Author's Note:

I like that everyone thought 251 was a bonus chapter. I just posted on time whereas the chapter before was late due to my Thanksgiving LOL. This, however, IS a bonus chapter! I have been waiting twelve weeks to post this chapter (in Azkaban! LOL) and you're getting it a week early! However, with early release means a little break for a few weeks for me to get my bearings, for my beta to catch up, and because breaks are good for the soul.

Thank you to everyone!

PS — Only one person guessed this foreshadowing — muahahaha!

Reviews and Comments: Apurva roy: Charlie and Tonks' friendship is definitely friendship goals! To Tanuska: Thanks! I hope you think it's intense enough. To Hinnylover: I'm sure we will see some Hermione as a badass moments, but not yet. To Dianne: Thank you! Sirius received Second Class as opposed to First Class, because First Class is for "acts of outstanding bravery or distinction," Second for "achievement or endeavour beyond the ordinary," and Third for those who "have made a contribution to our store of knowledge or entertainment." I felt that Second better described Sirius' contributions within the Wizengamot. And yes, Rodolphous Lestrange is Bellatrix's husband. To MasterGamer23: Yup, they're all crazy.

To Tmrpotterhead250: Thank you! I like writing Harry and Neville's friendship and of course Harry is protective over Luna! Why does Blaise need a blade, that is a question ;) To DeadFish37: Interesting theory (wink, wink). To mehnoya01: If Draco kills Theo, Finn will definitely not react well, you're right. To AntarcticInferno: Please don't what? To Seriously Sam: I like to hurt hearts with Sirius scenes because I miss him. Why do you crush souls in your story? To Wolf's scream: Ron and Hermione clearly didn't have their wits about them, LOL. To Nightwing2013: Hmm, you think Feo will go into hiding, interesting. And you'll have to wait on the twins. To libs614: Thank you! I loved the inappropriate snow people LOL. To alix33: Yes, Zee's cousin Ian is an OBGYN healer. To Bumlewis: I just had this thought that Harry would deny being overly protective of Luna. I like the penis vase, inspiration from James Franco's penis sculpture from This is the End. To elin2002: I can't wait for the babies to come either! To pix25: No, I didn't play the game very long. I only made it to third year, but I'm adopting some of the characters as randoms as needed. To Tiegdalewills15: Not forever, no, but no babies in this chapter. Zee is due around January 16th.

To Tabseyy: Yes, I've been using a moon chart for the entire story and the 24th is the night they were talking about. To CarpenL: Fake Theo's death? Interesting theory. To coloredwords: Zee is giving her a bit of baby fever, lol. To Miss Anonimo: Thank you for that incredible review! I'm so glad you're enjoying this tale I am weaving. To Steelcode: Don't pull your hair out! To Jmcglynn522: Lots of red flags indeed. Prediction noted, we will see. And yes, they do schoolwork — sometimes LOL. To Leapyearbaby29: That's a lot of hopes, we'll see. To Endinium: Thank you and yes, danger is coming. To Katiekat197: Thank you! I loved seeing you write something outside of hearts! To PurpleLotus: Thank you! I missed your review last week. Theo is definitely worth a thousand of Draco, but I do pity him. He's confused and terrified.

This chapter is for Sam who helped me finalize my plans into words.

My posting schedule: Once a week.

Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND FIFTY-TWO:

Harry held Ginny's hand as they walked through Hogsmeade that morning. It was lightly snowing in such a beautiful way, one would think it was charmed with how picturesque it made the town. It was the third Saturday in December and tomorrow the Hogwarts Express would be taking them home for the holiday. It also meant that Zee was due to deliver the twins in exactly twenty-five days. Harry found himself equally as excited for both of these things.

Ginny squeezed his hand. "Did I lose you somewhere?"

"No," he told her, kissing her fingers. "I was just thinking that Zee's due in twenty-five days. Ian said her stomach dropped so that means that they could be coming soon."

"Mum says that twins always come early. Maybe she'll have the babies on Christmas!"

"That would be special," he said. He turned his face up to the snow before he turned to her. "I can't wait for you to come spend part of the holiday with me again."

"Me neither," she admitted. "And I can't believe that we're showing Ron and Hermione our little restaurant. You know that we will never have a moment alone here again, right?"

Harry chuckled as they turned the corner to head down to the Italian restaurant. "You're the one who said that we have to double date with them."

"Triple date," Ginny corrected. "Theo and Finn are also joining us."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Theo and Finn almost never actually stay in Hogsmeade. How did you convince them?"

Ginny smiled. "True, but Finn promised Theo that they could go shopping and I guess Theo has been taking full advantage of that. They were supposed to spend the last two Saturdays shopping, but Finn keeps distracting him. I made him promise to join us for lunch since they're in the village today."

Harry shuddered. "Have I mentioned how much I love that you're not a shopaholic?"

"I like to shop."

"Yes, but you don't wish to spend every moment buying things."

Ginny shrugged. "No, but I also didn't grow up with that opportunity. It's different when you aren't used to having money to spend."

Harry frowned. "Well, you and Ron have money now."

"No," Ginny told him. "Mum and Dad put that money away for our education. We have some extra spending money, sure, but Mum and Dad put it away so that when we come of age, we'll have money to start off our lives. And we gave over ninety percent of it to charities. That… the Chamber wasn't exactly something I wanted to profit from."

"I never said that," Harry said quietly, bringing her hand up to his lips. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

Ginny stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "You didn't. I'm feeling crabby today."

