1 Chapter 30
Christmas Dance
Ginny popped her earrings in quickly, and looked at herself once more in the mirror. The red hair she had worn down for once contrasted with the gold color of the dress. The V-cut of the neck line showed the gold and red necklace she had yet to take off. The rose was pined just above her right ear. She wore a tiny bit of eye shadow, but otherwise her face lacked any make-up. Hermione had down right forbidden her to wear anymore. "You're naturally beautiful. Don't hide it," she had said. Ginny bit her lip. If she looked half as good as Hermione did at that moment...
Hermione walked up behind her in the mirror. The dress she wore set off her eyes nicely, and showed the figure she always attempted to hide. Her hair had taken Ginny two full hours to do, but she was very proud of it. First pulling it out straight, Ginny had put Hermione's hair in a high bun, the rose Harry had given her tucked into the center. The stray strands of hair she had curled, and they reached the length of Hermione's chin, framing her face. Through out the curls were tiny blue gems, which Hermione herself had created. Two matching gems stayed at the corner of her eyes, and on all ten of her nails.
Ginny smiled at her in the mirror, Hermione frowned. "I should have said no," she muttered. "Then I wouldn't have to go at all."
"Oh, Hermione, you look wonderful! Who cares who you are going with? Make the boy's eyes fall out, and then have some fun."
Hermione turned away from the mirror and stepped into her shoes. "Well, let's go." Ginny follower her out of the room.
Harry grinned as the girls appeared on the stair way. Ron, seated behind him, jumped out of his chair. Ginny bit her lip self-consciously, while Hermione frowned.
"You may have given them roses," Ron muttered with a devilish grin, "but you won't beat this."
As they reached the bottom step, Ron offered Hermione his hand. With a slight bow of head, he smiled at her. "You look amazing."
Hermione colored prettily and her blue eyes laughed, but she pulled her hand back away from him. "Flattery will get you no where, and I can take the last step without your help, thank you."
Ron's shoulders slumped and disappointment decked his face. "You see, Pawn, for it to work, your subject must be a willing participant." As Hermione stepped off the last step, Harry walked up to Ginny. He made a full bow, which Ginny returned with a curtsy. He offered his hand. "May I say that you are lovely tonight, my Rose."
"Show off," Ron muttered as Ginny took his hand and stepped down.
"Harry, may I inform you that you are a complete flirt."
"Now Rose, that is not so. It is my charm that you are a witness to. Now shall we go?" he asked offering his arm to her.
Shaking her head with a smile, she took it, and Hermione and Ron followed them out of the room.
Sipping a glass of eggnog, Ginny watched her prey through her bangs. Heather had done an amazing job. Countless trees decked the hall. All the furniture in the room sparkled as if touched by an intangible frost. Occasionally a enchanted snowflake would fall from the sky, disappearing upon landing.
Harry stood leaning casually against the wall beside her. Ron and Hermione were dancing. She smiled to herself as she saw another dancing couple caught by Fred and George's mistletoe. They had put some sort of charm on it, and you would be stuck inside a clear, solid cylinder with your dancing partner until you kissed. Heather had talked to Fred and George for a long time, their punishment being to teach her how to make it.
"You shouldn't do it, Rose." Harry said behind her.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Am I that obvious?"
He shrugged. "Only to me. It's a bad idea, really."
Ginny turned to face him. "Harry Potter, I expected better of you. Somebody has to show that boy that he is wanted, that he does matter. Whatever you feel about him, it doesn't mean that-" Harry stopped her with a finger on her lips. She was angry, not so much at him, but at the fact that he was able to silence her so easily. Her back was heating., but she fought to keep the blush out of her face.
"Alright, then go." Her grabbed her shoulders and turned her. Ginny looked up. Harry had known exactly what chance she was looking for.
She did not often think of herself as beautiful, but she knew that it didn't hurt to look at her, and even that wouldn't matter if you set your voice just so.
Draco Malfoy was dressed in black, and it set off his pale coloring nicely. He stood with some of the Slytherin seventh years. Ginny put on a small smile on her face, and adjusted her walk slightly as she came up behind him. Putting a finger to her lips, she told the seventh years that were facing her to not inform Draco of her approach.
Just as she was about to reach a hand around to cover Draco's eyes, his hand came up as fast as lightning and grabbed her wrist. He jerked her around in front of him. Upon seeing her, his eyes widened with surprise. He dropped her wrist like it was poison, and stepped involuntarily backward. A very slight tinge of, not quite pink, but more color then white, entered his pale cheeks.
"Never," he said in a fierce whisper, "come at me from behind."
Ginny raised a questioning eyebrow, but said nothing. She put her smile back on as she grabbed his hand again. "Pardon me," she said to the seventh year students, "but I must borrow him for a moment or two." She just about dragged him onto the dance floor, stifled laughter coming from the Slytherins they had just left behind.
"Why don't you dance with Potter, Weasley?"
"Draco, dear, shut up, dance, and call me Rose, okay?" He glared at her, but listened all the same.
"Why do you do this," he hesitated "Rose?"
Ginny smiled at the use of her nickname. "Because nobody else will, and somebody has to teach you to dance." That was a flat lie, and the raise of his eyebrows said he knew it. Draco was one of the best dancers in the school.
"I hear that you came with Potter, life long dream come true?"
Ginny's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't let it show in her dancing. "Does everybody know about it now?"
"Depending on which part you are asking about, the answers are; yes, or everybody but Potter himself and your very thick brother."
"Did you know that you are a complete bastard, Draco?"
"It's a gift. Now let me tell you something. You were the reason why my shoulder was dislocated, Ginny. My father's hate for you family is never ending. This can not happen again, whatever your goal is, understand?"
