Chapter Title: Chapter 12: A Winter Getaway
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: HBP Spoiler
Summary: Emily's essay earns her a visit from the Head of the Department of Aurors. The school discusses the results of the second Quidditch game of the year, and the prospects for the rest of the season. Before anyone knows it, winter is upon them and Christmas is just around the corner.
"My goodness Harry. Are you sure of this?"
"As sure as I can be. Everything fits. Given what we know, this is the most logical conclusion. Please Hermione, you really need to make this happen for me. She's been through enough already."
"I'll see what I can do. It's not easy keeping these things quiet, but it is necessary from time to time. After all, there's really nothing to be gained by announcing all of this publicly. I suppose there's no harm in just putting it away quietly. I do think the Minister should know, of course, and the Order members who knew them."
"Agreed. Just don't tell Fudge. He'll want to shout it from the mountain-tops if he hears about who stole that book and why."
Hermione sat comfortably in the high-backed chair behind Harry's desk. Harry, meanwhile, wandered the room, fiddling anxiously with the sleeve of his robes. "Honestly Harry, I don't understand why you're so nervous. It's just a simple class assignment," Hermione said easily.
"You wouldn't be here if it were 'simple' Hermione. This essay has been through a lot, considering. Anything that gets the Head of the Department of Aurors to come out isn't 'simple.'"
"Frankly, Harry, it isn't enough to get me out here. I came because you asked me to." Harry shrugged and continued his pacing.
"That's because I know you can handle it delicately," Harry said smoothly, "without stepping on anyone's toes. You're much better at that than I was."
"Maybe," she said skeptically, flipping through several sheets of parchment sitting in front of her, in an effort to avoid Harry's penetrating green eyes. "Why Time-Turners?" she said almost to herself.
"I honestly don't know how she got onto it. She gave me a right good scare when she brought it up."
"I can imagine," Hermione scanned the courtyard visible through Harry's office window. "She knows a surprising amount for someone who's never actually seen a Time-Turner, let alone used one."
"You're probably the only person who knows more, outside the Department of Mysteries." Hermione glared at Harry and looked around the room nervously. "Don't worry, I've checked everything," Harry assured her. "The room is fully secure. Besides, you had authorization, remember?"
"Not for everything Harry, not for letting you use it, and certainly not for aiding in the escape of two condemned prisoners."
"Details, details." Harry waved a hand casually in Hermione's direction as he turned and gazed out at the distant forest. The trees swayed lightly in the breeze as the evening sun gilded their tips in shimmering gold. Narrow plumes of smoke rose from where he knew Hagrid's cabin sat, drifting lazily away with the autumn wind.
"You know Harry, I've been thinking about that time in our third year, when we used my Time-Turner. What was that, ten years ago?"
"Yeah," Harry said softly without turning around. He had just been remembering the same thing. "I've thought about that night a lot these last few days."
"If I had read Emily's paper back then, I don't know if I would have been able to go through with it," Hermione said, swallowing hard at the thought. "We knew the complications involved, but still, it's all so unpredictable. We really were very lucky nothing went wrong. And you, jumping out like that with your Patronus. You're lucky you didn't create a temporal paradox."
"And why is that?" Harry glared at Hermione, his face hard and determined.
"Calm down Harry. I was just saying that it could have been a lot worse. Using the Time-Turner to modify your own time-line is really risky."
"I didn't."
"Yes you did. You saw the dementors closing in on our other selves and you knew we wouldn't be able to fend them off, so you conjured the Patronus yourself."
"But I didn't modify what happened. Don't you see?" Harry reasoned, turning to face his friend. "The only risk would have been to do something other than what we already knew was going to happen. I was simply fulfilling the future portion of the timeline, as I had seen it from my former self."
"I don't understand."
"Listen." Harry walked over to the desk and leaned heavily on it. "The first time through…" he drew an imaginary line on the desk with his finger, "…someone sent a Patronus across the lake to save us from the Dementors. Then, when we went back in time…" he lifted his finger and moved it back to the beginning of his line. "…I was the one standing on the other side of the lake. I wasn't taking a risk because I was doing exactly what I had already seen happen. Maybe if I had tried to do something else something might have gone wrong, but I didn't."