Harry pulled her into his arms, tucking her head under his chin. "Anything I can do to help?"

Ginny basked in the pleasure of Harry's warm hug for a moment before she answered. "Arancini balls and garlic bread?"

Harry chuckled. "Deal."

He took her hand in his again as they headed to the restaurant. It was only a few more minutes before they escaped the cold and asked Maria for a larger booth since they were expecting four more. Maria immediately brought them tall glasses of water and warm butterbeers. It was only a few moments longer before Theo and Finn slid into the booth with them. Theo's arms were already full of bags.

"Wow, it seems like you two were busy," Harry commented; his eyes widened at the many, many shopping bags that the two of them were carrying.

Finn rolled his eyes. "I think he bought everything in Hogsmeade."

"Extreme exaggeration," Theo said, grinning at Ginny. "There's a new store that opened on the opposite side of the village called The Glass Slipper and they have some amazing stuff! The shoes alone, Ginny, you would die! But I bought Finn some new stuff and for myself, not to mention a few things for yours truly for Christmas."

Finn accepted the butterbeer that Maria brought him and took a sip, his eyes on Harry. "He made me try on more jumpers and trousers than was needed."

"And you looked bloody peng in all of them!"

Harry chuckled as Finn rolled his eyes. "How much did he make you buy?"

"That's just it," Finn said. "He wouldn't let me buy any of it! He insisted that he buy everything. I suddenly feel like a kept man."

Theo leaned in and kissed his boyfriend's cheek. "I have gold to spare, Finn, let me spoil you. You can be my kept man."

Finn sighed. "If you weren't so damn cute, I'd try harder to argue with you."

Theo's grin widened as he turned back to Ginny to tell her more about the store and the clothes he bought. "Then when we left The Glass Slipper we found a shop called Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather's Coverlets, Quilts, and More. They have the most beautiful sheets, blankets, duvets, and afghans! I bought some new sheets for my bed."

"And more presents," Finn supplied, shaking his head. "If he shops like this all the time he won't be able to afford Norfolk Manor."

Theo stuck his tongue out at him. "Lies. He loved it."

Ginny nodded at Finn's wrist. "Is that what Theo gave you for your birthday?"

Finn held his wrist out to show her the gold chain bracelet with simple plaque that said Theo and Finn on it in cursive. On either side of the writing was a carving of the hands holding the crowned heart, matching the ring Finn and Theo both wore. "It is. I love it."

"It's lovely," she told him.

Theo was beaming at his boyfriend. "He's my kept man."

Finn rolled his eyes as Harry chuckled.

"Don't laugh, Harry; according to Pansy you should be doing more to make Ginny a kept woman!" Theo teased.

"Theo!" Ginny hissed.

She hadn't told Harry about her talk with Pansy at the Herald a few weeks ago. If she was honest, the conversation had embarrassed her a bit. She never thought about Harry having money and when someone brought it up as a reason to be with him, she always felt a mixture of embarrassment and anger that she couldn't put into words.

"What now?" Harry asked, his green eyes turning to Ginny.

Theo ignored Ginny and turned his attention to Harry. "Ginny was looking for advice on style for one of her columns and Pansy made a comment about how, as your girlfriend, you should be spending more gold on her to keep her more presentable."

Harry's eyebrow rose. "But you always look fantastic?"

Warmth spread through Ginny at his words. She loved how she could wear old jeans and Harry still thought she was the most beautiful thing in the room. "She was just being Pansy. You know how she likes to put people down."

"She also claimed that Ginny should do something to fix her skin problems."

"What skin problems?" Harry demanded, his eyes flashing. "Ginny has gorgeous skin!"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "She thinks my freckles are a disease that one can catch. It's not important."

Theo shook his head. "She even went as far as to ask Ginny why she hadn't tried to charm them off yet and Ginny told her that she didn't want to try to fix her freckles in fear of getting stuck with Pansy's nose! I can just imagine the look on Parkinson's face!"

Harry frowned, taking Ginny's hand in his. "I love your freckles."

"I know you do," Ginny said, smiling at him when he kissed her fingers. She remembered how he counted them, knowing exactly how many freckles she had on each breast and it made desire flood through her. "I didn't tell you because it's just Pansy. Nothing she ever says is important."

"That's very true," Theo said. "But if you did need someone to take Ginny shopping, I volunteer my services. I have no problem spending your gold, unlike this one."

Ginny blushed. "I don't need to go shopping."

"It's not about need, Ginny," Theo declared. "It's about the shopping."

"And you've shopped enough, mo grá," Finn interrupted. "If I would have known letting you shop for a few hours was going to create a shopping monster, I wouldn't have done it."

Theo grinned. "I don't know what you're implying."

Finn leaned over and kissed him. "Tá grá agam duit."

Theo's fingers linked with Finn's and he turned to smile at Harry and Ginny. "He's perfect."

Finn tugged Theo close and kissed his cheek. "Tell me more about this Pansy person."

Ginny made a face. "She's a Slytherin sixth year and she's quite full of herself and rude to anyone she considers beneath her, which is anyone who isn't a rich pureblood."

"So, you spend time with her if she's in your house?" Finn asked, eyes on Theo.

Theo shook his head. "Definitely not. She and Draco snogged once and she's basically been trying to get with him ever since. Money is important to her and she's pretty staunch in the whole pureblood thing. She thinks that I'm a disgusting poofter."

Finn frowned. "Don't call yourself that."