Ginny tried to let go and back away from him, shock covering her face, but she backed into something solid. She looked, and there was nothing there, except a very faint yellow haze. Looking up, she saw exactly what she suspected. Mistletoe above their heads. Draco was looking at it too.
"See what you've gotten us into? I'll be lucky if I survive my return home."
"Draco," she was looking at him, fear etched on her features.
Many people were watching them, but none more intently then Harry, who had already crossed half the room. Hermione was watching, but she didn't stop dancing with Ron, and she also didn't let him see. 'She's scared,' Harry thought. 'Why on earth is she scared? If you hurt her Malfoy, I'll kill you and then Ron will to.'
"I'm so sorry," Ginny whispered. "Why didn't you tell me? This is all my fault."
Draco looked down from the mistletoe, and studied her for a moment. He leaned against the invisible barrier and crossed his arms. "Is it a Gryffindor trait or just a Ginny trait to blame yourself for everything?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I really hadn't expected Potter to keep his word. I suppose I under estimated him. It was one of the things I told the snake she could tell him. I knew this would be how you would react."
"I," Ginny swallowed, and backed away from him against the clear block. "I'm sure I can get Fred and George to take this off."
Draco smirked at her, and it only caused her to become more distressed. She suddenly felt very confined in this tiny space, and all too aware that Draco wasn't even a foot away from her. It had all been a game before, a game with a purpose yes, but all the same. She couldn't play that game anymore, not if it was hurting him that way, and now she couldn't get away.
When Draco leaned down, she had just a split second to register what he was going to do before she felt his lips on hers. And then only a split second to register that he was kissing her before he had pulled back again. The barrier that she was leaning on disappeared suddenly and just as she was about to fall backwards she was caught from behind and Draco reached out and grabbed her arm. Draco let go quickly, and she didn't have to look up to know who had caught her. She knew that feeling, and she knew that look in Draco's eyes.
"She's all yours now, Potter." Draco turned on his heel and walked away.
Ginny stood up again, grabbed Harry's hand, and pulled him to the edge of the room. His face was worried. "He told you didn't he?"
She nodded, tears brimming her eyes. "You should have stopped me, Harry. I'm so sorry I yelled at you." He shook his head, waving the apology away.
"I wasn't allowed to tell you. I don't share secrets unless I have to. His father won't kill him, and he's dealt with worse. Knowing him, he'll find a way to get out of it. It isn't your fault, stop blaming yourself, and let Malfoy go. You can't solve all the problems in the world, and he has enough of them to make up the world."
Draco fell into a chair and glared at Rose and Potter across the room. It was really hard to think of her as 'Weasley' anymore, and even 'Ginny' was not quite right.
He would show them, he would show all of them. His father wouldn't hurt him, not when he explained how Rose was so close to Potter, and that she was an easy way to him.
She was such a puzzle. For that matter, so was Potter. It was a very large mess when you combined the pieces of two puzzles and then tried to solve them. It often became a challenge, but Draco loved a good challenge. He would work it out. He thought he already had the answer, but he didn't like the answer he had, and he desperately wanted to find another.
The answer he had was a weakness. If there was one thing his father had installed into him, it was not to show weaknesses, and if possible, not to have them at all. Unfortunately, Draco was almost sure he had one, possibly even two, and that ate at him.
While they danced, Hermione's mind wandered. Or rather, she made herself think of something besides the tall boy in front of her, and her mind couldn't chose one topic, so it switched around a lot. Almost everything she thought of came back to Ron, though.
That was why when she bumped into something solid she was so startled. She tripped, falling right into Ron. He had the nerve to actually look concerned! 'He is, you idiot. Just because you want to slap him doesn't mean you can go get mad at him for nothing!' That was when she realized what that solid thing was. Her eyes went wide. Ron only looked nervous! Not everything she was feeling. Which was... 'Nervousness, you idiot.' She seemed to be calling herself that a lot lately.
"Your brothers better sleep with their eyes open," she said craning her neck to look up at him. He was a good foot taller then her, damn him! 'His height now? Now you are mad at him for things he can't help?' Oh, how she wanted to be mad at him. But her practical side knew it wasn't practical, and wouldn't let her. But how she wanted to.
"I'll be sure to warn them. Hold still." He kissed her! He kissed her! In front of everybody! Without warning! Now she had plenty of reason to be angry, and couldn't do it. Because- 'Because you liked it and you know it. You wish it had been more then a peck on the lips, you wish he would do it again.' Damn that practical side. It always told her things she didn't want to hear. But it had saved her from very many things quite often.
Ron simply started to dance again, and she had to follow, he was leading. She couldn't even see his face to judge the expression without being very obvious about it.
"Mystery girl will be jealous," she said mildly, but her eyes still flashed every time she thought about 'mystery girl'. Ron chuckled. Chuckled! When she was tearing herself up inside. Her practical side only had to clear its throat to get its point across.
"She already is," he said, the smile audible in his voice. "Hey, look behind you, who is that?"
She looked over her shoulder and quickly saw who Ron was talking about. Harry was dancing with some girl that she didn't know. She scanned the crowd, and quickly spotted Ginny dancing with a boy named Bill. She grimaced. Ginny had told her about that boy.
"Don't know. She probably asked him to dance and he couldn't say no. Don't freak, but Rose is over there." She gestured in Ginny's direction. Ron grew stiff.
"Who is that?"
"His name is Bill. He's in her year. Don't freak, I told you not to."
"I, I won't freak. He just better stay away from her, that's all." Hermione grinned, if he had seen the episode with Malfoy and Rose, he would have really freaked. But luckily she was facing them, and his back was on them.
Harry fell into his chair, and Sally wound up his leg. " 'Lo Sal, did you just get here?" he hissed.
"No. I've been here for a while, but you were alwaysss dancing, and alwaysss with sssomebody new."