"You were just completing the cycle," Hermione finished for him."
"Exactly. It's complicated I know. I've thought about that problem a lot. Any way you look at it, I don't think I ever really want to try something like that again. The chances for a paradox are just too great."
"You know, Emily's really got this figured out pretty well," Hermione said, flipping through the essay in front of her. "I especially liked her example of a hypothetical paradox loop."
"Which one is that?"
"Haven't you read it?
"Yes, but I've been a bit distracted with all the… Never mind, just tell me."
Hermione flipped a couple of pages. Harry returned to the window as she began to read. " 'A temporal paradox loop is the most feared side effect of Time-Turner use—' "
"Skip ahead, I remember that part."
"Oh, uh… Let's see… Yes, 'One such hypothetical situation could occur if you were to go back in time to any point previous, and accidentally or intentionally kill your former self. Doing so would modify the timeline resulting in a situation where your current self never existed. This being the case, you would no longer be able to kill yourself because you are already dead, and so your former self survives, only to remain alive long enough to return in time and kill you all over again. Thus creating…' "
" '…A never-ending cycle of two alternating, contradicting realities.' "
"You do remember," Hermione said brightly.
"Yeah, I guess I do," Harry said with satisfaction. A sudden knock on the door made him jump and turn, readying his wand in the same motion.
"Harry… It's probably Emily." Hermione stared over at him quizzically. "Should I get the door?"
"No. I can manage," Harry shot back, stowing his wand with as much subtlety as he could muster as he marched over to the door.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were losing your edge," Hermione said, shaking her head after a thoroughly embarrassed Harry.
"I'll be fine," he stuttered. When he reached the door, Harry took a moment to set a calm demeanor on his face, and then wrenched it open firmly. "Miss Vance. Thank you for coming. Please come in." Harry thought his voice sounded rigid and overly formal. He took a deep breath as Emily passed in front of him. "I'd like to introduce you to Mrs. Hermione Weasley from the Department of Aurors."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Emily said politely, shaking Hermione's hand before turning back to Harry. "How are you feeling professor?"
"I'm fine." Harry said abruptly, losing his façade of tranquility and closing the door more firmly than he had intended to.
"Are you sure? Ever since that jinx in class you've been a bit—"
"It's nothing. I'm fine!" Harry said, glaring at Emily who suddenly busied herself with her schoolbag as she sat down in her usual seat in front of the desk.
"What jinx?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Oh uh…" Emily said cautiously, eyeing Harry.
"Oh go on then," Harry said with an air of defeat. "The jokes up anyway. You and your big mouth."
"Harry! How could you say such a thing?" Hermione scolded. Emily, however, laughed. "What is he talking about?" she asked Emily.
Emily cleared her throat and smiled, suppressing a giggle. "Well, today in class, Frank Ellington surprised the Professor when we were practicing the Jelly-Legs jinx."
"He didn't surprise me," Harry corrected. The color of his face was growing more intense. "I just underestimated him."
"You see, Frank had been struggling with it for a while so, this time, the Professor partnered up with him, to give him a little extra help. He's always really good about giving special attention when someone needs it."
"Humph," Harry snorted.
"Harry, hush," Hermione spat without looking at him. Harry folded his arms and returned to his position by the window.
"What he didn't know was that I showed Frank a little secret, and he's really gotten the hang of it. The next thing we knew, Frank had jinxed him."
"For the last time I wasn't ready," Harry retorted as both girls laughed
"Not ready for a fourth-year's Jelly-Legs jinx Harry?" Hermione chided between fits of giggles. "Bring back bad memories?" Harry ignored her and continued staring through the window.
"What memories?" Emily asked.
"Oh, I got him with the same jinx back in our fourth year. He's never really forgiven me for it."