"Don't listen to her, Theo. Pansy has a face like a pug as it is," Harry said.

"That's a bit much even if it's accurate," Ginny said. "She can be quite pretty when she's not too busy sticking her nose up. She's very knowledgeable about fashion and she's always talking about wanting to open a ladies store one day."

"Lingerie," Theo corrected. "Her aunt owns a lingerie store in Paris and sends Pansy clothes from it all the time. I heard that at Goldstein's party, she supplied all the girls there with something naughty to wear. She wants to open her own store here and design her own stuff."

Harry's eyebrow rose. "Does she have the talent to do it?"

Theo nodded. "Actually, she does. She may be a bitch, but she knows what she wants. The problem is she has to do what Daddy says until she reaches the age of twenty-one or he'll cut her off. She needs gold to make her dream a reality and her father won't hand it over until she's twenty-one. He claims that she's too immature. And on top of that, it seems that Castor Parkinson married again a few weeks back. Pansy's not adjusting well to her new step-mummy. I heard the new Lady Parkinson is only twenty years old herself."

Finn's fingers linked with Theo's on the table as he spoke, making Theo smile brightly.

"Interesting," Ginny said, suddenly feeling a bit bad for Pansy.

The four of them looked up when Ron and Hermione came inside. Theo moved closer to Harry to make room as the last two joined them in the booth.

"Blimey, Harry, how come you never told Hermione and I this place existed?" Ron asked, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Because we wanted alone time," Ginny answered, her eyes on her brother. "And we knew once we showed you, you'd be here all the time to stuff your face."

Harry grinned. "Because the food really is that good. Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus told me about it. My parents used to come here."

Ginny pointed to the pictures on the walls. "James and Lily even have their photo up over there. Harry and I like to come here and enjoy the food and Maria sometimes has stories for us about Harry's parents."

Hermione smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze Harry's hand. "Then we're doubly honoured that you're sharing it with us."

It wasn't long before their table was groaning under the plates of delicious Italian food. Harry had ordered Arancini balls and extra garlic bread for he and Ginny. They shared an order of veal parmesan with tomato and basil pasta and a large garden salad. Ron ordered spaghetti and meatballs on Ginny's suggestion and Hermione chicken alfredo. Finn and Theo were both eating this vegetable pasta medley full of herbs and spices that smelt divine and covered in parmesan cheese. Finn ordered them red wine and they toasted each other to the upcoming holiday.

Theo spoke about wanting to spend some time with Blaise and Finn. Ginny insisted that Theo and Finn had to come to the Burrow for the holiday. Hermione said how she wanted Ron to spend time at her home as well and his ears went pink. Harry spoke about the twins being born soon and how this was going to be a good holiday because of that. He was trying not to think about the fact that it was going to be his first Christmas without Sirius, but he knew that his friends saw through his unspoken words and he was grateful they didn't bring it up.

By the time dessert came out, a delicious white peach tart, they were all full and feeling good about the upcoming holiday.

Theo insisted on paying the bill for all of them and Harry protested.

"No," Theo interrupted. "You lot have done so much for me and it's the least that I can do. We can call it a Christmas gift. But it's on me."

Ginny squeezed Harry's hand to stop him from protesting and when he turned to look at her, she kissed him. "Let him do this."

"Thank you, Theo, that's very generous of you," Harry said.

"You're welcome," Theo said, winking. "For everything."

Harry gave him a puzzled look and Ginny took Theo's hand in hers.

"Theo, let's go to the loo before you head out."

She urged Hermione to follow as well and led them down to the bathroom at the back of the restaurant. Theo immediately moved to the mirror to check his hair.

"Finn always messes up my hair and I feel like I must look a mess."

"Can't be as messy as Harry's," Hermione told him.

"I love Harry's hair," Ginny said defensively.

"Sex hair," Theo said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "I've always said."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, you have always said that. This was nice, wasn't it? The six of us should go out together more often."

Hermione nodded. "I agree. Ron and I miss hanging out with you and Harry a bit. And it was nice to really meet Finn."

Theo grinned. "Sorry, I keep him to myself as much as possible. He's too beautiful to share."

"He is very beautiful," Hermione agreed. "It's nice to see you happy."

Ginny leaned back against the sink. "Speaking of how happy you are, can you please stop telling Harry 'you're welcome' whenever you see him? He doesn't know what he's supposed to be thanking you for."

Theo's lip twitched. "Sometimes he's quite dense. I can tell him."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I thanked you and that's what matters."

Theo wiggled his eyebrows. "I'll just tell him that if I made you that good with just my words, he should imagine how good I actually am with my mouth."

Ginny blushed. "Use your mouth on Finn."

"Oh, I plan to," Theo said, turning to Hermione. "I gave our girl some good advice here. Seems it left Harry quite satisfied. By the way, chick, I've been hearing some naughty rumours about Harry as of late. I think it's time for you to confirm them."

"I'm not telling you," Ginny said for the umpteenth time.

Theo sighed. "Worth a shot. But the new names for the Chosen Cock are getting around the school, you know."

"Lavender and Padma were gossiping about that at the Halloween Party," Hermione said. "They had erm, quite a collection of names for Harry."

"Oooh, do tell!" Theo said, hopping up onto the bathroom counter.

"I don't remember them," Hermione said quickly.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Lies. You remember everything, Granger. You're like a sponge that soaks up everything. Hey, chick, I bet if I gave Hermione advice she'd be able to suck your brother off like a pro in one try."

