A.N.: Lovely dolls, maybe shorter chapter, but with lot happening in it. I promise next chapter will be longer, and –well you'll see ;-) :3 ZiZi hugs and ZiZi kisses xoxo
,,Here we go…daddy's back !'' Molly smiled, when she helped Arthur in wheel chair into dining room. He was wounded, and yet had many of black and blue marks not only on his face, but he was with family and alive.
Weasley's clapped cheeringly, with Hermione and Hetty too.
,,Now sit down everybody,'' Molly waved with her hands, and went to the Christmas tree. ,,That's it now presents !''
,,Big box for Ron,'' Arthur reminded to Molly, she smiled nodding.
,,Big box for you, and eh-ou-emm-'' she changed few times her hands as she held two presents, not knowing exactly who was Fred and who was George, she just waved with her hands giving to them their gifts ,,-Fred and George,'' she laughed. ,,Come on now, open up, I wanna see your faces !''
Everybody start unpacking their gifts, as Hetty stood up, and walked to the Christmas tree taking the gifts for Molly and Arthur.
,,And here's for you Henrietta,'' Molly's wide smile, warm and pleasant, when she gave to brunette one pack too.
,,Thank you so much, for having me, and for the time I can spend with you here,'' Hetty kissed Molly's cheek, giving her the box.
,,Oh-you shouldn't ! We'd love to have your company near us,'' Molly laughed, waving with her hand.
,,Mollywobbles…'' Arthur smiled, and redhead kissed his forehead.
,,Open it,'' Hetty was watching them contentedly.
Molly looked at her suspiciously but she opened the box a gasped smiling ,,Hetty ! Merlin ! New knitting needles, and so many wools !''
After those words, all of Weasley's stiffened, holding in their hands their new knitted sweatshirts or shawls.
Hetty also opened up her pack, and revealed purple-blue shawl, which looked pretty cozy, and warm.
,,Thank you so much Mollie-''
,,-No-no-no, I thank you !'' Molly raised her hand in front of Hetty's face, not looking at her at all as her eyes were already checking all the kinds of wool, she will gladly work with.
,,Ehm-to you boys I already gave my gifts,'' Hetty winked at George and Fred, and turned to the tree taking two little boxes, giving Hermione, and Ginny, and one bigger for Ron. Of course she could allow to buy something much expensive for them, since she didn't want to beat 'mother's gift', but at least something it was.
Two bracelets for Ginny and Hermione, and for Ron cup saying 'The best Keeper of Gryffindor Quidditch team', and across the porcelain was flying Golden Snitch.
,,Thank you !'' Ron cheered, maybe more happily than he expected. Molly looked at him, and he quickly added ,,These gifts are the best of all Christmas !'' he raised the sweatshirt and the cup.
,,Oh Ronie !'' Molly smiled flattered.
Hetty winked at him, and at girls.
,,Harry !'' Molly cheered as Harry invaded the room, and right after him was Sirius.
,,There you are,'' redhead grabbed one red box and gave it to Harry, hugging him ,,Happy Christmas.''
,,Thank you,'' Harry yet managed to react, hugging back.
,,I'm happy you're with us,'' Molly nodded now seriously, before walking to Arthur.
Hetty smiled at Harry hugging him too ,,Slept in the train ?''
,,Yes,'' Harry chuckled.
,,And do you feel better ?''
,,Yes…now,'' boy smiled, hugging her tightly.
,,Ehm-fine, here is your gift,'' she reached to the Christmas tree and took one small box, handing it to Harry.
He slowly unpacked one from Mrs. Weasley, which was shawl, he smiled looking at Sirius, who smirked, Hetty walked slowly to him, while Harry unpacked the second gift, which was little piece of mistletoe, and card beneath it, saying 'Next time, don't speak about nargles. Merry Christmas Harry'
He swiftly looked at her, she only winked how he smiled, nodding in thanks.
,,Hi dear,'' Hetty smiled at Sirius, who hugged her right away.
,,Hi love, I missed you so much. I was afraid after what Snape said, what happened to you. I was scared to death, if you are alright, when I haven't seen you in your bedroom, night after night. Please don't do this to me ever again,'' Black whispered to her neck, kissing her, with near tears in his voice.
,,I won't, love,'' Hetty shook with her head, smiling at him. ,,My gift is in my bag in my room-''
,,-I have for you some very special kind of gift,'' Sirius went serious.
