Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Original A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four

Christmas at Grimmauld Place

"I don't think your dad likes me much," Ron said, it was later that night and this was the first time he got to be alone with Hermione.

"Hm …" Hermione said, she could see how Ron had come to that conclusion as her dad had been keeping a wary eye on him whenever they were in the same room, which seemed to be all the time. "I think he's still making up his mind."

"Gee thanks, that make me feel better," Ron grumbled.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was trying to make you feel better," Hermione smiled, "I'm sure my dad really likes you."

Ron shook his head at her but he couldn't help but return her smile. "Do you think he's going to make up his mind that I'm good enough for you?"

"Well, he better," Hermione informed him, "because I'm not going to change my mind about you because of how he feels."

"Good answer," Ron smiled at her, his expression losing some of the wariness he had most of the day.

"Are you okay, Ron?" Hermione asked.

Ron smiled at her sadly, "Harry was right with what he said … I'm a lot better now that you're here. Even with your parents here it isn't so bad … at least I had something else to worry about."

"But you know your dad is going to be okay," Hermione said, knowing what he was talking about.

"Yeah," he agreed looking down. "This time everyone is okay. But this is just the start … and seeing Harry thrash around in bed, that was the scariest effing thing I've ever seen … and then he effing told me that Dad was attacked. This is just the start," he repeated anxiously. "I know we've been in over our heads the other years, we've face life threatening things, but this just seemed so different."

"It's not just us anymore," Hermione said softly and Ron nodded his head.

"That's true, and so much is out of our hands now," Ron said. "Hell, Dad was on an Order mission – which we still have no idea what it was about – and if he wasn't attacked by the snake … Harry wouldn't have known and …" Hermione wrapped her arms around Ron as he choked up, unable to finish his sentence. Once he gathered himself up again, he added, "who knows what's going to happen next, and we might not get any kind of warning about it. Harry said that You-Know-Who was really angry after what happened to his snake and that Remus said that You-Know-Who was going to retaliate somehow. I was a little worried that they might attack you," he admitted in a soft voice.

"Me?" Hermione frowned looking at him.

"Don't sound so surprise," Ron sighed. "I worry about you a lot, you know."

"Yes, I do know," Hermione sighed. "But why do you think they would go after me?"

"I don't know, maybe because you're Harry's friend and Harry said You-Know-Who knows about their connection now and probably thinks that Harry was part of the reason why that snake died and he would want to attack people close to Harry and that would be you," he said this all quickly, barely taking a breath as he got all the things he feared about this out.

"Well, I'm safe," Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, I noticed," Ron said, changing their position so he could rest his chin on the top of her head and they stayed like that for a while without talking or moving until Hermione got up, telling Ron that her dad really wouldn't like Ron if he woke up the next morning to find them sleeping on the couch. And then she kissed him chastely before she went upstairs to go to bed.

O

"Happy Christmas Ron," Harry said when he got up, Ron was already up and opening his last present, there was wrapping paper around him.

"Happy Christmas Harry," Ron answered cheerfully, as he always loved this holiday. "Thanks for the Keeper gloves!"

"You're okay with them … I wasn't sure if I should give them to you with what happened," Harry said with a sighed.

"Nah it's cool," Ron shrugged, "so what if we can't play on the team, I can still use them when we get to the Burrow. Besides, after Dad … I haven't really thought about that much."

"Me neither," Harry agreed. "Sorry for bring it up," he added as he notice Ron was frowning.

"Nah," Ron said and shrugged, going back to his last present, "it's Christmas, who has time to think about crap like that."

"Exactly," Harry chuckled, Ron's good mood rubbing off on him and he turned to his own pile of Christmas presents. After he was finished with that, pleased with all the present he got, he turned to Ron and said, "Good hall this year?"

"Yep," Ron agreed, he put on the sweeter that his mum had made him, it was maroon like always, but Ron didn't seem to mind it this year. "Well, except for Hermione … she gave me a homework planer."

"She gave me the same," Harry rolled his eyes, "which means it wasn't a very girlfriend gift to give you."

"Exactly," Ron said and added with a devilish grin. "I'm going to make sure she knows that."

"Please, don't say anymore about that," Harry shuddered and Ron laughed.

"Ready for breakfast … Mum should be halfway through making Christmas sausage … it's bloody brilliant if you ask me," Ron said quickly as he got up off the floor.

"Then we should get downstairs," Harry said amused.

As they were going downstairs Hermione was coming up, "there you two are. Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas," the boys chorused.

"What was with that crap present you gave me?" Ron asked bluntly.

Hermione stared at him, trying to glare but she ended up laughing. "I got you that before we started dating. It's not your real present."

