Chapter 20:
Supper at the Weasley's was an event unto itself. Besides having the entire Weasley family at the table, Michelle and Hermione were present as well. Everyone was talking and laughing...especially Fred and George who were trying to convince their mother to try the latest creation from F&G Fun and Frolic. Fred and George had used the money Harry had given them after he'd "won" the Triwizard Tournament to start a joke shop. They offered not only practical joke items, but also strange candies and foods. The shop ran out of their small flat in London. New to the shop was a lollipop that literally popped when you had licked your way to the center. Inside were small pellets that would react to a person's tounge and saliva. The trick was to lick just till you felt the center shake and then pull the pop out of your mouth to let it explode. So far no one had been hurt trying out the Lively Pops, at least not seriously.
Michelle was sitting across from Harry. Everytime they tried to talk to each other, they would be interrupted by someone asking to have an item passed to them. Finally, the meal was done. Everyone made their way to the living room to fall into one of the many squishy couches. Michelle lagged behind offering to help Mrs. Weasley clean up. Ron's mom shooed her away and she ran into Harry in the hallway.
"I was just coming to find you." He grinned lopsidedly at her.
"I told Ron's mom I would help, but she sent me away." Michelle looked to see if anyone was around. "Think anyone would notice if we stepped outside for a bit?"
"I'll get our coats..." Harry quietly stepped out to the foyer and played tug of war with the coat rack to retrieve their jackets. They tip toed to the back door and out to the yard. The night sky was shining from all the stars that were visable. Neither Harry nor Michelle spoke as they each tilted their heads back to look up at the twinkling display above them. Michelle turned her head a little and studied Harry's profile. He finally noticed she was looking at him and not the stars.
Somewhat embarrassed, he motioned over to a nearby picnic table, "Want to sit?" Michelle nodded and they sat down on the table top. "What would you do for Christmas at home?"
"Usually, I would either spend it at school or I would visit my friend Amy. Do you usually spend yours with the Weasley's?"
"Sometimes...I mean, I've been here and I've stayed at school. It's different every year."
"Apparently we both have problems with consistency..." Michelle stared at her feet thinking for a second. Harry noticed her brow wrinkle as though she were debating something in her head. She looked back up at him and bit her lip. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can."
"Do you trust me?"
Harry eyes widened; this was not the question he was expecting. "Yes...should I not trust you?"
"No, nothing like that. I'm just wondering how you know you can trust me when you don't know that much about me?"
"I'm not sure I like where this is going." He shifted so he was turned towards her. "I suppose I trust you because of what I DO know about you. You were kind to Neville right from the start; you figured out Malfoy was a git; you helped Hermione at risk to your own life...all pretty good reasons to trust you."
Michelle had also shifted towards him, "So it doesn't seem weird at all that you can trust me, but you don't know my middle name?"
"What does your middle name have to do with anything?"
"Nothing, just an example..."
"What is your middle name by the way?"
"Don't have one."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Huh."
"Okay, so back to the weirdness...it's not weird or anything?"
"No. Is there a point in here somewhere?"
Michelle stuck out her tounge at him. "Yes, just give me a second."
"Stick out your tounge again and you'll be too busy to speak..."
Michelle had just begun to stick out the tip of her tounge when she suddenly laughed. "That'll have to wait. I just needed to know if you trusted me, because I trust you even though I don't know alot about you..." She noticed Harry's eyebrow go up. "You know what I mean. Of course everyone knows the 'scar story,' but I mean YOU. I don't know a lot about YOU. If you don't think it's weird to trust me, then it's not weird to trust you and I can tell you something."
"Please tell me something soon, because my body has frozen to this table..."
She sighed, "Okay, I'll do this as fast as I can, but it's important so atleast pretend to be serious for a second."
Harry sat still and looked at her thoughtfully. Without meaning to, he burst into laughter just as she opened her mouth to speak. Michelle's eyes rolled. Harry began to apologize.
"I'm sorry...I couldn't help it. First you're sticking your tounge out and then you make like you're going to tell me something that could drastically change my life..." He stopped seeing something flicker in her eyes. She'd gone very still and quiet. He spoke softly, "You are going to tell me something drastic aren't you..."
Light spilled out on to the lawn as Mr. Weasley opened the back door.
"Harry...Michelle..." He called out into the yard. Spotting them, he waved towards the house. "Come inside! Molly's made hot chocolate and the twins have almost convinced her to try a Lively Pop!" He stood waiting for them. Reluctantly, they hopped off the table and went to the house. Michelle seemed distracted the rest of the night. Harry wasn't much better. He felt off kilter and couldn't seem to concentrate while he and Charlie played Wizard's Chess. As everyone headed upstairs to bed, he caught up with Michelle in front of her room. Ginny and Hermione were already inside. He took her by the arm and gently guided her into a hall closet. Lighting his wand, he could see Michelle's face.
"What were you going to tell me? Is it something bad?"
Michelle reached out and took hold of his hand. "No, not bad for you. It's just important that's all. It's just something serious I wanted to share with you. I'm sorry if I made you worry or freak out."
"No offense, but a lot of bad things have happened in my life so when someone says they have something drastic to tell me..."
Michelle interrupted, "I never said 'drastic'...you came up with that one yourself..."
"Okay, not 'drastic' but big. I get a little worried. It didn't help that we were interrupted."
"Bit of a cliffhanger..."
Harry nodded, "So stop the suspense and tell me..."
"I can't." Once again, Harry looked at her in surprise. "I mean, I can't right now. It's going to take me awhile to tell the whole story and I don't think a closet is the right place to have this discussion." She smiled at him warmly. "I promise I will tell you. Why don't we try and sneak away tomorrow afternoon?"
Harry reluctantly agreed, but felt better when Michelle wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He held her close till voices could be heard outside the closet door.
Charlie had noticed the light coming out from under the closed door. He had paused to hear Harry and Michelle. Bill had been walking by and stopped seeing Charlie leaning towards the door.
Charlie spoke loudly, "Well Bill, I seem to have misplaced the spare sheets. Do you remember if Mom keeps them in this closet or the one downstairs?"
Bill looked confused, "What the hell are you talking about?"
Charlie hit Bill in the arm then did a lightning like zig zag motion in front of his forehead. He followed this by a puckering of the lips and a wave of his hands in the shape of a woman.
Bill caught on and did a thumbs up. "Oh yeah...sheets...up here I think..." They could hear Harry and Michelle behind the door. "We should check downstairs first...never know what you're going to find in this closet..." The two men held in their laughter and snuck into their room. Leaving their door open slightly, they waited and watched as Harry and Michelle quietly exited the closet. Harry walked Michelle back to her room. Before she opened the door, she leaned up and kissed Hary goodnight. He gave her a serious look.
"Tomorrow afternoon..." he whispered. She nodded as Harry bent down for one more deep kiss before heading off to his own room.
"Excellent boy our Harry..." Bill whispered.
"I think I'm tearing up..." Charlie dabbed his eyes with his shirt corner before Bill grabbed him in a headlock and drug him back from the door laughing.