Harry grinned. "I can't say no to them. They always cry when I do. I don't like it when girls cry."
"And Ginny? Doesss she not like to sssee the boysss cry?"
"I think it's more that she doesn't have the heart to say no. She's getting dances from Slytherin too, not a single one approached me."
"They don't like you. They like her, becaussse their leader dancesss with her."
"Malfoy."
"Yesss, the ice child."
"He told her, about his arm. You better stay with her tonight, she's may be okay now, but she will be upset about it later. I want her to stay away from him. I don't have the right to tell her to, but I wish I could. I don't trust him not to hurt her. I don't trust him to know what will hurt her."
"Oh, I think he knowsss. I alssso think he knowsss that she hasss enough friendsss to sssupport her if she getsss hurt once in a while."
Harry watched the mistletoe catch various couples. He himself had been caught twice, both with girls who's names he hadn't known. One had run off to her friends squealing, the other sat down like her legs wouldn't have held her.
"Go find a wall flower to dance with, Harry," Sally said at his ankle. "Make some girl have a very Merry Christmas."
Harry sighed slightly, then did as she said. He smiled at the people he passed. People worried when he showed any form of irritation or anger.
Bill had asked Ginny to dance, again. She had known that he had a crush on her, but this was a little absurd.
Bill was grinning like an idiot though, even if he did keep stepping on her feet. It was a change from Draco or Harry, both of whom danced very well. Draco had a lot of practice, Harry was a natural.
She glanced over Bill's shoulder at Harry, who was dancing with another girl now. She knew he just wasn't turning down offers, but that still didn't help the stab of jealousy that followed. She didn't catch the sigh before it escaped her.
"Is something wrong?" Bill asked anxiously.
"No," Ginny lied, pasting a smile on her face, and managed not to wince as he stepped on her foot again.
When he finally got away from them, Harry collapsed into a chair. It was surprising for it not to feel cold and wet when it looked like it. He let out a relived sigh, and heard an echoed one on his side. He looked over in surprise to see Ginny, as she did the same. They both started laughing. They didn't have to ask why the other one was sighing.
Sally made her way up to the back of Harry's chair. The night was winding down. Only a few couples were still dancing, many had already left for bed. Heather had finally hit the dance floor, with her date "Paul" once more. Sirius had decided to keep that name. "Paul" caught Harry's eye and winked.
Harry chuckled as he watched Fred and George bow to each other, and start to dance across the floor, both trying to lead. Both of their dates had gone of to bed, practically having to hold each other up. Harry thought mildly that the only person who could match one of the twin's energy was the other twin. Their dance brought laughs from the tired people present.
Harry spotted Malfoy sitting on the other side of the Hall, his arms crossed as he glared at the air. He must have really hated air with a passion the way he glared at it. Harry bit his lip. Damn the boy. He could do so much, be so much. Harry didn't really trust his family more then he could throw them, less actually.
Heather finally started to usher people out of the Hall. Anybody not staying for Christmas break had to be up early the next morning, and the way things were going at Hogwarts, most people wanted to leave.
Harry was staring at the bed curtains when he heard Seamus and Dean wake, almost simultaneously. He himself had slept maybe about two hours, which compared to some nights was pretty good, but for how tired he was at that moment, it was horrible.
He didn't need to touch his eyes to feel the bags under them. They felt heavy enough. He blinked, and waited until the whole dorm was awake before he poked his head out of the curtain.
"Morning, everybody."
"Morning Harry," Dean said looking up. "You look like shit." Seamus, who was attempting to pull Neville out of bed, looked up.
Harry grinned. "Thanks, Dean. It's nice to know you care."
"Are you sick?" Neville asked sleepily.
Harry bit his lip, crossing his fingers inside the bed curtains. He hated lying. "I've got a little cold, that's all. Not enough to slow me down. You all should get out of here, you'll be late."
"Thanks again for the potions," Seamus called, racing down out the door.
"No problem!"
When Dean and Neville had left, and Ron had gone downstairs, Harry stood in front of the mirror. He popped out the green earring he had worn to match his shirt the night before and put back in his regular snake. The snake was always his favorite, mainly because in this school it was a small reminder. The snake was the Slytherin symbol, but it was gold with red eyes, the Gryffindor colors. It reminded him of where he had almost been sorted.
He sighed at his appearance. They were right, and there was nothing he could do about it besides splashing cold water on his face.
'You wouldn't be up all night if you just did it,' a voice in his head said. A wave of guilt rushed over him. He knew he had done nothing to try and find the statue his father had talked about. He had promised himself he would work on it during Christmas break, and he knew he wouldn't keep that promise.
'This is break,' he told the voice. 'I deserve a break to.'
'Liar. You are afraid of it, admit-'
"I am not!" he shouted, then realized he had said it out loud.
When Harry walked down to the common room, it was almost deserted. Ron and Hermione sat playing chess, and Ginny was curled up on the couch with a book titled Helga Hufflepuff- the Peacekeeper. This did very little to help with Harry's gilt.
"Hey Rose, I have to go down and stir those potions, want to come? You can protect me from Snape."
Without looking up Ginny slowly placed a bookmark in her book, and stood. "Alright."
"I should come," Hermione said, looking up from the game.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it for you guys."
"Thanks," Ron muttered, not looking up from the board.
Harry and Ginny walked to the dungeons silently. They opened to door to the Potions classroom to find Snape already present, and stirring.
"Potter," he said by way of greeting.
"Good morning, Professor," Harry responded.
"Morning," Ginny chirped, and Snape noticed her with a start. He quickly moved his gaze away from them.
"Wanna help?" Harry asked.
"Sure, what do I do?"
"Their labeled, just use the wooden spoon, and turn three times clockwise. It's everybody in the Gryffindor dorm, you take the girls, and I'll do the boys."
