"I hate tinsel," I said as I hung some up on the wall. The loose strands were falling into my hair and really pissing me off. I'd been in a bad mood all day. It was Christmas Eve today and my anniversary with Draco so I felt pretty crappy being away from him.
"What's put you in such a bad mood Hannah?" Sirius said, pausing from his chorus of "Snow Miser."
*Aside from the singing?*
"Yes dear, sister. Enlighten me," Harry said. He knew I still hadn't told Sirius even though I'd promised him that I'd tell him over Christmas break so now he was doing his best to get me to tell him.
"Kiss my candy cane," I said.
"Do not use candy canes as a replacement for profanity, Hannah," Sirius said.
"Fine then," I said. "Kiss my ass, Harry."
"Hannah!" Sirius said.
"What?" I asked.
"Stop being such a scrooge, Hannah," he said.
"Bah-humbug," I said smartly.
"Seriously, what's put you in such a bad mood?" Sirius asked.
"She's lonely," Harry said.
"Shut up," I said throwing tinsel at him.
"Oh, you're sad because you don't have a boy friend," Sirius said.
"Sure. . . Let's go with that. . ." I said.
Harry rolled his eyes. I'd, once again, shot down a perfectly good opportunity to tell him.
"Boys are overrated anyway. And it's like you said, most of the ones at Hogwarts aren't worth it anyway," he said.
"Most of them," I mumbled to myself.
"I wouldn't touch you with a. . . 95 and a half foot pole!" Tonks sang as she came into the room. Her hair waist length today and striped like a candy cane. Like her cousin she was sporting a Santa hat.
"I love the Grinch," Hermione said. "Sure he was a bastard who tried to steal Christmas but I admire how much effort he put into his plan."
"Right," I said. "What'd you get Cormac for Christmas?"
"Nothing. I broke up with him and he said he never wanted to speak to me again," Hermione said.
"That's because he's stupid," Ron said. "I mean even though he's broken up with you, he could still talk to you."
"Yeah. What jerk loser wouldn't go out with Hermione?" Sirius asked.
"Dude, I know," Ron said. Hermione turned around looked at him. Ron's face turned red. "I mean like. . . uh. . . I wouldn't go out with you, not that I wouldn't go out with you but I wouldn't because. . . You know. . . You're like my best friend. . ."
I shook my head.
*He wants her so bad it's pathetic.*
"You walked right into that one mate," Tonks giggled.
"You are so giggly today," Sirius said.
"I can't help it," Tonks said. "I love Christmas!"
"Alright you lot, it's time for dinner," Mrs. Weasley leaned in. "Hurry before it gets cold."
I walked out of the large dining room and across the hall to the kitchen.
It was like walking into the Great Hall at Hogwarts except miniature. There was enough food to feed everyone three time over.
"I'd spend Christmas with you every year if you always eat like this," Tonks said.
"We eat like this every special occasion," Ron said. "Holiday's, birthday's, getting off the hook for using magic underage after being attacked by dementors, becoming prefects."
"Enough already," Ginny said. "Let's eat."
We all sat down at the table and made our plates.
"So, Harry, what's new with Quidditch?" Lupin asked.
I looked over at him, then at the twins, then Ginny and Ron.
"I. . . I got kicked off the team," Harry said.
"Blasphemy," Sirius said. "Why?"
"I jumped Malfoy after the match," Harry said looking over to me. "I say it was worth it."
I rolled my eyes.
"Why'd you do that?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Well when Ron made the team he made up this song about him," Hermione said.
"What's it like?" Tonks asked.
"Rudeness incarnate," I said.
"Hope you're not still friends with that boy," Sirius said to me disapprovingly.
*I'm not – I'm his girlfriend now actually! There will never be an appropriate time to tell him this.*
"How's it go?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Weasley cannot save a thing. He cannot block a single ring. That's we slytherins all sing, Weasley is our king," Ron sang. "I say Harry and the twins had every right to get him after the match."