"Ew," Ginny said, making a vomiting motion. "Let's not ever put those words in the same sentence ever again."

Hermione let out an awkward laugh. "I feel similar to talk about Harry, so no, Theo, I chose to not remember what I heard."

Theo looked crestfallen. "Well, I know Harry's hung and Ginny just won't confirm. One day, I will get it out of her. Finn is beautiful. Like just so beautiful, like a banana I always say. He's perfect and delicious and I could spend all day playing with his cock."

"Don't you already?" Ginny teased.

He stuck his tongue out at her. "Every chance I get. This holiday we're going to see the Muggle carollers in London as Finn says that they always put on a grand show, and we're going to get a big tree to put in the entrance way as well as the living room of the manor. I want it to be the best Christmas ever! I want to ask him about having Ciara come to stay. He loves her and she just lights up a room. And I want to spend ninety percent of the holiday making love to him in every way imaginable on every surface I can find."

"Sounds lovely," Ginny said. "Don't forget, you and Finn have to come to the Burrow."

"We will," Theo promised before he turned his attention on Hermione. "So, Granger, now that you and Weasley finally snogged out your emotions, on a scale of a banana to a beater's bat, what's Weasley's girth like?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed. "What?"

"Ignore him, Hermione," Ginny said. "I usually do."

"I'm just saying, Weasley's a tall bloke, broad shoulders, long arms and legs… he has to be packing something special between his legs, does he not? Definitely not a banana, I'd say, though the shape could be similar. Cucumber or a zucchini maybe?"

"And he's my brother," Ginny said. "So even if he is, I most certainly do not want to know."

Theo grinned. "Spoilsport."

"I think we should head back," Hermione said, leading the way out of the bathroom before Theo could bombard them with more embarrassing questions.

The three of them headed back out to the booth where Harry and Ron were telling Finn a story that made the three of them laugh.

Harry smiled when Ginny slid into the booth next to him. "Everything good?"

"Perfect," she told him, kissing him quickly.

The six of them waited for the waitress to collect the gold for their meal before they headed out. Theo called for Kiki who took all of his purchases and promised to set them out for him in Norfolk Manor for when he returned home the next day. He made mention of checking out Gladrags and Finn draped his arm around his shoulders, grinning as they headed in that direction.

"I want to make a stop at the bookstore," Hermione told them.

"Big surprise," Ron said, taking her hand in his. "Where are you two off to?"

Ginny shrugged. "We might just walk, unless there's somewhere that Harry wants to go?"

Harry shook his head. "No, walking sounds nice. I'm so full from lunch, the walk might be good."

They bid their friends goodbye, planning to meet them for dinner back at the castle, and Harry took Ginny's hand in his as they headed towards the village.

"Did you have anything in mind?"

"No," Ginny said. "Walking is nice. I am full from lunch and it's nice to think about the holiday. Then when we come back, Slughorn's having his big New Year's Bash. He keeps boasting about it and how he's been dying to throw a party all year and it hasn't worked out so this one is going to be bigger and better."

"I know," Harry said. "He wanted to have it on New Year's Eve, but he changed it when I told him that I couldn't attend because I was going home for the holiday."

Ginny chuckled. "Well, he can't have his party without his VIP there."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I never even know what to say to him half the time. I mean, he kind of fawns all over me. It's a bit strange."

"You are a celebrity, Mr Potter."

He snorted. "Right, some celebrity."

Ginny kissed their joined hands. "A celebrity and I say that if he wants to bask in the essence of your fame, let him. Remus said that he invites celebrities to the party all the time. He might even have some Quidditch stars there."

Harry put his arm around her shoulders as they walked through the streets in the light snow. "Is that your way of telling me we should go?"

"You know if you don't make an appearance, he'll whine about it," Ginny told him. "And it would be nice to maybe meet some Quidditch people."

"Who we can convince to come out and watch some games," Harry agreed, smiling at his girlfriend.

Harry knew that she was right about that. Slughorn spend an inordinate amount of time cornering him in Defence Club to talk to him about potions, the legend of Fleamont Potter, and Lily Potter's potion skills. He saw Ginny's Bat-Bogey hex in a duel and he'd immediately spent twenty minutes praising her duelling skills, talking about how it was obvious she and Harry were together when she had power like that. When he found out that Harry had an interest in Quidditch, he immediately started listing personal friends of his who were part of the Quidditch world. The man meant well, but he clearly loved being in the wings of the spotlight and the perks that entailed.

"I suppose we could make an appearance," he said. "There's bound to be good food and drink anyway."

Ginny grinned. "I think it will be fun and if I'm wrong, which I won't be, we can duck out early."

"Deal," Harry said, dropping a kiss to her forehead before he pulled her toque down over her ears. "Want to sneak back to the castle early and curl up in the tower room under a warm blanket?"

Ginny's tongue darted out to catch a falling snowflake. "Not yet. Let's enjoy the snow for a bit first."

Harry laughed when she tugged him close by his scarf to kiss him, basking in the taste of her as the cold snow flurries hit his face and he thought that he'd never been happier.

~ ASC ~

Hermione snuck a glance over at Ron, admiring his tall frame as he walked next to her. She loved how attentive he'd been over the last month and a half. She loved how sweet and caring he'd been and most of all, she loved snogging him senseless. But she found herself missing the less agreeable Ron more than she wanted to admit.

The friend Ron would be complaining by now. They'd been in the bookstore for almost twenty minutes and while she had a stack of four new books that she was interested in, she was browsing without any real purpose, wondering how long she could spend in here before he complained. The fact that he hadn't complained yet, worried her a bit.

