Chapter XXIX – Christmas Break
That night, after Harry and Ginny returned from their talk with Dumbledore, Ron said, "I think we four should celebrate; let's go to the kitchen and have a little party in honor of my nephew, James Potter."
Ginny said, "I like that; but we should invite Uncle Fred and Uncle George. I have another announcement to make that they may be interested in."
Everyone looked at her, but she refused to tell them what it was.
Harry said, "And I think Neville and Luna should come; they know about the baby, kept it secret, and now will need an explanation for why Ginny won't be showing; otherwise they may think you lost the baby."
Ginny said, "Harry, check the Marauder's map and see where Luna is, Ron, find the twins, Hermione, find Neville; then we can head for the kitchen."
After all the Gryffindors were gathered, Harry said, "Luna is in the third floor hall; she seems to be just standing there."
They found Luna talking to the portrait of a group of naked witches dancing around a fire. Luna said, "I was getting information from them about the Feast of the Blue Moon."
Ron asked, "Why, do you have to do a parchment on it for Binns?"
Luna said, "No, but all information may be of use sometimes; and I might want to dance with them for the next Blue Moon."
The twins, who didn't know Luna, looked at Ron who just shrugged back."
When they got to the kitchen, the house elves asked, "What can we do for you Masters and Mistresses?"
Harry said, "We've had some good news and would like to celebrate with a small party. Could you get us some food and drinks?"
Almost before he finished talking, an elf ran over and hugged Harry. The elf said, "Harry Potter, Dobby planed on coming to see you; but now you have come to see Dobby."
Harry asked, "Dobby, what are you doing here?"
Dobby said, "After Harry Potter freed Dobby, Dobby needed to find a new position; but Dobby couldn't because Dobby wants paying now. Dobby thought, where is there much work to be done and a house elf needed. Dobby thought of Hogwarts.
Professor Dumbledore hired me and I have been working here a week. Is there anything Dobby can do for Harry Potter and his friends?"
Harry said, "The other elves are already bring what we want; maybe some other time Dobby."
Dobby said, "Is there anything you need besides food?"
Hermione, who got in a bad mood anytime she saw house elves working without pay said, "Yes Dobby, we need a large room where Umbridge can't find us so we can practice DADA. Do you think you can bring us a large room?"
Dobby said, "No Mistress, Dobby cannot bring you a room; all Dobby can do is tell you where to find such a room."
Harry said, "What, you know where there's a large room we can use secretly?"
Dobby said, "Not Dobby, but the other elves have told me of such a room. Dobby has never been there, but if you ask one of them they will be able to tell you."
The elves soon returned with a variety of foods, drinks, and desserts; and Harry asked one about the room Dobby mentioned.
The elf called it the Room of Requirement and told them how to get into it.
As everyone began to eat, Neville asked, "Not that I'm against a party; but what are we celebration?"
Ginny explained about putting the baby in suspended animation so she could finish school before giving birth; and Harry reminded Neville and Luna that it still had to be kept secret so Voldemort didn't find out.
Then Ginny said, "Now I have another thing to say. Quidditch tryouts for replacing Harry, Fred, and George are Monday and now that I can finish the season, I'm going to try out for Harry's replacement as Seeker."
Fred and George said together, "But you're still pregnant and Quidditch is rough; you or the baby might get hurt."
Ginny said, "Madam Pomfrey said I could do anything I want; and I want to show Umbridge she can't stop Gryffindor from fielding a great team.
Another thing I intend to do is make Umbridge give me Harry's Firebolt."
Harry asked, "And how do you intend to do that?"
Ginny said, "First, I'm going to ask her nicely. Then when she laughs at me and says no; I'm going to sue her for a hundred thousand Galleons for illegally taking my property."
Ron laughed and said, "That's a good one Ginny."
The twins smiled and said, "We knew you had it in you sis; do the most outlandish things and people will always be surprised."
Hermione said, "Ginny, to sue someone you have to be an adult, and have a legitimate reason; you're an adult but what will your barrister tell the Wizengmort is your reason? The Firebolt is Harry's broom, not yours."