"It was damn well worth getting kicked off as well," George said.
"No one disses my family and lives," Fred said.
"Well who's replaced you?" Sirius said.
"Me!" Ginny said bubbly.
"You're the new seeker?" Mrs. Weasley said. Ginny nodded.
"And I won my first match, but there were some unfortunate circumstances surrounding Malfoy," Ginny said. "He got knocked unconscious with a bludger."
"Ouch," Lupin said. "And that's why James played Quidditch while I sat in the stands."
"Who's replaced you two?" Sirius asked.
"Hermione's ex Cormac McLaggen," I said. "And. . . Well. . . Me. . ."
"You're a beater?" Sirius asked. I nodded. "You're a beater?"
"Yes," I said.
"You're playing Quidditch?" Lupin asked.
"Ginny we can see, but you're Little Lily junior. She the most nonathletic person I knew," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Hannah's got the worst hand-eye coordination. She's the one that hit Malfoy," Hermione said.
"Ginny told him to move. Not my fault if he went def," I said.
"Actually I don't think he could hear me over him screaming that I would rue the day I beat him," Ginny said. "I think he's ruing now instead."
"Everyone's had it rough these last few weeks," I said.
"I'll say," Harry replied.
"What's happened to you?" Sirius asked.
Harry sighed. "Well, Kristen broke up with me and that sucked."
"Ever seen Harry mope around? Not a pretty sight," I said. "But he perked up during this week."
"Well that because he. . ." Hermione trailed off and then cleared her throat. "Pass the salt please."
"Because he what? What'd you do?" I asked.
Harry sighed. "Well. . . I'm dating Cho now?"
"You're joking right?" I asked.
". . . Nope," he replied.
"So, Kristen breaks up with you for liking Cho and you prove her right by dating her? Are you serious?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm serious," he said.
"Hell hath no fury like a Slytherin woman scorned, Harry. Mark my words. This is totally going to come back and bite you," I said. "When did you even have time to. . . At the DA meeting?"
"Yes, why?" he asked.
"So, not only did you start dating Cho but you started dating her while she was upset and crying over Cedric. You took advantage of a dead boy's girlfriend and you totally lied to me," I said.
"I lie to everyone. What makes you so special?" he asked.
"I am your sister," I said.
"Well that just makes you more gullible," he said. I rolled my eyes at this. "And you've got room to talk about lying when you've. . ."
Harry paused and I gave him the greatest death glare I could muster.
"Lying about what?" Sirius asked.
"I'm going to kill you," I mouthed to Harry.
"Not if he kills you first," he mouthed back.
-It's okay. You can do this.-
*No I can't. I'm going to be murdered.*
-Just do it. The jig is up.-
I took a deep breath and turned around to face my doom head on.
"I'm. . . I'm. . . I'm. . ."
*Damn it! I've forgotten how to speak!*
-Relax.-
*I can't. I can't.*
-Free your mind and the rest will follow.-
I took another deep breath. They were only words. Draco was only a boy. Sirius was just like any other dad.
I could do this.
"I'm . . ." One more deep breath. "I'm dating Draco Malfoy."
Lupin and Sirius's jaws dropped open Mrs. Weasley gasped and Tonks stared in awe. No one spoke. I felt like I was sinking deep, deep, deep, down into my chair.
". . . Want to run that by me again?" Sirius asked.
I could hear the anger sitting deep in his throat.
"I've been dating Draco Malfoy," I repeated.
"Oh, you've been dating him. And how long has that been going on?" he asked, the anger rising up.
"Only about. . . Exactly one. . ."
I couldn't say it. I felt like finishing that sentence would cause him to jump out his chair and scissor kick me in the chest.
"One week?" Sirius asked hopefully.
". . . Year," I said.
He was angry now. I could read the anger on his face. HE was turning a very impressive shade of red. I had to do something fast.
"Okay, before you yell at me can I ask you something?" I asked.
"I suppose," he said.
