Disclaimer: They're not mine.


Okay First off, I'm lowering the rating on this… it won't be up to R for a few more chapters. I want to thank all of the people who reviewed and I would like to ask you all to forgive me for all the mistakes I make. See I have to write this at college, which is distracting enough…

This chapter: the Dream Team's home.

And now we're grown up orphans
That never knew their names
Don't belong to no one
That's a shame
You could hide beside me
Maybe for a while
and I won't tell no one your name
I won't tell em' your name
Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star?

(Name: GooGoo Dolls)

Persephone is pronounced: Per-se(short e)-fo (long o)-nee

The cold wind hit him like a resilient slap across the face and Draco gasped at the chill. Ginny still had him by the hand and was now racing across the snow-frosted Hogwarts grounds oblivious it seemed to the cold.

The wind was shifty and their breaths came out in thick clouds of frothy steam. Draco felt himself gasping into the cold air and wondered if Ginny was all right in her threadbare robes… but the girl seemed positively luminous in front of him dashing through the snow as careless as a child. He began to seriously wonder where they were going when suddenly she stopped, so quickly that he almost ran right into her.

"Ginny, what are we----"

"Shh!" she ordered. Letting go of him, she turned around slowly her gaze far away like she was looking or listening for something. Draco blinked at her slowly… what was going with this girl? What was she---

But all thoughts stopped as she started to hum, softly. Suddenly Draco felt the hairs on his neck stand up. It felt like a ripple of energy ran across and through him. He almost asked her what was happening but before he could find the words he felt the wind pickup and sweep over them funneling upward sending Ginny's hair flying. It whistled between them in a sad soft tune that weaved around them and yet no where else, but before Draco could marvel at it he saw the song was coming from Ginny… or she completed it, or perhaps they were both part of one spell that he didn't know. 'What is this magic?' he thought amazed, not bothering to try and speak.

That's when it started to snow. Riding the wind, a sky full of ice crystals seemed to swirl down around them. At first he was too caught up in watching Ginny, lost in her own delight, she seemed to have forgotten him; but then he realized their own private blizzard wasn't cold. And it wasn't falling to ground.

And it wasn't snow.

Draco felt his breath hitch in his chest.
Ice Pixies.
He was watching a haze of thousands of little ice pixies.

The idea had barely registered in his head when he caught sight of Ginny watching him, laughing. With a thought she had made the dance of little faeries incorporate him as well. Draco swallowed painfully as he watched them dart around his eyes, stopping to look at him in the midst of their dance as though he was the strange in their little world.

Draco felt his senses shift to overload. Never in his life had he seen anything as incredible as this: a tiny red head in a storm of faeries. Ginny was dancing with them in her own way around and around him, until he was dizzy from watching her and watching them. Then suddenly she gave a great sigh and fell straight down in the snow laughing impishly. In a flash the wind stopped and every pixies vanished as if sucked into the snow.

Draco came to his knees in the snow next to her, still too stunned to say anything, when she sat up suddenly breathing heavily. Her hair was everywhere and her face was flushed and brilliant. She was still laughing when she said, "Happy Christmas, Draco"

Draco didn't trust his voice just then to say anything that wouldn't sound incredibly stupid so instead he feigned that he hadn't heard her. Suddenly he realized the answer to a question that had puzzled him for months.

"This is what you used to do on those days when you would come in all flushed and out of breath? You were here? With those-those---"

"Pixies? Yes. Well not always," she said matter-of-a-fact-ly "That is not always pixies. Sprites and faeries too. Elves. Whatever happens to come. Little people."

Draco shook his head slowly trying--and failing-not to look impressed. "I don't know you. Nobody does. How many more secrets about you do I have to find out? Is the roll of the poor plain school girl just a day job for you?"

He wondered if she would upset as his reference to her, but she just laughed again with some uncontainable joy he didn't quite understand. He looked her over carefully then in a newer light than before:
Ginny was not pretty. Especially next to the likes of Lavender Brown or Amanda Pimmernell and other Gryffindor beauties. She was too thin and pail, her eyes were too big, and she had those ridiculous freckles splatters across the bridge of her nose. No he decided she would never be conventionally pretty. But right then, flushed and laughing she looked completely beautiful.