Ginny said, "Financially, Harry and I are married so half of everything he owns is mine, including the Firebolt. I plan on becoming a professional Quidditch player and confiscating my broom is hurting my chance of being scouted by and picked for a professional team."
Hermione got a funny look on her face and said, "That's a real stretch; I don't think you have a chance of winning a suit like that."
Ginny said, "I don't care if I win; I'd be surprised if I even got the Firebolt back. Umbridge and Fudge have been after Harry and me for months and I think it's time they got a taste of their own medicine. We have more money than we need, so why not use some to put a little pressure on them.
She'll have to hire a barrister to defend herself; that will cost her money and time. And, if she tries to use ministry barrister or ministry money, I'll sue for that to. Anything that draws some of her time away from doing things here will be good for the students and faculty.
If she harasses Harry or me here in school, I'll sue for using her position as a teacher and Grand Inquisitor for taking revenge for my lawsuit.
I hope Fudge gets himself involved and I'll sue him to."
Fred and George began to laugh and Fred said, "I love it."
George said, "We should have thought of doing something to her; we can't sue, but there are loads of thing we can do to harass her."
The next morning Ginny wrote Bill about her plan and asked him to arrange a meeting with a barrister. Next, she went to Dumbledore and explained her plan asking him to allow the barrister to meet her in Hogwarts since it would be easier for him to travel then for her.
Dumbledore agreed and said, "Anything that takes up Professor Umbridge's time and may possibly get her removed as a teacher would be good for Hogwarts and its students."
At Quidditch tryouts, Ginny was the only decent candidate for seeker and so made the team.
At the meeting with the barrister, when he heard Ginny's plan, he said what Hermione had about almost no chance of winning. Ginny explained that she wanted to get even with Umbridge for harassing her and Harry; and she didn't care if she won the suit. The barrister said if she didn't mind spending the money for nothing, he would start the process.
Ginny then went to Umbridge's office taking Angelina, the team captain, as a witness. Ginny knocked, and waited for Umbridge to say, "Enter."
When Umbridge saw it was Ginny, she got a nasty expression on her face and asked in a sarcastic tone, "What is it you want Miss Weasley?"
Ginny said, "I've been picked as the new Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team and I need my Firebolt so I can practice before the next match."
Umbridge laughed, just as Ginny pictured she would, then said, "I don't have your Firebolt; the only one I have is Mr. Potter's and I intend to keep it."
Ginny said, "That is my Firebolt, and I want it back or I will have to sue you for it."
Umbridge laughed again and said, "You are such an arrogant little girl; I think a week of detention is in order to teach you a lesson."
Ginny said, "I will see you in court."
The first week of November, Harry notified all the students that had attended the meeting for his defense class that the first class would be Wednesday. That night they did as the elf had instructed and found the Room of Requirement. It was large enough for all the students to spread out and practice. It also had reference books on defense, and practice dummies.
Ginny thought that DADA practice wasn't a good name for what they were doing, and suggested the call themselves Dumbledore's Army since they wanted to help Dumbledore in his fight against Voldemort. The twenty-seven students voted to use that name.
Harry said, "I think it would be best if we started with some simple spells so I can see at what level each of you is at now. Then I can start teaching at an appropriate level. So pair off and one person try the disarming spell, Expelliarmus; the other person try Protego and shield yourself."
A boy named Zacharias Smith said, "If I knew we were only going to do basic spells I wouldn't have come. We want you to teach us to do spells without a wand like you and Weasley did against Umbridge."
Harry said, "You can't learn that until you're ready for it. It took Ginny and me three years of hard work and practice to do that."
Smith said, "Maybe you took three years, but maybe some of us are ready now."
Ginny stood and said, "Why don't you show that you're ready; duel me, and Harry can watch. If you are ready, then he'll start teaching you advanced magic."
Smith said, "That's not fair, we know you can do advanced spells. Let me duel someone else that can't already do wandless magic."
