The Characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright violation is intended. No profit is being made off this site. It is for entertainment purposes only.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have finished HBP. If you have not read it yet, don't worry about receiving spoilers from my story. My story, beginning to end, was already formed in my head before the release of HBP. While those of you that have read HBP may come across a few similarities, it is purely by coincidence. So, without further ado…

CHAPTER 17

Early Christmas Eve morning, Ron and Harry met Hermione and Ginny in the common room. They were packed and ready to travel to London on the Hogwarts Express to meet Mr. Weasley at the train station. They hurried to join the crowd of homesick, homeward-bound students in front of the carriages. Ron thought the students' excitement seemed almost tangible amid the cold December air; some were even singing carols.

One thing Ron did not find tangible, however, was the concept of Hermione Granger being attracted to him. Ron could not understand; he could not grasp it. Nor could he grasp how he and Hermione were somehow managing to act more normally around each other than they had since the beginning of term.

It was baffling to Ron because just last night they had been embracing one another; Hermione's lips had been right there! Her beauty last night added to her flirtations had bolstered a new confidence in him. Hermione would have let him kiss her last night; she had wanted it. And, bloody hell, had he wanted it too. He'd never had a desire that strong before.

But, here they all were…talking and laughing as if last night hadn't been the most amazing experience of Ron's life. Harry and Ginny had started carrying on playful banter whenever they were around one another, and the carriage ride was proving to be no exception. They were both so witty and carefree when they were together that their happy demeanor seemed to infect everyone around them. Ron would add his bit of dry humor to Harry's and Ginny's and Hermione would laugh.

Overnight they had gone back to their old selves. Hermione was just his best friend again. That thought scared Ron a little, but only a little…because there was one thing different. Her eyes…his eyes. Whenever they made eye contact, whether they were talking or laughing at something Harry or Ginny said, their gazes seemed to hold just a bit longer than before. They weren't awkward either. Not like they had been all term. It was as if Hermione's eyes were saying, 'I remember. Last night wasn't a dream. I remember it, too.'

When the carriage ride was over, they were able to find a compartment with Luna and Neville on the train. Luna was sucking on a peppermint stick while reading the Quibbler; Neville was sitting quietly across from her with his Mimbulus mimbletonia in his lap. Neville's face seemed to light up a bit at the sight of the four of them entering the compartment.

"Hey!" Neville said smiling. Ron and Harry sat next to him while the girl's sat on either side of Luna.

"Hey, Neville." said Harry brightly, "You spending Christmas with your grandmother?"

Neville's smile seemed to falter a bit before he nodded. Ron was about to comment on Neville's plant, which seemed to have grown twice in size since the beginning of term, when Luna suddenly gasped. Everyone turned to her, but she was still just reading her father's magazine.

"Alright, Luna?" Asked Ginny. Luna looked up from the magazine slowly, her huge eyes peeking over the top.

"Oh, hello." She said serenely, now placing the magazine in her lap. "I didn't see you come in."

Ron wondered what it was like to be on the receiving end of five faces desperately trying not to smile or laugh at you. Actually, he knew what it was like. He remembered the Slytherin's version of Weasley is Our King too well. Luckily no one laughed, and it didn't seem as though Luna had noticed anything. Luna then handed her magazine to Ginny.

"I was just reading the article on page nine about the unknown weakness of all Death Eaters." Luna shook her head slowly, staring out of the compartment window. "It says that they have a strong affinity for Gouda cheese."

Ron snorted into his fist at the same time that Hermione cleared her throat and shuffled in her seat, "Well, um…" Hermione began, "So Ginny, Ron, do you two know who will be joining us at the Burrow?"

"Oh, just the Weasley clan." Ginny said, quickly taking Hermione's bait to change topics. "Possibly some Order members."

"What about Percy?" Harry asked tentatively. Ron had forgotten that Harry and Hermione still hadn't heard the latest on his older brother.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "Oh, yes. Merciful Percival? That's what Fred and George have dubbed him, anyway. He has graciously extended his hand in 'apology' to Mum and Dad." Ginny had stressed the word apology and made quotations with her fingers in the air.

