Chapter 19
Hermione arrived on the step of the house on Knockturn Alley a minute before seven, the locket and accompanying note weighing in her pocket and in her conscience. Mrs. Weasley opened the door, and wrapped her in a great bear hug.
"I can see that you're wearing the sweater I knitted you," Mrs. Weasley said, very pleased. "Is it warm?"
"Quite!" Hermione answered truthfully, sliding her gift to Mr. and Ms. Weasley into her host's hand. "I am very grateful."
Mrs. Weasley beamed. "It was nothing at all, now, come in! Dumbledore might be coming for a spell, and hopefully, Professor McGonagall and more Order members."
"Not Snape, I hope," Ginny piped up, entering the hallway. "That would be downright awful."
"Professor Snape," Mrs. Weasley corrected tightly. "And yes, we did invite him, although I doubt that he'll be coming. He has Order business."
"Not on Christmas?" Hermione asked, vaguely dismayed at the thought. "How horrible."
Ms. Weasley nodded, casting her daughter a strict look, and shut the door with a large thud, nearly knocking the large wreath off.
The entire house was decked in green bows, and red ribbons all over the place. Floating candles hovered in the air, and a rather large Christmas tree sat in the receiving room. Hermione was reminded, painfully, of her few and memorable Christmases at Hogwarts. She hoped that Dumbledore would come for some, if not all, of the dinner. But she supposed he had things to do at Hogwarts, as did Hagrid and Professor McGonagall.
The large dining room was filled to the brim with people laughing and shouting. Someone had brought Wizard Christmas crackers, and as she took a seat next to Draco, someone threw her one. Draco's had contained a rather large straw hat, and he was wearing it with a certain dignity that made her want to crack up. She kissed him on the cheek quickly, and had him pull at the other end of her cracker. It revealed a flapper cloche hat from the 20's, and she put it on her head, although her hair did puff out under it.
"Happy Christmas," he whispered, taking her hand under the table. A little white mouse stuck it's head out from the cracker, and she thought briefly of taking it home with her, but then realized that Crookshanks would eat it in a jiffy.
"Happy Christmas," she whispered back as she was passed a plate. The food hadn't arrived yet, and clearly, everyone was starving.
"Thanks for the present," Hermione said, quietly. "But it wasn't the only piece of Natalya memorabilia I received." She pulled the note out from her pocket and handed it to him. He skimmed it, his pale brows furrowing slightly as he did. She then handed him the necklace, and he quickly found the inscription on the back.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We know that Natalya's cousin is dead, and that Marissa has nothing of Natalya's. And Marissa had no other siblings. How does this work?"
"I have no idea," Hermione said with a shrug.
Mrs. Weasley came out bearing laden plates of food, most of them being Hermione's favorites. Steaks, all cooked medium-rare, thick dark gravy, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, leek soup, boiled green beans, peas, and other fantastic things.
Hermione loaded her plate with various things, her stomach rumbling loudly. Draco draped his arm around her shoulders, and she felt so warm, and loved. But the locket weighed down her pocket, reminding her of everything she had to do, and what Harry had to do.
Suddenly she felt cold, and the locket seemed to burn through her jeans and brand her skin icy as fresh snow. She shivered, and wondered if the Order would ever be the same again.
She saw Kingsley Shacklebolt sitting next to Tonks and Professor Lupin. And there was Sirius and Harry, talking animatedly about everything under the sun. Pandora sat next to Harry and Ron, and was playing with her food happily. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat at the head of the table, happily engrossed in each other. Bill and Charlie were discussing the latest Quidditch news, and Fred and George were arguing over various Wizard Wheezes monetary issues. Hermione knew that nothing would ever, ever be the same again. And that scared her more than anything ever could.
After dessert, Pan caught her eye, and Hermione feigned having to go to the bathroom. The two of them exited silently, and stood in one of the abandoned hallways beneath floating candle.
"What's the Society of the Dead?" Hermione asked as soon as they were sure no one was listening.
Pan glanced around. "It's an underground club of sorts, of Necromancers. There are only about ten of us in all of the United Kingdom, so we meet every other week. They gave me one too, apparently there is some sort of prophecy surrounding us. According to one of the older Necromancers, his name is Augustus Snerdmore, we're the 'Blessed One's' because we dream of Persephone."
"That's very interesting," Hermione mused. "How are we supposed to meet every other week while we're in school?"
"Apparently there's another student who's a member of the Society, so they hold meetings at Hogsmeade, and get a private room at the Three Broomsticks," Pan explained. "It's really important that we go. I'm sure my dad will excuse us."
"Sure," Hermione said, still a little flabbergasted. "I suppose. Um… Pan?"
"Yeah?"
"I…" Hermione paused. "I got a bunch of jewelry for Christmas. Two pieces of it belonged to your mom, do you want it?"
Pan looked a little surprise. "From who?"
"Draco," Hermione said, blushing. "And an anonymous well-wisher." She handed the letter to Pan, who read it quickly and then handed it back.
"Nah," Pan said quietly. "Thanks for offering, but someone already tried to give some of her necklaces to me. But, I don't really think my mom's all that great. And I don't really want to have anything to do with her."
"She wasn't all that bad," Hermione said gently. "She just fell in love with the wrong guy."
"Yeah," Pan said, curling her lip. "And then she went and got pregnant? Not the greatest of ideas, if you ask me."
"Pan," Hermione said tiredly. "Everyone makes mistakes. She's dead, can't you forgive her?"
Pan shook her head adamantly. "No. She was a bitch, and she deserved what she got. Anyone who abandons her kids is stupid."
Hermione bit her lip, but decided to say her mind anyway. "Haven't you ever thought that maybe she was doing the right thing? If you hadn't been raised by Professor Dumbledore, you'd be a radically different person."
"Yeah," Pan said defiantly. "But I'd have a brother who was normal, and I'd have a mother."
"There's no guaranteeing your brother would have been normal had he been raised by Natalya," Hermione said gently. "And Lucius probably would have had you both killed had you stayed with your mother. You were too much of a threat."
Pan shrugged, but would say no more on the subject.
Hermione and Pan returned to the dining room to find that everyone had retired to the living room. They hurried back to find that Harry and Ron had started a spirited game of wizard's chess, and everyone seemed to have taken sides. Hermione plopped down on a couch next to Draco. He draped his arm across her shoulders and she smiled up at him.
"Who's winning?" she asked.
"Harry," Draco replied, clearly satisfied by this. "It's cool to think that he's beating Ron, who's been playing his entire life. I like rooting for the under dog."
Hermione smiled again and leaned her head against his shoulder.
A/N: Sigh... this summer has been very interesting... whew. I went swimming this morning, so I am covered in chlorine! Please leave a review!
