Finally chapter 7!

I have been stuck on this chapter for over a year and now its done

I did write it a while a go but then I lost it, so I stopped writing this story, but a review I got the other day encouraged me to continue and here we are!

I shall stop boring you with my terrible babbling and let you read… enjoy!

Chapter 7: The Christmas holidays

The next morning the Gryffindor Common Room was unusually quiet. It took Ron a few moments to realise that this was due to the fact that it was the first day of the Christmas holidays. He slumped down in the comfiest chair and stretched. It was nice to have some time to him self, nice when it was quiet. But he also missed spending time with Hermione, one on one. He had hoped before they knew what Elda was, that when they found out she would pay him more attention. But there was no chance of that now they knew she was a Death Eater. Hermione would be spending even more time trying to find out everything about her and also would be spying on Remus and Elda to try and find out what she was up too. The door from the dormitories creaked open and Harry came to sit next to Ron.

"Hi" said Harry in a very flat tone.

"Hi Harry, are you alright?"

"Err… yeah, I just keep seeing that memory over and over and Elda grinning like a maniac. I couldn't sleep last night. It was like that image was imprinted on the inside of my eyelids, every time I closed my eyes there she was…" Harry looked down at his feet.

Ron decided to stop talking about this subject as it was bothering Harry. Ron and Harry sat in silence for a few minuets, nether of them knowing what to say to the other.

"Hello you two." Hermione said cheerfully as she entered the Gryffindor common room. "What's happened? You two are awfully quiet."

Harry explained to Hermione about how he couldn't sleep as he kept seeing Snape's memory of Elda's induction.

"Oh Harry, I am sorry. Maybe we should ask Madam Pomfrey if you could have a dreamless sleep potion."

"No," Harry insisted. "If I do then Dumbledore will find out that I am having nightmares and he will think it's got something to do with Voldemort again."

Ron and Hermione both decided not to say anything to this and kept silent. Just then Ron's stomach gave a loud grumble. "Hey, lets go down to breakfast, I'm staving."

"Yes, we heard" Hermione said to Ron, who just pulled a face at her and headed to the portrait hole.

"Hey," Hermione nudged Ron with her elbow, causing him to spill some of his drink.

"Careful Hermione."

"Sorry, but look at the teachers table."

"Er…why?" Ron asked, very confused.

"Just look."

Ron looked at the teachers table. Most of the usual teachers were there, but there were a few spaces. He assumed that they too had gone away for Christmas. "What are we looking at? Are we supposed to be surprised that some teachers have a life outside of Hogwarts and are away for Christmas?"

"Lupin's not there." said Harry simply.

"Exactly!" Hermione whispered.

"So what? Maybe he's not eating breakfast today, or maybe he has a life other than his teaching one. You know, like the life that involves the order."

Hermione glared at Ron. "That might well be true but Snape's not here either and I will bet anything that neither is Elda."

Ron glared back. "Snape is also part of the order Hermione and if Lupin's not here why should Elda be?"

"Yes but how do know that Snape and Elda aren't doing things with other Death Eaters?"

"We don't." Harry said. "But if they are there isn't anyway we can really find out at the moment anyway, maybe we should just enjoy the holidays without worrying about Elda or Snape being round every corner of the castle."

Hermione scowled at them but said no more on the matter.

Ron and Hermione sat by the lake wrapped up in winter clothing and around each other to keep warm. Ron sat there in bliss, Hermione in his arms, and tried to remember what life was like without her. All of that seemed pointless now. He could see them being together for all eternity and he liked the thought of it, he could think of nothing better. Hermione stirred so she could get closer to Ron and sighed happily.

"Isn't this much nicer than sitting in the library or spying on people Hermione?"

"Mmm." Hermione agreed. "Oh that reminds me I have to find out where Snape, Elda and Lupin have all gone, thanks Ron!" she got up and started to head towards the castle. Ron grabbed her arm and she looked back. "What is it Ron?"

"I wanted to spend some time with you, you have been doing so much research recently and I've been missing you."

"Oh Ron stop being so silly! You see me all the time! This is important, what they are doing may be jeopardizing Harry's life. Do you really want to see Voldemort get his hands on Harry?"

"No." Ron muttered at the floor.

"There we are then." She walked of and Ron looked dejectedly down at the cold hard ground. "Come on Ron! There's no reason why you can't join me." Hermione called back to him.

Ron sat, watching Hermione as she scribbled on a piece of parchment. He had his head resting on his hand and a look of utter boredom on his face.