"So what kind of 'apology' did he offer your parents, exactly?" Harry said smiling, and mimicking Ginny's hand signal.

Ron scoffed. "Oh, I think it went something like, 'Mum, Dad I realize that we at the Ministry have incorrectly assessed the situation with You-Know-Who-…" Ron furrowed his brow trying to remember the rest of his brother's lame excuse for an apology when Ginny took over. She stood up in the middle of the compartment and lifted her head regally in an amazingly correct impersonation of Percy.

"…And we graciously accept the Wizarding Community's forgiveness for our mistake." Ginny turned to face Harry as she bowed and extended her hand. "Please accept my confession of fallibility." Ginny was speaking in an exaggerated pompous nature.

Everyone in the compartment laughed at her show, except for Luna, who was holding her peppermint stick up to the light and twisting her head to one side as she examined it. Harry then took Ginny's hand, and to Ron's surprise, brought it to his mouth for a light kiss. Ron glanced at Hermione, who was wearing a fairly shocked expression. When she caught his eye, however, her cheeks turned a bit red and she quickly returned her eyes to Harry and Ginny. Ron covered his wide grin with his hand.

"I assume they accepted?" Harry asked her casually, as if he hadn't just kissed her hand. Ron noticed Ginny's expression freeze for a moment as if she had temporarily forgotten what they were talking about, before quickly regaining her composure and returning to her seat across from Harry. She grinned at him.

"They did." She said lightly. "We all said that we did, but I think Mum and Dad are the only ones that really meant it. Dad was on the brink of tears…Mum on the brink of waterworks."

"Well, can you really call what Fred and George did an acceptation of Percy's 'apology?" Ron had used the same quotation symbol as Harry and Ginny without really thinking about it. It was just impossible to really call what Percy did an apology.

"No, I suppose not." Ginny said smiling.

"What did they do?" Hermione asked with big eyes. Ron and Ginny both chuckled a little.

"Well, they generously offered him a box of chocolates from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes as a sign of their gratitude." Ron said smiling. Ginny leaned forward a bit in her seat as she finished the story.

"Let's just say that Percy was so relieved that the twins had accepted his 'apology'…" Again Ginny did the hand quotes, "…That he actually broke out in hives, became very friendly with the bathroom, and lost a few clumps of hair." Ginny said trying not to laugh.

Hermione's hand flew to her mouth. Harry and even Neville burst out laughing. While Luna looked around the compartment looking a bit confused.

"I have never heard of someone reacting to an apology with those symptoms." Luna said dreamily, "He was most probably bitten by a Tri-horned Skitamarink."

When the train had arrived at Platform 9 ¾, the four quickly spotted Mr. Weasley standing alone by the fireplaces; there were probably twenty fireplaces set up along one wall of the station for people using the Floo Network. They quickly said their goodbyes and 'Happy Christmas's' to Neville and Luna before making their way to Ron's dad. Hermione noticed that there was a red-haired woman standing beside Mr. Weasley that was definatelynot Mrs. Weasley. The lady's hair was not the shade of any of the Weasley's actually…it was a vibrant, shocking red. As they neared, Hermione recognized the owner of the outrageous 'do to be the young Auror, Nymphadora Tonks.

"Dad!" Ginny cried, surpassing them all and giving Mr. Weasley a loving hug.

"Hello, kids!" Mr. Weasley bellowed, giving Ron a fatherly pat on the back. "Harry, Hermione! I'm glad you two will be joining us!"

"Thank you for having us, sir." Harry said politely.

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Weasley." Hermione chimed in. She noticed some lines around Mr. Weasley's eyes that she hadn't remembered being there the last time she'd seen him. Tonks looked about the same since Hermione had seen her at the Department of Mysteries, other than her hair color and the appearance of losing a few pounds. Hermione thought that she was a little too thin and guessed that all of the Order members and Aurors must really be putting in the hours.

