The spells I use in this chapter are completely made up, I'm not even sure what they do. Just use your imagination.
Chapter 22: Christmas
Harry was nervous the entire ride back from the Ministry, continually glancing over his shoulder for any sign of Malfoy. When the Knight Bus stopped in front of the invisible entrance to Grimmauld Place he made special care that no one was spying on them.
"Something wrong, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked. "You seem rather…odd,"
"No, nothing's wrong," Harry lied. Mr. Weasley gave him a smile and Harry made his way upstairs. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville were quick to follow. Once they were all inside Harry's room they sat quietly and fidgeted about.
"Well I guess Malfoy's going to try to do something," Neville said. "But I guess that's stating the obvious," he added. Ron nodded slowly.
"We should stay on our toes once we're back at school," he said.
"I shouldn't have brought them," Harry mumbled.
"Brought who?" Hermione asked.
"The DA members, it should've just been you, Ron, and myself," Harry said, staring at the floor.
"Don't think like that," Neville said. "I was everyone's own decision to go. Besides, I would've been furious if I didn't get the chance to go with you, Harry,"
"That goes for me as well," Ginny put in. Harry vigorously shook his head.
"No, it wasn't right to put you in that kind of danger. Now Malfoy is after everyone that went with me,"
"Harry, you really need to understand that we volunteered to go with you. We knew the risks, you told us we could die, and we went anyway," Ginny said. "Trust me, you did nothing wrong,"
Harry was still unconvinced, he had led these students into what had seemed a certain death, and they had survived, but were now targeted by Malfoy and others from Voldemort's side. Harry sighed.
"They shouldn't have come," he said. "But they did and now they'll have to pay the price," Ginny squirmed in her chair.
"We'll be fine," she said. "We'll all be fine, we can take care of ourselves," Harry hoped that she was right.
Harry awoke the next morning by Hermione shaking his shoulder. Harry groaned and tried to roll over.
"Wake up, Harry! It's Christmas!" she squealed; Harry peeped open his eyes. "That's right, get up," she said. Hermione was already getting dressed as Harry sat up. It was just beginning to register with him that it was Christmas. Harry quickly dressed, went to his closet, and pulled out the gift he had hidden inside. He carried it over to Hermione, who was standing by the door waiting to go to breakfast.
"Open it here," Harry said. She sat down on the bed with the gift in her lap. She slowly removed the wrapping paper to reveal a book: Hogwarts: A Revised History.
"Oh Harry," she whispered, running her hand down the cover.
"That's not all," he said, opening the book to the page he marked. Hermione gasped at the page. The heading at the top of the page read: Clubs and Organizations. Beneath it, there were small articles on the topic.
S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) an article started about halfway down the page.
S.P.E.W. was inspired by the treatment of house-elves; the organization is an ongoing effort to reach equality among wizards and house-elves. Hermione Granger, the founder of S.P.E.W., is a muggle-born student at Hogwarts and one of the brightest in her class. She single-handedly organized the club during her fourth year and began recruiting others. Harry Potter, for instance, is a member and also secretary of the club. The aims of the club is to get house-elves wages and working conditions along with allowing house-elves to use wands and allowing house-elves to represent themselves in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Below that there was a picture of Harry, Ron, and Hermione together holding up their S.P.E.W. badges during their fourth year.
Hermione read the article and looked at the picture, although there were tears in her eyes, she was smiling.
"Harry…" was all she could say.
"Though you might like it; now we're both in books," he joked.
"This is just so thoughtful," she said.
"No need to tell me twice; that took me forever to think of!" Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry's neck.
"You are just too perfect, Harry Potter," she said. Harry smiled.
"No need to tell me twice," he said again, swooping Hermione up into his arms and carried her down to breakfast. When they arrived Ron looked up at them.
"Honestly," he muttered, turning back to his breakfast. Ginny giggled. Harry set Hermione down and they took their seats opposite from Percy, who was spending the day with them. Mrs. Weasley piled their plates with food, giving them multiple helpings until they absolutely could not eat anymore.
"How are things, Harry?" Percy asked politely.
"Fine," Harry said.
"Doing well in your studies I hope?"
"Yeah, passing everything,"
"Good to hear, good grades can get you a job in the Ministry," he said.
"I don't think I'll be working in the Ministry," Harry said.
"Why not? It's a wonderful place to work! Where would you like to work?"
