Chapter 25
The day of Christmas Eve dawned clear and calm, with blue skies that reflected the murky blue of the Lake. For what felt like the first time in years, the Guardians slept late, enjoying the peacefulness that just lying in bed brings. Harry rose just after nine, and went for a lazy shower, managing to arrive before the hordes descended. Glancing in the mirror as he got dressed, Harry noticed that his hair was once again getting a bit unmanageable, and decided to ask Emma to cut it again that day. He wandered into the Great Hall at ten, squinting against the bright light coming from the charmed ceiling. There were small groups dotted around the tables, some eating, some talking, and some playing games like wizard chess or exploding snap.
Harry went over to the end of the Gryffindor table, where almost all of Fire were sitting. As he walked across the Hall the group burst into laughter, Caused, Harry guessed, by Fred, George, or both of them. As he approached they quieted down, spotting him, and stood when he reached the table. Harry was slightly surprised.
'What are you standing up for? I'm not a professor.'
'You're more than a professor. But that's not the point. Fred and George were just telling us about some of your more interesting exploits.' Jack said.
'Is that right?'
Harry mock glared at the twins. They looked at each other, before moving back to back, and raising their fists as if ready to repel an attack.
'We are very sorry, O Great One. We shall never commit such an indiscretion again.'
The others were doubled up with laughter as Harry continued to glare at the two.
'I should hope not. Now sit down, all of you.'
They did so, and Harry began to explain his idea too them, while they listened silently. The twins were impressed, and the others entranced.
'I though we could liven up the mood a bit by giving Ice a bit of a shock. Just a few practical jokes, but don't let them know you're behind it. The longer you're successful, the better we look to the rest of the school. I'll leave timings and places up to you. But remember, i know nothing about this if you get caught. Understood?'
Getting nods all round, Harry stood up and walked away, grinning as he heard the chatter start up behind him. He wandered over to where Charlie and Fletch were deep in conversation, and sat down beside them, taking a mouthful of pumpkin juice gratefully as he did so. He listened intently to their conversation for several minutes, working his way through the bacon sandwich on his plate. They were discussing the workings of the new seeker100, a broom designed specifically for seekers. Though it was no faster than the firebolt, it had better fast turning ability, though was consequently much less stable, and harder to use. Their argument was settled when Bill pointed out that there was no way to get a real answer unless they could actually test them, which was clearly impossible. Harry broke in.
How are things coming along with the letters?'
Charlie answered, while munching on what looked like his fifth piece of toast.
'Good, we're all ready to send them out on the first. And we've put details of replying and what they need to do on it. It should work.'
'Yeah, should.'
Harry grinned, knowing that things rarely went as they were supposed to. He finished his breakfast, then stood up.
'Ok, I'll see you all later I don't doubt.'
'Bye Stealth.'
Harry exited the Great Hall, and went in search of Ginny, deciding to ask her if she wanted to go for a walk. He felt in need of something to do, and had a few things he wanted to talk to her about.
He found her in the rooms she had adopted as a hospital. Without a word being spoken she sensed his wish, and took his hand as he led her out onto the grounds. They walked round the lake in silence for several minutes before Ginny broke the silence.
'What's on your mind?'
She spoke softly, no trace of pressure or concern in her voice, letting the answer be his choice, not hers.
'It's us. I have to talk to Bill and Charlie.'
'To ask their permission, you mean? And if they say no, what then, will you say no?'
Her voice was tight, and Harry could feel the annoyance in her voice. He sympathised.
'I am not asking for their permission, just their blessing. I will not back down if they refuse. But they will not. Though I am sure they will favour me with descriptive details of what they will do to me if I hurt you.'
Harry smiled, not looking at hr as she waited for her reply.
'Harry?'
He started, then made a face at the irony of his real name being stranger to him than his assumed title.
'Yes?'
'Do you love me?'
Her eyes were bright with the fear of his answer, but she had to know. For her this was not just a passing feeling. This was life, and if it was not real then she wanted it ended now. Harry sensed this, and leant down to kiss her gently, murmuring:
'Yes.'
They walked for hours, lost in a time of their own, oblivious to the world around them. They both acted differently, more comfortable with each other, safe in the knowledge of what they shared.
Harry went to see her brothers that evening, and they gave their blessing. In fact they had guessed, something that Harry was very grateful for, as it spared him the embarrassing prospect of bringing up the taboo topic of their sister. Harry did not see Ginny until late that evening, though she at once knew the result of their conversation.