"It wasn't the jinx that did it," Harry said more calmly. "It was the fact that it took you ten minutes to look up the bloody counter-curse. Emily managed it much faster than that, and she wasn't even the one who did the curse." Harry turned and leaned his back against the windowsill. He caught Emily's eye and winked. Hermione simply rolled her eyes.
"You know, you have the hardest time remembering certain things," Hermione groused, "and then something silly happens like that and you never let it die."
"I'm just saying, 'brightest witch in our year,' but it takes you ten minutes to look up a simple counter-curse. Ulterior motives perhaps?" Harry smiled playfully.
"That's right Harry, I just live to see you suffer. But, 'great tragedies of the world' aside, why don't we get down to business?"
"Best idea you've had all day." Harry walked over and took the seat next to Emily, sitting up very tall and staring at Hermione. "Don't worry Emily, whatever happens, I'll take care of it. I'm sure it's just some big misunderstanding." Harry glared back at Hermione with mock outrage, as though she were the school headmistress, calling them in for a disciplinary meeting.
"Harry would you stop!" Hermione failed to stifle her laughter. "You're going to make poor Emily nervous." Hermione turned away from Harry who had dropped his jaw in false indignation. "Don't pay any attention to him. He knows exactly why you're here and it's nothing bad."
"Okay?" Emily said hesitantly, trying hard not to grin at Harry's overly obvious gestures of mock skepticism.
"Professor Potter asked me to come up and review your latest essay for his class. First of all, you should know that he has explained to me the situation with you and the book and your parents." Hermione paused for a moment until Emily nodded her understanding, looking a little worried. "Rest assured that I will hold this information in the strictest confidence. I understand that you would like to keep this private; it's a perfectly reasonable request. When I return to the ministry I will close all loose ends of the investigation and seal the case-file. I know the circumstances of your parents' deaths must be very hard for you, but I hope that you are proud of them. They sacrificed more than anyone can ever expect in the hopes of helping to defeat Voldemort. Their contribution may very well have kept valuable information out of the hands of those who would do harm. Remember that always."
Emily nodded resolutely and blinked several times, but no tears came. Harry silently admired her courage and smiled warmly as she gazed over at him. Her eyes were deep blue pools of sorrow and pride, swirling together with the tragic truth she had finally come to know after spending half of her life wondering.
"I must compliment you on your work for this assignment," Hermione continued. "This is N.E.W.T. level writing Miss Vance. Your research is not only especially thorough it is also remarkably conclusive. You've done an excellent job of bringing your points together and forming your own conclusions, rather than simply regurgitating what you've read. I was telling your professor earlier that I especially liked the example you gave for a paradox loop. I've never really seen a finer illustration of that point. Very nicely done."
"Thank you," Emily beamed and smiled openly at Harry, who nodded his agreement.
"Normally, with something of this quality, I would strongly encourage you to submit it for publication. This would make a very interesting newspaper or magazine column, especially coming from someone so young." Hermione smiled admiringly as Emily's eyes lit up at the prospect of being published. "In this case however, I cannot allow that. I'm very sorry, but as you now know, that book you found is listed as top-secret. As a result, there are large portions of your essay that I am declaring to be classified information. I'm afraid I'll have to take the paper with me and it will be catalogued with the rest of the Ministry's secure documents. Your name will remain anonymous until you come of age, at which time your authorship of the document will be reinstated. Should it ever be declassified, you will regain full author's rights."
"Wow," Emily said breathlessly. "You're going to put my assignment in the Ministry's archives?"
"Yes. It really is quite an honor. Not many people your age get such a distinction. It's too bad you won't be able to tell anybody about it."
"Wow," Emily whispered again. "But Professor, you wanted us to present our assignments to the class next week. How can I…"
"We've worked that out, Miss Vance," said Harry, still beaming proudly. "You have done more than double effort on this assignment already. If you would like, you can be excused from the presentation portion of your grade."
"Or, there is another option," Hermione interjected, causing Harry to roll his eyes. "I can allow you some time to write a revised paper, excluding key points which I will list for you. If I can determine that no classified information exists you will be allowed to present and, if you wish, publish the revised paper."