"Just what are you doing Potter?"
Harry turned around. "I told my house mates that I would stir their potions for them if they were leaving. I'm just covering Ron and Hermione since I'm down here."
"Is that so? Did you really think that I would assign homework that could not be completed?"
"I didn't," Ginny said, without stopping her slow turn of the spoon in Lavender's cauldron. "I figured it either slipped your mind, or you were planning to do it for them, but I'm more informed."
Harry was confused, and Snape glared at her back. "Yes, I was going to do it for them. It had thought that was implied. But as you seem to have worked it out, I'll leave you to it."
"I guess the Slytherins would rather fail then work together," Harry said with a soft chuckle. "They aren't all gone."
Severus didn't reply, and Harry started to slowly turn the spoons. Ginny finished first, and wordlessly moved over and started to help with the boy's potions. "What do you think you'll turn into?" Ginny asked.
"Dunno really. Somehow, I don't think I'll be a stag like my dad. It doesn't really fit my personality. What would you be?"
"I'd really like to think something cute and lovable, but I doubt it really. I have no idea, actually. What do you think I'd be?"
Harry finished the last one and turned around to look at her. He studied her for a moment. "Something small, and good-natured. Something gold. You'd be shy, but powerful and smart. Something with wings, I think you would be something that flies."
"Professor, will we be doing this next year also?"
Snape nodded without turning. His mouth was pushed into a thin line.
"Alright, you tell me, what would I be?"
Ginny looked at him for a moment. "You conflict. You would be something brave, but also something that is cunning, and sly. You'd be loyal, but proud. You'd be red, gold, and green. Something smart, but easily blinded, and dense. Something large, but something that can sneak around. Something that can fly, is high above, but also something grounded. Does that make any sense?"
Harry grinned at her, taking her shoulder and leading her away. "Not at all, Rose, but that's okay, I'll know soon."
During the break, the Dream Team convinced Hagrid to bring them a tree for the Common room. They invited Hagrid, Sirius, and Heather to come down and help decorated it. They spent the whole morning making ornaments with various supplies (including magic) to hang when their visitors got there.
Sirius came as Paul, and it helped that there was nobody in the room to see them anyway. "The star goes on last," Hermione said, placing the very shiny star to one side.
They all grabbed ornaments and started to hang them, by hand or by magic. "You know what, you guys should spend Christmas eve here, and then we could all spend Christmas morning together," Harry said while he floated an ornament to the top.
"I couldn' leave Fang, and 'e's not 'llowed in the castle," Hagrid said.
"I could come," Heather said, "But only if somebody agrees to sleep down here with me. I won't sleep a wink alone down here, it's too creepy."
"I'll protect you," Paul said. It was always a shock for Harry to hear such a different voice come from somebody who looked so much like Sirius. "We'll be here, Harry."
"Hey Ron," Heather asked, looking up at him. "Are you still going though with your 'Mystery Girl' plan?"
Ron's ears flushed red. "Yes, I was happy she stayed for break. I really hadn't considered what would have happened if she went home."
"He'sss shaking in hisss shoesss," Sally's hiss was muffled slightly by the ornament she had in her mouth as she slid up the tree.
"Nervous?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Wouldn't you be!"
Harry shrugged. "Dunno, never been there."
"I would be if I were you," Sirius, or rather Paul, said with a smirk. "But never if I was me."
Heather half-heartedly threw an ornament at him. "S-," she quickly changed what she was going to say, "Stop, or Harry will turn out like you, and then Lily and James will come back and haunt me for letting it happen."
"What's wrong with being like me!"
Harry chuckled, and watched as his godparents 'Fake-fought' as he called it. He sat back and watched them for a moment, and then realized something that made his heart swell.
He was spending Christmas with his family.
Something of the revelation must have shown on his face. "What is it, Harry?" Hagrid asked.
Harry smiled, and for the moment he really didn't look sick or tired, "I'm just so happy to spend this holiday with all of you. It's like my family is all together."
They all stopped to look at him, love shined on everyone of their faces. Then suddenly, the lack of sleep hit Harry hard. It had been draining him, but all of the sudden he was dizzy and his vision blacked out. He leaned back on the couch, and fell asleep instantly.
"Should we wake him?" Ron asked.
"No," Ginny answered. "He hasn't been sleeping again. Let him go while he can."
Christmas Eve came all too slowly. When it did, however, it came with snow. They placed the presents to each other around the tree, and sent others home to their destinations. Heather was setting up a place for herself on the couch in front of the fire.
Too soon for Heather's taste, the Dream Team filtered up to bed. Coals still burned in the fire as Sirius turned the light off.
Heather shivered in spite of herself, stepping closer to the little light that the coals offered.
"Heather?" His voice made her jump.
"W- what," she asked, pulling her blanket closer around her shoulders.
Sirius walked up behind her, and to her dismay, took the blanket from her. "Your not still afraid of the dark, are you?"
"No!" She said, even hearing herself that her voice was too high. "What makes you think that?"
"Because you're clutching a blanket for dear life when it's nice and warm in here."
"I'm just cold."
Heather could feel her heart jump as he wrapped his arms around her. "Still cold?" he asked, a smirk audible in his voice.
"No," she whispered.
(A/N: Sorry for the delay, heh. I have about a hundred reasons, none of which you want to hear. Next Chapter... CHRISTMAS Find out what has happened between Sirius and Heather. Discover the identity of 'Mystery Girl', and find out what everybody gave each other for Christmas. I've been asked about Fan fanfiction (you writing a fanfiction about this story) No I don't mind! Just tell me so I can read it! There is no bigger compliment in my mind! (Ps, I don't write lemons, if you want to write it, be my guest.) Thanks for reading, and a special thanks to Sal's Fan Club.)