"Good King Wencesless looked out
On the feast of Stevens
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even"

Hermione was playing the carol on the piano in her living room, gaining the undivided attention of her family as they sat around her listening on the floor. Mr. And Mrs. Granger were thrilled at their daughter's progress and Ron was sitting next to her on the piano bench paying more attention to her curving smile than her playing. It was the picture of a perfect Christmas, a large glittering tree with Christmas decorations and presents scattered all around. A fire was crackling in the hearth and Crookshanks was curled up like a huge ball of fur on the sofa. Everything was perfect… except the forlorn look of Harry crouched moodily on the windowsill, nose pressed against the glass.

He had every reason to enjoy this Christmas. Hermione's parents had welcomed them all in as warmly as was possible and had made special efforts to ensure everyone had a good time. Ron and Hermione had intentionally put a curb on their romance to include Harry, and some of their old threesome friendship had returned as a result. It would have been perfect… except for the fact that Harry just couldn't pull himself into it. No matter how he tried he couldn't absorb everyone's Christmas spirit.

The truth was he was worried sick. The night of the Yule ball it had all seemed to make sense. Ginny needed space to recover from her incident with Goyle and Draco had practically ordered him to leave. 'She needs a break from the Dream Team,' he had said. But now in the light of morning Harry couldn't for the life of him remember why he had listened.

'All admit, I was shocked,' he thought to himself rationally as he watched the frost creep slowly across the pane. 'Who wouldn't have been? But how on earth did I let that -that-prat-convince me that the right thing to do was to leave her alone with him?!' Harry shuddered. Every time he thought of Ginny alone with Draco Malfoy he felt ill. 'Like leaving a wounded deer with a wolf,' he thought angrily… or in this case, a Dragon.

"--- I say HARRY! Where the blood hell have you drifted off to?"

Harry jerked out of his thoughts to see a puzzled looking Ron towering over him. It was ridiculous how tall his best friend had gotten.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" said Harry feeling sheepish at the annoyed look Ron was passing him.

"I asked,---THREE TIMES--- if you had heard from Sirius. What's gotten into you, Harry? You're not even the slightest bit here."

Harry dragged his hands through his messy hair sighing. "Sorry, Ron. Was just thinking about school and all. Don't mind me, just go ahead with whatever you were doing."

Ron's shoulders slumped and he sat down heavily next to Harry on the window seat. "Alright, mate, let's have it out. What on earth is going on? This whole holiday you've been a million miles away! Mione's starting to worry about you, and frankly so am I. You should be happier than a March hare, but I haven't seen you smile since we left Hogwarts."

Harry rotated his shoulders and then pressed his face against the window again. "I am sorry… I know I've been rather useless---"

"Completely useless," Ron corrected.

"Alright then, completely useless," continued Harry grinning. "But I'm fine really, just a bit low for some reason."

Concern crossed Ron's face as he gave Harry a once over. "You're scar's not hurting again is it?" he said biting his lip.
"No no," Harry said assuredly "Nothing like that… just….we should have brought Ginny with us."

As soon as he said the words he regretted them. He waited for Ron's well-versed threat to break his face, when Hermione came over to them.

"Well if it isn't Gray and Grayer. You two haven't looked this cheerful since third year when we had those Dementors drifting all over the place," said Hermione as she nestled herself in between them curling half up on Ron's lap.

Ron seemed to debate between calling Harry on his remark and tickling the unsuspecting Hermione. Tickling won.

"Well," he said as he let his fingers drift over her side to reach the sensitive part of her ribs "I was trying to find out what was eating our gloomy old Harry---" presently his dialogue was cut short by a peal of gasping laughter from Hermione. "Stop it! STOP IT RON!" she squealed as he continued to tickle her ignoring the plea. He continued, "But he won't say, even though I fail to see how anyone can not be cheered by the sight of our prim and proper Head Girl doubled over under her outlawed boyfriend begging for mercy." By this time Hermione was gasping and Harry had to laugh in spite of himself. Sometimes he wondered if these two were the same people who had fought over how to pronounce 'Wingardium Leviosa' in their first year.