Everybody - Hope you enjoyed this. I will try to get the action going again in the next chapter. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose
The day of Christmas Eve dawned clear and calm, with blue skies that reflected the murky blue of the Lake. For what felt like the first time in years, the Guardians slept late, enjoying the peacefulness that just lying in bed brings. Harry rose just after nine, and went for a lazy shower, managing to arrive before the hordes descended. Glancing in the mirror as he got dressed, Harry noticed that his hair was once again getting a bit unmanageable, and decided to ask Emma to cut it again that day. He wandered into the Great Hall at ten, squinting against the bright light coming from the charmed ceiling. There were small groups dotted around the tables, some eating, some talking, and some playing games like wizard chess or exploding snap.
Harry went over to the end of the Gryffindor table, where almost all of Fire were sitting. As he walked across the Hall the group burst into laughter, Caused, Harry guessed, by Fred, George, or both of them. As he approached they quieted down, spotting him, and stood when he reached the table. Harry was slightly surprised.
'What are you standing up for? I'm not a professor.'
'You're more than a professor. But that's not the point. Fred and George were just telling us about some of your more interesting exploits.' Jack said.
'Is that right?'
Harry mock glared at the twins. They looked at each other, before moving back to back, and raising their fists as if ready to repel an attack.
'We are very sorry, O Great One. We shall never commit such an indiscretion again.'
The others were doubled up with laughter as Harry continued to glare at the two.
'I should hope not. Now sit down, all of you.'
They did so, and Harry began to explain his idea too them, while they listened silently. The twins were impressed, and the others entranced.
'I though we could liven up the mood a bit by giving Ice a bit of a shock. Just a few practical jokes, but don't let them know you're behind it. The longer you're successful, the better we look to the rest of the school. I'll leave timings and places up to you. But remember, i know nothing about this if you get caught. Understood?'
Getting nods all round, Harry stood up and walked away, grinning as he heard the chatter start up behind him. He wandered over to where Charlie and Fletch were deep in conversation, and sat down beside them, taking a mouthful of pumpkin juice gratefully as he did so. He listened intently to their conversation for several minutes, working his way through the bacon sandwich on his plate. They were discussing the workings of the new seeker100, a broom designed specifically for seekers. Though it was no faster than the firebolt, it had better fast turning ability, though was consequently much less stable, and harder to use. Their argument was settled when Bill pointed out that there was no way to get a real answer unless they could actually test them, which was clearly impossible. Harry broke in.
How are things coming along with the letters?'
Charlie answered, while munching on what looked like his fifth piece of toast.
'Good, we're all ready to send them out on the first. And we've put details of replying and what they need to do on it. It should work.'
'Yeah, should.'
Harry grinned, knowing that things rarely went as they were supposed to. He finished his breakfast, then stood up.
'Ok, I'll see you all later I don't doubt.'
'Bye Stealth.'
Harry exited the Great Hall, and went in search of Ginny, deciding to ask her if she wanted to go for a walk. He felt in need of something to do, and had a few things he wanted to talk to her about.
He found her in the rooms she had adopted as a hospital. Without a word being spoken she sensed his wish, and took his hand as he led her out onto the grounds. They walked round the lake in silence for several minutes before Ginny broke the silence.
'What's on your mind?'
She spoke softly, no trace of pressure or concern in her voice, letting the answer be his choice, not hers.
'It's us. I have to talk to Bill and Charlie.'
'To ask their permission, you mean? And if they say no, what then, will you say no?'
Her voice was tight, and Harry could feel the annoyance in her voice. He sympathised.
'I am not asking for their permission, just their blessing. I will not back down if they refuse. But they will not. Though I am sure they will favour me with descriptive details of what they will do to me if I hurt you.'
Harry smiled, not looking at hr as she waited for her reply.
'Harry?'
He started, then made a face at the irony of his real name being stranger to him than his assumed title.
'Yes?'
'Do you love me?'
Her eyes were bright with the fear of his answer, but she had to know. For her this was not just a passing feeling. This was life, and if it was not real then she wanted it ended now. Harry sensed this, and leant down to kiss her gently, murmuring:
'Yes.'
They walked for hours, lost in a time of their own, oblivious to the world around them. They both acted differently, more comfortable with each other, safe in the knowledge of what they shared.
Harry went to see her brothers that evening, and they gave their blessing. In fact they had guessed, something that Harry was very grateful for, as it spared him the embarrassing prospect of bringing up the taboo topic of their sister. Harry did not see Ginny until late that evening, though she at once knew the result of their conversation.
Everybody - Hope you enjoyed this. I will try to get the action going again in the next chapter. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose