A/N: Guess whose back! Yes, no one else but me! Are you happy to see me? I hope you are cause I'm very happy to be updating. From all the stories I've written this is my favorite, and that's maily because of you absolutly wonder reviews! I love you all, and I hope you enjoy this chapter cause I've written it just for you ;o)

First Comes Marriage, Then Love?

Chapter XIV:Fraternizing with theEnemy

Harry and Haley stared at each other. There was a wicked smile playing on Haley's lips. But apparently Harry was the only one who noticed it. Everybody else was looking at them, distractedly. Not even Ron appeared to have much interest in the encounter, in spite of his previous words. Harry shook her hand and forced himself to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary. A second later Haley was her usual cheerful self. Had she noticed anything? It was impossible to tell, and that made her even more suspicious in Harry's opinion. He couldn't place where he had heard the voice, but it made the hairs at the back of his neck stand, always an ominous sign.

After introductions had been made, everybody proceeded to the garden for lunch. A long table had been set to accommodate the entire family plus guests. Harry was afraid Ron would ask him what he thought of Haley, but he was talking to her animatedly and throwing furtive glances to where Hermione was. This gave Harry an idea. Maybe she had noticed, perhaps she knew what was that made him feel so anxious.

"'Mione, could you help me with something upstairs?" She gave him a quizzical look, and reluctantly let go of Fred's hand to follow him.

"What is it?" she asked when he stopped at the second landing.

"Did you notice something weird about Haley?" He sound preoccupied.

"Something like what?"

"I don't know, but I don't trust her… She makes me feel uncomfortable, especially her voice. I heard it before, but I can't remember when."

"According to Ron, she's a Ravenclaw, maybe you saw her at school," she looked at him silently for a moment, thinking. "Now I mention it, I had never seen her before. And I thought I knew everyone in Ginny's year, at least by sight."

"Yeah, I'm sure I haven't seen her either. It's just her voice that rings a bell. Believe me, a woman like that is difficult to forget. And she doesn't look eighteen to me."

"Well, girls these days are a lot more developed," answered Hermione indignantly.

"I don't know," said Harry fighting back a grin, the topic was serious, "perhaps I'm being paranoid."

"Yeah, perhaps… just in case don't mention anything to Ron. You know how he gets with this kind of things."

"I won't. But I'm still keeping an eye on her."

"I think you have enough in your cauldron without having to investigate or control Ron's girlfriend. But if it makes you feel better, then go ahead. If you want I can ask Ginny what she knows about her."

"No, leave her out of this. I don't want to make a big deal out of it. At least I have something on Haley. I asked you because you have a sixth sense to detect frauds. But don't worry; you too have enough troubles without having to deal with my ghosts."

"Ok, it's your call, you are the private eye here." Harry laughed and tried to push Haley to the back of his mind. However, for some reason, she kept popping back to the front.

Back outside, lunch had already started. The only one who was not eating was Fred. When Harry and Hermione crossed the back door, he was looking directly at it and judging from his positions he had been staring at the same spot since he had noticed she was missing.

"Something wrong?" He asked the moment Hermione took her seat next to him.

"No, everything's fine. Why?"

"It's the second time today you and Harry had to talk alone," answered Fred. There was something odd with his tone.

"We were talking about Ron." For some reason this answer upset him ever more. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing," he said moodily.

"Fred, come on! Tell me what's wrong. You know won't get away by playing grumpy."

"I just don't understand why you need to go upstairs alone with Harry to discuss my youngest brother"

"Are you jealous of Harry?" Hermione asked bemused "I can't believe you are jealous of him. I would understand if had been Ron, but you know perfectly well I love Harry as a brother and nothing else"

"I know, it's not that" he said quietly

"Then how can you be so upset by me talking to him?"

"I'm not jealous because I think there is something going on between you two. But I would like it if you could talk with me as openly as you talk to him. Mum told me she found you both his morning."

"Fred, I didn't plan to meet Harry. He happened to be there. And he was worried about me because he is my friend. Besides, I didn't tell him anything you don't already know. You don't seem yourself. Where is the self-confident, cheerful man I married?"

"I know, I'm disgusted at myself. I must be getting all because being around Ron makes me feel insecure."

Hermione laughed softly. There was the man she loved so much, she knew she had nothing to worry about "Listen, forget about that now. It's Christmas. You should be stuffing yourself with pudding and pulling on crackers with George." He grinned at her childishly and turned to his delicious turkey. The atmosphere was happy again.