"Tonks!" Harry exclaimed, shaking her hand. "What are you doing here?"

Tonks smiled almost apologetically at Harry before saying, "Well…in truth, Harry…the Auror office felt it a good idea for someone to watch over you this Christmas." Harry's face fell slightly, and Tonks quickly added, "Don't worry though, I'm not going to be nipping at your heels or anything."

Hermione's stomach twisted painfully. The Ministry had sent Tonks to guard Harry at the Burrow. Hermione looked around to see that Ginny had gone slightly pale, and her brother was gnawing on his bottom lip. She knew that they all believed in the prophecy, Voldemort included. Which was the whole reason that Harry lived in a constant state of danger. Hermione felt a mixture of anger and fear. Mr. Weasley must have felt the tension among everyone for he quickly shouted for everyone to line up for the journey.

They all headed to an open fireplace, and, one by one, they stepped inside with a handful of floo powder to say, "The Burrow!" And, one by one, they found themselves inside of the Weasley's kitchen. When Hermione entered, she immediately heard the bustle of Ron's family preparing for the night's feast, and smelled the aroma of baking pies. Ron's family may not have had much money, but Mrs. Weasley always made sure they were well fed.

As soon as they had all exited the fireplace, the chaotic greetings began. "OH! My dears!" cried Mrs. Weasley excitedly. "Come in! Come in!" She then crossed over to them and gave them each a hug and kiss. Then entered Fred and George from the living area, singing happily, and dancing around the kitchen table. Hermione wasn't sure, but she thought she heard the lyrics, "Jingle bells, Ronald smells, Harry laid an egg." Hermione smiled broadly, her fear and anger over the prophecy slowly ebbing away in the cheerful atmosphere.

Percy was helping his father set the table with a somewhat annoyed expression directed toward Fred and George. Hermione noticed that Percy's hair was cut extraordinarily short. Mrs. Weasley went back to the stove to finish cooking. Bill and Charlie descended the stairs to offer their greetings to everyone, before levitating the newly arrived luggage up the stairs. As Hermione watched the luggage float upward, she heard a new stanza in the twin's ballad, "Silent night! Percy bites!" She then heard a plate clatter and turned to see a very red-faced Percy leaving the room.

Ginny was then summoned by her mother to help with the meal, while Ron led her and Harry upstairs to unpack. Hermione would be sharing a room with Ginny and Tonks, while Harry would be with Ron. As they reached Ginny's room, Charlie was just leaving.

"Hermione, I have put your trunk by the extra bed in Ginny's room. I conjured the bed myself; sorry about the dragon-print sheets." Charlie said smiling before descending the stairs behind her. Hermione turned to Ron, who was about to ascend the stairs behind Harry up to Ron's room.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, stopping Harry and Ron in their tracks. Ron looked at her and Hermione thought she saw his eyes linger on her mouth before they made it to her own eyes. Her stomach fluttered madly.

"Um…I was just wondering if your mum would mind my letting Crookshanks out of his cage during the meal. He doesn't jump on tables or anything."

"Hmm…" Ron began, "How does Crookshanks feel about incredibly tiny owls?"

Hermione squinted her eyes at him, "As long as Pig isn't a Death Eater in disguise, I don't think we'll have a problem."

"Well, alright then." He said grinning, turning to follow Harry back up he stairs. Hermione definitely saw his eyes dart down to her lips before he left her, heart pounding, in Ginny's doorway.

"Hermione?" Ginny said just coming up the stairs. Hermione turned around to see a slyly smiling Ginny staring at her with her arms crossed. "I think you and I should have a little…girl talk." Hermione felt her cheeks go red before she was ushered into Ginny's room where the door was then closed and locked.

When Harry and Ron reached Ron's room, they opened the window to let Hedwig and Pig outside for some fresh air. Ron didn't realize he was still smiling stupidly from his brief flirt with Hermione in the hallway until he saw his reflection in the windowpane. He quickly changed his expression to casual.

