Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Hey y'all! Well, I went with short on the war with Voldemort, cause I was feeling lazy. So for those who wanted a long drawn out battle scene, sorry. I don't think I'd really be able to do one justice anyways. Also, one reviewer wanted clarification that Hermione and Fred are indeed married; the answer is YES they are. Their blood mixing (back in chapter 1 or 2 I think) was an ancient wedding-ritual, so even though it's considered primitive in modern times, it's still as valid as a full-blown wedding ceremony. Hope that clears it up for you. Oh, and several people pointed out I accidentally had McGonagall call Hermione 'Hermione' and not 'Mya' so sorry about that. I've gone and fixed it, and without further ado, here's chapter eight for ya!
Love Means Never Having to Time-Travel
Chapter Eight: Merry Christmas
"Love is a symbol of eternity that wipes away all sense of a beginning, and all fear of an end." –unknown
"Now, one more time, let's go over what the plan is," Albus instructed once the Order members quieted.
"We'll have set up anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards, specifically keyed to the dark mark," Tonks began. "Anyone with a dark mark, except for Sevvie here, will not be able to apparate or portkey away from the Burrow. Everyone fighting will also be supplied with an emergency portkey to the infirmary at Hogwarts." Severus sent her a glare at the nick-name.
"Those of us with normal animagus forms will be spread around the perimeter, ready to transform back and take down as many deatheaters by surprise as we can," Minerva spoke next.
"First string will have our invisibility charms on and wands at the ready to bind and incapacitate deatheaters," Bill twirled his wand around his fingers until his girlfriend Fleur snatched it from him.
"Second string will be close to the house, also under invisibility charms, to take down the deatheaters who get past first string," Charlie continued, and Ron nodded determinedly.
"Third string'll be covering Potter's arse as he goes to face off Riddle," Moody growled. It was a mark of how serious the situation was that Molly didn't bother to reprimand him for his language.
"And I know the spell to finish him off for good," Harry said with a note of finality in his voice and a determined glint in his eye. "With Professor Dumbledore there to help provide me with the strength and power to do so."
"May luck be with us all," Albus wished softly. "And may we be blessed with the ability to accomplish our intended goal."
"So mote it be," everyone murmured, and with a few last looks, they gathered around the port-key to the burrow, and disappeared from number twelve Grimmauld place with a soft pop.
OooOooOooO
"YOU-KNOW-WHO DEFEATED!"
Exclusive by Rita Skeeter.
"Early Christmas Eve, You-Know-Who appeared with forty death-eaters at the Weasley home in Ottery-Saint-Catchpole, hoping to kill the Boy-Who-Lived in a surprise attack. The members of the Order of the Phoenix, a long-time resistance group, were there however, and rallied around our hero. This reporter dug behind the scenes to find that the Order had previous knowledge of the attack, thanks to long-time spy,world-renowned Potions Master Severus Snape. As the Order members battled valiantly, our hero Harry Potter, with Albus Dumbledore by his side, defeated You-Know-Who just as the sun broke the horizon. It rose upon a glorious scene of You-Know-Who's corpse, as well as thirty-two apprehended death-eaters, with eight dead. The Order was not without its fatalities, and this reporter would like to pay tribute to Emmeline Vance, Alastor Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebot. May their souls rest in peace, as they so truly deserve."
OooOooOooO Back to 1978 OooOooOooO
"You know, I feel really relaxed and happy today," Hermione commented as she and Fred headed to the Great hall for breakfast.
"Well, it is Christmas Eve," Fred shrugged. "Probably just the relief of not dealing with classes, not to mention we finished grading those last few assignments yesterday."
"I'm sure you're right," she nodded as they went and sat at the two empty spots at the single table. Besides them, Albus, Minerva, and Otto were the only other professors staying for holidays. Student-wise, Severus and a second year girl were the only Slytherins, though there were two Ravenclaw fourth years, and four Hufflepuff sixth years. No one from Gryffindor happened to be here this year. At first Sirius had been scheduled to stay, but at the last minute he was able to go home with James.