"Oh … then what is my real present," Ron asked.

"Oh, I'd tell you, but I think Harry would rather not be here for that."

"Right you are," Harry agreed and rushed down the stair. He wasn't surprised to find that the Grangers were at the kitchen table talking to Sirius, Remus, Emmeline and Tonks. He walked over to Fred and George and joined into their conversation quickly.

It was some time later that Ron sat next to him, grinning and Hermione sat across for them, wearing Ron's Christmas sweeter. Harry decided he really didn't want to ask them what that was about and instead informed Ron that he was right about his mums cooking as his breakfast had been great.

After the meal everyone made their way to the living room, where they listened to Christmas music and everyone talking in groups that seemed to be changing all the time. At some point during this time, Bill, Mrs. Weasley and Tonks left to go get Mr. Weasley, as he was scheduled to be released today. The healers had been able to give him the proper antidote and had replenished the blood he lost and had informed them early in the morning that he could be picked up later this afternoon.

It seemed like only moments later they were back with a smiling, though not quite a hundred percent, Mr. Weasley. Everyone cheered when he entered the room and all the younger Weasleys rushed to their dad to welcome him back. Kingsley and Hestia Jones came in the room, walking around the Weasleys and joined the party. Remus informed Harry that they had been watching Mr. Weasley and were there to help in case the Death Eaters had planned on attacking.

Harry didn't waste time worrying about that, not today when he was happily celebrating with his family and friends a good Christmas day. He knew that something bad was probably going to happen soon, but he didn't see why he had to waste a perfectly good holiday worrying about it. What would come would come and he should enjoy the good moments while he can.

An hour later everyone made their way back into the kitchen where a full meal had been prepared by Mrs. Weasley, with help from others. They stayed at the kitchen table late into the evening, everyone having a good time and joyfully talking about all sorts of things.

Late in the evening Harry found himself in conversation with Ginny, a lot of the others had either gone to bed or left the room. Only Sirius, his dad and the twins talked on the other side of the room about some prank that the Marauders had pulled.

Harry laughed as Ginny had just told him an amusing story and then they just stared at each other. Harry wasn't really sure what to say next, and he realized that if this silence lasted much longer it was going to get uncomfortable so he brought up a subject he didn't really like, but it was all he could think of. "You're probably going to have to be the Gryffindor Seeker now."

"Wow, that's a dramatic change of subject," Ginny said, and Harry shrugged. "I wasn't going to bring this up … I thought you would be too sensitive about it. It only happened three days ago after all."

"Yeah," Harry agreed furrowing his eyebrows, "it seems like it was so much longer … I was just telling Ron that so much has happened since then."

"Yeah," Ginny agreed making a face. "I think Angelina would probably make me Seeker too, but Dean seems to think I would make a good beater."

"Beater?" Harry questioned.

"He says it runs in the family," Ginny said, nodding her head towards the twins, "I think he just likes the thought of me with a bat in my hands."

"Ginny! I so don't need … don't say that," Harry said flabbergasted. "I have enough bad imagines in my head after what Ron and Hermione said this morning."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to terrify you," Ginny laughed at the face Harry was making.

Really the image she said wasn't so bad; he just didn't want to think of Dean thinking about it too. He shook his head to get rid of that thought, what was wrong with him lately? He quickly went back to the conversation, "you probably would make a good beater, Ron says your throwing arm is strong enough, but it would be better for us if you're a Seeker."

"I think so as well, but Dean said that he noticed at our practices that Demelza was a good flier too …"

"What was he doing watching our practices … and looking at Demelza?" Harry questioned.

"That's not important," Ginny said.

"You're right," Harry said. "What is important is you're the better flier, you've practiced more at the position …"

"Against you which means that I didn't get much practice at all," Ginny grumbled this time.

"You have the skills needed to make a good Seeker," Harry said. "If Gryffindor has any chance of winning, you're going to have to be the Seeker."

Ginny blinked at him, maybe he had come on too strong and he felt his face starting to warm at the look she was giving him.

"He's right you know," one of the twins said, slapping Harry on the back, making him jump out of his seat. "You need to be the Seeker."

"Demelza would actually make a fair beater too," the other twin, who Harry could now tell was George said. "With a bit of training she'd be able to hit the bludger straight enough."

"Or Angie could always do it," Fred said, "She's got a wicked arm on her."

"Hm," George agreed and then added quickly, "but Angie loves being a Chaser, and she, Alicia and Katie have been working together for years, you can't build that kind of chemistry they have easily."

"True," Fred said, taking a seat next to Harry and George did the same next to Ginny, apparently his time alone with Ginny was over and Harry wasn't so pleased with that development.