Hermione stood and said, "I'm in your year and I can't do wandless magic, I'll duel you."
Students moved to the side of the room and Hermione faced Smith twenty feet apart. Harry said, "Bow, then start on the count of three."
Hermione and Smith bowed, Harry counted, "One, two, three."
Hermione held her wand in front of her and said "Protego."
Smith cast a weak stunner that bounced of her shield with just a slight thump. She pointed her wand, said, "Tarantallegra" and Smith's legs began to do a dance. After a minute Hermione stopped the jinx.
She said, "Put your shield up."
She gave him a few seconds and for the next few minutes she hit him with one spell after another that all passed through his weak shield.
Finally, Harry said, "Enough, anyone else want to duel and prove they're ready for advanced spells?
If you don't want to follow my instructions leave now; because this is not going to be fun, it's going to be like any other class, and just like any other teacher if you don't do what I tell you, I'll discipline you and I don't give detention, I duel you.
Now pair off and let me see how good everyone else is."
Nobody left, not even Smith; and soon Harry was making mental notes of each person's ability. After an hour practice Harry was satisfied that everything was going well and scheduled another practice next week.
At that meeting Harry took time to explain what the others needed to do if they wanted to be able to do wandless magic, the physical and mental discipline needed. The next morning when Harry and Ginny got to the seventh floor hall to run, they found twelve people waiting for them.
Besides Hermione and Ron, from Gryffindor, Angelina, Katie, Alicia, and most surprisingly Neville were there. Also two Hufflepuffs and four Ravenclaws including surprisingly again, Luna. Harry told them to split into groups according to the shape they were in and the pace they could maintain.
They met several times during November. Harry had divided the class into three groups, with Hermione teaching the larger beginners' class, those who were having trouble with even the spells they had learned in their regular classes over the years. He checked in on them every fifteen minutes.
Ginny was teaching the intermediate class of nine students, including Ron; those who were proficient in normal spells and were now trying to do non-verbal spells.
Besides going back and forth checking on those two classes, Harry was teaching the advanced class which had only four seventh years who heard what Harry was doing and joined after the original group.
It was December 1 when, as they had arranged, the service representative showed up while Ginny was in Umbridge's class. Knowing her dislike for non-humans, they had purposely selected a Goblin to serve Umbridge.
The Goblin was escorted by Dumbledore who said as they entered the classroom, "Excuse me Professor Umbridge; but a process server arrived and said he is here to serve you in a law suit concerning the illegal confiscation of private property."
The Goblin walked up to Umbridge who stepped back away from the Goblin until she hit the wall and couldn't go any farther. The Goblin said, "Are you Delores Umbridge, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Umbridge didn't say anything, but she nodded.
The Goblin said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, please witness the defendant acknowledged her identity with a nod."
He then held out the parchment and said, "Delores Umbridge, you have been lawfully served in this matter and will appear in court on December 10 to respond to the suit."
Umbridge wouldn't take the parchment, so the Goblin set it on her desk and said, "Headmaster Dumbledore, please witness the defendant refused to take the summons; so it was left on her desk in her view."
The Goblin turned and left along with Dumbledore.
Umbridge stepped forward and picked up the parchment, scanned it, and said, "You will pay for this Miss Weasley."
Ginny said, "No, when I win the suit, you will pay."
Umbridge said, "Another week of detention Miss Weasley."
They had expected this, and as her barrister had instructed, Ginny turned to the class and said, "I will be asking all of you to testify that Professor Umbridge is using her position as my teacher to punish me because I filed a law suit against her. My solicitor will contact you in the near future."
Ginny and Harry made arrangements with Dumbledore and on December 10 they took the flue network to the ministry where Ginny's barrister met them.
This time it was much different from when they had been here in August. Rather than being the defendants, they were the plaintiffs and they had one of the best barristers in all Britain representing them. Umbridge also had a barrister and Ginny asked their barrister, "Do you know him?"
He answered, "Yes, he's a ministry hack; if we had any kind of a real case we'd kill him."