"Good morning everyone," Hermione greeted everyone cheerfully.
"Good morning Professor Mya," the students chimed, while the others nodded their greetings before returning to the scrumptious Christmas Eve breakfast the house elves had made. Dishes enough to feed the whole of Hufflepuff it seemed covered the table. Hermione inhaled the melody of scents before helping herself to a little bit of everything. Fred was already digging in, looking much like Ron did at the welcoming feast.
'Weasleys,' she thought to herself. As she wasn't projecting her thoughts, she didn't have to worry about Fred overhearing them. 'Must be a family trait to eat like that. Though I suppose with six siblings it was necessary. I swear though, our children will eat properly at the table.'
She choked slightly on the toast she had just taken a bite of at that thought. Fred rubbed her back lightly in concern until she waved him off, explaining a bit had gone down the wrong tube. He nodded and went back to his food, as well as talking with one of the Ravenclaws about quidditch. Their children. That image was certainly unexpected, though not altogether unwelcome. She couldn't help but wonder if they would have the signature Weasley hair, or her eyes; his love of pranks, or her love of learning? With a slight smile, she returned to her breakfast, hoping that someday she would be able to find out the answers.
"I must say, I'm feeling comfortably stuffed," Albus smiled as he patted his stomach. "I do believe a bit of movement would be helpful about now. Anyone up for a game of ten-pin bowling?"
"What's that?" Lucy Dalveux, the other Slytherin, was quick to ask. She was a curious girl, and always up for learning something new- as long as it could benefit her in some way.
"A muggle game in which you try to knock over pins with a ball you roll down a lane," Hermione explained very briefly.
"Oh," Lucy sneered slightly at what sounded like a barbaric muggle game to her. "Thank you Headmaster, but I fear I have obligations to see to."
"Of course my dear," he smiled at her, knowing she had no such things, but accepting the excuse just the same. "Another time, perhaps?"
"Perhaps," she nodded slightly before standing and leaving the hall.
"We'll play Albus," Fred spoke up for him and Hermione.
The other professors and students also nodded their agreement, and followed Albus from the hall. Hermione had to fight back a laugh as she realised they were headed for the corridor that would house Fluffy. As they entered, the students let out gasps of excitement as they took in the four-lane alley, complete with lights and sound-system. Albus waved his wand, and immediately they were all clad in outrageously coloured bowling shoes and matching shirts.
"I think it would be fun to compete in teams perhaps?" Albus' eyes twinkled as the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws moved together to form one team while Severus joined the Professors. "Who bowls first?"
"Well, you know what they say sir," a plump Hufflepuff sixth year Martin Broking grinned cheekily. "Age before beauty."
"Hey, I resent that on behalf of both lovely ladies on our team!" Fred called out teasingly from where he was turning on the music player.
"Sorry sir," Martin apologised, not really sorry at all, as it had been said in jest.
"Sure you are," Fred pretended to glare at him. "Take it to the lane, Puff!"
"With pleasure sir," Martin laughed, and picked up a ball and sent it down the lane, earning the first strike of the game. "Oh, did I forget to mention I'm part of a league back home?"
"Cheeky little puff…gotta beat him…last thing I do…" Fred was muttering under his breath as he stepped up to bowl first for their team.
For the next several hours they bowled, the lead going back and forth, as both teams were fairly evenly matched. The professors and Severus won the first game, but the second game went to the students. They were about to start a third game as a tie-breaker when a house elf popped up suddenly, reminding them it was lunch time and that Lucy was waiting in the great hall for them. Agreeing to have the tie-breaker game another day, Albus transfigured their clothes back before they went to the great hall. Lunch was a lighter affair, as breakfast had been extravagant, and dinner would be as well.
After lunch, Hermione and Fred arranged to meet Severus in the Great hall for breakfast at nine thirty, and then go open presents together. With a last farewell for the afternoon, Fred and Hermione retreated to their rooms to wrap presents. They also wanted to use the afternoon and evening to begin working on Harry's scrapbook, completing it up until the holidays.