"That sounds great! I can have it for you by tomorrow."
"I had a feeling you would say that." Hermione smiled broadly at the eager look on Emily's face as she handed her homework over the desk. Harry shook his head but smiled too, admiring both of them for their insistence on studying harder than is necessary.
"Well ladies. I hate to break this up, but dinner will be over soon," Harry said, checking his watch.
"Oh, that's okay Professor. I'm not really hungry," Emily said, carefully storing her assignment in her bag, wary of making any wrinkles and creases now that she knew it was going to be archived in the Ministry's library.
"Yes you are," Harry said, peering over his glasses at her. "I may not be able to stop you from revising further, but I must insist that you get a good dinner before hitting the books."
"I suppose you're right," Emily sighed in defeat. "Thank you Mrs. Weasley. It's been great talking with you, and thank you for your help with… well, you know… about my parents."
"You are very welcome Miss Vance. I'll call again this time tomorrow to review your work."
"Thanks. Bye," Emily called as Harry closed the door behind her.
"You've done an excellent job Harry. She's a remarkable student."
"I can hardly take credit. She was like this when I got here," Harry said, stuffing his hands in his pockets and rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Still, I sense that she's opened up a bit, and recently." Hermione stood and followed Harry back over to the window, gazing out over his shoulder. "Professor McGonagall said she's been much more outgoing this year. She also told me she thinks it's because you've been counseling her," Hermione added with a smile of admiration.
"I wouldn't really call it counseling, except maybe last weekend," Harry said thoughtfully, studying the horizon. "We usually just talk about this and that. Ginny thinks she relates to me because I lost my parents too."
"That could very well be it. Most people can't even comprehend what that feels like, myself included." Hermione paused as they stood there at the window, looking out over the shadows of the grounds. They could just see the leaves of the forest rustling in the distant breeze as the moon took watch over the night sky, the sun retreating rapidly over the horizon. "Well, I should get going."
"Can you stay for dinner? I'm sure there will be plenty of food and Ginny would love to see you."
"Well, it's Ronald's night to cook…" Hermione said with pursed lips.
"Oh," Harry said darkly. "He probably wouldn't like it if you skipped out on him."
"Are you kidding?" Hermione laughed. "He'd love it. This will just be an excuse for him to eat junk. I'll just floo him and tell him our plans."
"Sure, let's use the fireplace upstairs. It's already lit."
"Well, it looks like it's going to be between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor for the cup this year." Harry took his seat at the staff table between Professors McGonagall and Longbottom. "Your team's put together quite an impressive side this year Neville. You might give us a run for our money come February."
"You'd better believe it," Neville said jovially. "Did you see that catch Jessica made? It could rival some of your better moves Harry."
"How could I miss it?" Harry said with a shudder. "She practically blew me out of the air going after it. One second the snitch comes inches from flying up my nose, the next I'm whirling around and all I see is this big mass of yellow coming right for me. I haven't had a close call like that since our second year, and that landed me in the hospital wing overnight."
"That wasn't so much a close call as a disaster," Professor McGonagall threw in. "You should have seen your face when Gilderoy tried to fix your arm. Still, I suppose he did get what was coming to him after all."
"Bloody good thing too," said Neville.
"No kidding," Harry said, nodding. "Who knows how many other people he'd have taken advantage of if Ron and I hadn't stopped him?"
The teachers continued talking animatedly about the morning's quidditch match for the rest of Saturday lunch. The students below them were in equally light-hearted spirits. There was a bit of mild tension between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff as they came to the realization that they were now the top contenders for this year's Quidditch Cup. Each having seen the other play, they knew it was still either house's game.
All the same, the game had affected it's usual magic, and the entire school was enjoying a well-earned day off. That afternoon, several students were witness to a frigid, but altogether happy-looking Hagrid bursting into the entrance hall and brushing snow merrily from his shoulders. Within minutes half of the school was outside, catching snowflakes in their open mouths, and praying that it would stick in time for a good Sunday snowball fight. All of a sudden Christmas seemed a lot closer.
