Chapter Twenty-Nine

Christmas Plans

While Ginny was talking some sense into Dawn, Harry pulled Ron off to the side in the Gryffindor common room.

"What is it Harry?" Ron asked in concern.

"Before I say anything, promise me you won't get mad and blow everything out of proportion."

"But what..."
"Just promise."

"Ok I promise. Now what's wrong?"

Harry searched for the right words. "It's about Ginny..."

"What about her? Is she ok? Is she hurt?" Ron asked urgently.

"No, she's fine," Harry said quickly to assure his friend. "Really fine actually," he added under his breath. "You know how she's always had that crush on me?"
"Who doesn't?" Ron asked with a slight snort.

"Well...I like her too."
Ron peered closely at his friend. "Are you sure you fancy her or is this because you can't have Dawn?"

"I'm sure I like her. I think I've know on some level for a while now. It's only been in the past couple of days that I figured it out." Harry squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable outburst.

"That's great mate," Ron said with a grin as he clasped his hand on Harry's shoulder.

Harry cautiously opened one eye and asked, "Are you sure? You're not mad?"

"I couldn't ask for a better guy to date my sister. But if you hurt her, I'll have to kill you, best friend or not."

The raven-haired boy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and smiled.

*********

The next month passed rather quickly. The students buried themselves in their schoolwork and all of their extra training. They had very little free time.

What free time they did have, Draco and Dawn spent it together. Pansy's plan to break them up had only brought them closer together.

They weren't the only couple to spend their free time together. Most people were hard pressed to say when they didn't see Harry and Ginny together.

While Hermione was glad to see them together, she couldn't help but be slightly resentful towards them. She ended up spending a lot of her time alone or with Ron.

Not that she minded spending time with him. It was just getting harder for her to hide her attraction. She wished that things would work out for them like it had for the others.

But before she knew it, Christmas break had arrived and everyone was getting ready to go home for the holiday.

It was the holiday that the scoobies wanted to discuss with Dumbledore. They had gathered in his office with Professors Snape and McGonagall.

"What is it you wished to discuss?" Albus asked.

"As you know we're all returning to Sunnydale for Christmas," Buffy began.

"Along with Draco," Spike added.

"I think that's wonderful," said Albus. "It will do him good to get out and experience muggle life."

"That's not all mate."

"Oh?" Dumbledore said, raising his eyebrows in an unspoken question.

"It's just..." Buffy faltered.

"We thought it might be..." Willow tried.

"We wondered if..." Xander began.

"Oh for goodness sakes!" Anya exclaimed. "We want to take Harry with us to Sunnydale."

"That is one of the most ridiculous ideas I've ever heard," Snape said derisively.

"It's not ridiculous," Anya retorted, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Albus said.

"And why not?" Buffy asked.

"It's much too dangerous."

"Albus, you can't keep the kid locked up forever. You keep him here for too long and he'll become resentful." Spike pointed out.

"We're only concerned for his safety," Minerva said gently.

"But you won't be able to protect him forever," Buffy argued.

"He'll be safe with us," Willow said. "We'll keep an eye on him."

"Oh, like you did at Hogsmeade?" Snape sneered.

"He came back without a scratch on him. The kid knows how to defend himself," Spike said with a glare.

"And now you want to take him to the hellmouth?" Snape nearly yelled.

"In all fairness, the hellmouth is now permanently closed," Giles spoke for the first time.

"The amount of demon activity has also dropped," Tara said gently. "It was one of the reasons why we were able to accept these positions."

"The kid needs to get out," Spike said.

"Professor, he'll have the seven of us to protect him, plus Dawn and Draco. He'll be fine," Buffy said pleadingly.

"Besides, who would think to look for him there," Willow said. "I mean who would hide him at a former hellmouth in the States?"

Dumbledore seemed to consider both sides of the argument. He knew that Harry would never admit it, but he probably was feeling a little overprotected. The boy had missed out on so much during his life and it would be a shame to deprive him of this.

The scoobies all looked at him with a mixture of pleading and hopeful looks. He gave them a gentle smile before saying, "I will allow Harry to go with you."

"Professor, surely you can't be serious?" Snape protested over the other's cheers.

"Yes, I am Severus. They have made several good points. However, I do have several requests."

"What?" Giles asked.

"The first is that you do not use muggle transportation to get there. We can have your homes hooked up to the floo network. That way there will be less chances of a wizard here seeing him leave with you."

"Floo network?" Xander asked.

"You travel through fireplaces," Spike explained. "What else?" He asked, as he turned his attention back to his old friend.