"You know, I'm sure if Ron were here he'd say we're being silly, working on a present for Harry when we won't even be able to give it to him for several months," Hermione smiled sadly.
"Maybe so, but it makes sense to do it now, cause by the end of the year we'd have way too much stuff to put in it, and too little time to do so," he pointed out, hoping to cheer her up.
"I guess," she shrugged.
"Hey, how many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?" He asked suddenly.
"Uh…I don't know," she stared at him, before finally asking, "How many?"
"Well, the Golden Retriever says 'The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb'? The Rottweiler growls 'Make me'. The Lab, who is always eager to please goes 'Oh, me, me! Pleeeeeease let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I?' The Boxer just rolls his eyes and says 'Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark…' Now my favourite, the Irish Wolfhound groans, 'Can somebody else do it? I've got this huge hangover…' And finally, the German Shepherd barks, 'I'm not trained to change bulbs, just to guard the house. So don't try anything funny!" Fred began laughing hysterically.
"And the point of that was?" She looked at him, an amused smile on her face.
"You know…I don't think it had a point," he grinned, "other than to get you to smile, which it did."
"I know, it's Christmas tomorrow, I should be happy," she nodded. "And I am, really. I love you, and I love being here with you, but…"
"But it's not home," he finished for her.
"Exactly," she sighed, leaning into his embrace.
"I know just what you mean. We've talked about it before. It's hard, not having any family or friends here with us. It's even harder knowing that we're missing out on a year together, not to mention a year that Harry could probably really use our support. And we don't even know what's happening, or how much will change while we're gone."
"Things may change, but remember, you said our friendship won't," she turned her head to kiss his cheek. "Now I suppose we'd better finish these pages. I want to go make some cream candy."
"Some what?"
"Kentucky hand-pulled cream candy," Hermione slowly said the full name. "My mum got the recipe a few years back when she and my dad went on a trip to the United States. There was a candy store in Maryland that had some cream candy, as well as the recipe. It's so good! It's got this creamy taste, as its name implies, not to mention it's the consistency of those after-dinner mints, and practically melts in your mouth. It's a tradition my family has, and it just wouldn't be Christmas without doing it."
"I gotcha," Fred nodded. "Sounds good."
"What about you?" Hermione asked. "I know you mentioned the tree decorating with just family, but are there any other family traditions you have that we should do?"
"Hmm…" Fred pondered the question as they continued to organize the photos and attach them to the photo album with sticking-charms. "Not really. I mean, the decorating was the main tradition, but there were other things of course, like dinner as a family with all of mum's delicious baking to indulge in."
"Well we don't have your mum's food, but maybe we can talk to the house elves if you have some favourites you'd like them to make," Hermione offered with a smile.
"Nah, I think I'm okay. It's nice to start a few new traditions."
"And might those be?" She asked, curious to hear what he'd say.
"Well, there's the bowling for one," he laughed. "Talking about holiday traditions and memories of ours. And we're going to make cream candy now, so we'll have to continue that when we get back. And shopping together; I definitely want to do that, cause you're a lot better at picking out gifts than I am. So you see, we've started a few."
"Yeah. You know…I can't imagine Ron bowling; he'd trip over his feet trying to roll the ball down," Hermione giggled, and it soon turned into full-blown laughter as Fred joined in after doing a near-perfect imitation of Ron.
They finally got themselves calmed down, and turned back to the album to do a few more pages before heading to the kitchens to make candy. They would also work on a few pages every day during the rest of the break, so as not to be overwhelmed by all the information they had gathered so far. Once at the kitchens, Hermione and Fred had a bit of a hard time getting the elves to let them use a stove for cooking, not to mention pots, measuring utensils, and other tools. Finally though, they were given a small area of the kitchen, and Hermione introduced Fred to the wonderful world of candy-making; muggle style. Two hours later, they had the candy cut up into pieces resting on a tray. Normally, it would have to sit overnight to cream properly, but Hermione decided to cheat and use a charm to finish it off. They put aside a fair amount for themselves, before divvying up the rest into small parcels to give to the other professors and students at dinner.