And indeed it was. Soon the Great Hall was filled with shimmering trees, decorated in silver and blue Christmas baubles with matching garland streaming hither and yon. The grey sky had obliged them with a large helping of snow and the students now discovered an entirely new distraction with witch they could torment their teachers. Harry had tried to take everything in stride. He didn't want to ruin everybody's mood by grousing around simply because his students' attention spans were less than exemplary; something he worried wasn't as true with the other teachers. Peeves, with all of his disruptions and annoyances, was enjoying the festivities immensely as usual. He had even taken to helping the staff decorate one evening.
"Peeves! For the last time, do not hang mistletoe over the door to the Great Hall," Professor McGonagall bellowed as a traffic jam of blushing students blocked the entrance for the third time that day. "Come here." She directed the poltergeist around a corner and into a dark corridor as several curious students watched in hopes of seeing a good scolding; glad it wasn't them on the receiving end. "It works much better over here Peeves. This corner is a bit more private, don't you think?" Peeves cackled happily as he pinned a large bundle of mistletoe to the ceiling and zoomed off, singing his own unique version of Deck the Halls. "Now I trust you love birds will take note, and stop clumping up in the Entrance Hall," Professor McGonagall said sternly to the stunned group of students that had been eavesdropping behind her before marching past them and sharing a subtle grin and wink with Harry on her way up the stairs.
"Harry, are you sure you have to go? It's a virtual blizzard out there."
"Yes Ginny. I have to see the students onto the train. Normally they'd be fine on their own but, as you said, there is a blizzard on."
"Well, hurry back," Ginny said deeply, nuzzling his neck and tugging gently on his ear.
"Yes ma'am," Harry responded with enthusiasm, kissing her as he fastened his heavy winter cloak over a thick, woolen scarf.
Ginny couldn't help laughing when he returned, pink in the face and still covered in snow. "It's not funny, I'm freezing," Harry said, looking quite awkward as he carefully peeled away his wet cloak.
"Go into the sitting room," Ginny called from the kitchen. "I'll be back in a minute."
Harry was pleased to find a roaring fire in the grate and a fresh pair of thick socks sitting on his favorite chair. After hanging his cloak by the fire and warming his hands over the hearth, he sat to change out of his sopping shoes. He was just thinking about running into the bedroom for a warmer shirt when he spotted a fluffy, hand-knitted jumper sitting on the corner of the couch. It was different than the ones he was used to. This one had light blue woven together with the usual emerald green. On the front was a large H and, superimposed beneath it, an interlinking G as well.
"Don't tell me you've taken up the tradition of making Weasley jumpers," Harry said, slipping it over his head as Ginny entered the room with a pair of steaming mugs.
"No, I've never been very good with that sort of thing. Mum sent these up early when she heard how awful the weather's been." Harry hadn't noticed until now that Ginny was wearing a similar one, this time with the G in front of the H. "Here, drink this."
"Okay," Harry said obediently as she handed him a cup of steaming hot chocolate. "Wow, this is great," Harry said enthusiastically as he set the cup down and licked his lips ravenously, feeling instantly warm all over. He moved over and sat next to Ginny on the couch. "You spoil me you know. You always seem to know exactly what I need: the fire, the socks, the sweater, the hot chocolate. I should marry you."
"You already did. About a year ago actually," she said, consulting her watch and staring expectantly at him. Harry looked at her suspiciously. His eyes twitched back and forth as though he was thinking very quickly.
"Hang on, what's today's date?"
"Oh I knew it!" Ginny bellowed, sitting up and crossing her arms. "I knew you'd forget. I…"
"Hold on," Harry said, grinning and trying to take her hand. "I was just checking, you know, to make sure." Ginny rolled her eyes and made a very skeptical sounding noise with her tongue. "Come on Ginny. You know I've been busy. I've had a lot going what with grading homework and keeping up with everything. On top of all of that, I had to make time to go pick this up from Hogsmeade." He walked toward the fire and pulled a thin package out of the pocket of his cloak. "I was going to wait but…" Harry made a great show out of consulting his own watch, "…seeing as it's only a few hours away, I suppose you can open it now."