When tears were finally rolling down Hermione's cheeks Ron let her go. Hermione pulled herself up, laughing and pushing her uncontrollable hair out of the way. "So my dear outlawed boyfriend, what should we do with this human rain cloud?" she said grinning mischievously. Ron smiled back with almost the same expression. "I think love, that we our thinking along the same track." Harry wondered what the two were on about until suddenly they both leaped forward and wrestled him to the ground. Seconds later Harry was being tickled with in every inch of his life. Laughing manically he gasped, "Alright! ALRIGHT! Mercy MERCY! I'll smile, just let off you two." He pulled himself up heaving from the floor clutching his sides as his friends watched him each laughing in his own turn. Shaking his head at the two he realized then how lucky he was to have them as friends to help him through thick and thin. But just as suddenly as the joy came it passed as he wondered, who did Ginny have to turn to when she was down?

Later that evening Harry threw himself down in the guest room of the Granger home, exhausted but unable to sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about Ginny, alone in Hogwarts. What had possessed him to leave her? He couldn't go back, that would be too much of an insult to the Grangers hospitality and besides what excuse did he have for leaving? And what would he do once he got there? As he closed his eyes he watched a whirl-wind of images flash across his eyes. Ginny… the little girl who had waved good bye to him at the train his first year of Hogwarts, the shuddering figure that was collapsed in the Chamber of Secrets, the girl who had spin around the Gryffindor common room in a swarm of fire sprites in the middle of the night and the pale trembling figured laying torn apart on Draco's bed. But of all these pictures, the most terrifying to him was the sight of her sliding that copper blade in the form of a dragon's tongue down her arm. The look she had of longing, pain and desperate hope and something that looked almost like a craving as she watched the blade glide over her skin… He felt his body shake at the thought. When had that tiny freckled girl on platform 9 and ¾ become the same person who would look at a blade with such longing? Harry turned over restlessly. Draco was right about one thing… Harry didn't have a clue what she was going through or who she was anymore. 'But that will change,' he thought defiantly. 'Once I get back, everything's going to change.'

Of course he thought, he couldn't go empty handed. He ought to get her gift of some sort… he wondered if she had liked the flowers? He didn't usually get Ginny a gift but this year was different. Ron would just have to cope, he thought. Or perhaps he could give it to her in private and than Ron would never have to know, he thought less smugly. But what to get her?
Clothing seemed wrong, almost too personal, besides he hadn't a clue what she would like. What did you get girls as presents? Jewelry? Perfume? If he got her something like that it would be as if he was asking for Ron to kill him. Besides he reasoned, he wanted to give her something she needed. Or something she really wanted…

His mind was blank. Looking at his wristwatch he saw it was nearly three in the morning. Well he had two weeks to think about it. He rolled over (for the umpteenth time) to go to sleep, when a rustling at the window startled him. Rubbing his eyes he looked and saw Hedwig flapping at the window. Getting up he promptly tripped over his on feet before he reached the window and opened it to let his beloved owl in. She had a letter. Looking at it closer he realized it was from Sirius. Harry's face broke into a wide grin as he turned on the light to read the letter. It was brief as usual stating that his godfather was well and safe and that he wished Harry a Happy Christmas. After reading the letter Harry stuffed it in between his clothing; he would burn it in the morning just to be safe. Crawling back into bed, Harry closed his eyes and tried to relax and get himself to sleep. He felt the careful preening of Hedwig as she pecked him lovingly on the chin and he smoothed her feathers down drowsily when an idea came to him and he knew exactly what he would get Ginny. If he guessed right, it would be perfect.

Ginny watched as the muscles lining Draco's jaw relaxed and his eyes lost a certain amount of their icy sharpness… In the past two weeks she had learned that this was a sign that his mind had wondered. She took the opportunity to slowly inch up the sleeves of her wooly jumper (brilliant blue with a large yellow V in the front) and carefully, so as not to attract his attention, she began to scratch…

His reaction was instantaneous. Catching her hands in his grip tightly he yelled, "Ginny, for the bloody fifth THOUSANDTH time leave the damn scabs alone! If I see you picking at them again I'll use a Jelly-Bones curse on you!"

