Chapter 13: Christmas
The Granger's car moved slowly through the wet streets of London. The sky was over cast with angry black clouds that showered the ground with a heavy blanket of snow. Hermione stared up at the clouds with a sense of foreboding. Their gray and black tones seemed to capture the essences of the turmoil raging inside her. While she was undeniably excited to see Harry, Ginny and the rest of the Weasley's again, she dreaded the confrontation she knew she would inevitably have with Ron. In he mind the only question was how long would they be able to hold off without screaming at each other? One hour? Two? She feared that wouldn't even be able to last that long.
The sky darkened further outside her window as the sun began to set, barley visible on the horizon. Mr. Granger downshifted as they turned into a quiet street surrounded by many unkempt houses. Hermione's heart picked up a few beats as she realized that they were mere houses away from Grimmauld Place. She turned away from the window when the familiar building came into view in the distance. She took several deep breaths trying fruitlessly to still her racing heart.
The car rolled to a stop and the engine killed. Hermione turned to stare transfixed at the large building standing tall and proud between houses eleven and thirteen. Vaguely hearing the other car doors open she reached for her own handle and the door fell open nearly pitching her on the slushy sidewalk in surprise.
"Are you all right, dear?" Her mother asked, rushing forward to offer her a hand.
Hermione let her mother pull her to her feet before she answered. "I'm fine." She brushed absently at her skirt, smoothing wrinkles and snow from the soft fabric. "I must be more tired then I thought." Her mother stared at her skeptically but was forced to accept her explanation when she turned to go help her father unload the bags of presents from the boot. She handed a bag to her mother before taking two herself.
Mr. Granger closed the lid and they turned and stepped onto the sidewalk. Hermione briskly walked down the path using all her determination and confidence to keep her head held high. She was nearly at the front step when she heard her father call in a slightly panicked voice.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" she turned with a start to see her father and mother looking bewilderedly about.
"Where did you go, Moppet?"
"I'm right here." She waved one of her hands still cluthching the bright, multi color bag.
Mr. Granger turned towards the sound of her voice and squinted. "Where? I don't see you."
"Oh." She sighed with comprehension. "Just a moment." She set her bags on the pathway that was charmed to magically repel snow. She strode briskly back down the path digging into the depths of her pocket. She stepped onto the main snow covered side walk directly in front of her parents, causing them to jump back in surprise.
Mrs. Granger clutched at her chest. "Where did you come from?"
"Here." Hermione held out a slip of paper to her parents. "Read this quickly and memorize it."
Giving their daughter a peculiar look, both Mr. and Mrs. Granger read the slip several times until they were certain they could remember it.
"Have it?"
When both of her parents nodded she took back the slip and set it to fire with her wand. She let the ashes fall to the snow with a satisfying sizzle. "Follow me." She turned on her heal and began walking the path to the entrance once again. This time her parents followed behind her, eyes bulging as they watched a house appear where there hadn't been one before, shouldering its way in between eleven and thirteen.
Hermione smirked when they joined them on the doorstep. "I told you magic was fascinating." She reached out a dainty finger, and set off the doorbell. Almost instantly the door was flung open to reveal a disheveled haired boy, with sparkling green eyes hidden behind round framed glasses. "Harry!" She squealed flinging her arms around his neck with excitement.
Harry stumbled back under her weight laughing tenderly as he hugged her back. "What a greeting." He joked as he set her back on her feet and turned to extend his hand to Mr. and Mrs. Granger who were standing just inside the door.
"Mr. Granger. Mrs. Granger." He shook both of their hands in turn. "Welcome to Grimmauld Place. May I take you coats?" He asked as he ushered them farther in so that he could close the door.
"Harry?" Hermione set her bags on the floor so that she could slide her arms out of her coat. She looked curiously around the hall. "Where's Ginny?"
Harry deposited the Grangers' winter gear on a coat tree, "Saying goodbye to Ron."
"What?" Her head snapped around, her hands stilled in the process of removing her scarf.
Harry turned to face his friend, rubbing his hands vigorously together, warming them from the snow that had clung to the coats and melted on his bare skin. "Ron, Fred, George and Mr. Weasley won't be joining us for dinner."
"Why?"
Harry looked pointedly at Hermione. "Let's just say that Ron got the impression that one of the guests today didn't want to see him." Hermione blushed slightly and turned away from the accusing look in Harry's emerald eyes. She was spared the torment of commenting by the sound of feet rapidly drawing near, followed by a cry of delight.
