Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter and any of its characters and much to my…displeasure…never will. I assure you though, the plot is entirely my own.

Chapter 17 – Old Magic

The 5 of them landed outside the Burrow. Hermione looked over at the car parked in the driveway.

"My parents are here" she said.

"Well let's not keep them worrying any more" Harry replied, grabbing Hermione's hand. They walked towards the house and entered through the front door. The Weasleys, Hermione's Parents, Dumbledore and Hagrid sat around the table.

"Hermione!" her mum shouted jumping up and running over to her. "Are you ok?"

"Yes mum, I'm fine, honestly" she looked sideways at Harry who smiled.

"What's Malfoy doing here?" Fred asked, looking at Harry.

"He wanted to see Dumbledore" Harry replied.

"I wondered how long it would be before you came seeking my help-"

"I don't want your help, I just want protection." Dumbledore smiled.

"Hagrid, could you please take Mr Malfoy here back to the castle and take him to my office. I need to talk to Harry." Hagrid nodded and walked off. Malfoy followed. Dumbledore looked at Harry.

"Take off your jumper Harry" he said. It was more an order than an option. Harry slowly slipped the jumped over his head. Everyone gasped.

"Wow Harry, what's that?" George asked.

"It's a curse" Dumbledore answered the question, although it was directed at Harry.

"What curse?" Mr Weasley asked. Everyone, including Dumbledore looked at Harry.

"V-He said it was the curse of the Serpent." Dumbledore nodded. Then Harry remembered something. "He said that it hadn't been fully effective, w-what did he mean?"

"You're a lucky person Harry. If the spell had been fully effective you would never have been able to control your body and slowly you would have gone mad and destroyed those you love, but it seems that it was not fully effective. You can control some of the power-"

"He attacked Malfoy, sort of" Ginny added.

"You attacked him for Hermione. Unfortunately there will be times when you can't control the curse and these are the times everyone must be careful. As the curse was not fully effective it may never cause you to kill someone, but you could do them serious damage." Harry looked at Hermione and she smiled. Dumbledore looked at both of them. Harry spoke again.

"Why didn't the curse work properly?" Harry asked, looking back at Dumbledore.

"Well Harry," he smiled and looked at Hermione. "It seems that the power of love has saved you once again." Hermione blushed as her mum looked at her. Harry did too. Fred and George laughed.

"Ha!" George said.

"We knew you'd end up going out with each other!" Fred added.

"We just knew it!" Harry and Hermione both turned a brighter red and looked away from each other.

"Now, now boys that'll be enough" Mr Weasley said, looking at them. They carried on laughing. Ron joined in and Hermione shot him an evil look.

"Why don't you all go upstairs and change your clothes and then you can come down for dinner" Mrs Weasley said.

"But I don't have any, my trunk-"

"Is upstairs" Dumbledore said. Hermione smiled. The four of them ran up the stairs and into Ron's room.

"There you go" Ron said, throwing himself on the bed. "You saved each other." They all laughed and then Hermione turned to Harry and hugged him.

"Thank you" she whispered, before kissing him. Fred and George burst into the room. They pulled away from each other but it was too late.

"George, we know what to ask for next Christmas, don't we?"

"We certainly do"

"A pensive. That memory is worth saving!" They laughed and this time Harry joined in. Putting his arm around Hermione he looked at Fred and George.

"You're just jealous" he joked.

"Jealous?"

"Of you?"

"No, you're jealous because I have the prettiest girl in the world as my girlfriend and you two have no one." Hermione blushed.

"Don't worry Harry" George said. "Once Hermione dumps you and goes out with one of us, then we'll see who's laughing"

"You wish" Hermione replied.

"Ah, you'll change your mind" Fred interrupted.

"Anyway. We'll leave. You know. Evil plans to make, things to destroy" George said, walking out the door.

"They'll get you back for that one Harry" Ron warned. Harry shrugged.

"Need help with your trunk Hermione?" Harry asked, indicating her truck.

"Yes please." Harry looked at his left arm and then the trunk. He grabbed the trunk and lifted it.

"Bloody hell Harry. That would be so cool if you could control it completely."

"Wouldn't it just" Harry replied.

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Harry and Hermione walked down the stairs hand in hand. Fred and George saw them and smirked. They cleared their throats.

"Harry and Hermione sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love then comes marriage then-"

"Fred, George, quiet now!" Mrs Weasley ordered. They didn't.

"Come on Harry, Hermione. Give us a demonstration of what we saw earlier!"

"We want everyone to see"

"Just one kiss"

"Go on Harry"

"We don't want to have to wait for that Pensive!"

"Go on then!" Harry couldn't take it any more. He turned round and kissed Hermione. She looked worriedly at her parents, then closed her eyes and kissed him back. Fred and George wolf whistled a few times. Ron came down the stairs behind them.

"For gods sake you two, get a room." Fred and George were laughing harder than ever. Hermione quickly pulled away and looked awkwardly around the room at her parents. She couldn't read either of their expressions.

"Everyone sit down, sit down" Mrs Weasley said, walking into the room. Harry pulled out a chair for Hermione and she sat down. Harry sat next to her. Hermione turned to Harry.

"I can't believe you just did that" she whispered.

"They were getting on my nerves, I just wanted them to shut up. Besides" Harry said, turning to face her. "You can't keep it a secret from your parents forever."

"I know, but…"

"Yes?"

"I think that was the last thing they were expecting"

"Who said they were expecting anything?" Hermione smiled and looked away shaking her head. Mrs Weasley finally sat down and Fred and George raised their glasses.

"Merry Christmas everyone" they said together.

"Merry Christmas!"

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A/N – What did you think? I've started the second Part to the story, which I'll post up soon. I hope you liked it.
Thanks for all the reviews from everyone.