"So, Ron…have you actually warmed up to Crookshanks?" Harry asked curiously.

"Oh, uh…well, you know…um…why?" Ron stammered; he was taken a bit off guard by this question.

Harry just shrugged, "I don't know. I was kind of expecting you and Hermione to row a bit before she convinced you to let her free Crookshanks."

"Oh, well…" Ron felt his ears get hot. "Well, you know…I forgave him for being mean to Scabbers, seeing as how, now, I wish he would of eaten the damn rodent." This was actually true, and Ron was glad when Harry suddenly seemed too distracted by something to finish the interrogation of Ron's behavior toward Hermione.

"What's this?" Harry asked Ron, as he reached for a bundled green plant hanging in Ron's doorway.

"Don't touch that!" Ron yelled. Harry looked confused for a moment, but stopped with his hand a few inches from the plant.

"That's wizard's mistletoe, touch that and you'll be forced to kiss the next person you see, and sorry mate, but I'd rather not lose my appetite." Ron said, smiling, as Harry laughed loudly. Who had hung that in the doorway? Ron briefly wondered. Two identical, laughing faces seemed to be looming in Ron's mind.

He and Harry hid out in his room, conversing about the Ministry's decision to send an Auror to guard Harry over the holiday. They both wondered if they had hard evidence to believe that Harry could be in danger over the holiday or if Tonk's appointment was merely precautionary. Soon, however, Mrs. Weasley's voice and a lovely aroma traveled up to them, calling them down for dinner.

The Christmas dinner was magnificent. There was turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, all sorts of vegetables from the garden, pumpkin pie, puddings, and even some sort of licorice from Fred's and George's shop that caused green and red bubbles to come out of your ears. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, and even after everyone had finished eating, they remained seated, talking and laughing, for at least an hour.

At one point, Bill and Arthur had begun talking about a massive thirty-car pileup that seemed to point toward the work of Death Eaters, but their conversation was quickly crushed by a warning look from Molly. While everyone's attention was briefly distracted to the tension at Ron's parents' end of the table, Ron was able to share a glance with Hermione. His face had turned bright red, however, when he noticed Ginny nudge Hermione in the side and whisper something. Hermione's face had become rather pink, too. Ron's curiosity was heightened; had Hermione said something to Ginny earlier? Had Ginny said something to Hermione?

Ron's stomach clenched in worry. Ginny knew how Ron felt toward Hermione; she knew that it went much deeper than physical attraction…but Ron didn't know what Hermione truly felt for him. Of course, it had now become wonderfully obvious that the urge to kiss was mutual…but as far as Ron knew that's as far as it went for Hermione. Ron decided that he needed to take Ginny aside and make her promise to keep her mouth shut; if she hadn't already spilt the Every Flavored Beans…

After everyone had pitched in for the cleanup, he, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny decided to go outside in the snow for a bit before retreating to bed. Ron was able to pull Ginny aside long enough to give her his warning. Luckily Harry and Hermione didn't notice, and continued out the back door.

"Listen," Ron whispered urgently, "What did you say to Hermione?"

Ginny smiled mischievously. "Oh, you know. We just had a nice little chat." Ron glared at her.

"Ginny, I'm not joking around." Ron said harshly, "Did you tell her anything?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and her smile faded; she grabbed a coat off of the wall pegs and began jerking it on irritably. "No. I just asked her if there were anything she would like to share with me…she's the one that did all the talking." Ginny glanced out the window. "They're waiting on us!"

"Wait!" Ron yelled as Ginny reached for the back door; he grabbed her by the back of her jacket and pulled her backward. "What did she say?"

"I should just make you ask her…like a grown man would do." Ginny sighed heavily, "But since I'm so loving and kind…she told me that you had been about a centimeter away from kissing her when Harry and I interrupted. I asked her if she were glad that we barged in and her face turned about the color of our hair before she told me that she had wanted to wring mine and Harry's necks."

