Chapter Forty-Nine

Hermione and Ginny met Luna and Daphne in the Entrance Hall later that evening. Since they were all coming back, at least for a little while, they were just going to apparate home. Hermione was actually going to take Daphne side-along apparation since Luna wasn't quite as confident in her own abilities then Ginny and she would walk the rest of the way to the Burrow before she headed home.

Ginny dropped her bag on the floor beside the other bags already there and smiled at the other two witches.

'Got everything?'

Both Luna and Daphne nodded.

'Yep, and we've both seen our respective Heads of House. How about you two?'

'Actually, we need to do that. Do you know if McGonagall was in the Great Hall, yet?'

Luna shook her head.

'No, she wasn't in there when I talked with Professor Flitwick.'

Ginny looked over to Hermione.

'Office, then?'

'Yes, most likely. We'll meet you two back here in a couple of minutes?'

Luna and Daphne both nodded and went back to conversing with each other as the two Gryffindors made their way to the Headmistress's office. Since most of the corridors were empty, Ginny entwined her fingers with Hermione's, the brunette smiling at her and giving her hand a squeeze as they continued walking.

Hermione dropped Ginny's hand with one last squeeze as they rounded the corner to the Headmistress's office, only to come face-to-face with the Headmistress herself.

'Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, what may I assist you with?'

'We were getting ready to leave for break, Professor, and wanted to let you know.'

Professor McGonagall nodded, beckoning for the two witches to follow her as she continued on her way.

'Thank you for the notice. I hope you both have happy Christmases and I will see you both in a few weeks. Miss Granger, you should be receiving your NEWT results in the mail by the end of next week and I will send you more information about the first and second year class curriculum.'

Hermione nodded and smiled.

'Yes, I will have to pay special attention to the second year material considering the condition I was in at the end of mine.'

McGonagall nodded thoughtfully.

'I daresay you made up for it and outshone even those who were conscious at the time very quickly.'

Hermione's cheeks pinkened at the compliment and she glanced at Ginny to find her smiling at her fondly. Professor McGonagall looked between the two curiously, but kept her thoughts to herself. They'd arrived at the Entrance Hall and the two witches said goodbye once more to McGonagall before heading over to the other two witches.

'Okay, we're good to go. Shall we?'

The group of friends headed toward the front gates down a plowed walkway. The usual several feet of snow covered the ground and they were bundled up against the cold wind. As they got closer, a large boarhound bounded over to them, nearly tackling Hermione, who was able to put up a barrier just in time.

'Git back here Fang! Stay down!'

Hagrid waved at the approaching group as Fang bounded back to him.

'Evenin' ladies! All ready fer the holidays?'

The four witches all nodded and responded with affirmatives. Hagrid pulled out his pink umbrella and tapped the gates in the right spots, unlocking them and letting the friends out.

'Good, that's good ter hear. Have a happy Christmas and I'll be seein' ya when ye git back.'

'Thanks Hagrid! Happy Christmas!'

'Happy Christmas Hagrid!'

They all waved once more over their shoulders. Hermione turned back around and faced the others.

'Now, let's see…Daphne can I have your bag?'

Daphne handed her bag over with a confused shrug. Hermione opened her own bag and deposited Daphne's inside.

'There, that way I don't have to worry about leaving it behind. Are you ready?'

Daphne nodded and took the offered hand. Hermione gave it a reassuring squeeze before turning to Ginny and Luna.

'See you there.'

Hermione pictured Luna's house and turned into the darkness, landing in front of the rook-like dwelling seconds later. She looked beside her and was relieved to see Daphne quietly looking over the residence with an amused smile.

'Should have known Luna would live in such a…distinctive…house.'

Hermione giggled as one then two cracks announced the arrival of the other two witches. Hermione looked behind her and smiled at Ginny and Luna as they came to join them.

'Glad to see Hermione didn't splinch you, Daphne.'

The brunette glared at the smirking Weasley while Daphne chuckled.

'Me, too. Your house is very unique, Luna but it's nice all the same.'

Luna smiled lovingly at her home.

'My mum loved chess. While most people use their queen to do most of the work, Mum always used her rooks. Daddy built this house for her when they got married.'

The other three witches stared at Luna in surprise, none of them having heard the story before; sometimes the most surprising things that came out of her mouth made absolute sense when seen from a different point of view. Their attention was turned back to the homestead when the door opened and Luna ran to greet her father.

'Hello Luna Darling, what are you doing waiting out in the snow? I just got rid of the nargle infestation in the mistletoe there so you needn't to worry.'

Luna hugged her father tightly before pulling back and smiling.

'Oh, I know, Daddy. We were just about to come in.'

Daphne, Hermione, and Ginny had followed Luna up to the door. The bright-eyed Ravenclaw turned and smiled at them.

'You remember Hermione and Ginny, don't you Daddy?'

Hermione nodded and smiled a little uneasily, still remembering the last time she'd met the man. Xenophilius stepped forward and extended his hand.

'Hermione, thank you, thank you so much. You brought my Luna back and for that I'm in your debt. I hope you can forgive me, for what I did. I just had to get my Luna back, I just had to.'

There was such sincere remorse and gratitude in his eyes that any hesitation or animosity Hermione felt toward the man melted away. She shook his hand and met blue eyes that looked very much like Luna's.

'I understand. It was a crazy time and we all did what we had to.'

Xenophilius smiled gratefully and turned to Ginny.

'Weasley, right? That was quite a wedding you put on a couple of summer's ago. How is the happy couple?'

'They're doing well.'

Luna turned with a smile and motioned toward Daphne.

'And this is Daphne, Daphne Greengrass, the one who will be staying with us.'

Daphne smiled shyly as Xenophilius surveyed her curiously for a moment, before smiling and extending his hand.