"Hermione!" Ginny called as she rushed forward and the two girls hugged exuberantly. "It's so good to see you." she sighed when she let the older girl go.
"And you." Hermione looked over her with a skeptical eye. "You've grown taller since I left."
Ginny straightened to her full height and looked down at Hermione. "That, or you've shrunk."
Hermione chuckled as she wrapped her arm through the red heads and stepped towards the door leading to the sitting room. "Clever, Ginny." She nodded at the door. "Is everyone in there?"
The red head nodded.
Hermione was just reaching out to open the door to the sitting room when she heard Harry say cheekily behind her.
"So Mr. Granger…did you have any trouble finding the place?"
Hermione shook her head as she stifled a chuckle glancing at Ginny to see her role her eyes. "Thinks he's so clever all of a sudden."
The doors to the kitchen burst suddenly open and Molly Weasley hurried out, guiding a tray of drinks in front of her with her wand. "Hermione, my dear. How delightful to see you again." She offered the seventeen year old her hand and shook it briskly before she turned to greet Mr. and Mrs. Granger, still balancing the tray before her.
Hermione turned towards the door feeling a heavy weight settle on her chest. Mrs. Weasley wasn't her same cheerful, mothering self. She couldn't help but feel disappointed that she hadn't been met with the normal smothering hug that usually greeted her. And, unless she was mistaken, which hardly ever was, she thought she had a very good idea as to why. Hermione tilted her head up. That was fine. If Mrs. Weasley was going to be cold and distant towards her, she could be cold and distant back.
Hermione pushed open the double doors and was greeted with welcomes from the people already gathered around the room. Bill and Charlie were sitting on the long sofa, Bill with his arm draped over Fleur Delacour's shoulders and Charlie with his arm wrapped around the waist of a girl she didn't recognize.
"Hermione." Tonks rushed across the room to greet her but caught her foot under the leg of a side table and toppled over, bringing the table and the objects on it, crashing to the ground with her.
Hermione rushed forward to help the Auror up. "Are you all right?" She asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"Course I am." Tonks dismissed her anxiety as she patted at the light layer of dust that had flown up and clung to her close when she landed on the ancient rug. "How've you been Hermione? Haven't seen you in a while."
"That's because I've been in Bulgaria."
Tonks's eyes widened in surprise. "You have?" Hermione nodded. "And Dumbledore let you go?"
"Dumbledore was the one who suggested it."
Tonk's nose twitched in thought. "Never would have expected that from old Dumbledore." She shrugged. "But he usually knows what's he's doing. You're enjoying yourself though?"
Hermione beamed. "Oh yes. I'm having a wonderful time. Everything is so exciting and new. I'm making all sorts of new friends."
"Must be tough being away from Ron and Harry though. I mean, they don't call you three the Golden Trio for nothing do they?"
"No." Hermione's bright eyes dimmed slightly. "I guess they don't. If you'll excuse me?"
Hermione made a hasty retreat to the corner where Harry and Ginny were sitting, heads bowed close in conversation, uncaring that Tonks was watching her with a perplexed look on her face. "What are you talking about?" she asked as she plopped down on a chair next to them.
The pair broke apart and Ginny brushed her coppery hair over her shoulder. "Ron." She said bluntly. "I haven't really had the opportunity to talk to him for over a week and Harry was telling me about what they were discussing last night…but I'm sorry. You don't like to talk about my brother. So let's discus something else."
Hermione stepped back at the blatant hostility she heard in her friends voice. "Are you angry with me, Ginny?"
"Should I be angry with you?" She asked, crossing her arms stubbornly.
"Ginny, don't." Harry reached out and put a calming hand on the red heads arm. "It's Christmas."
She sighed. "Yes it is. I love Christmas. Time for family, friends and forgiveness. Don't you think so, Hermione?"
"Ginny!" Harry said harshly. "You promised."
Ginny slumped back in her chair, her eyes narrowed. "I don't know what Ron was thinking making me promise that." She mumbled under her breath so that Hermione only caught a few of her words.
"Pardon me?"
"Nothing." Ginny sighed heavily. "I didn't say anything. I promised Ron I wouldn't."
Harry opened his mouth to reprimand the young girl but was cut off by her name being called from the other end of the room.
"Ginny!" Molly called from where she was bending over, offering the remaining drink to Mad Eye who had arrived only moments ago and who was now sitting near the fire, wood leg stuck out before him, dangerously close to the blue blaze. "Would you mind coming to the kitchen and helping me finish dinner?"