Ever since they'd made their relationship official, he'd been the perfect boyfriend. Attentive and sweet. Affectionate and kind. He still made her laugh and complained about his homework, but he didn't pick fights with her anymore either. She was making an effort to say things that would normally set him off. His blue eyes would spark in fire before he'd grind his teeth and not respond.

She hated that he didn't respond.

It wasn't that she wanted to argue with him. Who wanted to fight all the time? It was exhausting. It was just that fighting with Ron was… well, foreplay. The word surprised her when she admitted it, but she knew that it was true. She liked arguing with him. She liked watching his blue eyes fire up, the way his face would flush and the muscles in his neck would contract. She'd had more fantasies of shutting him up with her lips than she was willing to admit to.

But now that she had the opportunity to snog his brains out when they fought, he never fought back. It was a contradiction she hadn't expected.

They spent another thirty minutes in the bookstore before she bought the four books in her hand and led him outside.

"It's so lovely in there, maybe we should browse around a bit more?"

Ron's mouth twitched. "Or we could go for a walk, maybe hit up Zonko's?"

"I'd rather go back to the bookstore," she said, smiling at him. "We can look at the romance novels again."

Ron looked like he wanted to do just about anything else. "Um, yeah, I guess, if that's what you want."

"Ron, stop letting me do what I want!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

Ron only stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"This! The bookstore! I love it there!"

"I know," he said. "You love books. They're like your happy place, I get it."

"But you don't like books!"

Ron frowned. "I have nothing against books. I just don't see the appeal of spending hours looking at them. It's a colossal waste of time."

"But you just spent fifty minutes letting me do just that! And now, when I mentioned going back inside, you immediately agreed to do so!"

"Because you said you wanted to!"

"Ron, if this relationship is going to work, you can't just do everything that I want all the time!"

Ron was looking at her as if she had two heads. "So, you don't want me to go to the bookstore with you?"

"Of course I do! I want you to do things with me that I love!"

"That's what I'm doing!"

"But I don't want you to!"

Ron gave her a confused a look. "I'm not a Seer, Hermione. If you have a problem you have to bloody well say it."

"You're being too nice to me!"

Ron looked positively dumbfounded. "What do you want from me? I'm trying here, okay! I'm trying to be the man you deserve and doing the things that you want to do to make you happy! And now you're telling me that I shouldn't do that? What do you want me to do? Drag you into Zonko's under protest? Tell you that I have no desire to spend another minute in that sodding bookstore!"

"Yes!"

Ron shoved his cold hands into the pocket of his coat. "I don't understand you. You're mental!"

Hermione gave him a light shove. "Don't call me mental!"

"Don't act mental, then!" Ron retorted. He grabbed her arm before she could shove him again.

"Why are you like this?"

"Why are you like this?" Ron repeated. "Merlin knows I don't know how to act when you become a mental shrew!"

"Daft prat!"

"Sassy witch!"

"Absolute tosser!"

"Mental bint!"

"Wanker!"

Ron grabbed her, ignoring the way she hit his arm and pulled her up against him, his voice low. "Absolutely, when I'm thinking about you."

Hermione's face flushed. "Ron!"

He tilted his forehead down to hers. "Why are we screaming at each other? Aren't we supposed to be done fighting now?"

Hermione slid her hands up his chest, linking them behind his neck. "Says who?"

She pulled his face down to hers to kiss him and he made a growling sound in his throat as he lifted her. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he held her and she lost herself in his kisses. A part of her was very aware of the fact that they were only a few metres outside of the bookstore, in the middle of the street where anyone could see them. But another part of her wanted his lips on hers more than she wanted to take another breath, let alone think about the embarrassment of their very public displays of affection. When her mouth moved down to his throat, she felt the hardness against her and she smiled, suddenly feeling more bold.

"Is fighting with me turning you on?"

"No," he insisted, his hands sliding down to boldly cup her bum. "Absolutely not."

Hermione slapped his hands off her bum and slid down his body. "Ron, we don't have to agree on everything. We don't have to always do the things that I want to do or the things that you want to do. If we're going to make this work, we have to go back to how we were. My friend Ron would never have let me mosey around a bookstore for almost an hour. He would have cut me off at twenty minutes and made me leave to go to Zonko's."

Ron pulled her close again and kissed her. "I guess I'm just wondering if as your boyfriend if I do something like that, you'd stop snogging me."

Hermione nipped at his lips, a soft smile on her face. "I have no plans of that. Do you plan to stop snogging me?"

"Hell no," he muttered, his lips moving to her ear. "How about we skip Zonko's entirely and go back to the castle? My dorm will be empty and we can snog all we want?"

"Oh? And you think that I'm just going to let you pull me into your bed?"

Ron's grin was slow and it made her stomach quiver in anticipation. "You've been in my bed before."

"On your bed, there's a difference."

"You'll be on it again, this time I might just be on top of you, kissing you… how do you feel about that?"

"Maybe I want to be on top during this snog session."

Ron's cheeks flushed and he grabbed her hand. "Let's go."

Hermione laughed as he tugged her towards the castle. She had overreacted. She and Ron were just fine. They were going to be just fine and she planned on spending the rest of the afternoon snogging his brains out.

And she couldn't wait.

~ ASC ~

Theo laughed when Finn sent more of his shopping bags back to Norfolk Manor. He kissed his boyfriend's cheek in the middle of the crowded street. "Thank you."