OooOooOooO
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Fred's yell caused Hermione to awake with a jolt.
"Well good morning to you too," she rolled over to glare at him.
"It's Christmas," he repeated with a grin, "we've got presents!"
"You're worse than Harry and Ron," she chided as she cuddled against his chest as he scooped her into his arms, blankets and all.
"I'll take that as a compliment," he kissed her cheek as he set her down on the couch before almost skipping over to the tree to grab the two presents they had set aside for their private gift-exchange.
"You would."
"Here," Fred handed her a small package wrapped prettily in red with a gold bow as he sat down next to her on the couch.
"Thank you," she said, taking it from him.
"Might want to wait till you see what it is before you go thanking me," he joked, watching her tear off the paper to reveal a small jewellery box that she was quick to open.
"A compass?" she looked from him to the gold chain holding a small, delicate compass, a tiny diamond serving as the marker for North.
"I know it may seem corny, but I remember you once said you were afraid of losing me. So I just wanted to give you this so you can always find your way back to me," he answered, giving her a shy smile, something rather uncharacteristic of him. He was always so sure of himself.
"I love it," she smiled, handing him the compass. "Put it on me please?"
He took the necklace and quickly unclasped it. Lifting his hands over her head, he waited as she pulled her hair up and out of his way, and re-clasped it. As he adjusted the chain so it lay flat, he impulsively leaned down and kissed the back of her neck. He then turned her face towards his and kissed her lightly on the lips before pulling back.
"Here's your gift," Hermione handed him a lumpy package. "Not as nice as the one you gave me, but I hope you'll like it all the same."
"A sweater!" He exclaimed in surprise, pulling out the soft, cobalt blue sweater.
"I know we can't be home to get a real Weasley sweater, so I knit you what is hopefully the first of many Wilson sweaters," she said with a laugh.
"I love it," he pulled it on immediately, messing his unruly hair up even more. "And I love you. Thank you."
"Love you too, and you're welcome," she turned so she could lie down, using his leg as a pillow. "Now, let me get some more sleep."
"Normally I would, but there's a certain budding potions master we've a breakfast date with," Fred reminded her as he smoothed her hair back from her face.
"All right."
Hermione sat up, with a little help from Fred, and entered their bedroom to quickly throw on a pair of jeans and a red jumper. After she came out, Fred went in to get dressed, and reappeared a minute later also in jeans, but with a black jumper. He brushed and braided Hermione's hair for her, as was their tradition, and they made their way to the Great Hall. Once there, they quickly spotted Severus and made their way over to where he was sitting at one end of the table. Lucy had flooed home that morning to spend Christmas with her parents, though they would be leaving the following day for a vacation, hence the reason she hadn't been able to go home for the entirely of the break.
"Ready to go open presents?" Hermione asked as they finished breakfast.
"I only had one, a bag of money from my parents," he stated. "So I don't have anything to really open. I did get you and Professor Greg a gift though."
"Well thank you, but as for gifts, we both got you some. After all, it's not Christmas without presents now, is it?" Fred jumped in as he helped Hermione up.
"You didn't have to do that," Severus was quick to say, not wanting charity.
"Of course we didn't have to, but we wanted to," Hermione insisted. "Believe me, we get as much pleasure from giving gifts as we do receiving them. Besides, it makes it seem more like home, having family with us to open gifts and share stories and just having a good time altogether. Now you wouldn't ruin my Christmas by denying me that now, would you?"
"I think you'd make a good Slytherin," was Severus' only answer, though he did smirk slightly in resignation.
"I will take that as a compliment," Hermione grinned as they reached their portrait.
Fred gave the password and they seated themselves on the couch while Severus took one of the chairs. Hermione took it upon herself to distribute gifts, and soon each had a small pile before them. At first, Severus maintained a cool demeanor, slowly opening one present at a time, but once Hermione threatened to turn his hair red and green, he let himself tear into each of the presents with a child-like enthusiasm. He was absolutely thrilled with all his gifts, and once he had given Hermione a shy hug and Fred and handshake, he turned his attention to them as they opened their gifts.