,,A Christmas toast !'' Arthur announced, when Molly, yet managed to interrupt Sirius and Hetty in their hug, giving them both a glass of wine.
,,To mister Harry Potter-'' Arthur continued, holding up his glass ,,-without whom I would not be here…Harry !'' he smiled, yet raising his glass.
,,Harry !'' all Weasley echoed, smiling.
,,Harry !'' Sirius with Hetty smiled, raising glasses. Sirius yet managed to wink at Harry, before drinking wine.
,,Thank you so much for that cologne,'' Sirius smiled at Hetty as they were standing in their room in headquarters.
,,And what was that special kind of gift from you ? You know, you can give me only kiss, and it will be enough,'' Hetty nuzzled her nose to his, her eyes closed and her lips shaped in smile.
,,Well that's a part of it….'' Sirius kissed her forehead, before he reached for something in his pocket. He hugged her again ,,I asked you to not ever frighten me up again, and to be sure, nothing will happen to you, and that you will always have home here in Black's House, and with me…'' he whispered to her hair, before he narrowed, looking in her eyes ,,…here is something, that might keep it all on your mind.''
He showed her large and golden ring, which had the House of Black family crest on it.
Hetty gasped, not believing her eyes, as tears came up to them, she looked at Sirius. Her voice nothing more than a whisper ,,Is this some kind of proposal ?''
,,Sort of, but you don't have to answer, until you are not ready,'' Sirius smiled, taking her hand and putting on the ring ,,Until then…you will have at least my word, that I want to marry you, and the ring, to have me by your side.''
,,S-''
,,No…I want you to keep it, no matter what happens. It belonged to my father. And first I wanted to throw it away because of Kreacher….but now I have much better use for it. Wear it proudly, because even when you yet haven't said yes…you are part of my heart,'' he kissed her gently, making those little tears roll down her both cheeks.
She smiled not knowing what to say. It was too much, and maybe too soon….or at the right time ? She herself said, that she was grieving for too long. But on the other hand, he was right. She wasn't ready. She didn't know if she cried from happiness or from sadness and confusion.
She had him, the man, with whom she was happy, right in front of her, giving to her the most precious thing he had from his family and The Noble And Most Ancient House Of Black, in the form of near engagement ring….but she suddenly didn't know what to say, not because of happiness.
What else she could want ?
And still she was unhappy…
,,This is the Black Family Tree…'' Sirius stepped to the room with the tapestry, where Harry was standing. ,,My deranged cousin,'' Sirius looked at the picture of Bellatrix. ,,I hated the lot of them, my parents with 'Pure Blood' mania.''
Hetty thanked Molly for nicely spend holidays by her family, and was on her way to her room, to take her things before she might leave. But she stopped as she heard Sirius and Harry from the room with opened door. She leaned against the wall and softly breathed listening.
Sirius walked across the room, looking at the burned place, and his name beneath it. Pointing his index finger ,,My mother did that off I ran away…charming woman. I was sixteen,'' Sirius nodded, his grey eyes looking so sad, when Hetty slightly look from behind the corner, hiding back.
,,Where did you go ?'' Harry asked slowly, looking at Sirius.
,,To your dad's,'' Sirius smiled, admitting. ,,I was always welcomed at the Potter's. I seen him so much in you Harry. You are so very much alike.''
Hetty smiled, her hand crept up to her neck, like she wanted to choke that slight sound of emotion, due hearing so much in such sentence. Thought she was Ravenclaw, she was dear friend to Marauders, Lily and Damien…not omitting Snape.
,,I'm not so sure,'' Harry swiftly answered, distracting Hetty from her thoughts, which were aiming to Severus.
She frowned, listening more carefully.
,,Sirius when I was,'' Harry start slowly, trying to find words, or courage…or maybe both, he looked back at his God father, talking confused of himself ,,When I saw Mr. Weasley attacked, I wasn't just watching…I was the snake.''
Hetty put her palm on her mouth, as her lips parted.
,,And afterwards, in Dumbledore's office, there was a moment I-I wanted to…'' Harry start breathing, to calm down his thoughts. ,,This connection, between me and Voldemort-'' Harry nearly asked, Sirius nodded, listening.
,,-What if the reason for it that I am becoming more like him. I-I just feel so angry, all the time…''
Poor kid, like he hasn't got enough distressful life…
,,And –What if after everything I've been through, something's gone wrong inside me, what if I'm becoming bad ?'' Harry said now really worriedly, but Sirius stepped to him right away, taking his shoulder.