"No more shopping, please, I'm begging you."

Theo couldn't stop smiling as Finn twined his fingers through his. "You're never going to take me shopping again, are you?"

"You've bought enough to outfit a small village. You don't have a reason to ever go shopping again."

"That's an exaggeration. I have a lot of people to buy for," Theo told him. "I like having gold to spend on those I care about. So many people have been there for me in the last year and I want to repay them. I think picking out a thoughtful gift for them is a good way to do so."

"These people love you and don't need payment for that love."

Theo smiled. "You still look really good in that slate grey button-down shirt I bought you. Will you wear it on Christmas?"

"I'll wear anything you want," Finn told him. "As long as I'm with you, I don't care what I'm wearing."

"I love you," Theo said, standing on his toes to kiss him. "I want to have a holiday this year with those I care about. We can have Ciara come stay at the manor maybe for a few days? I bet she'd love it."

Finn's face lit up. "I'd love that. I miss her now that she's at school. I bet she'd love to come stay with her uncles for a bit."

Theo blushed at the term uncles, his fingers running tiny circles around Finn's wrist where the gold bracelet sat. "We can have your whole family over if you want? I just want you to be happy."

"You make me happy, mo grá. We can do anything you'd like. Ginny was pretty insistent about us going to the Burrow."

Theo nodded. "I want to. I like it there and I like her family. I like having people who want to see me. I have to see what Blaise is planning for the holiday. He said that he's going to Italy."

"Will he be alone?"

Theo hesitated. "Blaise is never really alone. He always finds someone to spend his time with whether it be a friend or a shag, but there's always someone. He's been acting weird lately and I'm worried about him. I asked him about that gold sword and he brushed it off. Something's going on with him."

Finn kissed him. "Let's go get some butterbeer and warm up. We can talk more about holiday plans and about the mystery that is Blaise Zabini."

"I'd rather talk about the holiday plans," Theo said, grinning when Finn tugged him up against him.

"Like the plans I have of kneeling before you and taking you in my mouth? How I want to bend you over under your tree and ride you for hours, until your limp beneath me? Until you can't walk?"

Theo flushed. "We might have to practice first, a few times at least."

"Which part?" Finn asked, his lips brushing Theo's ear.

Theo grinned. "All of it."

Finn chuckled and kissed Theo, deepening the kiss as he held his chin. "Maybe we'll skip that butterbeer. Maybe I'll take you to my bed instead."

"Our bed," Theo whispered, his eyes full of desire. "I want you to take me home to our bed and make love with me."

Finn kissed him again, holding him close against his firm body and allowing Theo to feel every delicious inch of him. "I'm going to start with my mouth."

Theo's fingers tightened around Finn's just as the scream tore through the village. Finn's green eyes darkened and his sword was in his hand in seconds as he stepped away from Theo.

"Get inside somewhere safe."

Theo made to protest, but Finn was already taking off, sword in his hand. Theo looked around, wondering if anyone else was going to head towards the chaos. He pulled out his own wand, wishing it was the sword that Finn had made him and took off after his boyfriend.

There was no way in hell that he was going to let Finn fight alone.

~ ASC ~

Harry and Ginny were halfway back to the castle when the sound of someone screaming made them both stop. Ginny's hand tightened in his and when his eyes met her brown ones, he knew that she was thinking the same thing.

They turned as one and hurried down the street to see what was happening. They only moved past three buildings before the screams grew louder. Harry immediately pushed Ginny behind him. He ignored her hitting his back in protest and only clung tighter to her hand, eyes moving around the street, looking for the source.

Another scream had Harry ordering Ginny to follow him. They made it to the main street of shops and froze at the sight of the Death Eaters standing there. There were only a handful of them, but their masks and cloaks made them look ominous and the fact that they had two villagers levitating upside down as well as two injured people on the ground, only reminded him that ominous was the least of their worries.

"Potter!"

Harry ducked as a spell shot past him and he felt Ginny's back touch his. He didn't have to turn around. He knew that her wand was out and ready and the fear that spiralled through him made him hesitate only a second before he erected a shield around the both of them.

"Hiding behind a shield," someone shouted. "Pitiful!"

"Inpulsa!" Harry shouted, his spell hitting the Death Eater who was laughing. He watched the man hit the ground, shaking from the taser-effect of the spell.

Bellatrix's voice came from behind one of the masks and anger surged through him. She would dare make an appearance here after what she had done. He turned his wand on her, but she was faster. Her spell knocked his shield down just as Ginny bat bogeyed the man coming at her.

Villagers were coming out now to help out and Harry rolled to avoid another spell, a window breaking behind him from the impact. He blinked in shock when Finn landed in front of him, a huge broadsword in his hand, deflecting spell after spell as if it was nothing.

He and Ginny hurried out from behind Finn, wands at the ready.

He heard Hermione's voice calling out a stunning spell and he saw a flash of Ron's hair as his friend's wand moved like lightning to deflect the spell that the Death Eater shot towards him. He heard Ginny yell his name when he caught sight of her again, but he ignored her and headed towards Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Going to try to kill me, Potter?" she taunted, tossing her mask up. "Do you miss my dear cousin?"

"You're a murderer!"

She cackled. "Oh dear, I'm so much more than that. Crucio!"

Harry ducked, his wand at her. "Inpulsa!"

The shock tore through her as he watched her twitch from the taser spell before she grabbed her wand and purple flames shot out. He ducked and only part of the spell hit him, but it was still enough. The lick of purple flame tore through his arm like ice, but he ignored the pain and shouted.