Christmas Dance
Ginny popped her earrings in quickly, and looked at herself once more in the mirror. The red hair she had worn down for once contrasted with the gold color of the dress. The V-cut of the neck line showed the gold and red necklace she had yet to take off. The rose was pined just above her right ear. She wore a tiny bit of eye shadow, but otherwise her face lacked any make-up. Hermione had down right forbidden her to wear anymore. "You're naturally beautiful. Don't hide it," she had said. Ginny bit her lip. If she looked half as good as Hermione did at that moment...
Hermione walked up behind her in the mirror. The dress she wore set off her eyes nicely, and showed the figure she always attempted to hide. Her hair had taken Ginny two full hours to do, but she was very proud of it. First pulling it out straight, Ginny had put Hermione's hair in a high bun, the rose Harry had given her tucked into the center. The stray strands of hair she had curled, and they reached the length of Hermione's chin, framing her face. Through out the curls were tiny blue gems, which Hermione herself had created. Two matching gems stayed at the corner of her eyes, and on all ten of her nails.
Ginny smiled at her in the mirror, Hermione frowned. "I should have said no," she muttered. "Then I wouldn't have to go at all."
"Oh, Hermione, you look wonderful! Who cares who you are going with? Make the boy's eyes fall out, and then have some fun."
Hermione turned away from the mirror and stepped into her shoes. "Well, let's go." Ginny follower her out of the room.
Harry grinned as the girls appeared on the stair way. Ron, seated behind him, jumped out of his chair. Ginny bit her lip self-consciously, while Hermione frowned.
"You may have given them roses," Ron muttered with a devilish grin, "but you won't beat this."
As they reached the bottom step, Ron offered Hermione his hand. With a slight bow of head, he smiled at her. "You look amazing."
Hermione colored prettily and her blue eyes laughed, but she pulled her hand back away from him. "Flattery will get you no where, and I can take the last step without your help, thank you."
Ron's shoulders slumped and disappointment decked his face. "You see, Pawn, for it to work, your subject must be a willing participant." As Hermione stepped off the last step, Harry walked up to Ginny. He made a full bow, which Ginny returned with a curtsy. He offered his hand. "May I say that you are lovely tonight, my Rose."
"Show off," Ron muttered as Ginny took his hand and stepped down.
"Harry, may I inform you that you are a complete flirt."
"Now Rose, that is not so. It is my charm that you are a witness to. Now shall we go?" he asked offering his arm to her.
Shaking her head with a smile, she took it, and Hermione and Ron followed them out of the room.
Sipping a glass of eggnog, Ginny watched her prey through her bangs. Heather had done an amazing job. Countless trees decked the hall. All the furniture in the room sparkled as if touched by an intangible frost. Occasionally a enchanted snowflake would fall from the sky, disappearing upon landing.
Harry stood leaning casually against the wall beside her. Ron and Hermione were dancing. She smiled to herself as she saw another dancing couple caught by Fred and George's mistletoe. They had put some sort of charm on it, and you would be stuck inside a clear, solid cylinder with your dancing partner until you kissed. Heather had talked to Fred and George for a long time, their punishment being to teach her how to make it.
"You shouldn't do it, Rose." Harry said behind her.
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Am I that obvious?"
He shrugged. "Only to me. It's a bad idea, really."
Ginny turned to face him. "Harry Potter, I expected better of you. Somebody has to show that boy that he is wanted, that he does matter. Whatever you feel about him, it doesn't mean that-" Harry stopped her with a finger on her lips. She was angry, not so much at him, but at the fact that he was able to silence her so easily. Her back was heating., but she fought to keep the blush out of her face.
"Alright, then go." Her grabbed her shoulders and turned her. Ginny looked up. Harry had known exactly what chance she was looking for.
She did not often think of herself as beautiful, but she knew that it didn't hurt to look at her, and even that wouldn't matter if you set your voice just so.
Draco Malfoy was dressed in black, and it set off his pale coloring nicely. He stood with some of the Slytherin seventh years. Ginny put on a small smile on her face, and adjusted her walk slightly as she came up behind him. Putting a finger to her lips, she told the seventh years that were facing her to not inform Draco of her approach.
Just as she was about to reach a hand around to cover Draco's eyes, his hand came up as fast as lightning and grabbed her wrist. He jerked her around in front of him. Upon seeing her, his eyes widened with surprise. He dropped her wrist like it was poison, and stepped involuntarily backward. A very slight tinge of, not quite pink, but more color then white, entered his pale cheeks.
"Never," he said in a fierce whisper, "come at me from behind."
Ginny raised a questioning eyebrow, but said nothing. She put her smile back on as she grabbed his hand again. "Pardon me," she said to the seventh year students, "but I must borrow him for a moment or two." She just about dragged him onto the dance floor, stifled laughter coming from the Slytherins they had just left behind.
"Why don't you dance with Potter, Weasley?"
"Draco, dear, shut up, dance, and call me Rose, okay?" He glared at her, but listened all the same.
"Why do you do this," he hesitated "Rose?"
Ginny smiled at the use of her nickname. "Because nobody else will, and somebody has to teach you to dance." That was a flat lie, and the raise of his eyebrows said he knew it. Draco was one of the best dancers in the school.
"I hear that you came with Potter, life long dream come true?"
Ginny's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't let it show in her dancing. "Does everybody know about it now?"
"Depending on which part you are asking about, the answers are; yes, or everybody but Potter himself and your very thick brother."
"Did you know that you are a complete bastard, Draco?"
"It's a gift. Now let me tell you something. You were the reason why my shoulder was dislocated, Ginny. My father's hate for you family is never ending. This can not happen again, whatever your goal is, understand?"