Ginny asked, "Can you challenge Umbridge for using a ministry barrister at the taxpayers' expense for her own private defense?"
The barrister said, "Maybe; but she'll claim to be a ministry official and so entitled to a ministry barrister."
Ginny said, "But taking Harry's broom had nothing to do with her ministry position; she was acting as a Hogwarts official to punish Harry."
Madam Bones entered the courtroom, rapped her gavel, and said to Ginny's barrister, you may proceed."
He first said, "Madam Bones, we wish to protest the defendant's use of a ministry barrister for her private defense; and ask the court to disqualify him and prosecute Madam Umbridge for using public funds illegally for her personal defense."
Before Madam Bones could say anything, Umbridge and her barrister started to protest she was a ministry official and so entitled to a ministry barrister.
Ginny's barrister argued that confiscating a broom had nothing to do with the ministry. He said, "Madam Umbridge went on unpaid leave from the ministry as of September 1 and was being paid as a teacher by Hogwarts, and disciplining a student is the responsibility of a teacher, not a ministry official. Since she was not on the payroll of the ministry at the time, the action being litigated cannot be considered a ministerial duty and the ministry therefore should not be paying the barrister on the case.
If Hogwarts provided Madam's barrister, we would have no objection; but Madam should not be able to use taxpayers' money from the ministry to defend herself."
Madam Bones either knew the truth when she heard it, or perhaps was angry about how Fudge and Umbridge tried to fix the trial in August to silence Harry, or both. Surprisingly, she ruled in favor of Ginny and dismissed Umbridge's barrister.
Madam Bones said, "Madam Umbridge, you have three options. One, you may plead nolo contendere, return the broom and pay the hundred thousand Galleons asked in compensation. Two, you may ask for a postponement to find a private barrister paid for by you own money. Three, you may act in your own defense and proceed with the trial now.
I'll give you a moment to think it over and decide."
Ginny and Harry were whispering about their good luck so far when Umbridge said, "Madam Bones, in my opinion this lawsuit is ridiculous and I should never have been force to defend myself against it."
Madam Bones looked annoyed and said, "Your opinion means nothing to this court. The court reviewed the suit and deemed sufficient merit to proceed. Now of the three options I presented which do you choose?"
Umbridge said, "I cannot afford to pay a hundred thousand Galleons, nor the expense to hire a barrister, therefore I will represent myself."
She glared at Ginny and Harry as Madam Bones said, "The plaintiff may proceed."
The barrister presented the Gringotts documents showing that all of Harry and Ginny's possessions including the Firebolt were common property. He presented a deposition from Gwenog Jones of the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team that they were interested in Ginny after she graduated.
(That was Bill's idea. He knew Ginny had written fan letters to Gwenog who had long been advocating that more girls play Quidditch. Gringotts handled her personal finances and also the team finances for the Harpies. Bill got an appointment with Gwenog and told her of the match Ginny played in her second year with pictures Colin had taken of Ginny doing the Spider monkey roll. It wasn't hard to get Gwenog to say the Harpies were interested in Ginny. )
He presented depositions from Ginny's and Harry's classes that Umbridge targeted them from the first day of class and used the fight after the Quidditch match as an excuse to punish Harry because he had been found not guilty in the trial.
The barrister referred to one of the deposition mentioned earlier from Angelina about Ginny politely asking for the broom and Umbridge punishing her with detention for just asking. Then going to the depositions from Ginny's classmates, the barrister showed that Umbridge punished Ginny again with detentions when she was served with the suit.
When Ginny's barrister finished, Madam Bones told Umbridge to offer her defense. Umbridge rambled on about how there was no discipline at Hogwarts and how she confiscated the broom to try and restore discipline.
Then she went on about how she got no support from the faculty or students; and that Harry and Ginny were the worst offenders.
Finally, she got to how Harry and Ginny were spreading lies about Voldemort returning and managed to escape punishment by using trickery at their trial.
