Kind of a slow chapter...but there are going to be a couple of those, there is no way to avoid them. I won't be updating tomorrow, just thought I'd give you guys fair warning, I have to go score keep a basketball game (sighs.) Anyways..Thanks go all my reviewers.you guys are amazing, as always.

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Chapter Eighteen: Holiday Memories

The snow on the ground was thick as the beginning of December came and went. The Christmas break was upon the students of Hogwarts, and everyone seeking an escape had signed up to leave for the Holidays.

Harry would have loved to stay, alone in the cold castle away from everyone, but Dumbledore insisted that Harry return to Grimwald place where there was more supervision and protection.

The massive breakout attempt had gotten the professors thinking, and instead of giving all the guilty students a months worth of detention, they had been let off without punishment. Although each student lost ten points for their house for their behavior, meaning the cups were not looking very empty indeed.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick were trying to charm the grounds so that classes such as Herbology and Care for Magical Creatures could resume, but still no Quidditch.

Quidditch, that had become Harry's favorite subject over the past couple weeks. Since he wasn't spending a large amount of time with his fellow Gryffindor, he had found he had plenty of spare time to visit a certain dark haired girl in the hospital wing. He was sure to keep her return a secret as she requested, which suited him because he didn't have to battle her many Ravenclaw follower for attention.

Their favorite subject had been Quidditch, and she was teaching Harry how to create a game plan and training schedule. It was ashamed that Quidditch had been cancelled for the season because she would have made a terrific captain. Though his conversations with Cho were mindless and didn't matter, they gave him a sense of peace knowing she was going to be okay.

Cho's ordeal hadn't been easy, she had lost a lot of weight during her time at St. Mungo. The dark circles under her eyes had not completely vanished yet, and Harry was sure she was still crying herself to sleep by the swelling in her face.

Madame Pomfrey had tried to explain her condition to Harry to help him understand what had happened, but he still had a hard time envisioning it. Basically from what he understood, she had come the closest you could go to receiving a Dementor's kiss and return to tell the story. She would be scarred by the encounter for the rest of her life. Chances are if she ever encountered a Dementor again she wouldn't be so lucky as to walk away.

Her weak state didn't dampen her spirits, and she seemed even more enthusiastic about DA once she was permitted to return to her normal routine, which wasn't going to happen until after Christmas break. DA, it wasn't going a well as it had the previous year, in fact Harry didn't even enjoy it much. Professor O'Riley showed the student most of then newer spells and charms they were learning, and Harry just was there to supervise. He did pick up on Defense Spells very quickly, and normally would master then well before his fellow DA members, closely followed by Hermione.

Ron had stopped coming to the meeting, and Harry kept making a mental note to make things right with him. Unlike his fourth year when they had not spoken, Hermione wasn't trying to mediate things between them. In fact, Harry barely saw Hermione these days. She was always studying or doing research or something.

He hadn't asked anything more about the veil since that night when they had come clean about their plans. If he thought about the veil then he'd have to think about Sirius. The only thing that could cause him more pain was to know he was trapped in some sort of limbo, between death and life. And knowing the mysteries of the wizarding world, it didn't seem like that far of a fetched idea. He was better off never knowing the truth of the veil, he just had to except Sirius's death.

Luna and her stupid Death Journal, or whatever the hell she called it. He had seen her a few times since that night when she had shown him that book with Sirius warning.

"Sirius is dead," Harry kept bitterly reminding himself as he slowly began to pack his things. It was only for a few weeks, but he knew they would be the longest three weeks in his life. Especially if Ron kept up this grudge.

"Happy Christmas," Seamus shouted as he left the room to start his Christmas vacation.

"Right, Happy Christmas Harry," he thought bitterly watching his cheeky dorm mate disappear.

After he finished gathering his things to take with him to Grimwald place he muttered a hovering spell over his chest and let it in front on himself down the dorm room stairs.

The group from Gryffindor going to Grimwald place were going to travel by floo powder to their destination. Ron sat on the arm of the chair nearest the fire, purposely avoiding eye contact with Harry. Hermione was near him, scolding him under her breath about being a stupid selfish git. Ginny was smiling happily as a dreamy look in her eyes told everyone that her and Dean had said their holiday goodbyes under the mistletoe.

Professor O'Riley was going to escort them to the Order's headquarters, she was there just to make sure everything went smoothly, "now I know you guys have all traveled by floo before, just be careful and make sure you say the location clearly, you don't want to end up someplace you don't intent to, not right now anyways."

Ron went first as with a shout and a swirl of green flames he was gone. His performance was followed by Hermione and Ginny, and finally Harry took his place in the fire. He didn't think he'd ever get use to traveling by floo, it made him feel so dizzy and light headed.

When he finally collected himself and decided his lunch wasn't going to make a second appearance he fixed his glasses and examined the room. Much to his relief it wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been over the summer. He figured most of the Order Member's had surrendered their duties for the Holidays. Probably just the opportunity Voldemort needed.

"Welcome back Harry," Lupin greeted nodding his head.

The fire swirled in green and Professor O'Riley pulled herself out of the fireplace and dusted off her robe, "you think with all the magic we know we could figure out a way of traveling cleaner."

"Good to see December," Lupin said with a sparkle in his eyes. The same sparkle he had seen in Remus Lupin's eyes when he had seen them talking at Hogmeade.

"Yes, it's good to see you to Remus," she replied back with a smile.