". . . Are you angrier that I'm dating Draco or that I lied about it for a year?" I asked.
"I'm not sure," he said.
"You shouldn't be 'not sure'. You're supposed to be mad that I lied," I said.
"But Malfoy-."
"Draco doesn't matter. He's just any other boy. And sure he has his moments of extreme excessive stupidity and he has a tendency to behave as Slytherins do, but he's still just another boy," I said. "The whole reason I haven't told you until now is because. . . Well look how you're reacting."
". . . She's got a point," Tonks said.
Finally, someone was coming to my aid.
"A point?" Sirius asked.
"Well, you really don't like the Malfoys and every time you talk about them you make a point to make sure everyone knows exactly how much you hate them," Tonks said. "I would be terrified to tell you as well."
"It's the spawn of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy!" Sirius said.
"And you're the spawn of your mother but look how you act," Tonks pointed out.
"That's different. People actually like me," Sirius said.
"I like Draco," I said. "I'm going to keep dating him with or without your approval. . . But I'd much rather have your approval."
Sirius sighed. "You don't have my approval at all. . . But I suppose that I'll have to at least accept and respect the fact that you are dating him."
I smiled. "Thanks."
"Anything else you need to tell us while we're on the subject?" Sirius asked.
"Not unless you don't know about Ginny and Dean but you already-."
"WHAT?" Mrs. Waasley asked rising to her feet quickly, face red.
Ginny glared at me.
"What? You said you already told them," I said.
"You have a boy friend?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Well yeah? Why wouldn't I? I mean most everyone starts dating third year. I just happen to wait until fourth year. And it was bound to happen eventually," Ginny said.
"Yeah. She's the same popularity status as Hannah," Ron said.
"It's really annoying. People ask them to everything and worship the ground they walk on," Harry said.
"I'm glad my love life isn't as complicated as yours," Hermione said.
"Ditto," Ron added.
"You of all people have no room to say that your lives aren't complicated," I said. "You were both just dating someone to make someone else jealous."
They both sank down into their seats.
"So. . . What else have you lot been up to, although I'm not sure how much sharing I can take," Sirius said.
"Do you guys play truth or dare? I loved truth or dare when I was at Hogwarts," Tonks said.
We all started to laugh. The stories we could tell about truth or dare, especially from our fourth year.
"Man, do we play truth or dare and when you play with Ginny you will always want to choose truth. Ron learned that the hard way," Hermione said.
"What happened?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Well, back last year when Harry and Ron weren't speaking to each other, Hannah I thought it was our duty to grab their attention so because we're their sisters so they'd know what they were doing was wrong. Well, Ron picks dare and I go up stiars and get a few things. He had to dress in my school uniform, make up and heels and all and go sing to Professor Snape. To make it even better he has to sing 'First' by Lindsay Lohan," Ginny said.
"Holy crap. . . I can see that in my head. . ." Sirius started to laugh.
"It's not funny," Ron said.
"Yes it is because now Snape won't even come within a 5 foot radius of Ron," Fred pointed out.
"I think Harry's was funnier," George said.
"I liked that one better too," Hermione said winking at Harry. Ginny giggled.
"I don't feel comfortable sitting between the two of you anymore," Harry said.
"Harry you're the only boy I know that's ashamed of having a nice body," Ginny said.
"And boxers are way hotter than briefs," Hermione said.
"Whoa! Too much information!" I said.
"How do you two know what type of underwear Harry wears?" Lupin asked.
"Hannah dared him to strip for the girls in Gryffindor while singing I'm too sexy," Hermione said. "Best dare ever."
"Hermione as my best friend, I'd appreciate it if you didn't speak that way about me ever again," Harry said.
"Please Harry. We all saw you at Halloween eyeing Hermione . If you weren't her best friend you'd be on her like white on rice, in a glass of milk, on a paper plate in a snowstorm," I said.
"Not the point," Harry said. "When Hermione dressed up like one of Charlie's Angels, people only stared. No one started throwing money at her while screaming 'take it off.' You're cruel and insensitive and I don't know how we could possibly be related."
