, his own dropping from his face.
"Nothing," said Harry, forcing himself to grin again.
"That's not it," said Riddle. He looked at Harry and seemed to make a decision. He slid his hand into his robes and pulled out a wand. Harry's wand.
Harry trembled, wondering what Riddle was doing. He was startled when Riddle merely held it out to him, handle first.
Harry took it, feeling a jolt of recognition and power running through him. He looked up at Riddle feeling rather more grateful than he should have, considering Riddle was the one who'd taken it in the first place. But this was as good a Christmas present as Harry could have hoped for. He once again had a little piece of home to carry with him.
"Thank you," said Harry. Riddle had now taken the decision from Harry's hands. A gift deserved a gift in return. "Here," said Harry reluctantly, slipping the box from his pocket and handing it to Riddle.
Riddle actually seemed surprised. Harry grinned again. Riddle had given him a gift and expected nothing in return. That was a Christmas miracle indeed. And because today was Christmas, Harry didn't second guess what Riddle hoped to achieve by giving Harry back his wand.
Riddle opened the box and Harry stood by nervously. Inside the first was another box, a jewellery box as Harry had expected. Riddle caught Harry's eye and he blushed. Harry's heart beat furiously inside his chest. Riddle pulled out a plain silver chair, on the end of which hung an ouroboros pendant. Most people would just see a snake eating its tail on the necklace, but Harry knew that the pendant was actually a ring that he was pretty sure would fit over Riddle's ring finger perfectly as a promise. Harry hoped Riddle only saw the ouroboros.
Riddle eyed it with a possessive glint in his eye, watching as the pendant turned and sparkled in the light from the nearest torch. He didn't say thanks to Harry, but Harry knew he appreciated it. He only hoped he didn't appreciate it too much. Harry didn't think he was prepared for that. Riddle slid the necklace over his neck and stared at Harry. Harry took off before Riddle could get it into his head to kiss him again.
x X X x
December 1996
Ron felt disconnected rather than joyful when Christmas rolled around. For starters, Harry wasn't there, but Ron was getting used to missing Harry. And for seconds, Hermione would be going home to her own parents, and Ron didn't want to get used to missing both Harry and Hermione. But she and he had agreed that there was no use sitting around missing Harry when he was okay for the time being.
Plus, Hermione had discovered that Ron had yet to tell his parents about their relationships and had basically demanded that he do it over the break lest she begin to think blood did matter to him and that he was ashamed of her. That was of course the entire opposite of what he felt, and what she knew he felt. Still, she'd been a little insecure about their relationship ever since Ron's Quidditch win as Lavender Brown and several other girls had started showing an interest in him.
Ron and Hermione had had their own Christmas celebration the night of Slughorn's Christmas party and the memories of that night would hopefully hold him over until they met again.
It turned out that Ron didn't have to tell his parents about dating Hermione. Though Ginny had refrained from relaying the information in any of her letters home, she had no such qualms about telling the twins to their faces and once Fred and George knew, everyone knew. Mrs Weasley had hugged Ron so tightly he was surprised he was still in one piece. He shouldn't have been surprised since she actually liked Hermione a lot more than she did Fleur.
Then Ron had to sit through an uncomfortable talk with his father about sex and birth control which was a little late. It was made more uncomfortable by the fact that it was unexpected and he was half asleep at the time. Mr Weasley had been working late most nights and actually woke Ron up specifically to talk to him. Then Ron had accidentally mentioned condoms and had his father asking him all sorts of questions about muggle birth control that he didn't know much about.
Christmas just didn't feel like Christmas this year. Ron's mother seemed to be trying to keep him busy to get his mind off Harry being missing. No one seemed to want to talk about the war with Ron which irked him. He was almost seventeen. They really had to stop treating him like a child... a child who didn't know that Harry was their only hope and that Voldemort had stepped up the attacks since he'd gone.
x x x
Ron and Ginny were sharing a room unofficially since Fleur was meant to be in Ginny's room, and Bill with Ron. Ginny couldn't stand Fleur, so she'd switched with Bill under their parents' noses. So on Christmas morning, before anyone else had awoken, the two youngest in the house got together to start opening their presents. Hermione had given Ron a fancy wristwatch that he put on immediately to Ginny's amusement. The strap was the exact shade of Hermione's hair and he stroked it gently, wishing she was with him.
"What did you get from Dean?" he asked Ginny, looking through her parcels to see if he could steal it away. He frowned when he saw the label on one of them. "Does that say 'From Harry'?"
Ginny snatched the gift and Ron went looking for his own. It was a blue wrapped present, which he should have noticed first as it was his largest present. He'd been saving it for last.
"They can't actually be from Harry, can they?" wondered Ron.
"Better safe than sorry," said Ginny, gingerly holding the package as though it might explode at any moment. "I doubt these have been checked by the Secrecy Sensor."
Ron frowned. For once couldn't things be easy? He hefted his present, and took Ginny's from her, just in case. Together they went to see their parents.
Mr Weasley and Remus Lupin cast every sort of detection spell on them that they could. It turned out that everyone else had a present from 'Harry' as well. Fred and George had opened theirs without thinking and so far their contents seemed safe. Nothing more than a few old-fashioned fireworks and a book of charms published in 1938.
"Couldn't they be from Harry?" said Ron. "We know he's in the past and those are old presents."
