Hey all, it's been quite the year hasn't it? Just a few notes before we get to the story goodness.
I've recently started a new job and with it I'm getting a regular schedule that allows me to plan out my off-clock time more readily. I'm picking up writing again, including something new. Every day I set aside 30 minutes for a challenge that is available on my tumblr. Along with that, my non-fandom stories are posted there with a few of the fanfiction as well. So you can find me on there under silentmagi. Most everything that is posted there is cross-posted to my Ao3 account as well, which is SilentMagi. So if you're looking for more works by me, check those two out. And finally...
Thank you all for sticking with me for another year. It means a lot to see you guys favoriting and commenting on stories. I hope I'll see some love on those other sites, but understand they're not for everyone. To all of you, from my deepest heart. Happy Holidays one and all.
Harry let out a yawn as he stretched out a stich in his side before looking around the room with bleary eyes. As he searched for his glasses, he marveled at how nice it was to have the dorm to his lonesome, save for Ron. The others had gone home for the holidays, and so it was quiet in the room that was usually shared with four others. Ron must have gone down for some of the breakfast feast he mused as he found his friend's bed a mess of sheets and comforters but otherwise empty.
Standing up, he made his bed a little bit, but much like his hair; it would never be neat and tidy under his ministrations. Turning away from his bed, he yawned again and began walking towards the bathroom for his morning ritual. While taking care of that, a smile spread on his face as he remembered the night prior. After spending the day with Ron and Luna playing games outside, he and Hermione shared a comfortable spot on the couch with mugs of hot chocolate.
It was something of a Christmas tradition for them at this point to enjoy the night of Christmas Eve in each other's company. The twins respected the sanctity of the night, and held a truce so they were able to enjoy it without fear. That didn't mean the twins didn't have their ways of making things interesting.
While the two of them had been on watch, they managed to miss one tiny, little detail hanging over the entrance to the stairwells. The magic of the mistletoe had bound the two tired students in place with a gentle force, which confused them until Harry managed to spot it and pointed it out to Hermione. After an explanation of just what it was, the blushing began.
The two of them had shared a small kiss so the magic would release them, and they had thought it would be between them. They agreed that it wouldn't change anything between them, and so they had gone to their beds without another thought to the matter.
After completing his morning routine, he gave his hair an attempt at being tamed for the holiday, but like always it returned to its messy explosion. A couple minutes of trying to smooth it down, and he gave up as futile again. The walk down the stairs to the Common Room was accompanied only by the sounds of his footsteps echoing off the stone walls and stone stairs.
Getting to the Common Room, he found he wasn't the only late riser. Peeking around the corner of the exit, Hermione seemed to be making sure there wasn't any more mistletoe waiting for them today. "Is it safe?" he asked quietly, smirking as she jumped at his voice.
"Harry! You prat," she scolded playfully as she reached out an brushed her hair back over her hair. "But yes, there is nothing over the exit. We should be able to make it to the Great Hall for some of the feast."
Harry smiled and nodded his head in agreement as he walked out from the stairwell. With Hermione joining him, he let out another yawn as they made their way to the Great Hall. The two of them shared a companionable silence through the suspiciously empty halls, something that they should have taken as an indication that there was something amiss in the castle. But in their slightly sleep addled state, they missed the glowing neon signs of warning that should have been obvious to anyone.
It wasn't until they made it to the Great Hall that they realized something was going on. After all, when the remaining student body was lined up on choral risers; with Luna standing in front smiling innocently, while Professor Flitwick was behind her with his wand in hand, it was a bit hard to miss. "Our guests of honor have arrived!" Luna chirped while the other professors let out quiet laughs of bemusement at what was to come. "We have a special song just for you."
Before they could ask what she meant by that, two things happened at the same moment. One the doors behind them slammed shut and locked itself, while music swelled that Hermione recognized instantly and Harry a moment later. The lights faded from the surrounding room as curtains were drawn shut by magic, and a singular spotlight illuminated Luna. A second dimmer one shone down on the pair of them as they were pinned in surprise.
Then Luna took a deep breath and began singing.
I saw Harry kissing Hermione
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
They didn't see me creep
Through the door to have a peek.
They thought I was roosted,
Up in my tower fast asleep
Harry wondered if he looked as if his blood had suddenly drained out of his body to anyone else, meanwhile Hermione was blushing deep enough that he was worried she was about to ignite. While the chorus of students picked up the first verse, Luna gained a mischievous twinkle to her eyes as she let the others echo her song before continuing with her next segment.
Then I saw Harry snuggle Hermione,
On the couch so fluffy soft.
Oh, what a laugh it would have been,
If Ginny had only seen,
Harry kissing Hermione last night!
Luna's flourish on the final lines drew their attention to a familiar pair of redheads physically sitting on a pair of smaller ones having breakfast tea. The twins were holding their younger siblings for reasons that they couldn't quite understand until they realized that Ginny still had a crush on Harry, and Ron had shown interest in Hermione as well.
The pair of them looked at each other, then at the chorus, before shrugging and letting out a laugh. They were caught, and apparently it was public now. They could deny everything, but no one was going to believe them for a while now. They'll just work on getting the truth out later.
