Borrowed Hearts

Summary: 'You know how you like to make up stories sometimes honey? Well this is going to be just like that. We're going to pretend for a little while.'
Based on the Christmas movie by the same name.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own the rights to neither the Harry Potter books nor the movie Borrowed Hearts
Author's Note: Sorry for the short delay of this chapter. Things have been hectic for the past two days. My internet died and we just got it fixed this morning. But its finally typed and edited to my perfection. It's a relatively short chapter with a distinct lack of any hot Slytherin alumni sadly. I promise that Draco and Blaise will be back next chapter and you will find out all about Blaise's plan. Until then, please enjoy! Oh and review!

Chapter 3: The Wish

Hermione and Josie arrived at Harry and Ginny's house a little before three. Hermione was trying desperately to keep her anger in check and not snap at the child the held her hand sadly. Outside the house the two paused.

"I'm sorry mommy…" Josie said quietly, looking down at her shoes.

"They had to call me away from work Josie! Do you know how much that costs?!" Hermione groaned. She could feel the beginnings of a migraine coming on already… just what she needed to add to her day.

"How could you put that thing in Mrs. Parker's desk?" she continued, gesturing to the small, baby rabbit Josie held in her hands. "You know she's afraid of animals!"

"No one's afraid of Twinkles!" Josie protested

"Well Mrs. Parker was!" Hermione replied, raising an eyebrow. "And who told the whole class that her father was gone away on some top secret mission for the Ministry?"

Josie looked away sadly in an attempt to ignore the comment. Hermione knelt down on the ground next to the girl, her anger ebbing away.

"Josie… you've got to stop making up these stories, honey."

"It was better when daddy was here," Josie said simply, still refusing to look in Hermione's direction.

Hermione sighed. She had heard this speech before, countless times in fact within the past months. "Well he's not here and we have to accept the fact that he may not come back."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Hermione knew it was the wrong thing to say. Josie gasped staring at her mother wide eyed. Tears started to form in the corner of her big blue eyes. Before Hermione even had time to react, Josie sprinted off into the house, slamming doors behind her as she went.

"Josie!" She called after her. She started to follow but a hand grabbed her shoulder gently to stop her. Hermione turned to see Ginny standing behind her with a kind smile on her face. Hermione wondered briefly how long the younger woman had been standing there.

"Go on back to work, Hermione… I'll take care of Josie."

Hermione smiled, running her hand through her hair. "Thanks Gin. I'll be back later."

Ginny watched Hermione leave before heading off after Josie. Upstairs, she saw that the door to the bathroom was closed. Upon closer inspection Ginny found it locked as well. She knocked softly and waited for a response. When none came she called out, "Cost is clear Josie."

A few moments later the door was unlocked and Josie stood before her with a tear stained face and hair that could have rivaled her mother's on her bushiest of hair days. Ginny smiled kindly at the child, bending down to dry the remained of the little girl's tears. "You mother had to go back to work for a little bit," Ginny said brushing the tangle of hair from the child's face. "What do you say you and I go bake some cookies while we wait?"

Josie sniffled but nodded. "Will you read me the story about the angel too?"

Ginny smiled. "Of course."

Half an hour later the cookies were in the oven and Josie and Ginny had settled down in the living room to read the story of the Christmas Angel. It was one of Josie's all time favorite stories. So much so that she had two copies of the book. One was for at home with her mother to read and another for Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry to read when she visited. (Which was quite often.)

Ginny got up from her spot to go check on the cookies while Josie remained on the sofa, flipping through the book. She paused at the picture of when the angel revealed herself to the little girl for what she truly was. It was her favorite picture throughout the book. The angel was tall and beautiful. She glowed softly and her wings beat around her head. The little girl stood next to the angel staring at her in wonder and amazement. As Josie watched the angel reached out and placed a hand on the little girl's face.

"If angels are really invisible, how do you know if ones there?" Josie asked as Ginny came back in the room with a fresh plate of cookies.

"When you hear music and there isn't any… an angel's there," Ginny answered cheerfully, handing Josie a warm cookie from the platter.

"But if they're invisible how can I see them?" She asked as she ate her cookie thoughtfully.

"Well you have to look really hard because on earth they wear their wings inside so they look just like you and me." Ginny went a set the plate of cookies on the coffee table before grabbing another for herself to eat.

"I bet an angel could bring my daddy home!" Josie said suddenly.

"Well if the angel thought it was a good thing for both you and your daddy," Ginny remarked casually.

Josie's face lit up upon hearing this news and Ginny quickly realized her mistake. She had not wanted to discourage the little girl from believing yet getting her hopes up for something that was very likely not going to happen was not a good idea either. She bent down next to Josie, thinking of what best to say to improve the situation.

"But remember you have to be a good little girl to be lucky enough to have an angel hear you," Ginny cautioned. "And that means not giving your mommy any trouble at school and behaving."

"I promise!" Josie cried eagerly.

Ginny laughed softly. Just then she heard the floo in the kitchen fireplace announce Hermione's return. Still smiling to herself, she straightened up and headed into the kitchen to greet her friend. Josie watched her leave the room, hope still evident on her face. Turning around, she crossed her fingers and looked up toward the ceiling.

"If there's an angel listening please bring my daddy home!" Josie pleaded quietly. "And get us a house like my dollhouse for us to live in. Except for today I've been a very good girl!"

"Josie! You ready?" Hermione called from the other room.

Josie broke from her reverent wishing at the sound of her mother's voice. Hermione entered the room with a small smile on her face. She relaxed slightly when Josie happily ran over and enveloped her in a hug, glad to see that her daughter had forgotten all about the afternoon's events.

"Hey you!" Hermione said as she hugged Josie back. "How about we drive around a look at the Christmas lights tonight after dinner?"

"Ok!" Josie said happily, as she squirmed out of her mother's arms.

"Alright, go get your coat. I'm just going to go say goodbye to Aunt Ginny real quick."

Josie ran over to the chair where she had dropped her coat earlier as Hermione left to go find Ginny again. As Josie turned to leave the room however, she heard the faintest tinkling of bells chiming. She spun around, gasping at the sound. An angel had heard her!

Above the window the chimes twinkled again. Josie's smile faded in disappointment.

"Josie!" Hermione called again.

"Coming!" Josie looked back once more before leaving the room.

Author's Note #2: So there you have it! I'm working on the next chapter of the story as we speak. I'm going to try and get it up soon. Til then, please review!