"I think that you should also take several portkeys with you that you can use in case of an emergency."
"Portkeys?" Willow asked.

"They'll transport someone to the programmed destination. You could use them to transport Harry back to Hogwarts," Dumbledore explained.

"Sound reasonable to me," Giles said.

"It's still risky," Snape said darkly.

"Anything that matters usually is," Anya shot back.

"Why you little..."

"Severus, that's enough," Albus said firmly. Turning to the others he said, "I trust you will appraise Harry of these plans."

"Of course," Buffy said brightly.

*******

Dawn sat on Ginny's bed as she watched her redheaded friend pack for Christmas break. "So when are you leaving?"
"Ron and I leave tomorrow. You?"

"Not for a couple of days. We have to wait until the house gets hooked to the floo network."

"You guys are traveling by floo?"

"Yeah. Something about protecting Harry or something like that."

"I wish I could go with you," Ginny said with a sigh.

Dawn laughed. "You just want to join us cause Harry's going with us."

"Well, yeah," she said, hiding a light blush. "But I've always wanted to visit the States."

"You could visit during the summer. It should be pretty easy now that we have that whole fireplace thing," Dawn pointed out.

"Really?"

"Really, really."

"Oh, maybe not."

"Why?" Dawn asked, slightly hurt.

"My dad loves muggles. He always grills Harry and Hermione when they visit. I could only imagine what he'd do to his own daughter if I stayed with one," Ginny groaned.

Dawn's hurt lessened as she began to understand what her friend was saying. "Or we could invite him to dinner one night."

Ginny's eye brightened at that thought. "He would love it."

The two sat in comfortable silence while Ginny continued to pack. "Wonder how Draco will handle muggle life," Ginny mused softly.

"What?"

"Well, he's always prided himself on his pureblood status. I know a little about muggle life cause of dad, but he knows nothing."

"Then I'll just have to teach him, won't I," Dawn said with a wicked glint in her eyes.

********

"So you get to have a real Christmas for once," Ron said to Harry as they both packed.

"Yeah. Complete with a family dinner, tree, and presents." Harry said happily.

"Not to mention a normal holiday."
"Well, as normal as it can be with staying with a slayer, a vampire, a key that used to be an elf from another dimension, and my main rival over a former hellmouth. We even got a special dispensation about using magic in case of an emergency."
"I forgot that Draco was going to be there too," Ron said.

"Unfortunately I'll have to put up with him. If I'm lucky, he won't be too much of a git."

Ron snorted. "Like that would ever happen."

********

Draco was alone in his room, nervously packing. He didn't tell anyone, but he was afraid to go to Sunnydale. He had spent his entire life in the wizarding world so he had no clue what muggle life was like.

He only hoped that Dawn would keep him from looking like a complete idiot.

The thought of spending the next several weeks with his angel without school getting in the way cheered him up. Also the thought of being able to eat meals next to her instead of across the room and the sneak into here room at night for a brief snogging session. The last thought brought a smile to his lips.

At least he'd be able to spend the holiday with people who actually cared for him. It would be a nice change.

Besides, he needed to get away from Hogwarts for a while. Aside from Dawn and Ginny, he had no friends. No one in Slytherin talked to him anymore. Not even Goyle talked to him. He was literally an outcast in his own house.

********

Dear Sirius,

I'm sorry that I haven't written very much, but I've been pretty busy. The school year has passed so quickly that I had lost track of time.

Ginny made the quidditch team. She's one of our new beaters along with Dawn. You should see them play, they're bloody amazing.

I'm still getting my muggle defense training from Buffy and Spike in the evenings. The others have joined us also. It actually came in handy during the first Hogsmeade weekend. We got attacked by demons in the middle of the day. I walked away unhurt. I was never more scared and exhilarated all at the same time before.

Oh, did I mention that Spike is a Malfoy? Apparently he's Draco's great-great-great-great uncle. And Draco has decided not to be a death eater and now trains with us. I can't decide if I believe him or not. Dawn does though. Believes him so much that they're dating.

Which leads me into the first of my good news. I've got a girlfriend. Which is another reason why I've been so busy. Her name is Ginny Weasley. I know you know her, I just can't stop saying it. She's absolutely wonderful. I don't know why I didn't see it earlier.

My other good news is that I have plans for Christmas. Dumbledore is letting me spend the holiday with the slayer in the States. I'm so excited. A true, honest to goodness Christmas.

It's time for me to go. I hope you have a happy Christmas. Say hello to Buckbeak and Moony for me.

Harry