The sound of chatter raised as the food disappeared from the plates. Hermione looked around with a feeling of content. Ron and Haley were sitting in front of her. She was asking him about his job and kept complementing almost every decision he said had taken. She was batting her eyelashes and playing with a lock of hair that fell over her shoulder. Hermione didn't need the advice from the articles on flirting that appeared on Parvaty's magazines to recognize a master at work. Although she usually disliked women who acted so shamelessly, she had to admit Haley was not being blatant; there was an air of class around her. In spite of what Harry had said, she didn't feel anything against her. Perhaps she stared at the couple for too long, because Ron looked at her and grinned smugly, then returned to Haley who was praising his hair cut.

When theyhad finished lunch Mrs. Weasley, who was clearly eager to talk and asses Haley suggested that the men should play a quidditch match so the women could have a cup of coffee in peace. No one objected and in less than three seconds there were several broomsticks in the air.

"So Healy," began Mrs. Weasley without prelude "Ron tells me you are studying in Denmark"

"Yes, my parents are Danish and they always wanted me to go to school there. They were thrilled when I told them about the exchange program. I like it there, but England is the only place I really feel at home. That's why I accepted Ron's invitation. Well, that and because I wanted to meet his family. He talks about you all the time. Especially about his friends."

Haley was an immediate success with all the Weasley women, with the foreseeable exception of Ginny, who was still very good at disguising her dislike. While Haley continued talking, or better seducing, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny leaned sideways and whispered in Hermione's ear.

"I hate her."

"That's not a surprise. You've hated each one of your brother's girlfriends, me being the only exception."

"First of all," started Ginny in indignation "she is not Ron's girlfriend. He only has eyes for you and the only reason you don't see that is because you are in denial. Second, I don't hate her in the healthy way I used to despise Fleur. I don't trust her. If you ask me, she is hiding something and I'm going to find out what it is."

"You and Harry have a lot in common," said Hermione distractedly. "Oops, I shouldn't have said that."

"What do you mean? Why?"

"Ok, don't say anything to him, 'cause he didn't want me to tell this to anyone, but he doesn't trust her either. He said something about hearing her voice before, or something like that. He probable saw her at school and is confused. I wouldn't pay much attention to him on this; he's been really paranoid lately. Not that I blame him, but…"

"And that's something else. I had never met this Haley person, and she is supposed to be in my year. I never had classes with the Ravenclaws, but still I thought I knew everyone at school, especially those my age."

"Maybe she is shy and was never too involved in Hogwarts life," suggested Hermione, although she knew it was the weakest excuse.

"Does she seem shy to you? No. Mark my words, she's up to something. I don't like her at all."

Ginny crossed her arms and spent the rest of the coffee time looking at the table, as if she was thinking about something. But Hermione knew she was listening intently to every word Haley uttered, trying to fin a clue to what she was supposedly up to.

Some time later, the sun began to sink and it was too cold to continue playing quidditch. So everyone agreed the moment had come to exchange gifts. They gathered in the living room. There were smoking mugs of tea and faces that showed a childlike expectation everywhere. Soon the floor was covered by rapping paper and the room was filled by uus and oos when a particularly nice or expensive present was opened.

Hermione was opening Harry's present, a new set of fancy eagle quills ("there's no point in getting you a spelling-checking one, you never make mistakes"), when Fred came from behind and placed a box in front of her. Hermione turned her head and grinned at her husband taking the present from his hands.

"What's this?" she asked looking at the rectangular flat package she was now holding, although she thought she knew the answer, as the thing looked remarkable like a book.

"You'll have to open it to see it," he said in his most mysterious voice.

It was rapped in a shinning purple paper. Hermione had spent enough Christmas at the Burrow to know that the tradition was to tear the paper, no matter how nice it was. So, she proceeded to destroy it. Inside she found a handsome navy blue leather-covered book, but it had no title, only golden arabesques. She opened it curiously and gasped, but not loud enough to make the people around her look from their own presents. She stared at the pages as she passed them, her eyes slowly filling with tears of emotion. From the light blue pages the best moments of her life were blinking at her. The thick volume was full of pictures, of pictures of all kinds. There were some from Hermione's first years at Hogwarts, Hermione could hardly recognize herself, Ron and Harry, they looked so young and carefree, with their brand new school robes that appeared to be too big for them. Then there were a couple from visits to Hogsmeade, from different Gryffindor parties (the majority of them after won quidditch matches), some from the Yule Ball, although funnily enough Krum didn't appeared in any of them. The most resent ones were from her graduation, the previous summer and of course, of her wedding. Hermione stared at the last pages thoughtfully. She couldn't help but notice that even though she was smiling and waving cheerfully in all the photos, only in the ones of her wedding did she look truly happy. There was one of her ad Fred dancing together, she was beaming so dazzlingly that it was difficult to believe she had any worries on her mind, and probably at that particular moment she hadn't had a single negative thought tormenting her.

"That's my favorite one too, you look so amazingly beautiful in that picture," said Fred, who was still standing behind her, but now had place his arms around her waits and was holding her tenderly.