Ginny groaned sulkily. "It itches! It itches all the time and it's driving me mad!"
With the no trace of sympathy at all Draco smiled bitterly. "Well, what did you expect? After all this time you ought to know the result of your work," he said indicating the scabby remnants of her Christmas morning cutting. At the pained look in her eyes he continued gentler, "Come on now… You got past the pain, you'll survive the itching. That's a sign that it's healing after all. You keep scratching those and you'll tear them all open again. Don't you want the bleeding to stop?"

Ginny nodded wearily disengaging her hands from his fingers. "I do… but the itch is worse than pain."
"Then not scratching is the real test of strength," he replied. Her face automatically straightened and her expression hardened. "Right then," she said and rolled her sleeves down.

Draco smirked to himself… the best results in bending her strong will was to challenge her strength. In the past fortnight he knew all to well how strong-willed she could be IF she put her mind to something. But with Ginny the will rarely seemed to arise unless someone questioned her ability. As soon as Draco had discovered the trick he used it frequently, forcing her to prove herself, showing her indirectly that she was not as weak as she was often portrayed by her school image; relying on the unfathomable understanding they seemed to have to relay to her that his testiness was only skin deep.
He was learning about her life in bits in pieces, stringing together the clues piece at a time. But the vacation ended today and all the rest of Hogwarts would be back soon… so he watched her carefully out of the corner of his eye and asked, "The jumper (she had worn it ever since the second day of Christmas), was that a gift from your folks?"

Ginny snuggled down in the jumper with a smile. "Yeah, mum makes them every year for all of us. I'm lucky this year, I got blue. For years and years she insisted on making mine pink and it looked awful with my hair. Poor Ron still gets maroon. It will be his bane in life, wearing maroon… he hates that color. But it seems that everything his size is in awful shades of reddish-brown."

Draco's eyes narrowed. "There are how many of you? Seven? And you mum nits All of you sweaters every bloomin' year? She must be bored…or loony."

"She loves us!" shouted Ginny in indignation.
"Then you ARE willing to admit that she does," snapped back Draco "We're making progress."

Ginny felt her body fall slackly against a wooden chest that was part of the clutter in the room they were in. "I never said my parents didn't love me. Sometimes, I remember on holidays before Ron and I started going to Hogwarts and we celebrated Christmas at home… the love seemed tangible, like a web of gold you could touch with your hand. Mum… she loved having a girl at home after all those boys. Sometimes I rather think she would have liked me to be a Squib so I could stay with her." Ginny's face darkened slightly. "Course, she was disappointed how little like a girl I acted."

Draco's eyes widened. "Liked climbing trees more than playing with your dolls?"

"Well what do you expect with six brothers? Though I ran off more for my faeries than to because I wanted to be tomboyish. I knew how to climb trees before I knew what a doll was. Had to escape after all from Fred, George and their creations."

Draco laughed acidly. "Those two were born crackpots."
Ginny scowled, "They're BRILLIANT! Incredible inventors…" her voice dropped "But they were always looking for test subjects."
"And who better than the defenseless little sister," continued Draco glowering.

Ginny made a face. "Their really sweet sometimes. The best people to have at a party. They can make you laugh even when you don't want to…" 'Which is rarely a good thing,' thought Draco. "…they're a happy break from Percy. Though Perce does get the rough end of the stick a lot."

Draco clucked his tongue. The girl, he noticed, loved her family… they drove her insane but she would not concede to their faults without stating ten things in their favor first. She should have been in Hufflepuff with that kind of loyalty. Then he remembered the shrewd determination her face often got…no she was Gryffindor born and bred.

"You got those older blokes too don't you?" he asked.

Ginny nodded. "Yeah Bill and Charlie. I hardly know Bill. He was so much older than me. Well only nine years, but that put him in Hogwarts when I was only two. Charlie… he was my hero though. Don't know why he even noticed me but he did. The year Ron went to Hogwarts for the first time, he gave me a Seerosphere to watch him work in Romania with his dragons…I love the dragons. Always have. Even the dangerous ones," she said smiling with that distant fiery look in her eyes. That smile, Draco decide, was completely disarming. It should have been outlawed.