'My Luna's been telling me good things about you.'

Daphne shook the offered hand and smiled.

'Thank you, sir. I appreciate you allowing me to stay.'

'Of course! Any friend of my Luna is always welcome. Now, how about we get out of the cold and have a cup of tea?'

'Actually, Hermione and I should probably keep moving so we can get to the Burrow before dark. We'll see you at Christmas, though.'

Luna nodded in understanding and stepped forward to embrace first Ginny then Hermione. Daphne followed and took her bag back from Hermione before following Luna inside with a final wave.

The two Gryffindors headed toward the Burrow, linking their hands as soon as they were over a hill. The scene before them was beautiful, the setting sun reflecting off of snow-covered fields. Ginny looked over at her pink-cheeked girlfriend and a warmth filled her more effective against the cold wind than even the two Weasley jumpers she wore.

'I'm going to miss you.'

Hermione looked over into loving hazel eyes and smiled a little sadly, giving the redhead's hand a squeeze.

'I know, luv, I'm going to miss you too. Luckily, it'll only be for a couple of days.'

Ginny sighed and nodded, kicking at the snow on the ground.

'I know but it'll be the longest we've been apart for a long time now. I can't wait for Christmas though, it's going to be fantastic!'

Hermione giggled. She dropped Ginny's hand but sidled close enough to put her arm around her back. Ginny draped her arm around the brunette's shoulders and gladly hugged her closer as they continued their way down the road. By the time they started down the Burrow's winding drive, the sun was almost below the horizon and everything was cast in a purple-ish haze.

Ginny looked over her childhood home as the same fondness filled her. All the memories of the crooked, love-filled home flooded her mind and she let out a small content sigh. She was brought out of her happy revelry, however, when Hermione abruptly pulled her to the side and pushed her up against the side of the broom shed.

'What the – '

Any of Ginny's protests were silenced in a heated kiss, which the redhead returned eagerly, pulling the other witch as close as she could. Ginny's head swam as Hermione explored her mouth and it was all she could do to keep her legs from giving out on her. Finally, Hermione broke away, breathing heavily and met Ginny's slightly unfocused gaze.

'I love you, Ginny.'

Ginny focused on her girlfriend's loving face and smiled, slowly closing the distance between them once more.

'I love you too, my love.'

This time the kiss was soft and gentle, full of their love for one another, but nonetheless passionate. Ginny pulled away only so far as to rest her forehead against Hermione's as they shared another couple of stolen moments, their breath mixing together in the increasingly frigid air. With a small sigh, Ginny placed one last lingering peck on Hermione's pink lips.

'We should probably go now before someone comes looking for us.'

Hermione sighed but nodded, pulling the redhead back to the walkway and waving her wand wordlessly over their footprints in the snow to erase any sign of their private moment. The warm glow of the Burrow illuminated their path as they walked up to the house, the front door opening to a smiling Molly Weasley and Teddy Lupin.

'Hurry in girls, it's freezing out there.'

The two witches readily complied, shaking snow from their boots and taking off their damp coats before following Molly into the kitchen.

'Good evening girls!'

Ginny excitedly crossed the kitchen to hug her dad while Molly deposited Teddy into a highchair. Molly embraced her daughter next before hugging the watching brunette.

'How are you, Hermione? I hope your exams went well?'

Hermione smiled at the older witch as she sat down at the table.

'Yes, quite well, I think. I should know sometime this coming week.'

'I can tell you now: O, O, O, O, and how about another O?'

Hermione stuck her tongue out at the smirking redhead and laughed when Teddy giggled and clapped his hands. Arthur chuckled.

'Well, I definitely wouldn't put money against that possibility. Betty's been really excited about having you join her.'

'And I can't wait either! I've already been thinking about what I want to do with this project and I think it could really come together nicely. I really can't thank you enough, Arthur, for putting me in contact with her.'

Arthur smiled.

'It was my pleasure, Hermione, really.'

'Yes, like we're always telling you, Hermione dear, you're as good as one of our children and if there's ever anything we can do for you, we will.'

Hermione smiled fondly at the two smiling redheaded parents and nodded her head.

'I know. Thank you.'

The group talked for a while longer before the clock started to chime and Hermione glanced at it, her smile faltering slightly, torn between wanting to stay with Ginny longer and wanting to go home.

'I should really be heading home.'

Molly jumped up as Hermione stood, followed by Ginny.

'Right. Let me get you the portkey.'

Hermione and Ginny headed toward the front door while Molly bustled up the stairs. Hermione turned to the other slightly frowning witch and pulled her into a lingering hug.

'I love you, Gin.'

'I love you too, Hermione.'

Hermione placed a hidden kiss on Ginny's neck as she pulled away, dropping her arms quickly as Molly came around the corner.

'Here you go dear.'

Ginny had jumped away slightly from Hermione at the sound of her mum's voice and the Weasley mother gave her a curious look as she handed Hermione an old Witch Weekly magazine. Casting one last questioning look between the younger witches, she turned to Hermione.

'It's set to activate at 4 o'clock on Christmas Eve. Make sure your parents are touching it.'

Hermione nodded, trying to keep from blushing.

'Yes, right. Thank you for helping me get this; both of my parents are excited to visit, they can't wait!'

Molly embraced the young witch once more.

'I'm glad dear. I'll see you in a couple of days.'

Hermione smiled once more and Molly left to go start dinner. Hermione bundled back up in her coat and threw her bag over her shoulder before stepping back outside. She turned once more to the waiting redhead and glanced over her shoulder before placing a quick peck on her cheek.

'I'll see you in a couple of days, luv.'

Ginny smiled slightly and gave Hermione's hand one last squeeze.

'I can't wait.'

Hermione smiled and took a few steps away from the house before waving once more and turning on the spot, disappearing with a pop.