"Fred, this is… there's no words to express how much I love this," she whispered tearfully.

"I thought you might like it. I wanted to give you something you couldn't buy anywhere, something no one could buy anywhere. And the only thing I could think of was happiness. So I decided to give you all the happy moment of your life as a witch together."

"You are too perfect to be true," she said before kissing him sweetly. Truly, there were no words to express how she felt. It was as if her chest was so filed with bliss she could burst and at the same time as if she was light enough to float a couple of inches from the ground. She was glowing with happiness and love for her husband.

She whipped the tears from her eyes and smiled at him. "Now it's time to give you my present. As this is the first Christmas we spend together as a married couple I wanted to give you something representative of this moment so I made you this." She handed him a hand nit blue sweater, similar to the one Mrs. Weasley always made. "I thought we could start our own tradition, as a family."

Fred was a lot more effusive than Hermione in expressing how much he loved her present. He picked her up and twirled her around. Once her feet were back on the floor he hugged and said quietly enough so that only she could her it. "I love as I never thought I could love a woman."

From behind them they could hear one of his aunts saying how happy they looked with each other. "Oh, to be young and in love" came the sight of someone else. They giggled and let go. But they weren't the only ones who had heard it, and apparently it was more than what Ron could bear.

"Do you mind if I steal your wife for a moment," he asked taking Hermione by the hand, and without waiting for an answer he took her away.

"I have something for you," he said in a much pleasant tone. "But I didn't want to give it to you in front of everyone." He handed her a small bag. She opened it to find a silver chain from which a small brown stone hanged. "I was walking through a park in Denmark and I saw this," he said taking the chain from her hands and holding it for her to see the stone. "It reminded me of your eyes, although it is not as beautiful as the real thing, I though it would look nice in you."

The stone was the exact color of Hermione's eyes, and it was a very delicate and elegant necklace.

"Can you help me?" asked Hermione turning around so that Ron could put it around her neck. He had been right; it brought out her eyes and looked as if had been made especially for her.

"Thanks Ron, it lovely," she smiled warmly at him.

"I used to look at it whenever I felt lonely. But I always intended it as a present for you," he said shrugging. "We can go back now, I just wanted to give it to you in private."

"Not yet, I haven't given you your present. Wait here" She disappeared for a moment and returned holding something in her closed fist. "I've been saving this to give it to you if at any point our friendship was in danger. It has always reminded me of all the good times the tree of us spent together. May be it can help you too." She gave him a golden snitch that Ron recognized as the very first Harry had ever caught in a quidditch match. Hermione wasn't sure if he had gotten the message, but at least she had tried.

Opposite to most of the other houses in town, this one was dark and gloomy. It completely lacked any trace of Christmas spirit. Nothing suggested that the inhabitants had any reason to celebrate. But, oh, they did have.

Flames danced low in the fireplace as a man stated at them from a high–backed chair. He had his hands together, palm against palm, raised in front of him and his chin was resting on them. He was waiting for something to happen, or rather for someone to come. Outside the sun was setting. However, he didn't need a clock to know that she was about to arrive. He knew everything and was hardly ever wrong.

A soft pop behind him confirmed his smugness

"My Lord," a woman kneeled in front of him and kissed his hand.

"I can tell you were successful, I'm pleased."

"Yes master, I did exactly as you told me. They don't suspect at all, and they have invited me to go over there again as you predicted."

"Fools!" a cruel laughter filled the room. "I've said it before, their greatest weakness is their trusting nature. They've been betrayed before and it will happen again. But I will not be conquered again. This time there will be no errors. I will be victorious."

"Of course My Lord, you are destined to victory."

"Could you get close to Potter?"

"Not yet, he didn't seem to like me as much as the rest. His ability is finer than that of his friends."

"Don't fool yourself," a new voice spoke from the shadows. It was impossible to tell if the man had always been there or if he had just arrived. "There is nothing fine or special about Potter. I know him well. I've taught and studied him. His alleged brilliancy is nothing but sheer luck"

"I'm sure the magical population finds it difficult to believe that there is someone who hates Potter more than I do, but Severus here has developed quite a strong sentiment against our little friend." Voldemort didn't appear surprised or perturbed by Snape's presence. He always said he was his most trusted servant, in spite of the opinion of many Death Eaters who insisted he was not loyal to the Dark Lord and his cause. In any case, Haley didn't feel comfortable talking in front of him, but she didn't have any choice.

"Still," he proceeded as if nothing had interrupted her conversation with her master, "I am not worried. I know he will accept me eventually. Everyone else has, and I will be able to fulfill you commands and feed you information of the type not even Severus can find."

"Of course you will. I've given you this task because you are up to it. And you will not defraud me." He didn't need to say anything else to convey his very latent threat. "You may go now, keep me posted."

"I will Master." She kissed his hand once more, made a quick bow and disappeared.