"Coming, mum." Ginny rose to her feet without looking at Hermione and exited the room, leading her mother towards the kitchens bellow.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked when Ginny was far enough away that she wouldn't be over heard. "What has gotten into her?"
Harry crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair, perfecting a comfortable, relaxed pose. "Last night was the first time Ron has talked to either of us since he found out about the mirror."
Hermione felt heat work its way up her neck to her face, tinting her skin pink as it went. "I'm sorry. Harry." The weight that had settled on her chest when she first entered the house was steadily growing heavier and more difficult to bear. "I never…"
"Ron left today because he knew you didn't want to see him. And most of the people here now that. Keep that in mind when you're wondering why people are treating you the way they are."
Hermione looked down at the hands clasped in her lap. "You're not angry with me too? Are you Harry?"
"Yes." Hermione's shoulders hunched. "But it's Christmas. So I'm going to set it aside and I'm not going to let it or anything else bother me. I'm just going to spend the evening enjoying my best friend's company."
"Thank you, Harry." Hermione smiled gratefully. "Would you like your present now?"
Without waiting for an answer she hurried over to where the two bags she had carried in were waiting and went searching through it for the package that contained Harry's gift. She scooped it up and hid it behind her back as she hurried back to Harry who was waiting with a long, slim package sitting in his lap.
Hermione retook he seat and the pair exchanged their gifts. Harry lifted his, pumping his arms a few time as if to weigh it. "Humm." He said sarcastically. "This couldn't possibly be a book, could it?"
Hermione pursed her lips playfully. "Would you at least open it and see what kind of book it is before you start making smart remarks?"
Harry smirked as he tore at the red and green paper. The smirk died when he looked down at the title. The Dark Arts Book of How To's and Why Not's.
"Hermione." He looked up at her with bewilderment. "What is this?"
"That's a copy of the book we use in my Dark Arts Class. And before you say anything," she cut him off when she watched him mouth open in protest, "would you at least just please read it. I know that you don't particularly like the fact that Durmstrang teaches the Dark Arts, but it really is an informative book and I think you could learn a lot from it." She reached out and rested her hand on Harry's arm. "I think it's all right to pursue any means we have of gaining an upper hand over Voldemort. Don't you?"
Hermione could tell he was deep in thought by the narrowing of his eyes and the scrunching of his brow. "I don't know, Hermione."
"I just think we need to better understand where he is coming from so that we can better understand the way his mind works. It might be the only chance we'll have at defeating him and…"
"Keeping me alive." Harry finished for her. Hermione's face flushed even darker. He of course was correct. "Thank you, Hermione." He leaned forward and wrapped an appreciative hug around her. "It's good to know that you care so much for me."
Hermione smiled timidly. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you, Harry."
"You as well. It's bad enough with you all the way in Bulgaria. I can't imagine what it would be like if you were gone for real. I'd have to do all my homework by myself."
"Really Harry," Hermione nudged him playfully trying hard to keep her face stern but failing miserably. "But honestly, Harry, as long as we have you around I'm not too worried."
"Please stop." Harry rolled his bright green eyes. "You're going to make me blush." He set his new book aside and handed Hermione his gift for her. Her eyes lit up as she accepted the light package. She tore at the wrapping, letting the bright paper fall to the ground. She opened the lid of the slender box and pulled out a long, fluffy quill the nauseating color of acid green.
She looked from the quill to Harry a few times with a disbelieving frown on her face. "Harry?" She said questioningly, not fully understanding the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "What?"
"It's a Quick Quote Quill.H" Hermione's eyes narrowed. "I thought you could use it while revising. That way you don't have to look up from your reading to jot down notes. It will do it for you."
"Harry." Hermione's hands found their way to her hips, laughter causing her voice to shake. "You bought this quill knowing full well it would remind me of that horrible Skeeter woman."
Harry dropped his mouth and threw his hand to his chest in a mock look of indignation. "Hermione. I can't believe you would suggest such a thing. I would never dream of inflicting mental torment on my friend like that."
"Yes." Hermione snorted. "I can't imagine you ever trying to do that." Despite the scowl she forced on her face she leaned forward and kissed him appreciatively on the cheek. "Thank you, Harry. It's wonderful."