"So you were either the left over, or the favorite… nice family planning I'll say," muttered Draco. Though his expression changed from snarl to grimace to sneer at will, his eyes never left her face.

"Oh things were fine really at home… really. Until I came to Hogwarts. Then there was that-that-diary." Ginny's throat constricted and Draco shuddered. He remembered with startling clarity how his father had fumed about his plan not working that summer while he blasted about the house and took to thrashing his mother daily. He knew that somehow Ginny had been controlled into releasing a Baliskis and petrifying three people plus Mrs. Norris. He remembered only too well what it felt like to be under an Imperius Curse (his father had given him a taste of THAT early in life) but to be controlled into near killing? As he looked at her small freckled face now pale and drawn he felt another bubbling spurt of rage erupt in him. Oh how he hated Lucious Malfoy.

"My parents panicked. The whole family panicked. I was scared at first, but they smothered me. Wouldn't let me go anywhere, or talk to anyone. Even Charlie clamped down on me. I wanted to scream and rage to show them I was okay but I couldn't… I just swallowed it. But that started a streak in the family. And it got worse and worse… Until all of them managed to convince themselves that I was really a helpless little girl who stopped aging at eleven. It hurt, Draco… it still does."

Draco scowled, focusing on a point just beyond her shoulder. "They all sound nutty… but you know over protection isn't that bad. It could be much much worse…"

Ginny chewed on her lip gently before she asked him, "What are your parents like? Is it--- REALLY bad at home?"

She watched as a sheet of ice crawled over his expression. That was his pain mask. She wondered if maybe it was a bad question. She almost told him to forget about it when he said, "My mother's almost dysfunctional. Not her fault, of course but Father's got her broken into a perfect little shell. She used to be… but it really doesn't matter. Course outside we're all perfect. Domineering, respectful father, beautiful, disdainful wife and the obedient, crafty son. Inside there is just my father and the rest falls to the side, in shambles."

Ginny shook her head slowly in wonder. Even in her darkest hours family still meant warmth to her, warmth that could burn sometimes, but warmth nonetheless. But the picture Draco painted was beyond her imagination. "But Draco, surely he loves you, your father I mean. You're his son, he has to…"

Draco's harsh laughter made her cringe. "Death Eaters can't love. It's a distraction a weakness, something they can't afford to deal with. Of course I sought some sort of love from him for a while… a kind of acceptance; a regard. But Father's love is like a spider's bite. The first shot of poison feels warm… then turns icy cold until it freezes you over and kills everything inside."

His face had gone so cold and dark that Ginny felt a true shot of fear travel down her spine. But just then the pain broke through the mast and she caught a glimpse of how much hurt was really swimming around inside him. On impulse she leaned forward…

"OOOOUUUUCHH! What are you doing?!!" he shouted, grabbing his arm away. Ginny giggled. "I pinched you. Hmmm…. Yes you can still feel pain…" she leaned forward again and laid her ear against his chest. Draco was completely taken by surprise again as she straightened herself and said, "And I hear a definite heart beat. Congratulations Draco Malfoy, for the time being it seems you have survived the spider's bite. You are still alive which I am certainly glad for." Then she hit him with that smile again and he fought the urge to snarl at the warmth that flooded over him every time she did that. No, that smile was going to have to be taken care of.

Draco looked suddenly at his wristwatch. "You had better get out of here. The Dream team's going to be home entirely too soon. Wouldn't want to be caught franchising with the enemy," he muttered. Ginny laughed softly, but stood up and left quickly only looking back to flash him a quick version of that damned Weasely grin. When she left Draco felt himself fall back heavily against the wall. He felt drained and oddly exposed like he always did after one of these talks. Caring… caring was a dangerous thing he decided. Very dangerous. But once you started you couldn't seem to control it. No wonder people like his father never let themselves begin.


Ginny was sitting in the Common room with Neville. She had stolen a slip of a plant from Sprout's garden a week before and had put in water to root. Then she planted it and tied a blue ribbon around the pot. Nervously she had presented the gift to Neville who (after insisting it was unnecessary) had been delighted and was now telling her what it was.

