Chapter 25: Christmas Holidays
The day their holidays began, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny decided to take a little time-out. They had two whole weeks to do all their school stuff and they thought it was time to relax.
In the afternoon, Harry and Ron had a little snowball fight; while Ginny wanted Hermione to repeat in detail how she had made up with Ron. In the evening it became very cold and the four of them decided to have dinner and then have a warm cup of tea. As they returned to their common room, they noticed that only some first years were staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. Ron and Hermione were very relieved about this, because they were fed up having people stare at them. They hoped that the others´ reactions would die at the beginning of the second term. The rest of the evening was spent playing ´Exploding Snap´.
Harry and Ron went to the boys´ dormitories, while Hermione and Ginny were sleeping together in Hermione's dormitory.
The next morning, Hermione convinced them to do half of their homework, so they could enjoy the rest of their holidays without worrying about essays and charms.
In the late afternoon, the snow began to fall in thick flakes. It was already dark, but the many lights of the castle made the grounds look like in a fairy tale. Around the lake, Hagrid had put up some torches and so he had given the whole place a romantic atmosphere. Harry went over to where Ginny and Hermione were sitting.
"Get your cloak", he told Ginny.
She looked at him, surprised. "Why?"
"It's a secret. Put on warm clothes, it's cold. That's all I'm telling you now" he whispered mysteriously, so only she could hear.
Anxious to know what Harry had planned, she changed into warm clothes and left the castle with Harry. Hand in hand they walked through the frozen snow, not talking to each other.
It was extremely beautiful outside, beyond imagination.
"Harry, why did you take me out for a walk tonight?" Ginny couldn't bear the silence anymore, she was too eager to know what this was all about.
Harry stopped and sighed. He hadn't slept very much the previous night, because he had been thinking about some things. He had made an important decision and was sure Ginny would understand him. He didn't want any more secrets between him and his girlfriend. Even if it meant to shock her, he needed to tell her this.
"There are some things, I should have told you some time ago. I haven't told anyone yet, because I was too afraid to scare them. I haven't even spoken to Ron or Hermione about this. But I think it's time to share my little secret with someone… with you.
Do you remember the night in London? In the Department of mysteries? I took that strange glass ball from its shelf. My name was written on it, mine and Voldemort's. I told you, the glass had broken and that I hadn't heard the prophecy, but I didn't tell you everything. That same night, I spoke to Dumbledore in his office, where he explained me many things. Then he showed me what the prophecy was about. He had witnessed it, 16 years ago, when it was made… by none other than Sybill Trelawney. From his pensieve, there arose the shape of Trelawney and then I learned, what I should have learned, the year I had arrived at Hogwarts."
"Harry, why are you telling me this?" Ginny knew that Harry was serious and it gave her the creeps.
He gently stroked her cheek. "Please, let me finish. You don't need to be scared. The prophecy predicts that there will be a duel between Voldemort and another wizard… me. It tells that none can live while the other does. So either he kills me or I have to kill him."
Tears were appearing in Ginny's eyes and her voice was shaking. "Why you?"
"That's what I asked myself all the time. And then Dumbledore told me. The prophecy tells about a boy, born in the end of July and that his parents had twice escaped Voldemort. I am not the only one, this description fits to. It could also have been Neville.
Voldemort had only heard the last part of the prophecy and he chose me as his enemy. It was Voldemort's choice that made me what I am. For a long time, I didn't want to tell anybody about it, because I have to be a murderer if I want to live."
Ginny didn't know what to say. She was very pale and shaking.
"There is something else I wanted to tell you. It's not that bad, I least I hope it's not" he said laughing quietly.
"We have been a couple since mid of October, and we have been friends for many years. You helped me so much during the last year and I realised how comfortable I feel being with you. Every time I see you, I feel like I'm home and I know that I wanna be with you. No matter where you are, I always want to stay with you. I never want to lose you, because… I love you."
Harry's heart beat very fast, he was so nervous about Ginny's reaction. She looked into his eyes and was speechless. Then, overwhelmed by her feelings, she kissed him passionately.
The snowflakes were thickening around them. They only returned as they were both frozen to the bones.
The day before Christmas was the last Hogsmeade visit of the year and there were still some presents to be bought. Harry and Ginny were heading for the joke shop while Hermione and Ron visited the new present shop. When they had finished their shopping, they met in the "Three Broomsticks" and drank a warm butterbeer.
Harry looked around and noticed that many teachers were in the pub. He saw Hagrid, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick and even the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore was there.
"Don't you think it's strange that there are so many teachers around me all the time?" whispered Harry into Ginny's ear.
"Coincidence" she whispered back.
But Harry didn't loose the feeling of being surveyed all day long. And he didn't like the way Ginny looked at him from time to time.
