AN – I know it's a short chapter, but here you all go. Enjoy and leave a review to tell me what you think of the story so far.
Harry woke up the next morning feeling a little better. He couldn't help was Christmas. This hadn't meant much to him before Hogwarts, but the last couple years had been some of the best. He actually got presents now and had friends to enjoy the holiday with.
His troubles were forgotten for the moment in the excitement. Ron was still asleep but not for long. Harry hurled his pillow across the room, striking Ron in the face. Only a moment of irritation lasted as Ron woke and realized it was Christmas.
"What, couldn't wait till I was up?" Ron asked, sitting up with a grin plastered across his face.
"If you had your way, you'd sleep till noon," Harry jabbed back. They hesitated only a moment more before the excitement overwhelmed them and they jumped out of bed, running down the stairs. They were surprised to find everyone else was already up.
The tree, which was next to the fireplace, had several presents under it. Hermione sat on a chair next to the tree with her feet tucked under herself. Mike was sitting directly across from her in another chair, while the rest of the operators were piled on a couch.
Harry and Ron immediately slowed on seeing the crowd, who were decidedly less enthusiastic. Not that there wasn't cheer, they were chatting quite happily amongst themselves. But there wasn't such a childish rush to get to the presents. The duo trotted the rest of the way downstairs coolly.
"Morning," Brad greeted them as they hit the bottom of the stairs. The conversations idled as they joined the group. "Get enough sleep?" He smiled, letting them know it was a tease. Mike stood and met Harry, clapping him on the shoulder.
"It takes work to look this good!" Mike exclaimed in his defense. The group laughed and got to their seats. It didn't take long before the presents were passed out. There wasn't anything under the tree for the operators, but they insisted that it was what they preferred.
"Would be weird getting gifts," Jason had said.
They took turns opening presents. Customary sweaters from Ron's mom were, of course, passed out and worn. There were treats and candies, and Hermione got a new book on magical creatures from her parents, though where they'd shopped for it was a mystery to her. Ron received a new Wizard's Chess set from his brother, Charlie.
Harry, it seemed, didn't get more than the candies, pastries and sweater. Harry didn't notice, and didn't care. He enjoyed spending the time with his friends and any present was a big deal to him. He, in fact, reveled in the sweaters from Mrs. Weasley more than anyone else did. It was a handmade gift and proof that she cared about him.
It was a surprise when a pair of owls came in, straining under the load of what was obviously a broomstick. It was wrapped, of course, in a thick brown paper. The shape was unmistakable, however. They dropped their delivery and took off immediately toward the Owlery to rest. Harry didn't contain himself, tearing into the paper. He'd missed his broom and the idea of having another was very appealing.
"Who sent it?" Hermione asked, an edge of concern to her voice. Harry hadn't thought to look. He turned it over, looking for a tag of some sort. It was barren. He simply shrugged his shoulders and finished opening it, revealing a Firebolt.
"A Firebolt!?" Ron exclaimed, obviously just as excited as he was. It was lost on the soldiers, who understood they were excited, but not why. Ron picked up on it and continued. "It's only one of the most advanced brooms ever made!"
"Great," Brad said. "So, who sent it?" There was an air of suspicion to his voice that simultaneously relieved Hermione and irritated Ron and Harry.
"I dunno," Harry admitted.
"It was probably McGonagall! She just couldn't come out and say it...favoritism and all," the redhead said.
"I don't know about that," Brad replied. Ron's theory didn't feel right. She was a smart, blunt teacher. Favoritism didn't seem likely from her, and subtly was not among her strong suits. He felt reasonably certain it wasn't from her. "Doesn't seem like her style."
"What if it's from Sirius?" Hermione asked.
"Come on, Hermione." Ron sounded exasperated. "That's a bit of a stretch."
"He just broke out of jail," Harry added. "Where is he getting the money for a Firebolt?
"And why would he buy Harry an expensive broom?" Ron seemed to have trouble believing it enough to even ask the question.
"Criminals can be resourceful. It's no secret that Harry is good on a broom, could be the perfect sabotage." Jason said.
"Agreed," Brad said, his mind made up. They needed to be careful. An unmarked gift was an automatic red flag. It could absolutely be harmless, but there wasn't any sense in taking the chance.
