(A/N – Thanks to pinkpirate for my first real review since starting this sequel. Thank you so much! More reviews would, however, be greatly appreciated.

So here it is! This chapter was particularly fun to write. It gets very exciting. Enjoy!

PS- I'm so sorry if anyone was confused by the previous chapter. I forgot to tell you who's POV it was. Hopefully you figured it out, but I'm sorry! I have now fixed it.)

Chapter 15 – Home For The Holidays – Ron's POV

The next day, Saturday, was the first say of Christmas vacation. Blaise and I were sitting in the Gryffindor common room after breakfast, as there had been a delay and the train wouldn't leave until 3 that afternoon.

"There you are, Ron," said Hermione after entering the room through the portrait hole. "Dumbledore wants the three of us in his office now. I think he might have found the counter spell."

"Damn," Blaise whispered quietly in my ear.

"Ok. Thanks, Mione," I said, getting up and pulling Blaise off the couch.

We arrived in Dumbledore's office about ten minutes later, not particularly excited about being separated but both feeling that it was time, and knowing that they would be spending the next two weeks together anyways, if not within five feet of each other.

Hermione entered silently behind them and closed the door quietly.

"Morning, Professor," she said as Dumbledore entered the room through the back door.

"Good morning Miss Granger," he replied, "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Zabini," he nodded to them each in turn. "I expect you are all looking forward to your break?"

The three of us nodded.

"Alright, I have the counter spell here," he said, pulling a large, leather-bound book from his desk and handing it to Hermione. "You are the one who must reverse the spell, Miss Granger, as you cast it in the first place. Page six hundred seventy-two."

Hermione flipped through the book until she found the right page. She read over the spell, and looked a bit nervous.

"I have absolute confidence in your magical ability, Miss Granger. Have faith in yourself."

Hermione sat up straight in her chair, turned to face Blaise and I, who were sharing a chair, and read the incantation aloud, concentrating hard.

"Did it work?" she asked uncertainly.

Blaise stood and walked across the room and back. "Yup, I guess it did," he said.

"Excellent," said Dumbledore. "You all may. Enjoy your holidays."

We all thanked him and file out of his office.

"It's nearly two," said Hermione, checking her watch. The carriages will be leaving for Hogsmeade station soon. I have to go find Harry. I'll see you two on the train."

"Kay, bye Mione," I said, taking Blaise's hand and walking slowly down towards the entrance hall and out to the carriages, our fingers intertwined.

We hovered around near the Hogwarts gates for a while, waiting for Harry and Mione. When they arrived, we got in a carriage together.

"You guys should all come to Godric's Hollow for New Year's," said Harry.

"Do your parents mind, Harry?" I asked.

Harry laughed. "Are you kidding? Hey won't even notice. About a million people are coming. The whole order, all their friends from Hogwarts… Everyone. They actually invited my Aunt and Uncle, but thank Merlin they declined."

"Alright, we'll come if we can," I replied, snuggling up in Blaise's arms and closing my eyes.

He was trying to hide it, but it was evident that Harry was excited to be going home. I didn't blame him, he hadn't seen his parents for 15 years, then he finally gets to live with them and he has to leave right away. I'm sure I'd be far more excited than he looked right then.

We came to a halt outside of Hogsmeade Station and climbed out of our carriage. We got onto the train and went to the very back compartment.

Why are we at the very back?" asked Blaise.

"It's a tradition," I replied. "Besides…It's the biggest compartment, as there's no isle running down the side."

I pulled him down onto my lap as I sat down.

"Where are Gin and Draco?" asked Harry.

"They're staying at Hogwarts together," I said darkly.

"Oh. Well I'll have to owl them about New Year's when I get home," Harry replied.

"But how will they get there? The train isn't going to bring just them," I asked.

"Draco can apparate," said Blaise.

"Legally?" I asked.

"Of course not," said Blaise. "He's only sixteen, you git."

"Oh…" I blushed. "Well…Ginny can't apparate," I said.

"Draco can carry her. He was trained to do that."

My eyes widened but I didn't say anything. I hated talking about Death Eater stuff with him. It upset him so much.

"Harry!" Neville came barreling into the compartment, a long letter clutched in his fist. "Read this!" he thrust the letter into Harry's hands and a few tears escaped his eyes as he practically jumped up and down with excitement.

Harry scanned the letter, his jaw dropping. "Neville…" he said, looking up at his friend and roommate of nearly six years. "This is great!" Harry jumped up and threw his arms around Harry in a brotherly hug.

Neville was laughing through tears which were now streaming down his face in floods.

"Someone feel like letting the rest of us know what's going on?" I asked exasperatedly.

Harry still looked shocked. "They've found a way to cure his parents," Harry said, as Neville was clearly too distraught to answer himself.

The train's whistle sounded and the train started moving slowly down the track.

"Neville! That's wonderful news!" said Hermione, jumping up and hugging him too. I quickly did the same.

"Sit down, come on," I said, leading him over to a seat.

He sat down and curled up. By this point he was bawling his eyes out. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of bubble gum wrappers which he clearly carried with him wherever he went. At the sight of them his cries actually amplified tenfold.

Hermione conjured a handkerchief and handed it to Neville, and he greatfully accepted it.

None of us knowing what to do, we returned to our seats and left him to sob into the handkerchief.

Neville seemed to be calming down after about half an hour when the food trolley arrived at their compartment.

Harry told everyone to stay in their seats and went out to purchase some sweets from the trolley. He returned several minutes later with a giant paper bag in his hand. I raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh… I couldn't carry it all," he said sheepishly.

I laughed. "Hungry?"

Harry rolled his eyes, before turning the bag upside down over an empty seat and emptying out its entire contents. "Help yourselves," he said, tossing a chocolate frog to Hermione and taking one for himself before returning to his seat.

The group sat eating sweets and talking companionably for the rest of the journey, Neville sniffling every few minutes but now smiling widely.

(A/N – Hope you enjoyed it! Now please review…I'm desperate. Thank you!)