In the late evening before they said each other goodnight, Ron and Hermione already in bed, Harry spoke to her.
"I don't think it's a coincidence! Every time we're leaving the common room, to go somewhere, there's a teacher on our heels. Didn't you notice? In Hogsmeade, there was Hagrid in the joke shop, than he accompanied us to the present shop and then we met Professor McGonagall in the Quidditch supplies store. Isn't that strange?"
"Maybe you're beginning to have a little persecution mania? Harry… I know you won't be happy to hear this, but wouldn't it help you if Ron and Hermione knew about the prophecy?"
But the moment she had spoken those words, she knew that she shouldn't have mentioned this to Harry. From the expression in his face, she could tell that he didn't like this at all. He was really mad.
"I already told you, that I won't tell them. It was hard enough to tell you. I don't want them to worry about me too."
"What do you mean?" asked Ginny, having a notion what Harry would tell her now.
"Oh Ginny, come on! Since the night I told you everything about the prophecy you keep staring at me with these pitiful eyes. I don't need you to be sad for me and you don't need to feel sorry for me."
He said this in a harsh tone, which made Ginny's voice shake.
"Do you think it's easy for me, living with the thought of my boyfriend dying in a duel? It's normal to worry about you, I don't wanna lose you!"
Harry's voice grew softer. "I don't want to loose you either. But I should be the one who worries about what will happen at my next meeting with Voldemort. I am sorry I laid this burden upon you. I shouldn't have told you…"
He ran up the stairs into his dormitory, not wanting her to see him cry. Angry and frustrated he lay in his bed.
Next morning, Harry and Ron were woken by their girlfriends.
"Merry Christmas!" they cheered, handing out their presents for the boys. Hermione sat down next to Ron, while Ginny joined Harry. He was having a very bad conscience. Why had be blamed Ginny? It was certainly not her fault that Voldemort wanted to kill Harry.
For a while they lay silently side by side, doing nothing but listening to the others´ conversation.
Some minutes later, Ginny felt Harry's arm around her shoulders.
"I am sorry for shouting at you. Can you forgive me? I'm such an idiot", he stumbled.
"But the cutest idiot I know", she grinned, accepting his reconciliation attempt.
"What was that about?" asked Ron curiously.
"Something between Harry and me. Stop nosing around", replied Ginny.
But Ron only stopped asking as Hermione held him her Christmas present under his nose. She winked at Harry and Ginny, who were thankful that she had understood that this really didn't concern anyone except the two of them.
Ron unwrapped the present and opened the small box. It contained two tickets for the last Chudley Cannons match of the season. He thanked Hermione in kissing her. From Harry and Ginny he received a new schoolbag, as his old one had been ruined by Crookshanks.
As Hermione took the paper of the book, Ron had given her, she screamed with joy. "Oh, Ron! That's the book of ancient spells I've been looking for everywhere. How did you find it?"
Ginny offered her a black, self-made scarf and from Harry, Hermione received a small reading lantern.
Now it was Harry's turn. Ron and Hermione had bought him a beautiful silver amulet. Ginny gave him a small framed photograph of herself, which he could take with him everywhere he went.
Ginny received perfume from Ron and Hermione; and Harry had bought her a silver bracelet in the shape of a phoenix.
Of course the usual presents from Ron's and Ginny's mom had arrived and they spent the rest of the morning talking about their gifts. At noon, they went down to have lunch and saw that once again the House Tables had been replaced by a smaller table.
They wished everyone a "Merry Christmas" and then they enjoyed the festively decorated meals. There was turkey, roast, fish and vegetables. For dessert they had muffins, cakes and ice-cream.
When they had digested half of their food, most students went out and had an enormous snowball fight. Even Cho and Malfoy joined in the game. They played in teams, boys versus girls. At first Ginny and Harry weren't pleased at all, Ginny because of Cho and Harry because of Malfoy. But soon they had forgotten that they disliked them. They had so much fun during these few hours. They were all covered with snow and their faces were red and sweaty. The girls' team was losing, because they were outnumbered.
As the bell rang at five o'clock, they returned into the Great Hall, to have tea. Harry took a seat at the end of the table, Ron having taken the seat next to him. They were waiting for Hermione and Ginny, who dawdled around, talking about something.
The only problem was the seats were taken not by their girlfriends, but by Cho and her friend. Slightly confused, the two boys tried to convince them, that these seats had been saved for Ginny and Hermione, but they wouldn't listen.
Some time later, as Ginny and Hermione arrived; the boys were trying to persuade some first years to swap places with them. But the first years were too afraid and remained on their seats. So Ginny and Hermione had to take the seats farthest away from Harry and Ron, whether they wanted to or not.
Throughout teatime, Ginny shot furious glanced at Cho.