When she finished Madam Bones said, "It is clear that Miss Weasley is half owner of the broom in question. While the defendant as a teacher had the right to confiscate the broom for disciplinary reasons for a period of time, it is also clear, the broom has been held for more than a reasonable period and the court orders its return.
As far as monetary damages, the court finds the plaintiff has not been harmed by the loss of the use of the broom, so the court denies the hundred thousand Galleon payment of damages.
However the court awards the plaintiff one thousand Galleons in compensation for the defendant's actions in using her position as a teacher to punish the plaintiff for requesting the return of the broom and further punishment for filing suit for its return; both of which the plaintiff was legally entitled to do.
The defendant has three days to return the broom and make payment of the fine or the court will find the defendant in contempt and levy further fines."
Ginny stood and said, "Madam Bones, may I say something?"
Madam said, "It is irregular, but this entire case is odd so the court will permit a short statement."
Ginny said, "I don't want Professor Umbridge's money; I ask the fine be donated to the fund at Hogwarts that helps pay for books and robes for orphans and other needy students."
Madam Bones said, "The court so orders. And Miss Weasley, if the defendant punishes you again for winning the case; have my niece Susan sent me an owl and the defendant's donation to the book and robe fund will be doubled."
Umbridge looked furious; but said nothing.
Ginny said, "I would also like to donate one thousand Galleons to the fund."
Harry said, "And one thousand from me to; it's a good cause."
Madam said, "The court orders that the very generous donation from both of you is made part of the official record."
Ginny said, "Madam Bones, I ask that my donation not be made part of the record. My parents always said if you want everyone to know you're doing something nice for someone in need; then you're really doing it for yourself, not for the needy person."
Harry said, "The same goes for me Madam; please don't make our donations known to the public."
Madam said, "So ordered; court dismissed."
Ginny and Harry returned to Hogwarts and told Dumbledore of the money donated to the school fund. Harry said, "Madam Bones said she'll hold Professor Umbridge in contempt if she doesn't pay in three days; so you will have to let her know you got the money."
The next day, the Firebolt was returned to Ginny by a student who just said, "Professor Umbridge said to give this to you."
Umbridge didn't speak, and hardly looked, at Ginny or Harry for the rest of term. She did however fire the divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, for incompetence and put Hagrid on probation.
Dumbledore's Army met several times in December and to Harry's surprise two more students moved up to his advanced class, Luna and Neville.
Harry always thought of Neville as the worst student in DADA in his year; but for whatever reason, Neville was suddenly motivated and learning rapidly. Luna, despite her ditzy behavior proved to be extremely smart and competent at casting spells.
Hermione had moved her from the beginners' class to Ginny's intermediate class after only two sessions; and Ginny said Luna had mastered non-verbal spells and moved her up to Harry's class after only three sessions.
The last day of term, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione went to Hogsmeade station as if to get on the train; but instead Harry signaled for the Knight Bus and they went to Potter Manor for the first time to stay for the night.
As soon as they arrived, Hermione started on the Fidelius charm; and an hour later the manor house and the gardens around it disappeared as far as the rest of the world was concerned.
When Hermione finished the charm she said, "I want to freshen up before dinner; where is my trunk?"
Harry said, "That's a good question; Ginny, where are our things?"
Ginny shrugged and said, "Moxxy."
Moxxy came through a door almost instantly and said, "How can Moxxy serve you Ginny?"
Ginny asked, "Where are our trunks?"
Moxxy answered, "Your trunk and Harry's are in the master bedroom of course. Moxxy was not sure how you wish to arrange things so Moxxy will not unpack them until Ginny or Harry gives Moxxy instructions.
Friend Ron and friend Hermione's trunks are in the green bedroom which is the second largest after the master bedroom."
Hermione said, "Moxxy, you put my things and Ron's things in the same room?"
Moxxy said, "Of course friend Hermione; Moxxy knows that at Hogwarts you are in the girls' dorm and friend Ron is in the boys' dorm; but Moxxy checked with Kreacher and was told you slept in the same room when at Grimmauld place."