Ginny tried to let go and back away from him, shock covering her face, but she backed into something solid. She looked, and there was nothing there, except a very faint yellow haze. Looking up, she saw exactly what she suspected. Mistletoe above their heads. Draco was looking at it too.
"See what you've gotten us into? I'll be lucky if I survive my return home."
"Draco," she was looking at him, fear etched on her features.
Many people were watching them, but none more intently then Harry, who had already crossed half the room. Hermione was watching, but she didn't stop dancing with Ron, and she also didn't let him see. 'She's scared,' Harry thought. 'Why on earth is she scared? If you hurt her Malfoy, I'll kill you and then Ron will to.'
"I'm so sorry," Ginny whispered. "Why didn't you tell me? This is all my fault."
Draco looked down from the mistletoe, and studied her for a moment. He leaned against the invisible barrier and crossed his arms. "Is it a Gryffindor trait or just a Ginny trait to blame yourself for everything?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I really hadn't expected Potter to keep his word. I suppose I under estimated him. It was one of the things I told the snake she could tell him. I knew this would be how you would react."
"I," Ginny swallowed, and backed away from him against the clear block. "I'm sure I can get Fred and George to take this off."
Draco smirked at her, and it only caused her to become more distressed. She suddenly felt very confined in this tiny space, and all too aware that Draco wasn't even a foot away from her. It had all been a game before, a game with a purpose yes, but all the same. She couldn't play that game anymore, not if it was hurting him that way, and now she couldn't get away.
When Draco leaned down, she had just a split second to register what he was going to do before she felt his lips on hers. And then only a split second to register that he was kissing her before he had pulled back again. The barrier that she was leaning on disappeared suddenly and just as she was about to fall backwards she was caught from behind and Draco reached out and grabbed her arm. Draco let go quickly, and she didn't have to look up to know who had caught her. She knew that feeling, and she knew that look in Draco's eyes.
"She's all yours now, Potter." Draco turned on his heel and walked away.
Ginny stood up again, grabbed Harry's hand, and pulled him to the edge of the room. His face was worried. "He told you didn't he?"
She nodded, tears brimming her eyes. "You should have stopped me, Harry. I'm so sorry I yelled at you." He shook his head, waving the apology away.
"I wasn't allowed to tell you. I don't share secrets unless I have to. His father won't kill him, and he's dealt with worse. Knowing him, he'll find a way to get out of it. It isn't your fault, stop blaming yourself, and let Malfoy go. You can't solve all the problems in the world, and he has enough of them to make up the world."
Draco fell into a chair and glared at Rose and Potter across the room. It was really hard to think of her as 'Weasley' anymore, and even 'Ginny' was not quite right.
He would show them, he would show all of them. His father wouldn't hurt him, not when he explained how Rose was so close to Potter, and that she was an easy way to him.
She was such a puzzle. For that matter, so was Potter. It was a very large mess when you combined the pieces of two puzzles and then tried to solve them. It often became a challenge, but Draco loved a good challenge. He would work it out. He thought he already had the answer, but he didn't like the answer he had, and he desperately wanted to find another.
The answer he had was a weakness. If there was one thing his father had installed into him, it was not to show weaknesses, and if possible, not to have them at all. Unfortunately, Draco was almost sure he had one, possibly even two, and that ate at him.
While they danced, Hermione's mind wandered. Or rather, she made herself think of something besides the tall boy in front of her, and her mind couldn't chose one topic, so it switched around a lot. Almost everything she thought of came back to Ron, though.
That was why when she bumped into something solid she was so startled. She tripped, falling right into Ron. He had the nerve to actually look concerned! 'He is, you idiot. Just because you want to slap him doesn't mean you can go get mad at him for nothing!' That was when she realized what that solid thing was. Her eyes went wide. Ron only looked nervous! Not everything she was feeling. Which was... 'Nervousness, you idiot.' She seemed to be calling herself that a lot lately.
"Your brothers better sleep with their eyes open," she said craning her neck to look up at him. He was a good foot taller then her, damn him! 'His height now? Now you are mad at him for things he can't help?' Oh, how she wanted to be mad at him. But her practical side knew it wasn't practical, and wouldn't let her. But how she wanted to.
"I'll be sure to warn them. Hold still." He kissed her! He kissed her! In front of everybody! Without warning! Now she had plenty of reason to be angry, and couldn't do it. Because- 'Because you liked it and you know it. You wish it had been more then a peck on the lips, you wish he would do it again.' Damn that practical side. It always told her things she didn't want to hear. But it had saved her from very many things quite often.
Ron simply started to dance again, and she had to follow, he was leading. She couldn't even see his face to judge the expression without being very obvious about it.
"Mystery girl will be jealous," she said mildly, but her eyes still flashed every time she thought about 'mystery girl'. Ron chuckled. Chuckled! When she was tearing herself up inside. Her practical side only had to clear its throat to get its point across.
"She already is," he said, the smile audible in his voice. "Hey, look behind you, who is that?"
She looked over her shoulder and quickly saw who Ron was talking about. Harry was dancing with some girl that she didn't know. She scanned the crowd, and quickly spotted Ginny dancing with a boy named Bill. She grimaced. Ginny had told her about that boy.
"Don't know. She probably asked him to dance and he couldn't say no. Don't freak, but Rose is over there." She gestured in Ginny's direction. Ron grew stiff.
"Who is that?"
"His name is Bill. He's in her year. Don't freak, I told you not to."
"I, I won't freak. He just better stay away from her, that's all." Hermione grinned, if he had seen the episode with Malfoy and Rose, he would have really freaked. But luckily she was facing them, and his back was on them.
Harry fell into his chair, and Sally wound up his leg. " 'Lo Sal, did you just get here?" he hissed.
"No. I've been here for a while, but you were alwaysss dancing, and alwaysss with sssomebody new."