As they made to leave the Great Hall, Ginny waited for Cho.
"What are you playing at?" she asked the Asian girl suspiciously.
Cho looked down at her, wearing a satisfied smile. "I don't know what you're talking about", she said hypocritically and left Ginny back at the door.
Harry softly enclosed her hand in his. "Are you coming?" he asked in a gentle voice.
She looked at him, a dull expression in her eyes. "Harry, I need to talk to you immediately!"
She took his arm and tore him more or less out of the hall. Harry only had time to look apologetically at Ron and Hermione, before being dragged out of the castle.
When they were out of earshot, Ginny let out all her feelings. An explosion of words rained down on Harry.
"Did you see? She did it again. Every time she tries to hurt my feelings. If she dares to get too close to you one more time…"
"It's not that bad. Just ignore her and she'll stop. If you're getting angry, she reaches her goal."
"Harry, are you really that blind? During the snowball fight, she kept only throwing snowballs at you. She ignores every other masculine creature except you. Than this scene at dinner. What was that good for? She tries to take you away from me!"
Harry took her face in his hands and smiled at her. Speaking very softly, he looked into her eyes and from his look; she knew that he was honest.
"You don't need to be jealous at Cho. She can try as much as she likes, she'll never succeed in separating us. I would never allow that."
Now it was time for Ginny to tell Harry, what she should have told him two days ago.
"Remember that night where you made this really beautiful love oath? That night, I didn't feel ready to admit, that I feel the same way. But now I know it for sure; this evening has shown me, that I could not live with the thought of you being with another girl. Harry Potter, I love you."
Harry's heart leapt in joy. She loved him! He kissed her very softly, but she returned the kisses more and more passionately.
"Oh, that was so sweet", said a sarcastic voice behind a tree.
Ginny and Harry turned around and saw Malfoy, leaning against a tree.
"What are you doing her?"
"The same as you Potter…enjoying the weather and the fresh air. I was just strolling through the snow as I heard your words and you completely enchanted me", he remarked derisively.
Ginny was scowling at him. "Shove off, Malfoy!"
"Watch your tongue, Weasley. And your back; vengeance is sweet!"
He slowly trotted away, the snow crunching underneath his shoes.
"You should really pay attention, I think he's serious." Harry didn't trust Malfoy. Also he hoped Malfoy wouldn't dare attacking Ginny, he had a very bad feeling.
But Ginny reassured him, not to risk anything. "Don't worry; I'll be watching my back."
The following days, they finished the rest of their homework. One of the first years asked them shyly if they would like to play hide and seek with them. Even if they felt too old for this play at the beginning, they accepted and had a lot of fun. While running trough the castle, Harry discovered a new shortcut, hidden behind armour.
On New Year's Eve, Professor Dumbledore had arranged a great dinner with some international food, including Paella, Pasta, Nasi Goreng, Sushi and Gyros. After this strange but excellent meal, they were free to go. Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to their common room. There, the two boys had a special surprise for the girls. They had bought two bottles of sparkling wine, to have a real celebration after midnight. At first, Hermione protested against this idea, because they were all minors.
"Ron! We are prefects!" she said criticising.
But Ron convinced her with some charming words and he promised Hermione that nobody would ever know about it.
At midnight, they watched the beautiful fireworks Hagrid had started around the lake. Hagrid loved this evening; it was one of the few occasions where he was allowed to do magic.
After the fireworks, Hermione chased the first years to bed, so they could celebrate without being disturbed. As she returned, Ron and Harry had already filled some glasses with the sparkling wine. They wished each other a "Happy New Year".
To be more comfortable, they sat down in front of the fireplace and spoke about this and that.
Hermione had also a surprise for them. She had brought something muggles always did at New Year's Eve; a game where you melt lead on a spoon and then you put the lead into cold water and look what shape it takes.
"It tells you what the next year will be like", said Hermione. The four of them held now their lead figures in their hands, while Hermione was looking for the meanings in some book.
"Ok. Ron you have a cloverleaf, this means luck."
Ron cheered happily and Hermione continued.
"Ginny, you've got a tear, which means sorrow. I am sorry. Harry, you've got a… I dunno… looks like a weapon to me. You will have a dangerous duel this year. But don't worry, I don't believe in this. It's just a game and as improbable as Trelawney's prophecies."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, not saying a word. They were both thinking about the same thing, but of course Hermione couldn't not what she had said just now.
She herself had a heart, which meant a year full of love.
Hermione and Ron were talking happily about what they would do in the new year and after some time Harry and Ginny joined in their conversation, because they thought it silly believing in such muggle tricks. After some time, they became more cheerfully and had a good time, joking and laughing.
