Here goes chapter 16. I think this is the next one will be the last, but I'm still not sure. Either way we're close to the end, so I hope you stick around a little more. Enjoy this one:)

Chapter 16

The next few days leading up to Christmas were spent leisurely and in quite a cozy atmosphere. Hermione found herself enjoying the Black household quite much. In the mornings they would usually take Teddy out for a walk in the garden or the grounds, or even to the Muggle town that was a few kilometers away. Then after lunch Draco would insist on putting the toddler to bed, rolling his eyes at the others' comments on how he only did so because he liked afternoon sleep too. Hermione and the Black sisters usually spent the afternoon in the library. As soon as the young woman laid eyes on the rows of shelves laden with books it was hard to make her leave. This was the main reason Hermione was almost done with her homework while Draco hadn't even started on his. Evenings were spent playing board games or talking about Hogwarts and listening to tales about everyone's childhoods. On Christmas morning Hermione woke up to a tapping on her window. She rubbed her eyes and yawned looking at the glass. She saw a tiny owl there and recognized it as Pigwidgeon. The woman got up and went to open the window so he could come in. The owl had a rather big parcel tied to its leg but was energetic as usual, and the moment Hermione untied the parcel it shot upwards and fluttered around the room, hooting excitedly.

"Good morning to you too, Pig," Hermione said, "but you'll need to be quiet, I wouldn't want the others to wake up so early."

The owl paid her words no attention. Hermione sighed and opened the package, then smiled when a few small sticky balls fell in her palm. She recognized the treats that Ron used to snap Pigwidgeon's beak shut, and wasted no time in doing the same. Once the room was quiet again she unwrapped the parcel eagerly and saw it contained a diary and a set of handsome eagle quills and multicoloured ink bottles. Beneath each present there was a note. Hermione took the one under the diary first.

Merry Christmas, Mione! Hope you like my present – one hundred percent safe and Riddle-free, spill all your secrets. It reveals what's written in it only to the hand that first opened it so hurry up with that.

Best wishes,

Ginny

Hermione smiled slightly and opened the diary. Its pages were yellowish and the cover was black. The brunette admired Ginny's selfless sense of humour and picked up the second note.

The Brightest witch of her Age should always be prepared to give an autograph.

This time she laughed out loud, marveling at the fact that Ron was always able to make her laugh, even from afar. She had already sent out her presents borrowing Draco's owl Perseus, but she scribbled a quick note of thanks wishing them a merry Christmas, and sent Pigwidgeon back after unsticking his beak with water. When she checked the time she saw it was eight o'clock already so she got dressed and went to the living room on the first floor, knowing that Narcissa, like herself, woke up early. Hermione wasn't wrong as she did indeed find the blonde woman in the room, but she also found everyone else sitting around the Christmas tree. Teddy crawled towards her and she picked him up, smiling widely.

"Good morning and merry Christmas everyone," she said, walking over and sitting on the ground next to Draco, "I see I've slept in today."

"Nonsense, darling, it's barely eight o'clock" Narcissa smiled. "Merry Christmas to you too."

"Merry Christmas, Mione" Draco said excitedly. "An owl came for you, but open my present first."

"Okay" Hermione laughed. "Let's open presents then."

Each one took a present from under the Christmas tree and unwrapped it. Hermione took the small silver sphere Draco had pointed to, and peeled off the paper to find a small ball inside. Peering into it she saw a variety of Arithmancy formulas and laws.

"Wow! Where did you get that?" she gaped at Draco.

"Blaise's mother took him to Greece in the summer. That's from the two of us."

"Thaks! Really, it will help a lot."

"Hermione, you didn't need to buy me that book!" Narcissa groaned on her other side.

"I'll take it you like your present?" Hermione turned to her, grinning mischievously.

"Of course I do."

"Perfect."

"That parcel over there came with a screech owl. It didn't want to stay, though, and we don't know who sent it, but it's for you." Draco pointed towards a rectangular package, wrapped in blue paper. She took it and immediately recognized the handwriting.

"Oh, that's from Harry" she said, tearing the paper. Inside was a detailed map of Australia and in the corner her best friend had scribbled 'Just in case...' Hermione's eyes watered and she hastily wiped the tears, not wanting to worry the others.