Hermione went first, and like Severus, was thrilled with the gifts from Fred. She saved Severus' gift for last, and when she opened it, was pleasantly surprised to see a silver cloak clasp in the shape of a rose. Ruby accents lined the petals, while emeralds dotted the leaves, catching the light beautifully and drawing attention to the excellent example of craftsmanship. Along with the cloak clasp, he also gave her a delicate silver necklace with a matching rose pendant. He explained they had been family heirlooms, and who better to give it to than her, as he didn't have any sisters?
Fred made a big production over each gift, painstakingly taking off each piece of tape from each gift, and slowly opening it. At least, until Hermione did curse him and turn his hair red and green, promising to do worse. With a grin and a kiss, he began opening his presents at a normal speed, and thanked her with another kiss once he had finished. Like Hermione, he saved Severus' present for last. Honestly, he had been surprised to receive a gift from him. Opening up the rather large box, it revealed a small, handsome, wood trunk, which when the lid was lifted, revealed a number of useful compartments, as well as a rare copy of Uland Onyurfeete's book on how to re-create some of his most famous pranks and tricks.
Their gifts opened, Hermione brought out several bottles of butterbeer, as well as some popcorn and cream candy for them to munch on as they all settled down to read in front of the fire. They spent the rest of the morning in a companionable silence. When they got hungry for lunch, Hermione simply placed an order with the always-eager-to-oblige house-elves. She had long since given up trying to change their ways of thinking, though she still didn't agree with them. After lunch they ended up playing a few games of exploding snap before Severus challenged Hermione to a game of wizard's chess, and then Fred. He of course, trounced them both in a short amount of time. They also called the kitchens for a small dinner, and after eating, Severus thanked them both again for the day and the gifts, and retired to his quarters, no doubt to continue looking through his potions texts.
"Christmas is almost over," Hermione commented softly after hearing the clock chime that signaled it was eleven thirty.
"Yeah, but wasn't it a nice one?" Fred dropped a kiss on her head. They were lying in bed, wrapped in each others arms. "It was totally different than the usual Weasley Christmas, and a lot quieter."
"I did miss that a little bit," Hermione admitted. "But I can't say that it wasn't nice to not be woken by Ron and Harry jumping on top of me, or all your brothers annoying me with that ridiculous nickname they've given me."
"What, princess?"
"Yes! I swear, that gets rather annoying when that's all they call me. It's as if they forget I have a name," Hermione yawned, then switched the subject. "You know, I think Severus had a nice Christmas too, don't you?"
"Mm-hmm. He seemed to really like everything we gave him, and he seemed to just enjoy spending the day with us in general too."
"You know, I wonder what will happen when we go back. I mean, should we tell him who Professor Mya and Greg really were? Would he still even want to know us? And not to mention what will we do in general when we go back? I'll have to sit for my NEWTS I suppose, but after that, will you go back to working at the joke shop, or will we be able to teach Defense again? Though that could present problems too. I mean, yes we're young here, but the students didn't know us as students. Back at home, all the youngers know us, or at least most of them do. It would be much harder to get their respect, especially the Slytherins-"
Hermione was cut off as Fred tilted his head and covered her lips with his, effectively stopping her rambling.
"You're rambling," he laughed lightly against her lips, caressing them with his once more before pulling back again. "And we can deal with all that once we get back. Albus would be happy to give us job counseling I'm sure, and as for Snape, we'll know what to do when we see him I suppose."
"You're right, I know, it's just…" she sighed with no small amount of frustration.
"I get ya," he whispered as he smoothed her hair. "It's hard not knowing. But you're tough, and you're a Gryffindor. You'll get through this."
"We'll get through this," she stressed, and with another sigh, this time of acceptance, snuggled against him and allowed sleep to overtake her.
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A/N: Hey hey! Sorry this took a little while, but I've been sick, so forgive me? Hope you liked it, and if you did and feel so inclined, leave a review! Next chapter up in a week or two. I'll be moving back to college on Saturday, and packing all this week, so we'll see how much time I have to write.