As Ginny woke up next morning, she was slightly confused. She found herself lying on the couch, in Harry's embrace. She could not remind having fallen asleep there. Very softly, she shook Harry awake.
"Good morning" he whispered. "What are you doing here? Where… where are we?"
He had only just realised, that he wasn't in his bedroom. Suddenly they heard somebody laugh.
Hermione and Ron were standing in front of them and tried to fight their giggles. "You two fell asleep together on the couch yesterday. And we didn't want to disturb you, you were looking so sweet."
Harry and Ginny quickly changed into new clothes and went down to have lunch, as they had slept through the morning, with the other two.
They arrived in the Entrance Hall, as Cho came running towards Harry.
"Harry! Happy New Year", she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Ginny felt the anger mixed with jealousy rise inside her body. Hermione laid a hand on her shoulder to calm her down, but it was hopelessly. Ginny's feelings were stronger than her sense for reason and next moment Cho's nose was bleeding.
"Don't even think about doing anything like this again", Ginny pressed through gritted teeth.
Harry and Hermione didn't know how to react, while Ron suppressed his laughter.
Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall had witnessed Ginny's fit of rage.
"Miss Weasley! How did you dare! Twenty points from Gryffindor and detention! Miss Chang, please follow me into the Hospital Wing."
Harry approached his girlfriend and rested his hands on her shoulder. "Why did you do this? That was just what she was playing at…"
Ginny's whole body shook with anger. She glared at him. "You may ignore her. I tried, I really did, but I can't bear it anymore. I am not sorry for what I've done."
She ran the stairs up, back to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione convinced Harry that it would be best not to follow Ginny now and give her some time to be alone. After lunch, she went back to the common room, while Harry and Ron were having a walk around the lake.
Hermione went straight to her dormitory, knowing she'd find Ginny there. She sat in front of the window, arms around her knees. She was silently rocking backwards and forwards.
"Ginny? Do you want to talk?"
"I hate her. She is driving me mad. Why doesn't she leave me and Harry alone? All the time, she is telling rumours about me and tells everybody, I am unfaithful. I really don't know what to do to make her stop…"
Ginny kept gazing out of the window, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
Hermione tried very carefully to explain Ginny her point of view. "I think Harry's right. Just ignore her. If you can't control your feelings, she'll get you into much more trouble than just detention. I think that's what she wants."
Ginny knew that Hermione had got a point, but her pride didn't allow her to admit it immediately.
"But nonetheless, I think she deserved a bloody nose. It was worth a detention", she said stubbornly and gloatingly.
At this, even Hermione had to laugh.
The last few days of their holidays passed by much too fast. Harry and Ginny didn't speak about that incident on New Year's Eve or about their problem with Cho. They had silently agreed that it was not worth arguing about it.
The second-last day before the new start of term, something really strange happened.
While Harry and Ginny were on their way to the library, they heard somebody behind them.
All the time they had the feeling that they were being followed, but each time they turned to look, they saw nothing.
Just before they reached the library, Harry heard somebody muttering a curse and saw a wand pointing in Ginny's direction. Instinctively, he placed himself in front of his girlfriend and got the full impact of the spell.
All around him went black and he felt himself falling into shadow. Ginny kneeled down next to him and shook him, but Harry showed no reaction. He was unconscious. Ginny ran as fast as she could and in trance to the hospital wing to get help. Madam Pomfrey followed her down to the library door. With a levitation charm, she transported Harry away. A firs year crossing their way was told to get Professor Dumbledore and to inform Ron and Hermione about Harry's accident.
It felt like an eternity before the Headmaster, accompanied by Ron and Hermione, arrived.
"What happened?" he asked.
While Ginny was retelling the whole incident, Professor Dumbledore examined Harry. But all Ginny could tell that suddenly a spell had hit Harry. She hadn't noticed anything until he had fainted next to her.
Madam Pomfrey came with a large bottle of medicine. "Headmaster, I think it's the Influenza Charm. He'll be fine for the start of term."
Then the nurse told them all to leave, arguing Harry needed rest, but Ginny refused to leave her boyfriend alone. She convinced Madam Pomfrey to let Harry rest. The nurse looked approvingly at Ginny and told her to give Harry his medicine.
Very carefully, the girl poured the potion into his mouth.
During the night, Harry's fever went up and he was sweating. Ginny washed his face and his front with cold water. As she turned to fill fresh water into the jug, she heard Harry whispering something she couldn't understand. She listened again and this time he spoke more clearly.
"Cho…"
Ginny stopped dead. She nearly dropped the jug and quickly put it down. She sat down next to her boyfriend.
"No Harry, it's me, Ginny", she said smiling weakly.
She felt Harry seizing her hand. He opened his eyes for a short moment.
"Cho…" he repeated once more, before he fell asleep again.