Ron looked at Moxxy, then at Hermione who simply said, "Thank you Moxxy; which room is the green bedroom?"
Moxxy said, "Go to the top of the stairs, and Tindy will show you to your room."
After Hermione went upstairs, Ginny said to Ron, "Well?"
Ron stared at her and said, "Well what?"
Ginny said, "Your things and Hermione's things in the same bedroom; and Hermione just says thank you to Moxxy. What do you have to say?"
Ron shrugged then smiled and said, "Thank you very much Moxxy."
Then he went upstairs.
Later, as they were eating Ron asked, "I know that Grimmauld Place is in the city between numbers eleven and thirteen; and people stick to walking on the sidewalks so they don't try walking through the houses.
But, Potter Manor is in the middle of the woods. What if someone hiking at Lake District National Park comes through the woods and just walks into the side of the house because they can't see it, or falls in the pool because they don't know it's there?"
Hermione said, "The charm doesn't work like that. The manor isn't hidden as if I threw an invisibility cloak over it; the charm moved the entire manor from the world we normally live in into three other dimensions.
When a person walking reaches the edge of the charm and takes their next step, that step carries them forward several hundred yards and their foot lands on the other side of the manor without them noticing."
Ron said, "You're kidding right, one step moves you hundreds of yards; and what the bloody hell are other dimensions?"
As far as other dimensions go, we live in four dimensions, up-down, left-right, forward-backward, and time. We can move back and forth through the first three; and with a time-turner, we can move back in time; but not forward, because forward in time doesn't exist until it happens.
Magical theory tells us there are six other dimensions. The other dimensions are folded up upon themselves so small we can't see them so we just move past them all the time. There is a whole class of spells called undetectable extension charms that unfold one or more of those six dimensions.
The Fidelius charm is one type of those undetectable extension charms that unfolds three other dimensions around the manor so the manor is now inside these new dimensions instead of in the old three.
People told how by the secret keeper, can move in and out of the other dimensions thus finding the house; but people who don't know the secret continue to pass by these dimensions like we always did."
Ron said, "That sounds crazy."
Hermione went on with, "Ron, you know your parents apparate all the time; well it works the same way. To apparate, you twist to make a very small opening into another dimension and squeeze into it. In an instant, the folded dimension lets you pass over a long distance in our world; even hundreds of miles, and then you pop out into our space again.
It's because your mental magical power without a charm can only open one dimension that people say it feels like you're being squeezed through a tube. Technically it's called spaghettification, your body gets stretched long and thin as you pass through the folded dimension.""
Harry said, "It doesn't hurt, but it feels weird."
Hermione asked, "How do you know Harry? When did you apparate?"
Ginny answered her, "Dumbledore has been giving us lessons for a few weeks; he thought it would give us an escape method if we're attacked again. Harry did it for the first time about a week ago and I finally did it two days ago."
Ron said, "Why didn't you tell us? I want to learn to do it."
Harry said, "You have to be an adult to get a license, Dumbledore is filing our paperwork secretly so everyone in the ministry won't find out about our bond.
Hermione, explain how if the charm expands these extra dimensions so the whole manor fits; how do other people continue to pass right by them in one step?"
Hermione said, "They remain small on the outside; the charm only expands them on the inside."
Harry got a funny look on his face and said, "I heard something like that at my aunt's house on the Muggle telly; one of the characters in a show called Doctor Who said something like, 'It's bigger on the inside.' I didn't understand then how that could be, and I still don't."
Ron said, "Stop, you're giving me a headache. As long as the manor can't be found by anyone but us, and nobody can accidently bump into it, I don't care how it works."
Ginny said, "This talk about the charm reminds me, we have to let my parents know where we are; the train will be arriving at Kings Cross soon and they'll be worried."
Harry said, "I gave George a letter for your parents explaining where we are and that we'll come to get them once the charm was established. I wasn't sure how long it would take Hermione, so I didn't give a specific time.