"Severus, do you have anything to tell me?"

"No master, I haven't heard Haley's repercussions yet. Maybe they think she is harmless, but to the best of my knowledge Dumbledore hasn't talked to the blood traitors yet. He hasn't fixed a meting for the Order either. However, I'm waiting for his call any minute now."

"Go back to your position then and when you see him find out if they doubt or suspect Haley at all. Remember our whole plan depend on that."

Snape apparated outside the Hogwarts grounds a couple of minutes later. He had been reluctant to warn Dumbledore against Haley. Until she was an actual hazard to the Order he had no obligation to report her. He didn't want to jeopardize his position. One single mistake and he would suffer a very painful death, worst than most could imagine and fear. And not even Dumbledore could prevent that. But if she had been successfully inside the Burrow and, moreover, she had free access to it, he had no choice but to disclose her true identity.

"Oh Severus, how pleasant it is to see you on this particular day. Merry Christmas to you," Dumbledore welcomed him warmly. He was in his office having a cup of tea.

"Thank you," he answered curtly without wishing him a merry Christmas back.

"What business brings you to me today?"

"I'm here to warn you against someone. The Dark Lord has set a new spy among us and she has successfully entered the Weasley household."

"Who is she?" Dumbledore was serious now. Having an ally of Voldemort's inside the Burrow, where Harry was so often, was too dangerous.

"I do not know how she presented herself, but I know she contacted Ronald. Voldemort learnt about Miss Granger's marriage. He seems to think he can play on Weasley's jealousy to introduce her to the family. And apparently he's achieved his aim."

"Very well. I'll see what it can be done without alerting Voldemort that we know her true identity."

""What should I tell him when he asks me if you now anything?"

"Tell him his plan was absolutely flawless and his choice was impeccable. That we suspect nothing."

Dumbledore decided to alert certain members of the Order so they could stay alert. But he thought that for the time being it was better not to warn the Weasley's, Harry or Hermione. It was too dangerous. He knew the way Voldemort acted, and he was sure that Haley, in her person, was not a threat. She wouldn't dare attack anyone when her only role was to play the spy. The danger was what kind of information she could pass onto Voldemort. But if Harry or any of the rest learnt what she was, they could do something to make Voldemort suspicious and that would put Severus in danger. His duty was to protect everyone who was on their side; although sometimes it was difficult for him to do it.

"Nice necklace."

Hermione had just removed the turtleneck she had been wearing and Fred noticed Ron's present.

"Thank you, Ron gave it to me." She was half expecting another jealousy outburst.

"I like it, it matches your eyes." There was nothing in his tone that said he was angry or something like that.

"Do you mind me wearing it?" Hermione was almost afraid to ask. Mainly because she didn't know what she would do if he said yes. She loved the present, because it had been very thoughtful of Ron and because her best friend had given it to her.

"No, of course not. It reminds me that those gorgeous eyes of yours belong to me," he said smiling and kissing her. "I love you. I know you love me. That's the only thing I care."

"I'm glad to hear that. This was one of the best Christmas I ever had."

"I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier, but you looked as beautiful as you did in the Yule Ball back in my fifth year."

"But I was wearing an old pair of jeans and this sweater," she said holding the lilac turtleneck she had removed a few minutes previously.

"I know, but there was something about you today that remind me of that night. You looked so happy and serene."

"I didn't know you had looked at me that night. I mean, not to remember it like this. Plus I was anything but serene. I was so nervous I could hardly walk."

"First of all, of course I remember you that night, you were by far the most beautiful woman in the hall, including Fleur. Every boy commented on how stunning you looked. I can tell you, a lot of them would have emptied their volts in Gringots for being Krum and dance with you. And second, you didn't look nervous, you never do. You always appear so confident and self-secure. That's one of the things I love the most about you. Because you hardly ever do anything do something you don't fully believe is the right thing to do, hence you are always sure of yourself."

Hermione was stunned. She had never thought Fred would say something like that about her, she knew he loved her, but that was beyond love. His words were of deep admiration and respect. It made her feel immensely pleased with herself to hear that, in a way not even getting an A from Snape could. Everybody knew she was smart and cunning, but nobody had described her with such awe. Fred knew her at so many levels she doubted even Harry, Ron or her own parents did. And now she thought about it, she probably knew his as well. They complemented each other. They were perfect for each other. They were so different in some aspects and so alike in the important ones. It was a powerful ancient magic the one that connected soul mates, and Hermione could feel its presence in the room at that moment. Because she and Fred were a match made in heaven, they were truly kindred spirits and soul mates.

A/N: so? I0ve spent a lot of classes writing this, cause lets face it, fanfiction writing is much more interesting than listening to anuthing a professor has to say. Was it worth it loosing countless piecies of valuable information? Let me know!