"See, Ginny, it's a Phoenix Tongue plant." He should her the pointy leaves and then focused on the newly swelling bud. "The bud will grow and then burst open into a fiery red blossom. But the real treat is in the juice from the seedpods, leaves and stems… they are brilliant for healing burns."

Ginny nodded smiling; she was glad to see Neville happy about something. They both seemed to silently agree not to bring up the incident of Christmas morning ever again. Neville told her the plant needed water and went to put it up in his room, leaving her alone in the common. After a few moments when it seemed he would not be coming down again she herself stood to head up to her dorm when suddenly she heard, "Merry Christmas Ginny Winny!" and she felt herself being swung up in big bear hug.

"Ron, you're home!" she said as he put her down. Hermione hugged her next returning her back to Ron who started rubbing his knuckles in her hair. "We missed you Gin," he said smiling. Hermione nodded saying, "Next time you come with us."

"Hello, Ginny." She stiffened at the voice. It was Harry.

"Hi Harry," she said wincing at how much her voice trembled. Ron was hulling in a huge basket and Hermione was setting out belated Christmas gifts, but Harry just stood there looking her over. "Are you all right?" he asked suddenly. Ginny felt herself stiffen further. "Of course I am," she replied, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Harry almost groaned out loud. This was not going well. But before he could try again Ron grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her over to the basket. "The Grangers were supper, Gin, they sent you a huge Christmas hamper when fudge and cake and these little tarts called 'strawberry-rhubarb' and…"

"And there for you, NOT Ron, because he already ate us out of house and home," said Hermione laughing. Ron looked indignant. "I was NOT going to eat any, I was just showing her! Honestly, Mione, you wound me."
"Yeah," mutter Hermione, "Like you wounded our kitchen."
"Your parents encouraged us to eat!"
"But the chocolate chips were for baking with not snacking on and really three quarts of orange juice a day?"
"Well you mother said it was good for me!"

"Already making up to the future in-laws," said Ginny slyly. Ron swung around and scowled at her while Hermione and Harry burst into another fit of laughter. Ron rolled his eyes but quickly changed the subject. "Well, we'll leave the hamper for later. Present Time. We didn't send them because we wanted to give them to you in person. But by the by, the Canons poster you sent was brilliant! It'll make Dean's ballfoot poster looks so ridiculous---"

"Football," corrected Hermione automatically. Ron ignored her. Tossing Ginny a small package he said, "These are from me."

Ginny opened the paper quickly and revealed two pairs of gloves, one white pair and the other a very pretty blue, both were just palm gloves and exposed the fingers. They were very soft and seemed to be made out of some kind of suede. "Hermione calls them 'kid gloves' even though she promises that ladies wear them…" but he was cut off by an impulsive hug.

"Occasionally, just by accident you're absolutely wonderful," said Ginny, grinning as Ron turned beet red.

"Come one now, my turn," said Hermione handing her a box wrapped in silver paper.

Ginny opened the box and lifted out a device that appeared to be a circlet of silver on a stand. Ginny gasped. "Hermione, I can't accept this. A Memorisphere costs a fortune. I can't…"
Hermione, waved her hand as if brushing the protests out of the way. "Don't go being noble on me, Gin. I got it on sale at Diagon Alley, ask Ron."

Ginny looked questioningly at Ron but he smiled and nodded. "Take it Gin, and try it out. See if it works."

Ginny looked warily at the sparkling device. In her mind she thought of a very clear memory; one of her childhood in the woods behind her house. Laying her hand in the ring it began to spin swiftly, until it formed a glowing sphere. Then it became swarming with colors that formed the image of her memory, a five year old girl climbing a large oak tree. Ginny gasped and clasped her hands together as the memory played out like a movie on the surface of the sphere. Then slowly the colors faded and the ring came to a halt.

Ron laughed, ruffling her hair. "You were terribly cute back then, Ginny." Ginny mock scowled at him before hugging Hermione. "It's a wonderful gift, Herms. I don't deserve you."
Hermione beamed and Ginny gathered up her things to head up to the dorms.