"Not exchanging gifts without me." Hermione pulled away to look at Ginny who was standing several steps away with a rectangular package in her hands. She sank down onto the seat that she had been sitting in earlier. "Happy Christmas." She held out the package to Hermione who took it eagerly.
She tore away the wrapping to reveal a book bound in leather with a rose pattern imbedded on the front, surrounding the words 'Photos'. She flipped through the pages seeing many faces she recognized smiling up at her.
"Oh Ginny, it's beautiful." She closed the book before clutching it lovingly to her chest. "I love it. Thank you."
Ginny smiled knowingly. "I knew you would. So, where's my present, or does only this git get one."
"Just a moment." Hermione set the book tenderly aside beside the acid green quill. "It's just over here." She scampered across the room to the same bag that she had pulled Harry's gift from. She scurried back and handed it to Ginny just as Mrs. Weasley came back into the room announcing dinner.
Ginny set her gift aside to open later and the three friends followed the adults from the room. They gathered around the large table in the dinning room, Harry sitting on one end because of Mrs. Weasley's insistence, it was his house after all she argued. Hermione and Ginny sat on either side of him, Ginny to his right, Hermione to his left. Beside Hermione sat Bill, then Fleur, Charlie, Sarah and Tonks. Molly sat at the other end of the table across from Harry and beside her sat Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Mad Eye, and Remus.
The food was divine. Despite the absence of her husband and three sons, Mrs. Weasley had put her heart into preparing Christmas dinner, and it showed. Even without Ron there to wolf down his three helpings of turkey and mashed potatoes, the food still seemed to disappear.
Around her was a bevy of conversation and despite herself Hermione couldn't seem to pay attention long enough to chime in with her own thoughts. Harry and Ginny continuously tried including her in the conversation but when they did she would chat back for several minutes with insight and spunk. But then her eyes would wonder around the group and she would fall silent once more.
Ginny's lips pursed and her eyes narrowed into glares when Hermione once again fell silent and nudged the less then half eaten food around her plate. Ginny used her napkin to wipe her lips before throwing it angrily down on the table. She rose to her feet, marched around the table, pulled Hermione to her feet and pulled her unceremoniously from the room.
"Ginny!" Hermione cried with indignation when the young red head continued to tow her down the hall and up the stairs to the room that they had shared for the past two summers. "Ginny what is wrong with you?"
The angered red head ignored her until they had cleared the doorway and closed the large panel behind her. Finally releasing Hermione's wrist she turned to face the curly haired girl. "Make a decision, Hermione. Now."
"What?" Her brown eyes widened with confusion. "Ginny, what are you talking about?"
Ginny crossed her arms angrily in front of her chest and her eyes narrowed further, perfecting the infamous Molly Weasley scowl. "You can't have it both ways. It's not fare to us but most importantly it's not fare to Ron. Have you forgotten that he's not here today because you didn't want to see him?"
"I haven't forgotten." Hermione bristled with indignation.
"Really?" Ginny snapped back. "Because the way your mopping around down there is enough to make one think you might actually miss him."
"That's ridiculous." Hermione spun around on her heel so that she wasn't facing her friend. "I do not miss Ron. He…"
"I know!" Ginny shouted with frustration. "He called you a Mudblood! How long are you going to punish him for it? He's asked you time and time again to forgive him! Why won't you?"
Hermione stood stubbornly quiet and still. She refused to be baited by anyone, including Ginny Weasley. Behind her she heard the other girl sigh heavily with sadness and resignation.
"When we were younger," she began in a soft tender voice, "Ron really had it the worst out of all of us. He always felt like one of our brothers always had one up on him. It's hard not to feel that way when you're the sixth son. Everything's already been done by the time you get around to doing it. He also always felt ignored by mum and dad and by the other boys, though he'll never admit that. And truthfully, he was right. Mum and dad always had so much to do with so many of us that they expected the others to watch out for Ron and me, and the older boys didn't want to be bothered with him because he was the younger brother. I didn't have it so bad because I was the only girl and as you know they all feel overly protective of me." Ginny sank heavily onto the foot of the bed. "So Ron and I sort of stuck together. Which is the reason why I was so sad when he left for Hogwarts without me. But I was also glad because even then I knew that perhaps he would finally find something that was his. Find someone who cared about him and paid attention to him. Then he met you and Harry and he would write letters home to me about the two of you and I was so jealous. Because he had found two people so completely devoted and loyal to him. I thought he was the luckiest bloke in the world."