"Sectumsempra!"

Bellatrix screamed.

Harry's eyes widened in horror as deep slashes appeared all over her body as if he'd taken a knife to her. Blood spurted from every cut and she collapsed to the ground, blood bubbling from her mouth. Another Death Eater fell to their knees next to her and picked her up as the blood poured from her wounds.

"Crucio!"

Harry cried out as the curse hit him, not prepared for it, but the pain didn't last more than a few seconds before the man and Bellatrix Disapparated on the spot. The snow covered path where Bellatrix had been standing only a moment before was now as red as the Christmas bows hanging on the houses around them; his stomach rolled.

Ginny grabbed his hand and he noted that she had a cut over her eye. "Harry…"

He stared at the red snow, unable to look away. That spell… he could see his father's writing on the page of the potions book, the one that belonged to the half-blood prince. 'For enemies' it had said with a question mark, but even enemies hadn't deserved that. The spell had torn through her flesh like a knife through warm butter. He had seen her bone.

Had his father known what that spell could do?

Had he just killed her?

Panic welled up inside of Harry until Ginny's hand tightened in his. She pulled him to his feet, his heart still pounding, and when his green eyes met hers, he knew they were wide in horror and that she could see the turmoil there. She made to say something, to offer him some form of comfort or to scold him, he wasn't sure, but another scream made them both turn, wands out.

The Death Eaters had obviously come just to cause chaos. The flash of blond hair had Harry turning around, all thoughts of Bellatrix and the curse leaving his mind. He needed to focus. There were still Death Eaters here and he needed to protect himself and those around him. He saw Draco fall to his knees as an imposing figure stood over him.

"You coward!"

Blaise came running just as Harry ducked behind another spell. His eyes met those of Crouch before he erected another shield charm; Crouch only smiled.

"Dearie, that shield isn't going to save you for long," he taunted. "Crucio!"

But the spell didn't hit him.

The cry that came from Ginny had Harry seeing red. He sent his Patronus flying at Crouch and the stag knocked him to the ground as Ginny caught her breath.

Crouch grinned maliciously. "I'm in the market for a pureblood bitch, Potter. Willing to share your little blood traitor? I rather like the sound of her screams."

"Touch her and I will kill you," Harry declared.

"Dearie, I'm going to do so much than just touch her."

Bat Bogeys erupted from the front of his trousers and Crouch turned a shade of white that made him blend in with the fallen snow. He collapsed to his knees as bogeys the size of a bats flapped around his body, continuously emerging from the head of his penis. Harry turned to look at Ginny and she winked at him before she shot a stunning spell at the man running towards her.

Harry reached for her just as blood splattered across her face.

~ ASC ~

Draco was trembling, the dagger in his hand. He had seen them all appear in the village as they were supposed to and he'd gotten into position. Theo and Finn had been laughing and when the first scream had come, he'd seen the warrior in the fae. The way that sword had appeared in his hand as if it were part of his arm was just as impressive as the first time he'd seen it. He watched Finn run by him and he followed.

He didn't know what else to do. The thought of doing this, of hurting the fae prince who loved his friend so unconditionally, was unheard of. But if he didn't do it, Voldemort was going to kill Narcissa. It would be fine, he thought. Theo had told him how quickly Finn healed, it would be fine.

He just needed to get some of Finn's blood. It was either get some of Finn's blood or kill Theo; neither one was an acceptable choice. Neither one was something that he could live with.

But he was afraid to die.

He'd held the dagger to his own wrists that morning, thinking about slicing them open, wondering if he could watch himself bleed out… if anyone would even notice. But he hadn't done it.

He didn't have the guts to do it.

Bellatrix was taunting Potter now, laughing as they fought. He could see spells shooting in all directions, but he moved closer, his hand trembling around the handle of the blade his heart pounding in his chest.

"Do it, Draco," Abraxas hissed at from behind.

He wasn't even surprised to see his grandfather there. He should have known they hadn't fully trusted him without an audience. It made the task seem even worse. It only proved to him exactly how worthless he was.

"Do it, Draco," Abraxas repeated.

Draco's eyes fell on Finn again. He was fighting with a sword, slashing spells away from him as if he were invincible. He moved closer, his hand shaking slightly and when Finn turned to him, Draco dropped the dagger in the snow.

"I… I can't."

"You coward!" Abraxas declared viciously.

The words had barely left his lips before the dagger flew up from the ground and plunged into Finn's gut. Finn stumbled, his green eyes wide in shock. The sword in his hand glowed before he nodded at Draco, turned, and in one quick motion, cleanly lopped the head off of Abraxas Malfoy. Blood sprayed across Draco's face, splattered on those standing near him and Draco just stared down at his grandfather's severed head.

The sword dropped from Finn's hand and he reached down, pulling the dagger from his gut.

"I'm so sorry," Draco whispered. "I'm so sorry, I didn't…"

Finn shook his head. "If you hurt him, the whole court will come down on you."

He fell to his knees, his hands moving to try to stop the blood that fell.

Draco moved to help him, but a golden warrior appeared next to him. He dragged Finn to his feet, his eyes on the wound before they moved to the dagger on the ground.

"Is that iron?"

"Yes," Draco said. "I don't understand. Theo said that you healed quickly."

"Not from iron," Tiernan declared darkly. "It's poison to us."

"Finn!"

Theo's terrified shout made Draco's heart clench. He watched his friend grab Finn's other side. "What happened? Why aren't you healing?"