Ginny eyed the package doubtfully, glancing up at the steely look of determination and amusement in Harry's green eyes. Shaking her head she took the package with a great sigh. "Why do you do things like that?"
"To see your reaction," Harry responded casually as he sat back down. "I figure if people learn best from their own mistakes, I can skip over the hard part if I only pretend to screw up. Then I get to see what you'll do, and you won't actually be mad at me."
"What makes you think I'm not mad at you?" Ginny said with a raised eyebrow as she examined the box.
"Here, I'll show you." Without warning he leaned in and kissed her deeply. Her eyes instantly grew in surprise but slowly narrowed as they embraced. As they broke apart, Ginny sighed again, this time with a mixture of contentment and defeat. "Happy Anniversary my love," Harry whispered.
"Okay, you win."
"Good. Now, I think you have a present to open."
"Oh no. No instant gratification for you. You get to open yours first." Without waiting to hear his protest, Ginny ran down the hallway and returned with a very long, rectangular box.
"What on earth is this?" Harry asked as she laid it across both of their laps.
"You're supposed to open it."
"Really? What, no hints?" Harry said as he tugged at the ribbon that was wrapped around the center of the box.
"No flyboy. Now open it."
"Flyboy? You haven't called me that in ages," Harry said with a curious smile.
"Whatever, just open it already," Ginny said urgently.
Harry tipped the lid of the box onto the floor. "You got me a box of tissue paper?"
"Oh for heaven's sake!" Ginny groaned, shoving his hand inside. "There, feel that? Does that feel like tissue paper?"
"No it feels like…" Harry stopped smiling and screwed up his face in concentration. He thought he smelled something familiar. Slowly a long wooden handle emerged from the box. "…a broomstick?"
"Look closer."
"A Nimbus 2000? But…"
"Closer."
Harry examined the broom carefully. Slowly he realized that this was not a new broom at all. In fact, it was so old that it seemed chipped and marred in several places. He felt along the handle and pulled his head down close to examine the surface. Now he could see tiny fractures running about along its length. Slowly, a profound memory overtook him. He was sitting in the hospital wing. The mud-splattered Gryffindor team stood all around him. And in his lap were the shattered pieces of his old broomstick.
"Ginny… Is this?" She nodded, beaming at him. "But how did you…? Where did you…?"
"Dobby found it for me. I wondered where it might have ended up so he said he'd find out. Turns out it ended up in the Room of Requirement. The house-elves have a place they keep old, broken-down magical artifacts instead of throwing them away. He found it and brought me the pieces so I could glue them back together and refinish it. I'm afraid it will never fly again, but I thought you'd like to have it as a keepsake."
"I'll say!" Harry responded enthusiastically, picking up the broom and looking it over from end to end. "Ginny this is amazing. This must have taken you days… weeks."
"It was worth it. You should see your face. You look completely bowled over, just like you did when I first met you."
Ginny sipped lightly from her cup as Harry continued to marvel at the old broom for several minutes.
"Thank you," Harry said breathlessly, setting the broom carefully back in the box. "Really Ginny, I don't know what to say."
"Yes you do."
"I love you?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"That will do fine." Ginny leaned over and kissed him as he resumed his position on the couch. "Okay, my turn."
Ginny carefully pulled open the wrapping and peeked inside. Harry sat patiently, watching her with amusement. She pulled the paper apart to reveal the backside of a picture frame. She looked over at Harry curiously. Harry simply smiled and nodded toward the frame. As she turned it over her face contorted into so many shapes, Harry was sure it must have been very painful.
"Harry, is this what I think it is? Yes… It would have to be… There was no other time… And certainly not with all those people around… I didn't even know there was a picture. Who other than Colin would have…?"
"It was Colin. Apparently he missed one when he met you over the summer. He brought it by a few weeks ago."
