Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter
Chapter Fourteen
Christmas Chimes
Author's note: A few more chapters to go.
Gryffindors did beat Hufflepuff. They also beat Ravenclaw but lost against Slytherin, those cheaters, but Ravenclaw beat Slytherin. After those three matches, games were postponed because of the snow and because of Winter Vacation. Even Professor McGonagall had given them breaks. She had pardoned them from class so that they could study in the library for the OWL tests which they did, while talking to friends.
"Excuse me please." Said Professor McGonagall two weeks before vacation would start. "Our trip to Hogsmeade will be this Tuesday. You know the drill. I should warrant that this year you should travel in groups of five, to be on the safe side." She began to leave. "Also if it would be easy bring along your familiars. Thank you."
"I don't think Crookshanks would like to go." Hermione said.
"Well why should we bring our familiars? So that if some bad demon comes along our owls can claw his eyes out?" Ron said looking up as Pig dropped a letter into his lap at the Great Hall.
"Snuffles is upstairs. I bet Sirius would like to come along, it's been a while since he went there." Harry said. Harry looked at the Head Table and smiled at Dumbledore.
"Harry did you notice that they've dropped History of Magic this year?" Ron said.
"For Quidditch players only Ron. We all have to, er, enjoy the class by ourselves." Hermione stared at an Arithmancy chart. Then she took out something in her bag.
"Isn't it just darling?" Hermione said as she showed them a mini cat.
"It's a Gobo-flet that I've put a spell on so it looks like Crookshanks." Suddenly it began to move around and purred.
"Clever." Harry said. The real Crookshanks yawned and knocked it off the table with his paw.
"That's clever!" Ron said.
"Crookshanks you silly cat!" Hermione scolded lightly.
"Hey Harry." Harry looked up to see Cho. Harry had seen her many times before that year, smiled, and walked in the opposite direction as fast as he could.
"Hi Cho." Harry smiled.
"See you at Hogsmeade." She said before going to her table.
"Honestly." Muttered Hermione.
"What?" Ron said.
"You guys just look at a pretty face and are smitten!"
"That's not true! I mean we like you and you're not exactly Fleur!" Ron said before realizing what he had implied.
Hermione's jaw dropped faster than Harry's spirit had last year. "Why I never! The nerve!" Hermione left the table as she always did when she had nothing else to say.
Harry simply stared at Ron. "Well what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Oops?" Ron said.
This time Hermione and Ron had nothing to say to each other past the Hogsmeade trip. Even by Christmas Eve when Harry and Ron roasted treacle fudge in the common room, Ron had not apologized and Hermione simply would not sit by him or look at Ron.
Harry was still talking to Hermione that day.
"It's surprising isn't it?" Hermione said silently.
"What is?" Harry asked looking up from his Quidditch globe.
"There's only the Weasley's you and I and about three other people staying over at Hogwart's."
"I've noticed that." Harry said wondering where this conversation was going.
"Well I mean since You Know Who is back shouldn't a lot more people be staying."
"I guess Hogwart's is not as safe as it was."
"Well goodnight Harry. See you in the morning." Hermione kissed his cheek and went to her dorm. Harry sat staring at the fire. Suddenly he saw two eyes staring back at him.
"Ah!" Harry said looking up. Dobby was standing by the fire.
"Harry Potter sir, Dobby has come to give you these." Dobby said pointing at piles and piles of treats. "For Wheezy too."
"Thanks Dobby! How's Winky?"
"Ah she is not so good. She caught a case of the elf pox and is sick. But she's happier than before."
"Well I bought something for you." Harry handed Dobby the oddest pair of socks he had found in Hogsmeade. Dobby looked as he were to cry.
"Thank you Harry Potter sir you are most generous."
"Goodnight Dobby." Harry said as he left and Harry drifted to sleep on the couch.