Ron couldn't suppress a grin, which seemed to soften Ginny a bit. But he then remembered the main reason why he'd taken her aside in the first place. "Ginny, listen. Do not tell her how I feel. Ginny, don't roll your eyes at me…listen. As far as I know, Hermione is just attracted to me; I don't want to scare her off or anything…okay?"

Ginny began tapping her foot violently and biting the inside of her cheek before saying grudgingly. "Fine." She then turned on her heel and wrenched the back door open, muttering something about 'idiotic boys' and 'blind.' Ron followed behind her after pulling on his own coat and scarf.

The night air was cool and crisp, and there were a few flurries falling to the already snow-covered ground. The moon, stars, and the glow from the kitchen windows were the only sources of light. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were all seated on the picnic table with Tonks, who must've followed after Harry. Ron turned his face up to admire the night sky and wait for his agitation at Ginny's reaction to his request to subside when something cold and wet hit him across the back of his neck.

He whirled around to see a very guilty-looking Harry, now standing up, pointing unconvincingly at Ginny, who was gaping at Harry in mock disbelief and sitting angelically upon the picnic table. Ron bent down quickly to form his own snowball, but before he rose with his ammunition, he was hit twice more in the rear. This time the culprits appeared to be two girls, now standing beside Harry, doubled over in laughter…neither of which were Tonks, who was still sitting atop the table laughing along with the other three.

All of a sudden, a full-blown snow battle began. Snowballs were bursting all over the yard. Tonks actually jumped from the table, overturned it, and used it as a fort to hide behind while the younger four ran about the yard yelling. Ron managed to get Ginny on the back of the leg, and Harry on the top of the head, but Hermione was a little too quick. She managed to duck out of three perfectly formed snowballs, thrown consecutively.

Ron noticed Ginny smash a snowball right in Harry's face, which caused her to burst into a laughing fit. Ginny's giggles forced her to suspend her fire; so she instead fell to the ground and began making a snow angel. Harry then went to reload behind the overturned picnic table, and Ron had completely lost sight of Hermione.

He bent down to form a couple of war-worthy snowballs when a small pair of hands pulled the hood of his coat up over his head and pushed him down into the snow. He jerked off his hood and looked around to see the tail of a blue scarf retreat behind the shed. Smiling, Ron quietly headed around the backside of the shed. Sidling around the back corner he saw Hermione's shadow on the ground. She was completely oblivious to his presence. Silently Ron crept around the corner, before grabbing Hermione around the waist.

"Wah!" Hermione let out a shrill scream as Ron hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Ron! Put me down!" She cried through a rush of giggles. "I don't like heights! Put me down, now!"

Ignoring her pleas for mercy, Ron spun around in a couple of circles, causing Hermione to gasp and slap him on the back. "Hey! Physical abuse won't get you anywhere!" Ron said, trying hard not to laugh. Hermione giggled more as she continued to slap him.

Her body was so warm; her laugh was so delightful. If it weren't for the fact that Tonks had positioned herself near the back door of the house so that she could see all four teenagers, Ron would have found this an entirely fitting time to kiss Hermione. But instead, Ron carried her over to Ginny and Harry, who were now making a four-foot-tall, somewhat lopsided snow castle. They had apparently grown bored of their earlier endeavors.

"Oi there, kind sir and lady!" Ron shouted merrily in a dramatic, medieval voice over Hermione's continuing giggles. "I have found a prisoner for thy dungeon!"

"Oh, yes!" Harry shouted back, in the same dramatic tone. "We have reserved a cell for just such an occasion!"

"Yes! But mind you, it may be a wee bit cold and damp!" Ginny exclaimed through snickers.

"Ron, don't you even…!" Hermione's unfinished plea was futile, as Ron dumped her into the turreted mountain of snow. Hermione's last scream before being thrown down unceremoniously caused the other three to fall into the snow laughing along with her. Ron caught Hermione's eye as they sat doubled over in the snow, and the sight of her laughing in the moonlight almost took his breath away.