They continued to unwrap gifts and Hermione was delighted to see that Andromeda had given her a book on the history of ancient magic(though this one didn't bite unlike the one she had found in the library a few days prior); Narcissa had bought her a Sleek-hair potions kit; and there was a grubby package from Hagrid that contained an album with pictures of her, Harry, and Ron. She smiled warmly, wondering whether the half-giant would like the matching sweaters she had sent for him and Grawp. She hoped he did since enlarging a sweater in the proper size for Grawp was no easy task. At last they were forced to run away from the Christmas tree because Andromeda unwrapped the mutual present the three of them had gotten for her – 'Gabby Gilbert's Guide on how to be a Great Grandmother'.

After the small duel that had broken out between the sisters in the dining room ended with both of them being hit with a Stinging hex by Draco who exclaimed he was hungry, everyone sat down at the table and had a lovely breakfast of gingerbread cookies and cups of tea. For a while they were just enjoying each other's company and there was silence, then Andromeda spoke up.

"Hermione?"

"The book was everyone's idea" Hermione said quickly.

"Not the book, dear, no" Andy said. "Though I do have an idea who was the mastermind behind it," she threw her sister a mean look, "I didn't mean that. I meant to ask you something."

"Oh, go ahead" the young woman said.

"Well, I just remembered I asked you why is Molly Weasley so cold towards you and Harry."

Hermione sighed. She had thought Andy had forgotten about that.

"She's not cold towards him. She invited him to the Burrow but he declined because his Aunt had sent a letter, and because... because Mrs Weasley hadn't invited me."

Andromeda smiled at the news of Harry being so nice but then frowned again.

"But why wouldn't she invite you?"

"Because I don't have feelings for Ron" Hermione answered simply, knowing how ridiculous it sounded.

"I beg your pardon?" Narcissa asked. Draco gaped at her and Andromeda laughed.

"You're not serious" Andy said.

"Deadly" Hermione deadpanned. "Well, I suppose my friendship with Slytherins and my familiarity with Cissy are also contributing factors."

"That's it, I'm going there-"

Andromeda actually stood up and made to leave the room but her sister stopped her.

"Don't bother, sister, it's no good. The Prewett woman has always been stubborn, she wouldn't forgive me even if I brought Fred back from the dead."

They sat down again and silence spread around the table. Only Teddy made happy sounds every once in a while when his grandmother gave him a tiny piece of gingerbread. Hermione's thoughts wandered to Ron. She had told everyone she didn't like him – what was stopping her from telling them she didn't like boys at all. Sharing with someone would surely ease the burden.

"I'm a lesbian."

Oh no. Her voice echoed in the silent kitchen and she was mortified as everyone turned to look at her. Even Teddy gulped down his food and looked at her confused. Hermione hadn't meant to drop it like a bomb in the middle of breakfast. Narcissa cleared her throat first after a minute of complete silence.

"That... was unexpected."

"Does Molly know? Is this why she's pushed you away?"

"What? No, no one knows" Hermione explained. "But I needed to tell someone. I didn't know how though. Telling people would be making it official."

"And you're not sure?" Narcissa pried gently.

"I am, it's just... I was afraid of how everyone's going to take it."

"You shouldn't be" Andromeda said. "You should be yourself, everyone who cares about you will accept you."

"And those who don't don't matter" her sister added. Hermione smiled gratefully and turned to Draco who had been silent the whole time. He was contemplating her carefully.

"Is that why you have been so strange at school? You were dealing with that all alone?"

"Yes, kind of" Hermione said. "Why?"

"No reason. Listen, I just remembered – I need to send a letter, I'll be back down in a minute."

And he practically ran through the door, leaving them stunned.

"Did he run because-" Hermione began.

"No, no, definitely not because of you, Mia" Narcissa interrupted her, huffing at her son's tactlessness.

After a sort of awkward but appreciated conversation with the Black sisters in the morning, Hermione felt better about herself, and was glad that they took it so well. When Draco came back he was grinning and hugged her, reassuring her he was totally all right with her liking women. The rest of the day passed quickly and the Christmas dinner was marvelous. Hermione felt good in such a domestic atmosphere and barely noticed the days rolling by. On the fourth of January she went to bed, surprised at the fact they had to go back to school so soon. She also remembered her problem and why she didn't want to go back to Hogwarts but it was not like she had a choice so she simply closed her eyes, thinking about all the happy moments she had had during the holidays.