Chapter 10: Christmas Day News
Christmas break arrived with the upcoming wedding of Sirius Black and Charlotte, his new fiancée. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Callie, and Marie took the Hogwarts Express home to the Burrow, where Mrs. Weasley had offered to host the wedding. Neville was sitting in the compartment in the corner while Harry and Hermione chatted over a pile of Chocolate Frogs.
"Are you excited to have Charlotte be a part of your family?" Hermione asked, sitting across from Harry in their compartment on the train.
"To be honest, I didn't get the chance to get to know her while Sirius was recovering in the hospital wing. With Madam Pomfrey working so well to heal him, he wasn't there long. But if he likes her, I am sure she's a great woman." Harry grinned. His face fell as he slouched in his chair. "Sirius asked me in his letter yesterday if I was bringing a date to the wedding."
"Do you have one?" Hermione asked, turning faintly pink as she tried to look casual in the question.
Harry shrugged. "It didn't occur to me to ask anyone."
"I-I would be willing to go with you." Hermione asked, so quietly that it seemed she was trying to keep him from hearing her.
Harry sat up at once as he heard her response, but was saved the necessity of a response by Ron, Ginny, Callie, and Marie. "You would not believe how awful Malfoy is being." Ron grumbled, plopping down in the seat beside Harry. "The slimy git thinks he can do whatever he wants."
"Ron, you let him rile you up, he's not worth it." Hermione pointed out, determinedly avoiding Harry's eye as she spoke.
"Easy for you to say," Ron said coolly, grabbing a Chocolate Frog.
"Excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom." Hermione got up quickly and hurried out of the compartment.
"Something wrong with Hermione?" Ginny asked, looking over at Harry.
"I think Hermione is just going through things." Harry answered, unsure what to say to describe the confusing conversation he had had with her.
"I'm sure she'll tell us when the time comes." Callie said at once. "She doesn't keep much to herself for long, does she?"
Harry chuckled. "No, no she doesn't."
The Burrow was stretched to the breaking point with the addition of the Potters, the Longbottoms, Hermione, and Callie. Sirius was to marry Charlotte on Christmas Day, to be followed by tea afterward. Harry now slept in the living room with the other students in sleeping bags, trying to avoid being alone with Hermione. Unfortunately for him, the stretched Burrow made avoiding people difficult to do.
"Sorry," Hermione apologized, as she bumped into Harry again. She turned pink and hurried out of the room as fast as she could, passing Sirius as he approached Harry.
"What's up with her?" Sirius asked, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at Hermione's direction.
"Sirius, can I ask you something about girls?" Harry asked, purposefully not answering the question.
Sirius's eyes lit up at the question. "You do know it took me this long to find a girl willing to marry me, right? Wouldn't your dad, who married his school sweetheart be a better option for girl advice?"
"It might get back to Mum if I tell Dad." Harry rolled his eyes. "Please can we talk?"
"Of course, let's go out into the garden." Sirius led him out the garden where Neville was seated on a bench, reading a book on Herbology. "So, what do you want to ask?" He asked Harry, turning a fond gaze to his godson.
"I was talking to Hermione on the Hogwarts Express and brought up the letter you sent about whether I would have a date to the wedding. And I could have sworn she offered to go with me, but I couldn't be sure."
"What did she say?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That she would be willing to go with me." Harry turned pink.
"Sounds like she likes you. Do you like her that way?" Sirius pressed, knowing Harry had to get it off his chest.
"I-I never thought of it that way. She's great, of course. She's always been a good friend. But what if I screw it up? What if we can't be friends?" Harry asked, looking slightly panicky.
Sirius suppressed a chuckle. "First off, you're getting way ahead of yourself there. Take her to the wedding as a date. Then take it from there. Don't put your hippogriff before the chariot." Sirius reminded him, referring to the old Greek wizarding legend Harry had heard before.
"Thanks, Sirius." Harry smiled, giving his godfather a hug. He headed back to the house and Neville followed him. "Neville, what book are you reading?"
"Common Magical Plants used in Potions. Hermione gave it to me as an early Christmas present in the hopes that it would help me in Potions." Neville gestured with the book. "I happen to overhea your conversation with Sirius. So you like Harry?"
"If you overheard my conversation you would know-" Harry said hotly, before realizing Neville was teasing. "Yeah, I am thinking of asking her to the wedding."
"I would do it, if I were you. She's a great girl and you can't go stag to your godfather's wedding. Think of the indignity if you don't. You're a Quidditch player that has helped Gryffindor to many great victories. And it's clear she wants to go too. I overheard that conversation too." Neville turned pink.
"Thanks, Neville." Harry sighed. "Do you know where she is?" Harry asked, starting to feel nervous.
"I think she's up in Ginny's room. Good luck." Neville went on inside.
Harry went up to Ginny's room and knocked. Ginny opened the door, looking unsurprised to see him. "You're here for Hermione?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, come in."
Harry entered the room and found Hermione sitting on the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest. "Hermione, can we chat?" He asked, pausing at the foot of the bed.
"Yeah, of course. Do you mind, Ginny?" Hermione asked, looking over at the redhead.
"Sure, I wanted to go see Charlotte to see if she needed help with anything." Ginny headed out of the room.
Harry sat down on the bed and stared down at his hands, unsure how to start. "You heard what I said on the train, didn't you." Hermione said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes I did. That's why I'm here. I wanted to ask you to go to the wedding with me." Harry said to his hands, afraid to look up at Hermione.
There was a protracted pause, followed by a small, "Really?" Hermione's voice sounded hopeful rather than revolted.