Ginny's chin stiffened and a hard glint steeled into her eyes. "Now I think he would be better off if he had never met you." Hermione felt a jolt of pain in her heart so intense it felt like she had been stabbed. "You have caused him nothing but heartache since August." Ginny bound to her feet and began to pace the room, a habit that most of the Weasley's had when they were angry, or anxious or worried. "For months he's been mopping around, ignoring Harry and me and everyone else for that matter. He's hardly talks anymore, never jokes. We almost never see him smile. He's never been more studious but the cost has been him. He's not my brother anymore. Merlin." Ginny slapped her thigh as she turned to face Hermione, disbelief marring her face. "He could have just about any girl in the entire school and he doesn't even notice them. He's completely unaware that people like Lavender Brown are practically throwing themselves at his feet."
Ginny spun away from Hermione and walked briskly towards the door. She turned the handle and pulled it open but stopped just inside the portal. "Make a decision Hermione. Forgive him or let him go. Because I can't bear to see him tormented like this anymore. And I would be lying if I said I was overly fond of you right now either."
The door closed with a loud thud and Hermione sank onto the foot of her bed her heart and mind battling for control of her emotions. Her mind screamed the litany 'He called you a Mudblood, don't give in.' over and over again while her heart ached for the tormenting picture Ginny had painted for her. The strain of the two conflicting emotions built inside her until her stomach lurched painfully towards her knees. Feeling sick to her stomach she made her way back to the dinning room where the other guests were just finishing up pudding. From the corner of her eye she saw that Ginny adamantly refused to look at her.
"Mum. Dad. I don't feel very well."
Mrs. Grange set down her fork and stood up. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"My stomach." Hermione placed a hand on her abdomen indicating where the pain was. "I think I just need to go home and climb into bed."
"Of course, Moppet." Mr. Granger wiped his mouth clean before standing up and joining his wife at his daughter's side. "Let's go collect our things."
Mrs. Weasley and Harry both rose as well and helped the Grangers gather there belongings and carry them to the car outside. Once the last package was packed in the boot Harry walked Hermione to her car door and gave her a long, warm hug. "Fell better."
"I'll try."
Harry opened the car door for her. "When do you go back?"
Hermione sighed. "Three days. We have a shorter holiday now but the school year ends earlier then at Hogwarts."
"Are you coming home in the spring?"
Hermione shrugged uncertainly. "I don't know. I won't know until it's much closer."
Harry took her hand and squeezed it affectionately. "I hope you will."
"Me too."
Hermione and Harry shared one more hug before she slipped into the back seat and closed the door. Harry waved as the car moved away and turned at the sound of Mrs. Weasley's unhappy sigh.
"Such a shame." She murmured. "I was so certain." She caught sight of Harry watching her and smiled warmly at him. "Come now, Harry." She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and steered him towards Grimmauld Place. "Let's get you inside before you catch your death of cold."
Fifteen minutes into the trip Hermione had fallen asleep with her head leaning against the cold glass of the window. In the front seat her parents shared looks back and forth between each other. They had known for some time that something was not right with their daughter, and that notion had been confirmed tonight when they realized that one of her best friends had not even been present. They had been unable to glean what exactly had happened, but they had been able to gather the fact that their daughter was apparently no longer on speaking terms with Ronald Weasley. Mr. Granger sighed heavily as he looked away from his wife and concentrated on the road once again. He hated not knowing what was wrong with his daughter but also knew that she would tell him when she thought the time was right.
Hermione slept the entire two hour trip home. Her heart and mind were still in turmoil when her mother reached back to gently shake her awake as they pulled to a stop in front of their home.
They quickly emptied the car, not wanting to be outside in the biting cold any longer then was necessary. The three Grangers rushed up the walk to their front door, Mrs. Granger and Hermione stomping their feet to keep them warm as Mr. Granger struggled to slip the key into the lock. When the door clicked open the three ran inside and dropped their packages in the entryway. Mr. Granger was about to close the door when a large Eagle Owl flew through the gap and landed on the hall table. Attached to its leg was an edition to the Evening Prophet. Heart sinking Hermione stepped forward, digging through her clothes for a loose knutt. Finding one she slipped it into the pouch attached to the bird's leg before she untied the Prophet. Once free of its burden the owl flew out the door that Mr. Granger was still holding open.
Hermione didn't even notice the sound of the door closing. She stared transfixed at the headline, her heart beating painfully in her chest.
Death Eaters Attack!
Owners Die in Joke Shop Explosion!