"Well that little devil," Ginny said in indignation. "He had some nerve, taking a picture of our first kiss. Why isn't it moving?"
"I asked him to leave it as a still. The timing couldn't have been better and I wanted to save the memory just like that. Did you see the inscription?"
"Oh, no I didn't. What's this?" Ginny squinted and tilted the picture trying to get better light. "Oh Harry, you're so sweet. I would have waited forever for you." She leaned over and pressed him down into the cushion with a passionate reenactment of the scene in the picture (absent the shocked stares of the people surrounding them).
"Now…" Harry said breathlessly as they broke apart, "If you would have figured out how to do that sooner, you wouldn't have had to wait as long.
"If I had tried that any sooner, I'd have scared you away and never gotten my hands on you." Before Harry could reply she smothered him with another spine tingling kiss. It was only the sudden popping sound from the fireplace that brought them back to reality, gasping for breath.
"Hermione! What are you…? How are you?" Ginny stammered, straightening her jumper and fussing with her hair.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." Hermione looked mortified. "I didn't mean to… I should try again later. I'll just go."
"Don't worry about it Hermione," said Harry with a slight blush, running his fingers through his perpetually untidy hair. "What did you need?"
"No, no. It can wait. I should have realized, with it being your anniversary…"
"Spill it Hermione," Harry said, walking closer to the fire. "You're already here. Why don't you come on over. Ginny made the most fantastic hot chocolate. Have Ron come too."
"If you're sure."
"Of course. This way we can show off our presents," Harry said, beaming.
"All right, we'll be right in. That's what I wanted to talk about actually."
A few moments later Hermione and Ron had joined Harry and Ginny for a round of hot chocolate in the kitchen. Ron was busily examining the broom and complimenting Ginny on the handiwork while Hermione examined every inch of the picture. Beaming, she gave Harry an approving nod.
"Hey, how did you get your jumpers already? Christmas isn't 'till next week." Ron said incredulously.
"Have you looked outside?" Harry pointed to the kitchen window.
"Oh. Right. That makes sense," Ron said, nodding sympathetically.
"So what was it you needed to talk about?" Ginny finally brought the conversation around.
"Oh yes," Hermione said eagerly. "Ron and I haven't been able to properly thank you for the house. We decided it would be great if you would like to come down and stay for the week and get away for your anniversary. We'll take care of everything, the cooking, the cleaning, and you can have the house to yourselves; we'll be staying over at the Burrow. I know it's been pretty hard for you to get time alone without interruptions, and you should get as much of that while you still can." Hermione looked sympathetically over at Ginny.
"That's a really wonderful offer, but I don't think I can get away for that long," Harry said, looking back and forth between Hermione and Ron. "There are a few students staying for the Holidays and—"
"Don't worry about that Harry. I've already talked it over with Minerva. She says there aren't very many and they can manage without you for a week. Come down and enjoy the house. It's really quite peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of the castle, even with most of the students gone. You never know what might happen here. There, we can make sure you're left alone."
"What do you say?" Harry looked over at Ginny.
"It sounds great to me," Ginny responded enthusiastically.
"Good," said Ron. "Everything's ready. We'll just go ahead and get dinner started and you can floo over whenever you're ready."
"Are you sure it's no trouble?" Harry asked sheepishly.
"None at all. It's really the least we can do." With that, Hermione ushered Ron from the kitchen and headed for the fire. "Thank you so much for the chocolate. You'll have to give me the recipe sometime."
"Actually, I can't. It won't work if I give it to you. It has to be passed down through the family. It should work if Ron gets it from mum."
"Oh, that's fine then. We can make it for you while you're staying. Hurry along now and get packed. We'll have everything ready when you get there."
After a glorious candlelit dinner for two, Ron and Hermione bade them good night and retreated quietly from the house.
"They really are sweet," Ginny sighed, leaning against Harry as they waved through the window.
"Yeah," Harry said lazily "Almost as sweet as you."
"Now," said Ginny, taking Harry's hand. "Where were we?"