"It's starting to seem more likely," said Lupin. "Though we cannot be too careful in these times." They used magic to unwrap the rest of the presents, so that they could examine them further.
Ron's eyes immediately travelled to his. It was a Firebolt. And if he wasn't mistaken it was Harry's Firebolt. "How could Harry have possibly sent his Firebolt from the past?"
"Maybe he did it before he left," suggested Mrs Weasley. No one wanted to contemplate what it would mean if the gifts weren't from Harry.
"Why would Harry give me his broom if he didn't know he was leaving?" said Ron. "He'd need it himself."
The fireplace flared and out stepped Snape, a quick swirl of his robes and they were spotless. He looked very put upon. But why would Snape want to visit the Weasleys any day of the week? His lips curled with distaste as he said, "The headmaster has sent me to inform you that if you did receive anything from Potter it did indeed come from him."
It hadn't occurred to anyone that this would be one of those times when Dumbledore was immediately contactable. But since he hadn't come himself and had instead sent Snape, he probably was too busy to deal with them. Or ill. No one wanted to consider that option.
No one had anything to say to Snape, so he excused himself. As he turned to leave, Mrs Weasley invited him to join them for Christmas lunch to Fred and George's dismay. With the time Ginny and Ron had now spent with Snape and the DA, their respect for him had increased. They didn't mind being in his presence so much. If Ron was honest with himself, it helped that Harry wasn't around to accuse Snape of something sinister every time they saw him.
"No thank you," said Snape, beady eyes focusing on the twins. "I must return to Hogwarts." Snape left.
The twins didn't stick around for two seconds before they grabbed their presents and ran into the backyard to test them out.
"Can I have your old broom?" Ginny asked as Ron put his hand on the Firebolt. Ron's broom was slightly less battered than Ginny's, though they'd both belonged to the twins and were the same age and model.
"As a loan," said Ron. "Harry's going to want this back."
Ron penned a quick note to Hermione to tell her about the presents, then went outside. He spent the next hour or so on Harry's broom, dodging the fireworks the twins shot at him. Mrs Weasley had trouble calling her younger sons in for lunch over the noise of the rockets, but their stomachs soon rumbled alerting them of the time. They raced each other inside and were soon pacifying the appetites they'd racked up that morning.
Halfway though the meal they were interrupted by surprise guests: Percy and the Minister for Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. The Minister made excuses for their presence, saying that Percy insisted on seeing them. But everyone with the last name Weasley knew that wasn't true. The Minister's eyes swept over the room as he spoke, and Ron knew he was looking for Harry.
Out of politeness, Mrs Weasley invited the Minister to join them and he did.
"Is everyone here then?" he asked. "The whole family?"
"Yes, Minister," said Mrs Weasley. "Now that Percy's joined us." She went about introducing everyone.
Ron couldn't help but notice the calculating stare Scrimgeour fixed upon him when he was introduced. He prepared himself to give nothing away about Harry's whereabouts. Outside of the Hogwarts staff, the only people who knew where Harry really was were the Order of the Phoenix and Ron and Hermione. Even Ginny didn't know, though she knew her brother knew and was therefore unconcerned.
"Ronald and Ginevra?" said the Minister, looking at the two of them. "You accompanied Harry Potter at the Ministry earlier this year, didn't you?"
"Yes," said Ron simply.
"Anyone you read the Prophet knows that," said Ginny.
"Good friends of his, aren't you? Percy tells me he used to catch you out often."
"Percy," said Ron. "Likes rules a lot better than we do."
"I imagine so," said Scrimgeour. "And where is young Harry? I would have thought he'd be spending the holiday with you."
"He's busy," said Ron.
"He's still underage, isn't he?" said the Minister. "I'd hate to think the poor boy was being exploited when he should be having fun with his school chums."
Well, thought Ron. If the Ministry could find him, they could go ahead and punish someone. "Dumbledore's giving him private tutoring," fibbed Ron. "He'll take his NEWTs next year, same as everyone else."
"Ah yes, Dumbledore," said Scrimgeour, as though referring to the next item on his agenda. "How is he? I hear he has spent an awful lot of time away from school this year."
"No more than usual," said Ron.
After a few more pointed questions and blunt answers from Ron and Ginny, it became obvious that there was nothing more that would be said. The Minister ran through a quick, disingenuous apology for disturbing their meal and departed with Percy in tow.
"Good riddance," said Fred.
Mrs Weasley hugged Ron and Ginny to herself. "You did well," she said. "But in normal circumstances I can't say I will condone lying to the Minister."
Ginny rolled her eyes, but Ron was thoughtful. "He came to visit us and didn't find Harry. You don't think he'd go to the muggles, do you?"
Mrs Weasley went pale.
"I'll write to the Headmaster," Lupin volunteered.
"He'd have to, wouldn't he?" said Ginny. "If he was thinking of charging Dumbledore with exploitation or something. They'd have go to his legal guardians... even if they are muggles."
"And if Harry's aunt and uncle meet the minister," said Mr Weasley. "I shouldn't like to think what they'll do about Harry's guardianship."
"Let's just hope he doesn't come back until he's seventeen," said Ron. He sighed to himself. There was still such a long time to wait for Harry's return.
x X X x
A/N: This is probably rife with errors, but I kind of hate rereading this story more than any other. I find too many things I want to change.