Harry finally looked up at her. Hermione's brown eyes gleamed as she stared back at him. "Yes, I want to go with you to the wedding." Harry repeated, nodding.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione launched herself at him, hugging him. He braced himself on his arms, startled. "I thought when I asked that you would reject me and it would ruin our friendship."
"I was a little worried about that too." Harry admitted. "But there's no reward without risk, is there?"
"No, definitely not." Hermione giggled, pulling back a little and swiping at her eyes with a hand. "I'm glad you asked. I now have an excuse to dress especially nice for the wedding."
"I'm glad you said yes. I would have been walking horrified out of this room." Harry chuckled. "I better go before Ginny thinks we're doing something in her room."
Hermione gave him a little smile. "Don't want her to have the completely wrong impression." She whispered, leaning in to give him his first kiss ever.
Christmas Day arrived cold and bright, the snow falling softly on the Burrow's garden. Harry and his fellow living roommates woke up to a bustling house. As Harry sat up and put on his glasses, he saw Sirius rushing through the living room, his dress robe of medium blue velvet making him look uncharacteristically dapper as he checked himself in the mirror. "Harry, your mum is going nuts this morning. Charlotte doesn't want me to see her dress robes before the ceremony, but she needs someone to go get something for her. Would you help her?" He asked, looking at Harry in the mirror.
"Of course, where are they?" Harry asked, scrambling to his feet.
"In Molly's room. Hurry, now!" Sirius headed for the kitchen.
Harry ran upstairs and knocked on the door of the room Mrs. Weasley shared with Mr. Weasley. The door opened and Molly's frantic face appeared at the crack. "Oh Harry dear. Come on in."
Harry stepped in as Mrs. Weasley opened the door wider and saw Charlotte dressed in silk dress robes of ivory that made her soft skin glow. "Charlie, you look amazing." Harry smiled.
Charlotte turned faintly pink and beamed at him. "Thank you."
"Harry, could you get my bag from my room? I didn't want Sirius to do it otherwise he would see her." Lily explained from behind Charlotte, poking her head out from behind Charlotte. I thought your Dad wouldn't be able to keep from mentioning it to Sirius, you know how close they are. I have some hair clips in there that I thought would go great with Charlie's hair and would be something borrowed."
"Right away." Harry hurried back down the stairs. He found Lily's sparkly bag on the her bureau and returned, handing the bag to Lily. "D'you need anything else?"
"Yes, I packed your dress robes before I left to come here, they're in the bureau. Wash your hair and look nice. You don't want to look rumpled for your date, you know."
"Mum! Did Sirius tell you?" Harry groaned.
"Of course he did. It's your first date, you know. Now go on and get ready." Lily shooed him away with a pin before putting it in Charlotte's hair.
Harry groaned again and left the room, closing the door behind him. Everybody knew he asked Hermione out, it seemed.
Sirius and Charlotte said their vows in the back garden of the Burrow. Harry sat beside Hermione, who was wearing a set of lilac dress robes and heels. He noticed she constantly had to dab at her eyes, as did many of the women in the crowd. As Sirius kissed Charlotte at the end of their vows, birds twittered from overhead, balloons bursting above them.
"Welcome to the family." Harry smiled, giving Charlotte a hug.
"Thank you, Harry." Charlotte beamed before turning to hug James.
"Don't break his heart, Charlie. An old dog never learns new tricks." James teased, giving his best friend a light punch.
"I'm not that old, Prongs." Sirius grumbled, but unable to stop grinning. "I assure you, James. I'm not going to let her go now that I have her." He wrapped a protective arm around Charlotte's waist.
"James, Sirius." A squeaky voice panted, hurrying through the crowd surrounding them. It was a moment before Harry realized that it was Peter. "I need to talk to you."
"Honey, I need to take this, do you mind?" Sirius asked Charlotte, who nodded. James and Sirius followed Peter back to the house.
Harry caught sight of Hermione, Ron, and Neville, who followed the trio into the house. They paused in the kitchen, listening at the door to the sound of voices.
"What's the hurry, Wormtail?" James's voice could be heard. "You're interrupting Padfoot's wedding, you know."
"…I got an owl and had to come here right away." Peter said at once. There was a sound of rustling parchment which indicated Peter had handed something to James.
"Can this be true?" James said at once, sounding horrified. "How is he spotted but not caught? He may have been good at Potions, but criminal mastermind? Hardly. He must know they're not at Hogwarts over Christmas."
"Maybe he's lost track of time while he's been on the run." Sirius reasoned.
"Possible. Here's what we do. Not one word about this to anyone. The threat Snape poses to our charges does not leave this room. Understand?" James said at once.
"Understood. Should Lupin be notified?" Sirius inquired.
"Good idea, Padfoot!" Peter said squeakily. "With his condition, he could add some protection to Hogwarts."
"Say it a little louder, Peter. I don't think Ottery St. Catchpole heard you." Sirius answered dryly.
"I'm sorry, Sirius! I just really liked your idea." Petere responded at once, sounding embarrassed.
"Your idea is a good one. We'll keep Lupin on the watch. We can't rely on him to be on constant watch because of his condition, but Sirius can cover it. I would take up a role at Hogwarts, but I'm afraid I might frighten more than you, Padfoot." There was a little amusement in James's voice at these words.
"Very true. We better return to the wedding before anyone notices we're gone." Footsteps could be heard and Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione scrambled up the steps to keep hidden. Sirius, James, and Peter left through the back garden to join the wedding.
"What on earth was that about?" Ron asked hastily, looking between the other three.
Harry shrugged. "This is still more proof that they're keeping things from us. Sirius said they were protecting more than one person at Hogwarts. They've been especially protective of us, you notice that?"
"You reckon we're the ones being protected?" Neville asked, looking horrified.
"It makes sense. Why else would they be watching us so closely?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
None of them could answer that question.