,,I want you to listen to me very carefully Harry…you're not a bad person. You're a very good person, who bad things have happened to…you understand ?''
Harry nodded in understanding, in response to Sirius' soothing.
Hetty smiled. Sirius is good himself…he should've had children by his own. He's just like Harry. Good person who bad things have happened to.
But what Sirius said afterwards, not only way more confused Hetty, in her deciding, but also made her doubting about herself.
,,Besides the-the world isn't split into good people and Deatheaters, we've all got both-light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on…that's who we really are,'' Sirius patted Harry's shoulder, smiling at him.
Now he was very right. Severus was Deatheater, and still Dumbledore trusts him. And not only Dumbledore. Hetty trust him…maybe more than to anybody else, to whom she trusted in her life. And now she had the inner fight again. If she might choose one, she'll loose one. She didn't want to just because she…
Hetty took a deep breath admitting to herself.
…just because she loved them both. And was too weak to decide. Too weak to choose.
She looked at the big golden ring with Black's crest on it. Covering her mouth, as one tear slid down her cheek.
Hermione interrupted her thoughts, as she rushed around her, and knocked on the door post ,,Harry…time to go.''
,,Right,'' Hetty swallowed, smiling at Hermione, who haven't said a word, about her listening to boys' conversation.
,,When all this is over,'' Sirius put his hand on Harry's back, looking at him, and then at Hetty, in doors ,,we'll be a proper family.''
Henrietta fought back her tears.
,,You'll see,'' Sirius added hugging Harry.
After coming back to school, everybody could clearly see, that Dolores was back and recovered. Her eyes maybe even more full of fury and anger. And her inquisitor's squad was trying harder to find or reveal the Room Of Requirement.
Hetty was trying to be most avoiding Severus, and she was coming to dinners later, and rushing to her bedroom faster. She didn't want to face him, and face her still repeated question in her mind. If she could at least for one day forget everything. Forget her past, forget what she's been through, and forget, she should decide about something.
But she couldn't be escaping him for long.
It lasted only few days, until Dumbledore called her into his office with Snape, and asked her to continue with Harry and Severus in lessons of Occlumency. And when she was leaving headmaster's office with Severus…she just couldn't escape.
,,You're being so detached since the holidays, something happened to you ?'' Severus looked down at her half confused and half coldly.
But when she bit her lip, he knew something was wrong if not very wrong.
,,If something happened, then tell me, you know I will do anything to not see you cry,'' Sevy tried, hugging her, but he was making it even worse.
She sobbed as the rotating staircase stopped at the Gargoyle corridor, being afraid of hugging him back, when she raised her hand with the ring, showing to him for the first time.
Snape backed away from her.
,,Is that…does that dog-''
,,-Severus !'' Hetty nearly yelped, glaring at him. ,,Don't call him like that !''
,,He gave you Black noble ring, well-''
,,-I didn't said a thing to him,'' Hetty bite back her tears, walking further to the corridor.
,,Wait-w-what do you mean, you didn't said a thing ?'' Severus start chasing her.
Hetty gritted her teeth, turning swiftly to him, that he stumbled, standing still, looking in her tearful eyes. She fisted her both hands like she wanted to bang into his chest, but at the last moment changed mind-or her fists went weak-because they loosened and trailed down his chest, as she sniffed.
,,It's destroying me inside out ! I love him-''
,,-Then where is problem ?'' Snape nearly smirked, before she glared at him once again.
,,I can't be deciding between two persons I love ! It's too hard, and too painful…I just can't !'' she turned on her heel, and rushed down the stairs, and just as far away from Snape, as she could.
She said that…she really said that and meant that. Now it wasn't just due some aroused desire, or due some emotional remembering of our past. She said she loves me, because she does.
Snape smiled, knowing it's his chance, to convince her to choose him. She was now seriously deciding between him and Sirius, without no way back. And he knew he might have a chance, to not lose her…not like Lily…not this time.
Hetty rushed to the first lavatory she had by her way, and leaned against the wall, sliding down in tears. She felt maybe even more broken, than she was when she lost her family. She didn't know what to do or how to decide. But she knew, that now she has to. She was trapped in love triangle.
Looking at the ring, again and again. Crying to her palm, and trying to catch her breath.
But if she gets what she wants…will she want what she gets ?