They weren't dating, but as the applause filled the air, the figured that giving Harry some peace from his fans would be fine for a few days. After all, it wasn't like there were many chances to do anything date related in Hogwarts, so their usual activities wouldn't help their attempts at proving they weren't a couple.
But as Harry took her by the hand to go sit down while the chorus went on to another song, he couldn't help but wonder if it was such a bad thing to date his best friend. He'd make it up to Ron someday.
A more immediate concern was that Ginny looked to be about ready to start crying, a sight that hurt Harry inside as he saw her as the sister he'd never had the chance to have. He was also somewhat certain that it was a crime to make girls cry because of him. He was about to move to talk with her, when she managed to leverage Fred, or was it George, off of her and storm directly towards the pair of them, her eyes locked squarely on him. Standing before him, he couldn't help but see her eyes go from focused and teary, to soft and caring before her arms encircled him gently. "I may not have gotten my fairy tale, but I know you've been gifted this Christmas."
And like that, she was past him, and out of the Great Hall. Looking to Hermione, he attempted to find the words to explain why he had to go after her, when a flash of blonde told him. That he didn't, it was in good hands.
The stairs up to the Gryffindor Tower seemed to have a mind of its own today, as Ginny found herself stranded in the middle of one, holding onto the railing as it shifted between two landings. Her mind was focused on the alternate route she would have to take to get back to the tower, when a faint tune reached her ears.
You know Harry and Charlie and Godric and Arthur
Albus and Sirius and Lily and Katie
But do you recall
The cutest lion of all?
Ginny's head whipped around in confusion, spotting Luna sitting on a railing two floors above her, wearing a festive red and black muggle dress suit and a top hat. Standing up on the railing, the blonde took a moment to bow without missing a beat of the song.
Ginny the red-haired lion
Had a very fiery mane.
And if you ever saw it,
You could call it a flame.
Ginny gasped as Luna leaped off her precarious perch, only to land on the stairs with a graceful flourish. The white of her undershirt stood out brilliantly against the black trim of the opening to the suitcoat, which itself was a stark contrast to the blindingly bright red of the coat and pants. Her eyes were locked on Ginny as she continued the next lines.
All the other lions would ignore and shun her.
They never let poor Ginny
Join in on any magic games.
Ginny let out a huff as she turned to storm away from the mesmerizing blue eyes that seemed to haunt her mind as she was walking away. She made it to the other landing before she found herself held by an invisible force of some sort. Her eyes searched the surroundings desperately to find out what was pinning her in place while Luna stalked closer still singing.
Then one sunny Christmas Day
Luna would come to say
"Ginny, with your hair so bright
Won't you be my love and light?"
The lyric sunk in like a load of bricks as she whirled on heel again, her eyes wide in surprise as her childhood friend sang out what almost sounded like a confession. The haunting, dreamy eyes were soft and gentle as she continued to approach, a simple smile spread over her face as she doffed her hat and bowed deeply. The hat was spun end for end before being flung upwards, drawing Ginny's attention to the plant life that was pinned there with a simple raven claw shaped pin.
Then how the houses loved her
As they shouted out with glee!
"Luna the blode-haired raven
Has captured her girl Ginny!"
Ginny felt her cheeks flushing a deep crimson to best her hair as she watched Luna step under the mistletoe with her, the previous words seemingly echoing through the halls. The blonde lowered her head slightly, showing a hint of uncertainty for the first time in the song. "Did you know that the magic of the mistletoe does not work unless there is the honest feelings between the two under it?"
"Of course, everyone knows that, but it has to be both ways…" Ginny answered quietly, her heart thundering in her chest as she realized where Luna was going with this.
"I… I know Ginny… and the Wrackspurts have tried to drive me away from trying this, but the Nargles were driving me mad thinking about you… I could no- please do not hate me for this Ginny," Luna tried to explain, her voice sounding lucid and coherent for the first time in years, since the passing of her mother in fact. "But please, allow me to confess my feelings."
The redhead gulped nervously before forcing her head to dip in the slightest of nods. "I just had my heart broken Luna, so-"
"That's perfectly alright Ginny, I just want to tell you. You don't have to respond," Luna cut her off, suddenly looming before her by a couple inches, her white gloved hand cupping Ginny's chin as gentle as a brush of rose petals, the hat landing on the youngest Weasley. "I have loved you for years, and had hoped to be a better friend here at Hogwarts. I know we cannot go back to what once was, but someday I hope to make something better."
Luna leaned in slowly, causing Ginny to close her eyes and force herself not to run or react. It was just a kiss to break the spell, right? She could kiss Luna for that, and then they could part ways so she could think about this.
However, the pressing of lips never happened, or rather, it was not her lips that were kissed. As two gentle petals brushed against her cheeks like the brush of wind, she could feel the magic release around them. The hand left her chin, and when her eyes opened, she was alone on the stairs, save for a red top hat with a silver raven's claw tucked in carefully to the black band along the meeting of the brim and the crown.