"I want to be an Auror,"
"Well, Aurors work for the Ministry in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Percy said.
"Oh yeah, I guess I will be working in the Ministry after all," Harry said, feeling utterly stupid. Percy smiled and Mr. Weasley walked in the door with Lupin.
"Why are you all sitting in here? There are presents in the sitting room for all of you!" Lupin said. Everyone rushed to the sitting room to find dozens of presents under the tree. The day was spent exchanging gifts, most of which were candies or items made by Mrs. Weasley.
Around noon, Neville left to go to St. Mungo's to visit his parents. He asked Ginny to join him, and she accepted. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left shortly thereafter and Lupin left as well. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Percy were left to their own devices for the rest of the day. They wandered around the house at first, visiting Buckbeak and making small talk whenever it seemed appropriate. Harry realized that he couldn't think of anything to talk about in the presence of Percy, Ron, and Hermione. He chose to remain silent, hoping that someone else would speak.
"Lovely weather, eh?" Percy said. Harry rolled his eyes. The number one conversation starter in the world: the weather.
"Oh yes, quite nice. I love the snow," Hermione said. They spent a good amount of time talking about snow and all the games they loved to play in it.
"I wish we could go outside, but I don't think we can," Percy said. "It's not safe,"
"Aw, c'mon Percy, I'm sure we can," Ron said. "Race you to the front door!" Ron took off down the stairs, Harry at his heels. Ron beat Harry due to the fact that he could easily skip stairs with his long legs.
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea," Hermione said. Ron sighed in frustration.
"Do you really think someone's going to jump out and attack us on Christmas?" he asked, opening the door. Hermione shrugged and followed them outside. There was a fair amount of snow on the ground, and they quickly got themselves in a snowball fight.
"I knew you'd come outside eventually," came the voice of Draco Malfoy. Everyone turned and stared. "But I wonder; how do you get inside that house?" he strolled up to them, twirling his wand in his fingers. He stopped in front of Harry, his wand now clutched in his hand. "You owe me a duel, Potter," he said. Harry looked back at the group.
"Get inside," he said.
"Not a chance, Harry," Ron said. Hermione and Percy nodded in agreement. Harry turned back to Malfoy and pulled out his wand. They bowed.
"Rictusempra!" Malfoy cried.
"Protecto!" the spell bounced and hit the wall of number eleven.
"Fiarga!" Harry yelled. Malfoy ducked and the spell missed. It landed in the snow, bursting it into flames.
"Justegeta!" Malfoy shouted. It hit Harry in the chest and he flew back against the wall, pinned by an invisible force.
"Retracto," Harry said, and he fell back to the ground. Percy was standing in front of Hermione and Ron, his arms outstretched to protect them. He slowly moved them back to give Harry room to duel.
"Give up, Potter," Malfoy said.
"Immobilazca!" Harry said. Malfoy was hit with the spell and was glued to the spot. Harry could hear Malfoy use the counter curse.
"Honestly, Potter, do you think spells like that will beat me?" he said. "Resparta!" the spell hit Harry in the stomach and he sunk to his knees. He could no longer breathe. He tried again and again to say the counter curse, but he didn't have the breath to speak. Finally, he felt the spell weaken and he managed to regain the breath to effectively get rid of the spell. Harry returned to his feet.
"Poweckolla!" Harry shouted. Malfoy flew into the air, landed hard on the ground. He wiped the cut on his forehead and stood up.
"Flowecta!" Malfoy sneered. Harry was blown back and landed on the ground. He was completely winded. Malfoy stood over him and swung his wand over him without saying a word. Each time the wand swung it was like another hit had been dealt to Harry. Harry could feel blood trickling from his nose; he didn't have the strength to stop Malfoy's attacks.
"Stop," he finally whimpered. Malfoy laughed.
"What? The ever so powerful Harry Potter gives up?" Malfoy laughed again. "See me when you're ready for a real duel," and he left Harry lying in the cold snow. Hermione was by Harry's side in an instant.
"Oh my god, Harry!" she cried, cradling his head in her arms. "Oh Harry!"
"C'mon Hermione, let's get him back inside," Percy said. "Ron, get his legs." Harry could feel himself getting picked up from the ground and being placed on the couch in the sitting room. The last thought that passed through his mind before passing out was: Malfoy was right; I lost.