"They threw money at you? They must think you look really good," Tonks said.
"Incredible," Ginny said.
"Best body I've ever seen," Hermione said.
"Wait. . . Better than Viktor?" Harry asked curiously.
"Better than Viktor," Hermione said.
Harry smiled at that. He had a better body than Victor Krum, and coming from Hermione that actually meant something.
"You know what the worst dare was? When Neville dared Ginny," Ron said.
"Yeah. I almost died," Harry added.
"What?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Neville dared me to kiss Hannah and I did," Ginny said.
"Please stop talking about it. It's forever engraved into my memory. Isn't that enough?" Ron asked.
"Yeah like seeing you dance around in a mini skirt isn't scarring," Ginny said.
"Actually. . . It wasn't that terrible," Hermione said.
"I agree with Hermione. . . It wasn't all bad," I said. "It'd be one thing if Ron didn't have a nice butt, however. . ."
"He does so it all worked out in the end," Hermione finished.
"Is that why the two of you always walk behind me?" Ron asked.
Hermione and I smiled.
"Oh my god. . . They're teenagers," Sirius said as if it were some grand epiphany.
"Next thing you know they'll be talking about their teachers," Tonks said.
"Hannah used to think that Lockhart was a god among men," Hermione said.
"Dude. . . That was totally you," I said.
Hermione thought, then smiled and sighed. "Oh yeah. . . You had the biggest crush on Professor Lupin in third year."
"Dude shut up! He's sitting right there!" I said.
"Oh. . . My bad. . . I must be a bit out of it from all the fake snow we were spraying on the windows not even paying attention to my surroundings," Hermione said.
I laid my head down on the table.
*Just pull the plug.*
-It's not like it can get any worse. They know about Draco.-
"I think Hannah was in love with Lupin actually," George said.
"I was not. It was merely a school girl crush," I said trying to save my dignity.
"No it wasn't. We read your diary," Fred said.
"You read my diary?" I asked, horrified.
*My life is over.*
"That poem. . . It went. . . How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," Fred began.
"One is for your eyes, pretty and blue. That's how I stay awake when I'm in class with you," George said.
"Two is for your voice. It makes you sound sweet. Every time I hear it my heart skips a beat," Fred continued.
"I love you more than my birthday hairpin," George said.
"I love you most of all Proffesor, Lupin," Fred ended.
"Aww. I didn't know 13 year old still wrote poems like that," Lupin said.
"It's so sweet," Tonks said.
"You know what else is sweet," Hermione asked. "Aqua. They're a great band, aren't they? Lot's of fun music."
"You know what else is fun? Making out in the library with a 19 year old after hours and getting caught isn't it Hermione," Ginny said.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I hope that's nothing what it sounds like," Mrs. Weasley said.
"It's exactly what it sounds like," Fred and George said.
"In the library with Viktor Krum. Got caught by Snape of all people," Harry said.
"Hermione. I expected this behavior, least of all from you," Sirius said.
"There aren't any good children left. They've all gone mad," Tonks said.
"Hey it's not like what Hannah did at Hogsmeade that one time. The Coyote ugly thing," Hermione said.
"I swear that didn't happen!" I said.
"No. . . Dumbledore told me about that," Lupin said.
"It's a sick joke. I don't remember doing that," I said.
"That's because you were too drunk to remember silly," Harry said.
"Of course she did remember Frenching Ginny," Hermione said.
"You Frenched Ginny?" Tonks asked.
"I think I did. . . Did I. . .? Hmm. . . I don't know," I said.
"You're not allowed to drink anymore," Lupin said.
"You're just paranoid," I said.
Ginny and Harry were humming Barbie Girl.
"Now, everyone, calm down. it's Christmas. No time to be embarrassing each other with humiliating stories that may very well scar you for the rest of your lives," Mrs. Weasley said.
*She's only saying that because no one had anything to say about her.*