Harry grinned. "I can't say no to them. They always cry when I do. I don't like it when girls cry."
"And Ginny? Doesss she not like to sssee the boysss cry?"
"I think it's more that she doesn't have the heart to say no. She's getting dances from Slytherin too, not a single one approached me."
"They don't like you. They like her, becaussse their leader dancesss with her."
"Malfoy."
"Yesss, the ice child."
"He told her, about his arm. You better stay with her tonight, she's may be okay now, but she will be upset about it later. I want her to stay away from him. I don't have the right to tell her to, but I wish I could. I don't trust him not to hurt her. I don't trust him to know what will hurt her."
"Oh, I think he knowsss. I alssso think he knowsss that she hasss enough friendsss to sssupport her if she getsss hurt once in a while."
Harry watched the mistletoe catch various couples. He himself had been caught twice, both with girls who's names he hadn't known. One had run off to her friends squealing, the other sat down like her legs wouldn't have held her.
"Go find a wall flower to dance with, Harry," Sally said at his ankle. "Make some girl have a very Merry Christmas."
Harry sighed slightly, then did as she said. He smiled at the people he passed. People worried when he showed any form of irritation or anger.
Bill had asked Ginny to dance, again. She had known that he had a crush on her, but this was a little absurd.
Bill was grinning like an idiot though, even if he did keep stepping on her feet. It was a change from Draco or Harry, both of whom danced very well. Draco had a lot of practice, Harry was a natural.
She glanced over Bill's shoulder at Harry, who was dancing with another girl now. She knew he just wasn't turning down offers, but that still didn't help the stab of jealousy that followed. She didn't catch the sigh before it escaped her.
"Is something wrong?" Bill asked anxiously.
"No," Ginny lied, pasting a smile on her face, and managed not to wince as he stepped on her foot again.
When he finally got away from them, Harry collapsed into a chair. It was surprising for it not to feel cold and wet when it looked like it. He let out a relived sigh, and heard an echoed one on his side. He looked over in surprise to see Ginny, as she did the same. They both started laughing. They didn't have to ask why the other one was sighing.
Sally made her way up to the back of Harry's chair. The night was winding down. Only a few couples were still dancing, many had already left for bed. Heather had finally hit the dance floor, with her date "Paul" once more. Sirius had decided to keep that name. "Paul" caught Harry's eye and winked.
Harry chuckled as he watched Fred and George bow to each other, and start to dance across the floor, both trying to lead. Both of their dates had gone of to bed, practically having to hold each other up. Harry thought mildly that the only person who could match one of the twin's energy was the other twin. Their dance brought laughs from the tired people present.
Harry spotted Malfoy sitting on the other side of the Hall, his arms crossed as he glared at the air. He must have really hated air with a passion the way he glared at it. Harry bit his lip. Damn the boy. He could do so much, be so much. Harry didn't really trust his family more then he could throw them, less actually.
Heather finally started to usher people out of the Hall. Anybody not staying for Christmas break had to be up early the next morning, and the way things were going at Hogwarts, most people wanted to leave.
Harry was staring at the bed curtains when he heard Seamus and Dean wake, almost simultaneously. He himself had slept maybe about two hours, which compared to some nights was pretty good, but for how tired he was at that moment, it was horrible.
He didn't need to touch his eyes to feel the bags under them. They felt heavy enough. He blinked, and waited until the whole dorm was awake before he poked his head out of the curtain.
"Morning, everybody."
"Morning Harry," Dean said looking up. "You look like shit." Seamus, who was attempting to pull Neville out of bed, looked up.
Harry grinned. "Thanks, Dean. It's nice to know you care."
"Are you sick?" Neville asked sleepily.
Harry bit his lip, crossing his fingers inside the bed curtains. He hated lying. "I've got a little cold, that's all. Not enough to slow me down. You all should get out of here, you'll be late."
"Thanks again for the potions," Seamus called, racing down out the door.
"No problem!"
When Dean and Neville had left, and Ron had gone downstairs, Harry stood in front of the mirror. He popped out the green earring he had worn to match his shirt the night before and put back in his regular snake. The snake was always his favorite, mainly because in this school it was a small reminder. The snake was the Slytherin symbol, but it was gold with red eyes, the Gryffindor colors. It reminded him of where he had almost been sorted.
He sighed at his appearance. They were right, and there was nothing he could do about it besides splashing cold water on his face.
'You wouldn't be up all night if you just did it,' a voice in his head said. A wave of guilt rushed over him. He knew he had done nothing to try and find the statue his father had talked about. He had promised himself he would work on it during Christmas break, and he knew he wouldn't keep that promise.
'This is break,' he told the voice. 'I deserve a break to.'
'Liar. You are afraid of it, admit-'
"I am not!" he shouted, then realized he had said it out loud.
When Harry walked down to the common room, it was almost deserted. Ron and Hermione sat playing chess, and Ginny was curled up on the couch with a book titled Helga Hufflepuff- the Peacekeeper. This did very little to help with Harry's gilt.
"Hey Rose, I have to go down and stir those potions, want to come? You can protect me from Snape."
Without looking up Ginny slowly placed a bookmark in her book, and stood. "Alright."
"I should come," Hermione said, looking up from the game.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it for you guys."
"Thanks," Ron muttered, not looking up from the board.
Harry and Ginny walked to the dungeons silently. They opened to door to the Potions classroom to find Snape already present, and stirring.
"Potter," he said by way of greeting.
"Good morning, Professor," Harry responded.
"Morning," Ginny chirped, and Snape noticed her with a start. He quickly moved his gaze away from them.
"Wanna help?" Harry asked.
"Sure, what do I do?"
"Their labeled, just use the wooden spoon, and turn three times clockwise. It's everybody in the Gryffindor dorm, you take the girls, and I'll do the boys."