"You're not serious," Ron said. Harry was quiet, but his face mirrored Ron's attitude.
"I'm dead serious," Brad stood up and beckoned Eric and Jason to do the same. "We can't bet Harry's life on this being harmless. We turn it in to McGonagall and let her make sure it's safe."
"Right," Harry said, reluctantly handing the broom over to Eric. Brad and Eric left to seek McGonagall, Jason off to alert the Major about the suspicious package, and Ron fixed Hermione with a withering glare. He didn't say anything aloud, but his face communicated everything. You meddled and it's your fault this is happening.
Hermione looked away quickly, toward the tree and retucked her feet beneath her. Ron finally looked back toward Harry. "Sorry, mate."
"S'alright," he replied. He would be lying if he said he was excited to lose the broom so fast. He hated using the standard broomstick that the school issued. After the freedom and responsiveness his Nimbus provided it was hard to downgrade. To have such a good broom in his hands and have it taken away before he could use it…
"Well, we could-" Ron was cut off by a terrible squeal and the sound of tearing fabric. It took everyone by surprise. They looked at the source of the commotion to see Scabbers madly scurrying away from Crookshanks. "Scabbers!" he shouted, leaping to his feet to join the chaotic melee.
"Crookshanks, no!" Hermione cried out, chasing after her cat. It was a mad dash as Scabbers climbed up a curtain and jumped to an end table. Crookshanks was hot on his tail until Hermione snatched the cat up. Barely a second later, Ron had Scabbers in his hand and was staring Hermione down.
"YOU GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" he shouted in her face, pointing at the cat with every syllable. She was beet red, flushed with adrenaline, but didn't back down.
"It's not his fault," she defended Crookshanks, petting his fur in an attempt to calm him from all of the yelling. "Cats chase rats."
"Nothing's ever your fault, is that it?" Ron looked ready to burst. "Your bloody cat is terrorizing Scabbers and you do nothing...you get Harry's broom taken away, are you trying to make everyone's lives miserable?" Hermione, who's mouth was open to defend herself snapped it shut at his last remark. "You think you know it all and you force everyone to do what you think is right."
Hermione glanced at Harry, hoping for some support. Harry said nothing. He didn't share the deep red anger of Ron's face, but he didn't leap to her defense either. She looked back to Ron.
"You're not right. It's no wonder you lose all of your friends." Ron turned his back on her with this parting blow, intently looking over Scabbers.
Hermione, holding a stoic look on her face, darted from the common room. It wasn't that, as much as the single, almost subconscious glance toward Mike as she left, that had him frozen in place. It was her eyes, he was certain he'd seen tears working into them. Ron's words had been harsh, much more than necessary. Worse yet, Harry hadn't defended her. He hadn't taken Ron's side, nothing so overt. But he hadn't defended her either.
And neither had Mike. He sat in a stunned silence watching it unfold, not really convinced that it was actually happening. He couldn't think of another time in his life that he'd been a silent observer in such a heated argument. Things got mean, and he immediately regretted not reacting.
"The fuck is wrong with you two?" Mike asked harshly as he stood from his seat, the sound of his own voice surprising him. He hadn't intended to say anything, but it flowed from him nonetheless and he rolled with it. Ron turned toward him, still clearly blinded by his righteous rage.
"With me?" he asked incredulously. "I'm not the one overreacting to gifts and siccing killers on other peoples pets!" Ron shouted at him, his face red. Damned if Mike was going to let this little prick yell at him freely though.
"She's looking out for your friends safety, you deluded piece of shit!" Mike said, closing the distance between them rapidly until he was uncomfortably close to Ron's face. "The fact is we don't know who sent that broom, we don't know their intentions and YOU are betting your friend's life on it being someone benevolent. Look me in the eye and guarantee that the broom is safe." Mike waited for a moment, staring directly into Ron's eyes confrontationally. Ron opened his mouth for a moment, but said nothing and ultimately closed it. Mike turned to Harry, who looked a little uncomfortable now that logic was taking the place of emotion.
"She still needs to get control of Crookshanks..." Ron muttered, trailing off toward the end when he realized the look on Mike's face was somehow getting less friendly that it had already been.