It took the rest of the afternoon to get settle back in, and Mrs. Weasley fixed a feast for dinner. It was nice being away from Hogwarts in a way, but then again you could tell all of the students missed it.

After dinner Ginny, Harry and Hermione gathered in the living room in front of the fire. Ginny and Hermione both pulled out a few scrolls, and began to write whispering over to each other and giggling occasionally.

"Who are you guys writing," Harry finally asked after watching them for several minuets.

"I promised Dean I'd write him a scroll a day," Ginny confessed with a blush.

Hermione didn't answer and she threw her body over her parchment when Harry tried to peer over her shoulder.

"Who are you writing to Hermione?" Harry badgered, trying to dance around her frame to catch a glimpse of a hint.

Hermione let out a sigh, "I don't suppose there is any point in hiding it, I'm writing to Victor."

If there was one statement Hermione could have said to end his suspicious about her and Ron, that was it.

"So you're still writing to Krum?" Harry inquired.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "it isn't a big deal, we're just friends."

"When are you and Ron going to make peace again anyways?" Ginny suddenly blurted out.

"I didn't start the silent treatment," Harry defended quickly, taking a seat on the couch.

"That doesn't mean you can't end it," Hermione lectured.

He shook his head, he should have known that this was coming, "I'm sure thing will work out between us eventually, but he's the one avoiding me right now."

"Only because you offended him," Hermione stated quickly.

"How?" Harry questioned.

Ginny let out a soft chuckle, "isn't it obvious, Ron has a thing for Hermione, and bringing it to the attention of the whole common room was, well embarrassing."

Hermione gave Ginny a cold look and returned to her letter, "we don't know for a fact that Ron has a crush on me, it's just a theory."

"Come on Hermione, Ron turns bright red at the mere mention of your name," Ginny teased.

"No he doesn't," Hermione spat.

Harry grinned, "she has a valid point."

Hermione rolled her eyes choosing to not participate in the conversation any longer.

Time seemed to pass slowly, and after watching Ginny and Hermione write letters for almost an hour, he decided to wander the house to see if he could find Ron. If he had to spend the holidays at Grimwald Place, then he'd rather spend it friends with Ron than not friends.

It didn't take long to find Ron, he was sitting up stairs watching the chess board, playing himself.

"Hey Ron," Harry attempted, but went ignored.

"This is so stupid, at least talk to me," Harry demanded.

Ron narrowed his eyes, "why should I? After the way you acted."

"I've already apologized, what more do you want me to do?"

"Apologize again, and again! I'm so tired of hearing about what's bugging you," Ron snapped.

Harry stared at him, they had already been though the issues of Ron's jealously, and from the look in Ron's eye, there was something more to this.

"Do you like Hermione?"

"NO!" Ron snapped instantly, "it wouldn't matter if I did."

It hit Harry like a ton of bricks, like someone had just set off a sign in front of his eyes, "you do."

Ron didn't let his eyes rise from his chess board, "I don't want to talk about this."

"Why don't you just tell her?"

Ron let out a sigh, "she still is talking to Krum, precious Krum."

"Their just friends," Harry repeated what Hermione had told him only a hour or so earlier.

"You've already cause enough trouble, what are you going to go tell her now?" Ron accused.

"No, I'm not going to tell her. I'm sorry I went off on you two in front of the entire house, I was out of line," Harry apologized.

"Bloody right you were," Ron agreed.

Harry took a seat on the opposite side of the chess board, "need a partner?"

"I'll beat you," Ron smiled and Harry returned it.

Chess carried the two into the evening, and Ron was right, he beat Harry a total of five times, but that didn't matter to Harry, Ron was talking to him again. And he understood what had made him so angry.

"Checkmate, another game?" Ron asked excitedly.

Harry shook his head, "I think I've had enough, I'm rather hungry."

Ron shrugged and put up his chess pieces with a victorious smile on his face, "let go get something to eat down in the kitchen, mum probably won't have dinner ready for a few hours still."

The two walked down the stairs towards the kitchen when Harry first started to hear the mumbling. It grew louder as they approached the door, "wait," Harry said throwing his arm in front of Ron before he opened the door.

"What is it?" Ron asked with a confused tone.

Harry placed his index finger in front of his lips and press his ears to the door.

"Remus, you always were the responsible one of the group," said the voice of Professor O'Riley.

Lupin gave a slight chuckle, "and you were always the sarcastic one."

Professor O'Riley's voice suddenly cracked, "God I miss him."

"So do I," Lupin agreed.

"You know, when I looked back into the pensive and relived everything. I might as well killed him myself," O'Riley cried.

"NO! Don't you dare blame yourself, I've done that far to long myself," Lupin said sternly.

"If what happened between us hadn't happened, James and Lily would still be alive," Lupin confessed.

O'Riley's shaky voice responded, "I blame myself for that too. Bloody hell, they would have been better off if they had never known me."

"Sirius told me before he died that he thought about you everyday," Lupin suddenly said.

Harry eyes grew wide, did Remus just say Sirius thought about Professor O'Riley?

"Holy Merlin!" Ron exclaimed in a loud whisper. Harry gave him a sharp look, but it was too late, the voices had subsided.

The two boys scattered from the door and tried to appear innocent as Remus Lupin appeared at the kitchen door, "hello boys."

"We were hungry, just came down for a bite to eat," Harry lied with a guilty expression.