"Just what are you doing Potter?"
Harry turned around. "I told my house mates that I would stir their potions for them if they were leaving. I'm just covering Ron and Hermione since I'm down here."
"Is that so? Did you really think that I would assign homework that could not be completed?"
"I didn't," Ginny said, without stopping her slow turn of the spoon in Lavender's cauldron. "I figured it either slipped your mind, or you were planning to do it for them, but I'm more informed."
Harry was confused, and Snape glared at her back. "Yes, I was going to do it for them. It had thought that was implied. But as you seem to have worked it out, I'll leave you to it."
"I guess the Slytherins would rather fail then work together," Harry said with a soft chuckle. "They aren't all gone."
Severus didn't reply, and Harry started to slowly turn the spoons. Ginny finished first, and wordlessly moved over and started to help with the boy's potions. "What do you think you'll turn into?" Ginny asked.
"Dunno really. Somehow, I don't think I'll be a stag like my dad. It doesn't really fit my personality. What would you be?"
"I'd really like to think something cute and lovable, but I doubt it really. I have no idea, actually. What do you think I'd be?"
Harry finished the last one and turned around to look at her. He studied her for a moment. "Something small, and good-natured. Something gold. You'd be shy, but powerful and smart. Something with wings, I think you would be something that flies."
"Professor, will we be doing this next year also?"
Snape nodded without turning. His mouth was pushed into a thin line.
"Alright, you tell me, what would I be?"
Ginny looked at him for a moment. "You conflict. You would be something brave, but also something that is cunning, and sly. You'd be loyal, but proud. You'd be red, gold, and green. Something smart, but easily blinded, and dense. Something large, but something that can sneak around. Something that can fly, is high above, but also something grounded. Does that make any sense?"
Harry grinned at her, taking her shoulder and leading her away. "Not at all, Rose, but that's okay, I'll know soon."
During the break, the Dream Team convinced Hagrid to bring them a tree for the Common room. They invited Hagrid, Sirius, and Heather to come down and help decorated it. They spent the whole morning making ornaments with various supplies (including magic) to hang when their visitors got there.
Sirius came as Paul, and it helped that there was nobody in the room to see them anyway. "The star goes on last," Hermione said, placing the very shiny star to one side.
They all grabbed ornaments and started to hang them, by hand or by magic. "You know what, you guys should spend Christmas eve here, and then we could all spend Christmas morning together," Harry said while he floated an ornament to the top.
"I couldn' leave Fang, and 'e's not 'llowed in the castle," Hagrid said.
"I could come," Heather said, "But only if somebody agrees to sleep down here with me. I won't sleep a wink alone down here, it's too creepy."
"I'll protect you," Paul said. It was always a shock for Harry to hear such a different voice come from somebody who looked so much like Sirius. "We'll be here, Harry."
"Hey Ron," Heather asked, looking up at him. "Are you still going though with your 'Mystery Girl' plan?"
Ron's ears flushed red. "Yes, I was happy she stayed for break. I really hadn't considered what would have happened if she went home."
"He'sss shaking in hisss shoesss," Sally's hiss was muffled slightly by the ornament she had in her mouth as she slid up the tree.
"Nervous?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Wouldn't you be!"
Harry shrugged. "Dunno, never been there."
"I would be if I were you," Sirius, or rather Paul, said with a smirk. "But never if I was me."
Heather half-heartedly threw an ornament at him. "S-," she quickly changed what she was going to say, "Stop, or Harry will turn out like you, and then Lily and James will come back and haunt me for letting it happen."
"What's wrong with being like me!"
Harry chuckled, and watched as his godparents 'Fake-fought' as he called it. He sat back and watched them for a moment, and then realized something that made his heart swell.
He was spending Christmas with his family.
Something of the revelation must have shown on his face. "What is it, Harry?" Hagrid asked.
Harry smiled, and for the moment he really didn't look sick or tired, "I'm just so happy to spend this holiday with all of you. It's like my family is all together."
They all stopped to look at him, love shined on everyone of their faces. Then suddenly, the lack of sleep hit Harry hard. It had been draining him, but all of the sudden he was dizzy and his vision blacked out. He leaned back on the couch, and fell asleep instantly.
"Should we wake him?" Ron asked.
"No," Ginny answered. "He hasn't been sleeping again. Let him go while he can."
Christmas Eve came all too slowly. When it did, however, it came with snow. They placed the presents to each other around the tree, and sent others home to their destinations. Heather was setting up a place for herself on the couch in front of the fire.
Too soon for Heather's taste, the Dream Team filtered up to bed. Coals still burned in the fire as Sirius turned the light off.
Heather shivered in spite of herself, stepping closer to the little light that the coals offered.
"Heather?" His voice made her jump.
"W- what," she asked, pulling her blanket closer around her shoulders.
Sirius walked up behind her, and to her dismay, took the blanket from her. "Your not still afraid of the dark, are you?"
"No!" She said, even hearing herself that her voice was too high. "What makes you think that?"
"Because you're clutching a blanket for dear life when it's nice and warm in here."
"I'm just cold."
Heather could feel her heart jump as he wrapped his arms around her. "Still cold?" he asked, a smirk audible in his voice.
"No," she whispered.
(A/N: Sorry for the delay, heh. I have about a hundred reasons, none of which you want to hear. Next Chapter... CHRISTMAS Find out what has happened between Sirius and Heather. Discover the identity of 'Mystery Girl', and find out what everybody gave each other for Christmas. I've been asked about Fan fanfiction (you writing a fanfiction about this story) No I don't mind! Just tell me so I can read it! There is no bigger compliment in my mind! (Ps, I don't write lemons, if you want to write it, be my guest.) Thanks for reading, and a special thanks to Sal's Fan Club.)