"Maybe you need to keep your prey somewhere that a predator can't get to it," Mike said, the look in his eye inviting Ron to say more, to keep going on the track he was on. It was clearly not all of what Mike wanted to say, and this time Ron was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Mike turned and left, exiting the common room and leaving the duo alone inside.
"Everything alright, Sergeant?" one of the sentries outside the common room asked. Mike stopped to reply.
"It'll probably be," Mike said. "If Harry leaves, one of you two go with until another unit can link up and watch him."
"Copy that." The sentry nodded in affirmation.
"Which way did she go?" Mike asked, wanting to narrow his search. The tears he was surely seeing form in her eyes gnawed at him. He'd stayed pissed at her far too long and he really couldn't stand the thought of leaving her alone to face that. At least before, when he was upset, she still had Harry and Ron. Right now she thought she had no one.
"Went downstairs at a pretty good clip," the other sentry replied.
"Thanks, guys." Mike jogged downstairs easily. He felt sure she was going to a place that held some degree of comfort to her, and he could only think of one place that fit the bill. So, he went to the library. It wasn't small and it took him a second of standing still and listening before he heard a sniffle to his left. He walked quietly toward the sound until he found her, seated at a table with her head in her arms and her back heaving with silent sobs.
"Hey," he said softly. The sobs stopped at once and she went ridged. For a moment he felt a strike of fear in his chest. Perhaps he shouldn't have bothered her, perhaps she didn't want to be seen like this. She didn't move a muscle as he took a few steps closer, until he was right behind her. "They were way out of line, I'm sorry I didn't..." he trailed off. Sorry I didn't what? That I didn't intervene, that I didn't come talk to you sooner, that I acted like a butt-hurt brat instead of forgiving you? All of the above?
She wiped her eyes with her sleeves and stood up, turning to face him. They stood close to each other, and as he stared into big, brown eyes, it was like he could see everything in her soul. He could see the pain that ate at her as she struggled between what her friends wanted and what was right. The seed of doubt swimming circles in her mind, the thought that maybe she was sabotaging everyone she cared about. He could almost see her soul screaming, "I tried, I tried to be good and right and can't you just see that!?"
And as he looked into her eyes, he saw hers darting around, searching within his. For understanding, for longing, for compassion...he wasn't sure. Perhaps all of them. Her emotions had not been forgotten, and as tears welling in her eyes became too much to hold, as they threatened to leap down her cheeks, he suddenly found his lips on hers. It wasn't a conscious choice on his part. He felt the hot moisture as her cheeks brushed his, he felt a cool spot where her nose had touched him. He couldn't tell if the cold stemmed from her nose or eyes, and he couldn't have cared less.
Her lips were soft against his, warm and inviting. He had no recollection of moving closer to her, but there she was. Pressed against him, his fingers sliding beneath her ear and to the back of her head, as if to keep her from ever disappearing.
He didn't know how long the kiss went on. He was blissfully unaware of time, and though it could have been seconds, it could just have easily been hours and he secretly hoped it had. He felt a pang of disappointment when they broke apart, the bodily requirement for oxygen making its demands too forcefully to ignore.
"I...uh," Mike stammered, praying that he hadn't stepped across some boundary that would tear her from him forever. Praying that she felt the same as he had. When she opened her eyes, the pain was gone from them. She too looked a little fearful about how he might respond, so he doubled down and took the initiative. "I hope we can do that again sometime." He closed his eyes, immediately regretting the words. What the fuck, Mike? Seriously, that's the best you could do?
"Me too." The words freed the weight from his heart. He looked at her again and saw the faint hint of a smile. For a moment, the troubles and drama had left their minds and there was nothing but the happy, intoxicating excitement that only a newfound relationship could bring.
AN - TheLoneHero17 brought up a good point, I don't believe I've mentioned that this is a bit of a slow burn story. The meat of the story that I want to tell begins in year 4 and that is where Fleur is introduced. To set the characters and situations up in a way that is understandable, I needed year 3 as well. Fleur/OC is absolutely going to happen, we just have some story left between here and there. Hermione/OC wasn't intended when I first started the story but that's the evolution of the story and personally I like it. Thanks again for reviewing and reading.