"Ginny, wait." She stopped. It was Harry again.

"I got you a gift."
Ginny felt her breath catch. 'Dear Lord, please don't let him blow this for me,' she thought. Turning slowly she hid her discomfort with a trite smile. "Harry, you shouldn't have," she said lightly. The whole atmosphere had changed in the room. Ron was staring stupidly at Harry as though he could believe his ears and Hermione had instinctively take hold of his arm as if to hold him back in case he decided to suddenly attack Harry.

Harry pointedly avoided looking at Ron and began to gently rummage in a basket, which was mixed in with his bags.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hands," he said.

Ginny raised an eyebrow but complied if only to end this episode before Ron snapped out of his daze and decided to kill the boy.

Eyes closed she felt something soft and furry placed in her hands. Startled her eyes snapped open to reveal a kitten soft and silvery, and tabby stripes sleeping in her hands. Just then it's eyes opened and it gave a large yawn, meowing.

For a moment she was too shocked for words. Then instinctively she took the tiny ball of fur and rubbed it against he cheek reveling in the soft fur and the vibrations of its breathing.

"Oh Harry… it's…"
"She. It's a girl. I haven't named her…"

Ginny sat down allowing the tiny creature to climb up her jumper and tip toe over her shoulders, rubbing her furry head against Ginny's neck. "She so tiny… and so pretty! A name? What should I call you little one?"
Harry walked over to her and sat down leaning over her arm enjoying the sight of her happy and his being the cause.

"Well pick something pretty…kinda sweet…"
"Persephone."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Persephone," she repeated. Then looking up at him she said, "She wonderful Harry, really wonderful. Thank you so much." She wasn't sure what to do, but she took his hand and squeezed it then gathered her things and ran up stairs.

Ron in the mean time watched the exchange with changing emotions. His first thought was of course to go for blood. But then when he saw the look on Ginny face he melted. Whatever Harry's intentions he had made his sister happy. And , thought Ron, Ginny hadn't seemed her normal self in while. Hermione's grip on his arm was a warning he knew and he was likely to get in huge row with her if he made a scene. Slowly relaxing himself, he loosened Hermione's grip and walked over to Harry stiffly.

"Well, you seem to have out shined us mate. Why didn't you tell us you had gotten her something?"

Harry shrugged and said "I didn't feel like coming to Hogwarts with a black eye. Doesn't do well for first impressions." He held his breath, though.

"Well fine," said Ron after a moment. "But, Harry, be very careful, alright?" then switching the subject drastically he said, "Persephone? Where the hell does she get her names? Not bad enough cursing my poor owl with a name like Pigwigeon, but Persephone?"

Hermione spoke up, "I'm not sure she made it up… if I remember right that's a goddess of some sort."

Harry looked up surprised. "A Goddess? Of what?"

Hermione shrugged. "The stories change. But she was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Demetor, her mum, controlled rains and grain and stuff. Some stories say she was taken by force and others say she fell in love but the end result was that she was taken to the underworld to rule with Hades as his wife. Her mother was grief ridden and all the crops failed and she insisted that her daughter be brought back. Finally Zeus brought her back but she eaten the fruit of the underworld and she had to say there by law, some soul binding thing or another. End result was that she spent six months with Hades in the underworld, the winter months because her mother was in grief and six month above with her parents, which were the summer months. Ginny probably got the name from there."

Ron snickered happily, "Yeah right, Mione, you're probably the only person in Hogwarts whose ever heard that story. Come one lets get this stuff up stairs."

But Harry listened and felt his heart sink. He doubted very much it was a coincidence.





Happy day this is done! Chapter four is light enough, but I'll get back in angst swing soon enough. Next chapter is a Harry and Draco show down.

Aaren: Bent is one of my favorite songs as well, good taste on your part

Lisa Cove: Sorry about the chapter mix up I'm trying to fix it.

Mignonne-and-Sellene : Good guess ;)

Nemmie: Sorry about typos I'm working on it.

Firesprite: Thanx for the beta offer. I need one. But I can't write people I don't know. But if I could you'd be my first choice.