Tomorrow we'll go to Grimmauld Place and give them the secret. By the way, only we should know Hermione is the secret keeper; if it gets out, she'll be in more danger from Voldemort because he'll want to capture her to make her tell him how to get in here."
That night, Harry had his first nightmare in years. He was in the black hallway he had been dreaming of for months; but this time he dreamed he was a snake and he attacked Mr. Weasley who was also in the dream for the first time.
Ginny had been worried by Harry's dreams for some time; and this time when he woke her, she insisted on taking the flue network to Grimmauld Place to check on her father.
They arrive in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place at one in the morning and found Sirius sitting alone drinking a Firewhiskey. They told him of Harry's dream, and he contacted Dumbledore.
Ginny woke Mrs. Weasley and by the time they got back to the kitchen, Fawkes arrived with a message that Mr. Weasley had been attacked and was at St. Mungos. Mrs. Weasley apparated to St. Mungo's; but told the others to wait at Grimmauld Place because it would attract unwanted attention if half a dozen people showed up at St. Mungos in the middle of the night.
By ten, Mrs. Weasley sent word that Mr. Weasley was being treated and would recover. Try as they might, nobody in the order would tell the teens where Mr. Weasley was when he was attacked, or what he was doing that attracted a giant snake.
That afternoon, they all went to visit Mr. Weasley. Harry had a paper on him written by Hermione telling how to find Potter Manor, he showed it to Sirius, Fred, George, Mrs. Weasley, and during the hospital visit to Mr. Weasley.
If the fact that it was Harry that showed them the paper gave everyone the impression that he was the secret keeper; he was happy because it kept Hermione safer."
Mr. Weasley was released on Christmas Eve and they all went to Potter Manor that evening and stayed the night.
After everyone had gone to bed, Ginny cast an Imperturbable charm on their bedroom door, slipped off all her clothes, and said, "Harry, I want a special present tonight, and we're in a place where we're happy and will have many pleasant memories.
Since we're married, and I'm already pregnant, there's no reason you can't give me what I want. And don't say Fudge is still after us, because Dumbledore told us as adults, there's nothing Fudge can do to us."
Harry said, "I think you're right, this is the right time for us to give ourselves to each other."
As they opened their presents on Christmas morning, including gifts for Harry and Ginny from all six house elves, Mrs. Weasley said, "Ginny, you look so happy, your face is just glowing."
Ginny said, "Mom, after we're done opening presents, I'd like to talk with you."
Hermione smiled in the background as Mrs. Weasley said, "Certainly dear, I'd love to talk with you."
Everyone stayed until Boxing Day; then, the Weasleys and Sirius returned to Grimmauld Place leaving the four teens to finish the holiday break at Potter Manor. For Boxing Day, Harry and Ginny gave gifts to each of the house elves, which upset Hermione because the gifts were things the elves used to work.
They gave Moxxy ink, quills, and an inventory pad that had lists of household necessities so during the week Moxxy could simple check off items he needed to buy for the house. There were new set of chefs knives for Zindy, a static floor mop and static duster for Tindy, hedge, and grass trimmers for Jurdy.
When Harry asked Moxxy what the two young elves might want; Moxxy suggested something called elf implements for Dorry and Tussy. It seems each elf acquire a complete set of tools and cleaning things when they reach the age when they begin working around the house.
The elves were thrilled by their gifts; but Hermione walked around with a sour look on her face mumbling about slave labor until Ginny took her aside and said, "Hermione, we asked them what they wanted and this is what they told us. If we asked you what you wanted, and we gave it to you, would you complain because we gave you what you wanted?
They aren't human; they don't want the things humans want. You're right about the need for laws that would prevent their masters from being cruel; but freeing them would be more cruel. Most house elves that are given clothes die of melancholy within a year."
After that, Hermione calmed down; but Ginny suspected she wasn't going to stop her fight for better treatment for elves.
Later that day, Ginny and Hermione were alone and Ginny asked, "Hermione, how are things between you and Ron? I couldn't help notice that you didn't seem to mind that Moxxy put you and Ron in the same bedroom."