"Hermione? How do you expect to find out where they are? No-ones going to tell us even if they did know. They're probably on some business for the order, and you know we can't ask about that in letters. Hermione? What are you doing?"

"Shush Ron!"

Ron grumbled to himself and gazed around the common room. Hardly anyone was around, they were all out enjoying themselves in Hogsmeade or in the grounds. He saw some students sat in armchairs by the fire, chatting to each other and two seventh years looking very involved in wizard chess. Ron wondered where Harry was. He would probably be better company than Hermione right now, which was saying something, as Harry was being a mardy sod at the moment.

Almost as if he had heard Ron's thoughts Harry walked through the portrait hole. He looked dejected and he didn't notice Ron and Hermione sitting at their table in the corner, until Ron called him. He turned and slowly plodded toward them, eventually sitting in a seat next to Ron.

"What's up mate?"

"Nothing"

"Doesn't look like nothing to me Harry." Ron said, looking worried. He looked at Hermione for some support, but she was still engrossed in whatever she was writing. Ron sighed and carried on. "Come on, you can talk to us, can't you?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Its lots of things. Voldemort being back, not knowing what he's going to do next, finding out about Elda Lukin, worrying about lessons and getting NEWT work done, Cho…" Harry stopped and cleared his throat. "I've just got a lot on my mind that's all and I'm not feeling very festive."

"Well, maybe we can find a way the cheer you up! What do you think Hermione?" Ron looked over at Hermione who was sucking the end of her quill apparently in deep thought. "Hermione!"

"What is it Ron?"

Harry now looked over at Hermione, puzzled. "What exactly are you doing?"

"Oh," Hermione looked up, surprised to see Harry there. She put her hands over her parchment protectively. "N-nothing really Harry. Just making some notes."

"On what?"

"This and that, I'll go put it away now." Ron and Harry watched Hermione walk towards her dorm.

"She wouldn't tell me either." Ron told Harry. "Dunno what it's all about, but I'm guessing it's got something to do with Snape, Lupin and Elda."

Harry frowned. "Hermione?" he asked, once she had returned to her seat. "Your not still trying to figure out stuff about Elda Lukin are you?"

"Well…" Hermione fidgeted.

"Oh just give it a rest would you! It's the holiday's stop waiting your time on that and spend some time with Ron for goodness sake. You two have been faffing around for so long and now you're together your ignoring him! Your right Hermione, I don't understand women at all."

Hermione went red. "Harry, Ron and I are concerned about your safety and I'm sure he would agree that its much more important than anything else. And I do spend time with Ron! I'm spending time with him now aren't I?"

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Harry roared. He too was going red. "There's nothing you can do to find out about what they are doing, so stop wasting your time doing it! How do you think it makes me feel knowing your throwing away your holidays an account of me? It makes me feel bloody awful! If you want to make me feel better then cheer up Ron, he's looking more gloomy than I am."

Throughout the argument Ron had slid further and further down his chair, and now he was practically under the table. He peered over the edge of it, as though he was afraid of being hit by a stray retort. He was afraid Hermione would have a go at him because Harry thought he was upset about not seeing her enough. In truth he was, but he wasn't sure that Hermione wanted to hear it.

Both Hermione and Harry were staring at him and he wasn't sure whom to look at. He settled on looking at the wall between them both. He was sure the few people actually in the common room were now looking at the three of them. It had gone very quiet.

Harry broke the silence. "I'm going to go have a fly on my broom, you can come and join me if you like Ron."

"Um, yeah. I might be along in a bit."

Ron watched Harry leave, as did most of the other people in the room. Then, as he had no excuse not to, looked over at Hermione. She was looking at him with concern, which surprised him. He expected her to fly at him.

"Is that true Ron?"

"Is what true?"

"That you don't feel I'm spending enough time with you?"

"Um… well… yeah it is."

"Oh." Hermione looked down at her feet and shuffled them a bit. "I'm sorry." She mumbled. Then she looked up at him. "So what would you like to do then?"

Ron frowned. He wasn't really sure he just thought they should be spending time alone together. He had wanted to be alone with her for so long, but now he realised he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with her.

"I don't really know," he told her. "I guess I just thought it would be nice for us to be alone together, and just do what we were comfortable with."

"Hmmm. Alright then. If that's what you want Ron."

"Really?"

Hermione smiled at him. "Of course. Anything for you."

---Hopefully now I've started again I shall continue writing, so you wont have to wait another year until my next chapter!---