How had he been around this fascinating creature nearly every day for six years without seeing…her? He'd had urges toward her for a long time, and he'd loved her for longer…but this feeling that he had right now…the same one he'd had in the hospital and last night in the boy's dormitory at Hogwarts…it was stronger and greater than any feeling he'd ever had.

Harry was the first to recover and stand up from the snow; he reached down a helpful hand to Ginny and pulled her up. Ron noticed with a smile, that Harry didn't release his sister's hands after pulling her up.

"Harry, would you help me set the picnic table back up?" Ginny asked. They then crossed the yard together, hand-in-hand, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in the snow.

Ron heaved himself up and held out his hands for Hermione, who was eyeing him cautiously. "I'm not sure if I should trust you." She said with a sly smile.

"Me neither." Ron replied, chuckling. Hermione laughed at this as well, throwing a handful of snow up at him. As they looked at each other, however, their laughter quickly subsided until their eyes began carrying on their own conversation. Ron didn't really understand why her brown eyes captivated him, but gazing at her was one of the best feelings in the world.

Hermione took Ron's still outstretched hands, their gazes remaining locked, and he felt that familiar flutter deep in his stomach. Ron pulled her up so that their faces were a mere five inches apart, and their hands were still clasped together. Let go, Ron told himself, Harry and Ginny are less than twenty feet away! But he couldn't let go, and she wasn't letting go either.

Just then, however, the back door opened, shining the bright light of the kitchen onto Ron and Hermione. He quickly dropped her hands and took a step back, muttering under his breath, "Damn! You've got to be kidding me!"

"Ron!" Hermione whispered harshly, but she was obviously holding back a smile. She then mouthed, 'Don't swear,' and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. He winked at her before turning toward the open door; he had taken note of how Hermione's face flushed the other times he'd winked at her…now that he knew it wasn't becauseit made her feeluncomfortable, he quite enjoyed the effect it had on her. However, he couldn't tell who was standing, silhouetted, in the doorway.

"Hi, Ron…Hermione! Happy Christmas!" Lupin shouted merrily.

"Professor Lupin!" Hermione shouted back. Ron and Hermione headed over to greet their old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ron could now make out Lupin's broadly smiling face and a large box tucked under his right arm. Ron's mother had come outside, as well.

"Remus has stopped by; isn't that nice? Ron, you and the others come on inside and visit a spell!" Mrs. Weasley called out. Ron glanced around for 'the others' and noticed that Harry and Ginny were sitting, fairly close together, on top of the picnic table. Had they ever sat that close before? Ron thought smiling. He liked that his baby sister was spending so much time with his best friend. It had actually always been a secret wish of his that Harry could one day be his brother.

Lupin appeared to have noticed Harry and Ginny, too, for he was staring at them from where he stood. However, the smile had vanished from his face, and his mouth was gaping open. The package he was holding fell with a soft thud to the ground.

"Remus?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly, looking up at Lupin's wide-eyed face. "What's the matter, dear?" Lupin let out a shaky sigh and took a big swallow.

"Sorry, Molly." He said, bending down to pick up the package. "I…when I saw Harry and…is that Ginny? Yes, of course it is. I just … it was like…I mean I almost believed that I saw…" Lupin closed his eyes for a second before opening them and continuing in a somewhat shaky voice, "Let's just say it brought back some memories." Lupin finished awkwardly.

Molly cleared her throat and clapped her hands together to break the uncomfortable silence that had followed Lupin's words. "Everyone inside, now! You'll catch your death of cold if you stay out any longer!"

Ron glanced up into the night sky to see the shining quarter moon before exchanging a concerned look with Hermione. By the look on her face, she knew that Lupin's behavior had had absolutely nothing to do with the moon. Without speaking, they all hurried inside the warm house.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, those of you that are getting really antsy for some major action, don't stop reading now. Chapter 18 is coming up and...well, you just don't want to miss it. wink Happy reading! Don't forget to review!