Hermione said, "Things are good. We're like you and Harry were a year ago. We sleep in the same bed, cuddle, snog, spoon when we sleep, but haven't taken our knickers off yet. Ron's ready to, and I've been considering it so I do the Contraceptive charm every night just in case. Maybe soon I'll have more to talk about with you."
I noticed that glow on your face that your mother mentioned; I guess Harry was finally ready to go all the way."
Ginny smiled and said, "Yes, last night I told him we're married according to every law there is, and we're adults, so Fudge can't hurt us. I think he was thinking the same thing anyway. I was wonderful Hermione; when you and Ron are ready, I hope you'll be as happy as we are."
Hermione said, "As I said, Ron wants to, but you know how I've always been, I don't want to be nervous our first time and ruin it. I'm working up my courage and it might be soon."
Harry and Ginny hadn't run or lifted for three days, and wanted to get back into their routine. There was no place inside to run; but the temperature had been above average and the snow had melted on the Quidditch pitch so they ran there.
It turned out that Harry's father had a weight training room built when he was in school so they lifted the same as if they were at Hogwarts. Hermione dragged Ron along, though he complained that he shouldn't have to work out because he was on holiday.
As many things as Hermione was doing, she still found time to write Christmas greetings to the American students they met at the world cup; and the day after Boxing Day Hedwig arrived with their responses. They had been sent to Hermione's parents by Muggle mail a few days earlier; but the Grangers had to hold them until Hermione sent Hedwig with their Christmas greeting and they could use her to forward them to Hermione.
In her letters, Hermione told the Americans about Harry inheriting Potter Manor; and Marie Szczucki at the Salem Witches Institute showed the letter to her headmaster James Potter. In her letter to Hermione, Marie related what James Potter told her.
He claimed his father was the younger son of Harry Potter, owner of Potter Manor a hundred years ago. James' father moved to America and his father's older brother Harry inherited the manor. When his cousin Harry died the manor went to his son Harry who when he died, passed it to his son James.
The American James Potter said he lost track after that; but was happy to hear that there was another Harry Potter at the manor now. He also said that Harry and James were traditional family names; but didn't know where they originated.
He ended by saying, if they checked Hogwarts records they could figure out the relationship between him and the current Harry.
After the traditional New Year's toasts at midnight, everyone went to bed. As they were undressing, Hermione said, "Ron, I think I'm ready for our relationship to move forward." She let her dressing gown slide off reveling a shear nightie before getting into the bed with Ron.
On the last day of Christmas break, they were going to take the flue network to McGonagall's fireplace and Harry asked, "Hermione, we took the Knight bus here because you said the flue network was being watched and we didn't want them to know we were at Potter Manor. So if we take the flue network back, won't that tell the ministry we were here?"
Hermione said, "No, because the manor is under the Fidelius charm now. Before the charm, the flue could be monitored; and now it can't. The charm also prevents anyone but those knowing the secret from using the flue to come here."
Ginny came in the room and said, "It's time to leave, but I can't find our trunks and Moxxy said he didn't move them."
Hermione said, "I forgot to tell you, I have everyone's trunk, I thought it would be easier than each of us hauling them into the fireplace and from McGonagall's office to Gryffindor tower."
Ginny said, "Where are they?"
Hermione held up her backpack and said, "It here."
Ron said, "Don't tell me; the backpack is bigger on the inside than the outside because there is some unfolded dimensions."
Hermione said, "You finally got the idea Ron."
Ron said, "How can you lift it with all four trunks in it."
He picked up the backpack and said, "They can't be in here; it hardly weighs anything."
Hermione said, "The trunks and whatever they weigh are in the other dimensions; only the backpack is in our space so that's all the weight you feel. If you climbed into the backpack with a scale you would find the trunks have their normal weight inside because gravity is the same in all dimensions."
Ron put the backpack down and said, "Please, never try to explain this to me again."
Two minutes later, they were all in McGonagall's office.