"Mo grá," Finn said, putting his hand on Theo's cheek. "It wasn't his fault."

Theo's eyes met Draco's terrified ones and Draco saw the betrayal there. "What did you do to him?"

"It wasn't your Draco who did this," Finn whispered.

Theo's eyes landed on the severed head of Abraxas Malfoy before they turned back to Finn. "You killed him. I'm glad he's dead!"

"Draco!" Blaise hissed from behind him. "We have to go!"

Theo's eyes widened at Blaise waving to Draco. "Blaise… you…" The Dark Mark glistened on Blaise's arm through his torn shirt and Theo swore. "You've been fucking playing me this whole time!"

"Take care of your prince, Theo." Blaise said, grabbing Draco's arm.

"Theo, we have to go!" Tiernan urged, picking Finn up more securely. "Grab that blade!"

Draco watched the hurt flash across Theo's face before he turned away from them both, grabbing the dagger before he helped Tiernan with Finn, and headed back toward the castle.

Draco ignored Blaise's hand and instead sat next to his grandfather's severed head, feeling as dead as Abraxas.

Blaise reached down and pulled him to his feet. "Get your arse up and come with me!"

"Grandfather used the dagger and it was poison… it was poison, Blaise! He never told me that it was poison! He just said I needed the blood on the blade!"

Blaise shook him so hard his teeth rattled. "It wasn't your fault, Draco. Now get your arse moving and come with me, now!"

"I… I…I don't have anywhere to go… the Dark Lord when he finds out that I…"

Blaise pulled out his wand and stunned him.

Draco collapsed at his feet and Blaise let out a frustrated sigh before he bent to pick up his friend, throwing him over his shoulder. His eyes found Potter holding Weasley on the ground near Malfoy's severed head and he picked up his pace. He ran towards the alley behind The Hog's Head.

His mother was standing there, her cloak covering her from head to toe. "Did he do it?"

Blaise shook his head. "Of course he didn't do it! Abraxas Malfoy bloody did it."

Bellarosa Zabini pursed her lips. "Is the fae dead then?"

"I don't know," Blaise admitted. "The dagger was poison and it looked… it looked bad. Abraxas is dead."

"Good riddance," she said, passing Blaise the gold coin. "It leaves in one minute."

Blaise tightened his grip on the coin, his eyes on his mother. "If this doesn't work, how long do I have?"

Bellarosa stared at him. "Make sure it works, il mio bambino."

The portkey flashed and the last thing that Blaise saw before he and Draco disappeared was his mother throw her mask back on and run out into the village.

~ ASC ~

Theo was shaking by the time that he and Tiernan dragged Finn into the hospital wing. His whole body was vibrating and for the first time in longer than he could remember, he felt cold with fear. Finn looked deathly pale now that he was in the hospital bed, the wound in his side still bleeding profusely.

"W-w-why isn't it healing?" Theo stuttered, attempting to stop the blood again with the gauze Madam Pomfrey had provided. "Why won't he stop bleeding!"

"They used an iron dagger," Tiernan said quietly. "It's... iron is the one thing that weakens us. Theo… we can't heal ourselves from an iron wound. It's why our swords and weapons are made from silver and not iron."

Theo shook his head, his eyes on Finn. His skin was lined in deep purple as if his veins were rising up under his skin. The lines were all over his chest and arms like the roots of a tree, furrowing across him and around and inching towards his heart at an alarming rate.

"But it's just a small… he was hurt worse from the giant at the Ministry. This is… he can heal this! Why is it spreading? Do something, Tiernan! Help him!"

"Iron," Tiernan repeated. "The iron is spreading through his blood and we can't… we can't heal it ourselves, Theo."

"Mo grá," Finn said, a bloody hand cupping his cheek. "Tá grá agam duit. Is tú mo chroí agus m'anam "

Tears rolled down Theo's cheeks. "No, Finn, please!"

Tiernan put his hand on Theo's shoulder, tears glistening in his own eyes. "Theo, I'm sorry. It's poison to us and once it spreads… there's nothing that we can do."

"No! No! I refuse to believe that! Madam Pomfrey, please! You have to help him! Please! You have an antidote for everything!"

Madam Pomfrey's eyes were sad as she shook her head. "I can't, Mr Nott, I'm sorry… there's nothing else that I can do. Iron is deadly to the fairies and even a bezoar wouldn't do anything because it's entered his bloodstream. Once it reaches his heart…"

Theo threw himself over Finn, sobbing. He couldn't lose him too. He couldn't have come so far only to find love and to lose it like this. He couldn't.

"Finn! Finn, please," he begged. "Finn! Finley, I love you, please! Please, don't leave me!"

Finn managed a small half smile, his bloody fingers stroking Theo's cheek. "Mo grá," he whispered and then his eyes closed.

It was only a moment later before his hand fell from Theo's cheek and dangled uselessly off of the bed.

Tiernan's breath hitched and the loud sob that tore through Theo came upon him so desperately that he didn't even try to control it.

He buried his face into Finn's chest and he cried.

End Author's Notes:

(Irish) Mo grá = my heart

(Irish) Tá grá agam duit = I love you.

(Italian) il mio bambino = my baby

(Irish) Is tú mo chroí agus m'anam = You are my heart and my soul.

Thanks to Seriously Sam for her help with this chapter and thanks to Dusk for telling me to add the final "mo grá" from Finn just to help make it more sad.

Thank you for reading and please review!